《The Rebirth of My Father in the Body of an Aloof Academic Genius》


 Chapter 1: A Rainy Day

    <h4>Chapter 1</h4>


    Lin ChuSui hated the light summer rains in Nancheng.


    On days like this, the obstinate old sun still insisted on peeking through the rainclouds to peer down at the human world.


    With both rain and sunshine, only dampness and heat remained in this world.


    In the reflecting ss of the roadside shops, Lin ChuSui wore a white blouse with a dark pleated skirt. Her straight, slender legs had been bitten by three mosquitoes.


    These tiny mosquitoes were a Southern specialty. Though only the size of a dot, their bites swelled up, big and itchy.


    When Lin ChuSui was little, she''d been bitten by mosquitoes until big welts formed, and she cried as she went to Mr Lin. Mr Lin would always poke a cross into her big mosquito bites with his fingernail, thenugh heartily.


    Chewing gum, Lin ChuSui walked into a convenience store to buy mosquito repellent.


    A sleek, ck Mercedes-Benz coupe was parked at the convenience store entrance. Washed by the rain, its body shone brightly, extremely eye-catching.


    Stepping inside, the dry, cool breeze of the air conditioner greeted her. She felt her head clear up quite a bit.


    She headed straight for the daily necessities shelf, grabbed a bottle of cooling oil, then sauntered over to the drinks for her favorite lemon soda.


    Amidst the quiet convenience store, a man''s very fluent English conversation rang out, in a clear, slightly lilting voice.


    A true British ent.


    Walking past the shelves, Lin ChuSui then saw the youth across from her.


    He wore a loose, casual sports shirt. His eyes were very dark, bangs quite long.


    He was handsome in a clean-cut way, like the shallow sunshine of a summer dawn.


    He chatted on the phone in English,zily reaching out to grab a lemon soda.


    There was only one lemon soda left on the shelf.


    Lin ChuSui reacted swiftly. Like a rabbit, she nimbly grabbed the soda right before his fingertips touched the bottle.


    The youth''s gaze lightly brushed over her retreating back.


    She gave a low whistle and swaggered away.


    Behind her, she clearly heard the youth mutter something in English. It was probably swearing.


    The person he was chatting with asked what happened. Xu Jianing replied in Chinese, "Some people here have poor manners. Don''t worry about it."


    At the cash register, Lin ChuSui also bought a pack of Marlboros. She murmured under her breath:


    "Fake foreign devil."


    Leaving the convenience store, she casually stuck the gum onto the Mercedes'' window.


    ...


    The vi was enormous yet empty. Even with many smart home appliances and furnishings, Lin ChuSui still felt it was empty, an emptiness that made her heart uneasy.


    Mr Lin''s memorial tablet in the living room had already been put away by her mom, leaving arge empty space on the white wall.


    Lin ChuSui went upstairs to her dad''s room and took out a framed photo from the second drawer of the bedside table.


    The ck-and-white photo showed a sunny, handsome man with bright, yful eyes and a youthful spirit.


    For as long as Lin ChuSui could remember, he had always looked this way, never aging.


    Mr Lin was a firefighter who had died in the line of duty rescuing others.


    He was hailed as a hero by the public, yet to Lin ChuSui, he was an unbearable heartache.


    In the two years since Mr Lin''s passing, the clingy daddy''s girl Lin ChuSui had turned into a rebellious delinquent.


    Lin ChuSui rehung Mr Lin''s memorial photo on the wall, adjusting it straight, then took out a math test paper with a score of 90 from her schoolbag.


    She ced the test paper in front of the photo of the man, the corner of her mouth quirking up in a rebellious smile.


    "Math test. Satisfied?"


    "Not satisfied? Thene back and hit me."


    "Teacher Qin said my score could revive the dead."


    Lin ChuSui held out her palm to the memorial photo, hoping that like when she was little, she''d get a p on the hand for a bad score.


    After a few minutes, she withdrew her hand with a disdainful twist of her lips.


    "Liar."


    Soon, her mom called: "The young master from the Xu family will move in today. He goes to your school and gets good grades. If you need help with studies, you can ask him."


    Lying on the sofa ying games, Lin ChuSui responded carelessly, "Oh."


    "His room is already prepared, the biggest one on the second floor with a study. Be polite to him. Your mom and Uncle Xu will be back in half a month."


    "Okay."


    "Is there anything you want Mom to bring back for you? Skincare, bags..."


    "No."


    As Lin ChuSui cast a skill and killed her opponent in-game, she also viciously kicked the corpse.


    On the overseas call, Mrs. Fang sighed.


    Lin ChuSui hung up the long-distance call and stared up at the ceiling, spacing out.


    When Mr Lin passed away, Mrs. Fang had also been depressed for a long time.


    But she soon pulled herself together. This year, her brand FangNing had gone public on the NYSE, growing increasingly sessful with great momentum. FangNing had be a trendy brand coveted by teens worldwide.


    Lin ChuSui had also gone from an ordinary rich kid to a privileged one.


    Not long ago, Mrs. Fang had remarried Uncle Xu. They were business partners who had fallen in love through their cooperation, a true power couple.


    Since both were on their second marriages, they simply registered and went abroad for their honeymoon without any big wedding reception. They had quietly handled the matter.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t really mind her mom remarrying. Her only annoyance was that Mrs. Fang kept wanting to take down Mr Lin''s memorial tablet and hide it away in the cab.


    Mr Lin was afraid of the dark, especially of being alone.


    So Lin ChuSui had simply printed out several ck-and-white photos of Mr Lin and hung them all over the living room, dining room, bedroom...


    The huge, empty house was now full of Mr Lin''s bright, yful eyes, even in the bathroom...


    Mrs. Fang had blown up at her several times, grabbing her cor and scolding, "Your dad is gone! When he went to save others, he didn''t think of your mom and me. He abandoned us and will nevere back! Face reality - the living must go on with life!"


    Lin ChuSui had stubbornly gritted her teeth, eyes slightly red, and enunciated in a low voice, "He wille back."


    Mrs. Fang wrestled with her daughter like this for half a year, but the girl was as stubborn as an ox.


    Meanwhile, Mrs. Fang was overwhelmed running her business, too busy to bother anymore.


    A middle-aged widow burdened with responsibilities didn''t have the right to cling to memories like her daughter did.


    Looking at Mr Lin''s bright, beaming smile in the photos, Lin ChuSui sulked, "Your woman ran off with someone!"


    The ck-and-white portrait of the man continued smiling magnanimously, silent.


    ...


    Soon, a loud honk came from outside.


    Lin ChuSui ignored it and kept gaming. More honks followed.


    This was a high-end vi district. Who would be so crass?


    Shezily went to the floor-to-ceiling windows and happened to see the ck Mercedes from before, now gleaming under the clear post-rain sunlight as it brazenly parked at her home''s entrance.


    Her first thought was that the "fake foreign devil" hade to settle scores over the gum.


    That couldn''t be. It was just a piece of gum!


    The youth in the car calmly exited, long legs even more striking reflected in the rain-washed ground.


    ncing sideways, Xu Jianing''s gazezily fell upon Lin ChuSui by the door.


    The two looked at each other for three seconds, both cursing internally at the same time.


    ...


    The "fake foreign devil" had transferred back from Britain. After staying at his own home for half a month, he was moving into Lin ChuSui''s ce. His belongings filled up threerge suitcases.


    Mrs. Fang had prepared the biggest room on the second floor for this "stepbrother" of convenience, even adding a small study.


    Leaning against the doorframe, Lin ChuSui expressionlessly watched him unpack.


    Though he had a lot of stuff, everything was packed tidily like tofu cubes.


    Unlike her, tossing clothes and dresses every which way when packing.


    "Uncle Xu''s son?"


    "Mm."


    "Have an ID?"


    Xu Jianing paused, then took out his passport from between his schoolbag''s pages and handed it to her.


    Like a responsiblendlord, she scrutinized Xu Jianing''s passport closely.


    The photo showed a still quite boyish Xu Jianing, dressed properly like a British gentleman. He was clearly someone raised with good manners...a "fake foreign devil."


    Though the two found each other annoying, they pretended polite courtesy as housemates.


    Xu Jianing said, "Your mom wants me to tutor you since your grades are poor."


    Chewing gum provocatively, Lin ChuSui retorted, "My grades are fine."


    Xu Jianing''s gaze calmlynded on her 90-point math test paper on the desk.


    "They''re good all right." His tone clearly held disdain.


    Lin ChuSui asked again, "I hear your grades are pretty good. Confident you''ll rank first for the high school entrance exam that''s out soon?"


    "It won''t deviate far from a perfect score." Xu Jianing''s tone carried innate arrogance.


    She gave a disdainful twist of her lips, blowing a bubble with the gum.


    "Oh."


    Aren''t you impressive.


    "Where''s the bathroom?" Xu Jianing asked.


    "End of the hall outside."


    Lin ChuSui moved aside to let him pass. As he walked by, she even caught a whiff of his light masculine cologne.


    She muttered under her breath, "Fake foreign devil pretty boy."


    Perhaps overhearing her, Xu Jianing mmed the bathroom door forcefully as he entered, venting his emotions.


    Never one to back down either, Lin ChuSui went to the door and yelled, "If you break anything in this house, you''ll pay full price aspensation!"


    Still so cocky in someone else''s home.


    After a long pause, Xu Jianing''s low, suppressed voice came: "Why is there a photo of a man in the bathroom?"


    "That''s my dad."


    "Why did you put your dad''s photo...in the bathroom?"


    "None of your business." Lin ChuSui grumbled as she left, "Use it or get out. Public restrooms are out the door and left around the block."


    ...


    Lin ChuSui locked herself in her room, lying on the bed ying iPad. Right then, her ss WeChat group became lively.


    The rankings for their high school entrance exam had just been announced in the group, spurring heated discussion:


    "That new transfer Xu Jianing is so awesome!"


    "Full marks in English? What the heck! The only perfect score in the whole school!"


    "Math is just 5 points off either. He''s unreal."


    Lin ChuSui repeatedly confirmed they were discussing that "Xu Jianing" currently constipated in her bathroom staring at her dad''s memorial...the "fake foreign devil."


    She rolled her eyes, but also saw ssmates say:


    "First ce, Xu Jianing has reserved it."


    "No, he''s second ce."


    "What! Even though it''s like this, he''s second ce? Then who''s first ce?"


    "Xiao Yan."


    When this name came out, the whole group was quiet for ten seconds.


    Lin ChuSui felt this name was a little familiar, but didn''t have any special impression.


    Perhaps it was just a top student in their grade who was well-known, so it''s natural to feel familiar.


    ...


    The next day, Lin ChuSui had just arrived at school when she and several ssmates who ranked near the bottom were called to the ss teacher''s office.


    Teacher Qin wore ck-framed sses, a dark short-sleeved id shirt tucked into his trousers. His belt was very shiny, and his leather shoes were also very shiny and clean.


    Teacher Qin was a senior teacher transferred from the Provincial National Key Middle Schoolst semester. He had extremely high requirements for students and was also very strict.


    "Rotten mud cannot support the wall!"


    "With grades like these, you still want to take the college entrance exam? You might as well roast yourselves!"


    He held the student ranking list and mercilessly poked the heads of the students in front of him one by one.


    Lin ChuSui was the only girl, so he skipped over her, ring fiercely at her: "Lin ChuSui, it''s quite impressive that you got this score in math."


    "Right?"


    "9 points." Teacher Qin angrily shook the test paper: "Even if I closed my eyes and wrote with my feet, I''d get more than 9 points!"


    Lin ChuSui shrugged: "I should have actually gotten 27 points. Mainly thest big question, the math teacher directly deducted me to negative points."


    "It''s possible to deduct to negative points?"


    Her ssmate Lu Chi next to her said with augh: "For thest big question she didn''t know how to do, she wrote a poem praising the teacher instead."


    Teacher Qin was so angry his hair was about to stand up: "You wrote a poem on the math test paper?"


    Lu Chi was amused by the situation and added more fuel to the fire: "It was even a ttering poem singing praises!"


    "Lin ChuSui, bring your parents to school tomorrow!"


    Lin ChuSui said helplessly: "My mom went to the Scandinavian Penins for a honeymoon with my stepdad."


    Teacher Qin had a bad temper. Seeing her unconcerned attitude, as if she''s fearless, he blurted out: "Your mom''s on her honeymoon, so your dad is dead?"


    As soon as these words came out, the few boys around them fell silent at the same time, and the air froze for several seconds.


    The temple on Lin ChuSui''s forehead pulsed as her face gradually darkened.


    Teacher Qin had only taken over their ss for less than half a year and didn''t know about Lin ChuSui''s circumstances. He kept chattering: "Bring your dad over in the afternoon!"


    Finally a ssmate couldn''t stand to listen anymore, and said in a low voice: "Teacher Qin, Lin ChuSui''s father has already..."


    Just then, there was a knock on the office door. A teenager wearing a ck T-shirt walked in.


    When Xiao Yan entered, the morning sun happened to shine through the window andnded on his fair, clean skin.


    The sunlight shone into his deep, dark eyes, making them clear and pure.


    "Teacher, you were looking for me?"

 Chapter 2: Little Boy

    <h4>Chapter 2</h4>


    Xiao Yan walked into the office, treading on the fragmented morning sunlight.


    "Teacher, you were looking for me?"


    He had short ck hair and a tall forehead, exhibiting a somewhat aloof temperament. His sleeves were rolled up to the cuffs, revealing faintly cold and pale skin.


    Compared to the listless ckers in the office, he was like a gust of summer wind, refreshing and clean.


    When passing by Lin ChuSui, his gaze lingered on her for a moment, like a snowke falling into the palm - melting swiftly without a trace.


    Lin ChuSui, however, felt a trace of strangeness arise in her heart.


    Seeing Xiao Yan enter, Teacher Qin beamed with delight. "Xiao Yan, please take a seat."


    The hopeless boys all widened their eyes, watching as Xiao Yan sat down by the desk. Teacher Qin personally poured him a ss of water.


    "Although you''re not in our ss, you did exceptionally well in the entrance exam this semester!"


    "Our senior ss will be reorganized into ss A and B. I will be taking ss B."


    "Although I just joined No.1 Middle Schoolst year, I''ve led senior sses in National Key Middle School for over ten years. Naturally I''m more experienced than Teacher Xu in ss A. During reorganization, if you''re willing to trust me, ss B...will certainly wee you."


    It was apparent he was aggressively poaching.


    How shameless.


    Teacher Xu of ss A was young and capable, well-liked by students and valued by the principal.


    Who would''ve thought Teacher Qin would be so unabashed in poaching his students.


    Seeing Xiao Yan''sposure, Teacher Qin went on, "Although our ss B''s average is lower than ss A, our ss excels in passion and liveliness! With a warmer ss atmosphere. I believe you''ll also feel the warmth of a big family in our ss."


    The boys from the sports team beside Lin ChuSui started snickering.


    "Yeah,e to our ss and feel the family warmth!"


    "Come, let Daddy love you!"


    "Grandpa will love you too!"


    ...


    Teacher Qin flung his cup at them. The hopeless boys dodged aside, still wearing wicked grins.


    Clearly ss B was a den of jackals and tigers, just try it if you dare.


    Teacher Qin''s hand shook with anger. "When the reorganization is finalized, I''ll kick you punks out first! A few rat turds that spoil the porridge! Goof around in the ordinary sses, don''t mess up my honors ss! Get lost!"


    He chased them out of the office.


    The boys left whooping and hollering, going off to y basketball.


    "Let''s go, Bro Chu, shoot some hoops."


    Lin ChuSui hesitated, ncing back at the office.


    Teacher Qin was still aggressively digging for that "cornerstone".


    In the midst of their conversation, Xiao Yan inadvertently turned his gaze toward Lin ChuSui.


    Their eyes collided in that unfamiliar moment.


    Yet in his dark eyes, Lin ChuSui strangely sensed a hint of familiarity.


    Maybe she was imagining it, but she felt his eyes flickered lightly.


    Lin ChuSui looked away, sauntering off the campus with the boys to the field.


    ...


    Ever since Father Lin passed away, Lin ChuSui''s grades plummeted. Fortunately her athletic performance was decent, so she joined the school team, spending her days ying basketball and running track.


    Only in the sweat and exertion of running could she temporarily forget that unfible void.


    Amongst the rambunctious boys on the team looking for fun and fights, Lin ChuSui blended right in, growing more reckless by the day.


    To these students taking the athletics exam, honors and ordinary sses made no difference. As long as they could fool around, who cared.


    Lin ChuSui wasn''t in the mood to y basketball. She sat below the hoop on the rubberized yground, gazing at the backlit senior building in the distance.


    She felt stifled.


    She didn''t want to really be kicked out of ss B into an ordinary ss.


    Should she...go plead with Teacher Qin?


    If the teacher was determined to expel her, begging would be useless, only losing face.


    Saving face was everything to kids their age. She didn''t want to be relentlessly mocked by her buddies for the rest of senior year.


    Lying on the ground, Lin ChuSui felt exasperated.


    She didn''t want to leave ss B for any particr reason.


    In 10th grade when she ced in the top thirty of her year and entered ss B, Father Lin had been so happy he took her riding around theke after midnight.


    "Our little darling is so capable! As expected of my genes."


    Father Lin always called her his little darling.


    Facing the emptyke he dered, "Our little darling is the smartest girl in the world!"


    Later, as a reward he secretly spent a month''s wages behind Mother''s back to gift her a high-quality noise-cancelling Bluetooth headset.


    Leaning against the hoop, Lin ChuSui closed her eyes. As melodious music flowed from the headset:


    "The two of us cycling, your embrace pressed against my back. Reluctant to part, wanting to hold you tighter. Life seems like a barren wilderness."


    Her eyes welled up with sorrow.


    It had been two years. Mother finally emerged from the gloom of widowhood, starting to reconsider career and rtionships. Grandma and Grandpa also moved past the grief of losing their son, joining a seniors hiking club and beginning new lives.


    This was all really good.


    But...


    The whole world had let go, only she stubbornly clung to Father''s empty sleeve, refusing to release her grip.


    Her path in life had gonepletely astray, into a mess Father would never have wished to see.


    Yet all Lin ChuSui wanted by acting out was for him toe back, to severely reprimand her, even beat her.


    She still hadn''t epted that Father was gone for good.


    ...


    Just then, Lin ChuSui''s good friend Lu Chi rushed onto the field and sat down beside her, roughly yanking off her headset.


    "I''m fucking losing it!"


    Lin ChuSuizily nced at him. "Go straight down this road two kilometers, South City Psychiatric Hospital wees you."


    Lu Chi ignored her sarcasm. "Since when did you and Xiao Yan hook up?"


    "I hooked up with who?"


    "Xiao Yan!" Lu Chi said mysteriously, "Do you know what he just said in the office?"


    "What did he say?"


    "Wasn''t Teacher Qin trying to secretly poach him?" Lu Chi had a meaningful expression. "Then guess what he said."


    "If you keep dragging it out, I''ll lose interest in knowing."


    Lu Chi gripped Lin ChuSui''s shoulders excitedly. "He said, he''d join ss B, on the condition that Lin ChuSui stays!"


    Lin ChuSui: "?"


    "Can you imagine Teacher Qin''s face then!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Like he wanted to strangle me?"


    "Bingo!" Lu Chi vividly described, "Teacher Qin''s face...was as hideous as my sister on her period!"


    Lin ChuSui: "..."


    "That guy''s truly...abnormally intelligent. And not a good sort."


    Lu Chi sat beside Lin ChuSui, clicking his tongue in amazement. "A top babe in 10th grade. Such a good and beautiful girl, fair-skinned with a sweet voice. When another girl confessed to himst week, after chatting a minute she cried for two weeks straight."


    Lin ChuSui interrupted, "What''s his name again?"


    "Xiao Yan."


    "Xiao Yan, medicine?"


    "Who cares what his name is." Lu Chi held Lin ChuSui''s shoulders with gravity. "I can''t believe you seduced the diabolical top student in our grade. I''m truly convinced!"


    Lin ChuSui picked up the basketball about to whip it at him. Lu Chi raised his hand to block, chuckling "Bro Chu, you''re awesome!"


    Toozy to bother with him, she headed straight back to the ssroom building.


    ...


    Xiao Yan walked out of ss carrying a cup, going to the water dispenser in the hallway.


    From the end stairwell, Lin ChuSui sauntered over cradling a basketball,ing upon him in the narrow hallway.


    He filled his cup, sleeves rolled up to reveal a lovely pale wrist.


    Lin ChuSui raised her brows, taking off her Bluetooth headset and tucking it in her bag, as if deliberately seeking him out.


    Seeing she had something to say, Xiao Yan also removed his white earbuds.


    The cord draped elegantly over his shoulders, slender neck pulsing with veins, hint of corbone under the thin tee.


    Lin ChuSui stared at him for a good while, then awkwardly averted her gaze.


    Damn, she was actually feeling a little shy.


    No wonder the top girl confessed to him, his eyes were angel-kissed!


    Lin ChuSui cleared her throat. "Hey you, what''s your deal?"


    His eyes flickered amusement. "What?"


    "Why did you say...that to Teacher Qin?"


    "Say what?"


    "That...the condition for you transferring to ss B is me staying."


    Somehow, Lin ChuSui felt embarrassed.


    Xiao Yan walked over holding his cup. Leaning in close to her ear, his clear maic voice dipped lower. "When did I ever say that?"


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes flew wide open as her cheeks flushed deep red. "You...didn''t say it?"


    That bastard Lu Chi!


    Making up nonsense to fool her, and she actually believed it!


    How humiliating!


    Besides, she didn''t even know this guy. What was he after by iming to secretly admire her? Her pitiful math score of 9 points?


    Lin ChuSui stomped her feet and turned to leave.


    "Hey."


    Behind her, the boy''s lilting voice called out.


    Lin ChuSui looked back. "Anything else?"


    "I heard you only got 9 points in math."


    "Yeah, so what?"


    Xiao Yan took a sip of water, passing by Lin ChuSui. His lowered voice held a challenging edge.


    "Aren''t you afraid your dad...will beat you to death?"

 Chapter 3: Deskmate

    <h4>Chapter 3</h4>


    ss B was located on the third floor in the center of the senior high school building. Teacher Qin had specifically chosen this ssroom based on feng shui principles.


    Lu Chi swore that he heard Xiao Yan say he could transfer to ss B on the condition that Lin ChuSui stayed.


    "If I''m lying, may I be gued by sleep paralysis tonight!"


    Lin ChuSui was skeptical. After all, Lu Chi had been her friend since childhood and wouldn''t make things up out of nowhere.


    "Then why doesn''t he admit it?"


    "He''s shy, of course."


    "He doesn''t seem like a shy person."


    At their first encounter, his imposing manner had almost made Lin ChuSui kneel down and call him daddy.


    "Do you know how popr the genius Xiao Yan is?" Lu Chi came over and sat next to her. "Let me tell you, my ex-girlfriend makes a post about her endless love and admiration for him every night now."


    Lin ChuSuizily nced at him. "Why don''t you just block this ex?"


    Lu Chi said, "That would make me seem petty. I''m just waiting to see her get rejected and cry over Xiao Yan."


    Lin ChuSui: "..."


    Zhang Cheng Yu, a geeky tech expert, quickly looked up information on Xiao Yan.


    "Orphan, genius, prestigious family, organ transnt, fire... His life has been full of twists and turns, like a TV drama."


    Lin ChuSui said, "Octopus, can you say that in words us losers can understand?"


    "Let me exin," Lu Chi gave a simple ount. "He''s an orphan who was adopted by a well-connected family years ago. They had a son with liver cancer who needed a transnt. And Xiao Yan happened to have the rare panda blood type..."


    Lin ChuSui was drawn into this melodramatic story. "It''s not what I''m thinking, right...?"


    Lu Chi said, "It''s exactly what you''re thinking. That family took him abroad, removed part of his liver, and used it to save their son''s life."


    "Damn."


    "Two yearster, that family''s house caught fire, and only Xiao Yan survived."


    "He...did it?"


    Lu Chi calmly continued, "No one knows if he started the fire, but he was the only one home at the time."


    "Why would he do that?"


    "There was a lot of cash hidden in his adoptive parents'' home, you know." Lu Chi meaningfully said, "After the fire, they couldn''t cover it up anymore. Xiao Yan''s adoptive father was brought to court and given a suspended death sentence. It made headlines in Nan City for days back then."


    Zhang Cheng Yu remarked: "Badass."


    Lu Chi said, "He is badass, but also utterly ruthless¡ªbearing it for so many years, willing to stake his life, and personally sending his adoptive dad to stand trial."


    Having said this, they both looked at Lin ChuSui sympathetically¡ª


    You''ve caught the eye of a "monster."


    Soon, the upbeat ss advisor Teacher Qin walked into the ssroom, followed by a clean-cut boy in a white shirt.


    Lin ChuSui recognized him as the "fake foreigner" Xu Jia Ning.


    As soon as he entered, the girls in ss seemed to sense it and lifted their heads in unison, staring straight at him. Their eyes glowed with the predatory light of youthful desire.


    "Let me introduce the new transfer student who tested into our ss B¡ªXu Jia Ning. Wee him, everyone."


    Before Teacher Qin had even finished speaking, thunderous apuse almost blew the roof off.


    Especially Lu Tian Bai in the front row next to Lin ChuSui, whose pping sounded like gongs.


    "Hello everyone, I''m Xu Jia Ning. I transferred from Eton College. I''m very happy to study with you all in the future. I have many interests, all rted to music. I can y guitar and piano. Let''s y together in the future."


    No one knew what "Eton College" was, but they felt it must be impressive.


    Leaning against the desk behind her, Lin ChuSui asked Zhang Cheng Yu, "Where''s this guy from?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu whispered, "Based on the pronunciation, it should be Eton College."


    Lin ChuSui quickly looked it up on her phone¡ª


    Eton College, the most famous aristocratic boarding school in the UK, unmatched in its reputation for fostering "gentlemanly culture" and being an "elite cradle." It had produced over 20 British Prime Ministers.


    She put her phone down and curled her lip.


    Wow, crazy prestigious.


    Teacher Qin let Xu Jia Ning choose an empty seat in the front row. The girls tidied up the spots next to them, and some even wanted to mercilessly kick out their current deskmates to make room for Xu Jia Ning.


    But Xu Jia Ning didn''t look at them.


    Maintaining a veneer of British courtesy, he seemed aloof and detached.


    Xu Jia Ning walked straight to the empty desk beside Lin ChuSui. Seeing this, she quickly shoved her bag onto the neighboring desk, indicating, "Sorry, this seat''s taken."


    Xu Jia Ning sat directly in the spot behind Lin ChuSui, bing deskmates with Lu Chi. In a low voice, he murmured, "Narcissus."


    Lin ChuSui frowned and nced back at him.


    He sat down, held out his hands, and looked straight at her.


    She knew this "fake foreigner" must be cursing her, but she didn''t understand what he meant. She could only swallow this silent grievance.


    Just then, Xiao Yan also strode into ss B.


    Wearing a ck T-shirt and carrying a ck single-strap backpack, his aura waspletely different from Xu Jia Ning''s.


    While Xu Jia Ning was like a gentle summer breeze, Xiao Yan was like a sheer cliff face sculpted by the wind¡ªreserved yet brimming with hidden edge.


    As he entered the ssroom, the other students'' eyes bulged.


    As if Xu Jia Ning wasn''t enough, now Xiao Yan was here too.


    With the top students from their grade gathered here, Teacher Qin''s ss B could now summon the dragon.


    Teacher Qin grinned from ear to ear. As expected, good hoes reap good harvests, no matter the field.


    "Xiao Yan, please introduce yourself to your ssmates."


    Xiao Yan had been about to find a seat, but paused at Teacher Qin''s words¡ª


    "My name is Xiao Yan."


    The ssroom was silent for a few seconds as the students stared nkly, seemingly expecting more.


    He didn''t seem to have prepared anything else. Seeing everyone still waiting, he added expressionlessly, "Ranked first in the grade."


    "..."


    How arrogant.


    When choosing a seat, Xiao Yan''s gaze naturallynded on Lin ChuSui. He walked over to her.


    She watched helplessly as he put his backpack on the desk next to hers.


    Somewhat shocked.


    Teacher Qin had long suspected they were secretly dating, but didn''t expect Xiao Yan to be so tant.


    As a teacher who strictly prohibited all youthful romances, he immediately said, "Xiao Yan, do you want to sit in front? Those rascals in the back row are failing miserably. Especially Lin ChuSui¡ªshe''s quite unruly and might affect your studies."


    Xiao Yan looked at Lin ChuSui. The corners of his lips quirked up. "I want to sit here."


    At these words, not only Teacher Qin, but even Xu Jia Ning in the back lifted his gaze to look at Xiao Yan.


    Lu Chi swore under his breath about a certain nt.


    This guy is really arrogant.


    Teacher Qin couldn''t be too harsh with Xiao Yan, the ace student he''d finally dug up. Offending him could damage his self-esteem.


    There would be time to slowly resolve the puberty issues between male and female students.


    "Then...go ahead and get influenced...I mean, go ahead and help the poor students with their studies."


    "Mm."


    Under Teacher Qin''s doubtful gaze, Lin ChuSui''s heart raced as she whispered, "We''re strangers, so why target me?"


    Xiao Yan smiled slightly. "I heard you''re not doing well in school."


    "So?"


    "It just so happens my grades are decent."


    "So?!"


    "I''m a deskmate happy to help."


    Lin ChuSui: "..."


    You''re not happy to help, you''re happy to kill me.


    Xiao Yan put his bag in the drawer, then took out a set of math exercises and started working on them.


    She couldn''t help ncing at him again.


    He had beautiful hands¡ªslender fingers and prominent knuckles. His fair skin made the blue veins on the back clearly visible.


    Nice looking hands.


    Lin ChuSui looked at her own hands¡ªsmall and chubby, with a tender puffiness. Not very slender.


    She heaved a faint sigh.


    "Lin ChuSui."


    Xiao Yan suddenly called her name while doing exercises, startling her.


    His tone made her think her dad was back!


    "Wha...What!"


    "Take out your math test paper."


    "Huh?"


    "That math test where you only got 9 points. Take it out."


    It took Lin ChuSui a moment to react. She took out the crumpled test paper from her drawer.


    Xiao Yan epted the wrinkled paper and carefully looked over it, checking the questions she got right and therge swaths she had left nk. His straight brows knitted together.


    "It''s not that you have academic problems, but ideological ones."


    Xiao Yan''s slender fingertip tapped thest question on the test. "Why are you writing poetry on your math test?"


    Lin ChuSui waspletely cowed by his solemn expression and tone. She was so nervous she almost knelt down and called him daddy.


    After a stunned moment, Lin ChuSui reacted¡ª


    Who the hell do you think you are!


    She snatched back her test paper. "It''s none of your business if I write poetry or not!"


    He nced at Lin ChuSui''s math test again and reminded, "Writing poetry and sucking up won''t make your teacher deduct points."


    Lin ChuSui looked at him. "Any suggestions, Mr. Genius?"


    Xiao Yan''s fingertip tapped her acrostic suck-up poem. "You wrote the math teacher''s name as the Chinese teacher''s name."


    Lin ChuSui: ?


    She hurriedly checked the math teacher''s name in her textbook.


    She really had written the wrong name!


    For the rest of ss, Lin ChuSui regretted messing up the teachers'' names and brown-nosing the wrong one.


    After ss, she sidled up to Xiao Yan and asked, "Are you good at English, Mr. Genius?"


    "Not bad."


    "What does Narcissus mean?" Lin ChuSui clumsily spelled out what Xu Jia Ning had called her earlier.


    "What?"


    "Nar-cis-sus."


    Xiao Yan blinked his longshes.


    "''Narcissus'' narcissisted to death?"


    "Are you sure it''s the same word?" Lin ChuSui slumped over her desk. "Ranked first yet can''t even understand ''Narcissus narcissisted to death.''"


    Just then, Xu Jia Ning''s crisp British ent came from behind her. "She said Narcissus."


    Lin ChuSui whipped around to re furiously at him.


    Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said, "Narcissus, daffodil, also means self-obsessed."


    Lin ChuSui did not understand: "Why does daffodil mean self-obsessed?"


    "Ites from Greek mythology. Narcissus was the son of the river god Cephissus and the nymph Liriope. He was very handsome but spurned all admirers. He spent his days pining at his own reflection in the water, eventually falling in love with himself and dying from mncholy, turning into the daffodil flower. In English contexts, daffodils are used to describe self-obsession."


    "..."


    Upon hearing Xiao Yan''s exnation, Lin ChuSui was very angry. She turned around and with a "bang" flipped Xu Jia Ning''s desk. "You''re the self-obsessed one, you fake foreign devil!"


    Xu Jia Ning was doing homework and couldn''t be bothered to respond to her. He didn''t expect this girl to be so feisty, continuously shoving his desk.


    Unable to endure it any longer, he stood up and said to Lin ChuSui: "Try that again if you dare."


    "Oh? The fake foreign devil isn''t pretending to be a gentleman anymore?" Lin ChuSui also stood up and shoved his desk again forcefully.


    Xu Jia Ning also stood up, grabbing her slender wrist: "I don''t bicker with women, but don''t go too far."


    Just as Lin ChuSui was about to retaliate, another stronger hand reached over, sping Xu Jia Ning''s wrist and twisting hard.


    Xu Jia Ning''s wrist was wrenched out of shape, releasing Lin ChuSui. The pain made his eyebrows furrow.


    Xiao Yan''s eyes as dark as the abyss stared at him, his low voice full of threat¡ª


    "Don''t-Touch-Her."

 Chapter 4: Marshmallow

    <h4>Chapter 4</h4>


    Xu Jia Ning and Xiao Yan stared at each other for a few seconds. From Xiao Yan''s deep eyes, Xu Jia Ning saw a certain resolute meaning.


    It was as if protecting Lin Chu Sui was instinctive and natural to him.


    Xu Jia Ning didn''t want to get into a conflict with his ssmate on the first day of school and leave a bad impression on the new ss, so he struggled free of Xiao Yan''s grip: "I don''t want to fight on the first day of school."


    Xiao Yan didn''t hold it against him and let go of his hand.


    The ss bell rang, and the onlooking ssmates withdrew their melon-eating gazes and obediently went to ss.


    Lin Chu Sui stared at Xiao Yan, stunned.


    If she still couldn''t confirm his feelings after the ss transfer at first, then now, she waspletely certain!


    Xiao Yan really had a crush on her!


    No, it wasn''t just a crush. He was so obvious about it, this was outright pursuing her!


    But how could the top student in their grade, the academic god, take notice of her, a loser and a cker?


    This was just too charming!


    She took out her phone and sent a message in the "Nancheng No.1 Middle School Belle Group":


    Lin Chu Sui: "Help! How can I gently reject him without hurting his self-esteem?"


    Lu Chi: "It''s been two years since the end of yourst fiery first love. It looks like our Chu Jie is about to...enter her second spring! [cigarette emoji]"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Do you like him?"


    Lin Chu Sui: "I don''t even know him, why would I like him?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Reject him directly."


    Lu Chi: "Don''t reject him! Chu Jie, this is such a good opportunity! Look at his phenomenal full-mark math test paper. Do you have the heart to let go of such an awesome homework harvesting machine?"


    Lin Chu Sui: "I have the heart."


    Lu Chi: "Tsk, hypocrite."


    Lin Chu Sui: "My child, do you know what the highest realm of the homework copying world is?"


    Lu Chi: "[shaking head emoji]"


    Lin Chu Sui: "The highest realm of the homework copying world is... I''m toozy to even copy!"


    Lu Chi: "......"


    Lu Chi: "Chu Jie, why not give it a try and date him for a bit? After all, he''s in high demand. My ex was even nning to confess to him..."


    Lu Tianbai: "Sister, ignore these scumbags and choose as you wish."


    ...


    Before Lin Chu Sui could even finish typing, her phone was snatched away by the boy next to her.


    She was shocked, just about to reach out to grab it back, when Xiao Yan directly turned off her phone and heavily put it back on the desk, tapping the screen with his fingertip as he threatened in a low voice:


    "ying with your phone during ss, do you believe I''ll throw it out?"


    Lin Chu Sui: ?


    "Pay attention in ss. Your phone is confiscated for now."


    "???"


    In an instant, she wanted to kneel down and yell "Dad" again.


    After school, the Lu Chi and Lu Tianbai siblings asked Lin Chu Sui to go to the movies, but Lin Chu Sui wasn''t in the mood and declined, heading home alone with her schoolbag.


    On the way, she saw Xu Jia Ning riding a mountain bike into a small park, so she sneaked after him and heard him talking on the phone.


    Xu Jia Ning nced to the side and also saw Lin Chu Sui following him like a little cat.


    But he ignored her and immediately switched to English mode, sitting on a bench and chatting with his friend.


    Lin Chu Sui''s English was a mess, and she couldn''t understand him talking either, only hearing him babble a few swear words from movies.


    She instinctively felt that Xu Jia Ning must be cursing her again.


    So she hid under a tree, took out her phone, and turned on the trantion app to trante live:


    "I''m so annoyed, but there''s no way. My dad insists I move over there, says it''s to cultivate feelings."


    "The students at the school also have poor quality. Socializing with them takes a lot of effort. The girls are quite obsessed."


    "My sister? She''s just a rebellious teenager." Xu Jia Ning''s tone rose slightly: "Her dad died, and it''s like she owes the whole world."


    Lin Chu Sui unhappily picked up a small pebble, weighed it in her palm, and prepared to throw it at him.


    "The creepiest thing is, she has pasted her dad''s photos all over the house. Going to the bathroom at night is horrifying! Old Xu will probably scare her into cardiac arrest when hees back from his honeymoon."


    "She''s probably mentally twisted."


    "If I wasn''t looking at her pitifully for not having a dad to discipline her, I would have taught her a lesson long ago."


    "How nice it would be for no one to watch over you. I''d beg for that and still not get it."


    ...


    Lin Chu Sui was about to rush over and beat him up, but after hearing thest part, her eyes suddenly turned sour, and her nose also turned red, for some reason.


    She threw away the pebble and used her dirty hands to rub the wetness in her eyes, preparing to leave.


    Just then, a pair of hands grabbed her.


    Lin Chu Sui looked up and saw Xiao Yan had appeared at her side at some point.


    He pulled her dirty hands over, took out clean wet wipes from his schoolbag, and helped wipe the mud and dust off her hands.


    "You..."


    Xiao Yan gave her a deep look with those pitch-ck eyes, and used the back of his own hand to wipe away the tear stains at the corners of her eyes, speaking in a mocking yet gentle tone:


    "Pathetic."


    "... "


    Lin Chu Sui quickly retreated two steps back, looking at him guardedly.


    She knew this guy had a secret crush on her, but strangely...Lin Chu Sui always saw the shadow of Old Lin in him.


    It was no big deal in itself, and she didn''t feel particrly upset by Xu Jia Ning''s words either.


    But the sudden concern andfort, in an instant, made her eyes turn sandy, with tears streaming down her face.


    Very embarrassing. She quickened her pace and ran away.


    Xiao Yan strode after her with his long legs.


    "Don''t follow me!" Lin Chu Sui looked back and threatened, "If you keep following me, I''ll hit you!"


    Xiao Yan saw a candy-colored dessert cart at the edge of the park, so he quickened his pace and went over to buy a colorful cotton candy.


    Seeing hime over holding the huge five-colored cotton candy cloud, Lin Chu Sui didn''t understand his intention and said, "What exactly are you trying to do?"


    Xiao Yan held out the cotton candy to her: "Stop crying. Let me treat you."


    "Who are you? I don''t want you to treat me!"


    "Then give me 5 bucks and I''ll sell it to you."


    "... "


    Lin Chu Sui cried even harder.


    Only when she was in kindergarten would Old Lin use cotton candy to coax her to stop crying. Now that she had grown up, who wanted to eat such childish cotton candy!


    Seeing the cotton candy, Lin Chu Sui thought of Old Lin again, and her tears streamed down her face even more.


    Everyone told her that she should move on, embrace her new life. Her dad wouldn''t have wanted her to be shackled by memories either.


    But it''s so easy to tell people what they should and shouldn''t do.


    She just couldn''t move on.


    Lin Chu Sui didn''t care how ugly she became, how annoying and disappointing she was to those around her. She didn''t care about anything.


    "If you don''t know how tofort someone, then go away."


    "Still learning."


    Lin Chu Sui gritted her teeth and looked at him resentfully: "You''re not my dad, why do you care about me!"


    "What if I am?"


    Lin Chu Sui gnashed her teeth at him: "Then prove it!"


    Xiao Yan remained expressionless.


    The two were silent for a few minutes. Lin Chu Sui felt it was absurd and turned to leave.


    Soon, Xiao Yan caught up with her and stubbornly held out the cotton candy in front of her eyes again, gently saying, "Be good, don''t cry anymore."


    Lin Chu Sui abruptly stopped in her tracks.

 Chapter 5: Cry Wolf

    <h4>Chapter 5</h4>


    Xiao Yan saw the girl for the first time on TV.


    The scene at the hospital was very chaotic. Reporters were stopped far away by police and volunteers, and could only catch some fragmented shots.


    In the footage, the girl was helplessly squatting outside the burn unit door, watching the doctors and nurses push out a bed covered with a white cloth and hand it over to the funeral home staff.


    The girl''s eyes were full of tears, but she stubbornly bit her lips without letting the tears fall.


    Not until the man was pushed onto the hearse did she react and chase after the vehicle, running and wailing,


    "Dad!"


    "Dad, wait for your darling girl!"


    ...


    Her figure in white chasing and crying for her dad always came back in Xiao Yan''s dreams at midnight.


    Xiao Yan already had too many nightmares in his childhood.


    Abandoned at an orphanage by his parents, then enduring a sham adoption only to have his liver "donated", the surgery took ce at a private hospital overseas when he was only twelve, nearly costing him half his life.


    Evil shielded the sky, the long night hard to brighten.


    Xiao Yan endured for years before finally in that raging fire, with his own life plus billions in cash left, sending the culprit to trial.


    Heaven''s justice is self-evident, no one can truly shield the sun.


    But he wouldn''t have thought someone would disregard their own safety to save his life.


    That glimpse of orange firefighter uniform rushing into the smoke-filled room was like a superhero descended from heaven.


    Lin Xiuze picked him up and charged out without hesitation.


    With his spine crushed by a falling beam, he pushed Xiao Yan out, smiling as he told him, "My daughter is the same age as you. I hope she stays safe and well, grows up nicely."


    "Kid, you must live on well, too..."


    ...


    The time Xiao Yan knew Lin Xiuze wasn''t even one minute.


    He only said two sentences to him ¡ª


    My daughter is the same age as you, I hope she stays safe and happy.


    You must live on well, too...


    Having escaped death, Xiao Yan did his utmost to live on and climb higher.


    Sunk in the mire, anyone could stomp on him, only by standing taller could he avoid being bullied.


    Yet Xiao Yan could never have imagined fate would y such a huge joke on him again.


    "¡¾Save The Girl Who Lost Her Father¡¿ mission loadingplete, the host mustplete the mission within the allotted time."


    "Mission: Fulfill the wish of firefighter Lin Xiuze who saved your life, help his daughter Lin ChuSui regain her will to live and rekindle her fighting spirit, get admitted to her ideal university, stay safe, happy and well."


    "If mission fails, firefighter Lin Xiuze will possess your body to continue the life he didn''tplete. Your consciousness will disperse, and you will die."


    This was the cold mechanical voice Xiao Yan heard when he first encountered the system.


    At first he thought he was hallucinating, schizophrenic, and didn''t pay it any heed.


    Until he started seeing a countdown on the bottom left corner of his retina ¡ª


    363 days until mission deadline, 362 days, 361 days...


    While the bottom right showed mission progress: 0%.


    Aside from the mission countdown and progress appearing in his eyes, he even heard firefighter Lin Xiuze''s voice in his head, "Kid, I suggest you do as it says."


    "Just what is going on?"


    Lin Xiuze: "Since I saved you, I don''t want my efforts to be in vain, or take over your body to revive. But my daughter now...is not doing well, if this continues, her life will be over."


    "So?"


    "As long as you promise me, help her get into college, regain her will to live, I''ll help you live on."


    "......"


    This was why Xiao Yan ended up in Lin ChuSui''s ss as her deskmate, appearing by her side when she felt sad and hopeless.


    Of course Lin ChuSui didn''t know any of this. She gazed at him in a daze, with his earlier words echoing in her ears ¡ª


    "Dear girl."


    In a trance, she thought she''d misheard.


    "What did you call me?"


    "Hm?"


    Lin ChuSui grabbed Xiao Yan''s cor, agitated as she asked, "Have you met him before? Do you know him?"


    "Know who?"


    "My dad! You must''ve met my dad, only Dad calls me that!"


    Lin ChuSui wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, looking at him full of hope, "He''s not gone, right? You''ve seen him!"


    Xiao Yan nodded slightly, looking at her face.


    The youngdy''s cheeks were flushed, several wisps of fine hair on her forehead somewhat disheveled. Her beautiful almond eyes shone with hopeful light.


    He shifted his gaze and calmly said, "I don''t know your father."


    Lin Xiuze had said that to seed in the mission, he could no longer let Lin ChuSui know his consciousness still existed.


    Otherwise she would never be able to move on in her life.


    Two years ago, perhaps...Xiao Yan would''ve readily agreed to give up his body for the firefighter uncle who saved his life to revive.


    But now, Xiao Yan really wanted to live on.


    He wanted to struggle and climb from the mire, ascend to greater heights, to see better scenery.


    "Didn''t you just call me ''dear girl'' earlier?"


    "No."


    Lin ChuSui finally released his cor, "Then I misheard."


    She just missed her dad too much.


    Seeing the youngdy was no longer crying, Xiao Yan held out a stick of rainbow cotton candy to her, "Want one?"


    Although Lin ChuSui hadn''t eaten cotton candy in a long time.


    But the candy reminded her of Old Lin, who also liked using it to cheer her up.


    She epted the cotton candy and gobbled it up in a gust.


    The taste was still that of childhood.


    Xiao Yan''s fingertips came over, gently wiping the sugar grains from the corners of her mouth.


    Lin ChuSui clearly felt the rough texture of his fingertips, tilted her head slightly to dodge him, guardedly asking, "What are you doing?"


    "Nothing."


    "Doing nothing is doing something?"


    He stretched out a fingertip, poking her brow, smiling, "I''ve never seen such a sloppy girl like you."


    "......"


    Lin ChuSui''s face immediately turned red.


    She wasn''t a sloppy girl.


    At least when Old Lin was still around, he braided her hair nicely every day, changed her into different flower dresses, clearly organized eachyer of her backpack, whichyer for exercise books, which for supplementary materials, so that she went to school neat, tidy and pretty.


    After Old Lin passed, Lin ChuSui admitted she had...let herself go a bit.


    But having the boy who secretly liked her point this out still made her feel very awkward. She vigorously wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, ending up with sticky sugar smears all over.


    Xiao Yan took out a pack of wet wipes from his bag, tore it open, grasped Lin ChuSui''s hand and carefully wiped her hand clean.


    Lin ChuSui looked him up and down for a bit, he had very narrow, upturned eyes, the curve especially attractive. His lips were thin, pursed into a very serious look.


    "......"


    As if possessed, Lin ChuSui''s cheeks grew a little hot and she quickly pushed him away.


    Just then, Lu Chi rode past them on a motorcycle, carrying his sister Lu Tianbai. He whistled loudly as he sped by.


    Lu Tianbai took pictures of them with her phone, the sh blinking the whole way.


    "Hey! Don''t take pi¡ª"


    Lu Tianbai waved her phone at them, "Sending wedding photos to the group chat tonight, congrattions you two, have an early honeymoon!"


    Lin ChuSui nced back at Xiao Yan, a little embarrassed, "They''re always joking around."


    Xiao Yan remained expressionless, threw away the tissue and prepared to leave.


    Lin ChuSui hopped after him with her schoolbag on her back, "I still feel...you know my dad."


    "Don''t know him."


    "Have you heard the story of the boy who cried wolf? Liars die, you know!"


    "Then why are you so certain I know your dad?"


    "I have a feeling."


    Lin ChuSui moved closer to Xiao Yan, looking intently into his eyes, as if trying to peer into his heart.


    Xiao Yan shifted his gaze away.


    He wasn''t sure if the youngdy could really discover something in his eyes, after all, Lin Xiuze''s soul currently resided in his body, and was very likely to take over after the mission failed.


    "I really don''t know your father."


    "Then why are you so nice to me?"


    "Yes, why am I nice to you?" Xiao Yan smiled faintly, with a joking lilt as he leaned in close to her ear and softly said, "I couldn''t be...secretly in love with you, right?"


    Lin ChuSui''s heart skipped a beat as she looked at him.


    He smiled mockingly.


    "Then you sure have good taste." Seeing he was joking, Lin ChuSui gave him a big thumbs up, "No wonder you''re the school''s ace student."


    Xiao Yan didn''t expect her to react like this. He found this girl rather amusing.


    Seeing she was no longer sad, he turned and left, raising a hand, "I''m going."


    Lin ChuSui watched his tall, thin figure by the traffic lights, sighing as she felt foolish.


    To actually see...her dad''s shadow in this guy.


    But after this bout of silliness, the jammed up feeling in her heart seemed to have cleared up a lot, no longer choking her ufortably.


    ...


    Returning home, Lin ChuSui saw a nightlight on in the living room, Xu JiaNing''s bedroom door shut tight, some light seeping out from the gap.


    He was probably doing homework, after all, the workload in ss B was still quite heavy.


    Lin ChuSui took out a key from the cab and directly locked all four bathrooms upstairs and downstairs.


    Either beg her or solve it outdoors.


    Lin ChuSui was vengeful. Whoever bullied her, she would bully them back.


    With Dad gone, she had to learn to protect herself.


    ...


    Back in her room, Lin ChuSui happened to see the photograph of Old Lin on the wall, smiling at her, as if saying she shouldn''t do this.


    She mumbled sullenly, "What are you looking at, he''s asking for it, serves him right."


    "Alright, alright!"


    Lin ChuSui took another look at Old Lin, still feeling guilty as she went downstairs and unlocked the bathroom door of the outermost suite.


    Give him a bathroom so he doesn''t have to go outside like a dog to pee and poop everywhere.


    When Lin ChuSui got back, she dove straight into bed andy t on her back: "Old Lin, I gotta tell you something."


    "Our ss valedictorian, the super smart one, actually has a secret crush on me."


    "Surprised? Unexpected?" Lin ChuSui sat up and looked at the ck and white portrait, a smile at the corners of her mouth: "Last time, you thought he was too stupid. Now the ss valedictorian likes your daughter too, didn''t expect that, did you!"


    "But I won''t date anymore."


    Lin ChuSui lowered her eyes, and reluctantly admitted in a muffled voice: "When you like someone, you definitely want to be better, but I feel...I can''t get better anymore."


    Kids without a dad will never be alright.


    I shouldn''t drag others down.


    The man in the photo still had that gentle smile, looking at her somewhat helplessly.


    "He''s nothing like you at all." Lin ChuSui said to the man in the photo: "But sometimes, I always seem to see your shadow in him..."


    "Old Lin, did youe back to life?"


    Lin ChuSui looked at the man in the photo expectantly: "Dad, if you really came back to life, reincarnated, time traveled, give me a hint, even a tiny one!"


    The room remained the same, nothing out of the ordinary.


    Lin ChuSui looked around warily, afraid of missing any clues.


    Only the wind, blowing the curtains gently, creatingyers of ripples.


    The pen on the desk by the window was blown to the ground, making a crisp tter¡ª


    "Snap!"


    Lin ChuSui stared at the pen on the ground for a good few seconds, and suddenly understood.


    She picked up the pen and quickly took out her phone, opening the "Southern City Elite Girls Group".


    Lin ChuSui: "@everyone, tomorrow night at midnight, let''s meet up in a ssroom at school to y a game."


    Lu Tianbai: "What game needs to be yed at midnight?"


    Lin ChuSui: "I want to summon the pen spirit."


    At this, the group fell silent for a full minute.


    Lu Tianbai: "Well...I''m on my period, can''t be exposed to wind or stay upte, so I won''t go."


    Lin ChuSui: "Didn''t you just finish your periodst week?"


    Lu Tianbai: "Second round. QAQ"


    Lin ChuSui: "Your periodes twice a month?"


    Lu Chi: "Her period visits once a month,sting thirty days each time, no breaks all year :)"


    Lin ChuSui: "No worries, voluntary participation, no pressure. @everyone"


    Lu Tianbai: "¡¾Love you¡¿"


    Lu Chi: "Oh yeah...I just remembered, my uncle''sing tomorrow too."


    Lin ChuSui: "@Zhang Cheng Yu, is your uncleing?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "I don''t have an uncle, but I calcted that tomorrow, it''d be best to sleep early, or you could die suddenly."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    The next morning at morning reading ss, amidst the chattering of ssmates reading aloud, Lin ChuSui read the words "ungrateful", "betray trust" and "nopassion" more than once.


    From the back, Lu Chi read loudly: "Strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious, free, equal, just,wful, patriotic, dedicated, honest, friendly."


    Lin ChuSui looked back and red at him: "Coward."


    Lu Chi: "I''m just proactively practicing the socialist core values."


    Overhearing this, Xu Jia Ning became interested. Putting down his book, he asked: "What are you guys doing?"


    "She''s nning some feudal superstition activity."


    "Specifically?"


    "Have you heard of the pen spirit game, in your Ennd across the ocean?"


    Xu Jia Ning nodded: "I know it."


    Lu Chi joked: "Want to join our world''s cutest little sister in ying?"


    Although desperate for people, Lin ChuSui knew this fake foreign devil Xu Jia Ning would never deign to y such a game with her.


    Unexpectedly, Xu Jia Ning readily agreed: "Sure."


    She turned back in shock: "You''ll y?"


    Xu Jia Ning calmly exined as he silently copied ancient Chinese poems: "I''ve lived in Ennd since I was very young. I''m quite interested in learning about domestic folk traditions."


    Lin ChuSui scoffed: "But you sleep at 10pm on the dot every night. Our game is at dawn."


    "I can discuss with my circadian rhythm to make an exception for one day."


    Lin ChuSui didn''t expect her scheme to be so popr, actually attracting willing participants.


    She turned and gave Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu a contemptuous international gesture¡ª


    We''re not friends anymore!

 Chapter 6: Pen Fairy

    <h4>Chapter 6</h4>


    Xu Jia Ning wanted to join Lin Chu Sui''s spirit writing game. Lu Tian Bai worshipped him, worshipped him to death, so naturally he joined in too.


    Lu Chi was afraid that his sister would be taken away by a fake foreign devil, so he had to stay and y together.


    Lu Tian Bai was the ss monitor and had the key to the ssroom.


    At nine o''clock in the evening, they sessfully avoided the school surveince and entered the ssroom smoothly.


    The originally dark and empty ssroom didn''t feel so terrifying anymore because a group of kids had poured in.


    Lu Chi took out several red scarves from his school bag and handed them to everyone, "Wear this for protection if you follow the righteous path."


    Lin Chu Sui took the red scarf and neatly tied it on herself, casuallymenting, "Superstitious."


    "You dare say that! Who''s the superstitious one here!"


    Xu Jia Ning grew up overseas and had never worn a red scarf before. He tried to tie it like they did but just couldn''t get it right.


    Lu Tian Bai walked over and skillfully helped tie the red scarf for him, "You have to wrap it around this way."


    Xu Jia Ningughed, "Thanks, Lu Bai Tian."


    "You''re wee," Lu Tian Bai''s face flushed red with shyness as he corrected, "By the way, my name is Lu Tian Bai, not Lu Bai Tian."


    "Sorry about that."


    Lu Chi rolled his eyes and pulled his sister back to his side, "Don''t talk to him!"


    "Why not?"


    "He''s wicked!"


    "No he''s not."


    Xu Jia Ning ignored Lu Chi''s hostility and nced at his watch. There was still time so he sat back at his desk and turned on his deskmp to do homework.


    Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu looked at each other then swiftly took out their exercise books, sandwiching Xu Jia Ning on both sides.


    Xu Jia Ning used his body to block their books so they couldn''t copy.


    "Hey, aren''t you being a little too petty?"


    "We''re all ssmates. Let''s bond over the gameter. For now, let''s connect through homework, okay?"


    "I don''t use homework to bond." Xu Jia Ning said calmly, "My homework is the product of my mental exertion and has intellectual property rights. If you want my authorization, you''ll have to pay to purchase it."


    Lu Chi: "Your dad''s already hooked up with Lin Chu Sui''s mom. Don''t you have enough money?"


    Xu Jia Ning: "I''m notcking money, but this is a matter of principle. Anything that requires mental effort has value. If you want it, you have to exchange it for something of equal value."


    Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu looked at each other. Finally, they looked to Lin Chu Sui, "Bro Chu, did you bring money?"


    "Homework can be copied but should never be bought. That''s the bottom line of our homework copyingmunity."


    "We have a homework copyingmunity with bottom lines?"


    "We must."


    Lin Chu Sui wrote as swift as a deity, finishing an entire English exam paper in minutes. Then she swiftly took out her Chinese workbook and started scribbling away.


    "Wow, awesome Bro Chu. You''re so fast."


    "Of course Bro Chu is awesome."


    Lu Chi looked down at his empty Chinese workbook and asked her, "Uh, what''s the next line after ''The old man is crazily acting his age''?"


    Without thinking, Lin Chu Sui recited: "A single pear blossom tree weighing down the camellia."


    Lu Chi tasted it in his mouth, thought it made sense, and wrote it down.


    Xu Jia Ning frowned and asked Lin Chu Sui, "Are you sure?"


    "Yeah, what else could it be?"


    Xu Jia Ning was terrible at Chinese, barely passing it. He especially sucked at reciting ancient poems and verses. He simply wrote down "A single pear blossom tree weighing down the camellia" in his workbook.


    Lu Chi asked again: "What''s the next line after ''Listening to spring rain through the night in a small building''?"


    Lin Chu Sui: "A red apricot branching out of the wall."


    Xu Jia Ning still felt something was off so he randomly recited a poem verse from childhood:


    "Then whates after ''Raising my cup to invite the bright moon''?"


    Without thinking, Lin Chu Sui responded: "s, the bright moon illuminates the gutter."


    Xu Jia Ning: ...


    He immediately crossed out the ancient poem lines he had just written.


    Can''t believe he fell for this trash''s nonsense!


    He looked back at Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu. They copied the poem fill-in-the-nks without any doubts.


    These failing students really dared to speak and dared to copy.


    Xu Jia Ning decided to keep his distance from them.


    Lin Chu Sui gave Xu Jia Ning a local lesson on ancient poems and verses, instructing him patiently: "It''s okay. Getting familiar with ancient poems is a process. You grew up overseas so umte more over time."


    Xu Jia Ning endured and smiled politely at her: "I have an F word that I''m not sure is proper to say or not."


    "Improper. Shut up."


    Just past 9:30, Zhang Cheng Yu''s mother called asking why he hadn''t gone home yet.


    And it was also Xu Jia Ning''s bedtime. He started yawning nonstop.


    Lin Chu Sui pondered and felt waiting until midnight was a bit of a stretch.


    The spirit writing game could probably be yed as soon as the sky darkened. No need to stick to midnight exactly.


    "Alright, let''s start. Finish quickly and go home."


    Lu Chi asked: "If we don''t wait until 0:00, will it still work?"


    "My dad sleeps early. He''s probably dreaming by midnight. Now is a good time."


    Lin Chu Sui took out arge A3 paper from her schoolbag, spread it t on the desk, then wrote "Yes" and "No" on the paper following online instructions.


    "Who wants to go first?" She looked around at everyone.


    Xu Jia Ning said: "I don''t really know how. You guys show me a round first."


    Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu looked at each other then pushed the innocent-looking Lu Tian Bai forward: "Little sis you go. She loves horror games the most."


    Lu Tian Bai looked at Lu Chi scornfully then held the pencil with Lin Chu Sui, backs of hands touching and palms facing outwards.


    Lin Chu Sui could feel her trembling nervously and breathing deeply.


    "Don''t be scared. My dad is very gentle."


    "Okay. Uncle Lin is very nice to me. I''m...I''m not afraid."


    In unison, they spoke: "Spirit, spirit, I''m your soulmate in this life. If you wish to be with me, please draw a circle on this paper."


    No reaction.


    Lin Chu Sui asked repeatedly but the pencil just stayed still atop the paper.


    Lu Chi said: "Maybe your dad doesn''t like our Tian Tian. Let''s switch."


    "Nonsense. Uncle Lin loves me. He always gave me candy when I was little." Lu Tian Bai let go of the pencil to refute him: "If you can''t call him out, why don''t you try! Let''s see if Uncle Lin likes you more or me more."


    Lu Chi and Lin Chu Sui also tried but the pencil tip didn''t budge at all.


    Worried that he would be next, Zhang Cheng Yu put his palms together in front of his chest:


    "The world consists of matter. Matter determines consciousness. Consciousness reflects matter. Amitabha..."


    Lin Chu Sui: "Shut up."


    "Let me try."


    Xu Jia Ning picked up the pencil, back of hand to back of hand with Lin Chu Sui, and gripped it inverted:


    "Spirit, spirit, I''m your soulmate in this life. If you wish to be with me, please draw a circle on this paper."


    A few secondster, Lin Chu Sui distinctly felt the pencil tip move!


    She stared wide-eyed in disbelief at Xu Jia Ning.


    With a straight face, Xu Jia Ning watched as the pencil tip shakily drew a circle on the paper.


    Silence filled the surroundings, except for the wind rustling the tree leaves outside.


    The onlooking crowd held their breath, shocked as they stared at the nk paper.


    Lu Tian Bai covered her mouth with her hand. Her soul nearly flew away in fright.


    It really came!


    After the circle was drawn, Lin Chu Sui asked in a trembling voice: "Who are you?"


    The pencil didn''t move.


    She remembered the spirit writing taboos. Can''t ask directly like that.


    "Are you Lin Xiu Ze?"


    The pencil moved again, guided by Lin Chu Sui, stopping on the "Yes" character.


    "Oh my gosh..."


    Lu Chi whispered to Zhang Cheng Yu: "Xu Jia Ning must be joking around."


    Zhang Cheng Yu solemnly "shushed" him and said: "Don''t disrespect the spirit!"


    Lu Chi said in disdain: "Weren''t you just talking about matter determining consciousness..."


    Cold sweat wasing out of Lin Chu Sui''s palms now. Her hands shook uncontrobly as she continued asking: "Dad, are you still...still alive?"


    The pencil tip slowly slid to the "No" character.


    Lin Chu Sui''s eyes turned red.


    "Dad, is there...is there anything you want to say to me?"


    The pencil slowly moved again, scribbling two crooked characters on the paper:


    "Let go."


    Lin Chu Sui nearly sobbed out loud. She forcefully held back the sourness in her throat and said: "No, I won''t let you go! You''re my dad. I won''t let you go! You said you still wanted to see me off to college!"


    The pencil kept writing: "But you can''t get in."


    Lin Chu Sui: ...


    Her tears instantly retracted.


    Lu Chi couldn''t hold in hisughter: "Now that''s a real dad."


    Lin Chu Sui calmed herself and asked again: "What did youe here today to tell me?"


    Xu Jia Ning nced at Lin Chu Sui, about to guide the pencil tip to somehow get her to take down all the memorial photos of "Old Lin" in her home.


    These days of living in Lin Chu Sui''s home, he really was nearly driven mad by her dad''s ubiquitous smiling face.


    He controlled the pencil, about to write the characters for "photo".


    But at that moment, Xu Jia Ning clearly felt the pencil moving on its own!


    He stared wide-eyed as the pencil shakily wrote a few crooked characters on the paper:


    "I''m here."


    Now Xu Jia Ning really broke out in a cold sweat.


    Everything until now was under his control, but these two words were not written by him!


    Lin Chu Sui quickly asked: "Where are you?!"


    A gust of wind blew past, branches rustling outside the window. The pencil slowly wrote three words:


    "By your side."


    "What the fu*k!"


    Xu Jia Ning cursed in English, threw his pencil violently, and broke into a cold sweat with a pale face.


    The game was interrupted all of a sudden.


    The wind outside also seemed to have stopped, and the surroundings became quiet.


    In the ssroom, the air stagnated, and time also seemed to have stopped at this moment.


    Everyone was still in shock, and didn''t dare to say a word.


    "What''s wrong with you?" Lin Chu Sui asked Xu Jia Ning, "Why did you suddenly throw your pencil?"


    Xu Jia Ning looked really frightened: "Thosest few words just now, I didn''t write them!"


    "What do you mean?"


    He shouted excitedly: "The previous ones, I wrote them! But just now...just now I..."


    Lin Chu Sui interrupted him: "You were just putting on an act earlier?"


    "The previous part was me, but I didn''t write thosest few words!"


    Lin Chu Sui felt she was being made fun of. She threw the pencil at him and turned to leave: "You''re so boring!"


    She really thought Mr. Lin hade back!


    The three onlooking students also breathed a sigh of relief. They really thought they had seen a ghost, but it turned out to just be a prank.


    "Let''s go, let''s go."


    "Everyone should go home and sleep."


    At the ssroom door, Xu Jia Ning caught up with Lin Chu Sui and grabbed her arm excitedly: "Believe me, your dad really came back. I didn''t write those words ''by your side''. His spirit must have possessed someone!"


    He was the only one who knew the truth about this supernatural incident, and he was very scared. He needed someone to believe him, to share the burden with him, otherwise he would definitely be scared to death by himself.


    Lin Chu Sui rolled her eyes: "So are you trying to say that Mr. Lin''s spirit possessed you and you want me to call you dad?"


    "How would I know! Maybe, otherwise how do you exin those words from earlier!"


    She kicked him in the knee.


    Xu Jia Ning''s knee suffered a direct "phantom kick", and the corners of his mouth twitched in pain.


    Lin Chu Sui red at him fiercely: "Never make jokes about my dad."


    Xu Jia Ning was stubborn. He insisted: "I''m not joking. He really appeared! Believe me!"


    "I can believe you, but make him appear right now within 10 seconds."


    Xu Jia Ning shouted excitedly into the empty ssroom building: "Hey! Where are you! Come out! Stop ying ghost tricks! Come out and exin clearly!"


    Lu Chi whispered to Lu Tianbai: "This guy looks quite normal, didn''t expect him to be such a fool."


    Xu Jia Ning was really scared now: "Come out! Hiding and scaring people, what''s the point?"


    As the seconds ticked by, Lin Chu Sui became disheartened and turned to leave.


    The next second, a figure appeared at the end of the hallway.


    "Oh my gosh!"


    Lu Tianbai quickly hid behind her brother, and Zhang Cheng Yu also jumped in fright and hid behind Lu Tianbai.


    Even Lin Chu Sui was a bit frightened, and asked in a trembling voice: "Who''s there?"


    In the shadows, the figure slowly walked out.


    Under the dim ceiling light, the teenager wore a gray hoodie, with deep, pitch-ck eyes that were darker than the night.


    It was Xiao Yan!

 Chapter 7: Halos

    <h4>Chapter 7</h4>


    Lin ChuSui watched as Xiao Yan walked over, puzzled. She asked, "What are you doing here?"


    Xiao Yan walked into the ssroom and took out a Chinese workbook from his drawer. He waved it and said, "Homework. I forgot to bring it."


    Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when they heard this.


    They had almost thought that Lin ChuSui''s father... had manifested as a spirit!


    Somewhat disappointed, Lin ChuSui pouted. She thought to herself, how is it that he always shows up so coincidentally?


    "You didn''t know you coulde back tomorrow morning to get it? You specifically ran back to fetch it."


    Xiao Yan put the workbook into his bag, nced at her and said, "I could have, but I didn''t want to."


    "Why didn''t you want to?"


    "We gifted students never make up homework."


    "..."


    With her hands behind her back, Lin ChuSui sauntered over to his side. She looked him up and down, and even leaned in to sniff him.


    He smelled freshly of lemonundry detergent.


    "My dad always smelled of cigarette smoke. You don''t."


    "I don''t smoke," Xiao Yan leaned back to avoid Lin ChuSui, who was sniffing him like a puppy. "What are you trying to imply?"


    "She wants to ask if you really let her dad''s spirit possess you. You showed up right on time, 10 seconds t," said Lu Chi, pointing to his electronic watch.


    Xiao Yan''s tranquil gaze swept over the messy A3 papers and pencils on the table. Recalling what they had been whispering about the spirit writing game earlier, he could guess what had happened.


    He didn''t say much. He shouldered his bag and left.


    ...


    Lu Chi and the otherszily tidied up the things on the table and followed him out of the ssroom building.


    Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped out, several security guards pointed their shlights at them from afar ¡ª


    "Which ss are you from? What are you doing at school? Why aren''t you going home?"


    "We''re done for!"


    Lin ChuSui and Lu Chi''s group reflexively broke into a run towards the small woods behind the hill. There was a short wall there that they could climb over and slip out of the school grounds.


    Being model students, Xu Jia Ning and Xiao Yan of course had never encountered such situations before.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t have time to exin. She instinctively grabbed Xiao Yan''s hand and dragged him along, tumbling and crawling as they ran.


    Xiao Yan hadn''t intended to run. At school, even the Dean of Academic Affairs would take the initiative to greet him.


    He had never been in such a sorry state, chased by security guards in the middle of the night.


    He said in a low voice, "Let go of me."


    Lin ChuSui looked at Xiao Yan''s fair and lovely face, flushed somewhat unnaturally, "You''re clearlycking in exercise, addicted to studying."


    He caught his breath and calmed his heart rate, "You guys go ahead. I don''t want to run."


    "Don''t worry, I won''t abandon my teammates. We''ll share the same fate!" Lin ChuSui insisted righteously, clutching his hand tightly.


    "There really is no need." Xiao Yan forcibly shook off her hand, "As long as you stay away from me, I definitely won''t be done for."


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched, "Thinks he''s so great for being the top of the level?"


    Xu Jia Ning shared the same mentality as Xiao Yan. After running a few steps, he felt it was rather undignified, so he stopped, "What are we running for? We just have to exin things clearly."


    Since they hadn''t stolen anything or done anything bad, running would only make them seem guilty.


    The security guards caught up to them. Xu Jia Ning tidied his cor and held up his chin gracefully, "I''m Xu Jia Ning from ss B of the 12th Grade..."


    Before he could finish speaking, the security guard grabbed him ruthlessly by the cor and pped him on the head, "You''re still running, little rascal! Run again and see what happens!"


    As he said that, he escorted Xu Jia Ning to the security office as if he were a convicted criminal.


    "Let go! Don''t touch me! I can walk by myself."


    "You little rascals are as slippery as octopuses. Behave!"


    Xu Jia Ning had never received such "treatment" before. His face turned purple with anger, and he grumbled some English phrases.


    Seeing her crush being taken away, Lu TianBai panicked and turned back, wanting to protect him, only to get "caught in the" as well.


    When Lin ChuSui saw that the "foolish sweetheart" was captured, she wanted to turn back to rescue her friend.


    Lu Chi pulled her back, "Forget about her, she''ll be fine. She''s a crybaby. She''ll cry a bit and the guards will soften up. We can''t lose a third person."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Some brother he is!


    Seeing Lu Chi''sck of loyalty, Lu TianBai indignantly yelled, "Brother, don''t worry! I absolutely won''t betray you. I won''t say that you and Zhang Cheng Yu from ss B are Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu! And I won''t say your student numbers are 103520056 and 103520063! You guys run away!"


    Lu Chi: ...


    Zhang Cheng Yu: ...


    The two of them looked back at Lin ChuSui, the only one who hadn''t been caught. Lin ChuSui waved her hand, "What are you looking at? That foolish sweetheart is my best friend."


    The group was taken to the security office and leaned dejectedly against the corridor wall.


    The security guard called their homeroom teacher Mr. Qin, reporting the names and student numbers of these students.


    Xu Jia Ning said angrily, "You... you''re viting our human rights! We didn''t steal anything or do anything bad. Is it necessary to call our teacher?"


    The security guard waved his baton, "Behave yourself!"


    Xu Jia Ning mmed up at the threat, mumbling sheepishly.


    Lin ChuSui whispered to Xiao Yan, "You can tell he''s a good student who hasn''t been battered by the Chinese education system."


    Xiao Yan said, "I think he has a point. I only came back for homework. Exining things clearly should suffice."


    Lin ChuSui looked at him deeply.


    She almost forgot, this guy was the model student representative.


    "Actually, you could have gotten away just now," Lin ChuSui said helplessly. "There really was no need to get caught up with us."


    Xiao Yan nced at her and used her own words against her, "Share the same fate."


    Lin ChuSui was on the verge of tears. She felt like Xiao Yan was definitely getting back at her.


    If he had left, she would have been fine. By staying... the punishment would be heavier!


    Sure enough, the security guard righteously told Mr. Qin over the phone, "This is a serious matter. So many boys and girls together, they must have been fooling around! Teacher Qin, you must handle this strictly!"


    Lu Chi smiled and turned back to gesture at Xiao Yan, "My sister and I are identical twins. Xu Jia Ning is her step-brother. Zhang Cheng Yu... is too ugly. So Mr. Top Student, care to guess who Teacher Qin will mistakenly assume are secretly dating?"


    Xiao Yan nced at the swooning Lin ChuSui and said, "I actually don''t really mind."


    Lin ChuSui pinched her philtrum, "But I do!"


    ...


    Mr. Qin had thought that as a former prestigious high school teacher, the atmosphere in his ss was excellent, and it was absolutely impossible for tant dating to ur.


    When he received the call from the security office, he was furious.


    The next day in the office, he severely reprimanded Lin ChuSui.


    Head lowered, Lin ChuSui drew circles on the floor with her toes, looking glum.


    Then Mr. Qin patted Xiao Yan on the shoulder and earnestly said, "Xiao Yan, I have absolute faith and trust in you. This must be Lin ChuSui''s fault!"


    "Teacher Qin, your bias is too obvious," Lin ChuSui finally broke her silence and said indignantly, "What happened to equality and impartiality?"


    "You can talk to me about equality when you score even a fraction of Xiao Yan''s marks! A good student led astray by you!"


    "I didn''t lead him astray."


    "It''s clear you don''t recognize your own mistakes at all." Mr. Qin angrily pulled Lin ChuSui''s ear, reprimanding her, "Gadding about with these boys all day instead of studying properly. Look at you, so undisciplined. Don''t your parents teach you that girls should have shame?"


    "That''s right, no one teaches me!" Lin ChuSui shook off his hand and rubbed her ear. She was angry now too, "No shame at all, seducing the top student into depravity. If you dislike me that much, then expel me!"


    "A useless person can''t be taught! Don''t think I won''t expel you!"


    Xiao Yan turned his head and saw that although Lin ChuSui''s eyes were red, she was forcing back her tears and looking at him stubbornly with injustice.


    He could empathize with being misunderstood.


    Seeing that his progress bar was still at 0%, Xiao Yan spoke up, "Teacher Qin, I was not seduced."


    Mr. Qin waved his hand, "Xiao Yan, you don''t need to say anything. I know already."


    Xiao Yan stepped in front of Lin ChuSui and reiterated more strongly, "Regardless of whether there was any dating, using grades as the basis for your judgement is rather arbitrary."


    Lin ChuSui looked up at Xiao Yan, somewhat surprised that he was willing to stand up for her at such a critical moment.


    Mr. Qin was a little angry, "Xiao Yan, are you asking to be punished together with her?"


    "I just want to exin clearly that Lin ChuSui did not seduce me," he nced at her, "She''s not even pretty."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Just as she was about to be moved to tears, she withdrew it in an instant.


    What''s with this top student!


    Mr. Qin was convinced by this reasoning though. He asked again, "Then why were all of you in the ssroom sote?"


    "I was tutoring her."


    Mr. Qin looked at him doubtfully, "You were tutoring her in the ssroom?"


    Knowing the ssroom cameras were just for show and had been broken for years, Lin ChuSui self-righteously said, "Of course studying is done in the ssroom. What, in the bedroom?"


    Xiao Yan silenced her with a frosty nce.


    "Then what about them..." Mr. Qin pointed at Lu Chi, Zhang Cheng Yu and the others. "How do they exin it?"


    "I''m not familiar with them," Xiao Yan said expressionlessly. "Maybe they wanted to wait until I finished tutoring Lin ChuSui and copy her homework."


    Lu Chi: ...


    Zhang Cheng Yu: ...


    Nice, only helping to cover for Lin ChuSui alone huh.


    Indeed, Mr. Qin didn''t catch any solid evidence of early dating. Moreover, the first and second rankers of the level were involved. To avoid tarnishing the ss''s reputation, he decided not to report it to the school and suppressed it himself.


    After scolding them severely and punishing them to do cleaning chores for a week, this matter was considered settled.


    This was the first time in Lin ChuSui''s life that she had caused trouble yet did not receive any punishment.


    It was all thanks to the protective aura of Xiao Yan''s reputation as a top student.


    In ss, Xiao Yan felt uneasy under the meaningful nces that Lin ChuSui kept throwing his way from time to time. He endured it and pressed his pen down, asking, "Excuse me, deskmate, what exactly are you looking at?"


    Lin ChuSui lightly sighed, "I''m considering how to gently turn down your confession of love in a way that won''t hurt your self-esteem."


    Xiao Yan: "..."


    Lin ChuSui took out a small mirror and examined her own face, saying, "I originally thought you were attracted to my beauty, but after what just happened, I now know that what draws you in...is not my exterior, but my soul."


    Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly.


    Lin ChuSui sighed again, gazing at herself in the mirror self-pityingly, "My damned charm of personality."


    "Oh, don''t you want to say something?"


    Xiao Yan closed his eyes and said, "There''s a voice inside me that''s telling me things about you."


    Lin ChuSui shyly asked, "Telling you...what about me?"


    "Telling me to give you a beating, and you''ll settle down."


    "..."

 Chapter 8: Give me a Hug

    <h4>Chapter 8</h4>


    Lin ChuSui and a group of people were punished to clean the bathrooms in the teaching building.


    Originally Mr. Qin didn''t want to punish Xiao Yan and Xu JiaNing, he didn''t want to dy their study time.


    But Lu Chi, Zhang ChengYu and several other boys made a fuss, for fairness, he had no choice but to reluctantly let Xiao Yan and Xu JiaNing be punished together with them.


    The girls'' bathroom was quite clean, it was maintained very well every day by the cleaning auntie, so Lin ChuSui and Lu TianBai just wiped the tiles simply and finished the work.


    The situation in the boys'' bathroom...was not so optimistic.


    The whole afternoon, the boys'' bathroom was filled with Lu Chi''s ghastly screams of "disgusting" -


    "Can you guys be more precise? Don''t get it on the walls!"


    "Are you even humans?"


    "Beasts!!!"


    Lu Chi was a pampered young master, how could he endure this.


    Zhang ChengYu''s family was not as well-off as his, but he was steady and pragmatic when doing things, and patiently said: "If you keep screaming, I''ll stuff the wiping cloth in your mouth!"


    "Brother Octopus, do mine for me, I''ll give you anything you want."


    Zhang ChengYu looked at him and solemnly said: "Then...give me your sister."


    "Deal, deal!"


    ...


    Xiao Yan silently wiped the tiles on the walls with his cloth.


    He was always focused when doing things, with single-minded concentration, no matter how dirty it was, he could get his hands dirty withoutining.


    Xu JiaNing was like a young master, not doing any work at all, leaning against the door of the boys'' bathroom reading Dream of the Red Chamber, and couldn''t help sighing deeply when he read the verse "The jade belt hangs in the woods, the golden hairpin buries in the snow".


    After Lin ChuSui finished cleaning the girls'' bathroom, she strolled to the door of the boys'' bathroom and saw Xu JiaNing so leisurely. She was dissatisfied and said: "Why don''t you go clean up?"


    Without even lifting his eyes, Xu JiaNing righteously said: "I came to school to study and learn, not to work. The school should exist to provide me knowledge and service. The teacher forcing us to work vites human rights. I have the right to file awsuit."


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched slightly.


    Go ahead!


    But Lu Chi was so awed by Xu JiaNing''s "human rights vition" rhetoric that he simply put down his wiping cloth too.


    That''s right, human rights vition.


    Damn it, I''m not doing it anymore!


    Now the only one left earnestly cleaning...was Xiao Yan.


    Lin ChuSui felt that Xiao Yan was punished because he couldn''t control his surging feelings for her. It would be unbrotherly to let him take the punishment alone. She quietly said: "You guys are not cleaning, isn''t it unfair to Xiao Yan?"


    Xu JiaNing kept reading Dream of the Red Chamber and casually said: "Then go help him."


    "Is anyone in the boys'' bathroom?"


    "No one, not even a ghost."


    Lin ChuSui simply took the wiping cloth from Lu Chi''s hand and walked into the boys'' bathroom to help Xiao Yan clean together.


    Seeing here in, Xiao Yan was stunned for a moment, then emphasized: "This is the boys'' bathroom."


    "I know."


    Lin ChuSui wiped a towel and bent down to start wiping the tiles as usual.


    Xiao Yan stood up straight again, wanted to say something more, but Lin ChuSui said: "If you have time to talk, why don''t you hurry up and finish cleaning, I want to leave school early too."


    Facing the sudden kindness, he was somewhat at a loss. He turned around and continued wiping the tiles, murmuring in a low voice: "Thank you."


    These two words were probably the most sincere he had ever said since they met.


    "Don''t think that because I''m helping you clean, it means I ept your courtship." Lin ChuSui picked up a brush and waved it: "You''d better control your feelings and not make things difficult for me."


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui seemed unwilling, and added: "But don''t be sad either. Although the probability of meeting someone better than me is not high,promise is also not uneptable. You are a good person, keep it up!"


    Xiao Yan really had never seen such a dramatic girl. The key was...the youngdy''s bright eyes were clear and sincere, every word came from the bottom of her heart.


    He pressed the tip of his tongue against his back mrs, and lightly smiled: "Then thank you."


    During the break, Mr. Qin walked over. Seeing the two ckers standing at the door of the boys'' bathroom ying with their phones, he angrily shouted: "What are you doing? I told you to clean the bathroom, not y on your phones here!"


    Lu Chi plucked up his courage and repeated Xu JiaNing''s rather spirited words from earlier: "Teacher Qin, we came to school to study and learn, not to work! The school should provide service to me. Forcedbor vites human rights. I reserve the right to file awsuit!"


    "..." Zhang ChengYu rolled his eyes at the ground.


    He had never seen a creature more stupid than a straight man.


    After Lu Chi righteously finished saying this, the corners of Teacher Qin''s mouth curled up into a sinister smile: "Viting human rights?"


    Lu Chi felt a little weak: "Uh, actually, this..."


    "I''m viting it, so what! Grades falling apart, but ideas are quiteplex! Go clean the boys'' bathrooms on the first and second floors! I''lle checkter. If it''s not cleaned properly, don''t go home!"


    Lu Chi resentfully nced at Xu JiaNing. Xu JiaNing casually put down his book, politely bowed to Teacher Qin: "Teacher Qin, I also dislike it when some people casually throw around words like ''human rights''. We are students, students should listen to the teacher, this is the natural order of things."


    Teacher Qin patted him on the shoulder: "JiaNing, you are different from these rascals. You know when you''re wrong. Go back, no need to clean."


    "Thank you Teacher Qin, you are the most open-minded teacher I have ever met."


    Teacher Qinughed so hard his mouth split open: "Hahaha, not that great."


    Lu Chi: ...


    Finally understood why Lin ChuSui always called him a "fake foreign devil".


    Hypocritical! Despicable!


    Teacher Qin was so ttered by Xu JiaNing''s ttery that he hummed a song as he walked into the boys'' bathroom, and was about to unzip his pants when he heard a gasp behind him.


    Teacher Qin looked back and saw Lin ChuSui standing against the wall in a daze, holding a brush, her eyes wide open like a rabbit''s.


    He was so shocked that he staggered back a few steps, and hurriedly zipped back up.


    "You...you..."


    He strode out and repeatedly confirmed that this was the boys'' bathroom ording to the sign.


    "Lin ChuSui! What''s going on!"


    Lin ChuSui awkwardly walked out of the boys'' bathroom, stood at the door, and bitterly said: "Teacher Qin, I finished cleaning the girls'' bathroom, and came to...help them."


    Teacher Qin''s face was flushed red, his trembling finger pointed at her, he was so angry he couldn''t speak.


    Xiao Yan immediately came out and stood in front of Lin ChuSui: "Teacher Qin..."


    Teacher Qin interrupted him: "Xiao Yan, don''t think you can cross the line again and again just because you have good grades. Protecting her, dating on campus is a serious vition of school rules and regtions. I can give you appropriate punishment!"


    Xiao Yan looked at the angry Teacher Qin and calmly said: "There is no dating."


    "You still say there isn''t, it''s so obvious, you think I can''t see it!"


    "There is no dating." He paused and said, "It''s just me having one-sided feelings, Lin ChuSui has rejected me over and over again."


    As soon as these words came out, the students watching the fun around them gasped in unison.


    Damn!


    The school god has gone mad!


    After saying this, how many girls must have broken hearts!


    "She rejected you?!" Teacher Qin was somewhat incredulous. He looked at Lin ChuSui: "With her careless appearance..."


    She even rejected Xiao Yan. Isn''t this girl stupid?


    No no no, that''s not the point.


    "The interaction between you two has already crossed the line of normal interaction between ssmates. I hope you take this seriously. Although it''s difficult, male and female students can help each other, but you have to grasp the degree."


    Teacher Qin earnestly said to Lin ChuSui: "You are a girl, you should know shame."


    "Teacher Qin!"


    Xiao Yan looked at the ss teacher, his dark eyes sharp as a sword, and emphasized:


    "Please do not say such things again! She also has a father. If her father heard others say this about his precious daughter, he would also be angry and heartbroken."


    ...


    Xiao Yan walked in front, pushing his bike. The setting sun cast his tall, straight backshadow very long.


    Lin ChuSui stared at him nkly, her expression veryplicated.


    Lu Chi reached out in front of her eyes and waved: "Yo, you can''t have really fallen for the school god''s gentle trap!"


    Lin ChuSui kicked a pebble at her feet and muttered: "Impossible."


    "But to be honest, he was really manly just now." Lu Chi admired: "Especiallypared to that hypocrite Xu JiaNing. He rendered Teacher Qin guilty and tongue-tied in just a few sentences. Teacher Qin came to our ss to show off his power for over half a year. When has he ever been so humiliated? It''s really satisfying to think about it."


    Lin ChuSui thought of what Xiao Yan had just said, mentioning dad.


    Every daughter is her dad''s darling.


    Yes, if dad was still around, he definitely wouldn''t have tolerated others bullying her like this. Even if it was the ss teacher, it was uneptable.


    Strange, Xiao Yan always managed to touch the softest thread in her heart.


    Finally...not so lonely anymore.


    She was in a good mood: "Let''s go, y basketball!"


    "Let''s go!"


    They were both school team members, and would take the sports exam path for college entrance exams.


    Because her father Old Lin was a firefighter when she was little, he often took her to exercise, so she was very good at basketball, sprint running, and swimming.


    Xiao Yan saw Lin ChuSui ying basketball, and also stopped. He parked his bike by a tree.


    Lu Chi dribbled the ball past Lin ChuSui and elbowed her: "Hey, he''s watching you y."


    Lin ChuSui looked back. Xiao Yan was standing alone at the edge of the yground, watching her intently with deep eyes.


    Lin ChuSui passed the ball over: "Want to join us?"


    Xiao Yan had meant to decline, but...without knowing why, he reflexively caught the ball: "Just 10 minutes."


    "I know, the top student has to go home and do homework."


    Xiao Yan took off his school uniform jacket and entered the court dribbling.


    He was wearing a t-shirt, which clearly showed off his hanger figure. His arms were very white, with strong and smooth muscles. The lines of his shoulders and vicles were simply gorgeous!


    When he took off his shirt, all the passing girls stopped in their tracks and looked at him eagerly.


    Not to mention the girls, even Lu Chi and several other boys stared at him, including Lin ChuSui¡ª


    "Damn, what a stud."


    Xiao Yan was dribbling the basketball and made a beautiful three-stepyup, attracting quite some apuse from the female onlookers.


    "Not bad at all," Lu Chi walked up and said, "Are you interested in joining the school basketball team?"


    Xiao Yan said, "No."


    "Don''t reject so quickly," Lu Chi still tried to entice him: "Our school basketball team has the highest uncoupled rate of all school clubs. Our yers are super charming!"


    Xiao Yan looked back at Lin ChuSui: "Is she also on the basketball team?"


    Before Lu Chi could answer, Xiao Yan bounced the ball and made a three-pointer, "Doesn''t seem so charming to me."


    "..."


    You''re just ying hard to get.


    Lin ChuSui was intrigued by Xiao Yan''s skills and came over to block him. Xiao Yan dribbled skillfully to avoid her defense.


    Not willing to lose, she chased him and snatched the ball, giving him a grin.


    Xiao Yan also smiled unusually, "Be careful."


    "Just because you''re a boy doesn''t mean I''ll go easy on you!"


    Lu Chi tried to intercept them a few times, but realized they were ying 1v1 without him. He simply folded his arms and retreated from the court, "What''s with the couple''s ball?"


    Xiao Yan went to block Lin ChuSui. Lin ChuSui controlled the ball, faked a breakthrough, and prepared to do a step-back jumper like her dad had taught her. But Xiao Yan still managed to block her shot.


    "You can do the two moves simultaneously," he reflexively gave her advice after blocking the ball: "First control the ball to fake a drive, then step back. Most important is to catch the defender off guard and not give them time to react."


    After saying that, he demonstrated a step-back and jumped to make a clean shot into the basket.


    Lin ChuSui suddenly stopped and stared nkly as he dribbled down the court.


    "First control the ball to fake a drive, most important is...catch them off guard."


    When her dad taught her the step-back jumper, he had said the exact same thing.


    It was identical...words.


    Seeing Lin ChuSui staring nkly at the guy, Lu Chi came over and said, "Didn''t expect Brother Chu to have a day of getting owned."


    Lin ChuSui remained silent, her eyes turning red.


    "Hey, you''re not really upset are you?" Lu Chi saw she was about to cry, and rubbed her head, "It''s just a lost ball, want us bros to win it back for you?"


    Before his voice faded, Lin ChuSui suddenly walked up to Xiao Yan as he was about to jump for a shot, and hugged him from behind.


    All the schoolgirls: ?


    What kind of weird defense is this?


    Lin ChuSui hugged his waist tightly and buried her face in his clothes, nuzzling forcefully¡ª


    "Dad."


    Xiao Yan looked back, "Although you lost to me, there''s no need to..."


    She''s calling me dad?


    Lin ChuSui closed her eyes, wiping her tears on his clothes, "Shut up."


    Just let me


    quietly...


    hug you.


    At this moment, Xiao Yan finally noticed the mission progress bar next to the life countdown on the bottom left corner:


    Mission Progress - 1%.

 Chapter 9: Diary

    <h4>Chapter 9</h4>


    In the evening, under the setting sun, several boys from the school athletics team wereughing loudly on the edge of the sports field.


    "My waist is numb!"


    "It''s not just numb, I think you''re paralyzed from the waist down."


    Especially Lu Chi, holding up his phone, constantly waving in front of Lin ChuSui the photo he had just taken of her "social death" moment.


    "Oh how affectionate, hugging her from behind."


    "Did you notice his arms were spread out like a praying mantis, he didn''t know where to put them,ughed my ass off."


    "I bet 5 mao that this guy has never been hugged by a girl before."


    "There''s 360 degree surveince all over the school field, I''m telling you you two are done for."


    Lin ChuSuiy t on the rubberized field, not wanting to say a word, her whole body lifeless.


    Ten minutes earlier, Xiao Yan had left early to go do homework, ording to Lu Chi, when he left his face was strangely flushed, unknown whether from heat or embarrassment.


    Lin ChuSui was determined, as long as she was not embarrassed herself, it was embarrassing for others instead.


    Lu TianBai sat down next to Lin ChuSui, and poked her hand with her fingertips: "Bestie, what''s up with you? Didn''t you say you don''t like him?"


    Gazing at theyers of red clouds and the setting sun in the sky, lost in thought, Lin ChuSui murmured: "Sometimes, I feel he''s a lot like someone."


    Lu TianBai excitedly patted her shoulder: "It must be Nichs Tse! I feel the same way!"


    Lin ChuSuizily lifted the corners of her mouth: "Sometimes, I feel he''s a lot like my dad."


    Everyone looked at Lin ChuSui in unison, Lu Chi walked over, patted her head: "Chubby, something''s wrong with you, are you obsessed with Uncle Lin?"


    Lu Chi pulled his eyes nted: "Look, do I look like your dad,e on, call me daddy."


    Lin ChuSui kicked him over.


    But in this world, Lin ChuSui would only allow them to joke like this, if not for theirpany these past two years, her condition might have been even worse.


    At the age when girls love to snuggle in their father''s arms and act spoiled, also when they feel most insecure, Lin ChuSui''s father had left.


    It was like half the sky had copsed.


    And Xiao Yan''s appearance, the way he would look at her sometimes, his tone of voice...that sense of familiarity was so strong.


    Of course she found it hard to believe in any ghosts or spirits, the spirit writing from before had proven it was Xu JiaNing ying a prank.


    However, in this world, some things were truly hard to exin, like how he knew her nickname, how he would say things her dad used to say...


    Lu TianBai sat next to Lin ChuSui, hugging her knees, gazing at the clouds and sunset in the distance, sighed: "Such a sad story."


    "How is it sad?"


    Lu TianBai solemnly patted her shoulder: "A story of "I like you romantically, but you see me as your dad", how is that not sad enough?"


    Lin ChuSui retorted just as solemnly: "Then your story might be even sadder than mine."


    "How so?"


    "I see you as my idol, but you see me as just a fangirl, isn''t that sad enough, young maiden?"


    "Oh please." Lu TianBai waved her hand: "Idols are meant for fangirling over. And I know my boundaries, a boy as great as Xu JiaNing, there''s no way he would notice me."


    She was just an ordinary girl that would easily disappear in a crowd, and her studies were not that great either.


    Lu Chi curiously leaned over: "Who are you talking about?"


    "That transfer from Eaton College, you know, the asshole."


    "Sis, let me tell you, I can read that kind of guy''s face right away, deceitful and despicable scum! Look what he did to your brother...the male bathrooms on floors 1, 2, 3, all under my management now."


    "That was his own fault, don''t me others."


    Perhaps it really was the honor student halo, Lin ChuSui searched herself and had to admit, even though she disliked Xu JiaNing through and through, it was hard to deny he was indeed outstanding.


    In terms of studies, having grown up abroad since young, his English was great, but his Chinese was bound to be much weaker.


    So recently he had begun fervently studying the Four Great ssical Novels, especially *Dream of the Red Chamber*, reading it over and over numerous times.


    Lin ChuSui dared to say, even among the local students who had grown up here, very few would have the patience to read through all four ssics.


