There was a saying that went something like this.
The knowledge you learned from your teachers in high school truly belonged to you.
It would help you cut through thorns and blaze a trail during the sacred Gaokao, opening up a brand-new path ahead.
But once you reached university, with your growing laziness and the influx of new knowledge, everything you’d learned in high school would slowly be returned to your teachers.
The words rang true.
For Ye Zhibai, who had nearly reached her junior year in her previous life, it seemed she had long since parted ways with every subject—except, perhaps, the free activity time during PE class, which she hadn’t returned to that most respectable teacher who taught nothing else.
Ye Zhiyun watched as her sister sat on the edge of the bed, looking calm and utterly at ease with the Gaokao (though in reality, she was despairing inside).
Before heading out, Ye Zhiyun offered a gentle reminder.
“Sis, go ahead and freshen up first. The Gaokao’s the day after tomorrow—less than two days away now. I won’t be going to school these next couple of days. I’ll teach you as many basic Gaokao tips and key points as I can. Don’t worry! With how smart you are, Sis, you’ll totally ace it with at least a hundred points!”
“Pr…obably.”
Actually, Yun’er, you don’t have to say it so casually, like I’m some high scorer. What you really mean is that my total score will definitely hit a hundred, right? You’re so gentle.
And honestly, I have confidence in that too.
Just before Ye Zhiyun left, she had seemed perfectly normal, but when she spoke her final words, she suddenly grew hesitant and fidgety.
“Um… why don’t you come to my room in a bit, Sis? All my textbooks and materials are piled up over there. It’s not easy to teach properly on your side. Ah…! But if you want to punish me by making me carry every single book over one by one, that’s fine too! Hehe… but… I still think you should come to my side! That’s it! I’ll be waiting for you!”
Slam!
Yun’er bolted.
She fled in such a hurry.
So anxious it was almost like her goal wasn’t to get Ye Zhibai into her room to study at all—like she’d laid down a Heavenly Net in there and was eagerly awaiting her prey.
In other words, it was exactly like…
“Ye Zhibai, your little sister seems like she wants to drag you to her room and eat you all up! Is she planning to stick to you again?”
“Guang Yu… if you’re so clever that you have to blurt it out, I suggest you go on The Strongest Brain and win some prize money to help with the household expenses.”
“？！”
Ye Zhibai had no time to dwell on such trivial details right now.
After all, she was facing a headache-inducing problem.
Ye Zhibai flopped backward onto the bed.
She twirled a lock of long silver hair from beside her and sighed in worry.
“Guang Yu, tell me… why did Yun’er suddenly decide I should take the Gaokao? It came out of nowhere.”
Guang Yu kicked off her slippers and bounced onto the bed.
The springs nearly launched Ye Zhibai right off the edge!
“The Gaokao? Oh, oh, that’s not sudden at all. I don’t know what this Gaokao thing is, but you were the one who said it last night, right? ‘No med school, no med school, absolutely no med school.’
“If not that, then what? Option two?”
“Not ‘option two’.”
“It’s med school, not ‘option one.’ You’re so uncultured.”
Guang Yu’s daily ditziness could be skipped for now—it wasn’t essential.
Sigh… from what Guang Yu was saying, she really had brought this Gaokao mess on herself while drunk last night?
Digging her own grave. Asking for trouble?
But…
It didn’t seem so bad, actually.
Ye Zhibai pushed away the loli fox head leaning in close, peering down at her face. Instead, she stared at the ceiling and voiced her thoughts with a sense of emotion.
When feeling emotional, you had to look at the sky.
Without a sky, the ceiling would do.
That was just common sense.
“Going back to university… yeah, that works. I figure it’s time to find something to do anyway. It’s better than rotting away at home. Life needs to get back on track to be truly fulfilling. Don’t you think so, Guang Yu?”
“Hm? Oh yeah, you’re totally right. So, why not go for option one?”
“……”
This fox sure was stubborn!
She wouldn’t drop a topic until it was fully explained, huh? Conversation stalled!
If Guang Yu insisted on knowing why no med school, Ye Zhibai had only one answer.
—Studying medicine couldn’t save Little Zhibai.
It could save the masses, but never herself!
That major really could work someone to death!
Sigh… but forget med school for now. Taking the Gaokao again on such short notice? Whether she’d even pass the undergrad cutoff line was up in the air.
Seeing Ye Zhibai so troubled that she even rolled over, facing the wall in full shutdown mode…
Guang Yu twitched her fox ears and closed her eyes in meditation.
