《Maintaining the Dignity of the Female Supporting Character》


 Chapter 1

    On the quiet street lined with ne trees, golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.


    A middle-aged man stood nervously by his car, making a phone call: "Hello? Is this 911? I''m at Fuxing Lane near the east gate of Mingli High School. There''s been a student in a car ident. The specific injuries... I can''t really tell, I''m afraid she might have broken bones, so I haven''t dared to move her... How long until you arrive?"


    Thene was neither particrly wide nor narrow. The man had been in a hurry and taken this route, seeing it was empty, he''d driven a bit faster than usual. Who would have thought a student would suddenly dart out? He couldn''t stop in time, and the unexpected ident left him in a cold sweat.


    He mentally noted the first aid instructions given over the phone, when he caught a sh of movement in his peripheral vision. Looking up, he saw the female student who had been lying unconscious on the ground was now sprinting towards the school''s east gate at breakneck speed.


    The man''s eyes widened in disbelief. He quickly snatched up the backpack from the ground and gave chase, shouting, "Miss! You''re still bleeding! Miss!!!"


    Wen Shuangmu ignored the shouts behind her, instead confirming with the voice in her head: "So I''ve traveled back in time to my first year of high school?"


    Wu Xiaoqi replied, "To be precise, you''re about to start your first year. Just a friendly reminder, host, you have only fifteen minutes left before the cement test starts. In your previous life, you missed the test due to this ident and only got into the advanced ss through your family''s connections and bribery. Please hurry and make the most of this second chance."


    Her left arm was still bleeding, both painful and numb.


    Wen Shuangmu pressed her hand against it and quickened her pace. "I''m already running as fast as I can!"


    The east gate was a side entrance to Mingli High School, closer to the dormitories. It wasn''t as wide as the main gate and was mainly used by students after evening self-study sessions, as Fuxing Lane was close to the night market, making it convenient to buyte-night snacks. Now, during the summer break, only the iing first-years were here for the cement test. The other grades hadn''t started sses yet. At the quiet school gate, apart from the ivy covering both walls, there was only a security guard dozing in the gatehouse with a fan blowing.


    Mingli High School was a key school in the city. Although the cement test wasn''t an official exam, they had still set up banners and barriers, prohibiting outsiders and vehicles from entering to avoid disturbing the test-takers.


    Wen Shuangmu couldn''t wait for the security guard toe out and let her in. She quickly called out through the ss window that she was ate student, then vaulted over the barrier with one hand.


    Wen Shuangmu''s vault looked cool, but mid-air she aggravated her abdominal injury. Her moment of glorysted less than a second before she stumbled and staggered uponnding.


    The security guard btedly ran out of the gatehouse, shouting to catch her. Wu Xiaoqi cheered, "Go, host!"


    The eight o''clock summer sun was merciless. Wen Shuangmu had only run a short distance but was already drenched in sweat.


    The intense exercise amplified the pain in her abdomen and arm. She didn''t have enough hands to cover all the painful spots.


    Wen Shuangmu said, "Instead of just cheering me on, how about something more practical? Don''t you systems have any pain-blocking functions? It doesn''t have tost long, just help me get through the morning test."


    Wu Xiaoqi replied, "Sorry, the reward mechanism requires the host toplete tasks and exchange points. We don''t provide free services."


    Wen Shuangmu nced at her wound. In her previous life, when she was sent to the hospital, it had only required superficial bandaging, with no damage to tendons or bones. There was no risk to her life. She tried to distract herself from the pain, asking as she ran, "You mentioned earlier that the world I''m in is actually a novel?"


    Wen Shuangmu''sst memory was of lying in a hospital bed after the car ident. In hera, she vaguely heard the doctor pronounce her a permanent vegetative state. She desperately tried to open her eyes but couldn''t. The next moment, she was back at the ident scene, with a strange entity bound to her mind, telling her this ident wasn''t that ident, and that she was now seven years in the past.


    Wu Xiaoqi said, "That''s right, it''s a novel called ''Zhizhi Green Beauty''."


    An electronic screen appeared in Wen Shuangmu''s mind, disying glowing text.


    Wen Shuangmu had missed the cement test in her previous life, so she was now focused on finding the signposts indicating which building the test was in. She couldn''t spare the energy to read the text on the screen carefully, but fortunately, Wu Xiaoqi helped by activating a vivid reading mode.


    [Everyone says that Su Qiyan, the school heartthrob of Mingli High, is noble and handsome, cold and aloof, like an unreachable flower on a high cliff. He never gives a second nce to the girls who pursue him.


    The students in the spring ss bet that this god-like figure would never fall for a mortal girl, graduating pure and untouched.


    However,ter rumors spread among the students that someone had seen Su Qiyan pressing the beautiful girl from the neighboring ss against the back wall of the ssroom, bullying her.


    Su Qiyan responded,


    "How dare I?"


    He lowered his eyes to look at the soft beauty in his arms,


    Suppressing his urges, his slightly reddened eyes full of madness: "Stop crying."


    He paused, his voice hoarse: "If you cry again, I''ll give you my life."]


    This... isn''t it a bit too embarrassing...


    Wen Shuangmu felt a bit choked up. Even trying to imagine herself in that situation, she still found it hard to swallow. Moreover, after racking her brains, she couldn''t recall any memories rted to the description in the text.


    Furthermore, Wen Shuangmu asked, "What does this blurb have to do with the title of the book?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "The host doesn''t understand the trends in the world outside the book. This is a sweet romance novel, and using a bubble tea name as the novel''s title is perfect."


    Sweet romance novel...


    Wen Shuangmu silently repeated in her mind.


    "Is it sweet?"


    She could be certain that her life in the past few years had nothing to do with sweetness.


    But this was indeed her favorite bubble tea.


    The author had put some thought into it.


    Wu Xiaoqi didn''t see any problem: "Yes, this novel reached the TOP 1 of campus sweet romance as soon as it was serialized. Readers praised it as life-saving sugar in the summer. Moreover, the female lead''s name is Zhizhi - Xia Zhili, which ties into the title in various ways."


    Wu Xiaoqi thought of something and paused: "If we have to pick something not sweet, it would be you, this supporting character, escaping the original author''s control, frequently appearing and messing up the subsequent plot... Otherwise, this novel wouldn''t have plummeted in rankings. After all, it was a masterpiecebining red-eye literature, life-giving literature, and wall-pressing literature."


    However, Wen Shuangmu seemed not to have heard thetter part. She suddenly stopped in her tracks, staring straight ahead motionless.


    Wu Xiaoqi curiously called out twice: "Host? Host?"


    Wen Shuangmu seemed to have finally processed it, uttering seven words: "So, I''m not the female lead?"


    Wu Xiaoqi never expected the host''s self-awareness to be so unclear, and said: "Even if the female lead gets injured, she wouldn''t be a permanent vegetative state."


    Wen Shuangmu looked at the bright blue sky, her fingertips clenching into her palm then rxing. She silently let out a long breath.


    Mingli High School was toorge. The test rules generally stated that students couldn''t enter the exam room after fifteen minutes past the start time. Although Wen Shuangmu was upset, she didn''t dare dy. But when she ran into the teaching building indicated by the exam room signage, she stopped again.


    "Host, what''s wrong now?"


    Wen Shuangmu looked at the empty corridor, the exam already in progress, and asked: "Which exam room am I in again?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu looked down at her empty hands: "Where are my backpack and admission ticket?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    "They might have been left where you were hit by the car."


    Wen Shuangmu raised an eyebrow: "You didn''t remind me."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...The system is not omniscient. Many things require the host''s own attention."


    Wen Shuangmu: "You were the one who told me to run as soon as I woke up."


    Wu Xiaoqi fellpletely silent.


    Wen Shuangmu was very satisfied with its silence. She looked around: "It''s toote to go back now. Since this problem was caused by the system''s oversight, what do you suggest we do now?"


    Wu Xiaoqi chose to remain quiet, opening its program to run and search the database for "how to enter the exam room if a student loses their admission ticket."


    Wen Shuangmu cared about this test, and her heart was far from as calm as her outward appearance suggested. It was toote either way, and now her only hope was to bluff her way through, seeing if the system could magically produce a set of stationery and an admission ticket for her.


    As the person and the system were at an impasse, two breathless voices came from behind.


    "Student, student, your backpack."


    Wen Shuangmu turned to look and saw a middle-aged man in a suit and someone dressed as a security guard running into the teaching building, bypassing a flower bed.


    The man had followed Wen Shuangmu all the way to the east gate, originally stopped by security and not allowed in. After exining the situation, he was finally apanied by the security guard toe find her.


    Wen Shuangmu was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans. The blood flowing from the gash on her left arm had stained her light-colored clothes, looking quite rming as the color darkened.


    The car owner, being honest and kind-hearted, had never been in an ident in all his years of driving. Feeling guilty, he said, "Why don''t we go to the hospital first? Don''t worry, I''ll cover all the medical expenses."


    Wen Shuangmu took her backpack, immediately checking the pencil case and exam admission ticket inside. Her expression softened slightly, relieved that the car owner was a good person who had followed her all the way.


    "Thank you, but I''m in a hurry for my exam. I''ll go by myself after it''s over," she said, ncing at the ssroom number on her admission ticket. Without bothering to say goodbye, she rushed towards the third floor.


    The car owner was still concerned and was about to follow her when the security guard suggested apromise: "This cement exam is quite important for new high school freshmen. The girl probably has good grades and takes it seriously. Why don''t you leave your contact information? I''ll ask the school nurse to check on her, and we''ll call you if there''s any problem."


    The car owner nodded repeatedly in agreement: "Oh, yes, that''s good, that''s good."


    Wen Shuangmu climbed the stairs two steps at a time. As she ran, the area of her waist and abdomen that had been hit by the car throbbed with a bruised, swollen pain. Now, as she exerted herself, the pain almost brought tears to her eyes.


    She hurried to find Room 4, where the students had already been taking the exam for quite some time, the ssroom silent.


    She knocked on the door and spoke rapidly: "Sorry, teacher, I''mte."


    The proctor turned to look at her.


    Zhou Quan was a veteran teacher at the school and also served as a grade supervisor. He was known for his straightforward manner with students, never hesitating to praise when warranted, but also certain to scold when necessary until the student showed genuine remorse.


    Normally, he would at least verbally reprimandte examinees. This time, as his eyes moved to her, the words of rebuke were on the tip of his tongue, but he was stunned by the bloodstains on Wen Shuangmu''s clothes. He walked to the door in a few steps: "...Are you alright, student?"


    The proctor was to be Wen Shuangmu''s future math teacher, but they didn''t know each other well yet. Fearing he might not let her in, she said, "It''s just a minor injury."


    Zhou Quan''s gaze lingered on therge gash on her left arm, his words hesitant: "This doesn''t look minor..."


    Wen Shuangmu gestured towards the clock at the back of the ssroom, with only seconds remaining: "Teacher, it hasn''t been fifteen minutes since the exam started. Can Ie in?"


    "Of course, of course." Zhou Quan could guess that some ident had dyed her. He stepped aside and went to the podium to get her an exam paper.


    Wen Shuangmu took out her pencil case and admission ticket, putting her backpack in the storage cab at the side of the ssroom meant for items unrted to the exam. Following the seat number on her admission ticket, she found her ce and sat down.


    Many students were absent from the exam venue. The cement test was only topete for forty spots in the advanced ss, and many who felt they had no chance didn''t bother to show up.


    In all his years of teaching, Zhou Quan had never encountered a student so determined to take an exam. Moved by her dedication and worried she might faint during the test, he couldn''t help but advise as he handed her the paper: "If you feel unwell at any point, you can raise your hand to signal me."


    "Mm." Wen Shuangmu''s attention was already on the exam paper, barely acknowledging him with a soft sound.


    Zhou Quan had thought she might ask him to fetch some water to wash the blood off her hands. But this female student seemed incredibly aloof. He stood there awkwardly for a while, but she didn''t even nce at him again.


    Seeing that the gash on her arm had clotted and was no longer bleeding, Zhou Quan figured it wasn''t too serious and finally walked back to the podium.


    From the moment Wen Shuangmu knocked and entered, many students had be restless due to her blood-stained, frightening appearance.


    Two minutester, some were still frequently turning to look at her seat, their eyes clearly saying, "Is this guy a werewolf or something?"


    Zhou Quan pped the desk to maintain order: "Everyone be quiet! Have you finished your papers? Do you all think you''re guaranteed a spot in the advanced ss?"


    The new students, having just passed the high school entrance exam to enter Mingli High School, were naturally a bit timid in their new environment with new teachers. They quickly fell silent, adjusting their chairs to sit properly again.


    Lu Jing had finished marking the answers for ten multiple-choice questions on his answer sheet, and his mind had entered a state of emptiness.


    He was resting his chin on one hand, having already dozed off less than twenty minutes into the exam.


    Hearing themotion in the ssroom, he squinted his eyes, ncing around.


    With just a fleeting look, he almost thought his eyes were ying tricks on him, opening them a bit wider.


    Wen Shuangmu pressed her marking pen several times, but the lead kept breaking. Noticing the boy next to her looking over, she turned slightly and asked quietly, "ssmate, do you have an extra 2B pencil?"


    Lu Jing didn''t even have a pencil case on his desk, just one ck pen and one 2B pencil. He hadn''t even brought an eraser.


    Before he could answer, Wen Shuangmu saw this and thought he probably needed to use it himself. She was about to raise her hand to ask the proctor to help her borrow from other students when he held out his pencil to her.


    The wooden pencil touched Wen Shuangmu''s hand, but the boy didn''t let go immediately. He seemed unable to resistmenting, his gaze lingering on the wound on her arm: "...Are you sure you don''t need to bandage that first?"


    Wen Shuangmu knew her injury only looked scary. She half-raised her arm to show him: "It''s fine, it''s already dry."


    Lu Jing: "..."


    After a couple of seconds, Lu Jing pushed the pencil further into her palm and sat up straight.


    He looked at his own answer sheet, nk except for the multiple-choice section, thenpared it to his injured neighbor''s¡ª


    It was inspiring.


    It was terrifying.

 Chapter 2

    The cement exam at Mingli High School only tested three subjects: Chinese, Math, and English. While the number of questions wasn''trge, they were extremely difficult. Besides testing students'' ability to solve challenging problems, it also assessed their time management skills.


    The questions for all three subjects werepiled into one test paper, with a four-hour time limit. After the final rankings were released, the top forty students would be selected for the experimental ss.


    Wen Shuangmu quickly flipped through the test paper, estimating its overall difficulty.


    She wasn''t worried about English. In college, she had a habit of taking exams to boost her scores. In herst CET-6 (College English Test Band 6) exam, she had scored nearly perfect with 700 points. Before her rebirth, she had been preparing for the graduate school entrance exam, so her vocabry and grammar were still fresh in her mind...


    The examination hall was quiet, with only the sound of pens scratching on paper.


    Mingli High School had admitted 600 students this year, but the exam hall only had 560 desks and chairs set up.


    The experimental ss was also known as the experimental control ss. Above them was an even more elite group - the Spring ss.


    As the name suggests, these students were admitted during the spring early admissions, selected by the school through multiple rounds of screening.


    These forty students had already entered school in March, getting a head start on learningpetition knowledge. Teachers jokingly called them the "Gold Medal ss," specifically meant to bringpetition honors to the school.


    Wen Shuangmu had originally been determined to get into the spring admissions, but during that time, an influenza virus was rampant in the country. She unfortunately caught it, missing the opportunity due to a severe cold and fever.


    Later, she performed well in the high school entrance exam, but Mingli didn''t ce much importance on those scores.


    For this cement exam, Wen Shuangmu had her family enroll her in an expensive advanced ss offered by a tutoring institution specifically for Mingli''s cement exam during the first month of the holiday. Regrettably, in her previous life, she hadn''t been able to use that knowledge due to a car ident, and in this life, she had just been reborn and hadpletely forgotten it all.


    Wu Xiaoqi observed its host staring at the math section with a constipated expression, as if trying to bore a hole through the test paper: "Host, you graduated from high school years ago. Don''t tell me you''ve forgotten all the forms and theorems?"


    Wen Shuangmu, her thoughts exposed: "...Shut up, can''t you see I''m trying to remember?"


    Wu Xiaoqi gloated, but fearing it might seem too cruel to watch its host struggle, it helped by searching for answers in its database. It then put itself on mute mode.


    Wen Shuangmu''s mindset, tempered by those extra seven years in her previous life, quickly pushed aside distracting thoughts. She stopped trying to estimate the difficulty of the questions and directly flipped to the English section to start writing.


    Lu Jing tried hard to look at the questions for a while, but his pen-holding posture didn''tst two minutes before the pen slipped to the base of his thumb, idly twirling between his fingertips.


    Looking around, he saw that most students in the front rows were either staring intently at one problem, scratching their heads in confusion, or hunched over, repeatedly calcting and double-checking.


    The injured person next to him, however, was flipping through the test paper quickly. It wasn''t clear if they really knew how to solve everything or if it was a tactical move to create noise and disturb other test-takers'' concentration.


    asionally, when nearby students became annoyed by the frequent page-turning sounds, they would deliberately click their tongues and look back, hoping to make the inconsiderate person more aware.


    It seemed the collective disapproval had an effect. The "injuredrade" changed their previous solving speed and began to ponder deeply over one question, chewing on their pen.


    Strands of hair fell across their forehead, vaguely revealing the tip of a delicate, upturned nose.


    Lu Jing nodded, thinking this was more reasonable. One might be able to guess wildly for Chinese and English, but not for math.


    However, within seconds, the person picked up their pen, wrote down four or five lines of solution steps in the answer area, and quickly turned to the next page.


    Lu Jing: "..."


    They had all graduated from proper junior high schools, but with that quick nce, he realized his level might really be inadequate. He couldn''t understand anything he saw.


    He even thought he saw a strange symbol that had never appeared in textbooks before, though he wasn''t sure if his eyes were ying tricks on him.


    Although his intelligence couldn''tprehend it, he knew these top-level difficult math problems couldn''t be dismissed with just a few steps.


    So this must be the partial credit for steps that teachers always emphasized before the high school entrance exam, right?


    Even if you can''t solve it, you should at least write down a form for some points, right?


    Lu Jing admired this, then changed his position andy down on the desk, resting his head on his arm.


    His friend had dragged him into ying games until the early hours of the morning, and although he had gulped down two cups of coffee when he woke up, it didn''t seem to help much. He was still incredibly sleepy.


    The examsted four hours.


    Lu Jing slept on and off, estimating that it was nearly lunchtime. Worried that if everyone left the exam room together, it would be hard to find a seat in the cafeteria due to the crowd, he decided to hand in his test paper early and leave the ssroom.


    Wen Shuangmu was extremely cautious with the Chinesenguage questions. After checking thenguage basics section onest time to ensure there were no multiple-choice answers that needed correcting, she returned the pencil to the neighboring desk, only to find the person had already left.


    Wen Shuangmu was a bit surprised. At first, she admired the idea of hidden talents among ordinary people, but then remembered that neither the Spring ss nor the Experimental ss had such a character. She finally realized that it must have been someone who gave up midway and left early.


    It was only at this moment that she recalled the person''s appearance, btedly marveling at the fact that she wouldn''t have the chance to run into this handsome ssmate in ss 1 or ss 2 in the future.


    She looked down and saw that the pencil was still quite new, though the tip was a bit ttened from all the shading. After a moment''s thought, she decided to put the pencil into her pencil case.


    As the exam-ending bell rang, Zhou Quan emphasized that everyone should put down their pens before collecting the answer sheets desk by desk ording to exam numbers.


    When he reached Wen Shuangmu''s desk, Zhou Quan said, "The school nurse is in the reading room next door. You should go there after this and let her bandage you up."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t quite react at first, "Oh, okay."


    By the time she realized she had forgotten to say thank you, Zhou Quan had already moved on to the row behind.


    At the end of each floor in Mingli''s teaching building, there was a small library. Although not very spacious, it had floor-to-ceiling windows facing the morning sun, making it very bright and transparent.


    The school nurse was ying on her phone when she saw a girl in a white T-shirt covered in dried blood enter. Without much thought, she guessed this was the student the security guard had asked her to look after.


    The nurse handed Wen Shuangmu the note left by the security guard and opened her medical kit to treat the wound simply: "It''s said to be the contact information left by the car owner. You can call anytime. You''d better go to the hospital for a tetanus shot for this injury, just in case."


    When the saline solution was poured on the wound, Wen Shuangmu winced in pain.


    As the nurse was wrapping the bandage around Wen Shuangmu''s wound, Zhou Quan, who had just returned the test papers to the office, came by to check on the situation.


    "If the cut was any bigger, we''d have to send her to the hospital for stitches right away," the nurse said. "Mr. Zhou, you didn''t make this little girl take the exam while injured, did you?"


    Zhou Quan eximed, "Of course not! I was shocked when I saw it too."


    Wen Shuangmu exined, "It was my own fault."


    Zhou Quan had noted Wen Shuangmu''s name from her answer sheet when collecting the papers. He patted her shoulder and said, "You''re quite determined, youngdy. How do you feel about the exam?"


    He paused, then quickly added, "It''s okay if it didn''t go well. There are cement exams every academic year. With your spirit, you''ll definitely make it."


    Wen Shuangmu couldn''t very well say that she suspected all her math problem answers might be correct, but probably didn''t hit a single scoring point in the solution steps. So she avoided the topic: "Thank you, teacher."


    On exam days, the school nurse only worked half a day, so once the students left, her work for the day was essentially over.


    Zhou Quan, on the other hand, had to stay at school in the afternoon to grade papers. He went downstairs with Wen Shuangmu and, worried that she might not be familiar with the area, offered to show her to the restaurant across from the school since he was going to eat as well.


    The afternoon sun was scorching, but the air conditioning inside blew afortable cool breeze, creating two drastically different environments indoors and outdoors.


    Lu Jing and Ms. Xia Yun were sitting by the window, having lunch.


    Xia Yun noticed her son''s gaze suddenly drift towards the revolving door and casually asked, "What are you looking at?"


    The "injuredrade" and the morning''s exam proctor walked side by side to the ordering counter. This did seem somewhat characteristic of top students, able to quickly build good rtionships with teachers, Lu Jing thought indifferently as he looked away. "Nothing, just a girl."


    Xia Yun''s curiosity was instantly piqued: "What? What?"


    Lu Jing bit into a french fry, unimpressed: "Someone I encountered during the morning exam. Very determined. Don''t know what happened, but she arrived at the ssroom covered in blood."


    "Wow." Xia Yun also noticed a bandaged female student in the queue. "How did she do on the exam?"


    "No idea." He had nced at her paper when handing in his own and saw pitifully few solution steps, so he gave a fair assessment, "Her spirit is admirable."


    Xia Yun mused, "Studying alongside such students must create a great learning atmosphere. You should get along well with them. Mom will help you find out which ss that student got intoter, so you two can be together. She might be able to help you improve."


    Lu Jing suddenly found it hard to chew: "... Let''s not."


    Wen Shuangmu ordered a sandwich and received a text message from the driver, Uncle Chen: "Shuangshuang, is the exam not over yet? It''s too congested at the school gate, I''m parked near the green belt."


    When Uncle Chen dropped her off at school in the morning, the car broke down halfway. She took a shortcut to run to school, and with the distraction of her rebirth, shepletely forgot that Uncle Chen had called out to her as she ran off, saying he''de pick her up at noon.


    Wen Shuangmu put away her phone and exined to Zhou Quan that her family was here to pick her up, asking the staff to change the sandwich order to takeout.


    Zhou Quan reminded her, "Remember to have your parents take you to the hospital for another check-up."


    "Mm, okay," Wen Shuangmu replied, picking up the takeout bag. She added, "Thank you, teacher."


    "Take care," he said.


    Wen Shuangmu weaved through the tables and pushed open the door.


    She looked left and right, seeing the street lined with private cars, unsure which green belt Uncle Chen was referring to.


    She chose a direction at random, looped the stic bag with the sandwich over her wrist, and called Uncle Chen.


    Three to five children ran out of the neighboring convenience store, each holding a bubble machine, running towards her as if ying a shooting game.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t notice at first, only barely stepping aside to make room when the kids got close.


    When she came to her senses, her gaze fell directly on the transparent floor-to-ceiling window of the restaurant¡ª


    The handsome ssmate who sat next to her during the exam was sitting there. He seemed a bit startled by her sudden collision with the ss, a french fry dangling from his mouth, his eyes fixed on her without blinking.


    "Ah, you."


    Wen Shuangmu thought of the 2B pencil lying in her pencil case and was about to say something else when a shout came from the distance¡ª


    "Shuangshuang, over here!"


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t have time to think further. She turned around to see Uncle Chen waving at her from under the zing sun and quickly jogged over.


    Outside the window, children ran by, trailing bubbles through the air.


    Xia Yun looked outside, then at her son, "Was that girl trying to talk to you just now?"


    Lu Jing looked away and lowered his head to continue pressing buttons on his phone, "No."


    Wen Shuangmu met up with Uncle Chen. As she sat in the back seat enjoying the cool air and munching on her sandwich, Uncle Chen was still fretting:


    "It''s all my fault. Even though the car broke down, I should have made sure you got to school safely. Such a big incident happened, I don''t know how worried your parents must be..."


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t too concerned about facing Mr. Wen and Ms. Han''s nagging too soon. The two had an important meeting today, and Uncle Chen had already tried calling twice, but their private numbers were turned off.


    "Uncle, I''m really fine," Wen Shuangmu said. "We''ll just go to the hospital for some simple medication, and I''ll be better in a couple of days."


    Uncle Chen continued muttering and rambling until the car finally left the congested school area and headed towards the hospital. Then he gradually fell silent.


    With nothing else to do, Wen Shuangmu thought she might have left Wu Xiaoqi hanging for too long and called out, but received no response.


    Instead, Uncle Chen in the front seat turned his head, not having heard clearly, and asked, "What?"


    Wen Shuangmu realized she had called the name out loud and replied, "Nothing." She switched to goading in her mind: "Not talking? I thought letting me be reborn would require an equivalent task in return. Fine, I got a freebie, which suits me just fine."


    After a few seconds, a fancy entrance music yed in Wen Shuangmu''s head: "Ding dong! Life is so peaceful, where can we find excitement? Wee to the ''Raise That Viin'' system. As a textbook-level viin, Host, you only need to choose and raise a troublemaker in the book''s world to break free from the original plot and return to 2022!"


    Wen Shuangmu was speechless that Wu Xiaoqi had been silent for so long just to find special effect music. As she listened, her brow furrowed, and she interrupted, "I can go back?"


    Wu Xiaoqi said, "After all, that body only became a vegetative state, notpletely dead. This system provides the Host with one chance to revive and return. Host should make good use of this opportunity."


    Wen Shuangmu nodded, "You just said I need to raise a viin. Who should I raise?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "The target can be chosen freely by the Host. Once bound by the system, it cannot be changed. The viin value will be calcted on a 0-100 progress bar, with 100 considered taskpletion. The task duration is limited to three years, otherwise the Host in this world will die and disappear in another form. If the Host wishes to achieve her goal early, it''s rmended to choose a potential viin with a tendency for corruption to reduce task difficulty."


    Wen Shuangmu listened absent-mindedly, clearly having other questions she wanted to ask but not knowing where to start. She fiddled with the stic bag in her hand for a long while before finally asking, "Was he forced?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Who?"


    "Su Qiyan," Wen Shuangmu said. "Was he forced to fall in love with Xia Zhili?"


    Wu Xiaoqi hadn''t expected the Host to dwell on such a trivial question for so long: "...What do you think?"


    Who would force the main characters in a campus novel to be together?


    Wen Shuangmu fell silent, stuffing the remaining bit of sandwich back into the bag and turning to look out the window.


    The city scenes flew by like a slideshow.


    City First Hospital wasn''t far from Mingli High School. As it was lunchtime and the outpatient doctors were still on break, Uncle Chen took Wen Shuangmu directly to the emergency room.


    After getting a tetanus shot, the doctor also prescribed some ointment to apply on her waist and abdomen to help with the bruising.


    Uncle Chen paid the bill and took Wen Shuangmu home.


    He had other matters to attend to in the afternoon, so he dropped her off at the entrance of the residentialplex. Worried, he repeated the doctor''s instructions to her once more before leaving.


    Wen Shuangmu walked into the elevator lobby next to the main hall. At two in the afternoon, not many residents were using the elevators, so one came up quickly.


    The doors opened on both sides, and Wen Shuangmu, who was about to step in, hesitated and pulled her foot back.


    "Noting in?"


    Su Qiyan noticed the movement and raised his eyelids slightly, ncing at her.


    He was carrying a package, clearly having juste up from the self-service lockers on the second basement level.


    "I am."


    Wen Shuangmu''s lips curved slightly as she walked in and stood beside him, using her door ess card to select her floor.


    Su Qiyan asked, "What happened to your hand?"


    Wen Shuangmu looked at the bandage on her left arm, then lowered her head to tug at the darkened bloodstains on her white T-shirt, briefly exining, "I identally bumped into something this morning."


    Su Qiyan nodded, not asking how such a simple bump could cause such a serious injury. "How was the exam?"


    He had already been admitted to Mingli with the highestprehensive score during the spring recruitment.


    "Not too bad."


    "Mm."


    Their brief exchange of pleasantries was interrupted by a notification sound from Su Qiyan''s phone, and the conversation didn''t continue.


    The elevator fell into silence.


    Su Qiyan tucked the package into the crook of his arm and lowered his head to reply to the message.


    Wen Shuangmu stared at their reflections in the metal wall for a while.


    Su Qiyan''s eyes and brows always had a distant and cold look, quite simr to how Wu Xiaoqi had described him in the script ¨C noble and cold, proud and arrogant.


    She used to think it was just his personality, that he was like this with everyone, and that being closest to him was good enough, but...


    It turns out he wasn''t like this with Xia Zhili.


    North Shore Residence was a hotel-style apartmentplex with two households per floor.


    The Su family lived on the 15th floor, the Wen family on the 17th.


    The numbers in the upper right corner of the elevator quickly jumped to 15, and Su Qiyan put away his phone and walked out.


    Wen Shuangmu, for some reason, suddenly called out to him.


    "Su Qiyan."


    "Hm?"


    The young man turned back, and they silently gazed at each other, one inside and one outside.


    Seeing that she didn''t speak, Su Qiyan used his foot to hold the elevator door that was about to close.


    "Do you need something?"


    "Will you date in high school?"


    Su Qiyan was taken aback: "No."


    Liar.


    Wen Shuangmu barely held back from saying these two words out loud.


    The elevator door automatically closed as the shoe tip retreated, and the rectangr patch of skylight in the corridor gradually narrowed into a thin line before disappearingpletely.


    As the elevator smoothly ascended, Wen Shuangmu suddenly recalled the first time she met Su Qiyan.


    Five years ago, when the Wen family had just moved into thisplex, her mother took her downstairs to meet a middle school ssmate and close friend.


    She sat on the edge of the sofa, nibbling on the popsicle Aunt Su had given her, when Su Qiyan came out of the music room after finishing his piano practice to see off his tutor.


    Why did she blush then? Why did she stubbornly refuse to call him "big brother" despite the adults'' urging?


    If she hadn''t blushed, if she had called him "big brother," would everything have turned out a little differently?

 Chapter 3

    When Wen Bingyi arrived home, Wen Shuangmu had just finished showering, with her wound covered in stic wrap.


    She sat on the bed, holding the hem of her shirt between her chin and corbone, applying ointment to the bruises on her waist and abdomen.


    Wen Bingyi never knocked when entering her room.


    As the doorknob turned from the outside, Wen Shuangmu irritably dropped her shirt hem, about to scold him, when she heard Wen Bingyi pinch his nose and say, "Sis, your room stinks."


    The ointment had a pungent smell. Wen Shuangmu hadn''t finished applying it, but after his interruption, she couldn''t be bothered to continue. She screwed the cap back on, saying, "Then get out."


    Wen Bingyi was taken aback by Wen Shuangmu''s sour face. The teasing words he had nned to say died on his lips.


    He rolled his eyes and moved closer to the bed, asking, "Sis, what are you putting on?"


    "Nothing," Wen Shuangmu replied. She had changed into a loose gray long-sleeved shirt after her shower. The bulge of the bandaged wound was barely visible beneath the sleeve.


    Seeing that he hadn''t noticed, Wen Shuangmu didn''t borate. She stuffed the ointment and anti-inmmatory medication into her bedside drawer, then pulled out a manga from her simple bookshelf andy down to read.


    Wen Bingyi''s eyes widened as he thought for a while before asking, "Sis, do you want some ice cream? I can go get you some."


    Wen Shuangmu: "No."


    "How about cookies or snacks?"


    Wen Shuangmu found Wen Bingyi''s behavior a bit strange. She had never noticed him being so attentive before. "I don''t want to eat anything. Can you please be quiet and talk less?"


    "Oh." Wen Bingyi shut his mouth and sat next to her, following along as she read the manga.


    Sun Shuqin, the Wen family''s housekeeper, knocked on the door from outside. She had picked up Wen Bingyi from his after-school activities, and they had returned home together. "Shuangmu, do you want to call your parents? It''s gettingte. Are you still going out to eat? Otherwise, I can make dinner for you and Bingyi."


    Mr. Wen and Mrs. Han had mentioned that morning before leaving that they would take Wen Shuangmu to a new themed restaurant for a nice meal after her ss cement exam.


    Wen Shuangmu said, "It''s fine, Auntie. You can go ahead and leave. My parents will probably be backter."


    Sun Shuqin replied, "Then I''ll wash some fruit for you. You can have it if you get hungry."


    Wen Shuangmu responded with a "Okay" and got up to search for her phone in her schoolbag.


    Her first call to Han Chuqiu went unanswered. After Sun Shuqin left and she and Wen Bingyi went to the living room to eat fruit, the other side called back.


    "Shuangmu, I heard from Old Chen that you were hit by a car this morning? How''s the wound? Does it still hurt? Mama was too busy today and didn''t see your messages. I''ll have Dr. Shaoe by the houseter to check on you again."


    Wen Shuangmu felt it wasn''t necessary to make such a fuss: "No need, Uncle Chen already took me for a check-up."


    The voice on the other end was noisy. Han Chuqiu seemed to say something to her secretary before bringing the phone back to her ear: "Mama has to go on a sudden business trip to Hong Kong. My flight is at 8 pm, so I probably won''t have time toe home first. Has Sun Shuqin left? If you want to eat something, ask her to cook for you, or you can take your brother out to eat. I''ll transfer you some money."


    Han Chuqiu was the boss of an advertisingpany. She had built it from obscurity into arge, publicly listed corporation with her own hands. Wen Shuangmu was used to her frequent business trips. "Oh, okay. What about Dad? Is he noting home tonight either?"


    "He is, but it might be quitete." Han Chuqiu seemed to feel a bit guilty about both parents being absent. "He has to entertain an important client at the hotel tonight, and probably can''t get out of the dinner... We''re sorry about this, Shuangmu. We''ll make it up to you in a couple of days."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t take it to heart. In her previous life, when she had been in a car ident and sent to the hospital, Mr. Wen and Han Chuqiu had rushed over immediately. It was a minor injury, but because she missed the ss cement exam, she had been in a bad mood all day, exhausting Mr. Wen and Han Chuqiu as they stayed by her side tofort her.


    She remembered their phones ringing non-stop that day. She knew they had probably put off some work matters because of her, but since they both hid it from her, she pretended not to know and continued to be in a foul mood.


    This time, she had sessfully taken the exam, but her chances of passing were only about 70%. If they celebrated early and then she didn''t pass, it would be quite awkward.


    Wen Shuangmu said, "It''s fine, you go ahead with your work."


    On the other end, Han Chuqiu was called away again. Before hurriedly hanging up, she said to Wen Shuangmu, "If there''s any gift you want, send Mama a WeChat message. I''ll bring it back for youter."


    Wen Shuangmu deliberately ignored the "you" that included Wen Bingyi. She had a habit of making shopping lists since she was young. With her "mental age" increased, her aesthetic tastes had changed slightly. She picked through her notes, took a long screenshot, and sent it to Han Chuqiu. Then she kicked the nearby sofa and said to Wen Bingyi, "Let''s go out to eat."


    When Wen Bingyi heard Wen Shuangmu''s "you go ahead with your work" earlier, he knew their parents wouldn''t being home tonight.


    He stuffed the rest of his half-eaten tangerine into his mouth, went to the entryway to change his shoes, and asked Wen Shuangmu what they were going to eat.


    Wen Shuangmu put on a thoughtful expression: "Didn''t you say you wanted to eat burgers a couple of days ago? Come on, let''s go while Mom and Dad aren''t around. I''ll treat you."


    Wen Bingyi couldn''t tell if he was the one who had forgotten or if it was Wen Shuangmu who had. He said, "You''re eating junk food?"


    "Hmm?" Wen Shuangmu ignored his protest. "If you don''t like it, we can each eat our own thing."


    Wen Bingyi: "..."


    Summer days were long. At 6:30 pm, the sky hadn''tpletely darkened yet, still a clear, misty blue.


    Wen Bingyi wore his little deck shoes, avoiding the t road and specifically stepping on the tactile paving or the small stone steps along thendscaped areas.


    Wen Shuangmu followed behind at a leisurely pace.


    The Royal New River Bay Residence was built in the prime area of the city center, less than 100 meters from the CBD, frequented by luxury cars and the elite.


    Wen Shuangmu looked at the surroundingndscaped scenery, feeling somewhat confused. She had grown up in an affluent family, with parents who, despite being busy with their careers, never neglected to participate in their children''s upbringing. Coming from such a background, she had merely steadfastly pursued what she wanted. Why did this make her appear as a viin in others'' eyes?


    Wu Xiaoqi, fearing it might affect the host''s mood, didn''t tell her that her pampered, self-perceived perfect personality was being criticized thousands of times daily in the novel''sment section. Instead, it gave an official answer: "The mainstream of school novels is about mutual redemption. A child from a perfect original family would make it difficult to drive the plot forward."


    Wen Shuangmu felt this exnation was full of holes: "Su Qiyan''s parents didn''t mistreat him either, why does he need redemption?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Xia Zhili''s greatest redemption for Su Qiyan is melting the ice. In the novel''s description, Su Qiyan is stern-faced even with his family members."


    That''s right. He didn''t smile at her either.


    Wu Xiaoqi said: "Host, don''t be discouraged. The rebirth plot isn''t bound by space-time constraints. In the original book, you were able to refuse the author''s attempts to write you off several times, stubbornly increasing your presence. This life can only get better, not worse."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    She seemed to feel a tiny bitforted.


    Wen Shuangmu took Wen Bingyi to a Mexican restaurant. She wasn''t particrly interested in puffed foods, but earlier in the day, she had suddenly craved fries after seeing someone else eating them.


    Wen Bingyi ordered a set meal. Halfway through eating, he ran into a ssmate from his after-school activities who was dining with their parents. He went off to y on the slides in the children''s area.


    Wen Shuangmu verbally cautioned him to "be careful," but was actually d Wen Bingyi had gone away, giving her some peace and quiet.


    She had chosen a table facing the entrance. Biting on a french fry, she began observing the flow of peopleing in and out through the ss doors.


    Wu Xiaoqi: "What is the host looking for?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "A potential love interest."


    Wu Xiaoqi was surprised by Wen Shuangmu''s casual attitude in answering, and highly doubted that such a blind search could lead to finding any reliable partner.


    It hesitated for a moment before deciding to offer a friendly suggestion: "Based on my observations this afternoon, you don''t need to look for anyone else. Your brother would do."


    "Him?" Wen Shuangmu was shocked, her gaze swiveling towards the y area.


    Every time she saw Wen Bingyi''s face break into an uncontrolled smile, Wen Shuangmu wanted to sigh and say how simple a boy''s happiness was.


    This was also why she felt Su Qiyan was special and different from other boys.


    Wu Xiaoqi''s analysis was logical: "You came from the same womb, so there won''t be any mistakes in the viin genes. Combining various details, he would be a potential stock with a good overall score."


    Wen Shuangmu reminded it: "...He''s only eight years old."


    Wu Xiaoqi thought the host was going to use the system of corrupting minors, but in the next second, Wen Shuangmu said, "The mission period you gave me is only three years. After three years, he''ll be at most eleven years old. How can he possibly be a viin?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "The host has a point. It''s the system''s algorithm that wasn''t rigorous enough."


    Wen Shuangmu turned back to survey the entrance when she heard amotion from the y area.


    A ssmate had been pushed to the ground by Wen Bingyi and was crying loudly. Wen Bingyi not only didn''t apologize but justified himself righteously: "I told you I was ying first, and you insisted on fighting me for it!"


    Seeing the other parent already noticing the disturbance and getting up, Wen Shuangmu hurriedly walked over.


    Wen Shuangmu rarely yed the role of educating Wen Bingyi at home. Seeing the little ssmate crying sadly on the ground, she turned to scold, "Wen Bingyi, what''s wrong with you? How could you push your ssmate?"


    Wen Bingyi protested, "He pushed me first!"


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t blind: "What pushing? When everyone ys together, you should take turns. You''ve monopolized the slide. Do you think other children don''t want to y?"


    "I just want to y alone," Wen Bingyi yelled. "If not, rent the whole ce for me."


    Wen Shuangmu gave him a light smack on the head: "Who rents out an entire yground just to y on a slide?"


    "You did," Wen Bingyi cried out. "Grandma said that on your tenth birthday, Dad rented an entire amusement park for two days just for you to y alone. Why can''t I do the same?"


    Wen Shuangmu seemed to suddenly recall this incident. Feeling the gaze of the other parent, she couldn''t lift her head in embarrassment: "Well, you''re only eight now, aren''t you? You''ve got two more years to go. Hold it in and apologize first!"