    The kind of boy who had good grades, yet was pretentious and deceitful, that even simple and naive girls like Lu TianBai would be infatuated with, it was only reasonable.


    Thankfully, Lin ChuSui had seen through his true colors from day one, so Xu JiaNing didn''t bother putting on an act of friendliness with her either, the two had disliked each other from the start, but endured each other tacitly.


    Lin ChuSui saw Lu TianBai''s mood had also dampened, absorbed in her own girl troubles, and said: "Our sweetiepie TianBai is the best in the whole world, that fake foreign devil doesn''t deserve you at all."


    "Stop trying tofort me."


    "I''m serious, a cutie like you, when you get to college so many boys will be chasing you."


    Lu TianBai smiled, revealing two tiny canine teeth: "Really?"


    Lu Chi squatted on the ground with arms crossed, raining on her parade: "If she can even get into college is still uncertain."


    "Some brother you are." Lin ChuSui pushed him away: "Worry about yourself first, if TianBai can''t get in, you have even less chance."


    "Doesn''t matter to me."


    Just then, an unknown number sent Lin ChuSui a message: "Come home, we need to talk."


    Lin ChuSui: "Who''s this?"


    "Xu."


    The two were on such bad terms they didn''t even bother typing out full names.


    Lin ChuSui picked up her schoolbag, slung it over her shoulder, and left the field in fragmented steps: "I''m going."


    The sunset behind her suddenly sank away, and her shadow also gradually disappeared into the pitch dark night.


    As the city lights began to glow, Lin ChuSui stepped through the night back home, and saw Xu JiaNing about to drive away in his Mercedes.


    She ignored him and slowly sauntered back into the house with hands in pockets.


    Xu JiaNing said: "Aunt Fang and my dad are back, they''ll bending soon, I''m going to pick them up, want toe along?"


    "They''re back? Howe I didn''t know?"


    Xu JiaNing casually replied: "Maybe they didn''t think it necessary to inform you, after all, whether theye back or not makes no difference to you, you only have your dad in your heart."


    He got in the car.


    Lin ChuSui scuffed her toes on the moss at the flowerbed edge, toozy to bother with him.


    The Mercedes engine roared to life, Xu JiaNing rolled down the window and called to Lin ChuSui: "Hey!"


    She looked up at him listlessly.


    "I suggest you take down your dad''s photos, or at least only keep them in your own room if you must.


    "This is my home, and my dad''s home too, why can''t I put up his photos?"


    Xu JiaNing rolled his eyes: "Please, have some tact."


    Lin ChuSui retorted: "I wonder how much tact you have."


    So pretentious.


    "At least I don''t make people around me dislike me."


    "What a coincidence, I happen to dislike you very much."


    "You''re an anomaly."


    Most girls didn''t dislike him, some even had good impressions of him, yet Lin ChuSui couldn''t get along with him no matter what.


    Xu JiaNing felt it wasn''t his problem.


    He rested his hands on the steering wheel and said: "My dad and your mom have formed a new family, I''m sure you don''t want to be the unpleasant presence in this household."


    Lin ChuSui lowered her head, remaining silent.


    "No matter how unwilling you are to ept this reality, they are married now. As their child, whether you like it or not, you have to call my dad Uncle Xu, and I have to call your mom Aunt Fang. If you keep being difficult, there will be consequences."


    Lin ChuSui had thought Xu JiaNing disliked this blended family as much as she did, she was surprised to hear him say this, and looked at him: "Xu JiaNing, where''s your mom?"


    Xu JiaNing''s gaze darkened as he said in a low voice: "She divorced my dad when I was very young, she never came to see me either, and has a new family now, probably kids just a few years younger than me, so I don''t miss her."


    "Oh, but her being alive is still good."


    "Sometimes, it''s better to be dead. At least you know at the moment he died, he still loved you deeply."


    Lin ChuSui said: "I''d rather he didn''t love me, as long as he was alive and well."


    With different experiences, arguing over this was meaningless.


    Xu JiaNing didn''t say anything more, and drove off.


    This was the first time Lin ChuSui and her new stepbrother had such a calm heart-to-heart.


    Lin ChuSui could also see that Xu JiaNing looked forward to this new family very much, even willing to give up his freer life in the UK and return to China for the family''s sake.


    But Lin ChuSui really found it hard to eagerly anticipate this new life like he did.


    She felt it would be a betrayal to her father.


    Xu JiaNing''s mother didn''t love him, but to hisst breath, Lin ChuSui''s father had loved her deeply.


    She could not betray him.


    ...


    Back in her room, Lin ChuSui tore down all the photos in the living room, dining room and bathroom.


    When it had just been her mom at home, she could throw little tantrums and fill the house with photos of her dad, because her mom would indulge her, and indulge her dad as well.


    But now there was a strange uncle living here, this would soon be the strange uncle''s home.


    She also didn''t want her dad to feel awkward, having to see his wife intimate with another man everyday.


    She moved all the photos back into her bedroom, cing them between book pages.


    "Dad, now I''m all you have left."


    "You always said I was an ungrateful brat, now you know who really loves you, right?"


    In the photo, her dad still smiled gently and helplessly.


    "Keep smiling, that''s all you can do."


    Lin ChuSui''s nose turned sore, and she flung the frame onto the table: "You had to go risk yourself to save someone else, so selfless, and now some other man gets to live in your home, be your daughter''s dad!"


    Then, as if afraid she had hurt her dad''s feelings, she hurriedly hugged the frame and said: "Don''t worry, you''ll always be my one and only dad."


    "As long as I''m here, this will always be your home, you''ll always be by my side."


    ...


    Xiao Yan returned to his room and took out a thick diary from the drawer¡ª


    3.14


    Today is Xiao Guai''s 12th birthday. I gave Xiao Guai a basketball and she was very happy.


    Her mother always said girls should learn dancing or piano, running around outside ying balls all day doesn''t look like how a girl should be.


    I don''t know how a girl should look, but I want her to stay as she is, keep her passion, do what she likes, and live the life she wants to live.


    5.16


    Xiao Guai is pretty good at basketball. Tall boys in the yard often can''t beat her.


    I taught her to shoot with a step back today. She shot very beautifully.


    "First control the ball, fake a breakthrough, then step back. The most important thing is to catch the opponent off guard and don''t let them react."


    She actually remembered every word I taught her and recited them back to me wlessly.


    Our Xiao Guai is really a genius girl who got distracted by sports!


    ...


    Xiao Yan stood up and went to a whiteboard behind him. He wrote down a line with a pen: Likes sports, good at track and field,petitive, cries easily, acts coquettishly, gloomy, misses deceased father.


    This diary had been kept in a personal locker at the fire station. Lin Xiuze told Xiao Yan the locker password so he could take out the diary.


    This diary can help him understand Lin ChuSui better.


    The diary was very thick, almost like a parenting guide from Lin Xiuze.


    From the day his daughter was born, he recorded in great detail every little moment, detail, and surprise in his daily interactions with his daughter.


    After being assigned the mission, Xiao Yan spent a long time digesting this diary, getting to know the bits and pieces of the girl who chased after the hearse crying¡ª


    She used to be very sunny, like all girls who grew up bathed in warmth and love, spoiled by her parents, with some harmless little ws.


    But she had many more excellent qualities. She used to be a top student, persistent when set on something, never giving up until she seeded...


    Xiao Yan knew perhaps he should give her father back to her.


    He was ready to die when nning that fire. The one who should have died was him. But Lin Xiuze pulled him back.


    And now, he also has his own family, his sister. He thought maybe his life doesn''t have to be so dark, maybe he still has a chance to turn things around.


    Xiao Yan had struggled against his unjust fate for so many years. He just couldn''t ept it.


    He wanted to live, he wanted to get back on his feet.


    ...


    As evening fell, Xiao Yan went to the stew shop to help out.


    His sister Xiao Qian looked pretty with her ponytail and apron, briskly taking care of customers.


    After putting down his schoolbag and tying on an apron, Xiao Yan picked up argedle and stirred the pot filled with simmering stew. The aromatic steam rose continuously.


    As he cooked, scenes from the basketball court floated unbidden into his mind.


    It had been over a week, and the progress bar remained stuck at 0%, which frustrated Xiao Yan. He even felt this progress bar would never move.


    But just now, the progress bar finally jumped to 1%.


    This meant the mission could continue to advance.


    He analyzed that the progress bar probably moves when Lin ChuSui gives him emotional responses.


    All his previous fake caring and confessions could not make the progress bar budge.


    Only sincerity can elicit sincerity.


    ...


    When Xiao Yan first came back, his clothes were still damp. Xiao Qian asked, "Xiao Yan, did you go y basketball with friends today?"


    "Yeah."


    "Rarely see our little brother making new friends."


    Xiao Qian knew Xiao Yan had a grim childhood. After the adoption, he was mute for five whole years.


    It wasn''t until after the idental fire that he started to open up and interact with others again. But he still had no friends.


    "What are the new friends like?"


    Xiao Yan answered without thinking, "Very stupid."


    "For friends, you don''t need them to be smart. Just sincere is good enough."


    "Mm."


    Xiao Qian put down herdle, and asked gossipingly, "Boy or girl?"


    "Girl."


    Xiao Qian''s expression became meaningful. After a while, she took out two red tickets from the cab and slipped them into Xiao Yan''s bag¡ª


    "Starting this month, our little brother''s allowance is doubled."

 Chapter 10: Quit Smoking

    <h4>Chapter 10</h4>


    Xiao Qian was abandoned by her parents who favored boys over girls. She was left at an orphanage. Her original surname was Qiao, but she no longer wanted that surname. So she took the surname of the orphanage director, Xiao.


    After the adoption incident, she found the director, hoping to re-adopt Xiao Yan. Her sister was 7 years older than him. Now she could support herself and asked Xiao Yan if he was willing to live with her.


    In the past, he was always ostracized by other children at the orphanage. His sister was the only one who took care of him.


    Xiao Yan nodded and said he was willing.


    They were both children abandoned by this world. Perhaps they could rely on each other.


    ...


    At night, the hot pot restaurant''s business got better and better. Most of those taking care of the business were girls. They even lined up waiting to buy the pot.


    They pushed and shoved each other, looking very excited, always peeking into the back room.


    Xiao Qian saw through these girls'' minds and called to Xiao Yan who was stirring the pot soup in the back room, "Little Yan,e out and serve customers."


    Xiao Yan washed his hands and came out, skillfully taking out a small notebook to take orders from the customers.


    He was born handsome. Even with a t head, his features were still very rugged. After taking off his school uniform, he got rid of the schrly student aura during the day, but added a bit of rugged texture.


    Although he was politely serving customers, his expression was cold and aloof, giving people a sense that he was not very approachable.


    When a girl was paying, she asked him blushingly, "Um...can I take a picture with you?"


    Just as Xiao Yan was about to refuse, Xiao Qian kicked him under the counter.


    He paused and said, "You can take one after spending 50 yuan."


    "Then I''ll add more! I want another braised beef and a braised duck wing."


    The girl snapped several pictures of him happily and left satisfied.


    The next customer came up and lingered around the pot cab, but didn''t order.


    Without even lifting his head, Xiao Yan casually asked, "What do you want?"


    Hearing this somewhat hoarse and miserable voice, Xiao Yan looked up to see the grief-stricken face of his ssmate Lin ChuSui through the ss window.


    Wearing a crumpled gray hoodie, with her handszily in her pockets, and her hair messily tied in a bun, Lin ChuSui had a long, thin cigarette dangling leisurely from her mouth.


    Under the dim yellow light, her fair little face was illuminated. Herzy gaze swept over the row of pot dishes and she murmured to herself, "They all look pretty spicy."


    "Lin ChuSui, what''s wrong with you?"


    Hearing this voice, Lin ChuSui looked up in shock and ran right into Xiao Yan''s icy cold face.


    She was so frightened that the cigarette dropped from her mouth.


    While wandering around the street food stalls, she saw the long line at this store and thought it must be really delicious, so she lined up too.


    She didn''t expect it to be Xiao Yan''s family''s store!


    Xiao Yan was wearing a id apron. He was tall and straight, looking very homey and gentle.


    But...with his beautiful fingers holding the pen, the moon crescents on his fingernails turned white from force.


    He looked at her coldly, "Are you...smoking?"


    Visible anger red up.


    For some reason, seeing Xiao Yan so angry, Lin ChuSui shrank back all at once.


    Under Xiao Yan''s angry stare, her legs trembled. That feeling...was like being caught smoking by Old Lin.


    But Xiao Yan was not Old Lin!


    Lin ChuSui looked stubborn and justified, "Mind your own business. Don''t think you''re my dad. Unfortunately, my mom has remarried already so you don''t have a chance."


    She was always eloquent and her father always doted on her when she was little. Plus she had a group of good buddies backing her up. She was fearless and her words could anger even a Buddha made of mud.


    Seeing that he didn''t speak, seeming to deliberately anger him, Lin ChuSui took out anotherdies'' cigarette from her bag and lit it with a lighter.


    Under Xiao Yan''s dark, crow-like gaze, Lin ChuSui''s hand shook as she lit the cigarette. But she had always been stubborn. If she was going to do something, she would go all the way, rather than dragging it out.


    "Lin ChuSui, try smoking another one." His threat was low and powerful.


    Lin ChuSui felt uneasy, but Xiao Yan was just a ssmate the same age as her after all. At most he was just a deskmate. He had no right to control her.


    "I''ll try, I''ll try."


    Xiao Yan took off his apron and mmed it heavily on the counter before walking out of the hot pot store.


    Seeing him rush out angrily, Lin ChuSui repeatedly retreated and asked guardedly, "What are you doing?"


    Xiao Yan mercilessly took the lit cigarette from her mouth.


    The cigarette embers burned his hand, but he didn''t feel it at all. Grabbing Lin ChuSui by the cor, he dragged her to the small alley next to the hot pot store.


    The alley was narrow and quiet with no one around. There was damp moss growing on the walls and a raw smell lingered in the air.


    Lin ChuSui had just been choked by the smoke and kept coughing. Her delicate little face was swollen red, "Brute!"


    Xiao Yan questioned, "Who taught you, that Lu boy?"


    "Mind your own business, ssmate." Lin ChuSui poked his hard chest provocatively with her finger, "You should be grateful I''m giving you face!"


    "Take your hand away."


    Lin ChuSui was the type who yielded to softness but not force: "I''ve tolerated you for a long time. Don''t think I can''t fight just because I didn''t settle ounts with you earlier for helping me stay in ss B. If it was someone else, I would''ve punched him already..."


    Before she could make a move, Xiao Yan got angry first and grabbed her arm in seconds, pressing her against the wall.


    Lin ChuSui was not so easily subdued. She started struggling violently.


    Xiao Yan''s arm was pressing right against her chest, holding her down so that she couldn''t move at all.


    "You..."


    Leaning against the rough wall, the features of the young man close in front of her looked as cold as frost. His dark eyes were gloomy and terrifying.


    This was the first time Lin ChuSui saw Xiao Yan really angry.


    His previous reprimands in ss for her ying with her phone and eating snacks didn''t count as anger, but now, he was really angry.


    Lin ChuSui''s gaze lowered to see his forearm pressing her...


    She didn''t know why, but her cheeks began to burn up.


    For the first time in her life, Lin ChuSui felt the physiological reaction that came with the word "shy".


    Her heartbeat sped up, her blood flowed faster, and stars began to appear in her eyes.


    Seeing the girl in front of him suddenly be docile, Xiao Yan was afraid she was pretending to be good and would try to escape when he let go. So he did not release her and asked in a low voice, "Still smoking?"


    "You...bully." The youngdy pouted slightly, looking at him unwillingly, "I won''t sumb to violence."


    "Violence? If I really used violence on you, you would''ve cried already." Xiao Yan pressed her even harder.


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui lowered her eyes to see her already t...being pressed even tter by him, yet he remained oblivious.


    It hurt so much!


    "Let me go, it hurts!"


    "Still smoking?"


    "No more."


    Xiao Yan had gotten the answer he wanted and was about to let her go, but then heard her stubbornly say again, "You won''t catch me again!"


    He could also see that this girl yielded to softness but not force. The more he forced her, the more fiercely she struggled.


    Xiao Yan simply let her go.


    Lin ChuSui, now free, turned to run, but Xiao Yan blocked the only exit from the alley, leaving her nowhere to go.


    At first, Xiao Yan didn''t think this task would be too difficult.


    He had done more tricky things before. He even personally sent his once overbearing foster father to prison.


    Winning over a simple youngdy shouldn''t be difficult.


    But after he really started contacting her, he realized it was not easy to straighten a crooked tree that had already grown twisted.


    "I hope she will grow up safe and happy."


    Xiao Yan''s mind recalled Lin Xiuze''sst smile amidst the big fire.


    ...


    "Let''s talk."


    "Nothing to talk about." Lin ChuSui tidied her wrinkled hoodie cor, "Don''t think there''s something between us just because I hugged you. I don''t like you. Don''t get ideas."


    Xiao Yan tilted his head and smiled coldly, "Who''s getting ideas?"


    "Just stay stubborn."


    Xiao Yan reached out. She reflexively backed away, thinking he was going to hit her.


    Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan just flipped her hoodie hood over and pulled her hair out from under her cor at the same time, tidying it.


    Feeling his gentle actions, Lin ChuSui''s heart felt weird and she looked away from him.


    "Learn from your girlfriends. At leastb your hair when going out."


    Lin ChuSui knew he was talking about Lu TianBai. That girl''s favorite thing to do was dress up her hair. There were hundreds of different braiding styles saved on her phone. She came to school every day with a different hairstyle, so cute.


    "I''m clumsy." She mumbled, "I can barely curl my bangs by myself. You should be grateful I''m humoring you."


    The dad who likedbing her hair was gone.


    But Xiao Yan said, "In this world, it''s fortunate if there is someone to grow up with you. But if not, you have to learn to grow up by yourself."


    Growing up alone, easier said than done.


    Lin ChuSui finally calmed down, hands in pockets, leaning against the moss-covered wall, head lowered without speaking a word.


    The light from the streetmp fell on her, shrouding her face in shadows so her expression couldn''t be seen clearly.


    The air suddenly became quiet. Only the noise of traffic could be heard from afar.


    "Let''s go."


    Seeing that he didn''t seem to want to stop her anymore, Lin ChuSui left with her hands in her pockets, walking loosely.


    "Wait."


    "Still want to fight?" She looked back guardedly.


    Xiao Yan grabbed her hoodie and pulled her back into the hot pot store, making her sit at the small table where he usually did homework. Then he went to cut vegetables at the counter by himself.


    Seeing that he still wanted her business, Lin ChuSui frowned and said, "No spice, none at all."


    Xiao Yan ignored her and took some of every pot dish, then put them in adle and boiled them in the pot soup before dishing them into a bowl.


    Xiao Qian was busy serving customers but still kept ncing back at the girl.


    Lin ChuSui and her eyes met, and she smiled at her: ¡°Sit for a while, let Xiao Yan make something for you to eat.¡±


    Lin ChuSui also politely called out: ¡°Hello, auntie.¡±


    Xiao Yan was a little speechless as he looked back: ¡°She''s my sister.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    The self-poking both eyes of someone who hated it, apologized repeatedly: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, hello sister, I was blind!¡±


    Xiao Qian waved her hand unharmed: ¡°It''s okay, my big Xiao Yan is six years old,pared to you, I''m not young anymore.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no, sister looks younger than me! Little sister is so beautiful!¡±


    A smile appeared at the corner of Xiao Qian''s mouth. She could see that although this girl was clumsy and didn''t look very smart, she had a good heart and was very simple and honest.


    Thinking of what Xiao Yan had experienced in the past, if he wanted to like someone, it should be someone like her.


    ¡°You sit first, let Xiao Yan make a midnight snack for you.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, sister.¡±


    Xiao Qian was free at this moment, washed her hands, wiped the water on her apron, and exined, ¡°You are the first girl Xiao Yan has ever brought into the store. He hates oily hands very much, and is making something for you with his own hands. Not everyone can enjoy this treatment!¡±


    Lin ChuSui said, ¡°Because we are deskmates. The ss teacher said that deskmates should help each other and be harmonious and friendly.¡±


    ¡°Wow, then he got too lucky in love, and actually got such a good-looking deskmate like you.¡±


    Lin ChuSui asked in surprise: ¡°Sister thinks I''m good-looking?¡±


    ¡°Of course,pared to all the girls who came to the store to sneak a peek at him, you look the best.¡±


    ¡°Xiao Yan said I''m not good-looking.¡±


    ¡°Then he was blind.¡±


    Lin ChuSui was in a good mood, with a sweet smile at the corners of her mouth.


    Xiao Qian also said, "Xiao Yan has never had a single friend since he was a child. You have to get along well with him."


    "He has no friends?"


    "Well, his personality... it''s not easy for him to make friends. Anyway, take him out to y more often, I''m counting on you."


    In fact, Lin ChuSui wanted to say that they were just ordinary deskmates. She couldn''t take Xiao Yan out to y either, because they weren''t the same type of people.


    Xiao Yan would never go to inte cafes with them to y games, or wander the streets with them.


    The two women sat together and chatted, making Xiao Yan very uneasy. He looked at the time and said to Xiao Qian, "Sister, you''ll bete for night school."


    Xiao Qian was so engrossed in the conversation that she almost forgot the time. She hurriedly went back to the storage room to change her clothes. As she was leaving, she said to Lin ChuSui, "Come back when you want to eat again."


    "Okay."


    Lin ChuSui felt that although Xiao Yan was a bit annoying, his sister was really nice.


    She looked around the small shop. It was really small and narrow. The interior space was probably less than 20 square meters, but it was very clean. His math workbook was open on the table.


    His handwriting was beautiful, reflecting his personality, with a bit of cursive style, powerful and vigorous.


    She noticed that this was tonight''s homework, and it was alreadypleted.


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes lit up, and she quickly took out her phone to take pictures of the answers.


    Xiao Yan walked over in time and handed her a full bowl of hot stew, while taking away the workbook on the table.


    "Copying my homework, aren''t you afraid the ss teacher will misunderstand even more? Do you want to provide more ''early love'' evidence for him?"


    "You really underestimate the IQ of us homework copiers. I guarantee I can copy it to make it look nothing like yours, so Teacher Qin can''t find any problems. Do you want... to test it out?" As Lin ChuSui picked up a piece of beef tripe with her chopsticks.


    Xiao Yan was toozy to argue with her. He hung up the closed for business sign and started tidying up the counter: "If you want to copy homework, that''s fine, but only if you promise me one thing."


    The most principled top student Xiao Yan was actually bargaining with her now. Lin ChuSui could vaguely guess what he wanted her to promise.


    She kept her head down, looking at the bowl of beef stew full of love, and asked, "You want me that much?"


    Xiao Yan: "..."


    The little sister seemed a little shy, with flushed cheeks: "I admit the temptation of homework is really great, but I''m a principled person. I don''t want to and am not in the mood for a rtionship, so don''t hold out any more hope for me, or expect me to respond to you. You''re a great guy and I hope you find happiness."


    "Are you done?"


    Lin ChuSui took a deep breath, nodded, and said very sincerely, "Yes, you can speak now."


    "Quit smoking, and I''ll let you copy my homework."


    Lin ChuSui: ?

 Chapter 11: Two Percent

    <h4>Chapter 11</h4>


    "Quit smoking, and I''ll do your homework for you," Xiao Yan said to Lin ChuSui as she tensed up.


    She was so embarrassed she wanted to dig a hole and bury herself or just die on the spot.


    "Who says I even want you to do my homework!" she said angrily. "So what if you''re the top of our grade? Does that give you the right to mock people?"


    Her angry expression made Xiao Yanugh. "When did I ever mock you?"


    "You''re always mocking me!"


    Suddenly, Xiao Yan''s handsome face drew closer to hers, slowly nearing her.


    Lin ChuSui was so nervous she could barely breathe, continuously leaning back: "W-What are you doing?"


    Xiao Yan moved in close, his hand slowly lowering into her bag.


    Thinking he was going to kiss her, Lin ChuSui pursed her lips tightly and closed her eyes.


    But instead, he merely took out her lighter and cigarette pack from her bag, casually tossing them on the table.


    After some time, Lin ChuSui opened her eyes.


    Leaning casually in his chair, Xiao Yan couldn''t help a slight smile forming at the corner of his mouth. The autumn moon and breeze --


    "Now that''s what I call mocking."


    Seeing the cigarette pack on the table, Lin ChuSui realized her misunderstanding. Her cheeks grew even redder: "Xiao Yan, I''ve decided I officially dislike you now!"


    "I don''t care," Xiao Yan said mildly, fiddling with the fancy steel lighter between his slender fingers. "Confiscated."


    Lin ChuSui pouted, acting nonchnt. "Take it then."


    She could just buy more anyway.


    Annoyed, Lin ChuSui looked away and started eating her spicy hot pot. The vor was quite good, very fragrant and spicy.


    But...after eating the third piece of beef stomach, her fair face had turned red from the spiciness.


    Xiao Yan nced at her coolly. "Too spicy?"


    "Um, just a little."


    "I didn''t add any chili peppers, it must be spiciness from the broth itself. It shouldn''t be too spicy."


    "I..."


    She was breathing rapidly, puffing and panting as she stuck out her bright red tongue. "I can''t handle spicy at all...huff...huff..."


    Xiao Yan decisively took her hot pot away, but Lin ChuSui guarded her food like a little bunny. "Hey!"


    "I''ll make you a new bowl."


    "No need." Lin ChuSui insisted on eating another piece of beef. "You''re so sly, purposely adding chili peppers to make me buy a second bowl. I can handle it."


    Seeing beads of sweat forming on her brow, Xiao Yan finally couldn''t bear it. "I''ll make you a new mild broth bowl, free of charge."


    "It''s not about the money. I just...don''t want to waste food. My dad says wasting is shameful."


    Lin ChuSui was a spoiled rich girl who nevercked anything. But she knew Xiao Yan survived on schrships, just enough to cover tuition, doing various side jobs after school.


    Looking at the full bowl of hot pot before her, all premium beef parts Xiao Yan had cooked for her, Lin ChuSui wasn''t observant but she wasn''t so dense either.


    She kept voraciously eating, though there was a slight spiciness that wasn''t unbearable, mainly because she never touched spicy food before so it took some adjusting.


    Xiao Yan watched her deeply. After some time, he reached out and took her bowl. "Stop eating."


    "You--"


    Before she could react, she saw Xiao Yan picking up her chopsticks and eating from her leftover bowl.


    He ate elegantly and naturally, not at all bothered that she had eaten from it already.


    "Just this...spicy?"


    Lin ChuSui was stunned.


    It wasn''t about the spiciness anymore!


    "Why are you eating my leftovers?"


    "To avoid waste."


    "But...we''re not that close, are we?!"


    "Hm?"


    Lin ChuSui''s face was bright red, half from spiciness, half from embarrassment. "You eating my leftovers, isn''t that like an indirect kiss..."


    Xiao Yan looked up at her deeply for a moment, his beautiful eyes shining softly,cking the previous aloofness and coldness.


    Meeting his gaze, Lin ChuSui felt somewhat dizzy, like the metal core of the lighter had given her body an electric shock, tingling spreading across her skin.


    After a long pause, she saw a faint smile lift the corner of his mouth. "You''re my goddess after all."


    "...!"


    Xiao Yan got up and went to the counter, starting a new mild broth hot pot for Lin ChuSui.


    Lin ChuSui took out her phone and spammed her chat group with berserk emojis.


    Lu Chi: "Chubs going crazy as usual."


    Lin ChuSui: "The school god really loves me now, no, not just loves, he''s utterly infatuated...ahhh, my damned charm..."


    Lu Chi: "Did he propose to you?"


    Lin ChuSui: "No, not that much. But he admitted I''m his goddess! And wanted to kiss me!"


    Lu TianBai: "So hardcore of you to be the school god''s goddess, bestie."


    As the eternal hype man of the group, Lu TianBai inted Lin ChuSui''s vanity to the maximum. She was over the moon--


    "Cough, gotta stay low-key."


    Lu Chi: "Goddess sis, can you share the school god fanboy''s homework you got?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Shameless."


    After sending her message, she stealthily nced at Xiao Yan''s back again. Remembering he was still waiting for her to pay, she opened up his math workbook and quickly snapped some pics, sending them into the chat.


    Lu Chi: "Holy crap, you really got it! Are you two dating now?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Yup! He''s cooking for me right now."


    Lu Chi: "OMG."


    Lu TianBai: "OMG +1!"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "After eating, next step is...? [confused emoji]"


    Toozy to respond to these perverts, Lin ChuSui said: "How can I get him to stop loving me? He''s pretty nice to me, I don''t want to hurt him. [distressed emoji]"


    Lu Chi: "Want to hear the advice of your dearest besties?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Yeah."


    Lu Chi: "We advise you to make sacrifices for the greater good...oh right, can you take pics of the English homework and science workbook too?"


    Lin ChuSui smacked and kicked Lu Chi halfway across the globe.


    Just then, a strange profile pic popped up in the prestigious South City No.1 Middle School Girls'' Chat--


    "Idiot, don''t get ahead of yourself."


    The stranger''s profile pic was a side view of a youth in a white shirt, the sun behind him lighting his silhouette softly.


    At first nce it looked like an idol''s promotional photo. But when Lin ChuSui tapped to erge it, she realized it was none other than Xu JiaNing that jerk!


    Only "Dick King" would use an artsy photo of himself as avatar.


    Lin ChuSui: "@everyone, who let this fake foreign devil in!"


    Lu Chi: "@Lu TianBai."


    Soon, Lu TianBai private messaged Lin ChuSui: "Well, I thought since he''s your brother..."


    Lin ChuSui: "I don''t have a brother, never had and never will."


    Lu TianBai: "Sorry bestie, I should''ve asked you first. Should I kick him out?"


    Lin ChuSui couldn''t get mad at Lu TianBai. "Forget it, just pretend he doesn''t exist."


    Just then, Carl aka Xu JiaNing added Lin ChuSui as a friend.


    Lin ChuSui rejected him, but he sent a second request, with the message: "Add me real quick, will delete after."


    Lin ChuSui epted: "What''s up?"


    Xu JiaNing: "You''re at Xiao Yan''s ce?"


    Lin ChuSui: "None of your business."


    Xu JiaNing: "I suggest you go straight home, now."


    Lin ChuSui: "Don''t wanna go back."


    Xu JiaNing: "I''m advising you to return, otherwise you''ll be in big trouble tomorrow, trust me."


    Lin ChuSui: "Hmph."


    Even her mom Fang YouYi couldn''t do anything to her, how could she get in trouble?


    Lin ChuSui really didn''t want to see any strange men living with her and her dad at home. Let alone Xu JiaNing, even Uncle Xu...he was recing her dad.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t know how to live under one roof with him.


    She didn''t want to ruin her mother''s happy remarriage, of course she knew she wasn''t the type who could endure it either.


    Whether she was happy or unhappy, it was all written on her face.


    If she returned, she would definitely be the vibe killer to the family''s warm, joyful atmosphere.


    Might as well not go back at all.


    Xu JiaNing: "Up to you, just wanted to give you a heads up."


    Xu JiaNing: "Oh right, your fanboy got question 3 wrong on the math test, should''ve picked C."


    Lin ChuSui directly blocked that annoying punk.


    ...


    Xiao Yan cooked a mild broth hot pot for Lin ChuSui, without a hint of chili this time. But he specially simmered the broth with dried tangerine peel and aniseed to keep the vor intact.


    He neatly packed it for her in a takeout box, bringing the food to her. "It''ste, you should head back with this to eat."


    Lin ChuSui took out her phone sullenly. "Didn''t bring cash, add me on WeChat and I''ll transfer you."


    Xiao Yan nced at the obvious WeChat QR code on the wall, hesitating before taking out his own phone and opening up his code.


    Lin ChuSui added him on WeChat, instantly tapping into his Moments. Histest post was a text and image from two years ago.


    The pic was a sunset sky filled with fiery clouds, but the clouds were ck and white, looking almost mournful.


    The text simply said:


    "I''m sorry."


    Weird Moment.


    Behind her, Xiao Yan said, "Done looking?"


    Only then did Lin ChuSui remember he was still waiting for her to pay.


    She had browsed his Moments right in front of him, seemed a bit awkward...


    Sheepishly, Lin ChuSui asked, "How much for two bowls of hot pot?"


    Xiao Yan hadn''t intended to charge her at all, but if he didn''t, this young miss would probably let her imagination run wild again...


    "However much you think is fair," he casually said. "Free pic with purchases over 50 bucks."


    Lin ChuSui randomly sent him 49 yuan: "No need for the pic, thanks."


    Xiao Yan handed her the packaged hot pot.


    As Lin ChuSui walked out the door, she got a call from her mother Fang YouYi--


    "Lin ChuSui, are you trying to get rid of me as your mother?!"


    Hearing her voice, Lin ChuSui immediately felt exhausted.


    "You already agreed to let Uncle Xu move in, now you''re throwing a tantrum again. You''re almost an adult, can''t you stop acting like a child?"


    "If you don''te back tonight, then nevere back! I won''t consider you as my daughter anymore."


    Lin ChuSui was just about to take a taxi home when she heard this. She stopped in her tracks upon hearing those words.


    "He can stay at home." She said in a calm yet muffled voice: "But can you not sleep in dad''s room?"


    These words pierced Fang You Yi''s heart like daggers.


    She could clearly hear the trembling in Fang You Yi''s breath.


    "Bang!"


    She hung up the phone. The busy tone rang, as if expressing Fang You Yi''s anger on her behalf.


    Lin ChuSui put down her phone and looked helplessly at the waning crescent moon in the sky.


    This is...so awful.


    ...


    After finishing the cleaning, Xiao Yan walked out of the hot pot restaurant and pulled down the rolling door.


    Turning around, he saw his young aunt resting her cheek in her hand, sitting at the edge of the steps. Next to her was an empty disposable bowl that had been licked clean.


    Her head bobbed up and down like a woodpecker.


    Seeing her lonely, fragile silhouette, Xiao Yan''s hand went to his aching heart.


    Hearing the noise, Lin ChuSui yawned and looked at Xiao Yan blurrily -


    "Um...how much is it to stay here for one night?"


    Xiao Yan paused briefly before rejecting her request: "This is not a hotel. There are no beds for sleeping either."


    "That''s fine. I can just lie down on a table for the night."


    "No." Xiao Yan said in amanding tone. "It''s veryte. Go home."


    "Nevermind then."


    If he wouldn''t give her shelter, she could just spend the night at an inte cafe. Usually she would call Lu Chi and Lu TianBai, but their parents were back from a business trip tonight so it wasn''t good to call them out.


    Lin ChuSui got up and walked away leisurely, chewing gum.


    Watching her slender silhouette, Xiao Yan''s hand went to his aching heart again. Her figure ovepped with the one who had rushed into the fire.


    He was silent for a few seconds before finally riding his bike to catch up and block Lin ChuSui''s path.


    Seeing him leave and then return, Lin ChuSui bluntly asked: "What now?"


    "There''s no lodging in the shop." His eyes motioned to the seat behind him. "Get on. I''m taking you home."


    Lin ChuSui repeatedly backed away: "No way am I going to your house! Dream on."


    "My sister will be there too."


    Thinking about the kind and pretty older sister Xiao Qian, Lin ChuSui hesitated briefly before agreeing: "Fine, I''ll sleep with your sister."


    This made Xiao Yanugh. "Who else did you think you would sleep with?"


    "..."


    Holding Xiao Yan''s waist, Lin ChuSui sat on the rear seat of his bike.


    "Lodging fee is 300. Since you''re my deskmate, I''ll give you a discount at 250." He calmly stated, "Breakfast not included."


    "Wow, is your house a luxury hotel? The lodging fee is so expensive, and breakfast isn''t even included?"


    "Then go stay at a hotel."


    Lin ChuSui pouted. She thought to herself that if she had brought her ID, she wouldn''t have ended up relying on him like this.


    "Alright alright, 250 it is. You''re so calctive."


    By now, it was already 10pm at night. A cool breeze blew, and there were few pedestrians on the street. asionally a car would speed by.


    The bicycle travelled on the spacious greenway, with the crescent moon hanging high in the sky ahead.


    Watching his back, Lin ChuSui said: "Our family''s old Lin also liked riding his bike with me - to and from kindergarten, primary school, middle school... Your back looks just like my dad''s when he used to ride."


    "Riding a bike looks the same for everyone. What''s simr?"


    Lin ChuSui insisted: "It''s just very simr."


    Seeing her silhouette under the moonlight, Xiao Yan''s heart softened for some reason.


    Along the long journey, the fragrant olive leaves swayed in the wind. The moonlight flickered. Lin ChuSui gently hugged his waist, resting her forehead on his back.


    "Don''t get the wrong idea. I''m hugging you not because I like you."


    "I didn''t think that."


    Leaning on his thin clothing, Xiao Yan could feel the weight of her head, as if it contained very heavy memories.


    "Dad... I was actually the one who killed him."


    He tilted his head slightly.


    The young aunt''s voice carried a very heavy nasal tone: "He heard from somewhere about me dating, and said my boyfriend''s grades were bad, that he would be a bad influence. Dad forced me to break up."


    "That afternoon, he took time off work to bring me to the aquarium. Because of this issue, I was mad at him and refused to go. Afterwards, there was an emergency at work and he had to go back in."


    "If I had obediently listened to him, if we had gone to the aquarium... none of the things that happenedter would have urred."


    No ifs.


    Xiao Yan''s heart began to ache indistinctly.


    "I''ll never forget the disappointed look in his eyes when he left. If I knew that was thest time I''d see him, I definitely would have listened obediently."


    The young aunt''s voice carried the thick sound of oing tears. She had never told anyone these things before, always suppressing them in her heart until she choked for breath.


    Later on, mom had moved on, and so did grandpa and grandma. Not because they didn''t love dad, but because they had no regrets.


    Only she did.


    Thatst argument had left an eternally unheble bloody wound in her heart.


    "I''m sorry." She choked back sobs, gritting her teeth as she softly said: "I''m sorry, old Lin. You''re the best dad in the world."


    If only he could hear this. How wonderful that would be.


    Xiao Yan calmed the churning emotions in his body. He knew these were the feelings of someone else inside him.


    Looking at the thick night, he said in a deep voice: "Your dad won''t me you."


    Lin ChuSui sniffed and looked up with bleary eyes: "How do you know?"


    "Because he''s your dad."


    ...


    Trantion progress: 2%

 Chapter 12: The First Master

    <h4>Chapter 12</h4>


    Xiao Yan lived not in a housing estate but in the mostmon alley houses in the old part of Nancheng, that is, the old, shabby, small residential buildings that are often referred to.


    He walked his bicycle into the uneven stone road and parked it at the entrance of the first floor alley, then led Lin ChuSui upstairs to the second floor.


    Lin ChuSui could even smell the raw musty wooden odor in the air.


    Although the environment outside was not very good, the house was very clean, brightly lit, and even the corners of the furniture that were most prone to dust were cleaned spotless.


    There were two bedrooms, one for Xiao Yan and one for his sister.


    Coming to his ce suddenly, Lin ChuSui felt a little ufortable.


    At school, they were just the mostmon ssmates, not even good friends.


    Nowing to his home, seeing his real life, seeing Xiao Yan''spletely different side from the clean and handsome top student at school.


    Lin ChuSui felt that the distance between them... was suddenly reduced a lot involuntarily.


    Xiao Yan went into the bedroom to change the sheets without saying a word.


    Lin ChuSui stood awkwardly at the door, watching his back, and asked, "Is Sister Xiao... your real sister?"


    They didn''t look much alike.


    Xiao Yan leisurely said while changing the sheets, "We met in the orphanage. She was my sister there, and she has always been my sister since."


    Lin ChuSui nodded very understandingly and didn''t ask any more.


    ...


    That night, after Lin ChuSui took a bath, she put on the white T-shirt Xiao Yan had prepared for her to sleep in.


    "The clothes are so big, are they your sister''s?"


    "My sister is in ss with her phone on silent. I didn''t want to take her clothes without permission. This T-shirt is mine."


    "Oh."


    Quite the gentleman, much better than a certain fake foreign devil.


    Xiao Yan was doing homework at the desk. He turned his head slightly and nced at her.


    The little madam had just taken a bath. Her ck hair was still damp and draped over her slender shoulders. Her small face was whiter than usual, and her lips were lightly flushed.


    Her features were extremely beautiful and bright. It was just because she always looked depressed and wore sportswear to y with boys that her lovely features were obscured.


    Xiao Yan''s gaze moved down and fell below the V-neck of her corbone. He nced over it briefly before shifting his eyes away.


    Lin ChuSui saw him doing homework, so she sidled over and leaned over the table to watch him do the questions.


    "You got the third multiple choice question wrong. This one, you chose C. It should be B." Lin ChuSui pointed at the options.


    Xiao Yan casually said, "Choosing C is not wrong. Xu Jia Ning is the one who got it wrong."


    "How do you know it was something Xu Jia Ning said?"


    "Among those around you... who else could point out a mistake to me besides your arrogant stepbrother?"


    "You''re so smart." Lin ChuSui flicked the corner of the page sullenly. "And he''s not my stepbrother."


    She didn''t acknowledge it anyway.


    Xiao Yan didn''t argue with her about it. He just kept doing his homework.


    Lin ChuSui leaned over the table. She hesitated for a moment before saying, "About what happened just now, don''t tell anyone."


    Xiao Yan continued calcting on the draft paper while saying, "You mean the thing about your bath not exceeding fifteen minutes?"


    "No! What I told you when I came back... forget it." Lin ChuSui sullenly turned around.


    He didn''t care anyway.


    That''s right. It was just her own nagging secret that was hard to let go. How could others... take it to heart.


    Xiao Yan''s pen paused for a moment. "I won''t say anything if you don''t want me to."


    As soon as Lin ChuSui heard this, she felt it was ominous. She looked at him warily, "Are you trying to threaten me again?"


    Xiao Yan quickly wrote a math question on the draft paper and said to her, "Do this question correctly, and I''ll keep your secret."


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched. "Isn''t that going overboard?"


    Are top students'' demands always this hardcore?


    "You can choose to self-study from the textbook using forms to derive it, or ask your stepbrother or someone else for help, or... me."


    Lin ChuSui took a cursory look at the question and tragically found that she seemed to not even understand what the question was asking.


    "I choose to ask you to teach me." Lin ChuSui didn''t bother arguing anymore. She handed the draft paper directly in front of him, "Exin it to me."


    Although she put on an expression like "the young miss is already giving you face by asking you to teach me", she shamelessly asked him to "help", Xiao Yan still conscientiously drew a parab and patiently exined it to her step-by-step¡ª


    "F(x) is an odd function, so f(-x) = -f(x)... "


    After listening for a while, Lin ChuSui started to doze off, then started daydreaming. Her gaze moved from the pen tip and fell on his fair hand, then along his arm, saw his sexy Adam''s apple and his neck with protruding veins, and upward, his thin lips...


    Sexy.


    "Do you understand?"


    She blinked, staring at his lips. "Not at all."


    "Then I''ll exin it to you again."


    Lin ChuSui slumped over the table. "Schr Xiao, why do you insist on going against me when you''re so good-looking?!"


    "I''ll exin it to you again."


    "I don''t want to listen."


    "When X is less than zero, -f(x) = f(-x) = -[-(negative x) minus 1] = negative x plus 1 greater than 0..."


    Lin ChuSui yawned one after another.


    Xiao Yan''s gaze lightly fell on the draft paper. He paused for a few seconds, then took back the draft paper and continued doing his own exercises, no longer forcing her. "In life, only you can fulfill yourself. Friends can indulge you but can''t live your life for you."


    Seeing that he seemed a little angry, Lin ChuSui took out her phone and browsed her home screen for a while. Then she looked up at him again, feeling guilty. "I don''t need anyone to fulfill me."


    He continued calcting expressionlessly, not saying another word, looking as if he really was...


    Angry.


    Lin ChuSui felt a little bad. She finally picked up the draft paper from before, took a red pen from beside him, and earnestly looked at it for a while.


    Look, of course she wouldn''t be able to understand it.


    But... in order to appease her conscience, she would pretend to be very serious first.


    A few minutester, Xiao Yan went out to the balcony to get some cold air to refresh his mind.


    Through the ss window, he could see the little madam still leaning over the table with her legs curled up on the chair, staring nkly at the draft paper.


    Xiao Yan turned around and closed his eyes.


    The night wind was blowing gently. Leaning against the balcony railing, looking at the dpidated houses around, listening to the woman next door watching family ethics dramas at max volume.


    In the distance, asional dog barks could be heard from time to time.


    Life was this harsh reality.


    He had been struggling since birth. At the orphanage, each child could only get one piece of candy per day. Because he was withdrawn and studious, the other kids banded together to take his candy.


    He fought them, bit them, protecting his only piece of candy.


    Later, in the private hospital abroad, after being drugged... he lost half his liver. He endured the intense pain, eating a lot every day, working hard to recover.


    He knew how thick the clouding gloom was, so he decided to take revenge on them with death.


    He had always been struggling, trying to crawl out of the mire.


    This time was the same. He wanted to survive.


    At night, Xiao Qian came back from night school and saw Lin ChuSui staying at home. She was quite surprised.


    However, the look of surprise shed by instantly. Seeing that Lin ChuSui was already yawning with sleepiness, she told her to sleep first.


    "Sister Xiao, aren''t you going to sleep?"


    Xiao Qian took out her review books and turned on the deskmp, dimming the light. "I''ll do some questions first. Go to sleep first, Little Chu."


    Lin ChuSui hugged the soft quilt, looking at her slender figure, and marveled, "Sister, how can you all work so hard?"


    Xiao Qian gently smiled and said, "If I don''t work hard, how can I find a wife for Yan in the future?"


    "Wow, you''re even worried he won''t have a wife!" Lin ChuSui quickly said, "You don''t even know, in our school, girls confess to him every few days. He''s so popr!"


    Xiao Qian smiled and asked, "What about you? Do you like him too?"


    "Me..." Lin ChuSui drew out the tone, "Of course not."


    "Why not?"


    Lin ChuSui was a little embarrassed to discuss this with her. She burrowed into the quilt, "Sister, I''m going to sleep now. Good night!"


    In the quilt, Lin ChuSui took out the crumpled draft paper and looked at his powerful handwriting under the light of the deskmp.


    It had been so long since she had forgotten what it felt like to work hard for a goal.


    Soon, Lin ChuSui fell asleep, and slept like a pig.


    In the past two years sleeping in ss, inte cafes, and even 24-hour convenience stores, she had gotten used to it. She could easily fall asleep anywhere, anytime.


    The next day when she woke up, it was already seven o''clock.


    Morning reading ss started at 7:30. Today it was Chinese morning reading. The Chinese teacher was an entric old man who always thought of weird ways to "torture" students.


    Thest time Lin ChuSui was in Chinese morning reading ss, she was punished to recite "Ode to the Oak Tree" passionately to the student leading morning exercises during break time.


    Losing face publicly didn''t matter. This was about having thick skin. As long as she wasn''t embarrassed, it would be embarrassing for others instead.


    But the key was... the student leading the exercises was a first-year high school student, a little fat boy who had not experienced storms of life. He was deeply moved by Senior Sister Lin ChuSui''s passionate recital of "If I loved you, I''d never copy the infatuated bird''s monotonous song."


    Ever since then, he resigned from being the leading exercises student. Whenever he saw Lin ChuSui, the fat boy''s face would show a bizarre flush, and he would avoid her when he saw her.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t want to hurt a second leading exercises student anyway, so she had never beente for Chinese morning reading ss.


    She shot up from bed like a carp, hurriedly changed into her school uniform, and rushed out of the room.


    Xiao Qian had already gone to the shop, and there was no sign of Xiao Yan either. He seemed to have gone out already.


    Lin ChuSui casually sshed some water on her face, then stumbled out the door. She immediately saw Xiao Yan walking his bike out of the alley entrance.


    The mellow morning sunshine fell on him, clean and spotless.


    Lin ChuSui called out to him, "We''re almostte! Why didn''t you wake me up!"


    Xiao Yan raised his head, his beautiful eyes filled with light, and his pupils showed a hint of light brown: "Do you need it?"


    "The goddess lived a life of unrestrained freedom and love, but when under someone''s roof, she had to bow her head, especially for that old fogey Tang''s Chinese reading ss!"


    Lin ChuSui rushed down the stairs in a gust of wind and fire, and Xiao Yan had already gotten on his bike, his back disappearing into the morning glow of the alley.


    "Anti-inmmatory medicine, wait for me!"


    Lin ChuSui jogged to catch up, and Xiao Yan seemed to deliberately wait for her, yet not let her catch up, riding neither fast nor slow, leisurely going down the road.


    Nearing the school gate, Lin ChuSui finally grabbed the corner of his clothes, panting: "Caught...caught you!"


    Xiao Yan hit the brakes: "Why catch me?"


    "Give me a ride to school, or I''ll bete!"


    He looked up, expressionless: "Goddess only needs to lift her noble legs and walk ten more meters to enter the school gate."


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui looked at the school gate within reach and gritted her teeth, reluctantly saying: "But I chased you for two kilometers!"


    "So?"


    "So I have to sit on your bike, otherwise I chased you for nothing!"


    "Actually you could also take a taxi, maybe even faster than me..." His words had not fallen, and Lin ChuSui was already sitting on the back of his bike, urging: "Hurry hurry, only five minutes left!"


    Xiao Yan helplessly could only take her into the school.


    Facing the morning light, wearing a clean blue and white school uniform and riding a bike, he was very eye-catching all the way.


    Lin ChuSui kicked the fallen leaves and shadows of the trees on the ground, and looked up at his back again.


    "Anti-inmmatory medicine, why did youe to be my deskmate?"


    "Because I like you, don''t I?"


    "You really like me?"


    "You''re finally doubting your own charm."


    "No!" Lin ChuSui heard the ridicule in his tone and stubbornly said, "Your love for me, I still have no doubts, and I''mcent and smug about it!"


    Xiao Yan chuckled lightly¡ª


    "Oh."


    Seeing his clean smile, Lin ChuSui was somewhat stunned.


    This was the first time she had seen such a rxed expression on him.


    ...


    During morning reading ss, Lu Chi leaned over from behind and whispered in her ear, "Going into the ssroom together, you didn''t really spend the night together, did you?"


    "Yeah, I stayed over at his ce for a night."


    "Holy crap! The grade''s number one, how was it?"


    "How was what?"


    "His ability! Is he good?"


    "The grade''s number one is of course good."


    After saying this, even Lu TianBai looked back at them, her expression horrified.


    To avoid corrupting minors, Lin ChuSui added, "The grade''s number one is of course good, you were very happy copying his math homework, weren''t you?"


    "Don''t say he tutored you all night."


    "He really did."


    "Lame~ Boring."


    Xu JiaNing held a book of ancient poems and proses in his hand, mockingly said: "Not going home for the night, running to a boy''s house to sleep at night, if your dad knew, he''d probably be so angry he''d jump up."


    "None of your damn business." Lin ChuSui said very rudely, "And stop mentioning my dad!"


    Xu JiaNing sneered coldly: "Clinging to someone who is already dead and unwilling to let go, making the living hurt and disappointed. You feel the whole world owes you, then who do you owe?"


    Lin ChuSui''s hand holding the Chinese textbook tightened: "To point fingers at my life...who do you think you are?"


    "Sorry, my dad married your mom, so now I''m your elder brother, legally anyway." Xu JiaNing finally put down his book and looked up at her: "I''m polite to you because you took the initiative to take down the photos yesterday, so I feel you''re notpletely beyond redemption yet."


    "Thanks, but I don''t need your evaluation."


    "I''m toozy to evaluate you. Oh yes, by the way, they slept in the master bedroomst night."


    Lin ChuSui''s heart thumped rapidly, blood rushing to her head, her hands clenched tightly into fists: "You...say that again."


    Xu JiaNing lifted his chin and sneered coldly: "Kid, do you think you can influence your parents'' lives just by rebelling? Immature."


    Xiao Yan nced at Lin ChuSui, her face was already flushed red.


    When anger reaches an extreme, it turns into deep helplessness.


    Xu JiaNing had poked her most vulnerable spot.


    Even Lu TianBai in the front row felt the tense atmosphere and looked back at them worriedly: "Girlfriend, calm down a bit."


    Lu Chi''s blood was also boiling, ready to be the first to rush up and fight with her if Lin ChuSui started a fight.


    Lin ChuSui''s voice trembled as she stared fiercely at Xu JiaNing: "My legal ''elder brother'', you''re very capable, better than me in every way, more sensible, more liked by the family, you enjoy this sense of superiority, don''t you?"


    Xu JiaNing sneered coldly: "If I have to get a sense of superiority from a loser, wouldn''t that make me a total failure?"


    "What are you saying!" Lu Chi finally couldn''t stand it anymore. He stood up and grabbed Xu JiaNing by the cor: "Just because you can spout some English makes you awesome?"


    He and Lin ChuSui had been best buddies since childhood, so of course he couldn''t stand seeing Lin ChuSui bullied.


    "Use your fists when you can''t win with words?"


    "Can''t win? When ChuSui was awesome, you were still pretending to be a gentleman in some rubbish Eton school!"


    Xu JiaNing sneered mockingly: "How awesome could she be? Did she finally pass math? Or did she finally get one question right in English listening?"


    "Don''t look down on people!" Lu Chi was so angry that smoke seemed toe out of his throat: "From elementary to middle school, ChuSui''s grades were always good. She even went on TV!"


    "You''re joking, right?"


    "Joking? Go find out for yourself, the genius girl with a photographic memory from Nancheng Affiliated High School, won so many prizes her hands went soft, and participated in the national memorypetition on CCTV, beating down a bunch of Harvard and Oxford college students..."


    Xiao Yan nced at Lin ChuSui.


    "Shut up!" Lin ChuSui sharply cut Lu Chi off.


    Lu Chi was unwilling, wanted to say something more, but the knife-like gaze forced the words that had welled up in his throat back down.


    He sat back down awkwardly, irritably opened his Chinese textbook, and didn''t say any more.


    Xu JiaNing also sat down, coldly mocking: "Boasting without preparation makes a fool of oneself. If she''s so great, I''ll call her brother."


    Lin ChuSui''s mood had calmed down again. She turned around and stared at Xu JiaNing for a long time.


    Xu JiaNing felt goosebumps under her gaze and very rudely said, "What?"


    Lin ChuSui casually pulled over his math exercise book on the upper left corner of his desk and pointed to the third question: "You got this question wrong, choose B, not C."


    Xu JiaNing sneered and curled his lips mockingly: "Impossible."


    Lin ChuSui recited aloud: "f(x) is an odd function, then f(-x)=-f(x)."


    Xiao Yan slowly turned his head to look at her.


    This question was one he had taught herst night, but she didn''t understand at all...


    The little auntie''s jet ck eyes were filled with a resolute light. She didn''t even bother to use draft paper, directly saying: "When X is less than zero, -f(x)=f(-x)=-[-(negative x) minus 1]=negative x plus 1 greater than 0, so B should be chosen, and C is wrong because f(x) multiplied by f(-x) equals (x minus 1)(negative x plus 1) which is less than 0."


    As Xiao Yan listened to her steps, his mind was also quickly calcting.


    The corner of his mouth faintly curled up.


    A learning disability student with no high school math foundation had actually...memorized all the steps to solving this problem.


    ...


    "Holy crap!"


    Before Xu JiaNing could react after Lin ChuSui finished speaking, Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu pped at the same time, their blood boiling¡ª


    "ChuSui is awesome! Serve tea for ChuSui!"


    "Goddess ChuSui is back!"


    Xu JiaNing picked up his pen and started furiously calcting on the draft paper. Soon, the answer was verified.


    It was the same as the steps Lin ChuSui had recited. Choose B, not C. He had been careless.


    Xu JiaNing looked at her uncertainly, seeming to start believing what Lu Chi had said earlier.


    "Forget calling me brother, I don''tck little brothers." Lin ChuSui nobly and coldly turned around¡ª


    "Call me Lord ChuSui."

 Chapter 13: Can鈥檛 Extricate Oneself

    <h4>Chapter 13</h4>


    Before the end of school, Old Qin came to the ssroom and announced that the provincial marathonpetition was about to start in the Nancheng district next month.


    "You must have heard about our province''s marathonpetition that is held every three years. This is a very important event, especially for students taking the physical exam. The trophies are highly coveted."


    The students were all unenthused about thispetition. They knew they wouldn''t get any cements anyway.


    But Lu Chi, Zhang Chengyu and a few other school athletics team members had been waiting eagerly for three years. They trained every day, just waiting for this marathon to help thempete for the glory of the trophies.


    "Senior Chu, you should sign up!" Lu Chi patted Lin ChuSui on the shoulder. "Most of us are just running along for the ride. For you, you might actually be able to win a prize!"


    Xiao Yan nced at her, his eyes coolly sweeping over her slender shoulders.


    Lin ChuSui noticed his gaze and said unhappily, "What are you looking at?"


    "You can run a marathon?"


    Lu Chi came over and said, "School God, you don''t know this, but our Senior Chu not only has a photographic memory, she also has great stamina. In track and field and marathon, she got 5th ce in the province three years ago. The mayor even personally awarded her the prize."


    He patted Xiao Yan''s shoulder and grinned, "She has great stamina, so things will be easier for you in the future. Hehehe."


    Xiao Yan disgustedly pushed his hand away and nced at the girl beside him. She had a slender figure, with wisps of hair hanging over her delicate shoulders.


    It was hard to imagine that such a frail body could store so much energy.


    Lin ChuSui felt Xiao Yan''s burning gaze on her. She reached out and pped Lu Chi, "Stop talking so much, be careful you drown in your own saliva."


    "Our Senior Chu is just being modest."


    "It''s not about modesty," Lin ChuSui said in a low voice. "Mainly... the School God has already been enchanted by me. If you keep talking, he''ll be even more smitten. How will I get rid of him then?!"


    Lu Chi said, "You''re right, we''d better keep a low profile."


    Xiao Yan: "..."


    Lin ChuSui had no ns to join the marathon.


    She still had vivid memories of thest time she ran a marathon. It was a marathon around the city, from the central park all the way to the southern Huafu City.


    That day, there was a fire in a residential building to the west, and her dad was urgently dispatched. She kept worrying about him the whole time she was running.


    Unexpectedly, after running halfway through, her dad actually rode over on a bike! He hadn''t even had time to take off his helmet, and his face was still smeared with soot from the smoke. He looked quite disheveled.


    "Xiao Kuai, keep going! Xiao Kuai, keep going! Xiao Kuai, keep going!"


    Lin ChuSuiughed at Old Lin, "Go wash your face first!"


    "I''m not going back. If I do, I''ll miss our Xiao Kuai''s glorious moment of winning first ce."


    "How embarrassing! Pretend you don''t know me."


    "Heh," Old Linughed heartily, "Luckily no one was hurt or killed in that burning building just now. I happened to rescue an orange stray cat from the chimney and brought it back. I''ll give it to you tonight as a marathon gift."


    "Ahhh!" Lin ChuSui shrieked excitedly, "I''m not running anymore! I want to y with kitty now!"


    "No way, you have to finish the race. I''ve trained you for so long. Today is the day to reap the rewards. Start running, you have to get a cement!"


    Later, Old Lin rode his bike and apanied Lin ChuSui for the entire marathon.


    She did not disappoint Old Lin''s training and got an excellent 3rd ce in the province. Most importantly, she was the youngest in the top ten.


    Afterwards, Lin ChuSui had an orange little cat.


    But... after Old Lin passed away, the little orange cat also went missing.


    Lin ChuSui did not sign up for the marathon.


    In the past two years, whether it was studying or sports, she had cked off. Other than asionally shooting some hoops, her life could be said to have sunk into total gloom.


    That evening after school, the head teacher contacted Lin ChuSui''s parent toe to school to discuss her situation.


    Lin ChuSui hade to the office feeling terribly nervous and anxious. But she realized that the person being scolded by Old Qin in the office was not Ms. Fang You Yi, but a strange man.


    He was tall and quite handsome, with thick brows and big eyes - a distinguished looking gentleman.


    After thinking for a long time, Lin ChuSui finally recognized that this was Ms. Fang You Yi''s current husband and Xu Jia Ning''s father - Xu Song Bai.


    A few months ago, Ms. Fang You Yi had organized a dinner for Lin ChuSui to meet Xu Song Bai.


    At the dinner, Lin ChuSui behaved very calmly and did not embarrass Ms. Fang You Yi.


    And Uncle Xu Song Bai was also a taciturn man who did not like to speak much or make jokes.


    Ms. Fang You Yi''s taste clearly had not changed in a hundred years. She just liked this kind of masculine, tough guy type.


    Xu Jia Ning bumped hard into Lin ChuSui''s shoulder as she walked past her, then turned back and mouthed to her -


    "You''re doomed."


    Lin ChuSui stumbled forward from her shove. She picked up a rock from the ground and threw it at Xu Jia Ning, but she dodged it.


    Soon, Xu Song Bai walked out of the office. Lin ChuSui ndly bid him hello.


    She was polite but distant with unfamiliar people. Especially since Xu Song Bai''s status was sensitive now, she should be extra careful around him.


    At the very least, she couldn''t make him her enemy.


    Xu Song Bai nced at her but didn''t say anything. He was holding her report card and walked towards the school gate.


    Lin ChuSui couldn''t figure out his intentions, so she followed behind him.


    Exiting the school gate, Xu Song Bai''s car was parked under a chinaberry tree. He didn''t get in right away, but instead turned back and waved the report card at her -


    "9 points in math, what''s going on?"


    Hearing his tone of settling ounts after autumn''s harvest, Lin ChuSui thought he was quite convincing as a parent. Not nearly as polite as when they first met.


    She muttered, "Don''t know how to do it."


    "Your mom told me your grades used to be very good before high school. Then they plummeted, is that right?"


    "Yes."


    "Why?"


    Lin ChuSui felt a spark of anger rise in her heart from his aggressive questioning. "Why are you asking me? Ask my mom!"


    "In our family, the young cannot speak to elders in this tone. A child''s academic performance also absolutely cannot be below the top 50 in their grade. That is my requirement for Xu Jia Ning, and the same goes for you."


    Lin ChuSui looked at this solemn man in surprise.


    So this was why Xu Jia Ning had said she was doomed.


    This man was a bit too XXXX!


    "What if I can''t test into the top 50?"


    "If you can''t get it, then do your best to get it. Since your grades used to be good, it means you''re not stupid, just not hardworking enough."


    Xu Song Bai said, "The head teacher said you''re on the school athletics team and n to take the sports exam in the future. Our family will not allow any sports students. On this point, your mother and I are in agreement. So for yourst year, focus your mind on studying and test into a good university. I will supervise you throughout."


    "Pfft." Lin ChuSui''s mouth curled. "Who are you, uncle?"


    "I''m your legal father."


    "I''m not Xu Jia Ning. And definitely not your daughter. You can''t control me."


    Xu Song Bai grabbed the back of Lin ChuSui''s cor. "Your mother is soft-hearted and can''t discipline you. But I''m telling you, from now on, whatever Xu Jia Ning experiences, you will too. Know your ce at home, and be polite outside."


    A small me of anger in Lin ChuSui''s heart was instantly ignited into a towering inferno. She forcefully shook off Xu Song Bai. "No way!"


    Of course Xu Song Bai would not let this little girl off so easily. He grabbed her shoulder again, "I don''t want to discipline you in public, especially not in front of so many ssmates. Keep some dignity and get in the car."


    "What, are you going to hit me?"


    "However I discipline Xu Jia Ning, I can do the same to you. No one dares to say otherwise."


    "I''m very curious how you ''educate'' Xu Jia Ning to be this hypocritical two-faced gentleman."


    Xu Song Bai seized Lin ChuSui''s cor, trying to forcibly shove her into the car.


    Lin ChuSui mped his wrist with one hand, gave it a sharp twist, then nimbly somersaulted out from under his armpit, causing him to almost smash his forehead on the car.


    Old Lin had always worried she would be bullied by bad boys, so when training her physically, he taught her grappling techniques.


    Lin ChuSui had never used this move on the boys at school. She didn''t expect the first time she fought back would be against this "stepfather".


    Xu Song Bai was caught off guard and looked at her in surprise.


    He clearly didn''t expect this petite girl to be so skilled.


    Anger red in his eyes.


    At least Xu Jia Ning had never resisted his XXXX "rule" like this before.


    Whenever Ms. Fang You Yi talked about her daughter, she would sigh endlessly about how rebellious she was and impossible to discipline.


    In Xu Song Bai''s opinion, there were no undisciplined children, only indulgent parents.


    The stick breeds filial offspring.


    After all, wasn''t Xu Jia Ning beaten obedient by him? He never dared resist, and grew up proper and refined entirely thanks to his upbringing.


    For the first time, Xu Song Bai''s paternal authority was confronted on all fronts by this little girl Lin ChuSui.


    Xu Song Bai refused to back down and moved to grab Lin ChuSui again.


    Lin ChuSui repeated her earlier maneuver, causing him to grasp at air once more.


    "I really don''t want to get physical with you and give others the chance to say I bullied a girl. But you should also know when to stop. If you really piss me off, I won''t be polite."


    Xu Jia Ning watched them from under the tree.


    She had been waiting to enjoy Lin ChuSui''s misery from being beaten by her "demon stepfather".


    But unexpectedly, it seemed the "demon stepfather" was still no match for her!


    Having endured his harsh "rule" for so many years, the corners of Xu Jia Ning''s eyes lifted slightly. She felt strangely...


    thrilled.


    Xu Jia Ning casually took out her phone and recorded this historic moment.

 Chapter 14: Genius Girl

    <h4>Chapter 14</h4>


    Lin ChuSui was lounging at a table by the floor-to-ceiling window in a milk tea shop, chewing on her straw and gazing listlessly at the studentsing and going outside.


    She still couldn''t figure out Xu SongBai''s ways, but judging from the gloating look on Xu JiaNing''s face earlier, he must have been disciplined by Xu SongBai plenty of times in the past.


    Xu JiaNing was his own son, so any discipline was justified.


    But what right did Xu SongBai have to treat her like that?


    Although Lin ChuSui had the upper hand in their first skirmish, she was still unhappy.


    Because Xu SongBai wasn''t her biological father, she felt picked on.


    She lowered her gaze slightly and saw a red mark on her slender wrist where Xu SongBai had grabbed her earlier.


    She hadn''t felt anything during their quarrel, but now it stung.


    In the past, when mosquitoes bit her and she scratched the bumps until they bled, Mr. Lin would scold her, saying a youngdy''s skin was delicate and she shouldn''t scratch randomly.


    If she was really itchy, he would use the "cross seal method" to pinch her for relief.


    If Mr. Lin knew how Xu SongBai had just treated her, he definitely wouldn''t let it slide. He might even get into a fight with Xu SongBai.


    There was no way Xu SongBai could beat Mr. Lin. That man couldn''t even defeat her, let alone Mr. Lin.


    Mr. Lin was the strongest, most agile and quickest to react among the firefighters. He won the "Outstanding Firefighter" award every year and had saved countless lives.


    Thinking of this, Lin ChuSui suddenly felt aggrieved and rubbed her sore eyes.


    If Dad was still here, he would have protected her.


    "The tough girl is crying again, missing your Mr. Lin?"


    Lu Chi and Zhang ChengYu sat down on either side of Lin ChuSui. Lu Chi patted her shoulder, "Save your tears forter, let''s get through this English test first."


    Zhang ChengYu held out his phone to Lin ChuSui, "ChuChu, why don''t you call over one of your admirers to do homework together?"


    "No way, I won''t take advantage of his feelings just for some homework."


    Zhang ChengYu patiently advised her, "A man in love with you won''t feel used at all. On the contrary, he''d be honored to be useful to his goddess."


    "A man who feels honored and smug about being used isn''t a man at all, he''s apdog." Lin ChuSui patted Lu Chi''s shoulder, "Like this gentleman here who''s beenpping away for a hundred years."


    "So, how are you going to tackle this English test?"


    "I''ll do it myself!" Lin ChuSui took out her English test paper, "When have I ever copied someone else''s homework? Could copying get you into Tsinghua or Peking University?"


    "You really are a principled one." Lu Chi said, "Oh right, I overheard the English teacher in the office saying if you get everything wrong in this English test again, you''ll have to go up and sing an English song every English lesson from now on."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    She quietly erased all the Cs she had filled for the multiple choice questions.


    Just then, Xu JiaNing walked into the milk tea shop.


    He had a messenger bag on one shoulder and wore a loose, round-necked long sleeve T-shirt with a touch of mint green as an undershirt. Looking sunny and fresh like a summer breeze.


    The shop''s girls all fixed their eyes on him, including Lu TianBai next to Lin ChuSui. Her gaze was even more smitten than when she saw her idol Wu Yanzu in person.


    Lu Chi nudged Lin ChuSui, "Here''s your walking English homework! Don''t let this chance slip by."


    Lin ChuSuizily went to the counter, ordered a full sugar cheese milk tea with extra cheese, pearls and coconut jelly... she got everything she could added. Then she brought it over to Xu JiaNing.


    "Have this, my treat."


    Xu JiaNing elegantly tore open a straw and said, "Quite gutsy to go head to head with Old Xu."


    "He''s not my real dad, what do I have to fear?"


    "Hmm."


    "Did he control you like this before? Demanding you rank in the top few in your grade, know your ce at home, and have manners outside?"


    Xu JiaNing smiled, "That''s why I turned out so outstanding, thanks to him."


    "Hmm, don''t see anything outstanding. But you do have a sense of humor."


    "I suggest you behave yourself and avoid conflicts with him." As one who''s been there, Xu JiaNing sincerely advised Lin ChuSui, "You can''t overpower your elders. You''ll regret it in the future, little girl."


    "I don''t want to fight with him either, as long as he leaves me alone."


    "That''s impossible. Old Xu is very traditional and controlling. He''ll n out the life he wants for you, including your studies, hobbies, college major and even your future boyfriend."


    "But he''s not my dad."


    Xu JiaNing smiled, "Just you wait and see."


    Lin ChuSui leaned on the table, moving closer to him, "Hey fake foreign devil, we have amon enemy now. That makes us allies, right?"


    Xu JiaNing: "Before bing allies, please show some basic respect to your ally."


    Lin ChuSui enunciated slowly, "Xu-Jia-Ning."


    "Legally speaking, I''m your brother, so..."


    "Don''t even think about it!"


    Xu JiaNing took out hispleted English test from his bag.


    Lin ChuSui rolled her eyes. Reluctantly, she called out, "Brother."


    Xu JiaNing ttened out his English test paper and ced it in front of Lin ChuSui. Just as she was about to copy it, he snatched away her pen. "I heard you have an amazing memory. Weren''t you called a genius girl in middle school?"


    "I''m not that amazing. I just looked goodpared to my ssmates."


    "In that case..." Xu JiaNing patted the test paper, "I''ll give you one minute to remember as much as you can."


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth curled into a smile, "Testing me?"


    "After all, this is your only chance to avoid singing an English song on stage every lesson."


    She casually picked up Xu JiaNing''s English test and started memorizing rapidly.


    With dozens of multiple choice questions, just the ABCDs alone could make one''s eyes spin, not to mention the gap filling, trantions and essay after that.


    Xu JiaNing didn''t believe Lin ChuSui could remember it all anyway.


    Some genius girl she imed to be. More like she was propped up by those idiot ssmates of hers.


    He kept time on his watch. After one minute was up, he decisively took back the test paper.


    "Let''s see the genius girl''s performance."


    Lin ChuSui smiled faintly, picked up her pen and filled in the ABCDs one by one on her test sheet.


    Xu JiaNing checked her answers against his own as she wrote them down.


    He was still rxed for the first few questions, but his expression grew more solemn toward the end.


    She had remembered every single multiple choice question wlessly. For the gap filling after that, she didn''t even make a spelling mistake. It was an exact copy.


    Xu JiaNingpared both test papers with disbelief and shock in his eyes.


    It was hard to imagine the girl busily writing before him now was the bottom student who had learned none of this over her two years of high school.


    "Well? Convinced?" Lin ChuSui asked with a smile.


    Xu JiaNing put down the test paper. "You do have an amazing memory, however..."


    "However what?"


    Xu JiaNing pointed at the thousand word essay she had copied identically. "May I ask why you copied my entire essay verbatim? Were you afraid the English teacher wouldn''t be able to tell you copied my test paper?"


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    "No big deal." She picked up her pen and started revising the essay, "Essays like this are a dime a dozen. Just tweak it a bit."


    Xu JiaNing said in resignation, "Excuse me, but how does changing the male lead Tony''s name to DaMing make any substantive difference?"


    ...


    Lin ChuSui went to the copy shop next door to make another copy of the English test, then to the convenience store to buy a lighter.


    There seemed to be amotion nearby, with voices growing louder and more frenzied, mixed with women''s screams.


    Lin ChuSui walked out of the convenience store to see thick smoke billowing from the second floor of a shop across the street.


    "Fire!"


    "Where are the firefighters?!"


    "There are still people inside! Hurry and save them!"


    Seeing the rolling ck smoke, Lin ChuSui''s heart seized up. Blood rushed to her head and she gasped for breath with a hand over her mouth.


    Dad...Dad!


    "There are still people inside! Trapped!"


    Sure enough, a woman was standing at the security bar window on the second floor. There was a raging fire behind her.


    Bystanders on the street shouted advice:


    "Jump! Hurry and jump!"


    "How can she jump? Can''t you see the barred window blocking her?!"


    "Where are the firefighters?!"


    "Already called!"


    ck smoke billowed through the security bars. The woman desperately clung to the bars, screaming, "Help! Save me!"


    With a fire like this, ordinary bystanders couldn''t rescue her without tools. She was trapped by the bars and couldn''t get out.


    No one could save her.


    All they could do was watch her clutch the bars and shriek hysterically.


    It was a scene straight out of hell.


    Just then, Xiao Yan, dressed in his school uniform, happened to cycle by. Seeing this, he instinctively dropped his bike and rushed toward the burning shop.


    The old bike fell in front of Lin ChuSui.


    She gaped as Xiao Yan ran to the car wash shop downstairs and removed the long hose attached to their faucet, coiling it around himself as he went.


    Then, with the hose on his back, Xiao Yan charged up the residential building.


    All the residents in their pajamas, with cats in arms, dragging luggage...everyone streamed down the stairs.


    Only he ascended against the human tide, like a whale swimming upstream.


    Lin ChuSui watched his retreating figure disappear into the stairwell. It oveppedpletely with the image of Mr. Lin in firefighter gear walking away in her dreams...


    "No! Don''t go!"


    Lin ChuSui reflexively moved to chase after Xiao Yan, but Xu JiaNing grabbed her cor, "Have a death wish?"


    Just then, on the burning second floor of the shop, Xiao Yan appeared at the security window of the adjacent unit. With the hose in hand, he sprayed water toward the trapped woman.


    As the mes crept closer and closer to her back, a jet of water suddenly sprayed from next door, instantly drenching her from head to toe and relieving her desperate situation.


    The woman''s screams grew much quieter.


    The onlookers lowered their hands from their mouths and heaved a sigh of relief. If this had gone on, they would have had to watch this woman burn to death on the burrproof window.


    The fire inside the house still raged, but Xiao Yan had created a small safe zone for the woman with the water hose.


    Soon several fire trucks came wailing in, and the high pressure water quickly extinguished the mes inside the house.


    The woman was rescued by the firefighters and loaded into an ambnce.


    Xiao Yan emerged from the residential building, soaked through.


    His school uniform was covered in ck smudges, the original color no longer discernible.


    His fair face was also smeared with ck grime as he panted heavily, gazing nkly at the charred house behind him.


    A firefighter patted him on the shoulder, ¡°Kid, your response was too timely. You were more professional than some of our team members. Did you have firefighter training before?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯re really brave. Thank you.¡±


    Xiao Yan, exhausted, bent down to pick up his schoolbag, listlessly searching for his bicycle.


    Turning around, he saw Lin ChuSui pushing his bike towards him.


    Xiao Yan instinctively used a tissue he fished out of his bag to wipe the dirt from his face, then walked over and took the bike from her, ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Just then, Lin ChuSui tossed something into the basket and said in a trembling voice, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you from now on.¡±


    Xiao Yan looked down to see a cigarette box and lighter.


    ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever you say from now on.¡±


    Progress: 5%......

 Chapter 15: The Orange Cat

    <h4>Chapter 15</h4>


    Lin ChuSui followed Xiao Yan closely all the way to the door of his home.


    The setting sun nted down, casting his tall, lean figure in elongated shadows.


    Lin ChuSui gazed at his back, hesitating over and over about whether to speak, with countless questions swirling in her mind.


    Her feelings toward Xiao Yan were also growing moreplicated.


    Is he my father?


    ...


    Xiao Yan nced back at her and asked, "Why are you following me?"


    Lin ChuSui walked up to him and stubbornly said, "The road belongs to everyone, why do you say I''m following you?"


    Xiao Yan looked at the entrance to his apartmentpound, "You''ve already followed me to my front door."


    Lin ChuSui said awkwardly, "I''m just passing by your front door, what''s wrong with that?"


    "You''re wee to pass by, now you can go back home."


    Lin ChuSui ambledzily past his front door and said, "Okay, bye bye!"


    Xiao Yan pondered for a moment, then asked, "Did you really mean it when you said you''ll listen to everything I say from now on?"


    "Ady never goes back on her word once given."


    "Thene over here."


    Lin ChuSui immediately went to stand in front of him.


    Xiao Yan: "Stand at attention, turn left."


    Lin ChuSui: ?


    She hesitantly turned left.


    "Sing a song then, ''My Roller Skates'', do you know that song?"


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    "Am I your jukebox! Can you be any moreme."


    A rare smile appeared at the corner of the young man''s mouth as he parked his bike at the roadside, then turned and walked back into the apartment building.


    Lin ChuSui was about to leave too when she suddenly heard meowinging from the alley. She searched for a while following the sound before finally discovering an orange cat with crossed paws sitting on top of the garden wall.


    "Hey?!"


    Lin ChuSui walked closer to the orange cat and looked it over carefully. She realized it looked a lot like Fatso, the cat her dad had brought home!


    Fatso was especially attached to Old Lin, because Lin had saved it from a fire. Every time Old Lin came home, no matter what Fatso was doing, it woulde out to greet him.


    Later when Old Lin passed away, Fatso disappeared too.


    In the long years that followed, having lost both her father and Fatso, Lin ChuSui''s sorrow stretched endlessly with no end.


    "Fatso?" Lin ChuSui called its name tentatively.


    The orange cat seemed to react, lowering its eyes to nce at her imperiously like a monarch.


    "It really is you, Fatso!"


    Lin ChuSui recognized it at a nce. This aloof stray cat with the gaze of an emperor was her Fatso.


    "Come down quick, mama will take you home!"


    Lin ChuSui excitedly climbed onto the wall to grab Fatso and stuff it into her schoolbag to take home. Fatsozily offered no resistance.


    Just then, Xiao Yan came back downstairs, having changed into a clean shirt.


    As soon as Fatso saw Xiao Yan, it immediately struggled free from Lin ChuSui''s hands and nimbly went to Xiao Yan''s feet, rubbing against him affectionately.


    Xiao Yan squatted down to pet its head, then took out some cat food to feed it.


    He raised his head to look at her, "Why haven''t you left yet."


    "Is this your cat?"


    "Not exactly, it''s a stray that I''ve been feeding."


    Lin ChuSui pointed at the big orange cat and said excitedly, "But it''s mine!"


    "You''re fighting over a stray cat?"


    "It''s a gift from my dad! How did it end up with you?"


    "It wandered here a couple years ago. I started feeding it every day so it stayed." Xiao Yan said, "You can take it if you want, if it''s willing to go with you."


    Lin ChuSui went forward and picked up the orange cat, "Fatso, go home with mama."


    The orange cat struggled and jumped onto Xiao Yan''s shoulder, refusing to leave.


    Because Fatso was a stray, it had an independent personality and was very timid, guarded against humans and not very affectionate.


    Thest human it had relied on like this was Old Lin.


    Lin ChuSui looked at Xiao Yan in his white shirt, feeling veryplicated, with somewhat reddened eyes.


    "You are... you..."


    She couldn''t help but think this way, even knowing it was impossible.


    Xiao Yan put the orange cat into his bike basket and got on to leave.


    Lin ChuSui stood alone watching his departing figure, her heart filled withplex emotions tinged with confusion.


    She must miss Old Lin too much.


    Xiao Yan had ridden over ten meters when he finally took pity and braked. He looked back at her, "I''m going to the shop to help out."


    "Oh."


    Xiao Yan patted the back seat of his bike, "Want toe along?"


    Lin ChuSui gazed at him nkly, then a delighted smile bloomed on her face as she happily jumped onto the back seat, "Coming!"


    ...


    At the hot pot restaurant, Lin ChuSui graphically described to Xiao Qian the daring rescue from the fire earlier that day.


    "Really, in that moment I thought he was possessed by a superhero!"


    Xiao Qian smiled and said, "I didn''t know our little brother was so capable."


    "Of course the study god is capable!"


    Lin ChuSui gazed at Xiao Yan withplete admiration, her goodwill rising in a straight line.


    Xiao Yan silently ate tworge bowls of rice, his handsome featuresposed. His lips were a little blistered from the heat though.


    Xiao Qian nudged his elbow, looking at him worriedly, "Yan, aren''t you afraid of fire? How could you have... rescued someone today?"


    "Didn''t think too much about it."


    Xiao Yan''s body housed two souls.


    Almost all of Lin XiuZe''s talents had been bestowed upon him, including martial arts, wisdom, and even...


    Kindness and courage.


    Lin ChuSui curiously asked, "Sis, is he afraid of fire?"


    "Of course, in the past he..."


    Xiao Yan looked meaningfully at Xiao Qian, "Sis."


    Xiao Qian understood his look and changed course, "Our little brother is very timid, afraid of fire, afraid of water, afraid of heat, afraid of cold... he''s rather delicate."


    Lin ChuSui didn''t think too much of it. With a mocking tone sheughed, "Study god is so delicate!"


    "He sure is!"


    Lin ChuSui looked at Xiao Yan again. He had a pair of extremely good-looking eyes, curving beautifully. Usually cold as ice, carrying a sense of aloofness andziness, not very friendly.


    He didn''t look like an enthusiastic do-gooder either.


    Just like the intel Xiao Ge had gathered from ssmates, the word they used most to describe him was¡ª


    Cold.


    This so-called coldness wasn''t arrogance or not talking to others, but more like never getting involved in other''s business, not even helping others, and even being a bit... selfish, caring only about studying and making money, nothing else.


    That''s why he had no friends.


    Lin ChuSui tilted her head, feeling more and more that Xiao Yan didn''t resemble the "cold study god" ssmates described. Instead he was more like the "superhero" in her heart.


    Seeing her infatuated gaze, Xiao Qian smiled and stood up, "Chuchu, want more? Sis will get you another serving."


    "It''s okay Sis, I''m full."


    "Don''t stand on ceremony, I''ll go cook you another serving."


    As Xiao Qian walked to the kitchen, Xiao Yan called after her, "She wants her broth without spice, cooked with Sichuan peppercorn."


    Xiao Qian turned back with a thoughtful smile, "I know, only you pay such attention."


    Lin ChuSui pretended to flip her hair arrogantly, but before she could feel touched by this "fan''s" thoughtfulness, he deadpanned¡ª


    "Because making broth takes extra steps, there''s a 10 yuan material fee. Same rules as before, you supervise payment. Full 50 gets a photo, full 100 gets a group shot."


    Lin ChuSui rolled her eyes dramatically, "This goddess isn''t interested in your photos, thanks."


    Xiao Yan didn''t mind and continued calcting forms intently on his scratch paper.


    She leaned over persuasively, "For 150, can I get the full math, physics and chem homework premium package?"


    Xiao Yan''s pencil paused, "Why math, physics and chem? Is your English really good?"


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched, "You... really know how to grasp the key point."


    "Hm?"


    She leaned back in her chair to exin, "I already got English taken care of from our family''s cheap brother, so I don''t need to copy yours. What do you think, isn''t 150 pretty fair of me?"


    Xiao Yan''s expression cooled a little, "His English is better than mine?"


    "Sounds like you''re a little discontent?"


    "Why would I be discontent."


    "Although your English scores are consistently over 140, but... cheap brother''s listening and writing really are exceptional." Lin ChuSui evaluated objectively.


    "I see."


    After proving the form he was working on, Xiao Yan casually threw out, "Then you can go be his goddess."


    Lin ChuSui: ?


    "Study god, isn''t this the legendary... jea-lous-y?"


    Xiao Yan sneered, "So you''ve finished your Chinese homework too?"


    Lin ChuSui confidently dered, "With this genius girl''s powerful memory, Chinese is a non-issue. My brain is like a database of ancient poetry."


    Xiao Yan: "''Leaving home young, returning old'' what''s the next line?"


    Lin ChuSui answered without thinking, "Who can discern my gender?"


    Xiao Yan: ......


    Excuse me.


    A man wearing a leather jacket strode arrogantly into the restaurant.


    Seeing him, Xiao Qian''s expression changed. She quickly went up to him, "Let''s talk outside."


    "Why do we have to go outside to talk?"


    Xiao Qian pulled him out the door, speaking softly, "My little brother has a friend over."


    Leather jacket guy nced inside contemptuously, "Got money to date girls, but no money to repay debts?"


    "Aren''t we repaying bit by bit every month?"


    "With the measly amounts you pay each month, it''s not even enough for interest. Don''t bother arguing, you have to pay it all off by the end of the year."


    ...


    Although Xiao Qian had lowered her voice, leather jacket guy was loud and abrasive.


    Lin ChuSui tactfully put on earphones.


    Xiao Yan seemed oblivious, only ncing briefly at the young girl''s fair, plump earlobe when she clumsily put on her earphones, before looking away again.


    Just as Xiao Qian was speaking with leather jacket guy, two hunched elderly people carrying a heavy bag of fruit came into the restaurant.


    Seeing customers arrive, Xiao Qian quickly went to serve them, but heard the old woman say, "Looking for Xiao Yan, is Xiao Yan here?"


    Xiao Yan stood up, "I''m here."


    The two elderly tottered forward gratefully, "Thank you for saving my daughter. If not for you today, she would have... burned to death. Thank you, really thank you!"


    "It was nothing."


    ¡°We asked around the neighborhood and schoolmates for a long time before finding you,¡± said the old woman as she took out a handkerchief from her bag. Inside was a wad of red money and some coins of various colors and denominations: ¡°This is just a token of our appreciation. It''s not much but it''s all of our life savings. Please ept it no matter what.¡±


    Lin ChuSui looked at the two elders. They seemed quite frugal and their clothes were shabby and worn, even patched in ces. This money was likely scraped together with difficulty just to thank their benefactor.


    Seeing this, the man in the jacketughed and said, ¡°Perfect, now there''s money to pay back the debt. I¡¯ll just take this stack to settle it and give you another month for the remaining amount.¡±


    Having said that, he heartily grabbed the money from the old woman''s handkerchief and licked his fingers as he counted it. Then he turned and left, fully satisfied.


    Xiao Qian stomped her feet in anger but was helpless to do anything.


    Xiao Yan rushed forward in one step and grabbed the man''s shoulder with one hand, pulling him back.


    ¡°Hey, what are you doing you brat...¡±


    Before the man could react, Xiao Yan snatched the money from his hand and said coldly, ¡°I¡¯ll repay what I owe you within this year, but you can¡¯t take this money.¡±


    Having said that, he strode back into the shop without waiting for the man¡¯s reaction and returned the money to the old woman.


    The old woman quickly said, ¡°Young hero, please don''t look down on this. You saved my daughter''s life. No amount of money can equal that.¡±


    ¡°I don''t need thanks,¡± said Xiao Yan resolutely.


    Lin ChuSui took the initiative to receive the fruit basket from the old woman''s hands, ¡°Our family''s genius loves eating fruit the most. We''ll ept this.¡±


    Seeing Xiao Yan¡¯s firm eyes, the old woman hesitated for a moment before taking the money back. ¡°Then thank you so much, young hero. Without you, these old bones of ours...she has a 10-year-old daughter who would''ve lost her mother. Thank you!¡±


    Lin ChuSui''s heart was filled withplex emotions, especially after hearing the old couple''s words. She thought of Old Lin.


    Over the years, Old Lin had saved countless lives.


    Lin ChuSui was not that great. She wished her dad would never have to be a "superhero" again. She just wanted him toe back to life and be by her side as she grew up.


    The old couple left after repeatedly thanking them.


    Xiao Qian went back to handle the business. Lin ChuSui silently tidied up her test papers and prepared to go home.


    Xiao Yan grabbed her sleeve, ¡°Since when did I be part of your family?¡±


    ¡°Ah, did I say that?¡±


    Xiao Qian smiled from the side, ¡°I can testify, you did say ¡®our family¡¯s¡¯ ... genius.¡±


    ¡°I must''ve misspoke, haha,¡± Lin ChuSuiughed awkwardly, ¡°Don''t take it seriously. Let''s go, let''s go.¡±


    Having said that, she fled in panic.


    As if recalling something, she turned back and asked Xiao Qian to pack a bowl of hot broth. She then transferred 100 yuan to Xiao Yan.


    Upon receiving the transfer, Xiao Yan said, "You gave too much. Our business is legitimate and doesn''t charge that much."


    "Isn''t it 50 for a photo and 100 for a selfie together?"


    Xiao Yan put down his pen in surprise and looked up, "You want to take a selfie with me?"


    "Wrong. It''s to give you the honor of taking a selfie with your unattainable goddess."


    Xiao Yan readily agreed, "Your phone or mine?"


    "Mine. Your crappy phone has such bad resolution you can''t even see people clearly." Lin ChuSui walked over and opened her beautifying camera.


    Seeing his face distorted beyond recognition by blurring and smoothing filters, Xiao Yan was a little speechless. "Are you sure you want to take it like this?"


    "What''s wrong with it?"


    "Nothing." The customer is king.


    Lin ChuSui adjusted the filters then snapped a photo. She then asked, "Can I do some touch up on myself too?"


    "Go ahead."


    So Lin ChuSui sat and devoted herself wholeheartedly to editing the photo while the packaged broth was ready. She still wasn''t done by the time Xiao Yan came over. She had edited her own face into a snake demon, and stretched his into a pancake.


    Xiao Yan: ......


    All for the mission.


    That night, Lin ChuSui posted the photo in the ¡°South City No. 1 Middle School It Girls¡± group chat.


    Lin ChuSui: Spent 100 to take a selfie with the genius. Go worship it before exams, everyone.


    Lu Chi: ¡°Did you punch his face to swell it up?¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°No, this is his original face!¡±


    Lu Tianbai: ¡°Your PS skills suck. Send the original, sisters will help you edit it.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°This is...the original.¡±


    Lu Chi: ¡°Your chin can poke through the earth.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ......


    ¡°This IS the original!!!¡±


    Lu Chi: ¡°Why spend 100 to take a selfie with him? He''s supposed to be your admirer. He should be the one begging you for a selfie.¡±


    Zhang Chengyu: ¡°She''s rich. Just burning money.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°It''s not like that. I just felt...forget it, nothing.¡±


    She didn''t know why herself. At first she just felt their family circumstances weren''t as good as her own. She didn''t expect they even owed debts with debt collectorsing to their door.


    Lin ChuSui felt stifled inside but didn''t know what this feeling was.


    As an ordinary ssmate and deskmate, she should''ve stayed out of his family matters and just interacted as ssmates.


    She should''ve had a sense of boundaries.


    But she found she could no longer treat him as just another ssmate.


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°Did you guys see him rescuing people today?¡±


    Zhang Chengyu: ¡°Videos are all over the. Even my uncle shared it on his feed.¡±


    Lu Chi: ¡°Although the genius usually ignores people, you have to admit, that was pretty manly just now.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°Do you think he seems a bit...¡±


    Before she could finish typing, she saw Lu Tianbai had sent a message: ¡°Watching the video of him rescuing people, he looked just like your dad! Uncle Lin was just as heroic.¡±


    Lin ChuSui¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    At first when she saw traces of her dad in Xiao Yan, she really thought it was just her imagination. Even when he called out ¡°Little Goody¡±, she thought it was just coincidence. But after meeting Fatty today...


    Could there really be so many coincidences in this world?


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°I feel like that s¨¦ance really did summon...my dad''s spirit.¡±


    Xu JiaNing was provoked to respond at this: ¡°I''ve said it so many times but you guys don''t believe me. There really were ghosts that night.¡±


    Lu Chi: ¡°[Shudders]¡±


    Zhang Chengyu: ¡°Prosperity, democracy, civility, harmony...¡±

 Chapter 16: Clash

    <h4>Chapter 16</h4>


    Lin ChuSui finally returned home.


    At home, Xu SongBai and Fang YouYi were both there, sitting by the sofa with a solemn atmosphere, as if they were holding court.


    Xu JiaNing deliberately took his homework to the dining room to do it, then pricked up his ears to eavesdrop, waiting for Lin ChuSui''s final judgement tonight.


    Lin ChuSui took a deep breath, went in, and said awkwardly, "I''m going back to my room to do homework."


    "Stop right there," Fang YouYi sternly stopped her. "Where did you stayst night?"


    "At a friend''s house."


    "Today Uncle Xu had a parent-teacher conference for you. The teacher said your situation at school has been very badtely."


    "I''m sorry, I was wrong. I''ll study harder from now on." Lin ChuSui perfunctorily finished speaking, and walked towards the stairs. "I have a lot of homework, can''t chat idly with you two."


    Fang YouYi mmed the table and stood up. "Stand still! What''s your attitude!"


    Xu SongBai said repeatedly, "Don''t me the child. She''s still young. I''ll discipline her properly in the future."


    Lin ChuSui suddenly turned back and looked at Xu SongBai.


    This man had approached her directly outside the school today when talking to her. That wasn''t his attitude!


    Middle-aged men have two faces!


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes were filled with deeper meaning as she nced back at Xu JiaNing.


    Xu JiaNing gave her a "I''m used to it" look.


    "It''s really infuriating." Fang YouYi had a bad temper to begin with, and her face flushed red with anger. "I can''t control her anymore. Apart from her dad, she doesn''t listen to anyone."


    "I''ll make Little Chu listen," Xu SongBai poured Fang YouYi a ss of water, "Don''t get angry. Aren''t you trying to conceive? You must avoid emotional fluctuations."


    Lin ChuSui sneered.


    So the olddy is worn out. They''re preparing for a second child.


    Xu JiaNing looked at Lin ChuSui. The corners of her eyes lifted slightly. Although she pretended not to care, it was clear that...


    Her eyes still looked a little hurt.


    Xu JiaNing lowered his eyes and suppressed his emotions as he continued to work on his exercises.


    But he heard Lin ChuSui''s tone change as she said, "Mom, since you''re trying to conceive, I''ll be good and try my best not to upset you."


    Fang YouYi frowned slightly, not knowing why this stubborn girl suddenly softened.


    She had never called her "Mom" before. This was the first time.


    Fang YouYi felt a little ufortable.


