Chapter 29

Chu Shi emerged from behind their parents, also wearing a serious expression.
"Last time at the school dance, Qiuqiu acted like this once before," Chu Shi said, "I thought she was just overly excited at the time, but now it seems..."
Could it be intermittent? Some kind of neurological disorder?
Chu Father and Chu Mother were greatly alarmed. How could their daughter, whom they had raised perfectly well for over ten years, suddenly develop such a problem?
Chu Father considered more practical matters. He had originally thought Qiuqiu had a good personality and excellent upbringing, making her more suitable for high society socializing. But if she had this kind of issue...
Chu Qiuqiu hadn't expected her parents to see her and quickly explained: "No, I was just playing around with sister!"
Everyone looked at Chu Yin.
Chu Yin shook her head innocently: "No, I wasn't playing with you."
Chu Qiuqiu gritted her teeth in frustration. The one with problems was clearly Chu Yin! But now Mom, Dad, and Brother all thought she was the sick one.
Chu Father: "There's a banquet coming up in a few days. If Qiuqiu has problems..."
He naturally prioritized the corporation's interests. If Chu Qiuqiu had this kind of condition, bringing her out would definitely damage the Chu family's reputation.
"No, I don't!" Chu Qiuqiu said urgently, "I was just exercising! This kind of dance is good for your health!"
Chu Father looked somewhat doubtful: "Is that so?"
Chu Qiuqiu quickly nodded and moved her limbs to demonstrate that she was perfectly fine and normal.
After barely managing to fool her parents, when Chu Qiuqiu turned to look again, Chu Yin had long since left.
She collapsed weakly onto the sofa, unable to help wondering: Could it really have nothing to do with Chu Yin?
Could she really be under too much pressure and developing some kind of problem...
Chu Qiuqiu shuddered.
…
The final exam preparation atmosphere at Quiwen Private High School School grew increasingly intense.
The "Hope Cup" competition slots would go to the top three scorers on the final math exam - this was Quiwen's longstanding tradition. Class 5 was the elite class, with the best students standing at the pyramid's peak. Even the worst students could rank within the top 200, and there were many high-achieving students in the upper-middle range.
Given the opportunity, many students wanted to participate in such competitions. Even if they didn't ultimately win awards, just participating in winter camps or training sessions would significantly improve their skills.
However, this year, obtaining a slot would be more difficult because Chu Yin had transferred in. Everyone now assumed she would get one of the slots.
Fu Mingxuan was actually quite good at math too. She had scored 140 on the midterm. Without Chu Yin's impossibly perfect score, she wouldn't have needed to feel any sense of crisis.
She also wanted to participate in the Hope Cup, so she had been particularly attentive in class recently. After class, she started following Chu Yin's example, frequently approaching teachers to ask questions.
As finals approached, the number of test papers for each subject multiplied wildly, handed out as if paper cost nothing. Song Zhaolin neatly folded each stack of exams in half, sorted them by subject, and arranged them neatly in front of him, with absolutely no intention of writing a single answer.
To improve his grades, he had resolved to write something on every paper.
So he wrote his name on every single one.
By the time he put down his pen, the characters for "Song Zhaolin" no longer looked familiar, yet he still had no desire to actually work on the exams.
He glanced over at Chu Yin, who had already finished a math paper.
"Sister Yin, don't you get tired of doing these exams?" Song Zhaolin asked, seizing the moment she switched papers.
Although they were familiar enough to joke around now, Song Zhaolin still didn't dare disturb Chu Yin while she was studying, for some reason, when she focused on her work, she had an aura of cutting off all human connection, making people instinctively feel that bothering her would lead to certain death.
Chu Yin sorted through her papers as she replied, "Not at all. It's quite fun, actually."
Song Zhaolin shrank back into his seat.
He wasn't worthy of listening to academic overachievers' remarks.
After class, Jiang Yan came over with her test paper, intending to sit next to Chu Yin, but Song Zhaolin cheekily blocked the spot.
