Because they were not in the same class, they parted ways by the second academic building.
South Bridge No.2 Middle School is the largest high school in Capital City, with as many as 15 classes set up just for the senior year.
With college entrance exams looming, nearly every student's desk was piled high with stacks of books and review materials, the most prominent being "Five-Year College Entrance Examination, Three-Year Simulation".
Looking around at this familiar yet strange surroundings, Chu Jin's eyes began to warm up.
How many times in midnight dreams had she returned to this most naive age, but alas, they were only dreams.
I remember reading a sentence online once: Once, I thought I had finally left hell, only to realize now that what I had left behind was heaven.
Now that she had returned to this age, she would cherish every minute of her life.
The last term of the senior year, at a crucial time, Chu Jin had just sat down when a stack of test papers was already piled on her desk.
Her desk mate, returning from the restroom, was stunned the moment they saw the test papers on the desk.
"Holy shit! So many test papers, why didn't you pass them back?"
Hearing this, Chu Jin looked up at Miao Xinran and spoke faintly, "These are all yours."
"Damn it!" Miao Xinran cursed under her breath, "When will this ever end..."
Miao Xinran was her desk mate and the only good friend of her predecessor in this class.
Miao Xinran could be described as a super top student - indulging in eating, playing, and gaming, even reading novels in class was almost routine, but unfortunately, she was just naturally talented. No matter the problem, she understood at a glance, grasping the teachers' points immediately and treating study as if it were play, always ranking first in the class and third in the grade.
"Haha," Chu Jin calmly flipped the test paper to the next page, "you speak as if you would really do these test papers."
A student as outrageously talented as Miao Xinran was the teacher's pet; she didn't have to take test papers seriously at all.
Even those routine exercises, it was rare to see Miao Xinran completing them at any time.
"That's also true," Miao Xinran took out her phone from her pocket, "Jin, let me tell you, I've recently found a really fun and brain-burning game, do you want to join me?"
"No thanks," Chu Jin began to attempt one of the proofs on the test paper with a pen. In truth, subjects like math were really difficult. Most of what she had learned in her previous life had been returned to Marx.
"Holy shit!" Miao Xinran turned her head and was astonished to see Chu Jin seriously working on a proof, and couldn't help exclaiming, "Jin, have you decided to mend your ways? That's great, I've always been saying, you need to study hard. Otherwise, how can you attend the same university as me? If we don't go to the same university, how can we hang out together? Play games? Check out cute guys..."
Logically, with Miao Xinran being a top student and her being the bottom, these two should never have become desk mates, much less good friends.
The reason why Miao Xinran could become desk mates with Chu Jin was because Miao Xinran's influence was too great. Anyone who had shared a desk with her saw their grades plummet, and to prevent her from harming other students, the teacher arranged for her to sit with Chu Jin instead.
Because Chu Jin was inherently a poor student, there was no need for her to be influenced by Miao Xinran.
"Jin," Miao Xinran stopped playing her game, propped her chin with both hands, and watched Chu Jin, demanding, "Tell me the truth, are you still hung up on that scumbag Wen Junxi? Are you trying to reform for him? Are you still hoping to be with him?"
Miao Xinran wore an expression of deep sadness, "Sigh, Jin, I have to say, you should really let go of that notion as soon as possible. What's so good about that scumbag Wen Junxi that you would do this for him? I'm really disappointed in you..."
Chu Jin stopped writing, shifted her gaze away from the test paper, turned her head, and spoke with a cool tone, "It's not for him."
Just those five words, spoken softly, carried a persuasive power that made Miao Xinran suddenly close her mouth.
She gazed at Chu Jin somewhat dazedly.
After a long while, she finally uttered, "Are you really Jin?"
The person before her had picturesque brows and eyes, white teeth and red lips, and even wearing a simple school uniform couldn't hide her distinct air of uniqueness.
She didn't resemble the Jin she knew.
Chu Jin smiled slightly, "Of course, you can also call me 'Brother Jin'."
Miao Xinran: "..." She hadn't even begun to compliment when Chu Jin had already started to inflate her own ego.
At that moment, Zi, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.
"Jin, the second task has arrived, do you want to take it?"
Chu Jin raised an eyebrow, "Can I say no?"
Zi, with legs crossed, responded, "Of course not, if you decline, the system will erase you."
Chu Jin said, "Then why bother asking?"
Zi: "..." With such sharp words from the host, what can I say? I'm helpless too, okay?
[Ding! A second-level task has been triggered. Task type: Acquire a heart of faith. Task objective: Help Miao Xinran get out of her current predicament!]
Help Miao Xinran get out of her predicament!
Chu Jin glanced at Miao Xinran who was engrossed in her game. The kid was doing well—eating, playing, drinking, sleeping, and studying. What predicament could she have?
"Jin, don't forget that you are now a high-level fortune-teller. Try using your Tarot cards," Zi reminded.
"Alright," Chu Jin gave a slight nod, and with a thought, a deck of Tarot cards appeared in her pocket, "Xinran,"
"What's up?" Miao Xinran returned to reality from her game.
Chu Jin held up the Tarot cards, "Let me do a reading for you."
Miao Xinran laughed upon seeing them, "Wow, look at you. You've become a fortune-teller after a three-day break, and now you're into Tarot cards."
Chu Jin said earnestly, "It's a family tradition. Want to give it a try? No charge if it's not accurate."
Miao Xinran hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "Sure."
The Tarot cards kept changing hands as Chu Jin shuffled them in various fancy ways, then swiftly laid out the Sacred Triangle spread.
Chu Jin looked at Miao Xinran with slightly cold intonation and a serious demeanor, "Xinran, say the question you want to ask and then flip over three cards at random."
Miao Xinran's downcast eyes quickly flashed with a hint of desolation before she raised her eyes; the playful demeanor on her face had already vanished, "I want to ask about the question that's in my heart."