    Xu SongBai knew this girl was not an easy target, so he said, "Yes, YouYi, don''t get angry. Let''s talk things through as a family."


    Lin ChuSui threw her school bag on the sofa. "Okay, Uncle Xu, I''m listening to your teachings."


    Xu SongBai said, "I heard that you had a very good academic foundation in elementary and middle school. Your grades only started to slip in high school."


    Fang YouYi calmed down and said, "Ever since her dad left, her mind has not been on studying at all."


    Lin ChuSui remained silent, ying along with whatever tricks this sly green tea man wanted to y.


    Xu SongBai ignored her cold stare and continued, "I think too many things have distracted Little Chu''s attention. I heard she also joined the school sports team and ns to take the physical exam in the future?"


    Fang YouYi sneered coldly, "I haven''t seen her train very hard either. Her dad used to have her do sports before, saying it''s for self-strengthening and not to be bullied by others."


    "It seems Little Chu''s dad really spoiled her," Xu SongBai went on. "My parenting style for JiaNing is to have him focus on studying from a young age, and at most learn an instrument like piano. Too many interests can be distracting, especially sports. The underachievers all hang out doing sports. Of course Little Chu''s grades will slip if she hangs out with them all the time."


    Lin ChuSui clenched her fists tightly.


    Xu SongBai ignored her cold stare and continued, "I''ve talked to her head teacher already and asked Little Chu to quit the school team."


    Fang YouYi hesitated, "Quit the team? She''s been doing sports for two years. If she quits the team now, what about taking the college entrance exam in the future..."


    Xu SongBai said firmly, "There''s still thest year. Make an all-out effort for one final push, otherwise the family and rtives willugh if she gets into college relying on sports scores in the future."


    "Alright, I guess this is the only way," Fang YouYi nodded and said to Lin ChuSui, "Go to school next week and quit the team."


    Lin ChuSui looked timidly at Xu SongBai and readily agreed, "Okay."


    Fang YouYi frowned.


    She knew her daughter''s personality all too well. At home, she had been spoiled by her dad to the point of fearlessness. How could she suddenly be like a little kitten?


    Xu SongBai also felt it was a bit strange, but before he could think more, he saw Lin ChuSui roll up the sleeves of her uniform and say, "If Mom has nothing else, I''ll go back and do homework."


    As a mother, Fang YouYi''s eyes were sharp, especially towards her own child.


    She immediately noticed the bruise on Lin ChuSui''s forearm.


    "What happened to your arm?" She immediately blocked Lin ChuSui''s path, grabbed her arm and examined it carefully, "Have you been fighting again?"


    Lin ChuSui shook her head repeatedly, "Mom, don''t ask. I can''t tell you."


    "What can''t you tell!" Fang YouYi looked very serious. "If you don''t tell, I''ll call the Lu siblings and ask them!"


    "Don''t..." Lin ChuSui looked at Xu SongBai fearfully.


    Xu SongBai''s heart suddenly sank. He said in a deep voice, "It was me..."


    "What?"


    "At the time... I really shouldn''t have lost control. I apologize."


    "Mom, don''t me Uncle Xu. I was disobedient. Uncle Xu came out of his office and saw my terrible math score. He lost his temper in the heat of the moment. It''s understandable."


    Xu SongBai: ?


    What level is this girl ying at!


    He examined the bruise on the girl''s wrist carefully. This was definitely not his doing. When he pulled at her earlier, how could it have caused a bruise like she had suffered domestic violence?


    Fang YouYi examined the scars on her daughter''s hand and felt extremely distressed. A mother''s love for her child surpassed her newlywed joy. She turned to Xu SongBai and said, "I don''t care how you educated JiaNing, but in our home, we do not hit children."


    Xu SongBai looked at Lin ChuSui. The corner of the girl''s eyes curved up with icy mockery.


    He had indeed underestimated her.


    He had thought she was just a simple-minded, physically agile rebellious teen, but he didn''t expect... this rebellious teen was above his level.


    He tried to exin, "Actually, I didn''t use much force, just pulled at her a bit."


    "Then how did her arm get injured like this?"


    "She''s your daughter. Don''t you know what she''s usually like?"


    Fang YouYi also knew Lin ChuSui was rebellious. She asked doubtfully, "Did Uncle Xu do this?"


    "Uncle Xu really didn''t mean it. He just lost his temper for a moment."


    "Losing your temper is still no reason to hit someone."


    Xu SongBai exined, "I really didn''t hit her."


    Lin ChuSui looked back at Xu JiaNing again. "I saw Brother JiaNing take pictures with his phone at the time too, right, brother?"


    The corner of Xu JiaNing''s mouth twitched. His gaze crossed swords with Lin ChuSui''s from afar, sparks flying.


    "I recorded a video, but got bored and deleted it halfway through," Xu JiaNing said nonchntly. "But there was indeed a conflict."


    The "conflict" was Old Xu and Lin ChuSui almost getting into a fight, but Lin ChuSui didn''t give him an inch and even taught him a lesson instead.


    He smiled meaningfully without further exnation.


    Seeing even Xu JiaNing say this, Fang YouYi naturally believed Lin ChuSui''s words. She turned to Xu SongBai and said, "Since the whole family is here today, let me reiterate that violence is not allowed in our home, whether it''s JiaNing or Little Chu. I will not tolerate any hitting of children."


    With the two children now allied against him, Xu SongBai was at a disadvantage. He could only awkwardly reply, "Yes, I understand. It won''t happen again."


    ...


    In the second round, Lin ChuSui was once again the overwhelming winner.


    But she felt no joy of victory at all. Her mood was gloomy.


    It was obvious that although Xu SongBai was stern with his juniors, he deferred to Fang YouYi and treated her very well.


    Although Lin ChuSui still missed her dad with all her heart, she would never make unreasonable demands for her mom to be shackled with her, waiting for someone who would nevere back.


    Fang YouYi had the right to pursue her own happiness. Lin ChuSui did not want to destroy her happiness and family.


    If only she could grow up faster.


    [South City No. 1 Middle School Elite Group Chat]


    Lin ChuSui: "Comrades! Brothers! Big Bro Chu is here to bid you all a tearful farewell! I urge you to drink up, for Xiao Lang will be but a passerby from now on!"


    [Lu Chi rolled a dice.]


    [Zhang ChengYu rolled a dice.]


    Lu Chi: "You''re younger than me, give me money!"


    [Zhang ChengYu sent a red packet]


    Lin ChuSui received the red packet and said, "Did you guys see what I said? I''m bidding you all farewell!"


    Lu Chi: "I saw it. Did Madam Fang serve you a cup of poison or a white silk3 feet long?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Worse than poison! Turns out the finepany president is actually a sly green tea man! Acting all gentle and caring in front of my mom. Pah! Btw, did Xu JiaNing get kicked?"


    Xu JiaNing: "No."


    Lin ChuSui: "Do you mind if I viciously curse Your Esteemed Father with vulgar and offensive words?"


    Xu JiaNing: "I do mind."


    Lin ChuSui: "Alright! Admin, kick him out."


    Xu JiaNing: ......


    Admin Lu TianBai: "Cursing doesn''t solve any problems. What exactly happened?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Can''t y ball and run together anymore."


    Lu Chi: "Why not?"


    Lin ChuSui: "The ''caring dad'' at home applied for me to quit the school team."


    Lu Chi: "......"


    Zhang ChengYu: "......"


    Lin ChuSui: "[shrugging shoulders]"


    Lu Chi: "Wait, Big Bro Chu, with your grades, the extra points from sports is just enough to get into a decent college. If you quit the team now, what''ll you do? We''ll really have to go to Blue Sky Vocational School together and learn excavators!"


    Zhang ChengYu: "Could it be he wants to cripple you so he can prop up his precious young master as the heir apparent?"


    Xu JiaNing: "This young master has no desire to inherit her measly family fortune."


    Lu Chi: "Young man, what misunderstanding do you have about ''measly''? Madam Fang YouYi, ranked 9th on the domestic Forbes rich list, don''t pretend your heart isn''t moved."


    Lin ChuSui: "@Lu Chi, shut up."


    Lu Chi: "I I I I...I shut up? I''m trying to help you!"


    Lin ChuSui had always felt that although the pseudo-foreign devils were hypocritical, pretentious, and arrogant... they were not sinister, greedy viins.


    Xu Jia Ning said: "Is her mother that awesome?"


    Lu Chi: "Are you kidding?"


    Xu Jia Ning: "From now on, she is my mother."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    "Admin, kick them out!"


    Zhang Cheng Yu said: "Let''s get back on topic. Let''s discuss you quitting the team, ChuSui. Brother Octopus has a n to please Mrs. Fang and allow you to stay on the school team until graduation."


    Lin ChuSui: "Let''s hear it."


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Get in the top 10 for the next monthly exam."


    Lin ChuSui: "Keep dreaming."


    If she could do that, why would she still be on the sports academy team?


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "You really can do it. Just think, you sit next to the ss genius!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Only if I swapped heads with the genius."


    Lu Chi: "Why don''t you just memorize all the questions and answers from the study guides? Science subjects - memorize all the questions from the study guides, and you''re bound to run into some identical exam questions."


    Lin ChuSui: "If that would work, I''d be going to Peking University already."


    Lu Chi: "Wealth and status, don''t forget your friends!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Definitely, definitely."


    Xu Jia Ning: "There''s not a big chance of seeing identical questions in science subjects, because the numbers in each question may change. But the forms and theories remain the same. So my suggestion is..."


    Lin ChuSui: ?


    Xu Jia Ning: "If you can''t get into Peking University, Beijing Blue Bird wees you."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    "Admin, why haven''t they been kicked yet?!"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Looks like I''ll have to use my ultimate strategy."


    Lin ChuSui: "?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Enter the marathon next month, take first ce, and take home the 50,000 RMB schrship prize... to buy your amazing brother Octopus a mechanical keyboard."


    Lu TianBai: "Buy your amazing best friend a skincare set."


    Lu Chi: "Buy your amazing best friend''s brother a Bluetooth headset."


    Xu Jia Ning: "Buy your amazing..."


    Lin ChuSui: "[Sharp de Dripping Blood]"


    Xu Jia Ning: "Goodbye."

 Chapter 17: The Puppy Love Problem

    <h4>Chapter 17</h4>


    The next day, Lu Chi brought a poster of the ghost-catching deity Zhong Kui to school, attracting quite a lot of attention.


    By the window, Lin ChuSui saw him and called out, "Lu Chi, are you posing as a door god? You''ve been wandering around the door all morning!"


    Lu Chi waved his hand impatiently, "Don''t make a fuss, just watch!"


    Soon after, Xiao Yan walked over in loose blue and white school uniform, his face glowing in the sunlight.


    The sunlight shone on his delicate face, making his long eyshes seem crystal clear, giving him a very pure aura.


    Lu Chi immediately held up the poster of Taoist Zhong Kui high towards him.


    Xiao Yan passed by him with his eyes straight ahead, not even ncing at him as he walked straight into the ssroom.


    Seeing Lin ChuSui poking her head out the window, Xiao Yan casually asked, "Finished making up your homework?"


    She quickly covered her math exercise book, "How did you know I was making up homework?"


    "It''s rare for you toe to school early, if not to make up homework, then to make up sleep?"


    Lin ChuSui defended, "This goddess is here to make up sleep!"


    Xiao Yan hooked up the corners of his eyes and nced at her with a faint smile, "Then go ahead and sleep."


    "I...don''t want to bother with you."


    Lin ChuSui continued to write furiously.


    Zhang Cheng Yu sauntered into the ssroom with little steps. Lin ChuSui conveniently handed him her thermos, "Octopus bro, help me fill up some water."


    A strange smile appeared on Zhang Cheng Yu''s face. He said, "Leave it to your octopus bro, that''s right! Wait for it!"


    A few minutester, Zhang Cheng Yu returned the cup to Lin ChuSui. Without thinking too much, she took a big gulp, only to be choked by the spicy liquor in the cup, spurting it all out.


    Xiao Yan, with his hair dripping wet from the spray, hopelessly tilted his head, "Drinking before ss, I''m telling on you."


    "..."


    Are you in elementary school?


    Lin ChuSui angrily smashed the thermos on Zhang Cheng Yu''s desk, "What is this?!"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Realgar wine."


    "Why did you pour me realgar wine?!"


    "To exor...exorcise."


    "Exorcise what, my dad is not a demon! He''s my dad! Kind Uncle Lin who gave you Walmart Q Q candy when you were little, remember?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu bowed to Xiao Yan, "Uncle Lin is so good! We remember your great kindness of Q Q candy, and have always been good friends with Chuchu! Strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious... Amitabha."


    Xiao Yan really didn''t want to bother with these idiots. He casually took out his English long sentence reading book.


    Finally, before morning reading ss, Lin ChuSui finished all her math homework.


    Xiao Yan casually nced at her homework, "Quite impressive."


    "Right?" Lin ChuSui felt a sense of aplishment, "I came to the ssroom at six this morning!"


    Xiao Yan: "Managing to perfectly avoid every right answer is indeed quite impressive."


    Lin ChuSui: "..."


    Xiao Yan leaned in slightly, closer to her, "May I ask what your friends are doing?"


    Lin ChuSui smelled the familiarundry detergent scent on him, like the morning sun on the window sill, her heartbeat quickened a little, "They think... you''re my dad possessing you."


    "Oh."


    She asked seriously, "So has my dade back?"


    Xiao Yan: "He''s back."


    She excitedly grabbed his cor, "Really?!"


    Xiao Yan: "Really, call me dad."


    Hearing his tone, Lin ChuSui realized he was joking. She let go dully, "Don''t joke about our Old Lin, or I won''t be polite and beat you up."


    Xiao Yan tidied his cor and said, "What rapport do we have?"


    Lin ChuSui smiled and said, "I usually don''t hit on pursuers."


    "Gloomy and sloppy, apart from me, you have no pursuers at all."


    "Don''t look down on people!"


    Lin ChuSui was indignant for a few minutes before her mind clicked, "You...admitted you like me?"


    The corners of Xiao Yan''s thin lips moved slightly. He paused for a few seconds before ruthlessly rejecting¨D¨D


    "Huh."


    Behind them, Zhang Cheng Yu was still upset about the wasted realgar wine. He poured the wine into an empty perfume bottle and asionally sprayed it into the air, especially towards Xiao Yan''s direction.


    Xiao Yan expressionlessly said to Lin ChuSui, "Why don''t you make some normal friends?"


    "When I was little I wasn''t very sociable. These quirky friends were exchanged for me by my dad using Walmart Q Q candy in themunity courtyard one summer."


    "Oh."


    So this is what a father is like. Xiao Yan had never known that before.


    He had been adopted by a family before. That couple looked really kind, enthusiastically weing his arrival.


    He had also loved them wholeheartedly.


    Only to find outter that beneath the fake exterior was all lies and deception.


    He shook his head, not wanting to think further.


    Lin ChuSui continued, "They are always so boring, superstitious when bored. They even worshipped you before exams, but I have never been superstitious."


    Having said that, she fished out some millet from her bag and carelessly sprinkled it on Xiao Yan''s desk.


    Xiao Yan: ...


    "Then what are you doing now?"


    Lin ChuSui tidied her hair around her ears, "Oh, nothing, afraid you might be hungry, so feeding you."


    Xiao Yan: "Feeding me millet?"


    "Uh."


    "Then you eat one and show me."


    Lin ChuSui picked up a sticky rice grain and chewed it in her mouth.


    She wanted to see if Old Lin would be forced to appear by the sticky rice, after all that''s what the feng shui books said.


    But...no effect.


    As she threw the sticky rice into her mouth, Xiao Yan grabbed her wrist, "Your hands are dirty."


    "Why are you so OCD." Lin ChuSui looked at her ws, "Where is it dirty?"


    "Wash your hands before eating from now on."


    Lin ChuSui moved closer to him and said with a smile, "Our Old Lin always makes me wash my hands before meals too."


    "I''m not Old Lin," he emphasized, "but Xiao Yan who ''deeply loves'' you."


    Lin ChuSui quickly pushed his forehead away, "Ew ew ew! Professor Xiao... Restrain your overflowing feelings, we won''t have any future!"


    ...


    Behind them, Lu Chi asked Xu Jia Ning, "Young Master Xu, are you a virgin boy?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "He grew up abroad, of course he''s not."


    Xu Jia Ning sneered coldly, "Sorry, but I actually am."


    Lu Chi said maliciously, "Then can we get some of your virgin boy peeter?"


    "Disgusting." Xu Jia Ning frowned in distaste, "Don''t you have your own?"


    "I do, but I already peed this morning, won''t have more until the afternoon."


    Xu Jia Ning: ...


    You are truly... enduring.


    After school, Xiao Yan went to the school psychological counseling room. Lin ChuSui followed him like a cat, secretly observing and tiptoeing after him the whole way.


    Seeing him go into the counseling room, she crept by the door to eavesdrop, hoping to hear about clues regarding her father.


    The counseling room was very professional, with qualified psychology teachers sitting duty.


    With the intense pressure of college entrance exams, nearly every day some students went to the counseling room for advice.


    The psychologist was a woman in her thirties, with long hair draped over her shoulders, wearing a white coat and rectangr sses.


    Seeing a handsome young man walk in, she adjusted her sses and asked, "Consulting about a puppy love issue?"


    "No."


    The psychologist pointed at Lin ChuSui peeking through the door gap, "Your girlfriend is here too, so isn''t it puppy love?"


    Hearing this, Lin ChuSui scurried away, only to be dragged back in by Xiao Yan grabbing her cor, "If you want to listen just do it openly."


    "Oh." Lin ChuSui stood against the wall with her hands behind her back, embarrassed.


    The psychologist asked, "What puppy love issues do you have?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Doctor look at him, the grade''s top student. Now look at me, a failing student who only got 9 points in math because I wrote a poem praising the teacher instead of solving problems. If we really had a puppy love, would I still be alive? The ss advisor would''ve beaten me to death."


    Before Lin ChuSui could finish her barrage of words, Xiao Yan pressed her forehead, "Too much nonsense, shut up."


    She obediently shut up.


    Xiao Yan sat down in the chair across from the desk and calmly recounted, "Recently I feel like I''m having... a split personality."


    "Can you borate on that?"


    Xiao Yan described in detail, "I''ve been having hallucinations and hearing voicestely..."


    The psychologist frowned, looking at the pair of youths before her in their prime: "In such cases, we usually think it''s discement of emotions onto the opposite sex ssmate due to exam pressure in 12th grade."


    "..."


    "Young man, it''s normal to like a female ssmate. You can''t look down on her just because she only got 9 points in math. Refusing to admit your feelings today, even implying a split personality - that''s going overboard."


    Xiao Yan: "Doctor, is your specialty puppy love research?"


    "My specialty is adolescent psychology research."


    Nevermind then.


    Xiao Yan didn''t want to exin further. Unless he went to a neurology department for professional evaluation, this psychologist wouldn''t be able to give him the answers he wanted either.


    What system, what returning from the dead, what possession...


    The things he had experienced were bizarre to begin with.


    "Doctor, is this split personality serious?" Lin ChuSui cut in to ask. "Will it affect studies or IQ or something?"


    "It''s possible." The psychologist nodded thoughtfully. "Love makes one be a fool."


    "Oh no, what to do? I was hoping to copy his homework."


    "ssmate, you''re in 12th grade now. As your teacher I have some advice - the ocean of learning is boundless, it''s never toote to mend. Do your own homework."


    The psychologist wrote a number on a note and handed it to Xiao Yan, "I know a neurology doctor who I can give you as a contact."


    "Thank you, teacher."


    Only then did Lin ChuSui remember the purpose she came to the counseling room for. She hurriedly asked, "Doctor, have you encountered cases before, where someone who died a long time ago, would suddenlye alive in another person?"


    "Can you borate on that?"


    "Like someone who died, then one day, you suddenly see their shadow in another person, including but not limited to their speech, mannerisms, talents etc..."


    The psychotherapist nodded thoughtfully, "It happens, but most people whoe to consult about this kind of problem, in most cases, it''s because they miss their loved ones too much, which leads to hallucinations and unconsciously reinforces this perception, so they mistake one person for another."


    "I see." Lin ChuSui was a little disappointed.


    The psychotherapist looked at Lin ChuSui, "So, are you having simr psychological issues?"


    Lin ChuSui told the truth, "I just feel that the other personality in his body is most likely my deceased dad."


    The psychotherapist: ...


    She pointed to the paper with contact details, "I suggest you go see a neurologist with him too."


    Lin ChuSui and Xiao Yan walked out of the counselling room, and the sun had already set in the west.


    She looked at his tall, slender figure, and wanted to reach out and hold his hand several times, but didn''t quite dare to.


    He is Xiao Yan.


    Old Lin was like his shadow, sometimes there, sometimes not.


    Xiao Yan lowered his head and saw the little girl''s outstretched little ws retract several times.


    He simply grabbed her wrist and held it, just like a father holding his daughter''s hand.


    Looking at his sharp side profile, Lin ChuSui''s heart skipped a beat.


    She knew that it wasn''t Old Lin holding her hand, it was Xiao Yan.


    "You said you didn''t love me."


    "I love you to death."


    ...


    On the edge of the sports field, Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu and some other athletics team members were preparing for a marathon.


    Lu Tian, dressed in a light green id skirt, stood at the edge of the track and waved at Lin ChuSui.


    "I''m going to train now."


    "Don''t stay out toote, remember to do your homework when you get back."


    Xiao Yan put his hands in his pockets, carrying a backpack over one shoulder, and walked awayzily.


    Lin ChuSui grabbed the hem of his shirt, "Wait a minute."


    Xiao Yan turned around, only to see her tiptoe and poke his forehead with her finger, "Mr. Genius, can I ask you to pass a message to Old Lin?"


    "Maybe I can''t get it to him."


    "If you can''t get it to him, I''ll just say it louder so he can hear me."


    Lin ChuSui put her hands around her mouth and shouted at the sports field and sky¨D


    "I''m sorry!"


    Xiao Yan looked at her. The setting sun cast a soft glow on her cheeks, making them rosy. Her clear eyes were filled with intense guilt¨D


    "I''m sorry, Dad, that you have to see me like this, you must be very disappointed."


    Xiao Yan could feel a throbbing pain in his chest.


    Lin ChuSui calmed herself down, and used her dirty sleeves to wipe her face. She smiled and said, "Let''s go."


    After watching her leave for a long time, Xiao Yan retracted his gaze and prepared to leave.


    Just then, a clear voice rang out from inside his body¨D


    "Xiao Tongxue, do you want to eat Q.Q Candy?"

 Chapter 18: Clubhouse

    <h4>Chapter 18</h4>


    During that time, Lin ChuSui discovered with some disappointment that the enthusiasm of her genius ssmate towards her was slowly diminishing.


    After school every day, Xiao Yan would leave in a hurry.


    From time to time, Lin ChuSui would take a detour and wander to the hot pot shop at the corner of his street.


    However, she would only see his sister Xiao Qian busy working there, without any trace of Xiao Yan.


    She wondered where he had gone.


    Now, Lin ChuSui didn''t even have the motivation to train anymore. Lying on the stic track field, looking at the wispy clouds drifting in the sky, she felt extremely bored and listless.


    Could this guy be ying hard to get with her?


    What irritated her the most was that this little trick of his... was actually working.


    Seeing her dispirited appearance, Lu Chi jogged over and said, "There''s less than half a month until the marathon. With your current state, are you nning to take a leisurely stroll for the entire marathon?"


    "I don''t care, I didn''t n onpeting for rankings anyway."


    "If you don''t get a ranking, you''ll have to quit the school team. Do you want your evil stepfather to lead you around by the nose?"


    Lin ChuSuizily stretched and said, "Let whoever wants to lead me, I''m tired, bro."


    Lu Chi put his arm around her shoulders and heaved a deep sigh. "Chu Bro, you really are the most depressed one among us."


    "Thanks, I''ll wait for you at the Liangxiang Excavator School."


    "See youter."


    ...


    Lu Chi really thought Lin ChuSui had agreed with him on "see youter" and would not leave. That is, until the monthly exam results came out and gave him a harsh "critical hit" shock.


    Originally, Lin ChuSui had always rankedst in the ss. But this time, she had tested into the secondst ce in the ss.


    The former bottom ranker naturally got reced, and the position gracefullynded on Lu Chi''s head.


    Looking at the exam results, Lu Chi felt deeply betrayed.


    "We agreed to be bottom rankers together, but you secretly worked hard behind my back. How can we still happily mess around together!"


    On Lin ChuSui''s exam paper, she had actually scored 58 points in math!


    "What kind of crappy score is this!"


    "It''s 58 points, what more do you want?" Lin ChuSui said.


    Lu TianBai turned around and checked Lin ChuSui''s test paper. She said, "Girlfriend, you got several multiple choice questions right, and also thest big question worth over 20 points."


    As everyone knew, thest question was the most difficult.


    "Thest question was an original question from the workbook. Coincidentally, someone made me memorize it."


    Lin ChuSui''s gazended squarely on Xiao Yan, who was seriously analyzing the test paper.


    Xiao Yan casually said, "You''re wee. Next monthly exam, I''ll make sure you pass."


    "I don''t want to pass!" Lin ChuSui stubbornly said, "I have zero interest in getting a high score."


    Xiao Yan nced at the progress bar in the bottom left corner. "But I want you to pass."


    "Genius ssmate, please spare me. I just want to quietly be a salted fish."


    Lu Chi said indignantly, "Chu Bro, since you don''t want to give up your bottom ranker throne, why didn''t you just hand in a nk exam paper?"


    "I''m not stupid. Making mistakes is an issue of ability; handing in a nk paper is an issue of attitude! There''s a fundamental difference. I don''t want Old Qin to call Ms. Fang again and tattle about me."


    "Then why didn''t you write another poem praising the math teacher likest time!"


    "Who said I didn''t write one." Lin ChuSui flipped to thest page of her math exam paper and flicked it with her fingertips. "This time, Chu Lord wrote an original 14-line Shakespearean so, and also praised the English teacher in the signature."


    Lu Chi: "Damn, they didn''t deduct points for that?"


    "Yeah." Lin ChuSui said disappointedly, "They didn''t deduct points, totally illogical."


    "Two reasons." Xiao Yan nced at her test paper and calmly said, "One, the math teacher can''t understand it. Two, the math teacher is toozy to bother with you."


    "..."


    "Genius ssmate, I want you to be my deskmate!" Lu Chi sprawled on the table and pleaded with his palms together, "Please bring me flying, genius ssmate. I also want to lounge around and win like Chu Bro does."


    Xiao Yan primly pushed his hands away. "Abandon that thought. Lounging around and winning is impossible for salted fish."


    "Then howe she can do it!"


    "Because she has me."


    One corner of Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched. "I thought you had given up on me."


    "I''ve been busy recently, but giving up is impossible."


    "Did I owe you money in my previous life?"


    Xiao Yan picked up her math test paper and pointed out a few questions she had gotten wrong. He said, "Do these when you get home tonight. I''lle exin them to you tomorrow."


    "I won''t do them."


    "If you don''t do them, I will forever withhold my knowledge from the homework copying association in the future."


    "..."


    After speaking, Xiao Yan picked up his schoolbag and turned to leave the ssroom.


    Lin ChuSui watched his slender departing figure. Her heart felt pretty good as the corner of her mouth raised slightly.


    "Yo yo, your mouth is grinning from ear to ear."


    She smacked Lu Chi with her test paper, then carefully circled the questions Xiao Yan had assigned.


    ...


    That night was Lu TianBai''s birthday. She happily used the pocket money she had saved up over half a year to invite everyone to sing at Xinting, the highest end entertainment club in the city center.


    The d¨¦cor at Xinting Club was elegant, with small bridges and flowing water, partition screens, and secluded corners. It did not have the gaudy and tacky feel of ordinary KTV clubs. The sound instion was also very good, so you could barely hear the ghostly wailsing from other rooms in the corridor.


    Lin ChuSui gave Lu TianBai a Tiffany bracelet as a present. She sang a few songs with her, then sprawled on the tea table staring at the math questions she had circled, scratching her ears and cheeks.


    Lu Chi walked over holding the mic, and elbowed her. "Doing math problems at a KTV, what''s wrong with your brain?"


    "Mind your business."


    "Sing!"


    "I''m not singing."


    Lu Chi looked at the math test paper she was scribbling on. "Can you understand these problems?"


    "Of course I can understand them. This is obviously a parab, duh."


    "Yo, the student who wasted two years is actually still aware this is a parab."


    "Don''t look down on me. I''m best at geometry problems. I''ll write out the answer immediately."


    "..."


    Are you sure a parab is a geometry problem?


    After watching beside Lin ChuSui for half a minute, Lu Chi asked, "You''ve been staring at this problem for at least a minute already. Got it figured out?"


    "Stop rushing me."


    "You should at least draw a diagram on the draft paper. Just staring at it, how can you solve it?"


    Lin ChuSui looked at him deeply. "My brain is undergoing intense data analysis right now."


    "Alright, please continue your analysis then, Your Honor."


    After "analyzing" for another 20 minutes, Lin ChuSui finally put pen to paper.


    Lu Chi hurriedly leaned over to take a look, but only saw that she had written a diss poem directed at Xiao Yan on the test paper¡ª


    "Deathes to all men alike, how long can you strut about arrogantly!"


    "..."


    Lu TianBai sat next to Lin ChuSui and elbowed her. "The genius ssmate told you to do the problems. Just do them. My girlfriend sure listens to him a lot huh."


    "No way."


    "Yes way."


    "No way." Lin ChuSui said guiltily. "I just wanted to do problems myself, that''s all. Doing problems makes me happy."


    Lu TianBai: "Oh, you''re at a five-digit per night high-end club, scratching your ears and cheeks doing problems, purely to enjoy the happiness of going bald from tearing your hair out?"


    "Cough, yes!"


    Lu TianBai''s pretty almond eyes curved into a smile. "Then I''ve noticed, it seems you don''t think about Old Lin as much anymore."


    "That''s nonsense. Old Lin will forever live in my heart, okay? It''s just that now..."


    Nowadays there''s so much homework to do every day, so many fights to pick, and so many... other emotions, filling up her life, which makes it very difficult for her to return to her previous depressed state.


    Lin ChuSui went outside to get some fresh air. She had just lit a cigarette when she suddenly remembered the promise she made to Xiao Yan to quit smoking.


    A promise is a promise.


    She threw the cigarette pack into the trash can, and turned around. Through the ss edge of the door of the next room, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.


    Xiao Yan.


    He was wearing Xinting Club''s staff uniform, a white dress shirt and ck tailcoat. Tall and slender.


    Under the hazy ceiling lights, his side profile was distinct. Fair skin, dark eyes, red lips. In his hand he held a tray with wine sses.


    In this decadent lighting, his handsome features carried a hint of sickness. His clear beautiful eyes seemed as if they could seduce people.


    Lin ChuSui felt as if she had entered a dream.


    This young man didn''t resemble the genius deskmate she saw every day at all. He was like the club''s... top grade headliner.


    Just as he bent down to pour wine for a customer, a plump man directly poured red wine over his head.


    The reason was that his femalepanion''s eyes had been glued on Xiao Yan the entire night.


    Jealousy between men was even more direct and crude than between women.


    The man yelled in a shrill voice, "I hate little white faces like you the most, oh no, they''re called little fresh meat these days."


    After speaking, he poured another ss of wine directly onto Xiao Yan''s face.


    The red liquid trickled down his broad forehead.


    Xiao Yan raised his head to look at the man, his jet ck eyes swirling with silent fury.


    The man could sense the simmering rage of the youth. "What, angry now?"


    Xiao Yan took a deep breath, his thin lips slightly upturned, his eyes filling with a trace ofughter to conceal the icy viciousness¡ª


    "Wait a moment, I''ll get you a new ss."


    Seeing this scene, Lin ChuSui felt her blood rushing to her head. She was just about to charge in, when Lu Chi grabbed her cor from behind in time.


    "What are you trying to do?"


    "My deskmate, my deskmate is being bullied!"


    "Today is my sister''s birthday. Do you want to kick up a big fuss over this deskmate you''ve known for less than half a month?"


    "But he''s being bullied!"


    Lu Chi calmly said, "Do you think Xiao Yan is the kind of person who can''t defend himself?"


    "Just look, he''s not even fighting back and swallowing blood!"


    "If you make a scene, all the ssmates my sister invited will know he works at this kind of club. Where will he put his face?"


    Lin ChuSui finally calmed down and worriedly peered at the private room.


    Xiao Yan had already retreated to the wall, using napkins to wipe off the wine stains on his face.


    He was such a cleanly person.


    "It''s his own choice to work here. If you barge in and kick up a fuss, he might lose this job and even be fined.


    Lin ChuSui also knew this was a ce where consumption started at five digits a night. As a service staff, enduring anything was a must.


    She could not help him on the surface while actually harming him.


    Lin ChuSui suppressed her anger and turned around to return to her private room.


    Seeing Lin ChuSuie back fuming, Lu TianBai''s eyes suddenly lit up and she excitedly asked, "Did Xu JiaNinge?!"


    "A pretty boy like him would never sacrifice his precious study and sleep time toe to a ce like this," Lu Chi exined. "It''s your bestie, the one who rushes to champion justice with her knife already drawn, and now the knife tip is poking her own heart."


    "I see."


    After calming down for a moment and seeing Lu TianBai''s disappointed expression, Lin ChuSui felt even more annoyed. She simply took her phone and went outside, calling Xu JiaNing¡ª


    "Fake foreigner...brother."


    "Rare to get a call from you on your own initiative."


    "I sent you a location pin,e over for a bit."


    "Don''t want to. I''m taking a bath," Xu JiaNing drew out his wordszily.


    "Juste sit for a while, and I''ll go back home with you. You can tell your parents you brought me back from the KTV."


    Xu JiaNing thought for a moment and said, "You have to apologize to my dad."


    "Don''t get greedy."


    "Just a kid apologizing, it''s not like you''re losing meat. At worst you can passionately insult him ten thousand times in the group chat."


    "Apologizing is fine too." Lin ChuSui continued negotiating, "Then when youe, buy a birthday cake too. The card should say: To the most beautiful darling¡ªLu TianBai, happy 18th birthday, signed: Xu JiaNing."


    "At this time, where am I going to buy a birthday cake?"


    "Not my problem."


    After saying this, Lin ChuSui hung up the phone and turned around to see the man who had just bullied Xiao Yan going into the bathroom.


    She followed him in.

 Chapter 19: The Conflict

    <h4>Chapter 19</h4>


    Lin ChuSui was certain that the man was drunk. She went into the washroom without hesitation, grabbed a bottle of beer from the private room, and followed him in.


    The man had just unzipped his pants when Lin ChuSui walked in. She smashed the beer bottle cap against the wall and grabbed the man by his cor, jumping up to pour beer all over his head.


    The young girl was petite with an exceptionally agile figure. Her actions were smooth and practiced: it was clear this wasn¡¯t her first skirmish.


    The drunken man was doused with beer. He staggered backwards shouting, ¡°Who¡¯s there? F*ck! Tired of living?¡±


    Lin ChuSui pressed his head against the wall, forcing him to see her face clearly so he wouldn¡¯t me Xiao Yan.


    ¡°Who are you? What did I do to you?¡± the man slurred.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything to me. I just don¡¯t like the look of your ugly mug,¡± Lin ChuSui stated simply.


    After releasing him, Lin ChuSui viciously kicked his knee before leaving the washroom, turning on the tap to rinse her hands.


    The man knelt on one knee, cursing obscenities in his drunken stupor.


    Turning around, Xiao Yan had been standing at the end of the hallway the whole time, watching Lin ChuSui from afar with eyes dark as night.


    ¡°Uh...¡± Lin ChuSui was at a loss for words.


    After a moment, Xiao Yan looked away and headed into the men¡¯s changing room.


    Lin ChuSui followed him in without thinking. She leaned against the door, listening: it seemed empty, so she entered.


    The room was pitch ck except for the white ceiling light shining down on Xiao Yan in the center as he removed his wine-stained white shirt.


    With only ck and white shadows, his fair skin appeared translucent, the lines of his fit physique fluid and refined.


    Hearing Lin ChuSui close the door, Xiao Yan discarded his shirt and turned to the side, stating calmly, ¡°This is the men¡¯s changing room.¡±


    ¡°I know,¡± Lin ChuSui said, hopping onto a high stool. ¡°I went into the men¡¯s toilet already. What¡¯s there to be afraid of in the changing room?¡±


    Xiao Yan put on a clean white shirt, long fingers tidying his cor. ¡°Are you really a girl?¡±


    ¡°My deskmate for years doesn¡¯t know if I¡¯m a girl or not?¡± Lin ChuSui quipped.


    Xiao Yan¡¯s expression was grim, clearly in a terrible mood. Lin ChuSui stopped joking and quickly added, ¡°I got revenge for you.¡±


    ¡°I saw. Wanted to stop you but didn¡¯t make it in time.¡±


    ¡°You should be thanking me!¡± Lin ChuSui pouted. ¡°Why stop me?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t know you could fight like that. Was afraid you¡¯d get bullied.¡±


    Lin ChuSui tingled all over. She hopped off the stool and stood before him. ¡°You care about me that much?¡±


    ¡°You care about me too.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s true. I care a lot about all my admirers.¡±


    ¡°You only have me as an admirer.¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Annoying.


    Lin ChuSui¡¯s gaze wandered to his locker. There were a few spare uniforms and she vaguely saw some empty pill packets.


    Before she could get a closer look, Xiao Yan had shut the locker.


    ¡°Hey, I think I just saw something. Looks like you provide wide-ranging services here. Are you the top earner?¡± Lin ChuSui grinned mischievously.


    ¡°Just some painkillers. I advise you not to joke crassly,¡± Xiao Yan said expressionlessly. ¡°You¡¯ll regret it.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Someone might overhear. You definitely don¡¯t want that person to hear.¡±


    Lin ChuSui looked around the empty changing room. ¡°What are you on about?¡±


    ¡°Believe it or not, up to you.¡±


    Seeing he was genuinely in a bad mood, Lin ChuSui stopped teasing him and asked seriously, ¡°Does this kind of thing happen often?¡±


    Xiao Yan dried his hair with a towel. ¡°Life is hard, earning money is difficult.¡±


    ¡°But you¡¯re top of our grade. Why work in a ce like this with low-ss people?¡±


    Xiao Yan turned around, cutting her off. ¡°Kid, it¡¯ste. Go home.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you going home yet?¡±


    ¡°My shift isn¡¯t over.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Watching his indifferent motions, Lin ChuSui took the towel from him and gently dried his hair herself.


    ¡°Does this kind of thing happen a lot?¡±


    As Xiao Yan watched her tiptoeing, patting lightly: more expressing care than drying: her features up close were pure and clean. Her long bangs hung to her eyelids, eyebrows faint, and she had a subtle sweet scent like freshly baked cookies.


    Xiao Yan blocked the girl¡¯s hands and turned around. ¡°It doesn¡¯t happen often.¡±


    ¡°Are you short on money? If you need money, I can...¡±


    ¡°I have to get back to work.¡±


    Without waiting for her to finish, Xiao Yan locked the cab and left the changing room.


    Staring at his departing back, Lin ChuSui felt an ache in her heart. She picked up the towel carrying his scent and casually stuffed it in her bag.


    ...


    Returning to the private room, Xu Jia Ning had arrived and was happily chatting with Lu TianBai on the sofa.


    Aside from their school uniforms, Xu Jia Ning¡¯s fashion sense was wless. He wore a light gray Japanese-style pullover hoodie with Pikachu on the chest, injecting youthful yfulness into the outfit.


    Xu Jia Ning¡¯s looks and style were enough to make Lu TianBai utterly infatuated, staring longingly at his handsome face the entire time.


    ¡°Jia Ning, you came!¡±


    ¡°Of course I had toe celebrate your birthday since Lin ChuSui said it was today.¡±


    ¡°Ah, you took the initiative toe to my party?¡±


    ¡°Yup.¡± Xu Jia Ning nced at Lin ChuSui by the door. ¡°I ordered the cake in advance.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so happy tonight! Thank you, Jia Ning! You¡¯re so nice!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡±


    Lin ChuSui walked over and opened the cake box on the table.


    It was a small cake, likely a ready-made cake from the dessert shop.


    But he really did follow her instructions exactly... writing the greeting card word for word, even piping the celebratory message on top in chocte.


    There was no denying Xu Jia Ning¡¯s meticulous attention to detail when seducing girls...


    Scum.


    ¡°Jia Ning, have some chocte,¡± Lu TianBai offered a dish of exquisite chocte bonbons. ¡°Try it, they¡¯re delicious.¡±


    ¡°Thanks.¡±


    Xu Jia Ning selected a caramel-filled chocte but didn¡¯t eat it, keeping it in his hand instead.


    Lin ChuSui could see Xu Jia Ning was politely distant when interacting with others.


    And he clearly didn¡¯t like Lu TianBai either.


    Yet the silly girl was oblivious, gazing at him longingly, deeply moved that he came to celebrate her birthday.


    Seeing Lin ChuSui return, Xu Jia Ning said, ¡°It¡¯s gettingte.¡±


    Lin ChuSui knew he didn¡¯t like the noisy bar atmosphere.


    Someone like Xu Jia Ning would probably enjoy rxing alone in a quiet, artsy bookstore: one hand idly swirling fragrant coffee while the other flipped through Rilke¡¯s original poetry in German, with an air of pretentiousness.


    ¡°What¡¯s the rush? You¡¯re already here, keep the birthday girlpany a bit longer,¡± Lin ChuSui said, opening the cake box. ¡°Come on, time to cut the cake!¡±


    Happily, Lu TianBai picked up a candle. ¡°One is enough, don¡¯t want wax dripping everywhere.¡±


    Lu Chi used a lighter to ignite it and stuck it in the cake. ¡°Eighteen years old, our little sister is officially an adult now!¡±


    ¡°Growing up isn¡¯t good. I want to keep being a kid.¡±


    Lin ChuSui put an arm around her shoulders. ¡°When you grow up you can have a sweet romantic rtionship with a handsome guy!¡±


    ¡°Enough. With how silly she is, just focus on not getting tricked,¡± Lu Chi said, staring pointedly at Xu Jia Ning. ¡°Anyone who dares take advantage of her will see what I can do.¡±


    Xu Jia Ning replied, ¡°A girl like Little Bai is most guys¡¯ ideal type. Many wille to like her in the future.¡±


    Hearing this, Lu TianBai¡¯s face immediately flushed. ¡°Really?¡±


    Without hesitation, Xu Jia Ning said, ¡°Of course.¡±


    Listening to his ttering words, Lin ChuSui thought to herself that this fake foreign devil was definitely a slick hand at seducing girls...


    Scum.


    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± Lin ChuSui said to him. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you prepared a gift for Little Sweet? Take it out and let us see.¡±


    ¡°Gift?¡±


    Xu Jia Ning was caught off guard.


    That wasn¡¯t in the script...


    Lin ChuSui just wanted to see him trip up. Laughing, she said, ¡°Yeah, didn¡¯t you say you already prepared a surprise gift for Little Bai?¡±


    Xu Jia Ning saw the sly look in Lin ChuSui¡¯s eyes and gritted his teeth. He rummaged in his bag for a while but couldn¡¯t find anything suitable. Having no choice, he removed his Cartier watch and ced it in Lu TianBai¡¯s hand.


    ¡°I¡¯ve worn this watch for three years. I¡¯m giving it to you. I bought it with my first hard-earned money from a summer job three years ago. I really cherish it and hope you will too.¡±


    After speaking, he helped Lu TianBai put on the diamond-studded Cartier watch.


    Lu TianBai was so moved her hands trembled. ¡°Is it really okay? A gentleman doesn¡¯t take what another values... I shouldn¡¯t ept such an expensive gift.¡±


    Lin ChuSuiughed. ¡°Don¡¯t stand on ceremony with him. If he gives it, keep it.¡±


    Xu Jia Ning forced a smile but shot Lin ChuSui a resentful look.


    Lin ChuSui shrugged.


    If you weren¡¯t prepared, should¡¯ve just said so. They were all familiar here, honesty wouldn¡¯t have been a big deal. But this fake foreign devil cared more about face than anything.


    Serves him right.


    Xu Jia Ning didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. In a low voice he told Lin ChuSui, ¡°That¡¯s enough, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Lu TianBai quickly asked, ¡°Won¡¯t you stay and hang out longer?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, we haven¡¯t even eaten the cake yet,¡± Lin ChuSui said, walking over to help cut it. ¡°Leaving now is a huge loss for me.¡±


    ¡°Our party¡¯s just getting started!¡± Zhuang ChengYu called the server over and ordered drinks. ¡°No one¡¯s allowed to leave until we¡¯re hammered!¡±


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll keep youpany to the death,¡± Lin ChuSui quipped.


    Xu Jia Ning grabbed her arm. ¡°You can¡¯t drink. You still need toe home and apologize to me.¡±


    ¡°Get me drunk and I¡¯ll kneel on the floor kowtowing to Old Xu.¡±


    Xu Jia Ning sneered coldly: "You''re getting drunk. Old Xu could y me."


    ...


    Soon, Xiao Yan came in holding a tray of bourbon.


    As soon as he walked in, the students in the private room were stunned for a moment, including Xiao Yan himself.


    Xu Jia Ning was here, as well as several other male students from the sports teams, and even some of Lu TianBai¡¯s female friends lounging on the sofas in the corner.


    They exchanged nces with each other, whispering about Xiao Yan''s arrival.


    He was the famously brilliant student that everyone in their grade knew.


    But...why would he show up in a ce like this?


    Of course Xiao Yan hadn''t expected the hostess to switch his customer and coincidentally run into Lin ChuSui''s private room.


    Lin ChuSui reacted quickly, pulling Xiao Yan to sit beside her and took the bourbon from his hands, "I asked my deskmate toe help me with some math problems I don''t understand. TianBai, you don''t mind do you?"


    "Of course I don''t mind! I''m so happy you all came!" Lu TianBai happily weed him, "Xiao Yan you can sit wherever, just ask ChuSui if you want her to order any songs for you."


    Xiao Yan epted Lin ChuSui''s kindness and silently sat down beside her.


    Even though... his waiter''s uniform had already exined everything.


    Everyone knew but didn''t say it aloud.


    Lin ChuSui was helping him preserve thest shreds of his dignity, because she understood, so he didn''t refuse.


    But Xu Jia Ning just had to poke at his fragile pride with a mocking smile, "ss genius, so you''re working here because you didn''t get the schrship money?"


    As soon as he said this, the surrounding students'' gazes focused on Xiao Yan.


    "For this semester''s MingDe Schrship, your grades in every subject were higher than mine, but your extracurricrs score wascking right? I got several international music awards, enough to make up for thecking GPA points."


    Hearing Xu Jia Ning''s words, Lin ChuSui immediately realized why Xiao Yan had been hurrying off after schooltely.


    The MingDe Schrship was 30,000 RMB. Xiao Yan didn''t get it, but Xu Jia Ning did.


    She thought of the man who came to the shop to collect debtsst time. Xiao Yan probably needed that money badly.


    Meanwhile, Xu Jia Ning had always resented having lower grades than Xiao Yan. For the schrshippetition this time, he pulled out several heavyweight awards and sessfully defeated Xiao Yan, so of course he wanted the whole world to know.


    "The MingDe Schrship doesn''t only look at grades like our school''s other schrships. It also considers the student''s overall qualities. If you calcte it, our GPAs are about the same, but your sports scores...also dragged you down."


    Lin ChuSui interrupted, "What a crappy schrship, never even heard of it. What''s there to brag about, if you have the ability, win over my deskmate in the other schrships too!"


    "The other schrships added up still aren''t as much as the MingDe Schrship, but let''s not talk about this anymore," Xu Jia Ning sneered as he nced at Xiao Yan, "ss genius, since this is your job, can you have fun with the customers while working?"


    Xiao Yan calmly replied, "Yes, making the customers happy is also part of my job."


    "Then your role...is pretty much the same as the room hostesses right, keeping thempany, pouring drinks, and entertaining?"


    When he said this, the students exchanged uneasy nces, and the atmosphere...turned somewhat awkward.


    After a moment, everyone sensibly pretended they hadn''t heard and carried on as they were.


    Lin ChuSui clenched her fists, wishing she could rush over and punch Xu Jia Ning hard.


    And Xu Jia Ning, seeing Lin ChuSui''s face twisted in rage, smiled leisurely as he lifted his chin, seeming to want to avenge his earlier loss ofposure. "ss genius, since this is work, stop cking and pour me a drink."


    With that, he held out his ss.


    Xiao Yan calmly took the decanter and poured Xu Jia Ning a drink. "Drink slowly."


    "Oh right, I heard that at XingTing Club, if customers make requests, the servers have to kneel down and serve them. Of course I''ve only heard about this, never seen it with my own eyes. So ss genius, why don''t you open our eyes today?"


    When he said this, everyone fell silent for a few seconds and looked their way.


    Lin ChuSui couldn''t endure it anymore. She grabbed a ss from the tray and was about to dump it on this jerk, but Xiao Yan swiftly grabbed her slender wrist.


    She struggled but couldn''t break free, and looked back at Xiao Yan.


    Xiao Yan''s emotions were buried deep in his dark eyes, the corners of his lips faintly lifted. "The wine''s pretty expensive, I don''t rmend wasting it."


    Lin ChuSui irritably yanked her hand back and red at Xu Jia Ning.


    Xiao Yan calmly picked up the ss and unhurriedly said, "The prerequisite for that service you mentioned is ordering 20-year or older vintage wines. Please wait a moment."


    Having said that, he took out the tablet with the menu and handed it to Xu Jia Ning, "These are all the top tier wines at our club. Please take a look at which one you need."


    At first Lin ChuSui felt Xu Jia Ning was bullying people, but when she saw the so-called top tier wines disyed on the tablet were almost all priced at over 100,000 RMB, she started sympathizing with Xu Jia Ning.


    In an instant, she felt sorry for him.


    This old dog Xu Jia Ning was really going to bleed out big time tonight.


    "Deskmate, so do you get amission if these wines are ordered?" Lin ChuSui asked him with a smile.


    "Yes, not much though."


    "For example if I order this 200,000 one, how muchmission would you get?"


    "Themission from an order like this would probably be about the same as the MingDe Schrship."


    After Xiao Yan said this, Xu Jia Ning instantly looked ashen. But now it was toote to turn back, so he could only pick up the tablet and start flipping through it.


    There wasn''t a single one under 150,000!


    As Lin ChuSui watched Xu Jia Ning''s face get uglier and uglier as he swiped, she knew he was the type who cared more about face than anything. Just now, he had given his Cartier watch to Lu TianBai over a matter of face. She guessed he really would order a 100,000+ wine just to save face now.


    She added, "Hey, today''s TianBai''s birthday, she''s treating us. But if you order such expensive wine, that''ll be on your own tab. TianBai definitely won''t pay for you."


    Xu Jia Ning gritted out, "Don''t worry about it, little sister."


    Those two words "little sister" were spat out with a tone of mortal enmity.


    He pointed to a 220,000 RMB red wine, "I''ll take this one."


    Xu Jia Ning took out his wallet and pulled out a ck credit card, handing it to Xiao Yan.


    His hand...was trembling.


    This card was tied directly to old Xu''s phone. After this one swipe, his dad would probably skin him alive when he got home.


    Seeing Lu TianBai''s worried expression, Lu Chi said, "It''s TianBai''s birthday today. Even though I''d love to see this jerk get his due, let''s not go overboard."


    Lu Chi went over to sit beside Xu Jia Ning and took away the credit card, putting it back in Xu Jia Ning''s wallet. "Put that away. No need to joke around with ss genius like this."


    The olive branch had been extended, so Xu Jia Ning smoothly took it, "You''re right, just joking around. We''re all ssmates, we''ll keep seeing each other around. Can''t really make you kneel and pour me wine."


    But just as Xu Jia Ning was about to put his wallet away, Xiao Yan''s slender fingers pressed down on it as he coldly said¡ª


    "A joke? Was it funny?"

 Chapter 20: 10 Percent

    <h4>Chapter 20</h4>


    "A joke, funny?"


    Xu Jia Ning''s face turned cold.


    Xiao Yan''s fingertips were very powerful, and the wallet was pressed under his fingers, so it couldn''t be taken back at all.


    "I don''t mind kneeling down to serve you, after all at Xiu Ting Club, the customer is God. " Xiao Yan looked up, his pitch-ck eyes churning with crow-ck light: "Simrly, at Xiu Ting Club, cards that are handed out almost never have the right to be taken back. Now you want to take back the card, so I''ll ask you - are you a ssmate, or God?"


    Lin Chu Sui was seeing Xiao Yan being so serious for the first time.


    Until this moment, she finally saw Xiao Yan''s other side,pletely different from when he wore the clean, simple blue school uniform at school.


    Here, he was not the top student, not the deskmate, here was the iron-like real life.


    Here, he could not unscrupulously and gleefully mock others under the name of being ssmates, and then easily brush it off under the name of a joke...


    Xiao Yan was not someone to be bullied, he never was.


    Lu Chi looked towards Lin Chu Sui, hoping she could help say a few words. Xiao Yan might not give any of them face, but he would definitely give Lin Chu Sui face.


    Lin Chu Sui stood with her arms crossed, being an observer, with no intention of saying anything to help Xu Jia Ning.


    Let him do it, he did it to himself.


    He deserves it.


    Xu Jia Ning gritted his teeth as he looked at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan looked back at him neither humbly nor arrogantly -


    "As a ssmate, I can ask you to drink a toast; as God, then reach the consumption standards a God should have."


    "Of course ssmates!" Lu Chi quickly mediated: "We''re in the same ss, who looks down on anyone! There''s nothing going on, just drunk rambling from the fake foreign devil earlier!"


    Xu Jia Ning seemed really angry, yelling at Lu Chi: "Don''t call me a fake foreign devil again!"


    "Why... why are you yelling at me?"


    Lu Chi felt a little wronged, and a little angry too: "I''m trying to help you, why are you like a mad dog, biting anyone you see?"


    "I don''t need your help, it''s just a 200,000 yuan bottle of wine." Xu Jia Ning handed his card over, enunciating each word clearly: "I, Xu Jia Ning, can af-ford it! Today here, there are no ssmates, only the rtionship between service and being served."


    Xiao Yan''s mouth corners lightly pursed up as he calmly took his card, then quickly swiped the card with a POS machine -


    "Thank you, I''ll bring the wine right up."


    After saying that, he turned and walked out.


    The room became quiet, with everyone stopping singing and talking, staring nkly at Xu Jia Ning.


    In fact, most of the ssmates present were children of ordinary families. Even if there were a few rich kids like Lu Chi and Lu Tian Bai, there were few who would wildly swipe 200,000 in one go just to spite someone.


    Zhang Cheng Yu noticed everyone had stopped talking, so he picked up the mic and sang along to the melody: "Why can''t I fly out, of this flowery world, turns out I''m just, a drunken butterfly."


    After croaking out two lines, the atmosphere in the room was still tense, so he silently put down the mic, then ate a piece of chocte dessert.


    What''s with the drama!


    Soon, Xiao Yan brought a bottle of red wine, decanted it, and woke up the wine.


    Xu Jia Ning was alreadyzily leaning against the sofa, his slender fingertips pushing the wine ss over.


    Everyone looked towards the two of them, waiting to see what kind of service this 200,000 wine Xiao Yan poured would get.


    "He won''t really kneel down right."


    "The card''s been swiped, he''s serious."


    "But they''re ssmates, won''t it be super awkward to meet in the future?"


    "If the people involved don''t feel awkward, why do you feel awkward for no reason?"


    ...


    Xiao Yan professionally took out a brand new white glove from his shirt pocket and put it on after decanting the wine.


    Lin Chu Sui immediately stood up, trying to stop Xiao Yan, but before she could even open her mouth, Xiao Yan had already pulled her behind him to get her out of the way.


    Then, without any hesitation, he knelt down on one knee and poured a ss of wine for Xu Jia Ning -


    "Please enjoy slowly."


    Xu Jia Ning lowered his eyes to look at the kneeling man in front of him.


    He didn''t know why, but he didn''t feel any joy at all. On the contrary, he felt very ufortable in his heart.


    On one hand, his heart ached over the 200,000 spent. On the other, he really felt like he did something awful tonight.


    Xiao Yan calmly poured him wine, at least, his expression didn''t show any humiliation or hurt pride.


    He was justpleting his job, nothing more, just likepleting homework every day.


    Looking at his back as he knelt down, Lin Chu Sui''s heart tightened.


    She guessed that perhaps things like this happened every day. She finally understood why Xiao Yan could endure it so calmly when that chubby man poured wine on him earlier.


    This was the most realistic human world, not the ivory tower she lived in, not the school. There was no ss Advisor Old Qin, who grumbled at her but cared for her, no dad or mum...


    Their school and family were natural protective barriers that shielded their innocent youth.


    But once they left school, society would not give them any room for tolerance or rest, only survival of the fittest and thew of the jungle...


    Xu Jia Ning could take out 200,000 yuan, so he could freely trample another person''s dignity under his feet and viciously stomp on it.


    At this moment, Lin Chu Sui suddenly felt like she finally understood Xiao Yan''s words -


    "In this world, if no one is with you, protecting you, you have to learn to grow up yourself."


    Even if you''re unwilling, others will force you to grow up.


    And putting herself in his shoes, she thought that once she left school and home, left her awesome mum, she was nothing and had no skills. She couldn''t evenpare with Xiao Yan.


    At the very least, Xiao Yan still had the resilience to kneel down.


    If it were her, could she kneel down?


    ...


    Progress: 10%


    Xiao Yan poured wine for a few male students.


    Of course they couldn''t afford Xiao Yan''s "service", especially Lu Chi and the others. Under Lin Chu Sui''s threatening gaze, they held out both hands to ept the wine sses he handed over: "Thank you, thanks, thank you for your hard work."


    Their respectful attitude was just short of kneeling down to Xiao Yan.


    "Are you of age?" Xiao Yan looked towards Lu Chi: "The club rules are that we cannot sell alcohol to minors."


    Before Lu Chi could reply, Xu Jia Ning sneered coldly: "You ask if I''m of age only after swiping the card, isn''t that shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted?"


    "I swiped your card. When I was in the office helping the teacher organize files, I saw your student records that show you''re of age. There''s no issue with me selling you alcohol."


    Xu Jia Ning shut up awkwardly, toozy to bother with him.


    Lu Chi quickly said: "My sister turned 18 today. We''re twins born right on the stroke of midnight. I''m just one day older than her."


    As Xiao Yan passed by Lin Chu Sui with the wine decanter, he didn''t pour wine for her. Instead, he took out a carton of high calcium milk from his pocket and ced it in front of her.


    "Huh?"


    "Are you of age?"


    "Of a..."


    Seeing his gaze, Lin Chu Sui awkwardly swallowed the words that she was of age already, and asked: "Did we order milk?"


    Xiao Yan: "No."


    "Then why..."


    "My treat."


    Lin Chu Sui stared fixedly at his pitch-ck eyes, asking uncertainly: "You''re treating only me?"


    "Mm."


    "Why!"


    Her old face turned red as she agitatedly yelled: "I''ve rejected so many gentle straight guys'' confessions! I see you have potential to be the aggressive bad boy!"


    After Lu Chi finished saying this, the entire KTV room somehow started pping in unison, and it looked like they were about to start chanting "Get together" to tease them. Lin Chu Sui grabbed the milk and started drinking it herself.


    Xiao Yan casually exined: "You brought this golden master who can spend so much, letting my sales tonight skyrocket. Buying you a carton of milk is nothing."


    When he said this, Xu Jia Ning''s expression turned even darker.


    "Thanks then."


    "Drink up, then go to bed quickly."


    She remembered that in the past, old Lin would heat up a pack of milk for her every night, perfect for drinking right before bed.


    Her emotions instantly softened.


    The milk vor burst on her tongue.


    "As a server, how can you ask guests to leave?" Lin Chu Sui said: "I''ll naturally go to bed when I want to sleep.".


    "To them, I''m a server. " As Xiao Yan stood up holding the tray, he softly said next to her ear: "To you, I''m your esteemed deskmate."


    Lin Chu Sui could feel his hot breath on her ear. Bowing her head, she mumbled -


    "Meddling so much, I see you''re not my esteemed deskmate, you''re my dear dad!"

 Chapter 21: Cruelty

    <h4>Chapter 21</h4>


    Xiao Yan did not hurry home to do homework as usual after getting off work. He sat alone at the bar, holding the half-empty bottle of red wine, drinking silently.


    The bartender, who had a good rtionship with him, patted his shoulder andforted: "You made quite a lot in tips tonight, almost equal to our sry for a few months. What''s there to be upset about?"


    "I''m not upset."


    He wasn''t upset, just a little frustrated.


    "I know. You never knelt to serve customers before just for more tips. But you did it for the first time tonight. We don''t have money or dignity without money. Overthinking will only make you more upset."


    Indeed, before tonight, Xiao Yan had never degraded himself like other waiters, bing a jumping clown without any bottom line just for more tips.


    He believed he would climb up eventually with his own ability, standing on his feet to earn money.


    What happened tonight, he admitted, he wanted to teach Xu Jia Ning a lesson. At the same time, he also wanted to stimte Lin Chu Sui, to let her see the cruelest truth of this society.


    The progress jumped to 10%, proving he seeded.


    Xiao Yan was a practical person. To live, to live decently, he could do anything, use any means.


    With his skills, seducing a silly girl who was carefree as a samoyed every day would be easy.


    Just a little trick could make her obedient, help improve her grades, and guide her onto the right path...


    While Xiao Yan just wanted to survive, he wanted to earn himself a future.


    The task was one-tenthplete. If it kept going ording to n,pleting it in a year would be easy.


    But Xiao Yan just couldn''t feel happy. Not only was he not happy, he felt very depressed, especially when he saw Lin Chu Sui defending him repeatedly, every word was "my deskmate this and that"...


    Since childhood, except for his sister, no one had cared about him like this.


    His sister was a rtive. But what was she?


    He was the culprit who indirectly caused her father''s death. If she found out the truth one day, would she want to stab him with a knife?


    Xiao Yan drank thest sip of wine, flipped the bottle upside down on the table, and left.


    ...


    Xu Jia Ning took Lin Chu Sui back home.


    It just so happened that Fang You Yi was on a business trip these two days and not at home. Actually, Lin Chu Sui was a little apprehensive, afraid that her stepfather Xu Song Bai would want to discipline her again.


    But tonight, Old Xu probably had no mood to quarrel with her, because Little Xu had just spent a total of 223,400 on his bound credit card.


    Xu Song Bai was not that he couldn''t afford this amount. But the key was the whereabouts of this money, which turned out to be a certain entertainment club.


    He had always been strict in controlling Xu Jia Ning. With so many years of tiger dad education, he had cultivated his son into the most excellent appearance.


    It could be said that Xu Jia Ning was a model example of his educational philosophy.


    Precisely because of this, although Fang You Yi was dissatisfied with his previous words and deeds towards Lin Chu Sui, she didn''t say much more, because the excellent Xu Jia Ning was here, facts spoke louder than words.


    But tonight, not only did Xu Jia Ning go to the entertainment club he shouldn''t have set foot in, but also spent over two hundred thousandvishly!


    When Xu Song Bai saw the text message, he was so angry that he almost fainted.


    Old Xu wanted to discipline his son, of course Lin Chu Sui was happy, wishing this Xu Jia Ning would be scolded and beaten every day.


    However, she was true to her words. She had promised Xu Jia Ning something, so she had to keep her words.


    She walked up to Xu Song Bai and bowed to apologize: "I''m sorry."


    Xu Song Bai suppressed his anger towards Xu Jia Ning and asked, "What are you sorry for?"


    "Kids shouldn''t bully adults, shouldn''t embarrass you, shouldn''t fail to notice Xu Jia Ning taking pictures and videos in a timely manner when we were fighting..." She continued, "In short, I''m sorry!"


    After saying this, Xu Song Bai''s anger turned directly into level ten fury. He couldn''t hit Lin Chu Sui anymore. Instead, he took out all his anger on Xu Jia Ning.


    "Bastard, kneel down for me!"


    Xu Jia Ning knelt down straight without hesitation.


    Xu Song Bai looked around the house, couldn''t find any "weapon" at hand, so he went to the balcony and picked up a hanger, hitting Xu Jia Ning''s broad back with crisp sounds.


    Even listening to the sounds made Lin Chu Sui feel pain. But Xu Jia Ning had a backbone. He didn''t make a sound, let alone plead for mercy.


    Seeing him clench his teeth like this, Xu Song Bai became even more angry, and increased his strength, hitting Xu Jia Ning''s spine. He shouted angrily, "I''ve raised you in vain all these years! I sent you out to study, but instead you developed the bad habits of a prodigal son. What''s the difference between you and those good-for-nothings! Do you admit your mistake!"


    "Yes, I was wrong." His voice was already weak and hoarse.


    Unexpectedly, Xu Song Bai hit him even harder: "I see you don''t even realize where you did wrong!"


    Lin Chu Sui finally couldn''t stand watching anymore. She blocked in front of Xu Jia Ning and said, "Do you have any chivalry? He already admitted he was wrong, yet you still beat him?"


    "It''s none of your business how I discipline my son. No pain, no gain. If you were my daughter, I would beat you all the same!"


    "Well I''m not your daughter. Try hitting me."


    "I promised your mother I won''t hit you, but I have ways to make you know your mistakes."


    Lin Chu Sui knew this guy''s nasty tricks¡ªhe must have been badmouthing her behind Fang You Yi''s back to make her days difficult.


    But even so, Lin Chu Sui couldn''t just sit by and watch: "This is my home. If you want to beat someone, beat them outside. We don''t allow violence in our home."


    These were Old Lin''s words.


    Fang You Yi listened to Old Lin very much. Even though she had a fiery temper, she had neverid a hand on Lin Chu Sui, no matter how rebellious and unrecognizable she had beter.


    Home should be a ce full of warmth and understanding, not violence.


    Xu Song Bai looked at Lin Chu Sui and shouted angrily, "Your mother and I are already married. This is our shared home. It''s only natural that I discipline my son in my own home. I advise you not to get involved, or I''ll teach you a lesson as well."


    "You dare!"


    Xu Jia Ning, who had been silent all along, couldn''t help but tug lightly at Lin Chu Sui''s sleeve: "Stop ying hero here. Go back to your room and do your homework."


    Lin Chu Sui ignored him and confronted Xu Song Bai, enunciating each word clearly: "Don''t hit him anymore!"


    Seeing the girl blocking in front of him, Xu Jia Ning''s eyes were a bitplicated.


    Xu Song Bai put down the hanger. His anger was not yet extinguished as he said, "Fine, no more hitting. Although I don''t know what you were spending so much money on at the bar, money spent is money spent. But I''ve taught you since you were little to consider the consequences before making choices, think thrice before you act. Now that you''ve made your choice, do you have the courage to bear the consequences?"


    "Yes, I do." Xu Jia Ning lifted his head as if having expected this.


    "Good. For the midterm test, I want you to rank first in the grade."


    Lin Chu Suiughed. "The difficulty of that is the same as him suddenly waking up tomorrow morning and bing my loving elder brother... The probability is slim. The top student in our school is a super genius. No one can surpass him."


    Xu Song Bai looked at Xu Jia Ning: "If you can''t do it, you can move in with your mother."


    Xu Jia Ning looked incredulous. "What!"


    Xu Song Bai waspletely serious: "Since someone questioned that I''m not a good father, you can go experience what a good mother your mother is."


    "ming others'' faults on me, punishing others'' thoughts on me. In your eyes, am I so unworthy?"


    Xu Jia Ning almost blurted this out, but held it back in the end. After a long time, he unclenched his fist and said in a deep voice, "I will rank first."


    ...


    During that time, Xu Jia Ning studied hard topete for the grade''s first ce against Xiao Yan.


    Lin Chu Sui told her "esteemed deskmate" this secret news, but her "esteemed deskmate" only replied:


    "Oh."


    Lin Chu Sui officiously said, "During the time you were working part-time, that fake foreign devil has been studyingte into the night every day. And this morning at five, he was already reciting Poetry in the courtyard!"


    "As far as I know, that poem should be called Kong Que Dong Nan Fei (The Peacock Flies Southeast)."


    "Don''t mind the details."


    "That''s not a detail." He knocked on her head with his book and said, "It directly affects your score."


    "Nevermind me! Aren''t you afraid?"


    "Why is my deskmate suddenly concerned about me?"


    Lin Chu Sui argued, "I''m not concerned about you. I just don''t want to see that arrogant look on the fake foreign devil''s face when he ranks first."


    "Then you can rest assured. He won''t surpass me."


    At first, Lin Chu Sui was still worried that Xiao Yan was overconfident. But after a math quiz two dayster, Xu Jia Ning''s face turned dark right on the spot.


    Lin Chu Sui secretly looked at their papers, 147 and 150.


    Although the scores were close, with only a small difference of 3 points... it was enough to demonstrate the gap between the two.


    She smiled and turned back, stabbing the already battered Xu Jia Ning once more: "A mere school star, vainly attempting topete with the school genius, how audacious."


    ...


    Lin Chu Sui also started preparing seriously for the marathoning up in half a month.


    Every evening, she stayed behind to train with the school team. Lu Chi curious asked her, "Weren''t you very easygoing about it at first? Why did you suddenly decide to participate in thepetition?"


    Lin Chu Sui admitted frankly, "I was inspired by the school genius''s motivational spirit."


    "Because of what happened that night at KTV?"


    "Yeah."


    Lu Chi patted her shoulder, "Competition in this society is cruel to begin with. Survival of the fittest. It''s regress if you don''t progress."


    Lin Chu Sui nodded grievously. "Yes, especially for people like me."


    "What kind of people are you?"


    "People like me, if I don''t work hard, I''d have to go back and inherit the huge family fortune. How embarrassing would that be for me."


    After speaking, she let out a deliberately meaningful sigh.


    Lu Chi: "..."


    The hand reaching out tofort her retracted back.

 Chapter 22: Why didn鈥檛 You Say anything

    <h4>Chapter 22</h4>


    Lin ChuSui, your ss teacher said that you have already quit the school athletics team," the coach from the athletics team saw Lin ChuSui from afar and said to her, "You don''t need toe for training anymore, just focus on preparing for the academic exams."


    "Coach, I want to run the marathon," Lin ChuSui stopped in her tracks, breathing unevenly, "Let me join the training, I want toe in first ce."


    "You think it''s so easy toe in first ce?!"


    "I''m confident I can do it!"


    The PE teacher knew that Lin ChuSui was very talented in athletics, especially in endurance events. The bunch of kids on the school team couldn''tpare to her.


    It''s just... if the parents don''t support it, no matter how talented, there''s nothing that can be done!


    The PE teacher walked over and said to her, "Lin ChuSui, if you really love sports that much, you should go home and discuss it properly with your parents and get their support. Only then can I provide you with the maximum help as your teacher."


    "My dad was very supportive of me!" Lin ChuSui said, "If he was still alive, he would have been 100% in favor of me participating in the marathon."


    Upon hearing this, the PE teacher could probably guess what the situation was. He thought for a moment, then said, "In that case, there''s still over ten days before the marathon. You can train with the school team during this time. If your ss teacher asks, I''ll just say you''re training on your own. If you can really get first ce in the marathon, I believe your ss teacher will also find a way to persuade your family to continue letting you stay on the school team, on the condition that your academic grades improve."


    "OK!"


    Having obtained the PE teacher''s tacit approval, Lin ChuSui continued to stay and train with the school team. Getting first ce in the marathon would not only allow her to obtain the physical education exam qualification certificate, but also 50,000 RMB in prize money.


    Lin ChuSui wasn''t sure if she could do it, but she wanted to give it a try.


    Her dad must also want to see her run the marathon from up in heaven.


    After school, Lin ChuSui saw Xiao Yan walking towards the sports field and sitting down on the grassy football field.


    He was wearing the school''s loose blue and white uniform, with a white undershirt inside. The cor of the undershirt was loose, the line of his neck very elegant, his Adam''s apple protruding, giving an inexplicably sexy feel.


    He took out a small collection of ancient poems and quietly recited from it.


    Lin ChuSui slowed her pace several times, secretly ncing at him with the corner of her eyes.


    Head lowered looking at his book, he had a serious expression. The evening sun shone into his eyes, clear and bright.


    Lin ChuSui noticed that many girls who walked past him also unconsciously slowed their pace, stealing looks at him.


    Why did he have toe recite books here on the sports field, attracting a swarm of admirers?


    Lin ChuSui saw two other girls next to her whipping out their phones to secretly take pictures of him.


    She hurriedly stopped them, "No, you can''t just take pictures of him."


    "Why not?"


    "If you want to take pictures, you have to go to his family''s shop and buy at least 50..."


    She was halfway through her sentence when a thought suddenly popped into her mind - "None of my business!"


    "Nevermind, go ahead and take pictures. The study god belongs to everyone."


    He wasn''t her family, after all.


    Lin ChuSui continued runningps around the track, no longer bothering with other people''s business.


    She didn''t know how long she had been running for when she looked back and saw a female ssmate had actually sat down next to Xiao Yan.


    The girl had long hair down to her waist. She also had a very slender figure, fair skin, and a pair ofrge almond eyes - very beautiful.


    Lin ChuSui gradually slowed her pace, her gaze fixed intently on the two of them, her brows furrowed.


    They seemed to be chatting, in any case she could see the girl''s lips moving, she must be talking to Xiao Yan.


    Xiao Yan''s eyes remained on his book, but his thin lips were also moving.


    What were they chatting about?!


    The girl''s face was blushing red.


    From afar, the PE teacher blew his whistle, "Lin ChuSui, why did you stop? I''m timing you!"


    Left with no choice, Lin ChuSui could only continue runningps, stealing nces back at them from time to time.


    They were still chatting.


    How were they still chatting!


    She saw Zhang Cheng Yu, the gossip king, crouching at the edge of the field drinking soda. She waved to get his attention, "Octopus bro,e here!"


    Zhang Cheng Yu bounced over, "Chubs, whatcha doing?"


    "Go listen to what the study god and that girl are chatting about."


    Zhang Cheng Yu looked back at them, "Why do you care what they''re chatting about?"


    "Of course I have to know! He''s my... seatmate!"


    "A mere seatmate, and you dare be so nosy, as if he''s your..."


    Under the threatening gaze from Lin ChuSui, the word "boyfriend" was forced back down his throat, changed to "dad" instead.


    "Less nonsense, go listen quickly."


    Zhang Cheng Yu obediently walked over to behind the flower bushes with the soda straw still in his mouth, pricking up his ears to eavesdrop.


    "Xiao Yan, hello, my name is Tang Yanni, I''m in ss 5 of grade 10. Um, can I add you on WeChat?"


    Xiao Yan turned a page of his book, "Do you need something?"


    "I''d like to get to know you and be friends."


    His eyes remained fixed on the book, he didn''t even lift his eyelids, "I''m in grade 12 now, I don''t have time to make new friends."


    "No, it''s because your grades are so good. Our ss teacher said if we have questions we don''t understand, we should ask the students with good grades for help. I''d like to ask you for help on some questions."


    Finally, Xiao Yan lifted his head and looked at her, "50 RMB per question. Transfer the money first, and I''ll write out all the solution methods for you. Look through them yourself, and add me on WeChat if you agree. I won''t chit chat on a daily basis, and I''ll block anyone who harasses me."


    "......"


    Tang Yanni tightly clutched the hem of her shirt, her fingernails white with pressure. After a long while, she finally mustered her courage, "Xiao Yan, I''ve liked you since I entered grade 10. That time I saw you in the garden exining questions to a girl from our ss, I really envied her and wanted to be her."


    Xiao Yan put down his book and said, "No need to envy her, you can also have that."


    Tang Yanni''s eyes lit up, her cheeks flushing red, "Really?"


    "For offline tutoring, my rates are calcted based on your grades - 3 RMB per minute for above 600 points, 5 RMB per minute for 500-600 points, and 10 RMB per minute below 500 points."


    "......"


    Forget Tang Yanni, even Zhang Cheng Yu could barely stand to keep listening. This guy, wasn''t he going a bit overboard, no wonder a girl cried for two weeks after confessing to him.


    "Can you not keep bringing up money? I''m being serious here. Xiao Yan, I like you, I''ve always liked you."


    "Do you want me to give you a discount?" Xiao Yan said, "Sorry, liking me is not a valid reason for a discount."


    "No, I don''t want a discount from you. I''m asking if you can ept my confession and be with me. I want to be your girlfriend."


    Without a second thought, Xiao Yan asked, "Can you run a marathon?"


    "Ah, no, I can''t..."


    "Can you run 3km?"


    "I''ve never tried before. Sports isn''t my forte, 800m is already... my limit."


    "I see." Xiao Yan''s gaze fell back onto his book. "My endurance isn''t great. I want to find a girlfriend who''s good at sports, it''ll make certain matters easier for me in the future."


    "......"


    Tang Yanni left in anger.


    Zhang Cheng Yu spoke in an agitated tone, "He said he wants to find a girlfriend with good stamina! Push him down and make him the bottom! He wants to make his girlfriend be the one who...!"


    "Stop, stop!"


    Lin ChuSui looked disgusted and speechless, "The study god would say things like that? You must be making it up!"


    "If I''ve fabricated a single word, may I die on the spot!"


    Lin ChuSui thought back to Tang Yanni''s crestfallen expression as she left, and said in a half believing tone, "You must have embellished it."


    "Well, there was some artistic license, I guess." Zhang Cheng Yu swore, "But I absolutely did not change the meaning of his original words. He asked if she could run a marathon, then asked if she could run 3km, and then said he wanted to find a girlfriend with good physical fitness."


    Lu Chiughed and said, "A girl who can run marathons and finish 3km without breaking a sweat or turning red, isn''t that exactly our Chubs here?"


    "That''s right!" Zhang Cheng Yu had a sudden realization, "Chubs, youpletely fulfill the study god''s standards for a bottom partner!"


    "......"


    Lin ChuSui chased them away, and continued running by herself. Only by continuing to run could she conceal her face, growing redder and hotter by the second like a branding iron.


    She was certain Xiao Yan had a secret crush on her, but she never knew the reason why he liked her.


    After all, what was there about her, this lousy good-for-nothing, that could attract the study god?


    Now she finally understood.


    The study god liked her... fit body.


    It was an extremely indecent reason, but it still managed to wrinkle the tranquil surface of her heart like a breeze rippling a pool of spring water, leaving her unable to calm down for a long time.


    She finally understood why the silly Lin Tian would asionally let out exmations of "So embarrassing!"


    It really was embarrassing.


    It felt as if something was silently breaking through the soil and wildly growing unchecked in her heart.


    ...


    By the time Lin ChuSui ran past Xiao Yan for the fifth time, ostentatiously flicking her hair, Xiao Yan finally lifted his head, his indifferent gaze settling on her. "No matter how much you flip your hair around, it''s still drenched in sweat."


    Lin ChuSui: "......"


    How could this guy''s mouth be so venomous!


    She stopped in her tracks and sauntered over in front of him, saying, "Hey, what did that girl from earliere to talk to you about?"


    "Didn''t your spy already find everything out?"


    "My spy''s hearing isn''t that great, he also loves to embellish things and spout nonsense."


    "Why are you standing so far away?"


    Lin ChuSui had just been exercising and didn''t want to stand too close to him. She said, "What do you mean far, isn''t this a normal distance for ssmates talking? My hearing''s fine, I can hear you talking."


    "Did youe over because you need something?"


    "I just wanted to ask about that girl from earlier."


    "Very concerned about it?"


    "Which eye of yours saw that I''m concerned? I''m purely just curious, okay!"


    Xiao Yan patted the spot next to him, "Come sit here, I''ll tell you about it."


    Lin ChuSui hesitated for a moment before sitting down next to him, keeping a distance of about one person between them. Her face was slightly red.


    Progress: 12%


    "She confessed to me."


    "Oh?"


    "I rejected her because she''s too fragile."


    "I see."


    Lin ChuSui had a coy smile on her face, hands sped together fidgeting.


    Progress: 13%, 14%...


    The progress bar suddenly skyrocketed. Xiao Yan smiled faintly, then took out some tissues from his bag, preparing to wipe off her sweat.


    Lin ChuSui''s body sensitively moved back as she took the tissue from him and said in fright, "I can do it myself!"


    Task progress: 15%.


    Lin ChuSui wiped the sweat and asked again, "I heard you''re not in good health?"


    "I''m very healthy," Xiao Yan emphasized. "Justpared to these guys from the sports teams, I''m somewhatcking."


    "Let me ask you something, don''t get angry," Lin ChuSui recalled Zhang Cheng Yu''s earlier intel. "I heard you''re missing a kidney?"


    "..."


    Xiao Yan: "It''s not a kidney, it''s my liver. When I was little, someone cut out part of my liver to save someone else."


    "Is it not the same?"


    "It''s different. The liver has regenerative abilities, so if part of it is removed, it can still grow back. It just affects some of the body''s immune functions and makes me prone to illness, and my stamina is a bitcking, but none of those are major issues." Xiao Yan patiently exined, "Missing one kidney means missing one kidney, and it affects certain functions."


    Lin ChuSui waspletely ignorant about biology. "What functions?"


    "That is..."


    Task progress: 16%, 17%, 18%...


    Just then, Lin Xiuze''s threatening voice came over. "If you try to use flirtatious ways to raise my daughter''s progress bar again, don''t think I won''t take your dorm rights away."


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui curiously asked, "ssmate, howe you''re not saying anything?"


    Xiao Yan: "Heaven is watching."

 Chapter 23: Motherfucker

    <h4>Chapter 23</h4>


    "Xu Jia Ning ssmate, can I add you on WeChat? I''d like to ask you some questions about studying," said the Cultural Committee member Zhao Xiaolu.


    It was the same old trick - Lin ChuSui didn''t want to hear it for the third time. Shezily yawned and nced back at the Cultural Committee member and Xu Jia Ning.


    Zhao Xiaolu, usually ostentatious and overbearing, had transformed in this moment into a quiet, demure girl. She stood next to Xu Jia Ning''s desk, holding a math test paper with a 93% score: "Question three, I tried solving it for a long time but couldn''t figure out the answer. Could you exin it to me?"


    Xu Jia Ning was working on problems, toozy to even lift his head. "Why don''t you go ask the math genius who got a perfect score? Whye ask me, a mere school celebrity who only got a 147?"


    Lin ChuSui rolled her eyes.


    Don''t be so petty!


    Zhao Xiaolu nced at Xiao Yan in the front row, and deliberately raised her voice: "Some people are extremely utilitarian and avaricious, corrupting the atmosphere at school. Knowledge should be priceless. I feel like Xu is very different from certain people."


    Lin ChuSui turned around, unsatisfied: "If you''re chasing a boy then go chase him, do you have to put someone else down to raise another up?"


    Zhao Xiaolu refused to back down: "Did I say anything wrong?"


    "While knowledge itself may be priceless, time is valuable, extremely so. Unless everyone in the world is your father, no one has the duty to exin problems to you. The teacher is in the office, why don''t you go ask them? Do you really want to be excused to study, or are you just using the guise of studying to pursue someone?"


    Cultural Committee member Zhao Xiaolu stamped her feet in anger: "Lin ChuSui, what did I do to provoke you?"


    Lu Chiughed and said: "You didn''t provoke her, but you provoked her dear deskmate."


    He deliberately drew out the word "dear".


    Xiao Yan had been quietly working on problems. At these words, his pencil paused for a moment. He turned around and said: "Wrong. It''s respect - she has always held a father-daughter like reverence for me."


    "Alright, alright, you''re the study god. Whatever you say is right."


    Xu Jia Ning wrote down the steps to solving the problem on paper and handed it to Zhao Xiaolu: "Look at it yourself. If you don''t understand, go ask the teacher."


    "But I want to add you on WeChat."


    Xu Jia Ning was in a terrible mood, toozy to waste words with her. He took back the paper with the solution steps and said coldly: "Since you don''t really want to ask about the problem, please stop bothering me."


    Xu Jia Ning, who was usually gentlemanly, couldn''t be bothered with manners now.


    Being with a girl like Lin ChuSui for so long hadpletely exhausted his patience.


    Zhao Xiaolu looked at Lin ChuSui indignantly, then turned and left. She happened to run into Lu TianBaiing into the ssroom. "Jia Ning, can youe out for a second? I have something to tell you."


    Xu Jia Ning had always been nice to Lu TianBai. He put down his pencil and followed her out of the ssroom.


    Zhao Xiaolu watched his retreating back, very annoyed.


    ...


    Xu Jia Ning followed Lu TianBai to the end of the hallway. Lu TianBai took off her watch and handed it to him: "Here, give this back."


    He looked puzzled: "You don''t like it?"


    "No, not at all!" Lu TianBai waved her hands in denial. "I really like it. But this was bought with your first hard-earned money. It''s so meaningful that I feel you should give it to someone more meaningful, not me."


    Xu Jia Ning looked at the Cartier watch, which was quite suitable for women - simple and elegant with a white dial inset with fragmented brick pattern.


    "Once I''ve gifted something, I won''t take it back for any reason." Xu Jia Ning said, "That night, Xiao Yan and I had a fight which ruined your birthday party. I''ve felt really apologetic about it. Just take this aspensation, don''t be angry with me."


    "How could I be angry with you!" Lu TianBai clumsily said, "I won''t get angry! I just feel that ChuSui is my best friend, and you''re also...someone very important to me. I hope you two can get along harmoniously."


    Xu Jia Ning smiled. "I''m very important to you?"


    "Oh, that is...you''re my deskmate''s back deskmate''s ssmate, so...very important!"


    Lu TianBai twisted her hair, feeling she was incredibly stupid.


    "Little girl, focus on your studies." Xu Jia Ning reached out and ruffled her hair. "Compared to that rebellious girl Lin ChuSui, you''re more like the little sister I envision."


    Lu TianBai''s cheeks flushed red, but she still held out the watch to Xu Jia Ning: "I really can''t ept this because it wasn''t specially prepared for me. If you want to make amends, get me another gift, but don''t spend too much."


    Seeing her serious attitude, Xu Jia Ning finally acquiesced and took back the watch: "Alright, I''ll pick another gift for you."


    "Thank you, Jia Ning."


    Two dayster, some diary pages were posted on the school''s forum.


    The extremely eye-catching post title was: "Click to see the secret diary of a girl from South City No. 1 Middle School."


    The diary was a cell phone photo of handwritten pages with delicate and feminine writing. The content was also very private and intimate, clearly a girl''s diary -


    "Xu Jia Ning, I''ve liked you for so long. You''re so good. But my grades are so bad and I''m not smart at all. I feelpletely unworthy of you. I can only confide these feelings in my diary, not daring to confess to you."


    "Sometimes I feel like you might know, since you''re so clever. But you call me your little sister. I thought about it a lot, and feel this may be a more tactful rejection. Thank you for being so gentle."


    "I guess I should just stop liking you. Sigh, I''ll try my best to treat you like a brother."


    ...


    In one day, the diary post rapidly gained poprity on the forum, even pinned to the home page by the admin. Countless students leftments:


    "Ew, way too cheesy!"


    "Yo mama, what a social suicide scene."


    "I''m the Dean of Studies. Diary owner pleasee to my office after ss."


    "Who wrote this? Can someone dox them?"


    "This is easy, justpare the handwriting in assignments. Must be a girl from Xu Jia Ning''s ss!"


    ...


    Lin ChuSui''s brow furrowed when she read the first line of the diary.


    Wasn''t this that silly Lu TianBai''s diary?


    The diary itself was bought when she apanied her shopping in 10th grade. Lu TianBai liked drawing silly cartoon cats and dogs when she wrote in her diary.


    The diary owner was definitely her!


    She looked up at Lu TianBai in the front row. The poor girl miserably slumped over her desk, head buried in her elbows, crying or napping...she had been like this the whole morning, dreary and depressed.


    Lin ChuSui patted her shoulder: "Silly girl..."


    Lu TianBai didn''t respond.


    "I like how you look in white shirts, your upturned smile, your dozing off in ss. I just really, really, really like you so much."


    Lu Chi happilyughed and passed his phone to Xu Jia Ning next to him: "Come, let''s appreciate this marvelous work. With this diary...I feel like your charm levels could instantly surpass our study god. "


    Lin ChuSui whipped around and snatched away his phone, ring fiercely at Lu Chi: "What''s wrong with you!"


    Lu Chi had never seen Lin ChuSui so fierce: "Did you take the wrong meds today? What''s gotten into you?"


    "We''re in ss, you should be listening, not showing him things on your phone!"


    "But we''re not in ss right now!"


    "Don''t show him your phone!"


    Lin ChuSui glowered at Xu Jia Ning: "And you, midterms areing up. If you don''t get first ce, you''re out of our house! For the uing exams, hand over your phone. I''ll keep it for you."


    Xu Jia Ning nced at her and deliberately spoke louder: "My phone fell in the toilet yesterday. Thanks for the concern, currently in istion."


    "How coincidentally unfortunate."


    Lu Chi still didn''t catch on. He asked: "ChuSui, why are you so worked up? Don''t tell me you were the one who wrote those cheesy diary entries about a secret crush?"


    As soon as he said this, the whole ss''s gaze focused on Lin ChuSui.


    Zhao Xiaolu said smugly: "Impossible it was her. Her chicken scratch handwriting doesn''t match at all."


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes shed toward Lu TianBai, who also lifted her head, looking at ChuSui helplessly with red-rimmed eyes. Clearly she had been crying.


    "Actually, the diary was written by me." Lin ChuSui readily admitted. "Truthfully everyone, I''ve secretly liked Xu Jia Ning for a long time. From the first day he came to school, my admiration for him flowed ceaselessly like a river to the east, impossible to dam."


    The studentsughed. "Your confession really has that diary''s style."


    "But isn''t he your stepbrother?"


    "Yes, we previously had an insurmountable moral divide, so I could only pour out my admiration for him in my diary."


    As she spoke, she reached out and hooked Xu Jia Ning''s chin with her fingertip. "Have you not heard? You were born before me. I was born and you were already old. Thinking of you every day but unable to see you, we share the waters of this river."


    Lu Chi almost vomited up his breakfast.


    Xu Jia Ning yed along and didn''t expose her on the spot: "So you love your brother this much."


    "You finally know."


    Lin ChuSui''s twisted and contrived performance instantly diffused her ssmates'' ridicule andughter.


    Zhao Xiaolu stood up and pointed at Lin ChuSui: "You''re lying. That diary wasn''t written by you at all. That diary clearly belonged to..."


    Before she could finish, Lin ChuSui shot her a sharp nce: "Oh, so you know who wrote it. Then you must also know who was so malicious and despicable, peeking at someone''s diary and posting it online. This counts as bullying, right?"


    "Right." Zhang Chengyu nodded: "The security guard said duringst week''s anti-bullying lecture that this kind of behavior definitely counts as bullying, psychologically."


    Xu Jia Ning was suddenly jolted back to her senses, realizing that she had been foolishly ¡°setting herself up for failure¡±, and was filled with regret. She defended herself evasively, ¡°I...I don''t know anything! But I only know that the person you like is Xiao Yan! So that diary absolutely wasn''t written by you!¡±


    Xiao Yan, the aloof bookworm who had no desire to get involved in this matter, was suddenly brought into it unexpectedly. He impatiently lifted his head, and gave Xu Jia Ning a cold nce. ¡°Wrong.¡±


    ¡°Wrong about what?¡±


    ¡°The person she likes isn''t me,¡± Xiao Yan said indifferently. ¡°I''m the one who was pining for her, but could not win her affections.¡±


    Upon hearing this, the other girls in the ss were stunned into silence.


    You''re the school''s heartthrob, sought after by countless young girls. How could you possibly fall for someone as awful as Lin ChuSui?


    What a messy and dramatic love triangle!


    Xiao Yan looked at Lin ChuSui, using his hand to lift her chin. ¡°Have you not heard, among the trees of the mountain one is finer than the rest, my heart delights in you, yet you think of another...¡±


    ¡°Oh my gosh!¡±


    Lin ChuSui quickly brushed his hand aside, her heart skipping a beat.


    He did not continue reciting the verse, but went back to reading his book, with just a hint of a faint smile lingering at the corners of his mouth...


    Task Progress: 20%

 Chapter 24: Screw You

    <h4>Chapter 24</h4>


    After school, Lin Chushui dragged Zhao Xiaolu by the hand and pulled her to the equipment room on the first floor of the school sports team.


    Lu Chi saw his sister''s swollen eyes after ss and realized what had happened. He was so angry that his lungs almost exploded. He nearly grabbed a shot put to smash Zhao Xiaolu''s head, but fortunately Zhang Chengyu stopped him¡ª


    "Girls'' affairs should be handled by girls. Why are you butting in?"


    Lin Chushui grabbed Zhao Xiaolu''s hair and pressed her in front of Lu Tianbai: "Apologize to our bestie!"


    With disheveled hair, Zhao Xiaolu struggled like a madwoman: "What do I apologize for? There is no such thing in this world as forcing someone to bow their head and apologize!"


    "You took someone else''s diary, took pictures and posted them online, invading their privacy."


    "Then go report me to the office! See which side the teacher takes."


    "Your grades are better than mine. Old Qin, that kind of teacher who only cares about grades, certainly won''t take my side." Lin Chushui''s mouth corner curled up coldly: "Why would I do something so thankless?"


    She had long given up hope that adults could understand children''s situations. Even ss teachers only cared about the average grades, admission rates and their own performance. They didn''t really care whether students were wronged or bullied.


    Children''s affairs can only be solved in children''s ways.


    Lin Chushui pressed Zhao Xiaolu in front of Lu Tianbai.


    "Bestie, hit her!"


    Although Lu Tianbai was angry, seeing Zhao Xiaolu''s hideous expression, her concern outweighed her anger: "Forget it, girlfriend! Forget it. If the teacher finds out, we won''t get away with it..."


    "Have you forgotten what she did to you! She exposed your diary on the Inte. The post has been viewed over ten pages!"


    The anger pent up in Lin Chushui''s heart could not dissipate. She was even angrier than when her own diary was leaked.


    Lu Tianbai hit Zhao Xiaolu once, but very lightly, no different from a gentle pat.


    "That''s enough, girlfriend. I''m appeased. Let''s forget about this, okay?"


    Of course Lin Chushui could not let it go so easily. She grabbed Zhao Xiaolu by the cor and took her to the sink, holding her head under the cold water.


    Zhao Xiaolu screamed, "Lin Chushui, f**k you!"


    "Say it again!"


    "If my dad knows about this, he will never let you off the hook!" Zhao Xiaolu''s words were like knives, stabbing her heart: "Lin Chushui, your dad is dead! Serve you right, you fatherless mongrel!"


    Lin Chushui instantly let her go. The excitement that had been pent up subsided all at once.


    She casually picked up a shot put on the ground, weighed it in her hand, with an icy coldness in her eyes.


    Seeing her expression, Zhao Xiaolu also became scared: "What are you going to do?"


    "You''d better pray that my dad is still alive."


