Huh? Song Qitao widened his eyes. Finding this when he was at his most exhausted must be heaven’s way of giving him a secret weapon to boost his grades!

Top 50 in the grade? Isn’t that from Class 1?

If someone could help him correct his homework, that would be great because he always made mistakes and had to stare at the answers for a long time after finishing a test paper.

What Song Qitao lacked most now was time.

Most importantly, the other person was working part-time to support themselves, possibly a poor student who couldn’t even afford breakfast, which is why they thought of correcting papers for classmates.

Only five yuan per paper, it’s so cheap, just enough to buy a cup of soy milk and a meat bun.

Song Qitao immediately added this classmate, and unexpectedly, they accepted right away.

Paid Tutoring: [Collect homework three times a day, after morning class, after afternoon class, and after evening class. Homework that needs correction should be placed in the teacher’s lounge on the 4th floor.]

Every floor had a teacher’s break room, conveniently located next to his classroom.

Song Qitao: [Five yuan is too cheap. Correcting a paper takes two hours, won’t it affect your studies?]

Paid Tutoring: [No, I need money, so write more papers.]

The other person skipped over the price issue. Song Qitao thought about it and decided to see their work attitude before paying more.

He happened to have a math paper he just finished.

[I have a paper today, I’ll leave it on the table after school.]

Paid Tutoring: [I’ll pick it up before evening self-study, monthly settlement. If you have questions, write them on paper, don’t contact me online or offline.]

Song Qitao: [Don’t worry, I definitely won’t be curious about who you are!]

A top-performing poor student surely wouldn’t want anyone to know they were secretly engaging in monetary transactions with an underachiever.

Before evening self-study, Song Qitao indeed found the corrected math paper in the lounge.

For five yuan, Song Qitao thought the correction would just point out the errors in multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, and slightly modify the big questions.

He could only solve the first part of the big questions, so correcting them should be simple, just like a teacher marking papers.

Spreading out the paper, Song Qitao realized he had underestimated the value of five yuan.

For all his wrong answers, the other person had written out the process. Simple questions were written in blue pen, while difficult ones used a bit of red pen.

[Master the blue words, temporarily give up on the red words.]

[Do you understand?]

“Yes, yes.” The handwriting was as neat as print, not a single step in the solution process was omitted, how could he not understand?

Wait, all these densely packed words were written in an hour and a half before evening self-study, did the top student even have dinner?

Could it be that their family went bankrupt and they couldn’t afford to eat?

Song Qitao pursed his lips after reading the blue pen part on the paper, then took out his “Five Three” book and diligently wrote two pages, folding the corner of the page and writing “20 yuan per page, pay in advance” in the blank space above.

After writing, he asked those around him, “Does anyone have cash? I want to exchange with you.”

The sports committee member pulled out a crumpled 50 yuan note from his pocket.

Song Qitao felt it had a sweaty smell, not worthy of the top student’s salary, “Do you have a new one?”

The life committee member opened her wallet and pulled out a brand new 100 yuan note, “Here.”

Song Qitao’s eyes curved into a smile, “This is good, do you have more? Give me all you have.”

Life committee member: “Three.”

Song Qitao transferred 300 yuan to her, then tucked the cash into his “Five Three” book.

After evening self-study, he placed the “Five Three” in the lounge and went home with his backpack.

The next day, when Song Qitao went to place the paper, he put two large bread rolls on top. The bakery near his home had a new crispy matcha flavor, which was delicious.

After lunch break, he went to check, the paper was corrected, and the bread was gone.

Song Qitao was immediately in a good mood, bouncing back to the classroom, planning to continue bringing food tomorrow.

A week later, hearing that mice had moved into the lounge, Song Qitao angrily bought a glass cover.

When he came out of the lounge, he happened to see the grade director, and he approached with a big smile, “Director, can I donate a microwave to the lounge?”

That way, the top student could have warm bread.

Song Qitao had some savings; he usually only liked to buy milk tea, not sneakers or rackets. He didn’t have any of the money-burning hobbies of middle school boys, and he had saved over ten thousand yuan from New Year’s money.

