C9 I Have a Bad Taste in My Mouth

Qin Anyi was acutely aware that throughout the day's exams, Wang Yi still kept a close eye on him. Clearly, his effortless approach to answering questions and his unique problem-solving methods had caught her attention.

He was secretly thrilled to have piqued Wang Yi's interest. Yet, he never anticipated that her curiosity would lead her to openly invite him to dinner in front of the entire class.

She must have known the stir such an invitation would cause. Given Wang Yi's standing and popularity at Changqing No.1 Middle School, word of this would surely ripple through every corner of the campus by the next day.

Riding on the coattails of Wang Yi's fame, Qin Anyi would become a school-wide celebrity—the first boy in Changqing No.1 Middle School to be asked out by Wang Yi, instantly turning him into the envy of his male peers.

But Qin Anyi knew that Wang Yi, true to her character, wouldn't give a second thought to the commotion her actions might cause. Despite having no interactions during their two years of high school, it was clear to him that Wang Yi was the type who didn't concern herself with the opinions of others.

She was someone who acted on her convictions, unaffected by the views and judgments of those around her.

"Why the sudden dinner invitation? Is this a formal date?" Qin Anyi asked, a playful smile on his face. His words cut through the classroom's silence, making his question all the more conspicuous to the attentive ears around them.

"I just wanted to chat and get your insight on a few things. School's out and it's dinner time, so why not eat together? Of course, if you're not up for it, I won't insist. And as for it being a date... well, if that's how you see it, you're not entirely wrong," Wang Yi replied with a casual shrug.

The previously hushed Grade 12 Class No. 2 erupted into whispers once more. Was the unassailable ice queen of Changqing No.1 Middle School finally showing a crack? This development was so abrupt, utterly without warning...

"I'm sure that if it's your invite, there's not a soul in the whole school who would turn it down," Qin Anyi said with a slight smile. "Let me just pack up my bag and I'll be right with you."

Wang gave a nod, her expression unchanged, and turned back to her seat to gather her things.

A buzz of chatter filled the air of Grade 12, Class 2. Everyone was quietly discussing the recent turn of events with their close friends. Though no one raised their voice, the collective whisper of over sixty students still made the classroom feel incredibly chaotic.

"Look at you, Anyi! When did you pull this off? You're full of surprises. That's Wang Suan! She's actually asked you out to dinner! Come on, spill it—what's really going on between you two?" Wei Dong slapped Qin Anyi's shoulder, his excitement palpable.

It was a matter of pride. The girl deemed the unattainable goddess by the school's male population had just asked his friend out. Wei Dong couldn't help but bask in the reflected glory.

"Nothing's going on. Believe it or not, before today, I hadn't exchanged a single word with Wang Suan," Qin Anyi replied, a hint of resignation in his voice as he packed his bag.

"Yeah, right. Who's going to believe that? Here, take this." Wei Dong rolled his eyes, flipping Qin Anyi off before pulling out his wallet and thrusting it into Qin Anyi's hands.

Qin Anyi looked down at the wallet in his hands, puzzled.

"Take it. How much cash do you think you're carrying? Wang Suan offered to treat you, but you're not seriously going to let her pay, are you?" Wei Dong draped an arm around Qin Anyi's shoulders, his voice dropping to a whisper only they could hear. "This is a golden opportunity, man. Seize it! If you play your cards right with Wang Suan... heh, you'll be the luckiest guy in the whole school!"

Qin Anyi just squeezed the wallet, choosing to remain silent. Wei Dong was his only close friend throughout high school, and they didn't need to put on any airs with each other. Qin Anyi wasn't clear on the details of Wei Dong's financial situation, but he knew that the few hundred yuan in the wallet probably represented just a couple of days' spending for him.

Before, Qin Anyi would have never accepted Wei Dong's money; he was all too aware that once he took it, he might not be able to repay it anytime soon. But now, with the Qilin at his disposal, everything had changed.

Even without a clear path to making money, Qin Anyi was certain that with such a supercharged brain, financial woes would be a thing of the past.

"That's the spirit! Remember to make a good impression tonight! And don't rush things. Wang Sanniang may not seem arrogant on the surface, but make no mistake, her pride runs deep. Winning her over won't be easy!"

Wei Dong couldn't help but whisper with glee when he saw Qin Anyi slip the wallet into his pocket. He had been concerned that Qin Anyi's pride might lead him to refuse the help. After all, they had been inseparable for two years, except during holidays, and knew each other's personalities inside out.

It turned out his worries were unfounded. Wei Dong was thrilled to offer his strategies, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Qin Anyi had changed somehow since the summer break. What exactly had changed, he couldn't pinpoint. Perhaps there was a newfound confidence about him?

"Classmate Qin Anyi, I'll wait for you at the school gate," Wang Sanniang announced, having quickly gathered her things.

"I'm ready too. Let's head out together," Qin Anyi replied, halting his hushed conversation with Wei Dong and slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Wei Dong gave him a nudge out of his seat and flashed a thumbs-up.

The entire Grade 12 Class 2 watched them with keen interest. The moment the pair vanished from the classroom doorway, the room erupted into a frenzy of speculation.

Wei Dong, Qin Anyi's sole close friend, became the go-to source for information, reveling in the attention as he began to spin wild tales.

Yang Cheng, however, stayed out of the fray. She had planned to ask Qin Anyi to dinner after school to thank him for his help the previous day, but to her surprise, Wang Sanniang had beaten her to the punch.

The female psyche is a curious thing. Despite having no special connection with Qin Anyi, Yang Cheng found herself drawn to him after the events of the previous night.

Yet, when she witnessed Wang Suan inviting Qin Anyi to dinner, and his acceptance of the offer, a pang of jealousy surged through her, uncontrollable and bitter. It felt as though something that was hers had been stolen away...

"Your public invitation might just land me in a heap of trouble," Qin Anyi remarked to Wang Suan as they strolled side by side toward the school gates of Changqing No.1 Middle School. Their proximity caught the attention of their peers, who gaped in disbelief at the unlikely pair.

Wang Suan, known for her polite distance from the opposite sex, never offering a sliver of hope to any suitor, was now walking intimately with a male classmate. What was this unexpected turn of events?

The onlookers blinked, rubbing their eyes as if to clear a collective illusion.

"I must confess, I have a penchant for mischief," Wang Suan said with a soft laugh, unfazed by the surrounding stares. "You've had two years of tranquility. Wouldn't it be dreadfully dull to spend our final year of high school without a ripple of excitement?"

"Watching you answer test papers, it was clear you wanted to avoid the spotlight. Despite your remarkable intellect, you've camouflaged yourself as just another unremarkable student for two years, without a single person growing suspicious. Qin Anyi, you're quite impressive."

Her sincerity was palpable, and the day's revelations had clearly moved her.

Internally, Qin Anyi winced with guilt. He had been genuinely average before, not intentionally so. He hadn't anticipated Wang Suan's misinterpretation, nor her lofty praise.

But some things are too complicated to clarify, and once misunderstood, perhaps it's best to let the misunderstanding stand...

"Brother Jie! This is the punk responsible! Little Gang and the others will be laid up in the hospital for a month, and he's the reason I'm all banged up!"

As Qin Anyi and Wang Suan stepped out of the school gates, an angry voice carried from behind, heavy with accusation.