Chapter 10

Chu Yin was still laughing long after she had run far away.
The so-called Learning Chicken from the Empire, having been influenced over time, was now completely assimilated by her, cackling in her head like a rooster.
"Bwahahahaha, Host, you’re such a clever little thing!"
Chu Yin ran to a safe spot, leaned against the wall, adjusted her mask, and caught her breath. "Of course."
Based on her understanding of Lu Zhen, he probably wouldn’t want to see her anytime soon, after all, he was the one who told her to get lost. A young master as proud as him definitely wouldn’t take the initiative to approach her again.
Killing two birds with one stone, she was truly far-sighted and strategic!
Once she caught her breath, Chu Yin readjusted her mask and headed back to the classroom while asking Learning Chicken, "By the way, what exactly is the Male Lead’s Power?"
Learning Chicken replied: "The Male Lead’s Power is a plot-correcting ability generated under the male lead’s inherent halo, serving the male lead. In terms of hierarchy, it affects this system’s script generation, but this system’s priority is higher than it."
Chu Yin pondered for a moment. So, her cheat ability couldn’t directly confront the male lead’s halo, but she could be faster than him?
Learning Chicken chimed, "Ding dong! You could say that."
Chu Yin felt a bit more at ease.
To avoid repeating the fate of the white moonlight, she could use the system’s authority to alter her interactions with Lu Zhen and change her original destiny.
Even if she couldn’t avoid it entirely, she could still make good use of this lifetime’s "persona",
She refused to believe that Lu Zhen would fall for an obedient, dull bookworm.
Shakespeare English Week arrived quickly.
Although Chu Yin didn’t care much, the students in Class 5 were quite excited.
Kids at this age took all grade-wide activities seriously, even if the content was as dull as recitation.
Fu Mingxuan, eager to redeem herself in front of the grade and put on a good performance, had prepared extensively, reciting the selected Shakespeare passage smoothly and with great emotion.
On the day of the event, Class 5 headed to the auditorium early, and no one paid any attention to Chu Yin.
After several verbal conflicts, the clique led by Fu Mingxuan held even more animosity toward her. Moreover, once the grade rankings were posted, everyone learned about Chu Yin’s academic level. Most of Class 5 believed she didn’t deserve to be in their elite class.
Even someone like Song Zhaolin, a rich kid who slept through classes every day, scored better in English and math than Chu Yin. A poor student like her would only drag down their class’s average.
Song Zhaolin picked up his jacket, putting it on as he said to Chu Yin, "Sis Yin, I’m going to find Brother Zhen. Do you know where the auditorium is?"
Chu Yin nodded indifferently. "I know."
Even if she knew, she wasn’t going. Now that everyone had left, the classroom was quiet, perfect for staying behind and working on a comprehensive liberal arts practice set.
Just as she was thinking this, the system in her head chimed, "Broadcasting today’s learning task! Complete the written translation of the selected Shakespeare passage. Upon completion, you will receive the [Word Change] permission!"
Chu Yin: "…" Fine then.
It looked like she had no choice but to go, the materials would only be handed out at the auditorium.
Chu Yin called out to Song Zhaolin, who was about to leave, "Wait, "
Song Zhaolin immediately turned back, feeling a little excited, it was rare for his "Sister Yin" to have extra words for him!
He struck what he thought was a cool pose, slipping his hands into his pockets, lowering his voice, and winking greasily, "What's up?"
Chu Yin paused for a moment, "...Are you guys going?"
Song Zhaolin: "Probably not, depends on Brother Zhen's opinion."
Chu Yin raised an eyebrow slightly, "Okay."
As Song Zhaolin walked away, he was still a bit puzzled, he couldn't tell whether Chu Yin was happy or unhappy...
Sigh, so why did such a beautiful girl like her have to wear a mask?
She had no presence at all, and he couldn't even see her expression clearly...!
...
By the time Chu Yin arrived at the auditorium, it was already packed with people.
Everything was arranged exactly as it had been in her past life. Chu Yin glanced at the podium, recalling the embarrassment she had felt standing there in her previous life, and couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
But now, she was different.
Now, she was Niu Hu Lu - Chu Yin.
Just as Chu Yin was about to find a seat in the back row, something cold suddenly touched her cheek. She turned around and saw Gu Qiuzhe smiling as he handed her a can of sweet milk.
Chu Yin was about to politely decline when Gu Qiuzhe whispered, "Take it, I'm just your brother's delivery guy."
She couldn't help but laugh and didn't refuse any further, accepting the milk.
Upon closer inspection, the girl had beautiful peach-blossom-shaped eyes. When she smiled, it was like ripples spreading across a lake, shimmering with a lovely light. Such bright, expressive eyes clearly didn't match her deliberately old-fashioned attire.
Gu Qiuzhe subtly observed her, feeling as though the girl was trying to hide something. Out of politeness, however, he didn't ask, merely relaying a few messages that Chu Shi had asked him to pass on.
Many people in the auditorium glanced in their direction.
The students from Class Five were more familiar with Chu Yin's figure. The girls, seeing Chu Yin standing and talking with Qiuzhe, couldn't help but show expressions of envy and resentment.
Xing Lan, who excelled academically, secretly preferred a top student like Qiuzhe over the school's idol, Lu Zhen. Gripping her pen, she said sarcastically, "Our class 'top student' is really something, huh? She can hook up with anyone!"
A girl next to her chimed in mockingly, "Who would've thought? Some people might not look like much, but they sure know how to play their cards."