The grade director refused him on the grounds of “electrical appliances being dangerous.”

Song Qitao was quite disappointed.

Having someone correct his work indeed saved Song Qitao a lot of time. To let the top student earn more, he wasn’t tired or sleepy, diligently writing papers every day, even his deskmate was shocked.

After two weeks like this, Song Qitao’s weaknesses were glaringly exposed.

On Saturday afternoon, as usual, Song Qitao went to pick up his “Five Three,” only to find two self-printed papers under it.

[Do these on Sunday.]

They weren’t regular exercises but specialized practice targeting Song Qitao’s weaknesses, meaning he couldn’t skip difficult questions.

Song Qitao inhaled sharply as he did the questions, each one was at his ability limit but not beyond, each one tortured him a bit, it was terrifying, as if he was growing a brain.

He tearfully submitted his work, attaching extra tuition—a cup of peach oolong tea.

Then he received a reply:

[From now on, only do the questions I assign.]

[All subjects]

This guy was terrifying, even commenting on essays.

In the March monthly exam, Song Qitao’s total score improved by 10 places. He excitedly placed the paper in the lounge, 67 points!

[You did well on solid geometry, focus on probability questions this week.]

He praised me for doing well in solid geometry!

Feeling a bit proud, Song Qitao even ate an extra bowl in the cafeteria that night.

As usual, he went to pick up the paper before class, but at the stairway corner, he saw a figure just coming out of the lounge.

Don’t be curious!

Song Qitao covered his eyes, hiding back in the stairway, only peeking out after a while.

The person had walked far, their back tall and graceful, but for some reason, there were two black stains on the back of their school uniform.

The top student’s handwriting was neat, they should be a clean person, so were those stains that couldn’t be washed out?

Every spring, the school would issue forms asking about spring uniform needs. Besides that, the school logistics office also had a small stock. The uniforms were blue and white, with snow-white cuffs. Almost all middle school students’ cuffs had pen marks. If Song Qitao saw they couldn’t be cleaned, he would buy new ones from logistics.

Glancing at the time, it was 6:30. If he ran fast, the logistics office might still be open.

He sprinted across several buildings, reaching the office before the manager left, panting and holding his knees, “Auntie, I need a set of men’s size 185, my deskmate has an emergency!”

The manager had already locked the warehouse door, intending to let him come back tomorrow, but hearing this, she took out the key and opened the door, “We don’t have underwear.”

Standing still, his cheeks flushed, “It’s okay, I wouldn’t dare to give that.”

The manager rummaged around, “Couldn’t find 185, is 190 okay? It’s about the same.”

Song Qitao: “Okay.”

He estimated the height, unsure, but 190 should fit.

The manager picked out a set, looking at Song Qitao, “You’ve bought quite a few times, haven’t you?”

Embarrassed, Song Qitao scratched his head, “Drawing, gets dirty easily.”

After evening self-study, he placed the uniform on the paper, leaving a note—

[Recently lost weight, bought the uniform too big, logistics won’t take returns, see if you can wear it.]

[Did you improve in the monthly exam?]

Song Qitao was a bit worried he had affected the top student’s grades.

After evening self-study, he left on time. Almost at the school gate, he suddenly stopped, wait, he might have exposed himself.

He hadn’t seen the top student, how did he know the other person was a guy who could wear size 190? What about taking care of the top student’s self-esteem?

The other person must have done their homework, knowing he was an art student in urgent need of one-on-one tutoring. Art students, right, they know human anatomy well. Today he just saw the back, but during exercises, he could recognize them by their back.

Song Qitao was troubled, squatting under a tree, debating whether to go back and take the uniform, but he already bought it…

Suddenly, two people walked past him side by side, one of them was Meng Sicheng.

Meng Sicheng’s uniform was so clean and neat, it was intimidating.

Song Qitao slightly turned his head, staring at Meng Sicheng’s back, his pupils round and bright in the dark, like a cat’s.

Actually, tall boys with loose uniforms, their backs look similar.

See, he couldn’t tell Meng Sicheng and the top student’s backs apart.

