Chapter 1 Chen Yuan Doesn't Like Shopping

Chen Yuan actually didn't like shopping, because like most men, he had a goal-oriented personality. His usual logic was: a need arises, a decision is made, and then the goal is achieved.

In other words, if something is missing or wanted, just go to the store, pay, and leave.

The most shopping he had ever done in his life was accompanying Chen's matriarch, his mother, to buy things in shopping malls. After all, he was a mama's boy, so even if he was unwilling, he had to accompany her the whole time and, at certain moments, give sincere smiles and affirmative answers—'Beautiful, beautiful.'

Old Chen, although basically the same as him, nodding and smiling, saying, "Beautiful, beautiful," lacked a crucial step, so he was often scolded by Chen's mother: "If you don't want to come, just go back, you're so annoying."

And that crucial step was—my smile is from the heart.

Regardless of whether there was sincerity or not, he couldn't let the other person feel that he lacked sincerity.

But when it came to evaluating Xia Xinyu later, Chen Yuan didn't need to muster up any expression, because she would definitely look good.

It was just a matter of figuring out how much to praise her to appear sincere without being creepy.

He strongly suggested that *Qing Shang* (Emotional Intelligence) be released in electronic form so he could study it anytime, anywhere.

"Boyfriend, come and take a look~"

Just as Chen Yuan was thinking about how to accurately provide encouragement to Xia Xinyu when she needed it, that annoying salesperson started acting up again.

Did she really not fear the Fourth High's FBI catching him?

So, after a brief moment of stunned silence, to avoid appearing too eager to acknowledge the identity, Chen Yuan turned his head and saw Xia Xinyu standing in front of him, quietly and generously waiting for his evaluation.

"..."

If she needed encouragement, Chen Yuan would smile and say to her, "It's good, it's good to change it up a bit."

[How is this just 'good'? This is unbelievably cute!]

[How can this kid be so calm? Doesn't he see girls like this every day?]

[The thought that this guy can kiss this girl when no one else knows… I hate it!]

"Yeah, I think it's better than I imagined, not as weird," Xia Xinyu giggled, neither shy nor overly modest about her looks, but speaking naturally and confidently as usual.

Of course, because if a girl like her was even a little self-deprecating, it would be hypocritical.

"How is it? Is that all the evaluation you have?" The salesperson made a scattering-flowers gesture with her hands, continuing to flamboyantly show off Xia Xinyu.

At this time, she had all of her dark hair pinned up, with a small bun tied on her head. A dark red ribbon was tied on the bun, offset just right, completely revealing her delicate and petite facial features. Echoing the cute bun, it also exposed her snow-white neck. Even though she was wearing her school uniform very conservatively, this simple and clean style had a hint of captivating charm that made people embarrassed to look at her for too long...

Perhaps it had something to do with the ultra-A cheese peach color lip gloss that the salesperson had put on her lips.

But I've already had milk tea today.

So, it felt alright, not to the point of fantasizing because of those soft and jade-like lips.

"Very good, put the lip gloss in the bag too."

Salesperson, this is your reward for recognizing Xinyu.

Also, I think you have a certain aesthetic sense.

"No, no, I don't usually use lip gloss," Xia Xinyu quickly waved her hand, not wanting to waste money, then pointed to the ribbon on her head and decided, "I'll just buy this. But, do I need to take it off when scanning the code?"

…

"She actually scanned my head in front of so many people... it's a little disrespectful." Thinking of the scene when checking out, when the other person held the scanner to her head, Xia Xinyu felt a little dissatisfied.

"After all, your hair was already tied up, they were afraid of messing it up," Chen Yuan comforted her.

"Am I going to have to wear this bun all day today?" Xia Xinyu was a little worried. Near school, she always felt that she belonged to the "weird hair" category of "weird clothes and hair". And she had also put on lip gloss. If a teacher saw her, it would probably subvert their impression of her.

At school, she always had the same old high ponytail.

Unlike other girls, she didn't alter her school uniform, roll up her trouser legs, or wear overly individualistic socks.

When wearing her autumn school uniform, she always wore her summer school uniform underneath.

Then, in winter, she would put on a winter school uniform.

At that time, everything on her upper body except her underwear was issued by the school...

"Then, do you think this... is better than before?" Xia Xinyu asked, a little uncertain.

[Does it feel like she wanted me to change my hairstyle because I'm unfashionable?]

