As the group stepped out, Song Jinxi was leaning against her car.

"Get in the car." Song Jinxi confidently sat in the driver's seat.

It seemed like she intended to drive herself.

The car, along with the driver, could accommodate five people perfectly.

Lin Qing glanced at Zhou Jingtang, who was sitting in the passenger seat, then opened the back door and sat on the left. Wen Yao looked at Jiang Shuyi and followed Lin Qing into the car, with Jiang Shuyi sitting on the far right.

"Let's go then."

After everyone got in the car, Song Jinxi pressed the gas pedal.

The car quickly drove out of the gate.

It seemed that Song Jinxi had specifically studied and passed her driving test after the winter break to get her license for today.

Jiang Shuyi felt that this was truly a commendable achievement.

However, it must be said that driving skills vary from person to person in this world, and novice drivers generally fall into two categories:

One type drives very cautiously, often making a fuss about every little thing, and sometimes even stopping for ten minutes at a red light.

The second type was like Song Jinxi—driving with great bravado...

"Song Jinxi, how long have you been learning to drive?"

Watching the scenery fly by, Jiang Shuyi asked somewhat anxiously.

"About a month, I think." Song Jinxi replied nonchalantly.

"I was lucky, passed the driving test in one go, scored ninety."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuyi immediately fastened her seatbelt.

Zhou Jingtang, who had already been buckled in, started gripping his seat cushion, while Lin Qing, sitting by the door, instinctively held onto the overhead handle.

"Is it really that necessary?"

Song Jinxi looked at their anxious expressions, slightly dissatisfied.

"Look at Wen Yao, she hasn't said a word..."

Wen Yao, sitting quietly in the middle of the back seat, silently pulled out her seatbelt and fastened it.

". . ." Oh, fine then.

Song Jinxi fell silent.

---

Before long, the car arrived at the hotel unscathed.

Song Jinxi's daring driving skills did not cause any physical harm to them.

The group of people nervously got out of the car.

Once inside the restaurant's private room, they started ordering food.

The restaurant's decor was typical of a Chinese restaurant, and the group casually found a spot to sit down.

The dishes arrived quickly, filling the table in no time.

The Wenchang chicken had a rich flavor, the meat tender and juicy, which Jiang Shuyi really enjoyed.

Zhou Jingtang picked up a piece of meat and brought it to his mouth.

"By the way, why isn't Yan Jingshu here?"

Song Jinxi glanced at Jiang Shuyi, who was adding yellow chili peppers to her bowl.

Watching her movements, Song Jinxi shifted her gaze back.

"There's an exam in Paris in February. A famous violinist is recruiting students, and she practices for fourteen hours every day. While she's at school, she generally stays in the practice room, not to mention now."

Speaking slowly, Song Jinxi lowered her gaze for a moment. "She probably doesn't have the time to come and play."

"Oh, I see," Zhou Jingtang looked a bit regretful. "We probably won't see each other much in the future."

". . ." Song Jinxi didn't respond.

Perhaps thinking about how they would all go their separate ways in the future, Lin Qing also felt a bit emotional.

Wen Yao gently scooped a spoonful of soup and slowly brought it to her mouth, remaining quiet.

Only Jiang Shuyi, undistracted, eagerly placed one of the two chicken legs from the Wenchang chicken into Wen Yao's bowl.

"Wen Yao, this is really good, you should try it."

". . ."

---

After dinner, a few of them went for a walk by the beach.

Except for Wen Yao who didn't participate, the others practically played themselves out on the beach before returning home, exhausted.

Not wanting to cook, Song Jinxi ordered food delivery directly from the hotel.

During the meal, Zhou Jingtang suddenly shouted while looking at his phone, "Oh, our end-of-term report cards are out. Let me see... Class monitor, you're still in first place."

Wen Yao quietly continued to eat, appearing indifferent.

As if it was a matter of course.

