Chapter 4: Aiming for Tsinghua

Ning Ning curved her lips carelessly. What she wanted was his attention on her. As long as he didn’t play the saint and hand out golden cheat codes, the fate of a disposable cannon fodder could definitely be changed.

“What’s wrong, Brother Yue Chi? Did I say something wrong?”

She lifted her brows in feigned puzzlement, but confidence and brilliance bloomed across her face, ruining her former obedient look. In that moment, she was dazzling—like a night pearl finally brought out from its box.

“No, just curious. I didn’t expect you to know this book.”

Yue Chi’s Adam’s apple shifted. His voice spilled out smooth and warm like jade.

“Mhm. Not only do I know it, I’ve actually read it.”

Ning Ning smiled brightly, not the least bit guilty, though her ease revealed more flaws.

“Alright, I’ll go fetch the textbooks.”

Yue Chi didn’t press further. With polite restraint, he cut the conversation short and stepped inside to get her the books.

Just then, Xing Yuan’s mocking voice came from behind. Spotting Ning Ning there, he assumed she had been waiting to ambush him near Yue Chi’s house.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t like me? Then why are you blocking my way? I’ve already quit my factory job. I came back to prepare for the college entrance exam, and I’ll be staying here for a while. If you keep pestering me, you’ll mess up my studies. If I fail to get into university, will you take responsibility?

Even if my mother likes you, the moment you ruin my future, do you think she’ll still want you as her daughter-in-law?”

“If you fail, just admit you’re useless. Don’t shift the blame. After all, not everyone is born with brains. Don’t feel inferior.”

Ning Ning looked at him with pitying eyes, her tone dripping with sympathy.

“You—!”

Xing Yuan clenched his jaw, seething inside.

“Who says I’ll fail? Ning Ning, is this your new way of getting my attention? I like obedient girls. Don’t make me angry—if you behave, maybe you’ll still have a chance.”

Tsk—how thick-skinned could a man get to say such things? Ning Ning wrinkled her nose in disgust, stepping back, then suddenly eyed him with playful mockery.

“I prefer wild ones. You’d better stop trying to attract my attention, or I might think you’re seducing me. Society’s morals may be declining, but even as a young man you should be careful. Seducing good girls can land you in jail. As for your background—do I really need to spell it out?”

Yue Chi, emerging with the books, halted mid-step, raising a brow unconsciously.

How strange. Ning Ning had once loved Xing Yuan to death. No matter how cruelly he treated her, she never wavered. And now she was saying this to him? In her previous life, she clearly didn’t know Russian, nor had she ever borrowed books from him. Could it be… rebirth?

“Brother Yue, you came at the perfect time. You already knew I’m going to take the college entrance exam? Thank you—but I don’t need that many books, just your notes and…”

Xing Yuan cut her off with a glare, too lazy to argue. He strode straight to Yue Chi, reaching to take the books as if it were only natural, clearly used to Yue Chi’s help. But to his shock, Yue Chi avoided his hand and interrupted him, slightly surprised.

“No, these are for Ning Ning. She’s preparing for the college entrance exam. You too? I thought you already had a job.”

Xing Yuan’s face froze. He turned toward Ning Ning in disbelief.

“You’re taking the exam? With all the subjects combined, could you even score fifty points? Even if you’re trying to cling to me, you don’t need to go this far. Brother Yue, just give me the books. Don’t let her waste them.”

“Xing Yuan, don’t say that. If she wants to study, that’s a good thing. I already promised her these books. If you want notes, you can borrow them from her later.”

Yue Chi frowned, his voice mild yet firm, and handed the books directly to Ning Ning. Since she had asked first, it was only fair. But Xing Yuan felt bitter, as if something that belonged to him had been stolen. Forcing down his anger, he asked again.

“Then Brother Yue, when are you going back to the capital? Before you leave, could you tutor me for a while? It’s been a long time since I studied, and I’ve forgotten a lot.”

There was no way he’d borrow from Ning Ning. He wanted no contact with her, lest she stick to him like glue.

“No. I have my own matters to deal with. Studying mainly depends on yourself. I believe you can do it.”

Yue Chi gave a distant, perfunctory encouragement. He didn’t even pat Xing Yuan on the shoulder, his tone detached. Xing Yuan stared at him in disbelief. What was going on? Brother Yue had never refused him before—especially not something so trivial.

“Maybe not. You know, slow birds need to fly early, but they also need a genius’s notes. How about this—if you’re really afraid of failing, you can borrow mine. I won’t laugh at you. A true genius never mocks those dumber than her.”

Ning Ning’s eyes glimmered with solemn intelligence, sweeping over him like Athena, goddess of wisdom, gazing down with pity on humankind.

“I don’t need them!”

Xing Yuan clenched his fists, veins bulging, and stormed home. The door slammed shut with a deafening bang.

“Task Four Progress +5. Current total: 30.”

She had only changed the beginning, yet the progress bar already showed nearly one-third. If she could avoid two more key events, the task would be nearly complete. Task Four might actually be the easiest. Instantly, Ning Ning placed changing Yue Chi’s tragic fate as her top priority—even ahead of Lin Xiao.

“Thanks for the books, Brother Yue Chi. I’ll head back now.”

“Mhm. If you don’t understand something, you can ask me.”

Yue Chi’s tone carried an invitation, though earlier he hadn’t been so open. Ning Ning licked her lips, unconcerned, and nodded.

“Alright.”

As if this could be difficult for her. She had once been the top science scholar, completing her bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in a straight run, even graduating early. Studying was what she excelled at.

Carrying the pile of books home, Ning Ning’s mother assumed she had brought them back for firewood. She praised Ning Ning’s filial piety and was about to throw them into the stove to kindle a flame. Ning Ning quickly snatched them back and explained helplessly.

“Mom, these aren’t for burning.”

“Then what are they for?”

Her mother blinked in confusion. No matter how she thought, she couldn’t guess that her daughter actually wanted to study. After all, in her past, Ning Ning’s total score in all subjects barely exceeded a hundred.

Raised in comfort, she never had to do farm work. She hated studying, so she didn’t. She didn’t do chores either. All she cared about was love.

“I want to take the college entrance exam.”

“What? What did you say?”

Her mother dug at her ear, convinced she had misheard. But Ning Ning slipped an arm around her shoulder and repeated clearly:

“I want to take the college entrance exam. Mom, I want to go to university. I think Brother Yue Chi is amazing, and I want to be like him and study in the capital. I’ll go for Tsinghua. Don’t worry—when I succeed, I’ll bring you and Dad to live with me in the capital. You won’t have to fear I’ll leave and never come back.”

Her mother’s jaw dropped. After a long pause, she touched her daughter’s forehead, then sighed and offered her heartfelt advice.

“No fever. Ning Ning, maybe you should just go after Xing Yuan instead.

I don’t think it’s impossible for him to like you. After all, your Aunt Chunyu does like you. Getting into university is even harder than winning a man’s heart.”