Chapter 8: The Promise to the Campus Belle

Chen Fan's eyes brightened, and he nodded repeatedly.

"That's right! It's absolutely true."
"I like you."
"Can you be my girlfriend?"

Su Ruochu was startled, not expecting Chen Fan to be so direct. Her heart began to race, and she felt flustered and at a loss for what to do.

"You... what nonsense are you spouting!"

Glancing around to ensure no other students were nearby, she blushed and spoke.

"Chen Fan... I don't care if you're being serious or joking."
"The college entrance exam is just around the corner... I won't be dating in high school, and I hope you understand that."

Su Ruochu hesitated for a moment before adding in a low voice, "During these final days, I don't want to be disturbed by anyone."

"Understood, understood!"
"Don't worry, I definitely won't disturb you."

Chen Fan nodded repeatedly, then changed the subject.

"Then can I like you in secret?"
"That's not allowed either!"

Su Ruochu blushed and stomped her foot.

"Why do you have to keep pestering me? Don't you have a girl you like?"
"What about our school beauty, Lin Yuwei? Don't you like girls like her, with a great figure?"

Damn it!
Who the hell was spreading that gossip about me?

Chen Fan quickly raised his hand to swear.

"Heaven is my witness! How could I possibly like girls just for their figure?"
"It's you I like!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Chen Fan froze.
Damn, that sounded wrong.

True to expectation, Su Ruochu pushed her bicycle forward with an expressionless face. Chen Fan hurried to catch up.

"Um, I misspoke."
"Actually, yours isn't small either."
"Chen Fan!"

Su Ruochu stopped and glared at him angrily. Chen Fan looked awkward and gave a sheepish smile. He rolled his eyes, quickly changing the subject.

"Well... if you want me not to bother you, that's fine. But you have to agree to one condition."

Sure enough, Su Ruochu fell for it.

"What condition?"

Chen Fan smiled and proposed, "Before the college entrance exam, I won't actively pursue you, but you must allow me to walk you home after school every day."

"No!" Su Ruochu shook her head, blushing. "That would make others misunderstand."

So, it wasn't that she disliked me, but rather that she was shy and embarrassed. Chen Fan nodded with a smile.

"Fine, I'll change the condition."
"From now on, I'll write you notes, and you can't ignore me."
"Also, if I come across questions I don't understand, you have to help me."

This request didn't seem too excessive. Su Ruochu thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

Chen Fan immediately pushed his luck, asking with a smile, "Then can I pursue you after the college entrance exam?"

Su Ruochu frowned. "After the exam, we’ll all go our separate ways to different universities. Your question is meaningless."

"Then what if I get into the same university as you?"

Su Ruochu's expression faltered, looking conflicted, as if she were afraid that saying anything would hurt Chen Fan's pride.

Chen Fan was exceptionally determined, staring intently into her eyes.

"Su Ruochu, if I can get into the same university as you,"
"Can you be my girlfriend?"

Su Ruochu's face turned beet red, and she averted her gaze.

"I... you should worry about getting in first."

With that, she hopped on her bicycle and rode away.

"I will definitely get in!" Chen Fan shouted with a grin.

...

That night, Li Jinqiu peeked into her son's bedroom and saw Chen Fan sitting at his desk, studying diligently. She smiled with relief and quietly backed away.

"Dear, haven't you noticed our son has changed a lot lately?"
"He doesn't watch TV anymore when he gets home; he just sits in his room studying after dinner."

Chen Jianye, sitting on the balcony smoking, nodded with emotion.

"I've noticed."
"Sigh, it's just a shame there's less than a month left until the exam."

Li Jinqiu comforted him with a smile, "As long as our son is willing to change, it's never too late."

"That's true," Chen Jianye sighed. "It's just a pity I’m not capable enough to help him much."
"I heard that kids in the city drink milk every day, they say it helps with brain power..."

"Alright, children have their own destiny. Don't overthink it. Put out that cigarette and go to sleep; it’s choking. Our son is still studying."

Chen Jianye quickly extinguished the cigarette and waved away the smoke. After turning off the lights and lying in bed, they were silent for a while before Chen Jianye spoke again.

