Ting Yier.

Once again, Ting Yier's identity was confirmed.

After returning home, Liu Chengxi casually tossed the scholarship red envelope on the table. Then, he took out all the test papers and answer sheets, and opened them to find all the detailed scores he had requested from the teacher.

No one's first action after an exam is to review and correct mistakes.

Except for Ting Yier.

708 (+10).

That was Liu Chengxi's total score, far behind Shi Yi's 730.

His ranking in the school was fifth.

This result was actually quite good, 5th in the whole school, 18th in the city.

Compared to the last time, he had managed to maintain his position.

But Shen Yating, that girl's score was 712, 3rd in the school, 10th in the city.

Far ahead.

And only 7 points away from Zhou Wusheng, who was first in the school.

That woman was even about to reach the top of First High.

This time, he originally thought that her mind was in turmoil, and he would have a chance, but how did it turn out that she had widened the gap a little?

Four points was a relatively large difference for the two of them.

In the past, he had always narrowly lost.

At this time, his mother walked in, and seeing Liu Chengxi's troubled expression, she smiled and comforted him, "It's okay, so what if you didn't beat Yating this time? It doesn't mean you won't beat her every time."

"So far, I haven't beaten her every time. And Mom, knock before you come in."

"..." His mother didn't expect that there would be such interesting stories between the two of them, and she was quite emotional. But then she remembered how the other party's mother had praised Liu Chengxi today, and she quickly said, "But her mother said you're very good, strong, tall and handsome, and very simple."

"She talked about everything from appearance to personality, but didn't mention grades?" Liu Chengxi asked suspiciously.

"..." His mother was silent, and then smiled and said, "Didn't mention it."

They did.

Her mother said that Shen Yating was particularly serious and hoped to beat her son in the exam, and found it particularly interesting to see him anxious and unconvinced.

When this topic came up, the two parents laughed heartily.

Sorry, Chengxi.

Everyone except you thinks it's funny that Shen Yating beat you.

Even your dearest mother didn't understand your mood and laughed unabashedly at that time...

"Mom will make your favorite braised pork ribs tomorrow, okay?"

Based on her guilty compensation psychology, Mom showed a friendly smile.

"Okay, I'm correcting my mistakes." Liu Chengxi nodded, and then started his own business.

"That..." And Mom, after thinking for a while, suggested, "Why don't you go out and play with Yating for a while tonight? After all, you just finished the exam, and you'll have tutoring in a couple of days. It's not too late to study later, right?"

"Persuading her son to go out and have an early romance and slack off in his studies, is that the meaning of renting a room to accompany you?"

Liu Chengxi was speechless.

"Oh dear, your grades are already good enough, you can get into whatever school you want. Occasionally, you have to combine work with rest." Mom said with a smile.

Liu Chengxi has always been the 'other people's' child in everyone's eyes.

Even his parents felt that having such a child was simply lucky.

It was as if they had gotten an excellent child for nothing, and it was particularly easy.

Therefore, they occasionally hoped that this child could be a little 'bad' and a little playful.

This was obviously more conducive to the psychological health of minors.

I think early love is a very good method, at least it can teach him what love is.

"...Okay, if there's nothing else, go ahead and do your own thing." But Liu Chengxi didn't think so and directly rejected his mother's suggestion.

Just like that, Mom left the scene.

And he was reviewing where he had lost.

Shi Yi's score was basically known to everyone, 730.

Shen Yating was a classmate, so she could also know.

But today the head teacher was busy with the parent-teacher conference, so he didn't go to him to ask for the city-wide ranking.

So, what was Chen Yuan's score?

He wanted to ask, but he didn't want to ask in the 'three-person' group.

Liu Chengxi was also the type who would show a depressed mood when he didn't meet expectations.

After losing to Shen Yating, he was discouraged for a long time.

But indeed, he really wanted to know his score...

Just as he was thinking this, Chen Yuan called.

Then, he answered it.

"Why did you think of calling me?" Liu Chengxi asked.

"Every time after the exam, Chengxi-ge would @ me in the group. You didn't ask today. Did you not do well on the exam?" Chen Yuan said with a rather 'playful' tone.

Is this saying that I like to show off...

"Then, according to what you're saying, you did pretty well on the exam this time?" Liu Chengxi asked back.

"It's okay, I guess." After Chen Yuan said faintly, he went straight to the point, "There are many student union activities these two days of vacation. Zhou Fu's coffee shop will probably be very busy. There may be a shortage of manpower at that time, and several handsome and capable people are needed to work part-time. There is a salary."

"Part-time? Okay." After Liu Chengxi agreed, he asked concerned, "Then, didn't we not finish our topic just now?"

