Chen Tao was hoping the love-struck pair Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo would bomb the exam because they were too busy flirting in the same room.
But when he stood beside Ye Chen and glanced at the paper…
Handwriting neat.
Question one—perfect.
Question two—also correct.
A few more checked; every one right.
Chen Tao sighed—he'd over-thought things.
He then strolled to Xia Yingluo's desk.
Her paper was just as flawless.
Their answers matched exactly.
Worthy of the school's first and second place.
Fast finish, top quality.
Matching answers meant both aced it.
Looks like Wang Chao's two trump cards had performed as usual.
He could already picture Wang Chao's smug face… Sighing, Chen Tao circled the Classroom again.
Besides Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo, everyone else was still hunched over their papers.
He stopped beside Wang Yang.
Wang Yang was the class's star student; after seeing the two prodigies from Class Five, he wanted to compare.
Wang Yang was scribbling the last major question.
Chen Tao sighed.
Compared with those two prized cabbages from Class Five, his favorite pupil still lagged far behind.
He'd long known Wang Yang couldn't match Ye Chen—or even Xia Yingluo.
He glanced at Wang Yang's answer.
Huh?!
Chen Tao's brow creased.
Question one, a gimme—Wang Yang's choice differed from both Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo.
A closer look riled him up.
Such an easy question, and Wang Yang missed it.
Not because he couldn't—pure carelessness.
Chen Tao tapped the question, hinting for him to check.
But Wang Yang only lifted his head, staring blankly.
Chen Tao almost lost it.
Don't gape at me—review your work!
Look at Ye Chen: half an hour, all correct, and still had time to flirt.
You mess up a freebie? Seriously?
Heart stung, Chen Tao walked away.
The hand-in bell rang.
He cast an unwilling glance at the two crisp cabbages of Class Five.
A sour taste filled his mouth.
Wang Chao's luck was just too good… Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo had no idea how badly they'd bruised Teacher Wang's ego.
After the exam the three of them headed to the Hot Pot Restaurant to help out.
Business had been booming these days.
You still had to queue at mealtimes.
The place was steadily finding its feet.
What comforted Ye Chen was that, while revenue was solid, the profit margin wasn't huge.
People can't eat Hot Pot daily; once the novelty wore off, losses might still come.
Leaving the restaurant, Xia Yingluo went off with the Orphanage kids.
Ye Chen cycled home with Li Sitong.
Side by side they pedaled slowly.
Chatting as they rode.
Both deliberately eased their pace.
Ye Chen felt that even silent riding beside Li Sitong was nice.
They reached the apartment block.
"Are Uncle and Auntie home?" Li Sitong asked.
"Relax—Mom's at the plaza dance, Dad should be playing chess in the park."
They locked their bikes and went upstairs.
"How's the tutoring going lately?" Ye Chen smiled.
"Pretty good."
Li Sitong climbed the stairs beside him, heart light with joy.
"Ye Chen, you know me so well…"
Tilting her head, silky hair drifting, she said softly, "Every problem you pick targets my weak spots; the notes read my mind."
"We're desk mates—of course I know you," Ye Chen laughed.
Li Sitong nodded. "Thank you. Without you my scores wouldn't be this high."
Science had always been her Achilles' heel.
With Ye Chen's help her grades kept climbing.
Third in the Whole School—once an unimaginable rank.
His tutoring gave every subject a qualitative leap.
"No need to thank me. By the way, do you like the lemonade I make?"
At that her cheeks pinked; head low, she murmured, "It's delicious."
Ye Chen smiled at her reply.
He unlocked the door.
Li Sitong swapped her shoes and sat on the sofa opposite like the lady of the house.
She looked completely at home.
"Ye Chen… are you free tomorrow?"
A shy flush tinted the girl's face.
Her small hand cluthed the plush Chenchen.
The doll's chubby cheeks were squashed flat.
Her jade-white fingers and clear eyes shimmered like spring water.
Ye Chen's heart melted at the sight.
How could he refuse such a pretty girl's invitation?
Li Sitong taking the initiative thrilled him.
In both this life and the last, she'd never asked a boy out.
"I'm free," he answered with a smile.
He kept his cool and replied gently.
"Si Tong, why the sudden question?"
"I… um…"
She hesitated, eyes flickering, cheeks rosy. "I have two tickets to a Musical tomorrow—would you come?"
Only then did Ye Chen realize Li Sitong had told Wu Bin she had plans not as an excuse but because it was true.
She'd already invited someone—him.
Thinking of Wu Bin, Ye Chen sighed.
Poor guy.
"Sure, I like Musicals," he said.
With the system's God-Tier Vocals he could handle even classical pieces, so he occasionally listened to classical music.
Li Sitong added, "Don't overthink it; the opera is just to thank you for tutoring me."
"Got it."
Ye Chen nodded before she finished, smiling.
He lifted his schoolbag and took out Li Sitong's pink thermos.
He opened the fridge, filled the cup with chilled lemonade, and tucked it into her bag.
"Remember to drink it when you get home."
Li Sitong stood watching his careful movements, nodding dazedly.
Her voice was shy.
"Tomorrow afternoon I'll wait for you downstairs."
Ye Chen nodded. "Okay. Does this count as your first date?"
Li Sitong's face flushed even redder.
"Why is your house so hot?"
"Oh, didn't you say you'd give me a practice sheet?" she added hastily.
Ye Chen produced a paper. "Here's today's homework."
Watching her shy avoidance, he smiled faintly.
Seeing her bashful look, he thought to himself: This girl is absolutely adorable when she blushes!