Chapter 41: Lin Miaomiao's Frustration

As Ye Bai stepped into the bustling gymnasium for the math competition in Jiangzhou, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement mingled with nerves. The air crackled with anticipation as students from various regions gathered for the challenge.

The venue itself was adorned with vibrant banners displaying mathematical equations, adding to the atmosphere of competition. Rows of desks, each equipped with fresh test papers and pencils, awaited the eager participants.

Amidst the buzz, Ye Bai spotted his classmate Qian Sanyi, exchanging nods of encouragement before taking their respective seats. Under the guidance of their head teacher, Zhang Rongbao, the competition began.

As the students delved into their exam papers, Ye Bai found himself growing a bit restless. He had expected more of a thrill, akin to the exciting games he watched on television.

When Teacher Zhang gently woke him from a brief doze, Ye Bai learned that Qian Sanyi had already completed his exam and left. Though a little confused, Ye Bai was too tired to inquire further, feeling the weight of the day's events settling in.

...

Lin Miaomiao happily hummed a tune as she washed her socks in the public bathroom of the female dormitory. Suddenly, a senior student entered, her expression tired and worn. Lin Miaomiao looked up, recognizing the senior who should have been on duty at the radio station.

"What happened? Are you okay? Did you take your medicine?" Lin Miaomiao asked, her voice laced with concern, her brows knitting together in worry.

The senior glanced over and recognized Lin Miaomiao. "Yes, I already took my medicine. I just need to rest for a while," she replied wearily, filling her thermos bottle with hot water from the dispenser. "By the way, why aren't you in class?"

"No, I swapped shifts with you at the broadcasting station," Lin Miaomiao explained.

The senior furrowed her eyebrows, glancing at her watch. "Then why are you still here?"

Lin Miaomiao grinned mischievously. "I asked my little disciple to take my place."

...

Qian Sanyi sat in the taxi, his expression tense with anxiety as he glanced out the window at the sea of cars surrounding them. Stuck in traffic after leaving the competition venue, he felt a surge of impatience rising within him.

"Driver, can you take another route? I'm in a hurry," he urged, his voice tinged with urgency.

The driver sighed, shaking his head. "There's a traffic jam no matter which road we take," he responded resigned to the situation.

Qian Sanyi's gaze flicked to his watch, his anxiety growing as he realized the precious minutes slipping away.

...

"It's already 5:35 but the bell hasn't rung yet," the senior remarked to Lin Miaomiao, checking her watch with a furrowed brow.

Lin Miaomiao paused, a look of confusion crossing her features. "Eh?" She approached the senior and glanced at the watch on her wrist.

"5:35," the senior confirmed, showing the time to Lin Miaomiao.

Lin Miaomiao's face suddenly paled as she realized the implications of the late hour. Without wasting another moment, she dashed outside the female dormitory towards the radio station. The 600-meter distance felt like an eternity as she sprinted, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

As Lin Miaomiao burst into the broadcasting room, she found it empty. Panic surged within her as she rushed to the radio equipment, her hands trembling as she operated it in haste. "Quickly, quickly," she muttered under her breath, her anxiety reaching its peak as she waited for the computer monitor to boot up.

Finally, the familiar sound of the bell echoed through the school as Lin Miaomiao managed to initiate the broadcast just in time. With a deep breath, she slumped into a chair, the adrenaline of the frantic rush slowly subside as she reflected on the successful completion of the day's first broadcasting trial.

...

On the other side, Qian Sanyi saw the traffic wasn't moving. Without hesitation, he jumped out of the taxi and started running towards the school. Dodging traffic and ignoring curious glances, he pushed himself forward. Despite the obstacles, he focused on reaching the school before it was too late.

...

Deng Xiaoqi stood near the speaker, her excitement palpable as she eagerly awaited Qian Sanyi's voice.

Lin Miaomiao began, her tone was vibrant with enthusiasm. "After a monotonous week, let's welcome the new weekend!" She clapped her hands excitedly.

Qian Sanyi's voice came through the speakers, but there was an unexpected edge to it. "Do you look forward to it, Miaomiao? You'll be home this weekend. What will you do?"

