After Becoming the Abused Heroine in a Campus Story - Chapter 20: If You Want Me to Be, Then I Am...

Chapter 20: If You Want Me to Be, Then I Am…

Jiang Xianzhi went back to her class to get her test paper. Zhou Yining followed and waited outside Class 1. Zhang Ye happened to grab his cup to get water.

Seeing Zhou Yining in their class’s hallway, Zhang Ye coughed loudly, hoping she’d speak to him first.

Zhou Yining didn’t even glance at him. Her eyes stayed on Class 1’s door until Zhang Ye blocked her view.

Zhou Yining felt her sight obstructed and said, “Move. You’re blocking my view.”

Zhang Ye’s face twitched. He asked, “Aren’t you here for me?”

Zhou Yining gave him an amused look and mocked, “People should know their place. Why would I be here for you, Mr. Self-Obsessed?”

Many students were in the hallway. Zhang Ye felt humiliated by her jab. “Zhou Yining, don’t think this will make me notice you…”

He wanted to say more, but Zhou Yining cut him off. “That’s great. I don’t want a fake, overconfident guy like you noticing me. Move aside. You’re blocking the way for others.”

Zhang Ye’s face turned red with anger. Just days ago, Zhou Yining wrote him a love letter. How dare she talk to him like this now?

Jiang Xianzhi came out with her test paper and draft book. Seeing Zhang Ye talking to Zhou Yining, she frowned, feeling he was in the way.

Realizing her own reaction, she was startled. Since when did she start disliking Zhang Ye?

Jiang Xianzhi walked over with her things. “Yining, let’s go.”

Zhou Yining saw her and smiled. “Alright, let’s go to the emergency stairs. It’s quieter there.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xianzhi felt relieved seeing Zhou Yining had no interest in talking to Zhang Ye. She followed her to leave.

Zhang Ye, ignored, felt his face burn. He gritted his teeth and said, “Jiang Xianzhi, this is your attitude toward me now?”

Jiang Xianzhi looked at him, confused. “Didn’t you treat me the same way before? If you want respect, respect others first. You don’t even get that and still call yourself grade-first?”

She didn’t want to deal with Zhang Ye anymore. She even felt embarrassed for once being so into him.

“Let’s go.” Jiang Xianzhi looked at Zhou Yining.

Zhou Yining smiled and nodded. They headed to the emergency stairs together.

Zhang Ye stood in the hallway, his face alternating between pale and flushed. What was wrong with these girls lately? Playing hard-to-get to catch his attention? He wouldn’t fall for it.

Zhou Yining and Jiang Xianzhi reached the emergency stairs, which led to an open corridor with benches on one side.

Zhou Yining brought tissues and wiped a bench clean. She smiled at Jiang Xianzhi. “Sit.”

“Thanks.” Jiang Xianzhi’s ears turned slightly red as she thanked her. She didn’t know why, but she liked when Zhou Yining did these things for her.

It wasn’t about ordering Zhou Yining around. Zhou Yining’s actions felt natural, unlike Shi Yuanyuan and Si Yaqing. Though they were her friends, they were cautious around her.

Zhou Yining’s casual demeanor made her feel comfortable. Jiang Xianzhi thought this was how friends should interact.

She sat down, worried Zhou Yining might think her dumb, and said, “If I don’t get it later, don’t get mad at me, okay?”

Zhou Yining’s lips curved into a smile. “Okay, I won’t get mad. But you have to answer my questions honestly so I can help you improve.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xianzhi nodded obediently. She thought Zhou Yining looked nice when she smiled.

Zhou Yining took out the exam paper and scanned Jiang Xianzhi’s mistakes. She roughly gauged her level.

“Your basics aren’t solid. Do you sometimes not know what the question is testing?”

“Yeah, I rarely score above 90 in math.” Jiang Xianzhi muttered softly.

“Getting above 90 isn’t hard. Just follow my plan for the next year.” Zhou Yining said, starting to explain Jiang Xianzhi’s first wrong answer.

“This question tests function concepts. I’ll write down the key points for you to note…”

Knowing Jiang Xianzhi’s weak foundation, Zhou Yining explained in detail. She broke down a multiple-choice question, reviewing the concepts first, then applying them to the problem.