    Zhao Xiaolu was so frightened that her facial muscles trembled: "Don''t...don''t do anything rash."


    "If he were still alive, he would have stopped me from...killing you."


    After saying that, Lin Chushui raised her hand, about to smash the heavy shot put at Zhao Xiaolu.


    At the critical moment, the door of the equipment room opened. Xiao Yan strode in with a stern face, grabbed Lin Chushui''s wrist.


    Seeing Xiao Yan, her breath stopped for half a second.


    "You..."


    Xiao Yan exerted a little force with his fingertips and easily shook the shot put from her hand, dropping it heavily to the ground.


    Lu Chi and Zhang Chengyu rushed in and said, "Sorry, Chushui. We couldn''t stop this rascal."


    Seeing the situation, Lu Tianbai shouted at Zhao Xiaolu: "What are you still doing here? Get lost!"


    Zhao Xiaolu stumbled away.


    The anger that Lin Chushui was holding in her heart had not yet dispersed. She picked up the shot put, wanting to chase after her, but Xiao Yan gripped her hand tightly and didn''t let her catch up.


    "Top scorer, why are you butting in?"


    "I''m determined to butt into this."


    After saying that, he pulled and dragged her away from the sports equipment room.


    Lu Chi had wanted to catch up to reason with them, but Zhang Chengyu stopped him: "Don''t poke your nose into other people''s business between a couple."


    Looking at Lu Tianbai with tears still on her face, Lu Chi felt heartache and hated iron for not bing steel: "I told you not to like Xu Jia Ning. You can like anyone else, but you just had to like him!"


    "Brother Jia Ning didn''t do anything wrong."


    "You see, since the incident urred, has he said a word for you! You still need your girlfriend to stand up for you."


    "But his phone..."


    Lu Tianbai didn''t believe Xu Jia Ning''s phone just happened to fall into the toilet on the day her diary was uploaded to the forum.


    He must have known everything and seen it all, but pretended otherwise so as not to embarrass her.


    Lu Tianbai felt both ashamed and indignant, yet also helpless.


    ...


    Xiao Yan pulled Lin Chushui to the stairwell. His tone rarely carried some anger: "You went overboard."


    "Boys shouldn''t interfere in girls'' affairs!"


    "But I''m determined to interfere in this." Xiao Yan provocatively patted her cheek with one hand and said coldly: "What great enmity is this to make you act so ruthlessly? You don''t know your own strength and don''t consider the consequences, Lin Chushui. You''re beyond saving."


    Lin Chushui gritted her teeth. His harsh words made her feel very aggrieved.


    When confronting Zhao Xiaolu earlier, she had felt courageous and fearless. She used to do whatever she wanted without inhibition.


    But now, under Xiao Yan''s piercing gaze, she felt very pathetic and bad.


    It was her bestie who was bullied by others, yet now it seemed like her own fault.


    Lin Chushui had no temper against Xiao Yan. She sat alone on the stairs, burying her head in her knees.


    She hadn''t felt such difort and grievance since her father''s passing.


    Only when Old Lin scolded her would she feel sad. After Dad was gone, there was no one in this world who could really make her cry, and no one could restrain her anymore.


    Lin Chushui wiped her tears forcefully on her sleeve. She didn''t want to cry at all, especially not in front of others, as that would seem weak.


    Sunlight streamed through the oblique skylight, dappling her body with soft radiance that made every strand of her hair shine.


    Gazing down at her, a surge of tender feelings arose in Xiao Yan''s heart.


    He knew it was the emotion of another soul in this body, not his own, but damn...


    He was still influenced by such feelings.


    The teenager eventually paced over and sat down next to her on the stairs.


    Lin Chushui nced sideways. Seeing his long legs spread open, upying two full steps,


    He moved closer to her and said in a gentle tone with inflections: "After such a long time, I''ve never seen you cry in front of others, only act coquettishly with me?"


    "I didn''t act coquettishly at all. You''re helping Zhao Xiaolu speak, aren''t you?"


    "Oh, so my elbows face outward?" Then he casually put his arm around her. "Does that mean you''re inside my elbow?"


    "Oh my god." Lin Chushui pushed him away, regardless of her distress. "Top scorer, have some self-respect."


    Xiao Yan no longer touched her. Bowing his head, he exined, "You''re someone my elbows face inward to. That''s why I scolded you. Have you ever seen me scold anyone else?"


    Lin Chushui had never heard him speak in such a gentle tone before. At least when they were together in the past, it was either mockery or quarreling.


    Looking at Xiao Yan, the boy''s side profile was cold and hard. The sunlight falling on his delicate skin made him look glowing white.


    At this moment, his gaze was extremely tender.


    Feeling aggrieved, Lin Chushui said, "She said I''m a fatherless mongrel with no one to keep me in check."


    "She didn''t say anything wrong. That''s just how you are."


    Lin Chushui red at him, too angry to stay. She got up to leave.


    Xiao Yan smiled faintly: "But now, I''m keeping you in check, aren''t I?"


    She was stopped by his grip on her right wrist. His palm was warm and his fingertips had rough calluses¡ª


    "Aren''t I keeping you in check?"

 Chapter 25: 26 Percent

    <h4>Chapter 25</h4>


    Lin ChuSui already heard Zhao Xiaolu crying andining when she was at the door of the office. She really did not want to go in.


    ording to her previous temper, she would have just slipped away, called Lu Chi and Zhang Chengyu, and yed video games all night outside the school gate. It would have been great to let Zhao Xiaolu make any kind of fuss she wanted in the school while she skipped sses for a few days. Any turmoil could be calmed down eventually.


    That was how she had been getting by these past two years.


    But now, Xiao Yan was standing right next to her.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t know why she had to listen to him, but she had followed him all the way to the office as if possessed.


    He said...he would take care of her.


    Although Lin ChuSui was unwilling and did not want to be disciplined, this sentence gave her tremendous reassurance. It was as if that drifting boat had found its beacon to navigate home.


    Was he her beacon?


    Lin ChuSui didn''t dare to confirm nor did she want to think about it.


    While she was lost in thought, Xiao Yan reached out and tidied her messy cor, calmly saying, "After going in, apologize first with a sincere attitude. Don''t yell at anyone. Then gently point out her mistakes. Use a tactful tone."


    "What is a tactful tone?"


    Xiao Yannguidly said, "Do you know how to act coy?"


    Lin ChuSui shook her head honestly: "I don''t know how."


    "Then what do you know?"


    "How to fight."


    "..."


    "I''ll only teach you once. Just remember my lines and say them to the teacherter."


    Lin ChuSui narrowed her eyes with interest as she looked at him: "Okay! Teach me."


    Xiao Yan cleared his throat: "Teacher, it''s all my fault. Although Zhao Xiaolu stole my best friend''s diary and posted it on the forum for everyone to ridicule and insult, no matter what I say, I shouldn''t have hit her. I feel very guilty."


    "Oh my god."


    Xiao Yan red at her and continued, "Teacher, please don''t me Zhao Xiaolu. There must be a reason why she did this. I believe she didn''t want to ruin Lu TianBai''s reputation either. It was just a moment of impulse. If you want to punish someone, then punish me. It''s all my fault." He added, "Remember to wipe your eyes with your sleeve after saying this."


    "..."


    "Did you get it?"


    Lin ChuSui gave him a thumbs up: "I bow to you!"


    Xiao Yan pushed her into the office. Lin ChuSui was still a little hesitant and said softly, "It''s a bit shameless."


    "Although shameless, it works."


    ...


    Lin ChuSui went into the office and put on quite a tearful show of selling misery ording to Xiao Yan''s script.


    Zhao Xiaolu looked at her in disbelief, having forgotten to keep crying andining.


    Lin ChuSui had always been straightforward. How did she learn the essential coy girl skills?


    Sure enough, homeroom teacher Qin turned to Zhao Xiaolu and asked her if she had read the diary.


    Zhao Xiaolu admitted equivocally, "Although I read the diary, Teacher Qin can''t let it go that Lu TianBai was in a precocious rtionship!"


    Lin ChuSui coldly nced at Zhao Xiaolu: "She didn''t confess or write any love letters. She just wrote some thoughts in her diary. If you want to punish that, then you should confiscate and thoroughly investigate all the girls'' diaries in our ss."


    Although Teacher Qin was a "grades-only" person, he was still reasonable in the end. How could he go after a female student''s diary thoughts?


    "That''s enough. You both made mistakes. Zhao Xiaolu was in the wrong first, but Lin ChuSui, you shouldn''t have hit someone either. Let''s just call it even."


    Walking out of the office, Zhao Xiaolu red fiercely at Lin ChuSui and threatened: "Just you wait and see."


    Lin ChuSui rolled her eyes: "Why would I be scared of you?"


    ...


    After school, Xiao Yan and Lin ChuSui walked out of the ssroom building.


    Lu Chi and the others were training on the field. Seeing Lin ChuSui return, they gathered around in concern.


    "How was it? Did Teacher Lin give you a hard time?"


    "With Zhao Xiaolu''s ability to distort right and wrong, this must have been difficult for Boss Lin."


    Lin ChuSui breezily said, "I got punished with a week of cleaning duty, but Zhao Xiaolu got it worse. Her parents were notified."


    "No way!" Lu Chi said in surprise. "Just cleaning duty? We thought you''d get put on probation or something!"


    "Who told you my deskmate is the school genius." Lin ChuSui patted Xiao Yan''s shoulder as thanks, but he nimbly dodged it.


    Lu Chi sincerely thanked Xiao Yan: "Thanks for your help this time."


    "Why are you thanking me?"


    "You helped Boss Lin."


    Xiao Yan asked earnestly, "Me helping her is between her and me. What does it have to do with you?"


    "Oh, um..."


    Xiao Yan told Lin ChuSui, "Remember to do your homework and the questions I circled for you."


    "Oh, I know." Lin ChuSui obediently nodded. "Got it."


    Xiao Yan rode away on his bike.


    "Hey!" Lin ChuSui suddenly called out to him, "School genius, I want to treat you to dinner as thanks!"


    She didn''t know if he heard her since there was no response. He just went straight on his way.


    Lin ChuSui watched his tall, upright figure disappear at the school gate.


    The sunset suddenly dropped down in the blink of an eye.


    Lu Chi waved his hand in front of Lin ChuSui''s staring eyes. "Your eyes are bulging out," he chuckled and asked, "Since when did you two get so close?"


    "He''s always been really good to me."


    "You knew what his intentions were early on, didn''t you?" Lu Chi walked to her side and squatted down, gossiping, "He''s always liked you and pursued you, right?"


    "Then why are you asking."


    "I''m asking about your attitude towards him! Offering to treat him to dinner, don''t tell me you''re really going to fall for him."


    "No way, impossible."


    Everyone in unison: "Yes way!"


    "..."


    Lu TianBai sat down next to Lin ChuSui and casually asked, "Can you forget about Qin Nai?"


    The mention of those two words, Qin Nai, made Lin ChuSui break out in goosebumps. "That''s ancient rotten history!"


    She hated it most when people brought up her old matters.


    "It''s only been two years though." Lu TianBai said, "Back then, you two...were also the hottest couple at our school. I heard he was depressed for a long time after you broke up."


    Qin Nai was Lin ChuSui''s first boyfriend, or rather, not exactly first love. People were always teasing them that they matched well, and somehow, their rtionship became ambiguous.


    Qin Nai was the school bully in middle school. His grades weren''t great, he was impulsive and irritable, but he was quite gentle to Lin ChuSui.


    Later, he went to a vocational high school nearby. She heard he got a new girlfriend quickly.


    Lin ChuSui hadn''t seen him again after that.


    Although the initial feeling was hard to forget, after all, they were young. Looking back now, that feeling...had basically be just history.


    "Forget about Qin Nai." Lu Chi waved his hand. "Although the guy looks decent, his personality is just...possessive and irritable. Men like him are prone to domestic violence. If I were Lin ChuSui''s dad, I wouldn''t just object. I''d threaten him with death!"


    "You can go die right now." Lin ChuSui twisted his ear. "Don''t joke about my dad."


    "Ow ow! It hurts!"


    Lu TianBai said, "Yeah,pared to Qin Nai, the school genius is much better. Good grades, handsome, and decent personality."


    Lin ChuSui let Lu Chi go. As he rubbed his ear, he said, "But I feel like Qin Nai''s fierceness is just an act without true viciousness inside. But our school genius, he looks normal on the outside but his eyes are...quite deep. I''m afraid he''s not quite right mentally."


    Lu TianBai: "You make him sound scary."


    "When have I ever been off about judging someone''s character? I predicted early on that Qin Nai would break up in less than half a year and immediately find a new girlfriend. Didn''t it happen in less than three months... Girls were already lining up for him..."


    Lin ChuSui stood up and brushed the grass off her pants. "Going home."


    "So early?"


    "Going home to do homework."


    Lu Chi felt it was a mood killer andined, "You just do whatever he tells you? You''re that obedient?"


    Lin ChuSui looked back: "He said that if I obediently finish the questions he circled and patiently listen to his exnations of the question steps, he''ll copy the rest of my homework for me."


    Lu Chi paused and looked at Lu TianBai. "How much does School Genius charge for tutoring again?"


    Lu TianBai counted on her fingers. "His fee system is tooplicated. I know a girl from another ss who got tutored by him for a month and spent like 7,000-8,000! But her grades went up by 200 points."


    "Dang...that''s really getting your money''s worth." Lu Chi asked again, "So how much does he charge Lin ChuSui?"


    "Zero." Lu TianBai said meaningfully: "Not only that, as long as she can get every question right, every morning the God of Learning will also give her aplimentary mango parfait."


    Lu Chi: ...


    If this is not considered love.


    <Lin ChuSui> wandered out of the school gate, following the street southwards, crossing over the overpass, then arriving at the old districts with rtively low buildings.


    The bustling night market street, <Xiao Yan>''s hot stew shop was extremely busy at the door, with a long queue formed.


    Moreover, people tend to follow the crowd. The longer the queue, the more interested the passersby became, so more and more customers gathered.


    It looked very busy.


    <Lin ChuSui>''s n to ask him out for dinner was probably going to fail.


    She strolled slowly along the long queue with her hands in her pockets, until she arrived at the door of the shop.


    At this time, her sister was probably at night school, leaving only <Xiao Yan> alone busy at the shop.


    The God of Learning wore a ck T-shirt with an apron. His beautiful ck eyes were lowered, and his hands were busy flipping severaldles, skillfully searing the hot stew.


    Few boys could pull off a t-top haircut. The vast majority of boys at school had bangs, very Korean style.


    However, <Xiao Yan> insisted on a neat and clean t-top hairstyle, which made his features even more rugged, his facial features clear and distinct, just like a male lead who walked out of an idol drama.


    The girls queuing stared at <Xiao Yan> without moving their eyes, even more attentively than watching a brain-burning suspense drama, afraid of missing every frame of this man.


    Is he really that good-looking?


    <Lin ChuSui> wondered to herself as she strolled to the front of the shop, chewing gum, and waited for him leisurely.


    <Xiao Yan> knew she hade, but didn''t respond to her, and continued with his work.


    "Can I take a picture?" A girl queuing asked him, "I''ll pay 50 yuan for it."


    <Xiao Yan> nced at <Lin ChuSui>, and politely declined: "No pictures today."


    "Okay." The girl looked slightly disappointed.


    <Lin ChuSui> blew a bubble. The bubble stuck around her lips, then was swept back in by her tongue.


    She was in a good mood, and happily said, "Boss, I want to order."


    <Xiao Yan> asked indifferently: "What do you want?"


    "Anything is fine, as long as you make it, but not spicy."


    <Xiao Yan> deliberately took out a pot of freshly cooked soup, then picked out a few dishes she liked and served them to <Lin ChuSui>.


    Just then, the girl next to her said very rudely, "You... how can you cut in line?"


    <Lin ChuSui> nced at her and said righteously, "I''m not a customer."


    "Then who are you?"


    "I''m his..."


    Just as the word "ssmate" was about toe out, <Xiao Yan> said, "She''s the boss''s wife, she doesn''t need to line up."


    <Lin ChuSui> nearly choked on her chewing gum.

 Chapter 26: How Weak Are You

    <h4>Chapter 26</h4>


    Lin ChuSui sat at the small table in the inner room, slowly chewing and swallowing the bowl of hot broth and braised food, staring intently at Xiao Yan''s busy back.


    What was with this guy?


    Previously, he had flirted more discreetly, but recently, with his "I¡¯m in charge of you" and calling her ¡°bossdy¡±... wasn¡¯t this a direct frontal attack?


    As Lin ChuSui stirred the piping hot food in her bowl, she felt somewhatplicated.


    It was getting harder and harder to refuse him.


    How annoying.


    At eight o''clock in the evening, Xiao Yan put up the closed sign and started tidying up the tables and taking out ingredients from the cupboards to prepare the braising liquid for tomorrow in advance.


    "Where''s your sister?" she asked with concern.


    "She runs the shop during the day and goes to night school in the evening to take sses, so shees back veryte."


    "Then doesn''t that mean you have to workte into the night, finish your homework, and stay up until the early morning?!"


    With the amount of homework that Rocket ss B got, if Lin ChuSui did it properly, each subject would take her at least 4 hours.


    "Let me help you," she said enthusiastically as she rolled up her sleeves and walked over. "That way you can save some time to do your homework and go to bed earlier."


    "No need." Xiao Yan nced at her indifferently. "It seems that someone who''s attending ss has already finished her homework."


    "..."


    Self-inflicted humiliation!


    Lin ChuSui walked to the braising pot, picked up thedle, and helped him stir the liquid as she muttered in a muffled voice, "Xiao Yan, don''t go work at ces like the Xiting Club."


    Xiao Yan''s dish washing hands paused, his expression unchanged. "Why?"


    "I don''t know, I just feel ufortable about it."


    ces like that were heaven for the rich and hell for the poor. Lin ChuSui couldn''t bear to see someone as proud as him get bullied there.


    "If you''re short on money or have an urgent need, I can get 50,000 yuan if I win the marathon..."


    "No need."


    "Why?"


    "Because with your little short legs, you might not even get the championship."


    "..."


    Looking to battle again, huh! Come on then!


    Xiao Yan''s dark eyes lowered, turbulence churning within. "Lin ChuSui, don''t pity me."


    I''m not worth it, not deserving of it.


    She didn''t know of his intentions in getting close to her at all.


    Lin ChuSui muttered, "I''m just treating you like a friend."


    "Would you use the marathon prize money to help Lu Chi or Zhang Chengyu pay off debts?"


    "Uh..."


    Probably not.


    "But you''re not Zhang Chengyu or Lu Chi. You''re Xiao Yan."


    He smiled bleakly, "What''s the difference with Xiao Yan?"


    "How would I know?!" Lin ChuSui was a little angry being questioned like this and threw down thedle. "If you don''t want it, then forget it. Who''s begging you?"


    Xiao Yan looked deeply at her, and the mission progress bar in the lower right corner jumped again.


    He knew that this girl was starting to like him, to fall in love with him, at a speed she wasn''t even aware of herself.


    His heart felt stuffy, and he no longer had the same pleasure as before from moving the progress bar forward.


    Xu Jianing was a hypocrite, but Xiao Yan...


    Had always been a true viin.


    He was a worm that crawled out from the mud, never honorable.


    When he was young at the orphanage, in order to get adopted faster, he learned to paint and y chess better than the other kids...to stand out from them.


    After getting adopted, he tried to do everything to please his parents...


    But all of it was futile.


    After that terrifying surgery, he lost the chance to be a healthy child. Hatred consumed his everything, and he endured for many years before taking revenge for himself.


    And this time, simrly, he would stop at nothing to gain the right to live.


    Clearly, the progress bar was moving faster and faster.


    But his heart...was getting more and more ufortable.


    Xiao Yan took a deep breath, looking steadily at her as he said in a low voice, "50,000 is far from enough."


    "Still not enough?" Lin ChuSui eximed in surprise. "Uh, just how much do you owe exactly?"


    "A lot, and a life too."


    But I don''t n on repaying it.


    ...


    At night, Lin ChuSui walked along the street pushing her bike, while Xiao Yan sat on the back with his long legs dangling yfully against the ground.


    "You''re supposed to be sending me home, yet I''m the one pushing the bike!" Lin ChuSui grumbled, "You should be the one giving me a ride, got it?"


    "I''m not well physically," Xiao Yan said. "I can''t do anything too strenuous."


    "Earlier you were saying your body was perfectly fine."


    "Earlier, I was afraid you''d mind." His voice was light as he smiled. "I overthought it. You don''t actually mind at all."


    Lin ChuSui turned back to rub his head. "No matter what you think, it''s just wishful thinking! A goddess does not regret falling for a mortal!"


    "Is that so?"


    The moonlight was cold as water. There were few pedestrians on the street, only their lone shadows slowly moving forward under the moonlight, one walking and one sitting.


    Lin ChuSui seemed to intentionally walk very slowly, and Xiao Yan didn''t rush her either, dangling his feet tipsily against the ground.


    She couldn''t help but nce back at him. The shallow ck eyes of the youth looked at her with a hint of tenderness in his smile.


    She immediately turned her head back around, her heartbeat inexplicably speeding up.


    Just then, several men blocked their way ahead.


    Lin ChuSui recognized one of them, Zhao Xiaolu.


    She had taken off her school uniform and wore a punk-style cropped tank top showing her navel,ughing coldly as she beckoned to Lin ChuSui.


    The few men also looked like small-time gangsters, their expressions unfriendly as they stood around Zhao Xiaolu.


    The man beside Zhao Xiaolu was her sworn brother, a student from the vocational high school next door and a juvenile delinquent.


    "What do you want?" Lin ChuSui said coldly. "Zhao Xiaolu, looking to get revenge?"


    Zhao Xiaoluughed. "Where are those inseparable followers of yours? I was nning to have my brothers practice with them, but unexpectedly you''re alone tonight."


    She looked Xiao Yan up and down. "Oh, out on a date with the ss genius?"


    Xiao Yan parked the bike at the roadside, seemingpletely unconcerned about the group as he movedzily.


    Lin ChuSui looked around and saw that Zhao Xiaolu hade prepared for a group fight, calling over seven or eight people who were clearly experienced brawlers.


    If it was just her alone, she naturally wouldn''t be afraid of these guys, but now Xiao Yan was with her.


    She didn''t want the ss genius to get dragged into these fights, so she said, "This has nothing to do with my deskmate. Let him go. We can resolve our own grudges."


    Zhao Xiaolu said, "Can''t do that. Since you two are together tonight, consider it his bad luck."


    Lin ChuSui said irritably, "If he hadn''t shown up to save you today, you would''ve met King Yama in the underworld already!"


    Zhao Xiaolu clicked her tongue. "Did he save me? Wasn''t it because he was afraid you''d get in trouble? You wicked creatures, if one is cursed, you should suffer it together. Anyway, nothing good ever happens to those around you. You''re a jinx!"


    Lin ChuSui instinctively blocked Xiao Yan behind her, eyeing the men warily.


    She could tell these tattooed big brothers were definitely not upstanding characters.


    "Zhao Xiaolu, I won''t fight you tonight. Next time when we''re free, we can meet up again. You''ve brought all these people today, I''ll face you alone."


    Zhao Xiaolu realized Lin ChuSui was backing down this time, purely for the sake of her weak, powerless little boyfriend behind her.


    The more she cared about him, the more Zhao Xiaolu was unwilling to let her off easily.


    In all these years, she''d never seen Lin ChuSui afraid of anything.


    "We''ll settle today''s grudges today. Either you let my brothers beat you two up to get back at me for the humiliation I suffered today, or..."


    "You kneel and apologize."


    Lin ChuSui stared fixedly at Zhao Xiaolu. After a moment, the corners of her lips quirked up as she casually said, "Fine, it''s just an apology, isn''t it? You said that after I apologize, you''ll let us go."


    Zhao Xiaolu thought she would stubbornly refuse to the end, but didn''t expect her to give in so easily. "To avoid your little boyfriend getting beat up, you''re pretty decisive huh."


    "My deskmate''s health isn''t good." Lin ChuSui looked her in the eye. "My apology is enough, right?"


    Zhao Xiaolu emphasized, "I said, kneel and apologize."


    "I heard you." Lin ChuSui pretended to be rxed. "I really don''t get why you people always like making others kneel. It''s just kneeling for a bit, not like I''m losing any flesh right?"


    "Whether you''ll lose any flesh or not, that''ll be clear after you kneel."


    Xiao Yan''s gaze lowered to see the girl''s hands clenched into trembling fists beneath her sleeves.


    Yet she still smiled easily, and sank to her knees. "I apologize..."


    However, before her knees could touch the ground, she was lifted up by the shoulders by the man behind her, effortlessly.


    Lin ChuSui was slightly shocked, but saw Xiao Yan strolling over slowly, with his straight backpletely shielding her behind him, like a solid mountain range.


    "First of all, I''m not small, I''m not her ''little'' boyfriend." The corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "Secondly, I''m not in good health, but I do know some fighting skills."


    What happened next really shocked and astonished Lin ChuSui, it really opened her eyes.


    She had seen several boxes of medicine in Xiao Yan''s locker before, and had always thought he was a sickly academic nerd who didn''t like sports, and didn''t even like ying basketball.


    She didn''t expect that when he made a move, he was so smooth and urate, hitting all the vital parts. His moves were definitely trained, and he knocked down those little gangsters in no time.


    What surprised Lin ChuSui even more was that he treated males and females equally. After taking care of those gangsters, he grabbed Zhao Xiaolu''s hair and heavily mmed her against the wall.


    Zhao Xiaolu was even more surprised, she didn''t expect the usually gentle academic star to be so vicious. She was mmed dizzy and her head was buzzing.


    "Xiao Yan, you bastard!"


    Xiao Yan''s eyes were cold, and his voice was even colder. "You''re the one who should apologize."


    "Dream on!"


    "The ID that posted on the forum was yours, right? I traced it back to your other little ount. You had exposed many people''s secrets on the forum before, including a video of a girl''s restroom. The girl who got filmed has dropped out of school now, right?"


    Zhao Xiaolu looked at him in disbelief. "How...how do you know..."


    The man in front of her smiled so gently and harmlessly, but his eyes were so cold, it sent chills down her spine.


    What a demon!


    "You gathered so many people to cause trouble for my little ChuSui, you didn''t even check your phone right?"


    As he said that, he let go of Zhao Xiaolu. "Why don''t you take a look now?"


    Zhao Xiaolu ran a few steps after getting free, then looked back at Xiao Yan suspiciously.


    Xiao Yan and Lin ChuSui still stood in their original spots.


    She took out her phone with trembling hands.


    There were several missed calls, from the ss advisor and her parents. The ss group chat had also exploded -


    "Damn, all these IDs are Zhao Xiaolu''s?"


    "I''d call her the Queen of Sock Puppets."


    "So the restroom peeping incident was done by her too, how disgusting!"


    "I can''t believe a girl would do this to another girl, gross!"


    "She made Wang RuXin drop out from shame, ruined someone''s life!"


    "People like her should be chopped into pieces."


    ...


    Zhao Xiaolu''s face turned pale purple as she trembled, she could barely stand, and knelt down in the corner, scared out of her wits.


    Xiao Yan was toozy to bother with her. He pushed his bike and said to Lin ChuSui, "Get on, let''s go home."


    Lin ChuSui still hadn''t recovered. At his words, she nced at him.


    Under the moonlight, Xiao Yan no longer had that fierce and cold look when fighting. As he looked at her, his dark eyes were exceptionally gentle, in a way she had never seen before.


    Her heart started racing again.


    Task progress: 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%...


    Seeing the progress bar rising like crazy again, Xiao Yan lowered his eyes and looked at the bike handlebars.


    A light breeze blew by, his mood...was unusually gentle for once -


    "Let''s go, my good girl."

 Chapter 27: Nothing Can Be Done

    <h4>Chapter 27</h4>


    Lin ChuSui was lying in bed drawing circles, staring nkly at the ceiling.


    She could never have imagined that Xiao Yan would actually fight, let alone that he could dig up all those unknown dark histories about Zhao Xiaolu.


    The online forums were in an uproar tonight, with ss chats and school groups all discussing the incident.


    Zhao Xiaolu waspletely done for.


    Today Xiao Yan had even dragged Lin ChuSui to the teacher''s office to apologize, but as soon as they turned around... he started gathering evidence against Zhao Xiaolu.


    His scheming ran so deep, his methods so ruthless, it was unimaginable.


    Lin ChuSui thought about what the gossip queen Zhang Cheng Yu had mentioned about Xiao Yan''s past - how he had gambled his own life to set a fire thatnded his foster father in jail.


    This man... She had always taken him for a pure and innocent "little white rabbit", but it turned out he was the devil incarnate!


    Lin ChuSui felt a little foolish. She had stood stupidly in front of him today, almost kneeling to Zhao Xiaolu, just to prevent these boys from bullying and beating him.


    A man like Xiao Yan could never be bullied by anyone.


    [Nancheng No.1 High School Belle Chat]


    Lin ChuSui recounted the incident to her friends.


    Lu Chi: "It was actually done by Xiao Yan? I thought Zhao Xiaolu had provoked some mortal enemy! What massive grudge could spur this?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "No grudge or enmity, just because she set up your little sister, and she happens to be ChuSui''s only bestie."


    Lu Chi: "I''ll haul the civil affairs bureau over and have you two married on the spot!"


    Lin ChuSui: "He did all this for me?"


    Lu Chi: "For who else? Me?"


    Lin ChuSui wasn''t sure. She felt like a man like Xiao Yan was worlds apart from her. If they hadn''t coincidentally be deskmates, the trajectories of their lives... would never have crossed.


    He was smart, handsome, and could easily attract a flock of admirers with a snap of his fingers.


    Since Elder Lin had left, Lin ChuSui''s confidence had mostly dissipated.


    She really didn''t know what Xiao Yan could possibly like about her.


    Lin ChuSui: "I feel like he has some ulterior motive with me."


    Xu JiaNing: "A guy who scores 9/10 in maths, what could he be plotting against you - your bad temper or failing grades?"


    Lin ChuSui: "I''ll have you know myst test score was 57, thank you."


    Xu JiaNing: "You''re proud of 57 points?"


    Lin ChuSui: "One person scored 147, another 150. The 3 point gap between geniuses and gods is the distance between heaven and earth, fish and birds."


    Xu JiaNing''s sore spot was poked right on, making him snap irritably: "Punk!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Somebody''s mad now."


    Xu JiaNing sent an emoji of "Go crawl away", and exited the chat.


    Not two minutester, Lu TianBai added him right back in, and privately messaged Lin ChuSui:


    "Sis, please, I''m begging you! "


    Lin ChuSui: "Alright, alright, I won''t provoke him anymore."


    ...


    She backtracked and sent Xiao Yan a WeChat: "Forgot to ask, were you injured from the fight today?"


    Right after sending, she quickly unsent it.


    Why was she inexplicably concerned about him!


    But at the same moment of her unsend, Xiao Yan''s reply came through: "No."


    Two secondster, he also chose to unsend it.


    Even just chatting via text, Lin ChuSui could still feel a certain indescribable awkwardness.


    After a while, she asked: "What did you unsend?"


    Xiao Yan: "Then what did you unsend?"


    Lin ChuSui: "I wanted to ask you to let me copy your math homework, but figured you definitely wouldn''t, so asking was pointless. That''s what I unsent."


    Xiao Yan: "What I unsent was the math homework."


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui: "Then would you mind resending it?"


    Xiao Yan: "I would."


    Lin ChuSui: "Nevermind then. "


    A few minutester, Xiao Yan added: "To avoid a beating, you''d kneel and apologize to someone? I thought you weren''t thepromising type."


    Lin ChuSui: "I did it so a certain someone wouldn''t get beaten, okay! "


    Xiao Yan: "I know."


    Suddenly the atmosphere turned somewhat strange and awkward. Lin ChuSui''s cheeks flushed red, and she went to sit by the bay window, letting the breeze blow in and lightly caress her face.


    It had rained, and the wind carried specks of raindrops.


    A few minutester, Xiao Yan sent over several pictures in session. When Lin ChuSui opened the originals, they were the answers to the math homework.


    "?"


    Xiao Yan: "Repaying my debt."


    Lin ChuSui put on an act, politely declining: "Oh no, don''t worry about it. No debts here - we''re deskmates, it''s only right for me to protect you. I''m just that righteous and noble deskmate."


    [Xiao Yan unsent an image.]


    Lin ChuSui: "Thank you sir! I wish you great fortune and longevity!"


    She then quickly saved the remaining homework pics:


    "Don''t unsend! Don''t do it! I kneel to you sir!"


    ...


    That night however, it was Xiao Yan who couldn''t sleep.


    It had been a long time since hest suffered insomnia, after sending his foster father to jail and gradually emerging from the gloom of his youth. He had new goals then, and his life also began brightening. He never had insomnia again after that.


    But tonight was one of restless tossing and turning.


    That 30% progress bar contained the sincerity of the little girl''s heart that remained unclear to him.


    The faster the progress bar ran, the moreplicated his feelings grew.


    In this world, the most difficult debt to repay was that of the heart.


    He suddenly didn''t know what to do anymore.


    Just then, Lin XiuZe''s voice, silent for so long, sounded again:


    "The February wind like scissors, for whom does the moon stand in the cold night? Xiao Yan, why aren''t you asleep sote into the night?"


    Xiao Yan: "I was thinking, the reason Lin ChuSui''s ssical poetry is so good is that I''ve finally figured it out."


    Lin XiuZe smiled and said: "Xiao Yan, we now share the same body. I know when your conscience pains you."


    After the possession, Lin XiuZe came to know all of Xiao Yan''s past. Because he had been deceived and hurt before, he no longer understood how to treat others with sincerity.


    In his world, there was only deceit and escape, not kindness.


    To hand over a sincere heart was as difficult as ascending to heaven for him.


    But over this period, his heart... was slowly beginning to waver.


    Lin XiuZe: "Xiao Yan, I quite like you."


    Xiao Yan: "Thanks, but no need for that. Just say what you want to say."


    Lin XiuZe: "I just wanted to ask if you''d like some QQ candy?"


    Xiao Yan: "If I eat your QQ candy, I''ll have to be good friends with your family''s little darling?"


    Lin XiuZe: "Bing boyfriend and girlfriend works too. But only after the college entrance exams - I see good prospects for you there!"


    "..."


    With the marathon approaching, Lin ChuSui''s training had also entered a period of intense preparation. She wouldn''t return home until veryte everyday.


    On the eve of the race, Xu JiaNing happened to overhear a phone conversation between Xu SongBai and their homeroom teacher while passing by the study.


    "I won''t let her participate in the marathon, even if she can win prizes.


    "Even if she just tests into a tier 2 or 3 college, it doesn''t matter. She can study finance and ounting, and have a good career path joining thepany in the future. Even if you say to let her pursue sports, so what if she gets into a top university? She won''t be able to do anything if she joins thepany - make her a security guard?"


    "This is me considering what''s best for the child''s future."


    "At this age children don''t know anything about their interests, they just make a fuss over ytime. Only adults know what''s truly best for them."


    "Teacher, no need to say anymore. I''m very busy, that''s it."


    After Xu SongBai hung up, he saw Xu JiaNing and asked: "You''re back from school?"


    "Mm."


    "Have the auntie heat up some food for you. Oh right, your sister''s not back yet?"


    "No."


    "Keep an eye on her more often, with no father and unwilling to listen to me, you''re peers - help her more with studying in school."


    Xu JiaNing lowered his eyes without answering.


    The older generation really could be so naive.


    Theplex rtionship between him and Lin ChuSui, how could it be summed up simply as "brother and sister"?


    They didn''t know anything, or perhaps they just didn''t care.


    Xu JiaNing turned and entered his room. Pushing open the door, he saw the guitar that had been forbidden and collecting dust.


    He looked back at Xu SongBai and suddenly said loudly: "She''s pretty good at athletics, I''ve seen it. Runs better than a bunch of boys, ys basketball decently too..."


    Xu SongBai''s expression darkened: "Mind your own business."


    Xu Jia Ning pursed his lips and said in a deep voice, "What you consider a sessful life may only be one kind. But everyone is different, and she also has things she likes to do. You should allow for diverse lives..."


    "Are you itching for a beating again?" Xu Song Bai scolded harshly, "Mind your own business. I''ll take care of my sister, don''t stand up for her here!"


    "She''s not your daughter..."


    "Shut up!" Xu Song Bai looked really angry as he yelled, "Even though she''s not blood-rted to me, I will take care of her like a biological father! I won''t let her continue to make mistakes on the wrong life path!"


    Xu Jia Ning didn''t say anything more, turned around and went back to his room, mming the door shut.


    ...


    Lin ChuSui was a little nervous about the marathon tomorrow. On her way home, she was jogging and doing warm-up exercises.


    She really wanted toe in first ce.


    These past two years, she had lived in a muddled way like a waste, and had never seeded at anything. Her grades had plummeted.


    However, the marathon was something she had once been very proud of. She had gotten a top five finish.


    She liked running, liked going around mountains andkes with her dad, always running under the stars and moonlight.


    After her dad left, she stopped running.


    She drew a line around herself, put a lid over her head, and shut out all the light that shone into her life.


    But now, it seemed the lid had been pried open a little, and a ray of light shone in.


    She wanted to run again, win the prize money, and at the same time earn her way into college, and then...


    She also wanted to prove something to someone, prove that she wasn''t a useless trash.


    She was also a very outstanding girl.


    That someone always came in first ce, so she also wanted to take first ce to show him.


    Lin ChuSui had just run to the entrance of the residentialplex when Xu Jia Ning''s bike drifted around the corner at high speed and stopped in front of her.


    "Xu Jia Ning, what''s wrong with you?"


    The sudden braking nearly made her crash into him.


    Xu Jia Ning was riding the bike with one foot on the ground. He said, "Don''t go back tonight. Get a hotel room."


    "Why?"


    "Old Xu won''t tolerate you going to run the marathon. Tomorrow he''ll find a way to stop you from leaving, maybe even lock you in your room."


    Lin ChuSui said, "Damn, is Master Xu really that petty?"


    "..."


    "Don''t scold my dad."


    "Then why are you helping me?"


    Xu Jia Ning shrugged. "To get first ce on the midterm exam. Doing good deeds for karma. I just saw a stray dog and fed it."


    The corner of Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched. "No need to go that far. Even if you gold te a Bodhisattva statue at the temple, you can''t get first ce."


    Xu Jia Ning didn''t want to battle her with words. "I''ve given you the heads up. Do your good deed, scram."


    Lin ChuSui caught up with him and said, "Then brother, since you¡¯re helping, help me all the way and give me some cash. I don''t have any money on me."


    Xu Jia Ning felt his wallet and pulled out a £¤100 bill for her.


    "Only 100 yuan. I can only stay at an inte cafe for the night..."


    "I don''t care where you go."


    Xu Jia Ning said lightly and then pedaled away slowly at sunset.


    Lin ChuSui tilted her head and uncertainly asked him, "We''re enemies, right?"


    Xu Jia Ning said, "Yes."


    "Then why did you report secrets to the enemy?"


    "Because I was bored."


    Lin ChuSui smiled lightly. "I feel you''re not as annoying as the first time we met."


    "The first time we met, you snatched my drink. Who was more annoying?"


    "But you were badmouthing me on the phone to someone else."


    "You stuck gum on my bike!"


    "You always looked at me with disdain and contempt."


    Xu Jia Ningzily said, "I always look like this. It''s not specifically aimed at you."


    Lin ChuSui pouted. "Brother, there''s always a higher mountain. Don''t be so arrogant. Like on thest math test, the study master got 150, but you only got 147..."


    Xu Jia Ning lowered his voice and interrupted her, "If you bring that up again, I¡¯ll kick you off the bike."


    Lin ChuSui burst outughing. Her tinklingughter apanied them down the road.


    The corner of Xu Jia Ning''s mouth also involuntarily curved up slightly.


    ...


    When they passed the bar street, Lin ChuSui saw a girl on the street who looked a little familiar.


    She was tall and thin, wearing a sexy grey strappy dress that clung to her body. The hem wrapped around her butt and revealed a pair of long, fair legs.


    She seemed to be drunk, holding high heels in one hand and a small bag in the other, staggering down the street.


    With such a good figure, slender waist and long legs, anyone passing by would find it hard not to let their gaze linger on her.


    Lin ChuSui stared at her for a while, then called out in surprise, "Sister Xiao!"


    Xiao Qian looked back and saw Lin ChuSui. Her narrow, phoenix eyes lifted up. "Oh, little Chu."


    Xu Jia Ning saw she had met an acquaintance, so he pressed the brake and put one foot down to stop next to Xiao Qian.


    "Sister, what are you doing here?"


    Xiao Qian was drunk and leaning against amppost. "No night ss today. I came out for a drink. Don''t... tell my brother. He doesn''t let me drink..."


    "Okay, I won''t say anything."


    From Xu Jia Ning''s position on the bike, his line of sight happened to fall right on the fair and perky cleavage of the tall woman. He then unnaturally averted his gaze.


    "Lin ChuSui, she''s your friend?"


    Lin ChuSui supported the swaying Xiao Qian and exined, "She''s Xiao Yan''s sister."


    Xiao Qian also saw Xu Jia Ning. Her rosy lips curved up even more. She patted his head, "Oh, this little brother is so handsome! Even more so than my brother."


    Lin ChuSui said, "Sister Xiao, are you seeing things?"


    Xu Jia Ning couldpare with Xiao Yan?


    Xiao Qian''s slender fingers came down and pinched Xu Jia Ning''s chin, gently lifting it up. "Mm, more good-looking than my brother."


    The faint floral scent from her fair, delicate wrist made Xu Jia Ning''s heart beat erratically. And this provocative gesture made even his earlobes turn red¨D


    "Don''t... touch me."


    Xu Jia Ning awkwardly turned his head away from her hand.


    A boy his age was most susceptible to teasing, especially by a ripe, translucent woman like Xiao Qian.


    "Are you little Chu''s boyfriend?" Xiao Qian hugged Lin ChuSui''s shoulder and joked, "That won''t do. Little Chu is ours!"


    Xu Jia Ning immediately exined, "I''m her brother."


    Xiao Qian''s brows arched like the moon, frowning and smiling coquettishly. "That''s good then."


    "Sister Xiao, let me take you home. It''s dangerous for you to be out here alone like this."


    "Okay, I was about to call a... a car to go home anyway."


    "Xu Jia Ning, go on ahead yourself. I''ll take Sister Xiao home."


    Xu Jia Ning couldn''t help but nce at Xiao Qian again. On impulse he said, "She''s drunk like this, she''ll throw up in a taxi."


    "Huh?"


    "I can give her a ride."


    "What???"


    Lin ChuSui was dumbfounded. When did fake gentleman Xu Jia Ning be a real gentleman?


    Xu Jia Ning calmly said to Xiao Qian, "Riding a bike, you can also sober up from the wind. What do you think?"


    "I want to feel the wind." Xiao Qian sat on the back of Xu Jia Ning''s bike, babbling drunkenly, "This brother is more considerate than Brother Yan! Sister likes you!"


    The corner of Xu Jia Ning''s mouth subtly pressed together. After she was seated steadily, he pedaled the bike and set off¨D


    "Don''t move, don''t fall."


    "Hm?"


    "Just... be careful not to fall."


    "Haha."


    Xiao Qianughed heartily, throwing open both arms and suddenly bear hugged Xu Jia Ning tightly around the waist. "Like this I won''t fall!"


    Lin ChuSui was going to do a warm up jog for the marathon anyway, so she simply chased after them.


    She tilted her head and saw Xiao Qian clinging tightly to Xu Jia Ning, pressed right up against him. And she was wearing a sexy little strappy dress too.


    Xu Jia Ning''s face was as red as a boiler, as if it was about to start steaming.


    Lin Chu Sui worriedly shouted, "Sister! Don''t let him take advantage of you!"


    Xiao Qian waspletely oblivious, blinking sleepily at Lin Chu Sui: "Little Chu Sui, you run so fast, you''ll definitely get first ce in the marathon!"


    "Sister, you... Oh, don''t hug him."


    "Let go, let go! Xu Jia Ning, you scoundrel!"


    Xu Jia Ning silently quickened his pedaling pace, leaving Lin Chu Sui behind.

 Chapter 28: Hide in the Closet

    <h4>Chapter 28</h4>


    Xu Jia Ning often dreamed of his mother, dreamed of the red suitcase she was carrying when she left, she didn''t even look back at him.


    She left very decisively.


    Xu Jia Ning hinted to himself countless times that he should hate her, hate her for abandoning him, he should even erase the word "mother" from his mind.


    But after all, he was not the kind of person who loved and hated to the bone.


    London''s mild and humid oceanic climate all year round also blew his heart very soft. He was gentle and aloof to others, not going to extremes, rarely emotional.


    Over the years, the longing for his mother eventually outweighed the hatred.


    He thought that as long as he could be more excellent, perhaps his mother would see him and be proud of him.


    Xu Jia Ning had always worked very hard.


    This also made him neverck of shy pursuers around him, he seemed to attract the liking of innocent little girls in particr.


    But Xu Jia Ning was unmoved by the young and innocent little girls, he even thought he was immune to the opposite sex for a time.


    Until this moment, his heart was coated with ayer of moonlight in the gloomy night.


    ...


    The night breeze blew on her face, Xiao Qian seemed to have sobered up a bit, and was no longer hugging him.


    Xu Jia Ning rode his bike through the winding alleys and stopped in front of a shabby old residential building in the old city: "Is this it?"


    "Yes, thank you little brother."


    Xiao Qian picked up her bag and got up, her figure staggered a bit, and Xu Jia Ning instinctively grabbed her little arm.


    The skin was as smooth as fat, the slightly cool touch transmitted along the most sensitive nerves at his fingertips all the way to his brain.


    Xu Jia Ning''s heart contracted.


    Xiao Qian saw the shyness of the teenager, she pursed her lips delicately and withdrew her hand modestly.


    Lin ChuSui trotted over puffing and panting, having run nearly two kilometers, but she was not out of breath and her breathing was still calm: "Sister, is Xiao Yan at home?"


    "He should be in the shop."


    "Oh."


    "What''s up, are you looking for him?"


    Lin ChuSui waved her hands again and again: "No no, just...just asking."


    "By the way, aren''t you staying in a hotel tonight? Why don''t you just sleep with sister." Xiao Qian said to Lin ChuSui: "No need to waste money staying in a hotel."


    "Ah, that would be great!" Lin ChuSui said emotionally: "Fake foreigner... Xu Jia Ning only gave me one hundred dors, one hundred dors can''t even stay in a capsule hotel, I can only stay in a small inn."


    Xiao Qian put her arm around Lin ChuSui and asked Xu Jia Ning for his consent: "Is it okay, little brother?"


    Lin ChuSui didn''t think Xu Jia Ning would agree, after all he and Xiao Yan were very hostile, but unexpectedly he readily agreed: "Then I''ll leave her in your care."


    "You, you are so rude." Xiao Qian patted his head reproachfully: "I call you little brother, so you should call me sister like little Chu and Xiao Yan."


    Xu Jia Ning did not even avoid it, allowing Xiao Qian to pat his head.


    "I''m a little older than Lin ChuSui, so... you''re not much older than me."


    "Is that so, how old are you?"


    Xu Jia Ning very dishonestly and guiltily said: "Nine...teen..."


    Just a few months short, might as well count it.


    "Huh, aren''t you and Xiao Yan ssmates? Neen years old and still in high school?"


    "I studied in Ennd before, took a year ofnguage sses before enrollment, and this time when I came back, in order to take the college entrance exam, I repeated a grade."


    "Even if you''re neen, you''re still much younger than me, so you and Xiao Yan are both my little brothers."


    "How old are you?"


    Xiao Qian jokingly said: "Thirty."


    She didn''t expect Xu Jia Ning to be deterred by this inted age, but he nodded silently and said, "That''s the best age for a woman."


    Xiao Qian looked at the teenager''s sincere expression, she really couldn''t help but be happy, and said gently with a smile: "You really know how to talk, I don''t want Xiao Yan anymore, you can be my little brother instead."


    Lin ChuSui immediately said: "Sis, don''t believe him, he''s like this to everyone! Pretentious, hypocritical..."


    "Hmm?"


    Lin ChuSui looked at Xu Jia Ning, and finally shut up.


    Considering that he gave her the heads up today, she shouldn''t undermine him.


    However, the cheap brother''s performance today was very unusual.


    ...


    That night, after Lin ChuSui took a bath and changed into Xiao Qian''s little white nightgown, she sat on the sofa scratching her head trying to do math problems.


    In the past, she basically couldn''t even understand the questions, but in recent times, after Xiao Yan''s "one-on-one premium course", Lin ChuSui discovered that many of the questions seemed familiar.


    She had an amazing memory, so the content Xiao Yan had taught her, as long as she put her heart into it, could leave a rough impression.


    Therefore, many simple questions, as long as she followed the memorized forms to work through, it seemed... she could also calcte the answer.


    Lin ChuSui flipped through her workbook, and was surprised to find that her correctness rate in thest few pages seemed to be on par with the error rate, she carefully counted the checks her teacher gave her, more than a few crosses.


    Unknowingly, her weakest math didn''t seem so hopeless anymore.


    The members of the [Nancheng No. 1 Middle School Belle Group] chat group were working together toplete their homework.


    Lu Chi: "@Lin ChuSui, did the study god give you his math homework?"


    Lin ChuSui: "No."


    Lu Chi: "Didn''t he say that as long as you finish the questions he assigned, he would give you his homework to copy?"


    Lin ChuSui: "The questions he assigned are the math homework. I do it myself first, then he exins it to me again, and then I copy it again based on understanding."


    Lu Chi: "..."


    "This is called giving you his homework to copy? Can you agree to this?"


    Lin ChuSui somehow agreed to Xiao Yan''s request unknowingly, she found that she was increasingly unable to refuse any of his demands. She didn''t want to see the disappointed look in his eyes.


    When someone was supervising her, she hated to get rid of the restraints and be free and easy, but when she was really unsupervised, she knew how much she envied those "kites" on a string.


    Although the kite was pulled by the string and didn''t have the boundless freedom imagined, the other end of the string was where the heart settled.


    After dad left, Lin ChuSui was blown around by the wind, not knowing where she would drift.


    It was hard to have someone grab her string and tell her "I will supervise you from now on."


    She didn''t want to let that person down.


    Lu Chi: "Boss Chu, you are the only spy among us who can infiltrate the enemy. Is the honey trap not working, or is it not fun to y dead, and actually let the study god lead you by the nose?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Your boss Chu disdains to copy. If I really wanted to copy, the study god would dly hand over his homework with both hands."


    Lu Chi: "Sitting here waiting."


    Seeing that Xiao Qian was drunk asleep and Xiao Yan hadn''te back yet, Lin ChuSui tiptoed to the door of his room.


    Pushing open the door and turning on the light, Xiao Yan''s bedroom was very small, a bed took up almost all the space, with an old wooden wardrobe standing next to it. Apart from the aisle, there was no other space.


    Although the room was small, it was extremely tidy. The t id bed sheets didn''t have a single wrinkle, and the exercise books and test papers on the desk were stacked neatly.


    As expected of a study god''s room, it exuded his rigorous and serious aura.


    Seeing his schoolbag on the chair, Lin ChuSui figured he must have brought his homework home before leaving.


    She carefully unzipped the schoolbag and flipped through it, easily finding the math workbook.


    Her heart was filled with wild joy.


    She quickly opened the workbook, today''s math homework was already done.


    Just as he said, he had basically finished the homework in ss.


    As expected of the study god.


    Lin ChuSui took out her phone and started taking pictures page by page.


    Just then, she heard movement outside the door, it seemed someone hade back.


    Lin ChuSui was shocked, and frantically shoved the workbook back into the schoolbag.


    Hearing the footsteps getting closer and closer, Lin ChuSui didn''t have time to think, and hid in his wardrobe.


    Luckily the wardrobe was big, and she was petite. Curling up her legs, she could securely hide inside.


    The moment the wardrobe door closed, the bedroom door opened.


    Through the gap in the wardrobe, Lin ChuSui saw Xiao Yan sit in the chair to rest for a while after entering the room.


    He looked very tired, fingertips pressing his temples, then pulled himself together, turned on the deskmp, grabbed a half-finished English test paper, and started working on it seriously.


    From Lin ChuSui''s perspective, she could just see his handsome side profile.


    Themplight shone on his face, and his originally cold, hard features became much softer.


    Late at night, all was quiet, and she could even hear his soft breathing.


    Soon, the young man finished an English test paper, then took off his shirt, preparing to go to the bathroom to take a shower.


    Lin ChuSui watched through the slit as this shirtless young man walked to the closet.


    She tensed up, curling into a ball, afraid he would suddenly open the closet door.


    Fortunately, Xiao Yan opened the closet door on the other side, taking out a change of clothes from a small drawer.


    Lin ChuSui was about to breathe a sigh of relief, but realized he was still standing by the closet door without leaving.


    She looked at him through the slit, and saw that this guy was just standing straight in front of the closet, carefully gazing at the closet door.


    Lin ChuSui was stunned for a moment, then realized that he was looking in the mirror.


    Right in front of the closet was a full length mirror. This guy... was shirtless, looking in the mirror!


    Although he dressed on the thin side, with his shirt off, his fair upper body and well-proportioned muscles were revealed, which surprised Lin ChuSui - she didn''t expect that the usually weak-looking genius was actually quite fit, even having defined abs!


    No wonder he could fight so fiercely; he had been training hard.


    Lin ChuSui covered her left chest with her hand. She felt that her heartbeat echoed all around the closet.


    Oh my... she felt dizzy.


    However, his body was not entirely perfect. Below his chest on his right upper abdomen, there was a very obvious winding scar, probably left from that terrifying surgery.


    The young man looked at that centipede-like scar with deep, dark eyes. His fingertips gently touched it as the corners of his mouth curled into a cold smile.


    "This is why I set the fire. They took what was mine, so I''ll take back a hundred times more."


    "Someone like me, would you dare give her to me?"


    Lin ChuSui frowned.


    He didn''t seem to be talking to himself, but rather having a conversation with someone.


    Who could he be talking to thiste at night?


    "I have no regrets, why should I feel guilty?"


    "I just want toplete the mission as soon as possible, to survive."


    "No sincerity, only deceit."


    ...


    Seeing the dark stirrings in Xiao Yan''s pitch-ck eyes, Lin ChuSui felt she would go crazy!


    Who on earth was he talking to?!


    Thiste at night... he was so creepy.


    Lin ChuSui remembered that day when they went to see a psychologist.


    Could he really... have a mental illness like dissociative identity disorder!


    Lin ChuSui thought of the many crime thriller movies she had seen about serial killers with split personalities.


    During the day, they acted harmless and gentle, but in secret they were psychopathic murderers with blood-stained hands!


    At first, Lin ChuSui only hid to avoid getting caught cheating on homework, thinking it was embarrassing.


    Now...she sincerely felt fearful.


    Xiao Yan noticed the progress bar in the lower right corner had started going backwards¨D


    30%, 29%, 28%, 27%, 26%...


    In just a few seconds, the progress bar went straight back down to 19%!


    Xiao Yan felt a bit restless. He walked to the window and took out his phone.


    Just then, Lin ChuSui received a WeChat message from Xiao Yan: "???"


    Fortunately...she had muted her phone after hiding in the closet.


    Lin ChuSui replied: "???"


    Xiao Yan: "Do you have any opinions about me?"


    Lin ChuSui: "No, not at all! QAQ"


    Xiao Yan: "Then why are you acting like this?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Acting like what?"


    After considering his wording, Xiao Yan asked: "Lin ChuSui, what have I done wrong to you?"

 Chapter 29: Keep Your nose Clean

    <h4>Chapter 29</h4>


    Lin ChuSui turned her head in the ¡°South City No. 1 Middle School Belle Group¡± and sent a message: ¡°I can confirm now, you''re right @Zhang ChengYu, the genius is not as kind and harmless as he looks, he is definitely a wolf in sheep''s clothing.¡±


    Zhang ChengYu: ¡°I didn''t say that! You heard it wrong, it was Lu Chi who said it.¡±


    Lu Chi: ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, I''m studying, don''t tag me.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°Weren''t you guys saying he was sinister before?¡±


    Zhang ChengYu: ¡°I didn''t say it! The genius is kind-hearted, noble in character, and willing to help others. He is a role model for us.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°I''m not denying it, but from what I know so far, he has at least two personalities. One is my kind deskmate, the other is the sinister master, maybe even a serial killer. ¡¾Shuddering¡¿¡±


    At this time, Zhang ChengYu finally sent a private message to Lin ChuSui: ¡°Stop talking! Shut up!¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°Why?¡±


    Just as she spoke, she saw a message from Xiao Yan in the group: ¡°I''m... the sinister master?¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ......


    ¡°Admin @Lu TianBai, who invited him in again!¡±


    Lu TianBai: ¡°It was your brother.¡±


    Xu JiaNing: ¡°Because someone was recklessly leaking others'' homework in the group. Homework is ''personal intellectual property'', I think the person involved has the right to know.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°You''re the most self-righteous person in the world!¡±


    Hypocrite!


    Xu JiaNing: ¡°@Xiao Yan, take good care of your math workbook. She just took pictures of the answers and posted them in the group.¡±


    Xiao Yan immediately turned around and picked up his schoolbag to check.


    The schoolbag zipper was wide open, and the math workbook was crammed messily inside, obviously it had been touched by someone.


    Xiao Yan put down his schoolbag, nced around the room, his gaze lightly falling on the closet.


    The room waspletely silent, only the sound of each other''s breathing could be heard.


    Lin ChuSui¡¯s heart was about to jump out of her chest, tense yet thrilling, as if she was filming a horror movie.


    Xiao Yan retracted his gaze, then went to the balcony to put on a pair of pants. Before that, he was wearing very casual shorts.


    After changing his clothes, he came to the closet and said softly, "Lin ChuSui, are you inside?"


    Lin ChuSui covered her mouth tightly with her hand, eyes closed, not daring to make a sound.


    "Listen to me, I''m the sinister master." Xiao Yan approached the closet, his pair of dark eyes gazing at the opening and closing seam of the closet: "Hiding in the sinister master''s closet, aren''t you afraid... that I''ll lock the closet and keep you in there for the rest of your life?"


    "Ahhh!" Lin ChuSui staggered and crawled out in a panic, leaning against the desk, looking at him in shock: "Don''te over!"


    Xiao Yan''s mouth turned up slightly as he looked at her: "Afraid of me?"


    "I...I''m not afraid!"


    Xiao Yan paced up to her and leaned in close to her: "Really not afraid?"


    His thin lips approached her silently and effortlessly. His features were very aggressive. His long upturned eyes were even more profound in the night, carrying a hint ofzy desire.


    Charming yet dangerous.


    Lin ChuSui was provoked by his "beauty" until her face turned red and her ears burned. Ten thousand unhealthy thoughts shed through her mind and her heart started thumping again.


    Task progress: 26%, 27%, 28%...


    Xiao Yan''s mouth turned up slightly as he picked up the math workbook on the desk behind her and tapped her head with it: "Viting my intellectual property rights?"


    Lin ChuSui''s face was red. She nced at him and honestly apologized, "I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have taken your homework."


    Seeing that she was as docile as a rabbit today, Xiao Yan asked again, "You suspect I''m the sinister master?"


    "Who told you to... talk to yourself just now like no one else was here!"


    Xiao Yan exined, "If it was a split personality, the two personalities would not be able to have a conversation. You''re thinking too much."


    "That''s not necessarily true."


    Xiao Yan looked into her eyes and enunciated word for word, "Lin ChuSui, I''m very sure I don''t have dissociative identity disorder."


    Looking at how certain he was, Lin ChuSui also felt that she had seen too many mystery movies and was thinking too much.


    She breathed a sigh of relief, walked over, stood on her tiptoes and patted his shoulder, casually saying, "I knew our kind deskmate couldn''t possibly be the sinister master."


    Xiao Yan''s mouth turned up slightly, "But I was indeed talking to someone just now."


    "Who was it?"


    He enunciated word for word, "Have you heard of spirit possession?"


    "......"


    Lin ChuSui was so scared by Xiao Yan''s wicked look that she immediately burst into tears and scrambled to escape the room.


    Xiao Yan chuckled softly, suddenly feeling happier.


    It turns out scaring little kids is so fun.


    As he turned around, he saw a faint red stain on her white skirt. Xiao Yan called out to her, "Hey, when you were hiding in the closet just now, did you hurt yourself?"


    Lin ChuSui looked back, "What?"


    Xiao Yan pointed at her skirt, "There''s blood on your skirt."


    Lin ChuSui held up her skirt and saw the faint red bloodstain on the back, still not realizing what had happened: "But I''m not injured."


    The moment she finished speaking, Lin ChuSui felt something was off, flowing in her body.


    At the same time she reacted, Xiao Yan also reacted.


    In that instant, it was as if time had frozen. The atmosphere between them became extremely awkward.


    Xiao Yan immediately averted his gaze, and awkwardly exined, "There might have been protruding nails in the closet, as long as you''re not hurt it''s fine."


    His earlobes felt hot.


    Lin ChuSui rushed into the bathroom like a gust of wind to check, and as expected, Aunt Flo had arrived to visit her at a very inopportune time.


    Counting the days, it was 3-4 days early!


    Lin ChuSui sat on the toilet seat in despair, wishing she could just flush herself down the drain.


    Any kind of social death scene could notpare to the chaos in her mind right now.


    She even wanted to rush out and end her life together with Xiao Yan.


    Ah!


    Xiao Rongyue was passed out drunk right now, probably couldn''t be woken even if thunder struck. She was extremely desperate as she sent Lu TianBai a message: "BFF, are you avable toe over now and bring me some sanitary pads? I''m trapped in the genius''s bathroom."


    Lu TianBai: "Hahahahahahahaha!"


    Lin ChuSui: ......


    What a true BFF.


    Lu TianBai: "Sis, I really sympathize with you. But my sympathy is not enough to motivate me to crawl out of my warm bed and cross half the city in this heavy rain toe save you. Deal with your own period yourself. ¡¾Hehe¡¿"


    Only then did Lin ChuSui notice that it was raining outside.


    It would definitely still be raining tomorrow too. She wondered if the marathon would be canceled, hoping it would be canceled.


    But if it wasn''t canceled, she would definitely still participate in wind or rain.


    This was the first time in so many years that she had mustered up the courage to do something well.


    Not just her monthly visitor, even if her legs were broken, she would still crawl to cross the finish line.


    Just as she opened the delivery app to call for a delivery person, she heard the sound of the door opening. Xiao Yan had just gone out for a bit and seemed to havee back.


    Soon, Xiao Yan''s straight silhouette appeared outside the frosted door. The door knocked: "I''ve hung the stuff on the door, I''ll be in my room reading now and won''te out. Call if you need anything."


    She gave a low "umm".


    Hearing his footsteps fade away and the door close, she waited a full five minutes before carefully opening the door a crack like a rabbit and swiftly taking the bag off the door, locking it again.


    The bag contained clean underwear just her size, and several packs of sanitary pads and two packs of overnight underwear.


    The sizing, length and brand were all perfectly catered to Lin ChuSui''s preferences.


    The awkwardness of her near social death just now was unwittingly defused, reced by waves of inexplicable reassurance.


    A man who knows how to buy sanitary pads so well for girls, how could his grades not be good! How could he not be the top of his grade every time! How could he not be a genius!


    Xiao Yan checked the closet, then used pliers to trim all the irregr protruding nails inside the cab.


    But after everythingst night, he felt like he had done something unnecessary and stupid.


    Xiao Yan''s cheeks felt hot, his mind muddled. He didn''t know what exactly he was doing, so he justy in bed to rest.


    Soon, the bathroom door opened, the little girl tiptoed with very light footsteps, seeming to be looking for something.


    Xiao Yan picked up the hair dryer and walked out. As expected, she was standing there with her wet hair dripping, looking like a startled rabbit with her big dark eyes staring at him in horror: "Didn''t you say you wouldn''te out?"


    He was a little dissatisfied as he held out the hair dryer to her: "Why did you wash your hair?"


    "It was oily."


    "My sister said..."


    Oh forget it, he plugged in the hair dryer and beckoned to the little girl: "Come over and dry it off."


    "Oh."


    Lin ChuSui walked over to him, wanting to take the hair dryer, but unexpectedly Xiao Yan directly grabbed her damp hair and turned on the blow dryer.


    "Hey?"


    His hands were very clean and beautiful, with long slender fingers, and thin fair skin that revealed bluish veins on the back of his hands.


    Lin ChuSui looked down at her own chubby little paws, there was noparison.


    She sighed, then her scalp was pulled taut by the hair he had grabbed: "Ow! Oh oh oh! Hot!"


    Xiao Yan was not gentle at all, he yanked her over to face away from him, and helped her dry her hair: "No ce to stay again?"


    "Yeah, but this time it was sister Xiao who took me in voluntarily, so don''t even think about charging me rent."


    Xiao Yanughed coldly: "I don''tck your little rent money."


    "You don''tck it, you don''tck it. After all, the genius only needs to sell his beauty and take some photos to be rich and famous."


    "Thanks."


    "I''m notplimenting you! You''re so...not virtuous at all."


    "I remember you also wanted a photo with me, this licentious man."


    "I just...wanted evidence to fight against obscenity! Ow! Hurts!"


    Xiao Yan gripped her scalp tightly and pulled her closer to him, whispering: "Go on, tell me where I''m...obscene?"


    With his handsome face so close, Lin ChuSui''s mind started imagining all kinds of intimate scenes again.


    You''re not obscene, just very tempting.


    She shyly averted her gaze.


    Xiao Yan loosened his hand after drying her long hair. A few strands lightly brushed his face, faintly fragrant.


    He didn''t know why, but being with her, even just some yful banter, put him in a good mood.


    Bearing heavy burdens for years, he rarely had moments this rxing.


    Lin ChuSui silently stood with her back to him, at just the right height to reach his chest.


    Leaning against him in her thin clothes, she could feel the warmth of his skin.


    Lin ChuSui took a deep breath, looking at the drizzling rain outside the window to distract her wandering thoughts.


    "Xiao Yan, what did you go out to buy just now?"


    "I bought some french fries."


    "Do you like to eat french fries?"


    "No."


    "Then why did you buy them?"


    "As an excuse that I went to buy pads for you, so you wouldn''t feel embarrassed."


    Lin ChuSui turned back to look at Xiao Yan, staring at him speechlessly: "Genius, since you made up an excuse, why reveal it?"


    The corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth quirked up: "Because I suddenly felt like embarrassing you again."


    "..."

 Chapter 30: The Right Man

    <h4>Chapter 30</h4>


    The Elite Group of Nan City No. 1 High School


    Lu Chi: "We still haven''t received notice of race cancetion, so it looks like we''ll have to run in the rain."


    Lu Chi: "Luckily the rain isn''t too heavy."


    Lu Chi: "@Lin ChuSui, is the runner-up here yet?"


    Wearing a light mint-colored raincoat, Lin ChuSui appeared in the pre-race waiting area near the starting line.


    Seeing her, Lu Chi waved and called out, "You''re by yourself?"


    "Who else would I be with?"


    Lu Chi asked nosily, "I heard from my sister that you stayed over at the genius''s house against night?"


    While tying her hair in a ponytail with a rubber band, Lin ChuSui said, "It''s 150 a night for lodging, he gave me a discount rate of 98, not including breakfast. If I''m lucky I can even copy his homework. If you want to stay too I can give you an intro."


    Lu Chiughed. "If you can get high-quality leaked photos of his homework every night like yesterday, I''d be happy to generously sponsor you to stay at the genius''s ce every day!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Young Master Lu is being so generous, I suggest you just buy out his intellectual property rights to the homework."


    Lu Tianbai came over holding a transparent umbre, and hurriedly pulled Lin ChuSui aside, asking worriedly, "Are you okay, bestie?"


    "Of course I''m fine, bestie."


    "But you...aren''t you on your period?"


    "Young Miss Lu gets her period every month,sting thirty days each time, but she still hops around lively. Why can''t I?" Lin ChuSui quipped back teasingly.


    Seeing that she still had the energy to banter with her, Lu Tianbai rxed, knowing things were probably fine: "Is your stomach really not hurting?"


    "Don''t worry, I took ibuprofen in advance."


    "That just relieves pain, but running all-out in the rain right now, during high physical exertion...maybe we should sit this one out, your healthes first. And even if you do run, you probably won''t get first ce anyway, so what''s the point?" Lu Tianbai said with a frown.


    Lin ChuSui knew Lu Tianbai was right. In her normal condition, even getting first ce would be hopeful at best, let alone during her period...


    But she didn''t want to give up.


    "I just want to cross the finish line, winning doesn''t matter to me."


    She vaguely remembered three years ago after the marathon had ended, when her dad, Old Lin, had ruffled her hair affectionately andforted her:


    "Crossing the finish line is just a fleeting moment, it''s not important at all. What''s important is that during your run, your dad will be riding a bike chasing after you the whole way! When your old dad isn''t around anymore, let moments like this keep youpany."


    "Ptooey, why wouldn''t dad be around?!"


    "Your mom and dad can''t be with you your whole life, the one who can truly apany you your whole life is the person you''ll be spending the rest of your days with - that person is important, so make sure to choose wisely."


    Lin ChuSui had clung to Old Lin petntly: "Dad will run with me forever!"


    Tears pricked Lin ChuSui''s eyes as raindrops clung to her eyshes. The memory felt so vivid, as if it were yesterday.


    Winning first ce didn''t matter at all, the result didn''t matter.


    Lin ChuSui just wanted to run, to blindly charge forward.


    If she stagnated like she had the past two years, she''d really be stuck in ce forever.


    Maybe if she kept running...her dad would catch up to her on his bike.


    Live TV crews were broadcasting the marathon race:


    "It''s 1pm, and the gap has slowly widened. The top hundred runners have entered the Olympic Park segment - afterpleting the 10 km Olympic Park loop, victory will be right ahead!"


    At his hot pot shop, Xiao Yan was busily working, asionally ncing outside at the drizzling rain.


    He was scheming that if she caught cold, got sick, or...was injured, he''d have a good opportunity to express concern for her.


    Based on past experience, that could boost their rtionship progress bar by at least 5%.


    If he stopped her or made her angry, the progress bar might decrease instead of increasing, undoing all his efforts so far.


    If things went smoothly, he couldplete the progress bar in half a semester, and expel the extra soul from his body.


    He could focus on studying for the rest of the semester, aim for the best university, be sessful, and escape this wretched fate.


    No matter how dirty it was, he didn''t care - he only looked at results, not the process.


    Xiao Yan took a deep breath, calming the churning emotions inside him, and asked some customers at the door, "What can I get you?"


    "Two orders of hot pot to go, mix and match 20 yuan worth, no dietary restrictions."


    As Xiao Yan focused on the task at hand, he overheard the customers also discussing the marathon: "The medics are following the whole way, I heard two people have already copsed."


    "They really are going all out."


    "Everyone wants to win first ce, after all it''s a big event held in Nan City every three years."


    "The 50,000 yuan prize money is pretty tempting too."


    After handing the packaged hot pot to the customers, Xiao Yan asked casually, "Did someone get injured during the marathon?"


    "I heard it was low blood sugar making them faint."


    "Inevitable. I heard someone even died during the marathon in B Cityst year."


    ...


    After the customers left, Xiao Yan gazed at the wet streets, puddles reflecting the streetscape across the way, ripples left by passing cars churning the reflections into fragmented shapes.


    The rain grew heavier, with an autumn chill seeping in.


    He took out his phone - the group chat showed Lu Tianbai''s live updates: "ChuSui''s already made it into the Olympic Forest segment, in the top 100!"


    Lu Chi: "I can''t run anymore, go ChuSui!"


    Xu JiaNing: "At the pace she''s going, forget about getting first ce."


    Lu Chi: "Our ChuSui is explosive, just you wait, she can still go all out."


    Xu JiaNing: "I caught a glimpse of her back near LongSen Road, she looked ready to keel over, I''d say she''s on herst legs."


    Lu Tianbai: "Don''t say nonsense! How could a fairy roll her eyes!"


    Lu Chi: "I noticed ever since the fake foreign devil brought the genius into this chat, he''s been dedicated to trash talking ChuSui."


    Xu JiaNing: "@Xiao Yan, your fairy deskmate not only rolls her eyes and snores, she''s even spat at me before."


    Lu Chi: "See, the genius doesn''t even care what you say."


    ...


    Entering the Olympic Forest segment, there were fewer and fewer runners, and no spectators around the perimeter of the forest - just aid stations and portable toilets spaced every kilometer.


    Just as Lu Chi said, she really was about to keel over.


    Luckily her period flow wasn''t too heavy today, and the ibuprofen was strong, so she didn''t feel unbearable pain, just a nagging soreness.


    With her luck today, getting first ce was definitely out of the question.


    The rain poured down harder, raindrops pattering rhythmically on her running jacket, trickling down her cheeks.


    Her mind wentpletely nk, everything silent except for the sound of her heartbeat and breathing...


    She didn''t even know what she was persisting for anymore.


    She had wanted to get first ce earlier, but now that getting first ce was impossible, she told herself the result didn''t matter, just focus on the process.


    Over the years, whenever she couldn''t aplish something, she''d give up, bit by bit losing courage, sliding step by step toward the abyss.


    No matter how she ran, her dad wouldn''t see it anymore - he wasn''ting back.


    When someone died, they were dead. Deadpletely.


    ...


    Lin ChuSui could no longer see the path ahead.


    The way forward was pitch ck, torrential rain pouring down, she couldn''t see which direction to go, let alone the finish line.


    Might as well give up, just quit.


    Dad wasn''ting back, he couldn''t run the long road of life together with her anymore.


    Just as Lin ChuSui was about to stagger and fall over in a daze, the crisp ring of a bicycle bell suddenly sounded behind her.


    She whipped around to see, through the hazy rain, a faint silhouette riding a bike.


    His silhouette seemed to ovep with her dad''s from that year, as if fused together.


    It ovepped because the man on the bike, wearing that bright orange firefighter uniform, was clumsily riding a bike to catch up with her.


    Just like three years ago when her dad Lin XiuZe hadn''t had time to change after work before rushing over to apany her.


    Standing bedraggled in the rain, tears poured from Lin ChuSui''s eyes.


    "Dad...Dad!"


    I miss you so much!


    As the man approached, Lin ChuSui realized it wasn''t her dad in the firefighter uniform at all.


    It was Xiao Yan.


    Raindrops rolled down his handsome face as he raced over, panting and looking at her -


    "Stop running, fool."


    Lin ChuSui''s heart thumped wildly and she yelled while pointing at him, "Why are you wearing that?!"


    Xiao Yan lifted the loose bright orange garment he wore and said, "This is the only raincoat I have."


    Only then did Lin ChuSui see that he was indeed just wearing a raincoat that resembled a firefighter uniform.


    Maybe she hadn''t seen clearly from far away earlier, or maybe...she just missed her dad too much.


    "Why did youe in this heavy rain?"


    Xiao Yan deliberately parked his bike on the track, blocking Lin ChuSui''s way. Reluctantly, he said, "How would I know?"


    He had clearly made up his mind to let her suffer for a while before turning around tofort her, smoothlypleting his mission progress.


    But...


    Xiao Yan''s health was poor to begin with. Who knows what got into him to rush out in the rain and stop her.


    Seeing his sulky, reluctant look, Lin ChuSui said, "Who''s bothering you anyway?"


    Xiao Yan looked at her and enunciated word for word, "You''re bothering me."


    "Don''t spit blood at me. I paid your room feest night. It''s on the table. You can''t juste asking me for money during mypetition..."


    "I''m not here to ask for money."


    "Then what are you here for?"


    "To stop you."


    Lin ChuSui was puzzled. "Stop me from what?"


    "From being stupid."


    "..."


    Xiao Yan stood by the bike and said, "If you still want to run, then run over my corpse first."


    "You think I don''t dare? I''ll just crush you into a corpse."


    "A corpse can''t do your homework for you."


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui took off her rain hat and wiped the raindrops off her face. "Xiao Yan, don''t joke around here. You''re affecting my grades."


    "When have you ever cared about your grades?"


    "Well I want to care now, okay?!"


    In the past two years, she had never seeded at anything. Now she just wanted to persevere to prove she wasn''t beyond saving.


    "Don''t get in my way."


    As she brushed past him, Xiao Yan grabbed her hand and pulled her back to his side. "The championship isn''t important. What''s important is having someone apany you during the race. Isn''t that right?"


    Lin ChuSui was deeply struck by his words. She stared at him in a daze. "How do you...know that?"


    How do you know what my dad said?


    "Get on the bike. I''ll go with you to finish the rest of the route."


    "But..."


    Xiao Yan had already gotten on the bike. His bright gaze looked to her. "I can change my mind anytime. If you don''t get on, I''m leaving."


    He had rushed over foolishly in the pouring rain, and Xiao Yan didn''t know if his brain was waterlogged.


    Lin ChuSui lowered her eyes to look at the wet track, hesitating for a moment before finally walking over.


    Xiao Yan helped her onto the bike, then handed her a bottle of warm mineral water. "It''s not scalding hot anymore. Warm your stomach."


    Lin ChuSui obediently epted the bottle and unzipped her raincoat to warm it against her stomach.


    Xiao Yan rode off, zipping along the small path beside the marathon route.


    The bike sshed up water all the way.


    Clutching his bright yellow raincoat, Lin ChuSui asked, "Why did youe over?"


    "Afraid my goddess would die on the road."


    "Xiao Yan, am I really your goddess?"


    "Hm?"


    Lin ChuSui lowered her eyes, her throat feeling sour. "My grades are bad, I have a bad temper, I''m depressed and useless. The only thing I was proud of was marathon running, but that crashed too..."


    Xiao Yan nced at her. The girl was gripping his raincoat tightly, her forehead pressed against his back. She mumbled, "Tell me, what kind of goddess is like this?"


    The heavy rain had stripped away all her armor and confidence.


    She presented her truest self to him with a sincere heart.


    The corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth quirked up. "You''re right, you''re useless and depressed. Nothing goddess-like about you at all."


    At least, it shouldn''t be the type he likes.


    As teenage boys with the highest hormone levels, he had imagined what kind of girl he would like in the future.


    The girl of his dreams should stand in the sunshine, optimistic, cheerful andughter-loving. At least she could bring a ray of light into his gloomy life.


    In his difficult journey so far, Xiao Yan had not met the girl of his dreams.


    But on this pouring rainy day, he had rushed through three red lights toe pick up Lin ChuSui.

 Chapter 31: Answer the Battle

    <h4>Chapter 31</h4>


    The marathon race was over. Lin ChuSui had given up halfway and failed to get a ranking.


    But Xiao Yan drove her toplete the remaining half of the course, crossing the finish line in heavy rain.


    The meaning of running isn''t about the finish line or the act of running itself, but about the scenery along the way and the person who apanies you to see the scenery.


    Last time, that person was Dad. But now...


    Looking at the boy''s sturdy back like a mountain, sitting in the back seat of the car, Lin ChuSui suddenly felt a ray of light spill down. Her surroundings were gloomy, but her body was finally illuminated, illuminated by a ray of light she wanted to grasp.


    For a long time, the P.E. teachermented Lin ChuSui''s failure in the marathon. But there was no way around it - when a girl gets her period, it''s perfectly normal.


    "But are you really going to quit the athletic program?"


    Lin ChuSui didn''t actually like sports to begin with. The past two years, she had only used it as an excuse to avoid studying hard.


    As an athletic student, at least the teachers wouldn''t demand too much academically.


    Quitting the school team and devoting all her energy to studying wasn''t a bad idea.


    "Teacher, if there are anypetitions in the future, call me anytime. I will give it my all."


    "Alright, alright. I can''t mess with you senior three students. Go back and study hard, aim to get into a good university."


    Get into a good university, huh.


    In ss, Lin ChuSui rested her chin in hand, twirling a pen rapidly as she looked at the boy beside her.


    Xiao Yan wore a clean blue and white school uniform, revealing a section of his wless neck.


    He was listening to the lesson, asionally jotting down notes in his notebook.


    His handwriting was neat and elegant. Each stroke was vigorous and graceful, just like him.


    She moved closer to him and asked in a low voice, "Study god, what university and major do you want to apply for?"


    Xiao Yan: "North City University of Science and Technology, Artificial Intelligence."


    Lin ChuSui nodded.


    North City University of Science and Technology wasn''t one of the topprehensive national universities, but it was the holynd that science students across the country aspired towards, because of its strong specialized focus. Its strength was in no way inferior to the No. 1 ranked schools.


    "Artificial Intelligence sounds veryplicated. Why do you want to study this?"


    "Because I''m smart."


    Lin ChuSui looked at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan''s clear eyes also looked straight at her, very calm.


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth curled up. She gave him a big thumbs up.


    You go.


    Just then, Xu Jia Ning behind Xiao Yan secretly passed him a small note.


    Xiao Yan took the note, nced at it, then looked back at Xu Jia Ning.


    Xu Jia Ning had his arms crossed, chin raised arrogantly.


    Xiao Yan twisted open his pen and responded to him for the first time, without even turning his head. He tossed the note back onto Xu''s desk.


    Seeing the note, Xu Jia Ning''s arrogance instantly deted. Furious, he wrote another sentence and crumpled the paper into a ball to throw at Xiao Yan.


    Lin ChuSui watched with her own eyes as the note flew in an arc under the teacher''s nose.


    Could this be the arrogance thates from being the first and second in the grade?


    Lin ChuSui moved closer to see the passionate exchange between them -


    "Xiao Yan, I''m officially dering war on you. Let''s decide who''s better once and for all in the midterm exam."


    "100 yuan per point."


    "What 100 per point?"


    "100 yuan per point. I''ll let you take first ce."


    "..."


    Xu Jia Ning: "How can you use grades for business deals?!"


    Xiao Yan: "Everything can be a business deal."


    Xu Jia Ning: "I don''t need you to let me win. I will defeat you with my ability."


    Xiao Yan: "Heh."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Over this trivial matter, they had passed notes back and forth for half the ss. How boring!


    Finally, even the usuallyidback English teacher couldn''t stand watching anymore.


    Sure enough, it was foolish of two top students to think she wouldn''t notice them passing notes right under her nose for half the ss!


    "Xu Jia Ning, Xiao Yan, what are you two passing? Let me see."


    Just as Xiao Yan was about to open the paper ball, he paused upon hearing this.


    This was the first time he had been called out by name in ss for something other than praise. He was about to hand over the note.


    In a sh, Lin ChuSui snatched the paper ball from his hand like an eagle swooping down on prey. She stuffed it straight into her mouth, chewed it messily for a bit, then swallowed it down with the jujube and Chinese wolfberry water on her desk.


    Behind her, Xu Jia Ning muttered: "Holy crap."


    The English teacher wasn''t actually that angry at first. She was just very curious what the two top students had written in their note. But Lin ChuSui''s sudden action made her furious -


    "Lin ChuSui, spit it out!"


    "Can''t... spit it out anymore." Lin ChuSui drank a few more gulps of the jujube water,pletely swallowing the paper ball.


    "You... After ss, go to your ss advisor''s office, all three of you!"


    ...


    The English teacher turned and tapped her shoes on the ckboard. Xiao Yan said to Lin ChuSui in a low voice, "There was no need to go that far. The teacher won''t do anything to me."


    Of course Lin ChuSui knew that with the halo of being the top student in the grade, unless hemitted murder or arson, anything else could easily be minimized or written off.


    "You''re a good student, so don''t leave a bad impression on the teacher. What will you do about the end-of-term rmendation for outstanding students if you talk about exchanging grades for money in ss?"


    "There''s no mary award for outstanding student rmendations. I couldn''t care less."


    "But that''s still an honor."


    "Can honor be eaten?"


    "You''ve really fallen into the trap of money."


    Xiao Yan''s mouth twitched. Yes, he had fallen into the money trap.


    Only carefree students from well-off families would care about honor. He had always been practical, extremely realistic, almost despicable.


    Seeing her water cup nearly empty, Xiao Yan poured some water from his own thermos into her cup. "You actually managed to swallow such a big paper ball."


    His tone carried a hint of reproach.


    "I can swallow anything." Suddenly in a good mood, Lin ChuSui smiled, her gaze falling on the hand he used to pour water.


    Truly fair as snow, slender and cool. It made people instinctively want to defile him.


    She drank all the water Xiao Yan had poured for her in one gulp. "Study god, I want more."


    Xiao Yan simply gave her all the water left in his own cup.


    "Study god, I still want more."


    "Study god has no more."


    "Don''t care, I still want more."


    "Then wait a bit."


    Lu Tian nced back at them meaningfully, a hint of horror in her eyes, not knowing what kind of filthy thoughts were in her mind again.


    ...


    After ss, the three of them stood in a row against the office wall and repeated the contents of the note in front of the ss advisor.


    Xu Jia Ning: "Xiao Yan, I''m officially dering war on you. Let''s decide who''s better once and for all in the midterm exam."


    Xiao Yan: "I ept your challenge."


    Xu Jia Ning: "Come on then, let''s go over test papers from Huanggang after school!"


    Xiao Yan: "I ept your challenge."


    Xu Jia Ning: "Whoever loses is a dog!"


    Xiao Yan: "I ept your challenge."


    Xu Jia Ning: "Don''t you have any other lines?!"


    Xiao Yan: "I..."


    ...


    "Shut up," ss advisor Old Qin cut them off. "That''s it?"


    Lin ChuSui nodded her head vigorously. "Yes, yes, yes! I witnessed the whole thing. That was it! How boring, right? You''ll never know what top students are thinking. All that just to pass some notes for half a ss."


    Old Qin rolled up his teaching n book and whacked her on the head. "You''re the deadst in the grade. Why are you poking your nose into the showdown between the first and second ce?"


    Lin ChuSui: "I just... wanted to poke my nose in for fun."


    Old Qin: "While they can casually score high on exams even when passing notes in ss, how high can you score when poking your nose into things? Go back and write a self-reflection to turn in!"


    Lin ChuSui: ?


    "Why me? They were the ones passing notes!"


    "When you can score even a fraction of what they get, then you can be exempt from writing self-reflections. Until then..."


    "I..."


    Ridiculous.


    In the end, the two good students who had passed notes in ss got off scot-free.


    The only one who got chewed out by Old Qin and left the office crestfallen was Lin ChuSui.


    Lin ChuSui learned her lesson this time. She finally understood that it was best not to meddle randomly in battles between gods.


    While they emerged unscathed, she was the bystander who got seriously hurt.


    After school, Lin ChuSui sprawled on her desk scratching her head over the self-reflection.


    Xiao Yan casually said, "When you''re done, check it for typos."


    "There are no typos!"


    "Let me check. If I find any, I''ll treat you to eat it."


    "..."


    At this time, An Xian, the ss monitor of ss 3, came to find Xiao Yan: ¡°Xiao Yan, I heard you offer tutoring services here. I feel like I¡¯ve hit a bottleneck with my grades recently and want to break through. Could you please tutor me?¡±


    Lin ChuSui sized up An Xian. The girl had straight bangs across her forehead. Her eyes were big and round, bright and clear, very well-behaved and charming.


    Before Xiao Yan could respond, Lin ChuSuizily said, ¡°You can get tutored by the study god, but it¡¯ll cost you.¡±


    An Xian nodded obediently: ¡°I know the rates. Study God, let me add you on WeChat and I¡¯ll transfer you the money.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°...¡±


    There really are suckers around here!


    She added, ¡°If your total score is below 400, the study god will charge extra for basic tutoring.¡±


    An Xian: ¡°It¡¯s not that bad. My total score is 645.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°...¡±


    Girl, with your scores, you¡¯reing to him for tutoring?


    An Xian looked at Xiao Yan hopefully: ¡°I heard Xiao Yan¡¯s English score improved a lot in a short time. I hope Xiao Yan can teach me the methods. I don¡¯t care about the hourly rate. Knowledge and learning methods...cannot be measured in money!¡±


    Lin ChuSui quickly said, ¡°If you want to study English, let me rmend Xu Jia Ning to you! Xu Jia Ning grew up in the UK, so he has...authentic London ent.¡±


    An Xian: ¡°No need, Xu Jia Ning¡¯s English is great, but...probably not suitable for exams.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°An Xian, you need to think long-term!¡±


    Xiao Yanzily nced at Lin ChuSui, interrupting her: ¡°So how much kickback is Xu Jia Ning giving you to poach his business?¡±


    Lin ChuSui deted and shut up. She didn''t know what had gotten into her either.


    Xiao Yan had been offering these tutoring services all along. The vast majority of students seeking his lessons were girls, nothing unusual about that.


    She sulked for a while, chewing her gum angrily as if trying to grind it into powder. Then she irritably gathered her books and stomped to the track field with an arrogant aura.


    After ying basketball with Lu Chi and the others for a while, Lin ChuSui had burned off a lot of energy. From time to time, she nced up at the pavilion where An Xian and Xiao Yan were tutoring English.


    An Xian had an obedient gaze, looking at him with undisguised admiration.


    Xiao Yan tutored her earnestly. The two of them chatted away in English. She couldn''t understand any of it.


    Lu Chi walked over dribbling a basketball, following Lin ChuSui¡¯s gaze: ¡°Yo, Study God has another client?¡±


    Lin ChuSui chewed her gum, grinding her teeth: ¡°Yeah, I secured this deal for him!¡±


    ¡°So why do you keep watching them instead of ying?¡±


    Lin ChuSui said, ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s unprincipled for Xiao Yan to tutor anyone who pays him?¡±


    Lu Chi smiled: ¡°You¡¯re the only one who gets free one-on-one tutoring from the Study God. Think about how much you¡¯ve saved in lesson fees since the start of school. Still not satisfied?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m his deskmate.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m of the same sex as him and we¡¯ve peed together, but I don''t see him tutoring me for free.¡±


    ¡°That''s different. I''m his goddess.¡±


    Lu Chi nced at Lin ChuSui and sighed admiringly: ¡°Xiao''s choice of goddess is unique and bizarre. If it were me, I would definitely choose An Xian. She''s pretty, nice, decent grades, busty, tutoring her would be amazing!¡±


    Lin ChuSui kicked him onto the court: ¡°Pervert, go y your ball and stop yapping.¡±


    ...


    An hourter, An Xian left hugging her books, a disappointed look on her face.


    Xiao Yan casually shouldered his bag and headed to the bike shed, then walked to the edge of the field with his bike.


    Lin ChuSui threw the basketball at his feet: ¡°Ball.¡±


    Xiao Yan stopped his bike, picked up the ball, and made a smooth three-stepyup that swished in beautifully.


    The girl''s gaze followed his elegant movements as she blew a bubble that stuck to her lips.


    Xiao Yan did not intend to y ball with them. He turned to leave.


    As he walked past Lin ChuSui, he nced at her.


    The girl leaned casually against the hoop stand. Her slender figure had a few strands of hair stuck to her temples. Her cheeks were flushed from the exercise.


    He looked away and reminded: ¡°Remember to do your homework. Call me if you need help.¡±


    Lin ChuSui called after him: ¡°Hey, were you guys tutoring English earlier?¡±


    ¡°Yeah.¡±


    ¡°Anything besides going over questions?¡±


    Xiao Yan recalled: ¡°Oh, she casually confessed to me.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ¡°...¡±


    I knew it, these girls have ulterior motivesing for tutoring...


    How many are here with pure intentions?


    Lin ChuSui spun the ball on her finger, feigning nonchnce: ¡°She confessed. What did you do?¡±


    Xiao Yan: ¡°I tranted her confession into English, then had her recite and copy it down.¡±


    Lin ChuSui: ?


    What did you just say you did?

 Chapter 32: Take Care of

    <h4>Chapter 32</h4>


    ¡°He is just too perverted, demanding others to recite and transcribe the entire confession script in English.¡±


    Lin ChuSui rested her slender right leg on the stand of the basket pir,ining about Xiao Yan¡¯s ¡°tyranny¡± -


    ¡°That¡¯s right, in English!¡±


    Lu Chi sat on the stic floor, squinting at her in the sunlight: ¡°ChuSui, why do I feel you are so happy?¡±


    ¡°Am I happy? No way.¡±


    The boys unanimously nodded: ¡°You are happy.¡±


    Lin ChuSui awkwardly retracted her leg and concluded: ¡°What I mean is, with his attitude, he is destined to be forever alone, he can never find a girlfriend.¡±


    ¡°That''s not necessarily true. Even An Xian confessed to him.¡±


    ¡°But An Xian is a goddess, all the boys in school like her, right?¡±


    Lin ChuSui looked at Lu Chi: ¡°Do you guys like her a lot?¡±


    Lu Chi smiled meaningfully: ¡°Which boy has never dreamed of having a 36D girlfriend? An Xian is just so well-developed...¡±


    Lin ChuSui subconsciously nced at her own ironing board-t chest.


    Lu Chi put his arm around her shoulders: ¡°Don¡¯t look, you can only be our brother in this life and the next, life after life.¡±


    Lin ChuSui said dejectedly: ¡°So you guys all like that kind of girl?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha, just kidding, who doesn¡¯t?¡±


    Zhang Cheng Yu said expressionlessly: ¡°Not me, I like the pure and sweet type, like your younger sister.¡±


    Lu Chi: ¡°Shut up, you nerd.¡±


    Lin ChuSui worriedly asked: ¡°So no one likes my type?¡±


    The boys looked at each other, falling into an awkward silence.


    Lu Chi patted her on the shoulder: ¡°ChuSui, with your physique that can run a marathon in the rain during your period and act like nothing happened afterwards, ordinary men can¡¯t handle you.¡±


    ¡°But the school genius also said he likes girls with good physique.¡±


    ¡°School genius makes dirty jokes, and you actually rte them to yourself?¡± Lu Chi said with augh: ¡°So no one else matters, as long as the school genius likes you, right?¡±


    ¡°I didn''t say that.¡±


    Zhang Cheng Yu chimed in: ¡°But the school genius does like you, he calls you goddess all the time.¡±


    ¡°He likes... Forget it.¡± Lin ChuSui resisted the urge to curse: ¡°His ''goddess'' is not literal, it¡¯s mockery.¡±


    Lu Chi patted her head with a gratified motherly look: ¡°The child has grown up, finallye to her senses.¡±


    ......


    ss B has P.E. ss together with ss C.


    During the routine jogging, Lin ChuSui noticed An Xian. She wore a tight short-sleeved T-shirt, her curves bounced vigorously when she ran.


    Almost all the boys from both sses just stared at her, their eyes wishing they could devour her alive.


    An Xian also seemed very proud, jogging slowly ahead of the boys with her head held high, her cheeks flushed, not knowing if it¡¯s shyness or tiredness.


    Lin ChuSui and Lu Tian ran side by side, with Zhang Cheng Yu following behind them. He scornfullymented: ¡°These thirsty guys, like they have never seen a woman before.¡±


    Lin ChuSui said coldly: ¡°Brother Octopus is quite the gentleman huh.¡±


    Zhang Cheng Yu: ¡°I''m like the school genius, staying above the mud without getting dirty. Look at him, running alone at the back, not following the group to ogle.¡±


    Lin ChuSui looked back at Xiao Yan, thest one in the boys line: ¡°He wants to, but his body doesn''t allow it.¡±


    She heard Xiao Yan said that when he was little, he was tricked into donating part of his liver. His health had been poor ever since he was small, and only got slightly better after growing up. He worked out to build muscles where he could.


