At Hotel W.

  All the tables and chairs in the private room wereChapter 1093: Zhou Fu, You'll Surely Make My Dream Come True (Lu Guixin Part 17)

  At Hotel W.

  All the tables and chairs in the private room were made of rosewood. It looked vintage, luxurious, and extremely expensive.

  It wasn't a huge birthday celebration this year, so Old Master Tan didn't announce it to the public. It was very low profile, and only two tables were filled. The people attending the birthday banquet were all important members of the Tan family's linear and collateral descent.

  Gu Mang and Lu Chengzhou couldn't make it to the celebration as they were busy with research projects, so they called Old Master Tan to congratulate him instead.

  When Tan Ying arrived at the venue together with Lu Guixin, everyone immediately stood up and politely greeted her with bent waists. "Ms. Lu."

  Lu Guixin politely nodded. "Hello, everyone."

  Old Master Tan put his hands atop his dragon head staff and sat down on the sofa. The small smile on his face widened, and his eyes twinkled with delight when he saw the girl. He looked at her kindly. "You're here, Guixin. Quick, come here."

  Lu Guixin obediently walked over to him and passed him the gift she had brought. "Happy birthday, Grandpa Tan. I wish you longevity and happiness."

  Old Master Tan's eyes were full of smiles as he held her hand and patted it affectionately. "Why bother bringing a gift? I'm happy that you came. Come, sit next to me."

  "Mm." Lu Guixin then asked in concern, "How's your health lately?"

  "Good. It's all good." Old Master Tan felt much more spirited upon seeing Lu Guixin. "Are you used to the life here in Ming City?"

  Lu Guixin quietly placed her fingers on Old Master Tan's wrist as she said with a smile, "Yeah."

  The way she answered him was very similar to her mother, which made the smile on Old Master Tan's deepen.

  Upon confirming that everything was fine with Old Master Tan, Lu Guixin shifted her fingers away.

  After exchanging some pleasantries, everyone moved to sit down at the dining table and toasted to Old Master Tan.

  Things were very lively in the private room.

  After the meal, everyone moved back to the sofa area, where they chatted over tea.

  Old Master Tan chatted animatedly with Lu Guixin, who was good at everything youngsters liked except studying, and they chatted about everything except studies.

  Old Master Tan even took out his phone and formed a team with Lu Guixin and Tan Ying to play the most popular shooting mobile game. His skills weren't bad, which was totally unlike that of an old man in his eighties.

  Everyone was getting along well. They all doted on Lu Guixin as if all she needed to know was to eat, have fun, and do whatever she liked without any worries.

  At eleven o'clock, they were still happily playing the game.

  The current patriarch of the Tan family hesitantly came over and said, "Dad, you should go back and rest now."

  Old Master Tan glared at him. "Go back on your own. I'm going to stay in the hotel and play games with Guixin and the other kids all night."

  Everyone went speechless when they heard that.

  Old Master Tan was getting more willful as he grew older. As his body surely wouldn't be able to take it if he stayed up all night, the patriarch looked at Lu Guixin for help.

  Lu Guixin nodded slightly and then gently said to Old Master Tan, "Grandpa Tan, I'm meeting someone to help me with my studies tomorrow, so I can't stay up to play games with you tonight. After this round, you should go home, and I'll go back to school. I'll go visit you another day, alright?"

  "Studies?" This was the first time Old Master Tan heard her say this term, so he was surprised to hear that.

  Lu Guixin nodded. "Yeah, my results are too lousy. I can't keep up, so I want to study."

  "I see." Although Old Master Tan knew that Lu Guixin's results were bad, he didn't see that as a problem—as long as she was happy, she was free to do anything she liked. That said, Old Master Tan supported her decision, no matter what. "Alright, I can't be a burden to you, then. Since you want to focus on your studies, let's stop after this round. Go back and have a good sleep, so that you can focus better tomorrow."

  The patriarch shot Lu Guixin a grateful look.

  Before Lu Guixin left, Old Master Tan gave her a few more words of advice, telling her not to tire herself out and that she had to take it slow with her studies.

  Lu Guixin smiled.

  It was only until half-past eleven that Lu Guixin and Tan Ying finally left Hotel W.

