Chapter 124: Deep Within the "Peach Blossom Pool"

Zhang Shen responded with an unmistakable air of annoyance. After all, in his eyes, these exam papers were no challenge for him; completing them was effortless. It was Meng Ran who had insisted on taking the task himself, and Zhang Shen had agreed, thinking it would lighten his own workload. Yet, he never anticipated that they would be nearly finished only to have such an unexpected complication arise. This was truly beyond his expectations.

Meng Ran glanced at the damp patch in the center of the exam paper and couldn’t help but laugh.

“Haha, Zhang, take a look at this. Doesn’t it look like the outline of the fields in Yuehu City?”

At that moment, Zhang Shen had no mind to entertain such remarks. His mind was consumed with how he would explain the situation to Hao Lei come morning. Seeing the predicament they were in, Zhang Shen dared not let Meng Ran continue filling in the rest of the papers.

“Fatty, you’ve done enough already. You should get some rest! I’ll finish the rest.”

But Meng Ran, freshly energized as if injected with adrenaline, replied, “Zhang, you should go rest first. I’ll handle this part.”

Although Meng Ran spoke with confidence, Zhang Shen, looking down at the paper, could not bring himself to trust Meng Ran’s approach. After all, he wasn’t sure if the saliva Meng Ran had drooled earlier was the product of some unclean thought, or whether more unsavory antics were yet to come. Zhang Shen wasn’t willing to take that risk.

“Big brother, you’re my big brother now—I really can’t trouble you any further.”

Hearing this, Meng Ran revealed his true colors, flashing a mischievous, almost sinister grin.

“Well, since you say it like that, Zhang, I can’t refuse. But you have to promise me one thing.”

“Go ahead,” Zhang Shen said, still trying to guess what this fatty might be planning, unaware that Meng Ran was already deeply ensnared in his own little trap.

“It’s really just one simple thing for you, Zhang. If Xiaoying asks you about this in the morning, just say you get half the credit for this medal! But don’t mention this exam paper to her.”

For such a modest request, Zhang Shen readily agreed.

“Alright, alright! After all, you’ve already helped so much.”

To Zhang Shen, it was clear that Meng Ran was fully awake—otherwise, who would casually mention “this morning” like that?

Seeing Meng Ran already in bed, Zhang Shen let him be and placed the exam paper on the desk, resigning himself to the situation. Noticing that there were still three hours before dawn, Zhang Shen decided to take a short nap himself.

...

When the two awoke, Zhang Shen’s first instinct was to inspect the exam paper that Meng Ran had drooled on. Though the moisture had dried, the thick “mark” remained, and whether by imagination or reality, Zhang Shen felt a faint, peculiar odor lingering at that spot.

That morning, Meng Ran was unusually early to rise as well. Seeing that the fatty was awake, Zhang Shen wasted no time dragging him to the desk to finish filling out the paper with answers.

Zhang Shen simply couldn’t bring himself to complete that paper and, out of desperation, deferred to the “instigator.”

Surprisingly, Meng Ran was obedient, picking up the answer sheet without a word and beginning to copy.

Within ten minutes, Meng Ran handed the completed paper back to Zhang Shen, who carefully took only one corner of it before placing it amongst the other exam papers.

After washing up, the two left their dormitory and happened to meet Lu Ming downstairs.

Zhang Shen and Meng Ran greeted him politely.

“Good morning, Teacher Lu!”

Since confirming his relationship with Hao Lei, Lu Ming had been in high spirits every day. Hearing their greeting, he returned it warmly.

Yet upon closer inspection, Lu Ming noticed a shared trait between the two.

“Zhang Shen, Meng Ran, why do your eyes have such dark circles? Did you stay up late last night?”

Before Zhang Shen could answer, Meng Ran eagerly replied, “Teacher Lu, yes, we stayed up late, but it was really for studying. Look at this.”

He gestured toward the large stack of exam papers Zhang Shen was holding.

Lu Ming was well aware of these papers—after all, he had contributed to them.

Seeing such a sight, Lu Ming didn’t comment further. Still, he recalled how fortunate it was that Hao Lei had provided Zhang Shen with the answers; without them, these two would have been in deep trouble. The thought made him feel somewhat guilty on their behalf.

With a faint smile, Lu Ming said, “Well then, you’ve worked hard. You’d better hurry to class! I believe the first lesson today is with Teacher Hao.”

By now, Lu Ming was well acquainted with Hao Lei’s teaching schedule.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shen and Meng Ran quickened their pace toward the classroom. Perhaps fate itself had arranged this meeting, for as they ascended the stairs, they saw Hao Lei.

Before the homeroom teacher, their greeting was no longer casual like with Lu Ming. Instead, they bowed respectfully, especially Zhang Shen, who appeared as if bracing for a formidable adversary. He had no idea when or where this formidable woman might stage her next dramatic “thriller.”

Hao Lei’s gaze immediately fixed on the stack of papers in Zhang Shen’s hand.

“Zhang Shen, have you finished all these papers?”

Hao Lei knew that even with the answers, copying them would take at least two nights. Yet Zhang Shen looked spirited and untroubled, as if nothing had been too difficult.

“Yes, Teacher Hao.”

Still, the sharp Hao Lei sensed something amiss and turned to Meng Ran.

“Meng Ran, did Zhang Shen do all these papers by himself?”

Meng Ran, prepared to lie without hesitation, nodded vigorously.

“Yes!”

Satisfied with the answer, Hao Lei did not press further and asked Zhang Shen to hand over the papers. To her, such student tactics were transparent and no surprise.

“Well then, you’ve worked hard.”

“Not at all. It’s my duty. I understand your good intentions, Teacher Hao.”

Zhang Shen spoke truthfully, though inside he was seething with frustration. His greatest concern now was that one exam paper, marked with saliva and bearing an unmistakable stain.