The classroom had returned to normal. Everyone was chatting and laughing, and some were looking at who knew what on their phones.
In the back row, Yang Wenzhao paid no attention at all to Zhang Huizhen's teasing. He didn't even feel the slightest stir inside.
The first time someone teased you, you frowned and got a little angry.
The second time, at most you frowned and thought, Why is this person so annoying?
By the third time, or after being teased even more, you started to grow numb, as if the person being talked about wasn't you anymore.
Zhang Huizhen clapped her hands and held out both arms, her face wreathed in smiles.
"Cutie, come let Big Sis give you a hug."
Candy, nestled in Mo Jingchun's arms, looked at him, then at Zhang Huizhen's outstretched hands.
Zhang Huizhen wasn't about to wait for the little one to choose. Children were naturally wary of strangers, and if she waited any longer, she definitely wouldn't get to hold her. So Zhang Huizhen simply lifted Candy from Mo Jingchun's arms.
In Zhang Huizhen's arms, Candy stared blankly at her, no longer as lively as before.
When it came to looking after children, girls really were the best. The little one had been a bit reserved at first, but after Zhang Huizhen played with her for a while, she burst into laughter. Her big brother Mo Jingchun had probably been banished to the far corners of her mind.
Babies were simply irresistible. More and more girls gradually gathered around Zhang Huizhen, all scrambling to hold Candy. Mo Jingchun, her big brother, and Yang Wenzhao were both shoved right out of the group by the girls, looking completely dumbfounded.
Why had things turned out like this? Where had all the girls' reserve gone?
Shoved over by the back door, Yang Wenzhao and Mo Jingchun both fell into deep thought.
"Her eyes are so big. They're really pretty."
"Whose child is she?"
"If my little brother were this cute, there's no way I'd ever hit him!"
"Senior, senior, let me hold her next. She's just too cute."
"Huh? Why is she frowning?"
"You're holding her wrong. She'll be uncomfortable like that. No wonder she's frowning. The little one's lucky she hasn't started crying. Let me hold her instead."
Seeing that his little sister wouldn't need him for a while, Mo Jingchun simply sat down in the last row near the back door. Yang Wenzhao saw him and sat beside him as well.
"You want to get a scholarship?" the usually taciturn Yang Wenzhao suddenly asked. Mo Jingchun clearly froze for a moment, then nodded.
"It'd be great if I can get one. If I don't, it's no big deal."
As far as Mo Jingchun was concerned, with all those algorithms from the AI Smart Butler in his mind, how could he possibly fail to make money?
Yang Wenzhao raised an eyebrow and pointed toward the group of girls.
"See that pale young woman holding your little sister and grinning like an idiot? Her name's Li Xuanyu. You've probably heard of her. If you want to get the scholarship, you have to outperform her."
Li Xuanyu. Li Xuanyu. That name sounded so familiar. Suddenly, Mo Jingchun's eyes widened as he looked at the girl grinning foolishly while holding his little sister. Then he turned to Yang Wenzhao, seeking confirmation of his guess.
"Don't tell me she's the Li Xuanyu I know."
"Hard to believe? Or does the world seem too small? Don't doubt it. She's Li Xuanyu, the top science-stream student in An Province who's always been ahead of you."
Yang Wenzhao patted Mo Jingchun on the shoulder. "Let's get properly acquainted. I'm Yang Wenzhao, and that thick-skinned senior of yours is Zhang Huizhen."
"Good luck. I believe you can beat Li Xuanyu."
Mo Jingchun gave an awkward smile. He couldn't tell how much of Yang Wenzhao's remark was sincere.
For all three years of high school, the name Li Xuanyu had been looming over Mo Jingchun. Not once had he beaten her. Every time they took a schoolwide exam, Li Xuanyu's name appeared at the top of the rankings, while Mo Jingchun kept bouncing between second place and somewhere in the top ten.
He'd done pretty well on the Gaokao, placing third in An Province's science-stream rankings. Mo Jingchun really hadn't expected the world to be so small. Before, he'd only ever heard his homeroom teacher and subject teachers mention Li Xuanyu. Now, they were sitting in the same classroom.
If the system hadn't appeared after the Gaokao, Mo Jingchun really wouldn't have thought he could compete with Li Xuanyu. He hadn't beaten her once in three years, so how could he expect to beat her just by going to college?
But now? Mo Jingchun was confident in himself—or rather, he was confident in the system.
Ding~
"Congratulations, host, on realizing how powerful the system is. To help you wipe away your humiliation, the system is issuing a quest."
"Please fight your way through the competition and win this semester's National Scholarship. Completing the quest will earn you 100 Points."
Mo Jingchun frowned slightly. Beside him, Yang Wenzhao assumed he was feeling pressured by Li Xuanyu.
What Yang Wenzhao didn't know was that Mo Jingchun was busy complaining to the system in his mind.
"System, this is a long-term quest, right? It only gives me 100 Points. Do you really think that's appropriate?"
"And you've only told me the reward. You haven't said what the penalty is if I fail."
The system was silent for a while before replying to Mo Jingchun.
"Host, the number of Points awarded by the system is well-founded."
"Also, please don't let novels mislead you. The system and host have already become one. When one prospers, both prosper; when one suffers, both suffer. There is no penalty for failing a quest. Or rather, any Points you lose as a result are the penalty."
At this point, the system's tone turned resentful. "Host, if you fail a beginner quest like this, you might as well buy a block of tofu and bash your head against it, or hang yourself with noodles."
"Life isn't worth living. This system can't afford to lose face."
Heh. So this is what kind of system you are.
"What are you two doing? One of you is frowning, and the other looks miserable."
Li Na had just entered through the back door with a register in hand. She saw Mo Jingchun and Yang Wenzhao, the substitute class monitor, sitting by the door looking dejected. Was this how college students were supposed to act?
"Ah, Teacher, you're here." Mo Jingchun scratched his head. He couldn't very well tell her that the system was looking down on him.
"Mm." Li Na gave a soft hum and nodded, but her gaze fell on the cluster of students gathered around the little girl.
Seeing all the girls fussing over Mo Jingchun's little sister, Li Na's previously furrowed brow relaxed. Things seemed to be going much better than she'd expected.
Still wearing her tracksuit, Li Na walked from the back row to the lectern. The classroom gradually quieted down, and the girls who had gathered together returned to their seats. Candy was carried back to her seat by a girl Mo Jingchun didn't know.
In the back row, Zhang Huizhen met Mo Jingchun's gaze and spread her hands helplessly.
"Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the class."
Clap, clap, clap~
Li Na raised a hand to quiet the students' applause, then said with a smile, "I think some of you already know me, but most of you have only heard about me by word of mouth. Let me introduce myself."
Before you continue