"I suddenly feel it's too unfair to have you as my maid for only two days," Bai Yuxuan said with a trace of regret.
"You bastard!" Ouyang Qianxue shot him a resentful glare.
"Haha, just kidding. Stop being my maid for today. Go change clothes—it's late. Head home."
"Oh, and don't come tomorrow."
"What? Weren't you just saying two days was too short?"
"I didn't win with real strength this time. I only won because you passed out. Enjoying victory like this feels hollow. What, not tired of being a maid yet?"
"Impossible! I'd suffocate being your maid one extra second. Wait till next match—I'll win and repay your humiliation twice over!" Ouyang Qianxue stormed to the side room, changed back into her uniform, and headed for the door.
"Wait!" Bai Yuxuan tossed her a stack of vouchers.
"What's this...?" Ouyang Qianxue examined them.
"Meal vouchers for Cherry Blossom Academy's cafeteria. The manager gave them after I pushed for facility upgrades. I can't use them all. Defeating a hungry opponent brings no joy."
"How did you know...?"
"I reached the infirmary first—the doctor told me. And I investigated that black-haired girl from the café. Her mom had surgery soon after. Her family couldn't afford it. I guessed you saved your allowance for her."
"So this is charity? I won't accept it!"
"It's payment for your maid work. You earned it. If it's too little, I'll add cash."
"No need. These are enough." Ouyang Qianxue stormed out.
After she left, Bai Yuxuan lay on her bed scrolling her phone. She stumbled on a photo: Ouyang Qianxue hugging a black-haired girl.
"What a happy expression," Bai Yuxuan murmured at the screen.
"Is that family? Sacrificing willingly, even going hungry... When will I ever have that bond?"
"No. Someone like me can't. Ouyang Qianxue and I are opposites. Classmates like me for my looks. If they knew my cold heart, they'd leave. But she warms everyone near her—that's why her sister smiles like that."
"In the end, I bullied her out of jealousy. I really am despicable. People like me don't deserve happiness." Bai Yuxuan set down her phone, gazing at the pitch-black sky.
Meanwhile, Ouyang Qianxue returned to her dorm.
"Where were you today?" Qian Wang demanded as she entered.
"I... felt suffocated at school. Went out to clear my head."
"No wonder. Pretending constantly is exhausting. If you have problems, tell me. My aunt and I will help."
"Mm, thanks."
"Don't be formal—we share a roof."
"Stop saying misleading things! We're just roommates. But... can you explain the midterms?"
"Midterms? Why ask? With your grades, you shouldn't care."
"I'm still a student. Who ignores their scores?"
"Well, Cherry Blossom Academy's midterms are hell mode. Few basic questions—most are pulled from college entrance exams or mocks covering first-year material, plus competition problems. Harder than monthly tests."
"Hard to compare... How about someone like me? Bai Yuxuan—what did he score last midterms?"
"Bai Yuxuan? Around 870."
"Average scores over 96 even on tough exams? Terrifying ability."
"He's a monster. Don't use him as reference. He self-studied all high school courses before enrolling. Your scores were close last time because monthly exams are simpler. Before you joined, he led second place by 60 points in the first monthly test. By midterms, it jumped to nearly 100. His scores never dip—he's meaningless to compare to."
"So he's that strong? I must work harder," Ouyang Qianxue muttered.
"Speaking of midterms... can you..." Qian Wang stammered.
"Just say it."
"Teach me to study?"
"Oh right—I never asked your last monthly scores."
"Well..." Qian Wang pulled test papers from her drawer. Ouyang Qianxue froze. All scores were below half; none passed thirty. Math was single digits.
"Your scores are insane! Worse shock than Bai Yuxuan's!"
"Don't shout! It's embarrassing. If I score like this on midterms, I'll get a parent meeting. My allowance will shrink. Please!" Qian Wang shook Ouyang Qianxue's arm desperately.
"Alright, I can't help it with you," Ouyang Qianxue sighed, rubbing her forehead.
