Seeing Your Progress Makes Me Extremely Happy

Back at the tutoring session at home, Ding Yebai listened attentively and worked on problems diligently.

He was already accustomed to getting perfect scores on dictation tests, but Yang Zhi still praised him every time.

His accuracy on practice tests was also quite high, generally hovering around the 110 mark. For this monthly exam, he himself felt he had performed a little better.

If it was just a slightly better performance, what was there to be proud of? If it wasn't true skill, he might not get this score next time.

At eight o'clock, they took a five-minute break.

Yang Zhi, saying her throat was dry, unscrewed her water bottle and took a drink.

Ding Yebai stared blankly at the monthly exam papers piled on his desk.

Speaking of which, was there any need to tell Sister Yang Zhi about the exam results?

For her, 116 must have felt as low as dust.

After all, his older sister said she was a top student, a university student who scored over 700.

Her English score alone must be around 145.

As he thought, he turned his head to look at Yang Zhi again.

Their eyes met. Yang Zhi gently curved her eyes into a smile.

Her smile was truly as beautiful as an angel's.

Even the autumn sunlight paled in comparison to her.

Ding Yebai gasped and, with a "swish," pulled the monthly exam paper from his books and handed it to her.

After all, no matter what, he had improved.

Improvements should come with rewards, right?

Yang Zhi asked, "Is that your monthly exam paper?" She looked down at the paper.

Ding Yebai's eyes widened slightly. "Yes. It was just handed out. I brought it straight to you."

Yang Zhi first looked at the score, then at Ding Yebai's answer sheet, and compared it to the mistakes on the paper.

Ding Yebai tilted his head slightly, observing Yang Zhi's expression.

What was it like?

"Ah, I think you shouldn't have gotten this question wrong..." Yang Zhi looked up and happened to see him looking at her so strangely. She blinked in confusion.

Ding Yebai quickly sat up straight, his gaze shifting to the side.

Yang Zhi didn't pay much attention. She propped the paper up for him, leaned closer, and pointed at the question with her pen. "Isn't this very simple? You never get this wrong usually, so why did you miss it on the monthly exam? Were you a bit nervous?"

A faint, elegant fragrance wafted over, making Ding Yebai's head feel fuzzy. Yang Zhi was so close, so very close. Even though he knew she was explaining the problem, he couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.

Ding Yebai replied, "I was a bit nervous."

Yang Zhi smiled helplessly. "Then don't be nervous next time. Read the questions carefully; small mistakes can be fatal on the Gaokao."

Ding Yebai nodded.

For the rest of the time, Yang Zhi focused on analyzing Ding Yebai's incorrect answers. That rare five-minute break turned into a lesson.

Ding Yebai never expected that Sister Yang Zhi wouldn't only fail to praise his improvement but wouldn't even mention his score at all!

They went through the entire paper like that, and when he looked at the time, it was 8:30, and class was over...

How could this be...

As Yang Zhi packed her bag, Ding Yebai, speechless, held his forehead and pondered.

The way things were developing was not right.

Even his own older sister would mention his grades once or twice.

Sister Yang Zhi, you... you're teaching me, how can you not care?

"Ah, right."

As Yang Zhi slung her bag over her shoulder and prepared to leave, she suddenly thought of something. She took out a Snickers bar from her bag and placed it on Ding Yebai's desk.

Ding Yebai's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly. He picked up the Snickers bar, turned his chair around, and looked at her in confusion. "What's this?"

Yang Zhi smiled faintly. "Congratulations on scoring 116. A small reward. I hope you'll accept it."

Ding Yebai: "..."

Yang Zhi continued, "I asked Senior Sister, and you really do like eating Snickers. So, I specifically brought one in my bag today, thinking of you."

Ding Yebai asked, "You knew my monthly exam results were out today?"

Yang Zhi replied, "Didn't you say you had a monthly exam before? Based on my experience, the results usually come out the day after the exam."

