Huang Li rushed out of the classroom and, after finally composing herself, returned to find a crowd gathered somewhere. Just as she considered pushing through to see what the commotion was, she remembered that spot was where Wang Qiqi sat—someone she detested—so she stopped short and headed toward her own seat instead.

"So that's how it is; how did I not think of that?"

"By drawing this line, it immediately becomes simpler. But I knew a line needed adding; I just didn't know where to put it. Qiqi, you are amazing!" A voice laced with frustration drifted over.

"Hmph. With a pig's brain like yours, it’s a miracle you could think of anything at all. But adding this line really does make the problem so much easier."

Hearing such mild words from those around her, Wang Qiqi found it impossible not to compare their current attitudes with the venomous looks she’d faced in her past life. Though she still held no affection for them, Qiqi knew fostering decent relationships with her classmates would greatly benefit the little over a year she had left of high school. Otherwise, if they fully rallied behind Huang Li, while it wouldn't trouble her studies, having more friends was better than having more enemies. Besides, the better she did, and the more popular she became in class, the more it would infuriate certain people to the point of spitting blood.

"Actually, someone else taught me; otherwise, how would I have thought of it? I feel like with math, we shouldn't run from it. In fact, the problems we can’t solve are the ones we should focus on cracking. Once you do enough problems, you realize most things aren't that hard. Right now, I'm just aiming for familiarity breeding skill. While I was home alone looking after my parents, I just worked on my assignments." Wang Qiqi casually explained the reason behind her sudden spike in math scores.

"We need to do more math problems?" Someone moaned upon hearing Qiqi's reason for her improved math scores. Heavens, math felt like an alien script to them; they might as well be killed rather than forced to study more problems.

Wang Qiqi nodded. "Yes. Honestly, I didn't want to at first either, but I had no choice. Sitting alone in that room, what else was there to do but math problems? Plus, I... my parents are gone, and I didn't want to disappoint them." Wang Qiqi’s voice dropped lower as she spoke, whether explaining why she had changed or genuinely showing vulnerability. "As I did more and more problems, I just got used to it."

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this. They knew Wang Qiqi's parents had passed away, but they hadn't realized she was staying home completely alone. They stared at her in disbelief for a long moment before someone finally asked, "Doesn't anyone help you at home?" Although everyone knew her parents had died and the responsible party had paid a hefty settlement, they had harbored feelings of jealousy toward her. But to realize she was this pitiable, watching over the wake by herself, made the more sensitive among them feel faint.

Zhu Lina forced a smile. "Qiqi, you are so brave." No wonder the usually gentle and quiet Wang Qiqi had acted so fiercely yesterday. If it were her, staying in that environment for a few days would surely make her tough too. However, Zhu Lina secretly wondered if the ordeal had made Wang Qiqi's mind slightly unstable.

Wang Qiqi offered a wry smile. "My relatives all had things to attend to. And, well, it’s better not to talk about it. I was their only daughter; I had to make sure they had a grand send-off. But it also gave me time to review my studies."

The others understood that this was the reason behind her meteoric rise in math scores, but they weren't eager to dwell on a cause that led to such an outcome, so they quickly glossed over the topic with some small talk.

Shi Man kept glancing at Wang Qiqi. She felt that the Wang Qiqi who had been absent for half a month had changed so much that she barely recognized her anymore. "Qiqi..."

Wang Qiqi knew what worried Shi Man. Her words had inadvertently let slip some family conflict. But she felt she needed to reveal a little now, just in case Wang Rui got into this school in September. In her past life, Wang Rui hadn't gotten in, but things had changed so much this time. Qiqi wasn't sure if her small butterfly effect had changed Wang Rui's mind. More importantly, Wang Rui seemed to be closer to Gao Kai at this point than she had been in the previous timeline, which necessitated Qiqi making preparations.

Of course, if a certain someone did get into the school, and tried to play the part of a loving sister, Wang Qiqi wouldn't mind putting on an act with her—what was the harm in a little acting competition? But Wang Qiqi suddenly felt that Wang Rui entering this school would lead to great drama, perhaps witnessing the power of Gao Kai's fan army. In the past life, with Qiqi acting as the shield in front, Wang Rui always seemed like a tag-along, and no one ever bothered her. But this time, Qiqi wasn't a pathetic human shield anymore. She wondered how Wang Rui would handle things.

"What if Wang Rui gets in?" Wang Qiqi waited until everyone had returned to mulling over the previous math problems, then whispered, leaning over her desk.

