Ability Enhancement Team

Chao Ningning, Shi Yanxi, and Zhou Yu seemed to have reached some kind of tacit understanding overnight.

The next day during lunch break, they all appeared in front of Jin Can's seat.

"Jin Can." Shi Yanxi, who was in the lead, pushed up her glasses and smiled gently, but it made Jin Can's hair stand on end.

"Don't get too excited yet, the midterm exams come before the school sports meet! We're planning to form a study group and work together to prepare for the exams."

At that moment, Jin Can was engrossed in working on a physics problem that Ge Ouchen had given her. Upon hearing this, she was taken aback and looked up.

Did she hear that right?

Zhou Yu stood to the side with her arms crossed, her tone still cold: "Top ten in the grade, you can't do it on your own."

The words were harsh, but they hit the nail on the head.

Chao Ningning grinned, revealing her little tiger teeth: "We're more motivated when we study together! And the three of us are good at both arts and sciences, so we can help you improve your score in every way and help you soar to the top!"

Jin Can was still processing this unexpected "kindness" when Lin Xiaoxiao returned with a water glass.

Upon hearing this, she immediately grabbed Jin Can's arm excitedly.

"Can Can! This is a great opportunity! Didn't you get all the math questions right on the last test? My sister Ning's tutoring will definitely be helpful! I want to get on her good side too!"

Your sister Ning...?

Jin Can: "..."

When did she receive any proper tutoring from Chao Ningning?

Although I did indeed practice problems repeatedly using her method... it was truly, extremely repeated!

In fact, her math score that time was like a pebble thrown into a lake, creating a few small ripples.

In this world, there are always some students who love to join in the fun and like to surround the class representative who is distributing test papers and make comments. Some people question how Jin Can could get a perfect score? Did she cheat? Others complain from the side: How can cheating help with math problems?

The sound was quite loud, and all the students could hear it clearly.

However, the stone eventually sank, and the lake returned to calm.

[System: A change in the threat target's policy has been detected.]

[The target is temporarily unreachable; strategy is being switched.]

[Current Implementation Plan: By enhancing the host's overall capabilities, indirectly gain the target's favor and attention.] [Tactical Type: Advanced "Love Me, Love My Dog" Mode, activated.]

This program is sponsored by the "Empress's Ability Enhancement Committee".

[↑Hahahaha!]

Jin Can looked at the three transfer students in front of him, each with a different expression but inexplicably reaching a consensus, then looked at Lin Xiaoxiao next to him who was saying "say yes already," and at the barrage of memes flooding the screen, and suddenly found it a little funny.

Well, since someone has offered to help her improve together, she has no reason to refuse, so why not?

After all, her goal is the stars and the sea—no, it's to be in the top ten of her grade!

"Okay, okay!" Jin Can nodded and readily agreed. "Then please take care of me from now on."

On the same day that the "Capacity Enhancement Committee" was initially established, Ge Ouchen also found Jin Can.

After school, he carried his schoolbag, his expression more serious and solemn than usual.

"The competition is next Sunday. The school heard that No. 1 Middle School is putting in a lot of effort and is starting to take it seriously as well. We've been arranged to train in the training room all day, and I'm going there now. Starting tomorrow, I won't be going back to the classroom for classes."

"Huh? He's not even in class for main subjects anymore?"

After receiving a positive reply, Jin Can felt a sudden emptiness in his heart.

Wasn't the goal to improve his physics grades and beat "that girl"?

Didn't we agree that I wouldn't be alone?

Although he knew the man was there on important business, the thought of not seeing him for the next two weeks still made Jin Can feel like a piece of his heart had been ripped out.

"Then...you have to keep it up."

All those words could be summed up in a dry, uninspiring encouragement.

"You too, study hard." Ge Ouchen squatted down slightly, his gaze falling on the physics tutoring book he had given her, his eyes carrying a hint of barely perceptible gentleness. "I'll wait for you to catch up on the lessons I've missed."

Jin Can straightened his back abruptly and nodded vigorously: "Yes!"

