Chapter 606 - 381: Why Is Your Face So Red?

During the last English class, when Xue Rui took Lin Ruoxi to the office to get the paperwork, their female English teacher had a very conflicted expression.

"Teacher Qin?"

’Does she even need to hesitate?’ Xue Rui thought.

’They haven’t taken the CET-4 yet, but Lin Ruoxi’s college entrance exam score is the best endorsement there is. Is it really asking too much to cash in on that for an exemption?’

"Fine, but you have to promise me you’ll get a 600 on the CET-4..." Teacher Qin started, then suddenly changed her mind. "No, come back with a 630."

Xue Rui’s brow twitched. ’Damn it, is she trying to take advantage of Lin Ruoxi right here and now?’

’A score of 600 isn’t enough to brag about, so she wants 630?’

Lin Ruoxi froze for a moment, looking at Xue Rui with a dazed and adorable expression.

"What’s wrong? You can’t get that score?" Teacher Qin, on the other hand, was losing her confidence.

"Um, I remember the school’s requirement for exemption is 500..." Lin Ruoxi said weakly. She didn’t understand why the requirement for her had jumped to over 600.

Faced with Xue Rui’s slightly disdainful gaze, Teacher Qin knew her motive had been seen through, but she brazenly continued, "I’m doing this for your own good. You’re the one getting a high score for yourself."

Xue Rui sighed and played along. "Xixi, the teacher is doing this for your own good. Just go for it."

"Okay!" Lin Ruoxi nodded without hesitation.

Hearing this, Teacher Qin nodded in satisfaction. She smiled and said, "You can go. You don’t have to come to class anymore."

Xue Rui shook his head repeatedly. How he wished a teacher would say that to him...

Actually, Xue Rui had heard that phrase often in middle school, but it was usually followed by, "...and stand outside the classroom door."

After Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi left the office, Lin Ruoxi was still completely baffled. She couldn’t help but ask, "Rui, is there a difference between getting a high score and a low score? Does it benefit her somehow?"

Xue Rui patted Lin Ruoxi’s head, gratified. ’At least the girl knows to think about things from the perspective of self-interest.’

He rubbed his chin and said, "There’s not much benefit, it’s just... how do I put it..."

Because of Lin Ruoxi’s outstanding grades, people always had high expectations for her.

In the end, their teacher didn’t have any particularly mercenary motive; she just wanted to use Lin Ruoxi’s score for some bragging rights.

Down the line, when chatting with her colleagues: ’I have a student who scored over 600 on the CET-4...’

And then she could bask in their envious gazes.

This was a simple need to show off that Lin Ruoxi would probably never understand in her entire life.

"Erm... a lot of people will try to take advantage of you. You have to learn to negotiate and protect yourself," Xue Rui said with a serious expression.

If she agreed to every request, the girl’s life would be exhausting.

Lin Ruoxi hugged Xue Rui’s arm. "You won’t take advantage of me."

Xue Rui was the person she trusted most. Every moment by his side was peaceful, serene...

Lin Ruoxi treasured this feeling, wishing they could walk on like this for the rest of their lives.

Xue Rui’s heart faltered when he heard that. He thought for a moment. ’Since I’ve already had my way with her, is it time to reveal my true colors?’

’Anyway, the girl won’t get mad no matter what I say.’

Xue Rui adopted a serious tone. "Xixi, you’re too naive. When I went to your house back then, I was just after your body."

Hearing Xue Rui say this, Lin Ruoxi just snuggled closer to him. "Mmm, you’re wrong. I was the one after you..."

"Then I’m the one getting a raw deal here." Xue Rui couldn’t help but laugh until his stomach hurt. At her core, this girl was a little rogue.

"I’ll make it up to you by cooking. What do you want for dinner tonight?"

"I haven’t had noodles in a while."

"Mmm, I’ll serve you my..."

Xue Rui clapped a hand over Lin Ruoxi’s mouth. "Think before you speak from now on."

Lin Ruoxi processed what she’d just said. Her eyes went wide, and her face turned as red as a ripe tomato.

Xue Rui’s eyebrow twitched. He would have thought the girl wouldn’t understand a joke like that in a million years, but Lin Ruoxi’s reaction was surprisingly quick.

’Sigh... a genius is a genius. They learn everything fast.’

Xue Rui chuckled and poked Lin Ruoxi’s forehead, a mischievous grin on his face. "Xixi, what are you thinking about? Why is your face so red?"

"I... I’m a bad girl," Lin Ruoxi stammered.

After teasing Lin Ruoxi for a bit, Xue Rui and Lin Ruoxi decided to skip their evening self-study session. This was precisely why he’d joined the student council.

When they got home, Xue Rui saw the girl kneading dough, her face dusted with flour. Judging by the marks, it looked like she had dabbed it on with her fingers.

"You’re back," Gu Muxue said without looking up.

Xue Rui looked at the shapeless lump of dough in the bowl and Gu Muxue’s solemn expression. ’Probably one of those ’too much water, add more flour; too much flour, add more water’ situations,’ he thought.

