After reincarnation, attack as a female imp!

"I know. Last week, all of Xinshu's pens in my class were of this brand. They're really expensive. Don't use fancy ones. They wear out my writing a lot."

"You're just being silly. Why don't you just go hang out there? I've taken the whole night off. Besides, I only have a little over 10,000 yuan in savings. I can't afford it even if you want me to spend a lot of money."

Qin Zhixin followed the route she remembered taking with her brother to Deji Plaza, driving her e-donkey in a roundabout way to a parking lot not far from Deji Plaza. Yang Qichao was still a little uncomfortable. He had thought of giving Qin Zhixin something to leave a lasting impression before leaving, but he didn't expect Qin Zhixin to drive him here to spend money.

He always felt a sense of disharmony. In the new tradition cultivated after the reform and opening up of China, it was generally men who gave gifts to women, not women who gave gifts to men. Let alone mutual gifts like Qin Zhixin, anyone who gave a gift that was not to the woman's liking would be scolded.

Yang Qichao looked at Deji Plaza from a distance, feeling a little guilty. Qin Zhixin had already pulled out the key and was about to leave when Yang Qichao grabbed her.

"Don't go, it's too expensive. You can't buy anything there with your little savings, and I don't know how to use a fountain pen. If you gave it to me, I would just treat it as a family heirloom."

Qin Zhixin rolled her eyes at him, her charming little face rosy in the sunset. Yang Qichao was so mesmerized by her that he couldn't say anything else.

"Do you take me for an idiot? I'm broke, so of course I'll go to a secondhand store. Nanling has the most secondhand stores near Deji Plaza. A lot of people buy things at full price, but then regret it soon after and want to get their money back, so they sell them at 80% or 90% off. I'll take you to Taobao."

Qin Zhixin took Yang Qichao for a stroll along the pedestrian street next to Deji Plaza. They talked and laughed as they walked, as if Yang Qichao wasn't leaving, but rather just enjoying an ordinary evening together. It was like when they were little, saving up their coins and going to the market together to buy chicken racks, except now they were grown up.

Qin Zhixin didn't know what to give Yang Qichao, so she walked around and came to a second-hand watch shop. She stood at the door for a moment, stunned, and then pulled Yang Qichao into the store.

This shop sells a wide variety of watches, but most aren't particularly expensive. Because of its remote location, the counters mostly carry entry-level Swiss watches like Mido and Tissot, along with cheaper pieces like Casio, Seiko, and Citizen. Qin Zhixin skipped over the watches under 5,000 yuan and searched through the counters at the back.

The teller, an elderly man wearing reading glasses, was eating a boxed lunch. He didn't even look up when a customer arrived, telling Qin Zhixin to choose and come back to him when she was done. Yang Qichao was also checking his watch. He had much more savings than Qin Zhixin, but most of it was with Ye Xiaosu. He usually spent the most on food and school supplies. The counter he was looking at was the cheapest one here for Japanese watches. He liked the Casio G-SHOCK series; it was both affordable and durable.

Yang Qichao didn't want to spend too much of Qin Zhixin's money. After all, what kind of man would spend a woman's money? Even if they exchanged gifts, it was enough to make him feel uneasy. But before Yang Qichao had time to choose, Qin Zhixin had already made her choice.

"Boss, I want to take a look at this."

The old man put down his lunch box, walked slowly over, and took the watch Qin Zhixin had pointed at from the counter. It was a Swiss-made mechanical chronograph, branded "BALL," which literally means "ball brand." Yang Qichao also came over. Qin Zhixin had excellent taste. The watch's case and strap were both made of corrosion-resistant stainless steel. The watch was small, just over 40mm in diameter. The dial was a creamy white lacquer with a tachymeter ring painted on it, and the hands were all blued. It looked both complex and luxurious. Yang Qichao didn't know what these were, but he thought the watch was beautiful, classic yet understated. However, when he saw the price tag of [8999], he instantly became anxious.

