Now it was Lu Chengzhou’s turn to feel dejected.

He never meant to rush into a relationship this quickly—he just wanted to escape the fate of being the female lead’s bootlicker!

But the system flashed a notification: Confession successful. Destiny rewritten.

【Successfully altered the original plot. Acquired learning-type skill: Mastery of High School Mathematics.】

“Sigh… What a mess.”

Lu Chengzhou shook his head with a quiet sigh.

He knew judging by appearance was wrong. But honestly, faced with a girl like her—who wouldn’t?

All he could do was hold onto his decency: no harsh words, no cold shoulders.

“I’m leaving.”

Su Qiaoman set down the backpacks she carried.

Dejected.

Amid mocking laughter from the crowd, she walked away, head bowed.

Her lonely silhouette looked heartbreakingly vulnerable.

Lin Chen, the male lead watching from afar, felt a pang of sympathy and an urge to help.

But since they weren’t officially together yet, he hesitated—too awkward to step in. He could only watch Su Qiaoman fade into the distance.

Lu Chengzhou didn’t spare her a second glance.

The “plain-faced” girl before him stood up, ready to leave.

“Hey.”

Lu Chengzhou called her back.

She turned, glancing at him.

In that moment, he noticed her eyes—actually quite lovely. Charming, upturned eyes that drew you in.

“What else?”

“Nothing much. Could I have the flowers back? I need to return them.”

Lu Chengzhou scratched his hair sheepishly.

“And… don’t take that confession seriously. We barely know each other. You accepting so rashly was… a bit hasty.”

The original plot said his character was orphaned young, dirt-poor.

He’d worked a whole month just to buy that bouquet.

To Lu Chengzhou? Only someone with a bullet in the brain would do that.

Yet in the story’s logic… it made a twisted kind of sense.

After all, he *was* the female lead’s top bootlicker.

Hearing him, the girl smiled slightly, revealing two cute little canines.

“Oh? What if I say… no?”

Lu Chengzhou just shrugged.

“Well… fine. Keep them.”

She *had* helped him. Without her cooperation, he wouldn’t have driven Su Qiaoman away.

As he turned to leave, the black-haired girl let out a soft chuckle.

“Lu Chengzhou, right? I’ll remember you.”

He didn’t look back—just waved once in farewell.

He figured they’d never meet again.

Yet half an hour later, downstairs, there she was.

“Hey! What a coincidence, Lu Chengzhou.”

She waved. Same shockingly unattractive face. Same stunning eyes that defied it.

Behind her, a Porsche 911 idled quietly.

Lu Chengzhou didn’t connect her to the car. Didn’t suspect she’d followed him.

He walked past without a word.

She trailed after him, persistent.

“Lu Chengzhou—aren’t you even curious what my name is?”

“Not really.”

“Wait! Just one question. *One!*”

He stopped. Turned. “What?”

She smiled. “I’m just curious… why confess to *me*? I saw right through you. You weren’t sincere—you just wanted to dodge that Su girl.”

Lu Chengzhou exhaled. “I don’t know.”

As he said it, her clear eyes flashed in his mind. The way she’d played with that stray kitten.

At the thought, he added softly, “Maybe… because you seemed kind.”

Her smile softened. She extended a hand.

“Thank you for the confession. Call me Ayu.”

Lu Chengzhou didn’t take it.

She knew his confession was hasty, a tactic. She kept the flowers. She got her win.

He’d pay the price: instant noodles for weeks.

Each bore their own misfortune. Even.

Only after he disappeared inside did Ayu turn reluctantly toward the Porsche.

Inside sat a voluptuous woman in revealing attire, cigarette in hand.

“Sis… what twisted hobby is this?” She passed over a bottle of makeup remover.

Ayu wiped away the fake freckles and scars. Layer by layer, Meng Wanyu’s true beauty emerged.

Ayu was Meng Wanyu.

The woman beside her? Meng Jingting—her full-blooded older sister.

The Meng family: Jingzhou’s most renowned herbal medicine dynasty, unimaginably wealthy.

But the world marveled more at the Meng sisters—beauties of legendary grace.

Meng Wanyu playfully applied a face mask.

“I just wanted to see… is there *anyone* who doesn’t judge by looks?” She sighed.

“Lu Chengzhou was rash. Not sincere. But he was the *first* to confess. A bet’s a bet. Tomorrow, I transfer to that private high school. Get close. If it fits… I’ll be his girlfriend.”

Her sister froze. “That bet was a *joke*! You can’t seriously date some poor guy—Dad will explode!”

Meng Wanyu fell silent.

With this face, she’d met too many playboys who saw only beauty.

Now? She was tired.

She just wanted an ordinary life.

That’s why she’d run from Jingzhou Academy.

“Heh. Just trying it out,” Meng Wanyu said with a sly smile.