Free Web NovelChapter 411: Chapter 411: Yanxi 19
Tan You wasn’t being modest. How long had she been studying computer science, after all? In her life as Liuu Yuming, she had spent nearly the entire time wrestling with computers, and that wasn’t even counting the many years she had studied it off and on in her previous lives. Even so, Tan You was still not at a top-tier level.
But Li Xiuzai? He had studied for less than two years in total, yet his progress was equivalent to five or six years of her own. So sometimes, when she saw someone so talented, Tan You couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy.
"What enviable talent," Tan You remarked with a sigh. "Of course, there are too many geniuses in this world. I’d never run out of people to be jealous of."
"That’s not true. You’re actually very accepting of others, Teacher," Li Xiuzai countered. "Not everyone can guide others when they see how exceptional they are."
"I wouldn’t call it being accepting," Tan You said, propping her head up with her hand. "I’m just aware that I’m an ordinary person with average intelligence. And how many geniuses are there in the world? It’s already incredibly fortunate just to meet them."
Tan You wasn’t wrong about that. Her current Intelligence Value was only 61, which was indeed average. But to everyone else, it just sounded like their teacher was being overly modest.
Little Wu retorted, "That’s not true! Our teacher is amazing! She can dance, she’s great at making money, and she’s so good at computers. She can also speak several languages, and her Chinese is so fluent."
Zheng Xue said, "Speaking of which, you’ve been learning languages from her. How far have you gotten?"
Tan You smiled. "Little Wu’s Chinese is already quite good."
Little Wu waved his hands repeatedly. "It’s not good enough, not good enough."
The group chatted for a bit longer, making plans to go look at apartments together when they had time, before finally dispersing. The new students walked with the older ones, asking about Tan You’s preferences along the way.
After all, they would be studying under Tan You for a long time and wanted to make a good impression on their teacher.
Jin Li said, "Don’t try to put on a show. Just be yourself."
Zheng Xue added, "Stay true to your character. The teacher likes kind people who have principles. Of course, if someone bullies you, you have to know how to fight back. It’s fine to be kind, but your kindness needs to have an edge."
Song Yuan slung his arms around the shoulders of two new students. "With our teacher, there’s no such thing as ’boys don’t belong in the kitchen.’ Just look at us. Whenever we go to her place, we’re always busy in the kitchen. You’ll see."
The two boys nodded in confusion. "So the teacher likes students who can cook?"
"Not exactly," Little Wu said after a moment of thought. "The teacher likes people who strive to improve themselves and don’t give up. And it’s even better if you can also take care of and be considerate toward the people around you."
"Anyway, that’s what we all do. See how well we all get along?"
The new students understood what Little Wu meant. Since they were all studying together now, they should look out for each other and improve together.
Tan You had been keeping a close eye on the college entrance exam scores for Jin Li and the others, and she obviously found out before they did. Only after learning that all of their scores had met the cutoff for public universities did Tan You finally fall into a deep sleep.
Unfortunately, she was woken up the next day by a commotion. When Tan You pushed open her bedroom door, she found her home bustling with activity. Not only was Xu Jinwu there, but the parents of Jin Li and the others were all there as well.
The moment Tan You came out, Jin Li’s and Zheng Xue’s mothers each took one of her hands, tears starting to fall before they could even speak.
Tan You quickly comforted them. "This is a good thing! You should be happy. They all got the scores they wanted and can go to the universities they hoped for. A bright future is right ahead of them. I’m happy for you."
Li Xiuzai gave Song Yuan a wry smile. He just knew their teacher must have already known their scores. On the way over, Song Yuan had made a bet with him on whether their teacher knew they had done well on their exams.
Song Yuan reluctantly pulled a lollipop from his pocket. "Alright, I’ll admit I lost the bet, okay? You’re really that desperate for one lollipop?"
Li Xiuzai said unhurriedly, "Zheng Xue gave that to you."
Song Yuan’s eyes widened. "She didn’t only give one to me. Why are you picking on just me?"
Li Xiuzai had a retort ready. "Little Wu and Daozhen already gave me theirs. You’re the only blockhead."
Song Yuan glared at the snickering pair. "So you two just watched me walk right into a trap? And you didn’t even warn me?"
Little Wu said, "You didn’t know Xiuzai likes Zheng Xue? Anything Zheng Xue gives us, we turn around and give it to Xiuzai. You’re the only one who’s clueless all day long. Who else would he target but you?"
Not to be outdone, Daozhen added, "Your own eyes are so glued to Jin Li you can’t pull them away, and you can’t even see what’s on Xiuzai’s mind?"
Thinking about it, the two of them felt rather wistful. Their friends all had someone they were interested in, and now it was just the two of them left all alone.
Little Wu sighed. "Why couldn’t you have been a girl?"
Daozhen replied, "I was about to say the same thing. If you were a girl, we could’ve just paired up."
Song Yuan chimed in ominously, "Gender doesn’t have to be so rigid."
Little Wu and Daozhen both shivered and quickly jumped a few steps apart. "Don’t say such horrifying things on such a wonderful day! You’re giving me goosebumps!"
Song Yuan glanced at Zheng Xue, who was sitting beside Tan You. "Does Zheng Xue know how you feel?"
"She’s not like Jin Li. Little Snow is very perceptive," Li Xiuzai said, looking especially happy. "We’ve already agreed to apply to the same university together."
Song Yuan was truly envious. "That basically means she’s said yes to you. I’m so jealous."
’He never would have expected it. The quiet one and the rational one... making progress so quickly.’
Then, Song Yuan grew a little worried. "I heard the teacher also got together with her ex in high school, and now they’re..."
"That won’t happen to us," Li Xiuzai cut him off firmly. "We both know what we want, and a relationship isn’t maintained by just one person. We will both work hard to protect our relationship."
"The teacher... she just met someone who wasn’t steadfast. That’s not love’s fault." Although Li Xiuzai had never been in a relationship, he had learned a great deal about the ways of the world from Tan You over the past year or so and had his own views on love.
Song Yuan pursed his lips. "You’re right. We can’t write everyone off just because of one bad person."
"When do you think Jin Li will say yes to me?"
Li Xiuzai shrugged. "Have you even told Jin Li? If you haven’t even told her, how could she possibly say yes to you? Besides, when I confessed to Zheng Xue, I gave her all the money I had on me."
"You were that serious?" Song Yuan was genuinely surprised. "You’re not even together yet, and you already gave her your money?"
"Mhm. Since I’ve decided it’s her, I have to do everything I can to hold onto her," Li Xiuzai said with great seriousness. "I have to let her know that I’m a good catch, too, and that with my hard work, our future together won’t be bad."
"Plus, with her having the money, it’s an indirect way of showing that everything I have is under her control. That also helps her feel secure with me. After all, they say men turn bad when they get rich. If I don’t have money in my hands, she can rest easy."
