Ye Zhibai never dreamed this day would come.
She actually had the chance to pick up a senior-year math textbook again!
Tsk tsk tsk. Look at all these functions. Look at these sets.
It felt downright weird without the lofty calculus and Lagrange multipliers holding court.
In theory, this tutoring session should have been a breeze, simple and straightforward.
After all, Ye Zhibai’s real credentials were those of an undergrad student who had already endured the Gaokao once—a battle-hardened veteran returning to the front lines.
And Ye Zhiyun was the top student in her grade at Qihai No.1 Middle School. As the teacher here, she ought to handle reviewing these long-forgotten concepts with ease.
However…
Reality slapped Ye Zhibai hard across the face!
Ye Zhiyun tapped the workbook with her pencil.
Then she circled the numbers in the reference answer, pondered for a moment, and launched into her explanation.
“So for this problem, Sis, pay attention here. Um… specifically, you do it like this first, plug this function in, transform it, plug it back out, and you get this result. Got it?”
“……”
Huh?
That’s it? You’re done?
Earlier, Yun’er had said one particular phrase.
—”Specifically speaking.”
But her explanation wasn’t even remotely specific!
Plug the function in and plug it back out?! If some stubborn kid gave an answer like that in math class, the teacher would probably want to break their legs!
Ye Zhibai had overestimated herself. Sure, these problems lacked highbrow calculus, but the exponential functions she’d mostly forgotten were still plenty intimidating.
She got it now—Yun’er simply had no idea how to teach.
Her grades were stellar because her brain worked fast and she could figure out solutions on her own. But explaining them? That was a whole different story.
I know the basic math theorems, sure…
But before you lecture on the problem, are you sure you don’t need to start from the basics for a former whiz kid like me?!
Yun’er: Sis is the smartest! She knows everything!
Little Zhibai: LOL.
Ye Zhiyun noticed her sister had been spacing out since earlier. Blissfully unaware of her own teaching shortcomings, she puffed out her cheeks in that adorable way and pressed on.
“Sis, you’re zoning out again… Um, did you get that last problem? If not, I can explain it again.”
“No need. I got it.”
“As expected of Sis! I knew you would!”
No, you didn’t.
Ye Zhibai decided to throw in the towel.
From here on, no matter what problem you asked about, her answer would be—I got it.
Anyway, Ye Zhibai had already resolved to team up with Guang Yu and conquer the Gaokao. Whether she actually understood or not hardly mattered anymore.
Just as Ye Zhibai thought the tutoring would wrap up smoothly amid her chorus of “I got its”…
Ye Zhiyun suddenly pointed to a new problem, tucked away the reference answer, and smiled at her sister.
“Alright, Sis, this one’s the same type as before, just with different numbers. Let’s practice to reinforce it—you can definitely do it. Just to get familiar with the pattern.”
“……”
We’re doomed!!
It was like being in class, pretending you knew everything to stay off the teacher’s radar, only for her to call you up to the blackboard right then with a fresh problem to demonstrate for everyone!
That feeling? Pure despair!
Guang Yu, save me!
Ye Zhibai’s little hand trembled as she took the pencil from Yun’er.
No choice…
She’d have to wait for Yun’er to let her guard down, then sneak a peek at the reference answer!
But when Ye Zhibai glanced sideways…
She abandoned the idea immediately.
Ye Zhiyun was blinking her two gorgeous, sparkling sapphire-blue eyes, her gaze darting expectantly between Ye Zhibai’s face and the blank spot next to the problem she was about to solve!
It was practically sparkling with excitement!
Wah, no way around it—Yun’er had never seen her sister tackle a problem before!
Of course she wanted a front-row seat to the show!
“Ehehe… Sis, hurry and do it! Don’t worry about me. I know you’re way smarter than I am—you’ll solve it at a glance. Oh, and… back when I was doing homework, didn’t you want to do mine too? Sis really has such a thirst for knowledge!”
Don’t badmouth me like that!
A top student’s copycat routine isn’t “thirst for knowledge”! Don’t overhype me!
Cornered, Ye Zhibai had no choice but to bow her head and study the problem. Hey, wouldn’t you know it.
She really had no clue!!
Maybe she did in her previous life, but now? All gone.
Ye Zhibai desperately wanted to fling the pencil onto the table with flair and retreat to her room to chug one of Guang Yu’s drinks.
But Yun’er’s expectant gaze made it impossible to bail…
A fine sheen of sweat beaded on her forehead.
Doomed… doomed… Could some miracle please save me right now?
I’ll burn incense for Guang Yu tomorrow, I swear!
Suddenly.
“Ring ring~ Ring ring~ Yun’er, you’re a bad girl. You need punishment. You need punishment.”
It was Yun’er’s phone ringtone.
Uh… what kind of weird ringtone is that?!
And when did I say that? When did you record it?!
Ye Zhiyun listened to the ring with smug satisfaction and picked up like nothing was amiss.
“Hello? Make it quick—I’m tutoring Sis for the Gaokao right now, pretty busy. Hm? What?! Got it.”
After hanging up, Ye Zhiyun furrowed her brow slightly.
She seemed lost in thought.
“Yun’er? What’s up?”
Ye Zhibai seized the chance to set down the pencil! And snap the workbook shut!
Don’t ask—it’s done!
Ye Zhiyun put away her phone and answered honestly.
“Ah… Sis, it’s nothing major. I’m just puzzled. That was the Maid Corps calling. There’s a visitor at the Mansion gate who specifically asked to see you.”
“A visitor?”
“Yeah… which is why I’m so confused. Sis doesn’t have any friends. Someone coming to see you? That’s like a fairy tale!”
You really don’t mince words!
Ye Zhibai suppressed the urge to retort.
Still, curiosity won out, and she pressed on.
“A visitor… Didn’t the Maid Corps ask for the name? If it’s for me… maybe I should go check it out.”
“Sis…”
“Hm?”
Something felt off.
Ye Zhibai suddenly sensed an inexplicable pressure!
Ye Zhiyun’s expression had changed.
Gone was the confusion in her eyes. Now there was a hint of accusation… and jealousy so blatant it was impossible to ignore.
She hadn’t named the visitor earlier just to test the waters.
Since Sis truly seemed clueless, Ye Zhiyun decided to lay it all out.
“The person waiting outside—according to the Maid Corps, her name’s Chi Yuliang. Ring any bells, Sis?”
Sister Liang?!
How did she find this place?! Wait, why is she even here?!
Stunned but composed, Ye Zhibai replied steadily.
“I remember. The one from the Crematorium who held the cremation urn.”
“Right, that’s her. I remember the name too.”
At this point, the air around Yun’er reeked even more of aged vinegar!
“It’s so weird… super suspicious… Sis, you only talked to her alone for a few minutes back then, right? So why’s she visiting our home now…? Sis, I’m really curious. Care to fill me in?”
You’re curious? What about me!
And now you’re over the math problem?!
The jealousy was too pungent. Ye Zhibai averted her eyes, planted her hands on the desk, and stood up.
She had only one suggestion.
“Let’s go see. I don’t know the situation either. We’ll find out when we check. You can come along, Yun’er—or not.”
“Sis, you’re saying weird stuff again. If I don’t go, how could I let you head out alone with some other gi—cough, some other person? Too dangerous.”
“……”
Yun’er, sometimes…
You’re way too blunt.
