Ye Chen had just reached the doorway when he heard Teacher Wang's voice drifting out of the Office.
Teacher Wang was talking about Ye Chen with the other teachers.
"Kids these days don't know what matters. They're in Senior Year of High School and still thinking about romance."
"What's wrong? Someone in your class chasing Li Sitong again?"
Wang Chao sighed. "Li Sitong was already enough of a headache, and now I've got Xia Yingluo too."
"Xia Yingluo? That girl's always been well-behaved!" Chinese-teacher Chen Yang said curiously.
Wang Chao replied, "Exactly. Out of nowhere the girl starts dressing up—and looks stunning. Now every boy in class is staring at those two. Especially that Ye Chen. When I assigned study groups, the bottom-ranked kid in the Whole School actually had the nerve to ask to be in a group with both girls. You think I don't know what's on his mind?"
Just then someone knocked on the Office door.
"Come in."
Ye Chen walked in.
Seeing Ye Chen enter, Wang Chao instantly guessed why he was there and immediately pulled a stern face.
"Ye Chen, are you here to complain about my decision?"
"Not at all. I'm actually really grateful—especially after I learned you've been helping Xia Yingluo all along."
Wang Chao was stunned by Ye Chen's words.
What does my caring about Xia Yingluo have to do with you? What are you thanking me for?
Ye Chen meant every word.
In his previous life he remembered Teacher Wang often dipping into his own pocket to buy Yingluo stationery and practice books, even bringing her dumplings he'd made at home.
After graduation, when Yingluo couldn't afford her University tuition, Wang Chao secretly took 5,000 yuan from the family stash behind his wife's back and almost ended up divorced for it.
Ye Chen respected Teacher Wang from the bottom of his heart.
Although the man acted fierce in class, he was actually very gentle at heart.
Wang Chao lit a cigarette and looked at Ye Chen.
For some reason he suddenly felt Ye Chen was different from before.
He had the uncanny sense that the boy carried a maturity no high-schooler should possess.
"Since we're on the topic, let's talk properly, Ye Chen."
Wang Chao took a drag and said flatly, "I've heard the rumors about you two. I know what you want, but let me be clear—don't even think about it."
"Your family's comfortable; even if you don't get into a good University your parents can find you a way out. Yingluo can't. She's an orphan—if she fails the National Higher Education Entrance Examination no one will help her. If dating her now ruins her grades, you'll wreck her entire life."
"To put it plainly, Xia Yingluo isn't like other girls. She has only one road: get into a top University. No second chances. Do you understand?"
"Yingluo has always studied hard, and this is the critical moment. If her scores slip, what's she supposed to do?"
Wang Chao smoked and talked calmly with Ye Chen.
Ye Chen didn't interrupt; he listened patiently until the end.
"Sir, you've got it wrong. The reason I want to be in a study group with Xia Yingluo and Li Sitong isn't romance—it's to study better."
"Oh? So you're saying you want Yingluo and Sitong to tutor you?" Wang Chao said coldly.
"Sir, you misunderstood. I'll be tutoring them."
"Ahem!"
The smoke made Wang Chao choke on his cigarette.
"What did you just say? You'll tutor them? Ye Chen, do you think I'm an idiot? Last Monthly Exam—what was your rank in the Whole School? And what were Xia Yingluo's and Li Sitong's? You're going to tutor them?"
Although Ye Chen had stunned everyone in math class, the National Higher Education Entrance Examination isn't just one subject.
Ye Chen's grades across every subject were terrible.
Even if he aced math, the other subjects would drag him down and leave him without a chance.
In Wang Chao's eyes, Ye Chen was only making excuses for dating.
What annoyed him most was that it looked like a love triangle.
Ye Chen was telling the truth.
Ever since the system had given him the Top Student Halo, he could flip ten pages at a glance and every bit of knowledge lodged instantly in his brain.
His ability had already left Xia Yingluo and Li Sitong far behind.
In his previous life Yingluo had missed Huaqing University by five points and ended up at another 985 University.
This life Ye Chen wanted to attend the same University as Yingluo, so he had to help her.
Ye Chen remembered that at the Oath-Taking Rally Yingluo had said her dream was to get into Huaqing University.
And Ye Chen had decided that no matter what he would help Yingluo realize that dream.
But why would Wang Chao believe him?
What puzzled Wang Chao was the confidence on Ye Chen's face.
He couldn't figure out where that confidence came from.
From being in the bottom ten of the Whole School, or from failing every subject?
Yet, looking at the certainty in Ye Chen's eyes, Wang Chao felt a twinge of doubt.
Could it be that Ye Chen really had what it took?
Wang Chao nodded. "All right, I'll give you a chance. If on the upcoming Mock Exam you beat Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo, I'll let you join their study group."
Ye Chen shook his head.
Wang Chao snorted. "Weren't you just full of confidence? Don't dare now?"
Ye Chen replied, "Beating those two is too easy. My target for this exam is first place in the entire grade. If I get it, you'll let me replace Sun Tao and join Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo's study group."
Wang Chao stared at him in shock. "Oh? Quite ambitious. Beating Li Sitong and Xia Yingluo isn't enough—you want first in the whole grade?"
"Deal. If you can take first place in the grade, the three of you can form one group." Wang Chao stubbed out his cigarette and said seriously.
"Sir, you can't go back on your word," Ye Chen said with a smile.
"No way. With so many teachers as witnesses, how could I?"
Ye Chen left satisfied, and Wang Chao watched his retreating figure with a smile.
This kid's getting interesting now!
Chinese-teacher Chen Yang, who'd been watching, remarked, "Has Ye Chen lost his mind lately? With his grades he thinks he can rank first?"
Wang Chao chuckled. "Who knows? But he did amaze me in math last time. Last semester he was third from the bottom in the grade. Whether he can grab first place or not, as long as his scores improve, I win!"
Chen Yang nodded helplessly. "High School exams test three years of accumulation. In these three years Ye Chen's final Chinese scores have barely passed. If he can rank first—well, I don't know about anyone else, but I won't believe it."
Wang Chao smiled. "Neither will I."
At that moment a teacher from another class asked timidly, "What if he actually does it?"
"If he really can? I'd be over the moon to have a grade-wide number one in my class. He can do whatever he wants. Whatever happens, it's a sure win for me."