This humble Taoist priest wants to take the college entrance exam.

Chapter 166 The Class Monitor's Room

When it comes to cooking, the most troublesome part is buying and preparing the ingredients and cleaning up afterwards.

With Uncle Lin helping to prepare the dishes, it was just a matter of cooking, which was hardly a hassle for Chen Shi'an.

Because Chen Shi'an discovered the photos he had secretly taken, Lin Mengqiu didn't want to say a word. Instead, she channeled her shame and anger into her appetite and devoured two bowls of rice...

After lunch, it's the most relaxing time of the day.

Chen Shi'an and Uncle Lin went to the study to frame the traditional Chinese painting.

The traditional process of mounting calligraphy and paintings is complex, and it is generally divided into four steps: backing the painting, framing, backing, and mounting on a rod.

Many calligraphy and painting masters themselves don't know how to frame paintings, since it no longer falls under the category of 'painting' but is purely a technical skill.

Mounting new calligraphy and paintings is relatively simple; the most difficult part is remounting ancient calligraphy and paintings, which involves processes such as washing, patching, and repainting. This requires the mounter to have a certain level of skill in calligraphy and painting.

"Shi'an, I don't understand any of this. I'm relying on you. Just tell me if you need any help."

"it is good."

The afternoon sun streamed through the windowsill, casting shadows on the desk.

Chen Shi'an laid the artwork flat on its reverse side, then picked up a spray bottle and sprayed water onto the painting.

Paper is most vulnerable to water; it can easily be damaged if not handled carefully.

Lin Ming knew this was the first step in framing, but when he saw Chen Shi'an casually spraying water on his precious painting with a spray bottle, the principal's heart still clenched.

Once the paper had absorbed enough water, Chen Shi'an put down the spray bottle and took out a bowl of paste.

The paste was freshly made by him, and its consistency needed to be carefully controlled.

As the paste was applied, the white paper gradually became translucent, and the drawing inside became clearer.

After applying two coats of paste, Chen Shi'an took a blank sheet of Xuan paper as a backing paper, carefully pasted it on, and gently pressed it down with a brush to ensure a firm bond and no air bubbles.

"All right."

Chen Shi'an smiled, and the first step of mounting the painting was considered complete.

"Shi'an, your hand is still the steadyest!"

Lin Ming couldn't help but praise him, saying that although the steps looked simple, they were very meticulous and sophisticated, and Chen Shi'an's hands were as steady as a surgeon's.

"Uncle Lin, bring the board over here."

"Good good!"

Lin Ming arranged the board, and Chen Shi'an carefully lifted the painting on the table and, like pasting couplets, pasted the damp painting onto the board to dry. With that, the work for the day was considered complete.

"In this weather, it should dry in about three to five days. I'll come over again this weekend to help Uncle Lin with the edging and backing."

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Shi'an."

"Uncle Lin, you're too kind."

The two left the study and returned to the tea table for tea.

Chen Shi'an looked around the living room but didn't see Lin Mengqiu. The door to her room was closed, so he guessed she was inside.

The girl is taking a bath.

She worked up a sweat playing ball in the morning. Although she didn't smell bad, she felt sticky and uncomfortable, so she took a shower and washed her hair so she wouldn't have to wash it again that night.

Her room also has a private bathroom.

I finished showering and washing my hair in my room, and by the time I came out, almost an hour had passed.

I changed out of my sportswear from this morning and into casual loungewear.

Just as I was coming out of the room to check how Chen Shi'an's painting was framed, Chen Shi'an was already preparing to leave.

"Hey, the class monitor is out? I thought you were sleeping in your room."

"Take a shower. Are you going back?"

"Well, I'll head back now if there's nothing else."

"..."

Thinking that Chen Shi'an had stayed at Wen Zhixia's house for a day, had a meal at her own house, and was about to leave, Lin Mengqiu suddenly felt a little unwilling.

"Shall we do our homework together?"

"what?"

Chen Shi'an was stunned for a moment, "I didn't bring my homework or my books."

"I have."

"Did the class monitor ask me to do your homework for you?"

"...They are all test papers. Take the ones you've finished back with you, and give me the ones you haven't finished later."

"alright."

Because of Mr. Liang's special permission, Chen Shi'an was exempt from submitting his homework.

However, he has now basically caught up with the class's learning progress. Although he does not hand in his homework like other students, he does do it on his own in class.

Since he had to do it anyway, and there was nothing else to do back home, Chen Shi'an decided to stay and study for a while since the class monitor had extended an invitation.

Hearing that the two were going to do their homework together, Lin Ming, who was standing nearby, also stood up and smiled:

"Then Shi'an and Mengqiu, you can do your homework and read books by yourselves. I'm going back to my room for a nap."

"it is good."

"Mengqiu, there's still a lot of fruit in the refrigerator. Take some out, wash it, and give some to Shi'an."

"Oh."

"Oh dear, I'm getting old, and now I get so sleepy if I don't take a nap at noon..."

Lin Ming yawned, went back to his room, and closed the door.

After her father disappeared from sight, Lin Mengqiu immediately felt much more at ease.

She opened the refrigerator, took out some grapes, washed them, and placed them on a plate.

"Class monitor, where will we study?"

"..."

Lin Mengqiu came out carrying a bag of grapes.

The house is very large, with many places to study, such as the study and the dining room in the living room.

But she usually spends most of her time reading and studying in her room.

