Jiang Zhiyi was momentarily taken aback, but seeing Zhao Qingning’s confidence, she actually felt somewhat pleased.
Once she took first place in the exam and trampled Zhao Qingning underfoot, she’d see how these people would dare look down on her again.
Thinking this, she smiled: “I hope Miss Zhao will work hard—don’t embarrass Young Master Chen.”
With that, she stood and followed Liu Yiyi out.
Chen Jinbao grinned widely: “Zhao Qingning, you were so imposing earlier.”
As he spoke, he slapped her back enthusiastically to show his admiration.
Zhao Qingning, who was drinking water, caught completely off guard, spat it out everywhere.
Lu Jinghan stood up almost instantly, handing her a handkerchief.
Qiuhua, who was half a beat slower: “???”
It seemed her job had been stolen.
Zhao Qingning was annoyed: “If you have something to say, just say it. Why hit me?”
With such force, why not just slap her to death directly?
Chen Jinbao frowned: “When did you become so delicate? When I patted you before, you never reacted like this.”
As he reached out again, Lu Jinghan subtly pushed him aside and shielded Zhao Qingning behind him.
“Anyway, don’t hit people randomly from now on. I’m a girl, not made of iron,” Zhao Qingning said irritably.
Chen Jinbao thought her words made some sense, scratched his head, then worried about another matter: “By the way, since you were putting on such an act earlier, what if you don’t make top three in the exam? Wouldn’t that be even more humiliating?”
Zhao Qingning: “You finally realize that.”
If not for him, why would she have confronted Jiang Zhiyi?
Originally, since they were both time travelers, she thought they could share a tearful reunion as fellow villagers.
Now it was just like the original plot—they’d become rivals again.
“How can you blame me? Jiang Zhiyi was being sarcastic toward you. Were you just going to let her humiliate you?” Chen Jinbao retorted indignantly.
Zhao Qingning was left speechless.
It was precisely because she detected Jiang Zhiyi’s hostility that she accepted the bet.
“Speaking of which, if you don’t make top three, I’ll have to kneel and apologize to Liu Yiyi,” Chen Jinbao pulled a long face, but soon thought of a solution.
He looked at Lu Jinghan: “If she fails the exam, you can kneel and apologize on my behalf.”
He patted Lu Jinghan: “As my subordinate, this is your privilege.”
Lu Jinghan frowned, but given his current status, he couldn’t refuse directly. Just as he was about to agree, the hand on his shoulder was ruthlessly slapped away by Zhao Qingning.
“Wishful thinking,” she rolled her eyes. “Take responsibility for your own actions—don’t try to drag Xiao Jiu into this.”
Seeing this, Chen Jinbao, afraid of angering her, could only say he was joking.
He examined Lu Jinghan and muttered: “You’re really lucky to have Zhao Qingning’s protection. Now I can’t even order you around freely.”
Lu Jinghan heard clearly, a faint smile flickering at the corner of his eyebrows before vanishing instantly.
Liu Yiyi, eager to see Zhao Qingning and Chen Jinbao lose face, widely publicized the matter.
Soon, all the scholars in the main hall knew about this bet.
They simply thought Zhao Qingning must have gone mad, daring to compete in scholarship with Jiang Zhiyi. Everyone knew Jiang Zhiyi had ranked first upon enrollment and had been called a talented woman since arriving in the capital.
These two weren’t even in the same league.
Days passed one after another, with the teacher’s exam approaching.
In the cool pavilion, Zhao Qingning was teaching Lu Jinghan to read.
During this period, his health had improved significantly, and he recognized more and more characters.
Before, when Zhao Qingning had praised him as clever, Lu Jinghan had since been frantically devouring knowledge.
He didn’t know why he was doing this either—he just wanted her to praise him again.
Unfortunately, she never did after that one time.
“Xiao Jiu? What’s wrong?”
Zhao Qingning waved her hand in front of him. Lu Jinghan snapped out of his thoughts and smiled: “It’s nothing, Miss. Please continue.”
Seeing him spaced out, Zhao Qingning simply thought he hadn’t rested well and didn’t think much of it.
