Chapter 31: Watching the Unfortunate Ex-Husband
Wednesday had no physics class.
But no need to panic.
Gangzi would surely take over evening self-study to “discipline” everyone.
The math teacher had used half the class and then ceded the seat to Li Gang, historically known as the physics calamity.
After school, Lin Shu deliberately let Zhou Ya leave first, then crouched in the classroom, waiting until most had gone before approaching Gangzi.
“Teacher… when will you call my parents?”
Li Gang straightened up and looked at her coldly.
Oh no, Gangzi wasn’t even pretending anymore—he was about to make a big move.
Lin Shu didn’t dare be cheeky and obediently said, “Goodbye, teacher.”
“Wait.”
Li Gang called her back, asking her to hand over all her subject test papers.
Lin Shu complied, watching him curiously.
Gangzi compared her papers to a stack of others; Lin Shu glanced at the side and saw student numbers and classes—none were from their class, but from various classes.
At the edge were a few test papers belonging to Ji Xingshen.
Speaking of which, Ji Xingshen hadn’t attended class today. Huang Pingting fluttered around like a headless fly.
Li Gang’s stern expression softened as he returned the test papers to Lin Shu, his voice gentler.
“Looks like you’ve been really diligent lately, Lin Shu.”
Lin Shu nodded vigorously.
Li Gang picked up Ji Xingshen’s paper, weighed it thoughtfully, his youthful face bearing an old man’s melancholy.
He set it down and took a sip of water.
As Lin Shu was leaving, he waved her back again.
“Lin Shu, can you do me a favor?”
“Is there ever a time when I can say no?”
“Zhou Ya is very diligent—you can’t learn a bit of her dedication?”
“That’s PUA,” Lin Shu said, clearly unwilling.
Li Gang said, “I won’t let you work for nothing. If you do well, I’ll reward you with two cafeteria meal tickets—you can get food from the teachers’ window.”
“All right then.”
The teachers’ window served braised pork, which smelled particularly delicious. Lin Shu and Zhou Ya had been craving it for a long time, but only teachers could get it, and they couldn’t snatch from Gangzi’s tray.
“Don’t attend evening self-study tomorrow. Go to Ji Xingshen’s house and deliver the test paper to him—tell him to come back to school.”
“Is he not coming tomorrow either?”
“Yes, he took sick leave.”
“Two days off?”
The sun seemed to have risen in the west.
Lin Shu felt something was off.
Seeing her bow her head deep in thought, Gangzi sighed and decided to be straightforward.
“Ji Xingshen’s paper overlaps with several students who have made significant progress. This time, the papers were sent to No. 7 High School for grading. They reported back that you’ve made great progress too, but your paper isn’t a copy. Before, I misunderstood you and called your parents, so forget about that… I think Ji Xingshen knew the matter would be exposed, so he’s avoiding school.”
Lin Shu’s eyes widened.
Was Ji Xingshen helping others cheat?
In her previous life, she didn’t remember such a thing, though Ji Xingshen had taken a few days off, saying he had family matters.
Gangzi never mentioned the overlapping papers, and the school didn’t announce anything… Now it seemed they had covered it up, probably to avoid affecting his study status—after all, he was the presumptive top scorer for next year.
But…
Wouldn’t this exam affect class placement? Silently covering it up without punishing the cheaters wasn’t fair to those who took the test earnestly.
Lin Shu raised her eyes.
Li Gang felt a bit unsettled under her gaze.
“Ji Xingshen is close to you. Please persuade him well—don’t do this again, and come back to school soon.”
Lin Shu asked, “Won’t those others’ scores be invalidated?”
“The school will exclude this exam from the class placement.”
“So I studied hard for nothing?”
“...It’s indeed unfair to you all. We’ll discuss it at the meeting.”
Lin Shu thought that was more reasonable.
So Ji Xingshen wasn’t someone who changed gradually—he was never really upright.
What was his mindset in helping others cheat?
Lin Shu couldn’t understand.