    Under Wen Shuangmu''s pressure, Wen Bingyi reluctantly said sorry.


    The ssmate''s parent smiled, "It''s okay. It''s normal for kids to roughhouse a bit."


    Wen Shuangmu led Wen Bingyi back to their table. Seeing they had finished eating, she decided to pay the bill and leave.


    Outside the restaurant, Wen Bingyi was still fuming: "I''m never ying with Qi Yu in our interest sses again. He never lets me have my way!"


    Wu Xiaoqi couldn''t help but remark: "Actually, your brother has quite a lot of potential."


    Wen Shuangmu nced at Wen Bingyi''s gleeful face and shook her head: "I don''t think so."


    When Wen Hong called Wen Shuangmu, she was apanying Wen Bingyi to buy toys at the supermarket to make amends.


    She emphasized to Wen Bingyi that she wouldn''t pay for him, but when Wen Bingyi said he had his own money, Wen Shuangmu stopped interfering and let him be.


    Wu Xiaoqi felt a bit suffocated by this perfunctory "since you won''t listen, do as you please" style of parenting: "Is it really okay to raise a child like this?"


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t think much of it: "Eight-year-olds are the most annoying. Doesn''t everyone raise kids this way?"


    Probably because that''s how you were raised, Wu Xiaoqi thought, holding back the second half of the sentence. It now strongly rmended that the host bind Wen Bingyi as a cultivation target. Perhaps without even needing to be strategized, Wen Bingyi could naturally grow into a second-generation Wen Shuangmu, possessing the appearance of a viin.


    Wen Hong''s evening dinner ended half an hour early. He called to ask where Wen Shuangmu and her brother were, saying he had brought some premium sashimi freshly air-freighted from Japan, and would also deliver a box to the Su family.


    When Wen''s father met Su''s father, they soon started sipping some liquor and chatting.


    Wen Shuangmu and Wen Bingyi sat on the living room sofa, one watching TV, the other ying with his newly bought toy.


    Su Qiyan''s room door was tightly shut. It wasn''t clear if he thought the two families were too familiar to need his hospitality, or if he just hated wasting time on people and things he didn''t care about.


    Su''s Mother brought over a freshly cut fruit tter: "Shuangmu, if you''re bored, you can go in and y with Xiaoqi."


    "Mm, thank you, Auntie," Wen Shuangmu responded, but remained seated.


    She pushed the fruit tter towards Wen Bingyi and prodded him: "Go bring some fruit to your Brother Qiyan."


    Wen Bingyi looked at her: "I want to eat too."


    Wen Shuangmu thought, how troublesome: "Then scoop out half for yourself."


    Wen Bingyi seemed to have a big objection. His mouth twitched for two minutes before he jumped off the sofa, mumbling: "Why don''t you go?"


    He stuffed a big piece of watermelon into his mouth, scooped half into another stic bowl, and then carried the rest to knock on the door.


    The bedroom door opened from inside. Wen Shuangmu only caught a glimpse of half of the person''s shirt on the right shoulder. When she tried to see his face, he had already retreated from the doorframe.


    Wen Bingyi followed Su Qiyan to the desk.


    He put the fruit tter on the table and suddenlyined: "I bet Wen Shuangmu bombed her exam today."


    Su Qiyan was still thinking about the half-finished problem he had been solving and didn''t quite react: "Hm?"


    "She''s been ignoring me all afternoon and even scolded me at dinner."


    Wen Bingyi didn''t mention that he was scolded for bullying a ssmate at the restaurant.


    "Mm." The same syble, but this time the ending tone was firmer, dropping a bit lower.


    Su Qiyan was ustomed to maintaining distance in his interactions with others. For this kind of private information that others might not want him to know, he didn''t have the habit of inquiring further, and the topic ended there.


    Wen Bingyi, having nothing else to do, insisted on saying something more, so he mysteriously leaned closer to Su Qiyan: "Brother, I''ll tell you a secret."


    Su Qiyan said, "Go ahead."

 Chapter 4

    The bedroom door was tightly shut, with no third person present.


    But Wen Bingyi still crept close to Su Qiyan''s ear, whispering a few words in a secretive manner.


    Su Qiyan''s expression didn''t change much after hearing it. He patted Wen Bingyi''s head and said, "Don''t say things like that again in the future."


    Wen Bingyi''s chubby cheeks scrunched up, "Brother, you don''t believe me? Everything I said is true."


    Su Qiyan didn''t let the topic linger for too long. He picked up the Switch from the storage cab and asked, "Want to y a game? I bought a few new cartridges, probably ones you haven''t yed before."


    "Yes!"


    Wen Bingyi was happy for just two seconds before hearing a drawn-out call from outside: "Wen Bingyi,e out for a moment, I need you for something."


    Seeing Wen Bingyi''s sour face, Su Qiyan kindly said, "Take it out to y."


    Wen Bingyi happily hugged the game console and returned to the living room, where Wen Shuangmu was sitting with her legs crossed, watching TV.


    "Sis, what did you call me for?"


    Wen Shuangmu lightly nodded her chin, "Peel an orange for me."


    Wen Bingyi didn''t move.


    Wen Shuangmu waited for a few seconds, then turned to look at him, "Is there a problem?"


    Wen Bingyi silently put the game console aside and sat down to do the menial task.


    Wen Shuangmu held the remote control, her fingertips pressing buttons non-stop, not seeming to want to find a program to watch quietly: "What were you chatting about with your little brother Su for so long?"


    "Nothing much." Wen Bingyi dared not mention the secret he had told Su Qiyan. He threw the orange peels onto the coffee table piece by piece, still feeling a bit resentful. So he deliberately said, "I told him you''re in a particrly bad mood today, definitely because you bombed the exam and couldn''t get into the Harvard ss at your school."


    The Harvard ss and Cambridge ss were the ss groupings at Wen Bingyi''s bilingual elementary school.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t get angry: "So what did he say?"


    Wen Bingyi: "What do you mean, what did he say?"


    Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue lightly: "You told him I did poorly on the exam, he had no reaction?"


    Wen Bingyi: "He must think you''re bad at studying and doesn''t want to y with you anymore."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    To protect students'' privacy, the school didn''t publish the rankings of the cement exam on their official website, only notifying parents of the ss assignments via text message.


    Wen Shuangmu knew she would find out her ss assignment earlier than ordinary students. Wen Hong, worried that unexpected situations might affect her performance, specifically asked the school for information before it was entered into the system, to allow for "arrangements" if needed. Who knew Wen Shuangmu would steadily enter the experimental ss with a top three score,pletely eliminating any need for his concern.


    When Wen Hong was on the phone with Principal Ming, Wen Bingyi was sitting nearby and heard the conversation clearly.


    Wen Shuangmu had been cooped up in her room these past few days. She had bought quite a few practice books from the bookstore, trying to slowly pick up the high school knowledge points she had forgotten.


    Wen Bingyi leaned against the wall next to Wen Shuangmu''s bedroom door, watching her circle and mark things in the booklet with a highlighter. After observing for a while, he blurted out, "Sis, you''re such a fake."


    Wen Shuangmu''s pen tip didn''t stop as she calmly asked back, "What did you just say?"


    Wen Bingyi changed his tune: "Dad asked about your results, you''re third in the whole school! Sis, you''re so amazing and so humble!"


    Wen Shuangmu nodded with satisfaction: "Pick any gift you like from the tatami, see if there''s anything you fancy."


    Wen Bingyi''s eyes lit up at first, but when his gaze turned to the row of tatami mats by the window, his mouth drooped in disinterest.


    Those were all clothes, shoes, and essories that Han Chuqiu had brought back for Wen Shuangmu from Hong Kong. Not a single item appealed to him.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t call him back when she saw Wen Bingyi walk away. She took the calendar from the corner of the desk and circled the start date of school.


    Wu Xiaoqi sighed: "Host, you''re finally going out. I was worried you''d forget about the task of binding and cultivating a target."


    Wen Shuangmu said, "Don''t worry, I''ve thought it through. Since I need to take on a disciple, it''s naturally better to choose someone who can provide long-term, close-range guidance. It''ll be more convenient to find someone at school once sses start."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Since you''ve nned it all out and even reversed the oue of the cement exam from your previous life, there''s no need to start cramming so frantically, doing practice problems from dawn to dusk."


    Wen Shuangmu twirled her pen and lowered her head to continue working on problems to reinforce the knowledge points she had just self-studied.


    She said, "If my memory serves me right, Xia Zhili is the top scorer in this cement exam."


    Wu Xiaoqi fell silent for a moment before letting out an admiring sigh. As expected of the host, not content with momentary victories, always looking ahead to the distant future.


    On the first day of school, Wu Xiaoqi seemed even more excited than Wen Shuangmu.


    As soon as they entered the campus, it started scanning all around with its radar function: "How about that buzz-cut guy? I remember the original novel had a couple of lines describing him. His parents are divorced and both remarried, he''s got a car and house at such a young age. Very fitting with the background of most viins."


    Wen Shuangmu nced over: "That''s my ssmate from elementary school Go club."


    She continued, as if finding a contradiction in Wu Xiaoqi''s logic: "I thought ording to your previous mutual redemption theory, someone like him with an imperfect original family would be more likely to be a protagonist."


    "Whether it''s the protagonist or antagonist, extreme family backgrounds are more likely to produce extreme settings," Wu Xiaoqi exined. "But your consideration makes sense, he could also be one of the protagonist''s entourage."


    To err on the side of caution, Wu Xiaoqi rmended another candidate: "How about that guy with the mohawk by the bulletin board? In the novel, every time there''s a g-raising ceremony scene, he''s the one getting criticized by the student council!"


    Wen Shuangmu shook her head: "He''s just a restless teenager trying to get his parents'' attention."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...You know about him too?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "Mm-hmm, I used to learn violin with him. His dad works under my dad."


    Apart from using a small amount of ink to describe a few of the female supporting character''s close minions, the novel didn''t delve much into her other interpersonal rtionships.


    Wu Xiaoqi wasn''t sure whether to praise Wen Shuangmu for her wide social circle or what. After thinking for a moment, it asked: "Do you have a principle of not targeting acquaintances?"


    "No," Wen Shuangmu said. "I mean I know them too well. They don''t have what it takes."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...Alright, host."


    Many students had gathered around the bulletin board on the main campus road, mostly thoseing up from middle school who wanted to see which sses their friends had been assigned to.


    Wen Shuangmu had no interest in these matters and headed straight for the freshman teaching building.


    "Host, your phone is ringing."


    "I know." Wen Shuangmu responded verbally, but it wasn''t until she walked into the shadow of the teaching building that she unhurriedly put away her umbre and took out her phone to check.


    She hadn''t answered the call just now, so the other party had sent a text message instead: [Shuangmu! I saw the ss assignments on the bulletin board! It''s great, we''re in the same ss again for high school!]


    Wu Xiaoqi saw Wen Shuangmu holding her phone for a long time without replying: "Host, this is Ji Jiahui, your sidekick who''s been following you for six years in middle school. Have you forgotten about her?"


    "How could I?" Wen Shuangmu''s fingertips lightly tapped on the keyboard: [Is that so? That''s great. I''m almost at our ssroom. Where are you now?]


    Although Wen Shuangmu''s text ended with a question, she had no intention of continuing the conversation.


    She put her phone in her pocket, ignoring the subsequent endless ding-dong notification sounds, and stepped onto the stairs: "Ji Jiahui has sucked up to me quite a bit in front of others, but behind my back, she spread rumors that I got into the experimental ss through connections. She''s quite an interesting person. If I can''t find any other suitable candidates, I''ll go with her."


    Wu Xiaoqi hadn''t expected Wen Shuangmu to know the inside story and still be able to move forward: "You''re truly open-minded."


    Wen Shuangmu was nonchnt: "Rtionships need to be maintained. Otherwise, when I need to do something bad in the future, I won''t have anyone to use. Should I rely on you instead?"


    Wu Xiaoqi suspected that the host was still holding a grudge about it staying silent when she lost her exam admission ticket, but it had no evidence.


    Wen Shuangmu took the left staircase of the teaching building. ording to her n, when passing by ss 1, it would be best if she could run into Su Qiyan.


    Whether out of courtesy or politeness, if he asked her "Which ss?", she would have the opportunity to clear up the "wasted talent" image that the mischievous Wen Bingyi had created for her in front of others.


    However, the ideal is full, but reality is skeletal.


    Just as Wen Shuangmu rounded the corner from the stairwell, she saw the person she least wanted to see in this school.


    "Excuse me, do you know how to get to the Academic Affairs Office?"


    The girl''s bangs were damp at the ends from the summer heat, and she wore a jade pendant on a red string around her neck. She was clearly the type of girl everyone would encounter in school from childhood to adulthood - the kind you really want to be friends with, who has good grades and is pretty.


    However, Wen Shuangmu''s prejudice was nearly written all over her face. She was about to utter the word "no" when, out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Su Qiyan''s figure emerging from ss 1. She swallowed her words abruptly.


    In her previous life, by the time Wen Shuangmu discovered that Su Qiyan had a "close female friend," Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili had already be quite familiar due to their involvement inpetitions. She didn''t know when they first met, but she feared that if she refused now, Xia Zhili might immediately turn to Su Qiyan, giving them an opportunity to be alone together. So, keeping herposure, she said, "I''ll take you there."


    Xia Zhili was surprised. "Oh, thank you. I''m Xia Zhili from ss 2. Nice to meet you."


    Wen Shuangmu led her towards the skybridge. "Wen Shuangmu, ss 2."


    Xia Zhili''s expression brightened. "We''re in the same ss?"


    Wen Shuangmu stared at Xia Zhili''s youthful face for a moment, tempted to say, "You might want to tone down that expression. It doesn''t match my first impression of you as the ice-cold Queen from my previous life."


    Instead of voicing her thoughts, Wen Shuangmu changed the subject. "What are you going to the academic affairs office for?"


    Xia Zhili replied, "The homeroom teacher asked me to pick up the freshman handbooks."


    Wen Shuangmu nodded. Teachers, like students, couldn''t recognize everyone in a new ss, so they tended to ask the top student for such tasks.


    At the academic affairs office, students from various sses were crouched on the floor, counting their ss''s handbooks.


    After Xia Zhili finished counting, Wen Shuangmu frowned. "Our ss has 41 students?"


    "Yes," Xia Zhili replied, not seeing any issue. "They said the 40th and 41st ranked students had the same score, so they were both admitted."


    Wen Shuangmu was familiar with this exnation. In her previous life, this was how she had entered ss 2. After all, during the cement exam, no one knew each other, so no one would notice if a student was missing from the exam room. But in this life, since she had earned her ce in ss 2 on her own merit, it didn''t make sense that there would be an extra person.


    Seeing Xia Zhili struggling with the tall stack of handbooks, Wen Shuangmu made no move to help her as they walked out together.


    From the other end of the corridor, two boys came pushing and shoving each other. As they approached, they seemed to be more subdued, likely due to the presence of girls.


    The boy on the outside had clearly noticed Wen Shuangmu early on. As the four were about to pass each other, he suddenly waved at her. "Hey, Sister Shuang, are you here to pick up freshman handbooks with your ssmate too?"


    It was Liu Yiheng, the buzz-cut boy she had seen on the campus avenue that morning.


    Wen Shuangmu gave a light "Mm" in response, not particrly surprised.


    Liu Yiheng was the most opportunistic person Wen Shuangmu had ever met. This guy originally belonged to the category of people who might not even nod to her when they met on the street, depending on his mood. But in both lives, upon encountering her walking with Xia Zhili, he would abruptly and familiarly start calling her "Sister Shuang" and try to establish a connection.


    In her previous life, the young and naive Wen Shuangmu had once thought Liu Yiheng was interested in her, as he kepting to her third-floor ssroom during breaks to bring her milk tea and snacks. Later, she realized that Liu Yiheng had fallen in love with Xia Zhili at first sight and was trying to get information about her from Wen Shuangmu.


    As Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili reached the corner, she nced back and, sure enough, the two boys were looking at them again.


    In her previous life, a simr scene had urred during the school sports meet.


    Now, it seemed that many events were likely to happen much earlier.


    When Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili returned to the ssroom, most of their ssmates had already arrived.


    Xia Zhili stood at the front row, distributing the new student handbooks, while Wen Shuangmu walked towards the empty seats in the back.


    Wu Xiaoqi, who had held back the entire way to avoid interrupting their private conversation, excitedly spoke up: "I didn''t expect the first encounter between the host and the female lead to happen so quickly. How do you feel about it, host?"


    Wen Shuangmu casually replied, "Was it like this in the original plot? Her entrance was too ordinary."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "What did you expect? This is a campus novel."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t respond.


    With an extra lifetime of experience, she should have felt confident facing the not-yet-matured Xia Zhili. But the moment she saw her that morning, a subtle feeling of jealousy had risen in her heart.


    This emotion irritated Wen Shuangmu, as if constantly reminding her of her assigned role as a supporting character.


    Lost in these thoughts, Wen Shuangmu randomly chose a seat, only to be immediately informed by the neighboring ssmate that it was taken. She had to pick up her bag and continue moving towards the back.


    Wu Xiaoqi''s radar seemed to detect something, and it suddenly eximed, "Ah!"


    Wen Shuangmu''s bad mood extended to this interruption, and she impatiently asked, "What is it now?"


    Still immersed in its own excitement, Wu Xiaoqi loaded a segment of "King of Glory" sound effects: "''Back row by the window, the king''s homnd.'' Host, host, let''s choose that guy sleeping at thest desk as our development target!"


    Lu Jing: Do you need something?

 Chapter 5

    Wen Shuangmu was about toin when she suddenly remembered that she was in a novel world. Perhaps Wu Xiaoqi''s seemingly chuunibyou but actually insightful characterws might have some practical reference value after all.


    There weren''t many empty seats left in the ss to choose from. Wen Shuangmu stopped hesitating and walked over to sit down, half-observing her "back row by the window" neighbor as she did so.


    His face was buried in the crook of his arm, making it impossible to see his features.


    But she had to admit¡ª


    This guy had something about him.


    Even though Wen Shuangmu hadn''t read as many novels as Wu Xiaoqi, if shebined the few campus romance novels she''d read in her two lifetimes, she could still sum up a couple of story tropes. Characters who slept right under the teacher''s nose on the first day of school were usually either the male lead or the second male lead in novels.


    However, no matter how much Wen Shuangmu stared at the back of his head, she still couldn''t recall ever seeing such a character in their ss before.


    Meanwhile, Wu Xiaoqi''s focus had strangely shifted: "Host, you''ve actually read romance novels before?"


    Wen Shuangmu was still studying her neighbor''s head and absently replied, "Mm, I''ve read a few campus-themed ones."


    Wu Xiaoqi fell into deep thought: "That doesn''t make sense... ording to your settings, you should have more high-end, expensive hobbies. Isn''t reading romance novels a bit out of character for you?"


    Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue in annoyance: "What''s wrong with wanting to read stories to fantasize about me and Su Qiyan?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...I see."


    That was very fitting for a female supporting character.


    Wen Shuangmu studied the person across the aisle from his sneakers to his hair, but still couldn''t glean any useful information.


    Just then, a boy in a short-sleeved casual shirt ran down from the front row to the window seat: "My God, you''ve been sleeping here? I''ve been looking outside for you this whole time."


    Wen Shuangmu was surprised to discover that this boy shaking the desk was Wang Chengshuo, who had ced second in their recent cement exam.


    In her memory, Wang Chengshuo was quite aloof, respectfully called "Shuo God" by everyone, with a somewhat superior air about him. She had heard that Wang Chengshuo was closer to the students in ss 7 downstairs, but she had never seen him so familiar with any ssmate before.


    The sleeping guy remained motionless despite Wang Chengshuo''s various pushes and shoves. After a good few seconds, he finally managed to prop himself up with difficulty.


    From Wen Shuangmu''s angle, she could vaguely see the boy''s pale knuckles sh by, seemingly rubbing his forehead where his short messy hair had been ttened from sleep. His wrist pressed against the side of his face, still obscuring his features.


    Wang Chengshuo said, "Why don''t you move to the front? I saved you a seat."


    "No way, where else could be as low-key and safe as my spot here?"


    The boy''s tone was very slow andzy, unclear if it was his natural speaking speed or if his brain was still rebooting from sleep at a low speed.


    It was quite an ordinary sentence, but Wang Chengshuoughed as if something had tickled him: "Come on, sit with me. You''ll have someone to give you answers during ss."


    "...That''s true." The other paused for a while, as if weighing his options, before asking, "Where''s the seat you saved?"


    "Fourth column, second row."


    This time the voice rejected without mercy: "Goodbye, go y by yourself."


    Wang Chengshuoughed even harder: "Then how about I ask someone to switch so I can move to the back?"


    Before Wen Shuangmu could get a good look at her seatmate''s true appearance, fearing Wang Chengshuo might ask her to switch, she quickly took out her water bottle and went to the water dispenser at the back to fill it up.


    Wen Shuangmu deliberately moved very slowly, still keeping an eye on that side with her peripheral vision.


    Wang Chengshuo had probably guessed that her hasty departure was rted to not wanting to switch seats with him. He calmly turned to negotiate with another ssmate in front.


    His attitude wasn''t forceful, but when asking for a favor, he also didn''t act in a way that made people feel close to him. It was the same personality that Wen Shuangmu had known and understood before.


    Only now there was a new variable that made him treat someone differently¡ª


    Wen Shuangmu finished filling her bottle and walked back. A few male ssmates returned from the library carrying textbooks, making the already noisy atmosphere even more boisterous.


    It seemed Wang Chengshuo''s negotiations had been sessful, as he went to the front to get his bag.


    The "back row window seat" ssmate still appeared drowsy,zily leaning back in his chair and yawning.


    As Wen Shuangmu approached, the angle at which she could see the boy''s profile gradually changed from 30¡ã to 45¡ã, 60¡ã...


    When Wen Shuangmu finally got a clear look at his face, she stopped in her tracks with a subtle expression.


    Although she knew about the butterfly effect.


    But all she did was borrow a pencil during the cement exam, right? At most she forgot to return it. How did that turn a character who didn''t even have a scene with her in the original novel into her ssmate?


    Wu Xiaoqi was also surprised that before Wen Shuangmu hadpleted a single task after her rebirth, the original novel''s content had already started to deviate. He conscientiously suggested: "Host, maybe you should return that 2B pencil after all."


    Wen Shuangmu was thinking the same thing. She took out the pencil from her pencil case. It had been over a week since the cement exam, and Wen Shuangmu suspected he might have forgotten about her. As she was pondering how to start the conversation, the boy seemed to notice his seatmate standing motionless in the aisle from the corner of his eye and nced over.


    "Ah, you."


    The same two words Wen Shuangmu had blurted out when they identally made eye contact through the floor-to-ceiling window of the off-campus restaurant after the exam.


    Realizing he recognized her, Wen Shuangmu promptly held out the pencil and said, "Thanks for the exam."


    "You''re wee."


    The boy''s expression didn''t change much, as if he wasn''t surprised to see her here.


    After taking the pencil, he naturally twirled it once between his fingers, then suddenly added, "But ssmate, isn''t your score a bit too good?"


    "?"


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t quite understand, assuming he wasplimenting her: "...It''s okay, thanks."


    The boy put the pencil in the drawer without borating further.


    Seeing Wang Chengshuo returning with his backpack, Wen Shuangmu turned and left the ssroom, heading for the restroom.


    Wang Chengshuo put his bag down at his new seat and casually asked, "You know that girl?"


    There were quite a few students from Bowen School in the experimental ss, but she didn''t look like she was from their middle school.


    "Mm, she sat next to me during the cement exam." Lu Jing''s fingers curled against his forehead, unable to keep his eyes open, and he slumped back onto the desk.


    Wang Chengshuoughed and poked his arm: "Still sleeping? What were you up tost night to be this tired?"


    "Possessed by a ghost." Lu Jing adjusted his head to find afortable position. "I''ll sleep a bit more, wake me up when ss starts."


    Wang Chengshuo: "...?"


    The first two periods on the first day of school were self-study sessions.


    After the new books were distributed, the homeroom teacher and Chinese teacher, Liang Jie, made some minor adjustments to the ss seating based on height.


    Wen Shuangmu was tall, so she and a few others in the back rows didn''t move much.


    When the teacher called out names from the roster, Wen Shuangmu finally learned her seatmate''s name¡ª


    Lu Jing, a student from ss 7 in the original novel.


    This name wasn''t actually unfamiliar to Wen Shuangmu.


    She had heard it many times in girls'' gossip.


    If ss 7 was known as the most yful and rowdy ss in Mingli High''s freshman year, then Lu Jing was like the core of these "troublemakers."


    Sometimes when Wen Shuangmu walked along the school paths, she would encounter students from ss 7.


    She never had a good impression of the boys from that ss. They liked to walk in gangs, making a grand entrance, and often created a bigmotion thinking they looked cool when in reality they just looked ridiculous.


    Of course, the most crucial point was¡ªLiu Yiheng was also in ss 7.


    Influenced by Liu Yiheng''s naive teenage crush, nearly half the boys in ss 7 started to worship Xia Zhili as their goddess.


    Wen Shuangmu couldn''t stand how their love spread like a virus, even bing contagious. As a result, every time she saw ss 7 students from afar, she would choose to avoid them directly. She really couldn''t understand how Wang Chengshuo, as a top student, could hang out with these people.


    Later, overhearing conversations among the girls in her ss, she learned that Lu Jing was actually the ringleader of the gang¡ª


    He had an innate ability to attract crowds, the moon among the stars.


    Those who didn''t know him wanted to know him, and those who knew him loved hanging out with him the most.


    At the time, Wen Shuangmu thought he was probably just throwing his weight around based on family background, looks, or some other superficial qualities. She had absolutely no desire to meet him.


    Now that she saw him in person.


    She still didn''t know enough to judge his character or have any perception-altering revtions.


    She could only say that his face was truly handsome.


    Wen Shuangmu asked Wu Xiaoqi, "Does the system have a feature to unlock the original novel''s plot?" She suddenly realized that herck of scenes with Lu Jing didn''t necessarily mean he had no other roles in the original text.


    Perhaps Lu Jing was also one of the "gradually bing Liu Yiheng" army, harboring an unrequited love for Xia Zhili.


    As the progress bar loaded, a streak of blue light shed through Wen Shuangmu''s mind, and a thick book automatically opened and flipped its pages.


    Wen Shuangmu maintained a motionless posture for two seconds: "So all these dense mosaics are...?"


    Wu Xiaoqi righteously dered: "The host''s destiny needs to be changed by oneself. Unlocking the plot is equivalent to leaking exam questions. To prevent the host from gaining without effort, key plot points have been subjected to confidentiality measures."


    "..." Wen Shuangmu had seen nothing of substance and directly asked Wu Xiaoqi to put the book away.


    Five minutester, Wu Xiaoqi thought the matter was over, but Wen Shuangmu still wasn''t ready to give up trying to extort more information. She blurted out: "You don''t need to tell me the specific content, just give me a general idea. Does Lu Jing appear much in the original book''s plot? Is he one of the main male characters?"


    This time Wu Xiaoqi wasn''t too stingy: "Not much. You can refer to Wang Chengshuo''s screen time for a specific idea of his appearances."


    Wu Xiaoqi remembered that the host might not know how much screen time Wang Chengshuo had, so it corrected itself: "Refer to math teacher Zhou Quan."


    "..."


    Wen Shuangmu''s expression could only be described as lost for words: "What was the author thinking, setting up a bunch of important characters just to have them make cameo appearances?"


    "The original author has a habit of writing series. Any character in the novel will have a lot of nk spaces left in their story. The host needn''t take it too seriously," Wu Xiaoqi said. Then, thinking of something, it added, "Come to think of it, this is also a great benefit for reborn hosts. If you can uncover and develop hidden big shots, it will be extremely convenient for you toplete your tasks."


    Wen Shuangmu nodded thoughtfully, but soon found herself in a dilemma again.


    Who the hell knows if this Lu Jing is one of those so-called hidden big shots?


    In the ssroom, the air conditioner and fans worked together, stirring up cool breezes.


    The homeroom teacher was still routinely exining the rules for new students.


    Wen Shuangmu nced over at her neighbor. Lu Jing wasn''t sleeping anymore and seemed to be listening to the podium very attentively.


    But for some reason, Wen Shuangmu always felt that this person was sleeping with his eyes open, his soul long gone.


    It seemed a bit like he was pretending to be profound, yet not quite.


    In any case, she couldn''t read him. Wen Shuangmu thought that there would be plenty of time ahead, so she didn''t rush to observe and draw conclusions.


    When ss ended and the lunch bell rang, Ji Jiahui came to the back to find Wen Shuangmu to have lunch together.


    Ji Jiahui was curious: "Where did you goter this morning? I didn''t see you when I got to the ssroom."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t want to borate and said concisely: "I apanied someone to the academic affairs office."


    Among the different grade levels, the first-year high school building was the farthest from the cafeteria, so everyone basically ran to eat.


    By the time Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui slowly walked to the corridor, the entire teaching building was almost empty of people.


    The reason for using "almost" ¡ª


    Wen Shuangmu nced sideways at Xia Zhili, who was walking just a few steps ahead of them on the stairs, and realized that the more you dislike something, the more it seems to appear.


    Xia Zhili walked all the way to the corner of the staircase before noticing that two ssmates were walking behind her.


    Thinking that someone had just helped her find her way to the academic affairs office that morning, Xia Zhili took the initiative to raise her hand and wave at Wen Shuangmu.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t respond, and the stairwell became quiet almost instantly, with an awkward atmosphere spreading.


    Xia Zhili rubbed her nose tip. The three of them were walking in the same direction, and it didn''t seem right to continue without saying anything.


    She thought for a moment and then took the initiative to speak again: "Do you want to have lunch together?"


    Wen Shuangmu looked at her somewhat surprisingly, but quickly became expressionless again: "Sorry, it''s not very convenient."


    "Ah, okay." Xia Zhili nodded slowly and didn''t say anything more on the rest of the way to the cafeteria.


    In the cafeteria.


    After Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui got their food, the tables near the windows were mostly upied, so they had to walk along the aisle to find seats in the back.


    Through the noisy crowd, Wen Shuangmu''s gaze prated the throng and focused precisely on Su Qiyan for a moment.


    Su Qiyan didn''t notice her, but his tablemate Li Maozhen raised his hand and called out: "Sister Shuang, sit here!"


    As Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui approached, the boy sitting across from Su Qiyan automatically moved to the side, giving up his seat to Wen Shuangmu.


    Wen Shuangmu sat down as if it were perfectly normal, while Li Maozhen gave her various thumbs up and said: "I didn''t expect it, Sister Shuang. I didn''t realize you were hiding such depths."


    Wen Shuangmu stirred the rice in her tray with a spoon: "I don''t understand what you''re talking about."


    Li Maozhen called out dramatically: "Don''t be modest! We had teacher Zhou Quan''s ss this morning, and he kept praising you."


    Wen Shuangmu paused: "...Praising me for what?"


    For her strong will despite physical challenges, or for her disregard for minor details, going to take the cement exam covered in blood?


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t like to magnify these difficult points, as it sounded like ying the sympathy card. So her tone conveyed a hint of exasperation, which made everyone at the table automatically interpret it as modest humility, leading to several morepliments that left Wen Shuangmu feeling perplexed.


    Su Qiyan, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up: "Which set of textbooks did you use for self-study?"


    Wen Shuangmu was stunned, not understanding why Su Qiyan had suddenly jumped to this topic. However, she had recently bought a fewprehensive high school textbooks, so she reported the book titles.


    To her surprise, Su Qiyan''s expression became somewhat strange, as if that wasn''t what he wanted to hear.


    Worried that she had said something wrong, Wen Shuangmu cautiously asked: "What''s wrong?"


    But Su Qiyan had already reverted to his state of not bothering to mention anything: "Never mind, it''s nothing."


    The other tablemates were already used to the quick cold silences in the interaction between Wen Shuangmu and Su Qiyan.


    Li Maozhen, whose ability to warm up the atmosphere had improved day by day thanks to the training from these two, effortlessly brought up a new topic, pointing at the table near the marble pir and asking: "Hey, isn''t that Xia Zhili from your ss? The one who got first ce in the cement exam."


    Wen Shuangmu''s eyelid twitched almost spasmodically at the first moment, and she instinctively sought out Su Qiyan''s gaze.


    He, like everyone else, looked in the direction Li Maozhen was pointing, towards the marble pir.


    It was the same, yet different.


    The same in that he, like everyone else, was merely curious now.


    The difference was that in the future, he would be with that girl.


    "This first-ce winner is very pretty. Her looks are good enough to be the school beauty, right?"


    Li Maozhen deliberately said: "No matter how pretty she is, can she be as beautiful as the third-ce winner?"


    Everyone at the table had yed together in middle school, so they naturally knew that Wen Shuangmu had ced third in this cement exam. Immediately, there was a burst ofughter.


    Amidst theughter, Su Qiyan incongruously interjected: "Why is she eating alone?"


    Wen Shuangmu''s gaze frozepletely.


    Ji Jiahui, who was drinking soup beside her, reacted violently and choked a little.


    Among the people at this table, except for Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui, everyone else was from ss 1, so it was obvious who Su Qiyan was asking about.


    Seeing that Wen Shuangmu didn''t react, Ji Jiahui didn''t dare mention that the young miss had just rejected Xia Zhili''s lunch invitation. She racked her brains to exin from another angle: "Xia Zhili graduated from Ruoshui Middle School. I heard that she''s the only student from their school who got into Mingli this year. Most of the students in our ss 1 and ss 2 graduated from Bowen School or No. 1 High School, so they tend to stick together. It''s normal for her to be alone."


    "Ruoshui Middle School?"


    "What kind of middle school is that? Never even heard of it..."


    The boys discussed in a jumble of voices. After Su Qiyan nodded thoughtfully, Wen Shuangmu suddenly mmed her spoon into her tray with a "bam" and stood up, saying: "I''m full."


    Without waiting for everyone''s reaction, she picked up her barely touched meal and walked away.


    Li Maozhen and severalpanions, not understanding the situation, held their breath for a few seconds. After a good while, he finally said: "The cafeteria food really doesn''t taste good today. Jiahui, you should pack something else for Sister Shuang when you go backter."


    It wasn''t until the afternoon math ss that Wen Shuangmu understood the meaning of the ttery at the lunch table, and that Su Qiyan''s question about her self-study textbooks wasn''t referring to high school math textbooks, but to college-level advanced mathematics textbooks.


    Zhou Quan skipped the self-introduction segment and directly disyed a question from the cement exam on the projector.


    "On the first day of school, I don''t want to put too much pressure on everyone. In the spring semester, there''s a student named Su Qiyan who has already self-studied all the high school knowledge points during the break. Now, he''s apetitive training target that several teachers from our science department are vying for. But I hope the students in our ss won''t feel discouraged. This morning, I had the students in ss 1 do the exam question on the PPT. The abilities of the two sses are actually quite simr, with a 65% uracy rate. However¡ª" Zhou Quan''s gaze suddenly fixed on thest row of the ssroom, and he said with a smile, "Wen Shuangmu, using Lagrange''s method to solve the first question of the high school math problem set, isn''t that a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"


    Several boys in the ss who excelled in mathematics let out exmations of surprise.


    The rest of the students who didn''t understand started asking various questions, turning the ssroom into chaos.


    Amidst themotion, Lu Jing couldn''t resist his curiosity and poked Wang Chengshuo''s back in front of him, "What did the teacher just say? La-something?"


    Wang Chengshuo leaned back in his chair, touching Lu Jing''s desk edge, and turned his head to give Wen Shuangmu a somewhat admiring nce before answering Lu Jing, "Lagrange. It''s college-level advanced mathematics content."


    Lu Jing: "......"


    Zhou Quan walked down the aisle to thest row, the smile lines on his face deepening, "After ss, I had Su Qiyan do this entire math quiz. He got a perfect score and said the difficulty level wasn''t high. Now, let me ask Wen Shuangmu, how does it feel to use advanced mathematics to solve high school math problems?"


    Wen Shuangmu''s fingertips, resting t on the desk, moved ever so slightly. In her mind shed the image of Su Qiyan''s indifferent face when he spoke to her in the cafeteria at lunch, and an inexplicable feeling ofpetitiveness welled up in her heart.


    She calmly replied, "It feels like looking down on everything."

 Chapter 6

    A chorus of "Wooo¡ª" erupted from the ssroom.


    Zhou Quan smiled and tapped the desk to quiet everyone down: "This cement exam included many questions beyond the sybus. The main purpose was to make everyone realize that simply relying on ssroom knowledge is far from enough to score high. You all need to consciously catch up with the spring semester''s teaching progress over the past six months. For the ultimate effect, you can refer to Wen Shuangmu, who just gave her perfect score speech¡ª"


    "Studying advanced mathematics can help you look down from above and effortlessly conquer all difficult problems encountered in high school math."


    Zhou Quan enthusiastically concluded with this golden sentence of life wisdom, then led the vigorous apuse himself.


    Wu Xiaoqi offered timely congrattions: "Congrattions, host. Your halo is probably higher than the male lead''s now."


    The ssroom resounded with stomping feet and whistles, but Wen Shuangmu''s eyes were fixed straight on Xia Zhili, sitting in the fourth row of the first column.


    Her ck pen made several deep ink marks on the draft paper as she quietly withdrew her gaze, saying in a very low voice: "The person I want topete with isn''t him..."


    Wu Xiaoqi guessed her thoughts: "Isn''tpeting with the female lead the same? Xia Zhili scored 132 in math, originally achieving a terrifyingly high score in this cement exam. Now you''ve stolen all her thunder. What else are you unsatisfied with?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "This isn''t her main stage."


    Wu Xiaoqi didn''t quite follow: "?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "In less than a month, she''ll be the person the Chinese and English teachers constantly talk about."


    Wu Xiaoqi instantly understood. The novel indeed mentioned that while in middle school, when everyone was only reading Keigo Higashino and Sherlock Holmes, Xia Zhili had already started reading Kafka and Gabriel Garc¨ªa M¨¢rquez. By high school, she had directly advanced to reading English trantions, and even Liang Jie, as the Chinese teacher, praised that her own reading volume couldn''tpare.


    Xia Zhili''s literary knowledge was too hardcore. Wu Xiaoqi couldn''t think of anythingforting to say, so he could only say: "Each to their own specialty. Host, my condolences."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    The second afternoon period was P.E., arge ssbining five sses.


    Zhou Quan saw several boys in the ss already shifting their feet outside their seats, eager to run out. He didn''t drag out the ss and cheerfully let them go.


    The boys from ss 1 walked towards ss 2''s corridor carrying basketballs. Seeing familiar middle school ssmatesing out, they couldn''t help but ask: "What were you guys doingst ss? The shouting was like you all went crazy. Even we could hear it next door."


    A boy from ss 2 sighed in admiration: "It was a genius showcase, you know? Anyone who heard it would want to cheer."


    Though no names were mentioned in the answer, the ss 1 boys immediately understood: "Oh¡ª you mean that Wen Shuangmu in your ss, right? Teacher Zhou talked about her in our ss this morning too."


    The spring semester ss and various subject teachers had been working together for nearly half a year since early admission, so they were unusually familiar in their way of addressing each other.


    As the crowd walked away, Wen Shuangmu, at the center of the rumor vortex, acted as if nothing had happened, unhurriedly organizing her books into her desk.


    Wang Chengshuo tapped and clicked on his phone screen, then turned to Lu Jing and said: "ss 7''s P.E. ss happens to be at a different time from ours. Liu Yiheng asked me if we want to y ball together after school this afternoon."


    "Sure."


    Lu Jing took a sip of water to moisten his throat, his fingertips lightly resting on the thermos, showing a tendency to be even whiter than the porcin bottle.


    "We agreed on 5:30." Wang Chengshuo tossed his phone into the desk drawer, stood up and tapped Lu Jing''s desk, saying, "Let''s go, ss is about to start."


    Wang Chengshuo went to the cab at the back to get a basketball. He had just taken two steps when he heard a loud "bang" from behind.


    Looking back, he saw Lu Jing stumble out of nowhere and fall t on Wen Shuangmu''s desk.


    Lu Jing: "?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "?"


    Lu Jing met her gaze for two seconds, then straightened up without thinking and looked at Wang Chengshuo in front, saying: "Did you just trip me?"


    "?"


    Wang Chengshuo was made to doubt himself by Lu Jing''s direct tone: "I don''t think so, but... maybe I identally..."


    Lu Jing seemed satisfied with this response. He apologized to Wen Shuangmu and quickly hooked his arm around Wang Chengshuo''s shoulder as they walked out.


    Once the two were out the back door, Lu Jing said with a hint of annoyance: "I''m not going this afternoon. Something else came up."


    Wang Chengshuo was puzzled: "What''s wrong? Didn''t you just say you were going?"


    "My mom called and told me to go home early to do homework." Lu Jing made up an excuse, and before he finished speaking, he mysteriously performed another fall on t ground.


    Fortunately, this time he was holding onto Wang Chengshuo''s shoulder, so it wasn''t too embarrassing.


    Wang Chengshuoughed at this disy: "What''s wrong with you? Can''t you watch where you''re going? To be honest, you tripped by yourself just now too, right? I thought you were kowtowing to Wen Shuangmu. Seriously, there''s no need. If you think Lagrange is impressive, I can learn it too."


    Lu Jing''s expression looked constipated: "Get lost."


    There was a custom of runningps during the Ethics ss break.


    The first twenty minutes of P.E. ss were used by the teacher for formation training and trial runs.


    By the time everyone was sweating profusely, they were dismissed in ce for free activities.


