The three of them temporarily left the classroom and came to the corridor.

"You're really amazing," Sunny Xu said sincerely to Seigetsu Zhu.

"Hmm? Of course, I'm very talented," she replied with an air of arrogance.

"Everyone knows this very well. Not only our class, but probably all the students and teachers in the entire grade have heard of my name by now," Seigetsu Zhu said.

Because the test papers this time were from another school, the results of Seigetsu Zhu and Sunny Xu have brought honor to No. 15 High School in the city's education circle. Several class teachers have mentioned it in class meetings, so the news quickly spread throughout the entire grade.

"Hey, I'm just saying, don't get too proud..." Sunny Xu felt helpless as Seigetsu Zhu spoke arrogantly in a calm tone.

The gap between her and the others was even more obvious, either because they were used to someone sitting on the throne of the first place in the grade, or they would feel sincerely convinced when they heard similar words.

This is what the girls in the class call "lone seeking defeat."

Seigetsu Zhu covered her lips and laughed, "Hehe."

"But, compared to the praise of others, I really hope to hear some good words from my friends. Come on, praise me more," she said.

"Okay," Starry Lin said expressionlessly, "You're amazing, you're amazing, you're amazing, you're amazing."

"You're really amazing, you're really amazing, you're really amazing..." Sunny Xu repeated.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Seigetsu Zhu smiled even more happily, and her beautiful eyes almost narrowed into a slit.

"Oh, I feel much better now. If you have any questions, just ask," she said. "Of course, Sunny Xu, I know that even though you lost in this monthly exam, you don't intend to give up, right?"

"....Yes," Sunny Xu nodded. "Our competition is not over yet."

"So, you and I are still competitors in the future, so if you want to ask me for study tips, I may not answer," Seigetsu Zhu said.

"I'm just curious," Sunny Xu said, leaning on the railing, expressing the question that he found incomprehensible.

"To your level, you can still make progress. Could it be that you didn't give your all last time?"

"The so-called 'learning knows no bounds.' Until you truly reach the level of full marks, there is always room for improvement," Seigetsu Zhu said, looking up at the blue sky.

"---Most importantly, I'm very happy," she said, her tone unusually cheerful. "Since I took that step to change, I felt like a huge weight was lifted from my heart, and I suddenly felt relaxed."

Her sleeves and hair were blown by the wind, and the short-haired girl standing on the edge of the corridor spoke as if her voice was going to fly into the sky.

Seigetsu Zhu used her pinky finger to lift a strand of messy hair from her ear and turned to smile at the two of them.

"I think, for me, this kind of mentality should be the greatest help for learning, and I have to thank you for that."

---Satisfaction, a sense of achievement, and the hidden expectations in her heart.

So that's how it is.

Sunny Xu finally understood.

The reason why Seigetsu Zhu can make progress is the same as mine.

Not only him, not only Starry Lin, but Seigetsu Zhu, as their friend, has the same psychological experience.

Just as he said, the two of them are fighting on equal terms---not only in facing challenges, but more so in the good aspects.

This is the feeling of being both a friend and a rival...

The last trace of regret in Sunny Xu's heart disappeared with her words.

It is undoubtedly a happy thing for a friend to empathize with oneself; the failure of the challenge itself seems insignificant in comparison.

"But, since it's a challenge, there should be rewards and punishments, right?"

However, the next sentence from Seigetsu Zhu left Sunny Xu stunned.

"....Huh?"

"Don't understand? The reward and punishment mechanism," Seigetsu Zhu said with a smile, shaking her finger.

"Among the various stimulating learning methods, this is the simplest and most effective: if you achieve good results, you will be rewarded, and if you fail, you will be punished, leaving a deep enough impression on a person to change their habits unconsciously..."

"Yes!" Starry Lin said, suddenly enlightened. "Just like how if I don't complete my study tasks, Sunny won't let me watch movies---"

"Hmm~?" Seigetsu Zhu's expression became a bit subtle, but she quickly thought of a reason.

"Right, you two live very close to each other, and it seems like you often watch movies together?"

"....A-anyway," Starry Lin's face blushed slightly, and she hurriedly said, "Are you trying to punish Sunny Xu?""Maybe the punishment is a bit excessive, but since he's the loser in the competition, he has to pay a price, right?" Zhu Qingyue replied, "After all, he proposed it himself, I didn't force him."

Sunny Xu looked at the two girls' faces.

"Well..." He looked at Zhu Qingyue's smile and felt a bit nervous for some reason, breaking out in a cold sweat on his forehead. "I don't think it's necessary. We didn't agree on anything at the time."

"I thought it was an implicit agreement." The girl had a strange expression, "If you don't say anything, it means you're willing to accept any punishment, isn't that right?"

"Of course not! What you're saying is basically a tyrannical contract!"

"It seems that we have different opinions." Zhu Qingyue sighed with some frustration, "Then let's vote fairly according to the previous practice, shall we?"

Sunny Xu thought Starry Lin would definitely help him refuse. But he found that the girl with long hair was showing a pensive expression, and it took her a while to say hesitantly:

"...I want to hear the details of the punishment before deciding."

"Ah?"

Sunny Xu was dumbfounded.

"Okay."

As if she had expected it, Zhu Qingyue directly took Starry Lin's hand.

"Come here, let's talk over here."

In the bewildered gaze of Sunny Xu, they walked to a secluded corner of the corridor and began to discuss in hushed voices.

The fragmented sound of their whispers came from that direction, leaving Sunny Xu at a loss.

A few minutes later, Starry Lin returned to Sunny Xu with a happy expression on her face.

After clearing her throat, she solemnly announced, "I agree to Zhu Qingyue's proposal."

