Solving the Problem

Feng Chuchu shot him a displeased glance. "We're not even in the same class. Why are you sitting here?"

Before Shi Cheng'an could respond, Lin Wenyu, sitting nearby, interjected, "Chuchu, let him stay. The physics teacher loves giving classwork, and if he doesn't understand something, we can help him out. If he sits elsewhere and can't figure it out, he might get kept behind after class."

Shi Cheng'an nodded, flashing Feng Chuchu a placating smile. "Wenyu's right. My grades aren't great; I'll need your help."

Feng Chuchu frowned but didn't refuse, which was as good as silent approval. Shi Cheng'an gave Lin Wenyu a grateful smile.

Lin Wenyu returned the smile, but it froze for a moment.

Following her gaze, Shi Cheng'an turned and saw Tang Qianmiao walking in from the doorway, his expression instantly darkening.

Feng Chuchu saw her too, her small face dropping. "Ugh, just my luck, sharing a class with her."

Lin Wenyu bit her lip. "I'm sorry, Chuchu. My cousin went to your house and caused trouble."

Shi Cheng'an spoke up, "What are you apologizing for? You weren't the one who caused the trouble."

He glanced back at Tang Qianmiao, his eyes filled with disdain.

Tang Qianmiao was looking down at her phone, a trace of annoyance in her eyes.

Feng Xian's assistant had called, inviting her to lunch.

She had already declined, but the calls persisted.

This time, she coldly blocked the number.

The class bell rang, and a middle-aged man with a striped shirt, black trousers, and a receding hairline walked in.

"Class is starting, quiet down."

As if by magic, those words made Tang Qianmiao drowsy.

This was also the main reason she enjoyed class—great for sleep.

Having slept poorly the night before, she could catch up during the day.

Propping her head up with one hand, she closed her eyes and rested.

She wasn't sure how much time had passed when someone tapped on her desk. She opened her eyes.

Her desk mate gave her a meaningful look. "Qianmiao, the teacher's calling you to solve the problem."

Tang Qianmiao slowly raised her head, her sleepy, languid gaze drifting toward the front.

On the platform stood not only the teacher but also Lin Wenyu.

Lin Wenyu held a whiteboard marker, the steps to one problem neatly written behind her, but the next one remained blank.

Whispers came from nearby classmates:

"Lin Wenyu is amazing. She solved that problem so easily. No wonder she's the top student."

"But why did she suggest Tang Qianmiao for the other problem? There's no way someone from the regular class can solve it."

The teacher spoke up, "Tang Qianmiao, what are you waiting for? Come up and solve the problem."

With a calm expression, Tang Qianmiao slowly walked up, took the marker, and stared at the problem for several seconds.

The students from the advanced class laughed, "Too hard for someone from the regular class. This is a competition-level problem; even we can't solve it."

"Look at her, she can't even comprehend the question. Bet she's completely lost."

At that moment, Tang Qianmiao scribbled an answer on the whiteboard, her face expressionless.

Everyone was stunned.

Most of the students were confused, while the smile on Lin Wenyu's lips faded, surprised by the unexpected turn.

The problem was far beyond the curriculum, even Lin Wenyu hadn't managed to solve it, having only made it to the second step.

But Tang Qianmiao, after just a few seconds, had written the final answer.

The answer was complex, far too detailed to be a random guess.

Though it wasn't correct, it wasn't the result Lin Wenyu had anticipated.

She knew Tang Qianmiao's academic level—mediocre, hovering around the pass mark at best.

With that level, the most she should have been able to do was jot down a simple formula.

So what was happening now?

The teacher, restraining his surprise, asked, "Where are your solution steps?"

Tang Qianmiao tossed the marker back onto the podium. "Too lazy to write them."

"Pfft!"

Several students, mostly from the advanced class, burst into laughter.

"It's not that she's too lazy—she just can't write them."

"Teacher, go easy on her. Give her a break. After all, she's a girl," one student said, barely holding back laughter.

"Guessing such a complicated answer isn't easy either. Teacher, just let her off. She's not Lin Wenyu, after all," someone else added.

Lin Wenyu lowered her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

This was exactly the outcome she had hoped for.

She wanted Tang Qianmiao to understand who truly held the top spot.

The teacher suddenly asked Tang Qianmiao, "Did you guess the answer?"