CH 31

Holding hands.

Looking at those words, Bai Zhi’s heart felt sweet.

After the self-study period came math class. Before class started, the bald math teacher made an announcement to the whole class about the math competition. Bai Zhi listened very attentively and suddenly remembered the part about this competition in the original novel.

According to the original plot, both the male protagonist and Ji Guichen participated in this competition. The male protagonist got first place in this competition, but Ji Guichen didn’t get a placement at all.

It didn’t seem right.

Bai Zhi thought this was a bit strange: the system once said that in any given world, the villain’s strength is proportional to that of the male protagonist. Based on their interactions these past few days, Ji Guichen was, in fact, a low-key study god. His skills were definitely too good for someone who didn’t get a placement at all.

“Ji Guichen didn’t participate in this last competition,” the system system said.

“Why?”

“Ji Guichen lives with his uncle; that person has some issues. On the last day of the competition, Ji Guichen was locked in the bathroom.” The system narrated this very calmly, but upon hearing this, Bai Zhi was furious:

“He was locked?” Bai Zhi was incredulous: “Didn’t he know that Ji Guichen wanted to compete?”

“Whether or not he knew, it’s all the same. Either way, he doesn’t care.” The system said: “Do you still remember that little boy whose potato chips I told you to steal?”

Bai Zhi nodded: “What about him?”

“He was Ji Guichen’s little brother, a spoiled boy.”

“What did he do?” Bai Zhi narrowed his eyes.

The system sighed: “On the day of the competition, he deliberately lied to his father saying that Ji Guichen bullied him. That was why Ji Guichen was punished and missed the competition.”

“Why didn’t he let Ji Guichen participate in the competition?”

“A child’s jealousy, I bet.” The system snorted: “Ji Guichen’s grades are much better than his.”

Hearing these words, it was a long time before Bai Zhi asked:

“What about Ji Guichen’s parents? Humans…don’t they value family relationships?”

“They died.”

The system said, still in that robotic tone: “When he was very young.”

Bai Zhi’s heart suddenly contracted.

In the classroom, the teacher was still writing on the blackboard nonstop while all the students pretended to listen carefully.

Bai Zhi unconsciously turned his head to the side quietly. Ji Guichen’s head was bowed, writing down line after line of notes with great focus. The sunlight spilled in from the window, and the shadows on the table swayed slightly with the wind.

Suddenly, an indescribable heartache rose from within Bai Zhi.

He slowly turned his head, palms curling into fists.

No matter what, he wouldn’t let Ji Guichen walk down that dead-end, and he wouldn’t let this young man with a bright future fall into an abyss he didn’t deserve.

After school, Bai Zhi still abandoned his former younger brother and caught up to Ji Guichen with his school bag on his back.

Ji Guichen seemed to have gotten used to this tagalong. The pace of his footsteps, which had left Bai Zhi in the dust before, had already slowed to a speed that Bai Zhi could keep up with now.

The system keenly detected Ji Guichen’s changes and informed Bai Zhi somewhat happily. Hearing this, Bai Zhi instantly cheered up, happily lowering his head to look at Ji Guichen’s shoes.

The system was so angered by his good-for-nothing appearance that it couldn’t stand it anymore:

“What are you doing looking at others’ shoes?”

“I…I’m happy.” Bai Zhi hummed.

“Silly nephew, do you even want a relationship?”

“I do, but Ji Guichen said no love allowed.”

Hearing this, the system scoffed: “Can you believe the words coming from his mouth? It’s already been several worlds, when has he not said ‘no’ and then changed his mind faster than anyone else?”

Bai Zhi thought about this carefully: “Sounds right. Then what should I do now?”

“Take advantage of the situation and chase after victory, of course. Do you see the intersection in the road in front of you?”

“I see.”

The system immediately suggested: “Pull on the corner of his shirt when you cross the road in a bit. If Ji Guichen doesn’t want you to, just say that you are afraid because there are too many cars at the intersection.”

“Ok!”

Bai Zhi agreed immediately and gazed eagerly at the intersection ahead. 

“It’s almost here, take your chance, take your chance!” The system reminded him from his mind.

Bai Zhi took a deep breath. He extended his left hand as they were about to cross the intersection. Just as he was about to pull on Ji Guichen’s clothes, his right hand was grabbed by that person, a step ahead of him.

Bai Zhi raised his head, surprised. Ji Guichen was looking straight ahead with a normal expression, and his tone was also natural:

“The intersection has a lot of cars. It’s not safe, I’ll lead you.”

“…Oh.”

Bai Zhi blinked and obediently let himself be led.

The two of them crossed the intersection like this. Bai Zhi felt somewhat reluctant, waiting for the moment Ji Guichen let go of his hand, but even after Bai Zhi waited until he was almost home, Ji Guichen never mentioned letting go of his hand.

How could he be so silly? Bai Zhi thought a little strangely: It’s been so long since we crossed the intersection but he still hasn’t thought of letting go of my hand.

So the kind-hearted little demon planned to remind a certain someone.

“Ji Guichen, I’m home now. You can let go of my hand.”

Ji Guichen immediately withdrew his hand: “En, see you tomorrow.”

After saying this, he turned around and was about to leave. Bai Zhi suddenly thought of something: “Ji Guichen!”

“En?”

“Are you going to participate in the math competition tomorrow?”

Ji Guichen nodded.

Bai Zhi smiled brilliantly: “This time you’ll definitely be able to show your skills!”

Ji Guichen was a little puzzled: “This time?”

“Oh…I meant that…you were also very strong in the past, so this time you’ll also be very strong.” Bai Zhi knew he misspoke and hurriedly covered it up.

But Ji Guichen’s attention went in a strange direction: “You’ve paid attention to me before?”

Bai Zhi hardened his face and nodded: “Yes, yes.”

“So it’s like this…” Ji Guichen‘s gaze trembled: “I understand. See you tomorrow.”

Even though Bai Zhi didn’t know exactly what he understood, he said goodbye very cautiously: “See you tomorrow!”

After speaking, he hurried upstairs.

After returning home and eating whatever to fool Xie Siliu’s parents, Bai Zhi took a bath and laid on the bed, rolling over and getting ready to sleep. The system couldn’t help materializing and kicked him: “Get up nephew, what high school student have you seen that sleeps at seven?”

Bai Zhi got up in confusion: “En? I can’t sleep?”

“You didn’t do your homework.” The system said: “If Ji Guichen finds out tomorrow that you didn’t do your homework, he will be angry.”

Upon hearing that it would anger Ji Guichen, Bai Zhi immediately got up, flipped open all his homework, and then shut everything silently after a moment:

“Uncle, I feel like you’re trying to embarrass me.”

“Why?”

Bai Zhi pointed at the book in front of him: “I can’t even read the questions. How am I supposed to solve them?”

“Ask Ji Guichen.” The system immediately said: “Go to the class group chat and add his Tencent account.”

Bai Zhi obediently took out his phone, but suddenly stopped after a moment: “Uncle, why do I feel like you just wanted me to add him?”

“Aiyo, nephew’s smartened up!” The system patted Bai Zhi’s shoulder with a big hand: “Uncle’s painstaking training was not in vain!”

Bai Zhi proudly raised his head high: “I was smart from the beginning.”

The system: “The weather outside is really nice.”