    The boys rushed straight to the indoor gymnasium. Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui continued their middle school tradition, sitting in the first row of the spectator stands.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t understand basketball, but Su Qiyan liked it. Whether it was a fun game or an official match, as long as he was in the gymnasium, Wen Shuangmu would appear.


    From middle school to university, she had unknowingly sat in the spectator stands behind him for ten years.


    Even though she had just had a one-sided unpleasant encounter with someone at noon, habits formed over a long time weren''t so easy to change.


    Xia Zhili was alone. Seeing an empty seat at the edge of the first row in the spectator stands, she didn''t look further back and walked directly over.


    It was only after she sat down that she realized the two girls next to her were Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui.


    Wen Shuangmu''s back was very straight. Even in a casual and rxed environment, she gave off an air of pride and arrogance, staring intently at the basketball court.


    Xia Zhili followed her line of sight and scanned the court. She saw a boy shoot and score, with the surrounding crowd cheering excitedly and chaotically.


    Xia Zhili found it uninteresting and looked away, only to see Wen Shuangmu suddenly stand up excitedly and apud.


    "Host, stop pping. Xia Zhili is here."


    Wu Xiaoqi''s sudden reminder startled Wen Shuangmu.


    She turned her head, her gaze meeting Xia Zhili''s.


    Their eyes met subtly for a moment before quickly looking away.


    That three-pointer just now was Su Qiyan''s highlight.


    Judging by Xia Zhili''s t reaction, she probably hadn''t noticed.


    Not bad.


    Wen Shuangmu nodded in satisfaction. Her hands still in a pping position, she calmly patted her skirt a couple of times and sat down gracefully.


    Having been rebuffed twice when trying to talk to Wen Shuangmu at noon, Xia Zhili knew to some extent that Wen Shuangmu had no intention of getting to know her. So this time, she was tactful enough not to greet her again and just lowered her head to read her book.


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t as indifferent as she appeared on the surface. After a few seconds, her eyes involuntarily nced at the book on Xia Zhili''s knee.


    The English words on the pages were abstruse and difficult to understand. After seeing them clearly, Wen Shuangmu was silent for a moment.


    After a while, she clicked her tongue softly, took out her phone, and typed Nietzsche, Maugham, and Margaret into the Taobao shopping interface, adding them to her cart one by one... When it came time to pay, she felt like something was off.


    She could read English trantions, but without some mental preparation, she really didn''t want to.


    She thought for a moment, then deleted them all and instead searched for recent bestselling quick transmigration novels on the romance rankings.


    After cing her order, Wen Shuangmu''s gaze returned to the basketball court.


    In her previous life, Wen Shuangmu hadn''t taken Xia Zhili seriously. Even though Xia Zhili frequently appeared by Su Qiyan''s side, she confidently believed that the other girl was just a suitor like herself, secretly trying to win his favor, and that Su Qiyan would definitely not like such a taciturn, silent, and uninteresting girl.


    But Su Qiyan''s untimely concern at lunch precisely proved that there exists some kind of unreasonable attraction between men and women.


    The two didn''t even know each other¡ª


    Yet one of them had already started to care about how the other was eating lunch alone.


    Even people living by the sea might not be able to care so broadly from the beginning.


    "Jiahui!"


    A new batch of boys came down from the basketball court, and a boy standing by the rest bench drinking water suddenly waved at the spectator stands.


    Ji Jiahui was doing her homework. She looked up and saw it was her middle school ssmate Lin Sizhe, and said impatiently: "What?"


    "Come down for a bit," the boy said.


    Ji Jiahui didn''t want to move: "Can''t you just say it from there?"


    The boy still repeatedly called for her toe down. Ji Jiahui was annoyed and had to put her homework on the chair and go down the stairs to find Lin Sizhe.


    Lin Sizhe seemed a bit excited and restless. As people approached, he slightly raised his eyebrows, gesturing towards the audience seats: "Hey, who''s that girl with bangs sitting next to Shuangmu? Is she in your ss?"


    Ji Jiahui heard this and felt exasperated, thinking to herself that no wonder he refused to speak earlier when asked in the audience seats - he was trying to get information about a girl.


    Although Ji Jiahui was impatient, she answered in detail: "Xia Zhili. ''Xia'' as in summer, ''Zhi'' as in cheese, ''Li'' as in inside and outside."


    Lin Sizhe raised his hand to interrupt: "Wait, what''s the name of that girl who ranked first in your ss cement test?"


    "That''s her. Why, interested in the top student?"


    Lin Sizhe chuckled and scratched his head: "Nah, just asking for a friend."


    Ji Jiahui didn''t call him out on it and casually waved her hand as she headed back to the audience seats.


    Lin Sizhe circled back to the court, exchanging information with his resting teammates.


    As they talked, he stole several nces at the audience seats.


    There was a hint of youthful restlessness in his behavior.


    Wen Shuangmu found it interesting and asked Ji Jiahui, "What did Lin Sizhee down to talk to you about?"


    Ji Jiahui first nced at Xia Zhili over Wen Shuangmu''s shoulder, then whispered in her ear: "He was asking about Xia Zhili. I bet he wants to pursue her..."


    Wen Shuangmu raised her eyebrows slightly, tilting the phone screen resting on her knee at an angle that perfectly captured Xia Zhili''s silhouette.


    It had to be said that Xia Zhili had a face that could kill without a trace.


    Whether it was the height of her nose bridge, the curve of her lips, or the line from her chin to her neck, everything about her was elegantly beautiful.


    However, it was only the first day of school, and already two groups of people were interested in Xia Zhili. Even for a female protagonist''s halo, this seemed a bit exaggerated.


    Wen Shuangmu tapped her fingertip on the side of her phone twice, adjusting the screen to show herself.


    Wu Xiaoqi, in a sycophantic tone learned from who knows where: "That''s right! Our host is super pretty too!"


    Wen Shuangmu felt touched: "Your little mouth is quite pleasing today."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Of course, I''m saying what''s in your heart."


    Wen Shuangmu: "...Too much talk bes uninteresting."


    On the yground, the group of boys burst into meaningfulughter, apparently discussing some subtle topic.


    A basketball suddenly mmed onto the floor in front of them with a dull "thud".


    Lin Sizhe was startled and looked up to see Su Qiyan standingzily three meters away: "What are you chatting about? Let''s y another round."


    "Oh, oh,ing!" Lin Sizhe didn''t think much of it.


    The group of boys dispersed and re-entered the court to y ball.


    Ji Jiahui, taking a break from her studies, watched the game for a while andmented, "I have to say, that Lu Jing from our ss is quite handsome."


    "Him?"


    Wen Shuangmu shifted her gaze, which had been focused on Su Qiyan, slightly to the side.


    Su Qiyan and Lu Jing were on the same team.


    Perhaps others couldn''t tell, but Wen Shuangmu knew thatpared to the first half, Su Qiyan''s attacks had be more aggressive in the second half. However, the newly joined boys from ss 1 and ss 2, probably all graduates from Bowen School, kept calling "Brother Jing, Brother Jing, shoot a three-pointer!" habitually passing the ball to Lu Jing,pletely ruining the advantage Su Qiyan had created.


    Wen Shuangmu shook her head and gave a neutral evaluation: "All bark and no bite."


    Ji Jiahuiughed: "He''s alright, but he seems to be quite popr."


    The ss bell rang.


    Su Qiyan''s team suffered a crushing defeat against Lin Sizhe''s.


    Wang Chengshuo and Lin Sen, who also graduated from Bowen School with ss 1, started bickering.


    "You suck."


    "You suck."


    "You suck."


    "No way, let''s y again after school. We didn''t even let Brother Jing show his true skills."


    "Get lost." Lu Jingughed as he tossed the ball into Lin Sen''s arms, not really upset by their constant teasing.


    Su Qiyan didn''t participate in their jokes and walked alone towards the rest chairs.


    He drank half a bottle of mineral water in one go, then twisted the bottle into a ball and threw it into a nearby trash can.


    Wen Shuangmu rarely detected a hint of anger in Su Qiyan''s usually calm face.


    She told Ji Jiahui to go ahead and stood at the side of the gymnasium, observing Lu Jing with a bit more scrutiny.


    It was rare to see someone who could irritate Su Qiyan. He had some skill.


    Wu Xiaoqi excitedly asked: "So, host, have you decided to bind Lu Jing as your cultivation target?"


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t respond, but she caught sight of Lin Sizhe walking by and raised her hand to stop him.


    Lin Sizhe looked quite surprised. He asked hispanions to wait a moment and walked over to her.


    "Sister Shuangmu, you''re looking for me?"


    "You like Xia Zhili?"


    Lin Sizhe was taken aback: "Ah, I was just asking for a friend."


    "Is that so."


    Wen Shuangmu''s gaze still followed Su Qiyan''s movements. When he disappeared at the exit, she finally withdrew her gaze. Her eyes crinkled slightly as she looked at Lin Sizhe and said:


    "Then why didn''t your friend ask about me? Am I not worthy?"


    The ceiling lights cast uneven shadows on Wen Shuangmu, making her ck pupils seem to dance with light in the sunlight.


    Lin Sizhe''s heart skipped a beat at the sight.


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Host, haven''t you misced your focus again?

 Chapter 7

    Lin Sizhe blushed from his neck to his ears, not hesitating to put himself down: "No, no, no, we''re the ones who aren''t worthy."


    Wen Shuangmu, however, patted Lin Sizhe''s shoulder: "Why are you getting nervous? I was just joking with you."


    Wen Shuangmu walked out of the gymnasium, and Lin Sizhe''s ssmates from ss 10, who were waiting for him, immediately swarmed around.


    "Didn''t you say earlier that the long-haired one was not to be messed with? She doesn''t look that fierce, and it seemed like she even smiled a bit when she left."


    Lin Sizhe hadn''t recovered yet and replied in confusion: "Don''t ask me, I don''t know either."


    Thest two sses of the afternoon were self-study periods.


    It wasn''t the official start of the school year yet at the end of August. Arriving at school a week early for registration was Mingli''s unique "adjustment week." During this week, the school didn''t schedule evening self-study sessions, and teachers didn''t assign too many teaching tasks. The main purpose was to let students readjust to being back at school, making it rtively rxed.


    Wen Shuangmu stacked a pile of workbooks she nned toplete today on the right side of her desk. She didn''t rush to start writing immediately. Using her textbook as a shield for her phone, her fingertips tapped and clicked on the screen, constantly switching keywords in the search bar.


    Wu Xiaoqi felt pleased seeing the host search for "Viin Identification Guide" and "On the Self-Cultivation of Viins," thinking that she was finally putting the character development task on the agenda.


    But gradually, the keywords changed style, bing somewhat off-topic.


    Wen Shuangmu suddenly leaned back in her chair, discouraged: "I can''t do it. I don''t think I''m worthy."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    It had been fifteen minutes since ss started, and she was still hung up on the "who''s worthy and who''s not" issue from PE ss?


    Wen Shuangmu said: "You said I''m a textbook-level viin, but I don''t have that ability."


    Wu Xiaoqi understood. It scanned the browsing history on Wen Shuangmu''s phone rted to the MacDonald triad and criminal psychology profiling, feeling the intellectual low point of its host: "I asked you to develop into a viin, not a psycho killer."


    Wen Shuangmu sat up straight, seeming toe alive a bit, but after a moment, she asked puzzled: "But you said I''m textbook-level?"


    Wu Xiaoqi watched the conflicting expressions sh across Wen Shuangmu''s face, from "If I''m not ruthless enough, I won''t live up to this title" to "You''re making things difficult for me." It had never felt so exasperated: "Host, you''ve seen the Big Bad Wolf, right? He''s considered a ssic viin too, but have you ever seen him eat a sheep? When I praised you as textbook-level, I meant that the Big Bad Wolf has been around for over 2000 episodes without being written off, and in the original story, you stubbornly persisted, making the author turn a high school campus novel into a college campus novel. If it weren''t for your car ident, the author would have even introduced a graduate school storyline."


    "......"


    "You should have said that earlier." Wen Shuangmu looked disgusted and flipped her phone face down.


    Wu Xiaoqi: "This ismon sense. As a campus novel viin, if you don''t focus your energy on breaking up the main couple and instead try to steal the job of a mystery novel viin, aren''t you just making a fool of yourself?"


    Wu Xiaoqi muttered: "I knew when I introduced the task earlier and you didn''t ask a single question, you hadn''t understood the nature of the viin system at all."


    Wen Shuangmu coughed lightly, and after a while, leaned back in her chair again: "If that''s the case, won''t the task be very simple? Xia Zhili is so popr, I could just pick one of her pursuers as my development target, and sessfully break her and Su Qiyan up, right?"


    Hearing Wen Shuangmu''s casual tone, Wu Xiaoqi felt choked and had to approach it from a different angle: "If I were to persuade you now to stop liking Su Qiyan and find someone more obedient and suitable, to turn back, how would you react?"


    Wen Shuangmu replied without thinking: "Of course not! Why should I?"


    Wu Xiaoqi was satisfied: "Simrly, Xia Zhili won''t fall for just any guy. Of course, you need to develop a viin with equalpetitiveness to rival Su Qiyan."


    "Alright."


    This time, Wen Shuangmu humbly epted the lesson. After two seconds, she spoke up again: "Actually, I was just joking with you earlier. Did you think I wouldn''t understand such simple logic?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "......"


    Please don''t try to save face.


    Wen Shuangmu felt good about herself and pulled out a workbook from the side of her desk to do exercises.


    After breezing through five multiple-choice questions, she felt something was off and suddenly raised her head again: "Wait, if it''s about obstructing the main couple, why did you rmend my brother earlier!"


    Wu Xiaoqi didn''t answer immediately, acting coy and bashful for a while before saying: "If we don''t consider the age factor, I think a younger male lead pairing actually has potential..."


    "..."


    By the window, Lu Jing held a thermos, asionally sipping hot tea, and correspondingly shaking his head and sighing at his neighbor.


    In the twenty minutes since ss started, his genius seatmate had been vigorously sitting up straight one moment and slumping back the next, constantly doing "forward and backward bending" exercises, condensing the ups and downs of life into these short "90¡ã" swings.


    What''s the use of knowing Lagrange if your life is still full of anxiety?


    Lu Jing sympathized but couldn''t offer any constructivefort regarding studying.


    He nced at Wang Chengshuo''s broad back in front of him.


    Wang Chengshuo hadn''t started today''s homework yet, still studying Lagrange from the ss cement test math paper.


    Lu Jing patted his back and said: "Stop ''pulling,'' being happy is the most important thing in life."


    Wang Chengshuo turned around, pushing up the sses on his nose bridge in confusion: "...?"


    The dismissal bell rang.


    Students from various sses darted between floors, and the corridors became bustling and noisy for a moment.


    A few dull "thump thump" sounds of a basketball echoed in the corridor.


    Wen Shuangmu walked out of the ssroom with her backpack, seeing Liu Yiheng and a few other boys approaching,ughing and joking from afar.


    As they reached the door of ss 2, Liu Yiheng finally hugged the basketball back to his chest and raised his hand to greet her: "Sister Shuang."


    Wen Shuangmu nodded, unusually leisurely standing there to chat for a couple of sentences: "Who are you looking for? Do you need me to call them for you?"


    "Wang Chengshuo and Lu Jing."


    Liu Yiheng''s eyes nced at Xia Zhili through the corridor window while reporting the names of the other two boys.


    Wen Shuangmu admired men''s ability to multitask.


    From her angle, she could see Su Qiyan packing his bag through ss 1''s back door. One exuded schrly elegance, dignified in motion and stillness; the other was restless, a youthfuld. Inparison, Liu Yiheng seemed like part of the "rendering group" highlighting the female lead''s irresistible aura, making it hard not to feel sympathetic.


    She couldn''t help but pat Liu Yiheng''s arm consolingly: "It''s a pity there''s no way topare, otherwise I''d give you a hand."


    Liu Yiheng was distracted and didn''t hear clearly. His gaze followed Xia Zhili''s movements, and when she went to her locker, her figure just hidden by the wall, he regretfully withdrew his eyes and said: "Sister Shuang, what did you just say?"


    Wen Shuangmu shrugged, stepping aside and tilting her head to indicate: "I said the people you''re looking for areing out."


    Lu Jing wore his bag slung across one shoulder, walking out one after another with Wang Chengshuo.


    Lu Jing usually looked rxed overall, but with his broad shoulders and long legs, paired with the gentle and reserved Wang Chengshuo, they looked like a campus power duo on the move.


    When ordinary boys gather to show off, it''s basically no different from Causeway Bay gangsters hitting the streets.


    But with Lu Jing in the middle, it added afortable atmosphere, unconsciously bing the focus of the group.


    It''s only this level of "enticement" that''s worthy of Xia Zhili.


    Wen Shuangmu moved a few more steps towards ss 1, making room for this group of "gang-forming boys" and their daily meeting.


    Liu Yiheng''spanions, seeing Lu Jinge out, immediately rushed over to put their arms around his shoulders and pat his back:


    "Brother Jing, it''s awesome that you tested into ss 2."


    "You don''t understand, this is Brother Jing''s standard operation, he just doesn''t usually let people see it."


    "That''s right, if our Brother Jing got serious, would anyone else be able to im the top spot in the spring semester?"


    Top of the spring semester?


    Isn''t that Su Qiyan?


    Wen Shuangmu looked up at Lu Jing.


    She hadn''t expected that someone would still hold back during the cement test.


    It''s worth noting that Su Qiyan is a terrifyingly well-rounded talent. Even with Wen Shuangmu''s memories from two lifetimes, she wasn''t sure she could beat him.


    Liu Yiheng and the others casuallypared Lu Jing to Su Qiyan, yet Lu Jing''s face remained impassive, even showing a hint of "please be quiet and stop talking" low-key zen-like attitude. It seemed he was far more profound and inscrutable than she had imagined.


    Wen Shuangmu thought for a moment, then felt something was off.


    In her previous life''s three years of high school, she had never heard of a top student named Lu Jing.


    Wu Xiaoqi popped up at the right moment to keep her on track: "Host, don''t jump to conclusions too quickly. Be careful not to cut off other possibilities in the plot."


    Wen Shuangmu: "What do you mean?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Do you remember who were the students that consistently ranked in the top twenty of the entire school?"


    Wen Shuangmu rattled off names almost instinctively: "Su Qiyan, Li Maozhen, Xia Zhili, Wang Chengshuo, Lin Sen, myself, Yin Xingzhu from ss 7, Yu Zhengzheng from ss 11..."


    After listing eight names, Wen Shuangmu''s voice suddenly faltered. Even racking her brains, she couldn''t recall the names of the others.


    She realized with a chill that it wasn''t because her memory had faded over time, but because many of the figures in the grade rankings beyond their group were simply nk in her mind.


    Wu Xiaoqi spoke with an air of mystery: "Now you understand, don''t you, host? In the original novel, when describing the school rankings, it only briefly mentioned your names, leaving the rest nk. In other words, Lu Jing could be in the top ten of the school, or he could be at the very bottom. Anything is possible."


    Anything is possible.


    Wen Shuangmu automatically skipped over Wu Xiaoqi''s other words, repeating this phrase over and over in her mind.


    Li Maozhen and Su Qiyan from ss 1 came out.


    Li Maozhen waved and said, "Shuang-jie, let''s go."


    The hallway was bathed in orange light of the setting sun, with peopleing and going around them. Su Qiyan stood to the side waiting for her, his clean-cut short hair slightly tousled by the wind across his forehead, like a freeze-frame from a movie.


    Wen Shuangmu had seen Su Qiyan at eighteen, at twenty, at twenty-two.


    It had been so long that she had almost forgotten what he looked like at sixteen.


    How wonderful it was to see him again like this.


    The cool summer breeze blew past, and Wen Shuangmu''s heart seemed to swell with it, like a sail catching the wind, almost bursting out of her chest.


    You see, I''ve known you for so long, and I love every version of you.


    There''s no reason you shouldn''t choose me in the end, right?


    Wen Shuangmu smiled brightly. She ran up in a few quick steps, grabbed Su Qiyan''s backpack to stop him, and said cheerfully, "Let''s go!"


    Su Qiyan swayed back and forth from her sudden movement, seeming puzzled by her excited mood. He nced down at her but didn''t say anything, just adjusted his backpack strap. The three of them then walked together towards the stairwell.

 Chapter 8

    Lu Jing sat with a listless expression on his face, ignoring the group of people milling about at the doorway.


    Liu Yiheng and the others were still engaged in yful banter when Lin Sen, who had juste out of ss 1, joined the group: "It''s all small potatoes. If it weren''t for Jing considering us younger brothers still too young, he would have skipped grades and soared ahead long ago!"


    Hearing their increasingly exaggerated boasts, Lu Jing wore a look of utter despair: "What on earth are you guys talking about? You all know perfectly well that my mom bribed her way to get me into the advanced ss."


    Lu Jing''s drawling, monotonous tone barely registered amidst the noisy chaos, but it was enough for everyone to hear.


    The group of enthusiastic citizens dedicated to cultivating an atmosphere of academic excellence couldn''t hold back theirughter: "Seriously though, can we interview you? What was your aunt thinking? Didn''t she used to not care much about your studies before?"


    Lu Jing sighed at the mention: "Madam Xia has recently adopted the ''caring mother'' approach. She''s worried that if she doesn''t manage my studies enough, I''ll feel neglected."


    Liu Yiheng and Lin Sen burst intoughter, and even Wang Chengshuo, who had been quiet until now, turned his head away and let out a short chuckle.


    These guys often visited Lu Jing''s house during holidays and were quite familiar with Madam Xia. She changed her parenting strategy every week, and not only did the old and young at home suffer, but they too had experienced their fair share of it.


    Now hearing this, it indeed sounded like something Madam Xia would do.


    Liu Yiheng grabbed Lu Jing by the throat: "Come clean, did you take someone else''s spot? We''ll go report you to the principal''s office and have you transferred to our ss 7 right away."


    Lu Jing elbowed him in the waist: "Please, go ahead. I''m begging you. It''d be best if you could get me transferred by tomorrow."


    Lin Senughed with a face full of schadenfreude: "Dream on. Your aunt directly had the principal add an extra spot. You didn''t squeeze anyone out or take anyone''s ce. Who''s going to listen to your report?"


    Unable to think of a solution, Liu Yiheng could only pat Lu Jing''s shoulder in constion: "It really is a bit tragic."


    Lu Jing: "Isn''t it? The homework is several times more than the regr sses."


    Lin Sen found this even more amusing: "Don''t worry, you''ve still got Shuo-ge covering for you, right? If worstes to worst, you cane find me in ss 1."


    "Forget it, forget it. I''ll be back after the next ss cement exam," Lu Jing waved his hand, resigned to his fate.


    He casually nced away and unexpectedly caught sight of Wen Shuangmu at the other end of the corridor.


    The ss genius was walking down the stairs, holding onto the strap of a boy''s backpack from the neighboring ss. The setting sun cast a shimmering light on the ground of the teaching building as the silhouettes of the boy and girl slowly disappeared below the horizon.


    Lu Jing thought to himself that the main issue was that his new ssmate''s grades were a bit too good.


    Lu Jing didn''t go to y basketball, but the path to the gymnasium was in the same direction as the school gate.


    The group made their way downstairs in a grand procession.


    Liu Yiheng tapped on his phone a few times and called out to everyone: "Zeng-ge says he''ll be five minuteste. Their ss''s math teacher is holding them back."


    Lu Jing asked Wang Chengshuo beside him: "Who''s Zeng-ge?"


    "Zeng Shuran, the senior we used to y basketball with often in middle school. He''s in second year of high school now. Don''t you remember?"


    "Oh." Lu Jing nodded, having a vague recollection. After a moment, he asked again, "Which ss is he in?"


    Wang Chengshuo thought for a moment: "ss 1 spring semester, if he didn''t drop down afterst term''s final exams."


    At the gymnasium.


    Liu Yiheng was stretching his legs by the rest chairs, teasing Lu Jing: "Didn''t you say you weren''ting earlier? Getting itchy hands now? Want us to help you put together a highlight reel?"


    Lu Jing had just changed into a T-shirt under his school uniform after finishing PE ss in the afternoon. He wasn''t in much mood to y ball now, and only asked: "Where''s that senior you mentioned? Howe he''s still not here?"


    Liu Yiheng pulled out his phone, also wanting to send a text to ask.


    The sound of running shoes squeaking against the floor came from the entrance, and Liu Yiheng said: "Here hees."


    Lu Jing wasn''t as familiar with this senior as Liu Yiheng and Lin Sen were.


    He joined the basketball team, diligently passing the ball to others, and asionally throwing in some casual banter, managing to strike up a brief conversation with the senior.


    "Senior, is there anyone handsome in your ss?"


    "Why do you ask?"


    "I want to y ball with the school heartthrob."


    Senior: "?"


    The next morning, before seven o''clock, Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo had already arrived at school early by appointment.


    Wang Chengshuo went through the thought process of the big questions on the homework for Lu Jing, who then filled in the answers in the solution area.


    Wang Chengshuo said: "It''s okay if you don''t quite understand this question. It involves knowledge points from today''s ss. I''ll find a few more example questions to exin to youter."


    Lu Jing shook his head and sighed while writing: "Don''t you think the teachers all assume we''re super smart? They make us write about content we haven''t learned yet. If I were that good at self-study, why would I evene to school?"


    Wang Chengshuo: "It''s hard to say. Wait untilter when the teachers make the questions even harder, then we''ll need it."


    Lu Jing: "..."


    Lu Jing finished dealing with the nk questions, and more students started to fill the ssroom.


    Lin Sen peered into ss 2 from the doorway, saw that the morning reading teacher hadn''t arrived, and walked straight into their ssroom carrying books.


    "Jing-ge, I''ve brought all the books you wanted."


    Lin Sen''s family ran a bookstore, and upon receiving the list of bestsellers Lu Jing sent himst night, he immediately found them all.


    Lu Jing pushed his homework to the side, making room: "How much?"


    Lin Sen put down the books and waved his hand casually: "Don''t worry about it. Just treat me to a few more drinks at lunch in the future."


    Lu Jing didn''t stand on ceremony with him either, picking up the topmost book and starting to read.


    Lin Sen seemed genuinely curious. He lowered his body slightly and whispered near Lu Jing: "Seriously though, does reading books really work? For that kind of thing, people usually prefer watching movies."


    Lu Jing was stunned for a moment, then quickly pushed him away, saying with disdain: "What on earth is going on in that head of yours?"


    Lin Sen looked hurt: "What did I do wrong?"


    Wang Chengshuo hadn''t paid much attention to the book covers at first, but hearing their conversation, he pulled out a book and flipped through it.


    "Love Me, Hurry Up"


    Wang Chengshuo was taken aback by one of the chapter titles and after a long while, managed to give a tactfulment: "You''re quite wild, Lu Jing."


    "Right?" Lin Sen immediately agreed, "Shuo-ge thinks so too."


    Lu Jing shoved the books into his desk drawer, shooing them away: "Get out of here, both of you. Go to ss and stop blocking my way."


    Wen Shuangmu walked into the ssroom just as the bell rang, passing Lin Sen on his way out. She was a bit surprised to see a student from ss 1ing out of her ssroom.


    From a distance, she saw Lu Jing reading a thick extracurricr book nestled inside his Chinese textbook for morning reading. Wen Shuangmu looked envious, realizing that Lu Jing was even more academically capable than she had imagined.


    Wen Shuangmu was a typical specialist student. The Chinese teacher had assigned memorization of "The Banquet at Hongmen"st night for a written test in ss, but for subjects she wasn''t good at, she would rather cram for twenty minutes before ss than prepare a day in advance. She was only now picking up her textbook to memorize.


    On a whim, Wen Shuangmu reached across the aisle and tapped on the neighboring desk: "ssmate, we have a writing test in sster. If the teacher asks us to grade each other''s papers, could you be a bit lenient?"


    Lu Jing turned to look at her, his dark eyes falling on her face. After a long pause, he slowly nodded.


    In all her years of schooling, Wen Shuangmu had seen all sorts of people. She had suffered many times from those who would mark her wrong for the slightest imperfection in her strokes or unclear handwriting, forcing her to rewrite passages from the textbook after ss.


    Although Lu Jing''s agreement came after some hesitation, Wen Shuangmu still felt touched.


    However, when the Chinese ss began and the writing test started, Wen Shuangmu finally realized what Lu Jing''s pause meant.


    This guy had memorized the wrong text entirely and was writing "Spring in a Qin Garden - Changsha"! That look in his eyes was clearly questioning how she could need leniency for such a simple modern poem!


    Turning her head, she saw Lu Jing looking a bit confused himself as he poked Wang Chengshuo''s back with his pen cap: "Did the teacher assign ''Spring in a Qin Garden'' or ''The Banquet at Hongmen'' for homework yesterday?"


    Wang Chengshuo turned sideways, pausing awkwardly for two seconds, his eyes filled with pity: "You memorized ''Spring in a Qin Garden''?"


    The answer was now obvious. Lu Jing fell silent, quietly flipping to the back of the book to check against the original text as he graded Wen Shuangmu''s paper.


    Wen Shuangmu inexplicably felt likeughing. She stared at the test paper for a moment, truly at a loss for how to grade it. She could only return the notebook as it was to her neighbor, kindly saying: "The ss representative will be collecting them soon. You''d better copy it down quickly to get by."


    Lu Jing gave a soft "Mm," without looking up. After two seconds, he put away his ck pen and drew a red check mark on Wen Shuangmu''s test paper before handing it back to her.


    Wen Shuangmu took the notebook back and noticed that Lu Jing had used his ck pen to correct two characters for her. Opening it to check, she saw they were both phic loan characters she had identally reversed.


    Wen Shuangmu had been so shocked by the discrepancy in their recitations that she only now noticed the power and style contained in Lu Jing''s handwriting as shepared it to her own.


    Wen Bingyi had recently been practicing calligraphy, with his family buying him many tracing papers, which had also influenced Wen Shuangmu quite a bit.


    Lu Jing''s handwriting seemed to be abination of the Shoujin and regr script styles. It not only incorporated the slender vigor and ethereal spaciousness of both, but also integrated some of his personal brushwork habits, creating a stunning visual effect.


    Wen Shuangmu looked at Lu Jing with a hint of admiration, only to see him flip to the "Feast at Hong Gate" page, read for a few minutes, then close the book and start reciting from memory again.


    Wen Shuangmu: "!"


    He''s sopetitive.


    The Chinese teacher, Liang Jie, had already opened her PowerPoint on the podium and started exining the historical background of the Feast at Hong Gate story.


    Lu Jing handed his newly written recitation to Wen Shuangmu for correction, then continued reading the book he hadn''t finished during morning reading, hiding it in his desk drawer.


    The long break after the second sssted twenty-five minutes. Since running exercises hadn''t started this week, it became free time for students.


    Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui went to the school store to buy snacks. On the way, Wen Shuangmu couldn''t help but mention Lu Jing''s excellent memory several times.


    Meanwhile, the "memory genius" Lu Jing that Wen Shuangmu was talking about was sitting in the ssroom with one chair leg suspended, shaking his head as he looked at the pocket-sized notebook in his hand.


    Wang Chengshuo returned after fetching water for Lu Jing and, seeing him engrossed in reading, asked, "What are you up to?"


    Lu Jing heaved a long sigh, tossing the notebook onto the desk like a dart. He inteced his fingers behind his head and drawled, "ying with fire, but s, I''m already burnt to a crisp."


    Wang Chengshuo took a moment to process this, then chuckled, "Where did you get thatme joke?"


    As he spoke, he picked up the notebook and nced at it, immediately feeling "burned" himself. He choked out, "You''re reading romance novels, and even taking notes?"


    Lu Jing didn''t seem too concerned about his friend''s teasing. He let the chair leg fall back to the ground and adopted a contemtive expression. "You know how in novels they always emphasize how different the male lead is from others by describing how aloof he is and how good his grades are? But I''ve been observing the boys in our spring ss, and basically nine out of ten are aloof, and all of them are top students. They all fit the description, so how am I supposed to tell who the real male lead is?"


    Wang Chengshuo found Lu Jing''s perspective odd, as they weren''t living in a novel where such things mattered. However, after some thought, he replied, "Well, not everyone is aloof, actually."


    Lu Jing: "For example?"


    Wang Chengshuo initially wanted to use himself as an example, but seeing Lu Jing''s "don''t try to fool me" expression, he changed his answer: "Lin Sen."


    Lu Jingughed, "He doesn''t count. Of the ten top students I mentioned, nine are aloof. That one spot is specially reserved for him."


    Wang Chengshuo tried to think of another name, but he realized that whether it was the spring ss in their building or the one in the neighboring sophomore building, they all remained as quiet as mice even during breaks. He wasn''t sure if it was due to personalities or academic pressure, making it hard to provide evidence. So he decided to approach the topic from a different angle: "Then maybe it''s mainly about looks. The male lead should be the most handsome one."


    Lu Jing shrugged, "I''ve considered that too."


    He had asked Zeng Shuran for a group photo of the sophomore spring ssst night.


    Lu Jing rubbed his nose, trying to sound modest: "But I feel like none of them are as handsome as me."


    He had originally wanted to inquire about photos of the senior spring ss too, but the senior student told him that once they reached the senior year''s hellish training, concepts like "handsome" would cease to exist. So he gave up on that idea.


    Wang Chengshuoughed, "Are you sure you''re not just trying topliment yourself on having a face fit for a TV drama lead?"


    Lu Jing, finding their conversation amusing, chuckled as well, "I didn''t say that."


    Wang Chengshuo inadvertently flipped a couple of pages further in the pocket notebook and asked curiously, "Who are Han Lizhi and Gu Sifan?"


    Lu Jing replied, "They''re female supporting characters from two campus novels I''m reading."


    Wang Chengshuo read Lu Jing''s character analysis notes in the margins, amazed at the depth of his insights and the neutrality of his evaluations. He suspected even the authors hadn''t thought that deeply about their characters.


    Wang Chengshuo said, "Have you recently be obsessed with fictional characters?"


    Lu Jing didn''t directly answer this question. He turned his head to look out the window. From the third floor, he could only see a corner of the frantically upward-reaching branches of the trees in the garden beside the teaching building.


    The branches looked incredibly fragile, yet the leaves adorning them were lush and green.


    Lu Jing stood up, snatched the notebook from Wang Chengshuo''s hand, crumpled it casually, and tossed it into the drawer. "Why are there always idiots everywhere who want to y God, criticizing and interfering with other people''s choices?"


    Wang Chengshuo: "?"


    Wang Chengshuo: "Who?"


    Lu Jing didn''t want to borate. He put his arm around Wang Chengshuo''s shoulder and headed out, "Never mind, let''s go y ball."

 Chapter 9

    The third morning ss was Mathematics.


    Several boys in the ss had just returned from ying basketball, still a bit restless as they asionally shifted their chairs and fanned their cors.


    Zhou Quan had his back turned, writing on the ckboard.


    Lu Jing pushed on Wang Chengshuo''s chair back, rocking it: "Got any water left? Let me have some."


    "Yeah."


    Wang Chengshuo took his cup to pour some water. The liquid had barely reached the quarter mark when suddenly there was a loud "thump" from behind.


    "?"


    Wang Chengshuo slowly turned his head to look back.


    Wen Shuangmu at the neighboring desk also turned his head slowly to look.


    They saw Lu Jing with his forehead pressed sideways against the desk, his eyshes lightly closed.


    Just from the sound, they could tell it was quite a heavy impact, but the main character seemed unaffected by any pain, breathing steadily, sleeping with a peaceful expression.


    Wang Chengshuo: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    What the hell, wasn''t he just talking normally a second ago? How could he fall asleep so suddenly!


    Wang Chengshuo stood holding the water cup, unsure whether to continue pouring or put it back.


    Zhou Quan at the podium spoke up first in a calm voice: "It''s hot in the summer, and I understand everyone feels drowsy. I won''t say much, but if any student really can''t stay awake, please go stand in the back for a while, and return to your seat when you''re alert again."


    The ss''s gazes uniformly followed Zhou Quan''s words towards thest desk in the ssroom.


    The person in question, however, remained motionless as if he had fainted.


    Zhou Quan said: "Seatmate, please help wake him up."


    Wen Shuangmu''s finger tentatively reached across the aisle, first hovering above Lu Jing''s head, then near his elbow, really unsure where tond. He could only look towards Wang Chengshuo diagonally across, who was more familiar with Lu Jing: "Why don''t you do it?"


    Wang Chengshuo didn''t hesitate, directly pushing Lu Jing: "Stop sleeping, get up. You''re being punished to stand."


    Lu Jing stayed still for a second before waking up. He slowly raised his head, rubbing his forehead. His eyelids lifted slightly, instantly noticing the entire ss''s unified stares. After a brief moment of nk-faced confusion, his expression became somewhat peculiar.


    Wang Chengshuo gestured with his chin towards Zhou Quan at the podium, kindly repeating: "He says to take your book and stand in the back. Come back to sit when you''re awake."


    Wu Xiaoqi had already started a cheerful betting game in Wen Shuangmu''s mind.


    "Quiz with prizes! Correct answer gets the host a random small reward.


    Question: Which of the following actions will Lu Jing use to respond to the teacher''s challenge?


    A. Illiterate school bully type: Teacher, I don''t know many words, math ss always makes me sleepy. Let me off this once?


    B. Arrogant young master type: Teacher, don''t you know how many buildings my family donated to the school? You''re not serious about making me stand as punishment, right?


    C. Academic genius type: Teacher, the content you''re teaching is too simple. I might know even more than you do.


    D. Cool guy type: I''m already awake now. Can I just sit back down?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "Are there only such childish options?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "These are the mostmon male lead responses in school stories!"


    Wu Xiaoqi probably also felt the options weren''tprehensive enough, so he added: "Okay, let''s add one more. E. I''m not the male lead ¡¤ None of the above options type."


    Wen Shuangmu counted the characters, with option E winning by a very slim margin.


    He said: "E."


    Choose the shortest of four long and one short, choose the longest of four short and one long.


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Haha, the host is going to miss out on a reward. How could the handsome guys in school stories ever take the ordinary path?"


    Hearing Wu Xiaoqi''s confidence, Wen Shuangmu nced at Lu Jing calmly standing up, and couldn''t help but waver a little, considering whether to change his answer to C.


    Wu Xiaoqi was still gloating when Lu Jing pulled out his chair to stand in the aisle, picked up his math book, said "Sorry, teacher" to Zhou Quan, and quietly walked to the back of the ssroom for his punishment.


    Wu Xiaoqi, whose face was pped in less than a second: "... That''s it? Really???"


    Lu Jing ced his textbook on the storage cab against the wall at the back of the ssroom and stood still.


    The teacher at the front continued the lesson. He rubbed his slightly swollen forehead.


    ncing casually, he saw his genius seatmate hunched over at his desk, shoulders shaking. Lu Jing pressed gently on the bruise again, took a step to the side to widen his view, and saw his genius seatmate struggling to hold back a smile.


    Lu Jing: "..."


    Lu Jing obediently stood at the back for the whole ss. When the bell rang, Zhou Quan kept them for two extra minutes, asking Wen Shuangmu to be the temporary ss monitor and go with him to the office to fetch assignments.


    ssmates dispersed to use the restroom or get water from the drinking fountain.


    Wang Chengshuo turned to Lu Jing, who had returned with his textbook: "What''s going on? What time have you been sleeping these past couple days? So sleep-deprived. You seemed fine when we yed basketball this morning."


    Lu Jing pulled out his chair and sat down, flexing his slightly sore ankles: "This time it really wasn''t because I was sleepy."


    "Then what?"


    Lu Jing opened his mouth but no sound came out.


    He froze for two seconds, then changed his answer: "Never mind, I was sleepy."


    Wang Chengshuo watched Lu Jing pull out his pocket notebook recording detailedments on the male and female leads and supporting characters of school romances from his drawer, and couldn''t help feeling exasperated: "Why are you looking at that thing again?"


    Lu Jing scribbled some notes in red pen on a nk page: "You just don''t get it. What else should high school students read if not youth campus stories?"


    Wang Chengshuo eyed the stack of books with pastel pink covers that Lu Jing had moved to his desk: "... Have you been possessed or somethingtely?"


    At noon, students in Mingli school uniforms bustled about Fuxing Lane near the school''s east gate.


    A dessert and bubble tea shop called "CLASS" was packed with students.


    Lu Jing''s group upied the best corner spot, with plenty of air conditioning and away from the noise of the ordering counter.


    Lin Sen, Liu Yiheng and the others yed a round of their mobile game. Wang Chengshuo was using a napkin as scratch paper to solve math problems.


    Lu Jing was curled up in the soft sofa, sipping iced coffee and watching the ss door of the dessert shop open and close.


    Lu Jing said: "Let me ask you guys something. Do you know who the school''s most popr guy is?"


    Lin Sen answered without hesitation: "You, of course."


    Lu Jing punched him.


    Lin Sen shifted to the side, finally looking up from his game screen with a smile: "What''s up, Jing-ge? You want to be the campus heartthrob?"


    Liu Yiheng said: "It''s not impossible. We bros can vote for you right now."


    Lin Sen was getting excited about the idea, immediately switching his phone screen: "Hold on, I''ll check the school forum to see how the voting system works. We can rig it behind the scenes. It''s a sure thing."


    Hearing them get more and more ridiculous, Lu Jing pressed his palm on Lin Sen''s phone to push it down: "I''m being serious here. Help me find someone."


    Lin Sen and Liu Yiheng finally reined in their yfulness a bit. Wang Chengshuo also looked up curiously: "Who? Why all the mystery?"


    "Someone from the spring ss."


    As soon as Lu Jing said those four words, Liu Yiheng interrupted: "Spring ss? Lin Sen knows them well. Which grade? What''s the name?"


