However, memorizing it was out of the question. At least, Shen Siyan couldn’t do it in such a short time.

After a while, Xu Zhilu handed him a math test paper she had written herself. “Do this first.”

“Right now?” Shen Siyan asked.

Xu Zhilu nodded, and said in a calm tone: “If you don’t do it, how do I know if you scored eight points in the last exam casually.”

Shen Siyan: “…”

He felt deeply that his eight points had been offended.

Smiling in exasperation, he tried to negotiate. “Xu Zhilu.”

“What?” Xu Zhilu shot him an annoyed look.

Shen Siyan twirled the pen in his hand and said lazily, “If you’re going to tutor me, can you stop bringing up my eight-point exam?”

Xu Zhilu rolled her eyes slightly. “You scored eight points yourself. Are you embarrassed?”

Shen Siyan had no response, conceding, “Fine, I’ll aim for sixteen points next time.”

Xu Zhilu: “Hurry up and do it. We’ll talk if you can’t finish.”

“Fine.” Shen Siyan didn’t resist.

While he worked on the test, Xu Zhilu continued preparing tutoring materials beside him.

Half an hour later, Shen Siyan handed her the test paper.

Xu Zhilu looked at it and gave him a blank stare.

“Do you know how many points you got on this test?” she asked.

Raising his eyebrows confidently, Shen Siyan asked, “How many?”

“Twelve points.” Xu Zhilu smiled slightly. “You got three multiple-choice questions right. Lucky guess.”

With that, Xu Zhilu ignored him and began earnestly tutoring him from the basics.

Shen Siyan wasn’t stupid; he just didn’t study. That was the conclusion Xu Zhilu reached after two hours of tutoring. He grasped concepts quickly, needing only two explanations before he could infer the rest.

But because his foundation was so weak, even his inferences were at a twenty-point level.

At noon, Shen’s mother called them for lunch.

Xu Zhilu initially wanted to go home for lunch, but Shen’s mother stopped her.

“I talked to your mom,” Shen’s mother said with a smile. “Since you’re tutoring Shen Siyan on weekends, you’ll eat with us. Aunt Liu has the weekend off, and your mom is busy with Jia Jia’s classes. It’s more convenient for you to eat here.”

Xu Zhilu felt a bit embarrassed. “I can cook for myself at home.”

“What’s the point of cooking?” Shen Siyan tossed her a yogurt. “You’re tutoring me, so it’s only right you eat here.”

Xu Zhilu was speechless.

Shen’s mother smiled warmly. “Keep me company. Otherwise, I’ll be too bored by myself.”

Xu Zhilu blinked, but before she could respond, Shen Siyan protested.

“Mom, am I not a person?”

Shen’s mother gave a sarcastic laugh. “What do you think?”

Shen Siyan: “…”

Unable to refuse their hospitality, Xu Zhilu stayed for lunch. It was just one meal, after all.

She didn’t refuse anymore.

–

After lunch, they didn’t rest and went back to tutoring.

Having slept poorly the previous night, Xu Zhilu dozed off while Shen Siyan was working on a problem.

Shen Siyan completed a question and turned to see her asleep on the desk.

They were sitting close, and as she slept, her face was turned towards him.

By lowering his gaze, Shen Siyan could see even the fine hairs on her face. Her faint fragrance filled the air.

He paused, and just as he was about to lean in closer, a cough came from outside.

Shen Siyan stiffened and turned his head.

He met his mother’s murderous gaze.

Their eyes met, and Shen’s mother silently mouthed: Come out!

Shen Siyan: “…”

He rubbed his nose, quietly pulled out his chair, and followed her out.

As he left, he didn’t forget to close the door.

Once the door was closed, Shen’s mother twisted his ear and dragged him downstairs. Releasing him only when they reached the first floor, she scolded in a low voice, “Shen Siyan, are you itching for trouble?”

“Mom,” Shen Siyan said helplessly, “I wasn’t planning on doing anything.”

Shen’s mother glared at him. “Don’t tell me that. If I had come a bit later, would you have… Do you know how important a girl’s reputation is?”

Shen Siyan didn’t know how to explain.

At that moment, he really hadn’t intended to do anything. He just saw a strand of hair on Xu Zhilu’s face and wanted to brush it away.

But Shen’s mother didn’t believe a word of his explanation.

“You better behave,” she warned. “If you try anything, I’ll get you a male tutor.”

Shen Siyan: “…”

Alright, there’s no way to explain this.

When Xu Zhilu woke up, Shen Siyan was quietly reading beside her.

The afternoon sunlight cast a glow on the young man, highlighting his features. His facial features were sharp and attractive, yet not effeminate.

Xu Zhilu glanced at him, then quickly lowered her gaze.

Suddenly, she sensed something and turned to look back.

As soon as she turned, Xu Zhilu met Shen’s mother’s smiling eyes.

“Auntie?” she called out.

Shen’s mother nodded. “Zhilu, you’re awake. Did you sleep well?”

Xu Zhilu nodded dazedly.

“It’s my fault for not thinking it through. From now on, after lunch, you two should take a nap before resuming your tutoring. Anyway, Shen Siyan’s grades are already like that, losing two hours won’t make much difference.”

Xu Zhilu blinked.

Shen’s mother didn’t say much more. She shot a warning glance at Shen Siyan and smiled at Xu Zhilu. “You two continue with the tutoring. I’m going shopping.”

Xu Zhilu nodded.

After Shen’s mother left, Xu Zhilu poked Shen Siyan’s arm. “Why was your mom in the room?”

Shen Siyan was silent for a moment, then said expressionlessly, “She was here to monitor me.”

Xu Zhilu: “…”