"Ah—"
After a heated verbal sparring session, Gao Liang let out a long sigh of relief and slumped face-down on the desk. He glanced at Classmate Lin Lin, who was still fully absorbed, and spoke up:
"I… I’m done!"
"Huh? Already?" Lin Lin blinked in surprise. Faster than she’d expected. The blue pill should still have thirty minutes left—she’d wrapped it up early.
Gao Liang nodded weakly, propping himself up. He flipped through the table of contents of the 53 and explained, "Per your request—covered every Gaokao key point. That’s all."
"A-A-A-Are you *absolutely* sure?!" Lin Lin slapped the table, eyes wide. This wasn’t trivial—one mistake meant big trouble.
Gao Liang gave a tired nod. Should be fine.
"But… at that speed, how much did you actually retain, Classmate Lin Lin?"
He took a melancholic sip of water and turned to her. The girl suddenly stiffened, fingers nervously scratching her hair.
Hmm…
Gao Liang’s heart sank further. Her dazed expression screamed *zero retention*.
*Sigh… all that effort for nothing?*
He drooped his head, utterly dejected—a tiny storm cloud hovering above, a faint glimmer of tears at his eyes.
*Hey! Tears?! Way too dramatic! How little do you think of me?!*
Lin Lin smacked his head. "I got it all! Yep, *all* of it!"
"Hmm?"
Gao Liang rested his chin on his palm, squinting skeptically.
"Fine. I’m beat anyway. Classmate Lin Lin—try this practice problem."
He circled a question in the 53, slid it over, then flopped onto the desk, eyes closed.
*This’ll take her twenty minutes… if she solves it at all. Time for a nap.*
…
Uh…
Lin Lin stared at the slumbering Gao Liang and the problem pushed her way. She took a deep breath.
*Problem-solving—one of my eternal fears.*
Right up there with initiating chats, teacher’s office summons, or random approaches.
But… next week’s study session awaited. System-generated problems. No escape.
Hmm…
No choice. She picked up the pen.
*Let’s use this as warm-up!*
The girl scribbled earnestly on scratch paper.
Three minutes later…
"Hey! Gao Liang! Gao Liang! I solved it! Check it!"
She nudged his shoulder. Gao Liang jolted upright, disbelief plastered on his face. "Wha—? D-Done?!"
"Mhm!"
Beaming, she thrust the paper at him, eyes sparkling. "Well? Well? Correct?"
Gao Liang scanned her work in silence. After a long pause, he set the paper down gently, staring at her.
"It’s… correct."
"Yay!!!"
She clapped joyfully. "I *actually* solved a final-exam-level math problem myself?! First time ever! Gao Liang, nice!"
"Amazing… amazing…" He nodded slowly, still puzzled.
*How… so fast? Only minutes passed…*
"You… didn’t peek on your phone, did you…?" slipped out.
"Hah?!" Lin Lin slammed the table. "I did it myself! Hmph—so I’m just a dummy to you? Sure, sure! Only *Genius Gao* could solve it, right?!"
"Ahem… not what I meant!"
Gao Liang flustered, waving hands. But she turned her head sharply. "I’m not listening!"
Awkward silence hung. Then—a sharp little canine peeked through her smirk. Barely noticeable.
She swiveled back, hands clasped, face morphing into a professional fake smile.
"Hehe, my bad! I was too hasty. Teach me more? Look, look…"
She flipped the 53 violently to the very front, jabbing a finger at a middle-school-level problem.
"Explain *this*!"
Uh…
Gao Liang blinked, confused—but nodded. "This part’s simple. Add the two terms: four plus two equals six, and then—"
"Stop, stop!"
She cut him off, tilting her head with a cheeky, almost teasing grin. "But *why*… does four plus two equal six? Classmate Gao Liang~ I just don’t *get* it~"
*Pfft!* Lin Lin nearly burst laughing inside. *Hehehe… today’s all about tormenting you. So what? I’ll drive you crazy~*
Gao Liang adjusted his glasses, earnest. "Can’t you count it on one hand?"
She held up her palm. "Uh… one, two, three, four, five…"
"Can’t reach six?" She blinked innocently.
Gao Liang chuckled, stood, stepped back to the bed, and waved her over. "Come, Classmate Lin Lin. Let me give you a *vivid* demonstration."
"Hmm?" *Kindergarten counting with pillows? Pfft~*
Eager for chaos, she leaned in. "Where? Where? Let me see~"
Then—
*Whoosh!* Gao Liang pounced. She landed flat on the bed.
She thrashed immediately—but in two swift moves, he wrapped her tight in quilt and towel blanket. A… uh… *zongzi*.
Wriggling like a salted fish, she shrieked:
"What are you doing?! Gao Liang! Let me go—I’m *really* mad! What’s wrong with you?! Y-you… showing your true colors?! I *knew* you were up to something! Today! Today! Help—!"
Gao Liang steadied her as she nearly rolled off, sighing with a helpless smile. "What do *you* think? You can’t do basic math under ten. Gotta tie you up and take you to the hospital! How’d you survive outside? Kidnapped in seconds!"
"For goodness’ sake! Worry about *that* next week! Ugh, fine—I was teasing you, you jerk!"
Still trapped, Lin Lin squirmed. Gao Liang, dead set on teasing back, turned off the light and stepped toward the bed—
Suddenly…
"Mmm… gently… gently… mmm~"
"Can’t help it… it’s just… so comfortable…"
"Mmm~"
…
A faint yet "*intense*" sound drifted from the next room.
Silence. Darkness.
Both teens froze. A hot blush bloomed on their cheeks. Gao Liang scrambled to rise—but flustered, Lin Lin’s hand brushed the rocking bed’s button—
*Thump.* The bed jolted. Gao Liang tumbled back onto her. One atop the other…
Creak… creak…
"WAAAAAH—!"