    Lu Jing said: "I don''t know the grade or name. Just know he''s the school''s most popr guy, an unattainable flower, noble and handsome..."


    "Wait, noble what?"


    "The school''s most popr guy, an unattainable flower, noble and handsome, cold and aloof."


    "What handsome?"


    "Are you not hearing me speak Chinese?" Lu Jing took a deep breath and repeated once more, "The school''s most popr guy, an unattainable flower, noble and handsome, cold and aloof."


    Liu Yiheng''s expression was like an old man on the subway trying to use a smartphone.


    "Do you understand now?" Lu Jing continued, "The popr guy has a reserved personality, mostly indifferent to girls. When his eyes turn red, he''s supposed to show madness. Oh, the eye part is my own guess, could be a small probability event, or maybe arge probability event..."


    Seeing Lu Jing pause, Liu Yiheng elbowed Wang Chengshuo: "Shuo-ge, anything you want to say?"


    Wang Chengshuo demurred: "You go first."


    Liu Yiheng nodded: "Alright, I''ll start. Jing-ge, think about it yourself. Those words you just used, are they meant to describe a normal person?"


    Wang Chengshuo also nodded in agreement: "Have you been reading too many romance novelstely?"


    But Lu Jing acted as if he hadn''t heard what they said, pondering whether he had missed anything, then suddenly added: "Ah, one more crucial point. His voice should be husky when he speaks."


    Wang Chengshuo: "..."


    Liu Yiheng: "..."


    In the midst of the silence, Lin Sen, who had been quiet since Lu Jing started his description, gestured with his chin:


    "There, your unattainable flower."


    "I didn''t really notice if his voice was hoarse or not, but his personality is indeed quite aloof and cold," Lu Jing said.


    She looked up to see a group of tall boys walking past the transparent disy window outside the shop.


    The wind chime tinkled softly as the door to the dessert shop opened. A few boys from ss 1 walked in,ughing and chatting. The one standing in the middle had little expression on his face, but was somewhat handsome.

 Chapter 10

    Li Maozhen squeezed in at the front counter to order milk tea, while Su Qiyan and the others stood behind.


    With his expressionless face and unapproachable aura, he somewhat matched the image of those words Lu Jing had just mentioned.


    Lu Jing thought the guy looked familiar, like someone he''d yed sports with in PE ss before. He asked Lin Sen, "First year?"


    Lin Sen nodded, "Yeah, same ss as me."


    Lu Jing had been inquiring about second and third years before, so this was unexpected: "Didn''t the first years just start school? They''ve already chosen a campus heartthrob?"


    Lin Sen shrugged, "The spring semester started half a year ago. The upperssmen girls voted."


    Lu Jing nodded thoughtfully, then suddenly blurted out while looking towards the entrance: "Why is the sunlight nted at noon?"


    "Huh? What?"


    Everyone''s attention was drawn by Lu Jing''s abrupt change of subject.


    "Damn, it really is."


    "This has got to be one of the world''s top ten mysteries."


    The academically inclined students eagerly rushed to the entrance to study the principles of light and shadow, while ckers like Liu Yiheng took out their phones to snap photos of the long, nted shadows on the ground for posterity.


    Sunlight poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bathing Su Qiyan in a golden glow. Even his hair seemed to have gilded edges, with a halo of light shimmering around him.


    Lu Jing stared at the luminous Su Qiyan, as if trying to process the ridiculous scene before him, then looked away with a shortugh.


    This had to be a joke.


    Talk about a protagonist''s aura.


    Su Qiyan and his group finished ordering milk tea and sat down at a table not far from Lu Jing.


    Lin Sen and Wang Chengshuo returned from the entrance first. When Li Maozhen saw Lin Sen, he raised his hand in greeting.


    Lin Sen had been joking around with others a second ago, but now sitting next to Lu Jing, he whispered conspiratorially: "Is the guy sitting across from Li Maozhen the precious campus heartthrob you''re looking for?"


    Lu Jing took an unhurried sip of his iced coffee and nodded, "Mm-hmm."


    Wang Chengshuo asked curiously, "Why are you looking for him?"


    Lu Jing trotted out the same excuse he''d given the senior yesterday: "I want to y ball with the campus heartthrob."


    Lin Sen and Wang Chengshuo: "???"


    Lu Jingpletely ignored their stunned expressions and asked, "What was the heartthrob''s name again?"


    He seemed to have heard people call him a few times before, but couldn''t recall the specifics at the moment.


    Lin Sen said, "Su Qiyan."


    "Oh? Is he the genius who already self-studied all the high school material over break?"


    "That''s right."


    "He doesn''t seem as impressive as my deskmate who knows Lagrange whatever."


    Lin Sen: "...Even if you''ve developed a sense of ss pride in your new ss, you don''t need to praise one person by putting down another."


    Lu Jing: "No, I''m just shocked that my deskmate''s halo is even more impressive than Su Qiyan''s."


    "Ah, speak of the devil, your deskmate is here."


    Lin Sen pointed to a spot outside.


    He had a vivid impression because he''d passed by the person earlier when he went to ss 2 to deliver books to Lu Jing.


    They saw Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui bump into Liu Yiheng, who was taking photos at the entrance. The three exchanged a few words before walking in together.


    Liu Yiheng waved at Wen Shuangmu first, then parted ways to head to his own table.


    Ji Jiahui wasn''t familiar with Liu Yiheng, but seeing her ssmates Wang Chengshuo and Lu Jing, she said softly to Wen Shuangmu, "Some of the boys from our ss are here too."


    Wen Shuangmu gave a light "Mm," but didn''t pay much attention to that. Her gaze swept around searching until she spotted Su Qiyan. Her expression brightened, and she went to sit beside him.


    Li Maozhen said, "Why are you sote? We ordered you Zhizhi Green Beauty and Matcha Grape. See if there are any other desserts you want, I''ll go buy more."


    "Thanks, we don''t need anything else," Ji Jiahui was the first to take the Matcha Grape.


    However, Wen Shuangmu pushed the other cup towards Ji Jiahui, saying, "Let''s swap."


    "?" Ji Jiahui said, "Don''t you like Zhizhi Green Beauty vor the most?"


    Wen Shuangmu replied, "Not anymore."


    Ji Jiahui: "But I..."


    Wu Xiaoqi reassured her: "Host, is this really necessary? You liking Zhizhi Green Beauty doesn''t conflict with it being the novel''s name. If you want to drink it, just drink it."


    Wen Shuangmu: "My favorite milk tea is named after a love story between the boy I like and another girl. You want me to drink it? Don''t you think that''s as cruel as Pan Jinlian feeding poison to Wu Dng?"


    Wu Xiaoqi was impressed by this analogy: "Alright, whatever you say."


    Li Maozhen clearly saw that Ji Jiahui didn''t want to swap with Wen Shuangmu and was about to intervene, but Su Qiyan had already switched his untouched drink with Wen Shuangmu''s: "Here, drink this."


    Wen Shuangmu instinctively turned to look at Su Qiyan.


    Su Qiyan was staring at a post-impressionist illustration on the wall, as if he had simply done something trivial to avoid listening to the two girls'' awkward back-and-forth.


    Su Qiyan''s fingertips were still on the cup rim. Wen Shuangmu watched as he lifted the cup and took a sip of the milk foam, furrowing his brow slightly as if it was too salty and creamy for his taste.


    In the past, Wen Shuangmu would have desperately wished for Su Qiyan to like all the vors she liked. Now, she hoped he would nevere to enjoy this particr milk tea vor.


    Meanwhile, Liu Yiheng sat back down at his seat, stillining: "That''s so messed up. It turns out the constructionpany next door just moved some full-length mirrors there. If Wen Shuangmu hadn''t told me, I wouldn''t have noticed at all."


    Lin Sen patted his shoulder: "You''re hopeless. Chengshuo and I figured it out as soon as we went outside."


    Lu Jing didn''t join their conversation, his gaze still lingering on Su Qiyan''s table.


    The boy thoughtfully swapped drinks with the girl, who looked back at him with admiring eyes.


    Such a romantic scene, and yet the system verified the male lead as sessful and the female lead as failed.


    It was absurd.


    Lu Jing felt utterly bewildered and asked hispanions, "Which girl in our ss do you think is the prett..."


    The word "prettiest" hovered on Lu Jing''s lips, but he swallowed it back, not using the phrasing from the synopsis. He changed his question: "Which girl in our ss do you think is rtively attractive?"


    Wang Chengshuo seemed surprised to hear Lu Jing discussing girls'' appearances, but considering his strange behavior these past few days, the question didn''t seem so odd after all. He thought for a moment and answered, "Wen Shuangmu, I guess."


    Lu Jing waved his hand dismissively without a second thought: "Besides her."


    Lin Sen said, "Why exclude her? Isn''t she quite pretty?"


    Liu Yiheng, however, was full of enthusiasm for this topic: "I think Xia Zhili in your ss is super good-looking."


    Lu Jing paused for two seconds, then nodded in sudden realization, patting Liu Yiheng''s shoulder: "I think so too."


    Lin Sen asked curiously: "Xia Zhili? The one who got first ce in the cement test? What does she look like? Do you have a photo? I don''t think I''ve ever seen her."


    Liu Yiheng''s mouth opened like a loudspeaker, excitedly chattering away.


    Lu Jing no longermented, leaning back against the sofa with an air of aplishment, shaking off the fatigue from being punished to stand earlier that morning.


    The boys were so engrossed in their conversation that theypletely failed to notice a girl lingering a bit longer behind them at the bookshelf, looking for magazines.


    The girl said nothing when she overheard their discussion.


    However, this is how rumors typically start. By the time a simr conversation reached Wen Shuangmu''s ears after being passed along, it hadpletely changed shape¡ª


    "Lu Jing wasparing your looks with Xia Zhili''s to some other guys. He said Xia Zhili is pretty, but you''re not."


    Ji Jiahui had barely finished speaking when Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo walked in through the ssroom''s back door,ughing and joking.


    There''s nothing more awkward than running into the subject of your gossip.


    Ji Jiahui rubbed her nose and said "I''m heading out" to Wen Shuangmu before returning to her seat at the front.


    Wen Shuangmu leaned back in her chair, watching as Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo sat down in front of and behind her neighbor.


    The two acted as if nothing was amiss, still chatting happily.


    Wen Shuangmu''s face betrayed no emotion, but she made a bit more noise taking things out, flexing her finger joints before finally pulling out her math homework from the drawer and starting to work on it.


    Wang Chengshuo casually fanned himself with a notebook, and once Wen Shuangmu''s gaze was averted, he nudged Lu Jing''s arm and whispered, "Did your deskmate just give you a cold smirk?"


    "Nonsense, I didn''t do anything."


    As Lu Jing said this, he nced at Wen Shuangmu and told Wang Chengshuo, "She clearly found you more amusing."


    Wang Chengshuo: "...What does this have to do with me?"


    Xia Zhili walked into the ssroom carrying selfpiled Chinesenguage practice sheets. She was the Chinese teacher''s hand-picked ss representative, skipping the self-nomination process entirely.


    Xia Zhili counted out the practice sheets in stacks of six and ced them on the first desk of each row, then went to the podium to erase the ckboard as part of her ss duties.


    Wang Chengshuo and Lu Jing, along with the few students in front of them, hadn''t returned, leaving the practice sheets untouched on the first desk.


    Wang Chengshuo picked up Lu Jing''s water bottle and his own, saying, "I''ll go refill our water. You go to the front and pass back the homework."


    Lu Jing was reluctant to move, but after a pat on the back from Wang Chengshuo, he sluggishly got up and shuffled forward.


    Xia Zhili was petite, and the dense writing from thest morning ss covered the entire ckboard. Even on tiptoes, she struggled to reach the top portion.


    Lu Jing had initially grabbed the stack of practice sheets intending to head back, but after watching her hop up and down for a couple of seconds, he couldn''t resist. He stepped forward, took the eraser from Xia Zhili, and said, "Let me do it."


    At her desk, Wen Shuangmu had finished two problems but was still feeling irritated.


    She mmed her ck pen on the desk and called out, "Alright, Wu Xiaoqi, bind me to Lu Jing."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "That''s rather hasty, isn''t it?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "What else? Did you expect me to purify myself with incense first?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...No, I just thought you''d want to observe carefully for at least a week or two."


    Wen Shuangmu: "He thinks Xia Zhili is pretty, right? I''ll help him pursue her."


    As the task progressed, Wu Xiaoqi was naturally pleased but still had to confirm ording to protocol.


    An 8x scope scanning system appeared before Wen Shuangmu''s eyes. The lens focused and zoomed in on Lu Jing, and as the program ran, Lu Jing''s identity information floated in an info box. Then, a blue selection box popped up.


    [After binding Lu Jing as the nurturing target, it cannot be changed. Are you sure Lu Jing is your final choice? A. Yes B. No]


    When the 8x scope scanned Lu Jing, Wen Shuangmu noticed he had gone to the podium.


    Xia Zhili stood beside him, her face red as she thanked him. Lu Jing, seemingly unconcerned, continued erasing the ckboard, exuding a youthful energy.


    Wen Shuangmu stared at Xia Zhili''s reddened ear, then slowly shifted her gaze to Lu Jing.


    "What could better indicate her fondness for this boy than Xia Zhili''s blushing face?"


    Wen Shuangmu clicked A.


    A half-gray, half-bright golden cartoon bird appeared before Wen Shuangmu''s eyes.


    Wen Shuangmu asked, "What''s this?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "It''s an egret, the system''s automatically generated viin value illumination badge for Lu Jing. Cute, isn''t it?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "...Are there golden egrets?"


    "Doesn''t the host know that white egrets look like they''re wearing golden cloaks in sunlight?"


    Wen Shuangmu reluctantly connected the golden egret to Lu Jing''s name: "You''re quite generous with him."


    "Handsome guys are a rare species, of course we have to treat them with care."


    Wu Xiaoqi chuckled, then suddenly fell silent after seeing something: "Damn."


    Wen Shuangmu was surprised to hear the system swear: "What''s wrong?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Lu Jing''s viin value is at 40%."


    Wen Shuangmu looked closely and noticed a very small progress bar under the icon.


    As Wu Xiaoqi said, the value was nearly half.


    Wu Xiaoqi was still in disbelief: "Although I''ve encountered situations where binding targets had initial values before, the highest was only 20%. For Lu Jing to start at 40% and light up half the icon right away, I think we can call him a quasi-male lead."


    Wen Shuangmu: "Hm? But didn''t you say earlier that Lu Jing''s role in the book was about the same as Teacher Zhou Quan''s?"


    Wu Xiaoqi sighed: "That''s why I say the host''s luck is extraordinary, to pick out such a gem among the background characters."


    Wen Shuangmu suppressed her joy and asked modestly, "Is 40% very high?"


    "Of course it is. This means that from the start, Lu Jing either harbors strongpetitive hostility towards Su Qiyan, or he has overwhelming love for Xia Zhili. Either way, it brings great convenience to the host in nurturing him." Wu Xiaoqi praised, "The host is indeed the most outstanding I''ve ever guided."

 Chapter 11

    Lu Jing finished wiping the ckboard and came down, noticing that the Chinese homework being passed along the neighboring row had stalled at the third desk. He casually helped pass it along.


    Wen Shuangmu glimpsed a practice sheet falling on the corner of her desk. Her gaze followed the slender, well-proportioned finger bones upward, but before their eyes could meet, the owner of those fingers had already ced the sheet on her desk and naturally walked away.


    Lu Jing returned to his seat, pulled out a tissue from his drawer to wipe the chalk dust off his nails, and after a moment, pressed his wrist on Wang Chengshuo''s shoulder, shaking it: "Do you have any wet wipes? Give me one."


    "I don''t. Ask someone else," Wang Chengshuo replied.


    Wu Xiaoqi said: "Host, quick, it''s your time to shine."


    Wen Shuangmu''s wet wipe box was right next to her pencil case, but when Lu Jing turned his head to look at her, she nonchntly lowered her head, pretending to do her homework.


    Wu Xiaoqi was exasperated: "What are you doing?"


    Wen Shuangmu said: "He said I''m not as pretty as Xia Zhili."


    Wu Xiaoqi had a headache: "You two are one entity now. If you don''t quickly build a good rtionship with him, how are you going to work together on big thingster?"


    Wen Shuangmu looked indifferent: "I''m not in a hurry. After all, his viin value is already at 40%."


    Lu Jing silently stared at Wen Shuangmu''s unrecognizable profile for two seconds, just about to stand up and go to the washroom when Wen Shuangmu''s hand extended from across the aisle.


    She held up the wet wipe box and asked him: "Want one?"


    Her expression was still a bit cocky.


    Lu Jing''s expression was subtle. He stood there for a moment before pulling out a sheet: "Thanks."


    Wang Chengshuo walked to Wen Shuangmu''s seat with an advanced mathematics textbook and a draft notebook: "Um, Wen Shuangmu, I''ve also self-studied the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem part, but I don''t quite understand the answer to this example problem. Could you help me take a look?"


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t the type of top student who freely shared knowledge with ssmates, but seeing Lu Jing''s gaze directed at them from the side, she somehow changed the refusal on the tip of her tongue and said generously: "Sure."


    Wen Shuangmu took the book and scanned the question up and down, quickly organizing her thoughts: "For this kind of double intermediate value problem, you need to use the Lagrange Mean Value Theorem twice. First, separate the ??? xx in the original equation..."


    Lu Jing listened to them talking about mathematical symbols he had never heard of, and couldn''t help but lean over to observe for a while.


    Glimpsing thepletely advanced steps, he froze entirely. Seeing that Wang Chengshuo didn''t understand and Wen Shuangmu was about to exin again, Lu Jing patted Wang Chengshuo''s shoulder and said: "Stop ''pulling'', if you keep ''pulling'' like this, the whole ss is going to get caught up in it."


    Wen Shuangmu paused, looking up at Lu Jing: "Caught up?"


    Lu Jing: "It refers to some meaningless pursuit of perfection."


    Wang Chengshuo elbowed Lu Jing, who then reluctantly added: "I don''t mean that your current studying is meaningless, just that it''s good enough to solve high school problems with high school knowledge. After all... consider the mentality of the majority of ordinary students."


    Wang Chengshuo, afraid that Wen Shuangmu would get angry, tried to help smooth things over: "He''s a poor student, don''t mind him."


    Wen Shuangmu smiled: "It''s fine. I just think Lu''s existence itself is quite intense."


    It''s worth noting that the term "involution" was still confined to academic literature at this time, and would only be popr on the inte in a few years. The fact that Lu Jing could casually mention it showed that he did quite a bit of reading in private.


    If Xia Zhili were here, she would surely feel a kindred spirit with him.


    However, Lu Jing interpreted Wen Shuangmu''s words as having a deeper meaning.


    He tilted his head towards Wang Chengshuo and whispered: "What does she mean? Is she trying to say my existence is meaningless?"


    Wang Chengshuoforted him: "She''s probablyplimenting you for always striving for perfection."


    Lu Jing was puzzled: "Is that so?"


    He looked back at Wen Shuangmu, his attitude softening a bit for the sake of "striving for perfection": "We''re ssmates, no need to be so formal. Just call me Lu Jing."


    Wen Shuangmu exined the problem to Wang Chengshuo again, then saw them off. She felt a bit regretful that Lu Jing''s future CP''s seat was too far away, otherwise, the two might have had a memorable interactive exchange on the topic of "involution".


    However, looking around, Wen Shuangmu realized that Xia Zhili had disappeared after cleaning the ckboard.


    She asked Wu Xiaoqi: "Where''s Xia Zhili?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "This system does not have human tracking and scanning positioning capabilities."


    Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue lightly, then thought of something: "What about the reward for the math ss guessing game? Haven''t you given it to me yet? I want to unlock all those censored parts in the original novel!"


    It''s no wonder Wen Shuangmu was so suspicious. After careful observation for several days, she noticed that apart from Su Qiyan''sment about caring for Xia Zhili in the cafeteria, the two had no extra interactions. The less there was between them, the more it suggested that something was happening where she couldn''t see. Now, whenever Wen Shuangmu saw Xia Zhili leaving her field of vision, she worried that she might be secretly meeting with Su Qiyan.


    Wu Xiaoqi''s program ran: "System rewards are distributed exclusively by the headquarters mall. Currently, the only feature avable for the host is the ability to peek at the novel''sment section."


    Wen Shuangmu: "Huh?"


    Wu Xiaoqi repeated: "System rewards are distributed exclusively by the headquarters mall. Currently, the only feature avable for the host is the ability to peek at the novel''sment section."


    Wen Shuangmu: "I''m not deaf, but what use is it to me to see thosements?"


    Wu Xiaoqi was nonchnt: "It has many uses. The host can learn about the male and female leads'' attractive points and emotional progress through readerments, and then make targeted ns for the next step."


    Wen Shuangmu''s opinion of this reward being useless didn''t decrease much due to Wu Xiaoqi''s words, but thinking it was better than nothing, she urged: "Fine, let me see it then."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Friendly reminder, this feature only unlocks thement section content for the current plot chapter. Currently, the host has permission to view thements for the first and second chapters. Please look at the big screen."


    [Finally found a novel where the female lead isn''t a soft girl.]


    [555 I want to cuddle with a beautiful girl too, congrattions to the author for starting the novel, throwing flowers throwing flowers throwing flowers.]


    [Su Qiyan forever, friends, I''m here for a second read.]


    [May I ask if it''s a mutual first love and both are virgins? I saw a warning in the synopsis, the male lead has a clingy childhood friend, he didn''t like her, right?]


    [Don''t worry, the childhood friend is clinging one-sidedly, Su God only has Zhizhi in his heart.]


    [To be honest, if you remove Wen''s scenes, Zhizhi and L¨¹yan would be my ideal school story OP1.]


    Wu Xiaoqi regretted not filtering thement section beforehand: "Ahem, actually, from another perspective, the sincere little readers are quite cute. They''re also praising how deeply ingrained the host''s image is."


    Wen Shuangmuughed: "Did I say anything? Why, are you worried I''ll reach through the inte and hit someone?"


    Wu Xiaoqi was surprised: "Oh? The host isn''t angry?"


    "Can anger be eaten as food? Even if I''m angry, Su Qiyan is about to be stolen away," Wen Shuangmu said, "Continue scrolling down for me."


    Wu Xiaoqi was pleased with the host''s growth and immediatelyplied.


    [Ahhhhh why is the second male lead also a bit shippable?]


    [Report to Su God, someone''s stealing home, one hundred-meter sprint and they''ll snatch our Zhizhi away, run!]


    Wen Shuangmu frowned: "Why didn''t you tell me earlier that there was a second male lead character? Toplete the viin mission, I could have just gone to find the second male lead, why bind me to Lu Jing?"


    Wu Xiaoqi calmly said: "Host, please continue reading."


    [I really like boys like Yu-ge who have a bit of a bad boy vibe, wuwuwu (Su God, I''m just climbing over the wall for a moment).]


    [Third read during the holiday! I''m okay with both the genius male lead and the school bully second male lead!!!]


    [They''re both supporting characters, but how is the second female lead Wen Shuangmu so different from the second male lead Yu-ge?]


    [Agreed with the above, I hope Jinjiang cane up with a novel character blocking function someday. Wouldn''t it be nice to just read the sweet love triangle between Zhizhi, Su God, and Yu-ge?]


    [Wuwuwu really, Yu-ge has always been silently devoted, giving all his favoritism and affection to Zhizhi without asking for anything in return. This kind of character setting really touches me.]


    When Wen Shuangmu read this part, she let out a coldugh, "Ha," realizing he was the type who didn''t ask for anything in return: "Trash."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    There were hardly any information points in theterments. Wen Shuangmu carefully pondered: "A school bully, with ''Yu'' in his name... Are you sure our school has such a person? The head teacher would probably eliminate him on the spot if they saw him."


    Wu Xiaoqi prompted: "I can only say that the host''s current line of thinking isn''t wrong. You can continue to think in this direction."


    Wen Shuangmu let out a light "Ah": "Could it be the school bully from the neighboring No. 11 High School?"


    Wu Xiaoqi praised: "Not bad."


    Wen Shuangmu got up and ran out of the ssroom.


    Wu Xiaoqi was confused: "Where is the host going?"


    Wen Shuangmu said: "To catch them in the act, of course. I''ll take photos as evidence to throw in Su Qiyan''s faceter. It''ll be irrefutable proof."


    Wu Xiaoqi admired: "...Does the host know where Xia Zhili and the male lead are right now?"


    Wen Shuangmu replied without hesitation: "No idea."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu said: "But we can look for them, can''t we?"


    Wen Shuangmu exited through Mingli''s main gate and immediately spotted the "Ruihai No. 13 Middle School" sign carved in marble on the opposite side of the main street.


    The electric sliding gate was half-open, with studentsing and going. Some had dyed hair, others wore earrings. It was bustling with activity. Those wearing school uniforms were few and far between. asionally, an electric scooter carrying three to five people would zoom past, breaking regtions, while the security guard dozed off, resting his chin on his palm, not bothering to intervene.


    Wu Xiaoqi noticed Wen Shuangmu standing still: "What is the host looking at?"


    "Looking at a beautiful girl."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t lying. She crossed the pedestrian crossing and walked towards therge banyan tree at the entrance of No. 13 Middle School.


    Under the tree stood a girl with exquisite makeup. The clumsy sports uniform of No. 13 Middle School was tied around her waist, not looking out of ce at all. From a distance, she looked like a painting.


    Unfortunately, the girl seemed nervous, fidgeting with her hands. Her shoulders and neck were tense, and her eyes kept darting towards a nearby alley.


    Wen Shuangmu approached her, casually trying her luck: "Excuse me, do you know Zhou Yu?"


    The girl turned to look, a hint of wariness shing in her eyes: "What do you want with Zhou Yu?"


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t expect to hit the mark so easily and was immediately delighted.


    This little one''s quite famous.


    "I''m Zhou Yu''s neighbor. His mom asked me to pass him a message, but I can''t reach him on his phone. I was wondering if you know where he is now?"


    The girl hesitated for a moment, then pointed her index finger towards the nearby alley: "He''s meeting someone there to talk. I suggest you goter."


    Wen Shuangmu noticed the girl''s expression suddenly turning gloomy: "Is he dating someone?"


    The girl didn''t catch the rising intonation in her question and lowered her eyes, saying: "So he told you... It''s only been two days since school started, and he''s already fallen for a new first-year student in the school..."


    Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue, thinking that the male lead''s rtionship lines were quite messy.


    When she looked towards the alley entrance again, Xia Zhili had appeared out of nowhere, holding up her phone with her chin slightly raised, speaking coldly to someone inside.


    Wen Shuangmu had no time to think further. She hurriedly bid farewell to the girl and ran towards the alley.


    She didn''t know what Xia Zhili had said to the person inside, but by the time Wen Shuangmu arrived, a motorcycle was driving out of the alley.


    The boy''s ck hair was wildly disheveled in the wind, his slightly narrow eyes lookedzy yet exuded a hint of rakish elegance, and his silver earring gleamed brightly in the sunlight.


    As the motorcycle passed by Xia Zhili,


    Wen Shuangmu heard Zhou Yu say to Xia Zhili over the roaring engine:


    "Kid, being nosy isn''t a good habit."


    Damn.


    Wen Shuangmu urgently pressed her philtrum.


    She almost fainted on the spot.


    Xia Zhili was stunned and surprised to see Wen Shuangmu there. She quickly went to support her: "What''s wrong? Are you okay?"


    Wen Shuangmu waved her hand: "I''m fine."


    She just nearly got swept off her feet by that smooth operator.

 Chapter 12

    Wen Shuangmu barely managed to stand steady, watching as the motorcycle drove away and stopped under the big banyan tree at the entrance of No. 13 High School.


    After Zhou Yu picked up that pretty girl, he drove into the school grounds.


    Wen Shuangmu''s ears were still in a state of being stung, and she asked Xia Zhili, "Is that guy many years older than you? Why did he call you ''kid''?"


    Xia Zhili replied awkwardly, "I don''t know either."


    Questions slowly popped out of Wen Shuangmu''s mouth one after another: "He''s a student from No. 13 High School next door, right? Is he of legal age? Does he have a driver''s license?"


    "Don''t you have to be at least eighteen to ride a motorcycle?"


    "He wasn''t wearing a helmet just now, won''t he get caught by the traffic police when he goes out?"


    Xia Zhili was stunned by Wen Shuangmu''s barrage of questions and stammered, "He''s a student. I''m not sure about the rest."


    Alright then.


    Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili walked side by side towards the school, their faces still wearing indescribable expressions.


    Wu Xiaoqi said, "Why has the host gone quiet?"


    Wen Shuangmu replied, "I''m still processing."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Processing what? Do you think Xia Zhili is too popr?"


    "No," Wen Shuangmu quickly rified her stance, "I wouldn''t want Zhou Yu even if he was given to me for free."


    Wu Xiaoqi found it strange: "Why not? Zhou Yu is a popr supporting male character in the novel, youthful and rebellious, full of boyish charm. Apart from being a bit of a yboy, he''s wless in other aspects."


    "I think you might have some misunderstanding about the term ''boyish charm''," Wen Shuangmu said. "He''s a high school student, at most three years older than Xia Zhili. Have you ever seen a young man call a girl of almost the same age ''kid''?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "What''s strange about the word ''kid''? In romance novels, male leads not only use ''kid'', but they also like to call the female lead ''little one''. I think it''s all fine. Has the host not read enough novels?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "...Yes, I guess I haven''t read enough."


    It took Wen Shuangmu a long time to recover. Seeing Xia Zhili constantly replying to text messages on her phone, she asked, "How did you get to know that motorcycle guy?"


    Xia Zhili thought for a moment and said, "A friend of mine studies at No. 13 High School. She said there''s a senior who, just two days into the new semester, started harassing her by sending ssmates to give her snacks and milk tea, and even asked her to meet in an alley outside the school to confess. My friend was scared, so she asked me toe and help her reject him."


    Wen Shuangmu nodded.


    It was quite a standard Mary Sue plot.


    Confessing to the female lead''s friend, but ending up being attracted by the female lead''s looks and falling in love with her instead.


    Thinking of the clich¨¦d twists in TV dramas, Wen Shuangmu said, "This kind of friend will probably turn evilter on."


    Xia Zhili had just finished reporting thest message to her friend and didn''t hear clearly, "Huh? What?"


    Wen Shuangmu felt no obligation to repeat herself and changed the subject, "Nothing."


    "Oh." Xia Zhili nodded, and after a while, she took the initiative to ask, "What about you? How did you happen to pass by there?"


    Xia Zhili remembered that when she left the ssroom, Wen Shuangmu was still sitting at her desk exining questions to other ssmates.


    Wen Shuangmu replied with a straight face, "Just passing by."


    The atmosphere cooled, and the two didn''t speak anymore.


    Walking into the teaching building, the corridor was quiet, with the sound of teachers lecturinging from the ssrooms along the way, indicating that the preparatory bell had long since rung.


    "Oh no, we''rete."


    Xia Zhili grabbed Wen Shuangmu''s wrist and started running towards the third floor.


    Wen Shuangmu was instantly startled, "Why are you grabbing my hand!"


    Xia Zhili was also taken aback by her intense reaction, "ss has already started, we''ll be toote if we don''t hurry."


    "That may be true, but..."


    Why do you have to get physical?


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t have time to finish the second half of her sentence before she heard the voice of the head teachering from the skybridge.


    "You two students over there, what''s going on? Why are you still wandering in the corridor when ss has started?"


    Wen Shuangmu watched helplessly as they both emerged from the stairwell with ss 2''s ssroom right in front of them. However, Xia Zhili, not knowing how to adapt, transformed into a rule-abiding good student, came to a sudden stop, and obediently looked at the head teacher, lowering her head to apologize, "Sorry, teacher, we came backte due to some business."


    "Which ss are you from?" The head teacher frowned as he approached. "You, the girl on the side, turn around. What are you doing, trying to sneak away right in front of me?"


    Wen Shuangmu very reluctantly turned to stand shoulder to shoulder with Xia Zhili: "No, teacher, we weren''t."


    Xia Zhili exined the reason for their tardiness, of course not mentioning that she had gone out to reject a confession on behalf of her friend from another school. She only said that they had miscalcted their time during the lunch break.


    When the head teacher heard they were students from ss 2, his expression softened considerably: "Even new students need to have discipline, especially you two from the top ss. Stand here as punishment for fifteen minutes. I''ll inform your subject teacher."


    As Wen Shuangmu watched the head teacher walk away, she said, "You could have just said our homeroom teacher called us to the office for something."


    Xia Zhili seemed to realize this option only now: "Oh, right."


    Wen Shuangmu saw Xia Zhili smile, revealing two deep dimples, and silently looked away.


    Wen Shuangmu called out to Wu Xiaoqi and said, "...Didn''t readers say Xia Zhili wasn''t a soft girl?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "A thousand readers, a thousand Hamlets."


    Wen Shuangmu: "...That''s quite a stretch for ''Hamlet''."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "It''s about character contrast. The unexpected smile of an ice beauty is the most captivating."


    The location where Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili were punished to stand was quite awkward.


    Just out of the stairwell¡ª


    Directly facing the main door of the spring semester ss.


    Originally, during summer, all sses would close their doors and windows and turn on the air conditioning. However, this particr math ss taught by Zhou Quan had a habit of opening doors and windows for venttion, as part of his middle-aged health regimen. As a result, the scene of the two being punished was ignominiously nailed to the pir of shame.


    Even Zhou Quan couldn''t resisting out to tease the two a bit while the other students were doing example problems.


    "Qi-ge, Shuang-jie is being punished to stand outside," Li Maozhen was the first to discover Wen Shuangmu standing outside and transmitted the message to Su Qiyan.


    Su Qiyan raised his eyes and nced outside.


    Two girls stood side by side, one with a copsed expression, seemingly devoid of life, while the other wore a soft smile, her eyes curved like crescent moons.


    A warm breeze gently blew, lifting the girls'' hair tips and skirt hems. The air inside and outside the ssroom was permeated with the fragrance of jasmine from outside the building.


    The girl''s smile faded rather quickly.


    Su Qiyan focused on a small, floating circle of light under the sky, his fingertips imperceptibly rubbing against the pen shaft.


    In front, Lin Sen burst outughing: "Wen Shuangmu''s expression is so funny."


    The boy sitting next to him whispered, "Isn''t she the Wen Shuangmu who''s already started self-studying advanced mathematics? Then who''s the one next to her, also from ss 2?"


    Li Maozhen, sitting behind, teased, "You don''t know this one, do you? The first ce in ss 2''s cement test, Xia Zhili."


    The boy was surprised: "The girls in their ss are impressive, good grades and good looks."


    The boys and girls at the surrounding desks couldn''t help but join in: "What? What? Which one is Xia Zhili, the one on the left?"


    "What kind of eyesight do you have? It''s the one on the right."


    "Li Maozhen told me yesterday that Xia Zhili from ss 2 is very beautiful, but aren''t they both pretty? I thought it was the one on the left."


    "..."


    Everyone was chattering, but they were soon silenced by Zhou Quan, who had returned to the ssroom and pped his desk.


    When Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili returned to their ssroom, the English teacher was having everyone prepare for group dialogues. Seeing the two enter, and because they had both scored near-perfect high scores on the cement test, they had a good student halo, so the teacher didn''t say much and just told them to return to their seats.


    There were forty-one people in the ss, and with pairs being formed, there was bound to be one person left out.


    Wen Shuangmu had calcted a thousand times but never thought that the odd one out would be herself.


    Lu Jing, as the one squeezed into the ss through the back door, was quite self-aware. After practicing a scene dialogue with Wang Chengshuo, he lightly nodded and suggested, "Shall we add her to our group?"


    "Sure," Wang Chengshuo agreed readily, naturally having a good impression of Wen Shuangmu due to her knowledge of Lagrange''s theorem.


    Wen Shuangmu moved a chair to sit next to Lu Jing''s desk.


    Lu Jing saw her flipping through the book, not yet finding the content on the projector, so he helped her turn the oral practice booklet forward a page: "It''s on the third page."


    Wen Shuangmu looked up at him, lightly "hmm"-ed, and then dropped her gaze back to the book.


    Because there was an extra person, they couldn''t follow the "A, B" characters in the book for dialogue, so the three of them improvised based on the given phrases.


    Lu Jing''s English pronunciation was neither American nor British; it was immediately clear that he was a homegrown child raised in his mothend''s embrace.


    After Lu Jing finished his part of the content, he noticed Wen Shuangmu didn''t continue and asked her, "What''s wrong?"


    Wen Shuangmu said, "Your spoken English is so good."


    Lu Jing was ttered and surprised, "Really? It''s not bad, I guess. Thank you."


    Wen Shuangmu continued with the English mock dialogue from earlier.


    During her university years, she had spent a year preparing for IELTS and TOEFL. At that time, she had turned down the school''s offer for postgraduate rmendation, nning to study abroad. Butter, Su Qiyan chose to pursue a Ph.D. in China without even meeting her, which resulted in her not going abroad and having to prepare for the postgraduate entrance exam English test again.


    Listening to Wen Shuangmu''s British English, as fluent and standard as the female voice in listening tests, Lu Jing leaned towards Wang Chengshuo and whispered, "I think she was just subtly mocking me."


    Wang Chengshuo looked at him sympathetically, "You just realized that?"


    Lu Jing: "..."


    After the dialogue simtion ended, Wen Shuangmu sat back in her seat and listened as the teacher called on other groups to present. Finally, she came to a conclusion:


    Well, the spoken English level of ss 2 students was really quite good overall.


    Wen Shuangmu couldn''t help butin to Wu Xiaoqi, "How can Lu Jing''s spoken English be so terrible? Su Qiyan''s English is so good, how are these two going topete?"


    As Lu Jing was a minor character in the original story, Wu Xiaoqi didn''t have much relevant information and could only offer a guess: "In most novels, even if the male protagonist isn''t good at other subjects, he can always speak very pure English. Maybe Lu Jing is just taking the road less traveled - he''s good at everything except spoken English."


    Wen Shuangmu reluctantly epted this exnation, "Fine, anyway, the college entrance exam doesn''t test spoken English."


    After school in the afternoon.


    As usual, Wen Shuangmu shouldered her backpack and waited at the ssroom door for Su Qiyan and Li Maozhen to go home together.


    Seeing Liu Yihenging up with a ball again, she teased, "You''ve beening to the third floor quite oftentely."


    Liu Yiheng rubbed his nose and smiled, "Justing to hang out with my buddy."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t expose him. Thinking of Lu Jing''s 40% viin value and the possibility of the two brothers bing enemies in the future, she felt a wave of pity.


    Something urred to her, and she pulled Liu Yiheng to a corner, "Give me the inside scoop, how capable is Lu Jing really?"


    Liu Yiheng cooperatively lowered his head to whisper, "What kind of capability are you referring to?"


    "I mean his academic performance."


    "Then you have no idea how strong Jing-bro is at studying."


    Liu Yiheng''s tone suddenly raised a notch, sounding just like a girl gossiping.


    Looking around to make sure no one was nearby, Liu Yiheng put on a secretive air and told her, "Sister Shuang, you''re a top student, so you should understand without me exining too much. Top students control their scores, but academic gods control their rankings. Jing-bro previously worked so hard to get to 41st ce just to study with us in the regr ss. But he was just that little bit short, identally tying with the 40th ce student, which is why he ended up in your ss 2. Can you imagine how amazing he is?"


    Wen Shuangmu was shocked, "Is he really that strong?"


    Liu Yiheng nodded with certainty, "Yep."


    When Lu Jing walked out of the ssroom, he saw Wen Shuangmu looking at him with a strange expression, turning her head back three times as she walked towards the stairwell with Su Qiyan from ss 1.


    Lu Jing tapped Liu Yiheng on the back with his hand and asked, "What did you just tell her?"


    Liu Yiheng spoke with a tone as if telling a horror story, "You don''t know how dangerous it was just now. Wen Shuangmu seemed to have discovered that you''re actually a cker in ss 2. Thanks to my quick wit, I saved the situation. From now on, even if you perform poorly, Wen Shuangmu will just think you''re doing it on purpose to transfer to ss 7 and be with us."


    After listening to Liu Yiheng exin the whole story, Lu Jingughed and gave him a push, "What''s wrong with you?"

 Chapter 13

    Wen Shuangmu had been locking herself in her room right after meals these past few days.


    Han Chuqiu, worried that her daughter might be troubled, sent Wen Bingyi in to bring Wen Shuangmu some fruit and investigate. As soon as her son came out, she eagerly pulled him to sit on the living room sofa and asked, "Did your sister chat with you about anything? Did she mention if she''s been feeling downtely?"


    "She''s reading world ssics," Wen Bingyi dutifully reported. "She also asked me to bring her another bottle of yogurt."


    Hearing this, Han Chuqiu realized her worries were unnecessary. She got up to fetch yogurt from the fridge, handed it to Wen Bingyi, and said, "Tell your sister not to study too hard."


    At that moment, Wen Shuangmu was sitting cross-legged on her chair, hugging the "world ssic" Wen Bingyi had mentioned, her brows furrowed into a Himyan mountain as she read.


    Today, Wu Xiaoqi was unusually quiet, iming to be undergoing a system version update.


    Wen Shuangmu,cking someone to vent to, managed to find some enjoyment by focusing on the novel''s plot itself.


    About ten minutester, a voice resonated in Wen Shuangmu''s head:


    "Ding dong! System updateplete. A new tutorial checklist awaits the host''s signature!"


    Wu Xiaoqi was brimming with excitement, but Wen Shuangmu didn''t respond.


    After an awkward silence, Wu Xiaoqi couldn''t help but speak first: "What is the host reading?"


    "A quick transmigration novel," Wen Shuangmu answered distractedly, flipping to the next page. "Why do all the systems in these stories have point malls for welfare redemption, while yours is so casual without any structure?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...Didn''t I just go for an update?"