What was he worrying about? Couldn’t he just be a lucky cat hitting a dead mouse, guessing the size right?

He picked up his phone, sending a message to the top student to explain.

[I saw your back today, don’t worry, didn’t see your face!]

…

Meng Sicheng exited the school gate, stopping at the bookstore entrance, saying to his companion Yao Zhao, “You go ahead, I’ll buy a reference book.”

Yao Zhao clicked his tongue, “You’ve been coming early and leaving late, and now buying a reference book, are you okay?”

Who understands? Before, when everyone was nervously reviewing, only Meng Sicheng lived philosophically, yet still ranked first. Recently, his frequency of reading basic tool books was a bit unusual, only two explanations: one, possessed by an underachiever, two, preparing for a teaching qualification exam.

Meng Sicheng: “Goodbye.”

Yao Zhao watched Meng Sicheng enter the bookstore, muttering, “Did you change clothes earlier?”

Yao Zhao and Meng Sicheng lived in the same villa community, his house was a bit further back, passing by Meng Sicheng’s house on the way to school. If Meng Sicheng hadn’t left, he would wait for him.

Before evening self-study today, Yao Zhao entered the yard, hearing Uncle Meng and Aunt Meng arguing. This couple had hardly appeared in the past ten years, and when they did, the house was in turmoil. No wonder Meng Sicheng rested in the school’s special rest room for top students at noon and didn’t go home.

When Meng Sicheng came downstairs, his mother was on the sofa applying mascara, and his father sarcastically asked which lover’s bed she was going to. Upon hearing this, his mother threw the mascara, hitting the passing son, the thick black ink spreading on the white uniform.

The air went quiet, no apology was heard.

Meng Sicheng paused, not even thinking of going to the balcony to change clothes.

Yao Zhao saw the large ink stain, feeling Meng Sicheng’s displeasure beneath his calm exterior, he shut up and played possum.

After evening self-study, Yao Zhao noticed Meng Sicheng went to the fourth floor, seemingly in a better mood.

Did he go to the fourth floor to change clothes?

Who gave him the clothes?

Yao Zhao thought carefully, immediately recalling the second period of evening self-study when the director patrolled the classroom and stood behind Meng Sicheng for a while.

It must be the director noticing the plight of the golden boy and sending a uniform overnight.

Yao Zhao nodded, yes, their director would do anything for the top student.

Meng Sicheng stood behind the bookstore’s glass window, slowly picking books.

Waiting for the figure squatting under the tree to come out, he paid for the book and followed behind.

What happened to Song Qitao? Why was he squatting there? Was someone blocking him at the school gate?

Until he sent the person home, Meng Sicheng didn’t find any problem.

Taking out his phone, he saw a new message from Song Qitao.

[I saw your back today… didn’t see your face!]

Meng Sicheng: “…”

He thought about the question Song Qitao left on the paper, “Did you improve in the monthly exam?”

Giving clothes and caring about grades, more like family than family.

Paid Tutoring: [No room for improvement.]

Receiving the reply, Song Qitao stared at his phone, suddenly remembering the consistently first-ranked Meng Sicheng on the grade list. With such a big weirdo blocking the way, the competition for ranking behind was fierce, indeed leaving little room for improvement.

But couldn’t he really challenge it?

Song Qitao’s eyes shifted, after finishing a paper at his desk, he sneakily corrected a third of the answers himself, changing them to correct ones.

This way, the top student’s workload would be reduced by a third.

And it could show he improved! Killing two birds with one stone!

He cautiously did this once, receiving the comment:

[Accuracy unusually high.]

“…”

Couldn’t he just happen to know these questions?

Pouting, Song Qitao continued doing questions, while Jiang Le cast a covetous glance from the side, “Peach, did you hire a one-on-one tutor? I noticed you only do the circled questions. Does the teacher still take students? I want to learn too.”

Song Qitao, as if his tail was stepped on, said, “Not taking anymore! Other teachers are also great! You find them, I can only share the questions with you.”

The top student was also a senior, already struggling with one-on-one tutoring, taking on two would be exhausting. Together, he and Jiang Le’s progress wouldn’t even match the top student’s regression, how scary.