  The Tan family's car drove over and stopped in front of them. Tan Ying opened the door for Lu Guixin and put his hand on the ceiling of the car door to prevent her from knocking her head against it.

  Meanwhile, at the parking in front of the hotel.

  A young man was sitting in the driver's seat of a car with his camera aimed at Lu Guixin and Tan Ying. He took several consecutive shots of them.

  …


  Xia Cheng had just finished doing a physics paper when her phone next to her vibrated. She picked it up and saw that she had received ten or so new messages—they were all pictures.

  Xia Cheng smirked when she saw how intimately Lu Guixin and Tan Ying were behaving in the photos.

  The photos even captured the time on the electronic screen in front of Hotel W. It was 11.30 pm.

  Nobody will believe that nothing happened between them in the hotel. What's more, she was seen coming out of a hotel with a player like Tan Ying late at night. Xia Cheng was now completely sure that it was the Tan family who had helped suppress the incident between Su Zeyue and Lu Guixin. She'd better not get close with Zhou Fu again, or I'll expose these photos to the world.

  …


  When Lu Guixin returned to the school, she sent a bunch of messages to Zhou Fu as usual before taking her bath. There was no hesitation in her as she tapped her fingers quickly on the keyboard.

  [Debtor: Are you asleep?

  [Debtor: Are we going to use the classroom in the Year One or Year Three's building?

  [Debtor: What do you want to eat for breakfast tomorrow? I'll go buy it for you. Take it as interest.

  [Debtor: I'm a bit stupid. If I learn too slowly tomorrow, can you not scold me?

  [Debtor: Obedient.jpg]

  She then placed her phone on the table and went to the bathroom with her towel.

  After she was done with her shower, she checked her phone for messages. She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she realized that she had two unread messages from Zhou Fu. She thought he wouldn't reply to them.

  [Creditor: Year One.

  [Creditor: I'll buy. Coffee and croissant?]

  Lu Guixin smiled in satisfaction like a little fox that had gotten its way. She wiped her hair dry with the towel as she tapped on the keyboard.

  [Debtor: Okay.

  [Debtor: I'm super obedient.jpg]

  Zhou Fu was leaning back against his chair when he saw Lu Guixin's message. He slowly changed his sitting position and stretched out his long legs. He had thought that she would seize the chance to tease him by saying something along the lines of "Are you buying me coffee because you're scared I'd get sleepy during the tutoring? Why don't you just admit that you like me?"

  However, she didn't. It was just a very simple reply.

  Zhou Fu lightly drummed his fingers against the table, his look unfathomable. After a while, he softly chuckled to himself.

  …


  The weather was good the next day. As the school was on break, there were only a few people in school.

  At the Year One's academic building.

  The blinding morning sunlight lit up the corridors outside the classrooms. The building sounded especially quiet without the students, and the sound of birds chirping echoed along the corridor.

  Lu Guixin went up to the highest floor, where the classrooms there were specifically reserved for students of all grades to self-study in.

  Once out of the elevator, she found an empty classroom and then texted her location to Zhou Fu. Using a wet wipe, she cleaned the two seats next to the window and tossed her bag on the desk before sitting down and looking at her watch.

  It was currently 7:55 AM. There were five minutes to go before their agreed time.

  She propped her face upon her hand and looked out of the window while twirling a pen in her hand out of boredom.

  In less than a minute of wait, she was suddenly hit by the fragrance of coffee. The door was kicked open the next moment.

  She turned her head and saw Zhou Fu standing in the doorway with a hand in his pocket and his black backpack hanging on his shoulder.

  He was wearing a dark jacket and black pants instead of his school uniform. He was tall and slim, and the warm sunlight did nothing to reduce his cold aura. His black hair was neat, his features were distinct, his neck was long, and his skin was fair. He was just that good-looking.

  Lu Guixin smiled. "Good morning."

  The classroom was white and brightly lit, and Lu Guixin, in a black baseball uniform, was sitting right next to the window with her short hair dangling at her shoulders. Her face was fair and clean, and her features were stunning. Hidden behind the gold-rimmed glasses were a pair of dark and clear eyes that were full of smiles. One could drown in them.