    Wen Shuangmu''s eyes lit up as she closed the book and tossed it onto the table: "Let me see."


    Wu Xiaoqi opened the mall page and exined: "The point mall requires the host to bind a cultivation target before it can be unlocked. The previous prize quiz was actually a rookie benefit I sent to the host through irregr operations."


    "Is that so? You''re so nice."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Could you be any more perfunctory?


    Wu Xiaoqi seriously continued: "From now on, Lu Jing''s viin points will be converted into usable points for the host in real-time, allowing the host to purchase corresponding function cards in the mall. Currently, the host has 40 points. 2 points can peek at the novel''sment section once, 5 points can unlock 200 words of the current plot chapter, 10 points can redeem a karate ck belt enhancement card, 20 points can redeem an ''I am a singer'' or ''I am a dancer'' card, 30 points can redeem a Qiankun Danuoyi card, and 40 points can redeem a Time Magic card... There are also some daily small props avable in the mall for 1-10 points each, with functions not listed here in detail. The host can check them out herself."


    Wen Shuangmu silently flipped through the brick-thick quick transmigration novel on the table: "5 points for only 200 words of plot, do you know how many words are in a chapter?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "The host can buy several plot unlock cards to unlock the entire chapter."


    Wen Shuangmu smiled: "I only have 40 points in total. If the original author writes filler content, do you think my points grow on trees?"


    Wu Xiaoqi consoled: "The host needn''t worry about points. System tasks are mainly divided into main tasks and side tasks. The main tasks revolve around hindering the plot development between Xia Zhili and Su Qiyan, linked to viin points. Completely breaking up Xia Zhili and Su Qiyan equals 100 viin points, considered taskpletion. Side tasks are triggered based on the plot, with the final reward points determined by the task difficulty coefficient. The host can umte points through numerous side tasks."


    Wen Shuangmu felt reassured and satisfied. She scrolled through the mall interface, finding most function card names easy to understand, but¡ª


    "What''s this Qiankun Danuoyi card for?"


    Wu Xiaoqi gave an example: "Suppose Su Qiyan is having a wet dream about Xia Zhili right now, the host can rece the object with herself."


    Wen Shuangmu: "...You''re so dirty."


    Wu Xiaoqi chuckled: "Young and frivolous, you know. It''s the same in reality. If the host wants to experience what Su Qiyan does to Xia Zhili in his copywriting, you can use the Qiankun Danuoyi card when the event urs to rece the wall-pinning object with yourself."


    Wen Shuangmu couldn''t quite imagine that scene. She coughed and changed the subject: "What about this Time Magic card? Can it traverse time at will?"


    Wu Xiaoqi exined: "The Time Magic card can be subdivided into three functional types: time eleration card, time deceleration card, and time freeze card. Each card can only be used once. Due to the high point cost, it''s advised that the host use them cautiously."


    Wen Shuangmu had more or less grasped the mall mechanism: "Give me a plot unlock card now."


    With a "ding", Wen Shuangmu''s points decreased by 5, and a plot unlock card appeared in her inventory.


    Wu Xiaoqi asked: "Does the host want to use it now?"


    Thinking of herself as a wealthy person with 40 points, Wen Shuangmu said generously: "Go ahead."


    Wu Xiaoqi loaded the file, and within seconds, a chapter filled with mosaic appeared before Wen Shuangmu''s eyes.


    Wu Xiaoqi said: "This is the third chapter of the novel corresponding to the current time node. The host can decide which part she wants to unlock."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t rush to make a decision. She flipped through two quick transmigration books on the table for reference. After careful consideration, she said: "Don''t these authors always know how to end chapters on cliffhangers? The chapter endings are usually the plot climax points, so give me thest part."


    Wu Xiaoqi precisely extracted thest 200 words:


    [The people at the booth saw Zhou Yue in alone and immediately teased:


    "What''s going on, Brother Yu? Didn''t you say you were going to bet on confessing at noon? Why isn''t the little fairy with you? Don''t tell me the great romance master suffered a crushing defeat."


    "The little fairy didn''t show up."


    Zhou Yu rubbed the back of his neck and sat down in the space the others had cleared for him.


    "Oh, this freshman little sister has quite the self-control."


    "Maybe she''s ying hard to get..."


    Zhou Yu didn''t respond. In his mind shed those bright, defiant eyes from outside the alley. With unclear emotions surging in his eyes, he chuckled softly and said in a voice only he could hear: "But I met a spicy little pepper..."]


    "!!!"


    "Help!!!"


    "Why did you show me something so spicy!"


    "Don''t tell me the author describes me like that too!"


    Wu Xiaoqi innocently replied: "This involves spoilers. The host will know when she unlocks the chapters rted to herself."


    Wen Shuangmu felt she could never look at chili peppers the same way again. She banged her head on the table twice: "Wasted my 5 points and gained a psychological shadow."


    She asked: "Does the mall sell any degreaser?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Yes, but it costs 3 points."


    "...Never mind then."


    Wen Shuangmu still felt a bit upset: "No, unlock another part for me. This time, from the middle."


    With another "ding", her points decreased by 5 again.


    Wen Shuangmu chose carefully, looking through the mosaic shadows to find a paragraph that seemed to contain a lot of information.


    [Mingli had a long history, with ne trees and ginkgo trees lining both sides of the alumni road, towering and forming dense forests.


    The cicadas chirped noisily in the summer, and the heat shimmered.


    The sprinklers on thewn turned on, water droplets scattered, reflecting dazzling thin light, adding a touch of coolness.


    Xia Zhili walked along the road under the green shade. Not far ahead was a school creative products store, crowded with students inside and out.


    ...]


    "Why is it all environmental descriptions?"


    Wen Shuangmu gave up halfway through and leaned back in her chair.


    Wu Xiaoqi said: "The essence of campus novels and even contemporary romance lies in atmosphere creation. Environmental description is the most basic and useful technique."


    "I think you''re just making excuses," Wen Shuangmu mercilessly exposed. "This game is unyable. Do whatever you want, I quit."


    Wu Xiaoqi persuaded: "Don''t give up, host."


    "With this unlocking method, we can''t get any useful information," Wen Shuangmu looked up at the ceiling. "Let''s just end it all. Hurry up and kill me, I don''t want to do this viin task anymore."


    Wu Xiaoqi, not havingpleted this year''s KPI, naturally wouldn''t let Wen Shuangmu fall: "It won''t be like that, host. When ites to crucial plot points, I''ll still give the host some small hints. If we don''t waste points on these daily chapters in the future, we''ll slowly save up, right?"


    Wen Shuangmu heard the assurance she wanted and was reluctantly satisfied, but still felt a bit sore about the 10 points she had just wasted.


    "Didn''t you say I could earn points bypleting side quests? What kind of quests?" Wen Shuangmu applied what she had just learned from the quick transmigration novel about the study god system space. "Do I need toplete some test papers, or memorize a few passages from ''Xiaoyao You'' and ''Chibi Fu''?"


    "Host is already a top student, memorizing texts would be like giving away free points."


    Wu Xiaoqi said, "Side quests can only be triggered by relevant plot events, and their appearance is quite random. Host needn''t worry, just wait patiently."


    "Fine then." Wen Shuangmu picked up the quick transmigration novel on the table and continued reading. She deliberately poked at the pages while addressing Wu Xiaoqi, "Look, other people''s systems can directly view the original plot, and every task isid out clearly. But with ours, we have to spend points to unlock, and then I''m left guessing on my own."


    "Can''t be helped," Wu Xiaoqi replied. "The purpose of our 6868 system isn''t to be a cheat code for the host''s path to happiness, but to provide minimal guidance."


    Wen Shuangmu: "6868?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "That''s right. If the host prefers cheat codes, you''d actually be more suited to the 001 system. That was our first-generation system, created with the sole principle of¡ªjust have fun. However, the new era emphasizes self-reliance, so these first-generation systems have beenpletely phased out and can only handle behind-the-scenes management tasks."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    Impressive.


    At the Lu family vi.


    Xia Yun brought a ss of juice and ced it on Lu Jing''s desk.


    Noticing the pile of new books stacked in the corner of his desk, she asked curiously:


    "Son, why haven''t you been reading works by Tiancan Tudou and Mao Nitely?"


    Lu Jing replied, "I''ve switched to a new author."


    "Oh? Which one?"


    Lu Jing flipped to the cover to confirm the pen name: "Teacher Xihe."


    "How is this author?"


    Lu Jing thought for a moment and said, "She doesn''t seem very good at writing viins."


    Yes, Xihe is me, *dog head emoji*

 Chapter 14

    Wen Shuangmu stayed up all night reading a novel, and dozed off through two morning sses. During the long break, she went downstairs to the coffee bar to buy an icedtte to revive herself.


    As she reached the second-floor staircase, her Chinese teacher Liang Jie was leaning halfway out of the office doorway, seemingly talking to someone inside. Spotting Wen Shuangmu passing by, she excitedly waved her over: "Shuangmu,e here for a moment. Help Zhili carry the Chinese resource books to the ssroom."


    Wen Shuangmu slowly swallowed her mouthful oftte and replied, "Oh,ing."


    She tucked her cup back into the takeout bag and walked towards the office.


    The resource books were a special feature designed by the Chinese teaching group, with the school campus scenery printed on the cover. The inside was clearly divided into sections, forming a thick volume used for umting argumentative essay materials from freshman to senior year.


    Xia Zhili was standing next to Liang Jie''s desk, presumably intending to carry the resource books to the ssroom by herself. She was holding a tall stack that almost obscured her vision.


    Xia Zhili must have heard Liang Jie calling Wen Shuangmu''s name, as she didn''t seem too surprised when Wen entered. She just softly apologized, "They might be a bit heavy..."


    Wen Shuangmu''s face remained expressionless as usual. She stepped forward and took most of the books from Xia Zhili''s arms, saying, "Can you manage the rest?"


    "Mm-hmm," Xia Zhili nodded.


    As they walked out together, Xia Zhili nced at Wen Shuangmu and said, "You don''t look too well."


    "Yeah, I didn''t sleep wellst night."


    However, at this moment, rather than feeling tired, Wen Shuangmu was more exasperated by the task Wu Xiaoqi had just assigned her when Liang Jie called her over.


    [Side quest triggered: Gain the teacher''s favor.]


    [Target: Chinese teacher Liang Jie.]


    [Current favor progress: 6/10]


    [Final reward: 5 points.]


    "So why do I need to gain the Chinese teacher''s favor? Why should I care what the teacher thinks of me?" Wen Shuangmu thought.


    "Host, your perspective is too narrow," Wu Xiaoqi assumed a profound air. "Even a small Chinese teacher can reflect a world''s outlook and values. Don''t you find it strange, Host? Despite your top-notch grades and abilities, Liang Jie, as both the homeroom teacher and Chinese teacher, only sees the obedient, model student Xia Zhili. We viins often have our fates eroded starting from these inconspicuous details. As the saying goes, ''see the big from the small.'' In the short term, it might just be the teacher''s bias, but in the future, it could affect both career and love. Despite being equally outstanding, the protagonist can gain halos that we viins cannot. Therefore, if we want to change the future, we must start by changing these details."


    Wen Shuangmu was someone who didn''t care about teachers'' opinions. In her previous life, she rarely interacted with teachers.


    But because of Wu Xiaoqi''s speech, when Liang Jie called her over just now, she inexplicably agreed.


    "So," Wen Shuangmu stared at the motionless progress bar, enunciating each word, "I''ve done the chores, I''ve helped out, why hasn''t the favor value changed at all?"


    "Although Host''s Chinese subject performance wasn''t great in the ss cement exam, your overall grades were excellent. As the homeroom teacher, Liang Jie has a good initial impression of you, hence the rtively high starting favor value. Inparison, such small favors don''t easily cause emotional fluctuations. Host needs to think of ways to make further efforts in other aspects."


    The corridor was bustling during the break. Wen Shuangmu pondered countermeasures as she and Xia Zhili carried the books up to the third floor, one hugging the wall, the other the railing.


    Amidst the noisy chatter, Wen Shuangmu almost immediately caught the familiar voice floating down from above. Her eyelids involuntarily lifted slightly.


    Su Qiyan wasing down from the third floor, talking sideways to Li Maozhen behind him. The two must have been discussing something funny, as Li Maozhenughed and gave Su Qiyan a push.


    Wen Shuangmu seemed to anticipate what was about to happen. She opened her mouth but didn''t manage to prevent it in time.


    Xia Zhili, at the corner, didn''t expect the boys two steps above to suddenly push each other and squeeze down without looking. She couldn''t dodge in time. With a twist of her wrist, there was a series of thuds as the resource books in her arms fell to the ground.


    "Sorry."


    Su Qiyan turned his body and, even in his hasty stumble, managed to quickly grab the girl''s wrist, preventing her from falling down the stairs.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t know what Su Qiyan was feeling at this moment. In her view, the brief two-second interval wasn''t enough time for emotional reactions. But in the fleeting moment when they steadied themselves and Su Qiyan''s gaze swept across Xia Zhili''s face, Wen Shuangmu clearly saw something different in his eyes.


    It was a momentary "rush" that childhood friends couldn''t bring.


    Quick, impactful, stumbling, crashing.


    Since her rebirth, Wen Shuangmu had imagined many times how the collision between Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili would ur.


    What captured his heart should have been the most unique, dazzling, full of temptation, something that outshone her brilliance.


    So how could it be such an ordinary moment?


    She and Xia Zhili wore the same school uniforms, tied the same ponytails.


    Just as she could spot him at a nce among all the uniformed crowds, he only saw Xia Zhili in the crowd, with bioelectricity crackling between them.


    She was like someone standing in the audience, watching from afar.


    And she had gotten so close to him.


    Yet he couldn''t see her.


    Li Maozhen bounded down the stairs in a few steps.


    "Sorry, Xia ssmate, I didn''t notice you just now."


    His tone was casual and lively.


    The suffocating air that Wen Shuangmu felt slowly cleared and began to flow.


    Xia Zhili seemed surprised that he knew her surname but didn''t say anything, just softly replied "It''s okay" before crouching down to clean up the mess.


    Li Maozhen and Su Qiyan both helped. Su Qiyan stacked the scattered resource books into a pile, but instead of returning them to Xia Zhili, he picked them up and asked, "Are these going to the ssroom?"


    "Ah, yes." Xia Zhili was stunned, her hand still suspended in mid-air, seemingly wanting to take the books back but not knowing how. "Um, I can manage it myself, please give them to me."


    Su Qiyan showed no intention of letting go: "Let''s go."


    Xia Zhili seemed a bit at a loss. She could only look towards Wen Shuangmu and softly say, "Then let me carry some for you..."


    It was as if Su Qiyan and Li Maozhen only then noticed that someone had been standing silently at the corner of the busy stairway all this time.


    Su Qiyan only made eye contact with Wen Shuangmu for a moment before casually looking away.


    In contrast, it was Li Maozhen who looked embarrassed.


    Seeing Su Qiyan still holding Xia Zhili''s books, he feared the young miss might feel possessive. He inconspicuously stepped forward to block the view and said, "Oh, Sister Shuangmu, you''re here too. Are the books heavy? Let me help you carry them."


    Li Maozhen tried to create an atmosphere of ordinary ssmates helping each other, but Wen Shuangmu was unusually emotionless. She just raised her chin, dropped a "No need," and walked up the stairs alone.


    Many students were leaning against the corridor chatting during the break. The four of them walked to ss 2 in a staggered formation, but all in uniform silence.


    Wu Xiaoqi, as the system most sensitive to the subtle emotional fluctuations in Wen Shuangmu''s heart, kept quiet for a long time but still couldn''t help speaking up: "Host, have you ever considered giving up?"


    Wu Xiaoqi had been bound to many hosts before. They were much quicker to understand emotions, and basically all fell out of love with the male lead after rebirth, running off to heal other admirers who had silently devoted themselves in the background but were overlooked and ignored due to youthful ignorance in their previous lives.


    And their admirers were often very capable, with quite strong viin settings - sickly and gloomy, but with abilities no less than the male lead. This way, they could easily make the original female lead jealous and regretful, and the original male lead angry and unwilling, thus achieving the goal of breaking them up.


    This method caused the least harm and brought more pleasure to oneself.


    As a system, it shouldn''t interfere too much with the host''s choices, but Wu Xiaoqi couldn''t help seriously discussing the possibilities of other methods with Wen Shuangmu.


    However, Wen Shuangmu directly interrupted: "Stop talking. I don''t like hearing these things."


    She then changed the subject and started to pursue: "You said you''d give me hints at key plot points, but what were you doing just now when Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili bumped into each other?"


    Wu Xiaoqi immediately swallowed the suggestion she was about to make and said awkwardly, "Well, that was just an ordinary bump in daily life. The real turning point for Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili actually happens after school this afternoon. That''s when their interactions truly start to increase." An ordinary bump.


    Wen Shuangmu pressed her lips together, recalling the fleeting nce between Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili when they collided.


    That was far from ordinary.


    "I want to unlock a chapter," Wen Shuangmu said.


    Wu Xiaoqi swiftly adjusted settings, using 5 points to purchase a plot unlock card for the host, then disyed the pixted chapter in front of Wen Shuangmu: "This event spans a longer chapter, containing two parts. Take a look and decide which section you want."


    Before Wen Shuangmu could consider, she suddenly felt the weight in her hands lighten as she walked.


    She paused, looking up.


    Lu Jing was holding a stack of material notebooks, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, a red string tied around his wrist bone, his forearms strikingly pale.


    He hefted the stack, saying, "This is heavy. Where should I put it?"


    Wen Shuangmu took a second to respond, her fingertips gradually regaining feeling after being numbed by the heavy weight. She realized Lu Jing had taken the notebooks from her hands.


    She said, "The podium, please."


    Lu Jing nodded.


    Wen Shuangmu stared at his retreating back for a moment before continuing to walk.


    Wu Xiaoqi wasn''t sure if it was appropriate to interject at this moment, sensing the host''s earlier urgency. After some hesitation, she reminded, "Have you decided which section to choose, host?"


    Wen Shuangmu blinked, shifting her gaze from Lu Jing and recalling Wu Xiaoqi''s earlier words.


    Although yesterday''s chapter selection was a mistake, for a major event spanning two consecutive chapters, choosing the end of the first chapter couldn''t go wrong.


    Without much deliberation, Wen Shuangmu decided, "I want thest two hundred words of Chapter Four."


    "Understood."


    The pixtion cleared, revealing a passage of text before Wen Shuangmu''s eyes.


    ["Zhou Yu, this girl isn''t your girlfriend, so stop meddling in our business."


    "What now, little one? Have you figured out how to escape?" Zhou Yu asked with azy smile, calmly facing the dozen or so men armed with clubs, showing no sign of unease or embarrassment.


    Xia Zhili bit her lip, her eyes glistening with angry tears, her expression defiant.


    Zhou Yu stared at her smooth, snow-white cheeks, feeling a tingling sensation. He thought a gentle pinch would surely leave a mark.


    He bent down close to Xia Zhili''s ear, blowing softly on the stray hairs by her neck, his voice clearly teasing as he enunciated each word:


    "Want to be big brother''s girlfriend? Big brother will help you."]

 Chapter 15

    "!!!!!!"


    [Main quest: "Save that female lead" action has been unlocked.]


    [Current progress: 0/10]


    [Final reward: Exchangeable based on the increase in viin value.]


    Lu Jing carried the materials to the podium, unaware that Wen Shuangmu behind him was walking as if she couldn''t see, heading straight for his back. In the end, both of them stumbled forward a step due to the impact.


    Lu Jing steadied himself by gripping the edge of the desk and turned to look at Wen Shuangmu.


    She didn''t appear to have hit her head or nose, but instead was covering her eyes, her whole person seeming to be shrouded in shadow.


    Lu Jing paused, thinking of the young adult literature tropes he''d recently been reading, and suspected that crystalline tears would start flowing from between Wen Shuangmu''s fingers at any moment. "Um, are you okay?" he asked.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t respond immediately. She clenched her fist and took a long, controlled breath, as if suppressing something.


    Just as Lu Jing was considering whether he should offer morefort, Wen Shuangmu calmly removed her hand and waved at him: "It''s nothing, just got some oil in my eye."


    Lu Jing: "...?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Not even helping when the oil bottle tipped over, I admire you, host."


    Wen Shuangmu coolly replied: "I haven''t settled ounts with you yet. Next time, could you pick a ce without people around before showing me this kind of Daqing literature?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Daqing literature?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "Literature nurtured in oil fields."


    Wen Shuangmu delivered these eight words with a straight face.


    Wu Xiaoqi''sughter, sounding like a "monkey revealing its true form," instantly surrounded her crown in 3D surround sound effect mode.


    Xia Zhili and Su Qiyan hadn''t entered the room yet. Xia Zhili probably thought she could manage thest two steps herself, but Su Qiyan felt he should see things through to the end.


    Wen Shuangmu irritably tugged at the corner of her mouth, feeling she had made a tactical error in allowing Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili to be immersed in this inexplicable atmosphere of feelings for so long on the stairs.


    She was about to take a step forward, ready to be the insensitive one breaking up the lovebirds, when a slight breeze brushed past her arm as Lu Jing stepped in front of Su Qiyan before she could.


    "Let me."


    Wen Shuangmu found it difficult to describe urately just how pleasant Lu Jing''s voice sounded at that moment. What she most wanted to exim in this situation was¡ª


    As expected of the cultivation target she had chosen, so damn self-aware! He''s got the right idea!


    Lu Jing took the stack of materials from Su Qiyan''s arms, but the next second he felt himself being pushed aside. Then he saw Wen Shuangmu squeeze through the doorframe where three people had been standing.


    She grabbed Su Qiyan''s sleeve, pulling him towards ss 1 with great familiarity: "All sorted? I actually have a math problem I can''t figure out and wanted to ask you. Can I borrow today''s math worksheet?"


    Lu Jing was still holding the materials, leaning against the door frame. Someone had bumped him into the wall while slipping through the gap to get out.


    He looked exactly like a bystander who had stepped in to help, only to be shoved aside for being in the way.


    Lu Jing remained motionless, saw Xia Zhili standing equally dazed to one side, held it together for two seconds, then couldn''t hold back anymore.


    He turned his head andughed very softly.


    Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili were probably still in the initial stages of getting to know each other and feeling the first stirrings of attraction. They weren''t in the same ss and couldn''t really be said to have any kind of rtionship yet. Su Qiyan might show some care for Xia Zhili in small, unconscious ways, but it was far from being openly apparent.


    Wen Shuangmu must have counted on this, so although she acted close to Su Qiyan, all her actions still remained within the normal bounds of their "friendship." Therefore, even if Su Qiyan felt something was off, he had no grounds to object.


    As for the information points Wen Shuangmu wanted to make clear to Xia Zhili, whether it was her forceful way of speaking or her little nces staking her im, nothing was left out.


    Look at that show-off.


    Lu Jing took onest look at the two standing at ss 1''s door, then smiled and carried the books to the podium.


    During the break, Wang Chengshuo was doing exercises. He had just taken a sip of water to rest when he saw Lu Jinging down from the podium.


    Wang Chengshuo rarely saw Lu Jing like this. He didn''t know what happy thing Lu Jing was thinking of, but he smiled, shook his head as if that wasn''t enough, and smiled again.


    Wang Chengshuo couldn''t help but be curious: "What''s up? You look so happy."


    Lu Jing unhurriedly pulled out his chair and sat down, flipping open the pocket notebook on his desk. He clicked his tongue and said, "It''s really interesting."


    Wang Chengshuo instantly felt it wasn''t funny anymore: "..."


    Still saying you''re not obsessed with that 2D character!!!


    When Wen Shuangmu returned to the ssroom, Lu Jing was sitting at his desk talking to Wang Chengshuo. She felt a bit regretful that she had just taken Su Qiyan away, and Lu Jing hadn''t seized the opportunity to interact more with Xia Zhili.


    However, thinking of the important turning point that would ur in the afternoon, she had to put these thoughts aside for now.


    The next ss happened to be a self-study period. Wen Shuangmu suppressed her strong feelings of difort and had Wu Xiaoqi show her that unlocked passage again.


    In the spirit of doing a Chinese readingprehension exercise, she repeatedly examined the content of the text, analyzing it word by word and sentence by sentence. She discovered that the information points were all presented so simply and bluntly on the surface level of meaning.


    She asked Wu Xiaoqi: "Are you sure this isn''t about Xia Zhili and Zhou Yu''s emotional moment? It''s with Su Qiyan?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "It is indeed with the male lead."


    Wen Shuangmu chewed on her coffee straw, deep in thought: "So you''re saying, after Xia Zhili was cornered by those thugs, she didn''t ept Zhou Yu''s proposal, but instead was rescued by Su Qiyan who happened to pass by?"


    Wu Xiaoqi couldn''t give too many hints, only saying: "The host''s guess is very reasonable."


    Wen Shuangmu assumed she had guessed correctly and nodded, continuing: "Then I just need to find a way to hold Su Qiyan up so he can''t pass by that ce on time. With no other options, Xia Zhili will have to agree to be Zhou Yu''s girlfriend and ask for his help to get out of the situation. This way, she''ll end up with Zhou Yu, and the novel can directly reach its happy ending?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...In principle, this n is feasible. But as the host saw earlier in the spoilerments, Zhou Yu is a deeply devoted secondary male lead. In theter stages, he chooses to quietly step aside and give his blessings for Xia Zhili''s happiness, so there''s no guarantee that Xia Zhili won''t spark with Su Qiyan elsewhere."


    Wen Shuangmu: "Tch, how useless is this guy."


    At this moment, a ssmate in front passed back a form, saying in a low voice to Wen Shuangmu: "Fill in your row of information and pass it to thest row when you''re done."


    Wen Shuangmu nced at the form''s contents. It was some basic information that the homeroom teacher had announced this morning for new ss members to be entered into the school system. Catching sight of the phone number column, Wen Shuangmu''s expression changed slightly. She took out a sticky note from her pencil case and copied down Xia Zhili''s contact information from the row above.


    After filling in the rest of the information, Wen Shuangmu passed the form to Lu Jing across the aisle. Then, under the cover of her textbook, she took out her phone and sent a message to Xia Zhili:


    [This is Wen Shuangmu. Are you free after school today?]


    The screen of Xia Zhili''s phone in her desk drawer lit up briefly. Two secondster, she saw the content of the text message and hesitantly looked back in Wen Shuangmu''s direction.


    Seeing her look over, Wen Shuangmu smiled kindly at her. The next second, however, shemented to Wu Xiaoqi with a straight face: "See, even good students use their phones in ss."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...You''re setting her up. Don''t forget you''re a good student too."


    Wen Shuangmu pretended not to hear. Fortunately, Xia Zhili didn''t keep her waiting long and quickly sent a reply.


    [I''m free. What''s up?]


    Wen Shuangmu: [My Chinese basics aren''t very good. I was hoping you could apany me to the bookstore to buy some textbooks.]


    After sending the message, Wen Shuangmu felt it didn''t quite sound like asking for help, so she added: [I''ll treat you to bubble tea!]


    Xia Zhili: [Sure.]


    Wen Shuangmu was satisfied but didn''t put her phone away immediately. She opened a popr review app and searched for nearby bookstores, finally deciding to take Xia Zhili to the newly opened one in Century Infinite City after school.


    She really couldn''t believe that such a proper shopping mall would let in those dozen or so thugs with clubs.


    Wu Xiaoqi: "The host is wise."


    Wen Shuangmu''s eyes, however, looked elsewhere: "But I still need a second safeguard."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    Wen Shuangmu said: "What if I take Xia Zhili away from the original after-school route in the book, but those thugs still show up?"


    Wu Xiaoqi had to admit this situation was highly likely. He hadn''t reminded her earlier, wanting the host to experience it once and discover for herself.


    However, as expected of a college student host well-versed in advanced mathematics, she had already anticipated this.


    Yet when Wu Xiaoqi saw Wen Shuangmu turn her gaze towards Lu Jing, who was reading an extracurricr book next door, he couldn''t help but pause: "...Host, what are you nning to do?"


    Wen Shuangmu answered matter-of-factly: "Of course, I''m going to bring Lu Jing along to intercept them."


    "No, isn''t this too reckless?" It was one thing to go to the bookstore with Xia Zhili, but to bring Lu Jing along as well? Even if he''s your cultivation target, you''re not even close to him right now!


    Wen Shuangmu: "Is it? Aren''t the plot points in the original book even more forced than what I''m doing?"


    Wu Xiaoqi, who was still searching the database to show the host the meaning of "gradual progress," suddenly fell silent, terrifyingly realizing that he had no way to refute!


    Lu Jing noticed from the corner of his eye that Wen Shuangmu next door seemed to be staring at him intently.


    He pretended to casually raise his eyes to confirm, and then met Wen Shuangmu''s sincere gaze. After a pause, it seemed inappropriate to pretend to look away at this point, so he had to face her gaze and ask, "Do you need something?"


    Wen Shuangmu spoke without hesitation: "You seem to have a wide range of extracurricr reading."


    Lu Jing noticed Wen Shuangmu''s gaze fall on the extracurricr book on his desk. He instinctively pressed down on the pages, but after two seconds, he thought that reading such books wasn''t embarrassing, so he loosened his grip: "...It''s alright, I suppose."


    Wen Shuangmu enthusiastically invited: "Want to go to Impression Infinity City after school? I''ll treat you to milk tea, and you can help me pick out some extracurricr books for umting essay material."


    Lu Jing: "..."


    Friend, have you mistaken who you''re trying to pick up?


    I may be good-looking, but I''m not your male lead, you know?


    After school.


    Liu Yiheng wandered as usual to the door of ss 2 on the third floor. Seeing Wang Chengshuoe out, he put his arm around his shoulder and said, "A new crayfish restaurant just opened near the east gate. Want to go try it out?"


    "Sure," Wang Chengshuo said.


    "With so many of us, we can order spicy, five-spice, and garlic vors, one of each."


    Liu Yiheng was excitedly nning when he noticed Lu Jing hadn''te out behind Wang Chengshuo. He peered into the ssroom and asked, "Where''s Brother Jing? Where did he go?"


    Wang Chengshuo pointed his chin towards the direction of the other staircase: "He has ns with someone else."


    Liu Yiheng didn''t think much of it and casually nced over, but then his eyes froze in ce.


    The one in the white shirt and ck pants was his Brother Jing, he was familiar with him.


    But the one next to him with the beige backpack, wasn''t that Wen Shuangmu?


    And the one next to Wen Shuangmu, with the blue hair tie and white sneakers, wasn''t that the pretty girl he had been observing for days?


    Why were the three of them walking together?


    Liu Yiheng turned to look at Wang Chengshuo: "What kind ofbination is this?"


    Wang Chengshuo shrugged: "The bookstore study group."


    Liu Yiheng thought it was a special research group from the top students'' ss and couldn''t help but envy them: "The ice prince and the queen are all there. When ites to enjoying life, Brother Jing really knows how to do it."


    Wang Chengshuoughed and pushed Liu Yiheng''s head: "Don''t exaggerate."


    Liu Yiheng covered his head, watching the trio walk away with reluctance: "What should I do? My pretty girl... How did Brother Jing make the first move? Why don''t we follow them?"


    Wang Chengshuo eyed him: "Are you serious? I don''t mind, but you need to consider the consequences if we''re caught."


    Liu Yiheng was quite enthusiastic when it came to talking big, but when it actually came to doing it, he started to back out: "Well, let me think about it. Following them doesn''t seem like something a decent person would do, right?"


    Lu Jing walked all the way out of the teaching building with a numb expression.


    His handsome face looked as if he had a toothache, or as if everything hurt.


    So after Wen Shuangmu invited him, why did she still bring Xia Zhili along?


    Weren''t they supposed to be love rivals?


    Did she bring him to mediate?


    He didn''t know how to do that either.


    Lu Jing nced at the big sun overhead, thinking that the quick reflexes he had developed from ying whack-a-mole were not meant to be showcased in this kind of situation.


    He swept his peripheral vision to the side, grateful that for now, the superficial friendship between Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili was maintaining well enough, and he hadn''t seen any sparks fly yet.


    Coming out of the school gate, Wen Shuangmu saw Xia Zhili about to turn towards the tree-lined path on the side and stopped her, saying, "Wait, let''s take the bus?"


    Xia Zhili hesitantly looked at her phone''s navigation: "It''s only a fifteen-minute walk, not far at all."


    Wen Shuangmu made up an excuse quickly: "But it''s hot out. The bus is just two stops, very convenient."


    Mainly because these days, you wouldn''t have a dozen rowdy guys crowding onto a bus for a party. It''s safer on the bus.


    Xia Zhili didn''t think much of it and nodded: "Alright then."


    Wen Shuangmu turned to look at Lu Jing.


    Lu Jing was stunned for a moment, then raised both hands: "I have no objections."


    Arriving at the bus stop, Xia Zhili called her family to say she''d be homete.


    Wen Shuangmu continued the text message she hadn''t finished earlier, making sure Li Maozhen would take Su Qiyan to y basketball in the school gym for two hours after ss, before putting her phone away with peace of mind.


    The real-time bus disy showed the bus would arrive in two minutes. Wen Shuangmu looked towards the left side of the road and only then realized that Lu Jing had somehow started chatting with a passing ssmate.


    This guy really was popr, able to meet people who greeted and talked to him from other sses wherever he went.


    Wu Xiaoqi chimed in at the right moment: "Host, you''re quite popr too."


    Wen Shuangmu was quite self-aware: "I just know a lot of people, but haven''t you noticed that they''re all actually a bit afraid to talk to me?"


    As she spoke, her gaze fixed on Lu Jing''s smile, and she said, "Someone like him is truly popr."


    Lu Jing happened to look away while smiling, unexpectedly meeting Wen Shuangmu''s eyes.


    He was stunned for a moment but didn''t say anything. When the red light in the distance turned green and his friend left, he walked over to Wen Shuangmu, standing beside her to look at the traffic ahead, and asked, "You seemed like you wanted to say something to me?"


    Caught red-handed, Wen Shuangmu remained calm: "Your friend is quite handsome. Can you give me his contact information?"


    Lu Jing: "..." Is she serious?


    "No."


    Lu Jing''s refusal was so abrupt that Wen Shuangmu casually asked another question: "Hm? Why not?"


    Lu Jing said, "I think he''s just average-looking. If you need, I can introduce you to someone more handsome in the future."


    Wen Shuangmu turned to look at Lu Jing with a bit of surprise.


    The evening sun was nting westward, its glow surrounding Lu Jing from behind, somewhat dazzling, so much so that Wen Shuangmu couldn''t quite make out Lu Jing''s expression as he said this.


    Only when the bus arrived at the stop did he pat her backpack and say, "Let''s get on."


    "So why did he just talk to me like he was my father? Clearly, I''m the one raising him, no matter how you look at it, I should be the one..." Wen Shuangmu couldn''t help butin to Wu Xiaoqi in her heart as she swiped her bus card.


    Wu Xiaoqi, as usual, marveled at Wen Shuangmu''s focus: "Host, you should just count your blessings. At least he''s willing to provide after-sales service, introducing you to potential partners to ensure your happiness for the rest of your life. That''s already very touching, you know."


    Wen Shuangmu pouted.


    It was rush hour after school, and the bus was very crowded. Wen Shuangmu''s sharp eyes spotted someone getting off, freeing up a seat. Without much thought, she grabbed Xia Zhili''s hand and squeezed towards the back.


    After a race against time, Xia Zhili sat down in the window seat, while Wen Shuangmu remained standing in the aisle, using her backpack to upy the seat.


    Wen Shuangmu stood on tiptoe to look towards the bus door, seeing nothing but a sea of heads. She muttered, "That''s strange, where''s Lu Jing?"


    Xia Zhili thought for a moment and said, "He should have gotten on right after me."


    Lu Jing struggled for a while before finally freeing himself from the card reader at the bus entrance.


    When he got in line, he realized he had no change in his pocket. Just as he was about to grab Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili to help him swipe the bus card, the two of them slipped away like fish, just slipped away.


    Thankfully, a kind-hearted girl wearing the same school uniform voluntarily helped him swipe the card. Otherwise, he would have faced a dilemma¡ª


    Either get off the bus right there or call Wen Shuangmu back from afar.


    For thetter, he was afraid Wen Shuangmu would find it embarrassing and end up hitting him.


    After finally squeezing to the back, Lu Jing heard Wen Shuangmu calling him over several heads: "Lu Jing,e quick, sit here."


    He looked up, then followed the direction of Wen Shuangmu''s finger downward: "That''s really not necessary..."


    With only one empty seat left, it would be strange to let him sit down, being a boy and all.


    Lu Jing excused himself with a couple of "excuse me"s to the surrounding passengers, and squeezed over to where Wen Shuangmu and Xia Zhili were. He still decided to be courteous: "You sit down, I''m fine standing."


    "It''s alright, I asked for your help, so I should make sure you two arefortable."


    Lu Jing thought this female supporting character was overly kind, but kept a smile on his face: "You should really sit."


    "You sit."


    "You sit."


    Wen Shuangmu: "Are you going to sit or not?"


    Lu Jing: "...I''ll sit, I''ll sit."


    The bus started moving.


    Lu Jing hugged his shoulder bag, looking extremely ufortable squeezed into the seat.


    Xia Zhili''s fingers covered her nose, as if trying not tough while making an effort to hold it in.


    Wen Shuangmu stood in the aisle next to their seats, holding onto a hanging strap, swaying back and forth with the crowd as the bus braked and elerated.


    Wen Shuangmu struggled to adjust the strap of her backpack on her arm and said, "You two chat, don''t mind me."


    Xia Zhili and Lu Jing both nced at her simultaneously, then looked at each other, responded with an "Oh," and immediately fell silent again.


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t bothered and remarked to Wu Xiaoqi: "Want to bet? Even though they''re not talking now, their hearts are probably racing."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "I don''t think it looks that way."


    "You don''t understand," Wen Shuangmu said in a tone of someone with experience. "If you don''t believe me, look at the progress bar yourself."


    Wu Xiaoqi pulled up the little egret badge and looked: "This can''t be right, the value hasn''t changed at all."


    Wen Shuangmu frowned: "How is that possible?"


    The mission of the antagonist in a campus novel is to break up the main couple, and Lu Jing was her chosen target for development. As long as Xia Zhili developed any feelings of fondness or attraction towards Lu Jing at this moment, it would be an obstacle affecting Xia Zhili''s eventual love for Su Qiyan. In her estimation, the antagonist value should have shown at least a +1 or +2 fluctuation.


    Mainly because with such a handsome guy sitting next to her, it would be unscientific for there to be no ripples at all.


    Wu Xiaoqi thought for a moment and said: "Maybe this is the final strength and stubbornness of an ice queen type beauty."


    Wen Shuangmu stared thoughtfully at Xia Zhili''s beautiful profile as she gazed out the window: "Looks like we''ll need to spice things up a bit next time..."


    Lu Jing, who had been scrolling through his phone''s chat page, suddenly lifted his eyelids and said, looking at the crowded passengers in front: "Did someone just take a photo? I think I saw a sh."


    "Huh?" Xia Zhili was confused. "I don''t think so."


    Wen Shuangmu looked around but didn''t notice anything unusual: "What''s there to photograph on a bus? It was probably just sunlight reflecting, you must have seen wrong."


    Lu Jing felt it wasn''t natural light, but thinking that Wen Shuangmu''s exnation made sense, he put it out of his mind.


    The short two-stop bus ride quickly arrived at their destination, and the three of them came to the bookstore on the second floor of the mall.


    The air conditioning in the bookstore was in full st, even cooler than the mall''s main hall, with quite a few middle and high school aged boys and girls walking around.


    Xia Zhili was quick in selecting textbooks for Wen Shuangmu, picking out a fewnguage basics and ssical Chinese handbooks that she often used.


    Lu Jing initially just looked around and touched things here and there on the side, but when they finished selecting books, he took the initiative to carry the books for them, and then began his rmendation session.


    He led Wen Shuangmu to another book section: "See what type you like, humanities, or social sciences. If you just want to umte material, I feel reading newspapers and magazines would be faster for getting information. Reading these books properly takes time and the effects are slow to show."


    "It''s okay, we''re only in first year of high school, we can take it slow," Wen Shuangmu said, imperceptibly switching positions with Xia Zhili, ostensibly to prevent Xia Zhili from feeling left out, but actually to make her stand closer to Lu Jing.


    Lu Jing didn''t notice and nodded, leading them to the shelves in the middle.


    His fingertips glided over the colorful book spines, then stopped.


    "Have you read Neil Postman''s ''Amusing Ourselves to Death''? It provides quite a few perspectives on looking at things, I think it''s pretty good..."


    "Fei Xiaotong''s ''From the Soil'' is also a ssic. This kind of social science book mainly cultivates a sociological perspective on issues..."


    "Ah, ''Soulstealers'' is one I just read this summer vacation. It''s about Chinese history in 1768 written by a foreigner, Philip Kuhn. During that period, there was a sorcery panic in China. If you want to learn some history and culture beyond textbooks, you can start with this kind of book, it''s quite readable..."


    Wen Shuangmu had been pretending to listen attentively all along, but the smile on her face was starting to be strained.


    Lu Jing and Xia Zhili, one talking about Postman and Fei Xiaotong, the other about M¨¢rquez and Maugham, were truly a perfect match, covering all those books she had only heard of but never read in college.


    Compared to Wen Shuangmu''s feigned interest, Xia Zhili seemed to be the one genuinely listening to what Lu Jing was saying.


    At first, she was just listening, not expressing opinions due to unfamiliarity with Lu Jing, but when Lu Jing got to talking about the "ego," "id," and "superego" in Freud''s "The Interpretation of Dreams," it was a topic she really liked, and she couldn''t help but engage in an animated discussion with Lu Jing.


