Glancing at the book in his hand and the phone number jotted on the cover, Qiao Yu thought he should head back to his class to grab his backpack before going straight to Class 1 to ask Xia Keke for his phone back, and then hurry home.
Once home, he'd ponder over that Little Alibaba mathematics competition.
To be honest, it wasn't just Lan Jie who was unclear about Qiao Yu's level in mathematics; even Qiao Yu himself wasn't quite sure where he stood right now in his math skills.
Back when he got interested in math and started self-studying, he really had a haphazard approach, following some vague trail until things got too hard, and then he'd switch directions to study something else.
For instance, he initially wanted to learn statistics to make money but later found that just studying statistics was filled with things he couldn't understand. After some online searching, he switched to looking at topics like probability theory, calculus, and linear algebra.
Once he got those down, studying statistics became much easier. Yet, after a while, he discovered that in the study of data shapes within statistics, topology tools were needed to analyze the shape characteristics of high-dimensional datasets.
In particular, in some cases, the convergence and continuity of probability measures also required the use of topology concepts.
And so, he turned to study topology material for some time.
If a university math teacher knew that someone learned by reading in such a messy way and still managed to grasp a rough understanding of these math topics, they'd likely find it incredible since that's not really how you're supposed to study mathematics.
For self-study like this to lead to success, aside from being exceptionally gifted, it's hard to find another reason.
So as far as Qiao Yu saw it, the only way to judge whether he could participate in the math competition was to first study past exam questions and see if he could solve them.
If the questions weren't too tough, he definitely had to sign up and give it a try.
After all, it's thirty thousand US dollars, over two hundred thousand RMB. If he could win but didn't, Qiao Yu probably wouldn't be able to forgive himself for an entire year.
By the time he got back to the junior high classroom, it was almost five o'clock.
Only a few students on duty were lingering in Class 13, but as he passed other classes, he saw most people were still diligently doing self-study in their classrooms.
After all, the entrance exams were coming up, and the school cafeteria didn't open until five thirty. Students who were aspiring for the exams would usually voluntarily study until the bell rang at five twenty before heading off to eat.
Especially in the Rocket Class.
Qiao Yu returned to his classroom to get his backpack, put the two books Lan Jie gave him inside, and then headed to the entrance of Class 1.
He hesitated a little.
Not because he was worried about others, but mainly because he saw the little girl intently working on her problems and didn't want to disturb her train of thought.
But he quickly didn't need to hesitate anymore because Keke's deskmate, the girl with the round face, happened to look up and see Qiao Yu, then patted Xia Keke beside her and pointed toward the door.
So Qiao Yu saw the little girl first look up in bewilderment, then follow her deskmate's finger towards the doorway. What he saw then was the little girl's eyes quickly form crescents, just like a crescent moon, with two round dimples on her cheeks, making her look especially cute.
Wait, don't be fooled by this girl's appearance!
Thinking about how it was this little girl who had fiercely thrown his cigarette and lighter into the garbage can this morning, Qiao Yu warned himself internally.
Just as Qiao Yu was bolstering his resolve, Xia Keke already stood up, took a couple of steps towards the door, then remembered something, returned to her seat, and grabbed her backpack with the Miffy rabbit print on it.
Only then did she rush out to the door.
Even though it was a simple action, it immediately attracted many eyes in the class.
It even stirred a wave of whispers in the Rocket Class.
Not only because Qiao Yu was already a notable figure in the school, but also because Xia Keke had admirers in the class.
Qiao Yu even noticed that when Xia Keke ran towards the door, many in the Rocket Class looked toward the front row near the window. In the corner of his eye, he saw a boy with a buzzcut sitting in the front row staring at him intently.
Qiao Yu could even feel the discontent and anger in that gaze. Ha, it seemed this little girl had admirers in her class.
Of course, to Qiao Yu, this didn't affect him in the slightest.
A bunch of little kids, who have no time for movies, what do they know about love?
Alright, Qiao Yu admitted, in reality, he didn't really understand it either.
But he felt he had some experience.
The reason being, well, back in kindergarten, he often shared a bed with this little girl, who could he argue with about that?
"Hmph, heard you were quite the star today, big brother!"
As these random thoughts swirled in his head, Xia Keke had already slung her little backpack over her shoulder and stood by Qiao Yu's side, head tilted as she sized him up mischievously.
"Cut the crap and give me back my phone." Qiao Yu said quietly, he really didn't want to linger too long at the classroom door with this little girl.
The Rocket Class teachers were always elusive; one might show up at any moment for a surprise round.
Qiao Yu didn't mind, he felt quite experienced at dealing with teachers, mainly he was worried about affecting this little girl.
With the entrance exams approaching, even from a brotherly standpoint, he hoped the little girl could get into one of Star City's top four high schools and later enter a prestigious university.
"Hmph, what's the rush?" Xia Keke glared at Qiao Yu, annoyed.
"Nonsense, aren't you afraid of the teacher catching you slacking off from self-study?"
"I went up twelve ranks in the last mock exam, and the teacher praised me just the other day! Besides, I haven't even asked you to settle accounts! Now the whole grade is saying the two of us are a couple, and some even say you purposely did poorly on the exam because I broke up with you and you were heartbroken! What are you going to do about it?"
Qiao Yu was thunderstruck by her words, and suddenly understood how idioms like "three men make a tiger", "spreading rumors", "catching wind and shadows", "nothing out of thin air", and "talking much can melt gold" were so vivid and descriptive.
He also sort of figured out why just now, many kids in the Rocket Class were all staring at him, and why someone's gaze seemed so aggrieved.
"Who! That's slander, isn't it? Even if we were a couple, if we broke up, I should…" Qiao Yu said angrily and softly, but suddenly felt the little girl's demeanor off. Memories of some events from last night flashed across his mind, and he instantly sensed danger.
No way, the phone was still in this girl's backpack, he couldn't just snatch it in front of the classroom.
"We, we can discuss it, right?"
"Hmph, hmph, good that you know your place, big brother, I'll forgive you this once!" Xia Keke huffed twice with a sense of superiority, then took the phone out of her backpack and handed it over.
Qiao Yu reached out to take it, only to find the phone gripped tightly by the little girl, her fingertips turning white.
"Let go, what if the teacher comes and sees?"
"I don't care, my reputation is tarnished, so you have to compensate me."
"Compensate what?"
"When we both get into college, you must seriously, sincerely, pursue me once."
The little girl's face was earnest as she said it.