  One look at her, and Zhou Fu lowered his gaze. He didn't meet her eyes straight on again. He walked up to her and placed the coffee and croissant on the table.

  Lu Guixin stared at him unblinkingly as he did so.

  Zhou Fu then kicked the chair opposite her out and sat down on it. His voice was aloof as he went straight to the point. "Your results for the past two monthly examinations were pretty bad. Do you want to study arts or science?"

  Lu Guixin's smile fell as she looked at the empty seat next to her with a slight pout. "I want you to sit next to me."

  Zhou Fu looked up and met her moist black eyes that showed his reflection. She looked so pitiful that he seemed like a heinous sinner should he not agree to her request.

  "It's easier sitting from across." Zhou Fu looked away and refused to budge.

  "Oh," said Lu Guixin somewhat sadly before pursing her lips.

  Zhou Fu looked at her again and pushed the breakfast he had bought toward her hand. "So, is it arts or language?"

  "I'm fine with either. I suck at both, anyway." Lu Guixin hung her head low as she played with the coffee cup.

  "Choose one."

  The most important decision a high school student could make was choosing between arts and science. Since Lu Guixin had no concern about her future, she said, "I'll do the same as you."

  It was clear that the girl was upset.

  Zhou Fu looked at the seat next to her before looking back at her again. She looked like a kid throwing a tantrum because she didn't get her way. His lips moved as if to say something, but he eventually gave up and sat back down in his seat. "We'll start with mathematics. Take out your textbook, study materials, and notebook."

  "Okay." Lu Guixin obediently took out the things she needed from her bag.

  Zhou Fu then flipped open her textbook and saw a vivid-looking anime character covering the entire first page. Its line was so smooth that it seemed like it was drawn in one go with a simple pen.

  Zhou Fu looked at her and tapped a finger against the textbook. "Is this what you've been doing in class?"

  "I couldn't understand what the teacher was saying, and I had to find something to do since I couldn't sleep in class."

  Zhou Fu choked over her words, and his lips twitched slightly in amusement. "And you sound so confident about it."

  "It is what it is. When it comes to learning, it's either you know or you don't."

  Zhou Fu didn't bother to argue with her on that. Instead, he picked up a pen and circled the important terms and theorems on her textbook and, at the same time, flipped through her study materials and exercise booklet to tick a few standard questions. As he did that, he asked, "Then what do you know?"

  "I can't do mathematics." Lu Guixin smiled and said mischievously, "But I know how to woo you."

  Zhou Fu's pen stopped moving, and he chuckled. His long legs were spread open with one foot resting on the chair's metal support. He leaned slightly towards her and stared into her eyes with a deep look. His voice sounded deep and pleasant as he said, "Lu Guixin, can't you be more reserved?"

  Lu Guixin followed what he did and moved her head closer to his. "Things will only work out if I take the initiative. Don't you like it?"

  Zhou Fu didn't say anything.

  They were so close to each other that he could smell her scent. She smelled clean and cold, just like the winter snow. It was a very light fragrance, so one wouldn't be able to smell it if they weren't in such proximity. That said, one sniff was enough to leave a deep impression.

  Lu Guixin didn't avoid his gaze. Instead, she locked her burning gaze on him. It was clear how she felt about him.

  Zhou Fu, however, suddenly lifted his hand and pressed her head down slightly with his palm so that she would focus on the exercise book instead. "Don't look at me. Look at the questions."

  When Lu Guixin felt a scorching sensation on her head, her smile deepened, and she obediently said, "Okay."

  "Do these questions first."

  "Okay." Lu Guixin picked up the pen and began reading the question. She then started working out the answer on a sheet of foolscap paper.

  Zhou Fu's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at her fair and soft hand that was holding the pen. He went into a daze for a second before looking down to get the exam papers he had prepared for her last night.

  Lu Guixin managed to choose the correct answers for the first three questions. But when it came to the fourth question, the answer she arrived at couldn't be found in any of the four choices. She then shook the dice on her pen. The numbers shown on the two dice added up to seven, so she selected the choice 'C.'

  When Zhou Fu saw that he frowned and asked in confusion, "What are you doing?"

