"Why does it have to be you, you bastard..."
Walking across campus, Lin Mengyao glared at Jiang Fan swaggering ahead. She muttered the words through gritted teeth.
She must’ve been blind to ever think he was decent. Sure, he had a handsome face—but inside? Total rotten garbage.
She shouldn’t have approached him that night. Now this ill-fated mess was stuck to her.
"Don’t just blame me," Jiang Fan shot back. "I didn’t suggest it. Honestly, I’d rather you’d convinced her not to force you into tutoring me. Seriously, it’s unnecessary."
He refused to take the blame. He’d only just learned Xia Yining was Lin Mengyao’s aunt.
By senior year, competition was fierce. No one slowed down to help classmates. Shu Yue had hinted to top students for help, but cramming Jiang Fan’s grades up needed more than quick breaks. Even his own class wouldn’t spare time—let alone other classes.
Then Xia Yining noticed Shu Yue’s worry. Her niece Lin Mengyao aced exams but wasn’t obsessed with studying. As a day student, she had free time. Spotting her friend’s stress, Xia Yining immediately volunteered Lin Mengyao as tutor.
Lin Mengyao wasn’t dumb. Her aunt had hidden Jiang Fan’s name to avoid instant refusal. She’d been sold out by her "loving" aunt.
Though a phone call later revealed Xia Yining’s hidden plan, the cost was steep: tutoring Jiang Fan.
Still, Lin Mengyao kept promises. Shu Yue treated her like a sister. Backing out would hurt her.
After agonizing, Lin Mengyao reluctantly accepted.
Shu Yue cheered, securing them a day off. It was Sunday—teachers usually reviewed tests, not new material.
To avoid disrupting Lin Mengyao’s studies, Shu Yue and Xia Yining agreed: weekends off until midterms, with after-school sessions on weekdays.
Jiang Fan mentioned his part-time job. Shu Yue overruled him, calling Chen Jing directly. They reached an agreement.
*She’s just itching for drama*, Jiang Fan thought.
He couldn’t argue further. Few cared about him now. He wouldn’t burden Shu Yue—she’d done so much.
Fine. He’d agree for now. Soon, he’d prove his words true.
"So what now?" Lin Mengyao snapped. "You didn’t even bring books. Zero effort to study. Poor Shu Yue, stuck with a hopeless case like you."
Her tone dripped with disdain.
Jiang Fan didn’t flinch. He turned abruptly. "Does the school bookstore sell past college entrance exam papers?"
"Skipping basics to cram?" Lin Mengyao scoffed. Cramming worked fast—but midterm exams were harder than college entrance tests. Teachers ramped up difficulty early, easing only near finals to boost confidence.
"They have them. But midterms aren’t college-level. Expecting the teacher to copy exam questions?"
"They have them. Stop whining. Are you some blonde tsundere from an anime? Hating me yet talking nonstop. If I were you, I wouldn’t waste a single punctuation mark on you."
His jab hit hard. Lin Mengyao seethed. He stayed unshaken, always pinpointing her weak spots. She never won against him.
*She* was sacrificing to help *him*! Why endure this?
Jiang Fan fell silent, striding toward the bookstore. Lin Mengyao ground her teeth, wishing midterms would hurry up—or better, he’d drop out tomorrow.
But she had to prevent that. Shu Yue would be heartbroken. Her aunt might silently disapprove.
A promise was a promise. She’d see it through, tears or not.
Fuming, she followed him to the bookstore.
Jiang Fan bought a test set. He glanced at Lin Mengyao, arms crossed, pointedly ignoring him.
"Let’s go to the library. It’s cooler there."
"Are you deaf? I said cramming won’t help! Are you an idiot?!"
*Wow. A pretty girl swearing like that? Kinda fun.*
Her insults didn’t sting, but he didn’t enjoy being yelled at. Time to shut this down.
"I told you—I don’t need tutoring. Just watch me prove it. Why keep monologuing? Does ranting feel that freeing?"
"Ugh. I’m ashamed to know you."
Lin Mengyao froze, dizzy with rage.
She sacrificed her time to help him—and he *dared* complain?
*How. Dare. He.*
"Fine. I’ll watch," she hissed. "Let’s see what a guy who sleeps through class can really do."
