Chapter 30 Disguise

Chapter 30 Disguise

"W-What do you mean by calling me 'classmate Lin Yao'...?"

"You tell me."

Shi Yu gave her a deep look, then pulled over the computer chair that Lin Xiong had specifically brought in and sat down beside her.

Lin Yao felt as if the Shi Yu before her eyes was incredibly unfamiliar.

How to explain it...

After saying he would "teach her physics," he sat next to her.

With a languid expression, he took the physics exam she had just been working on halfway through, scanned it carefully, and then used the pen he had caught earlier to mark a few questions.

"Are these the ones you don't understand?" He turned his gaze, his dark eyes looking at her.

His voice was so magnetic and pleasant that it could make one's ears tingle.

Lin Yao: "..."

She was starting to lose her footing.

What exactly was Shi Yu here for?

Was he really going to teach her physics? Why had he suddenly become so agreeable?

But he...

"Did you really win first place in the national physics and computer science awards? When did you win them?" She didn't answer his question but couldn't help confirming instead.

"Yeah, I won them in my first year of high school."

Shi Yu ignored her curious gaze, put the exam aside, and held out his right hand.

"Give me your physics textbook and the practice book that comes with the school curriculum."

Lin Yao reluctantly responded with an "oh," took out her physics textbook and practice book from her backpack, and handed them to him.

In her mind, she thought the main characters were indeed extraordinary. Even Shi Yu, who she thought had the worst grades, had already won the national award so early.

But it was strange; since he had won the national award, he could have been admitted directly to Capital University.

Why did Shi Yu in the original story stay in school and eventually become the top scorer in physics in their year?

Lin Yao was puzzled.

She could only attribute it to the plot's favoritism towards the main characters, leaving no room for the antagonists and supporting characters.

Fortunately, she had awakened now.

Lifting her eyes, she saw that Shi Yu was flipping through her physics practice book.

She suddenly remembered—

"Ah, wait a moment... Don't look yet..."

Oh no, how could she forget how badly she had done on her latest comprehensive test? Shi Yu, being so annoying, would definitely mock her if he saw it.

The girl hurriedly lunged forward to cover it up, but it was too late.

Shi Yu slightly raised the practice book with one hand and glanced at it, while his other hand caught Lin Yao as she lunged toward him.

The computer chair, suddenly bearing the weight of another person, swayed backward and tilted.

Lin Yao's soft body fell into Shi Yu's arms.

The sweet and gentle scent enveloped by the crisp woody fragrance filled the air.

Shi Yu's long, beautiful hand rested on her waist, and his perfectly chiseled jawline became even more pronounced as he leaned back.

The air stilled for a moment.

Until the young man's cool, indifferent eyes closed, suppressing the darkness hidden within.

"Lin Yao, get up."

He gently patted her.

"No, give me back the practice book first!"

Lin Yao's ears turned red.

Of course, she knew that the position they were in was a bit awkward.

But compared to the awkwardness, Lin Yao was more afraid of losing face.

Shi Yu had a sharp tongue and always spoke rudely, maintaining a cold and aloof demeanor. Moreover, she wasn't stupid; she had long noticed that he deliberately avoided her, as if scared to be associated with her.

Lin Yao had pride; if he didn't want to be involved with her, she didn't want to deal with him either.

If not for Xia Tingnan personally opening the door for him, she wouldn't have let him in.

Even if the national physics champion offered to tutor her personally... although it was indeed tempting, she could also improve her grades through her own efforts.

The more Lin Yao thought about it, the more frustrated she became. Her doe eyes welled up with tears, and she wriggled in Shi Yu's arms, reaching out to grab the practice book he had raised.

"Don't move around." Shi Yu's voice was low and slightly hoarse as he held her down.

"I want you to give me back my practice book..."

"Sitting down properly and I'll give it back to you." He held her shoulder with his right hand, pulling her slightly away from him.

Lin Yao was skeptical but complied, using both hands to support herself on the armrests as she slowly slid off him. Too nervous, she kept staring at Shi Yu, afraid he might trick her, almost tripping in the process.

Shi Yu's hand appeared beside hers, letting her grab onto it.

Lin Yao clung to his arm, still a bit shaken, and sat back down.

"Hey, I'm sitting down now. Where's my practice book?"

She worried he might play tricks on her.

Unexpectedly, he handed over the practice book without hesitation or delay.

He even thoughtfully closed the book for her.

Lin Yao: "..."

It was surprising that he was being so cooperative this time.

Lin Yao snatched the physics practice book and hadn't even put it in her bag yet.

Shi Yu: "You used the wrong formula for the first question, dropped the square for the second, drew the force analysis diagram incorrectly for the third, misjudged the N and S poles for the fourth, and couldn't read the ammeter for the fifth..."

Lin Yao: Wha-what?

Her fingers holding the practice book trembled, and she turned around in disbelief.

Just one glance, how did he remember everything?

Shi Yu stared at her shocked face calmly. "From the first question to the last, you only got two right, and all the others were wrong for various reasons..."