"Muxue, leave it. I’ll go wash my hands," Lin Ruoxi said, rushing into the kitchen.

"Sigh... I’m not as good at this as Ruoxi," Gu Muxue sighed deeply.

Xue Rui praised her, "Xixi has been cooking for over ten years. You’re just a beginner. You’re already doing great."

Hearing Xue Rui praise her like this didn’t make Gu Muxue happy at all.

Lin Ruoxi was only nineteen this year. Gu Muxue knew exactly what "over ten years of experience" implied...

"Xiaorui, let’s be gentler with Ruoxi from now on. She’s lost too much," Gu Muxue said in a low voice.

"No problem." Xue Rui plopped down on the sofa.

After coming out of the kitchen, Lin Ruoxi took Gu Muxue’s hands, gently cleaned the dough off her fingers, and skillfully started working the dough herself. "You have to gather it from the outermost edge of the bowl..."

...

"Ruoxi, I heard from Xiaorui that you’re getting exemptions for all your subjects these next few days. Don’t you want to attend class with Xiaorui?" Gu Muxue asked.

"I do, but I also need to make money." After saying this, Lin Ruoxi lowered her head and kneaded the dough forcefully.

’University classes are meaningless to me. I need to save up for my dowry.’

’Grandma used to say that a dowry gives you confidence...’

Gu Muxue looked astonished. "Make money?"

"Xiaorui?" She turned to look at Xue Rui. The sudden news had caught her completely off guard, and she wanted to know what he thought about it.

"Oh, Xixi mentioned it a long time ago," Xue Rui said perfunctorily, but inside, his thoughts were a mess.

There were no secrets between him and Gu Muxue, and no secrets between him and Lin Ruoxi...

But there were secrets between Gu Muxue and Lin Ruoxi!

The relationship between the three of them wasn’t as harmonious as it appeared on the surface.

Gu Muxue harbored a feeling she didn’t dare to express. Xue Rui didn’t know how she planned to deal with it, but judging from what she had just said to him, it seemed Gu Muxue felt she owed Lin Ruoxi something.

Meanwhile, Lin Ruoxi’s heart was small, with room for only Xue Rui. She considered Gu Muxue just a good friend.

The reason they could all live together was also simple: because Xue Rui wanted it that way.

Xue Rui felt that Lin Ruoxi had changed. Although she was still the same girl who was completely obedient to him, ever since the day she’d asked him for a loan, it seemed she had been accumulating capital for herself...

"Ruoxi, why didn’t you tell me?" Gu Muxue pressed.

"I... I promised Xue Rui I’d make money to support the family," Lin Ruoxi stammered.

Xue Rui and Gu Muxue exchanged a glance, seeing the helplessness in each other’s eyes.

Lin Ruoxi was still such a terrible liar.

"If you don’t want to talk about it, then don’t." Gu Muxue didn’t press any further.

"Okay," Lin Ruoxi replied meekly.

"Once you finish the paperwork in the next few days, Xixi will be President Lin," Xue Rui said, winking at Lin Ruoxi.

’Xue Rui was incredibly conflicted. The girl’s reason for starting a business was simple—she was anxious about the future.’

’When Gu Muxue’s parents were around, Lin Ruoxi had always played the role of a secretary. Perhaps her anxiety is caused by her perceived status.’

"Mmm, but you’ll always be my boss," Lin Ruoxi said, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Mm, I’m very satisfied with that answer," Xue Rui said with a nod.

No matter what he said, Lin Ruoxi would agree, but he didn’t want to keep suppressing her...

Lin Ruoxi’s love was too humble. This wasn’t entirely due to her personality, but more because of her family background. Xue Rui would never forget the embarrassed and uneasy expression on her face the first time he visited her home and saw the dilapidated mud-brick house.

Now, Lin Ruoxi was a rich girl, but she still lived a simple life and never treated the assets he gave her as her own.

Xue Rui clasped his hands and rubbed his palms together. He wanted Lin Ruoxi to be more confident, to proudly display her beauty and talents, and to enjoy the good things in life.

But for his own selfish reasons, he was also afraid of Lin Ruoxi becoming truly confident, because the girl was very possessive...

People’s mindsets change with their environment and social status. Once Lin Ruoxi became successful in her career, she would naturally become more confident. What if she had a falling out with Gu Muxue then?

He hadn’t even achieved his dream of walking with one on each arm yet.

So, he both hoped for Lin Ruoxi’s business to succeed, and also hoped she would lose a sum of money...

But the latter would only make Lin Ruoxi unable to hold her head high for the rest of her life.

Watching Lin Ruoxi’s busy figure, Xue Rui felt a surge of tender affection.

The girl had kept her head down for so many years. Now that she had placed her destiny in his hands, he found he couldn’t bear to let her down...

Xue Rui grit his teeth. He decided he would do everything in his power to make Lin Ruoxi a rich girl.