I Just Treated Him Like a Younger Brother (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

After the sports meet ended, the third-year students quickly refocused and entered a period of intense review. If their homeroom teacher hadn't told them during class that day, "Study hard, don't slack off, there will be another monthly exam right after the National Day holiday," they might have thought this monthly exam was still a long way off.

After resting for two and a half days from the sports meet, Ding Yebai entered his study rhythm.

Just as Yang Zhi had said before, she was going away for studies and wouldn't be around for the week. And the following week was the National Day holiday, so there would be no make-up classes. This meant he wouldn't see her for almost half a month.

Ding Yebai didn't overthink it. At this point where he needed to overtake others, he couldn't afford to.

He just wanted to use this time to improve his English further, to see if he could push towards 125.

If he scored 125... would Sister Yang Zhi be very happy?

As he thought this, the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Lu Shuai and Li Pingqiu, turning around, saw him like this and couldn't help but be curious.

Lu Shuai nudged Li Pingqiu's shoulder with his arm and said, "Hey, what do you think he's thinking about?"

Li Pingqiu smiled with his eyes crinkled, "Looking at his smile, I guess he's thinking about a girl he likes."

Lu Shuai: "Really? You're kidding. Pigs can fly before he has someone he likes."

His deskmate, who had been sleeping with her head on the desk, was woken up by the two men. She got up, wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth, and said listlessly, "You two are so noisy."

Lu Shuai scratched his head and chuckled, "Ahaha, sorry, sorry."

His deskmate rolled her eyes at him, "So speechless."

Li Pingqiu still smiled gently and apologized, "Sorry, we woke you up."

"Ah, it's okay, it's okay. You're fine, your voice isn't loud," the deskmate immediately adjusted her bangs, putting on a ladylike demeanor.

Lu Shuai: "..."

Isn't this double standard way too obvious!!!

Ding Yebai spun his pen, looking at the test paper and thinking. He couldn't hear the conversation of the three people around him at all. Instead, the pattering rain drew his attention.

He turned his head, his gaze drifting into the distance.

"It's raining again..."

For some reason, the rain always made him think of Sister Yang Zhi.

He always felt that "Spring Rain Jiangnan" from "Apricot Blossom Spring Rain Jiangnan" suited her better.

Because every time he talked to her, it was very comfortable. She was understanding, considerate, and thoughtful, making him feel as if he were basking in a spring breeze.

Hmm...

"Bang!!!"

Ding Yebai smacked his forehead hard, then shook his head and buried himself in his work.

Lu Shuai and Li Pingqiu, sitting in front of him, witnessed everything. They exchanged glances.

"Is he crazy?"

"Possibly. The pressure of studying in the third year is too great. Of course, it could be something else. After all, someone who can get a perfect score in Math and Science might have a different thought process than us."

"Yeah, you're right!!!"

Meanwhile

Yang Zhi was taking a school bus to Qishi Senior High School for a learning exchange.

She would be sitting in the back to listen to lectures from the experienced teachers there.

Coincidentally, Ding Yuerong happened to be working there, so she ended up staying at her friend's place.

That evening, she sat on the bed in the bedroom, wearing a long white casual T-shirt that reached her thighs, her black hair let down, and silver-rimmed glasses on. She held a book and leaned against the headboard, reading.

Ding Yuerong brought her a glass of milk, placed it on the table, and then sat beside her.

"What are you reading?"

"Just looking at the textbook."

"Are you here to..."

"Study. Mainly to listen to the experienced teachers' lectures. But I'll have to teach a few classes at the end."

"Then~ those kids are in for a treat. After all, you're too beautiful to be a teacher. Looking at your face, can they really concentrate on the lesson?"

"Haha... Do you think they're all like Senior Sister you?"

Saying this, Yang Zhi pointed to her own face with her finger.

"An extreme aesthetician."

"You really are..."

As Ding Yuerong spoke, she leaned closer to Yang Zhi and inadvertently sniffed, "What brand of perfume is this? It's so fragrant."