Left with no choice, Jiang Yan took the seat in front of Chu Yin instead, turning around to ask, "Yin Yin, how do you solve the last two parts of this question?"
Chu Yin switched to a pencil and took the paper. "Let me see."
Though Song Zhaolin couldn't understand it, he craned his neck to peek a couple of times, just to show his enthusiasm for learning. Before he could make sense of anything, he suddenly noticed the light above him dimming.
Turning around, he realized several people had crowded behind him.
Zhao Yuxiong scratched his head. "Chu Yin, can I listen too?"
Song Zhaolin internally scoffed: We're all longtime academic slackers here, why pretend to be good students??
Beside Zhao Yuxiong stood another boy, while two girls stood near Jiang Yan, all here to listen to Chu Yin explain the problem.
Explaining to one person or a crowd made little difference to Chu Yin, so she had no objections.
"For the second part, there are three scenarios: when L1 coincides with the x-axis, when L1 is perpendicular to the x-axis, and when L1 neither coincides with nor is perpendicular to the x-axis..."
Chu Yin’s reasoning was clear, her voice soft and gentle. After explaining one method, she’d twirl her pen and offer a second approach.
They already knew Chu Yin was academically stronger, but this was the first time they so clearly felt the gap. The question Jiang Yan asked was the hardest on today’s paper, they couldn’t even begin to solve it. The group felt a little disheartened.
Song Zhaolin, who lived with this kind of blow daily, was long accustomed to it, and even felt a bit proud.
He shook his head and suddenly noticed Zhao Yuxiong’s face flushing slightly.
?? What’s up with you, little bro?
"What's with the blushing just from explaining a problem? Did I make you tipsy or something??"
Song Zhaolin suddenly realized that his Sister Yin's charm was starting to radiate normally.
Li Jin, sitting next to Zhao Yuxiong, said, "Speaking of which, it's been a while since school started. Shouldn't we switch seats?"
Jiang Yan immediately nodded in agreement. "I think so too."
She really wanted to sit next to Chu Yin as well!
Several others around chimed in, "No offense, Zhaolin, but sitting next to her is just holding her back."
This infuriated Song Zhaolin. He widened his eyes and retorted, "Bullshit! I help Sister Yin relax, I'm a delightful little mood-booster!"
Chu Yin couldn't hold back a laugh.
Song Zhaolin immediately exclaimed, "See?!"
Zhao Yuxiong blushed as he glanced at Chu Yin. She looked absolutely stunning when she smiled. Up close, he noticed she even had little dimples, and her skin was so fair and smooth, her features so delicate.
He said to Song Zhaolin with a hint of envy, "Zhaolin, you're wasting a precious resource. If you let Jiang Yan sit with Chu Yin, our class might just take the top two spots in the finals."
Jiang Yan agreed wholeheartedly and nodded vigorously.
Song Zhaolin simply reached out and pressed down on her head. "I don't care! I need to improve too!"
The others wanted to argue further, but just then, the class bell rang, and they reluctantly returned to their seats.
Still, several of them were satisfied, it was the first time they'd managed to strike up a conversation with Chu Yin.
Song Zhaolin successfully defended his seatmate status and gave Chu Yin an exaggerated wink. "Sister Yin, you wouldn't abandon me, right?"
Chu Yin had already pulled out the next set of problems. She patted his shoulder and said, "Keep it up, Zhaolin. Don't trust me, only your grades will never let you down."
Song Zhaolin clutched his chest dramatically: Damn, that's cold!!
He loved it!!
…
That evening, when Chu Yin returned home, she found they had a guest.
Gu Qiuzhe smiled and greeted her, "Hey there, little sister."
Chu Yin politely returned the greeting.
"Your brother's been raving about the cookies you made for days," Gu Qiuzhe said, winking at her. "So I mustered up the courage to drop by today. Any chance I could try some?"
Chu Shi, standing nearby, coughed a couple of times but didn't say anything.
...Because he wanted some too!
Chu Yin glanced at Gu Qiuzhe and thought to herself, So winking is a skill, huh.
