C7 The Campus Belle Answered the Question

Zhou Wen had an inkling that his destiny had shifted the moment he acquired that pair of underwear.

The possibility that the limping old man who sold it to him was more than meets the eye lingered in his mind.

Yet, he would only be able to confirm his suspicions upon encountering the old man again.

Zhou Wen pressed on with his studies, determined to catch up on all the coursework he had neglected.

As time slipped away, he unwittingly dozed off at his desk, his math textbook still tucked under his arm, flanked by two sheets of scribbled draft paper.

Xu Hui tiptoed into the room, her gaze filled with concern for Zhou Wen. She gently draped a blanket over him, switched off the desk lamp, and the room was cloaked in darkness.

"Wen studied so hard he fell asleep at his desk. It's not good for his health; he never used to do this," Xu Hui whispered from the bed.

"You worry when the child doesn't study, and now you fret when he does," Zhou Guangrui chuckled.

"He's your son too. I just don't want him to be overwhelmed."

"Let's hope he gets into college. That way, we can give his parents a proper account."

"Sigh."

The voices in the room faded away.

The following day, Zhou Wen was a changed student. Gone were the days of phone distractions; he was now fully engrossed in the lectures.

Occasionally, his gaze would drift to the figure in the front row that filled his thoughts night and day.

The school's beauty, Su Qin.

Once out of reach, Su Qin now seemed approachable, thanks to the enigmatic underwear he possessed.

Classes flew by, and even the teacher noticed Zhou Wen's unusual focus—no fidgeting, just earnest attention.

His newfound diligence caught the eye of every classmate.

A student known for his inattention was now the epitome of concentration.

Su Qin sometimes glanced back at Zhou Wen, her expression pensive, leaving others to wonder what was on her mind.

For several lessons in a row, Zhou Wen listened with unwavering attention.

The whole class watched, expecting him to lapse into his old habits, but he remained steadfast.

And with that, the classroom buzzed with excitement.

"Am I seeing things? Zhou Wen is actually paying attention in class!" Wang Chi exclaimed from the front row.

"It's true! Zhou Wen is really focusing on the lecture!"

Everyone looked surprised. No one expected Zhou Wen to concentrate so intently on class.

It was a surprise he wasn't causing a disruption, let alone being this engaged.

"Zhou Wen, you've changed. You've actually started to study," Hui Yuming approached, saying with a hint of disbelief.

He patted Zhou Wen down and even sniffed around his face, searching for the cause of this transformation.

"Stop searching. Honestly, ever since I unlocked the governor and conception vessels a few days ago, my brain feels sharper. It would be a waste not to study with this newfound intelligence," Zhou Wen explained with a serious tone.

"Bullshit," Hui Yuming retorted skeptically, "We'll see how long this lasts."

Zhou Wen just smiled, offering no further comment.

In the past, his enthusiasm might have been short-lived, but after his epiphany last night, he was determined to apply himself to his studies.

He owed it to his parents and to himself. Plus, with the help of his magical underwear, learning had become a breeze.

For several days straight, Zhou Wen arrived at school punctually and stayed late to study, even after evening self-study sessions.

His deskmate, Chen Wan'er, couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Lee Dan had placed her next to Zhou Wen hoping she'd motivate him to study.

Instead, she had almost been led astray by him multiple times.

She had long since given up, yet to her astonishment, Zhou Wen had begun studying on his own.

"Zhou Wen, are you seriously going to buckle down and study?" Chen Wan'er asked, puzzled.

"Definitely!" Zhou Wen replied with a nod.

Chen Wan'er looked thoughtful, glancing at Su Qin in the front row and then back at Zhou Wen. "You're not doing all this to win over Su Qin, are you?"

"But honestly, you're like a toad lusting after swan meat. So many people at school are after Su Qin—guys who are better looking, smarter, and wealthier than you. They're a dime a dozen."

"You've got a long way to go," Chen Wan'er said, shaking her head in disbelief.

Zhou Wen was left speechless by her blunt words.

The classroom lights were still on, though it was nearly empty. Zhou Wen remained seated in the back row, poring over a physics exam paper. His recent self-study efforts had been paying off.

A familiar scent tickled his nose, prompting Zhou Wen to look up instinctively. Su Qin was standing next to him.

"Zhou Wen, are you actually buckling down and studying hard now?" Su Qin asked, her tone a mix of skepticism and curiosity.

"Yeah, I've realized how irresponsible I've been before. Now, I'm determined to study diligently and aim for a top university," Zhou Wen replied with a smile, though he felt a mix of nervousness and excitement inside.

Su Qin reflected on her previous advice to Zhou Wen and it seemed to have resonated with him. The transformation was evident to everyone.

After a moment's thought, she offered, "That's good to hear. If you ever have any questions or need help, feel free to ask me."

Su Qin then returned to her own seat, not wanting to give Zhou Wen the wrong impression. She simply believed that a student turning over a new leaf was something to be encouraged.

Zhou Wen didn't get the chance to respond.

But the idea that he could approach Su Qin with questions in the future thrilled him. It was an excellent chance to interact with the school's belle.

Over the following days, Zhou Wen frequently sought Su Qin's help with various problems. This, however, did not sit well with many of their classmates.

Many dreamed of getting close to Su Qin, but her reserved nature and sparse words left them without an opening.