"As a student in Social Science, I enjoy immersing myself in literature," Lin Miaomiao replied.

Jiang Tianhao noticed Deng Xiaoqi's sudden movement and leaned in to speak to her. "Xiao—"

"Shhh," Deng Xiaoqi hushed him, her brow furrowing in concentration as she listened intently.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Tianhao whispered.

"Did Qian Sanyi have a fever?" Deng Xiaoqi asked with concern.

"Why do you care if he has a fever or not?" Jiang Tianhao began, but Deng Xiaoqi silenced him with a glare.

"Silence," she commanded, her attention fixed on the speaker. Jiang Tianhao listened, and he too detected something off in Qian Sanyi's voice. "It seems like he caught a cold?"

Deng Xiaoqi nodded in agreement. "That's what I'm thinking."

Jiang Tianhao suggested, "So you shouldn't contact him in the coming days."

"Go away!" Deng Xiaoqi snapped, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.

Breathless from his sprint, Qian Sanyi stood at the door of the radio station, his chest heaving as he slowly pushed it open and stepped inside. The first thing he saw was Lin Miaomiao standing at the mic, reading from a script. She began to pinch her nose, altering her voice to mimic his own.

Qian Sanyi watched silently as Lin Miaomiao carried out her broadcasting duties. A smile tugged at his lips as he observed her, but he quickly suppressed it. Suddenly, he became acutely aware of his heartbeat, each thud echoing loudly in his ears as if the world had slowed down around him.

Lin Miaomiao glanced over at Qian Sanyi. "This is Lin Miaomiao and her disciple," she announced, pointing at him and shooting him a playful glare. "Qian Sanyi brings this program to you. Now, please enjoy the music." With that, she turned off the mic, and soothing melodies filled the room.

Qian Sanyi, shocked and angered by Lin Miaomiao's words, strode over to her. "Why did you say that?" he demanded.

Lin Miaomiao slammed her hand on the table and stood up, walking toward Qian Sanyi with fury in her eyes. "Do you even have the face to ask? Where do you think you're going? Don't you realize we have a broadcast program today?" she burst out.

Qian Sanyi's anger began to subside slightly. "This afternoon, I was at the math competition. I got stuck in a traffic jam," he explained, trying to remain calm as he walked away.

But Lin Miaomiao was not ready to let him off the hook. She grabbed his arm, her grip tight and unyielding, refusing to let him leave. "You're off-duty. You've violated the rules of the broadcasting room," she insisted, her voice stern and unwavering.

"I didn't break any rules," Qian Sanyi retorted, his gaze meeting hers defiantly.

"You're not even ashamed to claim you didn't break any rules?" Lin Miaomiao's face flushed red with anger. "This is your first time on duty, and you dare to shirk your responsibilities. You're audacious."

"Why do you say that?" Qian Sanyi asked calmly, trying to maintain his composure despite the tension between them.

Lin Miaomiao grabbed the attendance notebook and thrust it in front of Qian Sanyi, her actions swift and forceful. "Did you sign this?"

Qian Sanyi quickly took a pen and signed the notebook, his movements deliberate and purposeful. "I've already signed it," he said, his tone steady as he returned to his desk.

Lin Miaomiao looked at the notebook and saw Qian Sanyi's signature, her expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. With a frustrated sigh, she slammed the notebook onto the table, her actions punctuating her exasperation.

"You have no shame at all," she said, her voice tinged with irritation as she followed Qian Sanyi to his desk, her steps heavy with emotion.

"You're too late, and you're off-duty," she pointed accusingly at Qian Sanyi, but he ignored her as if he couldn't see her.

"I'm not late," Qian Sanyi replied nonchalantly as he sorted through his bag, his demeanor calm despite the tension in the room.

"You're a liar!" Lin Miaomiao shouted, her frustration reaching a boiling point.

Qian Sanyi met her gaze squarely, his expression mocked her. "This program is hosted by Lin Miaomiao and her disciple, Qian-San-Yi. That's what you said. The radio station has recorded it," he stated calmly,

Lin Miaomiao was exasperated as she looked at Qian Sanyi. "You...you..."