"No wonder her grades are so poor, she spends all her energy on men!"
Chu Qiuqiu, who was sitting farther away, naturally saw the scene as well. She even noticed Qiuzhe handing Chu Yin a can of milk, and her expression twisted for a moment.
My brother has been neglecting me lately, so why is Brother Qiuzhe also showing favor to Chu Yin?!
What does that country bumpkin have that I don’t?!
Chu Qiuqiu’s heart soured with jealousy. Lowering her head, she looked at the lottery box she had prepared and suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
Doesn’t Chu Yin love to show off? Later, I’ll make sure she gets her fill of it!
Just as the event was about to begin, the back door of the auditorium suddenly swung open.
The crowd immediately buzzed with excitement.
“Brother Zhen!”
“Lu Zhen is actually attending this kind of event?”
“Ahhh, I’m so glad I came, ”
Hearing the commotion, Chu Yin couldn’t be bothered to turn around. She said a word to Gu Qiuzhe and sat down in a corner.
Lu Zhen’s gaze swept over intentionally or unintentionally, a slight frown creasing his brow. His expression was cold, his eyes dark, but the reddish-brown teardrop mole at the corner of his eye was strikingly vivid.
Wherever his gaze passed, many girls held their breath.
Chu Yin paid him no attention at all. She had already picked up the materials on the table and started working on her translation task.
Lu Zhen withdrew his gaze, a faint, restless irritation stirring in his heart.
…He rarely misspoke, yet last time, he had driven her away with his words.
Song Zhaolin had also been looking for Chu Yin earlier, but she was sitting in such a secluded spot that he only found her by following Lu Zhen’s gaze.
After a moment of careful consideration, he felt that Lu Zhen seemed displeased.
So he asked quietly, “Brother Zhen, do you dislike my deskmate?”
Lu Zhen tilted his head slightly, the line from his brow to his nose sharp and cold. His voice was indifferent: “…Your deskmate?”
“Yeah,” Song Zhaolin said innocently, “We’ve been sitting together for over a month.”
Lu Zhen’s thin lips tightened. After a long pause, he suddenly asked, “Are you two close?”
Song Zhaolin habitually started boasting: “Of course! Not to brag, but I think she really likes me! She even asked if I was coming today!”
Lu Zhen rubbed his knuckles with his thumb, lowering his gaze. “…Oh.”
Whether it was an illusion or not, Song Zhaolin felt that Brother Zhen seemed even more displeased.
The event officially began, hosted by the International Class of Grade 11, with Chu Qiuqiu in charge of the lottery draw.
From the large lottery box, name cards were drawn from time to time, and the selected students went up to recite the materials. Most students at Quiwen Private High School had a good command of English, though there were differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.
Fu Mingxuan craned her neck so hard it almost snapped, but Chu Qiuqiu acted as if she didn’t see her, she knew Fu Mingxuan must have prepared thoroughly, so why give her a chance to shine?
After each recitation, the English teachers seated below would offer comments and point out mistakes. After all, being corrected for basic errors in front of the entire grade made some students blush with embarrassment.
Chu Qiuqiu was quite satisfied with this arrangement.
Her gaze swept to the back corner where Chu Yin was sitting. Seeing her head lowered, looking something up on her phone, Chu Qiuqiu’s smile grew even more triumphant.
Chu Yin probably couldn’t even understand what they were saying and must be frantically looking up words right now.
Chu Qiuqiu clutched the small, prepared slip of paper in her hand and smiled confidently.
Later, there would be the longest and most difficult excerpt, the kind with seven or eight unfamiliar words in a single line. Chu Qiuqiu would definitely save this “best” part for her sister.
Beep, Translation segment task completed. [Word Change] permission acquired. Host, you translated wonderfully!
Chu Yin set down her pen and rubbed her wrist.
There were a few unfamiliar words in this excerpt, so I looked them up briefly, but overall, it wasn’t too difficult for her.
"Load the script?"
Chu Yin: "Load."
She wanted to see if Chu Qiuqiu would pull any tricks this time.
As expected, her fake sister didn’t disappoint,
[Chu Qiuqiu rummaged in the drawing box for a while and pulled out a small slip of paper. A complex expression of surprise and worry flashed across her face as she raised the slip and announced loudly, "I drew Chu Yin!"]
Picking the most difficult passage, rigging the draw to select her, just to embarrass her in front of the entire grade, the exact same plot as in her previous life. Tsk tsk.
The difference was, she wouldn’t let herself be humiliated this time, nor would she let Lu Zhen step in to read for her, making enemies across the school.
Study System asked, "Host, are you going to read it yourself?"
After seeing Chu Yin’s translation, it knew that the host could definitely handle it.
Chu Yin curled her lips. "No."
She moved the light pen and, without much hesitation, crossed out the name [Chu Yin] and replaced it with [myself].
A folk script artist never passes up an opportunity handed to them on a silver platter.
Study System: "...[fist salute] As expected of you."
On stage, Chu Qiuqiu theatrically produced the small slip from her palm, then opened her mouth and announced loudly and emphatically, "I drew myself!"
After saying it, she froze for two seconds, then her face suddenly turned pale.
Why was it her??
Sh-she couldn’t read this passage either!
Watching her flustered expression, Chu Yin leaned back in her chair and poked the system. "Do you have a song request service?"
Study System was thoroughly enjoying the show and asked, "What song?"
Chu Yin grinned mischievously.
Requesting a song, "How Lonely It Is to Be Invincible!!"