Chapter 53: Xiao Heqing’s Decision

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Xiao Heqing’s Decision

Early the next morning, Han Wenwen lay on her stomach on the bed, wearing denim shorts and an off-the-shoulder short-sleeved shirt.

She continued to check the video metrics. "Lin Zhengran, how does this video recommendation algorithm work? How come the previous videos went unnoticed for over ten days, but yesterday’s suddenly blew up so much? It’s almost at a million views!"

Lin Zhengran, who had taken off his shoes and was sitting on her bed, explained, "As long as the video quality is high, the platform will occasionally push some traffic your way. It just depends on whether you can seize the opportunity. If you can consistently maintain that level of quality, your follower count will keep growing. But if it’s just a flash in the pan, you’ll only make a quick buck."

Having said that, he looked curiously at Han Wenwen, who was resting her face in her hands and staring at him. That look in her eyes... was full of pure admiration.

The Little Fox used to do this during class too. She would prop up her face and study Lin Zhengran with an adoring gaze, looking as if she just wanted to tease him.

If it were any ordinary boy, he probably would have been stared into a stuttering, speechless mess by those eyes long ago.

Only Lin Zhengran would give her an odd look. "Speaking of which, you’ve been on the internet for so long, and you don’t know how the video recommendation algorithm works? Also... is it just my imagination? Why do I feel like the clothes you wear at home are getting shorter and shorter?"

Han Wenwen glanced back at her own denim shorts and answered Lin Zhengran’s first question first. "I really didn’t know much about videos before, but I searched online yesterday, so I guess I do know now."

Lin Zhengran was speechless. "You knew? Then why did you ask me..."

Han Wenwen’s eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled. "I just wanted to talk more with the amazing Lin Zhengran! Actually, during Jiang Xueli’s last performance, I already knew how incredible you were. After all, you taught Qingqing taekwondo and taught Jiang Xueli how to sing. Who would have thought you’d be this amazing at playing games, too?"

She was very self-aware. "I know how terrible I am at games. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have avoided trying to make a living off it before. But in just one month, I’ve improved so much. It’s simply unimaginable. If things keep going like this, won’t I become a wealthy little lady in the future?"

Lin Zhengran just looked at her.

Only then did Han Wenwen answer his second question. "Oh, I’m wearing so little because the weather is hot. Besides, all girls dress like this at home. No one likes to wear those bulky skirts around the house."

"But I’m still here."

Han Wenwen looked at him with an innocent expression. "So what if you’re here? Could it be that seeing me wear so little gives you inappropriate thoughts? I remember you saying before that you wouldn’t like little girls our age. Could it be..." She bit her lip. "Could it be that you were lying before?"

Lin Zhengran realized he shouldn’t have asked. He handed the phone back to her.

Although Lin Zhengran remained unresponsive, Han Wenwen shyly sat up and softly added, "By the way, I definitely wouldn’t dress like this outside. I’m only wearing this for you to see."

Her tone was incredibly sincere, completely different from her playful demeanor just moments ago.

Lin Zhengran simply gave her a look before grabbing his backpack from the side. "Hold out your hand. I have something for you."

"Hmm? What is it?" Han Wenwen obediently held out her hands, feeling a mix of nervousness and curiosity. "Could it be a gift? Today isn’t any special holiday, right?"

Lin Zhengran placed a Chinese textbook and a math textbook into her palms.

Han Wenwen didn’t quite understand. "Textbooks? What’s this for?"

Lin Zhengran mirrored her innocent expression and sighed playfully. "Oh my, for studying, of course, Han Wenwen. We’ve already made the money, but the studying we talked about hasn’t even started yet."

As a representative of poor students everywhere, Han Wenwen’s brain instantly short-circuited the moment she heard the word "studying." It was her ultimate weakness.

She offered an awkward smile and tilted her head. "But there are still a few days before school starts. Shouldn’t we film more videos to make money?"

Lin Zhengran nodded. "Of course we can, provided you don’t want to go to the same university as He Qing."

Han Wenwen immediately slumped in defeat, sitting at the head of the bed and hugging her knees—a very sad Little Fox.

"I’m not happy... I’m really dumb when it comes to studying. I’m not nearly as good at it as I am at playing games."