Oh no, she knew it, she knew it. If he saw her practice book, he would definitely mock her.

Look, here it comes!

"What do you want? I don't want to hear it! I know I'm bad at physics. I'm an idiot, okay? Don't say anything else... I don't want to hear it..." Lin Yao, feeling triggered, covered her ears and shouted at him, her face flushed.

Seeing Shi Yu about to speak, she feared hearing something condescending and hurtful from him. She stopped covering her ears and angrily reached out to cover his mouth.

Ugh.

She hated when Shi Yu acted like this.

As if everything came effortlessly to him, nothing could challenge him.

And if she couldn't do it, it was because she was stupid, not as good as him. She had had enough of this.

Unfortunately, just as Lin Yao's hands touched Shi Yu's lips, he caught them with his large hands and pulled them away.

Shi Yu pushed her back into the seat, leaned forward, and supported himself on either side of her, his dark eyes seriously staring at her blushing, angry face.

His throat moved slightly, his voice low and hoarse.

"Physics isn't hard."

"Lin Yao, you're very smart; you'll understand it once taught."

Lin Yao: "..."

He... he's actually trying to comfort her?!

Shi Yu better not go too far. Doesn't he know how he looks? Leaning so close and whispering sweet nothings in her ear, praising her intelligence—she might actually believe it.

"I... I know I'm smart, I don't need you to tell me..." Lin Yao pushed him away, her face completely red, avoiding his gaze.

"Weren't we supposed to start class? Hurry up."

Completely forgetting who had just admitted to being an idiot in a moment of distress.

The girl's face, from neck to ears, was flushed pink, her doe eyes wet and glistening, making her look like a ripe, juicy peach.

Shi Yu's gaze grew darker, and the desire deep within him to take this soft, innocent little green tea home and keep her in a delicate cage intensified.

He was losing control.

Especially after hearing her earnest and serious tone on the rooftop, saying she didn't like him, not at all, and only considered him a good friend or a younger brother.

Shi Yu only wanted to take her away immediately, watch her helplessly throw herself into his arms, crying and clinging to him, as if her whole world revolved around him.

Eventually, exhausted and unable to run, she would nestle innocently in his arms, allowing him to hold her and kiss away her tears until she fell asleep.

Over and over, her world would be his alone.

But he couldn't.

Shi Yu knew that doing so would only scare Lin Yao away.

His little green tea was a pampered, carefully nurtured girl, raised in love.

She preferred gentle, sunny, positive people and was afraid of someone like him, who was extreme, intense, and possessive.

Such a soft and innocent girl couldn't bear the dark, possessive desires that he struggled to control.

The jealousy and desire to monopolize her, to lock her away from everyone else, were driving him mad.

So, he must learn to restrain and endure.

Then show her the most perfect side, don’t scare her.

She will like him.

Even if she likes only that false version of him.

Shi Yu had already reviewed his past actions; previously, he thought too simply, believing that as long as he didn’t get too close and didn’t reveal his desire to possess her completely, he wouldn’t ruin her.

Scaring her away would be counterproductive; it’s not too late to wait until she’s older.

But today’s incident on the rooftop gave him his first glimpse into the girl’s heart.

Turns out his little green tea doesn’t have him in her thoughts at all.

Moreover, Qi Yanye, Shen Chaowen, and Lin Jingtao are around her, and even Gu Hui, Xiao Kai, Song Zishan, and Zhou Yuwei, who talked to Lin Yao in class today, are eyeing her closely.

Even Shi Nian is getting too close.

Many people want to snatch his little green tea from him.

Shi Yu doesn’t like this.

He is too jealous.

The slender fingers of the young man gripping the railing tightened, the knuckles turning slightly white.

That’s his little green tea, no one can take her away.

Shi Yu curled his lips into a gentle yet restrained smile, "Yes, let’s start the class now."

...

...

Lin Yao was truly shocked.

To her, math was as simple as cutting melons, but physics was like an inscrutable scripture.

But now, Shi Yu could explain the physics that usually seemed incomprehensible to her in a clear and detailed manner, making it very easy to understand.

It was as if she suddenly gained some brainpower, and her previously muddled mind, devoid of any concept of physics, slowly started to grasp some basic principles.

Moreover, Shi Yu was especially patient tonight, with an attitude akin to a gold-medal customer service representative.

Not only did he not spit out cold and sarcastic remarks as before, but he also unexpectedly praised her several times.

Whether these compliments were genuine or not, they made Lin Yao feel warm and comfortable, her face flushed, and her eyes curved into a smile.

"Do these example problems later when you have time, and tomorrow at school, preview these two chapters. If you don’t understand them, it’s fine, but make sure you memorize these formulas. Just do these example problems for now."

Shi Yu lowered his head and casually marked the areas for review and preview in her physics book and workbook.

The overhead light cast a shadow of his long eyelashes onto his deep-set eyes, his nose straight, his lips thin, and his expression somewhat serious.

