The school beauty is aloof? Whatever, she has a younger sister.

Chapter 117 The Third Time
Late at night, the ward was dimly lit

Zhang Muchen was awakened by the urge to urinate.

He opened his eyes, adjusted to the darkness, and slowly scanned his surroundings.

My father was fast asleep, his soft snoring echoing in the quiet hospital room.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting a soft glow.

Zhang Muchen slowly moved her body and gently placed the down jacket covering her body aside.

He turned his head slightly and looked towards Chu Jiuli's hospital bed.

The curtain in front of the hospital bed was drawn tightly shut, and the moonlight cast a soft shadow on the fabric.

Zhang Muchen put on his shoes and tiptoed toward the bathroom, using the dim light of his phone screen. However, as he approached the door, a slender figure suddenly emerged and bumped straight into his arms.

A delicate fragrance instantly filled the air.

The next second, the person in her arms let out a soft cry, as if she had lost her balance, and staggered back a few steps.

Almost instinctively, Zhang Muchen reached out and grabbed her wrist, then gently pulled her into his arms and held her firmly.

The familiar softness settled into my palm.

It's Chu Jiuli.

She stiffened slightly, resting her head on Zhang Muchen's chest, seemingly stunned.

This is the third time.

Zhang Muchen hugged her three times.

So much so that they were so familiar with each other that they didn't even need to look at each other's faces to know that it was Zhang Muchen holding them.

Meanwhile, Zhang Muchen felt the delicate figure in his arms and, by the light of the moon, saw Chu Jiuli's flickering pupils.

This is the third time.

The two stared at each other in silence.

The atmosphere suddenly became subtle.

"Cough-cough-"

Suddenly, a dry cough came from behind.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom. Could you make way for me?"

Zhang Beifang's voice rang out in the quiet ward.

Chu Jiuli's pupils dilated slightly. She struggled to break free from Zhang Muchen's embrace and stood up straight.

"Good evening, Uncle."

She muttered something under her breath, then lowered her head and slowly walked towards the hospital bed.

Zhang Beifang watched Chu Jiuli return to her hospital bed, then looked at Zhang Muchen meaningfully: "If I hadn't been unable to hold it in, I wouldn't have disturbed you."

"Dad, you haven't been standing here for long, have you?"

"I did hold it in for a while. Get out of the way, you brat."

Zhang Beifang hurriedly went into the restroom, slammed the door shut, and left the ward in silence.

Zhang Muchen clicked his tongue, turned to look at Chu Jiuli's tightly drawn curtain, and the soft touch of her in his arms just now came to mind.

"His hands are still so soft." He gently curled the corners of his lips and muttered to himself.

On the hospital bed, Chu Jiuli lay on her side, her eyelashes trembling slightly, her gaze falling on the curtains that were bathed in moonlight.

After a few seconds of silence, she reached for her phone, opened Bilibili, and selected a video from her favorites. Then she put on her Bluetooth earphones and placed her phone next to her pillow.

[Using Vieta's formulas to handle symmetric expressions...]

Mathematics is the best way to calm a racing mind.

Chu Jiuli slowly closed her eyes.

……

The next day, morning self-study.

Zhang Muchen yawned and made himself a cup of coffee.

The rich aroma of coffee filled the air. Wang Shishi smelled it and couldn't help but turn around to look.

"Dude, you're not skipping morning self-study anymore? Is this really you?"

Zhang Muchen picked up her cup and took a sip: "I love learning."

Wang Shishi narrowed her eyes: "I don't believe it. Nobody does anything without a reason; there must be something tempting you."

Don't tell me, it's true.

Yang Jie's succubus outfit. Tsk tsk tsk.

"Was it to deliberately create an opportunity to get closer to Jiu Li?" Wang Shishi asked with a grin.

Zhang Muchen glanced at her sideways: "Do I need to create anything? She's sitting right next to me."

Wang Shishi pouted: "That's true."

Her gaze fell on Zhang Muchen's coffee cup, her eyes brightening slightly: "Dude, I want to drink coffee too."

Zhang Muchen handed her a packet of instant coffee.

Wang Shishi shook her head and pointed to his cup: "Dude, I wanted to drink yours."

"Go ahead and drink," Zhang Muchen said nonchalantly, handing over the cup.

"Hahahaha."

Wang Shishi took the cup, held the handles with both hands, and gently blew on the steaming liquid.

Warm steam drifted away with her breath, tracing an arc.

She slowly took a sip, squinted her eyes, and let out a satisfied hum.

"Dude, I want more snacks."

"Are you here to rob me? You want my coffee and my snacks?"

Even as he said this, Zhang Muchen still pulled a bag of biscuits and potato chips from his desk drawer and handed it to Wang Shishi.

Wang Shishi's eyes curved into crescent moons as she was about to take another sip of coffee when Zhang Muchen pulled out a box of Pocky from the table and handed it to her.

"Here, eat your food properly and don't disturb my studies."

Wang Shishi pouted her little lips.

Drinking coffee and eating snacks should be a happy experience.

But when Wang Shishi heard Zhang Muchen say "I want to study hard," she immediately felt isolated.

Chu Jiuli always studies diligently, and Chu Youting also has excellent grades. Although my friend is severely unbalanced in his subjects, he's very bright; if he continues to study seriously, he'll definitely do very well in math.

That's it, I'm all that's left, just a useless nobody.

Wang Shishi turned around dejectedly, staring at her test paper with her lips pouting.

Suddenly, she felt a pencil gently poking her from behind.

"Hmm?" Wang Shishi turned around.

Zhang Muchen handed over a test paper with a piece of candy on it.

"Stop pouting. Let's go eat together after morning self-study, it's on me."

"I've marked some key questions on the test paper. Take a look. Ask me if you don't understand anything during dinner."

Wang Shishi looked at the test paper, then at Zhang Muchen, and her previously low mood instantly vanished.

She smiled and said, "Dude, I knew you'd be good to me."

Wang Shishi is like this; her emotions come and go quickly.

One second he was sullen, the next he was beaming with joy.

Zhang Muchen glanced at Wang Shishi's retreating figure and smiled softly.

Among these girls, Wang Shishi is undoubtedly the most special one.

Carefree, with a smile that makes her eyes crinkle and two shallow dimples on her face.

Zhang Muchen knew that Wang Shishi liked him, and that she was always subtly trying to bring him and Chu Jiuli together.

This girl always manages to stir up trouble, but when something really big happens, she's definitely the one who puts your mind at ease.

Zhang Muchen believed that even if the sky were to fall, this girl would pat him on the shoulder and laugh nonchalantly, saying, "It's okay, buddy. I'd be happier if we died together."

He snapped out of his thoughts, picked up his pen, and gently poked Wang Shishi's back.

Wang Shishi turned around in confusion, her eyes sparkling: "What's wrong, buddy?"

Zhang Muchen: "Bro, what would you do if the sky fell down?"

"I will stand by your side."

"You're tall, so help me hold my place for a bit."

"?"

Zhang Muchen started with zero frames and tapped her on the head.

This is not the answer I'm looking for!

(End of this chapter)