"Coach… I want to learn math… wahhhhh— *sniff*… N-no one… no one will teach me… no one will teach me!"
The girl was on the verge of tears. Time was almost up—she couldn’t delay any longer.
Right now, besides Gao Liang, there wasn’t even a single decent person around. She had to get him to agree—she refused to end up a useless nobody with an IQ of 20. Wahh…
"Uh…"
Gao Liang waved awkwardly. "Lin Lin, could you… get up first? You’re lying on the floor hugging my leg…"
"Tsk—"
Hm?
Gao Liang froze. Had he just heard someone click their tongue in disdain?
He stood still, staring at Lin Lin sprawled on the ground like someone faking an injury, utterly unsure what to do.
Meanwhile, the girl kept sobbing pitifully: "Just agree already! Th-the time… it’s almost…"
*Gone!*
Hurry up! Are you enjoying this? How can you leave me like this?
I wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for you!
She lifted her head, gazing at him with watery, pleading eyes.
"Uh…"
Seeing her so miserable, Gao Liang suddenly recalled a tip from last night—a female streamer, Little Vampire, had whispered:
"Start small. When someone needs your help, ask for a tiny, embarrassing favor. If they like you… they might actually do it."
Her voice echoed in his mind. Gao Liang gave a silent nod.
Yeah. Let’s do it.
"Ahem… Lin Lin." He crouched down, meeting her eyes earnestly. "I have a condition. Agree, and I’ll tutor you."
"I agree! I agree! I agree!"
Lin Lin frantically checked the timer while glaring at him through gritted teeth.
*Typical villain—taking advantage of my desperation.*
But time was critical. Wahh… For her future, she’d swallow any condition.
*Just say yes! Or you’ll be stuck tutoring an IQ-20 disaster!*
Yet Gao Liang hesitated. He turned his head shyly, voice barely audible:
"C-could you… meow once?"
…
*Crap. So embarrassing.*
He stole a glance at her face, bracing for her reaction.
But Lin Lin was frozen.
Eyes wide in disbelief. A slight twitch at the corner of her mouth. A flush of crimson racing up her cheeks. Then—
She jerked her head away, voice sharp and resolute:
"Better to die than suffer humiliation!"
"Huh? N-no! I didn’t mean to insult you! I just… wanted to hear you meow!"
"I never knew you had such a perverted fetish."
"Huh?"
"I will *never* be your catgirl."
Her tone left no room for debate.
Gao Liang was still confused—but Lin Lin had already connected the dots.
*‘Meow once’? He wants me as his pet?!*
Ugh! Even creeps phrase things elegantly. Total hypocrite.
*Now I’m picturing him smirking, collar in hand…*
NO. I WILL NOT YIELD.
"Lin Lin… are you misunderstanding? What catgirl?"
Gao Liang’s brain lagged hard behind hers.
Lin Lin kept her face turned. *Becoming my rival’s pet? Never.*
Then—
She glanced at the system timer.
Ten…
Nine, eight, seven, six…
"MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW! MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW!!!!"
She spun around, grabbed his hand desperately—voice panicked, eyes wide, spewing nothing but frantic, robotic "meows." Gao Liang stumbled back two steps.
"Lin Lin, okay! OKAY! I—I agree! Please stop!"
He waved his hands frantically.
[Ding dong! Congratulations, Host! You’ve successfully bound Study Ace: Gao Liang. The One-Glance System confirms: pure genius.]
Wh-what?!
Her lip twitched. But the system confirmed it—she exhaled in relief, released his hand, and smoothed her expression.
Gao Liang watched silently, replaying Little Vampire’s advice.
Wait…
Was that reaction *too* intense?
Like a machine gun of meows.
Shouldn’t she have been… shy?
Huh. Girls really are mysterious.
After a beat, he spoke gently: "About tutoring… were you serious? When? How about my place?"
*Why so urgent?* He genuinely had no clue.
But Lin Lin heard it differently.
*Earlier…*
*What I said…*
*Was he serious?*
*A gentleman in a black tailcoat swirls wine in one hand, a cat teaser in the other.*
*The girl on the floor—cat ears, maid outfit, fluffy tail—lifts her head with a pleading "Meow~" for attention.*
"OVER MY DEAD BODY! I’M NOT GOING TO YOUR HOUSE!" Lin Lin shrieked, face burning.
*I already "agreed" to be a catgirl… but breaking promises is fine, right?*
"Hmm… How about your place then?" Gao Liang offered with a friendly smile.
*That demon’s smile…*
Lin Lin shook her head violently. "Impossible! My parents would kill me!"
"Then… the classroom?" He scratched his head, genuinely puzzled.
"Y-YOU PERVERT! IN PUBLIC?! HOW DARE YOU?!"
She gaped, utterly scandalized.
"Then where?!" Gao Liang sighed. "My villa district place has nice views. Calm. Good for studying."
Ah…
Lin Lin’s mind twisted his words:
*"You can’t run. Know my background? You agreed. No backing out. Come quietly to the grove… and learn to be a pet."*
*Am I… trapped?*
*Am I really becoming my rival’s pet?!*
"I-I’LL DIE RIGHT HERE FOR YOU!"
"Huh?!"
Gao Liang blinked as she charged like a bull. He dodged just in time. "Wait—you *asked* me to tutor you!"
"Huh?"
The girl, now rubbing her head against the wall, turned slowly.
…Tutoring?