Looking at his profile, Lin Yao couldn’t help but lose herself in thought.

He really looks like a strict teacher.

The gentle and agreeable Shi Yu from earlier must have been an illusion; he is still that aloof and distant person.

"Alright, today’s tutoring session ends here."

"What? That’s it? So soon?"

For the first time, Lin Yao felt that her so-called physics brain, which was actually a dead end, might finally start working.

She retracted her previous disdain for physics tutoring, now finding it incredibly valuable.

Lin Yao even thought that if her physics grades improved, she might have a chance at Capital University in the end.

"Today is about right; more would be too much to digest."

Shi Yu closed the book.

Too much is worse than too little.

He didn’t want Lin Yao to study too hard and become too exhausted.

Besides, having daily private tutoring sessions with his little green tea is the best way to go.

"Digest..." Lin Yao was instead stimulated by Shi Yu’s words, subconsciously lowering her head to touch her stomach.

If he hadn’t mentioned it, it would have been fine.

But now... she realized that tonight’s dinner seemed to have been fully digested.

Oh no, she only ate a little for dinner, and now she’s really hungry.

"Change your clothes, I’ll take you downstairs for some noodles." Shi Yu stood up, calmly telling her.

Lin Yao looked up in surprise, "Wh-What? Noodles?"

How dare he! It’s almost 9 PM, and if he takes her downstairs for noodles, Ms. Xia Tingnan will kill him!

Lin Yao: "My mom won’t agree."

Shi Yu: "She will."

He answered with unwavering certainty, tossing the pen into her pencil case and naturally rubbing her forehead with his slender fingers.

"It's a reward for paying attention in class today. Come out quickly; I'll wait for you outside."

Lin Yao stared blankly at Shi Yu's retreating black silhouette as he opened the door and walked out. She raised her hand to touch her head.

There was still a lingering warmth from his fingertips on her forehead.

Tonight, Shi Yu was unusually gentle.

*

Twenty minutes later, Lin Yao and Shi Yu were sitting in the most famous noodle shop near their school.

She looked at the beef noodles served by the owner, still feeling dazed.

She hadn't expected that when Shi Yu simply told Xia Tingnan he wanted to take her to the bookstore by the school gate to buy some physics study guides, Xia Tingnan would agree without hesitation.

She even smiled and stuffed money into Shi Yu's hands, worried it wouldn't be enough, without asking a single question.

Is this the magic of being the top in physics?

Lin Yao looked at the empty table in front of Shi Yu. "Aren't you going to eat?"

Shi Yu: "I'm not hungry."

Lin Yao: "..."

She didn't bother with him anymore, picked up her chopsticks, held the soup bowl, and silently took a sip of the broth.

Her soft voice muffled by the bowl of noodles, "But I won't be grateful to you. Don't forget, I couldn't even enjoy lunch today because of you."

At noon, Lin Jingtao had ordered so many delicious dishes, but she ran out without eating because Shi Yu made her angry.

The little girl told herself not to waver just because Shi Yu was suddenly nicer.

"I know." Shi Yu's dark eyes fixed on her, unwavering. "I was wrong earlier."

Lin Yao: "Cough, cough, cough..."

She choked a few times, surprised by Shi Yu's sudden apology.

While taking the water Shi Yu poured for her, she recalled what Zhou Yuwei had told her on the rooftop today.

Could it be... she was overthinking it?

Shi Yu suddenly being so nice to her—tutoring her, taking her out for noodles, and apologizing—was it because the girl he liked was her?

"Cough..."

Lin Yao finally calmed down and couldn't help but ask softly.

"Shi Yu, why are you suddenly so nice to me? Is there a reason?"

In the quiet corner of the noodle shop, an eerie silence fell.

The boy in the black hoodie probably didn't expect such a question from the little girl.

He paused for two seconds, lifted his thin eyelids, his eyes unreadable.

"Is it good?"

"...Not good?"

"Not good." Shi Yu stared straight at her, his dark pupils hiding turbulent emotions. "It can be better. Want to see it?"

Lin Yao: "..."

Why was he looking at her like that? Did he really like her?

Lin Yao took a deep breath, finding it hard to breathe, her heart pounding wildly.

Lin Yao: "I... I don't..."

"Lying."

Shi Yu's throat moved, his low and cold voice trying not to scare her.

"It's to thank you, Aunt Xia, and Uncle Lin for helping me and Shi Nian."

Lin Yao breathed a sigh of relief.

She thought so; Shi Yu wouldn't suddenly be nice to her for no reason. It must be gratitude.

That's better. At least he doesn't like her, and she hasn't offended the official couple.

Lin Yao: "It's okay. Actually, my parents and I..."

Shi Yu: "Yoyo, your noodles are getting mushy."

He didn't want to hear her polite explanations that would distance them.

Lin Yao indeed cared more about her food. Hearing Shi Yu's reminder, she hurriedly focused on eating her noodles.

She was relieved, as long as she confirmed that the girl Shi Yu liked wasn't her.

Lin Yao thought while eating her noodles.