"No, it's too expensive. This price is ridiculous. You only have a small amount of savings and you're wasting your money. I saw a good G-SHOCK, it's only a few hundred dollars. A digital watch will definitely last much longer than this."

Qin Zhixin ignored him and had already taken out her bank card to swipe it. The boss didn't say much, but went to the storeroom behind the counter to find a watch box and put it on. Yang Qichao was at a loss, his face red as a monkey's bottom as he stood there. He felt like a complete loser, having become a gigolo who took advantage of women's money just by going out.

Qin Zhixin looked at Yang Qichao's awkward look and smiled gently.

"What man wears a toy watch every day? When you go to Guangdong Province, at least dress and use things like a man. Don't be so immature all the time."

Chapter 174 On the Waterside

Qin Zhixin asked the boss to cut the steel watch strap according to the circumference of Yang Qichao's wrist. Yang Qichao's wrist was thick, so the long steel watch strap only needed to be cut into two sections to fit his wrist.

Qin Zhixin took the watch box and bag, and the two walked down the street. Yang Qichao put on the watch Qin Zhixin had bought him. The mirror-polished case shone brightly in the sunset. Yang Qichao had never worn a watch before, and the watch felt heavy on his wrist, like a weight on his heart.

Qin Zhixin was surprised. She knew Yang Qichao's forearm was very thick, but she didn't know how thick it was. She simply stepped forward and held Yang Qichao's other wrist. Qin Zhixin's hands were small, so she could only wrap one hand around half of Yang Qichao's wrist.

Qin Zhixin's hand touched Yang Qichao's wrist, and Yang Qichao subconsciously wanted to move away. Yang Qichao felt that this was too intimate. Qin Zhixin was the daughter of a good family, a decent girl, not one of those filthy, half-dressed, fawning, and servile creatures who crawled out like cockroaches at night and spread germs in the corners of the test room.

Yang Qichao instinctively felt that she shouldn't be too intimate with a man before the relationship was confirmed, even if this "man" was the one she and she used to catch shrimps naked on the riverbank when they were children, and even if their relationship seemed confirmed to outsiders.

This was Yang Qichao's subconscious reaction. His "honesty" was engraved in his bones. But he restrained the thought and let Qin Zhixin grab his wrist.

Qin Zhixin's hands were cold and tender, like a piece of tofu pressed against his forearm. Yang Qichao felt a little itchy when she touched him.

"Chaozi, I can't believe your arms are so thick. You and I usually eat almost the same amount, but why do you look like an animal on drugs?"

Qin Zhixin smiled sweetly and spoke incoherently. Yang Qichao's eyes were empty. He wanted to say that the meal he ate was enough for Qin Zhixin to eat for the whole day, but his mind was too confused.

Just now, when the boss was looking for the watch box, he secretly searched for "Ball" brand watches on the Internet.

In China, this watch is called a "Boer," which is at least more elegant than the literal translation of "ball." Yang Qichao had never heard of "Boer," but he knew Longines. Longines was very popular in China, with Nanling TV frequently showing Longines commercials. His junior high school classmate wore a Longines quartz watch, and he treasured it dearly. He would take it off his wrist whenever he had time and meticulously scrub it with eyeglass cleaner. He would even grimace in pain if he scratched the watch.

Ball is a more upscale brand than Longines, with the most basic models priced around 15,000 yuan. However, the brand isn't well-known in China, so secondhand values ​​aren't high. Yang Qichao didn't immediately identify the model of the watch Qin Zhixin had given him, but judging by the style of the dial and hands, it should be from the "Railway Executive" series. This is considered a high-end model for a Ball watch, and it also keeps time.

Yang Qichao was a bit dazed. Perhaps today was the last time he would see Qin Zhixin in Nanling. He had already prepared himself mentally before leaving. He looked at Qin Zhixin with a serious and earnest expression, but he was dressed like a precious artifact, and his serious expression seemed comical.

"Qin Zhixin."

