Seeing that he couldn't persuade her, Gu Fan simply gave up on trying, picked up his schoolbag, and stood up. "I'm heading out. Good luck!"
……
A summer evening is beautiful. The sky is not gloomy at all, but rather has a soft, pale blue hue.
In the distance, the mountains under the setting alpenglow looked like the blushing cheeks of a shy girl.
At the school gates.
Lin Mo stepped out of the school gates, his footsteps coming to an involuntary halt.
A dozen meters away, a graceful figure stood under a willow tree. Who else could it be but An Youyu?
A flash of surprise crossed Lin Mo's eyes as he walked up slowly. "Are you waiting for me, Classmate An?"
An Youyu tucked back a lock of hair blown into disarray by the wind. "Lin Mo, I wasn't joking about what I said today. I'm very serious!"
"What did you say?"
"I don't want to apply to the same university as you anymore."
Hearing these words again, Lin Mo frowned slightly. "Can you help me tutor math tomorrow?"
"Huh?"
An Youyu's pretty face froze in astonishment as she repeated herself, "I don't want to apply to the same university as you anymore."
Lin Mo acted as if he hadn't heard. "Then it's settled for the tutoring tomorrow. Come on, I'll walk you back to the residential area."
"You..."
One look from Lin Mo cut An Youyu's words short.
The courage she had managed to gather instantly vanished into thin air. The cold detachment on her cheeks faded, and she reverted to her usual shy and timid self.
"N-No need to walk me."
An Youyu clutched her backpack straps, lowered her head, and hurried away.
Lin Mo followed behind, his stride steady.
In the setting sun.
Their two figures stretched longer and longer, yet the distance between them grew closer and closer...
Chapter 7: Senile Dementia?
Outside the residential area.
An Youyu stopped in her tracks and turned to look at Lin Mo, who had followed her all the way. "I'm here. You should go back."
"Tomorrow morning, right here."
Lin Mo said simply, then turned and left.
An Youyu watched Lin Mo's retreating figure, ripples stirring deep within her eyes.
Yet whenever she thought of what the teacher had said today, a trace of distress inevitably rose in her heart.
She didn't seem to have kept her promise to the teacher...
-
Back home, the moment Lin Mo's backside touched the sofa, an interrogation from his mother rang in his ears.
"Xiaomo, don't you plan on explaining?"
Lin Mo looked completely blank. "Explain what?"
Lin Shu sat beside her son. "Why have you been coming home later and later lately?"
Lin Mo didn't hide anything and explained about the tutoring sessions.
He even mentioned scoring a mere 18 points on the morning test.
Upon hearing this, Lin Shu glared at him indignantly. "What on earth is wrong with you? You scored 94 on the last mock exam for math, so why did you only get 18 this time? Was the test too hard?"
"Not really. The test questions were actually simpler than the mock exam."
Lin Mo scratched his head and told a white lie. "Mom, I don't know what's going on. Lately, I keep forgetting things."
"Forgetting things?"
"Yeah, a lot of the basics I learned before just won't stick. During the exam, my mind went completely blank, and I couldn't remember anything at all."
Lin Mo had no other choice and could only offer this explanation.
He couldn't exactly tell his mother: Your son has been reincarnated, and everything he learned before is long gone!
If he said that, his mother would definitely treat him like a mental patient and probably drag him off to the hospital's psychiatry department.
"Huh?"
Lin Shu hurriedly grabbed her son's hand, her tone full of worry. "Is it because the pressure from your studies has been too heavy lately?"
Lin Mo lowered his head with a guilty conscience. "I don't know, maybe."
"Son, you mustn't put too much pressure on yourself."
Lin Shu said with a heavy heart, "Whether you make something of yourself in the future or not, in Mom's eyes, you're always wonderful. As for university, if you can't get in, you just don't go; but..."
"You absolutely cannot get senile dementia!"
Originally, Lin Mo had been deeply touched.
But upon hearing his mother's final remark, the warmth in his heart instantly vanished!
Senile dementia?
One look was all it took to confirm it — she was definitely his biological mother!
"Cough—"
Lin Mo forced a smile onto his face. "Mom, how on earth did your mind jump to senile dementia?"
"It's not me jumping to conclusions; the early signs of senile dementia look exactly like this."
Lin Shu sighed heavily. "Old Mrs. Zhang next door has a father with senile dementia. I heard her mention it a few times when we were chatting, and your condition is identical to what she described."
"Don't brush it off. It's too late today, so tomorrow you're coming with me to the hospital for a checkup."
Lin Mo rolled his eyes. "Mom, it's really not as serious as you think."