[Although I don't pay much attention to dressing up, I'm not that unfashionable, am I...]

What are you saying, Xia Xinyu?

Unfashionable? Do you even know what unfashionable is?

Don't you know how classic the youthful campus high ponytail is?

But suddenly changing to a different image does give a refreshing feeling, adding another splash of color to an already colorful life.

In her world, butterflies fluttered.

"I think a high ponytail is good too, it makes you look gentle, but having a bun now makes you look more cute... and lively," Chen Yuan evaluated.

If he hadn't added the word "lively," he might have made the atmosphere a little strange.

But this should be able to express a similar meaning.

"Okay, then I'll just treat it as one of my backup hairstyles. I already remembered how she tied it for me just now." Xia Xinyu, who rarely received subjective evaluations from Chen Yuan, was still quite satisfied, revealing a sunny smile.

[Cute style…]

[Forget it, it's the first time I've been praised, so thank you.]

Chaozi, policy change.

Sarcastic inner thoughts are not allowed to pass review either.

"What's wrong? You seem a little distracted?" Xia Xinyu asked curiously, seeing that Chen Yuan's expression was unusually blank.

Who's distracted? I was just...

I was just chatting with Chaozi.

"Well, it looks like they're playing some kind of game over there, want to go take a look?" Chen Yuan asked proactively, slightly turning his head to glance at the group of people.

"It should be some game related to college students. After all, there are several schools nearby. The closest one seems to be called Xia Hai... something University." Xia Xinyu usually didn't go out of the school much, and there was little discussion about that university in her class, so she couldn't quite remember it.

"Xia Hai University of Science and Technology."

Damn it, my dream school of a double-non has been so despised by the Fourth High students, huh?

But that's true, the Fourth High's rate of getting into top-tier universities is ridiculously high, 99.02%.

And Xia Hai University of Science and Technology is only about ten points above the first-tier university cutoff line.

For the Fourth High students, getting into such a school is indeed a waste. Even if they could get in, they would probably be too embarrassed to study here. After all, if they ran into a former teacher, they might be mocked: "Look at you."

Although he didn't want to know what he wanted people to look at, it was indeed easy to breed inferiority.

"Ah, that's right."

Xia Xinyu responded with a smile, and then went with Chen Yuan to join the crowd.

But unfortunately, her height limited her view.

There were too many people. She could only hear the crowd chattering about something, and then, accompanied by a regrettable "Oh~", a boy with a small megaphone said, "I'm sorry, but they only made it to three hundred, what a pity. But the quality of our dolls is very good, so buying one wouldn't be a loss."

"It's a game." Chen Yuan explained after seeing what was happening inside, "Writing numbers from one to five hundred. If you finish, you get a free prize. If you fail, you have to spend fifty yuan to buy a doll. It's a medium-sized doll, a little smaller than Cute Bear Senior, and the quality is really not as good as he's bragging about."

"Cute Bear Senior..."

Xia Xinyu didn't understand why they were calling Cute Bear "Senior"?

"The boy has already dejectedly paid for the doll, and now no one dares to go up." Chen Yuan described in detail, like a live broadcast.

"Five people have already failed, and that three hundred was a high score," said a kind older brother, seeing that Chen Yuan had just arrived. "It's difficult. If you start writing well, he'll start talking to you. But that's not the worst part. While you're writing, he'll suddenly say a number, which will completely confuse people. These college students are really cunning."

"Has anyone succeeded?" Chen Yuan asked curiously.

"At least not today."

"If it's just a free try, then it's okay to play. But spending fifty yuan to buy a doll doesn't seem worth it." Xia Xinyu gave a frugal mother's speech and said quite rationally, "It's not testing intelligence either. Even if the smartest person from Fourth High came, they wouldn't be able to concentrate at all when someone is distracting them."

"Yeah, it's like when you're concentrating on doing a problem and someone is buzzing in your ear, no normal person can stand it."

Chen Yuan answered calmly, while slowly raising his head, looking at the sign.

Write numbers from one to five hundred, and get a doll that's not as cute as Cute Bear Senior.

Not very attractive.

Write numbers from one to one thousand, and get a movie card worth one hundred yuan from Wanhe Cinema...

Sorry, I don't like watching movies.

Yeah, not interested at all.

It's just that Chaozi has tortured me for so long, and I don't want to waste the perverted traits I've finally developed...