  Lu Guixin sheepishly explained, "I'll shake the dice whenever I can't get the answer. I'll choose option A when the total of the dice adds up to one, two, or three; B for four, five, or six; and…"

  The frown on Zhou Fu's face instantly deepened as he stared at the dice atop her pen. "Is that how you use that pen?"

  Lu Guixin carefully nodded while looking innocently at him with slightly widened eyes.

  Speechless, Zhou Fu slowly exhaled and said, "Stop. I'll explain it to you."

  "Okay." Lu Guixin handed her pen to him with a smile.

  Zhou Fu pressed his fingers on the exercise book and, with a slight twist of his wrist, turned it so that it was in between them. He then started writing the steps in the book. "Look here. Since the quadratic function is known…"

  Lu Guixin leaned in slightly and craned her neck to look at his handwriting—it looked powerful, imposing, and wild.

  In his deep and magnetic voice, he slowly explained the steps to her in a clear, simple, and logical manner.

  Lu Guixin kept humming her assent and exclaiming, "I see. Whoa, you're so smart…"

  After repeating "you're so smart" several times, Zhou Fu took out a croissant from the paper bag and shoved it into her mouth. Without lifting his head, he said, "Keep quiet if you don't know how to praise people."

  Lu Guixin took a bite at the croissant while wrinkling her nose in discontent. "Isn't calling you smart a compliment?"

  Zhou Fu ignored her. After explaining a problem to her, he told her about the other key points and then looked at her. "Do you understand it now?"

  Lu Guixin nodded uncertainly. "I guess so…"

  Zhou Fu put the exam papers he had brought in front of her and then lifted his chin. "Do the fifth question."

  The fifth multiple-choice question on the exam papers he brought was similar to the one Lu Guixin just did.

  He watched her work out the answer on the foolscap paper. The steps were sort of wrong, but she still somehow managed to get the correct answer.

  Now that Zhou Fu knew where her level was, he explained the next few questions to her instead of asking her to do them.

  However, after explaining three questions to her, Lu Guixin suddenly softly said, "My neck hurts."

  Zhou Fu paused and looked up.

  As they were sitting across from each other, they had to twist their bodies in order to look at the exercise book. It was an uncomfortable sitting posture, which didn't matter if he was just explaining one question to her.

  Looking all pitiful, she massaged her neck and said, "It's really uncomfortable."

  Zhou Fu looked into her eyes. Then, a few seconds later, he licked the corner of his lips and got up to take the seat next to her.

  His faint minty scent had a hint of cigarette smell that was slightly stronger than usual, and it smelled really good. It seemed like he had just smoked not long ago.

  The two of them were very close to each other right now, with their shoulders almost touching. They could clearly feel each other's body temperature.

  "Are you happy now?"

  A hint of amusement appeared in Lu Guixin's eyes when she heard his voice above her head. She looked up with innocent eyes and asked in confusion, "Happy about what?"

  Zhou Fu looked at her before returning his attention back to the paper. "Nothing."

  With his left hand rested on the corner of Lu Guixin's chair, his back slightly bent, and the pen in his right hand, he continued to explain the question to her.

  Lu Guixin, who felt like she was semi-enveloped in his embrace, secretly looked at his waistline. Her fingers curled up as if she was about to do something.

  "If you look at me again, I'll go back to my seat, and you can continue to suffer from neck pain."

  It felt as if his lips were right next to her ears from the way his breath tickled her ears.

  Lu Guixin pouted and averted her gaze unhappily. "Other people can hug you, but I can't even look at you."

  Zhou Fu's gaze landed on her slightly lowered black feathery eyelashes. He raised his eyebrows. "And in what capacity are you saying this, Lu Guixin?"

  Lu Guixin turned her head and looked at him. In an arrogant and bold manner, she said, "As your future girlfriend. Can't I do that?"

  Zhou Fu looked at her with a nonchalant smirk. "Are you still sleeping? What are you dreaming about?"

  As he said that, he wrote down the formulas and key points on the exam paper.

  "A good dream!" Lu Guixin lifted her chin and gave him a toothy grin before saying in a slow but confident manner, "You'll surely make my dream come true."