    Wen Shuangmu had also learned about "ego," "id," and "superego" in her high school politics ss, but it was nowhere near as deep as what they were discussing now!


    So how could these people manage to be so well-read on one hand, and still rank in the top ten of their grade on the other? Didn''t doing practice questions take time?!


    Don''t the "Wu San" and "Wang Houxiong" series of practice books deserve some respect?!


    To give Lu Jing and Xia Zhili space for their spiritual exchange, Wen Shuangmu quietly retreated, hiding behind another bookshelf.


    Looking at the two who seemed to have found kindred spirits and were regretting not meeting earlier, Wen Shuangmu called out to Wu Xiaoqi: "Quick, see if there''s any change in the values."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Nope, still 40%."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    These two were chatting so engrossingly that they didn''t even notice one person had disappeared. Anyone who didn''t know better would think they were soulmates. Could it be that while their mouths were full of Freud and "From the Soil," their hearts were truly filled with socialist brotherly and sisterly love?


    Even living Buddhas couldn''t be as detached as they were.


    Wen Shuangmu turned her head and decided to wander over to the youth bestseller section.


    Wu Xiaoqi was caught off guard: "Host, are you giving up just like that?"


    Wen Shuangmu said: "My experience and psychological journey simply can''t apply to them. I need to reference how other people fall in love and cultivate feelings."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    Wen Shuangmu arrived at the romance bestseller section and pulled a quick transmigration novel from the shelf: "How can these two be so calm and unaffected? Back then, for me, forget about sitting side by side on a bus. Just being able to hitch a ride in Su Qiyan''s private car to go to school together, even if he sat in the front passenger seat and I sat in the back, my heart would be racing all day."


    Wu Xiaoqi saw Wen Shuangmu''s casual, chatty tone and initially wanted to say that perhaps the host''s expectations for Su Qiyan were too low and her demands too few, but after thinking for a moment, changed toforting words: "Lu Jing has an initial value of 40%, so I guess this kind of ordinary youth campus bumping and friction doesn''t provide enough stimtion for them."


    "Yeah," Wen Shuangmu agreed, flipping through the book with quite a sigh. "So I need to see in which aspects it would be more appropriate to spice things up."


    Wu Xiaoqi suggested: "Host, why don''t you switch to a few pure campus novels? Although these quick transmigration novels have campus storylines, they generally focus more on plot, and the romance lines are rough."


    Wen Shuangmu raised an eyebrow: "There are such considerations?"


    She inserted the novel back into the gap in the middle of the shelf, her fingertips moving towards anotheryer of youth romance section. Her index finger had just hooked the top of a book spine, not yet having pulled the book down, when she heard a clear voice from across the aisle¡ª


    "This one is mediocre."


    "?"


    Wen Shuangmu turned her head towards the source of the voice.


    Lu Jing had appeared at some point, holding a stack of books in his arms, probably all selected to rmend to her.


    Wen Shuangmu hadn''t reacted to what Lu Jing had just said was mediocre, her fingertips unconsciously moving a bit to the side, when she heard him say: "This one is also very strange."


    "..."


    Wen Shuangmu felt like she couldn''t quite keep up with human thought processes. Following Lu Jing''s line of sight to the bookshelf, she btedly realized that Lu Jing seemed to bementing on the two novels she had just touched.


    Wen Shuangmu''s expression was subtle, the three words almost squeezed out of her mouth after much internal struggle: "How so?"


    Lu Jing shrugged and walked closer: "The male lead was held back a year in school for fighting, and as far as I know, this kind of disciplinary record is hard to erase and stays on file for life, but he ended up being admitted to Tsinghua or Peking University in the end."


    Wen Shuangmu: "!"


    How rigorous!


    Suppressing her shock, Wen Shuangmu casually pointed at another book and asked, "What about this one?"


    Lu Jing bent down slightly to confirm the shy, barely recognizable title on the spine. As if recalling some cringe-worthy plot, he frowned and straightened up: "I only read two pages of that one. I heard it sells well, so maybe the rest is okay, but the male lead keeps calling the female lead ''kid,'' which felt weird to me. I couldn''t continue."


    Hearing this, Wen Shuangmu almost wanted to shake Lu Jing''s hand in excitement.


    Heaven knows howrge her inner shadow had grown after unlocking Zhou Yu''s storyline twice in the past few days.


    Wen Shuangmu was starting to forgive theck of progress in Lu Jing and Xia Zhili''s rtionship.


    Xia Zhili loved reading famous novels from home and abroad, often with endless explicit descriptions, while Lu Jing was well-versed in various popr romance bestsellers. Despite their outward appearance as proper school students, it would be strange if their hearts hadn''t gone wild.


    After some thought, Wen Shuangmu decided to cater to his interests and casually probed: "So after reading so many romance novels, do you have a favorite?"


    Lu Jing felt a bit perverse being asked such a question: "...I wouldn''t say I like them. I''ve just read those few, and you happened to point them all out."


    Disappointed, Wen Shuangmu lost interest in picking more books. She nced behind him and asked, "Where''s Xia Zhili? I don''t see her."


    Lu Jing replied, "I just rmended ''The Second Sex'' to her. She probably wants to buy it too, so she''s still over there looking."


    Wen Shuangmu nodded: "Let''s go find her then."


    Wen Shuangmu and Lu Jing found Xia Zhili, and the three of them went to the cashier to check out.


    Wen Shuangmu had a great haul. While waiting for Xia Zhili to finish paying, she stood in the aisle and replied to a text from Driver Chen.


    As she caught sight of the twoing out from the corner of her eye, she was about to pick up the bag on the temporary shelf when a fair, slender arm shed before her eyes.


    This time, besides the red string on his wrist, Wen Shuangmu noticed a small red mole near Lu Jing''s wrist bone.


    In addition to the bag he was carrying for her, Lu Jing also had Xia Zhili''s.


    Lu Jing said, "I''ll give them back to you when we leave."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t stand on ceremony and simply replied, "Thanks."


    As they left the bookstore, Wen Shuangmu heard Wu Xiaoqi repeatedly eximing: "Little Egret is really so well-behaved!"


    "So cute."


    "So kind."


    "Such a gentleman."


    Thepliments kepting one after another.


    Wen Shuangmu silently mouthed the words "Little Egret" to herself, still finding it odd.


    She perked up a bit and said, "I''ve noticed you really do favor Lu Jing, huh?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Well, what can I say? Some people''s handsomeness can transcend racial barriers."


    Wen Shuangmu let out a light chuckle, but before her smile could fully form, Lu Jing curiously pointed out, "What are youughing at?"


    Wen Shuangmu froze for a moment, meeting Lu Jing''s straight, pitch-ck gaze. Without much thought, she stuck to her usual "when in doubt, justpliment" approach: "My brother has a wristband like yours. My mom got it for him at Qiming Temple before. But he got super tan at the beach around that time, and I thought it was the string''s fault for looking so bad on him. I didn''t expect it would look so good on you."


    Lu Jing looked down at the red string on his wrist: "I only recently found it and started wearing it. I originally wanted to see if it could ward off evil, but it doesn''t seem to work."


    Xia Zhili, probably finding Lu Jing''s exnation too amusing, couldn''t help but interject: "If you think it doesn''t work, why are you still wearing it?"


    Lu Jing didn''t answer immediately. He smiled before saying, "For peace of mind, I guess."


    As the three walked towards the esctor, they passed by a Miniso store. Lu Jing suddenly stopped.


    "Want to take a look inside?"


    Wen Shuangmu was taken aback, realizing Lu Jing was looking in Xia Zhili''s direction when he asked this.


    Xia Zhili also looked a bit surprised. She had only nced at the store earlier, thinking about buying some new hair ties, but considering there were three of them, she didn''t want to inconvenience everyone by making them wait. She hadn''t said anything, so she was surprised Lu Jing had noticed: "Sure, why not?"


    Wen Shuangmu leisurely followed behind them as they entered.


    Xia Zhili went to the essories section and picked out a few hair tie styles topare. Probably feeling awkward about choosing such personal items in front of people she wasn''t close with, she seemed hesitant.


    Lu Jing, oblivious to her difort, directly handed her one he thought looked nice, saying, "This one''s really good. Want to try it?"


    With that simple sentence, the atmosphere immediately lightened.


    Wen Shuangmu observed from the side.


    He''s quite smooth.


    Although it might not lead to instant passion, with this level of attentiveness, the slow-burn romance route would definitely work!


    As Wen Shuangmu was envisioning their future, she saw Lu Jing turn and walk towards her: "Is there nothing you want to buy?"


    As he spoke, he casually picked up a headband from the shelf: "This seems like it would suit you well. Want to try it on?"


    His tone was overly familiar, exactly the same as when he had suggested Xia Zhili "try" earlier.


    Wen Shuangmu: "...Are you always this attentive when shopping with girls?"


    Lu Jing coughed lightly and put the headband back: "It''s mainly because my mom often drags me out shopping. Every time she finds something she likes, she pretends to hesitate about whether to buy it or not. If you don''tpliment her a few times to help her make up her mind, she might make you shop for another two hours..."


    Mom...


    Wen Shuangmu silently rubbed her brow: "It''s fine to say that in front of me, but don''t say it in front of Xia Zhili."


    Lu Jing: "?"


    Afraid he might look at her with those bright eyes and ask "why," Wen Shuangmu simply avoided eye contact and ran to find Xia Zhili: "Have you picked something? Let me treat you both to bubble tea downstairs."


    The mall had seven or eight different bubble tea brands, and Wen Shuangmu had originally nned to just find one on the basement floor. But Lu Jing just had to mention that a new Wu Fu Shang Tea House had opened on the next street and he wanted to try it. Xia Zhili, unfortunately, chimed in with an enthusiastic "Yay!" This made Wen Shuangmu''s subsequent suggestion of "Let''s not go out to avoid unnecessary dangers" seem a bit excessive.


    Wen Shuangmu checked the address on her navigation app and saw it was on a proper restaurant street, which finally put her mind at ease.


    At just past 6 PM on a summer evening, the sky was still bright, but the sunlight wasn''t as scorching as at noon.


    There weren''t many people at the entrance of Wu Fu Shang Tea House, making Wen Shuangmu think business wasn''t good. But after getting a number, she realized they were already more than 20 people down the queue. Everyone was just eating at nearby restaurants while waiting.


    Unable to stay idle without stirring up something, Wen Shuangmu stood around for a while, looked around, and set her sights on a target: "The cream puffs at that dessert shop up ahead look pretty good. Why don''t you two wait here for the bubble tea while I go buy some cream puffs?"


    Lu Jing didn''t think much of it: "Alright, bring back a few more then."


    Hearing Lu Jing''s agreement, Wen Shuangmu thought he must already be calcting how to get her to go far away so he could be alone with his goddess.


    She hadn''t expected herself to be so considerate, beating him to the punch.


    As she left, Wen Shuangmu gave Lu Jing a deep, hopeful look.


    Whether it''s physical or verbal flirting, please be more assertive and unleash your personal charm. You must live up to that 40% initial value!


    Wen Shuangmu went to the dessert shop, unhurriedly sat down to try two cakes, then had the staff pack up quite a few more. When she felt enough time had passed, she finally headed out.


    From a distance, she saw some people standing at the entrance of Wu Fu Shang Tea House. Wen Shuangmu thought the number of customers had increased.


    As she got closer, she gradually realized something was wrong.


    A man in a floral tank top and gold chain was standing in front of Xia Zhili, raising his hand to touch her arm, but Xia Zhili quickly dodged.


    The man wasn''t annoyed: "Why are you dodging? Brother''s got a private room at the KTV next door. Want toe y with us?"


    Several guys with dyed yellow and green hairughed along, scaring away the passersby who had originally wanted to buy bubble tea.


    Xia Zhili tried to escape with the crowd, but the man yfully let out an asional "Hey!" to block her path, not letting her go anywhere.


    Wen Shuangmu stopped seven or eight meters away, frowning: "We avoided the ten thugs from the original text, and now five more pop up. Trash never arriveste, huh?"


    Luckily, she had arranged a second line of defense.


    Wen Shuangmu''s gaze swept behind Xia Zhili, expecting to see a heroic rescue scene¡ª


    Damn it,


    Where''s Lu Jing!


    Where the hell is Lu Jing!!!


    Wu Xiaoqi was clearly shocked as well: "...My little Xia Zhili wouldn''t have run away first, would she?"


    Wen Shuangmu had trouble digesting this fact and didn''t respond for a moment. Wu Xiaoqi continued: "Host, what should we do now?"


    Wen Shuangmu looked down at the time on her phone.


    18:30, an hour and twenty minutes after school let out.


    Su Qiyan wouldn''t pass by here at this time.


    It seemed like there was no real need to save her.


    As long as Xia Zhili and Su Qiyan didn''t cross paths,


    The rest had nothing to do with Wen Shuangmu.


    Wen Shuangmu turned around.


    The mixed noises continued behind her.


    "Don''t be afraid, just y with us brothers for a while. We''ll treat you to drinkster."


    Xia Zhili was still rtively calm at this point: "Don''te any closer, or I''ll call the police."


    The manughed: "Go ahead and call. I dare you. Want to bet we''ll block your way home from school every night?"


    Wen Shuangmu stopped in her tracks, her eyes fixed straight ahead at the setting sun.


    The pig''s trotter hand with the big gold chain slowly rested on Xia Zhili''s shoulder.


    The faces of the yellow and green-haired thugs revealed knowing smirks.


    In a sh, a schoolbag mmed heavily into Mr. Gold Chain''s face.


    Wen Shuangmu had returned at some point, looking down at the fallen Mr. Gold Chain, and said to Wu Xiaoqi: "Give me the ck belt karate buff card."


    Wu Xiaoqi eximed excitedly: "Received!"


    With a "ding", 10 points were deducted, and the system notified that the function card had been credited.


    The yellow and green-haired thugs by the roadside saw their boss get hit, exchanged nces, and instinctively charged forward.


    Xia Zhili cried out in rm: "Watch out!"


    But Wen Shuangmu didn''t even blink. She tossed her dessert bag aside and moved forward unhurriedly. Her school uniform skirt fluttered with the air currents of her movements as she took down one thug with each step.


    Then she picked up the ones on the ground and continued to take them down.


    Xia Zhili: "!"


    Wu Xiaoqi had been cheering Wen Shuangmu on, when suddenly it noticed something and shouted: "Holy crap, Host! The viin value on your badge keeps rising! It''s at 42%, now 45%, now 50%!!!"


    Wu Xiaoqi set off celebratory fireworks in Wen Shuangmu''s mind.


    [Main quest: "Save that female lead."]


    [Current progress: 10/10,pleted.]


    [Final reward: 10 points exchanged based on the increase in viin value.]


    Wen Shuangmu expressed herck of understanding.


    She understood the task waspleted, as she had indeed saved the person. But how did this viin value correspond? Lu Jing was nowhere to be seen and hadn''t done anything, so how had it increased by 10?


    However, the pain in her knuckles distracted her, and she couldn''t focus on that for now.


    She raised the back of her hand to look at it, figuring it must have been scratched by Mr. Gold Chain''s ne. There were several small cuts.


    The cuts weren''t deep, but they stung badly.


    Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue, saw another yellow-haired thug charging at her, and decided to take out her frustration on him. She put all her strength into a punch aimed at his stomach.


    She had to admit, using the buff felt pretty good.


    Wen Shuangmu fought her way to the steps of a closed shop.


    From the corner of her eye, she noticed a pair of ck shoes on the steps take a step back. Wen Shuangmu looked up.


    This nce nearly sent Wen Shuangmu to her grave.


    "Why are you here?"


    Zhou Yu had a cigarette between his lips, its tip glowing red.


    He didn''t have time to question how she knew him. He pinched out the cigarette with two fingers, tactfully making room for her, and added a disimer: "I''m not with them."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    How annoying. If she had known this guy was here, she wouldn''t have intervened.


    Zhou Yu inexplicably felt a chill down his spine, feeling as if the karate girl was about to bore a hole through him with her stare, or perhaps swing her fist at his face.


    However, reality proved that while she wasn''t as brutal as he had imagined, she came pretty close.


    For each person the karate girl took down next, she piled them at his feet. Before he knew it, there were three of them stacked up.


    It felt very much like she was doing it on purpose for him to see.


    Zhou Yu was starting to feel like he wanted to leave.


    Lu Jing came out of the popcorn shop across the street and saw a group of people fighting in the distance, with someone wearing a Mingli school uniform among them. He ran over frantically, spilling popcorn all the way: "What''s going on? What happened? Who are all these people?"


    Wen Shuangmu was standing there, shaking her hand to ease the pain.


    Hearing Lu Jing''s voice, she turned her head to look at him with a hint of concern.


    After scanning him up and down, she finally managed to say: "You might as well not havee."


    At the club a hundred meters away.


    Su Lin was squatting alone on the stairs smoking. Seeing Zhou Yue up by himself, he blew out a smoke ring and joked: "Didn''t you say you saw your little spitfire on the first floor? Why didn''t you bring her up?"


    Zhou Yu''s mind shed back to the fight scene he had just witnessed: "...Because I encountered another Scotch bo pepper."

 Chapter 16

    Five tattooed men with blue-patterned armsy groaning on the ground.


    The man with a gold chain clutched his arm and shouted, "Police! I want the police! You little brat, don''t you dare run away. You''re going to pay for my medical bills!"


    Lu Jing instinctively stepped in front of Wen Shuangmu as he watched the men struggle to their feet. When he caught sight of the man with a gold chain''s bruised and swollen face, he couldn''t help but pause for a moment.


    He turned his head to look at Wen Shuangmu, as if truly seeing her for the first time, and softly muttered, "I didn''t know you were so formidable."


    Wen Shuangmu wanted tough.


    Lu Jing was still carrying bags of books and snacks they had just bought, with a tilted popcorn bucket tucked under his arm. Even in this situation, he maintained a protective stance with his arm half-raised to shield her.


    Wen Shuangmu responded matter-of-factly, "Indeed I am." She nodded at his arm in front of her and asked, "So what exactly are you trying to do now? Hmm?"


    Lu Jing looked down at his own arm and said, "I suppose this is a bit unnecessary, isn''t it?"


    Wen Shuangmu nodded, "Mm-hmm, very much so."


    Lu Jing: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu watched him awkwardly lower his arm and held back augh. She patted his shoulder reassuringly, "It''s alright. Why don''t you gofort Xia Zhili? She was just bullied and must be quite shaken up."


    Lu Jing first nced at Xia Zhili standing under the shop awning, then saw Wen Shuangmu walking past him towards the group led by the man with a gold chain. He called out to her, "What are you going to do?"


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t answer. She calmly approached the man with a gold chain, looked him up and down from head to toe, and asked very patiently, "Where exactly do you want me to pay for medical expenses?"


    "Are you blind?" The man with a gold chain pointed at his bent arm. "This is broken."


    He then pointed at his waist and abdomen. "My ribs are fractured here."


    Finally, he gestured to his slightly limping ankle. "This is sprained. Now call your parents. Either pay up to settle this privately, or we''ll go straight to the police station. Your choice."


    Wen Shuangmu: "I can pay for the medical expenses, but..."


    The man with a gold chain: "But what?"


    "If your arm isn''t actually broken, your ribs aren''t fractured, and your ankle isn''t sprained, wouldn''t it be a waste of my money?" As Wen Shuangmu spoke, she flexed her knuckles. "Before I pay, I think it''s best if I verify for myself. Don''t you agree?"


    "You''re going to hit me again?!"


    The man with a gold chain realized Wen Shuangmu''s gaze was already fixed on his arm, looking as if she was about to snap it right then and there.


    He cursed and stumbled back a few steps. Suddenly, his foot wasn''t limping anymore, and his arm didn''t seem broken either.


    The group of punks with dyed hair around him had clearly been frightened by the beating and didn''t want a repeat. They gathered around their leader, asking, "What should we do, boss?"


    Seeing that Wen Shuangmu wasn''t giving them time to discuss, and was instead taking a few steps closer, the man with a gold chain quickly widened the distance between them. He gritted his teeth, spat on the ground, and said, "Damn it, you''ve got guts! Let''s go!"


    Wen Shuangmu watched the group run off before dusting off her hands and picking up her backpack and snack bags from the ground.


    She may have fought them, but she had been careful to control her strength.


    Fractured ribs? They must be joking.


    She was aiming to get into a proper university; how could she do something that would leave a disciplinary record on her file?


    Her UFF card only had a ten-minute effect. Luckily, the man with a gold chain was cowardly enough. If he had continued to be aggressive, she wouldn''t have wanted to spend more points to redeem another card. She really didn''t know how she would have fought then ¨C she might have just turned to Lu Jing and Xia Zhili and yelled "Run!"


    As Wen Shuangmu was looking at the half-copsed cake in the bag, she heard someone call her name. Before she could turn around, a figure darted out and grabbed her arm, nearly throwing her off bnce.


    She nced sideways, her pupils contracting for a moment.


    The current Xia Zhili was undoubtedly the most submissive version she had seen in two lifetimes.


    "Wen Shuangmu..."


    "You''re so amazing."


    Xia Zhili spoke as she drew even closer.


    "Was that Taekwondo you were using just now?"


    "Or was it Judo? Sanda? Aikido?"


    Wen Shuangmu looked at Xia Zhili, clearly recalling the passage from the original story describing Xia Zhili being cornered by thugs.


    [Xia Zhili bit her lip, her eyes glistening with tears of shame and anger, her expression defiant.]


    So, sister, where is that shame and defiance you showed when Zhou Yu offered to help you as your boyfriend?


    Why are you treating me like this?


    Is it because I didn''t set any conditions when I saved you?


    Wen Shuangmu uttered three words: "It was Karate."


    Xia Zhili probably didn''t know the difference between "Karate" and the other martial arts she had just mentioned, but she still let out an impressed "Wow."


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t listening. She now felt extremely regretful.


    She had made a mistake. At the very least, she shouldn''t have stolen Zhou Yu''s scene.


    She had taken away the "happiness" that should have belonged to someone else at this moment.


    Lu Jing, who had been standing to the side without saying much, unintentionally lowered his gaze. His eyes paused, and he took Wen Shuangmu''s book bag and bread bag from her hands, saying, "Is your hand okay?"


    Only then did Xia Zhili notice the small scratches and cuts on the back of Wen Shuangmu''s hand. Feeling extremely guilty, she said, "There''s a pharmacy over there. I''ll go buy some iodine for you."


    Wen Shuangmu thought that since she had helped so much, it was only right for Xia Zhili to run this small errand, so she let her go.


    Wen Shuangmu turned her head to look at Lu Jing, who was left alone with her.


    He was usually the type who nevercked friends volunteering to serve him wherever he went, but now he wasden with bags, his knuckles turning red from the strain.


    Wen Shuangmu felt guilty, knowing that most of the stuff was hers. She was about to offer to carry some when she heard Lu Jing say, "Find a ce to sit down. I''ll go buy you a bottle of mineral water."


    Wen Shuangmu was taken aback. She remembered that earlier, she had wanted to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear but stopped halfway, not wanting to touch her face with her dirty hands after the fight. She hadn''t expected Lu Jing to notice such a small detail.


    She watched Lu Jing walk into a 7-11 across the street and let out a long sigh.


    Is this the treatment one gets for being a Good Samaritan?


    She felt quite touched.


    The milk tea shop attendant called out cautiously from behind the service counter, "Students, your milk tea is ready."


    She turned her attention back and replied, "Oh, okay,ing."


    Wen Shuangmu picked up the milk tea and found a long bench by a flower bed to sit down. The sun hadpletely set, and the evening breeze had turned cool.


    Wu Xiaoqi said, "Host, you were so cool just now!"


    Wen Shuangmu took a big sip of milk tea and asked, "Why do you all think that kind of behavior is cool?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "I''m a good student, you know. I never fought in my previous life. Put yourself in my shoes ¨C bing the very thing you despise, and then having a bunch of people praise you for being awesome and cool. How could you be happy about that?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "But I saw that you were clearly enjoying yourself while fighting."


    Wen Shuangmu felt a twinge of pain just talking about it: "A ten-point UFF card ¨C if I don''t use it with a smile, should I be crying instead?"


    Wu Xiaoqi burst intoughter.


    Lu Jing had gone to a nearby convenience store, so he returned first.


    Wen Shuangmu used the mineral water to rinse her hands clean, then let Xia Zhili help disinfect and put band-aids on the back of her hand.


    The three of them sat side by side on the long bench. The night sky in the south was clear and transparent, with neon lights and vehicles stretching out like golden rivers on both sides.


    Wen Shuangmu distributed the squashed cakes to Lu Jing and Xia Zhili, one for each: "Make do with these."


    After a moment''s thought, she felt it was too shabby and not up to her standards for taking friends out: "Or should we find a restaurant?"


    "It''s fine, this is good enough."


    Since Wen Shuangmu had bought triangr slice cakes, the box base was thin, and the cream and cake base were all stuck to the lid in a messy jumble.


    Xia Zhili thought for a moment, then simply flipped the packaging box over, pouring all the cake into the transparent lid.


    She opened the base, used a spoon to mix everything in the lid, scooped up a spoonful to taste, and then looked at Wen Shuangmu and Lu Jing, saying, "Mm, it''s really delicious. You should try it quickly."


    Wen Shuangmu and Lu Jing exchanged a silent nce, then followed Xia Zhili''s example, flipping their cakes into the lids and mixing with spoons.


    Wen Shuangmu took a small bite, her expression still very critical, as if someone was holding a knife to her throat.


    It''ll have to do, she supposed.


    Lu Jing casually poured some popcorn into his cake lid and offered the rest to the two girls: "Want some?"


    Wen Shuangmu frowned at the popcorn bucket for a few seconds, wondering why they couldn''t just eat normally instead of making such a mess.


    It took her quite a while to reluctantly pick out two pieces and mix them into the cake, with a look of disgust on her face at the end.


    Lu Jing was taken aback by her action andughed, "Why are you mixing them? I meant for you to take them and share them."


    Xia Zhili, who was standing nearby, couldn''t help but smile when she heard this.


    Wen Shuangmu realized she had misunderstood and felt embarrassed. Annoyed, she said, "What''s so funny?"


    Xia Zhili didn''t say anything, just smiled and grabbed a handful of popcorn to mix with her cake. Now that everyone was doing the same thing, there was nothing left tough about.


    Wen Shuangmu nced down at the two pieces of popcorn in the lid, made a slight scoffing sound, and popped one into her mouth.


    The three of them finished their cake, then polished off the other cream puffs and chicken cutlets. After slurping down thest sip of milk tea, they suddenly felt so full they couldn''t move.


    Lu Jing asked them, "Do you want to go home, or continue somewhere else?"


    "Let''s go back," Wen Shuangmu said. "I haven''t finished my homework yet."


    Xia Zhili searched for the nearest subway station on her phone: "I''ll take the subway. What about you two?"


    Lu Jing picked up the book bag and stood up: "Let''s go together."


    Wen Shuangmu''s bag was packed with about ten books. Although she felt it wasn''t very considerate to let Lu Jing carry it the whole time, she thought she might as well take advantage of the ride as long as she could, so she had no objections.


    After they disposed of their trash in a nearby bin, they heard an uncertain voice from the roadside: "Shuangshuang?"


    Wen Shuangmu turned to look. A white Porsche had pulled up to the curb.


    The driver''s window rolled down, revealing Su''s Mother. In the passenger seat, she could faintly make out Su Qiyan''s profile.


    The back window also rolled down, and Li Maozhen, who had probably hitched a ride after ying basketball with Su Qiyan, called out, "Sister Shuang."


    Su''s Mother smiled and said, "Shuangshuang, are you out with friends? Are you almost done? Do you want a ride home with auntie?"


    Wen Shuangmu thought it would be great not to have to walk or take the subway, but she still went through the motions of looking at Lu Jing and Xia Zhili.


    Lu Jing thought she was worried about them and said, "Don''t worry, I''ll take her to the subway station in a bit."


    As he said this, he handed the books back to Wen Shuangmu. When she was about to take them, he noticed the band-aids all over the back of her hand. He didn''t let go and changed his mind, saying, "Let me put these in the car for you."


    Wen Shuangmu got into the back seat and took the books from Lu Jing.


    Xia Zhili waved goodbye to her.


    Su Qiyan, who had been looking down at his phone in the passenger seat, suddenly looked up at the sound and nced out the window, but that momentary shift in attention was quickly hidden in the y of light and shadow.


    The car started and smoothly merged into traffic.


    Li Maozhen, always curious, asked, "Sister Shuang, are you and Xia Zhili from your ss close friends?"


    Hearing him bring up the very topic she wanted to avoid, Wen Shuangmu nced at Su Qiyan''s expression in the rearview mirror, trying to quickly change the subject: "We''re okay."


    Li Maozhen looked unconvinced: "''Okay''? You''re out ying together sote?"


    Wen Shuangmu clicked her tongue: "There were other people there too, you know."


    "Oh? You mean that Lu Jing from your ss?" Li Maozhen said excitedly, "Don''t tell me you were on a date with Lu Jing and using Xia Zhili as a cover!?"


    "Date your big head," Wen Shuangmu threw the cushion from the back seat at Li Maozhen''s head, but her eyes were fixed on Su Qiyan, worried he might take it seriously.


    Su Qiyan''s phone screen emitted a faint glow; he was probably practicing speed calctions, doing math problems from a question bank.


    "Sister Shuang, don''t be so violently excited," Li Maozhenughed as he pulled the cushion off his head, not sure how to feel.


    He had almost thought that the reason Sister Shuang had him keep Su Qiyan at school for two hours that afternoon was because she was afraid of being caught two-timing.


    But he also felt, somewhat unfairly, that this might be a good thing. If Sister Shuang could like another boy, she wouldn''t have to keep hitting walls with Su Qiyan.


    Su''s Mother in the front seatughed and said, "Shuangshuang, if you like someone, there''s no need to be shy. Auntie won''t tell your mom."


    Wen Shuangmu hurriedly exined: "Don''t listen to Li Maozhen''s nonsense. They''re just new ssmates. We went to the bookstore together this afternoon." Wen Shuangmu spoke rapidly, but her expression paused slightly on thest word.


    Su Qiyan, probably annoyed by the noise, silently took out his earphones from his backpack and put them on.


    Wen Shuangmu suddenly felt that saying anything was pointless.


    She took back the cushion from Li Maozhen''s hand, hugged it to her chest, and fell silent. She quietly leaned against the car window, watching the traffic outside fly by like a movie transition.


    Li Maozhen''s house was in the neighborhood next to North Shore Residence, so he got out of the car first.


    The car stopped in the underground parking lot on the second floor. Su''s Mother went to the trunk to get something and noticed Wen Shuangmu getting out of the car with a stack of books. She said, "Qiyan, help Shuangshuang carry her things."


    Su Qiyan, wearing his earphones, didn''t hear. He pulled the hood of his sports jacket over his head and walked towards the elevator on his own.


    Su''s Mother took out her legal documents from the trunk and found that Su Qiyan had already walked away. She sighed helplessly, "This child."


    Su Qiyan took the elevator up, so the two of them had to wait for the next one.


    Su''s Mother linked arms with Wen Shuangmu and asked her, "Shuangshuang, tell auntie, is Su Qiyan this impolite at school too? Does anyone even want to be friends with him?"


    Wen Shuangmu, used to speaking well of Su Qiyan in front of parents, suppressed her feelings of disappointment: "No, he just had his earphones on. If you had called him, he would have responded."


    But Su''s Mother saw right through her son: "You don''t need to defend him. Look at him, it''s just a few steps, and he''s not even willing to wait for us. Other people''s kids are rebellious at sixteen or seventeen, but he''s been rebellious against his father and me since he was little."


    Wen Shuangmu said, "It''s not like that. He''s just a bit cold in personality, but he has good grades and looks outstanding. Many people at school like to hang out with him."


    Su''s Mother pursed her lips in disapproval: "Those are his only two good points."


    Wen Shuangmu lowered her eyes without agreeing, reconsidering what she had just said.


    Cold personality?


    When he helped Xia Zhili move her reference materials, he probably wasn''t cold.


    When his mother asked him to help carry things, but he just put on his earphones, mmed the car door, and went straight into the elevator, he was probably cold.


    Wen Shuangmu''s lips twitched very slightly.


    Oh, Su Qiyan, this is just the beginning. You should at least try to be fair.


    The elevator reached the 17th floor.


    Before Wen Shuangmu could finish entering the door lock code, Wen Bingyi flew out to help her open the door.


    "Sis, why are you back sote today? I''ve already finished my homework!"


    Wen Shuangmu put the book bag on the cab, kicked off her shoes, and responded very perfunctorily: "Is that so? You''re so great."


    Wen Bingyi probably had a natural height advantage. The injuries on the back of Wen Shuangmu''s hand, which Su''s Mother, Su Qiyan, and Li Maozhen hadn''t noticed all the way home, caught his eye immediately.


    "Sis, what happened to your hand?" Wen Bingyi took Wen Shuangmu''s hand. He had rarely been to the hospital since he was little, so seeing five or six band-aids on someone''s hand seemed like a major injury to him. He turned his head and shouted towards the living room, "Mom, Wen Shuangmu got beaten up,e quick!"


    Wen Shuangmu pped Wen Bingyi''s forehead: "Who are you calling by their full name? That''s not proper."


    Han Chuqiu and Wen Hong both ran out from the living room.


    The two of them were so anxious that their words came out like rockets, rapid-fire: "Where were you beaten? Who did it? Where are they? Why didn''t you call home? Don''t take off your shoes, let''s go with you to confront them."


    "No, it''s not like that," Wen Shuangmu stopped them, exining with a headache, "I was helping someone on the road. The other person is worse off than me."


    Wen Hong knew his daughter all too well: "With your build, what kind of fight could you possibly win?"


    Han Chuqiu pushed her husband and said, "It''s good to help others, but next time try not to confront them directly if possible. Call the police if you can."


    Afraid they would continue nagging, Wen Shuangmu nodded repeatedly in agreement.


    Han Chuqiu and Wen Hong still wouldn''t let her off, pulling her into the living room to get the full story from beginning to end before finally letting her go, telling her to go back to her room to finish her homework and rest early.


    Wen Shuangmu''s mood had actually recovered quite a bit from Wen Bingyi''s loud shout when she entered the door.


    As she put her homework from her schoolbag onto her desk, her phone chimed with a message notification. She nced at it casually, and her whole body froze.


    Xia Zhili: [I''ve arrived home safely (*¨R¨Œ¨Q)!]


    Wen Shuangmu took a deep breath, thinking that emoticons were quite popr during this period. It''s not an ''o'', it''s fine, it''s fine.


    She then lowered her head to type a reply: [Mm, good. I''ve arrived too.]


    Xia Zhili replied quickly: [See you tomorrow.]


    Wen Shuangmu: [See you tomorrow.]


    Wen Shuangmu finished two basguage problems, then tossed her pen aside and went to rummage through her bedside drawer.


    She still had some ointment left from herst car ident injury to her arm. Although she had disinfected it in the afternoon, she wanted to apply some more to prevent scarring.


    The bedroom door opened slightly, creating a small gap.


    Wen Shuangmu pretended not to notice and continued applying her ointment.


    Wen Bingyi stood outside peeking for a while, but finally couldn''t resist and entered on his own.


    "Sis, I brought you some yogurt," Wen Bingyi said in an unusually sweet tone that Wen Shuangmu wasn''t quite used to.


    "Mm, just put it on the table," she replied.


    After setting it down, Wen Bingyi didn''t leave immediately. He stood by the desk for a moment, then moved closer to Wen Shuangmu''s bed to watch her apply the ointment.


    "Sis, does your hand hurt?"


    "It''s fine," Wen Shuangmu thought for a moment, then held out the back of her hand. "Can you help me put the bandage back on?"


    Wen Bingyi looked at her nervously, his fingers hesitantly reaching out, barely daring to apply any pressure.


    After carefully sticking each bandage in ce, Wen Bingyi asked, "Is this okay?"


    Wen Shuangmu patted his head. "That''s fine. Now go to bed early, you have school tomorrow."


    Despite Wen Bingyi''s usual carefree and domineering attitude, he actually couldn''t stand seeing his family members get hurt. In Wen Shuangmu''s previous life, when she was hospitalized after a car ident during the ss cement exam, Wen Hong and Han Chuqiu initially didn''t tell Wen Bingyi, who was at an extracurricr ss. In the end, it made him cry uncontrobly. This made Wen Shuangmu reluctant to let anyone know about her injury after her rebirth.


    Wu Xiaoqi''s previous mention of character gap moe was quite urate. After all, every time she saw her brother cry like that, she felt utterly helpless.


    Wen Bingyi nodded, then looked at the tall stack of homework on Wen Shuangmu''s desk and said, "I''ll go ask Mom to call your teacher."


    Wen Shuangmu: "Hm? Why?"


    Wen Bingyi: "To tell them you don''t have to do homework today."


    Wen Shuangmuughed and pushed Wen Bingyi towards the door. "It''s not that serious. Go wash up and sleep."


    After settling Wen Bingyi back in his room, Wen Shuangmu continued with her homework.


    While working on a readingprehension exercise, her phone buzzed with a message notification. Wen Shuangmu didn''t open it immediately, waiting until she finished her Chinese homework before checking her phone.


    Ji Jiahui: [Shuangmu, have you seen the school forum?]


    Wen Shuangmu disliked Ji Jiahui''s habit of only saying half of what she meant. It was no different from sending a "Are you there?" message.


    Wen Shuangmu: [No, what''s up?]


    The other side was probably ying with her phone, as the reply came quickly: [You''d better go take a look, someone said you...]


    Ji Jiahui seemed to have trouble continuing and changed her approach: [Never mind, you should see for yourself.]


    Wen Shuangmu waited for a moment: "..."


    You could at least send a link.


    Seeing no further response, Wen Shuangmu had to type again: [Can you forward the post to me?]


    While waiting for Ji Jiahui''s reply, Wen Shuangmu thought about what had happened during this time in her previous life.


    She remembered that students on the forum were usually only active when photoshopping or gossiping, otherwise it was as if the forum didn''t exist.


    It hadn''t been long since school started, what could there be to gossip about, and how did it involve her?


    From Ji Jiahui''s tone, it didn''t sound like good news.


    Mingli had an official app developed specifically for studentmunication. Wen Shuangmu first downloaded the app and asked Wu Xiaoqi, "Speaking of which, are there really that many people who browse forums? My college roommates all told me that their high school forums were like decorations, no one would actually use them."


    Wu Xiaoqi replied: "It''s for the sake of the plot. Unlike celebrity stories, the protagonist can''t make headlines, but their love story needs to create some buzz, so the school forum bes the primary ce for spreading news."


    Wen Shuangmu remembered something unpleasant and pouted: "So those people shipping Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili weren''t just making things up?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Of course not."


    Wen Shuangmu was unhappy: "And I wasted so much time using different aliases to derail those threads, and even started a thread shipping myself with Su Qiyan."


    Wu Xiaoqiughed: "The host certainly had it tough. Not only did you have to use various aliases to diss Xia Zhili on the forum every day, but you also had to squeeze in time to study hard, otherwise your grades would drop quickly."


    Wen Shuangmu: "...Who said my grades dropped quickly!"


    Ji Jiahui''s link finally arrived.


    Wen Shuangmu temporarily spared Wu Xiaoqi and opened the post in the forum section of the app. A string of bright red popr posts caught her eye.


    -- "Let''s talk about the good-looking freshmen in the new ss."


    Wen Shuangmu raised an eyebrow in surprise: "Isn''t this a good thing?"


    It seemed she had made it onto the list.


    Wu Xiaoqi was equally curious about this part of the plot that wasn''t in the original text, urging Wen Shuangmu to scroll down.


    The thread was first created in April when there was only one freshman spring ss. Su Qiyan was on the list, and every few days there would be upperssmenmenting.


    As time passed, the poprity wasn''t as high as initially, but it remained quite stable.


    It suddenly became active again today because someone uploaded a set of photos in the afternoon, iming to have encountered super attractive freshman schoolmates on the bus.


    Wen Shuangmu hadn''t expected Lu Jing''sment about someone taking photos on the bus to be true. She was initially excited, but when she saw the content of the photos, she immediately didn''t want to say anything.


    Why did they take such an ugly picture of her?


    It was almost pixted!


    The bus wasn''t even shaking that much!


    Couldn''t they have just cropped her out if it was this bad?


    The evening sunlight was golden, and Xia Zhili and Lu Jing were bathed in it, looking like a masterpiece painting.


    Meanwhile, Wen Shuangmu, swaying while holding onto a handrail, looked like a joke even to herself.


    Wen Shuangmu quickly scrolled down the post, ignoring thements uniformly praising Lu Jing and Xia Zhili''s appearances. She really didn''t think anyone would be tactless enough toment on the bystander in the photo.


    Just as she was wondering if Ji Jiahui had made a mistake, she finally found the trollment about her.


    [Post 356: This Wen Shuangmu on the side is too funny, what is she doing? Hahaha, she looks like a little maid.]


    Following this post, the replies below were from curious onlookers who had gathered to watch the drama.


    [So this is Wen Shuangmu? I heard everyone praising her to the skies after the ss cement exam, looks like she''s only good at studying, her appearance is average.]


    [Indeed,paring like this, Xia Zhili, who excels in both academics and looks, is clearly superior.]


    [...]


    Wu Xiaoqi said: "Judging from the tone of Post 356, could it be someone who knows you?"


    Wen Shuangmu denied it without looking up: "I don''t know any ***holes like that."


    As she spoke, she quickly typed a reply: [It must be the photo quality. I''ve seen Wen Shuangmu in person, she''s even prettier than Xia Zhili.]