    However, intense anaerobic exercises still took too much of a toll on him.


    Like during basic jogging, he would intentionally keep his heart rate within a safe range.


    Lin ChuSui intentionally slowed down, intending to run with him, but An Xian beat her to it, matching Xiao Yan¡¯s pace.


    Since Xiao Yan was running so slowly, the other boys didn¡¯t dare crowd around An Xian like flies. They could only watch Xiao Yan enviously.


    ¡°Xiao Yan, thank you for the tutoring the other day. I feel like I¡¯ve found the way to learn English now.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m sure I can do well on the midterm exam.¡±


    ¡°If I do well, can I take you out for a meal?¡±


    ¡°Xiao Yan, why aren¡¯t you talking?¡±


    Xiao Yan stopped and said to her: ¡°Because I¡¯m running.¡±


    ¡°I see, you are a serious person. Whether it''s studying or running, you need to focus and don''t like distractions.¡±


    Just then, Lin ChuSui¡¯s leisurely voice floated over. She had alreadypped them once¨D


    ¡°Wrong, he¡¯s not talking because he¡¯s serious, he just doesn¡¯t want to get out of breath identally. Getting out of breath would make him burp, and burping would ruin the school genius¡¯ tall, dark and handsome image.¡±


    She squeezed into the space between them, smiling: ¡°Right, school genius?¡±


    Xiao Yan shot her a "you know too much to still be alive" contemptuous look.


    Lin ChuSui sauntered beside him and said, ¡°Let me make you happy, your goddess is just that nice.¡±


    ¡°Also, running so slowly is really not manly, it greatlypromises your appeal.¡±


    ¡°Of course your goddess doesn''t mind, but other girls might. You know, girls like athletic types... Burp~~~¡±


    Lin ChuSui quickly covered her mouth.


    What the heck!


    Xiao Yan finally stopped and turned to look at her.


    "Just now I... Burp~~~"


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes widened as her stomach churned and she started huping uncontrobly.


    The corners of Xiao Yan''s narrow eyes finally curled up slightly as he looked at Lin ChuSui: ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Don''tugh! Burp~~~ Ahhhh!¡±


    Lin ChuSui covered her mouth with one hand and Xiao Yan''s with the other.


    Xiao Yan pried her hand away, tone lifting in amusement: ¡°Goddess... hups too?¡±


    ¡°The goddess doesn''t hup, the goddess just... Burp~~¡±


    Lin ChuSui''s face turned red as she huffed back to the ssroom angrily.


    The hups went on and on, from one ss to the next, coinciding with Mr. Qin''s chemistry ss.


    He was exining knowledge points to the students with potassium permanganate solution, and everyone was especially quiet since it was their head teacher''s ss. Even the boys in the back row stretched their necks and listened attentively.


    Yet Lin ChuSui''s abrupt hups kept punctuating the silence rhythmically.


    Mr. Qin was interrupted several times and finally couldn''t take it anymore. He yelled: "Lin ChuSui, if you make another weird noise, I''ll make you swallow this whole bottle of potassium permanganate! Since your mouth... can swallow anything."


    Lin ChuSui said very innocently: "I don''t want to burp~~~ can''t control it... Sorry... Burp~~~"


    The ssmates had been holding in theirughter, and now burst out at the head teacher''s scolding.


    Mr. Qin knew it wasn''t Lin ChuSui''s fault for huping, but she had indeed disrupted ss discipline.


    "Go out until your hups stop, then you cane back in."


    "Oh, okay, burp~"


    Lin ChuSui walked out of the ssroom, and Mr. Qin added: "Not one bit like a girl should be."


    She had been scolded for two years already, her ears were calloused. She didn''t care about Mr. Qin''s casual remark, but Xiao Yan stood up after hearing it and walked out with his thermos.


    Mr. Qin quickly called him: "Xiao Yan, I only asked Lin ChuSui to leave, not you..."


    Xiao Yan exined: "Mr. Qin, I''m requesting to take care of my deskmate."


    "Take care of her?" Mr. Qin didn''t understand at first: "Why do you need to take care of her?"


    His fingertips with distinct joints unscrewed the lid of the thermos: "Because she is a girl."


    ......


    Lin ChuSui copsed against the wall, bumping her head against the wall listlessly, andined:


    "Xiao Yan, you are heartless! Hup~"


    "Hurting me over and over again, why on earth do you do this! Hup~"


    "Did I owe you money in my previous life? Hup~"


    ......


    Seeing her face flushed red from hups, Xiao Yan walked over and lightly patted her back: "Keep quiet."


    Lin ChuSui sobbed: "How did I offend you?"


    Xiao Yan turned around and poured some warm water from the kettle, saying: "Being nice to you is the same as wanting you dead?"


    "You being so high-profile in treating me well has an impact no less than a top celebrity publicly announcing their rtionship. You''re not being nice to me, you''re just trying to get me killed."


    "I don''t think it''s that serious."


    "Mr. Qin finally became suspicious of our rtionship. Hup~ With your stunt, it doesn''t matter that you have good grades. He will make things difficult for me. Hup~"


    Xiao Yan grasped the key point and casually said: "So it''s not my problem. However many mistakes there are, it''s your fault for having poor grades. How can you me me?"


    Lin ChuSui looked at him with blinking eyes, then gave him a thumbs up: "I hereby address you, the king of sophistry. Hup~"


    Xiao Yan patted her back and handed over the cup of warm water: "Keep quiet."


    Lin ChuSui took a sip, then realized something was wrong. She looked down at the silver-gray thermos in front of her and said in a daze: "Schr Xiao, is this your cup?"


    Xiao Yan looked at the cup and nodded: "It seems so."


    "May I ask why you let me drink from your cup?"


    A momentary nkness shed across Xiao Yan''s pitch-ck eyes:


    "That''s really a...good question."

 Chapter 33: Two Watches in One

    <h4>Chapter 33</h4>


    The midterm exam results were out.


    Xu Jia Ning was devastated.


    For the entire afternoon, heid his head on the desk without speaking to anyone, keeping silent.


    The atmosphere was tense.


    On the podium, Teacher Qin announced happily, "Xiao Yan is still the first ce in our ss and the whole grade. He is leading the second ce by more than 20 points!"


    Lin Chu Sui looked back at Xu Jia Ning.


    No wonder this guy looked so upset. Turns out he was pulled behind by the top student by more than 20 points.


    Teacher Qin continued, "The second ce in the grade is from ss A. Xu Jia Ning ranked third in the grade. Although only third ce, his total score has improved, which is still a very good result."


    Lin Chu Sui was shocked.


    So this guy...slipped one ce in the ranking!


    Lin Chu Sui still remembered that he had made a military order in front of Old Xu that if he didn''t get first ce, he would have to move to live with his mother.


    It looked like he was really going to be kicked out this time.


    Lin Chu Sui was quite happy that she finally didn''t have to live under the same roof as this fake foreign devil, with him making a racket all day battling with her.


    "Simrly, the prization in our ss is still severe. The scores of the top few students have single-handedly pulled up our ss average, far ahead of other sses," Teacher Qin said.


    As he nced at Lu Chi and Lin Chu Sui, he sneered coldly, "So much so that the students at the bottom of the rankings, you few rat turds, your grades keep sliding lower and lower, yet you haven''t affected our ss''s overall results. This is all thanks to the top students. ssmates, let''s give them a round of apuse."


    Sparse apuse rang out. Lin Chu Sui was quite delighted. She raised her hands above her head and led the cheers, shouting, "Great! Well done!"


    "Top student rocks!"


    Inspired by her, the other students also started pping enthusiastically, the apuse thunderous¨D


    "Top student rocks!"


    "Our ss''s high average is all thanks to the top student!"


    Teacher Qin gave Lin Chu Sui a cold nce and muttered, "Shameless as a pig, not an ounce of self-awareness."


    "Teacher Qin, Lin Chu Sui also did quite well this time," Lu Chi said. "Fromst ce to secondst, then to thirdst...that''s very impressive, right? A few more spots and she''ll be mid-ranked!"


    Teacher Qin hated Lin Chu Sui through and through. Even though she did make huge progress this exam, only moving up a few spots in ss but jumping 100 spots in the grade, scoring over 400 points.


    "Lin Chu Sui''s progress...is indeed very big."


    Lin Chu Sui stood up and said with a smile, "Being able to make such big progress ispletely due to my own efforts. Everyone can humbly learn from me."


    From behind came someone''s cold ridicule: "Trash."


    "Compared to certain people whose total score went up but ranking went down, I''m quite happy being this trash."


    After speaking, she smiled back at Xu Jia Ning.


    Xu Jia Ning lowered his eyes expressionlessly at his exam paper and said tly, "Who knows what tricks were pulled again. People like you have no bottom line and are capable of anything."


    Lin Chu Sui was toozy to waste her energy bickering with him. Anyway he didn''t get first ce in the grade and would be moving out soon.


    She was ted.


    Teacher Qin added, "Of course, Lin Chu Sui being able to improve so much is all thanks to sitting next to the top student in the grade, Xiao Yan. Learning by his side, her grades naturally went up."


    Lin Chu Sui objected, "Teacher Qin, if you want to praise me then just praise me, why keep bringing up others?"


    Teacher Qin: "I have no intention of praising you. You''re the one singing your own praises."


    Fine.


    Lin Chu Sui was in a good mood today and wouldn''t stoop to the level of thesemoners.


    After school, she took out a gift box from her schoolbag and said to Xiao Yan beside her, "Top student, this is a gift for you to show my gratitude for your help these days."


    Xiao Yan nced at the exquisitely wrapped box in her hand: "Store bought or homemade?"


    "Of course it''s homemade! Handmade!"


    "Oh, then I don''t want it."


    Lin Chu Sui: ...


    Do you have to be so pragmatic.


    "Top student, just take a look."


    Xiao Yan epted the box and opened it. His originally expressionless eyes turned even colder as he handed the box back to Lin Chu Sui, "May I ask, what is this?"


    Lin Chu Sui took out the QR code que inside the box, "I specially customized this payment QR code for you! In the future when you get business, you don''t need to add those girls one by one on WeChat to transfer money. Just take out this QR code, so convenient!"


    Xiao Yan: ......


    Lin Chu Sui hung the QR code que on a bluenyard around Xiao Yan''s neck.


    On the back of the QR code, Lin Chu Sui had photoshopped a picture she secretly took of him cooking braised meat into a publicity photo in sessful entrepreneur style. Below was a line of text¨D


    "Perseverance leads to sess, believe in yourself, you can do it!!"


    With a row of shy bold exmation points.


    After hanging the que around his neck, Lin Chu Sui said, "Top student, remember to keep this QR code business card with you at all times. I guarantee business wille rolling in and you''ll make big profits."


    "Top student, why are your eyes red? Are you so touched you''re crying?"


    Xiao Yan nced at the task progress bar in the bottom right corner: 34%.


    He could still endure...


    That night after school, Lu Chimented that if Lin Chu Sui and Xiao Yan continued sitting together, he could only go to Beida Qingniao University alone.


    Lin Chu Sui asked him, "What do you think of North City University of Science and Technology?"


    "You mean the private college under North City University of Science and Technology? With your grades...you still have a long way to go."


    "No, not the private college, North City University of Science and Technology itself."


    Lu Chi was silent for a bit before nodding solemnly, "Believe in yourself, perseverance leads to sess."


    "So you mean as long as I work hard, I can do it, right?"


    "I think you can do it in your next life."


    "......"


    "Let''s go to the inte cafe for an all-nighter."


    "Let''s go."


    "I''m not going. Lin Chu Sui quickened her pace to leave, "Going home to do homework."


    "You''re really nning to apply to North City University of Science and Technology?"


    "Yes!"


    "Why don''t we set a smaller goal first, get into a third-tier university?"


    Lin Chu Sui shed him a friendly middle finger over her shoulder as she walked away.


    ...


    When Lin Chu Sui got home, Xu Jia Ning''s luggage was already packed in the living room.


    He was more meticulous than a girl when it came to living habits, so he had a lot of stuff, two big suitcases full.


    Fang You Yi was very reluctant for Xu Jia Ning to leave and tried to persuade Xu Song Bai, "It''s just one spot lower in the rankings, but his total score improved. There''s no need to be so harsh."


    Xu Song Bai said, "He promised to get first ce in the grade, but not only did he fail to get first ce, he slipped to third. A man should keep his word. Making promises you can''t keep is the biggest taboo in business. How will he establish himself in the future?"


    "You also said he''s never lived over there before. Going now...may not be so convenient."


    "What''s inconvenient about it? The mother should be taking on the responsibility of caring for the child. I''ve been raising him alone all these years. Does the mother not have any responsibility at all?"


    Fang You Yi sighed. Of course she was thrilled about Lin Chu Sui''s academic improvement, the happiest she''d been in almost two years.


    But considering Xu Jia Ning''s unhappiness earlier, she didn''t outwardly show her delight too overtly in consideration of Xu Song Bai''s feelings.


    Taking advantage of the situation, Lin Chu Sui made a small request to Fang You Yi, hoping to rejoin the school sports team.


    "No way," Xu Song Bai immediately rejected it. "You''ve finally made some progress in your grades. Now you must focus all your energy on studying instead of messing with sports."


    "I don''t need your approval." Lin Chu Sui held Fang You Yi''s hand and pleaded coquettishly, "Mom, please let me go back to training. I promise my grades won''t drop and I won''t spend too much time, just practice a bit every day after school."


    Fang You Yi hesitated, "What your Uncle Xu said makes sense. You''re in 12th grade. You should be focusing more on studying."


    "My dad said to just do what I love. If I love studying, study hard. If I love sports, run my hardest. As long as I''m on the path I love, that''s being my best self."


    ¡°Do you really like sports?¡± Fang Youyi questioned doubtfully, ¡°I feel like you¡¯re just trying to avoid studying by doing sports. And then you use beingzy every day to avoid the team¡¯s training. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve been doing these past two years.¡±


    Lin Chusu looked at her firmly and said, ¡°From now on, I absolutely won¡¯t avoid it anymore.¡±


    The regret from that marathon and the pouring rain had caused her to grow and sober up a lot.


    After dad left, she had been fighting solo and stumbling along, bing more and more unrecognizable.


    But she couldn¡¯t meet the people she cared about in life with this ¡°unrecognizable¡± face.


    She really wanted to change for the better. Really wanted to change for the better.


    ¡°Mom, I really won¡¯t be like I was in the past anymore.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Fang Youyi relented, ¡°As long as you know the path you want to take and walk down it firmly, mom will support you no matter what.¡±


    Fang Youyi had always spoiled Lin Chusu more than disciplined her. Although this spoiling had also made her willful again and again.


    But she was still her only daughter. Losing her father so young made Fang Youyi even more doting.


    Xu Songbai had wanted to say something more originally, but seeing Fang Youyi¡¯s mind was made up, he kept silent.


    ...


    The next day, Lin Chusu got up bright and early, and went downstairs to wash up in an extremely carefree mood.


    The auntie had already prepared a sumptuous breakfast on the table, with milk, eggs, and toast.


    In the past, every morning when Lin Chusu came downstairs, she would always see Xu JiaNing sitting neatly in the chair drinking coffee, one hand holding a copy of Dream of the Red Chamber, sunlight shining through the floor-to-ceiling windowsnding perfectly on his cheek.


    What a pretentious fake foreign devil, deeply versed in the essence of showing off.


    But now, the table was empty and bare, no one to bicker with. Lin Chusu ate breakfast alone feeling rather lonely. Her previously cheerful mood seemed to have vanished into thin air, always feeling like something was missing.


    It couldn¡¯t be that...she missed Xu JiaNing a little bit right?


    Lin Chusu immediately denied this preposterous idea.


    Most likely just not used to it yet.


    ...


    Xu JiaNing always came to the ssroom early to read, but today he broke his usual routine, arriving almost exactly at the morning reading bell.


    His condition also seemed rather poor, hair a bit messy, eyes swollen, faint dark circles under his eyes.


    He even...hadn¡¯t shaved off the stubble on his chin cleanly.


    He was usually someone who paid close attention to his outward appearance. At home, he would not spend less than 10 minutes in front of the mirror every morning, tidying himself up properly before going out.


    Even Lu TianBai noticed Xu JiaNing¡¯s off mood today, looking back at him worriedly¡ª


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with brother JiaNing today?¡±


    Lin Chusu said softly, ¡°No makeup, bare face appearance, this is what he actually looks like.¡±


    ¡°Brother JiaNing¡¯s original appearance is so wild!¡±


    ¡°Disappointed, little girl?¡±


    Lu TianBai shyly shook her head, ¡°What I like is not one side of him, I like every side of him.¡±


    Lin Chusu gave her a thumbs up.


    ...


    Xu JiaNing was in an extremely bad mood. He usually loved to raise his hand and answer questions in ss, especially Chinese ss when they talked about ancient literature and poetry he was most interested in. He always had his own thoughts and insights.


    Today¡¯s Xu JiaNing waspletely subdued.


    After ss, Lin Chusu moved closer to Xu JiaNing and smiled, ¡°Not ustomed to the environment at your mom¡¯s ce?¡±


    ¡°Very happy there.¡± Xu JiaNing kept his head down doing workbook questions, didn¡¯t even lift his head. ¡°Not having to live under the same roof as a certain annoying person, I don¡¯t know how carefree that is.¡±


    ¡°Is that so.¡± Lin Chusu looked at him doubtfully. ¡°Does your mom wee you there? Didn¡¯t you say she hadn¡¯t even seen you for many years?¡±


    Xu JiaNing put down his pen and swept Lin Chusu a nce with his narrow eyes, ¡°What, little sister is concerned about me?¡±


    ¡°I just want to know if you¡¯re doing well or not.¡±


    ¡°Whether I¡¯m doing well or not, what does it have to do with you?¡±


    Lin Chusuughed, ¡°If you¡¯re doing well over there, I¡¯ll definitely think of ways to get uncle to take you back. If you¡¯re not doing well, then I can rest easy.¡±


    ¡°Lin Chusu, I really dislike you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I like you either.¡±


    ¡°Scram.¡±


    ¡°You scram.¡±


    ...


    After bickering a few lines, they finally found that familiar feeling again. Lin Chusu was very satisfied turning back around.


    Right then, Xiao Yan happened toe over to check on her homework progress. Caught off guard, when Lin Chusu turned around, her lips lightly brushed past his nose.


    Xiao Yan clearly felt his nose go cold, the soft touch of the girl¡¯s lips made his whole body tingle.


    Looking at Lin Chusu again, she had suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, staring at Xiao Yan with wide eyes, unbelieving.


    The two looked at each other for two awkward seconds under the bizarre atmosphere, then went back to their own matters, pretending nothing had happened.


    A few minutes after ss started, Xiao Yan saw Lin Chusu post a message in the ¡°South City No. 1 Middle School It Girl Group¡±¡ª


    ¡°Help! Mr. Genius just tried to steal a kiss from me!¡±


    Seeing this message, Xiao Yan looked at the blushing red Lin Chusu again. He didn¡¯t know whether he should remind the silly forgetful her that he...was also in the group.


    After school at night, Lin Chusu wanted to tail Xu JiaNing to see what his mom¡¯s ce was like.


    She wanted to see with her own eyes how destitute Xu JiaNing¡¯s life was living under someone else¡¯s roof. As long as she knew he wasn¡¯t doing well, she could be at ease.


    But Lin Chusu didn¡¯t have a bike, so shemandeered ssmate Genius to ride his bike giving her a lift.


    ssmate Genius had wanted to refuse originally, but Lin Chusu put her palms together and gave him an extremely exaggerated cute act, ¡°Pretty please?¡±


    Somehow ssmate Genius agreed.


    But the condition for agreeing to tail someone was that Lin Chusu had to be the one riding.


    ¡°Are you even a man or not!¡±


    ¡°I am, but I¡¯m not physically well.¡±


    ¡°If you¡¯re this weak, how will you find a girlfriend in the future?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I need to find a girlfriend who¡¯s physically fit, right?¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Xu JiaNing rode past the two of them on his bike.


    Lin Chusu was toozy to bother talking. She jumped on the bike to chase after him, openly tailing him the whole way.


    Xu JiaNing¡¯s mother lived in South City International Community, a high-ss small district. Allrge sized, single story homes, belonging to the high quality reformed housing South City had built thesest few years.


    The conditions weren¡¯t bad at all, not one bit worse than Lin Chusu¡¯s vi.


    Xu JiaNing had just walked to the entrance, about to swipe his card to go in, when a few seven or eight year old kids rushed over to block Xu JiaNing¡¯s path.


    The kid in front wore an Ultraman outfit and held a water gun, repeatedly spraying water at Xu JiaNing, ¡°Beat you to death! Beat you to death!¡±


    Caught off guard, Xu JiaNing raised his hands to block, but the top half of his school uniform got soaked. His hair also got wet.


    The key was, the water in this kid¡¯s water gun was muddy water. He got Xu JiaNingpletely covered in mud.


    Xu JiaNing was an extremely clean person. Getting his clothes suddenly dirty like this, he yelled angrily, ¡°Zhu ZiQi, what are you doing!¡±


    ¡°Get out of here! I won¡¯t let you in my house!¡±


    ¡°Let me through.¡±


    ¡°Get out get out!¡±


    This boy named Zhu ZiQi was apparently Xu JiaNing¡¯s younger brother. He red fiercely at Xu JiaNing, ¡°Mom said she only loves me. I don¡¯t want youing to take mom¡¯s love. She¡¯s my mom, not yours! Get out of my house!¡±


    ¡°Whether I get out or not isn¡¯t up to you.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let you in!¡±


    Zhu ZiQi spread his arms wide, blocking the entrance of the residential area, ¡°This isn¡¯t your home! Get back wherever you came from! Otherwise I won¡¯t be polite with you!¡±


    Xu JiaNing wasn¡¯t one to take things lying down. He sneered coldly, ¡°What can a little brat like you do to not be polite with me? Are you going to hit me or something?¡±


    Zhu ZiQi and the other kids exchanged looks, then all took out slingshots from their bags, aiming at Xu JiaNing, ¡°Hit him!¡±


    ¡°Beat him to death!¡±


    The stic bands on the slingshots were extremely powerful. Xu JiaNing wasn¡¯t able to dodge in time and a rock hit his forehead, hurting badly.


    Lin Chusu really couldn¡¯t stand watching anymore. She hurriedly threw down the bike, rushed over and grabbed Zhu ZiQi¡¯s slingshot, throwing it into the sculptured fountain by the entrance.


    Zhu ZiQi was furious. He scratched and bit Lin Chusu, ¡°Pay me back for my slingshot! Pay me back pay me back!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll pay back your mom!¡±


    Lin Chusu grabbed Zhu ZiQi by the cor and directly threw him out, making him fall to the ground.


    The children around saw Zhu ZiQi being bullied and wanted toe forward to help him. But seeing Lin ChuSui''s ferocious look, they didn''t quite dare and med her in unison, "How can you bully people! Adults shouldn''t bully kids!"


    "So what if I bully you? You''re just a bunch of cowards who only dare to bully the meek." Lin ChuSui pped her hands, "Not only do I like to bully kids, I also enjoy beating up naughty brats. Come on if you don''t agree!"


    The children were frightened by Lin ChuSui''s ferocity and scattered in a panic.


    Zhu ZiQi was spoiled at home and naturally had never suffered such grievance before. He wailed loudly as he charged at Lin ChuSui again.


    Lin ChuSui kicked him away, controlling her strength so he wasn''t injured, but it was enough to make him suffer.


    The child sat on the ground bawling loudly.


    Just then, Zhu ZiQi''s grandmother, who was square dancing in the courtyard, came rushing over like the wind when she heard the cries. She shielded her grandson.


    "How dare you bully my grandson! I...I''ll beat you to death!"


    Saying so, the old woman who had lost her senses, took off her shoe and charged at Lin ChuSui.


    Lin ChuSui snatched away her shoe and threw it into the fountain: "I''m not someone who ys by reason. Since I can fight a child, I can also fight an old person. Don''t provoke me."


    The old woman sat down on the ground and started wailing loudly, "This is terrible! Bullying people! Assault!"


    "That''s right, I bullied and hit you! So what! Cry louder, let''s see who loses face."


    "What kind of person are you! On what basis did you hit our precious A''Bao!"


    Lin ChuSui pulled Xu Jia Ning behind her, "Take a good look, he''s our brother! Your spoiled brat sprayed dirty water on our brother and shot him with a slingshot until his forehead swelled up! Our brother has high IQ. If he gets beaten into an idiot, I''ll twist your brat''s head off!"


    Xu Jia Ning''s mouth twitched. "I won''t be an idiot."


    "Shut up!"


    ...


    Xiao Yan leaned against the fountain with folded arms, watching from the sidelines.


    The corners of his mouth couldn''t help but turn up slightly.


    The young girl''s uniform cor was askew, and her delicate features seemed all the more aggressive because of her arrogance.


    For some reason, Xiao Yan felt his heartbeat quicken.


    He had been bullied by a group of kids like this when he was in the orphanage. After finally enduring until he was adopted by a family, he was bullied again by the seemingly gentle and kind "dad and mom". Later he was bullied by people in society...


    He understood that helpless feeling of anger suppressed in one''s heart all too well.


    Not having the ability to protect oneself, let alone protect others.


    In the past few years, Xiao Yan had thought he would like gentle, charming women like his sister.


    But at this moment, he finally realized, damn gentle and charming.


    The unreasonable and wild Lin ChuSui was his ideal woman.


    Lin Xiuze: ?

 Chapter 34: Doubt

    <h4>Chapter 34</h4>


    The olddy sat on the ground throwing a tantrum for a while, then took Lin ChuSui and Xu JiaNing straight to themunity police office.


    Xu JiaNing¡¯s mother also rushed over when she heard the news.


    "They...they bullied my grandson!"


    The olddy''s sharp tongue flew everywhere with saliva: ¡°They beat my grandson into an unrecognizable condition! Officer, you must uphold justice for us!"


    Lin ChuSui nced at the naughty child Zhu ZiQi hiding behind the olddy and exined, "It wasn''t me who hit him! This little beast didn''t have a decent shape to begin with!"


    The olddy thought she was also an undefeated street fighter and trash talker in the vegetable market. She didn''t expect to meet Lin ChuSui, who really made her dizzy with anger every minute.


    She could only use her old trick again, sitting on the ground crying and shouting, "This iswless! Young people nowadays are simply outrageous, bullying the elderly and children!"


    "Who is bullying whom! Your family¡¯s little beast attacked my brother first!"


    Mother Jiang RuXuan sternly questioned Xu JiaNing: ¡°What exactly happened here? Did you bully your brother again?¡±


    The word "again" inevitably revealed disappointment in Xu JiaNing''s eyes: "I have never bullied him."


    But Jiang RuXuan didn''t listen to the exnation: "Xu JiaNing, your father said to let you live in my house, and I didn''t object. Although our house is small, we still squeezed out a room for you. We have treated you well enough. Why must you make things difficult for your brother?"


    "Last night as soon as you arrived, you threw away his Lego toys. Now you even gathered your friends to bully him. What wrong have we done to your family!"


    Xu JiaNing enunciated word by word: "I didn''t bully him or throw away his toys."


    "It was him, it was him!" Zhu ZiQi jumped and mored: ¡°Mom, hurry up and drive him away! He bullied me, beat me and even kicked me!"


    Lin ChuSui looked at Zhu ZiQi angrily: "Do you believe I will kick you away right now!"


    "Wow!"


    Xu JiaNing pulled her: "That''s enough."


    "Did you see that, officer? This girl was bullying our baby just now!" The olddy said excitedly: "Hurry up and detain her!"


    Of course, the police would not listen to hearsay. He said to Lin ChuSui: ¡°Did you just assault the child?¡±


    "I did, but he hit me first. You can take him for an examination. I willpensate for any medical expenses. But if he still bullies my brother, I will beat him every time I see him!"


    Zhu ZiQi seemed to be scared and quickly hid behind Jiang RuXuan.


    Jiang RuXuan looked at Lin ChuSui: "Are you his sister?"


    "I am the young one in your ex-husband¡¯s current family. I came today to take my brother back. He just returned from abroad and was probably frightened by such shameless old things and naughty little beasts. He is a little shocked. You don¡¯t need topensate his mental damage. I will take him away now."


    Jiang RuXuan was also angered by Lin ChuSui''s words, her face flushed red: "Where did this sharp-tongued little girle from? Didn''t your parents teach you basic courtesy and love for the young and the old!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Courtesy and love for the young and the old have prerequisites. The prerequisite is that the old are worthy of respect and the young are worthy of love. Who has no courtesy in your family¡¯s education?"


    "You... I can only hand you over to the police now." Jiang RuXuan turned to the police and said, "Please detain them."


    Police Officer Xiao Chen saw the unharmed Zhu ZiQi and the olddy, and said, "We still have to get the facts straight first. We police can''t arrest people indiscriminately."


    "Isn''t the situation clear enough? These ill-mannered people bullied our old and young!¡±


    "Your family¡¯s kid hit first!"


    "Do you have evidence! Our baby is the most well-behaved. He usually doesn''t even have the heart to hurt small insects. How could he possiblyy a hand on you!"


    At this moment, Xiao Yan, who had been silent all along, silently took out his mobile phone and yed the video he had just taken¨D


    "I like watching excitement. When I see fights, I like to record them to watch slowlyter."


    The police immediately took the phone and watched it.


    This video was taken veryprehensively, from Zhu ZiQi leading a group of children to block themunity entrance, shooting Xu JiaNing with water guns, toter using slingshots to hit people, everything was shot.


    Only the scene of Lin ChuSui pushing the children was skillfully moved away from the shooting passersby. When the child pounced over to bite and scratch, the video was recorded again.


    As a result, the video was basically a depiction of the children''s wildness and the olddy''s unreasonable troublemaking by sitting on the ground.


    After watching the video, even Lin ChuSui had to see Xiao Yan in a new light.


    The schoolmaster really impartially documented ck and white.


    The police watched the video, turned around and admonished Ms. Jiang RuXuan. He said that even children should not be allowed to bully others like this, and the elderly should not sit on the ground crying and making trouble randomly, affecting public order.


    When they left themunity police office, the olddy red fiercely at Xu JiaNing: "Pack up and get out of our house. Don''t live with us anymore, you''re just a freeloader!"


    Although Jiang RuXuan felt the words were harsh, she did not hold it against her mother-inw. She said helplessly to Xu JiaNing: ¡°JiaNing, why don¡¯t you just move back to your dad¡¯s house. Our house is small to begin with. It¡¯s quite inconvenient to have so many people living together. Youing has been very... inconvenient."


    Zhu ZiQi hugged Jiang RuXuan''s legs and shouted fiercely at Xu JiaNing: "Get lost! She''s my mom, not your mom!"


    Xu JiaNing looked at them, his eyes shing a hint of gloom.


    He didn¡¯t say anything, just went home to pack up.


    Lin ChuSui and Xiao Yan waited for him at the entrance of themunity. Seeing hime out, Lin ChuSui grabbed her hand: "Cheap brother, wee home."


    Xu JiaNing looked at her deeply and asked, "Why did youe to help me? Isn''t it just to see me make a fool of myself?"


    "I do want to see you make a fool of yourself, but..."


    Lin ChuSui reached out and patted his head: "I still feel that you already bully yourself enough. I can''t stand seeing others bully you."


    Xu JiaNing''s frowning brows finally rxed a little. He handed a suitcase to Lin ChuSui: "Help brother carry the suitcase."


    Xiao Yan volunteered: "I''ll help you."


    Xu JiaNing: "The schoolmaster is also very helpful today, making me feel the warmth of humanity."


    Xiao Yan walked beside Lin ChuSui, his eyes a little softer: "Remember your cheap sister''s favor."


    Lin ChuSui felt Xiao Yan''s eyes had changed a bit, not as cold as before.


    However, as she watched Xiao Yan reach out to lift the suitcase with one hand, fail to lift it, and then try to lift it with both hands, the result... he still couldn''t lift it up.


    Xiao Yan let go of the suitcase and turned to Lin ChuSui helplessly: "I...have a weak body."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Sure enough, you schoolmaster will never change.


    Lin ChuSui walked over, picked up the suitcase with one hand: "Schoolmaster, you grew these muscles in vain!"


    Xiao Yan didn''t mind at all, following behind her with a smile: ¡°Not in vain, to appreciate for future girlfriends."


    Lin ChuSui took Xu JiaNing back home. Jiang RuXuan had called Xu SongBai early in the morning to briefly exin her situation and difficulties.


    When Xu JiaNing came back carrying the suitcase, Xu SongBai sat on the sofa watching him and said sarcastically: "Weren''t you living well alone in the UK? What''s the matter, you couldn''t evenst a day at your mother''s house?"


    Lin ChuSui was about to exin, but Xu JiaNing replied: "My sister missed me and cried, begging me toe back, saying that if I didn''te back, she would have nothing left to live for either."


    "Oh please." Lin ChuSui nced at Xu JiaNing: "Be a human! When did I ever say I had nothing left to live for?"


    "Is my sister shy?"


    "No! I didn''t! You fake foreign devil, you have no heart..."


    Fang YouYi was very happy to see the two siblings get along so harmoniously. She said, ¡°It¡¯s good that you are back. Our daughter is an only child who has always wanted a brother. She probably treats JiaNing as her own brother. I''m really d you two get along so well. SongBai, don''t send JiaNing away.¡±


    Lin ChuSui originally wanted to exin, but she didn''t want Xu JiaNing to suffer more grievances at Jiang RuXuan''s house either, so she closed her mouth awkwardly.


    Since Fang Youyi had pleaded for him, Xu Songbai said, "For my sister''s sake, you can stay, but my demands on you remain unchanged. You must rank first or at least second in your grade. Keep that up for me."


    Xu Songbai had always demanded a lot from Xu Jianing. Since childhood, he had sent him to the best schools to receive elite education. He was his only son, and would eventually take over the management of thepany, so he could not make any mistakes or fall short of expectations.


    Xu Jianing agreed to all of Xu Songbai''s demands.


    "Also, when I discipline my sister, you are not to cover for her anymore. If anything likest time happens again, I won''t let you off."


    "I understand."


    ...


    That night, Lin Chusui went to the kitchen and opened the fridge to find ate-night snack.


    Wearing a milk white loungewear, Xu Jianing leaned against the doorframe holding a ss of milk, and said nonchntly, "Thanks for today."


    Like a little hamster, Lin Chusui stood at the fridge door munching on potato chips. She turned around and said, "Just a breezy thank you, as good as not saying it at all. If you''re really grateful, show some sincerity."


    "Alright, then let me tell you something, to show my sincerity."


    "I''m not interested in gossip." Lin Chusui walked past him with the bag of chips.


    "It''s about your dear ssmate-sh-study buddy."


    She paused in her tracks, "Who confessed to him again?"


    "I don''t care about that." Xu Jianing said to her, "Remember the spirit writing gamest time? When we yed it, the spirit...or should I say your dad, really came."


    "You dare bring that up." Lin Chusui red at him, "I haven''t settled scores with you for impersonating the spirit!"


    "I just want to exin clearly what happened that time." Xu Jianing said solemnly, "The first few questions were asked by me impersonating the spirit. But thest two questions, really weren''t asked by me!"


    Lin Chusui stared at him intently, assessing the credibility of his words.


    "Really?"


    "I''m not so bored as to joke about something that happened so long ago." Xu Jianing said earnestly, "I''ve never believed in supernatural forces, but that time, I really...couldn''t exin it. If you didn''t deliberately scare me, then it really was...your dad who came."


    Lin Chusui''s heart skipped a beat. "Why are you only exining this now?"


    "I already said it back then, but you guys didn''t believe me, thinking I was exaggerating." Xu Jianing shrugged. "We don''t have the best rtionship. Your dad is very important to you, but it''s none of my business. I was toozy to exin afterwards. Since you helped me today, consider this me returning the favor by clearing up that incident."


    Lin Chusui got agitated. "If my dad really came back, then where is he now?"


    "That''s the crux of the issue." Xu Jianing looked grave as he said, "What do you think...is it possible he possessed someone?"


    "Who? Lu Chi, Zhang Chengyu, Xiao Tian...we all yed the game that time."


    "Do you remember what happened then? Aside from us, there was an uninvited guest."


    "Xiao Yan!"


    "Don''t you think it''s too much of a coincidence that he showed up then?"


    Lin Chusui''s mind raced. "It can''t be him. He and my dad...are totally different. He can''t be my dad."


    "Then I don''t know either. I just feel it was too much of a coincidence that he appeared." Xu Jianing said. "Also, he inexplicably became your deskmate, and gives you free tutoring despite being extremely money-minded. These things are hard to exin too."


    Lin Chusui: "Because I''m his goddess."


    "Do you actually believe that yourself?" Xiao Yan sneered coldly. "Xiao Yan is the top schr in Eton every year, who I, a model student on full schrship, struggle endlessly to surpass. And you, a weak student even among the weak students, you want to be his goddess? Do you think you''re Athena?"


    "..."


    Lin Chusui''s fists clenched.

 Chapter 35: Bully

    <h4>Chapter 35</h4>


    Xu JiaNing couldn''t stop thinking about what Xiao Qian had said.


    During the days she had spent with Xiao Yan recently, she did feel like there was something odd about him.


    At the same time, she never felt that the guy who all the girls in school looked up to but couldn''t get close to would really see her, a nobody, as a goddess.


    If what Xiao Qian said was true, then dad...


    Lin ChuSui couldn''t sit still. She wanted to get to the bottom of this.


    At 9pm, she changed into afy tracksuit for easy movement, tied her hair in a ponytail, and sneaked out of her room, ready to head out.


    Xiao Qian was reciting ancient poems on the balcony. Seeing her sneak downstairs, he called out to her, "Where are you going? Your stepfather told me to supervise your studying."


    "The homework today is too difficult. I''m going to find Xiao Yan to exin the problems to me."


    Xiao Qian grabbed her schoolbag and dragged her into the study room, "I''ll exin them to you."


    "No, no, no, don''t bother. I''m going to the shop to buy somete-night snacks anyway, I''m hungry."


    Xiao Qian thought for a moment and asked, "Didn''t you say earlier that he and his sister live together and run a hot pot shop?"


    "Yeah, they seem to take turns running it... Business is pretty good, there''s always a long line whenever I go."


    "Let''s go then." Xiao Qian said as he changed into shoes at the door and squatted down, "I''ll go with you."


    "Hey, why do you want toe with me?"


    "I''m hungry and want ate-night snack."


    Xiao Qian drove Lin ChuSui to the night market street. Xiao Yan didn''t seem to be at the shop today, only Xiao Qian''s busy figure could be seen.


    With Xiao Yan not around, business didn''t seem as good either.


    "Sis, where''s Xiao Yan?"


    Seeing Lin ChuSui, Xiao Qian smiled, "He was here until midnight yesterday, so I let him go back and rest today."


    "Oh, I came to ask him about homework. I''ll go find him at home then?"


    "Go ahead, he''s probably studying at this time too."


    Xiao Qian''s gaze fell on Xiao Qian, as if glued there and unable to move away.


    Lin ChuSui tugged at him, "Let''s go, cheap brother, go find the study god to ask about homework."


    Xiao Qian said, "I don''t need to consult him. I came out forte-night snacks, go yourself."


    "But didn''t you ept father''s order to supervise my studying?"


    "Isn''t the study god supervision enough?"


    It was good that he wasn''ting. Lin ChuSui rode away on his bike.


    Xiao Qian walked to the shop entrance, scratched his head, and said to Xiao Qian, "I want to buy hot pot."


    "Sure, what do you want to eat? I''ll make it for you."


    "Anything you make is fine. I''ll eat it all."


    "Okay." Xiao Qian happily selected food for him and turned to parboil it in the hot pot soup.


    Watching her, Xiao Qian lookedpletely different from when he first saw her at the entrance of the bar. That night, Xiao Qian was dressed in mature nightclub style, exuding sex appeal.


    But today, with her hair tied neatly in a ponytail, wearing a knitted sweater that clung to her shapely figure for the autumn weather, she looked casual yet elegant, full of feminine charm.


    He took out his phone and sneakily snapped a picture of her. But he forgot to mute it, and the phone made a crisp "click" sound.


    Xiao Qian: ......


    Annual idiot moment.


    Xiao Qian''s busy hands also paused for a moment. She turned around, looking at him with glistening eyes.


    Xiao Qian was instantly so embarrassed his whole face turned red. He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into right then.


    "You took a picture of me?"


    "I... I heard that after buying 50, you can take pictures."


    Even when giving speeches in front of thousands of students in London, Xiao Qian was always calm andposed, never blushing. But now he was stuttering.


    "The one who can take pictures after buying 50 is my brother Xiao Yan."


    Xiao Qian exined, "I don''t have that service here."


    "Oh, sor...sorry."


    Seeing him in the milky white home clothes, dressed obediently, clearly a child with good family upbringing, not the sort to casually harass girls. His blushing look was rather cute.


    Sheughed and said, "And you haven''t bought enough anyway. Or I could add it up to fifty for you, so you can take a proper nice picture."


    Xiao Qian nodded forcefully, "Then add it to fifty."


    "Can you finish eating all that?"


    "I can... finish it."


    Xiao Qian added more dishes for him, "Don''t just stand around outside,e in and sit."


    Xiao Qian went inside and sat on the small wooden stool for a while. Seeing Xiao Qian busy, he wanted to go over to help her.


    Xiao Qian didn''t stand on ceremony at all, treating himpletely like a younger brother to order around: "Help me wash the bowls on the table."


    Xiao Qian nodded and brought the bowls to the sink to rinse.


    "Have you washed dishes before?" Seeing his posture, Xiao Qian could tell he wasn''t used to such work. "You need detergent to wash dishes, or else the oil won''te off."


    "Oh, okay."


    Xiao Qian squeezed some detergent and smeared it haphazardly before rinsing under running water.


    "Don''t you help your parents with housework at home?"


    "At our home, my dad said I should just focus on studying, and not waste time on such things. He said as long as I make something of myself in the future, there will be people to do these chores for me. Or I could even hire people if needed."


    Xiao Qian gave a faintugh, "Being a boy really is blessed huh." She could sense the deeper meaning behind his smile, and Xiao Qian felt a little ufortable inside.


    He had never doubted the correctness of old Xu''s words before. Of course his time was precious, and should be spent on more meaningful things, studying, gaining knowledge... Not wasting time on trivial daily matters.


    He had always been a proud and arrogant person, but at this moment, he felt truly foolish.


    Utterly foolish.


    As if to prove a point to himself, Xiao Qian picked up another bowl, applied detergent, and rinsed forcefully under the tap, scrubbing until his skin turned white.


    Seeing this, Xiao Qian quickly snatched the bowl from his hands, "Child, didn''t I tell you to put it down? What restaurant makes their customers work."


    "I want to do it." Xiao Qian gritted his teeth and said earnestly, "I can''t do it well now, but I can learn. If I don''t do well the first time, I will definitely get better after the second and third time."


    Xiao Qian looked at the youth before her, behind his seemingly gentle gaze, hid an obstinate spirit.


    It was like he was trying to prove a point to himself.


    Quite interesting.


    She didn''t try to stop him anymore and passed him the ready hot pot.


    "Thank you, little Qian." Xiao Qian ced the bowl down and sat on the small stool, "Can I call you little Qian?"


    "No! How impolite, you should call me sister like Xiao Yan and little ChuSui."


    "Then I''ll call you QianQian."


    Xiao Qian threw the rag on the chopping board, "Little ChuSui said you''re from overseas. Don''t they teach how to address older sister there?"


    "I don''t want to call you sister."


    "Afraid I''d take advantage of you?" She chuckled, "Do you even know how old I am?"


    "I know, you said you''re thirty."


    "Silly boy." Xiao Qianughed, "I''m turning 25 soon. Still a good few years older than you."


    "Only six years. Rounded off, we''re peers."


    "How much younger is little ChuSui than you?"


    "One year and three months."


    "She''s a bit younger yet calls you brother, no?"


    "Lin ChuSui prefers to call me... fake foreign devil."


    "That nickname is quite unique." Xiao Qian''s eyes curved into crescents as she smiled at him, "Spicy?"


    Xiao Qian''s cheeks were flushed red, but he still shook his head, "No... not spicy."


    Xiao Qian turned and took a can of coke from the fridge, passing it to him, "No need to force yourself, who''sughing at you?"


    Xiao Qian quickly popped the can open and chugged nearly half the can.


    The coke trickled down his chiseled jaw, his throat moving as he swallowed.


    Watching him, Xiao Qian''s gaze grew increasingly affectionate. She really was treating him like another younger brother like Xiao Yan.


    "Child, why did youe looking for sister?"


    "I..." Xiao Qian put down the coke, wiped his mouth with a tissue, suppressed a burp, calmed himself and said, "I wanted to see you."


    "Why did you want to see me?"


    "I don''t know. Lin ChuSui said toe find Xiao Yan, and I thought... maybe I could see you too, so I came along."


    Xiao Qian''s crescent eyes were fixed on him, and he didn''t know where to rest his gaze.


    "Boy, could it be... you like sister?"


    Xiao Qian had never been shy. On the contrary, having grown up abroad, he was very open about such matters. If he liked someone, he would openly admit it. He wasn''t afraid to profess his feelings.


    Xu Jia Ning put down his chopsticks, his eyes stared at her sincerely and earnestly: "Sister, do you have a boyfriend?"


    "Yes, I do."


    Xu Jia Ning coughed hard a few times. The next sentence "Can I be your boyfriend?" was abruptly swallowed back by him.


    His face turned red all over.


    Xiao Qian saw through his thoughts, but she didn''t take it to heart.


    She knew too well about these young boys.


    She was quite attractive. Over the years, she was never short of pursuers, including boys from night school, older and younger, poor and rich...too numerous to count.


    And most of these pursuers were just a passing interest,ing on a whim and leaving on a whim.


    As an orphan raised in an orphanage, she was extremely insecure and nning for her future all the time.


    She needed to find a safe and stable home for herself.


    "Kid, do you know me?"


    "Give me a chance to get to know all of you."


    Xiao Qian smiled faintly, fully revealing her charm. A woman''s allure was never about age, but her most unique temperament.


    "I''m sorry, I can''t give you a chance because you are still too young."


    Xu Jia Ning was different from her other pursuers. If it was someone else, Xiao Qian, whocked security since childhood, might still leave some room for maneuver.


    But Xu Jia Ning was like Xiao Yan, a dear younger brother. She rejected him outright without mercy.


    "You are so handsome and have such a clean-cut temperament. You must be quite popr with girls. If you want to date, go out with girls your age. Young love at this age will be very sweet."


    Xu Jia Ning knew he would definitely fail at first try. He also knew there was an age gap between them that would be hard to bridge.


    "Sister Xiao, I will do my best to get into a very good university and make a future for myself without relying on my father. This will take some time. You don''t need to wait for me."


    He scratched his fingernails and lowered his eyes, sincerely saying: "I don''t know what it means to like someone, and I''ve never liked anyone before, but whenever I think of you..."


    "Stop." Xiao Qian stopped the sincere and ardent confession of the young man: "Did I allow you to confess to me?"


    Xu Jia Ning looked at her fiercely, seeming determined not to look back until hitting the wall: "You can choose not to listen, but I want to say it."


    Xiao Qian knew that boys this age, driven by the raging hormones in their bodies, were inevitably uncontrolled at times.


    She reached out and pinched Xu Jia Ning''s jaw, lifted it up gently, and leaned in close to him.


    Xu Jia Ning smelled her unique feminine scent, light and fruity, lingering.


    He looked at her face, unable to move his eyes even an inch away, and couldn''t help swallowing hard.


    "We''ve only met once, so kid, do you actually like me or do you just want me?"


    The woman''s voice was low and sexy. Xu Jia Ning couldn''t stand such teasing. His soul was almost gone.


    He steadied his mind and said honestly: "Like you and want you too."


    Xiao Qian''s mouth corner twitched coldly and she pushed his face away unkindly: "Then hold back, because sister doesn''t like kids."


    Lin ChuSui knocked on the door of Xiao Yan''s home.


    The door opened soon.


    The light was very dim, seemingly only a night light was on. He was bare-chested, wearing only a white towel below. His bangs were still dripping wet, drops of water falling on his fair skin.


    In the soft light, he looked sexy to no end.


    Lin ChuSui''s face flushed red, her eyes staring straight at Xiao Yan''s upper body.


    Seeing the girl outside the door, Xiao Yan was slightly surprised. Then with a "bang" he shut her outside.


    A few minutester, the door opened again. He had changed into a daily ck T-shirt and pants. His hair was still damp and he was wiping it with a white towel¨D


    "Why did youe?"


    Having heard Xu Jia Ning''s words, Lin ChuSui couldn''t wait until tomorrow to see him.


    "It''s still early. I came to do homework." Lin ChuSui raised her exercise book in her hand.


    Xiao Yan nced at the clock on the wall: "Miss, it''s 10 o''clock now. Are you sure you want to do homework with me?"


    "What, is it inconvenient?" Seeing that Xiao Yan was reluctant to let her in, Lin ChuSui peeked into the room twice: "Don''t tell me you took your girlfriend home to ''y'' while your sister is not around?"


    Since she was already here, Xiao Yan naturally didn''t have reason to shut her out. He let her in.


    "I''ll exin to you the questions you don''t understand. After exining, go back and sleep."


    Lin ChuSui sat on the sofa and opened her workbook, pointing out the questions she didn''t understand: "This one, this one, and this one."


    Xiao Yan looked through the workbook and started working them out on scrap paper.


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes shifted sideways and saw that the trash can was full of paper balls. Curiously she asked: "Why are there so many tissues in the trash can? Were you cleaning?"


    Xiao Yan''s pen paused noticeably and he made an unnatural "hmm" sound.


    "You use paper towels to clean? That''s too wasteful! Don''t you know to use a mop or a rag?"


    "Personal preference."


    "It''s full. I''ll take it out with me when I leaveter."


    "No need!" Xiao Yan impatiently tugged at her braid: "Concentrate on listening to me exin."


    "Go ahead please."


    Xiao Yan patiently exined the steps and reasoning behind the questions to her twice. Even an idiot could understand it.


    Lin ChuSui had always thought that getting tutored by the study-god at his level, she definitely wouldn''t understand a word.


    Butter she discovered that the reason why he was the study-god was that he could use the most basic and simple thinking to exin even the mostplex problems clearly.


    At least when Xu Jia Ning exined questions to her, he would go on aboutplicated theories, talking in circles that she couldn''t understand a word.


    So Xiao Yan''s tutoring fees were sky-high, even higher than some teachers'' tutoring rates, yet so many students were still willing to get tutored by him.


    Lin ChuSui dawdled for forty minutes before finally finishing all the questions. Xiao Yan looked at the time and directly ordered her to leave: "It''ste."


    Lin ChuSui took out a bag of pistachios from her pocket and put it on the coffee table, saying to Xiao Yan: "Thank you, please have these."


    Xiao Yan looked at the girl''s tender cherry lips, strongly suppressing the continuously expanding feeling, and said: "No, leave now."


    "Have one, I brought them specially from home." Saying so, Lin ChuSui cracked open a pistachio shell and held out the kernel to him: "Try it."


    "If I eat one, you''ll leave?"


    "Why do you keep rushing me to leave?"


    "Because you came at a very..."


    Inappropriate time, not the right time.


    Xiao Yan suppressed his desires with great effort. His head leaned over to take the kernel from her fingertips: "Done?"


    Lin ChuSui felt her fingertips turn cool where his lips had touched, and she froze.


    She was just... handing it to him, did he think she was feeding him?


    The key was he actually obediently ate it!


    For a moment Lin ChuSui''s mind raced and was in turmoil. She absentmindedly cracked another pistachio and held it out to his mouth.


    Xiao Yan was toozy to say more to her. He ate it.


    He just wanted her to leave as soon as possible. Every extra minute was endless "torture" for his body.


    Seeing that he was really willing to obediently eat her hand-fed snacks, like a proud cat epting food from its owner''s hand.


    She felt ttered and honored.


    ...Were they this close now?


    Lin ChuSui silently cracked open a third pistachio.


    "Lin ChuSui, is there an end to this?"


    "Eat it."


    Xiao Yan silently peeled and ate all the pistachios on the table: "Can you leave now?"


    Lin ChuSui felt somewhat doubtful in her heart. She believed in Xu Jia Ning''s nonsense that after the spirit writing that night, Xiao Yan might have been possessed by old Lin''s ghost, so she specially came to test it out.


    Old Lin hated eating pine nuts the most, and it was a physiological dislike. He especially hated cashews. When they were young, Lin ChuSui yed a trick on him by throwing cashews into his mouth. Old Lin ran straight to the bathroom and vomited violently.


    If Xiao Yan was really Old Lin, after eating so many cashews, it would be impossible for him to behave as if nothing had happened.


    Could it be that she was overthinking this?


    Xiao Yan had no rtionship whatsoever with Old Lin.


    That''s right, Xiao Yan was nothing like Old Lin. Xiao Yan was a penny pinching iron rooster who loved money more than his life. But Old Lin was very generous, probably because he came from a well-off family and money was unimportant to him.


    In the past, Grandpa and Grandma wanted Old Lin to study business management well so that he could inherit the family business in the future, but Old Lin insisted on bing a firefighter because that was what he really wanted to do.


    Old Lin and Xiao Yan were worlds apart and absolutely not the same person.


    However, Lin ChuSui was still a little reluctant to let this go. Xu Jia Ning did not seem like the kind of person who would joke around lightly, so she probably wouldn''t use something Lin ChuSui cared deeply about to joke around.


    Since this matter arose from the spirit writing game, Lin ChuSui wanted to try it again to see if a miracle would happen.


    "Schr God, are you free this weekend?"


    "Got something going on?"


    "Yeah, it''s my birthday. I want you toe celebrate with me."


    Xiao Yan blinked, his long eyshes fluttering slowly: "Your birthday is December 14th. Still early."


    Lin ChuSui eximed, "How do you know! You''re not my dad!"


    He exined calmly: "I''ve seen your ID."


    When Lin ChuSui thought of the gloomy and ugly photo on her ID, she was instantly drained of energy.


    "I remembered wrong. It''s Lu Chi''s birthday. We''re nning a good celebration for her."


    "We just celebrated Lu TianBai''s birthday at the Xiting Clubst time. I still remember. You forgot?"


    Lin ChuSui righteously said, "That''s right. But next week is Lu Chi''s birthday."


    "As far as I know, they''re twins."


    "Yeah."


    The corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth twitched: "In your family, twins are born two months apart?"


    "......"


    After being exposed, Lin ChuSui was mortified and angrily said, "If you don''t want toe just say so, why make excuses."


    Xiao Yan smiled faintly: "It''s because you''re so bad at lying your excuses are full of holes."


    "I just can''t lie well, so what!"


    "You want to lie yourself but get angry when exposed. Could your temper be any worse?"


    Lin ChuSui looked at him angrily, like an angry little frog, her cheeks flushed red.


    Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan couldn''t help but reach out and poke her puffy little cheeks.


    She took the opportunity to grab his cor: "Xiao Yan, is it fun to bully people?"


    Xiao Yan grasped her snowy white and smooth wrist, pulling her close to himself. His low voice was filled with suppressed desire and restraint¨D


    "You call this bullying? You haven''t seen real bullying yet."


    Looking at his handsome features up close, those fathomless ck eyes were filled with dangerous allure.


    The little girl had acted tough for over ten years. Suddenly she felt a little cowardly, like a little bunny, blinking her longshes at him.


    She suddenly felt wronged, her eyes turning a little red.


    Only in front of this boy would she truly feel embarrassed, flustered, and sad...


    Lin ChuSui broke free of his hand, took her schoolbag, and walked away, muttering angrily: "Then forget it if you don''t want to go."


    Seeing her dejected back, Xiao Yan called out lightly: "Didn''t say I wasn''t going. Just one condition."


    Lin ChuSui stopped and looked back at him: "What?"


    "You have to participate in the school-wide essay contest next month."


    "Essay contest?" Lin ChuSui was puzzled. "Why do I have to participate? Is there prize money?"


    "No prize money, but if you win, there''s honor."


    "Didn''t you say honor without prize money is worthless?"


    Xiao Yan stood up. The light illuminated his handsome features even more dazzlingly¨Dck hair, ck eyes, fair skin, red lips¨Dpeerless.


    "For me, honor is unimportant because it''s easily obtained. But for you it''s very important, because you''re a failing student."


    "......"


    Seeing the faint smile at the corner of his mouth, Lin ChuSui''s fists tightened again.


    He looked at her and said, "Failing deskmate, don''t you want the homeroom teacher to stop looking down on you?"


    Lin ChuSui lowered her head to think. It was indeed so.


    Whenever Mr. Qin mentioned her, it was with contempt, as if she would be mired in failure her whole life.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t use to care, but now she wanted to care a little.


    "Fine, I promise I''ll participate, and you have toe this weekend too."


    "Deal."


    ...


    On her way home, Lin ChuSui asked Lu TianBai for a notice about participating in the essay contest.


    The theme was to write about someone very important to you. After writing, submit it to the Chinese ss representative before next month.


    It would be simple to casually write something perfunctory, but it probably wouldn''t be easy to win a prize.


    She sent Xiao Yan a message¨D


    "Schr God, what should I write about for the essay contest?"


    Xiao Yan picked up a tissue box and went into his room to continue what he had interrupted earlier. He casually replied:


    "You have to write something meaningful in order to win a prize."


    "Do you have any good ideas for a topic?"


    When it came to the Schr God''s opinions, Lin ChuSui was all ears.


    Xiao Yan: "For example, ''My Helpful Deskmate'', ''Beacon in Life¨DMy Deskmate'', or ''Foolish Me, Fortunate to Have Met My Schr God Deskmate''."

 Chapter 36: Composition

    <h4>Chapter 36</h4>


    Lin ChuSui started a new small chat group: [Beauties of No.1 Middle School South City].


    She added Xu JiaNing, Lu Chi, Zhang ChengYu and Lu TianBai into the group¡ª


    "I''m gathering everyone here to discuss what to do about the school genius."


    Zhang ChengYu: "I''m sensing conspiracy."


    Lu Chi: "Get him drunk and then...?"


    Lin ChuSui sent a [disdain] emoji, then briefly recounted what happened with the nchette that night.


    Lu Chi: "So what''s your n? Do another s¨¦ance and summon Lin Shu out?"


    Lin ChuSui: "So I want everyone to put their heads together and think of good ways to prove that XiaoYan is my dad."


    Zhang ChengYu: "I feel like someone as great as Lin Shu couldn''t possibly be associated with a shady guy like XiaoYan. If Lin Shu was like him, I would''ve had QQ Candy poison him long ago."


    Lin ChuSui: "Even if there''s only a 0.1% chance, I want to give it a try."


    Lu Chi: "What if he''s not? Are you prepared to not feel disappointed after all these years? It''s time to let it go, girl. @Lu TianBai, talk some sense into your bestie."


    Lu TianBai: "@Lin ChuSui, I really don''t think XiaoYan and Uncle are alike at all. They''repletely different people."


    Lin ChuSui: "Actually this was all @Xu JiaNing''s idea. Bestie, feel free to debate him on this."


    Lu TianBai: "Oh, well...I guess I can kind of see some simrities between the school genius and Uncle Lin. They both treat Little Chu so nicely and are so supportive! Likes!"


    Lu Chi: "..."


    "How did I end up with such a fickle friend?"


    Zhang ChengYu: "Another s¨¦ance probably won''t aplish much, but I follow a paranormal researcher who specializes in weird supernatural stuff. We can take the school genius to them and see if something''s up."


    Lin ChuSui: "Sounds promising. It was hard enough getting XiaoYan to agree to meet up, so this is my one shot."


    Zhang ChengYu: "They have a physical location in South City. Business has been good supposedly, but you''d have to book in advance. It''s worth a try."


    Lin ChuSui: "I''m down, Bro Octopus is reliable."


    Lu Chi: "The school genius is busy with work every weekend. How did you convince him to sacrifice his precious money-making time for your experiments?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Because I promised I''d enter the essay writing contest."


    Lu Chi: "You''re entering the contest?? What are you writing about?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Haven''t decided yet. I have a preliminary title in mind, not sure if it can win anything though."


    Lu Chi: "You want to win?"


    Lin ChuSui: "The school genius gets first ce in everything, but I can''t asionally win an essay contest?"


    Lu Chi: "Ambitious!"


    Lin ChuSui: "I did some research. For this essay contest, there''s an audience favorite award in addition to the expert judging. I''ve decided to go for it."


    Expert judging was out of the question. Lin ChuSui''s name had been cklisted by all the teachers. They''d probably skip over her essay as soon as they saw her name.


    Lu TianBai: "Awesome, awesome! For the audience favorite award, we can go vote for you on the school admin system!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Considering the school genius''s poprity and fame, I n to ride his coattails. My essay title will be ''My Genius Deskmate''s Everyday Life.'' What do you guys think?"


    Lu Chi: "With the school genius''s poprity, you''ll definitely get lots of votes."


    Lin ChuSui: "Right?"


    Zhang ChengYu: "I suggest changing the title. Itcks punch."


    Lin ChuSui: "What do you suggest, Bro Octopus?"


    Zhang ChengYu: "''Shocking! The School Genius''s Unknown Secrets - You Won''t Believe What He''s Been Hiding!'' "


    Lin ChuSui: "Bro Octopus, you''re a genius!"


    Lu Chi: "I like it!"


    ...


    That night, Lin ChuSui was inspired and stayed upte finishing her essay. She submitted it to thenguage representative first thing in the morning.


    It just so happened that Xu JiaNing was also submitting his essay.


    "Big bro is entering the essay contest too?"


    Xu JiaNing looked at her expressionlessly and mocked, "If even the failing student is entering, why can''t I?"


    Lin ChuSui craned her neck to see his essay title¡ª


    "Shocking! The Unknown Secrets of Dream of the Red Chamber - You Won''t Believe What Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu Were Up To!"


    "..."


    The corners of Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched. "You...actually took Bro Octopus seriously."


    Xu JiaNing said solemnly, "I feel this fits well with the theme of my analytical essay. Zhang ChengYu may not have the best grades, but he has creativity."


    "What creativity! You can find tons of titles like this in your dad''s middle-aged friend circle!"


    "Is that so?"


    "As your elder, I advise you to reconsider the title. You''ll never win anything with this."


    Xu JiaNing didn''t think there was anything wrong with his essay. He submitted it to thenguage rep.


    Thenguage rep was a gentle, quiet girl who also worshipped Xu JiaNing. She felt he had an indescribable literary aura.


    She took his essay reverently, full of admiration¡ª


    "Shocking! The Unknown Secrets of Dream of the Red Chamber - You Won''t Believe What Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu Were Up To!"


    Thenguage rep looked at Xu JiaNing in disbelief, a bit disillusioned.


    Lin ChuSui smiled and said, "Now you know what kind of style girls like?"


    Xu JiaNing didn''t care. He said coldly, "Failing students have no right topete with me."


    Lin ChuSuiughed. "We''ll see who has thestugh!"


    ...


    After ss, Lu Chi nimbly vaulted through the open window into the ssroom.


    The girls cried out in shock at his bold entrance.


    He moved swiftly, leaping right over to the seat behind Lin ChuSui and noisily chugged half a bottle of mineral water.


    Lin ChuSui turned back coldly, "Lu, please restrain your surging hormones so you don''t give us athletes a bad name."


    "Bad name? What misunderstanding does Lin have about me?" Lu Chi pped his left bicep. "When I flex this muscle, it dazzles them!"


    After he said this, a blushing girl came over. Lu Chi looked smug, ready to greet her.


    But before he could speak, the girl walked right past him and shyly offered an imported chocte bar to Xu JiaNing beside him. "Xu JiaNing, please have this. My dad brought it back from Ennd. I thought you might... miss the taste."


    "Thanks, but I don''t eat sweets." Xu JiaNing put down his pen and nced at the drooling Lu Chi. "Please give it to someone who wants it."


    The girl left reluctantly.


    Lin ChuSuiughed and said, "Now you know what girls like?"


    Lu Chi looked over at Xu JiaNing, immacte in his button-down shirt with neat hair and fair skin.


    Lu Chi gritted his teeth resentfully, "How could I, a masculine Chinese man, lose to this fake foreign devil?"


    Lin ChuSui patted Lu Chi''s bicep. "Guys like you...also have a market."


    "Really?"


    "Mm. You can look for sisters in the personals section of the newspaper. For the next ten years, no need to try too hard..."


    "..."


    Zhang ChengYu walked in and came over to Lin ChuSui. "The ghost busting mission this weekend is probably cancelled."


    Lin ChuSui: "I wrote a 3000 character essay! What do you mean cancelled??"


    Zhang ChengYu chugged some water and said, "I was just in the office helping the P.E. teacher upload grades. I overheard Teacher Qin say he assigned XiaoYan to apany some school guests this weekend since his grades are good and his English isn''t bad."


    Upon hearing this, Xu JiaNing put down his pen in disbelief. "Good at English? Who in our grade has better spoken English than me?"


    Zhang ChengYuughed. "You''re third in our grade. XiaoYan ranked above you, and there''s the second cer Qiao DanQi, so you''re after them."


    "Judging by grades alone." Xu JiaNing resentfully rolled his eyes. "Chinese education is doomed."


    Lin ChuSui didn''t care about the state of Chinese education. She mmed the table angrily and yelled, "How can this be? I wrote a 3000 word essay!"


    "It''s a rare opportunity to be with the reporters the whole time. He''ll definitely get TV coverage and a nice entry in his resume. A greedy, selfish and ambitious guy like XiaoYan would definitely seize this chance."


    Lin ChuSui was sincerely angry, clenching her fists: "If he dares! If he dares to be an untrustworthy scoundrel, I will... beat him to death!"


    The ss bell rang, and Xiao Yan returned to the ssroom and sat back next to Lin ChuSui, taking out his textbooks to prepare for ss.


    Lin ChuSui had been holding back all this time, and didn''t say anything or pay any attention to him.


    From the back row, Lu Chi lightly poked Lin ChuSui''s back with the tip of his pen to remind her - wasn''t she going to beat that untrustworthy "scoundrel" to death? Hurry up and do it!


    Lin ChuSui awkwardly observed Xiao Yan next to her, hiszy and aloof face showed no trace of emotion at all.


    He must have already talked it over with Teacher Qin, after all, hosting foreign guests was a rare opportunity.


    Behind her, Lu Chi kept poking Lin ChuSui''s back insistently with the tip of his pen, urging her to take action quickly.


    Lin ChuSui took out some scrap paper, flipped it open, and wrote Xiao Yan a short note.


    She had intended to condemn him in writing, but when she put pen to paper, she thought of him working at the Xieting Club, and of the debt collectors who hade to their door.


    So the notebook that she passed to Xiao Yan had the following written in sloppy grade-school handwriting:


    "If you''re busy this weekend, we can reschedule. Official businesses first. [smiley face]"


    Xiao Yan hadn''t intended to reply to her during ss time originally. He nced at the notebook, and his gaze calmly fell upon that friendly smiley face.


    He still picked up his ck ballpoint pen, uncapped it, and wrote below her words:


    "I''ll be there, don''t worry."


    Seeing him write those words stroke by stroke in a bold and elegant script, Lin ChuSui looked up in astonishment.


    Meeting Xiao Yan''s deep gaze identally made her heart beat even faster.


    She shifted her eyes away awkwardly, and wrote in the notebook: "But Teacher Qin gave you a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."


    She knew that to their homeroom teacher Mr. Qin, Xiao Yan was an absolute treasured gem in the palm of his hand. If it wasn''t an extremely good training opportunity, Mr. Qin definitely wouldn''t have let him waste time participating.


    After all, every minute of the school genius''s time was precious.


    "You should go, don''t give up such a great chance. We can make ns to hang out some other time."


    Lin ChuSui passed the notebook over to Xiao Yan, blinking her eyes very sincerely as she looked at him.


    Xiao Yan gazed at that line of childish grade-school handwriting, and his writing paused for a moment. He wrote: "To you, I don''t want to break my promise."


    After writing this line, Xiao Yan deliberated for a bit, then crossed out the words "To you" -


    "I don''t want to break my promise."


    Lin ChuSui took the notebook and looked at that line, then at Xiao Yan''s expression, feeling somewhatplicated.


    Outside the window, the ginkgo tree happened to be at the stage where its yellow leaves were drifting down in abundance, and the autumn breeze blew coolly, with no feeling of destion at all.


    Xiao Yan had a distant look, gazing intently at the ckboard. The upward curve at the corner of his eyes seemed to reveal some gentleness, in stark contrast with his cold and hard temperament.


    Sometimes, Lin ChuSui really didn''t understand the thought processes of these elite students.


    Did crossing out "To you" mean that she couldn''t see it anymore?

 Chapter 37: Matching Index

    <h4>Chapter 37</h4>


    On a weekend afternoon, Xiao Yan came to themercial center at Times Square as promised.


    Lin ChuSui, Lu Chi and several others had arrived early and were already waiting on the first floor, sending Xiao Yan a shared location.


    When Xiao Yan arrived, he saw several brats gathered around a w machine, sighing loudly¡ª


    "Xu Jia Ning, didn''t you say you were really good at this?"


    "I am good at w machines!"


    Xu Jia Ning was holding three cute foreign dolls: "Let''s see you try to win a pack of Marlboros with a one dor coin. No one could do that."


    Sure enough, Lin ChuSui, Lu Chi and the others were not gathered around a regr w machine, but another water gun machine. Inside were various brands of cigarettes, Chanel lipsticks, high-end perfumes, and even iPhones.


    The shelves holding them moved quickly, and you just had to shoot them to make them fall.


    After failing again, Xu Jia Ning said unsatisfied, "What''s wrong with wing dolls?"


    "Childish," Lin ChuSui pushed him away, "I''ll have to do it myself to show you how it''s done. Watch me win that pack of cigarettes."


    Behind them, Xiao Yan''s low and maic voice rang out¡ª


    "Lin, what are you trying to win?"


    Lin ChuSui''s body shook, and she turned her stiff neck to see Xiao Yan''s indifferent face.


    It seemed like he had gotten a haircut, his bangs were shorter, making his brow look even sharper. He wore a very clean gray round neck sweater, looking fresh and sunny.


    His gaze moved up andnded on the pack of Marlboros that Lin ChuSui''s water gun was aimed at. His tone was cold and rising, "What are you trying to win?"


    Lin ChuSui quickly threw down the controls and turned to yell at Lu Chi, "Yeah, I said I wanted to grab dolls. It was you who insisted on shooting for cigarettes. Young people should lead healthy, positive lives. Lu, I''m very disappointed in you."


    Lu Chi: ???


    Lin ChuSui awkwardly said to Xiao Yan, "ssmate Xiao, let''s not y with these bad boys. Let''s go!"


    After speaking, she turned to leave, but Xiao Yan grabbed her by the cor with one hand and pulled her to the doll machine, "Lin ChuSui, don''t lie to me, don''t trick me."


    Seeing his cold expression, Lin ChuSui was a little scared too. She honestly confessed, "I was trying to shoot for the cigarettes, just ying around. I don''t actually smoke."


    Since she had promised to quit smoking, she would never go near those things again.


    "It''s true," Lu TianBai quickly helped exin, "ChuChu really doesn''t smoke anymore. The cigarettes were for my brother."


    Xiao Yan nced at Lu Chi. Lu Chi spread his hands, "I''m already an adult, are you going to manage me too?"


    "Even if you weren''t an adult, I wouldn''t bother with you. I only manage her." Xiao Yan released Lin ChuSui and tapped her head in punishment, "Lin ChuSui, don''t lie to me, don''t trick me."


    Seeing his harsh tone ease a little, Lin ChuSui also rxed and revealed a crayfish-like smile, "Let''s go, let''s go!"


    "After spending so much money, we''re just leaving like this?" Xu Jia Ning said, "We have to grab something at least."


    "You still want to grab dolls?"


    Xu Jia Ning nced back at the water gun machine, reluctantly put in a few more game tokens, "At least let me win an iPhone."


    "You have a typical gambler''s mentality," Lin ChuSui criticized him. "The more you lose, the more obsessed you be. Watch out or you''ll lose the pants off your ass."


    Xu Jia Ning didn''t believe her. He kept ying, butpared to cigarettes, the brand name perfumes were harder to maneuver. The shelves kept moving, requiring precision timing down to tenths of a second to seed.


    He tried several times, easily wasting a couple hundred dors, but kept failing.


    Xu Jia Ning''s face was flushed red with excitement.


    Seeing him like this, Lin ChuSui thought he really was a "gambler."


    "Do youck phones? Trying to take advantage of bargains? Be careful you don''t lose everything!"


    "Shut up."


    "Alright alright, your cheap little sister will help you out."


    Lin ChuSui was confident that while her skills were crap, they were still better than Xu Jia Ning''s.


    She tried operating it several times, but also failed.


    ying this water gun machine was really addictive. Every time it felt like you were just a tiny bit away from winning, just a tiny bit more, giving people a sense of hope and unwillingness to give up, making them more and more excited with each try, always feeling that they would surely seed on the next attempt.


    Xiao Yan stood with his arms crossed, watching from the sidelines.


    After failing several times, Lin ChuSui turned and asked him, "Are you good at this, ssmate Xiao?"


    "Of course ssmate Xiao is good."


    "Then give it a try."


    Xiao Yan leaned casually against the machine, his face expressionless. "But ssmate Xiao isn''t interested."


    Lin ChuSui pouted, took out her phone to scan more tokens, when Xiao Yan''s slender fingertips reached out and picked up a game token, weighing it in his hand, "Unless you beg me."


    Fearing that he was angry about the cigarette incident earlier, hearing his rxed tone, Lin ChuSui also rxed. She very cooperatively pulled his sweater and pleaded, "Please please, ssmate Xiao, help me grab one."


    Xiao Yan had just said it casually, he didn''t expect this little girl to give in so easily. Now he had no reason to refuse, so he simply put in the coin and started operating, "Perfume, lipstick, or iPhone?"


    "Lipstick, it looks easier."


    Before she even finished speaking, there was a "ng" and a boxed iPhone fell out.


    Lin ChuSui was stunned speechless.


    "Sorry, slipped." Xiao Yan picked up the iPhone and handed it to Lin ChuSui, "Let me grab you a lipstick too."


    Lin ChuSui shook the iPhone packaging box in disbelief, listening if it was a real phone. Next second, "ng"! A Chanel lipstick also fell out.


    He picked up the lipstick, opened the box to check, and handed it to Lin ChuSui, "It should be real, you can use it."


    This wave of godly operation left Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu dumbfounded.


    Xu Jia Ning immediately apuded, never before had he been so convinced by Xiao Yan!


    "Fuck, ssmate Xiao is awesome!"


    "Is this a real phone or toy?"


    "This can''t be! No way!"


    ......


    Lin ChuSui squatted down, opened the iPhone box, and took out a brand new phone. She turned it on, the screen lit up.


    "A real phone!"


    "Damn."


    Lu Chi pulled Xiao Yan, "Bro, help me grab one too! We''ll split it fifty-fifty."


    Xiao Yan refused, "No more ying."


    "Why not?"


    "I turned down the chance our teacher arranged. I didn''te here to grab dolls with you."


    "Don''t you need another iPhone at home?" Zhang Cheng Yu pushed Lu Chi aside and said in a low voice, "ssmate Xiao sacrificed his precious weekend time toe on a date with ChuBro. Can you please read the mood?"


    "Oh right, our reserved game is about to start, let''s head upstairs."


    Then the group entered the elevator.


    Lin ChuSui held the phone in one hand and the lipstick in the other, smiling from ear to ear.


    Xu Jia Ning said contemptuously, "Just this... can make you smile like an idiot for so long? Some richdy you are."


    Originally with Lin ChuSui''s family background, her mom gave her plenty of allowance to buy whatever she wanted.


    But it was precisely because she got this without spending money, and it was won for her by her awesome ssmate Xiao Yan, that put her in such a good mood.


    "Some people are so jealous their eyes are turning green," she retorted Xu Jia Ning. "Weren''t you just about to lose the pants off your ass?"


    Xu Jia Ning: "A little gambling is exhrating."


    "Just stubborn."


    Stepping out of the elevator, Zhang Cheng Yu led everyone to the shop entrance of the [Paranormal Research Center] on the 4th floor.


    There was a poster on the door that read¡ª


    "Hypnotism, Tarot, Horoscopes, Name Fortunes..."


    Lin ChuSui looked at Zhang Cheng Yu, "Octopus Bro, isn''t this a fortune telling stall?"


    "This isn''t superstitious fortune telling, it''s scientific fortune telling," Zhang Cheng Yu pointed to the poster, "They analyze names by gathering all kinds of ident data online, using big data to make predictions. It''s very urate!"


    Lin ChuSui: "Big data fortune telling, it''s still fortune telling. No matter how you look at it, it retains the feudal and superstitious essence."


    Lu Chi said, "Wasn''t it you who first suggested ying the spirit pen game, ChuBro?"


    Lin ChuSui looked back at Xu Jia Ning, "Cheap brother, what do you think?"


    "As a Cancer, I think horoscopes make sense."


    Lu TianBai: "Jia Ning bro, you''re a Cancer! Best housekeeper-like boyfriend!"


    Xu Jia Ning smiled, "That''s right."


    "I''m a Pisces, so we''re quitepa..."


    Before she could finish speaking, Lu Chizily draped his arm over her shoulder and interrupted, "Completely ipatible, thanks."


    Lin ChuSui asked Xiao Yan, "Academic God, what''s your zodiac sign?"


    "Don''t know."


    "When''s your birthday then?"


    Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment without responding right away. Zhang Cheng Yu secretly stomped on Lin ChuSui''s foot and she then realized Xiao Yan was an orphan.


    He probably doesn''t know what year he was born.


    "Zodiac signs are just superstitious anyway," sheughed it off. "I never believed in that stuff."


    Xiao Yan lowered his head in thought for a bit before answering, "When I was little, I heard the director say I was left at the orphanage door in the cold winter of the lunar new year. I must have been two to three months old then, so I was probably born in November."


    "November, Scorpio," Lu TianBai whispered in Lin ChuSui''s ear. "The most cunning and maniptive boyfriend among the twelve zodiac signs. Definitely one to avoid."


    "Superstitious nonsense," Lin ChuSui waved her hand dismissively. "I never believed in that stuff."


    They chatted as they shoved and pushed their way into the Paranormal Phenomena Research Center.


    The lighting inside was very dim. The corridors were lined with eerie, creepy paintings and cabs filled with astrology cards, crystal balls and other fortune-telling props that created a spooky atmosphere.


    The receptionist at the front desk scanned their ticket barcode and said, "Please have a seat on the sofa for a bit. The previous customer hasn''t finished yet. Feel free to y some board games while you wait."


    They sat down on the sofa. Lin ChuSui noticed Xiao Yan followed closely behind her and sat down next to her.


    The soft, sunk-in sofa nearly had their legs touching.


    She felt a strange sensation arise and secretly eyed Xiao Yan, but he seemedpletely oblivious, eyeing the crystal ball on the table with interest.


    In the dim lighting, his pitch-ck eyes shone instead, making his features appear even more refined and gentle.


    All of Lin ChuSui''s senses focused on their touching thighs. His warmth, his scent, were so distinct in such close proximity...


    Her heart quickened and she took out her phone, mindlessly scrolling through Weibo and webpages.


    Distracted.


    Task Progress: 35%, 36%, 37%...


    Xiao Yan saw the progress bar rising rapidly again in the bottom right corner. He lowered his eyes and nced at Lin ChuSui.


    The little girl was randomly scrolling through Weibo, the screen lighting up her fair cheeks. Her long eyshes fluttered like sieves, obscuring her expression.


    Zhang Cheng Yu and Lu Chi had picked up the fortune-telling props and started ying with them.


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "How do you y this?"


    Lu Chi: "Moron, you need to flip a coin."


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Why does everything cost money? Boring."


    Lu Chi pushed him away, taking out a coin. "Why are you so stingy over a dor?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "I just think it''s not worth it. None of your business."


    ...


    The receptionist called out, "The previous fortune-telling session has ended. Pleasee with me."


    Lin ChuSui got up first, avoiding Xiao Yan seeing her flushed face.


    Xiao Yan was thest to get up. As he left, he noticed Lin ChuSui''s phone left behind on the sofa.


    He picked it up.


    The search engine on the phone screen was still open, with a search for:


    "Compatibility rating between Capricorn woman and Scorpio man"


    Xiao Yan''s gaze lingered hesitantly for a moment. He then closed the search engine page, locked the screen, and walked over to Lin ChuSui, surreptitiously slipping the phone into her pocket.


    In the hallway, he casually asked her, "What month were you born?"


    "December."


    "Capricorn?"


    "Yeah."

 Chapter 38: 40 Percent

    <h4>Chapter 38</h4>


    Through a long corridor, a group of people came to the divination room.


    The divination room was dimly lit, creating just the right atmosphere. A woman wearing a witch''s robe sat at the table, with messy hair, dark eye makeup, andzily flipping through tarot cards. "Please take a seat," she saidnguidly.


    Lin ChuSui nced down and saw she was wearing flip-flops under the table.


    Noticing Lin ChuSui''s gaze, the fortune teller tucked in her legs and said, "You can call me Katherine."


    Looking at her emerald green eyes, Lin ChuSui asked, "Are you a Western witch?"


    "Obviously," Katherine replied as she flipped over an hourss. "You can ask me anything - about rtionships, studies, work..."


    Lin ChuSui sat down opposite her and lowered her voice to ask, "First question - do you believe there are ghosts in this world?"


    Katherine smiled faintly, "There are no ghosts in this world, but there are ghosts in people''s hearts."


    After saying this, she nced over the row of people Lu Chi had brought, her gaze finally settling intently on Xiao Yan. Her rouged lips parted lightly, "Ghosts exist together with human desires."


    Xiao Yan looked away, avoiding her gaze.


    Lin ChuSui whispered to Lu Chi, "She sounds quite professional!"


    Lu Chi nodded in agreement, "Yes, very profound!"


    Katherine retracted her gaze and ced the tarot cards on the table. "I only do readings for two people at a time. Who wants their fortune told?"


    Lin ChuSui quickly pulled Xiao Yan over to sit down, "Do ours! Or rather, do his!"


    Xiao Yan turned to Lin ChuSui, "Why mine?"


    "Don''t you want to know your future? Like whether you can get into college."


    Xiao Yan retorted, "Does that need divining?"


    "In front of all these academic ckers, shouldn''t you try to be a little more modest, Mr. Top Student?"


    Katherine looked them over and seemed to grasp the situation. She said, "Let me tell your rtionship fortune instead."


    Lin ChuSui quickly agreed, "Yes, do that!"


    "Put your hands on the table, left for the man, right for the woman."


    Lin ChuSui obediently put out her hand. Xiao Yan wasn''t too happy about it, but seeing her enthusiasm, he also rolled up his sleeve and held out his hand.


    There''s no harm inparison. Next to his fair, slender fingers, Lin ChuSui''s pudgy little ws...were totally outssed.


    Just as Lin ChuSui was about to self-consciously withdraw her hand, Katherine suddenly grabbed Xiao Yan''s hand and ced it on top of hers.


    Lin ChuSui''s heart jolted as if electrified. She was about to pull back when Katherine said, "Don''t move! It''sing..."


    Puzzled, Lin ChuSui watched as she stared intently into her crystal ball, murmuring incantations.


    This was the longest minute in Lin ChuSui''s life so far.


    She felt Xiao Yan''s rough palm lightly covering her hand. His warmth made her ears flush red.


    If this had happened before, Xiao Yan would have lost patience with such silliness long ago.


    Yet now, he was calmly ying along.


    His hand gently sped hers.


    Natural yet discreet.


    "It''s here!" Katherine eximed. "You two...have a profound andplex bond!"


    "Really?" Lin ChuSui quickly asked, "Tell us more!"


    "You''re fated, but you''ll face many trials before achieving a happy oue. So you must persevere."


    Lin ChuSui was confused, "That''s it?"


    "Yes."


    Lu Chi murmured in awe, "So urate!"


    Lin ChuSui questioned, "What was urate?"


    She had no doubt that if it was her and Xu Jia Ning sitting here today, this Katherine wouldn''t have changed a word of her spiel.


    Unwilling to let her consultation fee go to waste, Lin ChuSui asked again, "What else can you tell about him, like his face reading?"


    Katherine scrutinized Xiao Yan again before concluding, "He''s gued by peach blossom luck. Many girls must be chasing him."


    Lu Chi eximed, "So true! Wow, she''s amazing!"


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    With Xiao Yan''s looks, wasn''t it obvious?


    Suppressing her frustration, she persisted, "Tell us more."


    Seeing she was unconvinced, Katherine directly asked, "What is it you really want to know?"


    Lin ChuSui nced at Xiao Yan, then whispered to Katherine, "I want to know if he''s possessed. We yed Spirit of the Pen


    before and it didn''t leave. Strange things have happened since."


    Hearing this, Katherine first shuddered, knocking over the hourss on the table. "Oh my god, don''t scare me!"


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Yup, just a fraudster.


    Even more useless than a quack.


    ...


    Lin ChuSui pulled Xiao Yan along as she left the Paranormal Research Center. She turned back to Zhang Cheng Yu, "Some fortune teller she is, daring to charge 500 yuan for a consultation! No professional ethics whatsoever. Even I could do a better witch costume than flip-flops."


    Zhang Cheng Yu helplessly replied, "They''re an inte celebrity shop, with great reviews online."


    "It''s all marketing!"


    Lin ChuSui was very disappointed. Not only did they waste money, but Xiao Yan had refused the university''s offer toe today, only to get this kind of result...


    Xu Jia Ning said, "Instead of going through all that, you should just ask him directly."


    Embarrassed, Lin ChuSui peeked at Xiao Yan but couldn''t bring herself to say anything. Stomping her feet in frustration, she left.


    "Hey, where are you running off to?"


    "Lin ChuSui,e back! Coward!"


    Watching her figure disappear, Xiao Yan''s eyes darkened.


    Ever since they entered the Paranormal Research Center, he had guessed what these people were up to with their little "scheme."


    But even knowing, he had to pretend he didn''t.


    Those were the rules of the game. He couldn''t tell.


    If Lin ChuSui discovered her father was still alive, she might...never recover.


    Unless Xiao Yan willingly gave up his body for Lin Xiu Ze to be reborn.


    Otherwise, he absolutely could not let her know that in a certain sense, Lin Xiu Ze lived on inside him.


    ...


    Lin ChuSui crouched alone in the bathroom, burying her face in her knees.


    Xu Jia Ning chased after Lin ChuSui and said helplessly, "You coward, why''d you run off!"


    "I am a coward! A big coward!" Lin ChuSui cried out uncontrobly. "I don''t dare ask. I''m afraid he''ll say yes, and even more afraid he''ll say no. I''m afraid Dad will see what I''ve be, yet I''m even more afraid Dad really left forever."


    Tears rolled down her cheeks and she scrubbed them away harshly, "I''m a coward! No courage, no confidence, I''ll never get better!"


    Xu Jia Ning''s heart instantly softened. He finally understood why the Lu siblings were so against him bringing up anything about her father again.


    He had watched her slowly emerge from the shadows of the past these days.


    Yet with his meddling, her old wounds had reopened.


    Filled with guilt and distress, Xu Jia Ning crouched down and gently hugged her, clumsily trying tofort her, "There, there, don''t cry."


    She cried even harder with someone so gentle consoling her, and got snot all over Xu Jia Ning''s shoulder.


    "Ew, gross."


    Xu Jia Ning wanted to push her away but she clung tightly to his clothes. "Brother, just tell me if it''s really him or not."


    Hearing her call him "brother", Xu Jia Ning''s heart meltedpletely.


    "I don''t know, but...he''s decent to you."


    "It''s like knowing fortune-telling is fake, yet still hoping against hope. I know Dad is gone and Xiao Yan is Xiao Yan. He can''t possibly be Dad. But part of me still wants to believe that night we yed Spirit of the Pen...Dad really came back."


    "Let''s not talk about this anymore," Xu Jia Ning murmured. "You like Xiao Yan, right? Just let him take you to movies and dinner. Let''s have some fun."


    Lin ChuSui nodded slightly then immediately denied, "Who says I like him?"


    Xu Jia Ning wiped away Lin Chu Sui''s tear stains with his palm and pulled her up, "Alright, high school seniors don''t get many chances to go out and have fun like this, don''t waste time hiding here."


    Lin Chu Sui looked at Xu Jia Ning and said in a husky, tearful voice, "You''re a good brother."


    Xu Jia Ning rarely saw her so gentle and obedient, andughed, "You''re just realizing that now?"


    ...


    Outside the movie theater, Xiao Yan bought popcorn, but the movie hadn''t even started yet when Zhang Cheng Yu and Lu Chi had already eaten over half of it.


    Helpless, he bought another box.


    This time, in order to protect the popcorn, he stood alone at the entrance, maintaining a safe distance of 4-5 meters from those two big eaters.


    Xu Jia Ning brought Lin Chu Sui back to the movie theater. Everyone tacitly ignored Lin Chu Sui''s red eyes without asking too many questions.


    Lu Chi waved his hand, "The movie''s about to start! We''ve been waiting for you to get the tickets!"


    Lin Chu Sui walked up to Xiao Yan and awkwardly said, "Sorry, I just had to urgently use the bathroom..."


    "Oh," Xiao Yan wiped away the tear stains at the corner of her eye, "Constipated? You cried so much your tears came out."


    "..."


    The guilt dissipated instantly. Lin Chu Sui pushed him, "You''re the constipated one! Your whole family is constipated!"


    Xu Jia Ning immediately corrected her, "Just curse him alone, don''t bring his family into it."


    Everyone entered the movie theater and sat in thest row.


    Xiao Yan and Lin Chu Sui sat on the very edge. Xiao Yan passed her the popcorn he had been hiding for so long.


    Lin Chu Sui was slightly surprised, "For me to eat?"


    "Mm," Xiao Yan said.


    "I saw you hiding and covering it just now, I thought you were going to take it home as a midnight snack, afraid I would snatch it away."


    "I bought it just for you," Xiao Yan said helplessly, "You and your friends are reincarnated hungry ghosts, no matter how much I buy, you all eat it up. This one is...quite expensive."


    Movie theater popcorn is quite expensive.


    Lin Chu Sui knew every cent Xiao Yan had was hard-earned.


    In this regard, although Lin Chu Sui was well off, she was spending her mother''s money. Compared to him, she fell far short.


    "Let''s not bring them along in the future," she said softly. "That way you won''t have to buy them popcorn."


    The corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth quirked up slightly as he murmured, "Okay."


    Lin Chu Sui ate a crispy popcorn and then passed one to Xiao Yan, "You have some too."


    "Mm."


    Xiao Yan naturally took the popcorn from her fingers with his lips.


    His warm lips lightly grazed her fingertips, sending another tingle down Lin Chu Sui''s spine. She turned her head to look at Xiao Yan.


    His side profile was elegant, his features sharp and distinct, his eyes reflecting the movie screen lights.


    Earlier, he had also eaten pistachios from her hand like this.


    Lin Chu Sui had always felt only very intimate, very close rtionships would eat food from each other''s hands.


    Did he see their rtionship as the intimate kind?


    To test this, she passed him another popcorn.


    Sure enough, he lowered his head to take it again.


    This time, Lin Chu Sui pulled back, "Don''t you have hands?!"


    Xiao Yan finally tore his gaze from the movie screen to look at her in confusion.


    "I''m giving it to you, not feeding you!"


    Xiao Yan reacted after a moment¨D


    "Oh."


    A few minutester, he picked up a popcorn and held it out to her, "It''s not for you."


    "?"


    "I''m feeding you."


    Progress: 40%

 Chapter 39: Get the Color

    <h4>Chapter 39</h4>


    The movie was a romance film. The few couples in the almost empty theater also left midway due to the boring plot.


    Throughout the movie, the male and female leads were making out, then broke up. After a heart-wrenching and agonizing separation, the female lead contracted a terminal illness.


    Lin ChuSui looked back and asked, "Brother Octopus, why did you choose this movie?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu innocently said, "The poster wrote it was a youth idol and tear-jerking masterpiece. I thought since we have two girls, a romance would be quite suitable."


    One of the girls, Lu TianBai, was already asleep on her brother''s shoulder.


    Snoring lightly, she was sleeping soundly.


    Lu Chi said, "My sister can barely be considered a girl. As for the one in front... Do you really think she can appreciate a romance film?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu saw Lin ChuSui''s utterly confused expression and said, "My bad."


    ...


    The male and female leads on screen started intimately kissing again.


    Lin ChuSui nced sideways at Xiao Yan. He was watching very attentively and seriously, no less focused than when he was studying.


    "Xiao Yan, is this nice to watch?"


    "It''s nice."


    "Nice???"


    Xiao Yan seriously asked back, "You don''t think it''s nice?"


    "It''s not that, but what''s nice about it?!"


    "Their love, it''s very touching."


    "It''s obviously so contrived!"


    "The female lead contracted a terminal illness," Xiao Yan said matter-of-factly. "After oveing all sorts of difficulties, the lovers still couldn''t be together in the end. They became separated by life and death. The male lead will forever cherish her memory."


    "That''s what you find touching?"


    Xiao Yan said, "How can you be so cold-hearted?"


    "... "


    Lin ChuSui shut uppletely.


    Previously she thought there was just a 500 point gap between her and Xiao Yan. Now she saw there was an insurmountable chasm between their mindsets.


    She snuck another peek at him.


    He watched attentively without any expression, his pitch-ck profound eyes seemed somewhat forlorn.


    A Xiao Yan who could genuinely appreciate contrived romance films was a bit cute.


    Lin ChuSui took out thest piece of popcorn and decided to give it to Xiao Yan to eat.


    Xiao Yan had learned to be smart. He asked, "Is this giving me, or feeding me?"


    "Feeding, feeding, feeding."


    Only then did he casually take the popcorn with his mouth.


    "Xiao Yan,st time you said you like girls with nice figures. Was that for real or just joking?"


    "Why ask about this?"


    "Just...casually asking. If there was a girl who met your criteria that came to date you, would you agree?"


    "I wouldn''t."


    "Oh."


    Receiving his unhesitating response, Lin ChuSui didn''t know whether to feel happy and relieved, or disappointed. "Why not?"


    "It''s true I''m not in good health," Xiao Yan replied in a t tone. "I''m also very poor. Dating costs money, which I don''t have. I also don''t yet have the ability to make any promises to someone I like."


    Lin ChuSui carefully considered his words. Very realistic, also very truthful.


    This was Xiao Yan''s personality. He took every step steadily.


    Because his life was already hanging by a thread, with an abyss under his feet. He couldn''t make a single misstep.


