Two or three days after the “high fever” incident, Jiang Qiao belatedly realized that Lu Xun’s attitude toward her had changed.
It wasn’t the kind of unpredictable, hot-and-cold fluctuation from before, but an obvious softening that anyone could see.
According to the plot, she should appear very happy about this,
Yet Jiang Qiao couldn’t feel the slightest bit of joy right now!
Could someone please tell her whether a straight-A student’s way of showing friendliness was by explaining problems?!
Finally when school ended, Jiang Qiao tried to sneak away but was once again blocked by Lu Xun at the classroom door: “Go back inside. You’re not leaving until we finish going through your wrong answers.”
Jiang Qiao: “………………”
Jiang Qiao pulled a long face, glaring at Lu Xun with suppressed anger before finally having to compromise under his expressionless yet determined gaze: “Oh……………”
She swore that if it weren’t for maintaining her persona, she would definitely walk past Lu Xun with her head held high right now!
Whoever wants to do these damn math problems can have them!
Unfortunately, she was just a weak, pitiful, and helpless villainous female supporting character, so she could only obey Lu Xun and struggle with the math problems.
Since coming to this world, she had only been playing and completing tasks, hardly studying at all. Even after doing the same major problem several times, she still got it wrong. She herself was already annoyed, yet Lu Xun patiently explained it to her over and over.
Jiang Qiao stared at his serious profile as he explained the problem, feeling somewhat conflicted inside.
When Lu Xun turned to ask if she understood, Jiang Qiao collected her emotions, blinked her eyes, and said with firm determination: “I understand.”
Lu Xun said: “…………Explain it back to me.”
Since when was this part of the deal.
Jiang Qiao stammered: “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
One second, two seconds passed,
Lu Xun stared at her expressionlessly until Jiang Qiao surrendered: “Fine, there’s actually just a tiny bit I still don’t understand.”
She pinched her thumb and index finger together, trying hard to prove it was really just a tiny bit she didn’t understand.
Her attitude was perfunctory, careless, and showed no desire for improvement.
Lu Xun pressed his lips into a straight line: “Do you even want to listen at all?”
“Of course I do,” Jiang Qiao said lazily, as if not noticing his anger. “Go ahead and explain.”
Lu Xun placed his pen on the desk with a distinct sound. Jiang Qiao waited for a while but didn’t hear him explaining the problem. When she looked up in confusion, she realized Lu Xun’s face had turned cold at some point.
“………What’s wrong?”
“Jiang Qiao.” Lu Xun called her name and said: “I don’t like long-distance relationships.”
His tone was flat, yet it somehow made her heart tremble.
Jiang Qiao froze, sensing that something had changed.
She wasn’t stupid – she understood what Lu Xun meant. It was precisely because she understood that she felt panicked.
Actually, she had vaguely sensed something when Lu Xun started insisting on explaining problems to her, but due to her blind trust in the plot, she hadn’t thought too deeply about it.
Lu Xun stared at Jiang Qiao after speaking. Jiang Qiao pretended to suddenly understand, smiling triumphantly: “I get it! You want me to get into the same university as you, right?”
Lu Xun didn’t speak, just looked at her silently.
Jiang Qiao felt even more depressed inside, though none of it showed on her face. She sighed: “Your grades are so good, there’s no way I can get into the same university as you.”
“There’s still time. I’ll help you review,” Lu Xun said.
Jiang Qiao shook her head: “No, I still want to have fun.”
Seeing Lu Xun’s face darken, she quickly added: “It’s fine if we’re not at the same university. I can apply to the same city as you. Distance isn’t a problem.”
After speaking, Jiang Qiao gazed at him with wide, pleading eyes.
Lu Xun stared back at her with a stern expression for a few seconds before turning and walking away.
Left alone in the center of the classroom, Jiang Qiao watched Lu Xun’s retreating figure until it disappeared from view, then slowly blinked her sore eyes.
A cold breeze drifted in through the window, lifting a corner of the bound math test papers. Jiang Qiao, sensitive to the chill, tucked her fingers into her sleeves and lowered her gaze, breathing small puffs of warm air into her cupped hands.
Following this rather unpleasant parting, Jiang Qiao had assumed that given Lu Xun’s typically aloof nature, he would ignore her as he had in the past.
To her surprise, Lu Xun seemed to have forgotten the incident. The very next day after class, he resumed cornering her to explain problems, displaying a determined resolve to mold her into a straight-A student.
Jiang Qiao: “……………………”
Bro… our paths diverge—we can’t work together.
During study periods, time always seemed to crawl by. Yet, no matter how slow, winter break quietly arrived without notice.
Since starting to date Lu Xun, Jiang Qiao had cut back on gatherings with her frivolous friends.
Lately, however, she had begun frequently accepting invitations again—Red Pavilion, White House, Jiangnan Shore—wherever was fun, she’d tag along, always eager to bring Lu Xun with her.
Lu Xun went once. While Jiang Qiao stepped out of the private room, a certain wealthy young man sneered at Lu Xun, insinuating that he had climbed the social ladder thanks to his good looks.
After that, whenever Jiang Qiao suggested going out together, Lu Xun never agreed again.
The pride of youth is always more fragile than at any other stage of life. Having experienced it herself, Jiang Qiao understood.
[What’s going on!] 166, having upgraded and returned, witnessed Jiang Qiao’s reckless behavior and Lu Xun’s compliance, and couldn’t help but exclaim: [I’ve only been gone a short while—what happened?!]
[Well, though it might sound conceited, I have to say,] Jiang Qiao sighed, theatrically pressing a hand to her forehead: [It seems like Lu Xun has fallen for me.]
The male lead has fallen for the villainous female supporting character.
166 was utterly dumbfounded by her words: [Impossible, absolutely impossible.]
[Uh-huh, suit yourself if you don’t believe me.] Jiang Qiao shrugged.
Anyway, she was now working hard to twist the plot, trying to convey to Lu Xun that she was a spoiled, unreasonable, and unmotivated rich girl.
166 pulled up the progress records from this period and reviewed them, then fell into silence.
Half an hour later, it made a resolute decision: to cut the Gordian knot. Before the plot strayed too far, it was going to make a big move.
166 coldly informed her: [Your family is going bankrupt ahead of schedule.]
Jiang Qiao’s eyes widened. What, what did you say?!
She raged: [I’m not the one twisting the plot—why should I go bankrupt?!]
If you’ve got the guts, go mess with the male lead instead!
166 said faintly: [Who told you you’re the female supporting character?]
Jiang Qiao: […………………]
Recently, an amusing incident—or rather, a piece of high-society gossip—occurred among the wealthy circles of City A.
The Jiang family made a grand spectacle of acknowledging an illegitimate son and even planned a special “Recognizing Ancestors and Returning to the Clan” banquet to formally introduce him, inviting many witnesses. The Jiang family, being one of the prominent families, was also on the guest list.
At the banquet, Jiang Qiao excused herself to go to the restroom, slipping away from her parents. She found a secluded corner sofa, settled in with a plate of small cakes, and ate while her eyes roamed curiously around the venue.
[Why hasn’t Jiang Chao arrived yet?] Jiang Qiao asked 166.
166 scolded her for being foolish: [Don’t you know the main character always makes a grand entrance?]
[Yeah, yeah, I know.]
Jiang Qiao was still casually bickering with 166 when the banquet suddenly fell silent for a second. Jiang Qiao glanced toward the main entrance of the banquet hall.