Quick Transmigration: The Control Group in Sweet Novels

Xia Nian picked up her water glass and took a sip.

The water was cold, chilling her from her throat all the way to her stomach. She put down her water glass and glanced at the other side of the classroom. Qi Yang was working on a problem with her head down, her ponytail hanging to one side, and her pen moving across the paper.

The girl's profile appeared gentle and focused under the fluorescent light.

She didn't know when it started, but she always followed Chen Zuo's gaze to that corner.

Xia Nian inexplicably wanted to know... what kind of person Chen Zuo liked.

Just as Xia Nian had thought, she was a very gentle and beautiful girl, and also very resilient. She always seemed to be quietly working on her problems, which made Xia Nian feel a sense of loss and melancholy, but also a hint of admiration.

In the end, she seemed to forget that this was the girl Chen Zuo liked. She tore that label off Qi Yang and saw her resilience.

Xia Nian withdrew her gaze, reopened the workbook, and forced herself to concentrate.

She can't afford to make a rash decision.

*

By the time the bell rang for evening self-study, it was already completely dark.

The rain started again, a fine drizzle that pattered softly on the umbrella.

When Qi Yang packed her schoolbag and walked out of the classroom, Chen Zuo was already waiting for her in the corridor. The weather was getting colder, and the boy's school uniform jacket was neatly worn, showing off his lean figure. He was looking down in a daze, with his wispy bangs neatly combed across his forehead.

As she approached, Chen Zuo looked up.

"Let's go." Chen Zuo tilted the umbrella towards her.

Qi Yang didn't speak, but walked into the rain with him. The two walked side by side with a little distance between them, but the space under the umbrella blurred that distance. They walked shoulder to shoulder, occasionally touching arms. Qi Yang could clearly feel the unfamiliar aura emanating from the opposite sex.

As they approached the bus stop, both fell silent.

It's all because of shyness.

Fortunately, the bus arrived quickly, and the two found a window seat. Qi Yang put her backpack on her lap. The outside of the window was covered with water droplets, and a mist had already formed inside, reflecting the streetlights and car lights outside into a blurry halo.

She heard the boy next to her ask, "What did your homeroom teacher say to you today?"

Qi Yang turned around, her expression unusually forlorn. "Our homeroom teacher asked me if we were dating."

Chen Zuo choked on the cold air. "What?"

Qi Yang looked up, her voice aggrieved, "Really, the homeroom teacher told us to keep our distance and not disturb your studies."

"..." Chen Zuo looked at her serious little face and laughed in exasperation. "Really? What did you say? You agreed?"

"She's a teacher, how could I dare refuse?"

Chen Zuo sighed and played along, "You heartless woman, I've been pursuing you for so long, and you still can't win against a single word from the homeroom teacher."

He also solemnly took out a small, dark blue square box from his bag. It was made of velvet and looked very exquisite. He sighed, "Looks like I'll have to throw it away."

Qi Yang was taken aback. "What is this?"

"A gift," Chen Zuo said casually.

Qi Yang glanced at him suspiciously, took the box, and opened it. On the dark velvet lining lay a silver necklace with a pendant studded with small diamonds hanging from it. Under the cold white light of the bus, it reflected a faint glow, like a solidified star.

"Do you like it?" Chen Zuo's voice rang out above him, and if you listened carefully, you could hear a hint of nervousness in his voice.

Qi Yang stared at the necklace for a few seconds, then looked up, her eyes filled with obvious surprise. "Why did you give me this?"

Chen Zuo leaned back in his seat, relaxed. He turned his head to look at her, the light and shadow of the rainy night flickering on his face, clearly illuminating his handsome features.

Chen Zuo said casually, "This time he's improved by at least several dozen places. As his suitor, I can't just leave without making any gesture."

Qi Yang held the box, her fingertips slightly warm, the sparkle of the diamonds shimmering in her palm.

She hesitated for a moment, then recognized the string of English letters on the box. "This... must be very expensive."

Chen Zuo casually lifted his eyelids. "Not expensive."

Qi Yang was taken aback. She had forgotten that this man was not short of money, but the gift in her hand felt like a hot potato, burning her palms and even her heart.

"Just accept it without any guilt," he said, his voice low, half-sincere and half-joking. "I just hope that when you want to date in the future, you'll think of me more often."

The boy's slightly deep voice was exceptionally clear. Qi Yang lowered his head, his chest bulging with something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Shall I help you put it on?" Chen Zuo asked her, a hint of cautious expectation in his eyes.

Qi Yang lowered her head, and after a few seconds, she hummed in agreement.

The smile on Chen Zuo's lips widened even further.

The boy picked up the necklace and bent down slightly.

The narrow bus seats suddenly felt much closer, and an atmosphere of ambiguity silently spread.

Chen Zuo lowered his eyes, wanting to examine the necklace's clasp closely, but the girl's slender, fair neck and ear tips caught his eye, and his movements became clumsy, his palms sweating.

Qi Yang clutched the hem of her school uniform in her hand and asked softly, "Aren't you wearing it properly yet?"

"Right away." Chen Zuo's voice was a little hoarse. His fingertips inadvertently brushed against the delicate, warm skin on the back of his neck. Chen Zuo's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. He quickly put it on, leaned back, and breathed a sigh of relief. "All done."

Qi Yang then looked up, completely unaware of his disheveled state. She examined the pendant between her fingers, put it down, and asked him, "Does it look good?"

In the dim light, a delicate, sparkling necklace appeared around the girl's neck, hanging obediently in the center of her collarbone. Chen Zuo's gaze softened as well. "It's very beautiful."

It's really beautiful.

But what would look bad on Qi Yang? Chen Zuo thought silently.

He had been choosing this necklace for a long time, deliberating over it repeatedly. Even before giving it to her, he was very nervous, imagining how Qi Yang would react.

I even wondered if giving her jewelry would offend her...

Fortunately, looking at the girl's gentle and serene eyes, Chen Zuo's restless heart found its footing and support.

The rain outside the window was still falling, pattering softly, then becoming gentle and lingering.

*

on the field.

Chen Zuo made another three-pointer. The boy's short hair fluttered slightly, he was slightly out of breath, and a faint smile played on his lips.

Lou Yu stopped playing and asked, puzzled, "Why are you acting like you're on steroids today? You keep giving that weird laugh while you're playing, do you know how creepy that is?"

"I'm in a good mood, is that bothering you?" Chen Zuo picked up the ball and dribbled it a few times.

Lou Yu seemed thoughtful. "What good thing happened?"

Before Chen Zuo could speak, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration, squinted his eyes, leaned closer, and whispered, "Could it be that Qi Yang agreed to your request?"

Chen Zuo seized a moment to glance at him: "You're very free?"

"Then it seems not." Lou Yu nodded to himself, mocking, "If we were together, how could you deny the title?"

"...Get lost."