    Wu Xiaoqi, for some reason, started giggling again.


    Wen Shuangmu felt embarrassed and annoyed at being caught doing this, even if it was just by the system: "What''s so funny?"


    Wu Xiaoqi said: "Actually, I''ve been bound to quite a few reborn viins who became smarter and more calcting, rising to the top. However, hosts like you who retain characteristics from both lives and grow slowly, although the task progress is a bit slower, feel very real to me."


    Wen Shuangmu, feeling insulted, retorted: "Those great viins you mentioned, if they were really that smart, why would they need to be reborn? Isn''t that fake?"


    Wen Shuangmu snorted lightly, but fortunately, a notification sound from her phone distracted her from arguing further with Wu Xiaoqi.


    A user with a simple "." as their nicknamemented below her post: [Agree.]


    Wen Shuangmu''s mood immediately improved: "See, there are still normal people in this world."


    Wu Xiaoqi followed with some constion: "Actually, the overall trend of this post is positive. After all, with so many strangers shipping the ''JinXia'' CP, it''s all beneficial and harmless for the host to promote Lu Jing and Xia Zhili''s rtionship."


    Speaking of this, Wen Shuangmu remembered something she hadn''t asked Wu Xiaoqi earlier due to Lu Jing and Xia Zhili''s presence: "When I was fighting those punks with dyed hair, did you suddenly shout that the viin value started increasing?"


    "Yes," Wu Xiaoqi pulled up the viin badge, which now showed a viin value of exactly 50%, with half of the badge fully lit up.


    The remaining usable points in the system mall for Wen Shuangmu had also changed from 15 back to 25.


    Wen Shuangmu was puzzled: "What''s going on? They had no reaction when riding the bus together, discussing books, or picking hair ties, but their feelings suddenly intensified when I got into a fight. This isn''t how things are supposed to y out."


    Before Wu Xiaoqi could respond, Wen Shuangmu continued, "Is it possible that your system is experiencing severeg?"


    Wu Xiaoqi suddenly felt questioned: "That can''t be possible."


    Wen Shuangmu pressed, "Then how would you exin it?"


    "As I mentioned to the host before, this plot point is a crucial turning point for Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili. ording to the original storyline, Su Qiyan, not being skilled in fighting, would have been slightly injured while saving Xia Zhili. To repay the favor, Xia Zhili would have significantly increased their opportunities for interaction. Now that the host haspletely hijacked this plot, it''s like scoring a major victory in the viin''s mission. Since you and Lu Jing are in a mutually bound state, the changes you make naturally affect Lu Jing as well, causing the final ripple effect."


    Wen Shuangmu understood.


    In simple terms, she and Lu Jing had be amunity of shared destiny.


    Wu Xiaoqi continued: "Whether it''s advancing Lu Jing and Xia Zhili''s rtionship or cutting off Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili''s interactions, both fall within the scope of progressing the main viin mission. The host can focus more on these two aspects in the future."


    The screen of the phone on the table, which had been dark, suddenly lit up, with several new messages popping up in the chat interface.


    Wen Shuangmu picked it up and took a look.


    Li Maozhen: [Picture]


    Li Maozhen: [Hahaha, sorry, Sister Shuangmu, I was wrong. I didn''t expect Lu Jing and Xia Zhili to be the real couple.]


    Li Maozhen: [Why are you even covering for them?]


    Li Maozhen''s screenshot included the group photo from the post and thement saying Wen Shuangmu looked like a maid.


    Wen Shuangmu felt insulted, her temple throbbing. She was about to send a reply saying "Do you have a death wishtely?" but paused, deleted it all, and instead chose an "shh" emoji from the expression library.


    Wen Shuangmu: [Shh.emoji]


    Burst update ends. Due to censorship, there will be no update on the 31st. On the 1st at 11 PM, there will be a double updatebined into one.

 Chapter 17

    The rm clock on the bedside table rang punctually at 6:30 AM.


    Wen Shuangmu''s hand emerged from under the covers, but before she could reach the rm, she instantly curled up like a shrimp ball with a wail, rolling around on the bed.


    "Did I sleepwalk through a marathonst night? Why does my entire body ache so much?"


    Wu Xiaoqi, ever vignt, responded seriously: "Not at all. You slept like a baby."


    Wen Shuangmu felt that even if Wu Xiaoqi told her she''d been run over by a car in her sleep, she''d believe it right away. "Are you hiding some ck tech from me? Did you beat me up in the middle of the night?"


    Wu Xiaoqi was speechless: "I''m a system with a strong sense of contract, you know."


    Suddenly remembering something, Wu Xiaoqi let out a dyed "Ah!" and said: "I know now. I forgot to tell youst night that if your body can''t keep up with the intensity of exercise, using the karate buff card will result in two days of aftereffects."


    Wen Shuangmu was extremely skeptical about this level of pain: "...Are you sure it''s just two days?"


    "It varies from person to person," Wu Xiaoqi reassessed and gave a conservative answer, "For you, it might be two weeks."


    Wen Shuangmu, now deeply regretting how ruthless she''d been yesterday, was left speechless: "..."


    She would have been better off just standing there and taking a beating!


    Wen Shuangmuy motionless on the bed for two minutes, waiting for the rm to turn off automatically. She then made a reservation for a hot spring visit and a full body massage for Sunday before painfully crawling out of bed to wash up in the bathroom.


    The Grand Chu Hot Spring Hotel was owned by Mr. Wen. The "Chu" wasn''t from the Chu State of the Warring States period, but from Han Chuqiu''s name. So, Mr. Wen''s fear of his wife was evident in every aspect, with seeds nted many years ago.


    Despite having the hotel''s VIP supreme card, there were quite a few wealthydies who went there for beauty treatments and spa services on weekends. As there wasn''t always a green channel avable, Wen Shuangmu still made an appointment for a specific time slot.


    Wen Hong and Han Chuqiu started work at 8 AM, and Wen Bingyi had no sses at his elementary school on weekends, so none of them were up yet.


    Wen Shuangmu had originally wanted toin to each of them. Given Mr. and Mrs. Wen''s simple and direct way offorting, they would probably just tell her to take two weeks off to recover at home. Although Wen Bingyi''s teary-eyed look could be a bit annoying, she quite enjoyed the way he looked at her with those adoring little eyes. At least it could bnce out the "physical and mental damage" her act of bravery had brought her.


    With no one to whine to, Wen Shuangmu''s body ached, but once she got past the initial pain of getting up, she gradually adapted.


    After eating the breakfast Aunt Shuqin had prepared for her, Wen Shuangmu entered the elevator. As usual, she leaned against the metal wall, casually ying with her phone, one foot blocking the door. She waited until the time on her phone hit exactly 7:00 before withdrawing her foot and letting the elevator doors close.


    The red numbers above the elevator flickered.


    17.


    16.


    15.


    As expected, the elevator stopped with a "ding" at the 15th floor, and Su Qiyan, dressed in a white shirt and ck trousers, appeared outside the elevator.


    This "chance" encounter, orchestrated by Wen Shuangmu''s scheming, had urred countless times.


    She had perfected the art of naturally and casually ncing up when the elevator doors opened.


    Su Qiyan entered alone, and Wen Shuangmu asked, "Isn''t your aunt with you?"


    Su Qiyan was wearing earphones. Noticing her lips moving, he removed one earbud and replied, "No, I''m cycling today."


    Wen Shuangmu''s mind raced: "Uncle Chen just messaged me saying the car broke down. Mind if I join you?"


    Wu Xiaoqi hadn''t intended to rain on her parade at this moment, but out of concern that Wen Shuangmu might embarrass herself, it reminded her: "Host, are you sure you can manage cycling in your current condition?"


    Wen Shuangmu, blindly confident, replied: "What''s there to worry about? Worst case, I''ll use another karate buff card."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Great, using a karate buff card for cycling.


    A true pioneer, the first andst of her kind.


    Wen Shuangmu''s fingers flew over her phone screen, messaging Uncle Chen to quickly retreat from downstairs.


    Su Qiyan didn''t object, but remembering how she always rode slowly and kept asking him to slow down, he preemptively warned her to avoid trouble: "I won''t wait if you''re too slow."


    Wen Shuangmu chirped in response: "Got it!"


    Su Qiyan couldn''t understand where her early morning enthusiasm came from and nced at her.


    Wen Shuangmu was focused on typing her message and didn''t notice.


    Su Qiyan''s gaze first fell on the top of Wen Shuangmu''s head, then swept downward, catching sight of the cartoon-patterned band-aids covering her knuckles. His eyes paused for a moment, but he didn''t ask anything, merely averting his gaze.


    The elevator soon reached the first floor. Just as Wen Shuangmu was about to pick up the bag of extracurricr books she had bought yesterday from beside her feet, Su Qiyan had already stepped forward and picked it up for her.


    Wen Shuangmu froze. By the time the elevator doors automatically closed, she snapped back to reality and quickly pressed the elevator door open button to chase after him.


    She patted her cheeks, only to realize her face was full of uncontroble smiles.


    Under the parking shed.


    Su Qiyan rode over from the other end, the book bag hanging from his handlebars. He stopped with one foot on the ground and looked at Wen Shuangmu, who was still standing motionless: "Where''s your bike?"


    Wen Shuangmu was still in a state of euphoria. She had almost forgotten that her bicycle had been stolen when she and her ssmates skipped evening self-study to buyte-night snacks at the food street before the high school entrance exam: "It was stolen. I haven''t bought a new one yet."


    Su Qiyan: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu couldn''t conjure a bicycle out of thin air. She looked around, but Uncle Chen had efficiently disappeared.


    She fidgeted with her backpack strap, nced at Su Qiyan onest time, and knowing it was hopeless, voluntarily said, "You go ahead."


    Turning to leave, she remembered her bag of books was still hanging on Su Qiyan''s handlebars. Thinking it was too heavy, she decided to temporarily leave it with him and started walking alone along the flower bed towards the main gate of the residentialplex.


    Su Qiyan called out to her: "Where are you going?"


    Wen Shuangmu turned back, somewhat ttered: "I, I''m going to take the subway."


    Su Qiyan scrutinized her for a couple of seconds, then pedaled his bicycle forward a few steps, stopping steadily beside her. Without saying a word, his expression carried a hint of urgency.


    Wen Shuangmu suddenly couldn''t quite understand the meaning behind his actions: "?"


    Su Qiyan waited for a moment, then impatiently turned his head to look at her: "Noting?"


    "Huh?" Wen Shuangmu''s gaze slowly drifted to the back seat, as if it took hundreds of twists and turns before she grasped his meaning. Her entire face lit up, "Coming!"


    Su Qiyan was rendered momentarily silent by her loud response. He looked away, no longer urging her.


    Wen Shuangmu tucked her skirt and sat sideways on the back seat. However, the consequence of being too ted was that shepletely forgot about her current condition due to yesterday''s fight''s aftereffects. With insufficient core strength in her waist and abdomen, the moment she sat down, she nearly toppled over to the other side due to the weight of her backpack.


    Su Qiyan heard the startled cry from behind and barely managed to turn and grab Wen Shuangmu''s arm, preventing her from falling backwards off the bike.


    "What''s wrong with you?"


    Hearing the exasperated male voice from above, Wen Shuangmu knew she was at fault: "I helped someone in need yesterday and strained my back."


    Su Qiyan seemed to choke, letting out a very low chuckle, automatically dismissing her "act of bravery" as nonsense.


    His fingertips touched her backpack strap: "Give me your bag."


    But Wen Shuangmu seemed to have lost her soul to thatugh of his, her expression nk, her body almost unresponsive to her brain''smands. She obediently did as he said and took off her bag.


    Su Qiyan took her bag and put it on his front: "Are you seated properly?"


    Not getting an answer from behind, Su Qiyan stopped bothering and simply stepped on the pedal, riding towards the main road.


    Wen Shuangmu, startled by the sudden inertia, instinctively raised her hand and grabbed Su Qiyan''s shirt hem. Realizing what she had done, her fingertips trembled and loosened slightly.


    The clear summer breeze billowed, filling Su Qiyan''s shirt. Even the restless cicada chirps among the trees seemed to quiet down.


    Wen Shuangmu could clearly smell the scent of snow cedar mixed with orange leaves emanating from Su Qiyan and dispersing in the wind. The base note was an elusive fresh mint, with a hint of icy spring added to the fragrance, bringing a cool indifference that dispelled the summer heat under the sun.


    Wen Shuangmu stared at Su Qiyan''s back, her fingertips tracing along the hem of his shirt, slowly, then gripping tightly again.


    Her heart was beating violently, almost overflowing from her chest.


    Wen Shuangmu looked at the trees lining both sides of the road, her heart full of joy.


    Su Qiyan felt a slight tug on the back of his shirt. His gaze only flicked downward briefly, saying nothing as he turned to avoid a roadblock ahead.


    The bike reached the gates of Mingli School just as the peak hour for students arriving began. The flower beds in front of the main gate were lined with private cars dropping off students.


    Li Maozhen got out of the car just in time to see Su Qiyan''s bicycle arc gracefully into the school campus. Wen Shuangmu sat on the back, one hand holding Su Qiyan''s waist, the other running through her wind-blown hair.


    A handsome boy and a beautiful girl, quite a sight to behold.


    Li Maozhen whistled teasingly and gave Wen Shuangmu two thumbs up from afar.


    Spotting a familiar face, Wen Shuangmu tried to maintain herposure by averting her gaze, her ears turning slightly red from embarrassment. Yet she couldn''tpletely suppress the small, proud flutter in her heart.


    Arriving at the school''s bike shed, Wen Shuangmu hopped off the back seat.


    Su Qiyan had already parked the bike and tossed both his backpack and book bag into her arms. "Next time, don''t tattle to my mom saying I''m bullying you at school."


    Wen Shuangmu stumbled as she caught the bags. Watching Su Qiyan walk away, she hurriedly followed, looking confused. "But I didn''t."


    Su Qiyan didn''t bring upst night''s lecture from his mother: "Whether you did or not, don''t bite the hand that feeds you. Next time, you know what to say, right?"


    Wen Shuangmu''s lips turned down in a sulk as she responded with an "Oh," keeping the second half of her thought to herself.


    Then why don''t you give me more chances to be in your debt?


    The muscles in Wen Shuangmu''s waist and legs felt like she''d just done a 50-meter frog jump followed by an 800-meter run. She could barely walk on level ground, and once they reached the stairwell of the teaching building, each step became a struggle.


    After just a few steps, she lost sight of Su Qiyan, but Li Maozhen caught up from behind.


    Li Maozhen was surprised to see her alone: "Shuang-jie, where''s Su Qiyan?"


    Wen Shuangmu tilted her chin to indicate: "He went to the ssroom first."


    Li Maozhen quipped: "Qiyan''s enlightenmentes in waves, doesn''t it?"


    A secondter, he bumped Wen Shuangmu''s shoulder, winking as he said: "But today was a big qualitative leap forward. Keep it up, Shuang-jie."


    Wen Shuangmu stumbled from his bump, steadying herself on the railing. Sheughed and retorted: "Who needs your encouragement?"


    "Right, right. Cats have nine lives, and Wen Shuangmu has seven unbreakable hearts."


    "..."


    Tired of his nonsense, Wen Shuangmu headed straight for ss 2 when they reached the third floor.


    Li Maozhen didn''t go directly into ss 1, but followed Wen Shuangmu, covering his mouth as he whispered: "Hey, Shuang-jie, was everything you saidst night true?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "What did I say?"


    "About you covering for Lu Jing and Xia Zhili in your ss."


    Wen Shuangmu gave him a sidelong nce: "Why are you so nosy?"


    Li Maozhen: "Of course I am! How do you think I became the go-to source for gossip in middle school? Hearing everything is a basic professional ethic."


    Wen Shuangmu thought for a moment, maintaining the same ambiguity asst night''s "Shh" emoji, and countered: "That''s their private business. Why do you keep asking?"


    Li Maozhen let out an "Ah¡ª" and suddenly looked as if he understood everything.


    He made a gesture of secrecy to Wen Shuangmu, very loyally: "Don''t worry, I definitely won''t tell anyone that you told me."


    Wen Shuangmu struggled to suppress the smile tugging at her lips and waved her hand: "Don''t spread rumors. I''m going."


    After parting ways with Li Maozhen, Wen Shuangmu hadn''t even turned into the ssroom when she bumped into a human wall.


    Her gaze still lowered from entering, she caught sight of a red string on the other person''s wrist, and her breath caught in her throat.


    Sure enough, you can''t spread rumors without consequences; they''ll catch up to you eventually.


    Lu Jing didn''t seem to have heard her conversation with Li Maozhen outside. He steadied her, asking, "Are you okay?"


    Wen Shuangmu nced at Wang Chengshuo, who was with Lu Jing. They both held water bottles, probably because the water dispenser in the ssroom was empty and they''d gone to the tea room outside to fill up.


    "Mm, I''m fine."


    Wen Shuangmu said "thanks" and tried to step around Lu Jing.


    But as soon as she took a step, her leg suddenly went weak. She could clearly feel how her leg buckled in a wavy line.


    This time, Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo each grabbed one of her arms to steady her.


    Wen Shuangmu kept her head down, feeling like this aftereffect was going to be the death of her reputation.


    She took a deep breath and looked up at Lu Jing: "Did you just trip me?"


    Lu Jing: "?" Lu Jing: "I don''t think so, but... maybe I identally..."


    ?


    Why does this conversation suddenly feel so familiar?


    Wen Shuangmu salvaged both her face and her dignity, putting on a magnanimous "I forgive you" expression, and walked to her seat as if nothing had happened.


    Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo exchanged a nce, speechless for a few seconds, before heading outside.


    During the break between the second and third periods.


    The ss representative handed out the homework that the Chinese teacher had gradedst night.


    If life is full of ups and downs, Wen Shuangmu, hugging her exercise book, could be said to have experienced them all thoroughly in the span of a single morning.


    She got half of thenguage basics wrong and only scored 7 out of 17 on the readingprehension.


    Wen Shuangmu pressed her brow, trying to bargain with Wu Xiaoqi: "Can''t we switch to a different teacher?"


    Wu Xiaoqi helped her count: "Host is a science prodigy, won third prize in the provincial encyclopedia knowledgepetition for history and geography, and is at graduate school level for politics and English. Which teacher do you think still needs you to win them over?"


    "Hm?" Wen Shuangmu was surprised to hear about herself, "Was I really that impressive?"


    Before Wu Xiaoqi could respond, she nodded after a moment of self-reflection: "I guess I really was."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu had a new idea: "Why don''t I try to win over the P.E. teacher? I only scored around 20 points on the P.E. high school entrance exam. That score should be able topete with my Chinese level, right?"


    Wu Xiaoqi couldn''t understand where she got the courage, given how much of an aftereffect she had from just showing off a bit of karate, and decided to humor her for a bit: "So have you thought about how to gain favor with the P.E. teacher? Are you going to demonstrate a topspin serve, or maybe hurdles or high jump?"


    "To be honest, I think I could perform some trick golf for him. That should be worth 10 points."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "...So are you nning to have your family donate a golf course to the school, or are you nning to have your family donate a golf course to the school?"


    Wen Shuangmu shrugged, unconcerned: "Donate, of course. As long as you agree right now to change the target of the mission, I''ll call my dad immediately."


    Wu Xiaoqi was silent for a moment, then couldn''t help but mutter: "It''s a good thing Su Qiyan isn''t set up as a second-generation rich kid, otherwise wouldn''t this be stealing the male lead''s job..."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t catch Wu Xiaoqi''s mumbling. After some consideration, she felt it wasn''t quite reasonable: "It would take at least a month for the course to be built. Isn''t that a bit too long to wait?"


    "You finally realized that." Wu Xiaoqi worried, then detecting Liang Jie entering the ssroom door, quickly changed the subject: "Quick, quick, Liang Jie ising in. Find a Gabriel Garc¨ªa M¨¢rquez novel and pretend to read it."


    Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo were talking when they heard a series of rustling noises from nearby.


    They saw Wen Shuangmu yanking at her book bag by her desk leg, rummaging through it while muttering frustrated curses: "What did M¨¢rquez write again... ''One Hundred Years of Solitude'', but I didn''t buy that... Which one is ''The Colonel''? Tch, why do all these covers look the same..."


    After fumbling around for a while, Wen Shuangmu happened upon Fei Xiaotong''s "From the Soil." Not bothering to look further, she pulled it out, flipped it open to a random page, and propped it up on her desk with the cover fully visible, pretending to read seriously.


    Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo, who had witnessed the whole process: "..."


    Wang Chengshuo was still sitting sideways. He nodded slightly towards the wide-open book bag at Wen Shuangmu''s feet and said, "Did you share all your book recordings with her?"


    Lu Jing looked away and gave a soft "Mm" in response.


    Wang Chengshuo thought of something and, whileughing, tapped the romance novel Lu Jing was reading on his desk: "Does she know what you''re reading now?"


    Lu Jing flipped to the front of the novel, not seeing any issue with the girlish color scheme and flowery text: "She knows. I even warned her off two books."


    Wang Chengshuo: "..."


    You''re something else.


    Wen Shuangmu pretended to turn a page, not knowing if Liang Jie hade down yet. She was getting impatient: "How much longer?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Almost there. You did so poorly on yesterday''s homework, she''ll definitelye down to talk to you one-on-one in a bit."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu felt that she must have been too easygoingtely, letting Wu Xiaoqi get carried away. She raised her eyelids in annoyance, thinking that if she wanted to make an impression on the teacher, she should at least be sitting in the prime spots near the teacher''s desk.


    Just as she was thinking about how to show off by casually carrying a book around without seeming too deliberate, her vision was suddenly blocked by a dark shadow approaching.


    Xia Zhili stopped in front of Wen Shuangmu, arms full of snacks, and dumped them all onto her desk with a "whoosh".


    Wen Shuangmu was a bit surprised: "What are you doing?"


    Xia Zhili smiled: "I didn''t know what you like to eat, so I bought you a bit of everything."


    Xia Zhili then scratched her head and asked: "How''s your hand doing?"


    Wen Shuangmu lifted her hand to look. The small scab on her index finger knuckle had opened up at some point and was oozing a bit of blood: "It''s fine."


    "If there''s anything you find inconvenient to do, just let me know," Xia Zhili said. Then, thinking of something, she nced at the schedule on the podium. "You usually go to Mr. Zhou Quan''s office to fetch homework before math ss, right? I''ll help you with that when the timees."


    Wen Shuangmu listened in a daze: "Oh, okay."


    Just then, Liang Jie came down from the front row. In teachers'' eyes, students with good grades were generally seen as well-behaved, so seeing the two top female students in the ss together was quite a pleasant sight.


    Overhearing their conversation, she asked with concern: "What happened to Shuangmu''s hand?"


    Wen Shuangmu, as usual, was reluctant to borate, but Xia Zhili took the initiative to exin.


    Liang Jie was quite shocked: "You''re not hurt anywhere else, are you? Have you applied any ointment?"


    As Wen Shuangmu answered each question, she suddenly heard Wu Xiaoqi excitedly announce: "Whoa, whoa! The favorability rating just moved. It''s now 8/10!"


    "?"


    Wen Shuangmu looked at the information bar floating before her eyes.


    [Side quest triggered: Gain the teacher''s favor.]


    [Target: Chinese teacher Liang Jie.]


    [Current favorability progress: 8/10]


    [Final reward: 5 points.]


    Was there such a good thing?


    One act of bravery, and the benefits keeping.


    Should she perhaps show off a bit to Zhou Quan as well, get him to spread the word about how she participated in the cement exam despite being injured?


    "Ahhh! It just changed to 9!" Wu Xiaoqi shouted again.


    Wen Shuangmu was confused about why the value was still changing, then she saw Liang Jie pick up the book "Rural China" from her desk.


    "Shuangmu, you read sociology books in your spare time? Do you find them difficult?"


    Realizing her show-off tactic was working, Wen Shuangmu sat up straight: "It''s alright. Just building up some knowledge, learning a bit more."


    Liang Jie''s eyes showed approval as she nodded appreciatively.


    Some ssmates came over to ask Liang Jie questions, while others approached Xia Zhili about practice problems that hadn''t been distributed earlier.


    Liang Jie and Xia Zhili walked towards the front row.


    Wen Shuangmu leaned back in her chair contentedly, poking at her still-sore waist: "This turned out pretty well."


    Wu Xiaoqi said: "I bet if you read Freud''s ''The Interpretation of Dreams'' tomorrow, you''llplete the task with a perfect 10!"


    "Not bad."


    In high spirits, Wen Shuangmu fiddled with the pile of snacks on her desk. After some thought, she picked up a package and reached across the aisle to ask Lu Jing: "Want some?"


    Lu Jing turned his head to look at her, paused for a second, then took it without hesitation.


    Wen Shuangmu then looked at Wang Chengshuo, who had also turned to look because of her words: "Want to join in?"


    Wang Chengshuo felt like he was just an afterthought, but he didn''t make a fuss about it. He picked out a lollipop: "Thanks."


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t sit for long before taking two tissues from her drawer and heading to the restroom.


    Watching her leave, Wang Chengshuo said while unwrapping his candy: "You and Wen Shuangmu have gotten pretty close, huh?"


    Lu Jing: "Hm?"


    "She gave you snacks, and I got some too as a bonus."


    Lu Jing dismissed it: "Isn''t it normal to share food with the people sitting in front, behind, and next to you?"


    Wang Chengshuo automatically filtered out thisment: "You know, I always thought you liked Xia Zhili, butparing the two, I''m more in favor of you and Wen. Wen knows Lagrange interption."


    Lu Jing: "...Who said I liked Xia Zhili?"


    Wang Chengshuo innocently sucked on his lollipop: "Didn''t you say before that Xia Zhili was prettier than Wen Shuangmu?"


    Lu Jing: "I said that?"


    The next update will be at 9 PM sharp.

 Chapter 18

    Thest morning ss was art.


    The art building was situated in a secluded spot, overlooking theke with a bamboo grove behind it. The mist from the water dispersed in the breeze, making it a rare cool sanctuary on the school grounds during summer.


    The art room had no air conditioning, with doors and windows wide open at both ends, offering a view of the wind rustling through the treetops outside.


    Upstairs, some ss was having a music lesson, learning "The Yellow River Cantata," whichpletely shattered the artistic ambiance carefully cultivated by the rockery and streams around the art building.


    Wen Shuangmu held her brush, asionally squinting topare with the subject on the tform before making a few strokes on her drawing paper. Her every gesture resembled that of an illustrator master who hade to sketch from life at a teaching scene.


    Lu Jing sat on a high stool on the tform.


    This semester''s art ss focused mainly on sketching. Instead of starting with the usual lessons on light and shadow or geometric sketching, the art teacher allowed everyone to express themselves freely, using watercolors or paints as they wished, to first build interest in painting.


    And Lu Jing was the teacher''s hand-picked model.


    Thinking he could escape one art assignment, Lu Jing dly agreed to the teacher''s request.


    During the 40-minute ss, Lu Jing''s gaze wandered aimlessly, familiarizing himself with the faces of ssmates he hadn''t known well before.


    The gauze curtains on both sides of the art room were drawn to the edges of the windows but still fluttered with the air currents.


    Wang Chengshuo had drawn Lu Jing into some bizarre form and kept chuckling as he drew.


    Lu Jing initially wanted to warn him off with a re, but Wang Chengshuo''sughter was so intense that Lu Jing eventually couldn''t even be bothered to get angry.


    Looking elsewhere, the atmosphere around Wen Shuangmu waspletely different.


    She sat with a straight back, eyes focused, holding her brush with meticulous care.


    It was as if she was recreating a perfect work of art.


    She looked so professional that it created a sense of distance.


    Lu Jing thought, this is how a proper artist should behave, doing justice to their model.


    The bell for the end of ss rang in the teaching building.


    The art teacher had no intention of extending the ss. She appointed Lu Jing as the ss representative, asking everyone toplete their works after ss, and for him to collect them all and submit them to her office by next Wednesday.


    Lu Jing nodded in agreement, inconspicuously stretching his foot arch to loosen his stiff muscles.


    The art teacher remembered something and added, "Oh right, Lu Jing, for your assignment, just pick any ssmate as a model, draw them, and turn it in."


    Lu Jing, who had thought he''d escaped the assignment, replied, "...Oh, okay."


    It meant he wasn''t getting any perks at all; he had struck poses on the tform for nothing this ss.


    Lu Jing rubbed his neck as he got down, heading to the back seats to settle ounts with Wang Chengshuo, who had beenughing all ss, intending to im somepensation for image rights infringement.


    Stopping beside Wang Chengshuo, he snatched the sketch paper just removed from the easel. The words of rebuke were on the tip of his tongue, but when he saw the Q-version image clearly, he swallowed them back.


    It was actually quite good.


    Lu Jing pped the sketch paper back into Wang Chengshuo''s arms: "Seeing youugh like a maniac, I thought you were deliberately messing with me."


    Wang Chengshuo coughed with a smile, raising his hand to cover his mouth: "I wasughing at Wen Shuangmu."


    "Hm?"


    Lu Jing turned to look to the other side.


    Wang Chengshuo looked along with him. Wen Shuangmu''s sketch paper was still openly disyed on the easel.


    Wang Chengshuo''sughter broke his words into fragments: "Isn''t it awesome? It''s like a rageic! It doesn''t match your temperament at all, yet it captures all your characteristics. It''s uncannily like you, it''s killing me."


    Lu Jing stared at Wen Shuangmu''s drawing paper for two seconds, then suddenly lowered his head andughed.


    Exaggerated lines, distorted body shape, he wasn''t sure whether to say she had drawn his features lively or chaotic.


    But he had to admit, it did bear some resemnce. She even included details like the red string on his wrist and the small red mole.


    To think he had assumed she was brewing some masterpiece during ss.


    Seeing Lu Jingugh, Wang Chengshuo patted his shoulder with an unsurprised look: "Right? How could anyone hold it in?"


    As he spoke, he packed up his art book and drawing paper, giving Lu Jing a push, "Let''s go eat."


    Lu Jing didn''t move. He reached across the aisle, pointing to a spot on the drawing paper, and asked Wen Shuangmu, "What''s this?"


    Wen Shuangmu, still seriously examining her own work, was startled by the sudden question.


    Looking at where Lu Jing was pointing, she said, "Can''t you tell? It''s a bird."


    Wu Xiaoqi had insisted she add an egret to the picture, based on that golden egret badge. She had recreated about 50% of it.


    Bird?


    Lu Jing''s gaze fell on the hand in the drawing that was holding the bird''s string.


    Walking a bird?


    Lu Jing suddenly found himself at a loss for words.


    He hadn''t expected it to be a hidden erotic manga.


    But Wang Chengshuo beside him had a discerning eye: "Ah¡ª you drew an egret, right? That''s a great idea."


    Wen Shuangmu, who had just been criticized by Wu Xiaoqi for drawing poorly, now encountered someone who appreciated her work. Her eyes immediately lit up, and saying "You have good taste," she raised her fist for a bump.


    Wang Chengshuo looked a bit surprised at her extended fist, and after a couple of seconds, slowly bumped it.


    Lu Jing repeated in confusion: "Egret?"


    Wang Chengshuo said: "It''s homophonous with your name."


    Lu Jing had a sudden realization.


    After Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo left the art room, Wu Xiaoqi was still muttering: "Little egret is just too kind-hearted, not even minding such an insult."


    Wen Shuangmu shrugged, her fingertip flicking over the paper: "What insult? Is it wrong to draw it so vividly?"


    Wu Xiaoqi refused to let her aesthetic system be tainted by Wen Shuangmu: "You really should see the manga version of ''Zhizhi Green Beauty''. Even as a background character, Lu Jing''s single panel makes people sigh that he''s truly the light of G University, owning millions in manga copyright."


    Wen Shuangmu was unimpressed: "If you give me that much money, I can draw like that too."


    "Are we discussing money here?!" Wu Xiaoqi saw Ji Jiahuiing down from the front to find Wen Shuangmu for lunch. "By your logic, Ji Jiahui can draw Lu Jing so well not because of her excellent drawing skills, but because she''s powered by love and sees money as dung?"


    Wen Shuangmu had witnessed Ji Jiahui''s superior skills countless times in middle school, so she was used to Wu Xiaoqi''s praise: "Well, you don''t know this, but Ji Jiahui''s mother''s maiden name is actually Ma."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "You''ve heard of Ma Liang the Magic Brush, right? If you trace her mother''s family tree back eighteen generations, they''re from the same lineage as Ma Liang."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "!"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "I always thought Ma Liang the Magic Brush was just a fairy tale, it actually exists!"


    This time it was Wen Shuangmu''s turn to be surprised: "You actually believed that? I just made it up."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "......"


    Having had enough of joking, Wen Shuangmu started packing up her paper and pens before Ji Jiahui came close, not wanting to embarrass herself.


    Ji Jiahui was clearly in a good mood and took the initiative to ask, "Shuangmu, how did your drawing turn out?"


    Wen Shuangmu was familiar with Ji Jiahui''s routine of false modesty, which was nothing more than seeking aparison to elevate herself.


    "Being ugly in a stylish way is also a style, I suppose." Wen Shuangmu didn''t give her a chance to set up, rolling her drawing into a tube and walking out side by side with her. "How about yours? Let me see."


    Ji Jiahui''s expression showed a bit of regret, but it was quickly reced by excitement: "The light and shadow on Lu Jing from my angle were absolutely perfect."


    Wen Shuangmu tilted her head to look at the drawing she unfolded, her steps faltering slightly. She had to admit it was quite stunning.


    Wen Shuangmu couldn''t pinpoint whether it was because of the hair tips, the eyes, or some other facial feature, but in Ji Jiahui''s portrayal, the subtle, mysterious feeling Lu Jing gave off when spacing out was fully captured on paper.


    The expression looked seemingly transparent, yet gave people a sense of being fooled. Ji Jiahui had perfectly captured a certain ambiguous, elusive atmosphere about Lu Jing.


    However¡ª


    If she remembered correctly, in her previous life, the art teacher should have called her up as the model. It felt like Ji Jiahui had only used half her skill when drawing her.


    Wen Shuangmu decided to freeload a drawing, just like in her previous life: "Wow, your drawing looks so good! When you have time, draw one for me too, okay?"


    Ji Jiahui: "...Sure."


    The art building was quite far from the school cafeteria.


    Most of the students in the ss rolled up their books as soon as ss ended and rushed to the cafeteria.


    Walking under the shade of trees, Ji Jiahui suddenly said, as if seeing something: "Let''s go to the ssroom first to drop off our books."


    "Huh? Oh, okay." Wen Shuangmu wasn''t in a hurry.


    When they entered the teaching area, Wen Shuangmu noticed that Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo, who had been walking in front of them, had alsoe back for a trip.


    When they reached the third floor, Lin Sen, who had been standing by the corridor railing like a statue waiting for her husband''s return, rushed over to them. "What took you two so long? I should have just gone to eat with my own ssmates."


    As he spoke, he hooked an arm around one of them and started dragging them towards the stairwell.


    Wen Shuangmu was right behind them, nearly bumping into them. She took a step back, her feet feeling weak and unsteady.


    Lu Jing''s hand moved quickly, lifting halfway before seeing that she had steadied herself, and then dropping back down.


    The boisterous Lin Sen finally noticed there was someone else nearby and quickly apologized.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t respond, only moving aside to make room for them. Ji Jiahui was the one who said, "It''s alright."


    After the three boys had gone down the stairs, Ji Jiahui suddenly peered down through the gap in the stairwell and said softly, "Lu Jing smells quite nice."


    She seemed to realize it was a bit odd for girls to discuss such topics in private, but her curiosity got the better of her. Unable to resist, she asked Wen Shuangmu, "Can you tell what fragrance he''s using?"


    Wen Shuangmu''s mother''s advertisingpany often received perfumes and fragrances as gifts from various brands. When she couldn''t use them all herself, she would sometimes give them to ssmates as presents, so everyone assumed she was an expert on the subject.


    "...I think it''s just the scent of hisundry detergent."


    Ji Jiahui mused, "Really? I thought I caught a hint of lime and jasmine..."


    Seeing Ji Jiahui muttering to herself, Wen Shuangmu fell silent. She turned to Wu Xiaoqi and asked, "What is she doing? What''s she trying to analyze?"


    Wu Xiaoqi replied, "Don''t act like you weren''t doing the same thing this morning when you sat behind Su Qiyan."


    Wen Shuangmu''s face suddenly grew thin-skinned as she adamantly denied it: "I did not!"


    Wu Xiaoqi retorted, "You think I can''t hear your inner thoughts? You were going on about cedar top notes, middle notes, and base notes."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    She vowed to herself that she would get rid of this system one day.

 Chapter 19

    By this time, there probably wouldn''t be much food left in the cafeteria, so Wen Shuangmu and Ji Jiahui decided to go to the noodle shop near the school instead.


    As they came out after eating, a wave of heat instantly rolled up from the bluestone pavement. The leaves of the phoenix trees lining both sides of the street drooped under the scorching sun.


    Wen Shuangmu bought a cup of milk tea and walked slowly with Ji Jiahui in the shade, chewing on the straw as they went.


    Ji Jiahui, sensitive to heat, opened a pack of wet wipes to wipe her sweat and handed one to Wen Shuangmu. "By the way, howe you were with Xia Zhili and Lu Jing after school yesterday?"


    Wen Shuangmu replied, "I invited them to go to the bookstore to buy study guides."


    Thinking back, in her previous life, Wen Shuangmu had only seen Xia Zhili as an ordinary admirer of Su Qiyan, not even a worthypetitor. But due to possessiveness, she disliked having too many girls fluttering around Su Qiyan, and had privately tried to trip up Xia Zhili many times. Ji Jiahui, on the other hand, neither liked Su Qiyan nor truly valued her friendship with Wen Shuangmu beyond a superficial level. There was no reason for her to join in offending others for no benefit, yet she had always been hostile towards Xia Zhili alongside Wen Shuangmu, even more proactively making small moves against her.


    At the time, Wen Shuangmu hadn''t given much thought to the reasons behind this. Now hearing Ji Jiahui bring it up voluntarily, she considered that there might be some other history between Ji Jiahui and Xia Zhili that she didn''t know about. This could be a good opportunity to observe and potentially use to her advantage.


    Ji Jiahui asked curiously, "I noticed your seats are quite far apart in ss. How did you suddenly be so close?"


    Wen Shuangmu thought to herself that they weren''t actually that close before. It was her fault for forcibly pushing the plot, dragging along two people who were too polite to refuse to browse the bookstore with her. After that, it was probably her image as a Good Samaritan that had left a deep impression.


    However, she didn''t say this to Ji Jiahui, only replying, "Xia Zhili is the Chinese ss representative, and I''m the Math ss representative. We often run into each other in the office, so we''ve gotten familiar over time."


    Ji Jiahui nodded and then brought up the topic of the online forum: "I don''t know who was so mean to post such an unttering photo of you. Have you contacted the moderators to have them delete it?"


    "No," Wen Shuangmu said magnanimously. "The photo mainly captured Lu Jing and Xia Zhili. If I asked for it to be deleted, it would interfere with everyone shipping them as a couple."


    Ji Jiahuimented, "The Mingli forum is so active. At first, I thought students from Elite High School wouldn''t be into these things."


    Wen Shuangmu quite agreed with this point.


    The trending post fromst night gained dozens of newments with each refresh. It took her quite some time to read through all the replies, and then she had to stay upte to finish her homework.


    Ji Jiahui remembered something: "Oh right, yesterday I saw someone in the gossip group on the forum iming that Xia Zhili''s grades were just average in middle school, but she dated the top student in their grade. Later, that boy helped bring up Xia Zhili''s grades, and she ended up bing the top scorer in this year''s high school entrance exam. I wonder if this rumor is true or not."


    Wen Shuangmu was so shocked she couldn''t even chew the pearls in her milk tea.


    She never expected that someone who looked so harmless on the surface could actually be so cunning.


    Wen Shuangmu asked, "So what about that boy now? Did Xia Zhili dump him after using him?"


    "It''s not clear, there are many versions of the story," Ji Jiahui said. "Some say the boy got into a fight for Xia Zhili and had to repeat a year. Others say his parents'' work transferred him to another city for high school. Don''t you think Xia Zhili sounds quite maniptive from all this?"


    "Indeed," Wen Shuangmu nodded in strong agreement.


    "Wen Shuangmu."


    Wen Shuangmu realized she might be jinxed today, getting caught every time she said something bad about someone behind their back.


    Xia Zhili was standing at the entrance of a convenience store across the street, calling out to her. Seeing Wen Shuangmu look over, she waved her hand again.


    After the traffic passed, Xia Zhili jogged over.


    Xia Zhili''s skin tone seemed to be of the fair, rosy type that didn''t tan easily. Her cheeks were flushed, and wisps of hair at her forehead were stuck to her fair skin with sweat. The jade pendant hanging from a red cord around her neck had slipped out from her cor as she moved.


    Her eyes curved into bright crescents as she smiled.


    This kind of red cord with a jade pendant seemed to be standard essories for pretty, fair-skinned girls in middle and high school.


    No matter how you looked at her, she still appeared to be a soft, gentle girl.


    How impressive, Wen Shuangmu marveled inwardly.


    She also wanted Su Qiyan to help her be the top student in their grade, and then the top scorer in the college entrance exam.


    Another girl came running over with Xia Zhili. She had a cute baby face with small permed curls at the ends of her hair. She wore casual short sleeves and a short skirt, with a blue and white school uniform jacket tied around her waist. She appeared to be a student from No. 13 High School across the street.


    Xia Zhili waved the pack of mint lozenges in her hand and asked Wen Shuangmu, "Do you want some candy?"


    Wen Shuangmu was taken aback, not expecting Xia Zhili to run over just to say this. She paused for a moment.


