Locking away my heart and love! Going back to 2000 to be a top student again.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Su slowly explained, "I was just expressing my feelings. You must have thoroughly investigated my entire life, right? Don't you know whether I've ever been in a relationship or not?"

Zhou Mochen had obviously thought of these things as well. The darkness in his eyes slowly dissipated, and he nodded gently: "Okay, I understand. Don't make it sound so serious. What could I possibly force you to do? I just don't want the girl I like to be taken away by someone else."

Seeing that the girl seemed genuinely angry, he composed himself and coaxed her with a smile, "Even if I have a bad temper, how about we make a deal? Just tell me what you want me to do, as long as you don't resist me so much, okay?"

"I want you to stay as far away from me as possible," Xu Su thought to herself.

Despite his seemingly easygoing demeanor, Xu Su knew that once her words or actions touched upon his twisted desire for control, he would instantly reveal his true colors beneath that gentle and polite exterior.

At its worst, he wouldn't even let her go out, wishing he could keep her locked up forever.

Normal social interactions are forbidden, and even female friends must be distanced from him. He also keeps his girlfriend under surveillance at school.

At the time, Xu Su was secretly mocking him. What's the use of forcibly guarding something you've snatched if you're always fearful of it? He would even get angry if she smiled at a stranger.

Xu Su also knew that the reason he was so crazy in his past life was because he lacked a sense of security, but she couldn't give him that. It was a forced relationship, so how could it be sweet?

Xu Su remained silent for a long time.

Zhou Mochen sighed, "Really don't want it?"

He took the shopping bag back, saying, "If you don't want it, then don't. Just remember to buy it yourself."

Xu Su paused, put down the thermos in her hand, opened the door and got out of the car.

Good, he's starting to know how to compromise, Xu Su thought, feeling a little relieved.

This is a good beginning.

Over the next few days, Xu Su discovered that Zhou Mochen had indeed changed.

He is an extremely intelligent person with an astonishingly strong learning ability.

In her presence, Zhou Mochen began to consciously suppress his aloof aura and paid close attention to his tone of voice, mostly using interrogative sentences when faced with multiple-choice questions, rarely using affirmative sentences.

No more instances of acting on one's own initiative have occurred.

During their daily commute, the two barely spoke to each other.

It seems he also took the statement that "it is wrong to express feelings to a minor" to heart.

These days, he has been very self-disciplined and polite, even addressing her in a proper and respectful way as Xu Su.

As the weather grew colder, Zhou Mochen didn't interfere in Xu Su's affairs, except for a cup of brown sugar ginger tea when picking her up and dropping her off in the morning and evening.

As the weather got colder, Xu Su's scores on each in-class quiz steadily improved.

One-on-one tutoring from academic geniuses is extremely effective.

Xi Zirong even devised a special study method for her. Every time the in-class test papers were handed out, Xu Su hadn't even had a chance to look at them carefully before Xi Zirong took them away.

He specifically studied the questions that Xu Su lost points on, and the formulas and approaches to thinking about them were all areas where she was weak.

Mathematics, physics, and chemistry require a great deal of imagination, but these things are all about talent. Xu Su's talent in this area has not yet been revealed, so Xi Zirong can only use a large number of problems to familiarize her with them.

If she got a question wrong, Xi Zirong could give her countless similar practice problems, including the formulas used in that question and even the specific pitfalls in the same area.

It really proves the saying, 'Fix what's wrong.'

He seemed to care about her grades more than Xu Su herself did.

For some questions that Xu Su really couldn't understand, Xi Zirong would sit down and explain them to her during lunch break in the classroom, regardless of what others thought.

He was truly a patient and meticulous teacher. Even when Xu Su couldn't understand no matter how he explained, and even when he himself felt incredibly stupid, Xi Zirong could still gently point out the mistakes and say, "This is not right."

Xu Su even heard Huang Feng and the others say that now, the fact that Xi Zirong would tutor her during lunch break has become a common sight in the advanced class.

Many members from other classes came here because of its reputation. They pretended to be passing by but actually came specifically to pay their respects, and would come to take a look every now and then.

The 'love' between the top student in the elite class and the school beauty became a rare splash of color in the students' otherwise monotonous studies.

During evening self-study, Xi Zirong would ask Xu Su to turn around so that the two of them could study face-to-face on his desk.

As for the teacher?

Teacher Wu also talked to them once, and even had a private conversation with Xu Su.

That evening during self-study, Teacher Wu took turns calling two of his students, who had recently become famous at school, to his office.

He first called for Xi Zirong, and it took a full half hour for Xi Zirong to return. She still had that calm and indifferent expression, and it was impossible to tell what they had talked about in the teacher's office.

Back in the classroom, he looked at Xu Su with some concern and then told her that the teacher had called her to the office.

Xu Su had long been prepared for this day to come, but she was still a little timid. She truly respected Teacher Wu, but she was also genuinely afraid of this homeroom teacher.

Xi Zirong also comforted her, saying, "Just tell the truth."

...Thinking about her recent improvement in grades, Xu Su did not hold a grudge against Xi Zirong.

Every loss has its gain. At least now, she's more confident about her final exam results, isn't she?

After entering the office, Teacher Wu seemed to be planning a long talk.

Seeing Xu Su coldly shrink her neck, he poured her a cup of hot water in a paper cup and pointed to the chair opposite her for her to sit on.

Xu Su sat down with her neck hunched over, like a quail.

On the contrary, it was Ms. Wu who eased her tension: "Let's just chat. You've been my student for half a year, so I have a general understanding of your situation. I won't call your parents."

Although Xu Su never talks about her family situation, her classmates can tell from her daily life. About a month into the semester, there was a parent-teacher meeting for the advanced class, but neither Xu Weiping nor his wife attended.

In addition, the fact that she lived frugally for the first two months and rode a dilapidated bicycle to school showed that her family was not only poor, but also did not value their daughter.

Otherwise, no matter what, it shouldn't be the case that a high school student can't even get enough to eat.

Xu Su took a sip of water to ease her tension, but still kept her head down and didn't say anything.

Ms. Wu smiled and said, "Your grades have improved recently. It seems that Ms. Xi Zirong is doing a good job as your tutor. But Xu Su, do you know what you're doing?"

Xu Su looked up at the teacher and explained, "I'm not dating Xi Zirong. He just tutors me. Teacher Wu, I just want to improve my grades and get the school scholarship. As you can see, neither of our grades have dropped."

Teacher Wu nodded: "Xi Zirong just said the exact same thing."

He suddenly asked an unrelated question, "Are you planning to switch to humanities next year or stay in my class?"

Xu Su gripped the paper cup tightly, her face turning slightly pale.