Volume One, Chapter 79: Too Many Points.

"Heh, whatever, I don't care. She can do whatever she likes," Lin Mo said indifferently.

Jiang Chen sat slouched at his desk, heavy-eyed with sleep. Lin Ning whispered softly, "The teacher's about to ask questions, you'd better not doze off."

But Jiang Chen was already on the verge of collapse. He'd barely slept since last night, and this teacher's lectures were insufferably soporific.

The chubby boy murmured, "Brother Lin, this new guy is in for it."

Lin Mo sneered, "Tch, my sister too, sharing a desk with a guy who doesn't care about his studies. I hope her grades don't drop because of it."

"Are you enjoying your nap, young man? Stand up and answer," the history teacher rapped on Jiang Chen's desk.

Jiang Chen blinked awake, half in a daze. "Teacher, what's the question?"

Lin Ning rubbed her forehead and pointed to a question in Jiang Chen's book.

The history teacher's face darkened. He'd heard there was a new student, but hadn't expected him to fall asleep in his very first class. Was there any justice left in the world?

Jiang Chen glanced at the question, then at Lin Ning, who pointed to the third choice. "C," Jiang Chen answered.

The history teacher sighed from the podium. "Sit down, sit down. Don't sleep in class next time."

"Yes, teacher." Jiang Chen sat down, relieved and more alert.

Lin Ning turned back to her studies, though the material she was reading wasn't from the high school curriculum but from university.

"You already know everything? Why are you studying college courses?" Jiang Chen asked, puzzled.

Lin Ning pulled a small booklet from her desk—the admission letter from Tsinghua and Peking University.

Jiang Chen nodded, unsurprised. "Not bad, you've got some real ability."

At her age, getting into Tsinghua or Peking was extraordinary; she was a rare talent. And if he wasn't mistaken, she must have been recommended for admission.

When the bell rang, Lin Ning started packing her bag. Jiang Chen glanced at the time—only one o'clock. "Going home already? Class isn't over yet."

"I'm going to work," Lin Ning replied.

Jiang Chen was taken aback, but before he could ask further, Lin Ning had already left. A girl sitting nearby explained, "Lin Ning is working to earn tuition for her brother. They'll both go to Tsinghua or Peking next year, once Lin Mo finishes his college entrance exams. So she's preparing ahead."

Lin Mo—that was a name he'd already grown tired of hearing since yesterday.

"Her sister's grades are good, so Lin Mo must be an excellent student too," Jiang Chen remarked.

The girl lowered her voice. "He is. He's even more talented than his sister, but he doesn't want to study. And... he seems to resent her a bit."

Jiang Chen had doubted the rumors of his rebelliousness. How rebellious could a kid truly be? But now, it seemed this one was in a league of his own.

Jiang Chen beckoned to the girl. "Hey, what's your name?"

Wang Junjun blushed as Jiang Chen called her beautiful. "Wang Junjun. Why do you ask?"

Jiang Chen shook his head. "Nothing. I'm stepping out for a bit. If the teacher comes, just say I went to the restroom."

With that, Jiang Chen grabbed his school jacket and walked out of the classroom.

Wang Junjun stared after him, flustered. "But... you're a boy. How am I supposed to explain that?"

Standing at the school gate, Jiang Chen used a little trickery to slip past the guard, then headed out.

"That girl sure runs fast," Jiang Chen sighed. Since his break, he hadn't used his mystical arts much, but now he had no choice.

He picked up a twig from the ground, broke it into three pieces, and tossed them down.

"South," he muttered.

...

"Xiao Lin, there aren't many customers today. After you finish cleaning, just go home," the boss instructed.

Lin Ning paused, surprised, then nodded.

No customers meant no money. She was just a part-time worker—fifteen yuan an hour, thirty if she finished cleaning. That was all she could earn today.

"Boss, can I get a menu?" Jiang Chen called from the entrance.

The boss hurried over, but seeing Jiang Chen in his school uniform, he understood at once.

"What would you like to eat?" the boss asked, his tone neutral, betraying neither warmth nor enthusiasm.

Jiang Chen thought for a moment. "Bring out all your house specialties, but no chili. And give me a private room. Oh, and have her serve me."

The boss eyed Jiang Chen's uniform but said nothing. After all, a monk might roam, but his temple remains—he wasn't worried about not getting paid.

Lin Ning, anxious, said, "What are you doing here? And with so many dishes, can you even finish them?"

"I'll just pack the leftovers," Jiang Chen replied nonchalantly.

He wondered if all those nouveau riche types behaved like this—ordering lavishly and tossing what they couldn't finish.

But Jiang Chen wasn't one of them. Waste was shameful, especially after having known real hunger.

Lin Ning rolled her eyes. "Fine, whatever."

Jiang Chen waited in the private room. Just then, Li Jingshou called. "Hey, bro, where did you go? I went to your place and you weren't there."

"Just focus on your dance practice for the next few days. Don't come looking for me—I have a mission, and it's dangerous for you to get involved," Jiang Chen replied.

"Oh, okay. My dad wants to invite you to dinner. He says he's got a big event lined up for you."

"I'll come after my mission," Jiang Chen replied, hanging up and idly playing with his phone.

A knock sounded.

"Come in," he called.

Lin Ning entered, carrying dish after dish, exasperated. "You ordered over thirty dishes. Can you really finish them? Aren't you wasting food? And as a student, where do you get so much money? This all adds up to nearly five thousand yuan."

"Well... if I can't pay, I'll just work it off. Besides, I haven't paid yet, have I?" Jiang Chen looked at her as if she were judging him for being a spendthrift.

When all thirty dishes were finally laid out, Jiang Chen picked the nearest few and started eating.

He had to admit, though the place was small and not far from school, the chef's skills were impressive—far better than any so-called three-star hotel run by some tire company.

"Don't just stand there; sit down and eat. I can't finish all this by myself," Jiang Chen said, pulling over a chair.

"You eat. I still have work to do," Lin Ning huffed.

"If you don't eat, isn't all this wasted? You wouldn't want to see good food go to waste, right? Besides, I heard your stomach rumble just now. Sit down and have a bite," Jiang Chen said, exposing her without hesitation.