"Dear, tomorrow after work, I'll buy a crate of pure milk for our son. Since the child is willing to work hard, we as parents must do our best to support him."
"Alright. Whatever you say."

Gu Shuai noticed that Chen Fan had changed recently. He no longer joked around or played; every day, whether in class or during breaks, he was hunched over his desk flipping through books. Furthermore, his interactions with Su Ruochu had clearly decreased.

Wasn't he supposed to be pursuing her?
Had he given up?

Gu Shuai secretly shared his thoughts with Chen Fan.

"If you don't seize the time now, once you get into college and she goes off to a big city, you won't have a damn chance left."

Chen Fan rolled his eyes. "The emperor isn't worried, but the eunuch is."

"What the hell do you know!" Gu Shuai became agitated. "Even though my grades aren't great, I'm a hundred times better than you at picking up girls."
"Today, I'll let you see who the real master of romance is."

At the small restaurant at noon, when Gu Shuai once again dragged Chen Fan to the table where Su Ruochu and Li Na were sitting, Chen Fan immediately understood why the guy was more anxious than he was.

He was using him as a shield to get close to Li Na.

"Aren't there seats over there? Why come to our table?" Li Na muttered, pouting.

Gu Shuai grinned. "It tastes better when classmates eat together."

Chen Fan put a hand to his forehead. This idiot.

"Actually, Gu Shuai has a question he wants to ask you."

"Ask me?" Li Na was surprised.

Gu Shuai took the opportunity to set down his tray and sit next to Li Na. Chen Fan sat down beside Su Ruochu. Although Su Ruochu kept her head down and didn't look at him, she shifted her body slightly away.

"Gu Shuai, what question do you want to ask me?"

"Well..." Gu Shuai thought quickly. "Actually, I just wanted to ask, what university are you planning to apply to?"

"University?" Li Na was stunned, frowning as she imagined it. "My grades aren't great, but if I can get in, I want to go to an art school in the south."

"That's great! You have such a good figure; you must look beautiful dancing."

"Really?" Gu Shuai seemed to have had a sudden epiphany.

"Of course. The dance you performed at the New Year's party left the deepest impression on me."

"Really?" Li Na said, beaming. "I never thought you had such an eye for things..."

Chen Fan watched, dumbfounded. This Gu Shuai was something else. He actually had a knack for this, and he was already getting close.

Looking at his own side, Su Ruochu was eating with her head down, showing no intention of speaking to him. Their relationship hadn't grown closer; it seemed to have regressed.

How embarrassing. Chen Fan felt quite discouraged.

When they were leaving after lunch, Gu Shuai shouted, "Boss lady, four bottles of Coke!"

As the four of them walked toward the school drinking their Cokes, Gu Shuai excitedly suggested, "How about the four of us come out to eat every noon from now on?"

Li Na didn't realize Gu Shuai's hidden agenda, thinking he was creating opportunities for Chen Fan. She smiled and nodded. "I have no objection."
"Ruochu, what do you think?"

"Huh?" Su Ruochu looked up, feeling a bit awkward. "I..."

"Class representative, don't tell me you look down on us underachievers and don't want to eat with us?" Gu Shuai teased.

Su Ruochu quickly explained, "No, I... I didn't say that."

Gu Shuai snapped his fingers. "Then I'll take that as a yes."

After saying this, he intentionally winked at Chen Fan. But Chen Fan was lost in thought, staring at the ground, completely unaware of Gu Shuai's signals.

Gu Shuai was furious. He reached out and shoved Chen Fan.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Huh? What?" Chen Fan looked up suddenly, looking at the three of them with confusion.

Before they could react, Chen Fan suddenly shouted in excitement.

"Right! Why didn't I think of that?"
"Let's go, come with me to the white birch forest."

"You..." Gu Shuai was dragged away, looking baffled.

Li Na was left behind, looking at Su Ruochu with curiosity.

"Ruochu, did you... have a fight with Chen Fan?"
"Why did he seem to be deliberately ignoring you just now?"