Chapter 25

"Lin Zhihua: Can't fall in love."

A moment later, another message followed:

"Of course, there will be no children."

Xuejiao stared at the messages in disbelief, silent for a moment, and then replied:

"You're so perfect, yet you can't fall in love?"

Lin Zhihua responded almost instantly:

"Girl, don't ask about this. Shouldn't you be in bed by now?"

Xuejiao froze. She suddenly remembered she had class the next day. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was already ten minutes past her bedtime.

"Ahhh! Goodnight!"

"Lin Zhihua: Goodnight…"

He ended it with his familiar old emoji.

Xuejiao chuckled softly. Thoughts of the competition and studying filled her mind, and she drifted into sleep. The worries that had bothered her earlier disappeared, forgotten after chatting with Lin Zhihua.

Since that day, Li Sitong's attitude toward Xuejiao had been strangely passionate, leaving Xuejiao feeling at a loss.

It wasn't easy to repair their strained relationship. While Xuejiao remained polite and respectful, the warmth and desire to experience familial love had long since faded. She couldn't find it in herself to feel the same way again.

Besides, she was busy focusing on her studies and preparing for the competition.

Another Monday.

"Hey, idiot, I'm heading out to play basketball," Yi Tianyu announced. He could have easily left without saying anything, but for some reason, he wanted to let the girl next to him know.

Xuejiao turned to him with a serious expression. "I think you should prioritize studying right now. You already played at noon today. If you go for strenuous exercise now, you'll waste time, and you'll feel sleepy during night self-study. That's not productive."

Her wide eyes blinked at him, her long lashes fluttering gently. Yi Tianyu avoided her gaze, feeling like something inside him stirred.

"Fine…" he muttered.

Surprised by his own obedience, he slouched in his seat and returned to the problem set in front of him.

Half an hour later, nearing the start of night self-study:

"Hey, Brother Yu, are you joining the basketball game?" Xi Junyang leaned over excitedly.

Cheng Mingjiao had just returned and pushed Xi Junyang's chair to squeeze past him. She took her seat without opening a book, instead quietly eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Basketball game? The provincial middle school basketball tournament?" Yi Tianyu raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Xi Junyang whispered. "My dad said the announcement is coming soon."

Xuejiao paused her writing, her ears perking up slightly.

Yi Tianyu frowned. "Doesn't that mean we'll need to participate?"

"Exactly! This is the perfect excuse to skip studying. Let's sign up and prepare for the competition. The Abbess can't say anything!" Xi Junyang grinned mischievously, referring to Yin Fang.

If it had been any other day, Yi Tianyu would have jumped at the chance, eagerly asking for details. But Xuejiao had been tutoring him recently, keeping him focused on his studies. Now, he instinctively glanced at her.

"Brother Yu?" Xi Junyang looked at him in shock.

Yi Tianyu shifted uncomfortably, glancing at the outline Xuejiao had just drawn on his paper. He scratched his head. Would she be disappointed if he joined?

Her bright, starry eyes flashed in his mind, and he shook his head firmly. "No way! I'm focusing on my studies!"

Xi Junyang's eyes widened as he reached out to feel Yi Tianyu's forehead. "Hey, are you sick, Brother Yu?"

"Get lost!"

"Then why are you spouting nonsense?"

Yi Tianyu shot him a glare. "I said, get out of here!"

"Actually, you can participate," Xuejiao suddenly said, startling both boys.

They turned to her, confused.

"Are you being sarcastic?" Yi Tianyu asked, his voice defensive. "Don't worry! My commitment to studying won't waver!"

Xuejiao shook her head. "I'm serious. You can participate, but you need to manage your time wisely. If the team performs well in the provincial tournament, you could qualify as second-tier athletes. That could help with college admissions through special recruitment programs or bonus points on the entrance exam. You should double-check with someone, but it's a great opportunity."

Xi Junyang's eyes lit up. "Why hasn't Yin Fang mentioned this before?"

Yi Tianyu rolled his eyes. "Because she only cares about academic achievements, not sports."

"I'm going to confirm this right now!" Xi Junyang declared, jumping up from his seat. Before leaving, he turned back and smirked at Xuejiao. "Jiaojiao, you really care about us, don't you?"

Xuejiao blinked in confusion, turning to Yi Tianyu. "What does he mean?"

Yi Tianyu's face flushed red as he avoided her gaze. "It's nothing! Focus on your book, idiot!"

By the next day, Xi Junyang rushed into the classroom, panting and excited. "It's true! I found out!"

Yi Tianyu's eyes lit up. "What's the situation?"

Even Xuejiao looked up, curious.

"The seniors are already competing for the main team spots to secure athlete qualifications. We can still join as substitutes, though. Even if we don't get main spots, just participating can help!"

Yi Tianyu turned to Xuejiao. "What do you think, idiot?"

Xuejiao nodded. "It's a good opportunity, but you can't slack off on your studies. You'll need to stay focused in class, avoid distractions, and practice after school or on weekends. If you're prepared for the challenge, go for it."

"Alright, I'll do it!" Yi Tianyu grinned, his smile as bright as a child's.

By Thursday noon, the classroom was unusually quiet. The early winter air added to the tense atmosphere as students focused on their studies.

Yi Tianyu burst in, drenched in sweat from basketball practice. "Hey, nerd, what's the next class?"

Xuejiao pointed at the timetable. "Chemistry. Review yesterday's material quickly. Teacher Xie might ask questions."

Yi Tianyu flipped through his notes nervously. "I don't understand this part…"

Xuejiao leaned over to explain, unaware of how close their heads had become.

Suddenly, a voice cut through the silence. "Yi Tianyu! Gu Xuejiao! Come out!"

Startled, the two looked up to see Yin Fang glaring at them.

They followed her to the office, standing nervously in front of her desk.

Yin Fang's face was stormy as she pointed at a letter on her desk.

"Someone reported your puppy love."

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