Is there really a universal solution to all problems in this world?
Lin Yi, looking at the graded math test paper in her hand, posed the question above.
The bad news: her math score was even worse than at the start of the semester.
The good news: her scores in all other subjects had improved.
Her performance had earned the old class teacher’s approval.
She wouldn’t be having her parents called in, and she had escaped the second-to-last ranking.
It should have been double the happiness, so why…
Lin Yi looked toward the seat where Feng Chuyue sat.
Due to her petite build, she was in the second row.
As if sensing Lin Yi’s gaze, Feng Chuyue took advantage of the old class teacher writing on the blackboard to turn her head.
Their eyes met. Feng Chuyue, like a child caught red-handed sneaking a snack by her mom, immediately blushed and turned back around.
So cute, I want to pet her.
This was the third time Lin Yi had thought this.
If only I could sit next to her.
Then, even a whole day of classes wouldn’t feel tiring. I’d have a constant supply of cute energy.
…
“Unsatisfied desires?”
“Absolutely not!”
Lin Yi immediately denied Yan Jianxing’s claim, wiping sweat from her forehead.
This class was the last period on Friday afternoon, which happened to be Physical Education.
It was rare for the P.E. teacher not to give up the class with some magical excuse.
However, on a Friday afternoon, she clearly had no desire to actually teach either, so she let the students have free activity.
Yan Jianxing, currently Lin Yi’s closest classmate, brought up this topic while they were running together.
Yes, Mr. Nobel Literature Prize Runner-up, when I talk about running, I’m talking about the taste of youthful feelings.
Her high ponytail swayed in the evening breeze under the setting sun.
Yan Jianxing’s smile seemed capable of melting away any darkness in the world.
“Really? But listening to the whole thing, that’s exactly the point you seemed to be making.”
“I had no idea anything I said expressed any point about having desires?”
Lin Yi stopped running, hands on her knees, panting slightly.
“Here.” Yan Jianxing handed over a bottle of electrolyte water. “Isn’t that it, though?
Getting better grades is good, of course. But you don’t seem happy now.
Other than being away from the Moon God, I can’t think of any other reason for you to be unhappy.”
“Thanks.”
Lin Yi drank the water, then reconsidered.
Maybe her own expression really was the problem.
Perhaps the reason she felt unhappy was because this Monthly Exam’s improvement was bought with an entire can of Clear Mind Black Tea.
It had basically nothing to do with her own effort.
This wasn’t a sustainable path of effort.
She had to break free from the dependency on using items to boost her grades, or one day she’d trip up.
It was definitely not because she was depressed about not being able to sit next to the Moon God for the next exam.
Absolutely not.
[Speed: Upgraded from D- to D]
[Attribute level increase detected. Distributing level reward: Endurance Sports Shoes (Effect: Reduces partial stamina consumption during exercise. Delivered to storage locker.)]
—Hah, system, are you agreeing with me?
The system did not answer.
However, the speed of this upgrade was actually within Lin Yi’s expectations.
Because D-rank itself was the lowest tier, and hers had been adjusted to D- due to her long-term vegetarian diet.
As long as she ate a bit more seriously and exercised appropriately, her sixteen-year-old body would naturally recover quickly.
“Lin Yi?”
“Sorry, I spaced out.”
The two returned to the temporary item storage area.
Yan Jianxing glanced at Lin Yi and suddenly suggested, “Then how about this? Tomorrow’s Saturday. To celebrate your improved Monthly Exam results, let’s go out to eat together!”
“Huh? Eat?”
“What’s wrong? Don’t you like that?”
Lin Yi quickly waved her hands.
“No, no, it’s just a bit…”
“I get it.” Yan Jianxing made a fist with her right hand and slapped it into her left palm.
“You must be thinking, a rare Saturday, just going out for one meal with me is too much of a waste, right?”
“Huh?”
Yan Jianxing nodded repeatedly.
“I understand, I understand. Do the whole thing properly.
Then, let’s go play on Shamian Island together on Saturday!
You and me!”
“Huh?”
Shamian Island?
Circumference 2.8 kilometers.
With Yan Jianxing’s personality, she’d definitely want to run a few laps.
Wouldn’t that mean…
Goodbye, all you hardworking part-timers.
Lin Yi would dedicate her life this weekend, fighting for the beautiful sport of running.
“I knew you wouldn’t mind! It’s settled then!”
Just then, the class dismissal bell rang.
Yan Jianxing gathered her racket, clasped her hands together, and said, “There’s badminton team special training today.You haven’t joined the team yet, so I can’t take you. We’ll talk in detail back at the dorm tonight!”
“Okay…”
Lin Yi waved, watching the beautiful girl brimming with youthful vitality run off.
She even remembered to turn back and wave goodbye to Lin Yi again after a few steps.
“Bye!”
“Mm, bye.”
So nice, Lin Yi thought.
Whoever marries Yan Jianxing in the future will surely have a life full of drive.
Day students cheered and ran back to the classroom.
For them, the rare weekend break would start tonight.
Zhuming Girls’ High School only required students to maintain above-average academic performance, without aiming for the top.
Therefore, first-year day students didn’t have to attend evening self-study on Friday nights or weekends.
Boarders participated voluntarily.
However, in Lin Yi’s Class One, the boarders would even voluntarily come for evening self-study on weekend nights.
As for Lin Yi… Just kidding.
My favorite thing to do, Lin Yi, is to study hard while others are playing.
I’ll outwork you all.
It was still early.
She planned to take a stroll around the club building to see if there were any other clubs she could join besides the badminton team.
To be fair, having been reborn from a thirty-something otaku into a high school beauty, she really wanted to continue enjoying the joys of this youth.
Because one cannot simultaneously possess youth and the understanding of youth. And she was probably the only person in the world who had both.
Returning to her storage locker, she saw a brand new pair of women’s sports shoes inside, even the white platform style.
Lin Yi tried them on.
The size and everything fit perfectly, as if custom-made.
The feeling on her feet was very comfortable too.
Walking to the club building, Lin Yi saw a girl standing in the garden plot designated by the Gardening Club.
The cut of the blazer-style uniform fit the lines of her shoulders perfectly. The navy blue fabric gave off a subtle sheen under the evening light.
Her smooth, ink-black hair fell heavily against the uniform.
Those eyes, which showed neither joy nor sorrow, were lowered, admiring the violets in the garden plot.
The ultimate solution to all problems, Jian Shuye.
The beauty had changed into black ankle socks today, but what remained unchanged were those slender, delicate legs and the black round-toe loafers.
She wasn’t in Class One, but in the neighboring Class Two.
However, Lin Yi hadn’t seen Jian Shuye’s figure during several breaks between classes when she went to the restroom.
She’d heard Jian Shuye was the type who attended class if she felt like it, and if not, she just wandered around the school.
Yet, for this Monthly Exam, she still firmly held the top spot in the grade, over twenty points ahead of second place.
The girl whose charm level in Lin Yi’s mind was A pulled a sketching pencil from her sleeve and approached Lin Yi.
“I like to use forests and cicada songs to describe summer,” Jian Shuye said.
Sis, who asked you?
“Test question: if it were autumn, what would you use to describe it?”
Lin Yi looked left and right, confirming Jian Shuye was talking to her, then cautiously replied, “Falling leaves, and… sunset clouds?”
“Commonplace, but not wrong.”
Jian Shuye flicked her long hair, put her hands behind her back, and tapped the sketching pencil against her palm.
“Come with me.”
“Huh? Where to?”
“Don’t ask. Just follow me.”