Wang Rui getting in? Shi Man was startled by Wang Qiqi's words. "Are you sure? Letting her in?" That girl only ever had eyes for her older sister's boyfriend. Although Qiqi showed signs of distancing herself from Gao Kai now, Wang Rui’s actions always seemed excessive. "Isn't her academic performance not that great?" Although this wasn't a top-tier high school, it was still decent; quite a few students went on to good universities every year. Wang Rui's previous middle school had only average teaching quality, and her grades were middling at best. Could she really get in? Shi Man thought it was highly doubtful.

"I heard she's been burning the midnight oil lately." Qiqi wasn't sure if it was true; she'd only overheard whispers in the residential complex. Still, the possibility was quite high, considering the sheer power of love. "And our school allows students to enroll as visiting students by paying a fee, right?"

Wang Qiqi knew Wang Rui certainly wouldn't qualify on grades alone. It wasn't that Qiqi looked down on Wang Rui, but the middle school entrance exam questions this year were quite niche, and coupled with her being stuck at home studying, how much progress could she really make? But that didn't matter; there were visiting student slots. However, securing one of those wasn't easy; it required a substantial sum—something like fifteen thousand yuan as a visiting fee. Qiqi wondered what her aunt and uncle would decide.

Hearing this, Shi Man understood Qiqi’s strategy. But she was worried. "What if they ask you to pay for it?" After all, the person sitting next to her was a walking vault; would Qiqi's kind uncle and aunt forget about their golden niece?

Wang Qiqi fully expected them to try and make her pay, but her point was, "I'm Wang Rui's cousin, right? Her parents are alive, and if push comes to shove, isn't there my paternal aunt? Plus, she has maternal grandparents, aunts, and uncles. Why should I have to pay?" Making her pay was never easy; every time they asked for money, she would cause a scene, making sure everyone knew how Wang Dagui schemed against his orphaned niece while his brother and sister-in-law's bodies were still cooling.

"Because you're rich," Shi Man pointed out the crucial factor.

Hearing this, Wang Qiqi sighed. "Alas, if it really comes to that, I’ll just give her some money, perhaps as compensation for the trip my mother promised to take her on after the exams." If she had to pay, she’d rather make it look less like an obligation. As for what Wang Rui chose, that was up to her. Still, Wang Qiqi was certain Wang Rui would likely choose to become a visiting student here, just so she could frequently see the man Wang Rui considered her true love.

"How much?" Shi Man pressed, knowing that giving a thousand yuan was different from giving five thousand or ten thousand.

Wang Qiqi considered it. She certainly didn't want to cover the entire cost herself. But if she offered too little, her uncle might not agree to let Wang Rui attend as a visiting student. "Five thousand, I think." Wang Qiqi calculated that this figure was the best balance; her uncle could complain about poverty and perhaps scrape together five or six thousand, meaning he wouldn't have to pay much out of pocket himself.

"Five thousand?" Shi Man almost gasped. "Aren't you being a bit too generous?"

Generous? Wang Qiqi didn't think so. "Last year, my mom took me and Little Rui to Xiamen and the Wuyi Mountains for the summer. Do you know how much the three of us spent for about ten days of travel?" Actually, thinking about it now, five thousand wasn't much at all.

Shi Man did a quick mental tally. "At most, five or six thousand? Domestic travel can't be that expensive."

Wang Qiqi shook her head. "It cost fourteen or fifteen thousand." Qiqi now realized how extravagant her parents had been back then. But at the time, she was young and naive; a few nice words from Wang Rui would prompt her to make request after request to her parents, who must have been quite annoyed.

"I suppose you flew there and back?" Shi Man remembered Qiqi mentioning flying last summer when she visited. "Did your good cousin suggest flying again?"

Wang Qiqi nodded. "That’s why I say five thousand isn't much for her. And I'm too lazy to go on trips with her. You don't know her; if you don't indulge her, she'll just cling to you and refuse to leave." The thought that such a large child could be so utterly unreasonable was almost unbelievable.

Shi Man watched Wang Qiqi shake her head and finally understood why the girl could be so difficult. "Honestly, she was spoiled rotten by your family. If you stop indulging her, let her throw a tantrum. If you go shopping and don't buy her what she wants, let her cling to you; just don't give in. She’s in the third year of junior high; she can take care of herself. Do you think she doesn't know the way home? You were only worried about your mother complaining to her mother, so you and your mom kept giving in. Over time, that habit became ingrained." Shi Man realized this temper had been fostered by Qiqi’s own mother, something Qiqi hadn't quite grasped until now.

Shi Man’s lecture made Wang Qiqi see the light. Right, why was she giving in to Wang Rui’s demands? If they went shopping, she would shop for herself. If Wang Rui liked something, she could pay for it herself; Qiqi certainly wouldn't. After one or two times, would Wang Rui still bother pestering her? "Shi Man, you are truly the best to me. Thank you." She now had a strategy to deal with that person.

Single update today, will make up tomorrow (To be continued).