When Song Zhaolin winked, it sent a signal of "Come punch me," but when Gu Qiuzhe did it, you could clearly tell he was radiating charm.
Chu Yin made a mental note to recommend that her deskmate learn from him to avoid getting beaten up in the future.
Then she nodded. "Sure, I still have some ingredients left from last time."
Gu Qiuzhe smiled warmly. "Much appreciated."
Chu Shi, having gotten his wish, quietly rejoiced.
Chu Yin went upstairs to drop off her backpack, then came back down and headed to the kitchen. Gu Qiuzhe approached and asked, "Need any help?"
She waved a hand dismissively. "No need, it's simple."
The girl wore her hair in a ponytail, the ends swaying gently behind her. Her expression was calm, and with that casual wave, she exuded an effortlessly cool vibe. Gu Qiuzhe rubbed the tip of his nose and stepped back.
He glanced at the gleeful Chu Shi and said, "Since it was my idea, I should get to eat more later, right?"
Chu Shi immediately glared at him. "In your dreams!"
Gu Qiuzhe raised his eyebrows. "I'll talk to my sister myself later."
Chu Shi looked at him and thought, so it's starting already. If he really becomes my brother-in-law in the future, that would be something.
But then again, Xiao Yin didn't seem interested in Gu Qiuzhe at all. As her brother, he felt a bit smug but also a little worried.
He had no idea what kind of guy Xiao Yin would like. But no matter what type, as long as it wasn't someone like Lu Zhen, it would be fine.
The cookies were ready in an hour. As soon as Chu Yin called out, Gu Qiuzhe and Chu Shi hurried into the kitchen one after another. The warm, sweet aroma filled the air. Gu Qiuzhe praised them while eating, and Chu Shi wasn't about to be outdone.
Chu Yin found them a bit cloying after just a few pieces, but her two brothers seemed determined to finish them all.
In the end, however, Chu Yin saved some. She planned to bring some for Jiang Yan and Song Zhaolin. Although Song Zhaolin had missed out last time due to his own fault, considering he was such a delightful jokester, she decided to give him a taste.
The next day, Chu Yin brought the cookies to school.
When Jiang Yan walked into the classroom with her backpack, Chu Yin secretly beckoned her over.
Jiang Yan clutched her backpack strap. "What's up?"
Chu Yin handed her a small packet of cookies. "A snack."
Jiang Yan caught a whiff of the sweet scent and widened her eyes. "Did you make these?"
Chu Yin raised an eyebrow at her, looking both mischievous and beautiful.
Jiang Yan couldn't help but hug her. "Oh my gosh, Yin Yin, you're the best! I'll finish every last crumb!"
Seeing how easily pleased she was, Chu Yin felt especially happy and patted her head. "If you like them, I'll make you something else next time."
Jiang Yan felt utterly pampered and returned to her seat super happily.
Just before class was about to start, Song Zhaolin rushed into the classroom in a panic.
"My brother yelled at me this morning and made me take the bus. Damn, I'm so lucky I ran into Brother Zhen on the way, or I wouldn't have made it today!"
Chu Yin clicked her tongue. These rich kids, taking the bus was like a life-or-death struggle for them. Having spent the first decade-plus of her life in a small town, she knew that having a bus at all was a blessing.
Song Zhaolin was fixing his messy hair using his phone's front camera when suddenly, a faintly sweet-smelling paper packet was placed on his desk.
Chu Yin said, "Making it up to you."
Song Zhaolin was thrilled. "Is it, is it that, "
Chu Yin nodded. "Yeah."
Song Zhaolin trembled as he picked up the packet. It was! The cookies!!
After giving them to him, Chu Yin lowered her head again to work on her problems. But after writing a couple of lines, she suddenly realized something and turned to look at him. "You."
Song Zhaolin was unwrapping it when he looked up: "Huh?"
"Eat it quietly by yourself," Chu Yin stared at him and said, "Don't go around announcing it."
...lest a certain cheater sees it.
Song Zhaolin was even more moved, could this be his exclusive treat?!
Rounded up, he was Sister Yin's most special person!!