Yang Qichao finished speaking, but the next words faltered. He didn't know what to say. Shedding tears over a simple farewell would be too sentimental, too unadulterated, and even less manly. But he just felt bad. At that moment, he even felt a little resentful towards his father. Wasn't it better for him to wait for retirement at a state-owned enterprise? Why, at his age, was he still thinking about trying his luck in the provinces?

The thought had barely come to mind when Yang Qichao choked it down. He didn't know why he was always so weak, always so evasive. Qin Zhixin looked at him, locked eyes with him, unlike before when she would avoid him.

"Qin Zhixin, I like you."

Qin Zhixin continued to look at him, and after a few seconds she replied softly, "I know."

Yang Qichao felt as if his heart was being gripped by Qin Zhixin's icy little hand, and his breathing seemed to be oppressed.

"I always thought you didn't know I liked you."

"I'm not blind. I can see that you like me."

"Then why, why didn't you ever tell me before, you know I like you, why."

"You see, this is the reason. I know, but it would be awkward to say it out loud. We wouldn't even be able to be friends. We would become strangers after entering junior high school, just like most childhood sweethearts. I've rejected many people, but I don't like rejecting acquaintances."

Yang Qichao took a deep breath. He already knew the answer. She would reject him, even though Qin Zhixin didn't like to reject acquaintances.

"I'm leaving the day after tomorrow. If you have an exam, don't come to see me off."

"I never thought of seeing you off the day after tomorrow."

Yang Qichao felt somewhat disappointed. He said he wouldn't let Qin Zhixin go, but in his heart he still hoped that Qin Zhixin would talk to him more about this topic, instead of being so blunt, direct, and unyielding. But then Qin Zhixin's hand grasped Yang Qichao's, and Yang Qichao was stunned for a moment.

"When you go to study in Guangdong Province, don't be so stupid as you are here. If you like a girl, chase her. If you get rejected, just let it go. Don't always hide your feelings. If someone is hanging on to you, break up and cut your losses in time. If you want to have sex, remember to use a condom. My brother got killed in high school and almost lost his place in school."

Qin Zhixin kept on talking, and Yang Qichao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

"Why are you talking about condoms now? That's a huge leap. I went to Guangdong Province to study, and the school I went to was a good one."

“No matter how good the school is, people are still variables.”

"Okay, I'll remember to wear a condom."

"I thought you were going to say something sweet here."

"I'm not that kind of person. I don't have that ability."

Yang Qichao's very honest "self-reflection" actually made Qin Zhixin laugh.

"Then it seems you won't have a chance to wear a condom."

Yang Qichao smiled, too, but his smile was bitter. They sat on a bench in front of a store, facing the setting sun. The setting sun shone brightly on the tiles of the pedestrian street, the flickering phosphorescence like waves. Yang Qichao looked sideways, then straight in the eye. He had lived in Nanling for sixteen years, but this was the first time he wanted to see more, just one more moment. Qin Zhixin sat beside him in silence. Yang Qichao's eyes ached from watching. How could even the setting sun be so glaring?

"Will you date someone else after I'm gone?"

"Am I in a relationship with you now?"

"I don't know, I hope so."

"I don't know. Maybe. Zhou Xinshu always flirts with me. He's sweeter than you and knows more."

Qin Zhixin muttered softly. Yang Qichao expected to be sad, but at the moment, he felt surprisingly calm. He wound his watch, unsure of what he was thinking, let alone what he intended to do. Tomorrow would be his last day in Nanling, but he probably wouldn't leave the house the entire time.

"He's not a very down-to-earth person."

"I know, I can see it. He's very flamboyant and talkative. It's normal for you to dislike him since you have such a dull personality."

"Yeah, I'm too bored."

"Are there any girls in Class 4 who like you?"

"No. I don't even have any friends in Class 4. I can only call them acquaintances. No one even takes me to the bathroom during class."

Qin Zhixin placed her hand on Yang Qichao's thigh.

"Are you a child? You need someone to help you to the toilet."

"This is something boys do to show affection, like going to the bathroom together. Don't you girls do that?"