Oh right, does the top student take others? Could he monopolize it?

Jiang Le innocently said, “Don’t look like I want to steal your girlfriend.”

He was just habitually gossiping. Who didn’t know that in senior year, you could find famous teachers for tutoring, but he wasn’t that studious, just wanted to attend large classes at school, where he could slack off and gossip.

He leaned over again, “You attend classes, then go home for extra lessons, your energy is really abundant, reminds me of someone.”

Song Qitao: “Who?”

Jiang Le: “Meng Sicheng, apparently his parents arranged for him to intern at the company. Do you know Meng Sicheng’s background? The Meng family, the one with a building by the river as headquarters, but mainly his uncle holds power. Don’t be fooled by our top student’s diligence, his parents are unreliable!”

Song Qitao was surprised, “I thought it was inherited diligence.”

Jiang Le: “Not inherited, his grandfather was a tough guy, seeing that Meng Sicheng’s parents were hopeless, he didn’t bother with the couple.”

“Seeing Meng Sicheng showing promise, they want to place him in the headquarters as soon as possible, while his grandfather is still alive, hoping to redistribute power.”

“Meng Sicheng can’t compete with his uncle and cousin now! Too impatient! Sending a senior son to the company to be played by old foxes, are they?”

Song Qitao thought for a moment, “I think Meng Sicheng is also quite impressive.”

Jiang Le wanted to gossip more, but seeing Song Qitao immersed in doing questions.

Peach, you weren’t like this before??

“Peach Baby, are you secretly in love with a female top student?”

Song Qitao: “Doing questions, no gossip.”

Jiang Le “hummed” once, “Just as well, I have a shocking gossip I won’t tell you.”

Song Qitao wasn’t interested in listening.

Jiang Le forcibly held it in—he heard that the class flower Li Jing from Class 2 liked Song Qitao and was going to write him a love letter!

Li Jing was a good student, and now that their Peach was working so hard, they were quite a match.

Today, in the lounge, Song Qitao placed three thick “Five Three” books, with two thousand yuan tucked in the math one.

[Can I have an exclusive monthly package? Don’t work other jobs, don’t get distracted.]

He had pocket money, and New Year’s money, if necessary, he could even borrow his sister Song Yanli’s New Year’s money.

He really was a little genius.

[Only tutoring you.]

Before his mouth could curl into a smile, he saw the next sentence.

[The goal is to get you to 120 points.]

Three digits!

Song Qitao’s pupils trembled, still three digits plus twenty more!

Wasn’t that overestimating him a bit?

He cautiously replied: [What if I can’t reach 120 points, will you be mad?]

[You can reach it.]

Song Qitao didn’t understand if the top student was more confident in one of the two of them, gritting his teeth and following the top student’s arranged progress.

The lounge was like a secret compartment, going in and out, if time could fold, he would meet the top student here three hundred times.

But time always moved forward, like knots on a rope, they couldn’t meet, but mosquitoes could bite him and then bite the top student.

There were actually mosquitoes in the lounge, he got bitten twice just going in once.

Scratching his elbow, Song Qitao immediately bought a strong mosquito repellent and sprayed it all over the lounge, according to his observation, usually half an hour after he left, the top student would come to pick up the paper.

The mosquito repellent lasted just half an hour.

He left the mosquito repellent on the lounge table and was praised by the teacher for doing a good deed, offering to reimburse him.

Song Qitao humbly said, “No need, no need, I brought it from home.”

A few days later, when Song Qitao entered the lounge to place the paper, he suddenly found the light bulb wasn’t working. Afraid the top student wouldn’t see clearly during evening self-study and trip over a chair, he immediately called school logistics, requesting a bulb replacement, threatening to replace it himself if they didn’t.

Logistics was a bit helpless, “Someone complained an hour ago, we’ll send someone to fix it soon.” Why did both of them want to do electrician work, could this be done by students?

A few days later, Song Qitao found the student on duty cleaning the lounge was slacking, the table was dusty, so he immediately cleaned it and brought a potted plant from home.