  Zhou Fu stopped writing, but he didn't admit or deny what she said. His long arm went around the back of her neck to the front of her face to pinch her chin and make her face the front. He then pressed her head down once more. "Focus."

  made of rosewood. It looked vintage, luxurious, and extremely expensive.

  It wasn't a huge birthday celebration this year, so Old Master Tan didn't announce it to the public. It was held in a very low profile, and only two tables were filled. The people attending the birthday banquet were all important members of the Tan family's linear and collateral descent.

  Gu Mang and Lu Chengzhou couldn't make it to the celebration as they were busy with research projects, so they called Old Master Tan to congratulate him instead.

  When Tan Ying arrived at the venue together with Lu Guixin, everyone immediately stood up and politely greeted her with bent waists. "Ms. Lu."

  Lu Guixin politely nodded. "Hello, everyone."

  Old Master Tan put his hands atop his dragon head staff and sat down on the sofa. The small smile on his face widened, and his eyes twinkled with delight when he saw the girl. He looked at her kindly. "You're here, Guixin. Quick, come here."

  Lu Guixin obediently walked over to him and passed him the gift she brought. "Happy birthday, Grandpa Tan. I wish you longevity and happiness."

  Old Master Tan's eyes were full of smiles as he held her hand and patted it affectionately. "Why bother bringing a gift? I'm happy that you came. Come, sit next to me."

  "Mm." Lu Guixin then asked in concern, "How's your health lately?"

  "Good. It's all good." Old Master Tan felt much more spirited upon seeing Lu Guixin. "Are you used to the life here in Ming City?"

  Lu Guixin quietly placed her fingers on Old Master Tan's wrist as she said with a smile, "Yeah."

  The way she answered him was very similar to her mother, which made the smile on Old Master Tan's deepen.

  Upon confirming that everything was fine with Old Master Tan Lu Guixin shifted her fingers away.

  After exchanging some pleasantries, everyone moved to sit down at the dining table and toasted to Old Master Tan.

  Things were very lively in the private room.

  After the meal, everyone moved back to the sofa area, where they chatted over tea.

  Old Master Tan chatted animatedly with Lu Guixin, who was good at everything youngsters liked except studying, and they chatted about everything except studies.

  Old Master Tan even took out his phone and formed a team with Lu Guixin and Tan Ying to play the most popular shooting mobile game. His skills weren't bad, which was totally unlike that of an old man in his eighties.

  Everyone was getting along well. They all doted on Lu Guixin as if all she needed to know was to eat, have fun, and do whatever she liked without any worries.

  At eleven o'clock, they were still happily playing the game.

  The current patriarch of the Tan family hesitantly came over and said, "Dad, you should go back and rest now."

  Old Master Tan glared at him. "Go back on your own. I'm going to stay in the hotel and play games with Guixin and the other kids all night."

  Everyone went speechless when they heard that.

  Old Master Tan was getting more willful as he grew older. As his body surely wouldn't be able to take it if he stayed up all night, the patriarch looked at Lu Guixin for help.

  Lu Guixin nodded slightly and then gently said to Old Master Tan, "Grandpa Tan, I'm meeting someone to help me with my studies tomorrow, so I can't stay up to play games with you tonight. After this round, you should go home, and I'll go back to school. I'll go visit you another day, alright?"

  "Studies?" This was the first time Old Master Tan heard her say this term, so he was surprised to hear that.

  Lu Guixin nodded. "Yeah, my results are too lousy. I can't keep up, so I want to study."

  "I see." Although Old Master Tan knew that Lu Guixin's results were bad, he didn't see that as a problem—as long as she was happy, she was free to do anything she liked. That said, Old Master Tan supported her decision, no matter what. "Alright, I can't be a burden to you, then. Since you want to focus on your studies, let's stop after this round. Go back and have a good sleep, so that you can focus better tomorrow."

  The patriarch shot Lu Guixin a grateful look.

  Before Lu Guixin left, Old Master Tan gave her a few more words of advice, telling her not to tire herself out and that she had to take it slow with her studies.

  Lu Guixin smiled.

  It was only until half-past eleven that Lu Guixin and Tan Ying finally left Hotel W.

  The Tan family's car drove over and stopped in front of them. Tan Ying opened the door for Lu Guixin and put his hand on the ceiling of the car door to prevent her from knocking her head against it.