Lin Zhengran, however, was brimming with confidence. He pulled out a few test papers and handed them over. "Don’t worry. With me here, this little matter will be a piece of cake."

Han Wenwen stared at Lin Zhengran.

She thought, "That makes sense. As long as I’m alone with Lin Zhengran, even studying should be enjoyable."

"Fine, studying it is."

For the last few days of summer vacation, Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran temporarily shelved their gaming videos. They had already pre-recorded plenty anyway, so they just needed to upload one every few days to maintain their update schedule.

The rest of their time was dedicated to studying and catching up on coursework.

Surprisingly, Han Wenwen found that having Lin Zhengran around truly made everything different.

Her problem-solving logic became exceptionally clear! Her memorization speed multiplied exponentially!

It was worth noting that Xiao Heqing’s academic performance was also quite excellent, always ranking in the top five of their class. Yet, even with Xiao Heqing tutoring her, Han Wenwen’s grades hadn’t seen much improvement.

But Lin Zhengran’s methods and logic, though sounding no different from Xiao Heqing’s on the surface, somehow managed to connect the previously dormant learning neurons in Han Wenwen’s brain.

She was constantly experiencing epiphanies and frequently sighed in amazement.

"So that’s how it is! So this is how you solve this question! I get it now! You’re seriously amazing, Lin Zhengran! I feel like you explain things even better than the teachers do!"

In just a few days, Han Wenwen’s test scores skyrocketed. Lin Zhengran prepared a custom mock exam paper just for her.

Han Wenwen chewed on the cap of her pen as she meticulously filled out every answer.

After grading it with a red pen, Lin Zhengran was pleasantly surprised. "Not bad. Sixty-five points. That’s a massive improvement from your previous thirty."

Han Wenwen never dared to imagine that there would come a day when she could be this smart at studying. Her eyes widened in joy and surprise. "Really?! You’re the best, Lin Zhengran! Having you here really changes everything!"

Happy days always seemed to fly by, and the summer vacation hurriedly came to a close amidst their private time together.

One week later, school began, and everyone advanced to the next grade.

When Xiao Heqing returned from the South and reunited with the other three, it signaled that the latest battle in their war of romance had officially begun.

When the four of them went to check the class rosters, they discovered that Xiao Heqing and Jiang Xueli were still placed in the same class. Han Wenwen and Lin Zhengran were also still in the same class—and they were even seatmates.

The Little Fox couldn’t even begin to describe how thrilled she was, whereas Xiao Heqing and Jiang Xueli maintained subtle, complex expressions.

Surprisingly, neither Xiao Heqing nor Jiang Xueli made any substantial moves.

Until one day, three months into the semester... It was almost time for winter break again.

On a Saturday in their dorm room, Xiao Heqing, dressed in a small white sweater, held Han Wenwen’s mock exam results from the previous week in both hands. She was thoroughly astonished. "Wenwen, your grades have improved so much since school started! You’ve actually scored over eighty points several times!"

Han Wenwen, who was sitting on the same bed as Xiao Heqing, thought, "This is all thanks to Lin Zhengran."

She linked her arm through Xiao Heqing’s and looked at her with a smile. "I told you I was going to attend the same high school as Qingqing. How could I go back on my word?"

"Even though I don’t know how you managed it, I can really feel just how hard you’ve been working."

Xiao Heqing took several deep breaths, her cute chest rising and falling as if she were about to make a monumental decision. Han Wenwen was curious. "What’s wrong? Why are you suddenly so quiet?"

Xiao Heqing solemnly got off the bed. Biting her lip and clenching her small fists, she squeezed her pure, almond-shaped eyes shut and mustered up her courage. "Wen... Wenwen, I’ve made up my mind! I’ve been thinking about this for a long time. Especially after seeing how hard you’ve been working, I feel like I can’t just keep doing nothing. I can’t drag this out any longer; otherwise, there are definitely going to be more and more girls surrounding him!"

She opened her eyes, her tone resolute. "I plan... I plan to confess to Lin Zhengran at the end of this semester! I want to be with him!"

The smile froze on Han Wenwen’s face as her eyes widened and trembled. "What..."