When Chen Jinbao arrived, he saw the two leisurely studying. He walked over and pulled Lu Jinghan up: “Make room for me.”
Lu Jinghan felt a surge of anger but still stepped aside.
“Hey Zhao Qingning, can you actually make it into the top three? The exam is coming up soon.”
Mentioning this made Chen Jinbao anxious.
Just two days ago, Liu Yiyi had been bossing him around in front of others, telling him to kneel and kowtow.
If he really had to do that, he’d be utterly humiliated. How could he remain the academy’s bully after that?
Zhao Qingning rested her chin in her hand: “Probably.”
With Jiang Zhiyi around, she could only tie for first place.
But making top three should still be easy.
Seeing her casual attitude, Chen Jinbao grew irritated: “Forget it, I’ll figure something out myself.”
He left before Zhao Qingning could ask what he planned to do.
The next day.
Lu Jinghan was heading to the main hall.
These days, he took pleasure in serving Zhao Qingning by grinding ink for her.
Sometimes he’d even think—wouldn’t it be nice to stay by her side as a servant forever?
“Xiao Jiu, come here!”
Suddenly, Chen Jinbao popped out from somewhere and beckoned him over.
Lu Jinghan hesitated for a moment but still approached: “Does Young Master Chen need something?”
Chen Jinbao hooked an arm around his shoulders and led him to the small garden in the front courtyard.
There, many young girls were chasing butterflies and playing.
But Zhao Qingning never came here.
She lazily sat at her desk every day, seemingly uninterested in anything except Lu Jinghan.
Mysteriously, Chen Jinbao handed him something tightly wrapped in coarse cloth: “Throw this near Jiang Zhiyi and the others.”
Lu Jinghan’s instincts told him this was nothing good.
So he didn’t take it, instead stepping back.
It wasn’t that he minded hurting people—he just feared causing trouble.
Seeing his resistance, Chen Jinbao was about to hit him but remembered Zhao Qingning’s previous outburst. He changed his approach: “Liu Yiyi and Jiang Zhiyi mock Zhao Qingning every day. I can’t stand it and want to teach them a lesson. Zhao Qingning treats you so well—don’t you want to help her get even?”
Hearing this, a flash of ferocity crossed Lu Jinghan’s eyes.
Whenever he heard those people mocking Zhao Qingning, he always wanted to tear them apart.
But Zhao Qingning herself didn’t care, and his status was too low to retaliate on her behalf.
If only he had the opportunity, the power…
At this thought, he glanced at Chen Jinbao.
What he held was probably the wasp nest that Li Dezhong had knocked down from the backyard tree that morning.
He wasn’t stupid—he instantly understood Chen Jinbao’s intention.
Chen Jinbao had been worried about the exam bet. Now he wanted to use Lu Jinghan’s hands to injure Jiang Zhiyi so she couldn’t take the afternoon exam, right?
This way, Lu Jinghan would be implicated, and if Zhao Qingning protected him, she’d end up on Chen Jinbao’s side.
This would cause trouble.
Over the past few months, Zhao Qingning had treated him very well, indulging him in almost everything. His life had been getting better and better.
Only now did he vaguely realize that he had been following her with near-dependence, long forgetting the previous struggle for survival.
What if he were abandoned? How would he live?
Lu Jinghan suddenly wanted to know where Zhao Qingning’s bottom line lay. If he stopped being obedient and caused trouble, how would she treat him? Would she mercilessly discard him, or would she protect him to the end?
He wanted to vent her anger and also find the answer.
Jiang Zhiyi had been reading a book when she suddenly heard some commotion. She stood up and went over, only to see that someone had thrown something over.
She instinctively chased after it but only caught a glimpse of a retreating figure—somewhat familiar, yet unrecognizable.
Liu Yiyi, bold as ever, asked, “What is this?”
She reached to uncover the coarse cloth bundle. Jiang Zhiyi heard faint movements and sensed something was wrong. “Watch out!”
No sooner had she spoken than dozens of wasps flew out from the cloth bundle, and Liu Yiyi was the first to be stung.
“Ah!”
The people in the garden were startled. Once they realized what was happening, they scattered in panic, descending into chaos.