"Miss Yi, you've improved a lot this time..." Zhou Jingtang remarked.

Jiang Shuyi looked at her grades and happily said to Wen Yao in a low voice:

"Then after the next exam, we can go eat directly, and you won't have to wait for me..."

Zhou Jingtang felt a bit envious. "If I improve by twenty places this time, my dad will give my gaming console back to me. If the class monitor could teach me, maybe I could achieve that..."

"Improvements in grades are definitely related to personal effort."

Wen Yao quietly interjected.

Hearing Wen Yao seemingly praise herself, Jiang Shuyi straightened up in her seat.

She looked just like a student being recognized in class.

"Indeed, Jiang Shuyi has been working hard." Song Jinxi said, looking at her with some sympathy.

Wen Yao cast a glance at Jiang Shuyi. "But effort needs to be maintained."

". . ."

Jiang Shuyi returned to her previous posture, quietly picking at her food.

Zhou Jingtang looked at his grade evaluation sheet. "What universities do you all plan to attend?"

Taking a sip of soup, Song Jinxi replied, "I'm going abroad..."

"I want to directly enroll in our school," Lin Qing thought for a moment. "Many classmates in our class will also be moving up, and I still want to stay with familiar people."

Glancing at the others, Lin Qing's ears turned a bit red, "But, actually, I'm not very good at science. I want to study languages or history—something in the humanities. I really don't want to do math problems in college anymore."

Zhou Jingtang nodded, "Although I think direct enrollment is also possible, I still want to become a pilot in the future. I want to go to the Aviation University."

"Aren't you going to inherit your family's hotel?" Song Jinxi casually asked as she took a bite of fruit.

"We'll see when the time comes."

Zhou Jingtang looked at Wen Yao, "And you, Class monitor?"

Wen Yao lowered her gaze for a moment and calmly said, "A University, Life Sciences and Medicine."

"The top university, impressive." Zhou Jingtang exclaimed straightforwardly.

A University is the country's top university, leading in research compared to other schools. The enrollment restrictions are very high every year, and those who can get in are considered the elite of the elite.

Students in the top fifteen of their school might have a chance of getting into A University, but even the top five might not secure a spot in the "Life Sciences and Medicine" program.

Jiang Shuyi recalled that the last time she asked, Wen Yao wasn't sure what major she wanted to pursue. Jiang Shuyi wondered when she had made that decision.

Zhou Jingtang looked at Jiang Shuyi,

"What about you, Miss Yi? You study so hard, you don't seem like someone who wants to go to a music academy..."

Jiang Shuyi glanced at Wen Yao, not yet confident enough to boldly state that she wanted to apply to the same school and major as Wen Yao.

"Maybe I'll also apply for the Life Sciences and Medicine program..."

She said quietly, lacking confidence.

"Huh? You want to study medicine too?" Zhou Jingtang looked incredulous.

Wen Yao pinched the corner of her eyes upon hearing this.

---

After dinner, the group headed to Song Jinxi's game room.

The game room was equipped with a pool table and dartboards for leisure activities.

Jiang Shuyi and the others started playing snooker.

Since just playing wasn't very interesting, they added some stakes to the game.

Whoever lost had to run errands for the winner and buy snacks.

Of course, Jiang Shuyi was always very skilled at these hands-on games. She almost cleared the table as soon as she started, without giving Song Jinxi and Zhou Jingtang a chance to even touch the table.

As a result, Song Jinxi and Zhou Jingtang were sent to the supermarket to buy Jiang Shuyi's favorite ice cream.

Only Lin Qing and Wen Yao remained in the game room, having just watched the game.

Since these two had never played snooker before, Jiang Shuyi briefly taught them how to play.

"I think I understand now." 

Wen Yao said, tying her hair back with a hair tie.

When Wen Yao was listening to Jiang Shuyi's instructions, she wasn't paying much attention and hadn't even swung the cue a few times.