In the days that followed, Jin Can never saw him again, not even when they brushed past each other on campus.

Ge Ouchen plunged headlong into the world of competitions, seemingly swallowed up by the high-difficulty formulas and sea of ​​problems.

After learning the reason, the three transfer students seemed to be quite busy: Shi Yanxi somehow got hold of the "mysterious new questions" and secretly handed them to him on the way to school; Zhou Yu found out his seat and quietly delivered nutritious breakfasts and herbal tea to him every day, leaving without disturbing him; Chao Ningning was more direct, running to the training classroom during breaks and often being seen walking alongside him.

Jin Can pieced together these details from Lin Xiaoxiao's words and the live updates that occasionally popped up in the comments section.

"Your dog brother is going to be stolen away by them!" Lin Xiaoxiao said angrily.

Jin Can felt a pang of jealousy, but he couldn't say anything—after all, the other person was going to help him with his studies.

They just knew in their hearts that their real target was always Ge Ouchen.

After all, they had inadvertently said that they wanted to "improve his favorability" and "fulfill his wishes".

At the same time, the five-person study group was officially launched.

Every day after school, Jin Can truly witnessed the terrifying power of three people who were actually supernatural beings, despite their fake "harem" personas.

Their coaching styles are completely different, yet they unexpectedly complement each other.

Despite her lively and straightforward personality, Chao Ningning is actually a logician.

When she taught Jin Can math and chemistry, she never gave her the answers directly. Instead, she guided her step by step from the most basic axioms and definitions to build a complete knowledge system.

Many formulas that Jin Can had previously memorized by rote finally became clear to her after her explanation, revealing the underlying principles.

"Look, this conic section problem is essentially about the relationship between the distances from a point to the focus and the directrix. As long as you grasp this core concept, no matter how the problem is changed, you can find a starting point."

Chao Ningning's tone was gentle and patient when she spoke, so composed that she didn't seem like a high school student, which made people feel inexplicably at ease.

Zhou Yu is an efficient person who is "ruthless and doesn't talk much".

She took charge of Jin Can's physics and biology, emphasizing "every shot hits its mark, every shot draws blood!"

She actually summarized the thick body of knowledge points covered in high school into several logically clear mind maps, and accurately marked the must-know points and Jin Can's common mistakes.

Jin Can was too embarrassed to bother Ge Ouchen with physics problems again, so she asked her instead. Not only did Ge Ouchen break down the steps of each problem clearly, but she could also accurately locate each knowledge point in the mind maps. She was incredibly strong.

The method is forceful and exceptionally effective.

Shi Yanxi, on the other hand, is the usual atmosphere-oriented person, allowing knowledge to enter the brain in a strange way.

She was in charge of English and Chinese, subjects that Jin Can disliked the most.

However, she is not forcing Jin Can to memorize texts or vocabulary every day for the time being, but instead letting her cultivate her language sense and literary literacy through entertainment.

"Look at this word 'spectacular.' Imagine it as 'a bucket of shit being smashed over a can of Coke.' Doesn't that make it easy to remember? It's both spectacular and tragic!"

Jin Can's various imaginative mnemonic techniques always help him remember the most difficult words while laughing out loud.

Under the "irrigation" of three academically gifted students with very different styles, Jin Can had no choice but to admit the old-fashioned but apt saying: with the help of his classmates, he was like a sponge, quickly absorbing everything.

With the added assistance of the system's skills, Jin Can's learning efficiency improved by leaps and bounds.

Lin Xiaoxiao occasionally cracked jokes and gossiped, becoming the life of the party.

Learning can be so engaging and fun! Everyone gathered together, discussing, debating, and laughing heartily.

The air of youth filled the classroom in the evening, and Jin Can was immersed in it.

In the years that followed, Jin Can often recalled this scene, and a beautiful feeling would always well up in his heart.

I attend classes diligently during the day, do practice problems with them at noon and after school, and continue to consolidate my knowledge and reflect on my learning when I get home.

My student life has become busy yet fulfilling.