"That's what you said," Qian Sanyi repeated, then left her standing alone.

...

Lin Miaomiao stood waiting in the bustling canteen, the aroma of food wafting through the air. Suddenly, she heard a cough from behind her. Turning around, she found Qian Sanyi standing there, a lunch box in his hand. Without a word, he handed it to her.

"Thank you!" Lin Miaomiao exclaimed, her face lighting up with a smile as she accepted the lunch box. With a cheerful nod, she walked away, leaving Qian Sanyi standing there, watching her go.

Just moments before, Lin Miaomiao, in her role as the master of Qian Sanyi, had ordered him to buy her a flank soup. Despite any reservations or objections he may have had, he felt defeated in the face of her crazy method.

...

Lin Miaomiao slurped up the beef noodles in the dormitory, the savory aroma filling the air. Deng Xiaoqi sat across from her, her gaze curious as she pondered the state of Qian Sanyi.

"Is Qian Sanyi alright? I feel like his voice sounds off. Did he catch a cold?" Deng Xiaoqi inquired, genuine concern etched on her face.

Pausing mid-slurp, Lin Miaomiao glanced up from her noodles, a thoughtful expression crossing her features. "A cold? I hadn't considered that. As I've mentioned before, the broadcasting station belongs to the social science department, and the natural science folks aren't exactly adept at it. It's a pity you're not there to witness it. That yellow monkey's face looks positively ghastly. It's as if he's swallowed a bitter pill," Lin Miaomiao remarked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

Deng Xiaoqi feigned a pitiful expression as she turned to Lin Miaomiao, her eyes wide with innocence. "Miaomiao, I have a small favor to ask."

Pausing mid-bite, Lin Miaomiao raised an eyebrow, her chopsticks hovering in the air. "What is it now?"

"I want to visit Qian Sanyi. I heard Xiao Shui was trying to get in touch with Yiyi," Deng Xiaoqi explained, her hands clasped together in a pleading gesture.

"Who's this Xiao Shui?"

"A new first-year student. Miaomiao, please, you have to let me accompany you to the broadcasting room. I need to mark my territory," Deng Xiaoqi pleaded, her bottom lip jutting out in a puppy-dog pout.

Lin Miaomiao shook her head, a wry smile playing on her lips. "There are rules for our broadcasting room. We can't just bring anyone in—" Deng Xiaoqi suddenly presented a snack on the table, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Well, I guess one exception won't hurt. But there are three conditions," Lin Miaomiao said, taking the snack and placing it beside her. "You can only stay for five minutes, you have to leave before we start, and no touching anything."

Deng Xiaoqi playfully slapped Miaomiao's arm, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "How annoying. Who said anything about touching?"

Lin Miaomiao jokingly pointed at Deng Xiaoqi's head, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "What's going on in that head of yours? I mean, you can't touch our equipment; it's not like it's Qian Sanyi." She continued, "Our broadcasting room is an important place, and only authorized personnel should be there. But because of you, I'll have to break the rules." She glanced at the snack beside her, a teasing glint in her eye. "Though you only brought me bread."

Deng Xiaoqi then pulled out more snacks from her bag, causing Lin Miaomiao's eyes to widen in surprise. "By the way, what happened to Ye Bai?"

Lin Miaomiao's cheerful mood turned sour, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Don't mention that rascal to me anymore."

"What happened? Did he do something to you?"

"N-no, I mean, I'm just frustrated with him. He didn't tell us why he suddenly disappeared," Lin Miaomiao admitted, her anger palpable this time when it came to Ye Bai.

...

Qian Sanyi House.

Qian Sanyi sat at his computer, but his thoughts drifted to memories of Lin Miaomiao—the seriousness in her gaze, her fiery anger, the defeat in her eyes, and the joy that lit up her face when she received her lunch. A smile crept onto his lips as these images played in his mind, warming his heart.

Suddenly, he became aware of his own pounding heartbeat, loud in his ears. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts and the fluttering of his heart, hoping to regain his composure amidst the whirlwind of emotions stirred up by the thoughts of Lin Miaomiao.