Chapter 69: Review

As the final exams got closer, Nanqin High School would usually give students a week off in advance for studying.

However, for most students, those seven days were simply a warm-up for winter vacation, and they would usually spend the time having fun instead of studying.

Li Nuo was thinking the same thing. Today, he planned to go to Zhou Qikuan's house and play a newly released RPG game on Steam together.

It was the fourth day of the seven-day break. That morning, Li Nuo carried a small black shoulder bag and quietly walked to the apartment door. His large almond-shaped eyes carefully looked around. After making sure nobody had noticed him, he reached for the doorknob and prepared to leave.

However, just as his hand touched the handle, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Where are you going so early in the morning?"

The owner of the voice was naturally An Ran'er, who lived in the same apartment as him.

She was wearing loose cartoon-print pajamas and stood behind him with her hands on her hips.

The moment he saw her, Li Nuo felt a headache coming on.

Ever since An Ran'er had promised their homeroom teacher last week that she would tutor him in math, she had been dragging him into studying for more than eight hours every day since the vacation started. And not just math, she had reviewed almost every subject with him. She was extremely dedicated.

Unfortunately, her devil-like teaching style made Li Nuo miserable. Every day, all he could think about was escaping.

"I... I found some parts of biology really hard to understand while studying, so I wanted to go to the nearby library and look up some information," Li Nuo quickly made up an excuse after being caught.

The reason he chose biology was simple: among all subjects, biology was one of An Ran'er's weaker ones. If he mentioned biology, she probably wouldn't confidently say she could teach him herself.

"Oh? Really?" An Ran'er looked at him suspiciously.

"O-Of course."

"Fine. Then go ahead. Just don't stay out too long. I still need to continue helping you study afterward."

"O-Okay."

Seeing that she seemed convinced, Li Nuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the door open.

But before he could step outside, An Ran'er stopped him again.

"Wait. If you're going to the library, why are you carrying a shoulder bag?"

"I... I brought a notebook with me. I wanted to write down any information I find."

He answered without thinking.

"Really? Let me see."

"N-No need..."

"Be good. Let me check!"

In the end, Li Nuo couldn't argue with her and was forced to open the bag. Looking inside, An Ran'er pulled out a game controller.

"Do you need something like this in a library?"

"Well... I just happened to put it in there."

Li Nuo awkwardly scratched his cheek.

"And what about this?"

She pulled out a notebook filled with strategy guides for a certain RPG game and held it in front of him.

"Uh..."

Now that the truth was exposed, Li Nuo stopped hiding it. Lowering his head, he pressed his palms together and begged.

"Just one day. Classmate An, can you let me go play for one day?"

When she didn't answer right away, Li Nuo secretly opened one eye to look at her. He saw her staring down at him and immediately shut his eye again.

After a while, An Ran'er finally spoke.

"If you wanted a day off, why didn't you just tell me directly? Why were you sneaking around? I'm not some kind of monster."

As she spoke, she handed the controller and guidebook back to him.

"If you want to play games, then go ahead. Just don't come back too late."

"Okay! Okay!"

If you're not a monster, then nobody is, Li Nuo complained in his heart, though outwardly he nodded repeatedly.

After arriving at Zhou Qikuan's house, Li Nuo quickly entered gaming mode.

The two of them followed the strategy guide while happily playing the game. Before they knew it, it was almost dark, yet they still wanted to keep going.

I can never stay motivated when studying, but when it comes to games, I never get tired. Maybe that's why my grades never improve, Li Nuo thought.

Before leaving, they even agreed to continue exploring the game's story the next day.

The next morning, Li Nuo planned to go back to Zhou Qikuan's house and continue gaming.

This time, however, An Ran'er blocked the door.

"Today, you're staying here and studying."

"But..."

"No buts. I already promised our homeroom teacher that I'd tutor you, and I won't let you give up halfway."

"But I already..."

Li Nuo stopped speaking.

"Do you want to fail your final exams again like before?" she continued.

"I... I understand."

"Good."

At first, Li Nuo could still focus on reviewing his lessons.

But less than thirty minutes later, sleepiness hit him. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

An Ran'er sat beside him explaining the solution methods for each math problem, but none of it entered his head.

Formulas and diagrams floated around in his mind. The more he looked at them, the more dizzy he felt.

Soon, his attention drifted elsewhere.

By chance, he glanced at An Ran'er, who was sitting beside him explaining a problem with a serious expression.

His gaze slowly moved downward.

Because she was wearing loose pajamas, he could clearly see inside the collar of her shirt.

Her fair skin and beautiful collarbone came into view.

What made his heart race even more was realizing that she wasn't wearing a bra.

Li Nuo stared blankly at the girl's full chest. Although he couldn't see everything clearly, whenever she breathed, he could vaguely make out the pink tips hidden beneath.

He unconsciously swallowed. Then his nose suddenly felt itchy.

"What's wrong with you?"

An Ran'er finally noticed something strange.

Following his gaze, she realized he had been staring at her chest.

She looked down herself and immediately let out a scream.

"Ahhh!"

She quickly covered the opening of her pajamas with both hands.

Her pretty face instantly turned red, whether from embarrassment or anger.

With a resentful look, she glared at him.

"Have you seen enough?"

"Not yet..."

Li Nuo answered foolishly before suddenly realizing what he had said.