    If bringing her food this morning could be considered reasonable, this casual conversation starter now seemed a bit too familiar.


    As if they were old friends.


    "No, thanks," Wen Shuangmu waved her hand.


    She had just had milk tea and felt that eating mint candy on top of that wouldn''t be a pleasantbination.


    Xia Zhili didn''t seem to find anything odd and withdrew her hand. She then enthusiastically introduced, "This is the friend from No. 13 High School I mentioned to you before. Chu Xi."


    Chu Xi smiled, her eyes crinkling, "Hello."


    Wen Shuangmu nodded politely at her, while her inner thoughts raced:


    I know, I know. This is the best friend you helped reject a confession, who might turn against you in the near future.


    Xia Zhili then introduced to Chu Xi, "Xixi, this is Wen Shuangmu I just told you about."


    "This is..." When Xia Zhili''s introducing finger pointed towards Ji Jiahui, her words suddenly trailed off.


    Wen Shuangmu blinked, wondering if Xia Zhili had overheard them gossiping behind her back and was now ufortable continuing the introductions.


    After a couple of seconds, Ji Jiahui, unable to bear it any longer, introduced herself: "Ji Jiahui."


    Wen Shuangmu, who had just caught on, almost choked trying to hold back herughter.


    How impressive, after so many days since the start of school, she still hadn''t memorized all her ssmates'' names.


    Who could tolerate being ignored like this?


    She would have issues with Xia Zhili too if she were in Ji Jiahui''s shoes.


    However, Xia Zhili just smiled a bit sheepishly, looking harmless with a touch of mischief, making it hard for anyone to get truly upset with her.


    She offered her box of mint lozenges as a peace offering to Ji Jiahui: "Would you like some candy?"


    Ji Jiahui wasn''t the type to make a scene in public. She didn''t dwell on it much and graciously epted a piece.


    "Do you know any good dessert shops nearby?" Xia Zhili asked.


    Ji Jiahui, softened by the candy, replied, "How about CLASS? It''s near the east gate of the residential area."


    Wen Shuangmu, still sipping her milk tea, didn''t have a chance to interject. She regretted it so much she almost squeezed the milk tea out of the straw.


    That ce was the regr hangout for Su Qiyan, Li Maozhen, and their group throughout their three years of high school.


    She tried to salvage the situation: "I think the desserts at Elite High School are better. CLASS was reported to have cockroaches in their back kitchen counter recently."


    Ji Jiahui turned to look at Wen Shuangmu in surprise.


    CLASS had a semi-open kitchenyout, with all drinks and desserts prepared in full view of customers. There was no such thing as a "back kitchen counter."


    Wen Shuangmu pretended not to notice, maintaining herposure.


    Xia Zhili, being rather gullible, let out an "Ah" and said to Chu Xi, "Then let''s not go to CLASS."


    Beside her, Chu Xi was quietly searching for directions to Elite High School on her phone. Looking at the reviews, she murmured in agreement, "You''re right, this ce does have better ratings..."


    Ji Jiahui: "..."


    Seeing that they didn''t suspect anything, Wen Shuangmu''s mood lifted, and she curved her lips into a smile.


    However, her AI assistant Wu Xiaoqi unhelpfully chimed in: "Host, that smile is too viinous. Be careful not to give yourself away."


    Wen Shuangmu''s smile faded into a pout. She looked away and noticed the ss door of a fruit tea shop ahead opening, with several tall boys walking out. Perhaps due to their wildly varied hairstyles, they gave off a somewhat rowdy impression.


    Wen Shuangmu didn''t look too closely but saw them heading in their direction. She preemptively moved a step to the side to make way.


    The boys were very tall, probably averaging around 6 feet. As they got closer, their group seemed quite imposing, creating a sense of pressure.


    The girls unconsciously stopped talking, not daring to make eye contact with the group, intending to resume their conversation after the boys had passed.


    Wen Shuangmuzily gazed at the tree-shaded street across from her, noticing from the corner of her eye that Chu Xi seemed to be intentionally hiding behind Xia Zhili. Just as she found this strange, a deep, slightly husky voice came from behind, carrying a low maic quality.


    "Wait."


    The crowd that had already started to disperse stopped at thismand. A tall, slender figure leisurely strolled back.


    Wen Shuangmu recognized the owner of that raspy voice as soon as she heard it.


    A heavy smoker.


    Entering with the air of a street-smart guy.


    She looked towards Zhou Yu, who had stopped beside them with a cigarette between his lips, and silently raised her hand to cover her nose, blocking as much secondhand smoke as she could.


    Chu Xi, hiding behind Xia Zhili, bit her lip as she saw Zhou Yu approach. After what seemed like an internal struggle, she stepped out and said, "Zhou Yu, what do you want now?"


    "Not looking for you," Zhou Yu replied in his usualzy drawl, his gaze fixed intensely on one spot.


    He raised his hand and called out to one of his buddies in front, "Lin Zi, pass me the bag for a sec."


    The boy called Lin Zi brought over the milk tea bag, his gaze curiously sweeping over the girls.


    Ji Jiahui sensed the subtle atmosphere and discreetly tugged at Wen Shuangmu''s sleeve. "What''s going on?"


    Wen Shuangmu leaned back, whispering in her ear, "Can''t you see? He''s trying to pick up a girl."


    Ji Jiahui had a sudden realization and re-examined Zhou Yu and Chu Xi.


    It seemed to be a case of unrequited love.


    Zhou Yu pulled out a cup of Zhizhi Green Beauty from the bag.


    "Kid, this is for you."


    As soon as he spoke, the expressions of everyone present changed to varying degrees.


    Chu Xi turned her head towards Xia Zhili in disbelief, while Ji Jiahui''s face showed surprise, as if she had eaten the wrong melon.


    Wen Shuangmu tilted her head back to look at the sky, pressing her philtrum.


    What a way to make his intentions clear.


    In the distance, his buddies let out a chorus of "Ooh!"


    Xia Zhili''s cheeks turned bright red almost instantly. "I don''t want it."


    Zhou Yu''s eyes swept over her crimson ears, and he chuckled softly. The cigarette dangling from his mouth curved up in a rakish angle, full of nonchnce. He enunciated each word clearly, "When I give you something, you take it."


    Seeing that Xia Zhili didn''t move and even retreated a step while shielding Chu Xi, Zhou Yu clicked his tongue impatiently. He grabbed Xia Zhili''s wrist and directly pushed the milk tea into her hand.


    Xia Zhili instinctively flinched when the unfamiliar touch met her wrist.


    Zhou Yu''s movement paused slightly, his eyes darkening. He removed the cigarette with two fingers and looked down at her. "Afraid of me?"


    Xia Zhili tried to draw a line: "We''re not familiar with each other."


    Zhou Yu smiled. "Strangers be friends. This is our third meeting, and you''re still so distant with me. Don''t you have a conscience, ssmate?"


    Xia Zhili stubbornly straightened her back without saying a word.


    Zhou Yu didn''t seem intent on pressuring her further. His gaze swept to the side, as if he had just noticed the other two girls.


    "Oh, Chao..." Zhou Yu swallowed the words "tian jiao" and corrected himself, "Little Chao, you''re here too."


    Wen Shuangmu doubted her ears and turned to ask Ji Jiahui beside her, "What did he call me?"


    "Little Chao?" Ji Jiahui was also confused and uncertainly said, "Is heplimenting you for being trendy?"


    Zhou Yu probably wanted to give Wen Shuangmu a milk tea too, but seeing she already had one, he gave up the idea.


    Before leaving, Zhou Yu took ast look at Xia Zhili. With the hand holding the cigarette, he quickly tapped Xia Zhili''s forehead with his knuckle. "Next time we meet, you''ll tell me your name, right?"


    Xia Zhili reacted violently, pping his hand away. "I said we''re not familiar. Don''t get so close to me."


    Chu Xi, who had been ignored the whole time, started to lose herposure. "Zhou Yu, what do you mean by this?"


    Zhou Yu wasn''t angry at being hit by Xia Zhili. He smiled and rubbed the back of his hand.


    He extinguished the cigarette and threw it on the ground before turning to Chu Xi with an innocent look. "Didn''t you say you don''t like me? I''m pursuing someone else now. Is there a problem?"


    As he spoke, he put his hands in his pockets and said "I''m off" to Xia Zhili before walking towards his group of friends waiting nearby.


    Wen Shuangmu felt an intense urge to apud.


    How is this not turning dark?


    Shouldn''t there at least be a fight?


    Wuxiaoqi couldn''t help but interject: "Host, your excitement is a bit too obvious. Don''t forget that the existence of these supporting female characters and minor viins in the novel is to serve the development of the main couple''s rtionship."


    The subtle smile on Wen Shuangmu''s lips immediately vanished.


    She pointed at the cigarette butt on the ground and eximed, "Oh my, he''s littering. That''s so hical. You shouldn''t quarrel over a guy like this. It''s beneath you."

 Chapter 20

    Zhou Yu had barely walked five meters when he heard an exaggerated theatrical tone from behind. His hand, reaching for the cigarette pack in his pocket, paused briefly. Maintaining his half-pocketed posture, he nced back.


    Su Lin, standing beside him, chuckled and said, "Is this the ''chili pepper'' you mentioned? She''s quite the wild one."


    Zhou Yu lit a cigarette, looked away, and casually moved on, saying, "And yet we can''t hold it against her."


    "Oh?" Su Lin followed, asking curiously, "Why''s that?"


    Zhou Yu exhaled a smoke ring: "Can''t beat her."


    As the crowd moved away in droves, Wen Shuangmu felt her heart sink at Zhou Yu''s final nce before leaving. She said to Wu Xiaoqi, "I''m done for."


    "What''s wrong?" Wu Xiaoqi was busy observing Xia Zhili and Chu Xi, noting how Zhou Yu''s earlierment had made them both smile. "The effect seemed pretty good, didn''t it?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "I suspect Zhou Yu is falling in love with me."


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Your basis for that is...?"


    Wen Shuangmu regretted her actions deeply: "Isn''t it typical for guys like him to be most attracted to those who challenge and defy them? My bluntness just now must have made him think, ''Woman, you''re truly different.''"


    Wu Xiaoqi, who was amused by his host''s thought process a hundred times a day, deliberately said, "Well, he is a popr supporting male character. Even if he falls for you, it''s not a bad deal, right?"


    Wen Shuangmu sighed: "As if there''s any good to be found in a yer."


    Wu Xiaoqiughed, "Don''t worry. That rule you mentioned only applies to female protagonists with the ''irresistible'' setting. Otherwise, Chu Xi''s initial challenges to Zhou Yu''s boundaries wouldn''t have held his interest for even two days."


    Wen Shuangmu focused on an odd point: "Even two days is terrifying enough!"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu decided that from now on, wherever she was, Zhou Yu wouldn''t be, and wherever Zhou Yu was, she wouldn''t be. She promptly pulled Ji Jiahui to return to school, politely asking Xia Zhili before leaving, "Are you guysing?"


    "Yes, we''reing," Xia Zhili and Chu Xi had agreed to visit that dessert shop after school, following the earlier distraction.


    The four girls walked towards the school gate in rtive harmony.


    Wen Shuangmu wasn''t sure if Chu Xi harbored any resentment towards Xia Zhili, but at least on the surface, things seemed peaceful.


    The worry was that Chu Xi''s "domineering female CEO" script might lead her to y hard to get when pursued by Zhou Yu, mistaking his shift of affections as just another ploy. If she only realized after a month or two that Zhou Yu was her true love, things could get crazy, and their friendship would surely be over.


    Given Su Qiyan''s inexplicable concern for Xia Zhili before - even asking about her eating alone in the cafeteria - if he found out that Xia Zhili had lost her only friend, he''d probably feel inexplicably sorry for her again andunch a gentle offensive tofort her.


    Wen Shuangmu pursed her lips, casting a wary sidelong nce at Chu Xi.


    Meanwhile, Xia Zhili was still fretting over the hot potato in her hands.


    Probably out of guilt that her best friend''s former pursuer was now chasing after her, Xia Zhili seemed somewhat at a loss: "Xixi, do you want this?"


    Chu Xi said, "Since Zhou Yu gave it to you, you should drink it."


    Xia Zhili was indecisive and instinctively looked to Wen Shuangmu for guidance.


    However, Wen Shuangmu now had severe PTSD regarding Zhizhi Green Beauty. Without thinking, she raised her own milk tea and refused, "I already have one."


    Xia Zhili let out a soft "Ah" and turned her gaze to Ji Jiahui.


    Ji Jiahui quickly made a gesture of refusal: "I''m not thirsty."


    It wouldn''t be right for her to drink something a boy gave when pursuing another girl.


    As Xia Zhili hesitantly eyed a nearby trash can, Wen Shuangmu suddenly spoke up: "Alright, don''t waste it. Give it to me."


    Xia Zhili handed the milk tea to Wen Shuangmu, visibly relieved.


    Wu Xiaoqi wondered what sudden insight his host had gained. She hadn''t touched Zhizhi Green Beauty since her rebirth, after learning it was named after Xia Zhili in the novel.


    "Host, won''t you get full drinking so much?" Wen Shuangmu replied tly, "Who said I was drinking it myself?"


    Wu Xiaoqi: "Then who''s it for?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "Think about the deeper meaning of this milk tea''s name."


    Wu Xiaoqi was confused and repeated the name: "Zhizhi Green Beauty... It''s just a fresh-sounding name, what''s the problem?"


    Wen Shuangmu: "Well, who do you think is being ''greened'', and by whom?"


    Wu Xiaoqi was shocked.


    Zhizhi Green Beauty.


    Beauty, Yan, ...


    Wen Shuangmu smiled confidently: "So you see, is there anyone better suited to drink this milk tea than Lu Jing?"


    Xia Zhili and Su Qiyan were doomed from the start, just by the novel''s title. Her viinous mission was destined to seed from the beginning.


    They parted ways with Chu Xi at the gate of No. 13 High School.


    Xia Zhili said, "Thanks for earlier, Wen Shuangmu. You''re really nice."


    Receiving this ''nice person card'', Wen Shuangmu returned Xia Zhili''s gentle smile: "You''re wee. I just hope there''s no unpleasantness between you two."


    Ji Jiahui, who really couldn''t understand these tactics, wanted to speak but chose to remain silent.


    Mingli High School had three self-study periods on Saturday afternoons, and lunch break discipline was also quite rxed. As long as they didn''t make too much noise, the teachers generally didn''t interfere.


    When Wen Shuangmu entered the ssroom, it was bustling with activity. Some girls had switched seats to do homework together, boys were discussing sports news, and quite a few were ying games in groups.


    Lu Jing was at his seat, but Wang Chengshuo, who usually sat in front of him, wasn''t there. Instead, Lin Sen from ss 1, who often came to hang out with them, was sitting in his ce.


    Wen Shuangmu had been running into Lin Sen frequently in the teachers'' officetely, so they weren''tplete strangers.


    They had a Chineseposition notebook open on their desk, taking turns drawing circles and crosses to y tic-tac-toe.


    Wen Shuangmu walked over and ced the milk tea on Lu Jing''s desk: "This is for you. The cream top has melted a bit, is it still okay to drink?"


    "Ah." Lu Jing responded softly. Meeting Lu Jing''s confused gaze as he looked up, Wen Shuangmu realized her approach might have been a bit off, too natural and familiar. She added, "The milk tea shop had a buy-one-get-one-free promotion today. The others didn''t want it, do you?"


    After a couple of seconds, Lu Jing nodded: "Sure, leave it there."


    Wen Shuangmu thought his response sounded pretty cool. She turned back to put her half-finished cup on her own desk, then went to the storage cab at the back to get some test papers.


    The math papers had been counted by Xia Zhili in the math teacher''s office during the morning break. Zhou Quan, worried that students might work on weekend assignments during ss, had asked her to hand them out at lunchtime.


    Seeing Wen Shuangmu go to the front podium, Lin Sen yfully nudged Lu Jing''s arm, winking: "Look at you, doing well for yourself."


    Lu Jing drew a circle on theposition paper, blocking Lin Sen''s nearlyplete row of four: "Didn''t you hear? It was buy-one-get-one-free."


    Lin Sen: "Howe I don''t have female ssmates buying one and giving me free milk tea to drink?"


    Lin Sen only returned to his own ss when the bell rang for ss to start.


    Wang Chengshuo entered the ssroom right after him, carrying a stack of elective course guides from the teaching affairs office.


    Wang Chengshuo was the ss monitor elected by his ssmates.


    He wrote a string of numbers on the ckboard while distributing the elective course guides, saying, "The numbers on the board are for the new ss group chat. Please add it when you have time. I''ll post the school''s academic affairs website link in the groupter. What I''m passing out now is this semester''s elective course list. Take a look at it in a bit. The course selection requirements are all printed on the paper. The unified course selection opens at 10 AM next Sunday. Don''t forget, or if you don''t select your courses and don''t have enough credits, it will affect your college applications and independent recruitment in senior year."


    As Wang Chengshuo finished speaking, a pleasant system notification melody sounded in Wen Shuangmu''s mind.


    Wen Shuangmu remained silent for two seconds, then asked Wu Xiaoqi, "...Why are you ying music for no reason?"


    Wu Xiaoqi was quiet for even longer than Wen Shuangmu: "This is the exclusive prompt for the uing main storyline mission. In the future, when you hear it, you''ll know I''m about to highlight important points for you."


    Wen Shuangmu put down her pen and said seriously, "Oh, go ahead and highlight."


    [Main storyline mission: "I won''t let them have even one ss" action has been unlocked.]


    [Current progress: 0/10]


    [Final reward: Exchangeable based on the increase in viin value.]


    Wu Xiaoqi asked, "Host, do you remember what elective course you chose in your first year of high school?"


    Wen Shuangmu frowned, "How could I possibly remember that?"


    Wu Xiaoqi choked a bit: "...But ording to the original story plot, you put a lot of effort into trying to take the same elective course as Su Qiyan in your first year. Although you didn''t seed in the end."


    "Ah..." Wen Shuangmu pondered for a moment, as if remembering something, "Was it the bridge course?"


    Wu Xiaoqi smiled: "That was your college elective."


    Wu Xiaoqi decided to abandon this topic: "Never mind, let''s not talk about this now. Anyway, what the host needs to know now is that in your previous life, because you couldn''t choose the same course as Su Qiyan, it led to Su Qiyan and Xia Zhili having plenty of opportunities to be alone together in the same elective ss, causing their rtionship to progress rapidly."


    Wu Xiaoqi saw that Wen Shuangmu had already received the course selection guide passed down from the ssmates in front, and continued: "The host can now choose to unlock a chapter to see what course Su Qiyan chose, or try to find out on your own. A friendly reminder here, the plot unlock card can still only unlock 200 characters at a time, and it might unlock irrelevant plot points."


    Wen Shuangmu counted the points in the mall, 25 points, equivalent to five chances to try, but she hadn''t evenpleted the side quest of winning over the Chinese teacher yet, so she needed to save them forter use.


    Seeing that the course selection deadline was next weekend, Wen Shuangmu said, "I''ll try to find out on my own first."


    Mingli''s elective courses were diverse and varied, and before long, ssmates had gathered in groups here and there to discuss.


    Wang Chengshuo came down and handed one of the two course selection guides that had been passed to his desk to Lu Jing: "What are you nning to choose?"


    Lu Jing shrugged, not very enthusiastic about this: "You take a look, I''ll just choose the same as you when the timees."


    Wen Shuangmu''s ears perked up beside them, hoping to hear if Wang Chengshuo would mention any options.


    After all, persuading Xia Zhili to change to Lu Jing''s course would have the same effect.


    However, before Wang Chengshuo could say anything as he flipped through the course table, Lu Jing suddenly started coughing violently.


    A dull cough after cough, as if he was coughing his lungs out, his spine bent over, face lowered into the crook of his left arm.


    Wen Shuangmu was startled and quickly passed the tissue box on her desk to her neighbor, asking, "Are you alright?"


    Lu Jing clearly had no strength to respond, so Wang Chengshuo helped take the tissues and patted Lu Jing''s back: "What''s going on with you?"


    Lu Jing struggled to wave his hand, even his fingertips turning red from the effort.


    He opened his mouth to speak, but the next second he was ovee with nausea and couldn''t make a sound.


    Wang Chengshuo was at a loss, the only thing he could think of was that Lu Jing had taken a sip of milk tea when he was talking to him earlier. Thinking that even if he had choked, it shouldn''t be this severe, he had just picked up the milk tea when he quickly put it away: "Damn, what is this stuff, why does it smell so fishy?"


    Wen Shuangmu''s expression turned horrified for a moment.


    Fuck, Zhou Yu actually put something in the milk tea he gave to Xia Zhili!!!


    About fifteen minutester, Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo returned from the bathroom one after another.


    Lu Jing was carrying a half-empty bottle of mouthwash he had just bought. He looked quite unwell, his hair a bit messy with a few drops of water still dripping from the ends.


    Wen Shuangmu was biting her pen cap, looking at him guiltily, when she saw Lu Jing walk straight towards her. As he approached her desk, he suddenly raised his hand.


    Wen Shuangmu had thought about Lu Jing taking out his anger on her, but she didn''t expect it toe so suddenly. She instinctively protected her head with both arms and quickly closed her eyes, saying, "It really wasn''t me ying a prank."


    Actually, during the time Lu Jing was gone, Wen Shuangmu and Wu Xiaoqi had discussed possible solutions for a long time.


    Wu Xiaoqi hadn''t expected Zhou Yu to pull such a crazy move either, and they really couldn''te up with a solution. In the end, she actually advised her to take the me: "Just bear with it."


    This solution was undoubtedly terrible, but for the sake of future alliance rtionships, Wen Shuangmu forced herself to put herself in Lu Jing''s shoes and empathize for a moment.


    Regardless of the reason, the problematic milk tea had been handed out by her. If Lu Jing really wanted to vent his anger and fight her, she could only ept it.


    But when the person actually raised his hand to strike, she couldn''t help but chicken out and tried to exin as ast resort.


    Lu Jing had originally just intended to return the pack of tissues Wen Shuangmu had lent him to her desk. Seeing Wen Shuangmu''s defensive posture, he paused.


    He raised the hand holding the tissue pack a bit higher.


    "Pat."


    A very light sound.


    The tissue pack tapped Wen Shuangmu''s head once, then "pat" fell onto the desk.


    "Mm, I know."


    Lu Jing''s voice had a very peculiar quality, brushed with ayer of the ssroom''s fluorescent light, the kind of voice that would make people turn their heads to look when passing by in school during their youth.


    But at this moment, Wen Shuangmu couldn''t think about all that. She lowered her hands and asked, "You know?"


    "Ah." Lu Jing suddenly slowed his speech, as if making it up on the spot, "I''mctose intolerant."


    Wen Shuangmu was stunned, feeling something was off: "Didn''t we drink milk tea and eat cake togetherst night?"


    Lu Jing calmly added two words: "Acutectose intolerance."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    Is he serious?


    Wen Shuangmu raised her hand to point at Wang Chengshuo behind him: "Then what''s with him saying the milk tea smelled fishy?"


    Lu Jing turned his head to look back as well, with an equally curious expression: "I want to ask too, it''s just normal milk tea, why did you say it smelled fishy?"


    Wang Chengshuo: "...It smelled so fishy it stank. Is your nose broken or your tongue?"


    The evidence was still on Lu Jing''s desk, not yet thrown into the trash.


    Wen Shuangmu leaned her body across the aisle, took it and sniffed: "Hm? It smells normal."


    Apart from the sweet milk cap and the fragrance of the tea base, she couldn''t smell anything else.


    "How is that possible." Wang Chengshuo didn''t believe it and took the milk tea to check again. This time it was his turn to be stunned. He asked in confusion, "Then what did I smell earlier?"


    Lu Jing looked left and right: "The window probably wasn''t closed, maybe something drifted in from outside."


    So it was all a misunderstanding.


    Wen Shuangmu immediately felt relieved: "It''s good that nothing''s wrong. If you can''t drink it, don''t. I''ll throw it away for you."


    Lu Jing didn''t say anything, which counted as tacit approval of Wen Shuangmu''s action.


    However, Wang Chengshuo felt it wasn''t that simple. After ten minutes, when he turned back to Lu Jing, Lu Jing was already resting with his head down.


    Wang Chengshuo pushed his arm to wake him up: "I still think it''s very strange."


    Lu Jing didn''t open his eyes, but responded: "Mm, your feeling isn''t wrong. I''ve recentlye into contact with something unclean."


    Wang Chengshuo: "..."


    He did think it was strange, but he didn''t expect such an eerie response.


    Lu Jing actually hadn''t intended to sleep, it was just that the nausea had just passed and he had exined so much, now he felt a bit weak.


    Hearing Wang Chengshuo not continuing after a while, he raised his head to find the person just sitting sideways there, one hand resting on the edge of his desk, tapping and clicking on his phone.


    Lu Jing asked, "What are you doing?"


    "Sending the file the homeroom teacher sent me to the ss group," Wang Chengshuo said. "I''ve added you to the group, remember to ept."


    "..."


    Lu Jing didn''t move for two seconds, then fumbled for his phone from the drawer.


    He propped his chin on one hand, and after joining the group, instead of directly exiting the interface, he slowly scrolled down the group chat members page.


    The ssmates had just joined, and hadn''t changed their nicknames yet. They were all called things like "Summer Oh My" and "Orange Can''t Fly", a hodgepodge of names that made it impossible to tell who was who.


    Lu Jing asked, "Has everyone been added?"


    Wang Chengshuo looked at the number of people, 45, including several subject teachers: "More or less."


    Lu Jing thought for a moment and said, "Should we ask everyone to change their nicknames to their real names?"


    Wang Chengshuo had just finished editing the group announcement, and at this moment he had just finished typing and sent it out.


    Lu Jing closed the announcement that popped up on the chat interface, waited for a while, and found that the person next to him was still lowering his head to do homework, with no tendency to look at his phone.


    Lu Jing''s hand that was propping up his chin moved up to grab his bangs, his fingertips sliding into the roots of his hair, his knuckles curling to give a tug, letting out a long sigh before releasing.


    He swung his phone across the aisle: "Add me as a friend?"


    Hearing his words, not only Wen Shuangmu but also Wang Chengshuo looked up at him.


    Wen Shuangmu was stunned for a moment, while fumbling for her phone from the drawer, she reported a string of ount numbers to him. Lu Jing entered it into the search box, went to the user interface, and suddenly said, "Is your nickname Miaomiao?"


    "Huh?" Wen Shuangmu didn''t react.


    Lu Jing pointed at the username: "Three Waters."


    "Oh, that," Wen Shuangmu said. "Wen plus two Mu characters, isn''t that three water radicals?"


    Lu Jing understood. Seeing Wang Chengshuo still looking confused, he said, "Aren''t you going to add her? As the ss monitor, don''t you often need to contact ssmates about things?"


    Wang Chengshuo, drawn in by his words, also searched for her.


    Wen Shuangmu''s phone had died automatically. After she found a power bank in her backpack and charged it up, she saw a friend request pop up on the screen:


    ["Elementary Schooler Turned Dark (Looking for CP)" has added you as a friend.]


    Wen Shuangmu felt suffocated by the wave of chuunibyou that hit her. Her eyes darted between Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo, unsure which one had chosen such a cringeworthy username.


    What should she do? She had originally nned to gradually build a connection through the app, casually inquiring about elective coursester. Now, she suddenly felt reluctant to ept.


    Lu Jing said, "I''ve added you. ''Fog Dispersed'' is me."


    Wen Shuangmu was stunned and turned her gaze to Wang Chengshuo.


    So...


    Seeing her look over, Wang Chengshuo added, "Golden Por at Nanjing Cross Alley is me."


    Huh?


    Wen Shuangmu refreshed the interface and found two new friend requests.


    They were exactly the ones Lu Jing and Wang Chengshuo had mentioned.


    A memory from her past life shed through Wen Shuangmu''s mind like a glowing white line.


    !


    She suddenly remembered who "Elementary Schooler Turned Dark (Looking for CP)" was.


    Wen Shuangmu suddenly felt embarrassed. She rubbed her forehead, tapped to reject one request, and then epted the other two.


    Five minutester, the rejected one sent another request, this time with a verification message: "Big sis, it''s Yiyi. Why didn''t you add me?"


    Wen Bingyi was in third grade this year. Previously, his family had been worried about him getting addicted to the inte, so they only gave him a smartwatch phone. But as the school increased online homework assignments, which often required parents to check in, and since Boss Wen and Mrs. Han were both busy with work, they decided to get him a proper phone this semester, with Aunt Shuqin supervising his daily homework.


    Boss Wen had mentioned buying the phone at the dinner table just two days ago, and she had almost forgotten about it.


    Wen Shuangmu embarrassedly rubbed her left eye with her palm, rejected the request again, then quickly locked her phone and tossed it into the drawer, out of sight, out of mind.


    After adding friends, Lu Jing showed no signs of stopping and began discussing elective courses with Wang Chengshuo in a seemingly knowledgeable manner.


    "Are you taking basketball? Liu Yiheng and Lin Sen will probably join too," Wang Chengshuo said.


    "Probably not."


    "C programming?"


    "Too difficult."


    "How about basic mathematics? It''s just slightly more advanced than the regr curriculum."


    Lu Jing gave him a sidelong nce: "You think this week''s math homework isn''t enough? You want to add an elective course on top of that?"


    Wang Chengshuo couldn''t handle this young master anymore: "...Didn''t you just say you''d let me pick and you''d choose the same as me?"


    Lu Jing turned to ask Wen Shuangmu: "Have you decided what you''re going to choose?"


    Wen Shuangmu tilted her head, twirling the pen hanging from her hand. She noticed that Lu Jing had been chatting with her quite frequently during this lunch break, already twice now.


    However, this topic suited her perfectly, so she said, "Not yet. Do you have any rmendations?"


    Wen Shuangmu''s probe was extremely subtle.


    Lu Jing, however, was unexpectedly straightforward. He flipped through the course list and browsed: "How about ''A Survey of Righteous Role Models Throughout History''? Or ''The Birth of the Madonna''? ''Wrong Love - Guiding Teenagers Towards Correct Views on Rtionships''?"


    Wen Shuangmu was shocked for a moment. How had she never heard of such elective courses during her three years of high school?


    She thought carefully about her words: "...They sound like courses with very strong value indoctrination. I personally don''t really like that kind of thing."


    Lu Jing closed the course list and spoke without hesitation: "Right? I don''t really like them either."


    Wang Chengshuo waspletely lost: "..."


    Brother, weren''t you just rmending courses to her? How did you end up contradicting yourself?


    Lu Jing, however, didn''t seem to think there was any problem. He put his things away in the drawer and said to Wang Chengshuo, "Can you pull down the ckout curtain for me? I want to take a nap."


    Wang Chengshuo: "..."


    Wen Shuangmu: "..."


    In thest twenty minutes of the lunch break, the ss wasn''t as noisy as before. Although some students didn''t have the habit of napping, they quieted down and worked on their weekend homework.


    Wen Shuangmu finished thest step of a function problem and went to turn off the incandescent lights in the ssroom.

 Ch??ng 190

    Ban ??u, Gu Junxing v¨¤ Nian Suian ??nh v? v¨¤o Ch? Nh?t, nh?ng sau khi xem d? b¨¢o th?i ti?t v¨¤ th?y r?ng Jinjiang c¨® th? c¨® tuy?t r?i d¨¤y v¨¤o cu?i tu?n, h? lo l?ng chuy?n bay c?a h? c¨® th? b? h?y. V¨¬ v?y, h? ?? ??a ra quy?t ??nh v¨¤o ph¨²t ch¨®t l¨¤ v? nh¨¤ v¨¤o chi?u th? S¨¢u.


    ?¨ºm th? n?m, tr??c khi ?i ng?, C? Tu?n H?ng h?i Ni¨ºn T¨´y An: "Sau khi ky h?p ??ng v¨¤o s¨¢ng mai, t?i c?n ?i ?n tr?a v?i m?t s? ??i t¨¢c kinh doanh. B?n c¨® mu?n tham gia kh?ng?"


    S¨¢ng nay tr??c gi? ?n tr?a, khi anh g?i ?i?n cho Ni¨ºn T¨´y An ?? nh?c c? ?n, m?t ??ng nghi?p ?? nghe th?y v¨¤ tr¨ºu anh v? chuy?n n¨¤y. Sau ?¨®, C? Tu?n H?ng t? nhi¨ºn nh?c ??n vi?c v? anh c?ng ?i c¨´ng anh trong chuy?n ?i n¨¤y.


    "H? n¨®i r?ng h? mu?n m?i ch¨²ng ta ?i ?n tr?a v¨¤o ng¨¤y mai ?? th? hi?n l¨°ng hi?u kh¨¢ch c?a h?. B?n c¨® mu?n ?i kh?ng?"


    "???c th?i," Ni¨ºn T¨´y An ??ng y, ngh? r?ng s? l¨¤ b?t l?ch s? n?u t? ch?i l?i ?? ngh? t? t? c?a ch? nh¨¤.


    "???c r?i, tr?a mai anh s? quay l?i ?¨®n em nh¨¦."


    ?ay l¨¤ ?¨ºm th? hai h? ng? chung gi??ng, v¨¤ Ni¨ºn T¨´y An c?m th?y tho?i m¨¢i h?n nhi?u so v?i s? lo l?ng ban ??u c?a c? v¨¤o ?¨ºm h?m tr??c.


    Ti?ng TV b?t l¨¤m ti?ng ?n n?n trong khi c? hai n?m tr¨ºn gi??ng nh¨¬n v¨¤o ?i?n tho?i.


    "B?n c?ng d¨´ng Weibo ¨¤?"


    Ni¨ºn T¨´y An quay ??u l?i, kinh ng?c nh¨¬n th?y Weibo tr¨ºn m¨¤n h¨¬nh ?i?n tho?i c?a C? Tu?n H?ng.


    "Ch? l??t web th?i", anh tr? l?i.


    C? Tu?n H?ng ?ang ??c m?t b¨¤i vi?t c?a m?t blogger t¨¤i ch¨ªnh. Anh ?? ??ng ky Weibo sau khi h? ch?p ?nh t?i m?t b?a ti?c v¨¤ tr? th¨¤nh ch? ?? th?nh h¨¤nh. T? ?¨®, anh th?nh tho?ng s? ??ng nh?p ?? xem tin t?c.


    "T¨ºn ng??i d¨´ng c?a b?n l¨¤ g¨¬?"


    "GujunXing111." Khi ??ng ky, anh ?y mu?n d¨´ng t¨ºn th?t c?a m¨¬nh, nh?ng ?? c¨® ng??i l?y m?t. Anh ?y ph?i th¨ºm ba ch? "1" tr??c khi t¨ºn ng??i d¨´ng c¨® th? s? d?ng.


    "C¨¢i t¨ºn ch¨¢n qu¨¢... T?i s? ?i theo anh."


    Ni¨ºn T¨´y An ?? m? t¨¤i kho?n Weibo c?a ri¨ºng m¨¬nh, t¨¤i kho?n m¨¤ c? v?a m?i ??ng ky g?n ?ay.


    T¨¤i kho?n c?a Gu Junxing ho¨¤n to¨¤n tr?ng r?ng, th?m ch¨ª kh?ng c¨® ?nh ??i di?n. V?i m?t chu?i s? "1" sau t¨ºn, tr?ng gi?ng nh? m?t t¨¤i kho?n bot.


    Ni¨ºn T¨´y An ph¨¤n n¨¤n: "Sao ngay c? ?nh ??i di?n c?a c?u c?ng kh?ng c¨®?"


    "T?i ch? th?nh tho?ng l??t th?i, kh?ng c?n ?nh ?au." Gu Junxing nh?n th?y s? ng??i theo d?i m¨¬nh t?ng t? 2 l¨ºn 3, ng??i theo d?i m?i c¨® h¨¬nh ??i di?n l¨¤ m?t ch¨² m¨¨o v¨¤ t¨ºn ng??i d¨´ng l¨¤ "EatsEggTartsButNotTheCrust."


    Trong s? hai ng??i theo d?i tr??c ?¨® c?a ?ng, m?t ng??i ???c n?n t?ng t? ??ng ch? ??nh, ng??i kia l¨¤ Tr? ly Ly.


    "???ng Nguy¨ºn?" Gu Junxing nh?n ra h¨¬nh ??i di?n.


    "???c, ??a ?i?n tho?i cho t?i, t?i s? c¨¤i ?nh ??i di?n cho b?n."


    C? Tu?n H?ng kh?ng ch¨²t do d? ??a ?i?n tho?i cho anh.


    Ni¨ºn T¨´y An kh?ng l?y ngay m¨¤ h?i ?¨´a: "Anh ph?i xem qua th? vi?n ?nh c?a em ?? c¨¤i ?nh ??i di?n. Em c¨® ch?c l¨¤ mu?n anh xem kh?ng?"


    "There''s nothing to hide."


    When Nian Suian finally took his phone, she was surprised by the home screen.


    "Isn''t this the photo we took with Zhijing on the couch? When did you set this as your wallpaper?"


    "That day."


    Nian Suian couldn''t help teasing him: "How thoughtful of you."


    Opening the gallery, she was surprised again. The first few photos were mostly documents, with their group photo followed by more document photos asionally interspersed with somendscape shots.


    Having no other choice, Nian Suian selected a photo of Tangyuan from her own phone, sent it via WeChat, saved it, and set it as Gu Junxing''s Weibo profile picture.


    After she returned his phone, Gu Junxing immediately clicked into Nian Suian''s profile.


    Nian Suian was casually scrolling through her own Weibo when she suddenly froze.


    She quickly snatched the phone back from Gu Junxing.


    "Maybe you should unfollow me."


    She hadn''t realized until now... her Weibo ount was full of fan girl moments, excited outbursts, and random thoughts.


    These three states often appeared simultaneously.


    For example: "Ahhhhh baby is so handsome, hubby look at mama!"


    "I saw it."


    Just as Nian Suian was curling her toes in embarrassment, Gu Junxing''s four words became the final straw.


    "Hubby? Hmm?"


    "Ming Chuan? I don''t know this husband of yours."


    "Please stop."


    Nian Suian curled up, hugging her knees tightly and burying her face in them.


    Ming Chuan was hertest idol crush, and in her excitement, she would asionally repost his handsome photos with enthusiasticments.


    Nian Suian thought Gu Junxing would mock her, but instead, he said with a hint of dejection: "You''ve never called me hubby."


    Good heavens, she actually heard genuine disappointment in the voice of this man in his thirties.


    "Um... when I call him hubby, it''s not like a real husband, it''s just inte speak, you know? It''s just an expression, not referring to anyone specific. Do you understand what I mean?" Nian Suian tugged at his sleeve while exining.


    Gu Junxing just looked at her without saying whether he understood or not.


    Calling someone "hubby" online waspletely different from saying it to a real person face to face.


    Despite her mental preparation, Nian Suian couldn''t bring herself to say it.


    "Let''s just sleep."


    She turned off her phone and employed her pretend-sleeping strategy, pulling up the covers and lying down.


    After closing her eyes and listening quietly for a while, she noticed there was no movement from Gu Junxing''s side.


    Unable to resist, she sneaked a peek to the side, only to find herself making eye contact with him again.


    She quickly shut her eyes again...


    Perhaps a few minutes passed, or maybe just a few seconds, when Nian Suian felt Gu Junxing turn off the TV and lie down.


    Ni¨ºn T¨´y An v?n nh?m m?t, th¨¬ th?m: "Anh c¨® th? t?t ?¨¨n kh?ng?"


    Khi c? m? m?t ra l?n n?a, b¨®ng t?i bao quanh c?.


    Ni¨ºn T¨´y An ti?n g?n h?n ??n b¨ºn C? Tu?n H?ng, c?n th?n d¨° ???ng trong b¨®ng t?i.


    C? gh¨¦ s¨¢t v¨¤o tai anh v¨¤ th¨¬ th?m hai t?.


    Ngay l¨²c c? s?p k¨¦o ra, C? Tu?n H?ng ??t nhi¨ºn l?t c? l?i, ?¨¨ c? xu?ng d??i m¨¬nh.


    "B?n..."


    Ni¨ºn T¨´y An c?ng th?ng ??n m?c qu¨ºn c? th?.


    "N¨®i l?i l?n n?a."


    "N¨®i c¨¢i g¨¬?" Ni¨ºn T¨´y An quay ??u l?i, gi? v? ng?c.


    B¨ª danh: 672c1371d72ede9349b99ce4


    "Em v?a n¨®i g¨¬ v?y. G?i l?i l?n n?a ?i." C? Tu?n H?ng gh¨¦ s¨¢t v¨¤o tai c?, gi?ng nh? c? ?? t?ng l¨¤m.


    H?i th? c?a anh n¨®ng b?ng, c? th? c?ng v?y. Ni¨ºn T¨´y An c?m th?y m¨¬nh nh? m?t qu? c?u tuy?t b¨ºn c?nh ngu?n nhi?t.


    ?? tr¨¢nh kh?i vi?c b?n than tan ch?y ho¨¤n to¨¤n, c? ?? ??u h¨¤ng.


    "?ng x?."


    "M?t l?n n?a."


    "?ng x?!" ?? n¨®i m?t l?n, l?n th? hai tr? n¨ºn d? d¨¤ng h?n.


    "L?i..."


    "C¨¢i n¨¤y th¨¬ v? t?n! C¨® c?n t?i ghi am l?i cho anh nghe ba l?n m?t ng¨¤y kh?ng?" Ni¨ºn T¨´y An s?t ru?t n¨®i.


    "Anh c¨® th? l¨¤m ???c kh?ng?"


    "Kh?ng ??i n¨¤o! Ng? ?i!"


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