Chapter 250
After devouring Jiang Shuyi's system, Shen Nanchu's system fell into a brief slumber.
That massive and chaotic energy required time to be sorted, purified, and fully absorbed.
Shen Nanchu was more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet; without the system's occasional chatter, her ears were finally spared.
In the days that followed, Pei Zhengnian was so busy that he didn't even have time to come home.
Pei Zhengwei's case involved a wide range of people. The subsequent interrogations, finalizing the case, recovering stolen goods, writing reports, and dealing with various factions all fell on his shoulders as the person primarily in charge.
He practically lived at the office. Even when he occasionally sent someone back to fetch a change of clothes, it was always in a hurried rush.
Shen Nanchu, meanwhile, returned to her routine life between school and home.
School and home formed the entire trajectory of her life.
It was as if the thrilling scene at the factory in the suburbs of Beijing was just a trivial episode in her ordinary life.
She remained the same Shen Nanchu: an outstanding student with a cold temperament, making her difficult to approach.
During this period, Father Pei moved back to live in the courtyard house, no longer needing to sneak around.
With Pei Zhengwei finally arrested, Father Pei finally didn't have to play the role of a loving father to that sinful spawn.
Moving into the courtyard house, going to work, and teasing his grandson made him incredibly happy.
Of course, aside from the matter concerning Lei Mingyuan, the true eldest son of the Pei family, Father Pei really had nothing to worry about.
He was just waiting for the day the trial concluded so he could grandly welcome Lei Mingyuan back home.
During this time, Pei Zhengnian also came back once, had a meal, and left again.
Everyone had a fairly good time during that meal, though Pei Zhengnian had lost quite a bit of weight, causing the Pei family much heartache. Only Shen Nanchu ate with peace of mind, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
After all, she was the one who might be in trouble that night.
Fortunately, a phone call summoned Pei Zhengnian away.
After eating, Pei Zhengnian and Shen Nanchu chatted briefly before he left.
Shen Nanchu's days gradually became peaceful, like a pool of deep water, calm and unruffled on the surface.
Time easily leaves people behind, reddening the cherries and greening the plantains.
The branches and leaves of the trees on campus grew increasingly lush, and sunlight scattered mottled spots of light through the gaps in the foliage.
Soon, July was approaching.
The summer heat grew stronger, and the cicadas chirped tirelessly in the trees.
Shen Nanchu's freshman life was also coming to an end.
Final exams for various subjects came one after another, like hurdles waiting for the students to overcome.
After the exams, it would be almost time for summer vacation, which was the greatest anticipation for most students after a hard semester of work.
Shen Nanchu felt the same.
She could finally end this somewhat boring campus life.
As the final exams approached, the entire campus was permeated with a tense atmosphere of revision.
The library and study rooms were fully occupied, and even under the tree-lined avenues and by the sports field, students could be seen everywhere holding books and muttering to themselves.
All the students were in the midst of intense revision; everyone even gave up their noon lunch breaks, wishing they could split a minute in half to use.
Except for Shen Nanchu.
She slept when she needed to sleep and rested when she needed to rest, showing absolutely no sense of urgency.
During the afternoon study hall, while others were burying their heads in hard study, she could sit leisurely in her seat reading a leisure book borrowed from the library, or simply close her eyes to rest. Her composed demeanor was completely out of tune with the fiery revision atmosphere around her.
Zhang Qiang and Li Zhe were extremely envious. Every time they saw Shen Nanchu like this, they couldn't help but lament,
"Comrade Shen Nanchu, how is your brain wired? Do you not need to revise at all? Pass on some experience to us!"
Shen Nanchu didn't even bother to lift her eyelids, lazily replying,
"Experience? Does having a good brain count?"
Zhang Qiang, Li Zhe: "..."
Well, there was no way to continue this conversation.
Pei Yunzhou was also envious, but unlike his sister-in-law's monstrously smart brain, he could only rely on himself to desperately cram.
He would occasionally bring difficult questions to ask Shen Nanchu.
When the question was somewhat difficult, Shen Nanchu would give a concise and precise pointer or two, which often suddenly enlightened him.
When the question was too easy, Shen Nanchu would directly say, "You can't even do something this simple? What were you listening to in class?"
Rebutted to the point where Pei Yunzhou's face turned red, he could only slink back and figure it out himself.
In the dormitory, the atmosphere was even more subtle.
Looking at Shen Nanchu's leisurely appearance, Qin Rong was both envious and jealous.
She herself was overwhelmed by the exams, staying up late to revise until dark circles appeared under her eyes. Yet Shen Nanchu, the person she despised the most, was as relaxed as an outsider.
Her complexion was rosy, her skin was fair and tender. Why hadn't the glaring sun tanned her?
This wicked fire was suppressed in her heart, making Qin Rong feel extremely uncomfortable.
Finally, one noon, as Shen Nanchu prepared for her usual nap, Qin Rong couldn't hold back anymore. She put down the textbook in her hand and spoke eccentrically,
"Oh my, some people really have a big heart. The exams are almost here, and you can still sleep?"
"Don't tell me you've given up and are just waiting to fail your classes?"
Qin Rong was not in the same major as Shen Nanchu. Moreover, her mind was entirely focused on how to latch onto Pei Zhengnian, so she was completely ignorant of Shen Nanchu's excellence.
Faced with Qin Rong's veiled insults, Shen Nanchu didn't stop her motion of lying down.
She comfortably adjusted her posture before slowly retorting, without even opening her eyes,
"It's still better than some people whose brains don't work and have to rely on staying up late to rote memorize, only to get stupider the more they memorize."
"Look at those dark circles, they're almost dropping to your chin. Those who don't know would think you got punched twice."
"Sigh, ugly, truly ugly!"
Zhao Xiaomei, Li Juan, and Wang Fang, who shared the dormitory, quickly lowered their heads, their shoulders twitching slightly as they desperately held back their laughter.
These three had long witnessed Shen Nanchu's sharp tongue and knew full well that they shouldn't mess with this ancestor, not daring to get involved at all.
[Disgust Value +10]
Qin Rong's sore spot was poked, and her face instantly flushed red. "You! Who are you calling stupid? Who are you calling ugly?"
Shen Nanchu finally lifted her eyelids and cast a lazy glance at her, the contempt in her eyes undisguised.
"Whoever answers is the one I'm talking about."
"What, not only is your brain not working well, but your ears also have a problem? Do you need me to introduce a doctor to take a look?"
"But looking at your situation, a doctor might also be helpless. Congenitally deficient and impossible to fix later."
[Disgust Value +15]
"You... Shen Nanchu! Don't go too far!" Qin Rong trembled with anger.
"Me, going too far?"
Shen Nanchu sneered, her eyes carrying naked disdain.
"I'm sleeping here, did I get in your way?"
"You were the one who jumped out like a jealous chicken asking for trouble."
"What, feeling unbalanced seeing that I don't need to revise?"
"If you have the ability, you should have a photographic memory too."
"If you don't have what it takes, don't bite off more than you can chew."
"Can't you just quietly be a dumb bird? You just have to come out and show off your touchingly low IQ."
[Disgust Value +30]
Qin Rong couldn't compare to her; her grades were miles behind.
She couldn't win in a shouting match either; their combat power was completely not on the same level.
Rendered speechless by Shen Nanchu's few retorts, her chest heaved violently, almost passing out from anger.
However, as soon as she thought about what was going to happen tonight, that suffocation and anger suddenly dissipated quite a bit. The look she directed at Shen Nanchu took on a hint of smugness and superiority again.