Xia Yingluo looked at the test paper Ye Chen had done and grew more astonished the longer she looked.
Every answer on Ye Chen's paper was correct, and some of his solution methods were surprisingly simple.
After finishing the paper, Xia Yingluo fell silent.
"Ye Chen, turns out you really are a Top Student."
A sudden sense of loss washed over Xia Yingluo.
She had always believed that academics were the only area where she could help Ye Chen.
But now she discovered his grades were actually better than hers.
She truly wanted to be his friend, yet at this moment it felt as if her last bit of pride had slipped away before him.
Sensing her thoughts, Ye Chen ruffled her hair. "Actually, the reason my grades shot up is all thanks to you."
"Thanks to me?" Xia Yingluo blinked in surprise.
Ye Chen nodded earnestly.
"When Teacher Wang lectures I can't stay focused, but replace him with a Beautiful Tutor and I absorb everything instantly."
A Beautiful Tutor?
Xia Yingluo's pretty face flushed slightly.
She had just been teaching Ye Chen; that meant the so-called Beautiful Tutor was none other than herself.
"Which Beautiful Tutor are you talking about?" she asked shyly.
"Teacher Xia, who else do you think I could mean?"
Xia Yingluo's biggest problem was a lack of confidence.
She was clearly a lovely girl, yet she preferred to hide in corners.
Her voice was pleasant, but she spoke so softly one could barely hear her.
She studied hard and excelled, the most inspiring student in class, yet she never ran for any class office.
Looking into Ye Chen's clear eyes, she could feel his absolute sincerity. The two continued reviewing other subjects.
The more they studied, the more stunned Xia Yingluo became.
Turns out Ye Chen wasn't only awesome at math.
In every subject he was at Top Student level.
Back when Ye Chen had claimed to be a Top Student, Xia Yingluo hadn't believed it.
But right now she had no choice but to believe.
In the end, instead of teaching Ye Chen, Xia Yingluo was the one asking him questions.
Many concepts she'd never understood became crystal-clear under Ye Chen's explanations.
Without noticing, their faces drifted closer and closer.
She could even feel Ye Chen's warm breath.
Suddenly their cheeks brushed together.
Startled, Xia Yingluo jerked away.
In her haste she knocked over the water glass beside her, drenching Ye Chen.
Blushing, she said, "I'll get some tissues to wipe that."
Flustered, she forgot the floor was still wet.
Her foot slipped and she tumbled head-first toward the corner of the desk.
Ye Chen's reflexes were quick; he caught her mid-fall and pulled her into his arms.
At that exact moment the door burst open with a bang.
Mother Ye walked in carrying a plate of freshly washed grapes.
She saw Xia Yingluo sitting on Ye Chen's lap, his hand resting on her proud chest.
Mother Ye looked mortified.
"I-I didn't see anything. Have some grapes."
With that she spun around and hurried out, flustered.
A few seconds later the door opened again.
"A-hem, you two, be careful—don't get too carried away…"
As she spoke, Mother Ye gave Ye Chen a meaningful look.
Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo stared in stunned silence.
Before Ye Chen could explain, Mother Ye had already shut the door with a bang.
Out in the hallway she snatched the newspaper right out of Father Ye's hands.
"Old Man, youngsters these days—unbelievable! Guess what I just saw? Yingluo was sitting on Ye Chen's lap, and your son's hand was actually—!"
Once the door closed, Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo finally separated.
The room sank into dead silence.
Their earlier position would have looked compromising to anyone.
"It's late; I should go."
Xia Yingluo broke the silence first.
Her face was as red as a ripe apple; the atmosphere was too awkward, and she wanted nothing more than to escape.
Ye Chen sighed. "All right, I'll walk you home."
Mother Ye was extremely enthusiastic and escorted Xia Yingluo all the way to the door.
Before leaving she added, "Yingluo, come visit anytime!"
The whole way Xia Yingluo's face stayed crimson.
"Ye Chen, does Auntie think I'm a bad girl?"
Ye Chen chuckled. "Of course not. Didn't you see the way my mom looked at you?"
"What way?"
He almost said "like a Mother-in-Law eyeing her Daughter-in-Law."
But at the last second he changed it.
"Like her own daughter. Mom always wanted a girl; after I was born she even dressed me as a girl for a while and put me in skirts!"
"Really? I want to see those photos of you in a dress!" Xia Yingluo burst out laughing.
Chatting and laughing, they soon reached the gate of the Orphanage.
Xia Yingluo felt a pang of disappointment.
Why was the distance so short? She wished she could keep talking with Ye Chen a little longer.
Ye Chen smiled. "All right, head inside. Rest early—and no more part-time jobs. I'll earn money for you."
Xia Yingluo nodded. "Mm, bye."
After a reluctant goodbye she wheeled her bike into the Orphanage.
Ye Chen turned and headed home.
Watching his retreating figure, Xia Yingluo stood in a daze.
Is this what love feels like?
So beautiful!
Riding along, Ye Chen replayed the intimate scene in his mind.
A grin crept onto his lips.
Sigh—too bad Mom walked in at the worst moment; otherwise I could've taken a bit more advantage.
He pedaled past a district of luxury villas.
He glanced at the lights glowing not far away.
That was Li Sitong's home.
Both Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo were girls Ye Chen cared about deeply.
In looks, grades, and personality, each was perfect.
In his previous life they had stayed with him until his very last breath.
He had resolved that in this life he would never let them down.
As these thoughts drifted through his mind, his phone rang.
It was Li Sitong calling.
Ye Chen answered. "Si Tong, what's up?"
"Ye Chen, I can't work out the last big question—can you explain it to me?"
Li Sitong asked a little nervously.
She had called because she missed Ye Chen.
After racking her brain she had finally found a perfectly reasonable excuse.
Ye Chen smiled. "For the last problem you can set up an equation…"
He explained for a long time, yet Li Sitong still didn't quite get it.
"Sigh—if only our houses were closer; you could come over and explain it in person."
Ye Chen laughed. "Funny thing—I'm near your place right now."
"Ah, great! Can you come and explain it to me?"
Ye Chen said, "It's so late—your dad won't agree to me visiting."
Li Sitong replied, "It's fine. Dad went out drinking; he won't be back until past midnight. Come—I'll be waiting for you."