Jiang Shuyi felt like she had explained the game rules, stance, and movements, but she wasn't sure what Wen Yao had picked up.

But in the next moment, Wen Yao skillfully picked up the chalk and wiped the front end of the pool cue. With an extremely standard posture, she moved the pool cue slightly.

The cue ball directly hit the red ball, sinking it in one shot.

Jiang Shuyi and Lin Qing stood there, momentarily stunned by Wen Yao's smooth shot.

—Is this for real?

Jiang Shuyi felt a bit defeated.

On the other hand, Lin Qing, who had been learning alongside Wen Yao, wasn't picking it up as quickly. Her grip on the cue and her stance were a complete mess.

Jiang Shuyi thought Wen Yao might have some innate talent for teaching, but looking at Lin Qing, she realized that Wen Yao was just a fast learner.

It had nothing to do with her teaching.

Despite Jiang Shuyi's heartfelt advice, Lin Qing still couldn't grasp it.

With a sigh, Jiang Shuyi placed a hand on Lin Qing's shoulder.

"When you're playing, this posture won't give you any power. You're twisting your body, you need to exert force this way when you shoot..."

"Like this?" Lin Qing adjusted her posture.

Jiang Shuyi gently patted Lin Qing's head. "When you shoot, look from this direction."

"But it feels a bit awkward this way..." Lin Qing struggled a bit.

"You'll get used to it. You don't need too much force when you hit, it's not like a heavy ball..." Jiang Shuyi explained, demonstrating again.

Wen Yao, sitting on the side, watched as Jiang Shuyi lifted Lin Qing's forehead with her palm, silently sipping water with her arms crossed.

"What level of force is appropriate?" Lin Qing asked.

Jiang Shuyi couldn't explain clearly. She suddenly realized she wasn't very good at teaching.

"...Just try it out more?"

Jiang Shuyi glanced over at Wen Yao.

Wen Yao had somehow sat down, and Jiang Shuyi walked over to her.

"Don't you like playing billiards?"

"It's okay."

Wen Yao replied nonchalantly as she slowly picked up the cue. "Did you teach like this last time too?"

—Last time?

—Did I teach anyone before?

Jiang Shuyi froze for a moment, unsure what Wen Yao was referring to.

Wen Yao stood quietly in front of the pool table and began to hit the balls again.

After a long time had passed, when Wen Yao sank the black ball, Jiang Shuyi recalled the last class trip when she had gone out to play billiards with Song Jinxi and the others.

"...Are you talking about the class trip?"

—How can she remember something from so long ago? I've even forgotten about it. How does Wen Yao recall it so clearly?

—Wait, how did she know that I went to play billiards?

Wen Yao chalked the cue stick again, slowly moving her arm to shoot once more.

The loose strands of hair by her ears fell softly, looking incredibly captivating.

"Wen Yao, Wen Yao."

"Hmm?" Wen Yao lifted her head slightly.

"Tell me honestly, did you like me back then?"

She whispered close to Wen Yao's ear.

". . ." Wen Yao fell silent.

"Otherwise, how could you remember so clearly..."

Jiang Shuyi quietly presented her reasoning, feeling her logic was crystal clear.

Wen Yao hit the cue ball, but it narrowly missed sinking the red ball due to insufficient force.

Even so, there was still no reaction on Wen Yao's face.

"Have you been secretly watching me for a long time?"

Jiang Shuyi's ears turned red as she nudged Wen Yao with her shoulder.

Wen Yao still didn't respond.

However, the more Wen Yao stayed quiet, the more Jiang Shuyi felt certain that was the case.

Jiang Shuyi looked at her triumphantly and hummed, "Hmm, so it's true."

". . ." Wen Yao continued to chalk her cue.

She seemed to think Jiang Shuyi was being too noisy, stepping away a few paces before bending down to take her shot.

"Is that so."

Jiang Shuyi chuckled as she walked around the pool table.

From her demeanor, one might think she was dancing.

---

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