"Zhou Wen has been pestering Su Qin with questions lately. It's nauseating. Does he even deserve her attention?" Wang Chi complained bitterly in the hallway.

"Who did you say was asking Su Qin questions?" inquired a student with dyed yellow hair, his brow furrowed.

"Zhou Wen, the one at the bottom of our class. For some reason, he's been bombarding Su Qin with questions, and she's actually taking the time to answer them," Wang Chi grumbled, feeling a sense of injustice.

Why should Zhou Wen have that privilege and not me? Wang Chi was also smitten with Su Qin.

"Su Qin is so aloof, yet she's actually helping him with questions?" Yellow Hair's eyes darted around before he sidled up to join the conversation.

"Exactly," Wang Chi said, his face seething with anger.

Yellow Hair let out a sly chuckle.

"Come on, let's go have a smoke," someone called out from the side.

Yellow Hair bolted towards the voice.

Inside the restroom, a group of students were puffing away. Yellow Hair swung the door open, and several others followed him inside.

Suddenly, the restroom was packed.

"Hey, Brother Yu!" Yellow Hair greeted as he walked in, accepting a cigarette and addressing the person at the center of the group.

Standing there was a student with a buzz cut, dressed in civilian clothes, in stark contrast to the others in their school uniforms.

This was Chen Yu, a senior from Class 6. His father's business spanned the counties and cities around Anewood, blessing Chen Yu with a wealthy upbringing. Accustomed to luxury, he was known for his arrogant and domineering personality.

Within Big Valley School, there were always cliques, and Chen Yu was the ringleader of one such group.

Chen Yu took a drag on his cigarette and asked, "Yellow Hair, I thought you quit smoking. Why are you still at it?"

Yellow Hair grinned, "Just kidding around. Quitting for real? As if!"

Chen Yu chuckled, but then Yellow Hair slapped his forehead as if remembering something important. "Yu, I almost forgot to tell you something crucial."

"Out with it," Chen Yu urged.

Leaning in, Yellow Hair whispered, "Yu, I was talking to some kids from Class 5, and they mentioned that there's this guy, Zhou Wen, who's been getting pretty close to Su Qin."

"What!" Chen Yu's face twisted in anger. "The whole grade knows I've been pursuing Su Qin. How dare this Zhou Wen get close to her?"

Yellow Hair pressed on, "Zhou Wen's been getting Su Qin to help him with questions for days now."

Chen Yu's expression grew even more menacing at the news.

Su Qin was actually helping Zhou Wen with his questions.

It was common knowledge that Su Qin wasn't just academically gifted; she also came from a well-off family. At school, she was considered a goddess, her allure transcending that of the average pretty girl, thanks to her distinctive poise and grace.

It was precisely this charm that drew in countless adolescent boys, and Chen Yu was among them.

Throughout his life, Chen Yu had only ever failed in one endeavor: winning over Su Qin. But he never gave up; he was determined to make her his.

Initially, he pursued Su Qin out of genuine affection. Now, it was all about proving himself.

Su Qin, of course, despised this type of person and consistently rebuffed him.

Yet, Chen Yu persisted, relentlessly hounding her and even scolding other boys who took an interest in Su Qin.

He cracked his neck and remarked, "It looks like some people still don't take me seriously!"

"Yu, you call the shots. What should we do?" the students around him demanded angrily.

Chen Yu flicked his cigarette butt into the toilet and declared, "Bring him to the field. I'm going to give him a proper lesson!"

"Got it!" his cohorts agreed with nods.

All this went unnoticed by Zhou Wen in the restroom.

Right after the first evening study session, Zhou Wen was summoned to the field by Wang Chi, who claimed he had questions for him.

Upon his arrival, he was confronted by a menacing group, their eyes filled with hostility.

"So you're Zhou Wen?" Chen Yu said with a sly grin.

Zhou Wen paused, taking in the unsavory crowd before him.

These were no saints; Zhou Wen might not have been the most studious, but he was no thug.

Had this been before he acquired the underwear, Zhou Wen would have been petrified, unable to meet their gaze.

But now, Zhou Wen was brimming with confidence and unafraid to face them.

He had been puzzled about the urgent need to meet on the field, but understanding dawned upon seeing Chen Yu.

"What's the matter? You wanted to see me?" Zhou Wen asked with a smile.

The leader was someone Zhou Wen knew well.

Senior year, Class 6, Chen Yu!

His name was infamous throughout the school. Nearly every attractive girl had endured his advances, and he fancied himself Su Qin's personal knight, threatening anyone who dared to court her. Those with backbone who faced him ended up beaten into submission. As a result, few dared to openly pursue Su Qin at Big Valley School.

When Chen Yu approached Zhou Wen, it was clear he was up to no good.

"Zhou Wen, you're aware that Su Qin is the woman I'm interested in. I'd advise you to keep your distance from her going forward," Chen Yu said contemptuously.

Zhou Wen replied with confidence, "What's it to you if Su Qin and I discuss our studies?"

Chen Yu's face darkened. "Zhou Wen, who do you think you are, speaking to me that way?"

"Exactly, how dare you talk to Brother Yu like that!"

"Brother Yu is trying to help you out. Don't be ungrateful!"

"You better stay away from Su Qin, or else take a hike! Enough with the backtalk!"

His cronies chimed in one after another.

Zhou Wen simply smiled. "And what if I refuse?"