Chen Fan's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly.
"That's right! Every word is true."
"I like you."
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
Su Ruochu was startled. She hadn't expected Chen Fan to be so direct.
For a moment, her heart raced, and she didn't know what to do.
"Wh-what are you talking about!"
She stole a glance around them. Only after making sure no classmates were nearby did Su Ruochu speak, her face flushed.
"Chen Fan... I don't care whether you're serious or joking."
"The college entrance exam is almost here... I'm not going to date anyone in high school. I hope you understand."
Su Ruochu hesitated before saying softly, "I don't want anyone bothering me during these last few weeks."
"I understand! I understand!"
"Don't worry. I definitely won't bother you."
Chen Fan nodded repeatedly, then changed tack.
"Then can I like you in secret?"
"No, you can't!"
Su Ruochu stamped her foot, blushing.
"Why do you have to keep pestering me? Don't you already like someone else?"
"Lin Yuwei, our school beauty. Don't you like girls like her, with big boobs and great figures?"
Holy shit!
Who the hell's been spreading this bullshit about me?
Chen Fan hurriedly raised a hand and swore.
"As heaven is my witness! How could I possibly like girls with big boobs?"
"You're the one I like!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Chen Fan froze.
Shit. That came out wrong.
Sure enough, Su Ruochu wheeled her bicycle toward the exit, her face expressionless.
Chen Fan hurried after her.
"Um, that came out wrong."
"Actually, yours aren't small either."
"Chen Fan!"
Su Ruochu stopped and glared at him angrily.
Chen Fan gave her an awkward, sheepish smile.
His eyes darted as he hurried to change the subject.
"Um... I can stop pestering you. But you have to agree to one condition."
Sure enough, Su Ruochu took the bait.
"What condition?"
Chen Fan smiled as he suggested, "I won't pursue you before the college entrance exam, but you have to let me take you home after school every day."
"No!"
Su Ruochu shook her head, her face flushed.
"People would get the wrong idea."
So she doesn't dislike me. She's just shy and embarrassed.
Chen Fan smiled and nodded.
"All right, I'll change my condition."
"From now on, when I write you notes, you can't ignore me."
"And if I come across a question I can't solve, you have to help me."
That request didn't seem unreasonable.
Su Ruochu thought it over, then nodded in agreement.
Chen Fan immediately pushed his luck, asking with a smile.
"Then can I pursue you after the college entrance exam?"
Su Ruochu frowned. "After the exam, everyone will go their separate ways to different universities. What's the point of saying that?"
"Then what if I get into the same university as you?"
Su Ruochu's expression froze. She looked conflicted, as though she was afraid her answer would hurt his pride.
But Chen Fan was unwavering, his gaze burning as he looked into her eyes.
"Su Ruochu, if I get into the same university as you..."
"Will you be my girlfriend?"
Su Ruochu's face was bright red, and her gaze wavered.
"I... Get in first, then we'll talk."
With that, she hurriedly climbed onto her bicycle and rode away.
"I'll definitely get in!"
Chen Fan stood behind her, shouting with a smile.
That evening, Li Jinqiu quietly opened her son's bedroom door and peeked inside.
She found Chen Fan sitting at his desk, studying intently.
She smiled with relief and quietly backed out.
"Have you noticed how much our son has changed lately?"
"He doesn't watch TV when he gets home anymore. He goes straight to his room to study after dinner."
Chen Jianye was smoking on the balcony. Hearing her words, he nodded thoughtfully.
"I have."
"Ah, it's just a shame there's less than a month left before the college entrance exam."
Li Jinqiu smiled reassuringly. "As long as our son is willing to change, it's never too late."
"That's true."
Chen Jianye sighed.
"It's just a shame I'm not capable enough to do much for him."
"I hear kids in the city drink milk every day now. They say it's good for the brain..."
"All right. The children will find their own way. Don't overthink it. Put out that cigarette and come to bed. The smoke's choking me, and our son's still studying."
Chen Jianye hurriedly stubbed out his cigarette, then waved a hand to disperse the smoke.
After they turned off the light and lay down, they were silent for a while before Chen Jianye spoke again.