Let me take a peek… why is Ye Zhibai suddenly so upset?
The divine power she’d accumulated over the night drained away in a huge chunk once more.
When her eyes reopened, a knowing glint filled Guang Yu’s vast, boundless gaze.
She scooted back a bit.
Then, with her tiny finger, she poked the sole of Ye Zhibai’s snowy-white foot.
“Mm…! What are you doing?”
“Eep!!!”
Ye Zhibai was ticklish. She jolted in shock!
Reflex kicked in—she lashed out with a foot and sent the Scummy Fox tumbling off the bed!
Guang Yu hugged her head and rolled twice on the floor before steadying herself.
Having grown used to being kicked off by Ye Zhibai, she clutched her nonexistent flat chest, climbed back up, and acted like nothing had happened.
Don’t ask. It was just muscle memory now.
Guang Yu carefully perched on the bed’s edge, far enough that even Ye Zhibai’s outstretched long legs couldn’t reach. She held up one finger and suggested cheerfully.
“Don’t stress! I just wanted to make you smile. Because Great Guang Yu here used divine power to investigate and came up with the perfect way to handle your Gaokao! You should be thrilled!”
“Oh… let me nap a bit. I have to go to Yun’er’s room to study soon. Guang Yu, set an alarm on my phone for me. Thanks.”
“What time?”
“Ten minutes.”
“Oh… ten… wait, no!! You think I definitely can’t help, don’t you?! Mortals always underestimate gods. Hear me out!”
See? Guang Yu’s delayed reactions still disqualified her from The Strongest Brain.
Sigh… Ye Zhibai wasn’t sleepy anyway after just waking up. She rolled over, propped her cheek on her hand, and watched to see what Guang Yu had to say.
Guang Yu eyed the breathtakingly beautiful yet slightly impatient face before her.
Hmph, one little poke, and she’d crack a smile!
“Heh, small thinking. Did you forget? I can turn invisible.
I’ve already figured out what this Gaokao process is. When you go to the exam hall, I’ll peek at other people’s answers and transmit them to you via mind transmission. Then you’ll know how to do the questions!”
“Guang Yu.”
“Yeah?”
“Want a drink? I suddenly feel like getting three cups from Honey Rain Ice City.”
“Yes! Why wouldn’t I? Gimme!”
Exposing one’s true colors was a required course for everyone, and Ye Zhibai was no exception.
Ye Zhibai sat up.
Though much more relaxed now, a new worry crept in.
“But… wouldn’t that be cheating? I’ve never cheated in either of my lifetimes… that doesn’t feel right…”
Guang Yu thumped her little chest confidently.
She hit too hard and ended up coughing!
“You…! Cough cough cough! Just pretend it’s me taking the Gaokao! Geez, why so wishy-washy? I’ll ask you once: this plan—do it, or no?”
“Do it.” (Flatly)
“There you go!”
Ye Zhibai had no choice.
Forget morals and righteousness. Put the Gaokao’s mountain of review books—measured in kilograms—on one side of the scale, and Guang Yu’s little fox mouth solving it all on the other. Anyone could see which was more tempting.
And don’t even say she was stealing a spot from some top student. Ye Zhibai deserved to take the Gaokao properly as a person; she’d just missed out before because she lacked a soul.
—Besides, sure, she was occupying one Gaokao slot now, but hadn’t her truck-death freed up a grad school spot?
Maybe even some classmate in her major had snagged a direct recommendation thanks to her sacrifice!
Those in the know got it. Ye Zhibai’s contribution here outweighed any shamelessness by miles!
Having swiftly weighed the pros and cons in her mind, Ye Zhibai didn’t hesitate to order takeout drinks for Guang Yu.
Guang Yu, at least for these next few days, you’re my ancestor!!
I’ll have to worship you like the Deity!
Er… but Guang Yu basically was a deity. Never mind, then.
When Ye Zhibai asked why Guang Yu was going so all-out to help her pass the Gaokao…
Guang Yu answered like this.
“Isn’t that obvious? Once you leave home for university, you’ll meet cute girls, and only then can you stick to them! The more you stick, the better my chances of returning to the Heavenly Realm!”
“……”
Yeah, time to take down that altar for Guang Yu.
As a deity, she didn’t quite measure up.
Ye Zhibai still kept her word and stood at the door to Ye Zhiyun’s room on the 2nd Floor—a place she still hadn’t set foot in.
Guang Yu was back in her room sipping drinks; Ye Zhibai had come alone.
The Gaokao plan was set, but she still had to show up, even if just for appearances.
