Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn? - Chapter 180: Learning Makes Me Happy

TL: Etude

Studying is an activity that, in essence, only requires a desk and a chair. If one disregards efficiency, the dormitory would undoubtedly be the ideal place to revise.

However, for students with lesser self-control, the atmosphere of group study is quite significant.

When a group of college students crams into a warm classroom on a winter day, when the sound of flipping pages whistles in one’s ears, when every gaze brims with concentration and a thirst for knowledge.

There are no whispered secrets, no idle daydreams, no minds wandering off. Even the poorest of students might remember a few more words.

“Whoever leaves first is a dog, got it?”

“No problem. Studying makes me happy.”

“I’m okay too, since I’ve already told Ding Xue not to restrain my heart, which loves to study, with love.”

“If you guys are in, then I’m definitely in. I don’t even have a significant other. What else would I do but study?”

The spirited F4 of Room 302 ascended the steps of the academic building, eventually reaching the fifth floor of Building A, as indicated.

The university had many self-study rooms, often full to bursting as exams approached, with queues impossible to join. However, with a month still to go before exam week, they didn’t face the issue of not finding a seat.

The four wandered left and right, finally settling in a public study room.

Many students at Linchuan University were regulars in these rooms, spending more time here than in their dormitories, making it their second home.

Jackets draped over chairs, boxes for personal items, desks cluttered with water bottles, lunchboxes, chargers, phones, laptops, and small lamps.

Compared to these students, Jiang Qin and his friends were practically ‘lightly equipped’.

Jiang Qin solemnly placed his textbook on the desk, beginning from the first page.

Brand new.

Upon opening the book, the distinct scent of fresh ink was unmistakably present.

He surreptitiously borrowed a pen from a girl he didn’t know at the next table, earnestly writing his name in it.

The other three also opened books on their weaker subjects, all wearing expressions of deep concentration, remaining silent.

Three minutes later, Ren Ziqiang was the first to be distracted, his attention drifting to the pretty profile of a girl sitting opposite.

Zhou Chao began to feel sleepy, having read the title page repeatedly, memorizing several names from the list of textbook authors.

Cao Guangyu had placed his Nokia 5230 on the textbook, doodling on the touchscreen with a stylus, pecking at it like a chicken.

“Guys, please focus a bit more. If you’re not studying, at least don’t disturb the others around you,” Jiang Qin said with squinted eyes, his gaze not straying from his book.

“I didn’t even say a word!” Ren Ziqiang protested, pulling his gaze away from the girl’s face.

“If you’re not distracting me, then why can’t I concentrate?”

“Jiang, this just shows your brain isn’t suited for studying anymore. I feel the same; I can’t focus on a single word.”

Jiang Qin pushed his textbook forward, leaning back in his chair. “Even if I can’t focus, I have to try. This calculus book is even printed wrong, yet I still managed to read three pages. That’s called determination.”

Zhou Chao couldn’t resist leaning in. “That’s impossible. How could there be a mistake in the textbook? Let me see?”

“Look at this; I don’t even recognize these symbols.”

“??????”

Jiang Qin glanced at Zhou Chao and Ren Ziqiang, speaking in a hushed tone, “You guys have been loafing around in the dorm, Cao has been wasting time in his relationship, and I’ve been too busy with my startup. Years from now, Zhou and Ren might not graduate, ending up moving bricks on a construction site. Cao might be in the news for domestic violence, and I might accidentally become a billionaire, making it onto Forbes. Think about this outcome; isn’t it terrifying?”

Zhou Chao: “…”

Ren Ziqiang: “…”

Unable to resist, Cao Guangyu looked up. “Actually, with a month left until exams, do we really need to start revising so soon?”

Ren Ziqiang nodded vigorously, agreeing with Cao’s suggestion: “Even if we remember it now, we might forget it all by the time of the exams.”

Zhou Chao chimed in, “Right, this kind of forced memorization is only short-term. It’s quickly forgotten.”

Hearing their whispered conversation, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but spit out a retort: “How did a model student like me end up in a dorm with you guys?”

All three rolled their eyes in unison: “Old Jiang, it was you who started the tradition of skipping classes in our dorm.”

“Don’t make excuses for not wanting to study. Let’s continue; today I plan to etch this book into my brain.”

“Jiang, that’s calculus. You can’t just memorize it; it’s about understanding the logic.”

Jiang Qin scoffed at this unsolicited advice: “So what am I supposed to do? Just watch myself fail?”

Cao Guangyu suggested, “You could ask Feng Nanshu to tutor you. She seems to have never skipped a class and is more serious than others.”

“That’s the dumbest idea.”

“Why?”

“With her around, how can I focus on studying?”

Jiang Qin countered, an image of Feng Nanshu’s pretty face flashing before his eyes. Sure, the little rich lady would be willing to teach him, but Jiang Qin knew his attention would drift to her.

Indeed, though they were best friends, it wasn’t right to use her that way. It was low and filled with base interests. But after all, she was a beautiful, rich, and intelligent woman; what attraction does studying have compared to her?

