Chapter Sixty-Five: Holding an Umbrella for My Mentor

Wen Yichen watched Jiang Muwen sitting alone, sulking over her jealousy—a single Yin Lizhe was already enough to give him a headache, and now that Yin Lizhe remained unresolved, another formidable rival had arrived, one even older than him!

Jiang Muwen clutched her pen and obediently turned around, beginning to work on her exercises.

But the exercises were simply too difficult; after a long time, she still hadn't made any progress. At last, she timidly shifted her gaze to Wen Yichen, giving a miserable smile. "Brother Chen... I can't do it..."

The sudden "Brother Chen" startled Wen Yichen—he wasn't used to Jiang Muwen addressing him like that. He knew she wanted to evoke the feeling of a younger sibling asking an elder for help, but hearing it made him... uncomfortable.

Still, Wen Yichen glanced at Jiang Muwen, then at the exercise she pointed out—the very one he'd just explained to her.

Looking at her, recalling how she'd just been swooning over Gu Nianxun beside his ear, Wen Yichen felt an inexplicable displeasure. Why was it that when she praised others, she never thought of him, but when she couldn't solve a problem, she only then remembered to seek him out?

The more he thought, the more stifled he felt. He snapped his water pen shut and spoke coldly, "Do you know? People have two ears not so you can let things in one and out the other."

His tone was harsh, making Jiang Muwen uneasy—Wen Yichen truly wasn't the same as before, and this time his anger seemed even more serious. He used to complain as he helped her with problems, but today, he didn't even want to explain the exercise...

"Wen Yichen...?" Sensing trouble, Jiang Muwen called out to him softly.

After she spoke, Wen Yichen put down his pen and leaned back in his chair. "I've already explained this problem once. I don't want to repeat myself."

Jiang Muwen stared at Wen Yichen for a few seconds, then moved her gaze away in grievance, returning to the exercise. But since she truly couldn't solve it, she resorted to doodling simple geometric shapes in the blank space, feeling forlorn.

Seeing her so dejected, Wen Yichen was momentarily stunned—had he gone too far?

At last, Wen Yichen couldn't bear it. The next moment, he picked up his water pen again, straightened up, and said, "Fine, I'll teach you one last time..."

"Didn't you say you didn't want to teach me?" Jiang Muwen asked weakly, not even looking at him—who doesn't have a little emotion?

Seeing her reaction, Wen Yichen realized he'd messed up. Helpless, not wanting her anger to linger, he quietly pulled a sheet of paper from the drawer and wrote out all the steps—he'd said he wouldn't explain it again, but he could still write it out...

Once finished, he gently pushed the paper toward Jiang Muwen...

The new semester had been underway for several weeks, yet every morning, Yin Lizhe still faithfully placed juice on Jiang Muwen's desk, rain or shine. If there was any difference from last semester, it was that Gu Nianxi's desk now also had a bottle of milk.

After playing with Jiang Muwen and her friends for over a semester, Yin Lizhe had become a beverage courier, delivering drinks to the two "ancestors" every morning without fail.

But finally, Wen Yichen couldn't stand it anymore.

When Yin Lizhe once again carefully placed juice on Jiang Muwen's desk, Wen Yichen followed suit, setting a bottle of milk on her desk as well.

The two drinks were placed almost simultaneously, but Jiang Muwen remained oblivious—Wen Yichen had waited until Jiang Muwen and Gu Nianxi were out, openly competing with Yin Lizhe.

Their eyes met, both filled with a cold, hostile intensity.

"My elder sister doesn't like milk; you should drink it yourself," Yin Lizhe broke the silence first.

"She's growing—what's wrong with giving her some milk?" Wen Yichen held the milk bottle firmly, showing no intention to withdraw.

"My orange juice is freshly squeezed at home, much more nutritious than your milk." Yin Lizhe nodded and glanced sideways at Wen Yichen.

"Milk provides calcium; can orange juice do that?"

Back and forth they argued until Jiang Muwen and Gu Nianxi entered the classroom. Only then did they suddenly halt their debate, release their grip, and return to their seats, as if nothing had happened.

Jiang Muwen slowly approached her desk, staring at the two drinks in confusion—she'd only gone to the restroom with Gu Nianxi, so why were there suddenly two bottles on her desk?

"Elder sister, drink my orange juice, it's nutritious!" Yin Lizhe called out.

"Ahem..." Wen Yichen coughed deliberately, "My mom told me to bring this milk for you, said it's good for your health."

Jiang Muwen looked at the two bottles and then at the boys, unsure what to do.

She could sense the underlying intentions of the two boys, but the two drinks truly left her at a loss—whether she accepted them or not, it felt awkward.

"Which one will you drink, boss?" Yin Lizhe finally asked again.

Jiang Muwen gave them a helpless smile, then carefully placed the milk in Yin Lizhe's hand and set the orange juice on Wen Yichen's desk. "Since both are so nutritious, you two should drink them yourselves—"

...

Jiang Muwen never found out how the boys ultimately resolved the drinks. All she knew was that after school, when she walked beside Wen Yichen, the air around him was oppressively heavy.

They had barely taken a few steps outside the school gate when Jiang Muwen felt a cool drop land on her forehead, followed by another...

Was it raining?

Jiang Muwen looked up and glanced at Wen Yichen. After a moment of silence, she tentatively asked, "Is it... raining?"

Her question brought Wen Yichen back to reality. "Mm," he replied.

"Wen Yichen... did you bring an umbrella?" Jiang Muwen gave him a plaintive smile.

Wen Yichen looked down at her, having known her for so long, he immediately understood her meaning—she hadn't brought an umbrella and wanted to share his.

Resigned, Wen Yichen took out an umbrella from his bag and opened it.

No sooner had he raised it than Jiang Muwen began clamoring to hold it herself, claiming it was "an honor to hold the umbrella for her mentor."

Before Wen Yichen could respond, Jiang Muwen took the umbrella from his hand. With over twenty centimeters between their heights, she managed to cover Wen Yichen's head thoroughly. If she held it any lower, his head might poke through the umbrella like a bamboo shoot breaking through the earth.