Chapter 23
The days seemed to have paused peacefully. The relationship between Ling Yao and Su Rui entered a "stable period" that was imperceptible to outsiders, but made Su Rui secretly happy.
Ling Yao was no longer as moody as before. He still rarely sent messages, but he often sent Su Rui daily trivialities. The time between his replies to Su Rui's messages had shortened significantly. Although his responses were still concise "hmm," "ok," and "got it," Su Rui could always sense a subtle hint of patience in them.
The biggest change is that Ling Yao began to "grasp" Su Rui's studies.
It all started during a break when Su Rui was scowling over her math test again, sighing a little too loudly, and Ling Yao heard her. He tutted in annoyance, snatched the test paper, glanced at it, and then tapped Su Rui's forehead with his pen in disgust: "Even pigs are smarter than you. How could you get such a simple, easy-to-scoring question wrong?"
Although he cursed mercilessly, he still listed the clear steps to solve the problem on the draft paper in a few seconds. The clarity of his thinking and the ingenuity of his method left Su Rui dumbfounded.
"What are you looking at? Write it down!" Ling Yao threw the draft paper back, his ears seemed to be a little red, and his tone became more fierce.
From that day on, Ling Yao seemed to have found a new "pleasure" - explaining questions to Su Rui.
He always found excuses. Sometimes it was, "These mock exams are so stupid, they're just perfect for you to practice on," sometimes it was, "Sister Yang insisted on hiring a tutor for me, I'm so annoyed, why don't you come along and take a class to save time?" Sometimes he'd even have no excuse at all, and after school he'd just drag you to an empty classroom or a corner of the library, spread out the exercise book, and begin his unique, disdainful yet incredibly effective "Ling-style teaching."
"How stupid." "What were you thinking about this step?" "Did you memorize the formula by heart?" "...Tsk, forget it, let me read it again."
Su Rui was initially nervous and at a loss, but gradually got used to it. He even began to look forward to this time alone. Although Ling Yao's words were still sharp, the focused look on his face when he was explaining the questions, and the occasional, fleeting look of satisfaction he would give when Su Rui understood something immediately, all made Su Rui's heart beat faster.
He knew Ling Yao was a good student, but he was usually too lazy to show it. Now that this intelligence was being used on him, he felt a secret joy of being treated specially.
That day, Ling Yao simply delivered a message. "I've found a college student from T University. He'll come every Wednesday and Friday night to tutor me... us." He spoke casually, deliberately emphasizing the word "us." "Be sure to come on time."
Su Rui's eyes widened in surprise. A student from T University? Tutoring must be very expensive...
"I...I don't need it..." He subconsciously wanted to refuse, not wanting to owe more.
"Who cares if you need it or not?" Ling Yao interrupted him, frowning, his tone becoming impatient again, "Just come if I tell you to. It doesn't matter if you listen alone or with someone else. It's just a matter of convenience. Cut the crap."
"By the way" again. Su Rui's heart felt like it was wrapped in a warm current. He lowered his head, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise slightly.
"Oh... okay, thank you..."
Thus, twice-weekly tutoring became a regular fixture. Ling Yao still acted like a poor student forced to study, often distracted or banging his head on the desk impatiently. But whenever the teacher asked Su Rui a question, he seemed oblivious, but his eyes were always glancing at her. If Su Rui couldn't answer, he'd make an impatient "tsk" sound or point to the relevant knowledge point in the textbook with his pen.
The tutor smiled and said to Su Rui: "Your classmates may appear cool, but they actually care about you."
Su Rui just blushed and lowered her head.
After school, the two of them often walked to their tutoring place together. Ling Yao, still walking in front with his hands in his pockets, Su Rui followed half a step behind, carrying her schoolbag. The setting sun stretched their shadows out, occasionally overlapping.
Without saying a word, there is a silent tacit understanding flowing.
Su Rui felt that it would be great if life could continue like this. With Ling Yao by his side, even if it was just "incidentally" taking care of him, he was content.
He was completely immersed in this seemingly stable and gentle illusion created by Ling Yao, forgetting to think about the future and all his anxieties.
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