Chen Yuan had barely finished his sentence when Zhou Fu’s amiable expression twisted into one of disgust, the kind reserved for able-bodied but unemployed people…
To be honest, being stared at like that by a well-proportioned high school girl was a little exhilarating.
But that shouldn't be my problem.
Zhou Fu, watch your mouth. Why do you always have to reward people?
"I used to think you two would have this beautiful, manga-like romance," Zhou Fu said, shaking her head and sighing. "But clearly, you're not the sunny, wholesome male lead type."
Well, you're wrong about that.
Manga has blank spaces.
While the readers aren't looking, the male lead has his own life.
He watches Yuya's movies, goes to the dojo, and gets starry-eyed over the white socks balled up in the female lead's shoes.
If you cut out Chen Yuan's highlight reel, removing the bits you find a little off, he's pretty Mary Sue too.
Just look at the time I sent stars to Xin Yu. Who wouldn't say that was a refreshing, wholesome, and emotionally intelligent young man?
You're just a little hater, only reporting the parts that make Yuan-god look bad!
"So, can you do it or not?" Chen Yuan asked, looking directly at Zhou Fu.
"Seriously, what's with that tone? Is this my obligation?" Zhou Fu was furious. She didn't expect him to use such an outrageous tone.
Shouldn't he be grateful for my help, and feel guilty for mistakenly thinking I was just a messenger girl?
This guy has no morals!
"That's not what I meant."
Chen Yuan's tone softened. "I just meant, Xin Yu might just want to show off her love. She might not be seriously taking your advice."
"How could that be? My words are especially effective with her," Zhou Fu said seriously, not believing Chen Yuan's goading.
"I definitely believe that. I'm just worried Xin Yu isn't being entirely honest…"
"Don't say that about her. Xin Yu is very sincere and genuinely asks for my opinion," Zhou Fu insisted, still trusting that Xin Yu was confiding in her and not playing games. "I can tell."
"Yes, yes, yes."
"Do you still not believe me?"
"It's not that I don't believe you. It's just that Xin Yu is actually quite opinionated. That's what I've learned from being with her," Chen Yuan explained naturally. "Even when I try to sway her, it doesn't work."
"Because you're a guy. It's different."
"Maybe," Chen Yuan said, smiling casually. "I was just joking with you. Don't take it to heart. Just talking nonsense."
"You don't want to see Xin Yu in white silk stockings?" Zhou Fu asked tentatively.
Chen Yuan acted like he had seen through her a long time ago. "Heh, she would never wear them."
"That's because I haven't spoken up yet."
Seeing Chen Yuan's confident expression, Zhou Fu said with particular certainty, "If it were me, not only white silk stockings, but I could also get her to wear a little skirt and black leather shoes that day."
She was especially serious.
It was an unquestionable certainty.
This person…
You fall for a straight-up fishing hook?
If my moral standards weren't so high, I'd bully her.
Honestly, if Chen Yuan were single and really had the urge, he could trick this girl into bed ten times over.
"Hiss… something's not right."
Zhou Fu frowned, feeling like her emotions had been guided somehow, and things were developing in a direction she hadn't expected.
"Want a Pocky? Hazelnut flavor." Chen Yuan took out a snack and offered it to her.
"Oh, thank you."
Zhou Fu took it and started eating, while trying to figure out how to get Xin Yu to follow her ideas without being obvious.
White silk stockings, leather shoes, short skirt…

…………
End of the day, time to go home.
After taking a shower, Xia Xin Yu put on her pajamas and sat at her desk.
The events of the day had motivated her, so she quickly reined in her playful side. Even though it was only Friday, she was already ready to get down to studying.
In half a month, there would be the Four High Schools Joint Exam.
These four high schools were the top 4 in Hai Dong. The questions they produced were very high level, and they would also use the college enrollment of each school's previous graduating class to create a virtual first-tier university cutoff line, and the score lines of key universities in Hai Dong, to correspond to the real *Gaokao* (National College Entrance Examination).
Xia Xin Yu also wanted to see her own strength and which school she could get into.
But just as she was about to study, a WeChat message came through.
Yuan Bao: I've finished showering. Want to study together?
Xia Xin Yu: Okay.
She thought he might relax a little more today, after the autumn outing, but she didn't expect Chen Yuan to be so disciplined, so she agreed.
Then, she stood up again and looked herself over.
Actually, it was okay to wear pajamas. She could just throw a cardigan over them and wouldn't be cold.
But now, Chen Yuan always wants to touch me when he sees me…
And these pajamas are quite figure-hugging.
Especially around the hips…
Would this distract him from studying?
Thinking this, Xia Xin Yu made a decision out of a genuine desire not to interfere with Chen Yuan's studying.
She changed into a clean school uniform, with white socks and slippers.
This should be less distracting for him.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Xia Xin Yu walked over and opened the door for Chen Yuan.
Standing in the doorway, Chen Yuan was holding books, wearing long pants and a warm, light-brown cardigan, and he had gold-rimmed glasses on. He looked a little too smart, and very handsome.
He also smelled of nice shower gel.
Looks like he just finished showering, like me.
If he asks me why I'm wearing my school uniform, what should I say…
Yu-zi is so mean.
She thinks I won't be able to resist touching her butt, so she's just wearing her default skin, huh?
This guy…
He really knows how to read people.
Oh well, don't be angry.
Xin Yu means well.
When Chen Yuan realized that Xia Xin Yu's reason for not being seductive wasn't that she didn't want to be seductive or didn't want to be with him, but purely to focus on her studies, he understood everything.
Actually, that stuff really isn't as interesting as you might think.
Right now, Chen Yuan is clearly more motivated to study.
Even Shi Yi recognized the value of the Seven Schools Joint Exam, which meant that his rank in the next exam in half a month would be a true reflection of his strength.
Although the monthly exams also ranked people, there was a big difference between easy questions and good questions.
One good test paper is worth ten trashy ones.
This is why so many people want to join strong high school alliances.
Among the seven schools this time, the strongest two were Second High and Foreign Language School.
Although these two had been taking the exams with some slightly weaker schools, there were rumors that they had repeatedly applied to join the Hai Dong Four High Schools Alliance in private.
They wanted to create a Hai Dong Five High Schools Alliance.
Obviously, the Four Heavenly Kings weren't willing to share their valuable educational resources.
Don't be fooled by how fiercely First High and Fourth High fight. They train together the most diligently.
Even if Fourth High completely overturned First High's dominant position one day, they would still do their best when it came to the joint exam, earnestly predicting questions and working together to create a perfect test paper.
This is why the top sects are so powerful.
So, after I finish the midterm, I'll have Xin Yu get a clean set of Fourth High exam papers and do them again, squeezing the old guys for all their worth!
Just thinking about it gives me a Nendoroid-like sense of satisfaction.
"Xin Yu, are you good at physics?"
Chen Yuan's English was already awesome. He just needed to occasionally memorize some words to strengthen it, and then read more English material to know how to write compositions.
As for math, the accumulation of those days, and the complete absorption of the top student's problem-solving ideas, the use of the progress bar, etc., had also given him the habit of doing difficult problems. He could now solve most problems without relying on Chaozi.