From Slacking Off To Becoming A Top Student - Chapter 13 - Chapter 13 – She Suddenly Became Tsundere

Stupidity is contagious!

Yan Xiaoxi didn’t know where she had heard this phrase before. She used to think it was a bit absurd—stupidity is a personal behavior, how could it possibly be contagious? But at this moment, she was completely convinced! Stupidity is indeed contagious!

Her deskmate, this ‘hidden dragon’, was clearly an idiot. Well… maybe calling him an idiot was a bit much—maybe even mean—but calling him a lazy parasite? That much was certain!

Although Yan Xiaoxi never listened to the teacher during class, always doing her own thing, she had always adhered to classroom discipline. But after just two days of sitting next to him, not only was she eating candy during class, but now she even wanted to eat chips.

No, no!

If this continues, I… I’ll become like Feng Chu (a lazy person)!

I am a scholar, a scholar with dignity and principles. I absolutely cannot do things unrelated to studying!

Yan Xiaoxi repeatedly reminded herself. Gradually, her inner defenses—those that were on the verge of being broken—were reinforced with each mental shout, becoming stronger again.

Taking a deep breath, Yan Xiaoxi reopened her math textbook. However, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t stop her eyes from glancing to the side. She then saw something even more speechless.

This guy… is he here to study or on vacation?

Eating chips, drinking cola, playing games… please, study! I… I can’t take it anymore!

Yan Xiaoxi really wanted to report him, but she knew it wouldn’t make any difference to him. With his reputation in the class and his image in the teachers’ eyes, he was basically untouchable—like a towering tree.

Forget it, forget it.

Out of sight, out of mind. I’ll just focus on my own work.

As the minutes ticked by, class dragged on. Meanwhile, Chen Xiaoxin’s “slacking-off points” were climbing steadily. Although… the rate was kind of disappointing. Half the class had passed and he’d only earned a handful of points.

Still, he wasn’t too bothered. As long as he got the important skills and hit the minimum line for a tier-two university, the rest could wait.

With the bell ringing, the first language class ended.

Chen Xiaoxin snapped out of his daze, looked at his deskmate who was seriously reading a book, and glanced at the book in her hand. He had once thought she wasn’t particularly smart, but now, he realized the real fool was him.

“Yan Xiaoxi.”

“Can I ask you a question?” Chen Xiaoxin quietly asked.

Oh—

He’s actually asking me a question! Alright, alright, let’s see what high-minded thing he has to say.

“Go ahead.”

“But only if it’s about studying.”

Yan Xiaoxi replied expressionlessly, still flipping through her book.

“…”

“Sorry to bother you.”

Chen Xiaoxin obediently closed his mouth.

Yan Xiaoxi, a little too thrilled by that reaction, nearly tore a page from her book by accident. She cast a sideways glance at her deskmate and asked with a cool, dry tone: “What exactly did you want to ask?”

“Actually… it’s really simple. For someone like you, it should be easy.”

“If someone plans to go into scientific research after getting into university, would joining competitions during college just be a waste of time?” Chen Xiaoxin asked seriously.

Yan Xiaoxi froze. She stared at him for a while and finally responded:

“Pretty much, yeah. Strategic planning is more important than blind effort. If someone who wants to pursue a research path wastes time on things like… the college math competition, mathematical modeling contests, or physics olympiads—it’s basically useless.”

She paused for a moment, then continued:

“It’s just a way to feed your ego. Because in the world of research, what really matters is papers. There’s a kind of flawed logic in competitions: you work hard and you get a prize, but that prize is worth zero in academic research.”

“Papers, though, are a whole different story. As long as your paper exists, its citations and any honors it brings can keep stacking over time. Of course… I’m talking about serious, formal academic papers.” Yan Xiaoxi added calmly,

“Remember this—The only true currency in research is the paper. Papers are the foundation of science.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and gave him a puzzled look.

“But why are you asking about this? Doesn’t seem like it has anything to do with you.”

“Just curious,” Chen Xiaoxin smiled and replied. “You must be planning to do research, right? You explained it so well.”

“I’m not telling you.”

Yan Xiaoxi pouted and continued flipping through her book.

What’s this?
Why did she suddenly get so tsundere?

Chen Xiaoxin didn’t really care. He was already preparing for the next class’s slacking off.

…

The day passed by just like that.

Chen Xiaoxin lugged his backpack full of power banks and trudged out of the classroom. Although he had the strength of a “Kirin arm” and his arms felt fine, his back ached and his legs were tired.

He reached the bike rack, inserted the key, and got on his electric scooter, heading home.

It was still the same intersection, with the same traffic cop, the same routine, and the same fine amount.

“I really forgot,”

Chen Xiaoxin said pitifully, looking at the traffic cop, pleading, “Officer, give me one more chance, just one last chance!”

“Aish…”

The cop sighed.

“I see you always heading home so late after class… fine, fine. Technically I should report this to your school officials, but for the sake of your studies, I’ll let it slide one last time. This is your absolute final warning, got it?”

“Thank you, Officer!”

Chen Xiaoxin thanked him repeatedly and then took a piece of chocolate from his pocket and handed it to the cop, saying, “Please have some chocolate. Don’t worry—this totally counts as a bribe.”

“You little brat.”

The cop laughed, accepting the chocolate.

Actually, the two were somewhat familiar, since Chen Xiaoxin often got caught for riding without a helmet.

After the fine was issued and paid, Chen Xiaoxin got back on his electric scooter and continued on his way.

Though he used his advantages to make money at school, he was actually a typical second-generation rich kid. His family owned a reasonably sized chemical factory that produced polypropylene and polyethylene—well-known in the local area.

He’d once tried helping out at the factory, but because he was the boss’s son, he didn’t get any “slacking points” at all. He wasted a whole day there, and after that, never went back.

“Mom?”

“Mom?”

Chen Xiaoxin called out as he entered the house.

A middle-aged woman came down from the second floor. Seeing her precious son, Chen Xiaoxin’s mother smiled and said, “You’re back?”

“Yeah, where’s Dad?” Chen Xiaoxin casually asked.

“Your dad is out socializing.”

“Okay.”

“Then I’m going to take a shower. Mom, could you bring me some underwear and leave it by the door?”

Without waiting for a response, Chen Xiaoxin dashed upstairs with his backpack, stripped in record time, jumped into the shower, and got cleaned up at lightning speed.

Then, pulling on a fresh pair of underwear, he slipped into his room.

He opened his computer, logged into his gaming account, turned on the voice chat software, and activated the voice changer.

“Sorry… I’m late.”

“Eh?”

“Did we get a new warrior brother for the team today?”