    Lin ChuSui thought about what Xu Jia Ning just said, that she liked Xiao Yan.


    Did she really like Xiao Yan?


    It seemed...she did like him a bit.


    Lin ChuSui asked somewhat indignantly, "Since you have no interest in dating, why do you watch romance films so seriously?"


    "Because they keep kissing."


    "You like watching kisses?"


    "I''m 18 years old. Scorpio."


    "?"


    Lin ChuSui truly didn''t understand what Xiao Yan meant.


    But she was a good girl who asked when she didn''t understand. She immediately searched Scorpio''s traits, and from the descriptions like "possessive", "jealous", and "vengeful", she found a key word¡ª


    "Strong sexual desire."


    For the rest of the movie, Lin ChuSui''s mind wandered. Whenever there was a kissing scene, she would involuntarily nce at the youth beside her.


    He had no expression, his pitch-ck eyes stared intently at the screen, unknown what he was thinking.


    Lin ChuSui''s inner thoughts were exceptionally rich, as she got herself all flushed and hot.


    Exiting the theater, Lu Chi and the others were all chattering about the plot¡ª


    "This movie was too crappy. What was with the female lead suddenly getting a terminal illness at the end? Just watched it for nothing."


    Lu TianBai who had slept groggily said, "The plot was so exciting, why didn''t you wake me up?"


    "Little sister, what kind of misunderstanding do you have about ''exciting''? It was contrived!" Lu Chi said agitatedly, "Just you wait, in a couple years he''ll definitely forget about her."


    Lin ChuSui said, "No, the male lead will forever cherish her memory. That''s true love."


    "Pfft, that just shows you don''t understand men, and you don''t understand love."


    "In any case, I won''t," Lin ChuSui said. "The person I like, I''ll remember for a lifetime."


    Lu Chiughed. "What about Qin Nai then? These past two years, haven''t you forgotten all about him?"


    Hearing the words "Qin Nai", Lin ChuSui''s expression noticeably froze for a moment. She lifted her leg to kick Lu Chi.


    Lu Chi quickly dodged. "Not letting me talk about him huh!"


    Xiao Yan, who had been silent at the back the whole time, suddenly asked, "Who''s Qin Nai?"


    Seeing Xiao Yan was interested, Lu Chi immediately exined to him, "Qin Nai is ChuSui''s ex. They started dating in high school but broke up after."


    Lin ChuSui immediately justified, "I was so young then, didn''t understand anything. Just felt he had a unique personality. Can we not bring up this old history?"


    Lu Chi scratched his head. "It was because Xiao Yan was curious that I exined it to him."


    Xiao Yan was truly interested and asked again, "What was his personality like?"


    Lu Chi said, "Qin Nai''s grades were nearst in the grade. He really knew how to y, could be considered one of those hotshot school kings."


    Xiao Yan looked at Lin ChuSui. "So you used to like those with bad grades?"


    "It wasn''t because of his bad grades," Lin ChuSui exined. "Back then I only felt he was handsome."


    "How handsome?"


    "About...on par with you."


    "Any photos?"


    Seeing he was dead set on pursuing this, Lin ChuSui said, "We deleted each other long ago, where would there be any photos left? Didn''t expect you to be such a gossip Xiao Yan."


    At this time, Zhang Cheng Yu took out his phone. "I haven''t deleted him yet. Qin Nai posts selfies on QQ Space every day. Xiao Yan, do you want to see?"


    Xiao Yan reached to take the phone. Zhang Cheng Yu immediately made conditions. "Sharing all the homework in the ss group for a week."


    Xiao Yan said, "Deal."


    Lu Chi eximed, "Fuck!"


    He agreed without any hesitation!


    Zhang Cheng Yu passed the phone over. Xiao Yan scrolled and flipped through it.


    This ex-boyfriend indeed posted a selfie every day, and basically all muscr topless gym mirror selfies. Very narcissistic and oily...


    Although his selfie style was oily, Qin Nai''s features were very rugged and handsome. He could certainly be considered good-looking and enduringly attractive.


    Xiao Yan passed the phone back without furthermentary on his looks.


    Xu Jia Ning took the phone andughed after ncing at it. "Can''t believe your ex was like this!"


    Lin ChuSui staunchly defended her aesthetics. "He''s quite good-looking!"


    Xu Jia Ning mocked, "His looks are passable, but his temperament iscking. One look and you can tell he''s uncultured. The uncultured are prone to being vulgar."


    Lin ChuSui indignantly said, "Just because you''re cultured, carrying that Dream of the Red Chamber everywhere, doesn''t mean you''ve be Jia Baoyu!"


    "Of course I can''t be Jia Baoyu," Xu Jia Ning mocked. "My little sister isn''t Lin Daiyu after all."


    "In any case, your aesthetics aren''t that great."


    Xu Jia Ning asked Xiao Yan, "Xiao Yan, what do you think of her taste?"


    Xiao Yan nced at the mission progress in the bottom right corner and said, "asionally off, but generally quite good."


    "See!" Lin ChuSui tiptoed and patted Xu Jia Ning''s head, self-satisfied. "Xiao Yan says my aesthetics are good!"


    "He also said you were asionally off," Xu Jia Ning went straight for the key point. "Your ex''s looks were eptable. But his temperament truly wasn''t that great. To cure ugliness, one must read more books. Even handsome people can''t neglect their studies. For positive examples, please refer to Xiao Yan before you."


    Lin ChuSui just made a disdainful noise, but didn''t refute him.


    Xiao Yan was obviously an irrefutable example.


    Xiao Yan looked at Xu Jia Ning, "You''re very clever."


    "Huh?"


    "Next time I''ll let you get first ce."


    Xu Jia Ning: ?


    ...


    Dinner was at a restaurant Xu Jia Ning chose, on the fourth floor of Times Square Mall, a very upscale Japanese-French fusion restaurant.


    ¡°No seafood allergies, right? Then let''s go to this restaurant,¡± said Xu Jia Ning. ¡°This restaurant has a nice environment and affordable prices, most importantly the dishes are delicious.¡±


    Lu Chi looked at the artificial scenery of a white smoke emitting small bridge over flowing water in front of the Japanese restaurant. He asked in bewilderment, ¡°This can be a buffet? The kind where you can eat whatever you want?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a buffet,¡± Xu Jia Ning replied. ¡°That¡¯s why I rmend this restaurant to you guys.¡±


    After entering the door, you have to pay first at the front desk before dining. When Lin ChuSui saw that the buffet was 480 yuan per person, this was indeed a high-end buffet.


    Of course, this level of high-end was rtive to the buffets under 100 yuan that she used to go to with Lu Chi and his sports team buddies.


    Lu Chi said, ¡°Then Chu Ge, we have to eat until we throw up.¡±


    Lin ChuSui replied, ¡°You can stuff yourself silly, don''t drag me into it!¡±


    Lu Chi said, ¡°That¡¯s too much. Every time we went to a buffet before, didn''t we always eat until we threw up? Now that the God of Learning is here, you''re rebelling!¡±


    Lin ChuSui red at him angrily, ¡°I have never eaten until I threw up! Don''t talk nonsense.¡±


    ¡°There was one time when your stomach looked like you were 5 months pregnant after eating!¡±


    Seeing that Lin ChuSui was looking at him with murderous eyes, Lu Chi finally shut up and hid behind his sister Lu TianBai.


    Xu Jia Ning was about to scan the code to pay when Xiao Yan opened his mouth, ¡°Let¡¯s split the bill.¡±


    ¡°No need,¡± Xu Jia Ning scanned the code and paid, casually saying, ¡°We never sp... ¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, there was a "ding dong" sound. In his phone, a transfer from Lin ChuSui had arrived.


    Xu Jia Ning looked at Lin ChuSui, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Every time we go out, don¡¯t we split the bill? Why are you pretending to be rich now?¡± Lin ChuSui said, ¡°ssmate, I paid your share, just transfer it to meter.¡±


    Xiao Yan said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lu Chi also transferred money to Xu Jia Ning, "My and my sister''s share, and Big Brother Zhang''s, please collect it."


    Zhang Cheng Yu said, "Thank you, Brother Lu."


    Lu Chi retorted, "What are you thanking for! We''re splitting the bill, just paying you back!"


    ...


    The waiter led them to the dining area. Lin ChuSui chose a window seat with a night view and sat down.


    Xiao Yan naturally sat down next to her and took out his phone to transfer her a red packet.


    Ding.


    The red packet contained only two words:


    "Thank you."


    Lin ChuSui looked up at him. His dark eyes were also staring at her, raising the corners of his eyes, hinting for her to take the red packet.


    Lin ChuSui sent him a message: ¡°It was Xu Jia Ning showing off. We would nevere to such an expensive restaurant to eat before.¡±


    Xiao Yan replied: "Why mention this?"


    Lin ChuSui said: "Just...saying it randomly."


    Xiao Yan said: "I earn money by the minute and second, this is nothing."


    Lin ChuSui felt a little more at ease. She sent him a thumbs up cat emoji: "Schr god (Xiao Yan) is awesome."


    Hearing the ¡°ding dong¡± sounds of their phones, Lu Chi dissatisfiedly said, "You guys are so close, yet still messaging each other. Can''t you just talk directly? Wasting mobile data."


    Zhang Cheng Yuughed, ¡°Mind your own business, mutt. Let the ssmates whisper to each other, what''s it to you?¡±


    Lu Chi retorted, ¡°What whispering? Have you seen me whispering with Xu Jia Ning?¡±


    Lin ChuSui put her phone down and said, "Just receiving and sending red packets."


    ...


    The waiter came to take their order. Lu Chi pointed to all the dishes on the menu and asked, "All of these are self-service buffet items with unlimited quantities, right?"


    Waiter: "That''s right."


    Lu Chi looked at the menu, "Iron te grilled matsutake beef tenderloin, small pot burnt iron te green onion cod..."


    Lin ChuSui added: "And sashimi autumn knife fish, North Pole scallop sushi, French pan-fried anglerfish..."


    The waiter''s mouth twitched as he politely said, "I suggest you order some first, then order more after finishing those."


    "We''ve barely started, we can..." Seeing the waiter''s expression, Lin ChuSui nced at Xiao Yan and changed her words, "We...have more than enough. I don''t eat much."


    Lu Chi eximed, "Chu Ge, stop pretending to be ady. 480 yuan per person, you absolutely have to eat until you throw up! Might as well order everything on the menu and try it all."


    Waiter: "If you don''t finish, you''ll have to pay penalty fees based on the weighed leftovers."


    Lu Chi scoffed, "You really underestimate us. With Chu Ge''s appetite alone, she''s equal to ten people..."


    "Lu Chi!!!" Lin ChuSui hadpletely lost her mind. Clenching her fists, she red at him and threatened in a low voice, "I''m going to kill you."


    Perhaps truly sensing Lin ChuSui¡¯s murderous intent in her eyes, Lu Chi wisely shut up.


    Soon, dish after dish was served, filling up the table.


    Zhang Cheng Yu and Lu Chi demonstrated the fierce potential of sports team boys, wolfing down huge portions in minutes.


    Xu Jia Ning didn''t eat much, though his eyes rolled plenty as he said, "I''m never eating with you sporty types again. How embarrassing."


    Lu Chi chugged his drink and said, "Food, color, and s*x appeal, yet you eat so daintily. I bet you''re just as prim in bed."


    "Don''t worry, I''m definitely more civilized than you there."


    Zhang Cheng Yu covered Lu TianBai''s ears. "There''s an underage girl here, what kind of vulgarity are you spewing?"


    Seeing Xiao Yan steadily eating, not too fast, not too slow, not overly refined, nor sloppy, just very focused on eating, Lin ChuSui unconsciously started imagining if he was just as attentive in other matters.


    Noticing the girl''s odd gaze, Xiao Yan nced at her, "Just looking at me already full?"


    "Ah no."


    Lin ChuSui hurriedly buried her head to eat beef. After a few pieces, she quietly asked Xiao Yan again, "Can you eat thesefortably? Want some rice?"


    Xiao Yan put down his chopsticks. "I''m not as...unsophisticated as you think."


    "Oh, sorry."


    She shut up and continued eating, not daring to babble anymore.


    Xiao Yan knew that ever since the bill splitting earlier, Lin ChuSui had been carefully trying to protect his self-esteem, just that the little girl was too clumsy, being a bit too obvious about it.


    He wasn''t angry, on the contrary feeling rather touched.


    It was rare for someone to be so considerate of him like this.


    "Lin ChuSui," he called her name softly.


    "Hmm?"


    "Help me get some foie gras."


    "Okay!" Lin ChuSui immediately stood up and brought over the te of foie gras from in front of Lu Chi, cing it in front of Xiao Yan. "Xu Jia Ning said their foie gras is quite authentic. You''re missing a kidney, so eat this to replenish!"


    Xiao Yan rubbed the corner of his eye. "I didn''t lose a kidney, it was my liver. This is thest time I''ll exin it."


    "What''s...the difference?"


    "Is there a difference between your brain and this lump of foie gras?"


    Lin ChuSuiughed. She picked some beef for Xiao Yan again, "No difference at all. As long as my deskmate is happy, eat more."


    She was actually quite fond of bantering with Xiao Yan like this, unconsciously edging closer to him. She gave him all the beef from her own bowl, "Eat more, get your health better. I know you want to find a girlfriend with a good physique, but your own strength can''t fall too far behind, right?"


    Xiao Yan said, "You make sense. Lack of harmony in life can lead to many conflicts."


    Lin ChuSui nodded, "Yes."


    Lu Chi covered Lu TianBai''s ears again. "When did you two get close enough to talk about s*x?"


    Lin ChuSui asked, "Where was anything s*xual mentioned?"


    "Talking about disharmony in life, how vulgar, corrupting my sister!"


    Lin ChuSui exined, "He''s so frail, of course he''ll make his future girlfriend do all the work. How can life be harmonious like that?"


    Lu Chi said, "You really think when he said he wants to find a girlfriend with a good physique to be on top, he meant someone strong who can do housework?"


    Xiao Yan stated inly, "That is exactly my meaning. You''re the vulgar one."


    Lin ChuSui affirmed, "See."


    Lu Chi conceded, "...Yes, yes, it''s me."


    Xu Jia Ning gently clinked sses with Lu Chi, "You can never wake two people pretending to be asleep, especially when they are ''deskmates for life'' who have pledged eternal devotion."

 Chapter 40: The Ex-Boyfriend

    <h4>Chapter 40</h4>


    Xiao Yan went to the bathroom halfway through the meal and stood at the sink, tidying his cor.


    There was no one around, so he called out softly:


    "Uncle."


    After a moment, Lin Xiuze''szy voice sounded: "This is the first time you''ve taken the initiative to find me."


    "Uncle has been quiet for so long, I keep forgetting you''re still here."


    "You young people alwaysin when your elders chatter in your ears." Lin Xiuze said lightly: "My daughter also dislikes when I nag her, so I don''t talk much to avoid making you feel like I''m monitoring your life."


    "I would never think that."


    He had no elders or parents, and had never experienced being nagged by parents.


    "You young people have your own way of speaking and behaving. Although sometimes I also feel like your jokes go too far, times change after all."


    Lin Xiuze of course knew Xiao Yan''s unease, which was why he took the initiative to awaken him.


    "Just pretend I don''t exist, I don''t want to affect your life. As long as you don''t bully my daughter or hurt her, I won''t interfere."


    "She likes me and is good to me." Xiao Yan paused, then said heavily: "I can''t bear to..."


    ...can''t bear to hurt her, not one bit.


    Lin Xiuze had already heard the voice in Xiao Yan''s heart.


    Although there was a heavy, gloomy side to this boy that stemmed from being deceived and hurt in childhood, when dealing with people he cared about, he was still rtively straightforward and honest.


    He didn''t regret saving him, and was even d he had rushed into the fire in time.


    If he had really died in the fire, his soul''s journey to the underworld would have been so gloomy and lonely.


    Just then, a man came out from one of the stalls. Xiao Yan immediately stopped his mental conversation with Lin Xiuze and washed his hands to leave.


    The man stood at the sink, seemingly finding the bathroom environment very pleasant, with an elegant ambience and delicate sandalwood decor on the counter, so he took out his phone and started taking selfies.


    The bright bathroom lights shone on his face. He put on his hoodie and slightly lifted his chin to better capture his face in the light. His gaze was unfocused and his expression aloof¡ªthe ssic pose for male selfies.


    Xiao Yan looked up and saw the man''s features through the mirror.


    His face had sharp lines, highly set eyebrows, rugged features, looking very masculine.


    Xiao Yan also happened to have an extremely good memory. He immediately recognized that this was Lin ChuSui''s ex-boyfriend, Qin Nai.


    As Qin Nai was taking photos, he noticed the boy looking at him in the mirror.


    It was always a little awkward to have someone watching during a selfie shoot.


    He put away his phone in annoyance and snapped, "What the f**k you looking at! Wanna get beat up?"


    He opened his mouth and vulgarity and irritability came out immediately. It was clear he was a veteran school bully and hooligan.


    At that impulsive age, with hormones raging and no outlet, it was easy for the slightest look to spark violence.


    But Xiao Yan was not that kind of mindless savage.


    He calmly drew his gaze back and continued washing his hands.


    Qin Nai looked him up and down, then spat derisively as he left the bathroom: "Broke loser."


    Xiao Yan turned off the faucet, shook the water off his hands, and saw a ck wallet on the ground.


    It must have slipped out when Qin Nai was taking out his phone just now.


    Xiao Yan didn''t believe in astrological signs, but he had casually nced through the search results with Lin ChuSui earlier, and found little corrtion. But holding grudges and being vengeful were definitely strong traits of his.


    He picked up the wallet and opened it. Qin Nai''s ID, various bank cards, campus card, and cash were all inside.


    There was also a photo in the wallet. The girl in the photo had an innocent, tender smile. She was very young then, with straight bangs and long hair, looking well-behaved in a light blue and white summer school uniform, grinning goofily at the camera.


    It was probably Lin ChuSui''s middle school look.


    Seeing the photo, the coldness left Xiao Yan''s eyes, reced by much gentler emotions. He carefully took out the photo and put it in his pocket.


    As for the wallet itself, he casually tossed it into the toilet bowl.


    ...


    Xiao Yan returned to his seat. By now the lights outside wereing on, casting the city''s beautifully dazzling nightscape through the ss windows.


    The girl gazed dreamily at the view, eyes shimmering with the reflections, longshes fluttering.


    Compared to her girlish look in middle school, the Lin ChuSui before him had fully bloomed into maidenhood, losing all traces of youth and gaining an alluring charm.


    Feeling Xiao Yan sit back down, Lin ChuSui turned absently, unexpectedly bringing their lips almost together.


    It was an extremely thrilling moment, watching his approaching lips stop just a hair''s breadth away. Lin ChuSui felt her soul nearly jump out of her body.


    Xiao Yan quickly halted his body''s forward tilt, and they made fleeting eye contact for a few seconds before tacitly drawing apart.


    Xiao Yan continued eating while Lin ChuSui pretended to be engrossed in her phone.


    Lu Chengzhe stared at Xiao Yan''s hand for a while, then asked, "Bro, why are your hands so long and slender, almost like a woman''s?"


    Xiao Yan looked at his own hand, then retorted, "Are women''s hands better looking than mine?"


    "..."


    Lu Chengzhe''s mouth twitched. As expected, the genius had the same cocky air as when he first introduced himself as "top of the grade."


    Truly unforgettable beginnings.


    At the same time he said "Are women''s hands better looking than mine?", Lin ChuSui promptly hid her pudgy ws under the table.


    Right on cue, Lu Chengzhe added, "Most women''s hands really can''tpare to yours, but our Chu Ge is different. Chu Ge''s hands are sturdier than a man''s, right?"


    Lin ChuSui red at him. "Weren''t you going to eat until you puked? Howe you haven''t puked yet?"


    "Hey, I wasplimenting you!"


    Seeing Xiao Yan look over, Lin ChuSui resigned herself and sheepishly brought out her hands, holding them up to him.


    "You''ve seen them before, my hands aren''t pretty at all, I take after my dad, all chubby."


    Xiao Yan looked at the girl''s cute chubby ws, and thought of the powerful grip of the man''s hands during the fire, pushing him out of the most dangerous area.


    Afterwards, in countless dreams Xiao Yan seemed to feel those strong hands at his back, pushing him, pushing him out of the smoke-filled room and into the sunlight that washed over his face, restoring him to life...


    Xiao Yan naturally took Lin ChuSui''s hands and studied them carefully, his eyes much gentler.


    Lin ChuSui asked nkly, "What are you looking at?"


    Xiao Yan''s fingertips gently flicked her fingers. "Very cute," he said.


    Then he let go, restraining himself.


    Long after, Lin ChuSui could still feel the lingering warmth he had left on her forefinger.


    He touched her hand!


    Her ears started burning.


    Just then, angry voices carried over from the front desk. "Someone stole my wallet! It must have been one of your staff! I want you to check the surveince footage right now!"


    "Sir, there are no cameras in the bathroom."


    "What about outside! There must be cameras out there, right?"


    ...


    Lu Chengzhe and Zhang Chengyu were always up for some excitement. They craned their necks to watch for a while, then whipped back around in shock. "Holy sh*t, that guy is..."


    Zhang Chengyu immediately pulled Lu Chengzhe''s sleeve. "Hey, let''s get out of here. We''re all full, right?"


    Xu Jianing said, "Didn''t you guys order more dishes?"


    Zhang Chengyu: "Let''s not eat them then, cancel the order."


    Lin ChuSui frowned. "That dog Lu Chengzhe still doesn''t look full to me. He said he was going to eat until he puked."


    Lu Chengzhe''s expression had also changed. He rubbed his stomach. "I''m full, let''s go."


    In fact, Qin Nai had also spotted the unconcerned Xiao Yan eating at the table. He charged over bellowing, "You''re still here! It was you! You stole my wallet!"


    But when he came stomping murderously over to teach Xiao Yan a lesson, he saw Lin ChuSui sitting next to him.


    His surging aggression instantly evaporated, reced only by shock, and... embarrassment.


    Lin ChuSui also hadn''t expected that her reunion with her pseudo-boyfriend Qin Nai from over two years ago would happen under these circumstances.


    They were only pseudo-boyfriends because at the time, their rtionship was ambiguous at best, just teasing from their ssmates.


    At that time, the two were really well-matched. Lin ChuSui was the ss flower with good grades, while Qin Nai was the unconstrained and unruly school bully. The two happened to be deskmates, one loved to provoke while the other loved to get physical.


    Over time, their ssmates started shipping the two as a couple.


    Qin Nai really liked Lin ChuSui, he liked her a lot.


    As for Lin ChuSui, she was rather superficial at first and indeed felt that he was handsome. He skipped sses, got into fights, was rebellious and unconstrained, and had a strong personality, so she inevitably had some flutterings in her heart.


    Their grade and ss publicly recognized their rtionship, but to Lin ChuSui, they were far from being a couple, at most just vaguely interested.


    After middle school, the two went to different high schools. Before they could get to know each other deeply and develop feelings, this matter reached Lin ChuSui''s father''s ears.


    Lin ChuSui''s father was a principled and upright man from a family of schrs. Naturally, he looked down on these juvenile delinquents. No matter how prestigious Qin Nai''s family background was, in Old Lin''s eyes, someone like Qin Nai was just a hopeless case.


    So he strongly opposed Lin ChuSui being with Qin Nai. Father and daughter had the biggest conflict since Lin ChuSui was born because of this matter.


    Lin ChuSui felt more wronged.


    Because she hadn''t even gotten together with Qin Nai yet, but her father was already so agitated, even misunderstanding her, saying that she had learned bad things...


    At that time, in her rebelliousness, she had said many hurtful things to her father.


    Later, until her father passed away, Lin ChuSui was never able to exin and apologize to him. This became her biggest regret.


    Due to her father''s passing, Lin ChuSui and Qin Nai inevitably drifted apart.


    Now, meeting so suddenly, neither was prepared.


    Especially Lin ChuSui, seeing Qin Nai brought back all those bad memories of defying her father.


    Almost instantly, her eyes turned red.


    Seeing Lin ChuSui like this, Lu Chi muttered in a low voice, "Oh my."


    Seeing her like this, she must have "lingering feelings" huh.


    Xu Jianing sized up Qin Nai, and objectivelymented, "In person he looks less greasy than in his photos."


    Just then, a few of Qin Nai''s buddies came over, including a girl with bangs who walked over to Qin Nai and clung to his arm intimately.


    Lu Chi and Zhang Chengyu whispered, "Damn, this girl, isn''t she just a copy of ChuSui''s old hairstyle?"


    Zhang Chengyu: "In this lifetime I get to see doppelganger this kind of clich¨¦ trope happen in real life, the $7.80 I spent on this meal was worth it."


    Seeing Qin Nai staring straight at Lin ChuSui, the girl with bangs sized her up and asked, "Nai ge, did you find the little thief who stole your wallet?"


    Only then did Qin Nai remember the matter at hand. Very rudely, he questioned Xiao Yan, "Did you steal my wallet?"


    Xiao Yan: "I didn''t steal it."


    "After I left the restroom, my wallet was gone. You were the only one in the restroom then."


    Hearing such serious usations, Lin ChuSui couldn''t care less about her father at this moment. She reflexively pulled Xiao Yan behind her to shield him, and said, "Don''t falsely use people, usations need evidence."


    After so many years, at their reunion, Lin ChuSui actually helped someone else argue against him. Qin Nai had some trouble epting this for a moment.


    "He''s my friend, he couldn''t have stolen your wallet." Lin ChuSui said very firmly, "You must have made a mistake."


    "ChuSui, you know him well?"


    "Very well."


    Qin Nai looked at Xiao Yan, seeing how Lin ChuSui defended him, he said, "Since you vouch for him, I believe you, but there were very important things in the wallet. You don''t mind if I ask him right?"


    Xiao Yan knew that the "very important thing" he spoke of was not money or cards, but that photo...


    The address "ChuSui" also sounded very unpleasant, provoking a hint of possessiveness in him.


    Just as the tense atmosphere was about to dissipate, Xiao Yan suddenly said, "I saw your wallet."


    Qin Nai quickly asked, "Where is it?"


    "I thought it was trash so I threw it in the toilet."


    Such nonchnt words, and the faint provocative tone, angered Qin Nai in an instant.


    He rushed forward and threw a punch at Xiao Yan, using great force. Not even Lin ChuSui could stop him.


    In a sh, a bruise appeared at the corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth, his lip was cut and blood seeped out.


    Seeing Xiao Yan get hurt, Lin ChuSui kicked Qin Nai: "Bastard!"


    Of course Qin Nai would never have imagined that at their reunion after so many years, his first love would kick him for another man.


    Moreover, it was a merciless kick that left his abdomen aching.


    He would nevery a hand on Lin ChuSui. He could only retreat two steps, bending over slightly to relieve the pain.


    Seeing her boyfriend get hit, the girl with bangs naturally came to defend him, yelling at Lin ChuSui, "Bitch, you dare kick him..."


    Before she could finish, Qin Nai backhanded her: "Shut up."


    "......"


    The girl with bangs felt wronged and angry. She stomped her feet and left.


    Qin Nai looked at Lin ChuSui, still wanting to say something.


    But Lin ChuSui''s eyes were only on Xiao Yan, full of concern, remorse, and distress.


    There was no point in making a scene any longer.


    Xu Jianing said, "We''re done eating, let''s go."


    Lin ChuSui grabbed her bag with one hand, and Xiao Yan''s wrist with the other, and angrily left the restaurant pulling him along.


    As Xiao Yan passed by Qin Nai, Qin Nai looked up at him.


    He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, but the corner of his mouth revealed an imperceptible... smile.


    Qin Nai suddenly felt that this man had deliberately provoked him just now.


    Because the way Lin ChuSui looked at him was now full of utter disgust.


    At this moment, Qin Nai felt like he had been framed and schemed by a male green tea, angry yet helpless.

 Chapter 41: Section

    <h4>Chapter 41</h4>


    In the convenience store, Lin ChuSui tore open a band-aid and stuck it on the cracked spot at the corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth.


    "Seeing him rushing over, why didn''t you dodge?"


    "Weren''t you standing in front of me?" Xiao Yan said lightly, "With you here, what do I have to be afraid of."


    Hearing these words, Lin ChuSui felt like her heart was being crushed. She gently put the band-aid on him and leaned in next to his ear and whispered, "Then from now on... I''ll protect you well."


    "Mm."


    "Does it still hurt?"


    "A little."


    She reached out and rubbed the band-aid on the corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth.


    Across from them, several teenagers were drinking c, eating street food, and frowning at them.


    Zhang Cheng Yu whispered to Lu Chi, "Our brother ChuSui has gone down the deepest path, that''s the God Xiao''s ybook."


    Lu Chi: "Why do you say that?"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "This kind of top-tier schemer among men, even a tough cookie like sister ChuSui will be easily manipted by him."


    Lu Chi: "That''s... impossible, right?"


    Before he could finish speaking, they heard Xiao Yan say, "This was my fault, I shouldn''t have provoked him."


    Lin ChuSui: "You didn''t do anything wrong, he just has a bad temper."


    Xiao Yan wiped the band-aid on the corner of his mouth and confessed, "Actually there was some unpleasantness in the bathroom earlier, I did throw his wallet."


    "Did he hit you?"


    "He seems to have a very violent temper."


    "Did he scold you?"


    "Forget it, it was my own problem."


    Lin ChuSui immediately became agitated, "What exactly did he scold you with?!"


    "It''s nothing, don''t worry about it anymore. I''m not good to begin with, he didn''t say anything wrong."


    "Damn it." Lin ChuSui clenched her fist, her eyes reddened from distress.


    ...


    Watching Xiao Yan vividly portray himself as a victim like a textbook example, Lu Chi''s worldviewpletely copsed.


    In Xiao Yan, he seemed to see the shadow of his ex-girlfriend.


    His ex-girlfriend had also used simr rhetoric, and then somehow he became a backup boyfriend without knowing why.


    It seems...he understands now.


    Xu Jia Ning hugged his arms, sincerely convinced, "I''m not as good as him."


    Lu Tian argued, "Even the God Xiao was beaten up, and you guys are still gossiping here."


    Lu Chi patted her on the back of the head, "Sis, have your women''s brains been plowed by pigs? Can''t you see through this scheming man''s act?"


    "It was clearly Qin Nai who bullied people first!"


    "With Xiao''s level, he could have pped Qin Nai all over the street if he wanted!"


    That night, Xu Jia Ning drove Lin ChuSui home.


    The night wind was cool. Lin ChuSui was in a good mood, humming songs all the way.


    Since getting to know her, he rarely saw the little girl so rxed and happy.


    "Was that greasy muscle man really your ex-boyfriend?" he asked Lin ChuSui.


    Lin ChuSui exined inly, "Not quite an ex-boyfriend. We didn''t get together before my dad broke up our budding rtionship."


    "I think your dad did the right thing." Xu Jia Ning recalled the scene at the time, "He pped that girl so skillfully, clearly he''s prone to violence."


    Lin ChuSui fell silent.


    This shameful past was a scar on her heart. If not for her rebelliousness against Old Lin on this matter, perhaps Old Lin would have been with her at Ocean Park that day instead of leaving for work.


    Then he...would not have passed away.


    Sensing the girl''s silence, Xu Jia Ning''s forehead leaned heavily on her back, breathing heavily, seemingly crying again.


    "Even if your dad is gone, there are still others. They may not rece him, but won''t leave you alone."


    She asked nasally, "Are you talking about yourself?"


    "Mm."


    In the bright moonlight tonight, Xu Jia Ning uncharacteristically showed some gentleness, "I''m your brother."


    Lin ChuSui nodded lightly and softly called out, "Brother."


    Before she finished speaking, Xu Jia Ning suddenly mmed on the brakes, and her head banged heavily into his back, "What are you doing?"


    Xu Jia Ning looked towards the garden and stared for a few seconds at Xiao Qian taking a stroll with a man.


    He immediately got off the bike and handed it to Lin ChuSui, "Something suddenly came up, go home first yourself!"


    After Lin ChuSui got off the bike, holding onto the handlebars, she watched Xu Jia Ning''s hurriedly retreating figure: "What a fake brother, go die foreign devil!"


    ...


    Xiao Qian was walking with a man on the green shaded path in the garden. They seemed to be arguing about something.


    The man was obviously much older than her, about thirty years old. His outfit was also a bit mature, although in Xu Jia Ning''s taste, the man''s fashion sense was terrible. Tucking in his shirt into his pants to show off his branded belt was quiteme.


    Seeing that she was with a friend, Xu Jia Ning didn''t want to intrude. He was about to leave when he suddenly heard the man yell impatiently at her---


    "What else can I do? My family is very traditional. My parents are too. If they knew about your current situation, no parents, and raising a high school brother, your education level is also...this way, they would never agree to us being together."


    Xiao Qian''s emotions were still rtively calm, "So just keep dragging it out, never introducing me to your parents?"


    "It''s not never meeting them, just wait a little longer. They definitely can''t ept it now anyway. My dad has a heart condition."


    "You''ve been saying wait since the beginning ofst year until now. Tang JunChu, you pursued me originally. Now you look down on my family background?"


    "I''m not looking down on you." Tang JunChu reached out to put his arm around Xiao Qian but she pushed his hand away, "But I have to consider my parents'' feelings too. The girls they''ve introduced to me, their conditions are all..."


    As if saying too much, he quickly stopped himself.


    "You''re going on blind dates?"


    "No, none."


    Xiao Qian grabbed his cor and pushed him, "You went on blind dates while dating me?"


    "It was my parents who made me! I said I didn''t want to go, but they..."


    Xiao Qian turned and walked away. Tang JunChu quickly went up to stop her, "Xiao Qian, listen to my exnation. It was all my parents..."


    "Give me your phone."


    Tang JunChu obediently handed his phone over. She unlocked the screen and deleted her phone number and WeChat, "Let''s break up."


    "Xiao Qian."


    "I said we''re breaking up!"


    Tang JunChu also knew her temperament - once she decides something, ten oxen can''t drag her back.


    His eyes slowly turned from panic to cold mockery as heughed, "What''s the pretense for? You know your own conditions. With yourck of education, no proper job, dragging along a freeloader, how many men would dare bring a woman like you home, let alone marry you? The girls my mom introduces are civil servants!"


    Before he finished speaking, Xiao Qian picked up a rock and threw it at him. He quickly dodged to the side, cursing a couple times before leaving.


    Xiao Qian took deep breaths to calm her angry emotions. The autumn wind blew by and fallen leaves drifted. After the anger came endless loss and sadness.


    Reality...really wears down the heart.


    She felt she was still quite young, twenty-five years old. How did she end up in such dire straits already?


    After passing the threshold of twenty-five, it would only get harder from now on.


    Walking in turmoil, she arrived at the bar street she frequented, entering a bar and sitting at the counter to order a drink.


    If not for being slightly better looking, with her conditions, perhaps even scum like Tang JunChu wouldn''t nce her way.


    Was her request too high? She just wanted a stable rtionship, a home, a reliable husband...was that wrong?


    Life is so difficult.


    Unknowingly, she had a few more drinks.


    Xu Jia Ning followed her to the bar. The lighting inside was dim but the atmosphere was tranquil. A singer was performing quiet folk songs.


    Xu Jia Ning sat alone in the corner for a while, then walked up to the stage and gave the resident singer a 100-yuan tip. "Can I borrow your guitar and sing a song?"


    The resident singer dly agreed and handed over her guitar.


    He strummed the strings and lightly yed the tune of "Casanca".


    As soon as the guitar sounded, patrons turned their eyes toward him. His guitar skills far exceeded those of the previous singer.


    fellinlovewithyouwatchingcasanca


    backrowofthedriven-inshowintheflickeringlight


    popcornandcokesbeneaththestars......


    Apanied by the mellow and beautiful melody of Casanca, he seemed to be chanting a distant and romantic folk song.


    The bar quieted down in an instant, and everyone''s eyes were fixed on Xu Jia Ning.


    His voice was slightly hoarse, deep and touching, especially suitable for the gentle and soothing tune of this song.


    It really, really sounded nice.


    Under the dim light, his handsome face and elegant temperament were so charming.


    Many people took out their phones and started recording videos to post online.


    This boy was truly amazing!


    Xiao Qianzily leaned on the bar, her drunken eyes gleaming withughter as she watched him.


    After Xu Jia Ning finished singing "Casanca", he politely returned the guitar and came to Xiao Qian.


    Xiao Qian pped her handszily. "Beautiful."


    "I''m d you like it. I can sing it for you often." He wanted to sit next to her, but Xiao Qian immediately used her wallet to block the seat beside her.


    "Kid, you''ve been following me persistently since the park. What do you want?"


    "I want...to sing for you."


    Xiao Qian''s heart stirred slightly. She raised her eyes to look at him.


    His profile was truly handsome, with a touch of masculine maturity, but his eyes were still clear, showing the innocence only found in youths who had not yet experienced life''s trials and tribtions.


    Compared to the men she''d met through matchmaking who only cared about appearances and status, Xu Jia Ning''s wholesome innocence was undeniably attractive.


    "Call me sister, and I''ll allow you to sit with me for a while."


    This time, Xu Jia Ning called out without hesitation, "Sister."


    Xiao Qian moved the bag from the next seat, and Xu Jia Ning sat down beside her.


    He ordered a drink for himself. When the bartender handed him the ss, Xiao Qian grabbed his wrist and asked, "Are you legal?"


    "I really am neen, sister."


    Only then did she let go.


    Xu Jia Ning took a sip, and the alcohol made him frown slightly.


    Xiao Qian''s brows rose as she leaned against his arm. "Kid, what do you like about me?"


    "You''re beautiful," Xu Jia Ning said frankly. "I liked you at first sight."


    "Just that?"


    "Not only that. I''ve seen women more beautiful than you, but you''re the one who stays in my heart when they don''t."


    "And why is that?"


    "I don''t know. Maybe Cupid''s arrow just struck me."


    Every one of his expressions was frank and open, every word was pure and clean.


    If she were five years younger, no, maybe three, perhaps she really would have fallen for this boy.


    But...not who she was now.


    "What were you singing just now?"


    "''Casanca'', by Bertie Higgins."


    "I love that movie, I''ve seen it so many times."


    Xu Jia Ning looked at her. "Can I watch it with you again?"


    Xiao Qian smiled. "No."


    Xu Jia Ning lowered his eyes, fiddling with the cocktail ss, then asked again, "Then how can I watch ''Casanca'' with you?"


    "You really are..."


    She didn''t know what to do with this kid - reject him bluntly like she did those annoying pursuers?


    She probably couldn''t do that.


    Perhaps it was because he reminded her of her brother, but Xu Jia Ning was different from the others in her heart.


    Xu Jia Ning raised his eyes, looking at her sincerely and devoutly, with the unrelenting spirit of youth -


    "Sister, what can I do to watch ''Casanca'' with you?"


    "Let''s do this," Xiao Qian took his ss. "Tell me one thing...that no matter how hard you try, you can''t aplish."


    Xu Jia Ning thought for a moment, just about to speak, when Xiao Qian added, "Don''t lie to me."


    "I won''t lie to you." Xu Jia Ning said without hesitation, "To surpass Xiao Yan and be the top student in our grade - no matter how hard I try, I can''t do it."


    Xiao Qian''s lips curled into a smile. "That is true. Our brother is very capable."


    "Why did you ask that, sister?"


    "Aren''t you curious how you can watch a movie with me?"


    Xiao Qian stretched out her slender fingertips and tapped his broad forehead. "If you can aplish this thing that you said you can''t, no matter how hard you try...then we''ll watch the movie together."

 Chapter 42: Just Say Me

    <h4>Chapter 42</h4>


    During break time, Lin ChuSui nced back at Xu JiaNing.


    Xu JiaNing had dark circles under his eyes as he furiously scribbled down ancient poems and verses, looking as if he was possessed.


    Last night at 1am when she went to get water, Xu JiaNing was still not asleep.


    At 3am when she went to the bathroom, there was still lighting from Xu JiaNing''s room.


    At 5am the housekeeper said he had already gotten up and started reciting ancient poems.


    ...


    Could this guy have been driven mad by exam-oriented education?


    Recently, rtions between the siblings had thawed, which made Fang YouYi very happy. As a result, the home atmosphere became more harmonious, and Lao Xu also stopped giving Lin ChuSui a hard time.


    Although Lin ChuSui did not like Lao Xu, she would not rebel just for the sake of rebellion, and deliberately go against him.


    She wanted to try bing a better person.


    Lin ChuSui secretly sized up the youth beside her.


    His dark eyes were full of focus, his neck was slender, and his Adam''s apple protruded, looking very sexy.


    He was drawing a cube. Lin ChuSui leaned over to look, her gaze following the movements of his pen.


    Without using a ruler, he could still draw such straight lines.


    Could it be because of his long fingers?


    "Lin ChuSui," he suddenly spoke.


    "Hmm?"


    "Look at your own book, don''t look at me."


    "Oh!"


    Lin ChuSui took out her book of ancient poems and verses and started reciting them wholeheartedly: "In my youth I was a bit wild, a pear tree pressing down a crabapple."


    "Behind the pce were beauties three thousand, an iron pestle grinding needles to embroidered flowers."


    XiaoYan: ...


    He casually picked up Lin ChuSui''s book and looked at the cover¡ª


    The Complete Book of Hrious Mismatching Ancient Poems and Verses


    After flipping through it, it was basically all nonsensicalbinations of ancient poems and verses.


    No wonder this girl had such a good memory, yet could recite ancient poems and verses so confusingly and oddly.


    "So you''re reciting this?"


    "Isn''t this theplete book of ancient poems and verses? I bought it at a bookstore."


    XiaoYan pointed at the "mismatching" characters on the cover: "May I ask, dear ssmate Xiao Guai, did you see these words when you bought it?"


    Lin ChuSui bit her lip, her little finger pointing at the "hrious" characters: "I saw these. My dad said lighthearted learning has the best results, and I might even be able to get into Peking University with this."


    "With this book, you can get into Peking University''s kindergarten."


    "..."


    XiaoYan handed her his own book of ancient poems and verses: "Recite this."


    Lin ChuSui treasured it as if it were a precious jewel, immediately bringing it up to her face: "No problem at all!"


    His book looked quite old, at least two years of use. Despite the age, there were no wrinkles, and the corners of the pages were very t.


    "Recite while writing it down."


    "No need to write it down," Lin ChuSui confidently said. "I can remember it after reading it once."


    "But you make too many mistakes. That has nothing to do with memory, it should be rted to IQ."


    "..."


    "ssmate Xiao, may I ask, with your poisonous mouth, how have you not been beaten to death since you were little?"


    XiaoYan: "Because in the past, I did not speak."


    "Hmm? What do you mean?"


    "For two years after the surgery, I did not speak."


    "Why didn''t you speak?"


    XiaoYan recounted it casually as if it were a small matter: "I felt that everyone was deceiving me. This world was all lies."


    "Thenter, why did you start speaking again?"


    "Someone saved me and brought me to a ce with light."


    ...


    During self-study period, Lin ChuSui silently wrote down the ancient poems and verses by herself.


    Just as she had said, she really did memorize them quickly. In less than half a ss, she had memorized over half the book.


    XiaoYan watched as the little girl concentrated on writing, taking each stroke seriously.


    With her memory, if she properly caught up on the basics, she might be able to test into a decent university.


    He should... be able to help her.


    "ssmate Xiao," Lin ChuSui put down her pen and gently nudged him with her elbow, "help me see how to write the next line."


    XiaoYan took the small note she handed over, which only had one line of a poem written:


    "I only wish your heart to be like mine, ____________."


    After handing it over, Lin ChuSui didn''t even dare look at his expression, only kept her head lowered and continued pretending to look at her book.


    Her ears werepletely red.


    XiaoYan looked at her childish yet cute elementary school penmanship, and asked, "Is this a required ancient poem?"


    "Yes," Lin ChuSui firmly nodded, bracing herself.


    "I don''t remember this being assigned to recite."


    "That''s because you... didn''t pay attention."


    "Is that so?"


    "Yes." Blushing, she reached to take back the paper, "If you don''t know how to write it, give it back."


    "I know it."


    XiaoYan pressed down on the paper and picked up a pen,pleting the line after "I only wish your heart to be like mine"¡ª


    "Then you would not fail my feelings."


    He wrote each character very forcefully and carefully, the strong and beautiful penmanship forming a stark contrast with Lin ChuSui''s elementary school handwriting.


    Lin ChuSui tried hard to control the upwards curve of her lips. She carefully folded up the paper and tucked it into her backpack''s innerpartment.


    The first round of evaluations for the essay contest had started.


    For this essay contest, teachers would first select the top ten outstanding essays from the school.


    Then the students would vote for the most popr essay.


    The winning essay could be nominated to participate in a city contest held by the city writer''s association.


    To everyone''s surprise, Lin ChuSui and Xu JiaNing''s essays were ranked number nine and ten in the top ten.


    Xu JiaNing was surprised that Lin ChuSui, a worthless nobody, had also made it into the top ten, and was ranked right after him.


    Being on par with this nobody...


    was an enormous disgrace!


    Meanwhile, Lin ChuSui was surprised that Xu JiaNing''s weird titled essay...could make it into the top 10?


    She reasonably suspected that the teachers simply saw his name "Xu JiaNing" and let him in without even looking at the content.


    After all, this fake foreign devil was so good at buttering up teachers.


    And the essay that the teachers unanimously agreed was the best this time was QiaoDanqi''s.


    Xu JiaNing felt this name sounded familiar, and suddenly recalled this was QiaoDanqi who had snatched his second ce ranking!


    This made Xu JiaNing fall into deep self-doubt and mncholy¡ªhis grades were not as good as hers, and now even his essay was not as good.


    Until he saw that QiaoDanqi''s essay was titled "My Life''s Enlightenment - Oveing Myself", and then he looked again at his own article:


    "Shocking! The Unknown Secrets in Dream of the Red Chamber, Too Shocking! JiaBaoyu and LinDaiyu Actually..."


    Xu JiaNing suddenly gained a bit of realization.


    He found QiaoDanqi''s essay to read: "The path of life is rugged and bumpy, and learning is the same... I used to think my journey of studying would stop at being in the top ten of my grade, and I could progress no further. Until one person''s appearance changed my attitude."


    "That person was like the starlight in darkness, like the kite string pulling the kite, like a torch in the fog... Lighting up the long road of my life. His inspirational story deeply shocked and moved me, making me realize¡ªsunshine alwayses after the rain."


    "So I decided to chase him, and even want to surpass him! Although we are strangers, through these silent contests, he is not only my opponent, but my confidant. It is his invisible encouragement that has allowed me to step by step reach the second ranking of the grade."


    "As Gorky said: Man''s greatest victory is victory over self. I too must strive to ovee myself and surpass myself, in order to catch up to his pace."


    ...


    Xu JiaNing was quite disdainful: "Even an essay like this could win, yet my research on Dream of the Red Chamber failed¡ªChinese exam-oriented education is done for."


    Seeing his sour grapes attitude, Lin ChuSui almost spat in disdain.


    She turned and said to Xu JiaNing, "I counted, she used 10 parallel structures, 18 similes, to express her admiration for a celebrity... It''s a very good model essay. If only you were a little more humble, your Chinese grades wouldn''t be failing."


    Upon hearing this, LuChi put down his pen and looked up at Lin ChuSui, "ChuGe, could you tell who she was expressing admiration for in the essay?"


    Without thinking, Lin ChuSui said, "Gorky, of course."


    "No wonder your Chinese test scores are always just 1 point above passing." LuChi handed his phone to her, "Look at the perceptive onlinementary analyzing this essay."


    Curious, Lin ChuSui took his phone to look¡ª


    "My Life Enlightenment - Oveing Myself" - This essay seems to be hinting at something. The person she refers to as her kindred spirit, isn''t that actually referring to Xiao Yan? The more I read it, the more it seems like him."


    "Not bad for a top student, such an advanced confession, I can only admire."


    "The key is, under the strict ban on puppy love in Nancheng No. 1 Middle School, she was able to win first prize in the essay contest with this figurative confession letter. That''s amazing."


    "A romantic story between top students is really impressive!"


    "I''m so envious of this kind of feeling."


    "Damn, I ship this kindred spirits couple!"


    ......


    Lin ChuSui: ?


    During the afternoon break, Lin ChuSui was practicing shots angrily on the edge of the yground. Every ball could kill someone. Lu Chi and several others stayed far away to avoid idental injury.


    Facing the sunshine, Xiao Yan sat on the grass beside the court correcting her English essay.


    The gentle voice of the female broadcaster came from the school radio station:


    "Today I rmend an essay to everyone, ''My Life Enlightenment - Oveing Myself'' by Qiao Danqi. After reading it, it is really inspiring and touching!"


    Male broadcaster: "And I heard this essay has deep meaning."


    Female broadcaster: "So sincere and moving, it brought tears to my eyes."


    Male broadcaster: "Without further ado, let''s appreciate this essay together!"


    ......


    The more Lin ChuSui listened, the more unhappy she became. She shot the balls harder and harder, mming the backboard loudly.


    Lu Chi stopped: "Yo, Boss Chu, are you ying basketball or dismantling the backboard?"


    "Don''t want to y anymore!"


    Lin ChuSui really wasn''t in the mood to continue. She nced at Xiao Yan in the distance on the grass.


    In the evening sun, the boy''s fair skin seemed to be coated with ayer of soft light.


    She felt stifled inside and went to sit next to him, asking, "Are you listening to the radio?"


    "Listening."


    "Aren''t you correcting my English essay? How can you multitask so well?"


    Xiao Yan finally put down the essay he was holding and slowly raised his head to look at her: "I can juggle three things at once, what do you think?"


    "Bragging, I don''t believe it."


    Xiao Yan didn''t care and continued to lower his head to correct the essay.


    Seeing that he didn''t respond, Lin ChuSui felt even more unhappy inside, and said, "Chewing gum while doing homework while shaking your leg - anyone can multitask like that."


    Xiao Yan said lightly: "Can it be a little more technical?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Then show me your ''technical'' multitasking."


    "Is this a bet?"


    "Yes!"


    Xiao Yan thought for a moment and said, "Then I want to ce a wager."


    Lin ChuSui looked at him with a smile, realizing that no matter what game she yed with Xiao Yan, she always felt very happy.


    "No problem, I agree to any wager."


    "For the final exam, you have to test into the top 100 of the grade and top 20 of the ss."


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    There were over a thousand seniors in their grade. To rank in the top 100 meant she had to surpass ny percent of people.


    How was that possible!


    "Dare to y?"


    Looking at Xiao Yan''s piercing gaze, Lin ChuSui actually felt a little scared. But...she didn''t want him to look down on her for some reason.


    She wanted to be friends with him, wanted to get close to him, and secretly...wanted to be someone very special in his life.


    So she had to follow his rules.


    Lin ChuSui gritted her teeth and said, "I...dare."


    Xiao Yan said lightly: "Okay, call your friends over as witnesses."


    Looking at Xiao Yan''s faint smile, Lin ChuSui thought to herself that this guy was really cunning, knowing that she would likely...go back on her word if she lost.


    She called over several boys from the school basketball team to witness.


    Xiao Yan: "Give me a pen and paper."


    "Don''t you already have them in your hands?"


    "Aren''t you going to watch my ''technical'' multitasking performance?"


    Lin ChuSui obediently took out paper and a pen from her schoolbag and handed it to him: "You''d better make me convinced!"


    Xiao Yan pulled over his schoolbag and propped it on two books, then held a pen in each hand and wrote on the paper.


    Lin ChuSui curiously leaned over to look. On the left book, he was writing in English.


    The left-handed writing was sloppy, but she could see that Xiao Yan was reciting Shakespeare''s Sos from memory.


    Writing with the left hand was nothing special. What made Lin ChuSui stare wide-eyed was that his right hand also started writing¡ª


    "The descendant of Emperor Gao Yang, My Imperial Highness calls you Bo Yong. You grasped integrity in Meng Chen, only since Geng Yin have I descended. I overviewed your first steps, and bestowed on you an auspicious name: I named you Zheng Zheng, and called you Ling Jun..."


    Lin ChuSui eximed loudly: "Oh my god!"


    Not only her, the members of the basketball team who came to watch were also yelling "wtf" repeatedly.


    He looked at Lin ChuSui: "Convinced?"


    Lin ChuSui didn''t expect Xiao Yan to be so skillful.


    He could multitask, but she couldn''t test into the top 100 of the grade!


    Lin ChuSui stubbornly said: "This... is just okay. I can also draw while writing my name at the same time."


    Lu Chi: "Boss Chu, isn''t that a little shameless? You scribbling while writing your own name, how can thatpare to the genius'' ''left hand Shakespeare, right hand Qu Yuan''?"


    Lin ChuSui red at him fiercely: "Shut up."


    She felt bitter inside.


    Xiao Yan''s hands still didn''t stop, continuing to recite from memory Sos and Li Sao, but his mouth slowly recited¡ª


    "I walked through Jiangnan, those looks that waited in the seasons, like the blooming and falling of lotus flowers. The east wind doesn''te, the willow fuzz in March doesn''t fly, your heart is like a small, lonely city, just like the evening stone streets..."


    Watching his thin lips open and close, reciting Zheng Chouyu''s "Passerby", Lin ChuSui was stunned speechless.


    She was about to faint!


    This was way more awesome than Guo Jing drawing circles with one hand and squares with the other!


    The boys around directly knelt on the grass to worship Xiao Yan.


    A true genius!


    Xiao Yan stopped his actions. The boys grabbed the two books at his hands: "I want it, I want it!"


    "The genius shone his light on this, I still can''t test into Peking University!"


    "Li Sao is mine!"


    "Fight for what, tear it apart! F**k!"


    The idiots scrambled away, fighting over the books that the genius had enlightened.


    Xiao Yan seldom showed off like this, but he enjoyed watching Lin ChuSui''s shocked and distorted expression.


    It was a little delightful.


    "ssmate, convinced yet?"


    Lin ChuSui''s heart was pounding wildly. Thinking of the impossible top 100 task, she stubbornly said: "It''s...just triple multitasking. If you can do four things at once, then I''ll admit you''re good."


    Xiao Yan said: "Intentionally making things difficult huh."


    Lin ChuSui patted him on the shoulder and said uneasily: "If you can''t do it then concede defeat, I won''tugh at you, it''s already very impressive."


    Xiao Yan took the opportunity to grasp her hand and whispered in her ear¡ª


    "When I have a girlfriend...she takes care of business on top, then I can probably multitask four things at once."


    "......"

 Chapter 43: Small Goals

    <h4>Chapter 43</h4>


    During break time, Lin ChuSui took out her phone and looked at the voting interface on the school''s official website forum.


    At present, Qiao Danqi''s article "My Life Enlightenment - Oveing Myself" ranked first with over six hundred students voting for her.


    Ranking second was Xu JiaNing. He was able to jump directly from ninth to second ce, entirely relying on his high poprity in school.


    Almost all the votes for him were from girls who were his fans.


    While Lin ChuSui''s article was rankedst with only ten or so votes and likes - Lu TianBai, Lu Chi, Zhang ChengYu...


    The voting was real-name based with one vote per person. After voting, you could see the names.


    Just as Lin ChuSui was checking one by one to see who Xiao Yan had voted for, she suddenly heard the students around her start to tease:


    "Yo~~~"


    "Coming to find the study god?"


    "Tsk tsk tsk."


    Curiously, Lin ChuSui looked up to see Qiao Danqi walking to the corridor window and stopping there.


    Xiao Yan happened to be sitting by the window. He was being forced by Xu JiaNing to read the so-called "Dream of the Red Chamber" research,pletely unaware that Qiao Danqi was standing by the window.


    "Xiao Yan, hello."


    Xiao Yan''s gaze slowly moved away from his phone and looked at Qiao Danqi. Seeing her unfamiliar face, he said: "Tutoring sessions are suspended nearing finals."


    "I didn''te to find you for tutoring." Qiao Danqi was veryposed. Unlike most girls, she wasn''t shy at all. She introduced herself to Xiao Yan: "I''m Qiao Danqi from ss 1 Senior Year 3."


    "Oh."


    His gaze returned to his phone again. Seemingly slow on the uptake, he left Qiao Danqi hanging for over twenty seconds before asking: "So what''s your rtionship with Qiao Dan?"


    Qiao Danqi: ......


    The boys aroundughed out loud.


    Qiao Danqi looked at the chuckling strangers around her, took a deep breath, and said: "Xiao Yan, I actually wanted toe and ask you some questions about studying."


    "I''ve stopped working due to final exam preparations. Don''t want to repeat myself a third time." Xiao Yan casually said, "I''m not taking tutoring sessions now."


    "Ah, no, I didn''te to find you for tutoring." Qiao Danqi quickly exined, "Just some study questions I wanted to ask you."


    Xiao Yan''s expression darkened. "You want to freeload off me?"


    "Ah."


    She didn''t expect the top student of the grade, Xiao Yan, to say something like this. It was a bit different from the study god she had imagined...


    Qiao Danqi, who had been very confident earlier, now had a flushed face.


    Lin ChuSui still felt a little unhappy inside, but listening to their conversation, she finally understood why those girls who had tried to confess to him had left crying.


    Xiao Yan''s thought process was really...not quite the same as normal people''s.


    Qiao Danqi didn''t intend to continue beating around the bush with Xiao Yan either. She directly said, "Did you read my essay, ''My Life Enlightenment - Oveing Myself''?"


    "Oh, it was you."


    Seeing that Xiao Yan finally reacted, Qiao Danqi''s embarrassment eased up a little, and her confidence returned. Clearing her throat, she said, "I don''t know if you noticed, but the person I wrote about in my essay..."


    "You wrote about me."


    Having her secret exposed so directly, Qiao Danqi''s face grew even redder.


    But she kept her cool. She firmly nodded: "Yes! Actually...I deliberated for a long time before expressing it this way, but every word I said was true."


    Lin ChuSui observed Xiao Yan''s expression, feeling a little apprehensive inside.


    Xiao Yan seemed a little moved. He put down his phone and asked, "You were being truthful?"


    Qiao Danqi nodded repeatedly: "Mm!"


    Finally, Xiao Yan stood up and faced her directly.


    Seeing his grand gesture, Qiao Danqi''s heart raced wildly: "Xiao Yan..."


    Xiao Yan looked at her and raised his chin arrogantly. His eyes were as cold as frost: "Are you publicly dering war on me?"


    "Ah!" Qiao Danqi jumped in fright: "This...I..."


    Xiao Yan looked at her coldly: "So your essay was an open deration of war on me. You want to take away my position as grade¡¯s top student?"


    Everyone fell down!


    Lin ChuSuiughed so hard she almost pped the table.


    She didn''t want your top student position, she wanted you!


    Qiao Danqi was dumbfounded.


    "Others have tried to challenge me in the past, but they ended up dying terribly." Xiao Yan nced back at Xu JiaNing: "Not only did they not get first ce, they fell to third ce."


    Xu JiaNing instantly felt like he had been shot in the knee. Flipping his desk angrily, he yelled, "What¡¯s that got to do with me!"


    Qiao Danqi was at aplete loss for words. With her essay, she thought she and Xiao Yan had established a soulmate-like rtionship that was already well-known throughout the school.


    But now with Xiao Yan''s words, he had shattered their "scandal" -


    What soulmates! Their thought processes were separated by tens of thousands of miles!


    Qiao Danqi left with a red face, furious.


    Xiao Yan yawnedzily, seeming a little weary and listless. He sat back down and continued calmly reading articles. Feeling Lin ChuSui''s dark eyes fixed intently on him, hezily raised his gaze -


    "You want to challenge me too?"


    "Don''t dare!"


    Lin ChuSui immediately fawned over him, massaging his arm: "Even with ten times the guts, I wouldn''t dare challenge your supreme status, Study God."


    Xiao Yan primly withdrew his arm: "Speak some more nice words."


    Looking at him, Lin ChuSui couldn''t help a brilliant smile emerging: "Study God, wishing you longevity and good fortune for thousands of years, unifying the martial world."


    Xiao Yan also smiled. Very impolitely, he reached out and pinched her creamy cheek, squeezing her into a hideous expression: "Get into the grade''s top 100. Study God will help you unify the martial world."


    "Okay."


    Lin ChuSui also reached out to pinch Xiao Yan''s cheek, but he dodged it.


    "Don''t touch me."


    "You can touch me but I can''t touch you?"


    "Mm."


    "I''m still going to touch you!"


    Behind them, Lu Chi looked at their back and forth face-touching and expressed that he was tired of life -


    "Should I go bring the civil affairs bureau over for you two?"


    The online voting for the essay contest officially kicked off. Xu JiaNing''s ranking skyrocketed, going straight to no.1.


    Meanwhile, the poprity of Qiao Danqi''s essay plummeted due to Xiao Yan''s merciless "You''re dering war on me," dropping down to second ce.


    When students went to reread her essay, the earlier vague beautiful halo was gone. Instead, they felt she seemed a bit...self-deluded.


    Lu Chi and the others were still only concerned about Lin ChuSui''s essay -


    "ChuBro, your essay isn''t good."


    He poked the front row Lin ChuSui with his pen: "It''s been so long but there are still only four of us who have liked it."


    "You, Lu Little Sis, Zhang ChengYu? Who else?"


    "And me." Xu JiaNing didn''t even lift his head while doing homework, calmly saying, "A courtesy vote from your dear brother. Take it, no need to thank me."


    Lin ChuSui turned around, resting her elbows on his desk: "You''ll vote for me? I thought you''d vote for yourself."


    "I did vote for myself initially. But now it looks like I don''t need to." Xu JiaNing arrogantly said, "My ssmates have good taste. They won''t let such a pearl be covered in dust."


    Lin ChuSui rolled her eyes: "Oh, so impressive."


    Xiao Yan put down his pen after finishing his homework. He silently took out his phone and opened Lin ChuSui''s essay.


    Unlike Xu JiaNing''s clickbait title, her essay was called "What Kind of Person Do I Want to Be," a very simple and exam-oriented essay.


    "What kind of person do I want to be? I look up at the sky, the vast expanse dotted with twinkling stars. That person who could give me the answer has already be one of those stars. But he definitely wasn''t the brightest one. My past self looked and looked, but could never find him. I lost my direction."


    "Later, someone told me that it''s a blessing if you can grow up with someone by your side in this world. But if not, you have to learn to grow up alone."


    "There are still many sights to see on life''s journey. Perhaps I should pluck up my courage and go take a look at those sights. Dad would want me to do that too."


    "Now, just like Dad, I also have someone I want to protect. I will work hard to make myself stronger, to be able to protect him."


    ...


    The corners of Xiao Yan''s mouth twitched.


    The essay had a tinge of youthful sadness, but the emotions were very sincere.


    As Xiao Yan read the essay, he knew Lin Xiuze must also be reading it.


    Little Miss Lin ChuSui finally let go. She tried to say goodbye to her past self through this essay. So even though there were few readers and most of the votes were from rtives and friends, Lin ChuSui didn''t care at all.


    She would get better and better.


    Xiao Yan casually voted for her, bringing the vote count to 5.


    The next morning when Lin ChuSui woke up, she saw over thirty circle messages for her in the [South City No.1 Middle School Belle Group]¡ª


    Lu Chi: "Chuchu Chuchu Chuchu! @Lin ChuSui"


    Lu Chi: "Wake up, you''ve taken off!! @Lin ChuSui!"


    Lu Chi: "Awesome! @Lin ChuSui"


    Lin ChuSui: "What''s wrong with you?"


    Lu Chi immediately sent her a screenshot: "Your essay has taken off!"


    Lin ChuSui clicked open the screenshot he sent. Sure enough, her essay had jumped from 10th ce directly to 2nd ce, just behind Xu Jia Ning''s, knocking Qiao Danqi down.


    "Huh?"


    How could this be?


    Zhang Cheng Yu sent her a screenshot, circling Xiao Yan''s vote andment in bright red bold¡ª


    "Good essay! Worth reading!"


    Under thisment, there were already over a hundred replyments¡ª


    "Haha, if you don''t look at the name, this perfunctoryment makes it seem like the author bought water army supporters."


    "Isn''t the point that the aloof genius actually praised someone for once?"


    "This must be a friendly vote, she''s the genius''s personal disciple who doesn''t have to pay tuition fees."


    "I smell a whiff of ambiguous feelings."


    "Wow, a teacher-student romance, I''m kinda interested in shipping this, isn''t it more fragrant than some pseudo spiritual soulmate?"


    Lu TianBai: "I refuse to make associations! Focus on the content! Focus on the content! Focus on the content!"


    "Are you secretly in love with the genius above?"


    ...


    [South City No.1 Middle School Belle Group]


    Lu TianBai: "Sis, could you... not use my ount to argue with thements qaq."


    Lin ChuSui: "It''s so boring, few of the people who voted for me actually read my essay."


    Lu Chi: "Don''t look a gift horse in the mouth. If Xiao genius hadn''t voted,mented and reposted for you, could your essay have taken off?"


    Lin ChuSui: "He reposted it too?"


    Lu Chi: "Yeah, reposted it to KouKou Space."


    Lin ChuSui: "He has a KouKou Space too?"


    Xiao Yan: "What, you don''t think a genius deserves to have a KouKou Space?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Thank you genius for the vote,ment and repost support! Love you! [Heart]"


    ...


    After exiting the group, Lin ChuSui immediately went to visit Xiao Yan''s KouKou Space. She had always felt someone like Xiao Yan would limit social activities to the physical world, she didn''t expect him to not only have a Space but for it to be wildly popr, with hundreds of visits every day.


    There wasn''t much content in his Space. Thetest post was from a year and a half ago, the content was: "Bangs look good, or buzzcut? [Confused]"


    Under that year-old post, there were already thousands ofments, all screaming in unison: "Bangs! Bangs! Genius with bangs is smoking hot!"


    Then he buzzed his hair short.


    He had reposted three blogs, all from two years ago. One was "Use Scientific Methods to Help You Fall Asleep Quickly", another was "Salute to the Great Firefighting Heroes".


    The third one was him reposting Lin ChuSui''s essay.


    She felt somewhat honored to upy a spot in such an indirectly monotonous KouKou Space.


    ...


    Thanks to the genius''s votement/repost support, Lin ChuSui''s essay slowly gained poprity.


    Her writing was actually quite mediocre. Compared to the top ten flowery, exaggerated beautifully written essays, she deserved to be at the bottom.


    Even so, an essay selected by the teacher into the top ten wouldn''t be too bad.


    Her writing style was simple, but very sincere, quite touching to read carefully, so quite a few ssmates sincerely voted for Lin ChuSui.


    Seeing the trend was off, Xu Jia Ning canceled her vote for Lin ChuSui an hour before voting ended, and voted for herself again.


    Later, the top three essays were sent by the school for another round of review by the Writing Society.


    Xu Jia Ning was very confident her essay would get first ce.


    She didn''t expect the review results toe out with Lin ChuSui as first ce.


    The Writing Society teacher really liked Lin ChuSui''s essay, and even rmended it to a local literary magazine for publication.


    This brought great acim to Lin ChuSui at school.


    Old Qin, who had always looked down on her, now inevitably looked at her with new eyes, and even specially invited her to the office to encourage her.


    In the past, every time Lin ChuSui stepped into the office, it was to get scolded and criticized. This time when she went in, she was somewhat nervous.


    When Old Qin saw here in, he smiled and waved his hand. She reflexively dodged to the side, afraid Old Qin would hit her.


    "Lin ChuSui, don''t be so scared."


    "Sorry Teacher Qin, it was... a reflex."


    Old Qin brought a stool for Lin ChuSui and let her sit down, even pouring her a cup of water.


    Lin ChuSui was so honored she didn''t know what to do with her hands.


    Only the top few students in the grade got to enjoy Teacher Qin''s personal water-pouring service in the office.


    Lin ChuSui quickly stood up and said, "Teacher Qin, I''ll just stand and talk, you doing this... makes me ufortable."


    Old Qin''s expression was gentle as he grumbled, "Good for nothing."


    "Yes, yes." Lin ChuSui had a silly smile.


    Just then, Xiao Yan walked into the office and politely said, "Teacher, you asked me toe help organize the end of term archives."


    "I called you twice before and you didn''t show up. Now you''re so eager toe?" Old Qin said irritably: "I know what you''re up to. If you didn''te, what do you think I''d do, eat her up?"


    Xiao Yan nced at Lin ChuSui but didn''t say anything, and familiarly started helping the homeroom teacher organize the student roster.


    "Teacher Qin, did you ask me here for something?" Lin ChuSui asked apprehensively.


    "Little Lin, I read your essay, and heard from some ssmates about your father''s situation."


    Old Qin guiltily said: "As your homeroom teacher I didn''t even know about this, I really failed in my duties. I also wasn''t very good to you before, and said some excessive things..."


    "Pshh." Lin ChuSui waved her hand, blushing a little.


    She had never med Old Qin. Although she was unruly, she still knew right from wrong.


    Old Qin had scolded and yelled at her in the past out of frustration that she wasn''t improving. Otherwise with her terrible grades, an irresponsible homeroom teacher would have just let her be long ago.


    "Little Lin, actually I''ve always felt you''re very smart, you just don''t apply your mind to studying. If you focused your mind on the right things, what couldn''t you learn well? Just look at this essay contest, didn''t you get first ce! And won honor for our school."


    Lin ChuSui hadn''t heard praise from a teacher in a long time, she grinned from ear to ear, waving her hand: "It''s not that great, but Teacher Qin, I''ve always deeply respected you. You''re a great teacher."


    "Hahaha, nonsense, I just have a little more experience than the average teacher."


    "And I just have a slightly better memory than the average student!"


    Seeing the two chatting more and more happily, Xiao Yan figured since Lin ChuSui wasn''t getting scolded, he could rx. He said, "Teacher Qin, the materials are organized, I''ll get going first."


    "Okay."


    Seeing Xiao Yan leave, Lin ChuSui also bid farewell, but Old Qin called her to stop: "Wait, Lin. I asked you here because I hope you can set a goal for yourself."


    "A goal?"


    Old Qin nodded: "Since your father has passed, as your homeroom teacher, I''ll be like a father from now on. I didn''t fulfill my duties to you before, but now I''ve decided to make up for lost time."


    "Oh..."


    Lin ChuSui had a very bad feeling!


    "Set a goal for yourself. For the final exams, try to reach that goal. I''ll supervise you."


    Lin ChuSui scratched her ear and nced back at Xiao Yan, meeting his bright dark eyes right on.


    She remembered the bet she lost to Xiao Yan before. The stake was... the top 100 in the grade.


    At that moment, Xiao Yan looked at her with a kind of almost loving expression, encouraging her to set this goal.


    Lin ChuSui sighed and said with determination, "Then I''ll set a goal of... being in the top 100 of the grade. Once I achieve that, I''ll aim for Peking University."


    "Good!" Teacher Qin pped the table: "Promising! As expected of my student!"


    Lin ChuSui was startled by him: "Don''t get so excited, I might not be able toplete it..."


    "Since you''ve made this pledge yourself, you have to strive to fulfill it."


    Teacher Qin patted her slender shoulders: "If you can''tplete it, next semester, I think you shouldn''t sit next to Xiao Yan anymore. Let him partner with a student who needs more help."


    Before Lin ChuSui could react, Xiao Yan tripped and fell on his way out the door.

 Chapter 44: The Thief

    <h4>Chapter 44</h4>


    Homeroom teacher Old Qin not only gave Lin Chusui a tall order, but also "proimed it to the world."


    So from that day on, there were ssmatesing to find Xiao Yan every day -


    "Xiao Tongxue, who needs help more than Lin Chusui besides me?!"


    "I need help too, god of learning, take a look at me!"


    "God of learning, save the child!"


    There were even more direct ones... Who pped their bank cards in front of Xiao Yan: "God of learning, I''ll buy out all your time next semester!"


    ...


    During that time, Lin Chusui was extremely depressed, first because her deskmate was too excellent, her position was simply a den of wolves; second, the learning pressure was also great.


    It¡¯s not easy for someone who hasn¡¯t studied properly for almost two years to rush to the top 100 in the grade at once.


    After school, Lin Chusui silently packed up her schoolbag and left.


    Xiao Yan was dyed by the duty, and when he wanted to find her, she was already gone.


    He went to the yground where she often went. On the edge of the yground, Lu Chi and several others were ying basketball, but Lin Chusui was nowhere to be seen.


    "Where''s the kid?" he asked Lu Chi casually.


    Holding a basketball, Lu Chi said to Xiao Yan: "Bro Chu, she hasn''t been ying basketball with us recently. My sister just said she went to thekeside by herself and seemed to be in a bad mood."


    Xiao Yan nodded, got on his bike, and left.


    ...


    Lin Chusui sat on the sidewalk of the ring road around theke in the Olympic Sports Center Park, watching the nting sun setting in the west, feeling depressed.


    Dad Lin used to take her here to run and exercise. When they got tired, they would lie down together on the slopingwn and wait for the sunset.


    Later, Dad Lin left. The Martyrs'' Cemetery was very far away in the suburbs. When Lin Chusui missed Dad Lin, she woulde here alone, talking to the air as if Dad Lin was still sitting beside her.


    She told Dad Lin that she got first ce for herposition.


    "I feel it was a fluke, but my deskmate helped a lot too."


    "Sometimes, his thinking is quite interesting. He can almost anger others to death, unsociable. But his moral character is really high,"


    "Anyway, everyone likes him, and I don''t know why."


    "A lot of things that many people want, I just don''t want. Like every time there''s a lottery draw, everyone goes, it has nothing to do with me."


    After saying that, she sighed deeply.


    How annoying.


    "So little ambition."


    The clear voice rang in her ears.


    Lin Chusui was startled and turned her head to see Xiao Yan standing beside her somehow.


    The warm and soft glow of the setting sun fell on him, slender and straight, with very long legs. Even ordinary ck pants could make him look gracefully slender.


    He sat down casually on thewn next to Lin Chusui, in the ce where Dad Lin used to sit.


    "You eavesdropped on my conversation with Dad!"


    "I didn''t eavesdrop. I listened openly and aboveboard."


    Dad Lin was inside him, so of course he could listen, righteous and confident.


    Lin Chusui was embarrassed and anxious. She grabbed a handful of grass stems and threw them at him.


    The green grass with mud hit his face.


    His skin was too fair, so even a little dirt stood out clearly.


    But Xiao Yan was not angry either. He patted off the grass stems on his body, "Did I offend you?"


    "You offended me!" Lin Chusui said angrily: "Anyway, someone needs you more than me, so you must have wanted to change deskmates already!"


    Her words were a little sour. As soon as Lin Chusui said it, she regretted it. But words once spoken could not be taken back. She could only lower her head in shame and annoyance, pulling out grass stems, ignoring him.


    "Why don''t you want what many people want?" Xiao Yan asked her sideways, his tone very in.


    Lin Chusui replied, "I don''t want topete, I can''tpete anyway."


    "But I want topete," Xiao Yan looked at the distant crimson clouds: "If it''s not mine, but I want it, I''ll fight for it. If I can''t get it, I''ll rob it, by any means necessary, at all costs."


    Lin Chusui was a little surprised to hear him speak so openly. She looked at him and said, "At all costs?"


    His side profile was firm, his eyes calm and waveless. He picked up a small rock and threw it into the pond: "I want to live well, live like a human, earn a lot of money, never be bullied or deceived again..."


    "You will definitely get your wish."


    Seeing that his shoces were loose, Lin Chusui inexplicably reached out to untie his shoces, and then retied them tightly¡ª


    "I''m not a very good deskmate, always affecting you, but I''m strong. If anyone bullies you, I''ll teach them a lesson."


    The breeze blew by, and her sideburns floated on her pink cheeks.


    Xiao Yan''s hard and rough heart suddenly became extremely soft.


    "Then are you willing topete for me a little?"


    "What?"


    "Try hard topete a little, maybe I''ll...."


    The moment he opened his mouth, Xiao Yan knew he was being impulsive. He thought for a moment, and smiled lightly, "Forget it, nothing."


    "Say it, what is it?"


    "Nothing."


    "You....why are you like this?"


    "I''m just like this."


    The more she asked, the more evasive Xiao Yan became.


    He still didn''t have the courage or determination to promise or agree to anything.


    Lin Chusui stared nkly at his smiling eyes as clear as the moon in the breeze. Her mind suddenly heated up. Then she leaned over inexplicably and lightly pecked his face.


    Xiao Yan''s words suddenly stopped.


    This light kiss was like a snowke falling into his palm, vanishing instantly, but leaving a scorching mark in his heart.


    The progress bar for the task in the lower right corner jumped directly from 45% to 60%.


    Lin Chusui''s face turned red. She reacted a bit excessively, jumped up abruptly, pushed back two steps, and screamed "ah". Then she covered her face and ran away.


    Xiao Yan: ......


    She "took him by surprise", but why was it like he had taken advantage of her?


    He stood up and shouted, "Why are you running?"


    "Don''t talk to me!"


    In a minute, the "marathon goddess" ran away covering her head.


    ......


    [South City No. 1 Middle School Belle Group]


    Lin Chusui: "[Out of Control] [Out of Control] [Out of Control]"


    Lin Chusui: "[Ah] [Ah] [Ah]"


    Xiao Yan: "[Sweat]"


    Then, the system message reminded that Xiao Yan had been removed from the [South City No. 1 Middle School Belle Group] by Lin Chusui.


    Xiao Yan: ......


    He private messaged Lin Chusui: "Let''s talk."


    [Sorry, you are no longer the other party''s friend. Please re-verify.]


    In those days, Lin Chusui hid from him whenever she saw him. Her face turned red and her heart pounded, hands and feet stiff.


    She didn''t know what was wrong with herself. When she had an affair with Qin Nai in junior high, she didn''t have this reaction.


    She was so embarrassed that she didn''t even dare say a word to him. Seeing his face made her brain sizzle.


    How embarrassing! How embarrassing! How embarrassing!


    She actually took advantage of Xiao Yan!


    However, no matter how Lin Chusui hid, the two were deskmates. They still had to sit together in ss.


    Lin Chusui was determined not to talk to Xiao Yan.


    In the cold December wind, Lin Chusui was afraid of the cold. She tucked in her hands and shivered like a quail.


    She nced at Xiao Yan. He wore very little, an outer jacket over a dark turtleneck sweater, looking very thin. He wore a loose scarf around his neck.


    Lin Chusui wore quilted autumn clothes inside and out, threeyers inside and threeyers outside, wrapping herself up tightly.


    But still cold!


    Xiao Yan sat by the window. He liked to open the window a little crack for venttion. It wouldn''t affect other students, and could dispel the stale air in that area, refreshing.


    Lin Chusui took out a pen and silently wrote a line in her notebook, and handed it over¡ª


    "Close the window, thank you."


    Xiao Yan ignored it and did not move.


    Seeing that he remained indifferent, Lin Chusui circled those words in thick red pen, added exmation marks, and handed it in front of him¡ª


    "Close the window, thank you!!!"


    Xiao Yan didn''t even look at her, his expression was also very cold. He said, "Why should I close the window?"


    Lin Chusui continued to write in the notebook¡ª


    "Because I''m cold."


    "You''re cold, what does that have to do with me?" Xiao Yan nced coldly at her, "I¡ªsomeone whose friend you deleted."


    Lin Chusui: ......


    He was still resentful about deleting friends.


    "Taking advantage of me, but I''m the one who wronged you?" Xiao Yan was indeed a little angry: "Turning things upside down?"


    Lin ChuSui grabbed a pen and painfully wrote in her notebook: ¡°Please forget about that!¡±


    Xiao Yan leaned in close, coldly asking: ¡°We''ve already kissed, how can I forget?¡±


    As Lin ChuSui looked at his handsome face up close, she wanted to grab the pen to write again, but he took the pen and threw it aside.


    ¡°Little mute, do you n on never speaking to me again for the rest of your life?¡±


    Lin ChuSui was extremely embarrassed, trying her best to avoid his pressing gaze. ¡°It was me...I''m sorry, if you feel taken advantage of, then I...I¡¯ll let you kiss me back to make it even.¡±


    She spoke those words sincerely, every wording from her heart. Her eyes were also exceptionally pitiful.


    Xiao Yan chuckled at her response. He loosened his grip on her cor. ¡°That sounds great, doesn¡¯t it? You kiss me, and then I get to kiss you back. What are you thinking?¡±


    Having regained her freedom, Lin ChuSui immediately buried her head in the desk, pretending to die a miserable death.


    The person''s gone!


    After a while, she clearly felt the cold wind stop.


    She looked up and saw that Xiao Yan had closed the window. At the same time, he took off his scarf and wrapped it around her neck.


    The deep brown scarf carried his warmth, instantly wrapping her cool neck extremely cozily.


    ¡°About you stealing a kiss from me...¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, Lin ChuSui hurriedly went up to him and covered his mouth with her hand. ¡°Don''t say it!¡±


    Her soft, sticky hand covered his lips.


    He looked sincerely at the girl before him with his naturally upturned peach blossom eyes: ¡°Not saying it means you¡¯ll never speak to me again?¡±


    Lin ChuSui slowly removed her hand from him. Somewhat dejected, she kept her head low while touching his dark scarf. ¡°It was me being impulsive and viting you. Even if you want to be angry, I have noints.¡±


    ¡°Who was the one who got angry first?¡± Xiao Yan said helplessly. ¡°The one who kicked me out of the group chat, deleted me as a friend, that was you. The one who stopped talking to me, that was also you.¡±


    ¡°Because you would definitely have left the group and deleted me as a friend. I struck first.¡±


    ¡°You have topete with me for a win or loss?¡±


    Lin ChuSui looked at him like a small rabbit, guilty: ¡°Dad said girls definitely can''t take the initiative, otherwise they''ll be looked down on.¡±


    But she was the one... who shamefully fell for him first.


    She was also very discouraged.


    ¡°Afraid of being looked down on, so you directly cut off all ties.¡± Xiao Yan''s mouth curved up slightly. ¡°You''re being very unreasonable.¡±


    ¡°It wasn''t because I was afraid of being looked down on that I deleted you, but rather...¡±


    She spoke in a tiny mosquito-like voice: ¡°I was afraid of being rejected.¡±

 Chapter 45: The Theory of Evolution

    <h4>Chapter 45</h4>


    "It wasn''t because I was afraid of being looked down upon that I deleted you, but...because I was afraid of being rejected."


    "And then! What happened next!" At the school gate, Lu TianBai clutched Lin ChuSui''s sleeve, her eyes full of gossip: "What happened between you two next? Did you confess to each other?"


    Lin ChuSui closed her eyes and shook her head painfully: "Then I kicked him."


    Lu TianBai was stunned: "What did you just say you did?"


    "I kicked him," Lin ChuSui added. "Then I grabbed his throat and forced him to forget the conversation just now. He agreed, so I let him go."


    "..."


    Lu TianBai''s mouth twitched as she looked at Lin ChuSui in despair: "So you confessed to Xiao Yan, and just as he was about to respond, you...assaulted him violently?"


    Lin ChuSui buried her head in her hands,pletely devastated -


    "Stop talking about it!"


    Lu TianBai looked at her pitifully: "My bestie is going to die alone and pitiful."


    Lin ChuSui stood up, regaining her spirit: "Nevermind, let''s go eat some spicy hotpot noodles."


    "Let''s go, let''s go."


    Lin ChuSui and Lu TianBai went to the street of food stalls behind the school and sat down at their usual small stand, each ordering an extrarge bowl of hotpot noodles.


    "Bestie, aren''t you going to ask me why I like him?" Lin ChuSui was eager to pour her heart out and actively steered the topic.


    But Lu TianBai was very uncooperative: "Is there a need to ask?"


    Lin ChuSui emphasized: "Isn''t there?!"


    "He''s Xiao Yan!" Lu TianBai held up her fingers for emphasis: "From Lu Chi''s ex-girlfriend to Tang YanNi, and then to Qiao DanQi...these girls knew there were mountains of daggers and seas of mes ahead, yet they still embarked courageously. With Xiao Yan''s charm, even my crush Xu JiaNing can''tpare. How could you not fall for him after interacting with him every day and night?"


    Lin ChuSui said gloomily: "That''s the crux of the problem. He''s so outstanding, so many people like him, and the girls who like him are equally outstanding. If we line up by results, I''d be at the very back."


    That was why she kept avoiding it, not daring to face him.


    Because she cared too much, she became insecure and cautious, afraid that one misstep would ruin even their current friendship.


    "But you''re great too," Lu TianBai patted her shoulderfortingly. "Who said outstanding people can only be with other outstanding people?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Because of natural selection and survival of the fittest, humans are like animals, always looking to mate with the highest quality genes. Those were my dad''s exact words when he broke me and Qin Nai up..."


    Lu TianBai: ...


    Bringing up mating, your dad really goes all out.


    The two girls chatted about their maidenly woes over steaming hot bowls of noodles. But unbeknownst to them, Qin Nai and his group of friends had alsoe to this shop, sitting at the next table over.


    Qin Nai attended a vocational school not far from their high school, just two streets away. But Lin ChuSui hadn''t seen him for nearly two years. These years of wild growth had made him even more bold and unruly.


    Lin ChuSui signalled Lu TianBai with her eyes. Lu TianBai quickly finished her bowl, called the boss over to scan their payment code.


    Seeing them about to leave, Qin Nai immediately came over and sat down opposite Lin ChuSui: "ChuSui, let''s chat."


    Lin ChuSui was still quite calm: "Chat about what?"


    "I haven''t been able to forget you these past two years."


    "..."


    She looked over at Qin Nai''s table, where his previous girlfriend with the blunt bangs was also sitting, twisting her clothes in her hands, ring at them resentfully.


    Lin ChuSui had no doubt her heart was torn to shreds right now.


    "Your girlfriend is right there. Isn''t it too heartless to say this now?"


    Qin Nai exined: "She''s not really my girlfriend, she''s the one chasing me around."


    "But you acquiesced since you bring her everywhere with you, no?"


    "ChuSui...are you jealous?"


    "..."


    I''ll be damned if I''m jealous of you!


    Seeing Lin ChuSui''s fist tighten under her sleeve, Lu TianBai quickly pulled her up: "We''ve got a lot of homework tonight, let''s get going."


    Lin ChuSui suppressed her urge to beat him to a pulp, saying: "Since you have a girlfriend now, cherish her properly. Don''t be a scumbag."


    Qin Nai grabbed Lin ChuSui''s sleeve: "Is it because of that guy from back then?"


    "Let go."


    "That day he stole my wallet and took a..." He hesitated. "And he even threw my wallet into the toilet!"


    "Did you get your wallet back?"


    "I got it back." Qin Nai swallowed his disgust and said, "It was covered in shit."


    Lin ChuSui felt a bit likeughing. She shook off his hand: "Then there''s nothing more to say."


    ...


    At dusk after school ended, Xiao Yan parked his bike at the edge of the track field and called out to Lu Chi who was ying basketball: "Where''s Lin ChuSui?"


    Lu Chi stopped running, holding the ball: "Xiao Yan, why are you looking for ChuSui everyday?"


    Xiao Yan was confused: "Am I?"


    Lu Chi counted on his fingers: "Yesterday, today, day before, every time you pass by you ask."


    "Maybe she''s been a bit...strangetely."


    "You two are both weirdos." Lu Chi threw the ball back to the other boys, put on a jacket and walked over: "My sister just texted me they were eating hotpot noodles at the food street. Let''s go, together."


    Xiao Yan didn''t refuse and went with Lu Chi to the street of food stalls behind the school.


    Walking through the smoky and lively stands, from a great distance, he immediately spotted Lin ChuSui talking with Qin Nai.


    "Hey!"


    Seeing them too, Lu Chi teased: "Are they trying to rekindle old mes?"


    Xiao Yan looked away, saying: "Then I''ll head back first."


    "Weren''t you looking for ChuSui about something?"


    "It''s nothing now."


    After speaking, Xiao Yan turned his bike around to leave.


    Lu Chi watched as he got about ten meters away, then halted in his tracks amidst the crowd.


    After a few seconds of silence, Xiao Yan turned back around, threw his bike to Lu Chi and said with a tinge of youthful frustration: "Help me watch this."


    Before Lu Chi could respond, he strode purposefully towards Lin ChuSui and Qin Nai.


    "Holy shit!"


    Lu Chi had never seen Xiao Yan so fired up before, every hair on his body seemingly standing on end and ready for battle.


    He quickly pushed the bike and followed behind Xiao Yan.


    Xiao Yan marched right up to Lin ChuSui''s side and sat down.


    Seeing Xiao Yan, Lin ChuSui was a little surprised.


    Qin Nai was even more furious at the sight of him: "I''m talking to ChuSui, piss off."


    "I''m her guardian." Xiao Yan shamelessly dered. "The one who should piss off is you."


    "You, her dad? And guardian?" Qin Nai scoffed.


    "What a coincidence, I am indeed."


    "Shameless prick. Does the scar not hurt anymore now that the wound has healed?" Qin Nai mmed the table and stood up, grabbing Xiao Yan''s cor. "Keep seeing you and I''ll keep beating you up."


    Recalling Xiao Yan''s inexplicable beatingst time, hot blood rushed to Lin ChuSui''s head. She grabbed the iron stool beside her and mmed it down in front of Qin Nai, coldly shouting: "Try touching him again!"


    Seeing the situation escte, Lu Chi and a few boys from the sports team swarmed over, mouring: "What''s going on here?"


    "You dare wreak havoc on our turf!"


    Qin Nai''s friends also came over, confrontationally yelling: "You looking for a fight?!"


    "Our high school has an excellent ethos, we never fight." Lu Chi had already taken out his phone. "We''ll just tell the teachers. Just you wait, Mr. Wang our PE teacher has a ck belt in taekwondo. He''ll take care of you."


    "..."


    Qin Nai didn''t actually want to sh with Lin ChuSui either. His eyes bloodshot, he pointed at Xiao Yan and asked Lin ChuSui: "Who is he to you?"


    Following Xiao Yan''s earlier words, Lin ChuSui said: "Didn''t you hear him? He''s like my dad, my guardian. Satisfied?"


    Qin Nai jabbed his finger at Xiao Yan, resentful and indignant: "He...he''s no father to you! Have you lost your mind?!"


    Xiao Yan calmly replied: "I''m the kind of dad she would...cry and call for."


    Qin Nai: "..."


    Lin ChuSui: "..."


    Lu Chi whispered to Zhang ChengYu: "As expected of Xiao Yan, still making erotic jokes in front of a love rival."


    Zhang ChengYu: "This is called defeating the enemy without fighting, killing their heart."


    Before things could escte further, the school security at the back door were alerted by the tense standoff and came over. Although unhappy about it, Qin Nai could only leave sullenly.


    Just before leaving, he turned back to say to Lin ChuSui: "ChuSui, he''s no good. One day, you''ll see his true colors."


    ...


    The small restaurant was filling up with more and more students. Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu ordered a big bowl of hot pot noodles and sat on the side slurping them down.


    Xiao Yan sat next to Lin ChuSui, patiently waiting for her to finish eating. "Finals areing up soon. Let''s go to the study roomter and I''ll go over the review materials with you."


    "Oh," Lin ChuSui mumbled in response, "Whatever."


    Xiao Yan looked at her. "Whatever - does that mean you want to study or not?"


    "I won''t make the top 100 in our grade," Lin ChuSui said dejectedly. "Even if we ranked by genes, I''d be at the bottom."


    "Ranked by genes?"


    Lu TianBai raised her hand and said, "What she means is that superior genes will naturally select even better genes to mate with. It''s survival of the fittest."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    She didn''t have time to cover the naive girl''s mouth.


    Zhang Cheng Yu and Lu Chi simultaneously gave Lin ChuSui a thumbs up.


    The other girls at school confessed to Xiao Yan through hints and metaphors, some even writing him little poems. But Lin ChuSui came right out with an evolutionary biology argument - survival of the fittest, I don''t have mating rights.


    That''s our Lin ChuSui!


    Xiao Yan was stunned for a few seconds. Under the meaningful gazes of Zhang Cheng Yu and Lu Chi, he stood up and said to Lin ChuSui, "Come over here, I want to talk to you privately."


    Lin ChuSui was reluctant to put down her chopsticks, and even more afraid he would be as blunt with her as he was with the other girls who confessed to him...


    Although she had a lot of courage, his rejection could still make her cry - how embarrassing!


    "I don''t... I don''t want to go," Lin ChuSui acted as if her bottom was glued to the chair. "Let''s just peacefully finish thisst month as deskmates, then we can be bosom friends from afar."


    "You just want us to be bosom friends from afar?"


    The girl sighed and lowered her head. "That''s all we can be."


    Xiao Yan''s slender, broad palmnded gently on her forehead. "Then I''ll be direct."


    Lin ChuSui looked at him in surprise.


    "Although survival of the fittest makes sense, I''ve also developed feelings."


    The boy casually tilted his head to the side, his handsome side profile nearing perfection -


    "So that choice is in your hands."

 Chapter 46: Like

    <h4>Chapter 46</h4>


    Lu Chi dragged Lu Tian away from the food stall, and Zhang Cheng Yu behind them posted a title on the school forum:


    "Shocking! You''ll never know how hardcore the confession from the academically excellent student was. He actually said...? "


    There was no content, only the title, tricking countless people toe in and scratch their ears and cheeks anxiously waiting for the next part.


    After Lu Chi and his friends left, the food stall became busy again. The mor around Lin ChuSui''s ears was incessant, and her temples throbbed unsteadily. She didn''t know what to do, so she picked up her chopsticks and ate two more mouthfuls of the spicy hot pot noodles.


    It was as if she had lost her sense of taste. All her senses floated to the boy beside her.


    She could acutely feel his heartbeat, his breathing, his every subtle move.


    Her heart was bubbling with soda bubbles, foaming over.


    She didn''t know what to do.


    "What you mean by giving me that power..."


    "I''m not healthy, very poor, the future is uncertain, so I can''t easily make anymitment. That would be irresponsible to others."


    Xiao Yan''s expression was unprecedentedly serious: "I originally wanted to wait until life improved, then ask if you''d be willing to let me take care of you. But I''m also afraid that when I turn my head, you''ll be gone."


    "I knew it." Lin ChuSui scratched the holes on her jeans, nced at him shyly, "You really love me."


    Xiao Yan smiled lightly, "I do like you quite a bit."


    "It''s love."


    "Okay, love."


    He didn''t argue with her, and continued, "I''m not a good person. There is a lot of hatred in my heart. Sometimes I lose my temper and do bad things. Just like what Qin Nai said, I got back at him for calling me a poor loser..."


    "Did you really steal his wallet?"


    "I didn''t steal it. He dropped it and I threw it away on impulse." Xiao Yan admitted frankly, "I have a dark side. I will stop at nothing to get what I want."


    Lin ChuSui blinked, looking at Xiao Yan. This was the first time since she met him that she heard him open up about himself.


    "Why are you telling me all this?"


    "I''m afraid you''ll be disappointed."


    Listening to Xiao Yan''s words and seeing him put himself in such a low position, Lin ChuSui''s inferiority disappeared in an instant.


    Her face slowly turned crimson, "You care too much about what I think."


