PANT - Chapter 79

Chapter 79

If Shi Ning had to list the three biggest regrets of her life, she would choose the following without a moment’s hesitation.

1. Rejecting Su Tianxue’s proposal to be her wife in kindergarten.

2. Attending the same school and being in the same class as Su Tianxue from kindergarten all the way through middle school.

3. Not being able to attend the same high school as Su Tianxue.

The reason for the first regret was simple.

The second regret was entirely because, for a very long time, Shi Ning had been thoroughly annoyed by Su Tianxue, that “perfect child next door.”

From kindergarten onward, the words she heard most often were- “Ah, little Su Su from next door won another award. The most obedient baby. The most outstanding little flower.”

“Shi Ning, what about you?”

“What can you do all day besides get into fights and cause trouble?”

Shi Ning thought to herself that someone like Su Tianxue was a bookworm.

She would definitely grow up to wear a pair of huge, black-framed glasses on her nose, making it impossible for anyone to get a clear look at her.

She was different.

But in elementary school, not only did Su Tianxue not become nearsighted, she was also in the same class as Shi Ning and got first place on every single test.

Because of her, everyone else could only fight for second place.

Unfortunately, Shi Ning was that perennial second-placer.

It sounded impressive in its own way; after all, with her in second, everyone else could only fight for third.

But first and second place sounded completely different.

Some ill-mannered, thoughtless kids would even secretly mock Shi Ning to her face, calling her the “almighty second-placer.”

In truth, there was one area where Shi Ning could beat Su Tianxue.

For example, P.E. class.

She was very good at sports.

Su Tianxue was the opposite.

In the 50-meter dash, Su Tianxue could only hover around the passing line.

Shi Ning could always win gold medals in various sports competitions, while Su Tianxue’s home was filled with first-place trophies from all sorts of academic contests.

Whenever Shi Ning brought her gold medals home to show off to her mother, her mom would say, “What’s the use of being so good at sports? Are you going to be an athlete in the future?”

Shi Ning would reply nonchalantly, “What’s wrong with being an athlete?”

Her mom would roll her eyes, looking like she wanted to smack her with a feather duster.

Her mom would always nag, “Why can’t you just study hard like Su Tianxue? Look, she got first place in the Math Olympiad again and was recommended for a key middle school.”

Shi Ning hated hearing her mother say things like that.

She interpreted this hatred as her hating Su Tianxue.

So for a long time, even after they moved on to middle school, she still tirelessly tried to compete with Su Tianxue in one thing or another.

Every time she saw her name next to Su Tianxue’s on the grade rankings, Shi Ning felt both happy and frustrated.

Happy that she hadn’t fallen behind.

Frustrated that she hadn’t moved ahead.

Su Tianxue was like a high mountain, forever blocking Shi Ning’s path.

After a while, she started to get tired of it.

To hell with studying.

She couldn’t beat Su Tianxue even if she studied.

So she started getting addicted to video games, skipping class every day to go to internet cafes, and hanging out with the kids at the bottom of the class rankings. They played basketball, rode motorcycles, and her style of dress became more and more delinquent. She became the school’s top dog.

Her grades plummeted.

She fought with her mother every day when she got home, repeatedly slamming the door on her way out. But whenever she planned to run away from home, she would always run into Su Tianxue from across the hall, opening her door to take out the trash.

And so, Shi Ning, dragging her suitcase, felt that this was a bit embarrassing.

Her plan to run away was thus delayed, day after day.

Later, she no longer needed to plan her escape.

Because her mom got divorced again.

This time, she was going to marry someone and move abroad.

Shi Ning had no desire to go with her, so she arranged with her grandmother to go live at her place.

Although her grandmother’s house was in the same city, it was in a completely different district.

After Shi Ning moved, she opened her door to find that her neighbor across the hall was a cheerful old man who would greet her with a smile every day.

It was no longer that annoying Su Tianxue, who always had a cold expression, wouldn’t even say hello, and would only stare at her icily.

Shi Ning was quite happy at first.

But for some reason…

As time went on, she suddenly started to feel a bit lonely.

On her way to school every morning, there was no longer someone walking silently beside her, taking the same bus, getting off at the same stop, and walking into the classroom together.

There was only her.

Her grandmother was worried about Shi Ning traveling across the city to get to school every day, so she discussed the matter of transferring schools with her.

There was only one semester left before the high school entrance exams.

Transferring at such a critical time…

Shi Ning initially didn’t want to agree.

But her grandmother’s concerns were valid. Spending an hour to get to school every day was not only unsafe, but also a waste of time.

The school didn’t offer boarding either.

Commuting back and forth like this wasn’t a long-term solution.