Lin Shu sprang to his feet in a single motion. "Your score plummeted from 94 to 18, and you call that not serious?"
Lin Mo wanted to explain, but he didn't know what to say.
In the end, he could only bite the bullet and say, "I have things to do tomorrow. I don't have time."
Lin Shu's face hardened. "What could possibly be more important than getting checked for senile dementia?"
Lin Mo: "..."
Hearing those words, why did it sound like he already had one foot in the grave with dementia?
"Mom, I don't have senile dementia."
"Mentally ill people never admit they're mentally ill."
"..."
Lin Mo fell into total autistic silence.
Conversation with his mother was officially dead!
"Anyway, I don't care. Tomorrow you are coming to the hospital with me, no exceptions."
"I really don't have time."
Lin Mo leaned back against the sofa, closing his eyes. "Tomorrow I've arranged to tutor a classmate. I can't break my promise."
Lin Shu caught the unusual nuance in his voice. "A classmate? Boy or girl?"
Lin Mo opened his eyes. "A girl."
"A girl?"
Lin Shu's expression shifted. After a long silence, she suddenly smiled.
That smile gave Lin Mo a creeping sense of dread.
He swallowed hard in secret. "Mom, can we please not smile in such a terrifying way?"
Lin Shu shot her son a glare. "Tell Mom the truth — is your grades dropping because you're in a relationship?"
"No."
Lin Mo answered quite earnestly. "And besides, I'm not in a relationship."
"Hmph—"
Lin Shu raised a finger to point at her own nose. "Xiaomo, do you really think Mom is that easy to fool?"
"Word of honor, believe it or not."
Seeing that his son didn't look like he was lying, Lin Shu couldn't help feeling a bit surprised, and stubbornly checked again. "You're really not dating?"
"No."
Lin Mo gave a very firm reply. "The girl and I are just classmates, at best we're good friends. Stop watching so many campus idol dramas; they'll rot your brain. Don't jump to conclusions about romance at every turn."
"If you don't know how to talk, shut your trap!"
Lin Shu's face darkened. "As a mother, can't I even care about my own son?"
"Of course you can care."
Lin Mo poured his mother a glass of water. "Mom, this is the second semester of senior year. We barely have enough time to study; who has the leisure for romance? Besides, the school strictly forbids high school students from dating, and you should know that."
"Does a school ban actually work?"
Lin Shu argued logically. "If that were true, why are there still so many students puppy-lovin'?"
"Other people are other people, and I am me."
Lin Mo leaned lazily against the sofa. "Your son knows where to draw the line. Doing the right thing at the right time — I know what should be done and what shouldn't."
"Oh?"
Lin Shu looked at her son in astonishment, smiling playfully. "If I hadn't heard it with my own ears, I wouldn't have believed those words came out of your mouth."
"Thanks for the compliment."
Lin Mo patted his stomach and raised an eyebrow. "Mom, shouldn't we be getting dinner started?"
Lin Shu laughed despite herself. "Go wash your hands, or are you waiting for Mom to feed you?"
After dinner.
Lin Mo sat in front of the computer, flipping through his class notes while searching online for high school knowledge points across various grades.
Once seated, seven or eight hours flew by.
Nearly at three in the morning, Lin Mo finally couldn't hold out any longer, dozing off and collapsing onto the desk...
The cool morning summer breeze swept in.
Lin Mo rubbed his sore eyes and immediately checked the clock on the wall.
8:03 AM.
Lin Mo leaped straight up from his stool.
Oh no!
Based on his understanding of An Youyu, there was a high likelihood that the girl had been waiting outside the residential area since early morning.
At that thought, Lin Mo didn't even bother washing his face. He grabbed the schoolbag from the end of the bed and rushed out the door.
Outside Baiyu Residential Area, under the willow tree on the pavement.
An Youyu leaned against the trunk, holding a book with both hands and occasionally turning the pages.
Neither passing pedestrians nor roaring vehicles could disturb her. It gave off a strong sense of "let the bustling world bustle on, I remain entirely unperturbed."
From far off, Lin Mo spotted An Youyu.
He didn't approach immediately, standing in place as he watched the girl reading under the tree.
She was still wearing her school uniform, just like in his past life.
In his memories, An Youyu seemed to only ever wear her school uniform; he had never seen her in anything else.
Recalling the girl's lunch from yesterday, Lin Mo felt as though he finally understood something.
"Sorry, I was reviewing too late last night and overslept."
Hearing his voice, An Youyu closed the book in her hands. The moment she lifted her chin, her eyes flickered. "It's fine, I just got out here myself."