  Meanwhile, at the carpark in front of the hotel.

  A young man was sitting in the driver's seat of a car with his camera aimed at Lu Guixin and Tan Ying. He took several consecutive shots of them.

  …


  Xia Cheng had just finished doing a physics paper when her phone next to her vibrated. She picked it up and saw that she had received ten or so new messages—they were all pictures.

  Xia Cheng smirked when she saw how intimately Lu Guixin and Tan Ying were behaving in the photos.

  The photos even captured the time on the electronic screen in front of Hotel W. It was 11.30 pm.

  Nobody will believe that nothing happened between them in the hotel. What's more, she was seen coming out of a hotel with a player like Tan Ying late at night. Xia Cheng was now completely sure that it was the Tan family who had helped suppress the incident between Su Zeyue and Lu Guixin. She'd better not get close with Zhou Fu again, or I'll expose these photos to the world.

  …


  When Lu Guixin returned to the school, she sent a bunch of messages to Zhou Fu as usual before taking her bath. There was no hesitation in her as she tapped her fingers quickly on the keyboard.

  [Debtor: Are you asleep?

  [Debtor: Are we going to use the classroom in the Year One or Year Three's building?

  [Debtor: What do you want to eat for breakfast tomorrow? I'll go buy it for you. Take it as interest.

  [Debtor: I'm a bit stupid. If I learn too slowly tomorrow, can you not scold me?

  [Debtor: Obedient.jpg]

  She then placed her phone on the table and went to the bathroom with her towel.

  After she was done with her shower, she checked her phone for messages. She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she realized that she had two unread messages from Zhou Fu. She thought he wouldn't reply to them.

  [Creditor: Year One.

  [Creditor: I'll buy. Coffee and croissant?]

  Lu Guixin smiled in satisfaction like a little fox that had gotten its way. She wiped her hair dry with the towel as she tapped on the keyboard.

  [Debtor: Okay.

  [Debtor: I'm super obedient.jpg]

  Zhou Fu was leaning back against his chair when he saw Lu Guixin's message. He slowly changed his sitting position and stretched out his long legs. He had thought that she would seize the chance to tease him by saying something along the lines of "Are you buying me coffee because you're scared I'd get sleepy during the tutoring? Why don't you just admit that you like me?"

  However, she didn't. It was just a very simple reply.

  Zhou Fu lightly drummed his fingers against the table, his look unfathomable. After a while, he softly chuckled to himself.

  …


  The weather was good the next day. As the school was on break, there were only a few people in school.

  At the Year One's academic building.

  The blinding morning sunlight lit up the corridors outside the classrooms. The building sounded especially quiet without the students, and the sound of birds chirping echoed along the corridor.

  Lu Guixin went up to the highest floor, where the classrooms there were specifically reserved for students of all grades to self-study in.

  Once out of the elevator, she found an empty classroom and then texted her location to Zhou Fu. Using a wet wipe, she cleaned the two seats next to the window and tossed her bag on the desk before sitting down and looking at her watch.

  It was currently 7:55 AM. There were five minutes to go before their agreed time.

  She propped her face up on her hand and looked out of the window while twirling a pen in her hand out of boredom.

  In less than a minute of wait, she was suddenly hit by the fragrance of coffee. The door was kicked open the next moment.

  She turned her head and saw Zhou Fu standing in the doorway with a hand in his pocket and his black backpack hanging on his shoulder.

  He was wearing a dark jacket and black pants instead of his school uniform. He was tall and slim, and the warm sunlight did nothing to reduce his cold aura. His black hair was neat, his features were distinct, his neck was long, and his skin was fair. He was just that good-looking.

  Lu Guixin smiled. "Good morning."

  The classroom was white and brightly lit, and Lu Guixin, in a black baseball uniform, was sitting right next to the window with her short hair dangling at her shoulders. Her face was fair and clean, and her features were stunning. Hidden behind the gold-rimmed glasses were a pair of dark and clear eyes that were full of smiles. One could drown in them.

  One look at her, and Zhou Fu lowered his gaze. He didn't meet her eyes straight on again. He walked up to her and placed the coffee and croissant on the table.