"...Let's go to my room."

"Okay."

Seeing that even the class monitor didn't mind, Chen Shi'an was even less bothered.

"eat."

Lin Mengqiu handed him the fruit plate, and Chen Shi'an reached out, picked up a grape, and popped it into his mouth.

Just as she was about to reach for the second one, the girl had already taken the plate and headed to her room.

Chen Shi'an was about to follow her in when Lin Mengqiu squeezed in, only to slam the door shut behind her.

"Just wait a moment."

"...Then, class monitor, give me the grapes."

The door opened a crack, and Lin Mengqiu handed him a bunch of grapes. After he took them, she closed the door again.

"Class monitor, is your room messy?"

Chen Shi'an leaned against the wall next to the door, eating grapes and talking to the girl inside. There was no reply.

"It doesn't matter if it's messy, I don't mind."

"...Don't panic!"

Finally, Lin Mengqiu's reply came from inside.

Not long after, the door finally opened.

"come in."

The girl seemed a little uncomfortable.

She has always been a person with strong boundaries, and this is the first time in her life that an outsider has entered her room.

Chen Shi'an was much more at ease, strolling in as if he were admiring the scenery or strolling in a park, his gaze not being polite as he looked around her room.

Having visited Lin Mengqiu's home so many times, this was the first time Chen Shi'an had entered Lin Mengqiu's room.

As soon as I stepped into the room, I smelled the faint scent that belonged to the young girl.

Unlike Wen Zhixia's girly blue and pink room, Lin Mengqiu's room had a cooler feel to it.

Of course, the color scheme and style are on the cooler side, but the room has all the necessary furniture and other items.

The only thing that doesn't quite fit this style is the rabbit ears peeking out from the bulge in the blankets on the bed...

Chen Shi'an reached out and grabbed the rabbit's ears, pulling it out.

He had guessed that the rabbit doll wouldn't be small when he only saw the rabbit ears, but he still underestimated its size.

It wasn't until we grabbed its ears and pulled it out completely that we realized it was nearly a meter tall.

"Squad leader, is your rabbit really that big?"

"...Don't move!!"

Lin Mengqiu was speechless. This guy really had no shame at all. She had just discovered that the rabbit doll wasn't hidden properly and was about to go and hide it when he pulled it out.

The appearance of such a large rabbit doll in the room immediately dispelled the chilly atmosphere.

Chen Shi'an picked up the rabbit, looked at it, and then squeezed it. He couldn't help but ask:
"It's quite soft. Does the class monitor usually sleep with this rabbit in his arms?"

"...Don't move!!"

Lin Mengqiu stopped letting him play with the rabbit, snatched it back from his hands, and stuffed it back under the covers.

Chen Shi'an didn't take the rabbit out again, but just looked at her with a teasing smile.

As expected, the class monitor's inner self is quite different from her usual aloof image!
The little hedgehog, covered in thorns, had its soft side discovered. Lin Mengqiu blushed slightly and glared at him fiercely.

Are you going to do your homework or not?

Where to write it?

"desk."

"Just one chair?"

"..."

Lin Mengqiu turned and went out, then moved a dining table and chair from the dining table and placed it next to the large desk.

"Please sit here."

"it is good."

Chen Shi'an said "okay" but didn't move an inch. He was standing in front of the bookshelf, flipping through a comic book.

There are many books on the bookshelf, many of which are comic books. You can tell from the girl's usual comic-style drawings that she really likes comics.

"Does the class monitor have that many comics in his collection?"

"..."

"The class monitor is quite good at drawing. Have you ever thought about becoming a cartoonist in the future?"

"...Time to do homework."

"Class monitor, you write it first, let me take a look."

"..."

Lin Mengqiu ignored him and sat down at her desk, spreading out the unfinished test paper.

But the pen in his hand remained untouched.

Her mind and attention were entirely focused on Chen Shi'an.

Suddenly seeing his finger move on the bookshelf and then pull out a picture book, Lin Mengqiu's heart tightened.

Instead of snatching the picture book back from his hand, the girl simply took out earplugs and put them in her ears.

"Class monitor, did you draw these pictures in this picture book?"

"..."

God knows why, even though I was wearing earplugs, his voice could still be heard clearly and without any obstruction!

"Monitor?"

"...Time to do homework."

"The class monitor said he hadn't drawn in a long time, but the drawings in this sketchbook still look pretty new."

"...Time to do homework."

"The class monitor drew very well."

"~~~"

"Where's the box of paint I gave to the class monitor?"

"...It's all set aside."

"Okay, I was also hoping that one day the class monitor could use these paints I gave him to paint a picture and give it to me."

"..."

"How about you draw me? I'll give you a little wooden figurine of you too."

"……it is good."

"Okay, time to do homework."

Chen Shi'an finally pulled out a chair and sat down next to her.

Lin Mengqiu breathed a sigh of relief and took a blank test paper out of her schoolbag and handed it to him.

She removed the earpiece closest to him and couldn't help but ask in a low voice:
"When do you want me to be engraved?"

"The wooden carving you gave to the class monitor?"

"Ah."

"Right when we first met."

"..."

Lin Mengqiu's lowered eyes flickered as she put her earplugs back in.

After thinking for a moment, she got up again and went to close the door.

The sky was light blue, cloudless, and the autumn sunlight slanted into the room, casting long, pale shadows on the floor.

The girl's heart suddenly brightened.

(End of this chapter)