The next day.

The girl stretched lazily, then struggled out of bed.

After breakfast, she shot her younger brother a glare, pulled on her school uniform, and headed to school.

Walking to campus, she’d grown somewhat used to wearing girls’ clothes today.

*Anyway, I’m living as a girl now—what’s the big deal?*

*Hey, girls get to wear skirts AND pants. Boys? Mostly just pants. Round it up… I’m winning!*

Today’s mission: find a top student to tutor her.

Lin Lin settled into her seat early, scanning the classroom for a friendly, high-achieving classmate while keeping an eye out for Teacher Zhu’s morning study hall rounds.

Waited. And waited. Teacher Zhu never showed.

Normally, she’d arrive right at the start—but today? Nothing.

Time was slipping away. Only two and a half hours left.

Lin Lin shifted focus to the grade ranking list, scanning top to bottom.

Rank #1: Gao Liang.

*Immediately disqualified.*

Starting from #2 then.

Rank #2: a girl with braided pigtails and glasses.

Lin Lin trudged forward step by step toward the girl—who looked even shyer than herself—then suddenly blurted:

“Classmate… could you tutor me in math?”

The bespectacled girl flinched, blinked back surprise, then waved her hands frantically.

“Um… Lin classmate, I’m prepping for the Math Olympiad.”

“Sorry for bothering you!” Lin Lin covered her face and fled.

Next! Rank #3: a bookish boy.

“C-classmate… could you… help me study?”

She bowed precisely 45 degrees, desperate to avoid misunderstanding.

But—

“We’re not really close, are we?” he said flatly, adjusting his glasses.

Lin Lin turned away mechanically. *Gomenasai… I was reaching too high.*

Next…

“Uh, if I tutor Lin classmate, my friends’ll say I’m turning weird like you.”

Next!

“Whoa! She’s seriously working down the ranking list! Pfft—you’re next!”

“Everyone else refused… how could I accept? Sorry, Lin classmate. And I’m not even good at recent lessons…”

“I’m busy! Sorry!”

After yet another brush-off, Lin Lin stood frozen, cheeks burning.

Whispers rippled through the classroom about the girl desperately hunting a tutor since dawn. No one knew what snapped in her.

Just then—Han Kui, the blonde senior, sidled up, hooked an arm around Lin Lin’s neck, and grinned mischievously.

“Well, well~ Lin classmate? Heard you need a tutor? How ’bout I give you a hand~?”

“No thanks! Very grateful! Bye! Never again!” Lin Lin wriggled free and bolted from the classroom, ignoring the trailing giggles.

*Waaah! Can’t stay here!*

She’d asked over twenty people… why wouldn’t *anyone* say yes?

A flicker of despair. Then—hope.

*Teacher… Teacher Zhu.*

*A people’s teacher would never abandon me!*

She dashed straight to the teachers’ office.

But—

Teachers were already gathering lesson plans to leave. Only Teacher Zhu’s desk sat empty.

Lin Lin wandered in dazed, searching every corner.

No one. Nowhere.

Footsteps approached. She spun around instinctively.

*Not him.*

Gao Liang.

*Damn.*

She stood stiffly, face tight. He clutched a stack of notebooks, awkward silence thickening the air.

After a long pause: “Um… Lin Lin classmate? Could you step aside? I need to put homework in the desk.”

“Ah…” She shuffled aside, watching him with clear displeasure.

*Ugh, why isn’t Teacher Zhu here? Why HIM?*

*Go away go away go away… so awkward…*

But Gao Liang didn’t leave. He looked up, gave her a strange glance.

“Lin Lin classmate… is there something you need here?”

A normal question—but twisted by his odd look and the sting of rejection:

*In her head:*

“Lin Lin, is your brain broken? (Leaps off swing!) What’re you doing here? (Spins on floor) This place doesn’t want you! Trash! (Flips) Weekend study session—every elite’s invited! (Claps, twirls) Guess who’s *not*? (Points) YOU~”

*UWAAAAH! THIS GUY!*

*HOW DARE HE?!*

Flushed crimson, she snapped: “None of your business! Don’t ask what you shouldn’t!”

She turned away sharply. *Ugh… I’m furious.*

“I’d rather stare at the system interface than at you!”

*Damn!*

She glared at the screen.

And saw it again:

[Task: Bind a Top Student Tutor. Time remaining: 0h 1m 42s. Secure agreement before deadline or fail instantly.]

“O-one… ONE MINUTE?!”

“Uh… if you’re looking for Teacher Zhu,” Gao Liang said quietly, “she’s on leave today. Won’t be at school.”

“L-leave?!”

Lin Lin fumbled for her phone. Dialed. Ten rings. No answer.

Dialed again—straight to power-off.

She looked up. One minute left. Office empty. Only two people remained: her… and Gao Liang.

Tears spilled freely as she paced in frantic circles.

*I just wanted a tutor! Why is this so hard?!*

*WAAAAHHHH—*

“Lin Lin classmate… why are you crying?”

“Coach… I… I want to learn math!”

She collapsed, clung to Gao Liang’s leg, sobbing through tears and snot:

“PLEASE AGREE, COACH! AGREE! I WANT TO LEARN MATH!”