Afterwards, she went home and furiously wrote a chapter of her novel.
Sure enough, shocking events sparked her inspiration.
Meanwhile, she had received the meal tickets from Gangzi. He took out three tickets but, seeing her watchful eyes, gave all three instead of just two as initially promised.
That was more like a teacher.
...
The next day.
Lin Shu told Zhou Ya she couldn’t attend evening self-study and hurriedly left school with Ji Xingshen’s test paper.
Taking the bus was slow—Old Street was heavily congested. She glanced at the shared bikes nearby and quietly took out her phone, scanning a yellow one.
Lin Shu knew how to ride a bike.
Before meeting Xie Buchen, she even considered herself skilled.
She pedaled through the tree-lined path; the street was noisy, crowded with cars and people. Three schools lined this road, with many street food stalls.
Lin Shu smelled the tempting scents everywhere.
By the time she reached Ji Xingshen’s home, the bike handlebars were already loaded with food.
No wonder—no dinner could make anyone lose control.
The girl bit into a grilled starch sausage as she entered the narrow alley.
Outside was still bright, but inside looked dim with low eaves intertwined. The wires hung low, bundled tightly and tied to aged poles.
An old woman sat at the door picking vegetables, splashing water on the ground.
Children lay playing on the ground with no toys, only two plastic bottle caps.
Everywhere were psoriasis advertisements.
Infertility clinics, 24-hour locksmiths, small loans, Hong Kong housewives paying heavily to conceive...
Lin Shu didn’t like this place—not just because it was chaotic and scary in the past, but now purely because she despised Ji Xingshen.
When she was younger, she had no prejudices and only clear dreams.
Growing older, those vanished.
...
Lin Shu stood at a familiar door and knocked on the low wooden door.
Ji Xingshen’s grandmother came with a cane, a bit forgetful, smiling kindly at her.
“Little girl, you are…”
She had been here many times, but the grandmother still couldn’t remember her.
“I’m Ji Xingshen’s classmate, Grandma. Take it slow. Have you eaten?”
Lin Shu stuffed some sweet red bean buns she bought into the grandmother’s hand and helped her inside.
The grandmother murmured affirmatively.
“I… why have you come?”
Ji Xingshen appeared in a faded T-shirt and jeans, holding a scallion peel—he must be cooking dinner.
Lin Shu helped the old lady sit down and took the test paper from her bag, placing it on the worn table.
“Gangzi asked me to deliver your test paper. He wants you to come back to school soon.”
Ji Xingshen’s face was pale, his cold phoenix eyes hiding a subtle panic.
He came over to glance at the test paper and asked, “Nothing happened at school, right?”
“No.”
“...Didn’t they say the papers would be graded at No. 7 High School and that cheaters would be caught?”
“I don’t know. You’re always first; even if others cheat, they couldn’t surpass you.”
Lin Shu said at the door.
A trace of self-satisfied smile appeared on Ji Xingshen’s face. Lin Shu knew he loved hearing that; she had said it many times before to win his favor.
Oh dear.
Lin Shu added, “Gangzi gathered a bunch of papers from students who showed obvious progress. I scored 17 this time, moving up 52 places. Logically, I should have been singled out for praise, but he looked and refused—who knows what the standard is?”
Ji Xingshen’s faint smile faded into stark paleness.
Lin Shu smiled like a flower drinking blood.
“Your paper was pulled from that pile, originally placed on top. Ji Xingshen, when you come back, you’ll definitely be praised at the flag-raising ceremony. So jealous~”
She watched the last color drain from his face as her words sank in, feeling a vile sense of satisfaction.
Why had she agreed to deliver the paper for Gangzi?
Certainly not to comfort him.
Lin Shu wasn’t that noble.
Nor was she there to explore his twisted psyche and help him reform.
She came simply to unsettle the golden nugget the school protected so carefully.
Is there anything more satisfying than seeing the ex-husband’s brother in trouble?
Her mind was dark, and she relished it.