Seeing the sweat on Lin Mo's forehead, she instinctively pulled a tissue from her pocket. "Here."
"Thanks."
Lin Mo didn't stand on ceremony. As he took the tissue, their fingers brushed briefly.
An Youyu flinched as if electrocuted, quickly pulling her hand back.
She turned her head away, a faint flush blooming across her cheeks. "Where... are we going to study?"
Lin Mo answered without hesitation. "Your place."
"N-No, let's pick somewhere else."
Lin Mo wasn't surprised by the girl's refusal.
Fortunately, he had prepared in advance and feigned helplessness. "I figured you wouldn't agree to anywhere else."
"As long as it's not my house, anywhere is fine."
"You sure?"
"Mhm."
Seeing that the fish had finally taken the bait, Lin Mo couldn't help smiling. "Since that's settled, let's go to my place."
"Huh?"
An Youyu's eyes widened into round circles.
The inadvertent cuteness of her expression was as refreshing and sweet as summer fruit, as warm and comforting as winter milk tea.
This innate healing power could be called the sole remedy for a tarnished world.
Chapter 8: Cozy Tutoring
"Heaven is blind!"
An Youyu looked up. "What?"
Lin Mo acted oblivious. "Nothing. Let's go, my place."
"No way!"
An Youyu refused again.
Lin Mo pressed his hand against the willow tree. "Classmate An, you just said yourself that as long as it's not your place, anywhere is fine. Are you trying to go back on your word now?"
"N-No."
An Youyu bit her lip in a panic. "We can't go to your place. It's too easy for people to misunderstand."
Lin Mo offered two choices. "Either your place or my place. Take your pick."
An Youyu lowered her head in silence.
Lin Mo wasn't in a hurry either, waiting quietly for the girl to make her choice.
To be honest, An Youyu was truly beautiful; her facial features gave off a very comfortable vibe.
Even rarer was that she still retained a touch of childlike innocence; her reserved, delicate temperament vividly displayed oriental beauty, though she was still too young and her breathtaking looks were not yet fully developed.
After a deadlock of quite some time.
Seeing that Lin Mo had no intention of backing down, An Youyu stammered, "Let's go... to my place."
Hearing this answer, Lin Mo smiled.
"Lead the way, Classmate An."
With complex emotions, An Youyu cast a deep look at Lin Mo and headed toward the residential area.
For some reason, Lin Mo caught a faint trace of resentment lingering in An Youyu's eyes. Following behind her, a triumphant smile bloomed on his face.
Aside from tutoring, there was another plan for today.
And that was the System mission: to reduce An Youyu's sense of loneliness.
Lin Mo wanted to claim the reward as soon as possible. Otherwise, with his current academic standing as a total slacker, his subsequent cultivation plan couldn't proceed at all.
How to reduce An Youyu's sense of loneliness?
Yesterday at school, Lin Mo had already figured out an approach.
An Youyu lived on the fifth floor in a tiny room of less than twenty square meters.
Such a small space was neatly partitioned into three distinct areas: a bedroom, a kitchen, and a bathroom.
Though the space was cramped, it was impeccably organized; and while the conditions were humble, it gave off a cozy warmth.
Lin Mo looked around at the yellowed walls with mixed emotions.
In his past life, he had been completely unaware of these living conditions.
An Youyu squatted down, slipped on a pair of guest slippers, and looked up with an apologetic gaze. "There are no spare slippers at home, so you can just keep your shoes on."
For some reason, Lin Mo's footsteps suddenly felt a little heavy.
Since there was no living room, a narrow two-meter hallway led straight into the bedroom.
A single bed, a single-seat sofa, a worn-out desk and chair, and the rest of the space was crowded with piles of books stacked by the bedside.
He sat down on the single-seat sofa, watching An Youyu busy pouring him a glass of water, and suddenly spoke up, "Can you let me get to know you better?"
An Youyu wore a cautious expression as she handed Lin Mo the only cup in the house filled with water.
She sat cross-legged on the floor opposite him, lowering her gaze involuntarily. "What do you want to know?"
Judging by her demeanor, she seemed to agree.
For a moment, numerous questions flashed through Lin Mo's mind, but in the end, they were all discarded, leaving only the simplest question.
"What do you want to do in the future?"
This question might seem like nonsense at first glance, but it wasn't.
After all, meals must be eaten one bite at a time, and the road walked one step at a time.
Moving too fast is counterproductive.
"Study hard and get into Qing University."
An Youyu's words were identical to those from his past life.
Lin Mo didn't laugh out loud this time like he had in the past, but nodded affirmatively instead. "A very good goal."