The class teacher suspiciously looked at Song Qitao, “Why are you so keen on decorating lately?”

Song Qitao mumbled, “Just a way to relieve stress.”

In March, peach blossoms bloomed, a sea of red.

Now, when going upstairs, Song Qitao ran and jumped to save time, his cheeks always rosy.

In April, peach blossoms faded, bearing small fuzzy peaches.

Song Qitao became the class’s star of progress, the teacher asked him to share his experience, he stammered, the whole class teased if his girlfriend was helping him study.

“Of course not!”

In May, the peaches lost their greenness, basking in the sun, gradually turning pink.

Song Qitao’s score was stuck at ninety, unable to reach a hundred, let alone a hundred and twenty.

He was quite satisfied, enough to get into a university.

But the top student probably had some heartache, thinking of Song Qitao at night would make him want to call 120.

Although the top student never said anything from start to finish, Song Qitao vaguely sensed the top student’s frustration.

In June, the peaches were juicy.

The last exchange between Song Qitao and the top student ended on June 1st, the last message was:

[Tutoring ends, take the exam well.]

The other person’s QQ avatar turned gray.

The question “Can I treat you to a meal after the college entrance exam?” was stuck in Song Qitao’s chest, neither up nor down, in the end, he didn’t have the courage to say it.

The transaction was complete, better not to insist on uncovering the identity the other person wanted to hide, to avoid hurting their self-esteem.

Song Qitao and Jiang Le checked the exam seating, the two were separated by two floors.

On the morning of the 7th, during the Chinese exam, Song Qitao was surprised to find that Meng Sicheng’s seat was three meters behind him to the right.

Before the math exam in the afternoon, Jiang Le specifically scrutinized Song Qitao’s delicate appearance, “I’ll remember your current fresh look.”

Go in and accept the math torment.

Coincidentally, he went upstairs with Meng Sicheng, entering the classroom together, sticking close to “math full score,” less than a meter apart, taking deep breaths.

According to Jiang Le, absorb some good luck.

Breathe in more, breathe deeply.

When placing personal items outside the classroom, Meng Sicheng suddenly asked, “Nervous?”

Song Qitao: “No.”

Meng Sicheng: “Suddenly can’t remember which formula?”

Song Qitao: “No.” If you ask so suddenly, it’s not just one formula.

Meng Sicheng: “Go in.”

Obediently, Song Qitao walked in, spreading his hands for inspection, suddenly thinking, since when did he become so familiar with Meng Sicheng?

Was it the connection from the trial lecture?

Meng Sicheng was quite nice, even caring about classmates he met once.

At three o’clock, Song Qitao’s ordeal began.

When the math paper was handed out, Meng Sicheng wasn’t in a hurry to start, browsing through the questions, he could roughly gauge Song Qitao’s score.

Raising his eyes, he saw Song Qitao scratching his cheek, this little action indicated he was stumped.

??

Stuck on the second question already?

Meng Sicheng glanced at the question, vector calculation, a type covered many times.

No way, there’s no way in this life.

Meng Sicheng let out a silent sigh.

This time, he couldn’t help Song Qitao at all.

Ring-ring-ring—

The exam ended, Song Qitao stopped writing. When the teacher finished counting the papers and dismissed them, he was the first to rush out.

Ahhh, his mindset collapsed, how did he get stuck on the second question, luckily he adjusted later.

He didn’t want to hear others comparing answers! He didn’t want to know how many he got wrong! He, Song Qitao, would have nothing more to do with math from now on!

It was like enduring three months of a cooling-off period with a domestic abuser, finally getting a divorce, running out of the civil affairs bureau, and the sky was blue.

But he still ran too slowly.

A classmate from Meng Sicheng’s class, almost impatiently asked him, “Boss, what was the answer to the last multiple-choice question? I guessed C.”

Song Qitao suddenly covered his ears, not listening, not listening—

Meng Sicheng watched his rabbit-like retreating figure, after a while, he said, “B.”

The classmate who guessed wrong wailed, “Ah—Boss, why did you sigh too?”

Meng Sicheng: “Nothing.”