School is pure human suffering.

Ugh—

Not only stuck desk-mates with my arch-nemesis, but now dragged to the teacher’s office for a scolding?

Hmm…

Standing before homeroom teacher Ms. Zhu, Lin Lin could only lower her head slightly, listening quietly to the young yet accomplished educator who’d already guided multiple top-tier graduating classes.

Though she wasn’t sure what awaited…

Being summoned to the office almost always meant trouble.

Sure enough, Ms. Zhu pulled a test from the stack. Lin Lin glanced at the name and score—and sucked in a sharp breath.

Lin Lin: 69 points.

Seemed barely passable… but in Huadu City, high school math tests maxed at 150.

Passing score? 90.

So…

Her score didn’t just fail—it hadn’t even hit the midpoint. On a 100-point scale? Low forties.

Oh no.

She instantly knew why she was here. Ms. Zhu held a thermos steeped with goji berries in one hand, the paper in the other, brows tightly furrowed.

After a pause, she turned and handed it over.

“This is last Friday’s weekly quiz, Lin. What happened?”

Lin Lin took it with trembling hands. That question—cold as a horror-movie school interrogation—made her lips twitch.

This…

Yeah. What *did* happen?

A quick scan revealed the truth: her long-answer section was a sea of red X’s.

Multiple-choice? Barely attempted.

Fill-in-the-blanks? Meh.

“See the issue yet?”

Ms. Zhu rested her cheek on her palm, sighing in exasperation.

“I… I see it…” Lin Lin stammered.

“What issue?”

“E-everything… it’s all wrong.”

Ms. Zhu fell silent, then tapped her forehead. “Ow—!” Lin Lin yelped, clutching her head with a wounded look.

“Your methods are completely off. MC and blanks are passable—you just haven’t practiced. Like you’ve never seen these question types?”

“Ah… yeah, kinda unfamiliar,” Lin Lin mumbled, eyes darting guiltily toward the male teacher seated across from Ms. Zhu.

Ms. Zhu’s expression darkened. “I taught all this! Your fundamentals seem fine. Did you even *do* the homework?”

“Uh… teacher, first define ‘doing it myself’…”

Lin Lin’s gaze drifted to the potted plant by the window. Ms. Zhu blinked.

“Define it? Doing it yourself *is* doing it yourself.”

“I mean… when I had zero clue, I’d just scribble random answers. Does *that* count?”

Lin Lin risked a nervous glance. Ms. Zhu’s face went pale. She sighed, palm pressed to her forehead.

“So… no listening in class. No real homework?”

“I uphold the noble habit of never leaving homework past self-study!”

“Then what *do* you do at home? Just game?”

Lin Lin fidgeted with the hem of her uniform. How to explain…

*Actually… I’m a VTuber?*

Ah—if she said that, she’d get scolded for slacking.

Sorry, Ms. Zhu… I *want* to study. But…

If I quit VTubing, I’ll literally turn into a trash can… *sobs*

Silence stretched. Ms. Zhu shook her head. Years of teaching told her: silence = guilt.

“No choice,” she said gently. “Come ask *me* anytime. I’ll help when free.”

“Mm… got it.”

Lin Lin bowed her head. *Just let me go already…*

Who actually bugs teachers daily? If someone had that drive, they’d be top of the class—not office regulars.

Ugh… homeroom teacher aura too strong.

Seeing her slump, Ms. Zhu’s heart softened.

*Sigh… such a cute girl. So quiet, no friends, grades slipping…*

“Didn’t I assign Gao Liang as your desk mate? Ask *him*.”

“Huh?!”

Lin Lin snapped her head up, eyes wide.

*There’s the culprit!*

So *that’s* why he’s my desk mate? To “supervise” me?!

Grateful… but wildly unwise!

Gao Liang—her sworn rival!

No way she’d rely on *him*, especially after he’d already let her down.

Hmph. Just a pretty-boy. *Just*… smart, popular, kind…

Mmm.

NO. Hard boundary: never desk-mates with *him*.

Time to rewrite fate!

“Um! Teacher… Gao Liang and I… don’t vibe?” Lin Lin twisted her fingers, subtly trashing him. “He’s so cold! And a guy—I’d feel awkward asking. Could I get a *female* desk mate? Smart, pretty, rich, gentle…?”

Ms. Zhu rolled her eyes.

Cold? She picked Gao Liang *because* he’s gentle—unlikely to bully this oddball girl.

And *that* request? Might as well assign her a girlfriend.

*This kid…*

Is she okay?

*Cough.* Desperate, Lin Lin backpedaled.

“Fine! Anyone! Just… not Gao Liang… *sobs*”

“Nope! Seeing this? I’m talking to Gao Liang *again*. He *will* tutor you. You *will* ask him questions. Or I’ll seat you two right under my desk!”

“Eh?! EH?!”