An Youyu was extremely surprised. "Do you think I can get into Qing University?"
"Why not?"
Lin Mo observed the unusual flicker in An Youyu's expression. "Nothing in this world is impossible; it all depends on how much effort you're willing to put in."
He turned the question back on her. "Classmate An, do you think I can get into Qing University with my current grades?"
An Youyu was silent for a long time before her soft voice slowly replied, "I don't know, but... I can help you."
She didn't say yes, nor did she say no.
To Lin Mo, that single sentence — *I can help you* — outweighed a thousand words.
Lin Mo took off the backpack from his back. "I'll have to trouble Classmate An, then."
"It's no trouble."
An Youyu replied in a soft whisper, then mustered up her courage and suggested, "How about we go to the nearby library to study?"
"No need."
With one hand holding his backpack and the other grabbing An Youyu's wrist, the slender delicacy of it made him inwardly click his tongue.
The girl was tiny all over, just like a little kitten, easily stirring up protective instincts in others.
Arriving at the bedside, he sat straight down on the floor without any regard for posture.
The height difference between the bed surface and the floor made a makeshift desk.
He looked up at An Youyu, who was still dazed, and explained, "My math foundation is very poor right now, so I'd like Classmate An to help me review the basics of high school math."
An Youyu lowered her head, her eyes fixed on the wrist Lin Mo had just grabbed.
"Classmate An? Classmate An?"
"...Okay."
An Youyu cautiously sat down to Lin Mo's left, took the collection of problems he had gathered, and began explaining them in a gentle voice.
She had immense patience, and her explanations were easy to understand.
After explaining each problem, she would double-check whether Lin Mo had understood.
If Lin Mo hadn't caught on, she would explain it again without a hint of annoyance, sometimes even a second or third time.
She wouldn't move on to the next problem until Lin Mo fully grasped the concept.
Her soft voice echoed through the cramped rented room, exceptionally melodic.
Furthermore, Lin Mo discovered an interesting phenomenon.
The moment An Youyu started explaining problems, a earth-shattering transformation came over her.
Gone was her usual timidity; she became fiercely confident, as if she had stepped into her own domain and could speak endlessly.
In less than half an hour, she had spoken more words than she usually did in an entire week.
Lin Mo listened very attentively.
The life experience of his past life gave him an extraordinary ability to learn by analogy.
Coupled with a ten-point boost in intelligence, many problems became crystal clear with just a hint.
"Got it."
Lin Mo quickly calculated on the scratch paper, his gaze focused.
An Youyu stared blankly at Lin Mo's facial contours, her eyes gradually turning red.
This feeling was both familiar and unfamiliar...
"Hoo—"
A few minutes later, Lin Mo put down his pen and pushed the scratch paper with its listed calculation formulas to his left. "Teacher An, could you help me check this?"
"D-Don't call me that..."
An Youyu shook her head, causing her low ponytail to come undone. Strands of dark hair fell loose, making that face even more breathtaking.
"Calling you that is accurate, though."
Lin Mo wanted to tease An Youyu. "You're tutoring me, so officially speaking, you're my teacher right now."
"Don't call me teacher. Call me by my name or Classmate An."
"Got it, Teacher An."
"..."
The morning passed quickly.
Seemingly influenced by Lin Mo, An Youyu gradually began to speak more.
Of course, only relatively speaking.
Even so, Lin Mo was already immensely satisfied.
Haste makes waste.
"Gurgle..."
At last, a protest from a stomach broke the cozy academic atmosphere.
Lin Mo smacked his lips. "I'm hungry."
An Youyu chuckled abruptly. The fleeting beauty of that smile instantly outshone even the blazing midday sun outside the window.
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes; he had to redefine An Youyu's beauty.
It was a breathtaking kind of beauty — graceful as light clouds veering the moon, fluttering like swirling wind driving snow.
Watching the morning skies and evening clouds.
It was her, it was her; always her...
Chapter 9: Little Yuer
An Youyu's smile was fleeting like an epiphyllum flower.
Seeing Lin Mo staring at her, she quickly lowered her head, a few strands of dark hair sliding down the sides of her face to partially shield her profile. "There are no ingredients left at home, I'll go buy some groceries."
"I'll go with you."
The moment An Youyu stood up, Lin Mo followed suit.
Next came the second phase of the plan.
Cooking!
If he wanted to diminish the sense of loneliness buried in An Youyu's heart, he could only fill the void with other things.
Her heart was only so big; when a sense of happiness washed over her, the accumulated loneliness of the past would naturally recede.