Chapter 28

Facing Yi Tianyu's sneering and disgusted eyes, Cheng Mingjiao clenched her lower lip tightly.

In truth, she liked the boy in front of her. He was handsome, confident, and carefree. On top of that, her mother's insistence on maintaining a good reputation motivated her to try to get along with him.

But he was so close to Gu Xuejiao—the person she despised!

Yi Tianyu's words made Cheng Mingjiao feel humiliated and heartbroken. As the students in the class turned their suspicious gazes toward her, Cheng Mingjiao couldn't take it anymore. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she ran out of the classroom.

"Mingjiao!" Yu Fangfang called out from the other end of the classroom. She glanced angrily at Yi Tianyu and Xuejiao before running after Cheng Mingjiao. "You two are too much!"

"Too much?" Xuejiao's tone was icy. "Is it too much to question someone who slandered me?"

Her calm, logical rebuttal immediately erased any lingering doubts in the minds of the students. Yes, Gu Xuejiao was the victim of slander. How could standing up for herself be too much?

The students began to reconsider their relationships with Cheng Mingjiao. If Cheng Mingjiao could falsely accuse Xuejiao today, could she do the same to them tomorrow?

Yi Tianyu sneered. "You all better watch out when dealing with those two—Cheng Mingjiao and Yu Fangfang. Otherwise, you might end up being 'too much' after they slander you next."

His words struck a chord, and several students decided to keep their distance from Cheng Mingjiao and her clique.

Seeing this, Xuejiao turned to Yi Tianyu. "Alright, stop thinking about them. Focus on your studies."

Yi Tianyu sighed dramatically. "Nerd, is studying the only thing you ever think about?"

Her response was the rhythmic scratching of her pen against the paper.

"..."

That night, Xuejiao lay on her bed, scrolling through the information Lin Zhihua had sent her about the competition. The two chatted back and forth.

"Xuejiao: Thank you! Without you, I wouldn't have known there were so many rules to these competitions."

"Lin Zhihua: Competition problems are designed by people. And as long as people create something, there will always be patterns and rules to follow."

"Lin Zhihua: Did you finish yesterday's practice problems?"

Reading his message, Xuejiao's expression turned sheepish. She rubbed her nose awkwardly; it was the first time she had failed to complete her task. She replied apologetically:

"No... Something happened today, and I got delayed."

Lin Zhihua's reply came quickly:

"What happened?"

Xuejiao hesitated briefly. She had never felt the need to hide anything from him, so she explained honestly:

"Cheng Mingjiao reported me for puppy love. The teacher called my parents, and it took up a lot of time."

At that moment, Lin Zhihua had just finished washing up. He sat on his bed with his damp hair still half-dry, lazily chatting on his phone.

But when he saw the words "puppy love," his relaxed demeanor instantly vanished. He straightened up, his brows furrowing as he reread her message multiple times.

Finally, after a long pause, he typed:

"Puppy love?"

"False. I have so little time—I wouldn't waste it on such things!"

Lin Zhihua's tense expression softened as he read her response. The dark whirlpool of emotions in his eyes calmed, and he quickly replied:

"The mathematics competition is a national event. Many participants are incredibly talented, so you need to give it your all. I've come across some excellent competition materials before. Should I send them to you?"

"Really? Thank you so much! I'll send you the money for them right away!"

"No need. Just make sure to spend your spare time going through those books."

"Got it!" Xuejiao responded enthusiastically.

The next day, Xuejiao returned to the classroom carrying a massive stack of books—11 in total, each one thick and heavy. Even though she had always done more practice problems than her peers, the sheer volume of these competition materials left her stunned.

She stared at the books for a moment, took a deep breath, and began organizing them. She opened the first book and immediately got to work.

"Hey, idiot, how do I solve this problem?" Yi Tianyu's voice broke the silence. He had been sitting idly for the entire lunch break, but Xuejiao seemed completely oblivious to his presence, engrossed in her studies.

Xuejiao didn't even glance up, her focus unshaken.

Feeling ignored, Yi Tianyu nudged her. "Hey, nerd, can you help me with this problem?"

"I don't have time right now. Ask the teacher." Xuejiao's head remained lowered as she scribbled in her notebook.

Yi Tianyu sighed in exasperation. "When will you have time?"

Without looking up, Xuejiao pointed to the towering stack of books beside her. "After I finish these."

Yi Tianyu stared at the mountain of books and felt a deep sense of despair.

"Who gave you these?!" he muttered under his breath. "This should be illegal!"

The competition materials introduced Xuejiao to a whole new world of mathematics. Unlike regular school problems, competition questions demanded advanced logical reasoning, creativity, and an ability to draw inferences. Initially, she struggled with the unfamiliar style, but Lin Zhihua's guidance helped her find her footing.

Lin Zhihua never gave her direct answers. Instead, he taught her how to think critically and approach problems methodically. For Xuejiao, it was like opening a door to an entirely new perspective on mathematics.

She soon became completely absorbed in the joy of solving problems. She thought about math during meals, reviewed mistakes in bed at night, and even traced equations in the air while riding in the car.

"Jiaojiao, get ready. We're going to the play at six o'clock tonight," Li Sitong said, placing a cup of water beside her.

Xuejiao blinked, pulling herself out of her mathematical trance. She looked up blankly, her large eyes clouded with confusion before realization dawned on her.

"A play?" she repeated, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief.

Her delicate face puffed up adorably. "But..." she hesitated. "Can I not go?"

Cheng Shuo chuckled. "Nope. It's a family outing. You're coming unless there's an emergency."

"Oh..." Xuejiao sighed, glancing wistfully at her unfinished problems. "Can I at least finish this one question first?"

"This girl..." Li Sitong shook her head, smiling.

Cheng Shuo laughed. "Take the outfit we bought for her, Sitong. Let's make her look beautiful tonight."

By the time Xuejiao was ready, she barely recognized herself in the mirror. She wore a chic chiffon blouse paired with high-waisted trousers that accentuated her slender frame. Her previously tight bun had been loosened into a soft, elegant style.

"You look stunning!" Li Sitong exclaimed. "My daughter is truly beautiful!"

It was a feeling Li Sitong had never experienced before. In the past, Xuejiao's messy, rebellious appearance left no room for mother-daughter bonding moments like this. But now, seeing her obedient and accomplished daughter, Li Sitong felt an overwhelming sense of pride.

"Mom, isn't this outfit too thin?" Xuejiao asked, tugging nervously at her sleeves.

"Not at all! The theater will be warm. Just bring a coat for when we're outside," Li Sitong reassured her.

Downstairs, Cheng Mingze lazily munched on an apple. "What's taking her so long?"

Cheng Shuo set down his newspaper and smiled. "Be patient. A gentleman always waits for a lady."

Before Cheng Mingze could retort, Xuejiao descended the stairs. Both men looked up—and Cheng Mingze froze.

For a moment, he was at a loss for words. The little sister he had dismissed for so long now seemed like a completely different person—poised, elegant, and radiant.

"How beautiful my daughter is!" Cheng Shuo declared proudly. "Mingze, doesn't your sister look amazing tonight?"

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