Ding Yebai's pupils dilated. He looked at the Snickers bar, his mouth slightly agape. "You knew in advance... So, what if I had scored even worse than before? And hadn't improved? Weren't you worried?"

Yang Zhi responded, "Hm?"

Ding Yebai pressed on. "Yeah. If I had regressed, what would be the point of a reward?"

Yang Zhi's lips curved into a smile. Her eyes, beautiful like the moonlit maple leaves of late autumn, looked gently at Ding Yebai.

She walked up to Ding Yebai with her bag, bending slightly and half-kneeling, her hand resting naturally on her knee.

Ding Yebai's heart pounded wildly as he faced her.

Yang Zhi: "I never thought something like this would happen."

Ding Yebai: "Why?"

Yang Zhi's eyes lit up, exceptionally gentle: "Because I believe in you."

Ding Yebai: "...Huh... What?"

Yang Zhi continued to look into Ding Yebai's eyes: "I believe you can get a good score this time. Not just now, I believe you'll definitely get a good score on the Gaokao too. A much, much better score than this."

"And, even if you regress, I'll still give you a reward."

"That doesn't make much sense..."

"It does. No one says the standard for rewards can only be grades. Everyone who strives hard for their dreams deserves a reward. Ding Yebai, you've worked very hard this past month, I've seen it all."

Her voice was soft and gentle, her entire demeanor warm and serene, everything about her was incredibly charming.

Ding Yebai used to think that fiery beauty, the kind with a strong impact, was what truly touched the soul.

Now, he felt that a tender, watery feeling, like a trickling stream, silently, and without him knowing when, had already flowed into his heart.

He didn't know what possessed him, but Ding Yebai gripped the armrests of his chair. He looked at Yang Zhi and asked firmly, "Sister Yang Zhi, are you happy?"

Yang Zhi naturally tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled brightly.

"Happy. Seeing you improve makes me incredibly happy."

"..."

"Congratulations, you're one step closer to your dream."

"..."

Ding Yebai was stunned.

At that moment, [The wise do not fall in love] was useless. He thought that if he could see such a smile with every improvement, he would definitely study hard and achieve progress again and again.

...Huh?

After some thought, he awoke as if from a dream.

The [wise man] in his mind knocked again to wake him.

He couldn't have any other thoughts; he had to remain calm and composed. He had to understand that he was wise, and all emotions should only serve to motivate him upwards.

Hmm... Thinking about it this way, this current feeling also served as motivation.

He suddenly sat up straight, not wanting to ruin his cool persona.

"Thank you... Oh, right, it's getting late. Sister Yang Zhi, you should head home soon. Be careful on your way."

Yang Zhi looked at him, a little bewildered. After a moment, she nodded slightly: "Okay. I'll be going then."

With that, she turned and left.

Ding Yebai sat in his chair, watching her slender back grow further and further away.

For some reason, he felt his heart floating, carried away by the whistling wind.

Finally, When the gentle older sister reached the top of the stairs, he couldn't help himself and ran to stop her.

Yang Zhi turned back, looking at him blankly: "What is it?"

Ding Yebai took a piece of White Rabbit milk candy from his pocket and placed it in her hand. He wasn't sure if the blush on his face was from running or from nervousness and shyness.

"Sister Yang Zhi, a return gift. But I only have one in my pocket. I'll bring you more next time."

"Ahaha... No need. One is enough to make me happy."

"Next time!"

"Hmm? What about next time?"

"I'll definitely score higher than this next time!" Ding Yebai said very seriously.

Yang Zhi: "..."

Ding Yebai looked at her and continued, "I definitely will. Believe me."

Seeing his earnest expression, Yang Zhi turned to face him, nodded, and tightened her grip on her bag: "Okay. I believe you. Keep up the good work."

Ding Yebai felt a little happy after receiving her response.

Yang Zhi didn't say anything more and turned to go downstairs.

After she left, Ding Yebai pinched his own face. It was the first time he had smiled so... so happily.

Even pinching his face couldn't stop the smile.