Song Zhaolin was happy all morning because of the little cookies, nibbling sparingly until the last piece, which he held in his mouth as he walked out of the classroom to hang out with the international class. Mindful of Sister Yin's instruction not to make a fuss, he reluctantly stuffed it into his mouth despite his reluctance.
As he turned around, he bumped right into Lu Zhen.
"Z-Brother Zhen?"
Lu Zhen stared at the cookie crumbs at the corner of his mouth.
"Who gave it to you?"
...
Chu Yin looked at the young man blocking her way, trying hard to empty her mind of all thoughts.
According to a certain law, the things you don't want to happen are bound to happen.
All because this guy is a cheater.
In the hallway, Lu Zhen stood in front of her, blocking the light behind him. He lowered his head slightly, his voice very soft: "I want some too."
Even Song Zhaolin has some.
His tone somehow faintly overlapped with a memory from long ago, reminding Chu Yin of Lu Zhen in her previous life, who would occasionally speak like this in his youth. Back then, having just returned from the countryside, she even found it absurd, how could the young master of a top-tier wealthy family, born into privilege, have such a tone that even carried a hint of humility?
Chu Yin paused and glanced at him. This time, she didn't even pretend to be obedient and stayed silent.
Hmph, you want some? As if you deserve it.
Lu Zhen clearly saw the words "why" in her beautiful peach-blossom eyes, or more precisely, "on what grounds."
On what grounds? How to put it.
Say that I waited outside your house for a long time on Christmas Eve.
Say that I put an apple in your desk drawer on Christmas.
Say that I was actually really looking forward to your cookies that day, though I liked the keys too.
Then Lu Zhen realized that none of it could be said.
These uncontrollable actions of his would probably scare her away if spoken aloud.
Lu Zhen took a breath, then smiled and said, "Aren't we friends?"
Chu Yin was stunned.
Wait, this misunderstanding is a bit too big, isn't it??
Who's friends with you? We have a sea of blood and a mountain of grudges between us, okay??
Lu Zhen saw the clear rejection in her eyes and laughed in frustration. For the first time in his life, the young master was even disliked when trying to be friends.
And there was nothing he could do about it.
He had no choice but to say, "The gift that day was originally cookies, wasn't it, if you hadn't swapped it."
The word "swap" was quite subtle. Chu Yin's ears twitched sensitively, and she grew slightly more alert. After all, this scoundrel wasn't like Chu Qiuqiu and wouldn't be so easily fooled.
She thought for a moment and asked, "Why do you want to be friends with me?"
The current her was completely different from her bright and bold 17-year-old self in her previous life. What would Lu Zhen want with a dowdy bookworm like her? Was it some kind of teasing-the-cat mentality?
Chu Yin watched his expression, thinking that if he had any inappropriate intentions, she would secretly eliminate him tonight.
Lu Zhen's hand, hanging at his side, tightened slightly, then the corner of his lips lifted: "Because you're... a very magical person."
Chu Yin: ? That's a first.
Lu Zhen lowered his eyelashes, his gaze resting on her face, the tip of his heart warming slightly: "Since you appeared, many wondrous things have happened."
Wondrous, yet uncontrollable chemical reactions.
Sour, scalding, some heartbeats, vague but gradually intensifying emotions.
Ever since she appeared.
But to Chu Yin's ears, these words held no hint of romance, only a jolt of alarm.
Miraculous things?
Did he mean blades falling from the sky, suffocating fumes at home, cars speeding at 180 km/h, basketballs exploding into blossoms, those kinds of miraculous things??
Thinking of her "artistic creations," Chu Yin felt a rare twinge of guilt. Had Lu Zhen discovered something?? No, she had to stabilize this dog of a man first!
So, Chu Yin nodded. "Alright, I'll give it to you. Wait here for a moment."
Lu Zhen raised an eyebrow, momentarily caught off guard. As Chu Yin turned and walked away, he actually stood there obediently, waiting for her return.
Chu Yin went back to the classroom, took the last small packet of biscuits from her bag, and returned to give them to Lu Zhen.