"...Ah? What did she say to you!" Sunny Xu panicked, looking at Zhu Qingyue standing next to her, feeling more and more like she had ulterior motives on her face.

"Well then, Starry, let's meet again on Sunday," Zhu Qingyue said to Starry Lin.

"Okay." Starry Lin nodded vigorously. "I'll go back to prepare."

"As for you, Sunny."

She pointed to herself.

"Remember to keep your rest day free."

"W-wait, what's going on with you two, I don't understand at all!" Sunny Xu couldn't help but shout, "And I haven't agreed yet!"

"You just have to be obedient."

Zhu Qingyue said with a smile.

"Raising hands to vote is the fairest way, as you proposed. You have to follow it."

"Yeah, yeah." The girl with long hair nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, "Otherwise, I would have suffered for nothing. Sunny should also experience this feeling."

You're just seeking revenge!

"The class meeting is about to start, everyone quiet down."

Just as Sunny Xu was still at a loss, the voice of the class teacher came from behind.

Turning around, the class teacher was standing by the window, shouting at the noisy students in the classroom. This action was also a reminder for the three of them to be mindful of their influence.

Zhu Qingyue waved to them and left.

Sunny Xu, feeling helpless and still a bit puzzled about the "punishment" that was about to come, could only follow the class teacher back to the classroom with Starry Lin.

...

...The day has finally arrived.

It was the weekend. Sunny Xu, who hadn't worn a school uniform for a long time and was dressed in casual clothes, looked up and saw a majestic building in front of him.

This was a newly opened department store, three stories high in total.

Red balloons hung on the lintel in front of the store, and two huge hot air balloons floated on both sides in the wind. A wide banner with golden characters hung from above, and a loudspeaker repeatedly shouted "Grand Opening Celebration" and other advertising slogans in a passionate male voice. There were also uniformed doormen in front of the store, smiling and bowing to the customers entering the store.

During this period, the newspapers and radio stations in Jinjiang City were filled with news about this newly opened department store. It seemed that a lot of money had been spent on promotion.

The result of this overwhelming advertising campaign did not disappoint the owner of the department store. The ribbon-cutting ceremony ended yesterday, and the store had only been open for less than a day, but it was already crowded inside and out, as if half of the city had rushed over in one breath.

As the saying goes, it's human nature to join in the fun. With the news spreading, many citizens knew about the existence of this newly opened department store.

This department store building was currently at a crossroads where vehicles couldn't pass, and only a bustling crowd of people flowed past him. They all walked inside along the open entrance.

In the noisy and crowded crowd, his expression seemed a bit lost.Why did I come to this place?

He has no interest in shopping at all. According to his previous habits, he should be studying hard at home now...

"Hey, Sunny, you're here."

Someone patted his shoulder.

Sunny Xu turned around and suddenly froze, as if something bright had flashed in his eyes.

—What he saw was a girl in a white dress.

Seigetsu Zhu stood there, smiling and looking at him, the brilliant sunlight shining on her head, making the girl's hair shimmer with gold.

The white chiffon skirt swayed in the wind, with a blue ribbon hanging from her waist; below that was a pair of smooth, bare legs and ankles, with strapped sandals on her feet, revealing her toes and heels.

Seigetsu Zhu, dressed in pure white, really looked like a princess walking out of a castle, more impressive than when she was in her school uniform or the last time she wore a little suit.

...Sunny Xu felt that he might not be able to forget the touch in his heart at that moment, and even thought about bringing his camera to capture such a beautiful scene forever. Otherwise, if he let this memory fade and be forgotten over time, it would be a pity.

Seigetsu Zhu opened her arms cooperatively, spinning in place like a butterfly, and asked.

"Am I beautiful?"

"...Very beautiful."

Sunny Xu tried not to let his eyes look dull.

Just by looking at how many people passing by couldn't help but look over here, and how many people subconsciously stopped, you could tell how much killing power this pure-looking classmate had.

But Seigetsu Zhu seemed a little dissatisfied and said again.

"Um, that's too simple, praise me more."

"You look beautiful no matter what you wear." Sunny Xu sighed, "...I'm serious."

Without waiting for the girl's response, he couldn't help but ask.

"You called me to this place on Sunday, saying it was a 'punishment', but you never said what it was. Shouldn't you tell the truth now?"

"The so-called 'punishment' is just an excuse."

Seigetsu Zhu answered very frankly this time.

"My real intention is to take this opportunity to invite Starry out to play, to get closer to her and deepen our friendship."

Sunny Xu was not too surprised.

In fact, he had expected it a long time ago. After all, Starry Lin couldn't withstand his questioning, and not long after she went back, she told him everything Seigetsu Zhu had said to her, as well as the activities planned for Sunday:

That he was to help Seigetsu Zhu, be her follower, and move the goods purchased from the mall.

And just thinking about it, he could tell that the only person Seigetsu Zhu needed to find excuses and be indirect to get closer to was—

It's just as the saying goes, "The heart of the drunkard is not in the wine."

"...Don't you want to get closer to me?"

Sunny Xu couldn't help but ask.

Seigetsu Zhu found a hint of genuine grievance in the boy's eyes and couldn't help but laugh.

"Is there really a boy in this world who doesn't want to get along with me?"

She casually waved her finger at Sunny Xu.

"I just need to treat them a little more gently, there's no need to make an effort to get closer."

You're really underestimating people with that kind of talk!

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"But don't worry, Sunny, as my friend, you will still receive special treatment that other boys definitely won't get."

Seigetsu Zhu patted Sunny Xu's shoulder and walked lightly past him.

"Before that, I'll need your help today."