Chapter 553：The Lonely Top Student 16

Looking at Jiao Tong’s doubtful expression, Tang Wan immediately exploded.

“What kind of look is that? You think I can’t pass? My IQ is 250, okay?” she shot back.

Jiao Tong froze for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head and laughed.

Looking up at her, he said with a faint smile, “That’s the first time I’ve seen someone proudly call themselves a ‘two hundred and five.’”

Tang Wan: …

“If you keep laughing, I’ll kiss you—believe it or not? Smiling like that is practically asking for trouble,” Tang Wan leaned in and threatened in a low voice.

Jiao Tong was stunned again.

The next moment, the tips of his ears reddened. He stopped laughing, then glanced at her helplessly. “Fine. I won’t laugh.”

“Dip! Jiao Tong’s favorability +5. Current favorability: 65.”

Tang Wan’s expression immediately relaxed when she heard the notification.

Then she looked at him with mock disappointment. “Seems like Tongtong doesn’t like me kissing you. That’s really heartbreaking.”

Jiao Tong’s lips twitched slightly.

Why does it feel like she’s a full-time actress? Always performing…

Soon, the ten-minute break ended and class resumed.

Tang Wan, wearing gloves, held her stylus and tapped away on her phone, completely immersed.

After all, she’d already learned this material across multiple worlds. And the teachers here didn’t bother with her anyway. Since she couldn’t chat with Tongtong during class, she might as well pass the time like this.

Watching her play on her phone, Jiao Tong became even more convinced that she was a complete underachiever.

He simply opened his textbook and continued reading quietly.

One class passed quickly.

Tang Wan’s phone battery died, leaving her with nothing to do.

After switching to a new pair of gloves, a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

If I hold Tongtong’s hand with gloves on… it should be fine, right?

After all, nothing she had touched through gloves these past two days had broken.

With that in mind, as the next class began, Tang Wan gently nudged his arm with her elbow.

Jiao Tong turned his head, a faint questioning look in his eyes.

“Tongtong, give me your hand,” Tang Wan said.

He looked puzzled, but still complied, extending his pale, slender hand.

The next second, he watched as Tang Wan reached out—carefully, cautiously—like she was handling something incredibly delicate, and lightly poked his palm with exaggerated care.

“…?”

“What are you doing?” he couldn’t help asking.

“I’m testing if I can hold your hand,” Tang Wan replied seriously.

Jiao Tong: …

That’s not holding hands—that’s poking.

But before he could say anything, she murmured softly, “Looks like gloves really do work.”

Then, her gloved hand slowly settled into his palm, their fingers interlocking.

She gave his hand a gentle squeeze through the fabric.

They say fingers are connected to the heart.

That light squeeze felt like it pressed directly against his chest—bringing with it a strange, faint tingling sensation.

For a moment, Jiao Tong felt as though all the strength in his hand had drained away.

Just as he was getting lost in that unfamiliar feeling—

Tang Wan suddenly let go.

The instant their hands separated, a subtle sense of emptiness crept into his heart.