Chapter 48: It Really Was Just in Passing

Yan Yi raised his hand, his fair fingers pausing for a moment at the ends of her hair, and suggested, "How about I tutor you? Would you mind?"

"Ah." Lu Yiqi glanced instinctively at Yan Yi. "Brother Yan Yi, you’re so busy with work, but you still keep up with studying?"

"It's alright, I should be able to tutor you."

When Lu Yiqi first met Yan Yi, he had outstanding grades. She thought that since becoming a celebrity, most of his energy would be devoted to work and his studies would surely suffer. But unexpectedly, Yan Yi managed to stay diligent with both his career and his academics.

She nodded with pleasant surprise. "Sure!"

Lu Yiqi went upstairs to fetch her math textbook, study materials, and test papers, laying them out flat on the table. She sat cross-legged on the carpet, and Yan Yi picked a spot beside her. "What level are you at in math right now?"

Lu Yiqi felt a little embarrassed as she reported her exam score, pursing her lips and nervously glancing at Yan Yi.

Yan Yi let out a soft laugh. "There's plenty of room for improvement. Keep at it—your grades will rise."

How warmhearted!

Lu Yiqi nodded vigorously.

Sure enough, being encouraged by a handsome guy really motivates you to study.

Yan Yi picked up the test paper, scanned it, selected a few questions that weren’t too difficult, circled them in red, and handed the paper to Lu Yiqi. "Try these first and let me see."

"Okay."

…

Xie Xu was at an internet café, immersed in an online game and wreaking havoc.

His phone screen lit up on the desk. He glanced at it, then shifted his focus back to the computer, fingers dancing swiftly across the keyboard.

The round ended.

Only then did Xie Xu remember the phone.

He picked it up and unlocked the screen. Chen Ziyi had sent him a message.

Chen Ziyi: Class leader, I can't make it today to help Yiqi with her tutoring. Your math is great—if it’s not too much trouble, could you help tutor Yiqi for me? You’re neighbors anyway. If it’s okay, I’ll let her know. If it’s too much trouble, just forget it.

The message had been sent half an hour ago.

Images flashed through Xie Xu’s mind of Lu Yiqi struggling with math problems—she might be scratching her head in frustration, or biting her nails in annoyance.

His lips curled up involuntarily.

In his headset, a teammate’s voice sounded at an inopportune moment: "Xu bro, what are you doing? Ready up!"

Xie Xu ignored him.

His slender fingers began typing slowly.

Xu: Whatever, I’m free anyway.

He had an air of "I am the most noble and aloof, and you are beneath me."

Hmph, it’s not because he doesn’t want to see Lu Yiqi upset—he just has nothing better to do, so he’s helping out a struggling student as a good deed.

Really, it’s just… by the way!

"Xu bro? Xu bro?"

The voice in his headset sounded again.

Xie Xu came back to himself and said, "I’m done. You guys play."

He turned off the voice chat and quit the game.

He waited a minute, but Chen Ziyi didn’t reply.

Xie Xu pursed his lips and decided to message Lu Yiqi directly.

Xu: What are you up to?

Lu Yiqi: Studying?

Xie Xu: "???"

Xu: Didn’t Chen Ziyi have something to do? Can you really study on your own?

…

Lu Yiqi saw the message pop up on her screen, and a vein twitched in annoyance.

Did this Xie Xu even know how to talk to people?

What did he mean, "Can you really study on your own?"

She’s just bad at math, not stupid!

Absolutely outrageous!