  Lu Guixin stared at him unblinkingly as he did so.

  Zhou Fu then kicked the chair opposite her out and sat down on it. His voice was aloof as he went straight to the point. "Your results for the past two monthly examinations were pretty bad. Do you want to study arts or science?"

  Lu Guixin's smile fell as she looked at the empty seat next to her with a slight pout. "I want you to sit next to me."

  Zhou Fu looked up and met her black moist eyes that showed his reflection. She looked so pitiful that he seemed like a heinous sinner should he not agree to her request.

  "It's easier sitting from across." Zhou Fu looked away and refused to budge.

  "Oh," said Lu Guixin somewhat sadly before pursing her lips.

  Zhou Fu looked at her again and pushed the breakfast he had bought toward her hand. "So, is it arts or language?"

  "I'm fine with either. I suck at both, anyway." Lu Guixin hung her head low as she played with the coffee cup.

  "Choose one."

  The most important decision a high school student could make was choosing between arts and science. Since Lu Guixin had no concern about her future, she said, "I'll do the same as you."

  It was clear that the girl was upset.

  Zhou Fu looked at the seat next to her before looking back at her again. She looked like a kid throwing a tantrum because she didn't get her way. His lips moved as if to say something, but he eventually gave up and sat back down in his seat. "We'll start with mathematics. Take out your textbook, study materials, and notebook."

  "Okay." Lu Guixin obediently took out the things she needed from her bag.

  Zhou Fu then flipped open her textbook and saw a vivid-looking anime character covering the entire first page. Its line was so smooth that it seemed like it was drawn in one go with a simple pen.

  Zhou Fu looked at her and tapped a finger against the textbook. "Is this what you've been doing in class?"

  "I couldn't understand what the teacher was saying, and I had to find something to do since I couldn't sleep in class."

  Zhou Fu choked over her words, and his lips twitched slightly in amusement. "And you sound so confident about it."

  "It is what it is. When it comes to learning, it's either you know or you don't."

  Zhou Fu didn't bother to argue with her on that. Instead, he picked up a pen and circled the important terms and theorems on her textbook and, at the same time, flipped through her study materials and exercise booklet to tick a few standard questions. As he did that, he asked, "Then what do you know?"

  "I can't do mathematics." Lu Guixin smiled and said mischievously, "But I know how to woo you."

  Zhou Fu's pen stopped moving, and he chuckled. His long legs were spread open with one foot resting on the chair's metal support. He leaned slightly towards her and stared into her eyes with a deep look. His voice sounded deep and pleasant as he said, "Lu Guixin, can't you be more reserved?"

  Lu Guixin followed what he did and moved her head closer to his. "Things will only work out if I take the initiative. Don't you like it?"

  Zhou Fu didn't say anything.

  They were so close to each other that he could smell her scent. She smelled clean and cold, just like the winter snow. It was a very light fragrance, so one wouldn't be able to smell it if they weren't in such proximity. That said, one sniff was enough to leave a deep impression.

  Lu Guixin didn't avoid his gaze. Instead, she locked her burning gaze on him. It was clear how she felt about him.

  Zhou Fu, however, suddenly lifted his hand and pressed her head down slightly with his palm so that she would focus on the exercise book instead. "Don't look at me. Look at the questions."

  When Lu Guixin felt a scorching sensation on her head, her smile deepened, and she obediently said, "Okay."

  "Do these questions first."

  "Okay." Lu Guixin picked up the pen and began reading the question. She then started working out the answer on a sheet of foolscap paper.

  Zhou Fu's eyes flickered slightly as he looked at her fair and soft hand that was holding the pen. He went into a daze for a second before looking down to get the exam papers he had prepared for her last night.

  Lu Guixin managed to choose the correct answers for the first three questions. But when it came to the fourth question, the answer she arrived at couldn't be found in any of the four choices. She then shook the dice on her pen. The numbers shown on the two dice added up to seven, so she selected the choice 'C.'

  When Zhou Fu saw that, he frowned and asked in confusion, "What are you doing?"

  Lu Guixin sheepishly explained, "I'll shake the dice whenever I can't get the answer. I'll choose option A when the total of the dice adds up to one, two, or three; B for four, five, or six; and…"

  The frown on Zhou Fu's face instantly deepened as he stared at the dice atop her pen. "Is that how you use that pen?"

