Zhao Qingyan discovered a feeling she had never experienced before.
How should she describe it?
It was like… helping others brought joy.
Sure enough, the trouble with people was their love of teaching others. Watching a dumb little donkey show admiration and awe made Zhao Qingyan’s very soul tremble.
Such a strange feeling.
Why…
Why did it feel a little addictive?
No. That won’t do.
Zhao Qingyan folded her hands and watched Shen Weiyue happily follow her method to verify the solution step by step. Then he carefully copied it into his notebook of mistakes, his attitude solemn and almost reverent.
Mm, not bad. A donkey that respects knowledge is a good donkey.
“Hurry up. Are there any other problems you don’t understand? I’ll explain them all at once so you don’t come bothering me later.”
She couldn’t help urging him.
Shen Weiyue paused, thinking, when did I ever bother you? Weren’t you the one who got excited and volunteered?
Still, the opportunity was right in front of him. In some ways, this top student explained things even more clearly than Han the Old Devil. He had to seize it.
“This one, and this one. Please.”
“This is so simple. You can’t even do this? Listen carefully…”
Zhao Buqun began crushing him with her intelligence again. Shen Weiyue felt knowledge flowing into his brain in a strange, effortless way, making it itch.
Not good. I’m about to grow a brain!
In one go, they went through five problems. Zhao Qingyan gained the joy of teaching, while Shen Weiyue felt his head stuffed full.
“Thank you, class monitor. You’re amazing,” Shen Weiyue said sincerely.
“My time is valuable. In the future, don’t come to me unless the problem is particularly difficult,” Zhao Qingyan said calmly.
“Huh?” Shen Weiyue’s eyes lit up. “Class monitor, one of our earlier agreements was that I shouldn’t disturb you. Does this mean I can still ask you questions?”
“That depends on my mood—and your performance. If you’re too dumb, I won’t teach you. It’s a waste of mental energy.”
Zhao Qingyan turned her head proudly, her ponytail whipping across him again, making him sneeze.
“Don’t sneeze toward me. That’s another mark against you!”
“…”
10:30 p.m.
Evening self-study ended.
Shen Weiyue rushed out of the classroom, only to be intercepted by Ye Lingtao, who had clearly been waiting for a long time.
This guy had been holding it in for ages and was determined to get the full story—how Master Yue had suddenly ended up discussing “burning pens” with Miss Zhao Buqun.
“Move aside, I need to hurry back, wash up, and sleep.”
“Yue-san, if you don’t explain everything clearly today, I’m going to your rented room and sleeping with you tonight.”
Ye Lingtao refused to let go, determined to satisfy his curiosity.
“Did you flirt with the campus belle today?”
“Are you crazy? She’s so cold and arrogant—would I dare flirt with her? Do I not need to take the college entrance exam anymore?”
Shen Weiyue sidestepped him and walked out of the school gate. Outside, there were still food stalls selling fried snacks. The smell of grilled sausages drifted over, making him swallow involuntarily.
He had burned too much energy. He was hungry.
His stomach let out a few embarrassing growls.
“Hehe.” Ye Lingtao’s eyes gleamed as he grinned slyly. “Tell me the gossip, and I’ll treat you to grilled sausages.”
“Forget it. I’m a man of principles. I don’t eat handouts.”
“Two sausages.”
“Who are you looking down on…”
“I’ll add a bottle of cola.”
“You win.”
Shen Weiyue followed Ye Lingtao to the food stall. The sausages sizzled with oil, their surfaces quickly turning golden and crispy. The cuts on them curled up like flower petals. Sprinkled with chili powder, the aroma hit instantly.
After Ye Lingtao paid, the two walked slowly while talking.
“Yue-san, were you really talking about burning pens?”
“You’re overthinking it. Zhao Qingyan saw I had a lighter and questioned whether I smoked. I said it was for lighting mosquito coils, but she didn’t believe me and insisted I was trying to light cigarettes. So I picked up a 2B pencil and said I’d burn a pen.”
“That explanation is a bit far-fetched. But with her cold personality, how did she not beat you up?”
“Didn’t she already make me write a 2,000-word self-criticism? Damn it, walk faster. I still have to go back and write it.”
Shen Weiyue quickened his pace. Ye Lingtao, shorter than him, had to jog to keep up.
“Wait, there’s more. You said you wanted to be an arsonist of hearts?”
“I didn’t. I never said that. Don’t make things up.” Find the original chapter at g.com.
“Everyone heard it. Don’t tell me you really have that idea? That would make you a real man…”
Shen Weiyue suddenly stopped and stared at Ye Lingtao seriously. “Taozi, there are several other guys in our class besides you. If you have feelings, then go for it. Don’t complain that she’s cold while secretly thinking about her all the time.”
“I don’t. How could I? I’m just curious. It’s true Zhou Qiang and the others might have thoughts, but I absolutely don’t.”
“Really?”
“Really… wait, you’re eating the sausages I bought and drinking the cola I bought. I’m the one asking you questions. How did it turn into you questioning me?”
Ye Lingtao grumbled as he deliberately slowed their pace to ask another question.
“You’re really impressive. We all thought you wouldn’t last even a day sitting with her, but it’s already been three days. And tonight, I even saw her smile at you…”
Shen Weiyue thought about it. That brief smile after solving the problem—this guy actually noticed it?
“You spent the whole evening not studying, just watching me?”
“Ahem, I was just curious. I happened to notice.”
“Stop it. If you stay this curious, you’ll die. If you fail the exam, your dad will hang you up and beat you!”
“That’s not a big deal. Instead of worrying about me, worry about yourself. I ranked ahead of you this time.”
“Is that so? The college entrance exam might not turn out the same.”
They reached a fork in the road. Shen Weiyue turned left toward the alley. Ye Lingtao shouted, “Wait! You still haven’t answered me—why did the campus belle smile at you?”
Shen Weiyue replied without turning back, “Those who love to teach take the greatest joy in nurturing talent.”
“???”
Only after Shen Weiyue had completely disappeared did Ye Lingtao finally understand. He cursed loudly toward the alley, “Yue Buqun, you’re shameless!”
“What talent are you? I’m not even talking, and I’m already in the top 200—you’re just trash!”
He ranted breathlessly, but Shen Weiyue was long gone, so there was no response.
With no choice, Ye Lingtao could only curse a few more times before heading home himself.
Meanwhile, Zhao Qingyan returned home and, to everyone’s surprise, hummed a tune lightly, her mood unusually good.
Zhao Weiming and his wife Lu Chunyue listened carefully. It sounded like a children’s song:
“I have a little donkey, I never ride it.”
“One day on a whim, I rode it to the market. Holding a small whip in my hand, I felt so proud…”
The principal and his wife exchanged puzzled glances, unable to figure out what was going on.
Back in her room, Zhao Qingyan opened her diary again and wrote:
“March 4, 2009. The dumb donkey is starting to change. He’s becoming diligent and eager to learn—a good donkey. If only his mouth weren’t so annoying, it would be even better.”