Lu Zhen looked slightly surprised, pausing for a moment before carefully accepting the paper bag from her hand.
Chu Yin said with a serious expression, "I'm not miraculous at all, you're overthinking it. I only care about studying; I don't pay attention to anything else."
Whatever miraculous things, they have absolutely nothing to do with me.
Lu Zhen pinched the corner of the paper bag, a faint, bitter smile tugging at his lips. "I know."
"Well then, goodbye. I need to go study."
Lu Zhen watched her and said softly, "Alright."
The girl's back was slender, and even wrapped in the oversized school uniform, it was impossible to look away.
Lu Zhen watched her leave, and after a long while, he chuckled softly to himself.
At seventeen, he had shamelessly cornered someone to ask for a young girl's cookies.
This was probably something he would remember for a lifetime.
...
After returning to the classroom, Chu Yin crossed her arms and pondered deeply for a long time.
Were these "miraculous things" that dog of a man alluding to? Logically, he absolutely couldn't have guessed, but what if the male lead, with his protagonist halo, had some kind of sixth sense she didn't know about?
"Chicken," Chu Yin tapped the system, "is this thing of yours highly secure?"
Although she didn't want to be liked by Lu Zhen, if her secret were exposed and she became his enemy, that would be quite troublesome.
Study System: "Answering the host, it's quite secure!"
Chu Yin also thought that, from a normal person's perspective, it would be impossible to guess her golden finger.
After mulling it over for a while, Chu Yin decided she needed to guide the situation.
She had to make that dog of a man realize that these "miraculous things" had no pattern and were unrelated to anyone.
After all, she could operate remotely .
She could have a solid alibi, then confuse Lu Zhen and make him fall into self-doubt!
So Chu Yin began flipping through the script, searching for a suitable scene.
After completing two study tasks, she finally found a suitable after-school scene.
This part was about Lu Zhen and Song Zhaolin:
[Song Zhaolin’s older brother had cut off his driver, so he had no choice but to continue hitching a ride in Lu Zhen’s car. He sent Lu Zhen a message and waited for him outside the teaching building. Before long, he saw Lu Zhen push the door open and walk out through the glass door.]
[The door opened, and Song Zhaolin flashed a sycophantic grin at Lu Zhen: “Let’s go, Brother Zhen!”]
Chu Yin pondered for a moment and had an idea.
After school, at the school gate, with an audience, perfect .
She moved her light pen, crossed out the word “open,” and changed it to “shatter.”
Go forth, superhuman man!
...
After school.
Song Zhaolin said dejectedly, “My brother really wants to ruin me.”
Chu Yin feigned innocence: “What’s wrong?”
“He’s not giving me a driver anymore,” Song Zhaolin whined pitifully, “He’s making me walk home.”
Chu Yin: “You’re going to walk home?”
Song Zhaolin: “Nah, hehe, I’m hitching a ride with Brother Zhen!”
Even though Brother Zhen didn’t like having other people’s scents in enclosed spaces, if he acted shamelessly enough, he could still manage to get a ride home!
Chu Yin smiled warmly: “Oh, then hurry along, Zhaolin.”
Song Zhaolin sent Lu Zhen a WeChat message, then bounced out of the teaching building. Before long, he spotted Lu Zhen’s figure.
During dismissal time, many people saw Lu Zhen and couldn’t help but slow their pace, hoping to walk with him a little longer.
Lu Zhen lowered his gaze, walked up to the glass door, and reached out to push it open.
Crash!
Suddenly, an unexpected loud noise erupted.
The door shattered.
“Ahhh!” “What happened!” Shouts of alarm instantly erupted all around,
Lu Zhen remained frozen in his pushing motion, his hand still raised mid-air.
Shattered glass lay scattered in a mess before him.
Outside the building, Song Zhaolin stood dumbfounded.
After the basketball incident last time, Brother Zhen had now shattered a door.
Inside the building, Lu Zhen slowly retracted his hand and looked at his palm.
For once, he felt a hint of doubt.
...Could it really be my strength?