Chapter 81: Even in Your Dreams, You Could Never Imagine

"What, what, what?" Qin Zhaoyu and Yan Baba immediately crowded over, their faces alight with excitement.

Ye Wuqi pointed at her phone, nearly collapsing onto her desk with laughter. "It's Luo, of course! Look at her phone—she's reading something in a foreign language, not even a passing grade in her foreign language class, and I can't even tell which country this script is from. And yet, here she is, pretending to read it! She must be treating it like an arcane tome!"

Seeing the foreign literature displayed on Ye Luo's phone, Qin Zhaoyu and the others nodded in unanimous agreement. "She's really putting on a show."

Ye Luo said nothing. Silently, she saved the document she had just revised and sent it off to the publisher.

The others, meanwhile, laughed and joked among themselves, not noticing her actions at all.

As the teasing continued, Yan Baba couldn't hold back and addressed her directly. "Hey, Luo, weren't you planning to get first place in the exam to inspire Qi-ge to study harder? But look at you! You skipped class again last Thursday and Friday, and even though you're here today, who knows if you'll show up tomorrow. With this on-and-off approach to studying, you couldn't dream of taking first place in the grade this weekend, even in your sleep."

Ye Luo fell silent.

Ye Wuqi laughed so hard he leaned onto Qin Zhaoyu's shoulder. "Baba, don't underestimate Luo. Maybe she's secretly studying at home again. Remember the last biweekly exam? She broke our class's total score record by secretly studying."

"Qi-ge, don't pretend," Yan Baba said, his mop of yellow hair bobbing as he grinned cheekily. "The way you look, it's obvious you also don't believe Luo could get first in the grade. Otherwise, how could you be laughing right now?"

Ye Luo asked, curious, "Why wouldn't he be able to laugh?"

Yan Baba burst out laughing. "Of course he couldn't! Qi-ge hates studying and never even thinks of working hard. If you really got first place, he'd not just stop laughing—he'd probably cry!"

Ye Luo: "..."

Ye Wuqi nodded in all seriousness. "I really would cry."

Ye Luo was speechless.

Ye Wuqi pointed at Yan Baba and Qin Zhaoyu, continuing, "And they'd cry even harder."

Ye Luo: "?"

What did this have to do with them? Yan Baba and Qin Zhaoyu looked utterly mystified. "Why would we cry even harder?"

Ye Wuqi explained, "If I start studying hard, I'm dragging you two along with me. If you dare slack off, I'll curse you—one of you will never get to eat braised pork again, and the other will never wear rainbow colors!"

"Qi-ge, that's vicious!" Yan Baba exclaimed in disbelief.

"Qi-ge, are you poisoned?" Qin Zhaoyu echoed, equally disbelieving.

Ye Luo could only watch in silence.

Ye Wuqi, chin lifted, looked smug. He knew exactly where their weaknesses lay.

Ye Luo was at a loss for words.

At that moment, Qin Zhaowen approached and gently reassured his younger brother, "Don't worry, Xiaoyu. With Luo's grades, no matter how much she improves, she won't take first in the grade. Qi-ge won't have to study hard, and he certainly won't drag you along."

Ye Luo was speechless. Was this really how an older brother should act?

Qin Zhaoyu thought it over and felt reassured. Yan Baba, too, relaxed—only to voice a new worry. "Luo used to be last in every exam at Ninth High, and last time, she only broke our class record because she outdid herself. If she doesn't outperform herself this time, but just does normally and takes the beauty's first place instead, won't the beauty be the one crying?"

Ye Luo was left without words.