Chapter 53
“I’ll join the study group. I’m available anytime,” Chi Lin said to Lin Xiaozhi, accepting her offer of tutoring.
With the bet in place, Wei Zhuoning had no excuse to refuse.
Lin Xiaozhi immediately created a group chat for the three of them, naming it “Winter Study Squad.”
The news of Chi Lin’s bet with Lu Ke spread quickly, sparking a heated discussion on the school forum.
A student from Class 5, having heard the news, posted about it.
Title: [Civil War in Class 6?!]
Poster: Liu Jin, Class 5, Grade 10
Content:
The star of Class 6, Chi Lin, is at it again.
This time, it’s not sword dancing or martial arts, but… academics!
A little background on her opponent, though you’re probably not interested:
Lu Ke, the English class representative of Class 6, and their top English student (though his other subjects are… average).
According to reliable sources, Chi Lin scored a 91 on the last English exam, barely passing, while Lu Ke scored a 144, almost perfect!
Lu Ke offered Chi Lin a twenty-point advantage, but she refused, demanding a fair competition!
Our fairy is brave, indeed!
As for the reason behind the bet and the stakes… I’m still investigating. Stay tuned for more updates!
Comments:
Wei Zhuoning, Class 6: Excuse me? Since when is Lu Ke the top English student? Hello? Lin Xiaozhi exists. She got a 146.
Gao Xiang, Class 6: And it wasn’t Chi Lin who initiated the bet. Someone was being a dick, and Chi Lin had to put them in their place.
OP: Spill the tea!
Gao Xiang, Class 6: Let’s just say a certain teacher was being a disgusting, hypocritical bitch during class.
Peach Blossom Pool [Admin]: (Bold red text) Chi Lin, if you see this, I can tutor you.
= =: Did that student just call a teacher a bitch online? Brave.
= =: No, the admin is the brave one. Always lurking.
Gao Xiang, Class 6: What are they going to do? Expel me? Come at me, bitch.
Wu Baiyuan: Considering the context, and Gao Xiang’s comment, is this about Ms. Hu Xinying, the English teacher of Class 6?
Zhao Dongri, Class 12, Grade 11: Hu Xinying?! She’s still at South Lake Third High?
Wu Baiyuan: Do you know something?
Zhao Dongri, Class 12, Grade 11: That bitch? I have stories for days. She was our teacher last year. She’s a terrible teacher.
2044: Anonymous. Hu Xinying is still a bitch. She was our teacher last year too. Obsessed with grades, would insult and humiliate students who didn’t meet her expectations. Got reported by parents multiple times. Only reason she’s still here is because the grade level director is her brother-in-law. He got her transferred to tenth grade to torment the younger students.
Zhao Dongri, Class 12, Grade 11: What did she do this time?
Wu Baiyuan: I just asked a friend in Class 6. Apparently, Hu Xinying was badmouthing esports and a certain prominent esports athlete during class, calling them all short-lived losers and accusing them of being lazy and unambitious.
Below Wu Baiyuan’s comment, a flood of angry replies appeared.
“Is that bitch crazy?! Who talks about gaming like that in this day and age? Is there a more respectable profession than esports? Does she know how much they earn?!”
“Her narrow-mindedness is astounding. How can someone like that be a teacher?”
“Wait, a prominent esports athlete? Is she talking about HighTowerMiyuki?”
“?!”
“That makes sense. Why else would Chi Lin be so angry?”
“I’ve been following Chi Lin. She’s usually quiet and reserved. She wouldn’t pick a fight unless it was personal. It must have been about her sister.”
“So we’re getting relationship drama now? Interesting…”
“Snow Vegetable CP is real!”
“Can I repost this on Weibo? I’ll give credit.”
…
After the last class, Wei Zhuoning, still in her seat, scrolled through the forum thread, ready to defend Chi Lin against any malicious rumors.
But the thread had taken an unexpected turn, from criticizing Ms. Hu to shipping “Snow Vegetable” CP.
What the hell is “Snow Vegetable” CP…?
She was starting to feel hungry.
She reread the thread, noticing the user “Wu Baiyuan.”
Seemingly just a casual commenter, they had actually revealed several key details, subtly steering the conversation.
Ms. Hu’s clumsy attempts at manipulation were no match for Wu Baiyuan’s skillful maneuvering.
As Wei Zhuoning typed a reply, a hand appeared before her, holding out expectantly.
She looked up and saw Lin Xiaozhi smiling.
“Your phone. I’ll keep it safe during our study sessions. You can have it back when we’re done.”
“…”
“Come on,” Lin Xiaozhi said, extending her hand. “Hand it over.”
