Chapter 53: Lessons of Summer

Early the next morning, Han Wenwen lay on her bed in denim shorts and an off-shoulder short-sleeve top.

She continued checking the video stats: “Lin Zheng Ran, how does this video push mechanism work? I uploaded videos weeks ago and no one watched them, but yesterday they exploded. It’s almost at a million views now.”

Lin Zheng Ran had taken off his shoes and sat on her bed to explain:

“If your video quality is high, the platform might give it a boost. It’s up to you to seize that momentum. If you keep up the quality, your fans will grow, but if it’s just a flash in the pan, you’ll only make quick cash.”

After speaking, he curiously looked at Han Wenwen, who was cupping her face and staring at him with adoring eyes.

Like the little fox she was, she used to gaze at Lin Zheng Ran in class, propping up her face with a look that screamed she wanted to tease him.

Any ordinary guy would probably stammer and lose his words under that gaze.

But Lin Zheng Ran just gave her a quirky look: “You’ve been on the internet for so long—didn’t you know how video pushes work? And is it just me, or are your home clothes getting shorter?”

Han Wenwen glanced back at her denim shorts and answered his first question: “I didn’t really get videos before, but I searched it online yesterday, so now I know.”

Lin Zheng Ran was speechless: “You know? Then why ask me?”

Han Wenwen narrowed her eyes into slits and smiled:

“I just wanted to chat more with such an amazing classmate like Lin Zheng Ran. I realized how great you are back when Lily performed. You’re teaching Xiao Qingqing Taekwondo and Lily singing, and now you’re killing it at games too.”

She was self-aware: “I know how unskilled I am, which is why I stayed away from this before. But in just a month, I’ve improved so much—it’s unbelievable. At this rate, I’ll be a little rich girl soon, right?”

Lin Zheng Ran just looked at her.

Then Han Wenwen addressed his second question:

“Oh, I’m wearing this because it’s hot, and girls dress like this at home. No one wants to wear bulky skirts inside.”

“But I’m still here.”

Han Wenwen looked innocent: “So what? Would seeing me in less clothes make you get any funny ideas, Lin Zheng Ran? I remember you said you wouldn’t like girls our age. Or was that”

she bit her lip, saying:

“a lie?”

Lin Zheng Ran regretted asking and handed her phone back.

Though Lin Zheng Ran didn’t react, Han Wenwen shyly sat up and added softly: “By the way, I wouldn’t dress like this outside—it’s just for you to see.”

Her tone was sincere, a complete shift from before.

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at her and picked up his backpack: “Stick out your hand. I have something for you.”

“Huh? What is it?” Han Wenwen obediently extended her hand, a mix of tension and curiosity: “Is it a gift? It’s not even a holiday today.”

Lin Zheng Ran placed the Chinese and math textbooks in her palm.

Han Wenwen was confused: “Textbooks? What’s this for?”

Lin Zheng Ran looked just as innocent: “For studying, of course, Han Wenwen. You’ve made money now, but we haven’t started on that studying you promised.”

As the queen of poor grades, Han Wenwen’s brain froze at the word ‘studying’—it was her weak spot.

She smiled awkwardly, tilting her head: “But school doesn’t start for a few more days. Shouldn’t we make more videos to earn money?”

Lin Zheng Ran nodded: “We could, but only if you don’t want to go to university with Heqing.”

Han Wenwen immediately drooped, hugging her knees at the head of the bed.

A sad little fox.

“I’m not happy about it~ I’m terrible at studying, not as good as at games.”

Lin Zheng Ran was confident and handed her a few worksheets: “Don’t worry, with me here, it’s a piece of cake.”

Han Wenwen stared at him, thinking that as long as she was alone with Lin Zheng Ran, even studying might be fun.

“Alright, let’s study then.”

In the last few days of summer break, Han Wenwen and Lin Zheng Ran set aside game videos for now—they’d already filmed plenty and could upload one every few days to keep things fresh.

The rest of the time went to studying and catching up.

And honestly, Han Wenwen noticed everything felt different with Lin Zheng Ran around.

Problem-solving was crystal clear! Memorization sped up like crazy!

You see, Heqing’s grades were always top-notch, always in the top five, but even with her tutoring, Han Wenwen’s scores barely budged.

Yet Lin Zheng Ran’s methods and approaches—though similar to Heqing’s—made the gears in Han Wenwen’s head click into place like never before.

She often had insights and marveled at it.

“Oh, so that’s how it is! That’s the way to do this problem! I get it now! Lin Zheng Ran, you’re incredible! Even better than the teachers!”

In just a few days, Han Wenwen’s grades skyrocketed, and Lin Zheng Ran gave her a mock test.

Han Wenwen chewed on her pen cap and carefully filled it out.

After grading it with a red pen, Lin Zheng Ran was surprised: “Not bad, sixty-five points. Way better than your previous thirty.”

Han Wenwen couldn’t believe she was getting smart in studies too—she opened her eyes wide in joy and excitement: “Really?! You’re amazing, Lin Zheng Ran! Everything’s different with you around!”

Happy days always fly by, and summer break ended in their secluded time together.

A week later, school started, and everyone moved up a grade.

When Heqing returned from the south and reunited with the trio, it meant the new round of romance battles kicked off.

The four of them checked the class schedules and found Heqing and Lily were in the same class, while Han Wenwen and Lin Zheng Ran were still together—and even desk mates.

The little fox was over the moon inside, while Heqing and Lily had subtle expressions.

Surprisingly, Heqing and Lily hadn’t made any real moves yet.

Until one day three months into the school year, right before winter break…

Heqing, in a white sweater, held Han Wenwen’s mock scores from the previous week in the dormitory, utterly amazed: “Wenwen, your grades have shot up since school started! You’ve hit over eighty several times!”

Han Wenwen sat on the same bed as Heqing, thinking it was all thanks to Lin Zheng Ran.

She linked arms with Heqing and smiled at her:

“I told you I wanted to go to high school with you, Xiao Qingqing. I can’t back out now, right?”

“I don’t know how you did it, but I can see how hard you’ve worked.”

Heqing took a deep breath, her cute chest rising and falling as if gearing up for something big. Han Wenwen asked curiously: “What’s up? Why’d you go quiet all of a sudden?”

Heqing got off the bed seriously, biting her lip and clenching her little fists, her pure almond eyes squeezed shut as she mustered courage:

“Wenwen, I’ve made up my mind! I’ve thought about this for so long, especially seeing how hard you’re trying. I can’t stay passive anymore—I can’t wait. Otherwise, more girls will swarm around him!”

“I’ve decided that by the end of this term, I’m going to confess to Lin Zheng Ran! I want to be with him!”

Han Wenwen’s smiling face froze, her eyes widening in shock: “What…”