Please, I'm Trying to Study, Your Highness! - chapter 22

The silent hunting game between Xia Shiyu and me
unfolded in a tacit, unspoken manner.

At first, she invaded my boundaries with some “accidental” gestures.

Passing by my seat, the tips of her smooth hair “accidentally” brushed against my arm, bringing a faint tickle and the rich fragrance of premium shampoo.

I cooperated by stiffening my body, pretending to be calm while desperately holding myself together.

During self-study, Xia Shiyu came over to my desk with a math problem she “couldn’t solve.”

When she leaned down, the wide collar of her pink shirt was deliberately left slightly open, and the dazzlingly soft, pale skin flashed at the edge of my vision.

Her warm breath spilled over my ear, her voice sweet and innocent.

“Xiao Huihui, is this how you draw the auxiliary line?”

I stared intently at the exercise book, not daring to shift my gaze even a fraction.

My explanation sped up slightly from nervousness, and the tip of my pen trembled as it traced across the paper.

My “resistance” was gradually crumbling.

The hard shell I used to fend off the outside world was melting, cracked by her skillful warmth.

My evasions were no longer so resolute; my movements now carried the wavering of a young heart awakening to spring.

As a top hunter, Xia Shiyu naturally noticed all these subtle changes.

So,

by Thursday morning, she began the second phase of her game.

She no longer locked me in place with her almost tangible, aggressive gaze.

Instead, she reverted to her usual Saintess Your Highness, showering everyone equally with her attention.

She chatted and laughed with classmates, flashed sweet smiles at boys trying to impress her.

When we met in the corridor, her gaze would lightly drift past me, landing somewhere on the scenery behind.

Passing by my seat, she didn’t glance sideways, as if I were nothing but transparent air.

This push-and-pull, neither close nor distant, is the most classic scenario in textbooks.

Timeless, and highly effective.

I played my solo act according to the script she expected.

On the surface, I buried myself in mountains of books and exercises every day, but those carefully designed “little gestures” kept betraying my “true feelings.”

My pen would sometimes pause for a moment when her laughter with others echoed down the hallway.

I found myself gazing out the window more often than usual, my empty eyes seemingly searching for something.

Whenever she passed by, joking with other boys, my hand would freeze for a few seconds over my answer sheet.

Every movement exposed my “disappointment” and “concern.”

In truth, I felt calm and content inside.

Her temporary “neglect” was exactly what I needed.

The prickling gaze from behind vanished, and the endless probing stopped.

Perfect!

I could finally redirect the ninety-nine percent of my CPU that had been devoted to “performing” back to the most important thing-studying.

The plant growing underground had finally shaken off the parasitic vines, greedily absorbing the sunlight and rain of knowledge.

During the period when Xia Shiyu deliberately ignored me, every minute and second of campus life felt incredibly fulfilling.

Friday, last period, class meeting.

The homeroom teacher walked into the classroom with a stack of printed forms, cleared his throat, and announced that the monthly exam results were out.

As usual, he announced the average scores and grade rankings for each subject,
then posted the sheets full of names and numbers on the bulletin board at the back of the classroom.

I sat at my desk, not joining the crowd rushing over to check.

Only after finishing the last physics challenge problem and the crowd had dispersed did I walk up and scan the results sheet from top to bottom.

Shen Ruanruan, Class One, Grade Rank: 1

As expected, the top spot was still firmly held by that gentle goddess from a distinguished family.

Xia Shiyu, Class Rank: 3

My gaze lingered on her name for a moment.

Talent really is something to envy.

In my memory, she never seemed to devote all her energy to studying, yet always managed to score high with ease.

Maybe she did burn the midnight oil, alone at her desk, working hard when no one was watching.

But that kind of scene…

Placed on Xia Shiyu, it somehow felt strangely out of place.

I stopped thinking about these pointless things and moved my gaze downward, searching for my own name.

Lin Hui, Class Rank: 9

Three places higher than last time.