“What if you lose it?” Her phone was her lifeline.
“I’ll buy you ten new ones.”
“No… I won’t use it during our study sessions. But I’m not giving it to you. Hey!”
Before she could protest further, Lin Xiaozhi, taller and with longer reach, snatched her phone.
“Still using that old model with the tiny screen? You’ll ruin your eyes.”
“It’s none of your business…”
Lin Xiaozhi put the phone in her bag. “You can have it back after our study session. And there will be a reward.”
“A reward? What kind of reward?”
“You’ll see.”
Lin Xiaozhi was always up to something. Wei Zhuoning was wary of her… schemes.
The other students started leaving for home, some staying for the evening self-study session.
Chi Lin, Wei Zhuoning, and Lin Xiaozhi, along with three extra chairs, created a makeshift study group in the corner, their desks pushed together.
“Let’s start by reviewing the difficult points and common mistakes from the last English exam,” Lin Xiaozhi said. “After I’m done, you can ask any questions you have.”
Chi Lin nodded eagerly.
Wei Zhuoning: “I don’t understand anything…”
Lin Xiaozhi: “You’ll need extra help. We’ll focus on Chi Lin first. If you’re still struggling, you can come over to my house. We can have an all-nighter.”
Wei Zhuoning: “…I think I’m… starting to understand things now.”
The tutoring session began.
As Lin Xiaozhi was explaining a grammar point, a hand appeared, placing a notebook on the table.
They looked up and saw Gao Xiang.
“This is a family heirloom,” he said. “My brother’s notes from his senior year. It might be old, but the key concepts are still the same. This is how I aced English. Here, Chi Lin, take it. Ask me if you have any questions.”
Chi Lin took the notebook and thanked him.
“Don’t mention it. We’re on the same team, fighting for HighTowerMiyuki’s honor!” Gao Xiang, remembering Ms. Hu’s insults, said, “I’ll do anything to make that bitch apologize to Lou-jie!”
He placed a hand on Chi Lin’s shoulder, his voice filled with emotion.
“Chi Lin! You have to win, for Sister Lou!”
Chi Lin: “…”
Since when is she your Sister Lou?
Other students, inspired by Gao Xiang’s gesture, offered Chi Lin their notes and study materials.
“You have to beat Lu Ke and make them apologize!”
“I’ll stay up all night and compile my notes for you! Don’t lose!”
Not just Class 6, but students from other classes, even seniors, came bearing gifts of knowledge.
“Our revenge depends on you!”
“Go, Fairy Sister!”
“It’s a miracle! Hu Xinying is finally getting what she deserves!”
“I’ll join the study group tonight. Ask me anything, Chi Lin.”
“Me too! We’re all here for you, Chi Lin!”
“Accept our power, Chi Lin!”
…
Three ancient, heirloom-level notebooks.
Thirty-four digital documents.
Fifty-five workbooks.
Seventeen online learning accounts.
Even some expensive tutoring materials purchased from top teachers…
Chi Lin, looking at the mountain of resources, felt slightly overwhelmed.
She had been planning to focus on Lin Xiaozhi’s tutoring, but now…
Lin Xiaozhi quickly sorted through the materials, selecting the most useful ones.
“These are good,” she said, marking the key points. “Some of these explanations are even better than mine. English isn’t that hard. Just memorize the vocabulary and grammar rules. And use some advanced vocabulary and sentence structures in your essays. Guaranteed points.”
At 9 pm, Ms. Qi, leaving the office, noticed the lights were still on in the Class 6 classroom.
Class 6 was the worst-performing class for a reason.
They usually disappeared within fifteen minutes of dismissal, even the students on cleaning duty doing a half-hearted job.
Why were they still here at this hour?
She peered through the window, surprised to see over thirty students, almost half the class, still there, studying English and discussing problems.
Even Lin Xiaozhi was there. Ms. Qi was even more surprised.
The class president, who rarely paid attention in class, was now diligently studying?
She watched for a while and realized Lin Xiaozhi was tutoring Chi Lin and Wei Zhuoning.
The other students were there for moral support.
Ms. Qi, touched by their unexpected display of unity, smiled.
Dong Xiangwen, sitting by the window, had noticed a movement in his peripheral vision.
He glanced at the window and saw a face pressed against the glass, a wide, grinning face, and screamed.
“Holy shit!”
His scream startled the other students, who turned to yell at him, then froze, seeing Ms. Qi’s face at the window.
“It’s a ghost!”
Ms. Qi: “…”
.
The steaming hot takeout arrived within fifteen minutes, thirty-eight servings delivered on a cart.
“Thank you, Ms. Qi!”