  Lu Guixin carefully nodded while looking innocently at him with slightly widened eyes.

  Speechless, Zhou Fu slowly exhaled and said, "Stop. I'll explain it to you."

  "Okay." Lu Guixin handed her pen to him with a smile.

  Zhou Fu pressed his fingers on the exercise book and, with a slight twist of his wrist, turned it so that it was in between them. He then started writing the steps in the book. "Look here. Since the quadratic function is known…"

  Lu Guixin leaned in slightly and craned her neck to look at his handwriting—it looked powerful, imposing, and wild.

  In his deep and magnetic voice, he slowly explained the steps to her in a clear, simple, and logical manner.

  Lu Guixin kept humming her assent and exclaiming, "I see. Whoa, you're so smart…"

  After repeating "you're so smart" several times, Zhou Fu took out a croissant from the paper bag and shoved it into her mouth. Without lifting his head, he said, "Keep quiet if you don't know how to praise people."

  Lu Guixin took a bite at the croissant while wrinkling her nose in discontent. "Isn't calling you smart a compliment?"

  Zhou Fu ignored her. After explaining a problem to her, he told her about the other key points and then looked at her. "Do you understand it now?"

  Lu Guixin nodded uncertainly. "I guess so…"

  Zhou Fu put the exam papers he had brought in front of her and then lifted his chin. "Do the fifth question."

  The fifth multiple-choice question on the exam papers he brought was similar to the one Lu Guixin just did.

  He watched her work out the answer on the foolscap paper. The steps were sort of wrong, but she still somehow managed to get the correct answer.

  Now that Zhou Fu knew where her level was, he explained the next few questions to her instead of asking her to do them.

  However, after explaining three questions to her, Lu Guixin suddenly softly said, "My neck hurts."

  Zhou Fu paused and looked up.

  As they were sitting across from each other, they had to twist their bodies in order to look at the exercise book. It was an uncomfortable sitting posture, which didn't matter if he was just explaining one question to her.

  Looking all pitiful, she massaged her neck and said, "It's really uncomfortable."

  Zhou Fu looked into her eyes. Then, a few seconds later, he licked the corner of his lips and got up to take the seat next to her.

  His faint minty scent had a hint of cigarette smell that was slightly stronger than usual, and it smelled really good. It seemed like he had just smoked not long ago.

  The two of them were very close to each other right now, with their shoulders almost touching. They could clearly feel each other's body temperature.

  "Are you happy now?"

  A hint of amusement appeared in Lu Guixin's eyes when she heard his voice above her head. She looked up with innocent eyes and asked in confusion, "Happy about what?"

  Zhou Fu looked at her before returning his attention back to the paper. "Nothing."

  With his left hand rested on the corner of Lu Guixin's chair, his back slightly bent, and the pen in his right hand, he continued to explain the question to her.

  Lu Guixin, who felt like she was semi-enveloped in his embrace, secretly looked at his waistline. Her fingers curled up as if she was about to do something.

  "If you look at me again, I'll go back to my seat, and you can continue to suffer from neck pain."

  It felt as if his lips were right next to her ears from the way his breath tickled her ears.

  Lu Guixin pouted and averted her gaze unhappily. "Other people can hug you, but I can't even look at you."

  Zhou Fu's gaze landed on her slightly lowered black feathery eyelashes. He raised his eyebrows. "And in what capacity are you saying this, Lu Guixin?"

  Lu Guixin turned her head and looked at him. In an arrogant and bold manner, she said, "As your future girlfriend. Can't I do that?"

  Zhou Fu looked at her with a nonchalant smirk. "Are you still sleeping? What are you dreaming about?"

  As he said that, he wrote down the formulas and key points on the exam paper.

  "A good dream!" Lu Guixin lifted her chin and gave him a toothy grin before saying in a slow but confident manner, "You'll surely make my dream come true."

  Zhou Fu stopped writing, but he didn't admit or deny what she said. His long arm went around the back of her neck to the front of her face to pinch her chin and make her face the front. He then pressed her head down once more. "Focus."