    Xiao Yan smiled helplessly, "Yes, I care too much. I''m afraid you''ll fall for someone else when I turn my head."


    "It''s possible." Lin ChuSui said on purpose, "After all, Qin Nai still has a torch for me."


    "I know."


    The photo he took from Qin Nai''s wallet was still hanging on his headboard.


    Seeing that he didn''t argue, Lin ChuSui blushed and reminded him, "Then you have to treat me well, I''m not easy for you to win over."


    "It''s a deal."


    ...


    Xiao Yan didn''t know what the best love looked like, but he knew that if he let the girl fantasize like this, her self-confidence would copsepletely, and she would be the depressed fish girl of the past again.


    But true affection is probably seeing you as the best in the world in my eyes.


    Since Lin ChuSui had taken the initiative, she started to nitpick after taking advantage, looking around, "My first confession happened to be at a food stall, how unromantic."


    "I said I''d take you somewhere romantic, but you didn''t want to go."


    "Let''s go now?"


    "Okay."


    Xiao Yan got up to pay the bill, then walked out of the food street pushing his bike, with Lin ChuSui following closely behind.


    Lin ChuSui took the initiative to sit on his bike, "Give me a ride."


    "Already starting to order me around?"


    "You have to treat me well to firmly capture my heart."


    Xiao Yan smiled faintly, got on the bike and easily pedaled.


    The cool breeze brought a touch of chill. Lin ChuSui''s heart, however, was restless. Looking at his straight, broad back, she couldn''t help reaching out to touch the tan nape of his neck.


    Short cropped hair stubble, hard texture, a little prickly.


    Xiao Yan felt like an electric shock running up his spine.


    "What are you touching?"


    "Nothing, just touching." Lin ChuSui withdrew her hand shyly.


    Just that little electric tingle was enough to stiffen him halfway.


    A seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy justing of age simply couldn''t withstand the girl''s intentional or unintentional teasing and touching.


    He took a deep breath, swallowing his impatience, "We need to set some boundaries."


    "What?"


    "Before graduation, we''ll interact like we used to."


    "Are you giving me conditions?"


    "I guess so."


    "Xiao Yan, have you heard this saying?"


    "Hmm?"


    "The one who loves more doesn''t get to set conditions!" The girl''s hand moved from his nape down to his Adam''s apple, gently poking, "Don''t refuse, or I''ll make sure you get your heart broken."


    Xiao Yan: "..."


    Soon, the bike stopped under a red wall in a suburban park. The wall was dpidated from years of disrepair, with clusters of withered leaves on it.


    There were few people around, looking deste.


    Lin ChuSui looked around and asked with her hands behind her back, "The romantic ce you mentioned is here?"


    "Isn''t this romantic?"


    "Not at all." Lin ChuSui looked at the overgrown weeds around, "Too deste, barely anyone around."


    Xiao Yan liked quiet, but she liked liveliness, afraid of loneliness and destion.


    "I identally saw it herest spring, there were lots of acacia flowers hanging down the vines, which paired nicely with the red wall. It looked great."


    Xiao Yan gazed at the peeling red wall in front of him, "No one else knows about this ce, I discovered it alone. Next spring, I want to bring you here, take pictures of you, it will definitely look amazing."


    For some reason, Lin ChuSui''s heart was struck.


    Because he saw beautiful scenery, the first thing he wanted to do after confirming their rtionship was eagerly share this beauty with her.


    It was just a pity that it wasn''t spring now, but the bleak winter.


    Even without the acacia flowers hanging on the dpidated walls, the usually obtuse Lin ChuSui felt the tenderness in the boy''s eyes.


    All the romance in the worldbined was no match for the moment''s gentle breeze in this ce.


    The feeling of walking on air finallynded.


    She decided from now on, other than her parents, the person she loved most was Xiao Yan.


    The only, the best Xiao Yan.


    Seeing her spacing out staring at him, Xiao Yan waved his hand in front of her eyes, "Do you know you really know how to ruin the atmosphere?"


    Lin ChuSui grabbed his sleeve, said very sincerely, "Xiao Yan, I was joking earlier about threatening to break your heart."


    "I know." Xiao Yan smiled faintly, "But you exining it makes me look stupid."


    Lin ChuSui said solemnly, "Xiao Yan, as long as you don''t cheat, I''ll always love you."


    "..."


    A line that was meant to be touching, why did it sound so awkward.


    Xiao Yan pinched her little nose, "Do you know you really don''t know how to ruin the atmosphere?"


    Lin ChuSui didn''t mind at all, said decisively, "I''ll treat you very well, really, very very well. I won''t let others trick you or bully you. You can safely pursue your dreams, I''ll always chase after you, never leave you."


    After saying that, she tiptoed and lightly kissed his cheek.


    This was the second kiss. No shock, no panic. At this moment, other than tender feelings, Xiao Yan''s heart contained nothing else.


    Won''t trick you, won''t bully you, will treat you very very well.


    She precisely hit Xiao Yan''s weakest, fatal spot.


    The progress bar in the lower right corner started rocketing upwards.


    Xiao Yan closed his eyes, firmly holding the back of her head, lowered his head about to kiss her soft lips.


    Lin Xiuze: "Cough."


    "..."


    The kissnded at the corner of her lips. Lin ChuSui could feel the suppressed tremors in his body.


    She was dizzy and confused, clutching tightly to the hem of Xiao Yan''s clothes. Her blood was surging and boiling to the same degree as his.


    Xiao Yan hugged her forcefully for a moment, then immediately let her go.


    He liked nning out his life. Whether studying or doing things, he would always make a n ahead of time, thenplete it step-by-step.


    The first time in his life hepletely lost control without a n was at this moment, bringing her to his "secret garden", then passionately kissing her by the wall.


    Both of their cheeks were flushed, and a gust of wind blew by, sending a chill.


    Lin ChuSui said in a low voice, "Let''s head back."


    "Mm."


    She walked in front of the red wall, and Xiao Yan pushed his bike behind her, following her shadow.


    Lin ChuSui looked back at him. The setting sun shone on his face, his features resolute, his gaze profound, his thin lips lightly pursed, seeming lost in his own thoughts.


    "What are you thinking about?"


    "The future."


    "What about the future?"


    "Where we''ll buy our future home." Xiao Yan said matter-of-factly, "It has to be in a good school district, for the convenience of our kids going to the best schools."


    "..."


    "I''d like a daughter, what about you?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Aren''t you thinking too far ahead?"

 Chapter 47: The Acting

    <h4>Chapter 47</h4>


    Lin ChuSui returned home, Xu SongBai and Ms. Fang YouYi were both sitting in the living room.


    Xu SongBai was peeling melon seeds, one by one, peeling them and cing them on a small dish, handing it to Fang YouYi''s side.


    Fang YouYi was looking at project reports on her iPad, eyes glued to it, directly swallowing the peeled melon seeds in one mouthful.


    In fact, Lin ChuSui had to admit that although Xu SongBai was "ruthless" in educating children, he was really considerate to Fang YouYi.


    Old Mr. Lin was not a family man, he regarded his career very importantly, even at the cost of viting his grandparents'' wish for him to inherit the family business, he had already chosen to be a firefighter.


    Perhaps this was also why Fang YouYi would choose to be with Xu SongBai, after experiencing separation of life and death, she now needed a husband who would always put family first.


    No matter what, Lin ChuSui could not bring herself to like this stepfather, but it didn''t matter if she didn''t like him, as long as her mother was happy.


    Lin ChuSui politely greeted Xu SongBai, then listened to Fang YouYi''s exhortations about studying, and silently returned to her room.


    After closing the door, changing from her demure appearance, she rolled excitedly on the bed several times, took out her phone, and was about to report today''s "situation" to Lu TianBai.


    At this moment, there was a knock on the door.


    "Who is it?"


    "Your dear brother."


    "Wee."


    Xu JiaNing pushed the door and walked in. His warm sweater looked especially homey in the light: "Don''t use it randomly if you don''t know it well. You can directly say ing please'' when inviting someone into the room."


    "So dear brother came to my room to practice English with me?"


    Xu JiaNing closed the door and listened next to it to make sure XiaoHuangQue was not following behind.


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth curled up: "Are you that cautious?"


    "You don''t know how scary a homemaking Cancer man can be."


    Lin ChuSui: "I think Cancer''s reputation is maligned. Sir just has an extremely controlling patriarchal personality."


    Xu JiaNing: "Yes he is."


    "If you keep pulling this ABC with me, I''m just going to GTFO."


    Xu JiaNing was toozy to chit chat, and got straight to the point: "I heard from Lu TianBai that you and Xiao Yan have been getting closetely?"


    "What''s going on between you and Lu TianBai?" Lin ChuSui was shocked: "How does she tell you everything!"


    "Compared to you, she''s more like the ideal younger sister I envisioned."


    "That''s enough. Anyone can see that she doesn''t have pure sibling affection for you."


    Xu JiaNing pulled the topic back: "Are you with Xiao Yan now?"


    "None of your business." Lin ChuSui didn''t want to discuss this with Xu JiaNing. She sat down at the desk and opened her textbook: "Please leave, I have homework to do."


    "If you are really together, as your legal brother..." Xu JiaNing walked over to her and whispered in her ear: "I suggest you keep a low profile, a low low profile. Once old Xu finds out..."


    He gave a coldugh: "He will make you cry sadly."


    "You''re trying to scare me?" Lin ChuSui didn''t seem to take his words to heart: "I''m not afraid of him at all."


    "I suggest you be a little afraid."


    "Why should I?"


    "Because he can easily crush your boyfriend who is slowly crawling up like a snail, and press him firmly into the mud for life, never to get up again."


    After Xu JiaNing said this, Lin ChuSui''s face instantly turned pale, and she grabbed his clothes forcefully: "What right does he have!"


    "Because he is now your dear dad-inw." Xu JiaNing gently patted her head: "So be good, this is your brother''s advice."


    After speaking, he turned and left. Lin ChuSui watched his back: "Brother, don''t you want to rebel at all?"


    Xu JiaNing tilted his head, and she quickly added: "Let''s rise up in revolt then."


    "Why revolt?"


    "Because of Sir''s tyranny!"


    Xu JiaNing put his hands in his pockets, casually said: "Society, family... they all have their rules of operation, there is no absolute fairness. If you want to break the rules, you will inevitably smash your head and bleed. Smart kids should learn to reconcile with the rules, and within the limited freedom, use the rules to gain maximum benefit for themselves."


    Lin ChuSui had never heard anyone say this before. Lu Chi, Lu TianBai, Zhang Cheng Yu and the others, they had always risen up to rebel against unfair things with her. The word "reconcile" did not exist in these rebellious children''s dictionary.


    "Has your father never..." Lin ChuSui carefully chose her words: "Never indulged orpromised with you on anything?"


    "He''s not old Mr. Lin." Xu JiaNing nced at Lin ChuSui: "Old Mr. Lin must have been a great dad, but Xu SongBai isn''t."


    ...


    Xu JiaNing''s words left a shadow in Lin ChuSui''s mind that wasn''t big but wouldn''t go away.


    She finished her homework andy on the bed staring at the ceiling in a daze.


    At first, she really hated Xu JiaNing, hated him for no reason.


    His hypocrisy, his two-facedness, the way he pretended to be a good boy in front of parents and teachers... Everything about him made Lin ChuSui unable to adapt.


    But now, Lin ChuSui finally understood him a little.


    Only children who grew up in a loving environment have the right to be willful.


    Xu JiaNing and Xiao Yan were not those kinds of kids, so they would interact with others in a smarter way.


    She sent Xu JiaNing a text: "I get it, I''ll be careful."


    After sending it, she added four more words: "Thank you, brother."


    In the room, Xu JiaNing''s mouth slightly pursed when he saw the word "brother".


    ...


    After thanking Xu JiaNing, Lin ChuSui wanted to text Xiao Yan, but when she looked for his name in her contacts, she remembered that she had deleted Xiao Yan.


    Lin ChuSui copied his phone number and re-added Xiao Yan.


    Since Xiao Yan didn''t delete her, adding him instantly worked.


    "Boyfriend genius, if my mom gave you 500 million and forced you to break up with me, what would you do?"


    Xiao Yan immediately replied without thinking: "Use part of it to study, use the rest to start a business, and if there''s any left over, choose some risky investments."


    "..."


    Does this boyfriend not have a heart!


    She righteouslymbasted: "Is our rtionship not worth a mere 5 million?"


    After speaking, she was about to block Xiao Yan again, but saw that Xiao Yan had sent a voice message.


    Lin ChuSui impatiently clicked to open it, and his low, maic voice came through¨D


    "Use the money to start a business and bankrupt your family, then keep you imprisoned by my side. Is this answer standard enough?"


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    As expected of the study god''s script.


    ...


    At the end of the year, it entered the final exam preparation stage. Lin ChuSui settled down and got up early and sleptte every day, studying diligently. Her diligence was almost on par with Xu JiaNing who had his head muddled by love.


    After working hard, when the final grades came out, she had only managed to get 205th in her grade after exerting all her effort.


    This was already the best grade Lin ChuSui had ever gotten.


    However, the matter of her and Xiao Yan switching ces was set in stone.


    Teacher Qin had nned and schemed for it the entire semester. Grades were grades, puppy love was puppy love, they absolutely could not be confused.


    He was indeed an experienced senior teacher, with a wealth of experience in his past teaching career. He had seen too many top students ruined by puppy love, and even more terrible cases of underage pregnancy that had extremely harmful effects.


    He absolutely could not condone or indulge any signs of such tendencies, even the tiniest spark had to bepletely extinguished.


    Many female ssmates had signed up with Teacher Qin, hoping to be deskmates with Xiao Yan next semester to learn from him. There were few male students, only the half-baked Lu Chi.


    Teacher Qin felt a littleplicated.


    Of course he knew what these female students were thinking. Xiao Yan was very popr, he was not unaware of this. How many of these girls really wanted to be deskmates with him to study?


    They were more interested in the musician than the music.


    After careful consideration, Teacher Qin decided to have Lu Chi and Lin ChuSui switch seats, so that Lu Chi sat with Xiao Yan, and Lin ChuSui sat with Xu JiaNing. This was the most prudent arrangement.


    After ss, Teacher Qin called Lin ChuSui and Lu Chi to the office and told them about the seat change.


    Lin ChuSui red at Lu Chi all the way: "You got a good deal."


    Lu Chi shrugged: "Since you only got a 250, if I don''t give you a good deal, those girls who are like hungry wolves will get it. It''s up to you to choose."


    The two came to the office. The other teachers around saw Lin ChuSui and couldn''t help praising: "Lin has made great progress."


    "Yeah, she actually didn''t get any of the ancient poetry questions in Chinese wrong, rare."


    Before Lin ChuSui could speak, Teacher Qin took the chance to boast about himself:


    "Although I''m the new homeroom teacher for the senior three ss, I have experience!"


    "When she first came, this girl was very naughty."


    "But no matter how crooked a tree is, in my hands, I can correct it."


    Other teachers: "Learn from Teacher Qin."


    Lin ChuSui: "It''s all thanks to Teacher Qin''s painstaking love and earnest teachings. The student keeps it in mind and will never forget it. Teacher Qin is the best teacher in the world!"


    Teacher Qin grinned from ear to ear and waved his hand: "Not that good, not that good, haha."


    Lin ChuSui: "Teacher Qin, about the matter of my deskmate..."


    Teacher Qin''s eyes red, his face changed suddenly, his tone firm: "This was the military order you made yourself. You and Lu Chi will switch seatster."


    Lin ChuSui nodded repeatedly with a smile: "Yes, yes, no problem. You can switch seats and give the study god to someone more in need of help. It''s totally fine! Sitting next to Xu Jia Ning is ok too!"


    "Wait a minute." Teacher Qin looked at her suspiciously: "Why are you so happy?"


    "Ah, am I happy? No way."


    With all his experience with people, how could Teacher Qin not see through Lin ChuSui''s little thoughts: "You''re so happy to sit next to Xu Jia Ning?"


    Lin ChuSui panicked immediately: "No, no, Xu Jia Ning is just my brother! There is nothing else between us...really nothing!"


    Teacher Qin''s heart thumped. He realized something was wrong. He had only paid attention to Xiao Yan and Lin ChuSui,pletely neglecting Xu Jia Ning who was with her day and night.


    Sometimes students'' puppy love is like guerri warfare, the enemy advances and we retreat, the enemy attacks and we defend.


    The younger generations nowadays are more and moreplicated.


    No wonder Xiao Yan had pursued Lin ChuSui for so long without sess. Turns out...this was a love triangle!


    Teacher Qin''s expression became serious: "Student Lin ChuSui, do you know he is your brother byw?"


    Lin ChuSui was so frightened her whole body shook: "I...I don''t have anything with him! We...I''m sorry Teacher Qin, I was wrong. Please don''t tell my mom, or she''ll beat me to death!"


    Teacher Qin immediately realized the severity of the problem: "Student Lin ChuSui, please control your emotions! Focus on studying. You are in your senior year of high school now. There can be no mistakes."


    "Xiao Yan also advised me that."


    Teacher Qin thought for a long time and said to Lu Chi: "Let''s put off the switching seats for now. We''ll talk about itter."


    Lu Chi: ???


    He was dumbfounded by Lin ChuSui''s acting.


    Not giving her an Oscar is a loss for the international film industry.

 Chapter 48: Ayan

    <h4>Chapter 48</h4>


    Xu Jia Ning was called to Teacher Qin''s office. In order not to hurt the self-esteem of the model student, Teacher Qin spoke in metaphors and hinted cryptically, leaving Xu Jia Ning, who was already weak in Chinese, even more confused.


    Teacher Qin also rmended that he go read Thunderstorm.


    Naturally, Xu Jia Ning had no mood to read any Thunderstorm. In this final exam, Xiao Yan was still top of the rankings, while he had barely managed to beat Qiao Dan Qi to secure the second spot.


    "Aplish things that seem impossible no matter how hard you try."


    Only by aplishing it could he meet the person he wanted to see. But Xu Jia Ning still could not do it.


    That night, Xiao Yan was busy working in the shop, chopping vegetables, simmering broth, tidying up the countertops...


    Lin Chu Sui stuck to him like a little stalker. Wherever he went, she followed.


    The already cramped little shop became even more crowded.


    Tall and slender, Xiao Yan had an apron tied around his waist. His handsome features softened the lofty, unapproachable impression his good looks often evoked, lending him an earthly, mundane air instead.


    Lin Chu Sui liked watching him work. He was always so focused, and that serious look was also quite charming.


    Xiao Yan said, "Miss Lin, if you''re bored, why not recite some poems for me?"


    "We just finished finals and are on winter break. You''re still going on about studying?"


    "Break? What misconceptions do you have about the life of a high school senior?"


    Lin Chu Sui blinked nkly. "What do you mean, Schr God?"


    The corner of Xiao Yan''s mouth quirked up. "Kind reminder: make-up sses start tomorrow. You''re wee."


    "Oh my god!" She looked at Xiao Yan in horror. "How did you know?"


    Xiao Yan shot the question back. "How could you not know when we go to the same school?"


    Lin Chu Sui instantly deted, listlessly taking out her phone and sending a message in the [Nancheng No.1 Middle School Belles Group] ¡ª


    "The news about make-up sses isn''t something only I didn''t know about, right?!"


    Xu Jia Ning immediately replied: "Yes, everyone else knew. Only you didn''t, loser."


    No sooner had he sent the message than ¡ª


    Lu Chi: "Oh my god!"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "Oh my god!"


    Lu Tian Bai: "BFF, don''t scare me!"


    Xu Jia Ning: ...


    Why did he join this useless group!


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "I already bought high-speed rail tickets to go out and y tomorrow!"


    Lu Chi: "My sister and I are already on the high-speed rail! [Despair]"


    Lin Chu Sui''s mood instantly brightened. As expected of the good friends her dad got her with a summer''s worth of QQ candies ¡ª not one of them let her down when it mattered.


    Fine, she''d attend make-up sses. Although winter break was short, she could still see her world''s most handsome boyfriend every day. That was also extremely delightful.


    Xiao Yan held a knife and was chopping vegetables. His fingertips aligned perfectly with the de''s edge as he sliced potatoes into fine, thin strands.


    Lin Chu Sui stared at his long, beautiful, delicate hands. "Don''t know who''s so lucky to have a boyfriend with such nice, long fingers."


    Xiao Yan stopped his motions. "I strongly advise you again not to make inappropriate jokes."


    "How isplimenting your long fingers inappropriate?" Lin Chu Sui said disdainfully. "You''re the one with a dirty mind."


    Xiao Yan didn''t bother debating her. He simply continued prepping the ingredients.


    The youngdy watched his back for a while before calling out, "Boyfriend, can I give you a pet name?"


    "What?"


    "Your sister calls you A Yan. Then I''ll call you..." Lin Chu Sui thought for a moment then said, "How about I call you Xiao Xiao?"


    "You can just keep calling me boyfriend."


    "Oh? You don''t like it?"


    "It''s extremely unpleasant."


    "Hmph."


    Lin Chu Sui refused to give up. "Xiao Xiao."


    "Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao."


    Xiao Yan ignored her with his back turned.


    "Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao, Xiao Xiao..."


    She switched to an almost coquettish tone. "Xiao Xiao, don''t ignore me."


    Xiao Yan finally couldn''t stand it anymore. He turned around and spread his arms. "Fine. Hug."


    Lin Chu Sui happily rushed into his embrace, squeezing his waist tightly.


    His body was hard yet warm, smelling lightly ofundry detergent and lemon. Clean and fresh.


    Xiao Yan held his arms open to avoid getting oil and grease on her as he indulgently allowed her to act spoiled, letting her hug him for a long, long time.


    Lin Chu Sui nuzzled his shirt. "A Yan, you really, really like me, huh?"


    Xiao Yan lowered his head and lightly rubbed his nose against her forehead.


    Mm, he liked her a lot.


    So much that it was indescribable. So much that he wanted to give her his everything, every night in his dreams.


    "Lin Chu Sui." His voice was low and heavy.


    "Yes?"


    "From now on, call me A Yan."


    She looked up at him. "Oh? You like this name?"


    The light in the youth''s pitch-ck eyes gentled as he gazed down at her. "Mm. I like it."


    This name held affection, and affection was what he had craved yetcked the most in his childhood.


    "A Yan, A Yan, A Yan."


    Xiao Yan couldn''t help but kiss her cheek again.


    ...


    Right as the two were being lovey-dovey, Xiao Qian walked up to the shop with a backpack on, and upon seeing this scene, quickly covered her eyes. "Oh my! Oh my, oh my!"


    Lin Chu Sui immediately let him go and politely greeted, "Sister."


    "I came to grab a book. I have ss. Sorry for disturbing." Xiao Qian looked at them meaningfully. "Didn''t mean to interrupt anything."


    "You weren''t interrupting at all."


    Xiao Yan pointed at the clock on the wall. "There''s still half an hour. You''ll bete for the bus. Just take a taxi."


    "That''s why I won''t waste time chatting with you two."


    Xiao Qian hurried to the back room to find her workbook, then came out and Xiao Yan put an umbre in her bag. "It''s going to rain soon. Take a taxi."


    "I know."


    Just as Xiao Qian was about to leave, she seemed to recall something and turned back to ask him, "What ranking did you get for finals?"


    Xiao Yan also found it odd. "Why are you suddenly interested in my grades, sister?"


    "It''s not strange for me to care about you, is it?"


    "You never asked before."


    "That''s because you always ranked first. Did I need to ask?"


    Xiao Yan quickly caught the logical w in her words. "Then what makes you think this time I might not have ranked first?"


    Xiao Qian''s face instantly flushed. She tried to stay calm as she walked over and rapped his head with her book. "Trying to interrogate me like a criminal, huh!"


    Xiao Yan instinctively dodged behind Lin Chu Sui. Lin Chu Sui spread her arms. "Sister, don''t hit him."


    "Oh, you have a girlfriend to protect you now." Xiao Qian flicked Xiao Yan''s head, then pinched Lin Chu Sui''s ear,ughing. "Found yourself a backer."


    "You''re more violent than my girlfriend." Xiao Yan pushed her hand away. "You really will bete."


    "I''ll settle ounts with you when I get back." Xiao Qian tiptoed to ruffle his hair, then did the same to Lin Chu Sui. "You two kids be good and study hard at home. Behave."


    "We know."


    Not long after Xiao Qian hurried off, the skies opened up and rain poured down in sheets. She quickly opened up her umbre and stood waiting at the bus stop.


    Though there were also many taxis soliciting business, Xiao Qian still tried to save money where she could.


    Having experienced poor times, every cent had to be spent like blood money. She and Xiao Yan had no family to rely on. They could only depend on themselves to work towards a better future.


    Because of the sudden torrential rain, every bus was crammed full. On top of that, this was downtown, so more and more people gathered at the bus stop, packed together like sardines. Even the taxis were all taken, unable to solicit any more customers.


    Xiao Qian tried to squeeze onto a bus, but she was petite and quickly shoved back out by the aunties and uncles, stumbling in an undignified manner. Her clothes were also drenched by the rain.


    "Littledy, what are you squeezing for?" an auntie scolded. "Don''t you know to respect your elders?"


    "You were the one shoving me the whole time."


    Xiao Qian still tried to push her way forward, but was pushed violently by the auntie and nearly fell.


    Xiao Qian was quite angry now and went up to reason with her. "How could you resort to violence?"


    The auntie ignored her. With her obese body, she relentlessly shoved her way forward until she finally managed to squeeze onto the bus.


    "How rude!" Xiao Qian was never one to swallow insults quietly. "No ss whatsoever!"


    The auntie looked back at her as if she were the victor. "If you''re so ssy, why are you taking the bus?"


    The bus crammed full of people lumbered heavily away from the stop.


    Xiao Qian''s clothes werepletely drenched now and her anger still hadn''t abated. She also felt very wronged and anxious since she definitely wouldn''t make it to ss on time.


    She opened up her umbre and hurried to the next bus stop, hoping there would be fewer people there.


    Yet she never expected that when the roof leaks, it rains all night. The heel of her high heels got stuck in the drain cover.


    Xiao Qian tried hard to lift her foot, but the heel got stuck and broke off directly.


    The ss she was going to was body shaping training for models, and she had to wear high heels. Now her shoes were broken and she couldn''t attend the ss either.


    Xiao Qian''s mentality copsedpletely. She took off her shoes, threw away her umbre, and stood alone in the rain, unable to even cry.


    She med herself for trying to save that little bit of money, seeking far away rather than near. As a result, she couldn''t even attend the ss.


    Because she was poor, everything went wrong.


    Right ahead was the central financial district. Girls her age dressed up brightly and walked hurriedly - they were either white-cors or executives.


    But she was nothing...


    This world was not meant for people like her.


    A sadness welled up in her heart. Xiao Qian''s eyes grew hot. She threw away the umbre in her hand and limped forward a few steps.


    Just then, a Mercedes Benz sedan stopped beside her. The window rolled down and Xu Jia Ning poked his head out in a suit and leather shoes, "Sister, what happened to you...?"


    "Ah!"


    Seeing Xu Jia Ning, Xiao Qian burst into tears for some reason. Fortunately, it was raining heavily, so the rain and tears blended indistinguishably.


    Xu Jia Ning hurried out of the car. He didn''t even bother with an umbre, just grabbed her hand, "Sister, get in the car."


    Xiao Qian staggered back awkwardly, not daring to look directly at his dazzling luxury car.


    "Have you been drinking again?"


    "I didn''t drink," Xiao Qian exined hurriedly, "I...I have a ss to attend."


    "I''ll take you there," Xu Jia Ning said.


    He pressed a key fob button and the rear door opened automatically. He put Xiao Qian inside, then got in himself.


    The car had excellent sound instion,pletely isting the chaotic, dirty world outside. The pitter-patter of heavy rain became background noise.


    Xiao Qian didn''t dare move a muscle, afraid of soiling the leather seats and high-end equipment she had never seen before.


    There were no clean towels in the car. Xu Jia Ning simply took off his suit jacket and handed it to her, "Wipe your hair."


    Xiao Qian shook her head, declining his kindness.


    Xu Jia Ning mbered from the front to the back seats, clumsy yet amusing, like a child.


    Fortunately, the interior space was extremely spacious. He sat down beside her and used his clothes to wipe her hair.


    "If you''re going to ss, why were you standing in the rain?"


    Xiao Qian noticed that the left heel of her high heels was broken off.


    "It''s a body shaping ss for models, so I have to wear high heels," Xiao Qian exined again. "The broken heel means even if I go, it''ll be pointless and I''ll beughed at."


    "How much does that ss cost? Can''t you just not go?"


    "It''s not expensive. It''s an adult education course offered by a vocational school, not the kind of high-end thing you''re imagining..."


    Xiao Qian didn''t want to exin further. The more she exined, the more upset she felt. She silently gazed out at the pouring rain.


    "Then I''ll take you home," Xu Jia Ning said.


    "Do you have ns?" Xiao Qian could tell from Xu Jia Ning''s formal attire that he must have something going on. "Just drop me off at the bus stop."


    "I''m free. I''m a student. I don''t have anything going on besides homework waiting for me at home."


    "Then why are you dressed like that?"


    "I always dress like this," Xu Jia Ning straightened his tie. "Do I look handsome?"


    "Oh,e on." Xiao Qianughed softly, "If you''re busy, go take care of your things. Don''t mind me. I''m an adult, I can take care of myself."


    Xu Jia Ning did in fact have ns. Tonight was the group''s annual g. Old Xu nned to introduce him to some of thepany''s directors.


    But it didn''t matter. Nothing was more important than what was right in front of him.


    He simply put his phone on silent.


    Xu Jia Ning dug out his previously shed school uniform from the car and draped it over Xiao Qian, saying, "I''ll take you home."


    "Okay."


    Xiao Qian could smell a faint scent of cologne on his school uniform. It smelled nice.


    Xu Jia Ning was a bit different from Xiao Yan.


    Xiao Yan was clean and refreshing, but his temperament was too heavy, his thoughts too deep as he marched forward bearing a weight.


    Xu Jia Ning was a refined, elegant boy raised in prosperous, fertilends. He had the scent of sunshine about him.


    This was fatally attractive to Xiao Qian.


    She admitted she was realistic, but she was no celestial maiden untouched by the mortal world. In this cold, indifferent world, she only wanted to grab onto the tiniest bit of warmth.


    If only he were a little older, that would be so much better.


    Xu Jia Ning climbed back to the driver''s seat again. Xiao Qianughed, "Kid, do you always crawl around in the car like this?"


    "Yeah, it''s convenient."


    "Your sister said you''re very particr about things. This is not elegant at all."


    "I''m elegant around other people. I don''t have to be with you," Xu Jia Ning smiled like a child. "I want you to see the real me."


    "What is the real you like?"


    "I''m really good at w machines. My house is full of stuffed animals I''ve won. I''ll give them to you next time."


    Xu Jia Ning looked at her, "I''m really great at w machines. I''ll give you a lot of stuffed animals next time."


    "Kid, you know how to get along well with girls and make them happy."


    "But in your eyes, I''m still just a kid."


    Xu Jia Ning adjusted the rearview mirror to perfectly frame her exquisite face. "Sister wouldn''t watch Casanca with a kid, right? Even if I ace all my exams, you still wouldn''t."


    Xiao Qian was silent for a moment, then nodded, "Mm."


    "I just thought, I could buy you new shoes, but then I realized, it wouldn''t be appropriate to use Old Xu''s card. Even driving you home in the car Old Xu bought me, I really don''t have the right to earn your affection."


    Xiao Qian looked up at the rearview mirror. The boy''s eyes were clear and pure. Every word came from the heart¡ª


    "Never before have I wished so badly to grow up quickly, sister."

 Chapter 49: Take a Gamble

    <h4>Chapter 49</h4>


    Xiao Qian could not help but admit that she was indeed moved by Xu Jia Ning''s words.


    For a girl who looked like Xiao Qian with such a figure, she could easily beckon and there would be crowds of mature, wealthy men willing to tter and pursue her like flies.


    A sincere, ardent heart was always more attractive than cold, hard materialism no matter what.


    That was also why she could not ultimately let go and naively begin a rtionship purely for materialistic reasons.


    Her brother came from the same background as her and his fate was even more winding, yet he still tried so hard. What right did she have not to strive?


    She wanted to rely on herself to live a better life.


    "Shall I take you back?" Xu Jia Ning interrupted her thoughts.


    "There''s no rush to go back. I don''t want my brother to worry."


    "Okay."


    Xu Jia Ning thought for a moment before starting the engine and driving to a deste riverside. He then turned on the heater and surround sound stereo system.


    His music was all English songs from overseas. The melodies were gentle and soothing, perfect for a rainy day like this.


    For a while, neither of them knew what to say so they just sat in silence.


    In such a cramped yet ambiguous space, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.


    After thinking for a bit, Xu Jia Ning climbed from the front seat to the backseat.


    Xiao Qian reacted immediately, shrinking into the corner warily and looking at him, "Why did you climb back here again?"


    "To sit next to you and ease the awkwardness," Xu Jia Ning said with a smile. "I won''t do anything to you, sister. I''m still just a kid."


    "You''re a kid..."


    Just an eighteen or neen year old kid full of hormones.


    "You''ve climbed back here three times in less than half an hour."


    Xu Jia Ning waspletely unbothered as he sat down next to Xiao Qian, staring intently at her, "Sister, let''s chat."


    "What do you want to chat about?"


    "Let''s chat about your criteria for choosing a spouse and expectations for your future other half. I''ll share mine too."


    "..."


    Xiao Qian said, "I don''t date kids, thanks."


    Xu Jia Ningughed. A dimple emerged on his left cheek, clean and sweet, "Then let''s change topics. How about we talk about each other''s life experiences and things from the past? Is that okay, sister?"


    "Do you have to chat with me?"


    "We don''t have to chat either. I''m happy just sitting here like this and looking at you."


    With him staring so fixedly at her, Xiao Qian felt somewhat flushed and shy. She might as well entertain his suggested topic, "My brother and I are both orphans. When I was six, I was abandoned by my family."


    "Why?"


    "Why else? Because I was a girl," Xiao Qian said helplessly. "My family already had an older sister. Later, when they had a son, they couldn''t support me anymore so they sent me away. The rtives who took me in were originally childless butter had their own child so they sent me away again. After bouncing between a few families, I ended up at the orphanage."


    Listening to her calm tone, it was as if she was recounting an extremely ordinary matter.


    Xu Jia Ning listened in silence, his heart twisting again and again.


    It was very distressing and heartbreaking.


    He had always felt he was unfortunate. His parents divorced when he was young. Later, he grew up alone in a foreign country living under his aunt''s roof.


    His mother, Mrs. Jiang Ru Xuan, found her true love even if the man wasn''t wealthier than his father. But she was very happy.


    To maintain her own family, she never cared for Xu Jia Ning, even intentionally avoiding his existence.


    As for Old Xu, his parenting was always ruthlessly severe, believing that only beatings could shape him into a proper heir. He had been under the harshest, strictest control all for the sake of making him a qualified sessor in the future.


    For a long period when he was studying abroad, he had always been shrouded in loneliness and sorrow.


    Later, Xu Jia Ning became selfish. His outward manners were polite and mild but inside he was aloof and cold. He used his own so-called gentlemanly code of conduct, never treating anyone with true sincerity.


    Yet after hearing Xiao Qian''s experiences, he realized that his trivial grievances were nothing.


    He had never truly experienced... being abandoned without kin or care.


    "What happened after that?" Xu Jia Ning asked again, "What happened after?"


    "I''m a few years older than my brother. He doesn''t like to talk much. He''s very smart and likes tinkering with things, taking apart TV remotes and power strips. He was often scolded by the teachers at the orphanage and disliked by the other kids who ostracized him."


    As Xiao Qian recalled the past, her expression softened, "Although he was withdrawn, whenever adoptive parents came to choose a child, he would immediately be lively and talkative,ughing and trying his best to impress them... He really longed for a family toe take him away because this made the other children dislike him even more."


    "I want to hear about you, sister," Xu Jia Ning interjected a little jealously, "Yet you keep talking about Xiao Yan."


    "Because from then on, our lives became intertwined. Heter became someone very important to me."


    Xiao Qian said, "There was a security guard at the orphanage, a middle-aged man who was extremely disgusting. He would always sneak peeks at the girls'' bathroom... That time when I went to the bathroom, he followed me. It was Xiao Yan who saved me by shouting and attracting many teachers over."


    Xu Jia Ning''s hands tightened. Her story had drawn him inpletely, "What happened next?"


    "That man seemed to have some connections. Even though the orphanage leadership knew about his problems, he wasn''t fired. After that incident, he started targeting Xiao Yan often, beating him, bullying him. On several asions, decent families wanted to adopt Xiao Yan but that guard would tell them that he was prone to violence."


    "Scumbag!"


    "Not long after, Xiao Yan was specifically adopted by a family. As you may have heard, after his adoptive father went to prison, his family abandoned him. In the dead of winter, with no clothes to wear, looking no different from a little beggar, he was directly dumped on the streets."


    "By then, I had juste of age. At orphanages, kids who don''t get adopted by 18 have to leave and fend for themselves. I was working at a factory then and saw the news report about Xiao Yan. Knowing he was sent back to the orphanage, I returned and told the director I wanted to adopt him."


    "You adopted him? How old were you then?"


    "The same age as you now." Xiao Qian looked at Xu Jia Ning, "After experiencing something like that and losing an organ, it was impossible for Xiao Yan to be adopted again. The orphanage conditions were also very poor back then, simr to animal rescue shelters nowadays. Without someone adopting him, Xiao Yan wouldn''t even get to go to school and learn. His entire life would be dyed as he could only do manualbor like me."


    Xu Jia Ning was deeply moved. Having grown up in the UK, he could not even imagine such hardship and misery. He could not fathom how this girl the same age as him had already taken on the full burden of life back then.


    "After that, Xiao Yan lived with me and I took care of him like a mother. Without proper medical treatment and somewhat malnourished, his health was very poor. My sry could only support myself but I had to raise money for his treatment and recuperation. Otherwise, this kid probably wouldn''t have lived long."


    "So I quit my job and started doing business, going into debt for the family. Fortunately Xiao Yan was very capable, always finding odd jobs and contributing to the family expenses. Slowly, our situation improved. We opened a shop and were close to paying off the debts. Now he''s about to start university too."


    As she spoke of the present, Xiao Qian''s eyes brimmed with hope, "I''m attending night school now to pick up some skills so I can earn even more money in the future."


    "So learning to model is also to make more money?"


    "That''s right. With money, I can support myself without worries about food and shelter. Then maybe I won''t be in such a hurry to get married."


    "Oh, sister must keep at it!" Xu Jia Ning''s eyes lit up, "Strive on your own, don''t get married!"


    Until I grow up.


    Xiao Qian smiled, "But I also really want a family to ept me, want to have a baby, want to have blood rtives of my own."


    "No need to rush," Xu Jia Ning hurriedly said, "Few men are any good, with frequent domestic violence and affairs. It''s toomon."


    "Saying that, you''re no good either, right?"


    Xu Jia Ning said without hesitation, "I''m different."


    "Let''s not talk about this."


    Xiao Qian immediately changed topics, "I''ve told you my story. It''s your turn now."


    "My story is simple. When I was little, my parents got divorced and sent me to live with my aunt in Ennd. My aunt was hot and cold towards me - when my dad''s business was doing well, she was nice to me, but when he hit hard times, she would turn on me immediately."


    Xu Jia Ning shrugged. "In middle school, I tried to be independent and not have to keep reading people''s faces to survive - I worked washing dishes at a restaurant. But when Old Xu found out, he scolded me severely and forbid me from wasting time on things like that. By then his business had started improving, so he hired a special nanny to take care of me, making sure I could focus entirely on my studies without any other distractions."


    "That sounds so nice!" Xiao Qian was very envious. "If I had a dad like that, I''d be smiling even in my sleep!"


    "To each their own when ites to warmth and cold," Xu Jia Ning said with a helplessugh. "I like music, so I secretly studied it without telling Old Xu. Just a couple years ago, I entered a musicpetition and won a prize - 1,000 pounds in prize money. I used that to start some small businesses at school and earned my first bucket of gold - 40,000 pounds. Then I bought myself a watch."


    "Oh right!" He suddenly seemed to remember something and hurriedly took off his Cartier watch, holding it out to Xiao Qian. "I bought this with my own money, not family money - I want you to have it!"


    "Why are you suddenly giving me this?" Xiao Qian didn''t reach for it. "I don''t want it."


    "I originally gave it as a birthday present to a girl in my ss," Xu Jia Ning said honestly. "But she gave it back to meter."


    Xiao Qianughed. "Because she likes you?"


    "Yeah." Xu Jia Ning had always known about Lu Tian Bai''s feelings, but he had rejected her directly. "I don''t like her - she and Xiao Lin are like sisters to me. When she returned the watch, she told me I should give it to someone I truly like and who really deserves it."


    "I don''t want it," Xiao Qian rejected just as directly. "I''m not that person."


    "You are," Xu Jia Ning insisted stubbornly, pulling her hand over. "I''ve decided - it''s you."


    Seeing how stubborn he was, Xiao Qian threatened, "If you give it to me, I''ll just turn around and sell it, you know."


    "Then I''m not giving it to you," Xu Jia Ning immediately snatched the watch back. "I''ll sell it myself - this watch is pretty valuable. I''ll sell it and use the money to buy you a nice pair of high heels."


    "......"


    Seeing that he was serious and really might sell off something so meaningful just for money, Xiao Qian took the watch after all. "Fine, I''ll take it, but I won''t wear it."


    A gentle smile spread across Xu Jia Ning''s face. "Whatever makes you happy."


    Meanwhile, his phone kept buzzing and buzzing as Old Xu called him repeatedly, nearly blowing up his phone.


    Finally, Xu Jia Ning simply turned his phone offpletely and said to Xiao Qian, "Sis, will you wait for me a moment?"


    "What?"


    "Just wait for me a moment, it won''t take long, I promise." Xu Jia Ning looked at her solemnly. "Really, I can give you a better future than any other suitable match out there...will you take a chance on me...and just wait for me a little while?"


    After saying this, his originally pale face flushed red in an instant, his heart thumping loudly.


    Xiao Qian clutched the watch silently for a long time before speaking. "Kid, even if you graduate university without going to grad school, it will still take at least four or five years. Do you know how old your sis will be by then? Thirty."


    "That doesn''t matter!"


    "By that time, you''ll have great looks, education, skills, and family background - tons of young, pretty girls will be infatuated with you. Will you really give up all those bright prospects to be with a thirty-year-old, uneducated woman who might not even be as pretty as now?"


    "I will."


    "But do you know how big of a risk it would be for me to believe the immature vows of a boy?"


    Xiao Qian looked at him rationally. "Don''t be silly."


    Xu Jia Ning clenched his fist tightly, then rxed it, then clenched it again...


    Indeed, Xiao Qian''s calm, mature words instantly doused the fire in his heart. Putting himself in her shoes, he wouldn''t readily believe in this seemingly beautiful future either.


    "If you''re not happy, I won''t be happy either," he said, his voice trembling.


    "Little Ning, you''re so wonderful." Xiao Qian reached out and lightly traced the contours of his face, moved. "But we really are...not meant to be."


    If they had met a few years earlier when she was 18, she would have loved him deeply.


    Outside, the rain had stopped.


    "Take me home."


    Just as Xiao Qian was about to withdraw her hand, Xu Jia Ning suddenly grabbed her wrist. "Good looks, education, skills, family background..."


    She froze, as he continued, "I''ll study hard, work hard, help you get an education, let you do anything you want to do. I''ll give you a home, no domestic violence, no cheating, won''t even nce at other pretty girls. I''ll cherish you, love you, respect you, have a child with you - boy or girl, I''ll love them, but I''ll love you most. So will you take a chance on me...and bet on this?"

 Chapter 50: Bring Him Back

    <h4>Chapter 50</h4>


    At ten o''clock in the evening, Xu Jia Ning returned home.


    Lin Chu Sui was leaning over the window sill watching his car pull into the garage. She hurried downstairs in her slippers and intercepted him at the door, ¡°Old Xu just got back and he¡¯s fuming mad, you better hide out in my room for now until my mom gets back from her dinner party, otherwise...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    There was no way to avoid it anyway, so he went straight upstairs to Xu Song Bai¡¯s study, ¡°Dad.¡±


    Xu Song Bai was standing in front of the bookshelf wiping a vase. He asked coldly, ¡°Where were you?¡±


    ¡°Got caught in the rain.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you got stuck in traffic.¡±


    ¡°No, I went to a live music house. There was a folk music concert I wanted to check out.¡± Xu Jia Ning replied expressionlessly.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you that these next two years are critical, to focus on test prep and stay away from the guitar?¡±


    ¡°I just finished my exams and did pretty well, so I wanted to rx a bit.¡±


    ¡°You call that doing pretty well? You can¡¯t even get first ce, what right do you have to say you¡¯re doing great in your studies? If you had put even half the effort you put into music into what I told you to do, what couldn¡¯t you aplish?¡±


    ¡°Okay, it won¡¯t happen again next time. I¡¯ll work hard to get first ce.¡±


    Lin Chu Sui was leaning against the door watching her cheap older brother bow his head obediently.


    He was always like this, apologizing after doing something wrong, never talking back to Old Xu, which made it difficult for Old Xu¡¯s hardened fists tond solid blows on the soft cotton. Over the years, Xu Jia Ning had figured out through experience how to safely deal with his tiger dad¡¯s punishments.


    Sometimes, Lin Chu Sui felt she really needed to learn from him.


    But she didn¡¯t have Xu Jia Ning¡¯s patience and resilience. After Madam Fang yelled at her a few times, she would want to defend herself.


    She had never suffered grievances before, nor could she endure them now.


    Xu Song Bai seemed to be aware of Xu Jia Ning¡¯s ¡°cleverness¡±, but tonight, he didn¡¯t n on letting it slide so easily.


    This kid, he looked obedient andpliant on the surface, but as his father, Xu Song Bai knew him best: he had that same rebellious streak deep down in his bones as Lin Chu Sui did, it¡¯s just that Lin Chu Sui expressed it more directly while he was...a bit more clever about it.


    ¡°Bring me your guitar.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Xu Jia Ning looked up in shock, ¡°Dad!¡±


    ¡°Bring it here. I¡¯ll keep it for you for the time being.¡±


    Hearing that Xu Song Bai only wanted to confiscate it temporarily, Xu Jia Ning breathed a sigh of relief. He went back to his room, got his guitar, and ced it on Old Xu¡¯s heavy wooden desk, ¡°I¡¯ll do as you say and focus on my studies...¡±


    Before he could finish speaking, Xu Song Bai grabbed the ashtray on the table and fiercely smashed the guitar.


    With a loud ¡°crash¡±, the wooden guitar caved in and the strings snapped.


    Xu Jia Ning looked at the scene before him in disbelief.


    Heartache, anger, and indescribable oppression gathered in his dark eyes. His hands clenched tightly into fists.


    At the door, spectator Lin Chu Sui also couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer. She rushed in, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you, a fully grown adult, still destroying other people¡¯s belongings when Xu Jia Ning already promised to do better!¡±


    ¡°His belongings? What does he have that I didn¡¯t give him?¡± Xu Song Bai said coldly. ¡°He left me waiting with all the directors at the annual party tonight, wouldn¡¯t answer his phone or turned it off, to go to some crappy concert. I was merciful for not beating him to death!¡±


    After saying this, he picked up the guitar, about to toss it out the window.


    Lin Chu Sui hurried forward and grabbed the tail end of the guitar, wrestling over it with him.


    Xu Jia Ning went over to convince Lin Chu Sui, ¡°Forget it.¡±


    ¡°No way! It can still be fixed.¡±


    She knew how much the fake foreign devil treasured this old guitar. He would take it out regrly to wipe it down and maintain it, not letting her touch it carelessly, making her wash her hands before handling it.


    Everyone had things they cherished.


    Lin Chu Sui let go of the guitar, then picked up a potted orchid worth millions of yuan, Old Xu¡¯s most prized bonsai, specially ced on his desk for viewing and attentive daily care.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go down together!¡±


    Seeing her grab the orchid, Xu Song Bai¡¯s expression changed. He said sternly, ¡°Put down the nt.¡±


    ¡°You put down the guitar.¡±


    Xu Song Bai had never seen such an unruly child. He used to think he had effective ways to discipline Xu Jia Ning, butpared to Lin Chu Sui, Xu Jia Ning was a model child.


    ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly.¡± He slowly lowered the guitar, afraid she would damage his orchid. ¡°Put it down.¡±


    Lin Chu Sui signaled to Xu Jia Ning with her eyes. Xu Jia Ning walked over and picked up the guitar, eyes full of distress.


    Holding the orchid hostage, Lin Chu Sui slowly backed out of the study and finally smirked, ¡°Here, have it back!¡±


    After saying this, she smashed the potted nt forcefully onto the ground, then gave it a few hard kicks.


    ¡°Lin Chu Sui!¡±


    Xu Song Bai charged out angrily. Xu Jia Ning had already grabbed Lin Chu Sui¡¯s hand, fleeing together back to his room and locking the door.


    The two leaned against the door, hearts thumping wildly, listening to the sounds outside.


    Xu Song Bai was busy trying to rescue his nt, naturally had no time to deal with them.


    Xu Jia Ning turned his head to look at Lin Chu Sui. The little girl''s cheeks were rosy red, still looking shocked and terrified: ¡°Damn, that was scary.¡±


    Guitar in one hand, he rubbed her soft fluffy hair with the other, ¡°Why stick your neck out if you¡¯re so afraid?¡±


    ¡°Of course I have to stand up to violence, I absolutely will not submit!¡± Lin Chu Sui pushed his hand away. ¡°You¡¯re just like a ve, letting yourself get bullied without fighting back. If I don¡¯t protect you, who will?¡±


    Xu Jia Ning scoffed, ¡°You¡¯re the ve.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m Lincoln Chu, emancipator of ves!¡±


    ¡°My dear sister emancipator, did you finish your homework?¡±


    ¡°What, are you going to do your sister emancipator¡¯s homework for her?¡±


    ¡°In your dreams.¡± Xu Jia Ning rolled his eyes and brought his workbook over to her, ¡°Look at mine first. Copy the answers onto scratch paper. After Aunt Fang gets back and you¡¯re safe, go back to your room and transcribe it all into your workbook.¡±


    Lin Chu Sui pursed her lips, sitting down at the desk, ¡°Is supervising others to study diligently amon interest among you model students?¡±


    ¡°Less nonsense.¡±


    Xu Jia Ning picked up his guitar to inspect the damaged parts.


    Lin Chu Sui turned and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you usually keep up a good boy image? How¡¯d you manage to piss him off so badly today?¡±


    When asked this, Xu Jia Ning suddenlyughed.


    ¡°What are you giggling about?¡±


    ¡°I have someone I like now, and there¡¯s a good chance I can win her over.¡±


    Lin Chu Sui asked doubtfully, ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be...who I¡¯m thinking of, would it?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s exactly who you¡¯re thinking of.¡±


    She immediately climbed onto the chair and turned around excitedly, ¡°You were with Sister Xiao Yan today?¡±


    ¡°Shhh!¡± Xu Jia Ning immediately got up and put his ear to the door to listen carefully, saying cautiously, ¡°What if Old Xu hears you?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re just a high schooler, what makes you think you can win her over?¡± Lin Chu Sui felt it was unbelievable. With Xiao Yan¡¯s looks and figure, she could easily find a boyfriend with excellent background. Why would she be interested in this little rascal Xu Jia Ning?


    ¡°Do you have doubts about your brother¡¯s charm?¡± Xu Jia Ning was quite arrogant and confident. ¡°Girls I like have a zero percent chance of getting away.¡±


    ¡°But she¡¯s so much older than you.¡±


    ¡°I like older sisters, you got a problem with that?¡±


    Lin Chu Sui was still frowning, not at all happy for Xu Jia Ning, ¡°Then...do you know there''s also a girl in our ss who has always liked you too?¡±


    Xu Jia Ning: ¡°There are at least fifteen girls in our ss who like me, and fourteen have confessed.¡±


    Lin Chu Sui stared at Xu Jia Ning. After a long pause, she said slowly, ¡°I¡¯m talking about...the one who hasn''t confessed.¡±


    Xu Jia Ningy in bed, arm cradling his head as he gazed at the ceiling, ¡°Because she already knows the answer in her heart.¡±


    Lin ChuSui didn''t say anything more.


    ...


    The next day after school, Xiao Yan sent Lin ChuSui home. He told her to wait downstairs while she went to get Xu JiaNing''s guitar.


    Brother Octopus had introduced her to a famous instrument repair shop. He said no matter how badly it was smashed, they could restore it to its original condition.


    Lin ChuSui got the offline address and asked Xiao Yan to apany her to the physical store to take a look.


    Xiao Yan stood in front of the independent vi courtyard. The vi''s garden was exquisitely maintained with wisteria vines draping over the enclosing walls. The vi was in a light European retro style, like a princess''s castle.


    If not for that ident, the little girl could have grown up like a princess, with loving dad and mom.


    She would probably never have crossed paths with someone like him either.


    That fire took away Lin ChuSui''s father, and also changed Xiao Yan''s fate.


    He was the culprit.


    From inside the house came the sound of the little girl arguing with a man¨D


    "What are you doing with the guitar?"


    "It''s none of your business, you''re not my dad!"


    "Do you think a father who indulges and spoils you all the time is a good one? That will only ruin you for life!"


    "My dad never wanted me to amount to much. He said as long as I could be happy every day, that''s the greatest blessing. A person like you could never understand!"


    "Stop right there! Lin ChuSui,e back here!"


    ...


    Lin ChuSui ran out of the house hugging the guitar and grabbed Xiao Yan''s hand, hurrying out of the residential area.


    Xiao Yan let her lead him along. He looked back onest time at the vi, the direction of what was once Lin XiuZe''s home.


    Lin XiuZe must have seen it too, but he didn''t say anything, just met Xiao Yan''s gaze in silence.


    "Is he... really mean to you?" Xiao Yan asked Lin ChuSui.


    "You mean Xu JiaNing''s dad?"


    "Yeah."


    "Super mean." Lin ChuSui slowed her steps. "I''ve never disliked someone this much before. If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn''t have known there were dads like him in the world."


    She unwrapped the guitar case and showed Xiao Yan the smashed dents on the guitar. "See, this is his ''masterpiece''. Xu JiaNing treasured this guitar so much I wasn''t even allowed to touch it normally, and now it''s been ruined like this."


    Xiao Yan looked at the indignant expression on the little girl''s face. He opened his mouth but in the end said nothing, just silently looked away.


    The silent snow of winter night drifted down onto his shoulders.


    He took the little girl''s fair wrist and led her down the quiet street.


    Lin ChuSui looked up at him. His lips were tightly shut, his stoic expression seemed chilled by the deste frost and snow of the winter night.


    At a traffic light intersection, Xiao Yan stopped. Suddenly he said,


    "What if you had two pathsid out before you, one leading to the future where you could grow up, the other going back to the past to resurrect your dad."


    Lin ChuSui looked up again. His dark eyes gently gazed down at her. "Little one, which would you choose?"


    Lin ChuSui gritted her teeth without hesitation. "I choose... to bring Dad back."

 Chapter 51: The Kiss

    <h4>Chapter 51</h4>


    In the guitar shop, the owner inspected the damage and then quoted a considerable price.


    Lin ChuSui readily agreed, saying that as long as it could be fixed, money was no object.


    Stepping out of the shop, there was a trendy ice cream and chocte store on the first floor of the shopping mall, doing brisk business. Lin ChuSui took Xiao Yan''s hand and walked right in.


    The interior of the chocte shop was decorated in an exceedingly sweet style. The transparent freezer at the front counter was filled to the brim with all kinds of colorful choctes and ice creambinations.


    A maid-uniformed server handed them a dessert menu. Lin ChuSui casually ordered a mixedbo of chocte and ice cream. Just as she was about to take out her phone to pay, Xiao Yan had already reached for his phone first¨D


    "How much?"


    "209 yuan."


    Right before he opened the QR code, Lin ChuSui set the menu down and said, "Ah, suddenly don''t feel like eating it anymore!"


    Xiao Yan nced at her, but still held out his phone and scanned to ce the order.


    Seeing the 209 yuan charge on his phone screen, Lin ChuSui felt a little let down. She tugged at his sleeve and said softly, "I already said I don''t want to eat it."


    Xiao Yan sat down. "But I want to eat it."


    "Nonsense, you don''t want to eat it at all."


    "I do."


    Very quickly, the server presented an ornately decorated te of ice cream in three colors - vani, strawberry, and blueberry. It was sprinkled with chocte chips and Oreo crumbs, arranged in the shape of a star.


    For such a pitifully small dessert, it really didn''t seem worth 209 yuan. But its beautiful, delightful appearance alone was enough to make one feel happy from the bottom of one''s heart.


    For over ten years, Xiao Yan had been struggling to survive, never knowing what shape life was supposed to take.


    Now he thought, life should probably look like the girl he loved, sweet food, and the happiness he felt at this moment.


    Lin ChuSui had already scooped up a bit of the strawberry ice cream with her small spoon, bringing it to Xiao Yan''s lips. "Since you want to eat it, go ahead and have more."


    Xiao Yan ate from Lin ChuSui''s hand. The sweetness that lingered on his tongue was a vor he had never experienced before.


    As a child he had loved sweets too, but he didn''t know when he had stopped eating them.


    "Is it tasty?"


    "Mm."


    Just as Xiao Yan was about to take the spoon back for her, he saw her lick itpletely clean in one go.


    "..." He took away her spoon and murmured, "Isn''t that dirty?"


    "What''s dirty about my own boyfriend?" Lin ChuSui thought nothing of it as she continued eating.


    Watching her eat ice cream with great relish, a bit of chocte stuck to the corner of her mouth. Xiao Yan also felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction filling his chest.


    He used to feel constantly that it was either life or death. Since he didn''t want to die, he had to live properly ¨D to scale the highest peaks that others could not reach, to see the most stunning scenery that others had not witnessed.


    But now, he suddenly felt that the most stunning scenery was right in front of him.


    "You should eat some too." Lin ChuSui handed him another spoon. "Let''s eat together."


    "Alright." Xiao Yan readily leaned in and licked the chocte crumbs from the corner of her mouth.


    The fleeting warmth of his touch made Lin ChuSui reach out and smack him. "Shameless."


    The rich chocte blossomed on his tongue. Xiao Yan''s mouth curved up slightly. "Baby, I really like you a lot."


    The sudden confession made Lin ChuSui''s face instantly flush crimson.


    She really could hardly imagine that her genius ssmate, whose thought process had always been peculiar, could be so clingy when it came to romance.


    "How embarrassing." Lin ChuSui buried her head and continued eating ice cream, avoiding looking at him. Her whole body tingled.


    "Baby, if there were two pathsid out before you..."


    "Why are you asking this again?" Lin ChuSui put down her spoon. "You''ve already asked so many questions like this today."


    Why was he asking again? He really, really wanted to have a future with her.


    "Never mind, I won''t ask anymore." Xiao Yan gazed at her greedily, as if he could never look enough. "Where else do you want to go y? I''ll take you."


    "No need, we should just go home and do homework."


    "You''re actually voluntarily asking to do homework?"


    Lin ChuSui shouldered her backpack and tugged at his finger. "You''re so wonderful, I can only try my very, very best to catch up with you. Although that whole ''survival of the fittest'' thing they talk about sounds a bit crass, I think there''s some truth to it. If I''m not outstanding enough, I''ll get eliminated by otherpetitors."


    He was so amazing, he deserved to have the very best of everything.


    "It might be difficult for you to catch up with me," Xiao Yan said candidly. "That''s an issue with IQ, it has nothing to do with hard work."


    Lin ChuSui: "..."


    Love could be so sweet, but sometimes you just wanted to hit someone.


    The offended youngdy stormed out of the dessert shop.


    Behind her, the youth grasped her fair wrist. "You don''t need to catch up to me."


    She looked back at him, only to hear him say earnestly, "You don''t need to catch up, because I''ll stop and wait for you."


    ...


    Although the review stage was extremely painful, with more pressure than during normal sses ¨D having to arrive at school earlier and leaveter, plus night self-study.


    The studentsined endlessly, but Lin ChuSui was cheerful every day. There had never been a time when life was happier than it was now.


    During night self-study, Lin ChuSui passed a receipt and payment QR code to Xu JiaNing who sat in the back row: "The guitar is fixed. Go pick it up yourself, the address is on there."


    "Thanks."


    "Don''t thank me. And pay me back for the money I fronted."


    Xu JiaNing pushed away the QR code. "We''re family, let''s not nitpick."


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes instantly widened. "Even close brothers keep clear ounts!"


    "If anythinges up in the future, your brother will also do his best to help you."


    "Spare me! Just pay up!"


    "I''m broke."


    "What a fine man you are, mooching this way!"


    "Your brother really has no money. I''ll pay you back when I get some."


    Xu JiaNing nudged Xiao Yan''s shoulder ¨D


    "School genius, could you give me some of your tutoring jobs?"


    Xiao Yan''s head remained lowered over his worksheet. "I''ve suspended all my tutoring jobs, but I can refer clients to you."


    "That would be terrific!"


    He took out a client list from his backpack and ced it on Xu JiaNing''s desk. "Here are all the connections I''ve umted over the years. I''ve checked the ones who currently need tutoring. Pick whoever you want."


    "Much obliged!"


    "Don''t mention it. We''re family."


    "Who''s family with you..."


    Just as Xu JiaNing was about to retort, he reconsidered ¨D perhaps in the future, they really could be family. "Alright, little brother."


    Xiao Yan put down his pen and corrected, "You should call me brother-inw."


    Xu JiaNing stubbornly insisted, "Little brother!"


    "Brother-inw."


    "Little brother!"


    "Brother-inw."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Can''t you quit being so childish!


    At that moment, ss logistics officer Lu TianBai came over with a sign-up sheet. "There are only two days left of review sses. The ss officers discussed holding an end-of-review celebration the night sses end, to mark getting through review period. So each person needs to contribute 30 yuan for decorations, activities, and small gifts and snacks."


    "Teacher Qin agreed to let you guys hold this event?"


    "He did." She smiled mysteriously. "Because our ss''s final average score surpassed ss A''s. Teacher Qin has been in a really good moodtely."


    "I see." Without any hesitation, Lin ChuSui gave Lu TianBai 60 yuan. "For my family."


    "You and JiaNing?"


    "Me and our family''s school genius. I''m temporarily severing ties with him until he clears his debts!" Lin ChuSui looked at Xu JiaNing disdainfully.


    Xu JiaNing said to Lu TianBai, "TianBai, I can''t scrape together the cash right now. Could you give me a couple days'' grace period?"


    Before Lu TianBai could reply, Lin ChuSui asked, "You can''t evene up with thirty yuan?"


    "Not even three mao, thank you very much."


    Lin ChuSui shook her head. "Pitiful."


    Lu TianBai quickly said, "It''s no problem, I can float you the money first. You can pay me back when you have it."


    Hearing this, Xu JiaNing hesitated briefly, then said to Xiao Yan, "Little brother, how about you lend me 30 yuan?"


    Without lifting his head from his worksheet, Xiao Yan said, "Someone''s offered to lend it to you already, so whye to me?"


    Xu JiaNing nced at Lu TianBai. Lu TianBai was also looking at him, tightly gripping her ledger notebook.


    He lowered his voice, "I...don''t feel right owing a girl money."


    Sensing the disappointment in Lu TianBai''s eyes, Lin ChuSui felt irked. "You still owe me money! Why not just pay me back first?"


    "Are you a girl?"


    "Attacking people now that you don''t want to repay your debt!"


    Xiao Yan took out his phone and asked Xu Jia Ning, "What should you call me?"


    Xu Jia Ning was a smart man and immediately changed his words, "Brother-inw."


    "Call me daddy if you want money from me," said Xiao Yan.


    "..." Xu Jia Ning was speechless.


    "Xiao Yan, don''t take an inch after taking a mile!" Lin ChuSui rolled her eyes in frustration. The top two students of the grade were so childish!


    Eventually, Xu Jia Ning got the 30 yuan from Xiao Yan and promised he didn''t need to pay it back. He even offered to help introduce business contacts, begrudgingly calling out, "Godfather, godfather, alright?"


    It was the first time he hadpromised himself for money after entering society.


    Lu TianBai asked Lin ChuSui, "Are you going to perform for the New Year''s celebration?"


    "What are other people performing?"


    "Singing, dancing, poetry recitation, stand-upedy, anything goes. You get a small gift if you participate."


    "What kind of small gifts?"


    "Notebooks, calendars, things like that. First prize is a pot of primrose hand cream."


    Xiao Yan told Lu TianBai, "I want to sign up."


    "Huh?" Lu TianBai was surprised, "Xiao Yan, you want to perform?"


    "Yes."


    "Okay then." She took out a pen. "What will you perform?"


    "I''ll demonstrate solving a difficult trigonometry problem in under 3 minutes and provide three different solutions."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Lu TianBai''s pen paused. "You...really want to show the audience how to do math problems on stage?"


    "Yes."


    "Alright then." Lu TianBai wrote down Xiao Yan''s name, then asked Lin ChuSui, "Girlfriend, what about you?"


    "Then I''ll challenge myself to do one hundred push-ups in one breath," Lin ChuSui replied.


    Lu TianBai threw down her pen in exasperation. "Can you two perform some normal acts!"


    Xiao Yan looked towards Lin ChuSui, "Can you really do one hundred push-ups in one breath?"


    "What, you don''t believe me?"


    "No, it''s just...really impressive."


    "Oh, how indecent of you."


    "There''s nothing indecent about it," said Xiao Yan.


    Lin ChuSui patted him on the head. "Let me show you bunch of rascals what''s truly entertaining."


    Xu Jia Ning called Lu TianBai over, "Little Bai, sign me up to y guitar and sing."


    "Sure, Brother Jia Ning!"


    Just then, the lights in the ssroom suddenly went out.


    The students were stunned for a moment, then the whole ss erupted in cheers. Not just their ss, the entire school building was in an uproar¨D


    "School''s out! School''s out! School''s out!"


    "Yayyyyy!"


    "ckout, awesome!!!"


    In that moment the entire school was plunged into darkness, the high schoolers reacted like primary schoolers, throwing books and screaming...


    In the past, Lin ChuSui would have been the rowdiest one, but right now, she saw Xiao Yan quietly turn on his phone''s shlight and flip open his math test paper, patiently working on the problems.


    In the midst of the chaos, he seemed so out of ce. No matter how the world changed, Xiao Yan would remain constant.


    Lin ChuSui felt her heart settle down as well. She turned on her phone''s shlight and earnestly worked on the problems with Xiao Yan.


    Noticing this, Xiao Yan angled his phone light towards her.


    "I can see fine."


    "To protect your eyes."


    Lin ChuSui smiled at him, "Focus on your work, don''t mind me."


    "I said I would wait for you," Xiao Yan insisted.


    "I don''t want you to wait for me, Xiao Yan," Lin ChuSui said resolutely. "I can catch up, no matter how fast you go. Even if you climb Mount Everest, I will definitely...catch up to you."


    The light illuminated her delicate features, but her eyes shone with determination and resolve. It was very powerful.


    Xiao Yan looked at her silently for a long time, then turned off both of their phone lights.


    "Huh?"


    Before Lin ChuSui could react, he suddenly cupped her face and in the darkness, overwhelmed her with an irresistible force as he pressed his lips against hers.


    Lin ChuSui never knew the seemingly stoic boy''s lips could be so soft.


    Like biting into a sweet pudding.


    Her ears turned crimson red, letting him take the lead and "bully" her forcefully.


    She was like a leaf drifting along the ocean currents, dizzy and disoriented...with ears blushing furiously.


    In the darkness, Xiao Yan opened his eyes, unable to see her panicked expression, yet her sensations flooded his entire world.


    So soft, so sweet, so fragrant.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t dare move a muscle, unsure where to ce her hands, identally poking Xu Jia Ning''s desk.


    Xu Jia Ning watched expressionlessly as the intimate couple kissed in front of him.


    "..."


    Did you two really think everyone''s blind just because the lights are out?

 Chapter 52: Casablanca

    <h4>Chapter 52</h4>


    It was thest supplementary ss during winter vacation. The moment the bell rang, the quiet ssroom that had been as silent as a graveyard instantly became lively and noisy.


    Everyone started moving tables and chairs and decorating the ssroom for the party that night.


    This was an activity the ss monitor had fought for. It was a rare diversion during the intense third year of high school, so everyone cherished it dearly and worked together to decorate the ssroom beautifully.


    Xu Jia Ning carried his guitar and went to the balcony. He took a deep breath, prepared himself, and then made a video call.


    It took a long time before Xiao Qian finally answered the video call. On her side, music was ying and there were noisy people. The background seemed to be a fashion show.


    She went to a corner and picked up the video. In a singing tone she asked, "Kid, don''t you have ss?"


    "Supplementary sses are over," Xu Jia Ning said. "Can I video call you like this from now on?"


    "Even if I say no, will you listen?"


    "I will. I''ll change to calling you on the phone, sister." Xu Jia Ning looked at the girl''s exquisite and delicate face on the screen, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up slightly. "I''ll do whatever you ask."


    This was also Xiao Qian''s first time encountering such a clingy suitor. She had rejected aggressive and tacky guys cruelly before. But Xu Jia Ning was so young, and had a youthful impatience and naivety that made it hard for her to say anything to hurt him.


    "You''re wearing so little," she said.


    On the video, Xiao Qian seemed to only be wearing a strapless dress on her upper body, revealing her snow white shoulders and corbones.


    Noticing the boy''s burning gaze, Xiao Qian immediately tilted the camera upwards, only showing her face.


    It was rare for someone to still look good on a close-up video, but Xiao Qian didn''t lose her looks at all. The soft lighting around her lit up her face. Her nose was red from the cold. Her makeup was also quite thick, and her curled eyshes were upturned. Her features were bright and vivid.


    Xu Jia Ning greedily gazed at her, not stinting on words of praise. "Clouds vie for beauty, flowers vie for splendor; the spring breeze caresses the railing, dew glistens on the luxuriant foliage."


    "Are you saying I''m fat?"


    "Of course not."


    "Then why did you use a poem describing Yang Guifei to describe me?"


    "You know about that too?"


    "Xu Jia Ning, just because you''re the top student doesn''t mean others who haven''t been to college don''t deserve literary knowledge too."


    "I didn''t mean it that way."


    "Alright kid, I''m very busy. Don''t bother me randomly again in the future. I''m hanging up."


    "Wait a moment," Xu Jia Ning quickly said, "Do you have heating over there indoors?"


    "Yes."


    "Don''t catch a cold. It''s cold outside. Wear a coat before you go on stage."


    Xiao Qian looked at him. He had a pair of narrow, passionate eyes. With such handsome and romantic features, it was hard to give off a dedicated vibe.


    Yet every word showed a sincerity and simplicity.


    Xiao Qian murmured, "Hanging up."


    "I''ll sing for you in a bit and send you a video," Xu Jia Ning said.


    She didn''t respond and quickly hung up the video.


    Xu Jia Ning put down his phone and heard amotion behind him. He turned around to see Lu Tian Bai hugging a gift box that had overturned, and the small gifts and snacks scattered all over the floor.


    She was hurriedly and nervously picking them up, her hands trembling slightly.


    Xu Jia Ning immediately walked over and squatted down to help pick up the items.


    "Tha...thank you, Jia Ning," Lu Tian Bai stammered.


    "It''s nothing. Do you need any help? I''ve got nothing to do now."


    "You''re tall. Can you help me put up the window stickers?"


    "Sure."


    Lu Tian Bai put down the gift box and took out stickers from it, handing them to Xu Jia Ning.


    Xu Jia Ning peeled off the double-sided tape and stuck the stickers on the window. "Here?"


    Lu Tian Bai seemed to be lost in thought and didn''t respond, as if she had something on her mind.


    He asked again, "Stick them here?"


    "Wherever you think is suitable is fine."


    Xu Jia Ning carefully and conscientiously stuck on the stickers. Lu Tian Bai suddenly said, "You wereughing very happily just now."


    "Hmm?"


    He looked down at the little girl beside him. She had put double-sided tape on the stickers. "Jia Ning, I really...hope you get what you wish for."


    After saying that, she handed the stickers to Xu Jia Ning and smiled sweetly, "The first day I saw you, I felt...you didn''t actually seem very happy. Back then I was wondering, why does this boy who looks like he''s always smiling have so much unhappiness in his eyes?"


    Xu Jia Ning nkly took the stickers from her and didn''t say anything. He couldn''t say anything either, he could only listen silently.


    "Later I heard from Chu Chu, your dad may not have treated you very well, and your mom left you very early, so I understood."


    Lu Tian Bai lowered her head and gently said, "Now you''ve met someone who can make youugh, I''m really happy. Although I also really wanted to be that person but..."


    "Xiao Bai, thanks, I''m sorry."


    "What are you apologizing for? I should be the one thanking you." Lu Tian Bai earnestly said, "Thank you for not rejecting me coldly like you do with other girls. I''m...very thin-skinned. If you treated me like that, I''d definitely have cried to death."


    Xu Jia Ning twisted the stickers in his hand and tore them.


    Lu Tian Bai quickly took the stickers from him and gave him a new one. "Thank you for treating me so gently. I''ll always remember it. I hope you get the girl you''re chasing!"


    "Mm."


    Lu Tian Bai turned and left breezily.


    The moment she turned, her eyes were already brimming red.


    Lu Chi, Zhang Cheng Yu, Lin Chu Sui and the others had been eavesdropping by the door all along. Seeing here over, the boys fled together.


    Lu Tian Bai called for them, "Are you all so free? If you''re so free, go help stick window stickers!"


    "Going, going, going!"


    "Stick stickers! Stick stick stick!"


    Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu went to Xu Jia Ning''s sides, nking him on both sides as they stuck on stickers together.


    Lin Chu Sui walked up to Lu Tian Bai and gave her a big hug.


    Lu Tian Bai rested her chin on the girl''s slender shoulder and said, "Don''tfort me no matter what, if you do I''ll really start crying, how embarrassing would that be."


    "Mm," Lin Chu Sui gently hugged her, "You will...get what you wish for too."


    That night, for the performance, Lu Tian Bai had specially arranged Xiao Yan''s act after the song and dance, to cleanse the pte of the students.


    Mainly because...his act was too unique.


    The emcee stood at the podium and announced in clear, standard Mandarin:


    "Next up, we have Xiao Yan performing!"


    This rare aloof genius who seldom took part in group activities had actually volunteered to perform. The whole ss eagerly looked towards him.


    He calmly walked up to the podium and stood facing the students for a few seconds before saying, "Next, I will demonstrate solving trigonometric functions barehanded in three minutes."


    Everyone: ????


    What did you just say you''re going to do?


    Xiao Yan had already picked up the chalk and written aplicated trigonometric function question on the ckboard. As he wrote, he said, "I want the first prize, and hope everyone will vote for me."


    Everyone: ......


    The ssroom was strangely quiet, with only the "swish swish" sound of chalk quickly meeting the ckboard audible. The atmosphere on site was strangely awkward for a moment.


    Lu Chi whispered to Lin Chu Sui, "He''d have been better off performing writing Linjiang Xian with his left hand and Shijing with his right hand."


    Lin Chu Sui seriously copied Xiao Yan''s workings and said, "I feel Xiao''s performance is very entertaining."


    "How is it entertaining!"


    Lin Chu Sui pursed her lips. "Look at his butt, isn''t it perky?"


    Lu Chi: ......


    As expected, Xiao Yan finished the three methods of solving the trigonometric function in three minutes. He turned back and looked at the dumbstruck students in the ssroom.


    "Thank you."


    The ssroom was strangely quiet for a few seconds before Lin Chu Sui led the apuse. "Great! The genius'' performance is so good to watch!"


    "So good to watch!" Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu also cooperated to stir things up. "I''m so touched I''m about to cry!"


    "First time seeing such a refreshing and natural talent performance!"


    ...


    The students followed and apuded, although still confused.


    Xiao Yan said, "Since everyone likes my performance so much, please vote for me."


    Xu Jia Ning, with a guitar in his arms as a professional stage-wrecker with a hundred years of experience, sneered coldly, "Just a pre-prepared math question, and you want first prize?"


    Xiao Yan looked at Xu Jia Ning, "Second prize. If you''re not convinced, you can challenge me."


    "Eternal Number Two" Xu Jia Ning couldn''t stand being called "second ce." He stood up and said, "Come on, I''lle up with a question on the spot, and you have to solve it within three minutes. Then I''ll vote for you first."


    "Okay."


    Xu Jia Ning''s challenge instantly lifted the gloom in the ssroom.


    They looked at Xu Jia Ning expectantly as he walked up to the podium and picked up a piece of chalk. He swiftly wrote down a trigonometry problem, but...


    It was in English!


    The entire question, including the coordinate system, was presented in English!


    After finishing writing, Xu Jia Ning arrogantly threw down the chalk: "Schr, go ahead."


    Xiao Yan looked at him. His eyes were full of provocation.


    "The first prize is mine. Just like as long as I''m around, you''ll always be second ce."


    After speaking, Xiao Yan picked up the chalk and rapidly started writing the solution on the board.


    What amazed the rest of the ss was that Xiao Yan''s solution was also entirely in English. He easily solved the problem in less than three minutes.


    Of course, most of the students couldn''t understand what he had written. But from the sullen look on Xu Jia Ning''s face, they knew Xiao Yan''s answer waspletely correct.


    "Damn, awesome!"


    "You''ll always be the schr!"


    "For the first prize, the schr really went all out!"


    Even Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu, who had been heckling earlier, now prostrated themselves before Xiao Yan in admiration.


    Xiao Yan put down the chalk. The whole ss burst into thunderous apuse.


    Lin Chu Sui looked at him with utmost admiration, her eyes...seeming ready to pounce and devour him at any moment.


    Xiao Yan said, "Please vote for me, I want the first prize."


    "Vote, vote!"


    Out of 59 students in the ss, 58 raised their hands to vote.


    The remaining Xu Jia Ning gritted his teeth reluctantly but could only raise his hand too, making it unanimous.


    Lu Tian Bai took out a tube of Baby''s Breath hand cream from the box and handed it to Xiao Yan: "Congrats, schr!"


    "Thank you."


    Xiao Yan took the hand cream and sat back down in his seat.


    "Are you even human?" Lin Chu Sui grabbed his sleeve excitedly, "Why are you so awesome? You''re too amazing! Are you going to be the king of the world in the future?"


    "I don''t want to be king of the world." Xiao Yan quickly unwrapped the hand cream, twisted open the cap, then grabbed her hand, swollen like a pig''s trotter from chilins, "I just want to be your dad."


    Lin Chu Sui stared at him. His eyes were lowered, with a tranquil gleam in the dark depths.


    The smooth hand cream gently applied over her hands, fingers, and palms, carrying his warmth and the ineffable tenderness in his rough palms.


    That empty space in her heart was gradually being filled...


    80% full.


    Inspired by Xiao Yan''s "trigonometry solving" performance, a bunch of students driven mad by studying eagerly signed up to demonstrate their own "skills."


    Some wanted to show off breath holding, some book tearing, and some brought tools to disassemble the ssroomputers barehanded...


    The ssroom descended into chaos.


    The ss teacher Old Qin, having receivedints, angrily approached the ssroom and scolded, "I''m taking huge risks agreeing to let you idiots hold this damn party. Show some proper performances! Any more nonsense and the party ends immediately!"


    The morons instantly calmed down and obediently returned to their seats. Eager for a rare night of revelry, they certainly didn''t want it cut short prematurely.


    And so Xu Jia Ning took the stage with his guitar.


    With a guitar in his arms, Xu Jia Ning fully embodied an artistic vibe. He asked Lu Chi to turn off the lights, then told everyone to use their phone shlights.


    The girls enthusiasticallyplied, instantly lighting up their phone shes pointed at him.


    He found the most handsome angle for himself, set up a stand, and started recording himself.


    His hands were slender and beautiful as they strummed the strings, ying out melodious, touching tunes¡ª


    "ifellinlovewithyouwatchingcasanca,backrowofthedriven-inshowintheflickeringlight."


    The Casanca melody, interpreted through his gentle, delicate voice, took on a different quiet, lonely vor.


    The girls in ss gazed at Xu Jia Ning, enraptured.


    At this moment, the strumming and crooning boy used his great charm to transport everyone to another world.


    That world had a light night breeze, streetlights dimly glowing, a woman in an evening gown walking alone...


    Hepletely ignored the girls'' enraptured looks, only gazing into the phone camera, asionally smiling gently, focusing all his tenderness into the lens.


    Lu Tian Bai looked away, threw down her pen, bent to pick it up, and wiped her eyes with her sleeve.


    In the dim crowd, Lin Chu Sui grabbed and firmly squeezed Lu Tian Bai''s hand.

 Chapter 53: The Evening Breeze

    <h4>Chapter 53</h4>


    Xiao Qian finished her evening runway show. It was already 10 p.m. She took out her phone from the storage room in the changing room.


    Two hours ago, Xu Jia Ning had sent her a video that she was about to open when Sister Tao called out to her from behind, "Xiao Qian,e over here. President Deng wants to see you."


    "Oh, Sister Tao, wait a second. Let me put on a coat."


    "No need. President Deng is waiting for you outside. Don''t keep him waiting." Sister Tao said and pulled Xiao Qian by the hand outside without waiting for her response.


    Xiao Qian put down her phone and asked, "Which President Deng?"


    "The CEO of Feng Chuan Entertainment, the big boss of this event."


    "Why does he want to see me?"


    "He must appreciate your runway walk. If he has taken a liking to you and brings you into Feng Chuan Entertainment, you''ll make it big!"


    Hearing this, Xiao Qian was naturally very tempted: "Then let me...touch up my makeup."


    "No need. You look good as is."


    Sister Tao led Xiao Qian through the winding corridors to a reception room.


    President Deng was a man in his forties. Like all middle-aged men, he had a round head, was bald, and wore a suit and shirt tucked into his belt, revealing a very conspicuous beer belly.


    Sister Tao kept signaling Xiao Qian with her eyes. Xiao Qian stepped forward and politely greeted President Deng.


    President Deng had a smile on his face, his round eyes ogling her up and down: "You are Xiao Qian, right? You have great potential. I see it in you."


    Xiao Qian had entered society early, and could tell at a nce the ill intentions in President Deng''s gaze.


    "Thank you, sir." She bowed politely and took two steps back.


    Of course, President Deng also sensed her resistance. He hurriedly took out a card he had prepared and handed it to her, "Little Xiao Qian, this is a bonus for you. You did great tonight."


    Xiao Qian''s gaze lingered on the card for two seconds.


    "This is...a bonus?"


    "Yes, your performance tonight was really great."


    Xiao Qian did not ept the money. She smiled, "Thank you for appreciating me, President Deng. But I only take what I deserve, the same as others."


    Hearing the rejection in her words, President Deng''s expression turned cold.


    Sister Tao hurriedly came over, pulled Xiao Qian''s hand, and whispered, "Just take it if he''s giving it to you. Your family needs money, right? Besides, President Deng appreciates you. If you can get into hispany, you''ll have connections. Don''t look a gift horse in the mouth. Those other girls are lining up for a chance to get in, but don''t have the opportunity!"


    "Since they are still lining up, I won''t take up President Deng''s time to keep looking."


    After saying this, Xiao Qian strode away, ignoring Sister Tao''s obstruction.


    Of course, President Deng was not one to be trifled with either. He picked up the card and flung it at her, "If you don''t ept a toast, you''ll be punished with wine. Who do you think you are, pretending to be all high and mighty? In this profession, how far do you think you can stay clean?"


    The card was light, and didn''t hurt, but it pierced her heart.


    Xiao Qian''s hands clenched tightly into fists, her nails digging into her skin, the crescent moons turning white.


    She didn''t look back.


    ...


    Sure enough, if you don''t ept the toast, you get punished with wine.


    Because she had offended President Deng, she didn''t get a single cent of her wages for the night. She had worked for nothing.


    The quiet streets had the asional passing vehicle. The blisters on the soles of her feet from the high heels made every step excruciatingly painful.


    Xiao Qian sat down on a bench by the roadside, took off her high heels, and massaged her fair feet.


    Along with the grievance, she also felt some regret.


    Perhaps there was a smarter way to reject President Deng - saying a few more ttering words, fawning over him a little, so as not to anger him and lose a night''s hard-earned wages for no reason.


    And end up in such a sorry state.


    Because she didn''t get her wages, she didn''t even dare spend money to take a taxi home...


    She really couldn''t take another step. She wondered if she should ask her younger brother toe pick her up on his bike.


    But on second thought, no. He was in hisst year of high school. She didn''t want him to worry and be distracted.


    Xiao Qian took out her phone to check the time. Xu Jia Ning''s WeChat message was still on the screen.


    Her fingertips paused for a moment before she tapped open the message to see the video he had sent.


    In the video, the youth sitting in dim lighting, strummed a guitar and sang a quiet song -


    "Fell in love with you watching Casanca,


    Back row of the drive-in show in the flickering light,


    Popcorn and cokes beneath the stars..."


    On this starry night, Xiao Qian slowly looked up at the starry sky, listening to his gentle, husky voice, when suddenly her nose soured.


    A young girl would be attracted to his romance and unmatched charm, but it would not be easy to move her heart...


    Perhaps it was the wind tonight, too piercingly cold, tearing at her heart again and again, and she could barely hold it together.


    Finally, Xiao Qian picked up her phone and called him.


    It was a rare moment of recklessness in her cautious life so far.


    Twenty minutester, Xu Jia Ning rode up hurriedly on Lin Chu Sui''s light blue women''s bicycle.


    The woman he had been longing to see was now sitting curled up on a street bench, hugging her knees and looking at him.


    There were still traces of tears with smudged eye makeup on her flushed cheeks.


    Seeing this, Xu Jia Ning''s heart clenched. He strode over and draped his coat over her shoulders.


    "Sister..."


    He reached out and brushed back her damp bangs, tucking them behind her ear.


    Xiao Qian didn''t look at him. The corners of her mouth turned up in a mocking smile, "A man offered me 30,000 to sleep with him."


    Xu Jia Ning''s hand stopped abruptly. His mind went nk instantly and he was somewhat at a loss.


    Xiao Qian looked at the tense expression on the youth''s face, "It really is a long wait until you grow up."


    "I know."


    Because he knew, hecked confidence.


    He lowered his gaze and saw the water blisters on Xiao Qian''s feet. He wanted to reach out and touch them.


    Xiao Qian drew back, not letting him make contact.


    Xu Jia Ning looked at her feet with heartache but didn''t force it. He said, "I''ll carry you home."


    Xiao Qian looked at the bicycle beside them, "You can give me a ride."


    "You''ve been on your feet all night. I''ll carry you on my back so you can be morefortable."


    Xu Jia Ning locked the bicycle to a tree below, then crouched in front of Xiao Qian and patted his shoulder, "Sister,e on up. I''ll carry you."


    Looking at the already mature and sturdy arms of the youth, Xiao Qian hesitated for a moment before finally climbing on his back.


    Perhaps because she had endured hardship since childhood, she was very thin and light. When Xu Jia Ning stood up, he felt like he was carrying a backpack.


    "Sister is too skinny."


    "It''s required for this job."


    "Tell me what foods you like. I''ll learn how to make them and cook for you."


    Xiao Qian didn''t respond. She rested her face on the nape of his neck. Through the thin fabric of his clothes, she could feel his warm body temperature and the faint scent of sandalwood.


    In that moment, the inexplicable feeling of home in his scent caused her rationality to go offline for a few seconds. Then she said something that she would surely regret a few secondster -


    "Xu Jia Ning, I have never won since the day I was born. And I have nothing left to lose."


    "Let me gamble on you this onest time. Marry me after you graduate. Don''t deceive me."


    "Did we even get winter break?"


    "Did we really get winter break?"


    On the first day back at school, Lin Chu Suiy limply on the desk, chanting as if reciting scripture, "Five days of winter break, even the five-day May Day holiday has more dignity."


    Not just her, the entire morning self-study ssroom was filled withining.


    "Nothing is more unjust than a five-day winter break!"


    "Objection! Formal objection!"


    ...


    Lin Chu Sui looked towards Xiao Xian. He sat silently in his seat, wholeheartedly writing something.


    The youth''s short hair was neat and trim, his brow bones prominent. His sleeves were rolled up a few inches, revealing slender, pale forearms.


    Lin Chu Sui wandered over with nothing to do and asked, "What are you doing?"


    "Practicing writing."


    "As expected of the academically-aplished. Able to get into study mode anytime, anywhere."


    Before her voice faded, she saw that the title of his essay was¡ª


    "Letter of Protest"


    "This is..."


    Xiao Qianzily swept his gaze over her face and said tly: "The noise in the shop always increases exponentially during the winter vacation, but because of the brevity of the holidays, it leads to a straight drop in turnover. When riches block the way like killing one''s parents, I am quite furious internally."


    "So will you submit this protest letter?"


    "I won''t."


    "What''s the use then?"


    "To practice my handwriting and maintain inner peace."


    Lin ChuSui pinched his cheek andughed: "Our family''s academic star looks so adorable when he''s seriously angry!"


    Just then, Xu Jia Ning emerged from somewhere, snatched the protest letter from Xiao Qian''s hand, and said with augh: "Since the schr has written it already, I will definitely help convey the voice of the people upwards for you to hear."


    Recently Xu Jia Ning has been swaggering around quite smugly.


    Lin ChuSui pped the table and stood up: "Xu Jia Ning, give it back!"


    "I won''t give it back."


    It was precisely at this moment that their homeroom teacher, Mr. Qin, walked into the ssroom: "What''s with the mor? It''s only the first day of school. You haven''t gotten your hearts back yet, have you! You''re not elementary schoolers anymore, but senior high students who are about to take the college entrance exam. Focus on your studies!"


    Xu Jia Ning immediately handed the protest letter to Mr. Qin: "Mr. Qin, this is a letter Xiao Qian wrote to you, representing the voice of the masses. Of course, except for me."


    Mr. Qin dissatisfiedly epted the protest letter and started reading it.


    Lin ChuSui looked at Xu Jia Ning resentfully, her eyes wishing she could swallow him whole: "Meddlesome fool."


    Mr. Qin nced over the protest letter and angrily said to Xu Jia Ning: "Xu Jia Ning, what is the meaning of writing something like this? If you don''t want to start school you can stay home. "


    "No, Mr. Qin, Xiao Qian wrote this."


    "I see you''re not stupid, you''re just bad." Mr. Qin held up the protest letter in front of his face: "You think I can''t recognize your handwriting? You''re trying to frame Xiao Qian? If you had put this effort into your studies, you wouldn''t be forever chasing behind Xiao Qian!"


    Xu Jia Ning looked closely at the content of the protest letter. The handwriting was identical to his own flowing script, and the signature at the end was even written in English as "Carl" - Xu Jia Ning''s English name.


    Xu Jia Ning red angrily at Xiao Qian, who shrugged with palms outstretched:


    "Your handwriting is pretty good, so I practiced with it."

 Chapter 54: The Rainy Season

    <h4>Chapter 54</h4>


    On the podium, Teacher Qin sincerely said to the students, "There are less than 100 days left. I hope everyone will not be impatient, grit your teeth and persevere. Learn from the excellent students around you. Xiao Yan, stand up and say some encouraging words to everyone."


    Xiao Yan, who was suddenly cued, put down his pen and stood up.


    Lin ChuSui apuded vigorously, and the whole ss looked towards him.


    He pondered for a moment, then spoke sonorously, "The long wind will be broken by the waves eventually, only by hoisting the sails can we cross the sea."


    The whole ss was quiet for a few seconds. Seeing that he didn''t continue, Teacher Qin asked, "That''s it?"


    Xiao Yan sat down, "Mm."


    As expected, the school''s top student was as concise as always.


    "Alright, alright. In short, you reap what you sow. I believe as long as you work hard together, you will surely obtain the future you want! Let''s continue self-study now."


    In the exams early in the semester, Lin ChuSui''s grades improved again and again. Needless to say, she got high marks in Chinese and English thanks to her freakish memory.


    She was slightly weaker in science, but with Xiao Yan''s patient guidance, even a dumb student could be turned into a star pupil.


    During evening self-study that day, Lin ChuSui received a call from Fang You Yi. Without thinking twice, she immediately declined the call.


    But Fang You Yi called again relentlessly, so she had no choice but to answer. Annoyed, sheined, "Ms. Fang, I''m in ss! What is so urgent that can''t wait until I get home?"


    Fang You Yi sounded very anxious, "ChuSui, grandpa suddenly had a cerebral hemorrhage and is hospitalized. Come to the People''s Hospital now, you may be able to see him for thest time."


    Lin ChuSui''s mind buzzed, and her eyes reddened instantly.


    In the past two years, her grandparents had been quite healthy, always traveling to alleviate their grief over the loss of their son.


    Her grandma was still in good shape, but her grandpa had high blood pressure before, which acted up two years ago after that disastrous news. His blood pressure had been unstable ever since.


    Lin ChuSui was their only granddaughter, and the closest family they had left in this world.


    She wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, and ran out without even packing up, crying.


    Seeing this, Xiao Yan immediately chased after her and asked, "What happened?"


    "Help... help me ask the teacher for leave." Lin ChuSui said as she rushed downstairs, "My grandpa... he may be dying."


    Hearing this, Xiao Yan clearly felt a stab of pain in his heart. He knew it was Lin Xiuzhe''s emotions surging strongly inside him... Of course, that was his father too.


    Leaving behind bereaved elderly parents before passing away was the greatest unfilial act. Although Lin Xiuzhe didn''t say a word, his heart was full of grief.


    Without any hesitation, Xiao Yan grasped her hand, "I''ll go with you."


    "You... you''reing with me?"


    "Mm."


    "But..."


    Lin ChuSui knew it was very inappropriate. Her mother and Xu Songbai would definitely both be at the hospital. She didn''t understand why Xiao Yan insisted on going, but there was no time to think about it now. Her grandpa''s condition was the most urgent matter!


    She called Teacher Qin to exin the situation. Without any hesitation, he approved her leave and called the school gate security to let them through swiftly.


    Outside the ICU on the 4th floor of Renmin Hospital, Fang You Yi and Xu Songbai were there as expected, along with Xu Jia Ning.


    Sitting on a bench was Lin ChuSui''s gray-haired grandma, leaning on a cane. She was very worried.


    "How is grandpa''s condition?"


    Seeing Lin ChuSui arrive, the old woman quickly got up despite her hunched back to greet her.


    "Grandma, please sit down." Lin ChuSui hurriedly helped her sit down. Her wrinkled hands gripped Lin ChuSui''s tightly.


    "Grandpa is still in emergency treatment. Don''t cry, dear."


    She wiped away the tears from Lin ChuSui''s eyes and looked at her heartbrokenly, "He always med himself for being too harsh on Xiuzhe in the past, always arguing and scolding him. So he wants to see him earlier, to apany him."


    Hearing her grandma say this, Lin ChuSui cried even harder, sobbing uncontrobly.


