"Don’t worry about me. Charming a girl? Piece of cake. Heck, having one in my bed tonight wouldn’t even be a problem—seriously."

Feng Yijiu said it with effortless nonchalance. "You, though? I was *this* close to pity-teaching you how to flirt… but looks like someone doesn’t need help after all."

Li Hao took a slow, deep breath.

"Then… please teach me."

"Ah, there we go." Yijiu snapped her fingers. Coaching a clueless guy through a confession? Way more thrilling than any dating sim.

Besides—Li Hao chose to leap. He’d bear the fallout.

Success? Her brilliant teaching. Failure? Proof that med school can’t cure clueless-guy syndrome.

"Fine. Love lessons start next week." *Snap.*

"Why?"

"Ugh. This week’s all about waiting for the cross-dressing outfit. Who has headspace to teach *you*?" She rolled her eyes.

Li Hao: …

…

"Good boy, Mom already knows—you did great this time." Li Hao walked in to find his mom, Dong Shu, surrounded by a feast.

For their long-underachieving son to suddenly land fifth in class? A miracle. Especially for Li Hao, whose sole "first place" dated back to first grade—when only two kids missed full marks.

Yet every time "fifth" came up now, his mood soured. Friday’s dreaded "Si-Jiu Lightning Tribulation" loomed.

"What’s that face for? Did you rank *last* fifth? Unhappy to see Mom?" Dong Shu pouted, pinching his cheek.

"No… just scored way lower than my deskmate." Li Hao reluctantly named Feng Yijiu, wincing inwardly. "Nearly sixty points behind across six subjects."

"Spot the gap, close it slowly. Study materials? Tutoring? Logistics? Mom’s rule: if you want to learn, I cover it all."

Seeing his dejected look, Dong Shu felt a flicker of pride. "You’ve only studied seriously how long? Believe in yourself."

"Mm." Li Hao nodded. She had a point.

"By the way—you getting along with this new deskmate? Learning from *him*?" Dong Shu warmed to this "positive influence."

At least not those troublemakers who used to drag her son wild.

"Yeah… his methods are… *special*." Li Hao’s head throbbed recalling Yijiu’s antics: treating class like a festival, breaks like New Year.

If Yijiu were just coasting? Fine. But no—he grasped every subject fast, solved thinking exercises instantly, aced every pop question.

Maddening. Li Hao had sacrificed gaming, *slain his phone*, to earn these grades. Yet Yijiu proved balance was possible.

That old saying…

*"To master this path, great sacrifice is required."*

After Li Hao tearfully "executed his Ma Su," Yijiu lived proof: *no sacrifice needed.*

Absurd.

"Bring him over sometime," Dong Shu smiled. "Friday? I’ll make baozi."

"Friday… We already have plans." Li Hao’s face flushed. *Damn it—why mention this cursed Friday again?*

"Smart. Learn tricks. And since you’re in high school… bring your future daughter-in-law to meet Mom soon."

"I’ve got a target!" Li Hao shoveled rice, bolted to his room, locked the door. "Studying!"

"This kid…" Dong Shu shook her head, smiling helplessly.

…

"Yijiu… placement test results?" Feng Mingdong sat on the sofa, watching his daughter—so like her mother now—hands clasped tight.

"Eh, fine." Yijiu lazily petted Little Orange, the plump orange cat already living up to the meme, finding purpose only in kibble, heavy and content in her lap.

"Allowance… enough?"

"Way too much. My biggest splurge is a game skin. Carrying this much cash feels weird."

Feng Mingdong looked down. Even his greatest leverage failed her.

Sometimes the hired family doctor seemed closer to Yijiu than he was. Deeply frustrating.

"Don’t overwork. Balance study and rest."

"Mm-hmm. Play till tired, study a bit. *Perfectly* balanced." Yijiu swung her feet, grin turning mischievous.

"What’s so funny?"

"Just remembered—someone actually bet me to wear women’s clothing. Haha!"

"Who?" Feng Mingdong’s face darkened like a grim news headline.

"Not like *I* lost." Yijiu shivered at her so-called dad’s murderous glare. Little Orange, mid-SPA, turned its chubby face with an offended *mrrp*, demanding pets resume.

"Boy or girl classmate?"

"Boy! Betting with a girl? Zero fun." Yijiu shrugged.

"Yijiu. Dad supports whoever you like—any gender. But before happiness… judge boys rationally. Never let yourself be taken advantage of. Understand?"

"Pfft. Tiny issue." *That blockhead? He’d need five hundred more years.* "Relax! You’re brilliant—I inherited some, right?"

"Just be cautious. Don’t let rascals cheat you." Feng Mingdong stood. Time to learn pig-slaughtering skills. You never know when you’ll need to guard your ‘cabbage’.

…

At Feng Mingdong’s office, employees suffered collateral damage. Once warm and smiling, he now loomed like storm clouds. The whole floor walked on eggshells, terrified of stepping into the line of fire.

The oppressive chill lingered days before slowly fading.