"What topic?"

"The score."

"This ah, I'm not here to talk about the score..."

"Since you did well on the exam, just show it off directly." Liu Chengxi had already guessed it. This guy's tone meant that he had performed well.

He must have improved. It just depends on how much he has improved.

"It's not really showing off. I definitely didn't score higher than Chengxi-ge." Chen Yuan said.

Isn't it natural that you didn't score higher than me?

With just half a year, you want to surpass me from 500 points? Is that possible?

Therefore, with this big increase in difficulty, Chen Yuan should be able to improve by 20 points, right?

"Just say how many points, or I'll @ you in the group."

"Okay."

As if especially 'reluctant', Chen Yuan said, "690, I guess."

"..."

And these words immediately stunned Liu Chengxi.

How much?!

690?

With such a difficult exam, you can pass the Huaqing-Jibei line with the bonus points!

Fortunately, I didn't @ him in the group right away.

Otherwise, it would really be self-inflicted humiliation!

In half a year, you can reach the line for those two schools. What kind of monster are you?

So, in all your previous life before half a year, you not only didn't study once, but you didn't even open a book?!

Too terrifying.

This person can actually not open a book and still get 504 points.

"You're really amazing... With just a few months of effort, you can get the score to be my classmate. An enviable talent."

When Liu Chengxi said with emotion, he added rigorously, "But there really aren't many majors to choose from if you just pass the line. I'll probably choose some popular ones."

"It's indeed difficult to choose a major if you just pass the line, but it should be a little easier after adding ten points, right?"

"Of course. If you add another 10 points..."

Speaking of this, Liu Chengxi froze.

Add another ten points.

What does it mean to add ten points?

Meaning, the 690 you said is just the raw score?

No, Chen Yuan, are you still human?!

You called me just to see this reaction, right?

You deliberately set it up once and scared me twice.

Interlocking, layered progression.

I'm like a passerby being slapped in the face, expressing shock again and again to set off how amazing you are.

But this thing is very shocking.

Adding the bonus points, it's 700 points!

That is to say, I'm only less than ten points away from you?

Next time, I'll really be at the bottom of this three-person chat!

How can you get this score?

With this, how much room do you have for improvement?

Next time, can you still scare me?

Yes.

Definitely.

Next time, as long as you surpass yourself, Liu Chengxi can only sigh: With just less than a year of effort, you surpassed my ten years of hard study?

"Chengxi-ge... Is it laggy?"

"Not laggy." With a sullen expression, Liu Chengxi didn't want to combine work and rest at all, "By the way, I've made an appointment with my mom to watch a drama at home tomorrow, so I can't go to Zhou Fu's coffee shop."

"Eh? Not going? If you don't go, there's no face value..."

"..." The words 'face value' made Liu Chengxi feel fluttery, but soon, he realized that he was too easily flattered and would lose his nature, so he insisted on refusing, "No, you're enough."

"Okay, then I'll leave you alone."

"Bye bye."

Just like that, Liu Chengxi hung up the phone. He looked at the test paper on the table, feeling very complicated.

He can't beat Shen Yating, and he's about to be surpassed by Chen Yuan. Is he so weak?

At this time, he opened the group chat.

He found that Shen Yating had already chatted in the group on his behalf, asking about everyone's scores.

And Chen Yuan's answer made even Shen Yating, who was speaking online, become as surprised as himself.

Shi Yi even sent a bull head emoji.

Presumably, the god of 730 points was also trembling.

No, it can't be like this.

He regards Chen Yuan as one of his strongest opponents, but when the other party is making rapid progress, he has been standing still, waiting to be slaughtered by the other party!

Shen Yating @Liu Chengxi: Chengxi-ge, why are you so silent today? Aren't you going to chat? [dog head]

Good fellow, she's directly provoking me in the group!

Liu Chengxi couldn't bear it and wanted to say something harsh.

But he didn't know how to respond.

So he thought while correcting the mistakes.

But thinking about it, he suddenly forgot about this and didn't reply to the @ message in the group for more than an hour.

Until,

Shen Yating called.

Then, he answered and said peacefully, "What's wrong?"

"You, didn't you look at the group?" Shen Yating asked somewhat uncertainly.

"Oh, I looked at it." Liu Chengxi honestly replied.

"You looked at it? Then why don't you reply to the message?" Shen Yating asked again.

"Oh, okay, then I'll reply now."

Because he was so engrossed in correcting the mistakes, he forgot about this.

So, after hanging up Shen Yating's phone, he used the picture he had stolen from Shi Yi in the group, [dog's head tilting oh?] to respond to the other party's provocation.

Then, he found that Shen Yating had sent him several private messages.