“So, shall we call it a day and head to Feilong Internet Café?” Ren Ziqiang couldn’t resist making the suggestion.

“I’m not going.”

Zhou Chao was unexpectedly firm in his refusal: “I already feel guilty enough for not studying properly. If I spend a day at an internet café, my guilt will only deepen. I’d surely regret it before going to sleep.”

“It’s pointless to just waste time here, not remembering anything and missing out on the joy of gaming,” Ren Ziqiang silenced Zhou Chao with a single sentence.

His words seemed so reasonable that it almost felt irrational to disagree.

“Old Jiang, are you going to the internet café?” Ren Ziqiang began to persuade Jiang Qin.

Jiang Qin waved his hand and slightly lifted his eyes: “I was just about to get into it. Shut up.”

“What about you, Old Cao? Even if it makes you a dog, isn’t happiness the most important thing?”

“This…”

Actually, Cao Guangyu was inclined to go to the internet café. Even sitting here, he was just chatting with Ding Xue at a snail’s pace. It would be more enjoyable to go to the café and type away happily.

Just then, five figures suddenly entered the study room.

Jian Chun, Song Qingsong, Jiang Tian, Pan Xiu, and Zhuang Chen with a backpack. As soon as they saw Jiang Qin and his friends, they approached without a word.

“Old Ren, let’s go to the internet café. I’ll join you,” Cao Guangyu had already stacked his books together.

“Who’s going to the internet café? Stop distracting me from studying.”

“??????”

Ren Ziqiang put away his smile, looking coldly at Pan Xiu before picking up his textbook to study seriously.

The ‘Golden Flowers’ of Finance Class 3, along with Zhuang Chen, sat down and greeted them. They brought thick textbooks, clearly there to study. Unlike Jiang Qin’s pristine books, theirs showed signs of diligent use, evident in their creases.

“Jiang Qin, thanks for lending us the classroom for the dumpling party last time,” Jiang Tian began, not immediately focusing on her textbook.

“It’s no problem. You also entertained Manqi for me, so we’re even. How’s the fruit-selling granny? Did she eat the dumplings?”

Jiang Tian looked at Jian Chun, who then spoke, “She did. She said our dumplings were delicious and even insisted we take some fruit back, but we declined.”

Jiang Qin nodded, “Be careful when you ride your bikes. Don’t be rash. The more you’re in a hurry, the less you should rush.”

“I, I understand…” Jian Chun nodded gently, then suddenly remembered something. “Were the dumplings tasty on Winter Solstice Day? I wrapped them myself.”

“??????” Jiang Qin frowned, thinking to himself that he had never tasted their dumplings, so how would he know if they were good or not.

The next moment, he saw Zhuang Chen’s face change color beside him. Zhuang’s breathing grew heavier and he looked at Jiang Qin nervously, a hint of pleading in his eyes.

Jiang Qin, sharp as ever, pieced together the clues from Jian Chun’s words and Zhuang Chen’s reaction. On Winter Solstice Day, the girls had not only delivered dumplings to Old Lü, Zhu Feng, and Principal Zhang, but there might have been a portion for him too.

However, they couldn’t enter the male dormitory, so the only person who could have delivered the dumplings was Zhuang Chen. But the dumplings were missing, more mysteriously than a beaten dog’s bun. This was quite intriguing.

“The dumplings were quite good. The filling was tasty. I wanted to ask you about the recipe, but then I forgot,” Jiang Qin said, glancing at Zhuang Chen and noticing him relax suddenly, although his face was still pale.

“The recipe was from Song Qingsong’s mom,” Jiang Tian chimed in helpfully.

Jiang Qin turned to Song Qingsong: “Could I get a copy of that recipe?”

“Of course!” Song Qingsong took out her phone and forwarded the recipe message from her mother.

“Thanks.”

Jiang Qin glanced at the message, thinking to himself that he finally had a way to win over Principal Zhang’s heart with his cooking!

He picked up his calculus textbook and continued to study earnestly, completely ignoring Zhuang Chen’s grateful look.

After a while, it was dinner time, and the quiet study room finally buzzed with noise. Those who regularly camped in the study room had brought their dinners and were now preparing to eat.

Jiang Qin stretched and woke up Zhou Chao, Ren Ziqiang, and Cao Guangyu, suggesting they go for dinner.

“Jiang Qin, let me treat you to dinner!” Zhuang Chen suddenly stood up.

Jiang Qin looked at him: “You’re not talking about the cafeteria, are you?”

“Nanshan Restaurant.”

“You’re not planning to invite only me, are you?”

Zhuang Chen got the hint: “Then… then let’s all go from your dorm.”

Cao Guangyu, still groggy, wiped the drool from his mouth and looked at Jiang Qin: “What’s going on? Why is someone treating us to dinner as soon as I wake up?”

Jiang Qin smiled: “Good deeds are rewarded.”

…

Damn if I were Jiang Qin, I never would’ve picked that up.

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