Feigned Pity - CH 21.1

The next morning, he wondered if he jinxed it. Her countenance looked off. There was no ruddiness on her porcelain-white skin and her lips were slightly pale.

Inadvertently, he paid more attention to her and noticed that she only drank a few mouthfuls of milk and ate lesser than usual.

Even so, she still managed to prepare today’s learning schedule for him. Gu Jing Yuan suffered from a headache when he saw it and slumped on the back seat of the car. He looked like he was dying from all the studying he had to do.

Tao Yi Xi was not at all surprised by his behavior.

This time around, it was more convenient as she did not need to take out the textbook to recite the content. Unlike yesterday, her voice was a little weak, and halfway through, she lost her voice.

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Seeing her pale appearance, he could not help but ask, “Do you want to take a sick leave?”

Tao Yi Xi covered her stomach and momentarily paused, “No need, I’ll be fine in a bit.”

There was once every month that she would have to suffer. Once it passed, she would feel better.

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“Zsw zssj y zkvvzl zynjzwpvla vseyu.”

“Yu pvsxynb kp fwpv y zkvvzl wdnsxqsavyczl.”

“Did your period come?”

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“I believe so, I’m currently experiencing the symptoms.”

Although her period was irregular, she always experience discomfort before it arrives, as if giving her a warning beforehand.

Zhou Zhi comfortingly squeezed her hand, “You poor thing. Before it comes, you’re already suffering. How are you going to survive the next few days?”

Zhou Zhi then suggested, “Later, let’s have lunch together. I’ll bring you to the porridge shop just behind our school. They serve delicious porridge and whenever my period comes, I’ll always crave for their brown sugar eight-treasure congee.”

“Okay.”

After she was tasked to watch over Gu Jing Yuan, they have not been able to have lunch together in a long while. This break apart would give Gu Jing Yuan a bit of breathing space as well.

How could she not be able to tell that she was on the brink of annoying him to death?

Sure enough, after informing him of her plans, his eyes lit up and his face brightened with joy.

“But first, finish this question before you go.” She did not plan to let him off so easily even if she wanted a breather.

“Oh,” he swiftly took the papers over and started attempting the questions. Unbeknownst to himself, he had already started getting used to this routine.

At noon, they met up with Tang Wan and Cai Li Ling before heading to the shop together. The restaurant sold cheap, delicious, and generous portions of porridge. By the time they arrived, it was already packed with people that the boss had to set a few extra tables outside the establishment to accommodate the growing crowd.

“Fortunately, we still managed to find a place to sit. I’ll go and place our orders. Yi Xi, do you want anything else other than the brown sugar eight-treasure congee?”

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“Nope, thank you.”

Tang Wan had always been more taciturn out of all of them. However, during this meetup, she proactively gave Tao Yi Xi a smile.

“Yi Xi, you did wonderfully in this round’s tests.”

“I did alright.”

Cai Li Ling added, “But 714, you’ve become another legend of our grade. Who would’ve expected that you not only look pretty, but your studies are also good as well. I thought you would’ve been like your brother.”

It sounded like a compliment, but somehow it was not pleasing to the ears.

Tao Yi Xi chuckled lightly, “It’s prejudice to judge people based on their appearances.”

Cai Li Ling did not expect Tai Yi Xi to respond so quickly and rushed to explain, “Er, I know. I just wanted to compliment you. Sorry, I’m not very good at phrasing my words.”

Tao Yi Xi just smiled but said nothing. Because Cai Li Ling was Zhou Zhi’s friend, she did not want to embarrass her too much.

Sensing that the atmosphere became a little weird, Tang Wan hurriedly continued with what she originally wanted to say, “Yi Xi, you got full marks in physics. Do you mind explaining the last question to me? I don’t think I understood how it was solved.”

“Okay, why don’t you explain your thought process to me first. Then I’ll give you four possible solutions and see which one is easier for you to grasp.”

Tang Wan was astonished, “There are actually four solutions? But our teacher only gave us two!”

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One had to know that the teachers assigned to the top classes were specially chosen due to their expertise in the particular subject. They were assigned to two top classes with an addition of one ordinary class. Knowing which classes the physics teacher was assigned to, it was not possible that he was assigned to Tai Yi Xi’s class as well.

“There was plenty of time left during the paper, so I thought of a couple more possible solutions.”

Tang Wan attentively listened to Tao Yi Xi’s detailed elaboration. Even though it was the same method, the explanation was articulated differently. Tao Yi Xi was more in-depth in her exposition, making it easier to understand.

She was unlike other top-scoring students such as Chen Ze. Chen Ze would have explained it according to his own thought processes, not caring if others caught on to his breakdown.

Cai Li Ling could not understand what was being said. But looking at how Tao Yi Xi became so engrossed and vivid in her explanation, it caused her personality to become even more dazzling. This made Cai Li Ling purse her lips. Previously, she did not believe that there will be such perfect people in the world. Yet, it seemed that some people were just blessed with dog shit luck that they could be both beautiful and smart, all in one package.

By the time Zhou Zhi returned from placing their orders, Tao Yi Xi was explaining the third possible solution. As Zhou Zhi enjoyed listening to Tao Yi Xi’s soft and clear voice, she listened in together with Tang Wan. It helped kill time while waiting for their food to be served.

She was quite bad at physics, so she did not think that she would be able to understand. However, following Yi Xi’s train of explanation to the very last bit, she and Tang Wan seemed to have been able to connect the dots as if their meridians were suddenly opened. In that split second, both voiced out the same answer together.

Tao Yi Xi smiled in satisfaction, “Yes! That’s the correct answer. You guys are amazing!”

The two excitedly voiced their admiration, “It’s you that’s amazing! Yi Xi, can you be our little teacher from now on?”

As Zhou Zhi was asking, Tang Wan was nodding at the side. She could not ask for anything better.

Tao Yi Xi wanted to agree but remembered that she still had to tutor the ever so troublesome Gu Jing Yuan. Thus, she had no choice but to refuse.

“I wouldn’t be able to tutor you guys on all the subjects. But if you have any questions, you can ask me.”

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Tang Wan immediately seized the opportunity, “That’s good enough.”

Cai Li Ling rarely saw Tang Wan so enthusiastic. She could not help but feel a little sour. Why was it that Tang Wan, who got along best with her, was also hooked by Tao Yi Xi?

She looked around bored. Not far away, she spotted a familiar head of wine red hair gleaming in the sun.

Cai Li Ling murmured, “Why is it her again?”