13:58

Shen Yating: What are you doing? Are there any activities?

15:46

Shen Yating: You're not still sleeping, you big lazy pig.

If this guy has something to chat about with me, why doesn't she just make a voice call?

In the past, she was quite direct and would come to me whenever she thought of me.

Unlike now, she's still asking on QQ.

And sending a second message without replying to the first one.

Liu Chengxi: Awake, awake. I don't have any activities these two days. I'm watching TV at home tomorrow.

After sending this message, Liu Chengxi continued to study the test paper.

Then, he also discovered his loopholes, or rather, where he could improve.

The composition was written too upright and rigid.

This time, the composition score was 49, not even 50.

Of course, this score is definitely not bad.

But for top students, it's definitely not enough.

And according to the teacher, the language grading composition this time did not suppress the score.

There were quite a few compositions with 56 and 58 points.

There were also more than a dozen perfect compositions.

Therefore, if he wants to beat Shen Yating and maintain the gap with Chen Yuan, he needs to maintain a progressive attitude in this question.

If only the language composition was 57 points, then his total score would be 716, second only to Zhou Wusheng in First High, and his city ranking could also be in the top five.

Moreover, it's not the first time his language composition has been this low.

Many times before, it hovered around 50 points.

That is to say, this room for improvement does exist and did not suddenly appear this time.

It is very convincing.

For Liu Chengxi, all he needs to do is break out of his comfort zone!

Okay, let's go.

………

After Shen Yating glanced at her phone, she pouted, feeling very unhappy.

Why does this Liu Chengxi feel so neglectful of me?

He's not very active in the group, and his private messages are just plain replies.

And when she was unhappy, she also had some faint worries in her heart...

Did my words in the group hurt him a little?

After thinking about it, she found that it was from that sentence that the other party's attitude towards her gradually became indifferent.

The more she thought about it, the more worried she became.

Imagine, if Liu Chengxi deliberately bullied her like this in front of her friends, bragging about his stronger grades...

Would I be angry?

I might also feel a little embarrassed.

After all, Liu Chengxi regards Shi Yi and Chen Yuan as competitors, and this time, Shi Yi is still far ahead, and Chen Yuan is also like a grim reaper, chasing closer and closer. Liu Chengxi's position is almost precarious.

In this case, it's a bit disrespectful to him to step on him.

But, I've already shown my goodwill to you in private messages. You can also see my attitude of wanting to reconcile with you, right...

"Ah!" Shen Yating couldn't help but bury her face in the pillow, "Liu Chengxi, you big idiot!"

I will definitely not apologize for this kind of thing this time.

Even if I may have hurt you, I obviously had a joking tone, and I took the initiative to ease the situation.

Yeah, yeah.

With this in mind, Shen Yating stayed like this until after dinner.

But Liu Chengxi still didn't reply to her.

He also didn't take the initiative to call her.

Who would he look for these two days after the exam if he didn't make an appointment with me...

"Too much, is he such a little princess?"

Wearing a sweater and sitting on the flower bed downstairs, Shen Yating became more and more upset.

And just then, Liu Chengxi called.

When she looked at her phone, her eyes lit up. But then she warned herself that she couldn't be so humble.

So, with an emo face, she answered and said, "What?"

"Why are you sitting on the flower bed?" Liu Chengxi asked puzzled.

"..." Shen Yating was stunned, looked around, and asked in amazement, "How, how did you know?"

"I just finished reading some sample compositions, and then I went to the balcony to get some fresh air, and then I saw a figure on the flower bed."

Still reading sample compositions?

Your girlfriend is about to be angered to tears by you!

"Oh." Shen Yating replied coldly.

"Are you in a bad mood?" Liu Chengxi asked.

"...Aren't you in a bad mood?" Shen Yating asked back.

"Ah? Why?"

Seeing the other party pretending to be stupid, Shen Yating immediately started arguing, "I made a joke with you in the group today. Haven't you been angry about it until now? I know, my joke may have made you lose face, but I didn't do it on purpose..."

"Wait a minute."

Before Shen Yating could finish speaking, Liu Chengxi suddenly interrupted and hung up the phone directly.

This time, Shen Yating was directly angered.

What the heck!

I'm already like this, and you still have other things to do first?

Although I usually have a good personality, don't bother you, and occasionally let you off the hook for your low EQ, it doesn't mean that I'm a horse tender!

I'm so angry, I'm really angry!

Shen Yating closed her eyes, stomped her feet, wishing that Liu Chengxi was under her feet and she could stomp him to death.

After being angry in place for a while, she simply turned off her phone and put it in her pocket, and walked towards home, also planning to give him some cold violence.