Yang Zhi: "It's late at night, how could I possibly be wearing perfume?"

Ding Yuerong: "Then if it's your natural scent, that's too much. It's so captivating. Did my little brother really not come closer to sniff you?"

"He... probably wouldn't have..." Yang Zhi looked at Ding Yuerong as if she were a pervert.

"Oh, right." Ding Yuerong suddenly thought of something and asked Yang Zhi seriously, "Speaking of which, how is my little brother?"

"Eh????"

Yang Zhi's pupils dilated instantly, looking at Ding Yuerong in disbelief.

"Sen-Senior Sister, why are you suddenly asking this?"

She was so nervous she was stuttering...

Ding Yuerong was even more confused. Was there anything worth pondering about this question???

Yang Zhi abruptly turned her face away, maintaining a calm expression, still appearing as an intellectual woman.

"I just see him as a brother! Senior Sister, what are you thinking!"

"Nonsense! If you don't see him as a brother, do you see him as a sister?"

"? Weren't you asking me what I thought of Ding Yebai?"

"I was asking about his English grades, how they've been recently!!!"

"Sigh!" Yang Zhi let out a sigh of relief. "You didn't make it clear. I thought..."

"How else could I make it clear! By the way, what did you think it was!!!" Ding Yuerong truly couldn't understand what was going on in Yang Zhi's mind.

"Ahem! Your brother's English is steadily improving. Don't be too anxious. Give him some time," Yang Zhi said with a slight smile.

Ding Yuerong: "Mmm... I feel reassured leaving him to you. After all, you're truly capable. But is it still too much of a hardship to do it for free?"

"What hardship?" Yang Zhi looked at Ding Yuerong. "Senior Sister takes care of my Grandma without asking for a cent, and I feel like you're the one being wronged."

Ding Yuerong: "That was my choice. Helping a friend in need is only natural. And Yang Zhi, you're my best friend. It's only right... Besides, mixing money into friendships ruins the taste..."

Hearing her tone grow softer and seeing her look so pitiful, Yang Zhi couldn't help but pat her head, her voice carrying a hint of indulgence. "Yes, yes~ Senior Sister is my best friend too."

Ding Yuerong: "Then you..."

Yang Zhi: "Senior Sister, you know how important Grandma is to me, and you were the only one willing to take care of her when things were so difficult. This is only natural, and I will never forget this kindness. This debt, I might never be able to repay in this lifetime."

"Don't be dramatic. You don't need to repay me. You keep saying that, and it feels like you're guilt-tripping me," Ding Yuerong joked intentionally.

Yang Zhi took her hand off Ding Yuerong's head and took her hand, holding it tightly. "It's a fact that I owe Senior Sister a debt of gratitude, and repaying kindness is my principle. So, Senior Sister, after I'm done tutoring Ding Yebai, if there's anything else you need my help with, just ask."

Ding Yuerong looked at Yang Zhi's face and felt she couldn't bring herself to be harsh even a little.

"Then how long do you plan to tutor my brother?"

"Until his grades truly improve and stabilize."

"Is that so?"

"It'll be soon. After all, Ding Yebai is a very smart person, and he's talented, motivated, and hardworking. I think by the end of the year, he'll be able to achieve his ideal grades."

Ding Yuerong nodded. "Mmm... Oh my, it's already 10:30 just chatting. I won't keep you any longer, I'm going to sleep. You should get some rest too!"

"Mhm."

Yang Zhi smiled gently.

She picked up her phone to set an alarm, only to see a WeChat message from Ding Yebai.

Thanks to Stranger_in_a_Strange_Land for 3000 Qidian coins, I_Am_Not_Xiao_E for 500 Qidian coins, algernon for 100 Qidian coins, Naming_Always_Repeats for 800 Qidian coins, and The_Nth_Year_of_Falling_in_Love_with_Yingying for 100 Qidian coins.