Not good, not bad-a ranking that neither draws attention nor stops me from steadily moving forward.
That’s right.

Just as I was about to turn back to my seat, the cold, mechanical notification sound that had lain dormant in my mind suddenly rang out.

[Ding–]

[Good afternoon, esteemed Saint-Level Virgin.]

[Detected: Your academic performance has reached a stage of progress, meeting the criteria for reward distribution.]

[Distributing reward…]

[Congratulations, you have obtained the passive skill: Thought Thief (Limited-Time Trial Card)]

[Skill Effects]

1. Target Selection: The host may choose one individual as the “Thought Source” within 48 hours; once selected, this cannot be changed.

2. Thought Theft: During the skill’s active period, when the host engages in learning-related cognitive activities, they will receive and comprehend the problem-solving approaches, memory logic, and knowledge framework of the “Thought Source” within the same field of study.

This effect is equivalent to having a top-tier personal tutor at your side.

3. Maintenance Condition: The host must engage in at least one effective intimate physical contact with the “Thought Source” per week, lasting no less than five seconds.

Failure to do so within the specified time will result in the skill’s automatic invalidation.

4. Side Effect: While the skill is active, every night from 23:00 to 5:00 the next morning, the host will compulsorily receive sounds related to the “Thought Source.”

This effect cannot be blocked or terminated.

5. Usage Restriction: This skill can only be used on females.

[Note]

[This skill is a limited-time trial card and will automatically expire after one month.]

A long string of explanatory text washed over my retinas.

The corner of my eye twitched slightly.

How is this a reward?

This is clearly a shoddy cheat with preconditions and the risk of sudden failure!

One five-second physical contact per week?

Not only does the skill last only a month,

but these absurdly harsh conditions are tantamount to driving me straight into a minefield.

As for the side effect…

Forced eavesdropping on all sounds around the target every night?

Combined with the curse-like talent, it’s practically double torture.

Just thinking about being bombarded with a pile of useless audio information before sleep makes my scalp tingle.

Tsk.

I frowned, scanning the classroom.

Among those in the class who meet the female criterion…

Xia Shiyu is one of them.

The other candidate, whose intelligence is absolutely worth “stealing,” is Shen Ruanruan, in Class One.

Choosing Xia Shiyu?

That would mean, outside of the “being pursued” scenario, I’d have to add a side quest of “taking advantage of her for five seconds every week.”

The risks and variables are incalculable.

Choosing Shen Ruanruan?

Different class, equally unfathomable background as a financial magnate’s daughter.

Mainly, I can’t even guarantee seeing her once a week, let alone five seconds of physical contact.

My brain began analyzing the pros and cons at top speed.

[Drawbacks]:

1. Extremely difficult to execute, with huge social risks.

2. The “eavesdropping” side effect will seriously disrupt nighttime rest and mental state, reducing learning efficiency.

[Benefits]:

1. The “Thought Theft” effect is the most powerful cheat on the road to becoming the provincial top scorer.

It can help me make up for knowledge gaps and optimize study methods at an exponential rate.

So…

Should I play it safe, struggling toward my goal over the next few years with a monk-like discipline, facing all sorts of unknown risks?

Or should I choose to drink poison to quench my thirst…

And accept this toxic “gift”?

My Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably.

The heart in my chest, always seeking efficiency and the optimal solution, gave the answer.

Risks… can be calculated and controlled.

But the shortcut home-once missed, it’s gone forever.

My gaze fell on the report card on the bulletin board.

The bright red “9” was as glaring as an unhealed wound.

The distant “1” was still far out of reach.

It’s almost impossible to compete with those geniuses on my own.

But now-

Youth has no price.

The race for provincial top scorer starts now.

So…

[Accept reward: Thought Thief (Limited-Time Trial Card)?]

In my pupils, two lines of emotionless inquiry flickered slowly.

Deep inside, I gave a silent confirmation to the cold words.

[Accept.]