“Ms. Qi is the best!”
Ms. Qi: “Weren’t you just calling me a ghost? Study hard, and you won’t be afraid of ghosts.”
Dong Xiangwen: “Our fear isn’t about the ghost…”
“Then what is it about?”
“It’s about… the intensity of your appearance, Ms. Qi.”
Ms. Qi: “…”
Gao Xiang: “Seriously, a face suddenly appearing at the window at night is scary, even if it’s Lou-jie’s face. And…”
Ms. Qi: “And what? Finish your sentence.”
Gao Xiang grinned. “You know what I mean.”
Ms. Qi: “Getting bold, are you? I bought you food, and you’re still insulting me? Do you want me to take it back?”
“No!” the students chorused, eagerly unwrapping their takeout containers, the aroma of grilled meat filling the classroom.
Chi Lin hadn’t had a late-night study session with her classmates in… centuries.
The last time she had studied while eating, it had been lamb stew and steamed buns at the Imperial Academy.
The atmosphere in Class 6 was surprisingly pleasant. After the late-night snack, a few concerned parents arrived, and the students gradually dispersed.
Lin Xiaozhi, having finished reviewing the last few difficult points, was about to leave with Chi Lin and Wei Zhuoning when Ms. Qi called Chi Lin over.
Having learned about the bet, she wanted to talk to Chi Lin.
“Don’t be so impulsive,” she said, her voice filled with concern. “Let’s be realistic. You’ve improved, but you’re still no match for Lu Ke in English. Are you really willing to drop out of school if you lose?”
Chi Lin’s expression remained unchanged. “Yes.”
Ms. Qi, her face creased with worry, said, “You’re too stubborn! Risking your future on a bet! What about the college entrance exam? What about university?”
Chi Lin, unmoved by her pleas, said firmly, “I won’t lose.”
Ms. Qi: “…”
A 91, barely passing, versus a 140, almost perfect.
In Ms. Qi’s opinion, and in the opinion of every other teacher who knew about the bet, Chi Lin was doomed.
“It’s so cold… winter is here,” Wei Zhuoning said, her hands in her pockets, her hood pulled up.
The wind buffeted her, almost lifting her off her feet.
Lin Xiaozhi leaned against her, using her body as a shield.
“You still don’t understand, do you?”
Wei Zhuoning: “?”
Lin Xiaozhi turned to Chi Lin. “Zhuoning has a few more questions. She wants to come over to my house tonight for some extra tutoring. Want to join us?”
Wei Zhuoning: “?!”
Since when am I struggling?!
Chi Lin: “…No, my sister wants me home early.”
“That’s too bad,” Lin Xiaozhi said, then, as Wei Zhuoning tried to escape, grabbed her and pulled her into a hug.
Chi Lin: “I’ll leave you two to your… studies. Good night.”
“What kind of… blessing is that?!” Wei Zhuoning exclaimed.
As Lin Xiaozhi and Wei Zhuoning disappeared into the night, Chi Lin thought they looked… warm and cozy.
A gust of wind, carrying icy rain, hit her, and she quickly lowered her head, bracing herself against the elements.
She regretted leaving her new car at home. She wasn’t comfortable driving yet.
It was a busy night for taxis, most of them concentrated in the city center, making it difficult to hail one elsewhere.
She had requested a ride when she left the school building, but it was still searching.
She huddled in the bus shelter, checking her phone, and saw a message from Lou Mi.
“Not home yet? Where are you?”
Peng Ziyuan had also messaged her earlier, checking on her study session.
Lou Mi must not have seen Peng Ziyuan’s message.
Lou Mi’s message was thirty minutes old.
Chi Lin replied: “Just finished studying. Heading home now.”
Changjun Gardens.
Lou Mi, exhausted after a long day at the club, her muscles aching, arrived home to an empty house.
Where’s Chi Lin?
And my parents?
She messaged Chi Lin, but there was no reply.
She stretched, then, still worried about Chi Lin, decided to watch TV while she waited.
As she turned on the TV, a news report about a local murder caught her attention.
The victim was a female high school student. The perpetrator was still at large.
Lou Mi’s blood ran cold.
Murder? A high school student?
That was terrifying.
Forgetting about Chi Lin’s message, she grabbed her jacket and rushed out.
Chi Lin, waiting at the bus stop, heard the door open.
A tall man wearing a mask entered the shelter.
The shelter was enclosed, with transparent glass walls on three sides and a solid wall behind the seats.
Two doors, one on each side, provided access, and the U-shaped seating arrangement could accommodate about ten people.
The shelter was empty, except for Chi Lin.
But the man sat down beside her.
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