"Yes, it's very childish, really childish. I used to think that when you were in high school you should act like a little adult. Are they distancing themselves from you because I got too close to you?"

"No, it happened during the holiday tutoring. The following might also have something to do with you. You're so popular, there's nothing I can do about it. I accept the distance."

The two of them fell into silence for a moment. Yang Qichao took Qin Zhixin's hand, which was resting on his thigh, and wrapped it around his own hand. Her hand was small, not only small but also soft. Holding it in his hand, Yang Qichao was afraid that the calluses on his own hands would make Qin Zhixin's hand uncomfortable.

"Do you remember when we were little and we were playing around? There was a market next to your house. The floor was paved with these small white tiles, and there was always a fishy smell. Someone was drying a chicken, and you asked me to pee on it, saying it was more nutritious than chicken."

Qin Zhixin blushed a little after hearing this.

"That happened a long time ago. You went just because I asked you to. You're so stupid."

"I know it's wrong. But you asked me to go, so I will go. I know it will make you laugh, and at worst I'll get a beating, but it's worth it if it makes you happy."

Qin Zhixin was speechless.

"You and I were only in elementary school at the time, and you already had this idea?"

"I'm actually quite precocious. I was so happy when you got into the key class at Nanshi High School. I get to see you more often now. You love to play so much, and I was always worried that you wouldn't get into a good high school. But now I'm going to miss you again. Do you remember the public bathhouse on Taiping South Road? The one where you and I used to throw stones through the vents? It had closed down the last time I passed by, and now it sells flooring."

"I have some impression. My sister was there that time, right? The three of us were chased so badly that we had to hide in dog holes one after another and almost got caught."

"If anyone was going to get arrested, it would be me. I was the last one to be arrested. It's normal for the boss to be angry. Not only did we smash his windows first, but we also locked the coal storage room with a car lock. You were also very young at the time. The three of us pooled 20 yuan to buy something, but you insisted on buying the car lock. You bought it just to cause trouble for others."

Qin Zhixin remembered and laughed so hard that she shook with laughter.

"Who told him to chase after me? Besides, it's twenty dollars, and I can't come up with it by myself. This is something the three of us agreed to unanimously."

Yang Qichao also laughed.

"Yeah, we were really no good when we were little. We were all so naughty. If you caught us, we'd be hung up and beaten with belts."

"What's wrong? Are you thinking about this now? Do you want to atone for your sins before you leave?"

"No, it's just a feeling. Nanling is so beautiful, the mountains and water are beautiful. I really don't want to leave."

"Really? Stop being such a little girl. It's just a transfer school, right? You sound like you're going to jail."

Yang Qichao glanced sideways at the sunset again.

"It's the same for me. Guangdong Province is too far away from you, and I am too far away from you."

Chapter 175: Waves Rising

It was the end of October, the last evening study session, and tomorrow was the midterm exam. A light rain was falling outside the classroom.

There was no teacher enforcing discipline in the first and second grade classrooms, and many people were chatting in low voices, making it a bit noisy.

Kong Yucheng was the vice principal; he couldn't personally enforce class discipline. Zhang Wei, one of the examiners for the joint entrance exam for the first-year high school students from seven schools, had already gone to an office at the Provincial Education Bureau the day before yesterday. A proper joint entrance exam would mimic the Gaokao format completely, with examiners only released after the entire exam was complete. Examiners weren't even allowed to bring electronic devices during the exam.

Therefore, discipline these days rested entirely on the shoulders of class monitor Liu Qinxiong. While he held no prestige in the class, fortunately, his classmates understood the situation. Of course, good grades didn't guarantee there weren't some exceptional students, but those who managed to earn a spot in the top-tier classes at Nanshi High School were expected to study hard, and so they wouldn't deliberately freak out before exams.

Maybe Qin Zhixin is an exception, she was just lucky during the high school entrance examination.

At this moment, she was sprawled on her desk, her chin resting on the back of her left hand, her eyes wide open in a daze. She wasn't sleepy, she wasn't sleepy at all, she was simply tired. She felt like she didn't want to do anything, didn't want to think about anything, just wanted to let her mind wander.