Jiang Xianzhi didn’t understand this question in class. Since Class 1 was full of top students who got it, she felt too shy to ask the teacher. But she understood Zhou Yining’s explanation.

Jiang Xianzhi thought Zhou Yining explained better than her tutor.

After one question, the self-study bell rang. Zhou Yining smiled at her. “We’ll go over the rest during dinner. Text me.”

“Okay.” Jiang Xianzhi smiled back. They jogged to their respective classes.

Back in class, Zhou Yining started on today’s homework, mostly test papers from teachers. She finished them in two self-study periods, just in time for dinner.

The school gave forty minutes for dinner. Zhou Yining got up to call Tian Xue to eat. Tian Xue followed her out of the classroom.

After a while, Tian Xue said, “You went to Class 1 earlier?”

Zhou Yining nodded. “Yeah, I had something to discuss with Jiang Xianzhi. We’ve got some leads on the confession wall issue, but nothing’s certain yet.”

“That’s good. But lately, everyone’s attitude toward you has changed fast. Even our class is calling you Sister Zhou now.” Tian Xue sounded a bit down as she spoke.

“It doesn’t matter. Other people’s opinions aren’t that important. Just be yourself.” Zhou Yining comforted her.

“By the way, where did you get your hair cut? I want to get a trim too.” Tian Xue asked.

“At that shop on Back Street. If you want, I’ll go with you tomorrow at noon.” Zhou Yining said. Anywhere was better than going back to that house.

“Great, I knew you were the best.” Tian Xue finally smiled.

At the cafeteria, Zhou Yining ordered a bowl of stewed noodles. When she was almost done, she got a WeChat message from Jiang Xianzhi.

Jiang Xianzhi: [Done eating? Where should we meet?]

Zhou Yining: [Let’s go back to the emergency stairs. It’s quieter. I’m heading there now.]

Jiang Xianzhi: [Okay, waiting for you. (Cute bunny jpg)]

Zhou Yining’s lips curved slightly. She looked at Tian Xue. “I’m stepping out. Don’t wait for me. Go back to class.”

Tian Xue looked at Zhou Yining, wanting to say something but stopped. She nodded.

When Zhou Yining reached the corridor, Jiang Xianzhi was already there. Other students from different classes were walking and chatting nearby.

Zhou Yining took Jiang Xianzhi’s test paper and smiled. “Alright, let’s go over your second wrong answer. Same routine, I’ll review the concepts first…”

Zhou Yining spoke gently, keeping explanations simple so Jiang Xianzhi could understand. She encouraged her for every correct point.

The twenty minutes passed quickly. Jiang Xianzhi felt reluctant to stop. Being with Zhou Yining was comfortable. Even listening to her explain problems wasn’t tiring.

Zhou Yining finished two questions, checked the time, and said, “We’ll have to continue tomorrow. Let’s go, self-study’s about to start.”

“Okay. Your brain’s amazing. You remember all these formulas and theorems and explain them so clearly. I wish you were my teacher.” Jiang Xianzhi said with a hint of regret.

Zhou Yining looked at her. “I can be. If you want me to be, then I am.”

“Huh?” Jiang Xianzhi was stunned by her words.

Zhou Yining smiled, looking at Jiang Xianzhi’s pretty fox-like eyes. “We get Sundays off, right? I need half the day for my stuff, but the other half is yours.”

Jiang Xianzhi’s heart raced, like she was weightless. The feeling was strange, hard to describe.

“What do you mean?” Jiang Xianzhi asked, dazed.

Zhou Yining laughed at her reaction. “I mean, I can tutor you Sunday mornings if you need it.”

“Really?” Jiang Xianzhi’s eyes lit up. “I can pay you for tutoring.”

“No need. I’ll do it for free. We’re friends.” Zhou Yining glanced at the time and said, “Let’s go, we’re running late. Back to class.”

“Okay.”

Back in class, Jiang Xianzhi was still in a daze. Zhou Yining offered to tutor her and called them friends.

Her lips curved into a smile. She looked at the problems Zhou Yining explained, took out her notebook, and copied the key points.

Zhang Ye glanced at Jiang Xianzhi several times. Seeing her smile to herself, he found it oddly irritating.

What was up with girls lately? Were they all trying to get his attention by provoking him? Zhang Ye couldn’t figure it out.