With my cover to my parents, Jiang Zhou pursued Zhou Qianqian more recklessly than ever.

He snatched the breakfast the maid had prepared for me, then turned around and offered it to Zhou Qianqian with both hands.

I was so hungry that my vision blurred, almost fainting from low blood sugar in the classroom.

I had to ask the maid at home to make me an extra portion, using "not being full" as an excuse.

He lied about going to the library to study with me, saying he wanted to tutor me—with the college entrance exam approaching, he hoped my grades could improve a bit more.

My parents readily agreed, looking at him with admiration.

But they still told him not to delay his own study progress for me, and not to waste too much time on me.

Then they started scolding me, telling me to study hard and not to live up to my brother's kindness.

But every time after scolding me, they would add at the end:

"But no matter how hard you try, you'll still be a useless loser, not even worth a finger of your brother's."

I could only stand there silently, enduring their scolding and belittlement, then pick up my heavy schoolbag and go out with Jiang Zhou.

When the car reached the fork in the road, Jiang Zhou would kick me out, throwing his schoolbag at me as well.

Because the driver had to take him to meet Zhou Qianqian on a date. He wanted me to walk to the library alone, and also do his homework for the week.

He even prettied it up, calling it tutoring me.

"What's wrong with doing two sets of homework? Aren't you a mistake-prone student from a small town? Maybe even two identical sets won't be enough for you to mess up!"

I stood on the opposite side of the road, watching as the car window rolled down, revealing Jiang Zhou's mocking face.

Under my sleeve, I clenched my fists so tightly that I could barely contain the urge to rush over and punch him!

But in the end, I held back, repeatedly telling myself to calm down, to stay calm!

Then I raised the corners of my lips into a standard smile, beaming at Jiang Zhou:

"Okay, brother. Have a nice date."

Jiang Zhou frowned at first, then burst out laughing.

"Mom and Dad are right—they really gave birth to a good dog for me."

At that moment, my nails dug almost into my flesh!

But I didn't feel any pain at all. Perhaps the pain in my heart had already overshadowed the physical pain.

It was like a blunt knife cutting at my heart—not sharp enough, but making me suffer more than I could bear.

Jiang Zhou left in a great mood, the car speeding away.

I stood there for only a moment, then set off for the library.

Thick stacks of test papers almost buried me, but I buried my head in studying, thoroughly enjoying the process.

Because I knew that my fate was now in my own hands.

If I didn't want to repeat the tragic end of my previous life, all I could do was work hard—desperately hard.

I wanted to surpass Jiang Zhou. My parents had never believed in me, but I was determined to be the one who made them proud.

So while Jiang Zhou and Zhou Qianqian were having candlelit dinners, I was solving problems.

While they were holding hands and wandering around amusement parks, I was solving problems.

While he was renting out an entire race track for her to race and fool around, I was still solving problems.

Their love affair was intense and passionate. In the eyes of others, the cold academic heartthrob had fallen for a girl—this was simply a romantic plot straight out of a novel.

Not to mention after Jiang Zhou won third place in the provincial mathematics competition, the principal invited him to give a speech on stage.

In front of all the teachers, students, and school leaders, he said the first person he wanted to thank was Zhou Qianqian.

Jiang Zhou and Zhou Qianqian—even their names rhymed. She was the heroine destined for him.

And they were a match made in heaven.

The moment he finished speaking, the audience erupted in cheers.

Everyone said Jiang Zhou loved Zhou Qianqian so much, his affection for her unhidden—he had "gone crazy" on stage, and they were so envious.

Jiang Zhou preened, exchanging affectionate glances with Zhou Qianqian, who looked shy and bashful off stage, not noticing at all that the principal's face had turned green.

What was supposed to be a study experience sharing session had somehow turned into a love confession!

What was this?!!

Using the school as a backdrop and everyone present as part of their game?!!

So Jiang Zhou, a model student who had always abided by school rules, received his first punishment.

But that 7,000-word self-criticism was soon overshadowed by the subsequent monthly exam.

Jiang Zhou ranked fifth in the school.

Fifth place in a key provincial high school was still enough to guarantee admission to Tsinghua or Peking University.