Ignoring the strange looks, Bai Tang took her seat.
Just then, the teacher walked in with a textbook, and everyone stopped their discussion. It wasn’t until after the morning self-study session ended that they all huddled together again, whispering quietly, as if afraid she might overhear, their voices deliberately low.
Bai Tang leisurely pulled out her phone and messaged Zhang Xiaochu: “Which university are you planning to apply to?”
“Not going to university!” Zhang Xiaochu replied. “I’m a man born for racing in this life!”
Seeing the teenager’s cringey, over-the-top words, Bai Tang’s mouth twitched hard. “Going to university doesn’t stop you from racing!”
“I feel like my academic talent is sealed off. Maybe my fate with books has run its course in this life!” Zhang Xiaochu quickly responded, adding a sad, despairing emoji.
Bai Tang chuckled. She kind of wanted to punch this cringey teenager, Zhang Xiaochu.
“I want to go to university. Want to join me?”
As soon as the message was sent, the other side fired back a mocking sticker.
“Last in the class, did you just wake up today? What kind of dream is that? Are you trying to get your dad to throw money at a school for you?”
Zhang Xiaochu laughed unapologetically, seemingly amused. He didn’t even bother typing, sending a voice message instead: “Let’s not dream, okay? How about we just go home and inherit the family business?”
Bai Tang put on her headphones, listening to Zhang Xiaochu’s irritating voice, but she calmly continued typing: “If you don’t learn anything, aren’t you afraid someone will swindle you out of the family business and you’ll go bankrupt?”
“Not afraid. Worst case, I’ll spend my whole life with my car!”
Zhang Xiaochu said cheerfully, treating Bai Tang’s words as a joke.
After all, with their current grades, the best they could hope for was a third-rate vocational school. It was better to do what they loved. If they really needed it later, they could go abroad and study management. But compared to that, he still loved racing!
Bai Tang stopped typing, staring at their chat history. Suddenly, she realized that Zhang Xiaochu had probably decided to give up on further education after the college entrance exam and focus entirely on racing.
She turned off her phone screen and didn’t reply.
Other people’s lives were none of her business.
Bai Tang sat quietly, her thoughts drifting.
“Hey…” A hesitant voice sounded beside her, followed by a light tap on the desk.
Bai Tang took off her headphones, looked up at Zhou Jiami, who seemed a bit awkward, and smiled. “Something up?”
Ever since the last incident, Zhou Jiami felt uneasy around Bai Tang, a strange tension she couldn’t quite explain.
“I heard you joined Sheng Qi’s team?” Zhou Jiami asked.
Bai Tang nodded. “Yeah.”
Zhou Jiami frowned, studying her with a hint of scrutiny. “So the rumors are true?”
“What rumors?” Bai Tang asked curiously.
Zhou Jiami coughed lightly, noticing the curious glances from others around them, and said awkwardly, “I heard you… used underhanded methods, so he agreed to let you join his team.”
Bai Tang: “…”
“That’s slander!” Bai Tang said firmly.
Zhou Jiami let out a relieved sigh. “I knew it was nonsense. Someone as good as Mr. Sheng couldn’t possibly be interested in you.”
“I mean, it’s me who wants Sheng Qi, not him wanting me!” Bai Tang said seriously. “The order is very important!”
Zhou Jiami: “…”
Everyone: “…”