However, just then, Liu Chengxi suddenly came out of the stairwell.

The two of them met just like that.

Biting her lip, Shen Yating had a lot of grievances to tell, but before she started, Liu Chengxi adjusted his emotions and then said, "I thought that some things can only be explained clearly when expressed face to face. So, I came directly to find you."

So he didn't hang up the phone...

"Hmph." Shen Yating bit her lip and snorted lightly.

Then, Liu Chengxi said again, "I want to defend myself. I haven't been looking for you today because I was scared by Chen Yuan's score and felt that if I didn't make progress, I would lose miserably. So, I've been looking for places where I can still improve. In the end, I found that it was the language composition, so I've been reading it until now."

"Then, then why didn't you reply to my messages? Could it be that you were embarrassed by my words and didn't want to reply?"

"I wanted to talk back, but I forgot because I was writing the questions..."

"It must be that I said the wrong thing!"

Shen Yating felt that he was lying to her, so she suddenly became anxious and said aggrievedly, "I won't be so arrogant in front of your friends in the future, and deliberately poke at your sore spots. I know my EQ isn't very high..."

Shen Yating was interrupted by two thumbs before she could finish speaking, and couldn't speak.

"Stop for a moment, Yating." Liu Chengxi suddenly said.

"Ugh...ugh..." Shen Yating nodded weakly, saying vaguely.

Then, Liu Chengxi leaned down slightly and gently wiped the tears from the other party's eyelashes with the pads of his index fingers.

"I understand, no wonder you sent me private messages after I didn't reply."

Looking at Shen Yating, who was so sad, Liu Chengxi apologized somewhat melancholically, "It's my fault for not noticing your mood and making you suffer so much."

"..." Shen Yating stared at the other party and found that there was indeed guilt in the eyes of this melancholic beauty, without any falsehood.

So, her mood improved a lot.

She also felt that she was a bit silly.

So, she said weakly, "Chengxi, am I a bit silly?"

"..." When Liu Chengxi heard this, he immediately made the face of a foreign child pouting, "If you're silly, then wouldn't I be an idiot?"

You're still silly?

Is there a high school girl in the entire Xia Hai with a higher IQ than you?

"You really care."

Shen Yating found that the other party was still very concerned about the score, so after thinking for a while, she said weakly, "Are you feeling a little pressured because your score is not as good as mine?"

"It's true that I'm a little unconvinced, but I won't be angry."

Looking at Shen Yating, Liu Chengxi smiled slightly, "Also, you never have to tread on thin ice with me."

As soon as these four words came out, Shen Yating's eyes immediately moistened.

They were too precise.

Treading on thin ice.

In a relationship that begins with one party actively pursuing the other, the slightly weaker party will have this feeling in the relationship, afraid of poking at the other party's unhappy spots, touching their sore spots, so they often subconsciously 'coax' them.

But after hearing these words, Shen Yating was so happy.

These words were too reassuring.

"I know."

Shen Yating nodded weakly and then said, "You're so good, Chengxi."

"You're good." Liu Chengxi touched Shen Yating's head and said particularly happily, "I've received your concern and love."

"Yeah." Shen Yating said with a smile, "Then, do you have any plans for these two days?"

Liu Chengxi said directly, "Yes."

"Okay, then you can arrange your own things." Shen Yating said somewhat regretfully.

Liu Chengxi shook his head and added, "My arrangement is to be with you all the time these two days."

"Okay!" Shen Yating happily took the other party's hand.

And Liu Chengxi felt a chill.

Then, he pulled her back into the stairwell and said, "It's so cold, you're wearing too little."

"Are you sulking..."

"Yes, sulking is right."

Liu Chengxi stared at the girl in front of him and suddenly said, "I don't know if you like to hear this."

"What words?" Shen Yating, who had turned from tears to laughter, asked curiously.

"I won't say anything about topics related to other girls if you're uncomfortable." Liu Chengxi said.

"..." Shen Yating pursed her lips, hesitated, and said, "Tell me."

"Okay." So, Liu Chengxi said, "Before, I said I liked Senior Li Xinru, but actually I liked certain qualities in her. If after getting in touch, I found that these qualities were my misunderstandings or fantasies, I might not like her so much."

"..."

Shen Yating listened to him blankly, watching him pull open the zipper of his coat.

"But if it's Yating, it should be a little different."

Liu Chengxi slowly walked in front of the other party, and when she was at a loss, he suddenly wrapped his entire coat around her.

"Eh?" Shen Yating was stunned.

Then, Liu Chengxi put his chin on her head and murmured affectionately, "What I like is her as a person, so I especially like her other things as well."

(End of this chapter)