    "Mom, what are you talking about, Dad will be fine." Fang You Yi tried tofort her, "Don''t scare yourself."


    "I know it in my heart, this day woulde sooner orter."


    Just then, grandma looked up and saw the tall, thin boy standing at the end of the hallway.


    The light shone on him, making his pale skin even whiter. His dark eyes gazed at the old woman.


    "You are..."


    Lin ChuSui quickly exined, "Grandma, he''s my...uh, ssmate."


    Calling him a ssmate didn''t seem able to exin why Xiao Yan was here too. With grandma here, Lin ChuSui wasn''t afraid of causing trouble, so she whispered, "My ssmate...and boyfriend."


    "I see. Good, good,e here. Your grandpa loves lively crowds, he doesn''t want to be cold and lonely." Grandma beckoned Xiao Yan, "Come,e sit by me."


    Xiao Yan obediently walked over and sat down beside grandma. She gently patted the back of his hand.


    Xu Songbai hated nothing more than his children dating early. He didn''t expect that not only was Lin ChuSui dating early, she even brazenly brought her boyfriend along.


    His expression was a little ugly as he sternly said to Lin ChuSui, "Do you think this is appropriate?"


    Before Lin ChuSui could reply, grandma immediately said, "Mr. Xu, your duty now is to take good care of You Yi and the child in her belly. As for ChuSui, please don''t interfere excessively in her affairs. Losing her father doesn''t mean there is no one left in this world to care for her. It is certainly not your ce to meddle."


    Her powerful words immediately choked back Xu Songbai''s impending rebuke.


    Although advanced in years, grandma was formidable. One look and you knew she was not an easy elderlydy to deal with.


    The Lin family was a family of merit and generations of heroes. They settled overseas early on, running businesses, and only moved back in the 90s. Having grown up abroad, Lin Xiuzhe was also imbued with the heroic spirit of his ancestors. He was eager to serve his country.


    But due to various reasons, he failed to join the military. He became a firefighter instead, which also fulfilled his patriotic dreams of youth.


    "I''ve heard of your ruthless ways in business, leaving no survivors. Even with your own children, you are like this." Grandma looked coldly at Xu Songbai, "Including how you treat your juniors."


    "It''s true I''m harsh on the children, but it''s for their own good." Xu Songbai calmly replied, "Lin ChuSui was indeed spoiled rotten before, acting recklessly. If this continues, her future will be ruined."


    Grandma didn''t get angry. She calmly said, "So in your opinion, what is a good child, and what is a good future for them?"


    "Listen to their parents, fulfill their parents'' expectations, and attain high social status and wealth."


    "How high a status and how much wealth would satisfy you?"


    "At least surpassing the previous generation."


    Grandma''s wrinkled but exceptionally soft hand fell on Lin ChuSui''s. "Our children may not achieve the heroic merits of the previous generation on the battlefield, shedding blood. But I only hope she can live this life well."


    She looked at Xu Songbai, "Perhaps this is where you and Xiuzhe differ."


    What Xu Songbai hated most was beingpared to Lin Xiuzhe, because he knew he couldn''t measure up, not even close.


    So he would intentionally try to negate Lin Xiuzhe''s educational philosophy.


    At this moment, being bluntly seen through by the old woman, he lost face but had no rebuttal.


    Just then, the doctor walked out of the ER.


    The family quickly gathered around to ask about his condition.


    "The old man is awake now, but still not out of danger. He needs to be hospitalized for observation."


    The family breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Family can go see him," the doctor said, "But not too many people, don''t disturb his rest."


    Lin ChuSui went into the ward without hesitation, apanied by grandma. Xiao Yan could only look in through the ss window.


    The old man had regained consciousness, though still a little disoriented.


    "Grandpa, how do you feel?" Lin ChuSui asked worriedly, "Anywhere else feeling ufortable?"


    The old man couldn''t speak. He looked at Lin ChuSui, then held her hand and squeezed it lightly, signaling her not to worry.


    "I thought I wouldn''t get to see you again, wu."


    Lin ChuSui was about to cry again, wiping the tears from her eyes, when suddenly, his emotions became agitated. His wrinkled hands trembled as he pointed towards the window.


    Everyone followed the direction of his hand and saw the silently standing youth by the window - Xiao Yan.


    The old man pointed at him, as if he wanted to say something very much.


    "Grandpa, do you...want him toe in?"


    The old man stared fixedly at Xiao Yan, struggling to utter some sybles from his mouth.


    Fang You Yi immediately opened the door to let Xiao Yan into the room.


    Xiao Yan walked in and politely greeted, "Hello Grandpa, I am Lin ChuSui''s..."


    Before he could finish, he saw the old man pointing at him and finally shouted out, "Ze...A Ze...Dad is...A Ze, Dad is here..."


    Xiao Yan couldn''t help but walk forward. The old man''s shriveled hands, like an eagle''s ws, suddenly grabbed his shirt hem with such strength that was hard to believe this was a dying old man -


    "Don''t go, don''t go...A Ze..."


    Xiao Yan didn''t know if people on the verge of death could see their loved ones'' souls, but this old father obviously saw another soul in him.


    Xiao Yan looked at Lin ChuSui.


    The girl''s eyes were as if dyed by ink, purely dark, with tears clinging to her dense eyshes.


    "Don''t go, A Ze, you still have to take care of your daughter and watch her grow up..."


    The old man clutched Xiao Yan''s shirt tightly, and even when Fang You Yi came over to gently persuade him to let go, he didn''t. It was as if he had to wait for an answer from Xiao Yan.


    Or perhaps, an answer from Lin Xiu Ze.


    Xiao Yan gazed deeply into Lin ChuSui''s eyes, countless emotions shing through.


    Finally, he retracted his eyes and said in a deep voice, "I promise you."


    I promise you I won''t let him go.


    The old man was reassured to have his promise and slowly fell asleep.


    Everyone looked at each other, thinking the old man was confused and hallucinating, which made him mistake Xiao Yan for Lin Xiu Ze.


    From beginning to end, only Xu Jia Ning, an outsider, stood calmly by the window watching Xiao Yan''s back.


    As if he understood something.


    ...


    That night, Lin ChuSui insisted on staying in the hospital to keep watch. Fang You Yi insisted not allowing it, saying Grandpa had her to take care of him, and told Lin ChuSui to go home with her brother to study.


    At 10 pm, Xu Jia Ning took Lin ChuSui out of the hospital.


    Unexpectedly, Xiao Yan, who had left early, was still there waiting downstairs at the hospital.


    Under the streetmp, he was tall and slender, the light falling on his shoulders and shrouding his handsome face in shadows.


    He exuded a touch of spring chill and loneliness.


    Lin ChuSui jogged over to his side, surprised and asked, "I thought you went home already."


    "I didn''t leave," said Xiao Yan, bloodshot eyes and slightly hoarse voice.


    "Grandpa is fine now." Thinking he was worried, Lin ChuSui quickly exined, "He was just a little confused and mistook you for my dad."


    Xu Jia Ning walked over to Xiao Yan and gazed deeply into his eyes, "Teacher Xiao, do you have something to say?"


    Xiao Yan ignored Xu Jia Ning. He just stood in silence for a long time, seeming hesitant and struggling...


    "I...have nothing to say, just want a hug," he finally said. Then, without waiting for Lin ChuSui''s reaction, he walked over and wrapped the little girl in his embrace with his entire body.


    A very powerful hug.


    Lin ChuSui''s vision went ck. All she could smell was his clean scent, invading her entire world.


    Xiao Yan had already lifted her tiptoes with his hug. She stretched to meet his tall figure, "Oh my...I just realized Teacher Xiao is so clingy."


    He buried his face in her neck, deeply breathing in her sweet scent as he held the soft, fragrant girl in his arms.


    In his childhood when he desperately needed intimacy and cuddling, Xiao Yan had never experienced a single moment of warmth and reliance. And all those desires found their greatest fulfillment in this kind, lovely girl before him.


    Like an insatiable child, he hugged her tightly and rubbed against her.


    Lin ChuSui patted his headfortingly. His short prickly hair felt very nice.


    "A Yan, what''s wrong with you?" She also noticed his abnormal mood, "Are you upset about something?"


    "Can''t bear to part."


    Xiao Yan suddenly became like a child, stubbornly clinging to his most cherished toy, unwilling to let go, even though perhaps the toy did not originally belong to him.


    After a long time, he released her and smoothed her messy hair, smiling lightly, "It''s nothing. I just suddenly thought summer hasn''t arrived yet, and the acacia flowers have not bloomed. I feel a little sentimental for some reason."


    "Good heavens," Lin ChuSui looked at Xiao Yan incredulously, "Teacher Xiao, have you been reading some youthful painful literaturetely?"


    Xiao Yanughed.


    "Don''t feel bad about parting. Look, it''s spring already," Lin ChuSui pointed to the tender green buds, "Summer will be here soon."


    "Yes, summer is almost here."


    Summer is almost here, but...I haven''t taken a photo of you under the acacia flower wall in full bloom.


    Those days, because Grandpa''s condition fluctuated, sometimes even unable to recognize those around him, Lin ChuSui simply took two weeks off from the ss advisor to apany Grandpa at the hospital.


    Although Teacher Qin strongly disapproved of Lin ChuSui taking time off, insisting that high school students should always prioritize studying no matter what happens,


    Lin ChuSui stubbornly insisted on staying at the hospital. She was worried she wouldn''t have the chance to apany Grandpa through thisst stretch.


    Nothing was more important than family.


    After two weeks, Grandpa''s condition stabilized and he was discharged from the hospital to recuperate at akeside nursing home. Lin ChuSui returned to school.


    However, when she came to the ssroom, she found the seat next to her empty.


    "Lu Chi, have you seen my deskmate?" Lin ChuSui put her bag on the desk, "Where''s Xiao Yan?"


    "Oh..." Lu Chi scratched his head, his eyes clearly evasive, "Maybe...he hasn''te yet."


    "The pile of books on his desk is gone too?"


    The schoolwork pressure on high schoolers was immense. They wouldn''t carry the books back every day but leave them in the drawers.


    "Maybe he wanted to exercise so...carried them all back..." Lu Chi was so stressed he became incoherent.


    Lin ChuSui hurried out of the ssroom, asking everyone she met, "Have you seen my deskmate?"


    "Who knows where my deskmate is?"


    Everyone nced at each other, not knowing what to say.


    Lin ChuSui went straight to the office. Teacher Qin had just lit a cigarette but quickly put it out when he saw Lin ChuSuie in, "Oh, Student Lin ChuSui, is your grandpa better?"


    "Much better. Teacher Qin, have you seen my deskmate?"


    "You mean Xiao Yan? He transferred," said Teacher Qin.


    "Trans...transferred?" Lin ChuSui froze.


    "Yes, to No. 11 High School. Their principal came personally to get him." Teacher Qin said regretfully, "That kid, ranking first in the province on several joint exams. Many people had their eyes on him."


    These days Teacher Qin was also extremely upset. He never expected that after poaching students his whole life, there woulde a day when someone poached from him.


    "You were deskmates. Didn''t he tell you about this?"


    "No..."


    It was as if a hole had been hollowed out in Lin ChuSui''s heart, wind whistling through. She was at aplete loss.


    What she feared most was sudden departure. Just like her dad back then, and now Xiao Yan...also left without a word.


    Why did the people she cared about most disappear from her life one by one, as if she was unimportant?


    That feeling of being abandoned on the spot really hurt.


    Shey limply on the desk all day like a droopy cabbage.


    Lu Chi threw her several paper balls which she ignored until the end of school when she grabbed her bag and walked straight out...


    ...


    No. 11 High School was the best school in South City, even better than Lin ChuSui''s No. 1 High.


    She had always known Xiao Yan was capable and ambitious.


    His transferring to No. 11 must also be because No. 11 could provide better educational resources.


    That must be it.


    Lin ChuSui stood across the street, watching students in white uniforms streaming out the school gate.


    The noisy shouts of nearby peddlers, traffic sounds, and chatteringughter of the students seemed like distant background noise to her.


    She stood alone in a world that now only had herself left, feeling a bit lost.


    In fact, Xiao Yan had hardly contacted her these past two weeks. She had a premonition that something might be wrong, but didn''t think too much of it, just consoling herself that she was too busy with schoolwork.


    And now looking back, the muffled "Goodbye" after their embrace that night also seemed to foreshadow something.


    She stood by a traffic light pole on the sidewalk, waiting for a very, very long time, with facesing and going in front of her.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t dare move an inch, like a fool standing dumbly in front of the traffic light, not walking even when it turned green, waiting for the next red light.


    It was as if only this small corner of the world was a safe haven.


    The flow of students going in and out of the school gate gradually diminished, and perhaps she had already missed the boy she was looking for in the bustling crowd, just like their encounter in the chaotic and lengthy life, which was a stunning ident to begin with.


    Night fell gradually, and a gust of wind blew by. The sky was gloomy as if it was going to rain.


    Someone''s handnded on her shoulder.


    She looked back in a daze. The boy was wearing an unfamiliar white school uniform, backpack slung over one shoulder. His gaze swept over her indifferently, the dark eyespletely strange.


    Lin ChuSui''s breath hitched. She gripped her backpack strap tightly, and said casually, "Top student, you transferred schools?"


    "Yeah."


    "Tell me honestly, how much schrship did they give you to poach you from Teacher Qin?"


    "Not much."


    Her casual, joking tone sounded awkward and inappropriate under his cold manner at the moment.


    "Did you look for me for something?"


    "I...I took two weeks off, and caught up with all the homework." Lin ChuSui took out her workbook from her backpack, looking at him with thest glimmer of hope: "Xiao Yan, check it for me."


    However, Xiao Yan did not reach to take the workbook.


    The book remained awkwardly suspended between the two. After a long while, Lin ChuSui retracted her hand, and the anxious, ingratiating expression on her face gradually faded away as well.


    "You have no chivalry." The girl''s mouth curved into a cold smile, her eyes stubborn: "At least say goodbye after hugging and kissing. That''s the decent thing to do."


    "That was me."


    Lin ChuSui did not understand: "What?"


    He took a deep breath, and finally revealed the secret he had buried deep in his heart, not daring to see the light of day: "The person your father saved that year was me."


    Upon saying this, the wind howled and Lin ChuSui felt her ears and brain flooded with the roaring wind...


    Since the fire ident that year involved another major case, many details were not announced. Her father''s family was also not informed of the identity of the child he rescued from the fire.


    "My dad...because of you, because of you..."


    Xiao Yan saw the progress bar at the bottom right corner drop from 90% to 85%.


    He said expressionlessly: "In a way, I killed him."


    80%


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes turned red. She bit her lip tightly, staring intently at him. Her voice was a little hoarse: "You got close to me because you felt guilty?"


    "A selfish person like me has nothing to feel guilty about." Xiao Yanughed breezily: "It was his duty to save me."


    70%


    Xiao Yan''s fingertips touched the girl''s chin, cold and rough.


    He gently lifted her face. His pitch-ck eyes reflected the girl''s tear-stained face: "I don''t have a father, and you lost your father too. So I suddenly wanted to see what your life was like."


    "You saw..."


    "Yes, I saw, I empathized."


    He lifted her face and lightly kissed her lips. The corners of his mouth curled into a dazzling smile: "I get all the courage to live on by feeding on others'' pain."


    The boy was so gentle, yet so cold.


    "Project your longing for your father onto another man." He mocked coldly, letting her go: "Your life is even more boring than mine."


    The next second, Lin ChuSui clenched her fist and punched him in the face.


    60%


    Xiao Yan staggered from the force of her fist, swaying to the side. Blood immediately oozed from the corner of his mouth.


    He licked the blood. Half of his face was numb.


    Vicious.


    The girl''s face was red, ring at him furiously. Rage and grief made her chest heave irregrly, intense emotions surging from her eyes, barely able to restrain herself.


    She went up and grabbed his cor, wanting to hit him again. Xiao Yan did not fight back, letting her "bully" him.


    Looking at his handsome, beautiful face, the face that had appeared in her dreams countless times, that she had liked so, so much...


    Now it had be so hateful...


    "Can''t do it, can you." Xiao Yan lowered his eyes, looking at the girl whose fist was clenched tightly yet forcibly holding back: "You still like me, don''t you?"


    Lin ChuSui forcefully pushed him away, shaking her head and retreating two steps. She looked at him resentfully: "You will pay the price!"


    "Do you know what price means?" Xiao Yan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his sleeve: "People like you, if you fall, you probably will never...get back up."


    50%


    Xiao Yan picked up his schoolbag from the ground and left.


    ...


    Everyone thought Lin ChuSui would be depressed for a while at least, and worried for her college entrance exam preparations.


    Unexpectedly, Lin ChuSui quickly got into gear. She ate, yed and studied every day like normal. Her grades on the final monthly exams were better each time.


    The seat next to her remained empty, as no new student hade to upy it.


    Lin ChuSui did not mention anything about Xiao Yan, as if he had never existed in her life.


    He was just like an ident in her life, forever frozen in that rainy summer day.


    The famous girls'' chat group of South City No. 1 Middle School had not been lively for a long time either, but it was not disbanded or had anyone kicked out.


    asionally, Lu Chi and Zhang Cheng Yu would chat randomly there, but Xiao Yan never chimed in.


    Sometimes when she woke up at midnight half-asleep, Xiao Yan''s and Old Lin''s figures would merge together in her mind.


    They were both very important presences in her life, and they had both left her.


    The rainy season in June. The college entrance exam arrived as scheduled.


    She had imagined countless times how magnificent this battle would be, hacking through thorns and bathing in wind and rain...


    But sitting in the exam hall, Lin ChuSui''s heart was calm.


    She looked up and saw the boy in front with his back facing her. His tall figure in the white shirt resembled the boy in her dreams.


    Throughout the exams, Lin ChuSui remained very calm. Every word she wrote, every mathematical solution, every line of ancient poetry...they all seemed familiar, all rted to that person in the long years.


    "People like you, if you fall, you probably will never...get back up."


    Hisst words to her echoed in her mind again.


    That''s right. Dad is no longer around. No one can protect you in this world. Only you can protect yourself.


    Lin ChuSui wrote firmly, carefully finishing thest character on the exam paper.


    The moment she walked out of the exam hall, the early summer wind carried the lingering warmth of the setting sun, blowing in her face.


    Lin ChuSui looked at the crystal clear sky. The future she had longed for countless times was now within reach.


    During that summer vacation, Mom gave birth to a cute little brother. The little brother had a soft, cute face that Lin ChuSui really liked. She often poked his chubby little face with her finger.


    Xu SongBai rxed his governance over Lin ChuSui and Xu JiaNing quite a bit because of the child, and regarding their choice of university and future major, he finally conceded under Mrs. Fang YouYi''s insistence to let them study what they were interested in.


    He had thought Xu JiaNing would choose a music-rted major, but unexpectedly, he applied for business and management as Xu SongBai wished.


    Lin ChuSui had already passed relevant physical tests before the college entrance exam, and was admitted to the best police academy in the country with outstanding exam results. Due to her photographic memory, she entered the core criminal investigation major.


    Shortly after receiving the admission notice, the circle of friends Old Lin had exchanged QQ candies for were all about to go their separate ways for their future prospects.


    On the eve of departure, everyone sang karaoke. Lin ChuSui did not expect to see Qin Nai at the entrance of the KTV.


    Today Qin Nai was dressed properly, in a light round-neck T-shirt, ck pants and sneakers. Without his usual mboyance and arrogance, he looked like a normal boy.


    Lin ChuSui nced at Lu Chi. Lu Chi shrugged and said, "Don''t me me. He insisted on seeing you onest time. Brother Chu will be a top student soon, so there may not be another chance to see you again. I told him... just chat with him for a bit, then leave."


    "Did he promise to give you a full set of ZiWu equipment?"


    "Ah, no, he has... almost slipped up there," Lu Chi quickly corrected himself. "What kind of person do you take me for!"


    "Traitor."


    After curtly calling him out, Lin ChuSui walked up to Qin Nai.


    Nervous, Qin Nai didn''t know what to do with his hands. He put them behind his back, looking like an obedient student.


    "What is it?"


    "I want to apologize."


    "Apologize for what?"


    "For everything in the past." Qin Nai looked up at her. "All the things I did wrong that disappointed you. I''m sorry."


    In fact, Lin ChuSui''s mindset had be very calm now. The past was the past. She was about to embark on a brand new journey, so she didn''t dwell on those things anymore.


    Besides, Qin Nai hadn''t really done anything unforgivable to her.


    She patted Qin Nai on the shoulder. "From now on, abide by thew. Don''t let me catch you again."


    Qin Nai lowered his head with a smile. "I n to take the college entrance exam again. Maybe in the future I''ll apply to your school, then we can..."


    "My school has high requirements. You won''t get in."


    "..."


    He looked at her ardently. "I mean, if I did get in, could you give me another chance...?"


    "No."


    Lin ChuSui''s rejection was straightforward. "I''m sorry, no."


    "Why?"


    "No reason. Just no."


    "You still like that guy, don''t you?"


    Everyone tensed up at his words. It had been almost half a year since that name was mentioned. Neither Lin ChuSui nor the others talked about him.


    It was as if he had never existed.


    "Xiao Yan?" Lin ChuSui uttered his name breezily. "He''s in the past now, just like you."


    Hearing her say that, everyone rxed.


    Brother Chu is still Brother Chu, letting go gracefully.


    Understanding she wouldn''t change her mind, Qin Nai didn''t push further. As he left, he only said, "I''ll do as I said. Since you''re moving forward, I''ll run ahead of you."


    With that, he walked past her and left.


    ...


    At the KTV, Lu Chi and the others were drinking freely. Not only were they drinking themselves, they were plying Lin ChuSui too.


    The gathering would disperse tomorrow. Filled with reluctance and apprehension...


    "Brother Chu, you were really wild like a monkey when you were little!" Lu Chi pped Lin ChuSui on the shoulder. "No wonder those girls hugging their dolls wouldn''t y with you."


    "Uncle Lin said every time you came home it was bawling."


    "Yeah, my dad even went to argue with them once, asking why they wouldn''t y with me." Lin ChuSui recalled with a smile, though her eyes were red.


    As she pretended to drink, she dabbed her eyes with her sleeve.


    "Don''t mention it, the rag doll your grandma sewed for you was kind of ugly. The button eyes were creepy."


    "Later my dad said he''d buy me a new Barbie doll, but I still liked Grandma''s rag doll." They didn''t like my doll - it wasn''t the doll''s fault or my fault, it was theirs. I just didn''t y with them."


    "Well said!" Lu TianBai came over and wrapped her arm around Lin ChuSui''s shoulder, feeding her a fruit wine. "It wasn''t your fault, Chu Chu, they were opportunistic!"


    "Look who''s talking." Lu Chi poked Lu TianBai in the head. "Back then, weren''t you always chasing those girls too?"


    All the girls in the neighborhood wanted to y with the "Doll Clique." Lin ChuSui and Lu TianBai were like that too...


    Later, to help Lin ChuSui make more friends, her dad started waiting downstairs every afternoon. Whenever he saw a child alone, he''d take out QQ candies to "lure" them -


    "Be good friends with my little darling, and I''ll give you QQ candies!"


    A few sweet-toothed kids took the bait willingly, bing steadfastpanions from primary school to high school...


    "I don''t know how many QQ candy packs my dad gave out that summer," said Lin ChuSui. Though she smiled, her eyes were wet.


    Lu Chi said fervently, "Don''t mention it, I almost threw up from eating so much QQ candy that summer!"


    Zhang Cheng Yu: "My sh*t was popping like QQ candies."


    Lin ChuSuiughed again: "Watch your mouth!"


    Between sobs andughter, they yed untilte into the night. Zhang Cheng Yu sang his hit song "Drunken Butterfly," but Lu Chi thought he sang terribly and tried to grab the mic from him.


    Watching these familiar scenes unfold again, her youth slipped away silently.


    Lin ChuSui stepped out for some fresh air and to clear her head.


    After months of settling, she could face everything calmly and lightly...


    Except that boy. He was like a burn scar on her heart - she couldn''t touch or think of him.


    Deftly, she took out ady''s cigarette and lit it, holding it between her rosy lips as she lowered her head to light it.


    But when she raised her head, she saw the slender silhouette of the youth under the neon lights.


    After months of not seeing him, his temperament had sunk considerably.


    The street was narrow, only about fifteen feet between them.


    She smiled, leaning back against the streetmp. Perhaps tipsy, her slender figure exuded a bewitching charm.


    In just a few months, the girl had faded, reced by a precocious and enchanting maturity.


    She had really grown up.


    "Don''t tell me you''re here to get back together," she said, cocking her chin and gazing at him. "Brother Chu doesn''t eat regurgitated food."


    Xiao Yan''s deep dark eyes looked at her greedily.


    "Enjoying the view? I''ll charge now if you keep looking."


    Lin ChuSui suppressed her heartache. Turning, she flicked her hand airily. "I''m going now."


    "Goodbye."


    After a long silence, that was all he said - "Goodbye."


    Lin ChuSui walked a few steps before stopping, her slender shoulders trembling lightly.


    She knew this "goodbye" might really mean the end, never seeing each other again.


    She bit her lip tightly, turning to run toward the boy, heedless of the red light.


    She raced across the road and threw herself into Xiao Yan''s arms, hugging his waist tightly. "You...jerk."


    Xiao Yan barely had time to react to the passing cyclist before the girl let go of him and even pushed him.


    "If you want to leave, then leave! What are you still doing here?"


    Red-eyed, she choked back imminent tears. "I got over you long ago!"


    He opened his mouth slightly but still couldn''t get any words out, only two heavily-enunciated sybles -


    "Goodbye."


    So reluctant, yet it was still goodbye.


    Never seeing each other again.


    Xiao Yan turned to leave, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.


    "ssmate," Lin ChuSui called out as she watched his departing figure. "I just hugged you. Can you hug me too, so we''re even?"


    Without hesitation, Xiao Yan rushed back and embraced her with all his might, as if to imprint it in his memory.


    Lin ChuSui buried her face in his chest, eyes closed, deeply breathing in his scent, as if to engrave it in her mind.


    Each breath was excruciatingly painful.


    Xiao Yan pulled off her ponytail holder. His lips touched her ear as he forced out the final two sybles, after much difficulty -


    "Goodbye."

 Chapter 55: 100%

    <h4>Chapter 55</h4>


    That night, Xiao Yan saw Lin ChuSui again. As he had imagined, the little girl was as determined as ever - she had not only been admitted to university, but her grades were unexpectedly high.


    She had chosen her own future.


    Xiao Yan bid her goodbye three times. Each time was filled with reluctance. But he was d to have one more chance to give the person she loved most back to her.


    ...


    Task Progress: 51%, Countdown: 1 hour.


    In the living room, Xiao Qian leaned against the sofa reading a book, unconsciously smiling while holding her phone in one hand.


    Xiao Yan walked over to the sofa and picked up a knife from the coffee table to peel an apple.


    "You got your admission letter days ago. When are you nning to go report?"


    "Is my sister trying to kick me out already?"


    "Of course not. I''d love for you to stay in province for college so you cane home on weekends. I can cook delicious food and give you a beating as a send-off."


    "I probably won''t have that fortune." Xiao Yan said lightly with a faint smile: "Save that for Xu JiaNing."


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Qian immediately put down her phone and looked at Xiao Yan: "Make food for him...why?"


    "Aren''t you dating him?"


    Xiao Yan was expressionless as he calmly peeled the apple into crescent slices and put them on a te.


    Xiao Qian felt a bit flustered and hurriedly asked: "Did Xu JiaNing tell you that?"


    "He didn''t need to say it. His phone wallpaper is you, his chat background is you. He might as well tattoo my sister''s name on his forehead."


    Xiao Qian: ...


    "You...don''t object?" She looked at Xiao Yan apprehensively.


    "It''s my sister''s life, I won''t interfere." Xiao Yan lowered his eyes carefully arranging the apple slices neatly: "Xu JiaNing has some ulterior motives and isn''t that simple, but he''s not inherently bad and sticks strongly to his principles. He isn''t the fickle sort. I can rest assured leaving my sister to him. Though..."


    He paused for a moment: "Gaining his father''s approval won''t be easy."


    "We''re just casually dating, nothing long-term." Xiao Qian hugged her knees, smiling gently: "Please, you''re just going off to college. Why does it sound like you''re preparing yourst will?"


    Xiao Yan smiled faintly and ced the fruit tter with toothpicks in front of Xiao Qian.


    Looking at the te of apple crescents, each slice was near identical in size and shape, more orderly than a military parade.


    Having endured much hardship in the past, Xiao Yan was very meticulous about life. He tried his best to live well within his means.


    His future girlfriend would probably be very happy. Xiao Yan was so attentive.


    "Did you and little ChuSui really end things?" Xiao Qian looked at him inquisitively, trying to glean something from his calm, still eyes: "Who initiated the breakup?"


    "Neither of us brought it up."


    "Neither?"


    "Mm. I transferred schools so we naturally drifted apart."


    "Transferring schools shouldn''t have led to..."


    "The firefighter who died saving me from the fire was her dad."


    Upon hearing this, Xiao Qian''s hand froze mid-bite. After a long pause, she put down the apple and gently hugged Xiao Yan from behind.


    "That wasn''t your fault."


    Xiao Yan smiled bitterly as he mechanically chewed an apple slice. "She didn''t hate me."


    Xiao Yan knew Lin ChuSui didn''t truly hate him, even after all those hurtful things he said.


    In his estimation, those sharp, knife-like words should havepletely sabotaged his mission progress.


    Yet they didn''t. The progress bar remained at 50%.


    That was enough for Xiao Yan.


    Enough for him to willingly and resolutely go to his death.


    ...


    That night, the summer night breeze was cool. There were faint sounds of children ying tag in the distance. Lin ChuSui walked alone to the wall of Aia flowers.


    Tomorrow, she would leave for the police academy up north to start closed training. This was herst timeing here. She wouldn''t return again.


    The aia had bloomed all over the red wall, trailing down in lush greenery.


    Her fingertips gently brushed the vines as the little white flowers swayed lightly in the breeze...


    Just as Xiao Yan said, it really was beautiful.


    Recently, the area had be a trendy spot for girls to take pictures.


    Leaning against the flower wall, Lin ChuSui took out her phone topose a message -


    "Dad''s matter, I never med you. As for you deceiving me, as long as you say you had difficulties, I would..."


    After typing it out, she immediately deleted every word.


    How foolish.


    It was clearly over between them. She had moved on and didn''t cling onto him like some pathetic girl.


    After deleting the previous message, she wrote: "Xiao Yan, I''m leaving tomorrow. I wish you happiness!"


    Just then, a familiar chuckle sounded beside her ear: "Wishing you happiness is so clich¨¦. Your dad wouldn''t have said that even when he was dating."


    "Ah!"


    Lin ChuSui was so startled by these words that she nearly flung her phone away.


    She saw a lone man sitting on the swing, swaying back and forth, his figure fading in and out of sight.


    The ghastly white streemp behind him shone over, stinging Lin ChuSui''s eyes. She reflexively raised a hand to block the re.


    His features were obscured in the shadows, vague and indistinct.


    "Is that...Dad?"


    "Took you long enough to recognize me!"


    "What the!!!" Lin ChuSui pointed at him and shrieked: "Am I dreaming? Are you human or ghost?!"


    Lin Xiuze''s mouth twitched. "Is that what you think of your dad?"


    "Dad...it''s really you!"


    Lin ChuSui still couldn''t believe it. She walked towards him, but Lin Xiuze suddenly called out to stop her: "My dear, your dad has a few words he wants to tell you. Just listen quietly."


    Lin ChuSui was beyond shock and fear. Sadness and longing instantly filled her heart. "It''s dad...Dad, you didn''t leave after all."


    "Do you remember what that cheap older brother of yours told you?"


    "I...I remember."


    Lin Xiuze rocked the swing slightly, emitting an eerie creaking sound. He continued: "What he said wasn''t wrong. Dad has always been here, by your side, watching over you unseen as you grew up."


    The summer night breeze gently blew her hair. Strands brushed over her eyes, turning them slightly red.


    "Really...?"


    "Seeing you be who you are today, finding your own path in life, Dad is truly happy." Lin Xiuze said with a smile: "It''s just that now, a silly boy wants to give this life back to me, to give me back to you..."


    "You mean Xiao Yan?"


    "That was the agreement between me and him. He kept his promise, so I should keep mine."


    Lin Xiuze beckoned to Lin ChuSui. "Dear,e here."


    Lin ChuSui ran over to him, wanting to embrace him. But Lin Xiuze only had her sit on the swing beside him.


    She looked closely at her dad. He hadn''t changed at all, still as she remembered. Always smiling, withughter lines at the corners of his eyes.


    "Dad, can I hold your hand?" Lin ChuSui asked in a trembling voice.


    He looked at her gently: "Dear, you''ve grown up. You can take every step towards your future well, even without your dad holding your hand."


    The fortitude and courage that had supported Lin ChuSui these past six months finally began to crack at this moment. "Dad, I was disobedient before, I''m sorry..."


    "What are you sorry for? It''s Dad who should be sorry, for leaving you to withstand the winds and rains of the future alone at such a young age."


    "I''m not afraid." Lin ChuSui wiped her tears and sniffed. "I just...I just miss you a lot."


    "There, there, don''t cry. Dad has no regrets about his decision, because that boy I saved was worth it." Lin Xiuze said with a smile:


    "You''re embarking on a new journey tomorrow. This ce is beautiful. Let Dad take a picture of you here."


    "But my makeup is ruined." Lin ChuSui forced an ugly smile as she wiped her tears dry.


    "You look the same with or without makeup."


    "I do not!"


    Lin ChuSui handed her phone to Lin Xiuze, then jogged over to stand below the aia wall. She struck a silly scissor-hands pose.


    "Dad, help me take a nice one!"


    "Don''t worry."


    Lin Xiuze pressed the shutter button, and in the sh of the camera, Lin ChuSui''s eyes blinked. When her eyes adjusted to the light around her, the swing was empty and bare, her dad¡¯s figure gone, only his phone left behind, sitting alone on the swing.


    A gust of wind blew by, and Lin ChuSui awoke as if from a dream.


    ¡°Dad.¡±


    ¡°Dad, are you still here?¡±


    Tears streamed down her cheeks as she walked to the swing and sat down, picking up the phone. Thest photo on the phone, a radiant smile, forever frozen under the seven li fragrant flower wall.


    ...


    Xiao Yany in bed, eyes closed, waiting for time to pass second by second.


    The midnight moonlight shone through the window into the room, falling on his cold face.


    28 minutes, 27 minutes, 26 minutes...


    He reviewed this short life before his eyes, having lived in an orphanage since he could remember.


    There were many children in the orphanage, but few resources. Even the candy given out weekly couldn¡¯t make it into every child¡¯s hands.


    From a very young age, Xiao Yan learned how to act cute and pitiful, in order to get more attention and more resources.


    People like him didn¡¯t know what kindness was, what selflessness was... The only thing he knew was to fight and grab.


    But this past short year, he experienced a joy and happiness he had never known before, that kind of willingness from the bottom of one''s heart to be good to someone, even willing to give his life to her.


    With Lin ChuSui, the happiness he once had was worth a lifetime of loneliness and ignorance.


    It was enough.


    Xiao Yan closed his eyes.


    10 minutes, 9 minutes, 8 minutes...


    However, in thest ten minutes, Xiao Yan realized the progress bar on his mission had suddenly changed -


    51%, 52%, 53%...


    He quickly sat up. In just over two minutes, the progress bar jumped to 80%, and was still rising steadily.


    He panicked a little, and immediately called Lin ChuSui.


    84%, 85%, 86%...


    The phone rang for a long time before connecting, Lin ChuSui''s obviously hoarse voice came through.


    "Teacher Xiao, something wrong?"


    "What''s going on with you!" Xiao Yan was very anxious and panicked, pretending to be fierce: "I''ve never liked you before! Not for a minute, not for a second."


    89%, 90%...


    "What''s wrong with you, I said I don''t like you, why can''t you just forget it, can you have some self-respect?"


    "Xiao Yan, I''m leaving tomorrow, can youe see me off?"


    Xiao Yan''s heart was twisted in knots, pulsating slightly. Every breath hurt.


    "T3 terminal at Nancheng Airport, 6:30 pm."


    "I won''te."


    "Whether youe or not, I''ll wait for you."


    95%, 96%...


    In thest thirty seconds, 98%.


    Xiao Yan stood up and paced around the room twice, finally deciding to tell her the truth: "Lin ChuSui, I can give your dad back to you. Don''t you want your dad anymore?"


    "I do, but dad has made his choice, just like he never interfered with my choices, I also respect his choice."


    "Lin ChuSui!" Xiao Yan was really anxious now: "There''s nothing left in my life worth lingering for, but he''s different, he still has you..."


    "Nothing left worth lingering for?" Lin ChuSui smiled shallowly: "Then let me ask you onest question, Xiao Yan, do you still...linger for me?"


    98%,st twenty seconds.


    Xiao Yan''s mind went nk, only herst words echoed.


    "Do you still...linger for me?"


    99%,st ten seconds.


    Xiao Yan''s heart suddenly calmed down. He closed his eyes and answered firmly and sincerely: "Didn''t I...already give you my answer before."


    "Did you?"


    "That day, on the note, you asked me, ''I only wish your heart be like mine'', and the next line was..."


    3, 2, 1.


    "I promise I''ll never disappoint, this longing in my heart."


    100%.

 Chapter 56: Farewell

    <h4>Chapter 56</h4>


    Five yearster.


    In the summer of Beicheng, the temperature was no lower than Nancheng. The zing sun hung in the sky, and Lin ChuSui''s clothes were already damp with sweat.


    At themendation ceremony for the SWAT team, she received the highest honor medal. All the way from the auditorium to the locker room, her colleagues around congratted her one after another.


    After politely returning the greetings, she entered the changing room, took off her uniform, and changed into her casual clothes.


    Inside her locker door, there was a 2-inch photo of her dad pasted.


    She ced the medal in the shelf, facing Lin Xiuzhe''s photo directly so that he could see it.


    "Old Lin, feel proud now."


    "In the future, I will make you even prouder, just wait for it."


    In the photo, Lin Xiuzhe had benevolent eyebrows and a kind smile, just like he looked in the past.


    Lin ChuSui restrained her gaze, paused for a moment, and said, "The boy you chose for me didn''te that day at the airport."


    "It''s been five years. He is doing very well now."


    "And so am I."


    She smiled faintly, looking at her dad''s ck and white ID photo, "But we...had no fate."


    Just then, Zhao Siyin, her best friend from college who was also her bestie, called: "Chuchu, when will you arrive?"


    "Coming soon. Let me put on some makeup first. Themendation ceremony was under the sun and my makeup is all messed up."


    "Haha, congrats girl! I saw in the news yesterday that Officer Lin cracked a major inter-provincial manhunt case this time."


    "Okay, just send me the address."


    "I suggest you don''t put on makeup." Zhao Siyin said sourly. "You areing with me on a blind date. Don''t steal all the limelight."


    "No makeup is impossible." Lin ChuSui said with augh. "If you are afraid I would steal your thunder, don''t ask me toe along."


    "No no, you muste. Otherwise I would be so embarrassed!" Zhao Siyin quickly added, "I quite like his profile. Officer Lin, you''ve caught so many criminals. Help me see if he has any tendency to domestic violence."


    "I can''t guarantee I can tell."


    "Anyway you muste!"


    After hanging up the phone, Lin ChuSui changed into a light and breezy white dress, let down her hair, and then went to the mirror to apply light makeup. She then stood at the roadside to hail a cab.


    Soon a sedan stopped in front of her. It was her apprentice, Qin Nai.


    This guy had kept his promise from years ago. He repeated two grades in high school, and actually got admitted to the same university as her. Then he continued to follow her steps into the police academy. Although he didn''t pass the SWAT team''s tests, he was now working as an ordinary police officer in the force.


    "Xiao Chu, where are you going? Let me give you a ride."


    "No need, I called a cab already."


    "Cancel it. I''ll take you there."


    "If you don''t get in, I''ll just follow you all the way."


    "Why follow me? There were several cases earlier of rideshare drivers assaulting female passengers. I''m here to protect you."


    "Spare me your chivalry." Lin ChuSui said, "It''s broad daylight now, plus I can protect myself."


    "Get in quick. I''ve started the car already."


    Seeing no way out, Lin ChuSui got into the car to avoid further hassle.


    "Where to?"


    "Lancui Restaurant."


    "Oh, that ce is posh. What''s the asion, someone treating you to a celebratory meal?"


    "No." Lin ChuSui didn''t even want to entertain him. "Blind date."


    Suddenly, Qin Nai mmed the brakes. Lin ChuSui''s body jerked forward. "Qin Nai, what''s wrong with you!"


    "What blind date?" Qin Nai turned back and asked anxiously, "I''ve been here all this time!"


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui checked the time. "If you hold me up any longer, I''m getting off."


    Qin Nai couldn''t persuade her otherwise. He restarted the engine impatiently, muttering, "Lin ChuSui, you are heartless."


    "Don''t pinbels on me groundlessly. I made it very clear to you long ago."


    "I was your first love!"


    "Statistically speaking, first loves rarely work out."


    "Don''t you have any lingering feelings at all?"


    "None." Lin ChuSui said coldly, "Later I fell for someone else."


    "Fine, you fell for someone else. I thought you just couldn''t forget that ''someone else''. It''s okay, I can wait." Qin Nai looked at the girl''s reflection in the rearview mirror. "Now you suddenly want to go on a blind date. What''s the meaning of this?"


    "I forgot about him long ago."


    Lin ChuSui shifted her gaze out the window, watching the scenery zip past. "I can''t even remember what that ''someone else'' looked like."


    ...


    The sedan stopped at the entrance of Lancui Restaurant. When she got out of the car, Qin Nai grabbed her wrist. "Let me make this clear first. The quality of blind date partners is dodgy in general. I strongly advise you to consider your apprentice."


    "And I strongly advise my apprentice to give up." Lin ChuSui said, then closed the car door.


    Qin Nai had been chasing after her these years, from Nancheng to Beicheng. He passed the police academy''s harsh tests and had always been by her side.


    Lin ChuSui was not heartless. She was truly touched.


    But if she agreed to be with him out of gratitude, it would be irresponsible to both him and herself.


    Lin ChuSui walked into Lancui Restaurant and sat at the agreed window-side table.


    Lancui Restaurant was one of the top restaurants in Beicheng, known for its Suzhou cuisine. Many businessmen likeding here to discuss deals.


    Lin ChuSui sat down and waited patiently. In the Nancheng No.1 Middle School Belle Group chat, Lu Tianbai sent a notice about an uing high school reunion, asking if everyone was avable to participate.


    The reunion had been held every two years over the years. As long as Lin ChuSui was free, she would basically attend.


    That "someone else" had never shown up even once.


    Wanting to reconnect with old friends after many years, Lin ChuSui simply replied, "I''ll register."


    ...


    Soon, a man in a suit walked over to Lin ChuSui''s table. He seemed nervous as he asked tremulously, "Excuse me, are you Miss Zhao Siyin?"


    Lin ChuSui looked up. Seeing her demure and beautiful face, light shed in the man''s eyes instantly.


    "No, I''m Zhao Siyin''s friend. I came with her."


    "Oh." Sun Ruichen nodded repeatedly. "Right, she mentioned to the matchmaker that she''d bring a friend."


    He sat down on the chair opposite her. He sized her up from time to time. Lin ChuSui just smiled politely at him and lowered her head to keep looking at her phone.


    Without a conversation starter, the atmosphere was somewhat awkward.


    Lin ChuSui sent Zhao Siyin a quiver message, "What''s going on, sis! Your blind date is here already, but you haven''t arrived yet?!"


    Zhao Siyin sent Lin ChuSui several apologetic emoticon packs in session. "Sorry sis! Got stuck in traffic on the way. Probably another half hour. Could you chat with him first?"


    Lin ChuSui: "Chat with him? What do I have to chat about with him? It''s not my blind date. If you don''te soon I''m leaving."


    Zhao Siyin: "Please please, do me a favor, you''re the best! [puppy eyes emoticon]"


    Having no other choice, Lin ChuSui looked up at Sun Ruichen. "Siyin said she ran into some traffic jam, and will be here soon. Feel free to order something first if you are hungry."


    Sun Ruichen waved his hands repeatedly. "No problem, I''m not hungry. Let''s wait a bit longer."


    Lin ChuSui forced another smile, then lowered her head again to scroll through Weibo absentmindedly.


    Ranking #1 on the hot search was the new productunch of XY Technology Co., Ltd.


    Lin ChuSui tapped in. The top hot Weibo under the tag was a video of Xiao Yan showcasing and introducing the new product at theunch.


    The man in the video, his well-fitted bespoke suit entuated his straight and tall figure. The spotlight illuminated his chiseled and handsome features. His eyes were clear and bright.


    Lin ChuSui put on her earphones to listen to his voice¡ª


    "This robot product is designed for autistic children, with interactive functions as the main goal, so that introverted and closed-off children will be willing to open up their hearts..."


    His voice was still as cool and steady as she remembered.


    Over these many years, that teenager walking under the camphor trees on campus in a white shirt, pushing a bike, had grown into the founder and CEO of the top techpany in China.


    He finally crawled out of the mud and climbed to the highest peak through his own efforts.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t know if he had seen even more beautiful and magnificent scenery. She liked thepany''s official Weibo post.


    She hoped he was doing well, just like when she was trapped in memories years ago, he was the one who pulled her out and told her to learn to grow up alone even without her dad''spany.


    The little girl who only knew how to cry and use anger and fists to cover up her fragility had grown up.


    Like her father, she also wanted to use her own strength to protect more people.


    Sun Ruichen nced at Lin Chusui''s phone screen and saw that she was watching it attentively. So he asked, "Are you watching the new productunch of XY Company?"


    "Yeah."


    "The name of XY Company is quite ironic."


    "Why do you say that?"


    Sun Ruichen tried to make small talk with her to ease the awkward atmosphere: "XY stands for human chromosomes. Thispany makes artificial intelligence. Naming an AIpany after something rted to human biology is quite ironic."


    "Well..." Lin Chusui thought for a moment and said, "I think XY could just be... the initials of their chief creative officer - Xiao Yan."


    "Ah, it can''t be that simple."


    "It is that simple."


    Like that genius, sometimes his thinking is just so straightforward - using his own name for thepany is definitely his style.


    He didn''t think too deeply about human chromosomes, biology and AI at all.


    ...


    At that moment, a businessman in a suit walked into the Blue Creek Restaurant. The restaurant manager personally weed him -


    "Mr. Xiao, your private dining room is on the third floor. Pleasee with me, Mr. Liu and the others have been waiting for some time."


    Xiao Yan didn''t say much and followed him through the VIP-only passage to the VIP private room on the third floor. But when he passed the spiral staircase at the corner, he caught sight of Lin Chusui by the window.


    He suddenly stopped in his tracks.


    The girl was wearing a white dress, slender figure, elegant temperament. Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows enveloping her. Her features were bright and beautiful, temperament gentle.


    She looked nothing like the girl in the police promotional video he saw in the car just now...the one who could take down three or five thugs in a minute.


    No matter what she looked like now, she was no longer the girl in his memories.


    Time flows by, the girl he loved...had changed so much.


    Xiao Yan''s memories went back to that day at the airport, 5:14 pm. She had looked back onest time searching for him but didn''t see him. How disappointed and helpless she looked.


    In fact he was there, hiding behind a pir, gazing longingly at her. Watching her reluctantly bid farewell to her family, walking into the departure hall and then wiping away tears with her sleeve. Watching her ne...fly off into the distant sky.


    Even though his heart was shredded with anguish, Xiao Yan still...did not show himself in the end.


    When the girl embarked on her new journey in life, the destitute boy lost his courage.

 Chapter 57: Inferiority Complex

    <h4>Chapter 57</h4>


    Sun Ruichen saw that Lin ChuSui was interested in xypany, so he said, "I think that researching artificial intelligence is not a good thing. On the contrary, it will reduce the employment rate. The poprity of robots will make many people who can only do low-levelbor lose their jobs. These capitalists only care about making money and don''t care about the life and death of the lower ss."


    Hearing this, Lin ChuSui''s face turned cold, and she subconsciously refuted, "He''s not a capitalist."


    "Who are you talking about?"


    "I mean, xy Technology Company is not like what you said. Every one of their researches has humanistic care, such as thepanion robot developed for autistic children this time."


    In fact, Lin ChuSui didn''t really understand much about technology, but she had always been following his products. She would watch every new product release from beginning to end carefully.


    Seeing that Lin ChuSui was unhappy, Sun Ruichen guessed that she might be a fan of xypany. He originally wanted to show his unique insights, but it seemed to have backfired a bit.


    He changed the subject and asked again, "Ms. Lin, what do you do?"


    "Sorry, the nature of my job is ssified and I have to keep it confidential."


    "I see, I see. Then...are you married?"


    "Not yet."


    "You don''t look it." Sun Ruichen smiled and asked, "So you''re single too?"


    She said coldly, "Um."


    "This is the first time Zhao Siyin and I have met today. We hadn''t added each other as friends or chatted before," Sun Ruichen looked at Lin ChuSui and said, "Zhao Siyin should have told you about my status. I''m currently an executive at a state-owned enterprise, an iron rice bowl that parents like. If you think I''m alright, can I add your WeChat?"


    Lin ChuSui looked at him with suspicion, frowning slightly. But considering Zhao Siyin, she endured her temper and said politely, "I''m sorry Mr. Sun seems to have misunderstood. My girlfriend has never introduced anyone to me. She was just too shy toe alone."


    "Of course, of course, it was presumptuous of me. But I do sincerely want to get to know you."


    "You have no integrity..."


    Just as Lin ChuSui was about to lose her temper and scold him, she nced up and saw a slender figure among the men in suits who had just entered the door.


    Her breath hitched.


    Although she had seen him countless times in videos, this was still the first time they met in person.


    Lin ChuSui remembered thest time they said goodbye, Xiao Yan had hugged her very tightly, as if wanting to crush her and press her into his body.


    Lin ChuSui lowered her head to drink tea, diverting her eyes elsewhere, hoping he hadn''t seen her and would leave quickly.


    The deep infatuation from their youth, after time had passed, meeting again would only increase the sadness.


    It''s better not to see each other.


    She wasn''t sure if Xiao Yan had seen her. From the corner of her eye, she saw him and those men walk towards the elevator.


    Just as Lin ChuSui was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Xiao Yan suddenly strode towards her as if he had made up his mind.


    Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, including Lin ChuSui.


    She stared at him in a daze.


    His dark and deep gaze was like an abyss that sucked her in, leaving her nowhere to escape.


    Xiao Yan walked straight over and asked, "Can I sit here?"


    Before Lin ChuSui could speak, Sun Ruichen sized him up and said hesitantly, "May I ask who you are?"


    "Her boyfriend."


    "Ah, but she said..."


    Lin ChuSui''s heart skipped a beat when she nced at him again. He looked right back at her unabashedly. Although he was dressed neatly, the look in his eyes still had that familiar arrogance from their youth.


    So Lin ChuSui didn''t pretend anymore either. She very rudely said, "Ex-boyfriend."


    "An ex is still a boyfriend." Seeing that she wasn''t estranged from him, Xiao Yan sat down casually next to her and even squeezed closer to her.


    Feeling the man''s body temperature and his familiar smell, Lin ChuSui''s heart involuntarily sped up.


    Looking at Xiao Yan, Sun Ruichen said, "This gentleman looks a bit familiar."


    Xiao Yan was also very open about it and said, "I''m Xiao Yan."


    "Ah, you are... Xiao Yan from xy Technology Company?"


    Sun Ruichen seemed a little flustered. Even his form of address changed from "you" to "sir." "Nice to meet you, sir. I''m Sun Ruichen. Here''s my business card."


    Xiao Yan didn''t take his offered business card. He just turned his head and asked Lin ChuSui, "Have you ordered yet? Their squirrel fish here is superb. Do you want to try it?"


    "Waiting for my girlfriend."


    Lin ChuSui couldn''t be as familiar with him as Xiao Yan was. After all, they hadn''t seen each other for almost five years.


    Sun Ruichen awkwardly took back his business card and forced out augh. He also expressed his admiration for Xiao Yan again.


    More than ten minutester, Zhao Siyin finally rushed over breathlessly, saying, "Sorry, sorry. The traffic was so jammed on the way. Thanks for waiting. I''m really sorry."


    Lin ChuSui breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You''re finally here."


    Sun Ruichen gave up his seat to Zhao Siyin and let her sit next to him. He also thoughtfully called the waiter to order.


    "Huh? Who is this...?" Looking at Xiao Yan, Zhao Siyin asked Lin ChuSui, "You brought a friend too?"


    "No, just happened to run into him..."


    Because Zhao Siyin was Lin ChuSui''s friend, Xiao Yan''s tone was not as cold and blunt towards her as it was to Sun Ruichen. He politely said, "Hello, I''m Xiao Yan. I''m Lin ChuSui''s high school ex-boyfriend. Did she ever mention me to you?"


    "Oh my god!"


    Seeing Xiao Yan, Zhao Siyin was very shocked and said, "Little Chu did mention an unforgettable ex-boyfriend before, but I didn''t expect it to be you! I often see news about you! Wow!"


    Xiao Yan looked up. "Unforgettable?"


    "Yes, yes!" She excitedly said to Lin ChuSui, "Why didn''t you say that your ex-boyfriend you liked so so much is Xiao Yan? No wonder you always said you wanted to go see their new productunches live! So it turns out you still have feelings for him... I really thought you were just a tech enthusiast!"


    Seeing Zhao Siyin, this big mouth, expose all her secrets in just a few sentences, Lin ChuSui immediately said, "Well, Yinyin, now that you''re here, I''ll get going and not bother your meal. Have a nice chat and get to know each other. I''m leaving now."


    Seeing this, Zhao Siyin grinned and said, "I understand, I understand. Go eat with your ex-boyfriend. Don''t mind me."


    Lin ChuSui ignored Xiao Yan and strode out of the restaurant with her bag. Xiao Yan chased after her and grabbed her arm, "Baby."


    Lin ChuSui was just embarrassed at first, but hearing him call her "baby" instantly ignited her unnamed anger.


    She yanked Xiao Yan''s hand, directly throwing him to the ground. He fell hard with a thud.


    "Don''t call me that."


    The group of men in suits by the floor-to-ceiling windows watched their boss get taken down by a woman, looking as shocked as if they had seen a mirage.


    Xiao Yan sat on the ground looking up at Lin ChuSui. "If baby is angry, feel free to hit me some more. I won''t fight back."


    With peopleing and going at the entrance of Lanxi Restaurant, seeing Xiao Yan sitting on the ground seemingly with no intention of getting up, Lin ChuSui was a little anxious. "Who wants to hit you, get up quickly!"


    Xiao Yan actually started acting shamelessly. "I''m hurt, can''t get up."


    "Stop pretending. You''re not that fragile."


    "You know my body is not well."


    Seeing the people around them, some even taking pictures with their phones, Lin ChuSui hurriedly grabbed Xiao Yan''s hand and pulled him up.


    His palm was warm, just like when they were young, only rougher now with some calluses.


    "You are the leading chief creator of the top technologypany in the country. How can you act like a rogue?"


    Xiao Yan looked at her deeply. "Because my deskmate is angry."


    "I''m not angry." Lin ChuSui calmed herself down and saw the men waiting for a long time by the floor-to-ceiling windows. She said, "Your colleagues are waiting for you to eat."


    "You deleted me." Xiao Yan asked, "Can you add me back?"


    "No." She rejected very decisively. "Deleting means I don''t want to keep in touch for good."


    Xiao Yan didn''t force her. He lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Your friend said you wanted toe see our new productunch. I can arrange that on my end..."


    "No way." Lin ChuSui denied evasively: "I''m not interested in your press conference at all. I''m just killing time out of boredom. It''s the same old story from years ago. My attitude towards Qin Nai at that time is the same as my attitude towards you now. Lin ChuSui never eats the grass where she''s grazed before."


    Xiao Yan''s expression was visibly somewhat disappointed. His gaze was fixed on her and he couldn''t take it back. All his emotional control failed at this moment.


    He walked up to her and slowly reached out, wanting to touch her cheek. Lin ChuSui dodged a little, but she didn''t hit him again.


    Not hitting him meant acquiescing.


    Xiao Yan''s fingertips gently stroked her cheek, caressing it a little.


    The rough fingertips brushing across the tender skin sent shivers up Lin ChuSui''s spine.


    Her heart was trembling.


    That day when he didn''te, when she got on the ne, Lin ChuSui cried miserably all the way.


    The more she liked him, the more reluctant she was, and the sadder she felt.


    She pushed his hand away.


    "The squirrel fish and conger eel in this restaurant are really delicious," Xiao Yan lowered his head, seeming to try to act pitiful: "Really delicious."


    "So?"


    "I want to treat you to a meal."


    Lin ChuSui shook her head: "Xiao Yan, that day at the airport, I waited for you for a long time, but you didn''te. You gave up on me first..."


    "I came," Xiao Yan interrupted her. "That day at the airport, I wanted to buy you a pillow so you''d be morefortable on the ne."


    Lin ChuSui''s breathing tightened. She looked at him incredulously.


    "Things at the airport are expensive. I browsed around in the store and bought a 689 yuantex neck pillow. When I went to check out, I didn''t have enough money in my wallet. I scraped together all the loose change I had for a long time, but it still wasn''t enough. Many people were watching me..."


    "I actually felt quite inferior,"


    Xiao Yan''s mouth corners twisted bitterly: "Without Mr. Lin''s support, how could I have the courage to be your boyfriend?"

 Chapter 58: It鈥檚 Not That Easy

    <h4>Chapter 58</h4>


    That night, Lin ChuSui was soaking in the bathtub and talking to Zhao Siyin on the phone. Zhao Siyin vented wildly to her: "I''m not going on blind dates anymore! What the hell was that?!"


    "What happened?"


    "That guy, he looked quite young but talked in an oily, sleazy way."


    Lin ChuSui was just d Zhao Siyin''s eyes weren''t blind: "Did he say anything offensive to you?"


    "No, not really, but the conversation was just awful. He kept bragging about how great he was, as if I was so lucky to meet him."


    "The more onecks something, the more one tries to pretend they have it. He must be very insecure deep down."


    "You''re right! That''s exactly it, it''s in his bones to be so insecure."


    After venting to Lin ChuSui for a while, Zhao Siyin finally hung up. Lin ChuSui sat in the cooling water of the tub, thinking about Xiao Yan.


    Did that boy who always stood above the clouds, out of reach, ever feel insecure too?


    Lin ChuSui would not easily trust him again. She knew this man had a deep andplex mindset. She had witnessed it before in their youth.


    Back then it was so easy for him to make her fall in love, and just as easy for him to change his heart.


    She had to be 100% on guard around Xiao Yan.


    Lin ChuSui got out of the tub and changed into a soft, fluffy negligee. Shey on the pink, plush bed, ready to watch dramas and sleep.


    Although her daily work was hardcore police missions, Lin ChuSui still maintained her girlish heart. Her room was soft, fragrant and fluffy too.


    Just as Lin ChuSui was dozing off, the phone rang.


    Her first reaction was work, so she shook off her sleepiness and picked up the phone to check.


    Xiao Yan.


    He had not changed his number. And although she had deleted him from her contacts, she had never deleted his number either.


    Nor had he tried to contact her all these years.


    Lin ChuSui hesitated, wanting to just hang up. But on second thought, that seemed a bit cowardly.


    A top cop like her, afraid to even answer her ex''s call? How embarrassing.


    She picked up, sounding displeased: "Mr Xiao, it''s veryte now."


    On the other end, Xiao Yan''s voice was somewhat blurred, as if drunk: "I''m lost."


    "If you''re lost, call the emergency hotline, not your ex-girlfriend."


    "I did call the emergency number."


    "Let me transfer you to the on-duty colleague then, wait a moment."


    "Dear..." Xiao Yan pleaded, "The driver''s wife went intobor so he left me on the roadside."


    "You must be joking, Mr Xiao."


    "Really, I''m a little scared." Xiao Yan''s tipsy voice continued, "Some punks have been following me. They must be eyeing my big gold chain, wanting to rob me. I''m in danger."


    Lin ChuSui: "......"


    "Dear, can youe get me?"


    Although knowing he was making up nonsense, Lin ChuSui still asked for the location. She then put on a coat and drove out.


    Xiao Yan was supposed to be dining at Blue Creek Restaurant, but his location showed he had wandered into the bar street instead.


    There were indeed some aimless punks around the bar street. Though security had improved in recent years, drunken brawls still urred from time to time.


    Lin ChuSui found Xiao Yan sitting on the short brick wall outside a quiet bar. Beside him was a tall cocktail ss with red wine.


    His shirt buttons were undone at the cor, exposing beautiful corbones. Loungingzily, his smile was like a seductive ghost from the Yellow Springs.


    "Dear..."


    Looking around warily, Lin ChuSui asked: "Who''s following you?"


    "Them." Xiao Yan pointed at a few stray cats ying by the wall. "They''ve been stalking me, so fierce."


    "......"


    Slightly angry, Lin ChuSui said, "Is this a joke to you, Mr Xiao?"


    "No joke, I really am scared."


    Knowing his usual antics, she casually asked, "Where''s your big gold chain then?"


    Xiao Yan rolled up his sleeves, revealing a fair wrist with a ck rubber band, looking quite worn.


    "This is my big gold chain."


    "That''s just a shabby hair tie."


    Xiao Yan took off the rubber band and flicked it lightly with his fingertips. "This is the most valuable thing on my body."


    Seeing his illogical rambling, Lin ChuSui asked, "How much did you actually drink?"


    "Not a lot, I have low tolerance. Can you help me down from here?"


    "Climb down yourself."


    "I''m afraid of heights."


    "Then why did you climb so high?"


    Lin ChuSui walked over to him and leaned against the wall, looking up at him. "Mr Know-It-All, standing so high all these years, have you seen more beautiful scenery?"


    "I have." Staring at the deep night sky, Xiao Yan said, "The view up high is beautiful, but it can never fill the most important void in my heart."


    "You went sightseeing, leaving that most important piece midway, not bringing her along. Now satisfied with the scenery, you look back and remember her. Xiao Yan, there is no such thing as having your cake and eating it too."


    "Can you forgive me?" Xiao Yan looked at her pleadingly.


    "I can''t."


    Holding back heartache, Lin ChuSui turned to leave.


    "I really am afraid of heights. Hold my hand down and I won''t stop you from leaving." In the cool night breeze, Xiao Yan reached out to her.


    Lin ChuSui sighed.


    Always going soft for him, always helpless...


    She turned back and took his hand, helping him jump off the short wall. "Keep pretending then."


    He wasn''t that delicate. He used to pretend pitiful in front of her too.


    Afternding steadily, Xiao Yan didn''t let go. Instead he pulled her forcefully into his arms, pressing her against the wall and covering her mouth in a deep kiss.


    Lin ChuSui was shocked and immediately turned her face away. His kissnded on her cheek.


    Unbothered, Xiao Yan fervently kissed her face, with some passionate desire and overflowing longing.


    "Xiao Yan..."


    She wanted to push him away but her whole body felt weak and powerless. Her hands on his chest were limp too.


    He had indeed been drinking, his breath tinged with the faint smell of alcohol. But mixed with his own scent, it wasn''t unpleasant.


    Lin ChuSui''s heart was in turmoil. The pounding of her youth surged forth again, sweeping away all reason.


    She still loved this man.


    Or rather, she had never stopped loving him.


    Xiao Yan still didn''t stop. He whispered in her ear, his breath warm, "Dear, if you don''t hit me, I''m really going to kiss you."


    "You wouldn''t dare..."


    His lips then moved to her cherry blossom lips, pausing for two seconds as if to give her time to resist.


    Yet she didn''t move, even though she could easily overpower him.


    Xiao Yan''s mouth curved into a faint smile as he firmly pressed his warm lips onto hers,pletely submerging her world.


    Strictly speaking, this was the couple''s first real kiss.


    In high school they had clumsily nibbled each other''s lips. But this kiss belonged to mature man and woman, full of strong sensual desire. It was deep, and full of emotion.


    Xiao Yan poured all his longing into it. Each touch and entanglement sent her heart trembling long afterwards.


    She finally surrendered, closing her eyes and letting him indulge wildly.


    The fiery kiss of unknown duration, tinged with the faint alcohol, left her dizzy and intoxicated.


    Xiao Yan finally stopped, gazing at the shy blush on the girl''s face.


    Her moist pink lips were extremely tempting.


    Calming down, Xiao Yan was still a little apprehensive, but he kept her circled in his embrace, not letting go. "Can''t really call it forced when you didn''t resist, right?"


    "What do you think?"


    "I gave you time to react, so I don''t think so."


    Lin ChuSui finally pushed him away, exining:


    "Getting momentarily entranced by a charming ex doesn''t mean anything."


    She was being open-minded about it.


    But Xiao Yan seemed emboldened, clinging to her persistently and holding her hand. "Since you don''t mind backsliding with charming me, I don''t mind letting you enjoy it a few more times."


    Lin ChuSui turned back and looked at him sternly: "I didn''t agree to get back together. Don''t be so shameless. You''re... Mr Xiao now."


    The founder and chief of tech giant XY Corp, and head of the board of directors. He was considered one of the most promising young talents in the field, with a social media following rivaling celebrities.


    Lin ChuSui thought he would be a little more mature and aloof, however... After interacting with him a few times, she realized that in this world, mountains, rivers, grass and trees may change, but Xiao Yan would always be Xiao Yan, he would not change.


    He still held her hand, unwilling to let her leave easily: "You know me, what I want, if I can''t ask for it, I''ll snatch it, if I can''t snatch it, then..."


    "Then what?" Lin ChuSui said angrily: "Are you going to trick me again like in the past?"


    "I won''t trick you again." He looked at her with a faint smile: "Let me start pursuing you now, okay, darling?"


    "..."


    "I''m going to start chasing you now, is that okay, baby?"


    Lin ChuSui was so amused by his shameless attitude that sheughed. She twitched his shirt cor with her fingertips and mocked: "Now President Xiao is rich, and finally has confidence and doesn''t feel inferior?"


    "It has nothing to do with money." Xiao Yan said seriously: "Mainly because I''m cultured and refined with poetry and books, thus naturally elegant."


    "..."


    He hasn''t changed after all.


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes fell on the ck headband on his wrist. She saw that the headband was very old, it seemed that the stic cord inside was broken, only the ck thread was left connecting it...


    She took it off Xiao Yan''s wrist and deliberately asked: "Which girlfriend gave you this ''big gold chain''?"


    "My favorite girlfriend." Xiao Yan said lightly: "Also the only one. On the night we broke up, I held her, thinking about secretly taking something from her...to bring with me."


    "Bring where?"


    Xiao Yan paused for a few seconds and said truthfully: "Take into the grave."


    When Lin ChuSui heard these four words, her heart was squeezed hard.


    She knew what Xiao Yan was ready to give up that night.


    In the night breeze, the two faced each other for a long time, silently for a long time.


    Lin ChuSui tugged at his sleeve and said, "Xiao Yan, you are the man my dad saved with his life. I really want to hate you, but I can''t..."


    Xiao Yan knew that on that night, Lin ChuSui had kept him alive with 100% of her love.


    He held her hand in return, looking at her, and said seriously: "You can''t keep me, but then ignore me."


    ...


    Lin ChuSui admitted that she almost fell for him that night.


    Dealing with this man Xiao Yan, she must maintain 200% sobriety and vignce, otherwise she would be abducted by him in minutes.


    Just like that night, she drove the "drunk" Xiao Yan imed he was home. This man''s tactics of selling cute and ying innocent were unmatched.


    The atmosphere in the car was thick, emotions were brewing, he didn''t have to do anything else. One fiery gaze was enough to lead the confused Lin ChuSui upstairs to "have a drink" with him.


    At the critical moment, Lin ChuSui received a call from the police asking her to follow the inspection team to investigate a certain entertainment club tonight, and thus "escaped the danger."


    ...


    After returning from investigating the illegal club, Lin ChuSui casually threw her shoes aside andy on the bed, her mind nking out.


    She had made up her mind not to forgive Xiao Yan so easily, but she just couldn''t help liking him and feeling distressed for him. It had been like this since high school. This man was like a carnivorous nt, biting her "lifeline", and she couldn''t break free.


    Lin ChuSui suddenly felt a little depressed and indignant. She took out her phone and sent a message to Xiao Yan, whom she had re-added as a friend, to vent her frustration¡ª


    "Not that easy!"


    Xiao Yan replied almost instantly, sending a selfie of him brushing his teeth in front of the mirror.


    In the photo, he was wearing striped pajamas. The ceiling light shone on him, enveloping his silhouette, with azy yet sexy expression.


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui changed the subject: "Not that easy, unless... you show me your abs qaq."

 Chapter 59: It鈥檚 all Right

    <h4>Chapter 59</h4>


    Xiao Yan showed Lin ChuSui his abs, but Lin ChuSui went back on her word and even blocked him directly. For a long time after that, she ignored himpletely.


    With the Spring Festival approaching, Lin ChuSui was busy with many police tasks. She didn''t have time to think about Xiao Yan at all.


    However, her mentality had changed a bit. Even Lin ChuSui''s colleagues at the police station said she looked spirited and cheerful recently, she must have met with some happy event.


    Qin Nai also noticed her change, and would make sarcastic remarks to provoke her from time to time, but Lin ChuSui couldn''t be bothered.


    During the Spring Festival holiday when she went back home, her middle school ssmates from ss B at Nancheng No.1 Middle School organized a reunion at Xiting Club, a ce they were all familiar with.


    "Why did you guys choose this ce?" Lin ChuSui asked Lu TianBai beside her, "Even the private rooms are the same, it feels like you just turned eighteen yesterday."


    Lu TianBai majored in German in university and now worked at a foreignpany as a simultaneous interpreter. She hadpletely shed her silly and timid image from her school days and now exuded an elite aura.


    After that unrequited "crush" in the past, she had also grown up quickly and made herself more outstanding, with nock of pursuers around her.


    "Yeah, because it''s an old ce, it has memories." Lu TianBai said with a smile, "Picking here for the reunion is meaningful, we can reminisce about our youth."


    "Are you sure everything that night is a fond memory?" Lin ChuSui nced at Xu JiaNing in the corner, "This ce might evoke someone''s dark history."


    Xu JiaNing was ying dice games with Zhang ChengYu and the others. Gone was his aloofness from his student days, his temperament had be much softer and he blended in easily.


    Over the years, Xiao Qian had changed him a lot.


    He wasn''t so arrogant anymore.


    "Is JiaNing going to get married soon?"


    "Yeah, he and his sister have always had a great rtionship."


    In the years Xu JiaNing stayed in Nancheng for university, his bond with Xiao Qian had grown seamless. The two were so close it was like they had be one person. Even after five years, they were still as lovey-dovey as when they first started dating.


    Not long ago, when Lin ChuSui apanied them to an amusement park, she even let them feed her dog food. Xu JiaNing kept calling "Sister, sister", sounding all mushy and sticky as he clung to her like a little puppy.


    Lin ChuSui whispered to Lu TianBai, "Don''t tell me you still like him?"


    "No way, I have a boyfriend now."


    Lu TianBai took out her phone and showed Lin ChuSui a photo of her with a guy: "See, he''s my senior from university."


    Looking at the photo, the boy was clean-cut with sunny good looks.


    Just Lu TianBai''s type.


    "Not bad, your boyfriend is handsome."


    "I know right."


    Lu Chi asked Lin ChuSui, "I heard you got back together with the school genius?"


    "Don''t say such cryptic things in front of Officer Lin." Lu Chi came over with augh and asked Lin ChuSui, "I heard you rekindled things with the school genius?"


    Lin ChuSui frowned. "Who told you guys that?"


    "The school genius who disappeared for years recently posted something on Moments." Lu Chi said with a grin, "You didn''t know?"


    "How would I know."


    Lin ChuSui had ruthlessly deleted him already.


    Lu Chi handed over his phone. Indeed, Xiao Yan rarely posted anything on Moments, with only three posts total.


    One was "I''m sorry" after the fire incident.


    Another was on the day they became official, under the floral arches at Xiang Li Xiang Caf¨¦, he posted a lyric: "It feels a lot like summer."


    The third post was half a month ago, the day they reunited. At 2am, he posted:


    "Deleted me again."


    ...


    Looking at his Moments posts, Lin ChuSui didn''t know what to say.


    "The stars tonight are not likest night''s, for whom does the wind and dew stand in the deep of night?" Lu Chi clicked his tongue andmented, "The school genius posting mncholic literature on Moments at 2am, makes you wonder who he''s sleepless for huh."


    Lin ChuSui didn''t want to respond, she put down her phone to calm herself.


    These three Moments posts spanned his entire youth, and each seemed to be rted to her.


    She knew Xiao Yan loved her, loved her a lot. She loved him deeply too.


    Their feelings for each other far surpassed ordinary couples. Their bond transcended life and death, containing the love of kin...


    But after he disappeared for so many years without a trace, it still left Lin ChuSui full of lingering doubts.


    These five years were really hard to let go.


    ...


    Soon, a uniformed man came into the private room with a smile and said, "Lively bunch here, just a routine inspection to check for illegal gatherings or drugs."


    Everyone looked at each other, then towards Lin ChuSui.


    Seeing the person was Qin Nai, Lin ChuSui was a bit speechless.


    On her day off, Qin Nai had asked about her ns for the holidays. Lin ChuSui casually mentioned a ss reunion, she didn''t expect him to actually tag along.


    "Qin Nai, you''re that free?"


    "I''m very busy." Qin Nai scanned the room, and upon seeing no one he "disliked", finally felt assured. "Coming here to inspect is just routine."


    "You''re just an intern, what routine inspections?"


    Qin Nai was exposed, he couldn''t keep up pretenses, so he went to sit next to Lin ChuSui. "I was just...afraid Teacher Lin would get tricked again."


    "That''s none of your business."


    Seeing Xiao Yan wasn''t here, Qin Nai also felt relieved. He sat for a bit before leaving¡ª


    "Alright, nothing wrong with the inspection. You guys keep eating and drinking, I''m gone."


    But just as he reached the elevator hall, the elevator doors slowly opened, and the man who brushed past him instantly made his scalp tingle.


    Xiao Yan wore a casual shirt. His tall and slender figure especially stood out under the ceiling lights, and his fair skin seemed to glow.


    Over the years, Qin Nai would often see videos and photos of him online. His facial features didn''t photograph well, but he still amassed arge number of fans for his looks online.


    The real life Xiao Yan was much more handsome than his online persona.


    "Stop right there." Qin Nai called out to him.


    Xiao Yan ignored himpletely and walked right by.


    "I told you to stop, are you deaf?" Qin Nai caught up and grabbed Xiao Yan''s arm. "Can''t hear me?"


    Only then did Xiao Yan stop and calmly nce at him. "What is it?"


    "You still remember me right."


    "Why should I remember you?"


    Qin Nai''s expression darkened. As always, the way he spoke really pissed people off.


    "I''m Qin Nai." He said through gritted teeth. "I''m Lin ChuSui''s boyfriend."


    Only then did Xiao Yan look straight at him and size him up for a bit, before seeming to recognize him. "Oh, it''s you."


    "What are you doing here?"


    "Do I need to tell you?"


    Qin Nai walked right up to Xiao Yan and twisted his arm back, intending to subdue him with some recently learned grappling moves.


    But unexpectedly, Xiao Yan''s skills were superior. He not only dodged, but got behind Qin Nai and easily pressed him against the wall.


    "Xiao Yan, in the five years you abandoned ChuSui, I was with her. What right do you have topete with me! When she was injured, I apanied her; when her aunt had stomach pains, I went to her house to care for her; when she ate hot pot alone, I shamelessly chased after her..."


    Qin Nai ground his teeth and said indignantly, "Why should I hand her over to you just because you came back!"


    His words made Xiao Yan falter slightly.


    Seizing the opening, Qin Nai reversed their positions and threw a fierce punch at Xiao Yan.


    Xiao Yan stumbled back from the blow, his mouth bleeding.


    The club''s security guards arrived promptly. Seeing Qin Nai in uniform fighting with Xiao Yan, the burly guards immediately grabbed hold of Xiao Yan.


    Qin Nai walked over and pped his face, coldly ridiculing, "I won''t fail twice with the same person. You have no chance, she''s mine."


    "She belongs to herself." Xiao Yan said expressionlessly, "Not even her dad would say something like that, who do you think you are."


    Qin Nai was provoked to anger by Xiao Yan again within seconds. He ordered the guards, "This guy is no good, throw him out."


    The guards were also intimidated by Qin Nai''s uniform and decisively dragged Xiao Yan out of the club.


    Xiao Yan was pushed down onto the road by them, looking very disheveled.


    Qin Nai was leaning against the door, smoking a cigarette, as if watching a defeated dog, and mocked: "As long as I''m here today, you can forget about getting through this door."


    Xiao Yan tidied his cor and calmly said, "Are you sure?"


    "I''m telling you inly, as long as I, Qin Nai, am here, no matter what tricks you try, they''re useless!"


    The corners of Xiao Yan''s thin lips suddenly turned up slightly.


    Qin Nai felt a tingling in his heart: "You... what are you smiling at?"


    "There''s a reason I haven''t caught up to her in five years." His eyes were faintly contemptuous: "As immature as ever."


    "I may be immature, but I didn''t abandon her."


    "So what do you have now?"


    "What do I have now?"


    Xiao Yan looked at him calmly, his gaze making Qin Nai''s heart tingle.


    "I heard your family is well off, so for the girl you like, you can willfully choose which university and major, and when she''s injured or on her period... you can stick to her like glue, and thencently use your so-called ''deep feelings'' to morally bind her, calling her yours - who do you think you are?"


    Xiao Yan spoke very calmly, without emotion, but his words cut to the core.


    Qin Nai was stunned for a moment, suddenly at a loss for how to respond.


    Indeed, all these years, he had never seriously considered the future. He had followed her to university, to her workce, then moved himself with his persistence, believing that one day, she would be touched by his perseverance.


    But so what, he had the financial resources to persist.


    "Xiao Yan, you''re more eloquent than me, I can''t beat you in an argument, but you''re still not getting through that door today."


    "Is that so?"


    Xiao Yan made a phone call, and soon after, the manager of Xuite Club personally came out, smiling -


    "Mr. Xiao is here! Pleasee in, pleasee in. You should have called ahead, I would have arranged for you!"


    He enthusiastically weed Xiao Yan inside.


    Qin Nai watched incredulously, not understanding what was happening. "Hey, you..."


    "Forgot to mention, I had my eye on this club back when I was working odd jobs. Recently got the funding, so I bought the ce."


    "..."


    He looked at Qin Nai and enunciated, "I worked hard and crawled my way out of the mud, and finally made it to her side. What right do you have to block me outside?"


    Having said that, Xiao Yan strode inside withrge steps.

 Chapter 60: The Final Chapter

    <h4>Chapter 60</h4>


    Xiao Yan attended the ss reunion, to everyone''s surprise. In the past, he had never attended such gatherings.


    By now, his status was different from the past. He could be considered a famous public figure. After entering the private room, ssmates immediately stood up to greet him, wanting to chat with him.


    Xiao Yan politely declined, then nced at Lin ChuSui.


    Lin ChuSui was originally sprawled on the sofa eating shrimp chips. The moment he entered, she sat up straight, threw away the snacks, and was on high alert.


    Xiao Yan strode towards her. Lin ChuSui immediately got up and sat between Lu Chi and Lu TianBai, using the twin siblings as her left and right guards.


    Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, then sat down next to Xu Jia Ning in the corner.


    Xu Jia Ning was annoyed that Xiao Yan had abandoned his sister for many years. Naturally, he didn''t give a good expression, saying coldly, "Why did youe?"


    "Why can''t Ie?"


    "Mr. Xiao is a busy man." Xu Jia Ning sneered, "Your career is important. There''s no need to attend something as trivial as a ss reunion personally. Just send an assistant to settle the bill for us."


    Xiao Yan knew he was standing up for Lin ChuSui, so he didn''t argue and just said, "With my brother-inw here, who needs me to settle bills."


    The two words "brother-inw" softened Xu Jia Ning''s icy expression slightly. He stopped quarreling with him.


    Lin ChuSui asked Lu TianBai in a low voice, "Did Xiao Yan sign up for the reunion too?"


    "He did."


    "Why didn''t you tell me earlier! I didn''t even put on makeup." She resentfully nced at Lu TianBai, "Are we still besties?!"


    Lu TianBai innocently spread her hands, "I told you to put on makeup. You were the one who felt that us old ssmates weren''t worthy of your makeup and hair-washing."


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Lu TianBai went on, "He booked this ce at Xiting Clubhouse for tonight, so he''s paying for all our expenses too."


    "Why should he pay? You''re just taking advantage of him. Everyone earns their money through hard work." Lin ChuSui was slightly dissatisfied.


    "Oh, so you''re standing up for him already?"


    "I''m just upholding justice and principles."


    "Keep pretending."


    Xiao Yan nced at Lu Chi. Lu Chi understood and immediately stood up, "Everyone, everyone, it''s pretty boring just sitting here. Why don''t we y a game?"


    "What game?"


    "Raise your hand if you''re still single."


    The crowd looked at each other. Three to five people raised their hands. Lin ChuSui also raised her hand without hesitation.


    ncing at her, Xiao Yan also raised his hand.


    Lu Chi walked to the coffee table and took out a deck of cards. After shuffling them, he said, "Since this is our ss reunion, of course we should matchmake. Anyone who draws the same card will be a one night couple tonight. How about it?"


    Lin ChuSui immediately put her hand down. What ame game.


    Boring.


    "Good idea!"


    "Come on, this is fun!"


    The ssmates around seemed very excited. Lu Chi nced at the few pretty girls in the corner. They also seemed willing to participate.


    No way... Would they really agree to be one night couples with the loser guys in ss?


    But soon, Lin ChuSui noticed their meaningful nces at Xiao Yan.


    She realized that he was still single.


    Instantly, Lin ChuSui was unhappy.


    After shuffling the cards, Lu Chi asked her, "Chubs, are you ying or not with the way you keep raising and lowering your hand?"


    "A silly game like this, of course I..."


    She hesitated and nced at Xiao Yan.


    In the dim lights of the private room, the top few buttons of his shirt were alreadypletely undone, revealing his smooth, beautiful corbone. Head lowered chatting with people around him, the corners of his lips curled in an unruffled smile.


    The girls around were practically drooling.


    Lin ChuSui steeled herself and said, "Of course I''m ying. Who isn''t still single?"


    "Then let''s start."


    Lu Chi shuffled the cards and dealt them out one by one.


    There were 17-18 ssmates participating. At least one pair should draw the same card. Everyone looked at their cards nervously.


    Lin ChuSui nced at Lu TianBai. Hers was a 9 of Diamonds.


    "Now, report your cards."


    "King of Spades, 5 of Hearts, 2 of Clubs..."


    It was Xiao Yan''s turn. He lightly ced his card on the table with his slender fingers. Everyone curiously looked over -


    "Jack of Spades."


    The girls let out disappointed sounds, throwing down their cards. Only Lin ChuSui stared at the Jack of Hearts in her hand, a little stunned.


    What a coincidence!


    She immediately red at Lu Chi, suspecting he had rigged it on purpose.


    Lu Chi put on an innocent, pure expression. "Yo, don''t tell me you drew the same card as the school genius?!"


    Lin ChuSui''s mouth twitched. Could he be any more obvious with his rigging?


    She put down her Jack of Hearts and said, "Someone cheated this round. It doesn''t count!"


    "Who cheated?"


    "You did." Lin ChuSui said to Lu Chi, "Don''t think I don''t know who you''re trying to curry favor from."


    "Chubs, aren''t you being a bit narcissistic with that?" Lu Chiughed. "If you''re unhappy following the rules, you can abstain."


    "I can abstain?"


    "Of course. Take a penalty of 5 drinks and abstain, giving up your chance to date the school genius tonight. There are plenty of girls here willing to take over!"


    The girls looked hopefully at Lin ChuSui.


    Lin ChuSui: ...


    Reluctantly, she picked up the Jack of Hearts again, hesitating and struggling for a while, then muttered, "Let''s just y. Who''s afraid of who."


    "Great!" Lu Chi said happily, "Then let''s start!"


    "How do we start?"


    "By dating!"


    "How?!"


    Lu Chi: "However you used to date him, do that now."


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui nced at him awkwardly. Xiao Yan smiled gently and romantically at her, extending his hand, "Come here, girlfriend."


    Since he took the initiative to invite her, Lin ChuSui reluctantly shuffled over. He naturally took her wrist, and they sat together on the same sofa.


    As she got close to him, Lin ChuSui felt the temperature around her rise.


    She shook his hand off hers and asked, "Did you bribe Lu Chi?"


    "Yes," Xiao Yan admitted frankly. "I did entice him."


    "Boring."


    "It is pretty boring."


    Lin ChuSui saw the bruise at the corner of his mouth.


    Earlier from a distance in the dim private room, she hadn''t noticed the abnormality on his face.


    She couldn''t help pinching his jaw and gently turning it to look closely. There was indeed a bruised mark at the corner of his mouth as if he had been punched.


    "Who hit you?" Lin ChuSui asked sensitively, "Who bullied you?"


    Xiao Yan turned his head away, wiping his mouth. "It''s nothing."


    "Did you run into Qin Nai just now?"


    As she spoke, she took out her phone to call Qin Nai. Xiao Yan quickly snatched away her phone, saying, "This is our date. I don''t want to waste another second on irrelevant people."


    Lin ChuSui didn''t insist either. She gently touched the corner of his mouth, "Don''t you have a press conference next week?"


    "I almost forgot." Xiao Yan smiled lightly. "If you stop being Officer Lin, you cane be my personal assistant. I''ll pay you a high sry."


    Lin ChuSui also rxed, joking, "How high a sry will you pay me, Mr. Xiao?"


    "All of my sry and stock bonuses. Enough?"


    "Not interested. Wealthy, arrogant capitalist."


    "After working so hard for so many years, it seems... all that''s left is being wealthy and arrogant." Xiao Yan said helplessly, "Pretty pathetic."


    "Mr. Xiao, can you stop being so falsely modest?" Lin ChuSui said disdainfully, "You''re the most promising founder and CEO of the top techpany in China. So young yet ranked on the youth rich list. Your failure is what the likes of Lu Chi and Shen Chi can only dream of."


    "What about you then?"


    "Me what?"


    "How do you feel about me?" Xiao Yan looked at her and asked sincerely.


    Lin ChuSui lowered her head to think, then answered honestly, "In the past, I always wanted to work hard to catch up to you, stand by your side. But over the years, I watched your back gradually move farther and farther away, until you disappearedpletely."


    Just disappeared. Vanished utterly, never to be seen again.


    That night, under the dim light, taking this opportunity and the haze of light alcohol, Lin ChuSui simply said everything that was pressing on her heart: "I tried so hard to catch up with you, but you still left, not wanting me."


    "I didn''t..." Xiao Yan felt choked up, his voice sank low, a little hoarse: "You know I never didn''t want you."


    He just wanted to improve himself a little.


    "What if I don''t wait for you and get with someone else?"


    "Then I''ll wait for you," Xiao Yan said firmly: "Wait until you break up."


    "What if I don''t break up?"


    "Then I''ll wait for your divorce."


    "What if I never get a divorce?"


    Xiao Yan thought for a moment: "Then I''ll wait for him to die."


    "..."


    With his serious expression, he seemed quite determined.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t want to continue this topic. She examined the cracked skin at the corner of his mouth again and said, "Go to the pharmacy and apply some medicine. If people find out you got into a fight at the press conference, it will affect thepany''s image."


    "As you wish, girlfriend."


    "Don''t call me that randomly."


    Lin ChuSui pulled him away. Xiao Yan obediently followed her, seeming somewhat henpecked.


    Behind them, Lu Chi called out, "Where are you two going?"


    Lin ChuSui looked back, "Aren''t we supposed to be a one night couple? Is it okay to be alone?"


    "It''s okay, it''s okay." Since Lu Chi already got benefits from Xiao Yan, he naturally had to fulfill the "task" perfectly. So he said, "But you have to livestream on your phone!"


    "Who''s gonna livestream for you..."


    Just as Lin ChuSui was about to refuse, Xiao Yan readily agreed, "Sure."


    "..."


    After leaving the Xuting Club, the night sky seemed to be sprinkling with rain stars. The streets were wet with neon lights reflecting on the sides.


    Lin ChuSui pulled Xiao Yan into a pharmacy and bought some bruise relief ointment. She gently applied it to the corner of his mouth.


    "Don''t move."


    "Okay."


    Xiao Yan was originally fiddling with the livestream video on his phone. At her words, he obediently stopped moving and gazed attentively at the girl in front of him.


    Her features were actually quite gentle. Only her eyes contained a dashing spirit, which was probably rted to her personality.


    What Xiao Yan first fell in love with her was this unyielding spirit in her bones. It made him feel especially secure.


    "My dear."


    "Hmm?"


    She carefully applied medicine to him, her breath gently caressing his face.


    "Let''s get married."


    "..."


    "I already bought us a ce in a good school district."


    "..."


    Lin ChuSui pped him as she applied the medicine, stopping just two centimeters from his face, before gently patting once: "Genius, what''s wrong with you?"


    "I''m serious."


    Seeing the sincerity and determination in his eyes, Lin ChuSui suddenly remembered when they first started dating at eighteen. Xiao Yan seemed to have already been thinking about school district houses back then.


    She knew he had strange thought processes, so she didn''t bother with him. She casually taped a bandaid on him, then walked out the pharmacy door.


    "Where to next for our ''date'', genius?"


    The nickname "genius" made Xiao Yan feel especially intimate. His expression rxed a lot as he held Lin ChuSui''s hand.


    She let him hold her hand as they crossed the busy streets and traffic lights, arriving at the small park where they had their first date.


    The red wall in the park seemed to have some cracked and peeling paint. The surrounding streetlights were off, gloomy, with only some distant lights shining over, outlining his silhouette.


    "Xiao Yan, what are we doing here?"


    "I promised I''d take photos of you here when the acacia flowers bloomed."


    Lin ChuSui remembered the night before leaving for college, thest time she saw her dad. It felt like a dream.


    Lin ChuSui felt a cool frost on her face. Looking up, she saw snowkes floating down from the deep blue night sky.


    "It''s winter now," Lin ChuSui said, "There are no acacia flowers in winter. Look, it''s even snowing."


    Xiao Yan looked up. Indeed, crystalline snowkes were falling, melting on his skin.


    "It''ste, let''s go back," Lin ChuSui said, then turned away from him, "We cane see again in the summer, if we have the chance."


    "My dear, it''s been five years. I don''t want to wait anymore."


    "When we wanted to take pictures, there were no flowers. When there were flowers, we were apart." Lin ChuSui stopped and said helplessly, "Between us, there have been too many missed opportunities."


    "I spent five years desperately working hard. Not for us to stand here today and hear you say we missed our timing."


    "Then what else can be done?"


    Lin ChuSui shook her head. "Unless you can make acacia flowers bloom in winter."


    Before she even finished speaking, the surrounding streetlights suddenly all turned on.


    Lin ChuSui looked back in surprise. The ring lights made her eyes hurt. She reflexively shielded them with her hand.


    But when her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw lush green vines with white flowers blooming like stars hanging along the dark red wall.


    Xiao Yan stood by the red wall. The backlighting obscured his features in shadow, his expression unclear.


    Behind him,rge clusters of acacia flowers cascaded down, even spilling outside the wall.


    Lin ChuSui''s eyes widened as she walked over, touching the little white flowers on the vines.


    They were real branches!


    "How can there be..."


    She turned around in confusion. But Xiao Yan had already taken out his phone, pointing the camera at her, "Can I take pictures now?"


    "Go ahead."


    Seeing the lush acacia behind her, Lin ChuSui''s irritation dispersed. She smiled sweetly for the camera, "You really came prepared."


    Seeing the sweet smile of the girl in the camera, Xiao Yan''s mouth couldn''t help but curl up too.


    After taking the photos, he asked again, "Can I hug you?"


    "Don''t take liberties."


    "I flew these flowers overnight from Yunnan. I didn''t sleepst night, nting them here..." Xiao Yan started acting pitiful again: "I had an upset stomach this morning too. I have a stomach condition, did you know? My lifestyle was irregr in the past two years, and I drank..."


    Lin ChuSui finally opened her arms, hugging his waist: "Genius, if you used less tricks, maybe I''d hug you longer."


    Xiao Yan held her tightly against him, gently asking in her ear, "Can I kiss you now?"


    "If I say no, are you going to get a headache and stomachache again?"


    "Then that means yes."


    Xiao Yan lowered his head, kissing her neck, then up to her earlobe, gently biting it.


    Lin ChuSui didn''t expect this kind of...kiss. A tingle ran up her spine and her whole body went soft.


    "Do you love me?"


    "No..."


    He gently bit her earlobe, as if punishing her.


    "Yes."


    Lin ChuSui finally gave up resisting, closing her eyes, "Xiao Yan, I''ve always loved you very much."


    Xiao Yan whispered in her ear, his breath hot, and asked again, "So can we ** tonight?"


    "..."


    "No."


    This man''s brain seemed problematic. She was almost moved.


    Xiao Yan smiled faintly, "Then let me change the question. Can you marry me first?"


    Before she could answer, his fingertips nimbly caught her hand, and a warm ring slid onto her ring finger.


    The ring was clearly clenched in his hand for a long time, absorbing his body heat.


    Lin ChuSui looked down at the wlessly cut ring on her hand, "I''ll sell thister."


    "This is just an engagement ring, not too valuable, at most worth a million or so. I suggest you pretend to ept first. At the wedding, take the 50 million dor ring I buy and then sell it."


    "..."


    The wind blew the swings with a creaking sound. Lin ChuSui looked back and saw a deep blue diary sitting where her dad used to sit on the swings.


    The gentle wind flipped open the book, pages rustling...


    Curious, she walked over and saw the familiar handwriting in the diary.


    It was Lin Xiuze''s diary, recording every little thing after she was born -


    "My darling can say Daddy today, ah ah ah, I''m really a dad now!"


    "My darling cried for a long time at preschool today. I feel awful, so I asked the captain for leave and waited outside the preschool gate to pick her up after ss. I hope I can hug her immediately."


    Today Xiao Guai''s elementary school teacher told me that she has an astonishing memory and may be a genius. I find this hard to believe since my daughter usually acts like an idiot. How could she be a genius?


    ...


    Lin ChuSui flipped through page after page of her diary,ughing and then choking up with sobs.


    She came to the final page. The date on thest page was from five years ago on the night he left for good. The only line written said:


    "Xiao Guai, don''t be afraid. I will be an angel to love you."


    Lin ChuSui closed the notebook and looked back to see the youth standing under the osmanthus tree.


    The cool breeze carried misty rain. He gazed at her gently,


    Just like when they had first met at eighteen.


    He really did find an angel for her.


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