Dashing Student

Seeing Chen Nan's exaggerated expression, a flicker of astonishment appeared in the woman's eyes. Her Adam's apple moved as she tentatively asked, "Are you Chen Nan?"

"Who else could it be but me?" Chen Nan looked at Nie Xiaoyu with a puzzled face, "Isn't it... old monitor, why are you selling roujiamo here?"

Nie Xiaoyu had been his classmate for three years in high school; she was both the top student and the belle of the school. Her influence at school was by no means less than that of Liu Yiyi.

So.

Seeing his former top-student classmate selling roujiamo outside a hospital, how could he not be shocked?

Nie Xiaoyu's expression turned melancholy, "I didn't do well in the college entrance exam that year."

"Plus, with my grandfather in the hospital, I set up this small stall here to subsidize the household, hoping to earn some money to help out."

Since Chen Nan hadn't taken the college entrance exam that year and went straight to the mountains to practice, he was unaware of what had become of his classmates.

However.

Seeing the once proud and peerless beauty of the school with a dark complexion, rough skin, and a lack of luster in her eyes, he couldn't help feeling a sense of the impermanence of life.

"You should have retaken the exam for a year. I believe, with your ability, getting into Tsinghua or Peking University wouldn't be a problem," Chen Nan couldn't help but sigh softly.

Nie Xiaoyu's abilities were acknowledged by everyone. Even if she failed the college entrance exam once, re-taking it for a year would allow her to enter a prestigious university.

"I..." Nie Xiaoyu's face was filled with sadness, but she said no more, and then forced a smile, "How many do you want?"

Chen Nan knew something must have happened to Nie Xiaoyu, but since she didn't want to talk about it, he didn't pursue the matter further.

Clearing his throat awkwardly, Chen Nan said, "Well, I was in a hurry when I came out and didn't bring any money."

Nie Xiaoyu gave him a look, scolded with a tender voice, "Don't say you didn't bring any money. Even if you did, with our relationship as classmates, would I still take your money? Consider it my treat!"

The sincerity found in high school friendships, free from any ulterior motives, was something Chen Nan fully sensed in Nie Xiaoyu, which made him feel particularly warm.

He touched the tip of his nose and said, "Give me one with only lean meat!"

Nie Xiaoyu gave an affirming hum and then began to knead the dough skillfully and bake the flatbread; the whole process was done in a smooth and practiced manner.

This left Chen Nan full of sighs and feeling a bit heartbroken.

She was once a girl full of spirit.

And now.

She had fallen to this state.

"You don't pack up shop in the evening?" While waiting for the flatbread, Chen Nan couldn't help but ask.

Nie Xiaoyu replied, "In the past, at this time, I would have already gone home to sleep, but today I was a bit tired and fell asleep leaning against the cart!"

Chen Nan said with a smile, "Perhaps, this is fate. If you hadn't fallen asleep against the cart, we old classmates wouldn't have had this reunion."

Nie Xiaoyu looked up at Chen Nan while baking the flatbread, a hint of curiosity in her eyes, "Have you become a Taoist?"

Regarding Chen Nan's sudden drop out two years ago.

Whether it was her or those classmates from back then, there were huge question marks in their hearts.

Everyone knew that although Chen Nan was a wealthy second-generation, he had a good relationship with others at school and easily mingled with classmates, thanks to his good academic performance.

When they learned Chen Nan had dropped out, many were worried something had happened to his family.

It was only after the class teacher said he was just taking a leave that the classmates felt somewhat relieved.

However.

His whereabouts had become a mystery.

Chen Nan said with a smile, "I haven't become a monk, I just lived with an old Taoist in the mountains for two years."

"Now, I have returned to my studies."

Nie Xiaoyu hummed, "That's good. I believe that with your capabilities, you can definitely get into a 985 or 211 university." Saying this, she lowered her head and continued to work, her eyes revealing an undeniable sadness.

She once dreamt of attending a prestigious university, but the tragedy two years ago completely shattered her dreams.

As a result,

now she could only rely on selling pork sandwiches to make a meager income to pay for her grandfather's medical bills.

Chen Nan sighed, "I took a two-year hiatus from school and now that I'm back, I don't have much confidence in tackling the college entrance exams."

After a pause, Chen Nan couldn't help but say, "I remember you were really good at science, weren't you?"

"It's all in the past." Nie Xiaoyu obviously didn't want to talk about this topic that made her sad.

Chen Nan continued, "How much do you earn in a day selling pork sandwiches?"

Nie Xiaoyu: "On average, a little over a hundred yuan."

Chen Nan nodded slightly, then said, "How about this? Don't sell pork sandwiches anymore. You can tutor me in science, and I'll pay you a thousand yuan per lesson."

Chen Nan urgently needed to improve his science grades, but Zhu Keren's schedule was not fixed, and that's why he thought of asking Nie Xiaoyu to tutor him.

It was also a way of indirectly helping an old classmate.

After all,

their relationship had always been quite good, and he couldn't bear to see his once spirited class monitor living a hand-to-mouth existence.

Nie Xiaoyu suddenly looked up, her eyes brimming with crystal tears: "Why?"

Chen Nan took it for granted as he said, "Instead of finding someone else to tutor me, why not have someone I trust do it?"

"But... my college entrance exam results were very poor." Tears uncontrollably streamed down Nie Xiaoyu's face.

It was a reality she was unwilling to face.

Even now.

She couldn't believe her results were that bad.

But the reality was right before her, and she had no choice but to face it.

Seeing his old classmate crying her heart out, Chen Nan felt as if his own heart was breaking because he simply couldn't stand seeing a woman cry.

He took out a pack of tissues, withdrew one, and handed it to her, his voice soft, "A single failure doesn't define your worth."

Nie Xiaoyu wiped away her tears and looked at Chen Nan anxiously, unable to help herself as she said, "Can I... really do it?"

"Hey, you're Nie Xiaoyu! The once pride of Jizhou First Middle School," Chen Nan said. "If you can manage to sell pork sandwiches on the street, what can't you do?"

Upon hearing these words,

Nie Xiaoyu's pupils trembled fiercely, and a faint glimmer of light emerged in her dim eyes.

That's right!

She was Nie Xiaoyu.

The pride of Jizhou First Middle School.

Now that she could stand by the hospital entrance selling pork sandwiches, what was it she couldn't achieve?

With this in mind, the indecision in her eyes turned to resolve, and she gratefully looked at Chen Nan, "Chen Nan, I know you want to help me, and though we are old classmates, I still want to say thank you."

Chen Nan smiled, "Then if you treat me to a pork sandwich, should I also say thank you?"

Nie Xiaoyu's face blushed slightly. Even though her skin was rough and tanned by the sun, it gave her a different kind of beauty.

Soon, a delicious pork sandwich was handed to Chen Nan. He took a big bite, savory meat and crispy dough mixed together, instantly delighting his taste buds.

He ate with gusto and then, looking at Nie Xiaoyu who was packing up her stall, couldn't help but say, "Xiaoyu, would you mind taking on an extra job?"

Nie Xiaoyu nodded repeatedly, "I can!"

Chen Nan looked at her in astonishment, "You agreed without even knowing what the job is?"