After evening self-study sessions, Shi Ning couldn’t bear to see her elderly grandmother coming to pick her up in an old three-wheeled car.

So she agreed to transfer.

Shi Ning kept trying to find a time to tell Su Tianxue about it.

But between her and Su Tianxue, there never seemed to be a right moment.

Every time she wanted to talk to Su Tianxue, some clueless person would appear and get between them.

Actually, her classmates meant well.

After all, Shi Ning and Su Tianxue had been rivals for so long that anyone who saw Shi Ning marching menacingly toward Su Tianxue would assume she was looking to pick a fight with the study god.

Protecting the study god and maintaining peace on campus was everyone’s responsibility!

For this reason, Shi Ning never found the chance to tell Su Tianxue, right up until the day she transferred.

That day was a Friday, and Shi Ning’s delinquent friends had arranged to give her a send-off that evening, so they all gathered at the school gate, waiting.

One by one, they sported the most popular non-mainstream hair colors of that era, wore clothes adorned with all sorts of clanking chains, and leaned on their motorcycles. Some held skateboards. They looked just like a gang of delinquents.

Shi Ning came out with her backpack on, walking behind Su Tianxue.

The moment she stepped out of the school gate, she couldn’t stop herself from calling out, “Hey.”

Su Tianxue didn’t turn around, but her friends waiting at the gate responded enthusiastically, one after another, “Yo yo~ Check it out~ Shi Ning, we’re over here!”

Someone even whistled.

Shi Ning’s head was about to explode.

She took a step forward, rushed up, and grabbed Su Tianxue’s wrist. “I’m talking to you.”

Su Tianxue finally stopped and looked back at Shi Ning. “But I didn’t hear you say my name.”

Whenever she looked into those eyes, Shi Ning felt a clear spring wash over her heart- clean, pure, rinsing away everything inside her until it was spotless.

Only the person before her remained.

Her cool and distant face, even in the hideously ugly school uniform, was like a uniquely fresh and elegant flower.

Shi Ning’s lips moved slightly. For some reason, it felt difficult to say Su Tianxue’s name.

She said it softly, “Su Tianxue.”

Su Tianxue tilted her head slightly. “Hm?”

Shi Ning was gathering her thoughts, about to tell her what was happening, when a hand hooked over her shoulder from behind. She turned to see one of her clueless, tactless friends, sucking on a lollipop as if it were a cigarette, a ridiculously fake nose stud stuck to his nose. He spoke arrogantly to Su Tianxue, “Get lost.”

Su Tianxue’s eyes turned cold. She glanced at the way Shi Ning was being held, readjusted the strap of her backpack, and turned to leave without any hesitation.

Shi Ning opened her mouth. “Wait-”

Her friend took the lollipop out of his mouth and said to her, “Sister Shi, we’re at the school gate. You gotta pick a better time to start a fight. Didn’t you see the dean of discipline staring at us from behind?”

Shi Ning thought, Who the hell is trying to start a fight?!

But after hearing that, she did indeed glance back.

After all, the power of the bald dean of discipline was immense.

As Shi Ning turned, she felt like her eyes were about to go blind.

The light reflecting off the dean’s bald head was dazzling, making her dizzy.

And because she had turned around, she missed the sight of Su Tianxue looking back as she walked away.

Su Tianxue wondered what on earth that girl had wanted to say to her.

For so many years, the probability of the two of them having a proper conversation was less than five percent.

And that five percent only ever happened due to sheer luck.

Forget it.

Su Tianxue thought.

I’ll just ask Shi Ning next week.

But when she came to class the following week, Shi Ning wasn’t in the classroom.

Morning self-study passed. Su Tianxue said nothing.

The first period passed. Su Tianxue merely glanced a few more times at the empty seat.

It was time for the morning exercises.

Su Tianxue knew that Shi Ning loved doing the morning exercises. To be precise, she loved standing next to her and deliberately performing the routine with extra seriousness while they led the school.

But Shi Ning still didn’t appear.

During the third period, Su Tianxue pressed her lips together and knocked on the door of the teachers’ office.

Upon seeing her, all the teachers in the office beamed, their faces blooming into smiles.

“Well, if it isn’t our little Su?”

Su Tianxue nodded slightly and walked up to her homeroom teacher.

“Teacher, why didn’t Shi Ning come today?”

The homeroom teacher looked up, puzzled, and said nonchalantly, “She transferred. Hey, I heard you two have known each other since you were little. Didn’t she tell you?”

Su Tianxue blinked, shook her head, and walked out of the office.

Standing by the door, Su Tianxue thought:

Oh.

So that’s what she wanted to tell me yesterday.

What a pity. I missed it.

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