Push Me Away When I Come, Don't Hold Me Back When I Leave - Chapter 23

Chapter 23: Just Call My Name…

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“Sis… is this really the score I got?” Ji Chuan poked Xia Ruoming’s waist while listening to the lecture. No matter how many times he looked at it, he couldn’t believe this score was real.

“Of course, I already told you, as long as you study well with me, I guarantee you can get into a top university,” Xia Ruoming replied confidently. In fact, this was just part of her plan to build confidence in her sworn brother, and this somewhat slow-witted brother of hers wouldn’t be able to figure it out anyway.

“Next, I’m going to help you get at least one more question right in each subject. Even if you don’t fully understand it, you should at least know the general solution method.” While Xia Ruoming was speaking, Ji Chuan’s expression began to change unpredictably.

“Um… how about we don’t…”

Seeing Xia Ruoming’s suddenly darkening expression, Ji Chuan immediately fell silent.

“Alright, the explanation of commonly mistaken question types is now over. For those simple questions, ask your classmates, or if you’re too socially anxious, you can come to my office to ask me privately, though asking me comes with a price,” The bell rang just as Xiao Qinghan finished speaking, and she packed up her materials and left.

No one would actually be bored enough to ask Xiao Qinghan about simple question types, because she had a famous saying:

“If you can’t solve these easy points-giving questions, don’t tell people you’re my student and embarrass me.”

Someone once dared to ask about these “easy points” questions that Xiao Qinghan referred to. After patiently explaining it to him, she gave him a set of photocopied “Complete Collection of Past Exam Papers and Mock Tests” and required him to complete all of them within 10 days for her to grade.

After class, Xia Ruoming glanced at Ji Chuan’s paper, preparing to explain some of his wrong answers, when her eyes caught He Ya, who had just left her seat and was heading to the vending machine for a drink.

Her dark eyes sparkled as she immediately came up with a plan.

“Classmate He Ya, I don’t quite understand this question. Ji Chuan asked me, but I don’t want to give him wrong explanations. Could you please help teach him?” When He Ya heard the first half of the sentence, she was ready to refuse and leave, but upon hearing it was Ji Chuan who asked, she swallowed her words and followed Xia Ruoming to Ji Chuan’s desk with her own test paper.

Xia Ruoming hadn’t guessed wrong. Although she didn’t know when this strange connection had formed, there was no doubt that He Ya and Ji Chuan were now secretly in love with each other.

“Wait, Sis, what are you doing? Don’t you know how to solve this question?” When Ji Chuan saw Xia Ruoming directly bringing He Ya over, he anxiously asked in a low voice.

“What’s wrong? Do you dislike Classmate He? Your sister’s solution method isn’t as good as hers, is it not okay to let her teach you?” Xia Ruoming deliberately whispered in Ji Chuan’s ear.

Ji Chuan’s face immediately turned red, shaking his head like a rattle drum, saying “no, no.”

“Then that’s settled. Be good and listen to her explanation, learn well.” After saying this, Xia Ruoming left Ji Chuan and went to Chu Suhe’s seat.

“Class Monitor Chu, are you feeling better?” Xia Ruoming quietly stood behind Chu Suhe and whispered in her ear, giving Chu Suhe quite a fright.

“Better… better now, thank you… Classmate Ruoming.” Chu Suhe was still very shy in front of others. After rummaging through her schoolbag for a while, she finally took out Xia Ruoming’s test paper. “This, this is your test paper, Classmate Ruoming. I’ve marked and corrected the places where you made mistakes but that I know how to solve.”

“Then thank you, Class Monitor Chu.” Xia Ruoming took the stack of test papers, which were full of blue and red pen annotations, and looked at Chu Suhe’s bloodshot eyes. This little girl must have stayed up late checking papers again.

“No… no need… Classmate Ruoming, you can just call me by my name…”  Chu Suhe said softly.

“Then… Suhe?” Xia Ruoming called out normally, but it made Chu Suhe’s heart flutter, with a light blush appearing on her cheeks.

“Oh, right, this is for you. Drink one bottle a day, and you can have one when you feel unwell or have difficulty breathing.” Several small bottles appeared in front of Chu Suhe. She looked carefully and saw they were labeled “Glucose Drink.” After remembering about Chu Suhe’s low blood sugar yesterday, Xia Ruoming had specially bought several boxes of these.

“Isn’t this very expensive, Classmate Ruoming? I can’t accept it.” Chu Suhe shook her head and didn’t take the small bottles. She rarely went to those big pharmacies, and most of the time when she was sick, she relied on self-healing, so she didn’t know the real value of these things.

“It’s just something that costs a dozen yuan, Suhe. If you don’t take them, I won’t be able to use them, and they’ll just be thrown away. Besides, if Suhe doesn’t accept them and faints again, you’ll end up owing me thousands of yuan again.”

Seeing the strange smile on Xia Ruoming’s face and hearing what she said, as Xia Ruoming expected, Chu Suhe obediently put away the glucose drinks.

Ah, dealing with this kind of girl, she had already developed a set of techniques.

Xu Fengwu, at her own seat, heard the conversation between Xia Ruoming and Chu Suhe, and felt sour inside. That jealousy came from somewhere unknown.

Giving up on herself, yet going for such an ordinary girl. In terms of looks, talent, temperament, and family background, Chu Suhe couldn’t compare to her in any aspect. Why? Why would she end up losing like this?

She really couldn’t accept it.

Seeing Xia Ruoming taking Chu Suhe to Ji Chuan’s seat, the four of them enthusiastically discussing study-related issues, she couldn’t hold back anymore. She took her test paper and walked to Xia Ruoming’s position.

“Ruoming, there are many parts of this test that I don’t understand. Can I join your study group?”

Xia Ruoming looked toward the voice. Xu Fengwu appeared pitiful, her clear eyes seemingly ready to shed tears at any moment.

Looking at Xu Fengwu’s appearance, Xia Ruoming could hear a voice in her heart telling her.

Xia Ruoming, you’re falling for her again.

Yes, if you set aside that terrible personality, no one in the school could compare to Xu Fengwu. Her voice like nature’s music, her stunning appearance, her cold and otherworldly temperament, neither the transformed Chu Suhe nor the star-bright Jiang Ruhua could truly compare to her.

She took a deep breath to extinguish that rekindling heart.

If she were the type of person to repeat the same mistakes, why would fate choose her to come back again?

“Sorry, Classmate Xu, none of us four have scores that can match yours. Joining us would only increase your burden, and your presence would also increase our pressure. So I’m sorry, Classmate Xu, please find someone else.”

Ji Chuan, He Ya, and Chu Suhe, three pairs of eyes looked at her, but no one actually spoke up to give Xu Fengwu a way out.

Rejected! She rejected her again! How could this be?

Xu Fengwu was devastated inside. She had already lowered herself several times, but the distance between her and Xia Ruoming kept growing.

And for the first time, she said those nearly sarcastic words to her.

Although she said “us,” Xu Fengwu knew what it meant.

“If you come, it will put a lot of pressure on me.”