This is a mental self-protection mechanism in an anxious state.

As she lay on the table, her plump breasts were partially pushed into the hole. Her ridiculously exaggerated size drew the attention of Feng Yizhong, who sat in the next group. It's normal to feel restless before an exam. Especially for boys of this age, seeing a pretty girl on the street from behind might lead to some unpleasant fantasies.

What's more, Qin Zhixin is such a troublemaker. She has to thank the National Skynet for being able to grow up without suffering any losses.

These past two days, whenever she was distracted, she would think of Yang Qichao. She was thinking about him yesterday, she was thinking about him during the day today, and she is still thinking about him now at night.

Qin Zhixin checked her watch; it had stopped, the hour hand hovering just past three. She'd been so lost in thought the past two days that she'd forgotten to even wind it up. Qin Zhixin sighed and began carefully adjusting the time using the quartz clock above the classroom blackboard.

It was already half past nine, less than ten minutes until get out of class ended. Normally, Yang Qichao would walk her home after school, but now she was going home alone. When Yang Qichao was still around, she had treated him as something natural, something she could ignore, but only after he left did she truly feel sad.

Qin Zhixin felt a little sad, but then she thought it was good that Yang Qichao was gone. Even if she didn't know why, it was good anyway.

He should be getting off the plane now.

[The plane crashed and everyone died.]

The system still didn't work at all. Qin Zhixin couldn't help rolling her eyes when she heard it. She couldn't concentrate on reading at all now. She just sat in her seat and stared blankly. It would be nice to ride her electric scooter home after class.

Fang Bixian, who was sitting behind Qin Zhixin, had no intention of studying at this time. He lowered his head and pretended to look at his notes, but his eyes were fixed on Qin Zhixin's back the whole time.

According to Fang Bixian, the most important thing for students before an exam is to relax. They need to relax emotionally and mentally. If possible, watching a movie would be even better. And at the very least, they should get enough sleep.

Because Fang Bixian had bad luck.

Before exams, he'd always have these strange "spur-of-the-moment" moments where he'd suddenly realize he'd forgotten a point, and then he'd rush to look for it, and then, after finding it, he'd start memorizing it frantically. But these last-minute memorizations wouldn't actually be tested, and instead would make him flustered and affect his performance.

Instead of being influenced by his own "spontaneous impulse", he should take advantage of his current position behind Qin Zhixin and take a closer look at the beautiful Qin. After the midterm exam, he would probably have to change seats again. By then, he didn't know if he could continue to sit so close to Qin Zhixin.

Although Fang Bixian still sat behind Qin Zhixin after the monthly exam, the PBL study group was broken up, which allowed Qin Zhixin to quickly become familiar with Yan Wangfei and Liu Qinxiong.

And because of this, he and Qin Zhixin can only chat for a few minutes during class breaks.

Even so, the bratty Zhou Dahong would always interrupt. Fang Bixian had to admit, he felt a little sour inside, like a dog whose territory had been invaded, but he couldn't show any dissatisfaction. Qin Zhixin and he were clearly just familiar strangers, and Fang Bixian's most in-depth conversation with her was about how to fix a certain game bug.

But Fang Bixian still felt empty when he saw Qin Zhixin getting close to other boys.

But that wasn't the main reason Fang Bixian was distracted; the bigger reason was Yang Qichao. The news of Yang Qichao's transfer spread like a hurricane through the bulletin boards and forums of Nanshi High School. If it weren't for Qin Zhixin, Yang Qichao probably wouldn't have been discussed at all. Academically, the top freshmen were Zhou Xinshu and Chen Qingrong. While Yang Qichao was impressive, the "third place" and "second place" were nothing compared to the "champion." In terms of appearance, Yang Qichao was dark and thick-set, a complete fool, resembling a wild man. His clothes were either tacky or ugly.

But he happened to be the closest to Qin Zhixin.