Chapter 23: The Strategist Emerges

Ten o'clock at night.

As soon as Chen Fan arrived home and barely settled into his seat, he was chased around by his father, Chen Ping’an, wielding a leather belt. His mother, who usually shielded her son, chose to look on coldly today without intervening. It wasn’t until Chen Fan endured the lashing and explained that the fight after school was triggered by hoodlums outside the campus trying to extort money from his classmate that Chen Ping’an and He Lian, who were preparing for a "tag-team" disciplinary session, finally showed mercy and stopped. They simply warned him not to play the hero in the future and to leave such matters to the school and the authorities.

In his bedroom, Chen Fan applied safflower oil to the bruises on his body while reading a text message from Tan Ya.

"Fan, what was up this afternoon? Since you’ve been carrying me in games, do you want big sister to find some people to help you get revenge?"

This girl really had a knack for the street life... He picked up his phone and typed back a quick reply.

"Just a bunch of small-time street thugs looking for trouble. It was a minor scene; your big brother here handled five of them easily. I’ve got it covered."

After sending the text, Chen Fan flipped through the math test paper he had brought back from school. But the moment his eyes landed on the first simple multiple-choice question, his head began to spin from the equations and numbers. What kind of celestial gibberish was this?

With a dark expression, Chen Fan tossed the test aside, lay on his bed smelling of medicine, and gave a bitter laugh. He had been sleepy the moment class started today, and starved the moment he woke up. This abnormal state made him wonder if all the knowledge he had lost over the years was finally returning. After all, he had been exhausted and ravenous during the period when his physical fitness was rapidly improving. It turned out to be nothing more than a normal phenomenon; the knowledge he’d lost for over a decade hadn't returned in the slightest.

"Daxun mentioned something before he left school, saying I was muttering and sighing during my nap in evening self-study. What is up with this dream..."

Before he could finish his mutterings, Chen Fan closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep. Soon, his expression mimicked his state during the evening self-study: at times his brow furrowed, at times he looked panicked, and at times he sighed heavily. Gradually, the tension in his face eased, replaced by a faint, inscrutable smile.

***

Su Xue and Li Wan walked hand-in-hand on the way back to the dormitory. Seeing no one around, Li Wan whispered, "Xiaoxue, they said you and Chen Fan went out together earlier, but your eyes were red when you came back. Did he bully you?"

"No, it’s just that I feel like Chen Fan has become a completely different person since he came back from the holiday."

"A different person? How exactly?" Li Wan slowed her pace, asking in confusion.

Su Xue pondered for a moment, then sighed, "It feels like everything has changed. You know how he used to treat me, always hovering around me, but now he’s lukewarm and even perfunctory when he speaks to me."

Li Wan nodded thoughtfully. "Tell me more. When did this start? I’ll help you analyze it."

"It started on the first day of the holiday..."

As close confidantes, Su Xue didn't hide anything. She recounted everything from Chen Fan’s fight with Zhao Qinghe on the first day to the changes she noticed after returning to school. However, she kept the fact that her family had set a trap for Chen Fan to herself. After all, one shouldn't air dirty laundry.

After a moment, Su Xue sobbed with grievance, "Wanwan, I’ve been so humble and soft toward him. Why does he still treat me like this?"

As a "tactical advisor" who had read countless romance novels and watched over fifty CEO dramas and love stories, Li Wan quickly deduced where Su Xue had gone wrong. She said with a serious expression, "Xiaoxue, you shouldn't have been so impulsive and approached Chen Fan yourself today."

"Wh-why?" Su Xue was stunned. After all, it was Chen Fan who failed to meet her first; how was it wrong to confront him?

Li Wan coughed and said with great solemnity, "First, boys are very concerned about their pride. With so many people in the classroom today, you confronted him directly and made him lose face, so he fought back. Second, you were too proactive, which only makes you seem cheap and makes Chen Fan think that without him, you, Su Xue, are nothing."

Listening to her friend's analysis, Su Xue was taken aback; it actually made sense.

The strategist Li Wan smoothed her hair and continued confidently, "Think about it, when you met privately tonight, the more you lowered yourself, the more Chen Fan pushed his luck. The moment you gave in, you were already in a passive position. How could Chen Fan, who holds the initiative, be willing to let you go easily? In my opinion, he will definitely continue to be cold to you for a while, until he achieves his goal, or until you throw yourself at him, before he returns to the way he was."

After Li Wan’s summary, Su Xue’s eyes brightened. It was very reasonable—extremely reasonable. Thinking back to the evening, it was indeed because she was too proactive that Chen Fan had become increasingly unbridled. She looked at her friend excitedly, "Wanwan, then what should I do next?"

Li Wan placed her hands on Su Xue’s shoulders and looked at her earnestly. "You don't need to do anything. Just leave Chen Fan alone for a while. I guarantee that before his remedial classes are over, he will obediently return to your side and become the Chen Fan who was once at your beck and call."

Su Xue nodded excitedly. "Okay, I’ll listen to you! Starting tomorrow, I won't say a single word to Chen Fan, and I won't even look at him!"

"That's the spirit. Xiaoxue, remember, girls must never be proactive in a relationship. We must maintain our coolness and reserve. Regardless of who is right or wrong, you must make the boy take the initiative to lower his head!"

"Also, don't guess his intentions because of anything he does. You must maintain a high and mighty posture; never let your inner emotions show on your face, and let him do the guessing."

Li Wan diligently coached her friend using the experience she had gathered from novels and television dramas. Su Xue, her eyes brightening with every word, nodded obediently.

***

The next morning during early self-study, Chen Fan appeared outside the classroom carrying a pile of breakfast.

Li Wan poked Su Xue’s arm and whispered, "Xiaoxue, look at Chen Fan. He brought so much breakfast; there must be a portion for you. But remember what I said last night—don't pay any attention to him."

"Okay!" Su Xue agreed with a determined face.

When Chen Fan walked into the classroom, she glanced at him, let out a sharp, cold huff, and turned her head away with a haughty air.

Chen Fan, who was passing by, paused. *Is this woman out of her mind? Who is she acting cold toward this early in the morning? Damn, these freshly baked steamed buns are a bit hot to hold!*

Li Wan whispered from the side, "Xiaoxue, you didn't pay attention to him just now, and he stood there for a second, then pulled back the breakfast he was reaching out with. He must be overthinking your attitude right now!"

Su Xue stole a glance toward the last row of the fourth column. She saw Chen Fan looking at her with a tense, melancholic, and helpless expression, muttering something to Wei Xun. She immediately pretended she hadn't seen him, casually spoke to another classmate, and sat up straight.

*As expected, just like Wanwan said, I was too nice to him.* Su Xue smiled triumphantly. *You didn't take the steps I gave you, Chen Fan, now you can spend your time guessing why I'm being so cold to you!*

At this moment, Chen Fan looked at the words "Chinese Test" on the blackboard, his face looking exceptionally grim. The bun in his hand suddenly lost all its appeal. He said to Wei Xun, who was sitting in front of him, "Son, let me copy your Chinese test this morning."