Chapter 35: I Admit That You Are Strong
Ni Hui had only been joking. After all, Pu Tong was her own son—she wasn't actually going to let him go hungry.
Pu Tong left all the day-to-day affairs of the company to his mother.
After all, his only job was to paint grand visions.
Ideas were the most valuable thing, weren't they?
Being the president of a company was still a little beyond him for now. There was a lot of professional knowledge he simply didn't have yet, so Pu Tong decided that, for the time being, he'd focus on studying and happily remain a hands-off boss.
Taking advantage of the weekend, he systematically reviewed everything from the recent exams.
It had already been some time since he had transmigrated into this world.
He had gotten used to his new life.
He had a direction.
He had goals.
He had friends.
Every day felt meaningful and fulfilling.
High school knowledge emphasized building a solid framework. Managing one's knowledge system was extremely important.
Although there was a huge amount to learn, everything was closely connected. Only through repeated practice, understanding, and systematic review could one truly develop a clear grasp of the entire curriculum.
Of course, after students split into the humanities and science tracks, their ways of thinking would naturally diverge as well.
That was something Pu Tong had yet to experience.
He would deal with it when the time came.
"In the end, my knowledge is still too limited..."
He sighed.
In truth, he was still only working within the framework of a normal high school student.
In those novels about genius academic protagonists, the main character would probably already be teaching themselves advanced calculus while still in high school...
But he was just an ordinary person.
There was no point comparing himself to them.
Being able to do well at the things in front of him was already an accomplishment.
Until he had completely mastered the high school curriculum, Pu Tong had no intention of aiming unrealistically high.
Buzz... Buzz...
"Who is it this time?"
He picked up his phone, glanced at the screen, and immediately put it back down.
Xie Mu.
Never mind.
Not close enough.
The phone vibrated several more times in succession before he reluctantly looked again.
Just a cheap disciple...
Xie Mu wasn't contacting him about anything particularly important.
He was simply reporting the progress of his online romance.
Xie Mu: Master, I successfully started talking to her! She's such a kind girl. Every question I ask, she patiently answers.
He attached several screenshots of their chat.
Pu Tong couldn't bear to look.
The questions this guy was asking were way too basic.
He was even asking about elementary concepts.
Who asked someone else about basic definitions?
Wasn't that what textbooks were for?
Wouldn't the other person look down on him?
Yet...
The girl on the other end had answered every question seriously and patiently.
She seemed remarkably gentle.
Did this guy actually meet a genuinely nice girl?
Why do I suddenly feel jealous?
Pu Tong: Since she's helping you so sincerely, put aside your impure thoughts and focus on studying.
Xie Mu: I understand! You mean we should only talk about studying and avoid romance, building the purest relationship through our shared goals during high school!
Pu Tong: ...
You really are a genius, aren't you?
Xie Mu: Using the excuse that we just finished our exams, I asked her about lots of our test questions. She wrote out detailed solutions for every single one.
Pu Tong: Then she really does sound like a good person. Treasure the opportunity and study hard. If you can't understand her written solutions, ask her to explain them. If that still doesn't help, you can ask me too.
Since Xie Mu insisted on calling him "Master," helping him study was the least he could do.
Besides...
Teaching others was also one of the best ways to reinforce one's own knowledge.
Me.
A top student.
Come ask me.
Still, Xie Mu probably wouldn't need him.
After all, he already had his kind online study partner.
Xie Mu: I understand now! You're saying I should ask her to explain the problems over voice chat so I can confirm she's actually a girl. There are too many scammers online, so I have to be careful! Master really cares about me!
...Did I ever say that?
Pu Tong didn't even want to explain anymore.
Though...
From one perspective, confirming the other person's gender before pursuing an online relationship was indeed very important.
In all those ridiculous group chats he'd joined, there were always burly men using adorable anime girl avatars, sending cute stickers, and even pretending to be beautiful young women.
Regarding people like that...
Pu Tong had only one opinion.
It's fine if you fool your buddies.
Just don't end up fooling yourself.
Online relationships required extreme caution.
You had to avoid being scammed out of both your money...
And your feelings.
Otherwise, after finally meeting in person...
It would be incredibly awkward if both people turned out to be grown men.
Buzz... Buzz...
Before Pu Tong finished chatting with Xie Mu, another message popped up.
It was from Yu Wanwan.
Yu Wanwan: Have you estimated your scores yet? How did you do?
Normally, after monthly exams, only the answer sheets were collected.
As long as students had written their answers on the test paper itself, they could roughly calculate their own scores afterward.
Looks like she couldn't wait any longer.
Pu Tong: I estimated them a little. They're probably not perfectly accurate.
Yu Wanwan: Tell me! Your... your...
She pondered for a long while.
Only to realize...
She couldn't think of a single subject where she clearly had the advantage.
Yu Wanwan: Which subject are you worst at?
Pu Tong: History.
He simply couldn't emotionally connect with this world's history.
He wasn't interested in it at all.
The only way he could learn it was through brute-force memorization.
Yu Wanwan's eyes immediately lit up.
History!
She had estimated her own score.
History was probably one of only two subjects where she'd done exceptionally well.
The other was English.
Because of work, her English was already fairly strong.
Though...
It still probably wasn't enough to beat Pu Tong.
History, however...
That was different.
This was the one subject he wasn't particularly good at.
Use my strength to attack his weakness.
The advantage is mine!
Yu Wanwan: I think I got around eighty-six in history. You'd better not score lower than me.
For a humanities subject, eighty-six was already an excellent score.
According to their wager, as long as Pu Tong scored lower than Yu Wanwan in even one corresponding subject...
He would lose.
Not bad.
She's got some tricks.
Yu Wanwan: Quickly calculate your history score! If it's lower than mine, you've already lost!
In reality...
Pu Tong had already calculated it.
All he could say was...
She was far too optimistic.
Pu Tong: I admit that your history score is quite impressive.
But suppose...
I only got two multiple-choice questions wrong...
And lost just two points on the essay questions...
How would you respond then?
Yu Wanwan: You call THAT your weakest subject?!
By that calculation...
His history score would definitely be above ninety.
She hadn't expected that even the subject where she came closest to winning...
Still wasn't enough.
Pu Tong: It IS my weakest subject. I just memorize everything by force. But before choosing between humanities and sciences, brute-force memorization is enough for history, isn't it?
Yu Wanwan: ...
Seeing no further reply from his deskmate of the Yu family...
Pu Tong felt wonderfully refreshed.
Just obediently become my defeated opponent.
A while later, Xie Mu replied again.
Interrupting his study plan once more.
"I really need to put my phone on silent whenever I'm studying..."
Xie Mu: Master, her voice is so gentle when she explains problems.
Pu Tong: ...
Jealous.
First, he ruled out the possibility of a voice changer.
A study discussion app consisted mostly of strangers.
There wasn't much reason for anyone to fake their identity there.
Judging from everything so far...
Xie Mu really had found a gentle and considerate female study partner.
That was enough to make anyone envious.
Maybe...
This guy actually had a real chance of succeeding.
Pu Tong sighed.
Why was it that this kind of romantic luck...
Never seemed to happen to him?
(End of Chapter)
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