Gradually, she started sending messages to Ge Ouchen less frequently.

Sometimes, she would realize at night that she hadn't spoken to him for days, so she would quickly send him a message like, "Are you tired today?"

And much later, they simply replied with a "It's okay".

She felt that Ge Ouchen must be busy with the competition, and she shouldn't bother him.

However, Ge Ouchen had a completely different state of mind.

The training camp was tough, and his schedule changed to going home after class at 8:30 every night.

Even with a fast pace, there are always a few moments of leisure.

When he went out of the classroom to have dinner, he happened to see Jin Can walking with those four people on the way out of the teaching building.

Lin Xiaoxiao and Chao Ningning linked arms with Jin Can, chatting and laughing.

Zhou Yu listened quietly from the side, still with that cold demeanor, occasionally adding a comment;

Shi Yanxi walked on the outermost edge, and when a car passed by on the road, she would subconsciously reach out to protect everyone.

The five people looked like an inseparable group.

Jin Can smiled happily, a genuine smile that showed less dependence and adoration and more confidence and exuberance, as if he were filled with joy and companionship.

This smile is slightly different from the one she wears when she's with him.

Ge Ouchen subconsciously stopped and stood under the shade of a tree outside the cafeteria, quietly watching them walk away. Only after Lin Xiaoxiao said goodbye to them and turned to walk in his direction did he step back into the classroom, raise his hand to Lin Xiaoxiao as a greeting.

"Go, Dog Bro!"

Their joyful mood seemed to be conveyed through Lin Xiaoxiao, gently flowing into his world.

The golden world seemed to have suddenly become very lively, so lively that... it no longer needed him.

He glanced down at his phone; the chat window was still showing his reply to her the night before: "It's okay." There were no further messages.

An indescribable emotion quietly spread through his heart.

He knew that Jin Can was working hard to improve her exam skills because of the system, and he also knew that those people seemed to be helping her study.

Logically, he should be happy for her progress.

But emotionally, he felt a sense of being neglected that he had never experienced before.

It was as if he had carefully tended to that sapling, watering and fertilizing it all by himself every day, silently hoping it would grow strong and healthy.

Later, three gardeners came, bringing better fertilizer and more skilled techniques. The sapling did grow faster and better, but its surroundings became lively, no longer the scenery it had been quietly watching over alone.

For the first time, Ge Ouchen, who was usually calm and composed, felt a little irritated.

It was late at night again, and Ge Ouchen had just put down his pen and rubbed his sore brow.

He swiped his phone screen, opened the first app, which was still his chat interface with Jin Can.

The light from the screen illuminated his handsome face, and also revealed a hint of loneliness in his eyes.

He was actually a dull and introverted person who wouldn't take the initiative to start a conversation. He would only occasionally try to please her by saying some silly things that she liked.

To this end, he read a lot of works targeted at women, which temporarily made him stop thinking.

They had grown up together since childhood, yet he knew nothing about her other interests and felt completely unfamiliar with her world.

He felt that the world Jin Can loved was that lively five-person study group, with whom she could share progress and laughter.

It seems that there was no place for him in that world.

They were both striving to achieve the same goal, to reach greater heights, and working together to become better. Yet, on this journey side by side, they unknowingly began to feel each other's... neglect.

Just a few hundred meters away in another building, Jin Can finished a day of studying and lay exhausted on his bed.

She habitually opened her chat window with Ge Ouchen, and the conversation remained stuck on the same phrase, "It's okay."

She suddenly realized that they hadn't had a proper conversation for almost a week.

Ge Ouchen's world is math competitions, symbols and theories she doesn't understand.

She couldn't enter that world at all.

She was extremely disappointed!

"System, bullet comments, do you know how Ge Ouchen is doing?" She threw her phone aside and slumped onto the bed, muttering to herself.

The system indicated it was unaware of the situation and displayed the character and quest panels again, as if silently urging Jin Can: You are still a low-level player, focus on your current quest.

Night had long since fallen, and the comments section, like the weary audience, remained silent.