"Tomorrow after work, I'll buy our son a case of plain milk too. If he's willing to work hard, we should do everything we can to support him."
"All right. Let's do that."
Guo Shuai noticed that Chen Fan had changed lately.
He no longer joked around with him. Whether class was in session or not, he spent every day hunched over his desk, poring over books.
He was also interacting with Su Ruochu noticeably less.
Didn't he say he was going to pursue her?
Had he given up?
Guo Shuai quietly told Chen Fan what he thought.
"If you don't make your move now, once she gets into university and moves to a big city, you won't have a damn chance."
Chen Fan rolled his eyes.
"The emperor isn't worried, but his eunuch is."
"What the hell do you know?"
Guo Shuai immediately bristled.
"My grades might suck, but when it comes to picking up girls, I'm miles ahead of you."
"Today, I'll show you who the real expert is."
At lunchtime, in the little restaurant outside school, Guo Shuai once again dragged Chen Fan over to Su Ruochu and Li Na's table.
Chen Fan immediately understood why this guy was even more eager than he was.
He wanted to use Chen Fan as cover to get closer to Li Na.
"Aren't there seats over there? Why come to our table?" Li Na muttered, pursing her lips.
Guo Shuai chuckled.
"Food tastes better when classmates eat together."
Chen Fan pressed a hand to his forehead.
What an idiot.
"Actually, Guo Shuai has a question he wants to ask you."
"Ask me?" Li Na looked a little surprised.
Guo Shuai took the opportunity to set down his tray and sit beside Li Na.
Chen Fan sat beside Su Ruochu.
Although Su Ruochu kept her head lowered without looking at him, she shifted a little to the side.
"Guo Shuai, what did you want to ask me?"
"Well..."
Thinking on his feet, Guo Shuai quickly said, "I just wanted to ask which university you're planning to apply to."
"University?"
Li Na paused, then frowned as she imagined her future.
"My grades aren't good. If I can get in, I'd like to go to an arts school in the south."
"That sounds great. With a figure like yours, you must look amazing when you dance."
"Really?"
Guo Shuai seemed to have suddenly figured it all out.
"Of course. Your dance at the last New Year's show left the biggest impression on me."
"Really?" Li Na was delighted. "I didn't know you had such good taste..."
Chen Fan watched from the side, dumbfounded.
Guo Shuai's pretty good at this.
He really does know a thing or two. He's already getting close to her.
Meanwhile, on his side of the table, Su Ruochu kept her head down and ate in small bites, showing no intention of starting a conversation with him.
Instead of growing closer, the two of them seemed to have taken a step backward.
How embarrassing.
Chen Fan felt thoroughly deflated.
After they finished eating and were about to leave, Guo Shuai called out again.
"Ma'am, four bottles of Coke!"
The four of them drank their Coke as they walked back to school, and Guo Shuai suggested excitedly.
"Why don't the four of us come out for lunch every day from now on?"
Li Na hadn't caught on to Guo Shuai's little scheme. She thought he was creating opportunities for Chen Fan.
So she smiled and nodded.
"I'm fine with that."
"What do you think, Ruochu?"
"Huh?"
Su Ruochu looked up, a little embarrassed.
"I..."
"Class rep, don't tell me you look down on us poor students and don't want to eat with us?"
Guo Shuai teased her with a smile.
Su Ruochu hurried to explain. "No. I... never said that."
Guo Shuai snapped his fingers.
"Then I'll take that as a yes."
He even gave Chen Fan a deliberate wink afterward.
But Chen Fan had his head lowered and seemed to be thinking about something. He didn't notice Guo Shuai's signal at all.
Guo Shuai was furious.
He reached out and gave Chen Fan a shove.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Huh? What?"
Chen Fan abruptly raised his head and looked at the three of them in confusion.
Then, before any of them could react, Chen Fan suddenly shouted excitedly.
"That's it! Why didn't I think of that?"
"Come on, come with me to the White Birch Grove."
"You..."
Guo Shuai was dragged away, looking utterly bewildered.
Left behind, Li Na looked at Su Ruochu with curiosity written all over her face and asked,
"Ruochu, did you... have a fight with Chen Fan?"
"Why did it seem like he was deliberately ignoring you just now?"
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