In class, she no longer buried her head in sleep but actually began listening to the lectures.

…

Su Wan was really different from before!

More and more posts about Su Wan appeared online, though many still reacted with skepticism and ridicule, believing that people can’t change and that her true nature would eventually resurface.

Shen Tingyan watched this unfold with a cool detachment, flipping through his book, and glanced over at Su Wan. During the afternoon study session, she was actually doing homework, her head down and focused, headphones in, as she worked on the problems without looking up.

Occasionally, she’d politely ask a question to the student in front, which surprised the others. The boy was one of the top ten in class, a studious type with glasses who was often bullied by the underachievers. Normally, he couldn’t stand girls like Su Wan, but now he blushed like a boiled shrimp, nervously explaining the answers.

Su Wan kept her head down, focused and diligent, her delicate profile calm and pretty. Her lashes cast a soft shadow over her lowered gaze, fluttering lightly like little fans.

This was a side of Su Wan—serious and engaged—that had never been seen before.

She seemed somewhat hesitant, occasionally asking him questions, and the boy answered eagerly. From Shen Tingyan’s vantage point, he could see how the boy fumbled with his hands, sneaking glances at Su Wan’s profile, his face flushed with shy admiration.

For some reason…

Right at this moment…

Shen Tingyan suddenly felt a bit annoyed.

At that moment, Su Wan was stumped by a difficult problem. She asked her classmates around her, but no one could solve it. They all racked their brains, trying their best to help, especially when faced with her earnest expression.

The last problem on the worksheet was indeed very challenging, and none of them could solve it.

In the back row, Shen Tingyan looked at the neatly solved answer on his own sheet, watching expressionlessly as they all scratched their heads in frustration.

One after another said they didn’t know; even the class monitor admitted he couldn’t solve it.

Having asked almost everyone in the class, the only person left to approach was Shen Tingyan, who was first in their year. He rested his chin on his hand, feeling rather certain that she’d finally have to ask him.

The problem was really difficult—no one but him knew how to solve it.

Su Wan sat at her desk, deeply intrigued by the math problem.

Her motto had always been: if you’re going to do something, do it right, and don’t waste time on pointless actions.

Since there wasn’t much else to do at school, using her two years here to study seemed like a good way to pass the time.

Since none of her classmates could solve it, and knowing Shen Tingyan likely hated her guts, she wasn’t about to go out of her way to ask him for help and risk rejection.

After thinking it over, she decided to ask the teacher; maybe she’d also leave a good impression as a diligent student, so the teacher wouldn’t keep watching her in class.

Why not?

The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. Suddenly, she stood up, saying, “I’ll go ask the teacher.”

With that, she jogged out the door, disappearing down the hallway.

Shen Tingyan had been waiting, feeling a subtle, inexplicable sense of satisfaction at the thought of her having to ask him for help when she was stumped. But instead of that moment coming, he watched in disbelief as she grabbed her worksheet and headed straight to the teacher’s office.

Shen Tingyan: “…”