The Cold-Faced Academic Ace’s Little Sidekick

On the first day of his second year of high school, when classes are rearranged, Lin Bei runs into Su Nian, the school's famously “ice-cold top student.”

One is a “problem student” whose mother forced him out of the honors class; the other is the grade's top-ranked student, with nothing on her mind but grades. Everyone thinks they have nothing in common, until the midterm results come out: Su Nian is first, Lin Bei is dead last, and their homeroom teacher forcibly pairs them up for one-on-one tutoring.

“I don't teach idiots,” Su Nian says, expressionless.

“Like I'd want you to teach me,” Lin Bei scoffs.

But later, warm milk appears on his desk, little notes turn up tucked into his notebook, and music drifts from the study next door late at night... The seemingly cold girl has quietly taken root in his heart.

When everyone laughs that he's not good enough for her, Lin Bei spends a year climbing from last place to the top ten in his grade.

“I caught up with the grades. Now it's time to catch up with you.”

This is a story about “giving it everything I've got, just so I can stand by your side.” Sweet with a touch of ache, and full of tenderness and strength.