Chapter Eight: A Beauty’s Invitation
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From the moment the exam began, Qin Anyi was completely immersed in the exhilarating flow of writing, as if his pen was guided by some divine force. After more than a decade of schooling, this was the first time he had answered an exam with such unrestrained satisfaction! Consequently, he failed to notice that Wang Yiran had been standing behind him for over half an hour.
The reason for the deliberately incorrect answer at the end was indeed intentional on Qin Anyi’s part. If a student whose grades had always been stable suddenly scored an astonishing mark, it would undoubtedly attract unnecessary attention. When Qin Anyi finished the last big question and was about to stretch, a slender, delicate hand unexpectedly reached out before his eyes.
Qin Anyi paused, stunned, instinctively looking up, and Wang Yiran’s face—so often haunting his midnight dreams—appeared before him. Eighteen was the season of budding youth for girls, but also for boys. Although Qin Anyi, constrained by his family’s situation, never dared entertain any reckless thoughts, it did not prevent him from sincerely admiring Wang Yiran.
He was well aware of the gap between them—a gap so wide it made him feel unworthy, unable to indulge in any extravagant hopes. Thus, his admiration had always remained buried in the deepest recesses of his heart, never revealed before anyone.
Two years as classmates, always a pleasant affair, but if Wang Yiran stood behind him the whole time, then Wei Dong would have no opportunity to cheat at all…
Throughout the two-hour math exam, Qin Anyi spent a good hour and a half cooperating with his deskmate Wei Dong in their little schemes. With Wang Yiran occasionally walking over, their mischief became all the more difficult, turning the exam into a true battle of wits and courage.
Of course, the idea of a battle likely only existed in Wei Dong’s mind; Wang Yiran paid no attention to any of it. The only person she truly cared about was Qin Anyi.
For the entire day of exams, Wang Yiran spent at least half the time standing behind Qin Anyi, and the remainder pacing the classroom, lost in her own thoughts. After a whole day of proctoring, Wang Yiran’s inner shock had reached its peak. She discovered that Qin Anyi’s mastery of the material was so profound that, among the millions of high school students in the Republic, not a single person could guarantee a perfect score in every subject—not even the most outstanding student could achieve such a feat.
Yet somehow… Qin Anyi seemed capable of doing just that.
What kind of monster was he?
Even as the bell rang for the last class of the afternoon, Wang Yiran was still pondering this question. Based on her observations throughout the day, she was certain that Qin Anyi’s results would remain consistently excellent—but achieving such excellence was far more difficult than simply scoring first place.
As the classmates handed in their papers one by one, Wang Yiran finally took a deep breath and walked over to Qin Anyi…
"Any, why was Wang Yiran standing behind you during the exam? Did she notice our little tricks?" Wei Dong, having submitted his paper, was visibly relaxed, yet puzzled as he asked.
"You’re overthinking it. Someone like Wang Yiran, whether you cheat or not, it’s none of her business," Qin Anyi replied casually.
"That’s true. So, why was she behind you the whole time? Has she got her eye on you?" Wei Dong scratched his head, utterly baffled.
As they spoke, Wang Yiran approached, hands clasped behind her back, eyeing Qin Anyi with keen interest. She spoke: "Qin Anyi, do you have time tonight? I’d like to invite you to dinner."
"Huh?" Qin Anyi’s mouth hung open, utterly stunned.
Not only Qin Anyi, but Wei Dong’s eyes widened as well, as if he couldn’t believe his ears.
Wang Yiran, acknowledged as the school’s top beauty, had, over more than two years, seen countless admirers fall in pursuit, none ever gaining even the slightest intimacy from her. And now she… was inviting a boy to dinner? And not just any boy, but Qin Anyi, whose background was utterly unremarkable!
The atmosphere in the classroom suddenly grew strange. It must be admitted, though no boy dared blatantly pay attention to Wang Yiran, their subtle, almost invisible focus on her was nearly universal. Thus her action was instantly noticed by every boy in the class, and as soon as her invitation was spoken, all the boys in Class 2, Senior Year, along with Qin Anyi, fell into a collective stupor.
Even the girls, who mostly didn’t care as much about Wang Yiran, sensed the shift in the air. After a burst of curious whispers and questions, upon learning the reason, the girls too stared wide-eyed.
Wang Yiran—inviting a boy on a date?!
The previously lively classroom suddenly fell into a silence as deep as death.