Chapter 2: Call Me Dad, and I'll Get Your Meals for You

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Chu Nan had no mood to study; he kept staring blankly out the window. One class passed in a daze before Zhang Liangying, the homeroom teacher, called him to the office.

“Chu Nan, your grades aren’t actually that bad, but your subject imbalance is severe. Your math scores always fail, and your geography in social studies is mediocre. If you can improve these two subjects, there’s still a slim chance you could get into a first-tier university, you know?” Zhang Liangying immediately drilled into him the idea of his weak subjects as soon as he entered.

“I know,” Chu Nan said with a helpless smile. “But there’s nothing I can change now; time is too tight.”

“As long as you want to change, nothing is impossible. I have some math test papers for you. I made a list for you; focus on the circled parts and you can basically pass. If you do well in Chinese and English too, you might barely reach the first-tier cutoff.” Zhang Liangying handed him a test paper.

There was a note attached.

“Choose nine multiple-choice questions. The first nine are relatively simple, including sets, vectors, probability, and functions—these should be your focus. For the remaining three, select all b or c; you’ll get at least one right. For the big problems, start with probability—it’s the easiest to score on…”

Reading the note, Chu Nan’s feelings grew complicated. “Thank you, homeroom teacher.”

Zhang Liangying nodded. “Doing well on the college entrance exam would be the greatest thanks to me. Remember, practice according to the method I just gave you. Scoring 90 in math is definitely achievable. Even if you only get into a second-tier university, you’ll still have good options. Go now.”

Just as Chu Nan reached the door, Zhang Liangying spoke again, “If you really don’t understand, you can ask the class monitor, Jiang Yuwei. She almost always gets full marks in math, so she should be able to help.”

“Got it.”

In his mind, Chu Nan pictured the icy-cold yet beautiful face of Jiang Yuwei. He thought it unlikely such a distant and aloof girl would help him with questions—she hardly interacted with anyone.

Besides, even if she was willing, it was impossible. Only about thirty days remained until the exam. Forget relearning everything; he also had to cover other liberal arts knowledge.

Unless… he could somehow grasp three years’ worth of knowledge in one month, but that was basically a pipe dream.

Now, cheating was the only remaining option. Honestly, in 2006, there was still some room to cheat because surveillance technology wasn’t as advanced yet; it mostly depended on the sharp eyes of invigilators.

But Chu Nan despised cheating.

Even if one wasn’t caught, cheating was self-deception. Some reborn souls had done it, but he would not.

In this world, which wasn’t entirely fair, the college entrance exam was one of the few truly fair tests and a crucial way to select talent. Successful cheating would ruin countless lives…

“Damn it! I have information nearly twenty years ahead. Am I afraid I can’t make a living after graduation? Forget the college entrance exam!” Chu Nan was ready to give up.

At worst, he’d graduate high school, borrow money from everyone he knew, and invest in stocks.

Though a corporate worker, as a semi-businessman, he knew well which stocks in 2006 were worth buying, like Oceanwide Holdings and SST.

Even if he borrowed money, the profit margin would be huge. After earning that money, he could buy prime real estate, then sell it when prices rose, and invest in Bitcoin or promising companies—then he could lie back and count his money.

Of course, that was the worst-case scenario. After all, who in a second chance at life doesn’t have dreams?

The early 2000s were full of opportunities. As long as you weren’t a fool, in this booming era, you could make money.

As Chu Nan passed by the first group’s second desk, a girl suddenly said, “Chu Nan, remember to help me and Qianqian get lunch later.”

Chu Nan blinked and looked down—it was He Qianqian and her close friend Tian Jiao Jiao.

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He Qianqian, fair-skinned, beautiful, and long-legged, was the prettiest girl in the class besides Jiang Yuwei. The two came from the same county and were childhood friends.

In his previous life, Chu Nan had pursued her relentlessly from middle school through university, obsessively bringing her meals and drinks. Yet in the second semester of freshman year, he watched helplessly as He Qianqian got into a rich second-generation heir’s car. Later, he heard from his roommates that she had already been that heir’s girlfriend since the previous semester, and he was the only one left in the dorm unaware.

He angrily asked his roommates why she accepted his meals if she was already someone else’s girlfriend.

They told him, “Don’t you know it’s her boyfriend’s task? Otherwise, why would she always ask you to bring two breakfasts? You really thought it was for her friend?”

From then on, he realized he was just a clown, a tool. He stopped contacting her and was ignored in return.

What annoyed him more was her deskmate, Tian Jiao Jiao. Coincidentally, they were also classmates in university.

In sophomore year, Chu Nan got a girlfriend, but she exposed his pathetic history as a “simp” in the class group chat, causing their breakup.

In junior year, a junior girl from a club pursued him, but she soon broke up because she couldn’t tolerate Tian Jiao Jiao’s stalking and harassment.

Losing two girlfriends in a row made him extremely insecure and nearly depressed. Eventually, he slapped Tian Jiao Jiao several times, begging her to stop hurting him, which was the only way to get some peace.

As for Xi Shuang, she was introduced by family for arranged dating after graduation.

Half of the reason he remained a virgin was because of Tian Jiao Jiao…

It was only after that slap that he learned Tian Jiao Jiao actually liked him.

But he dared not accept this crazy woman’s affection. Even now, he had no feelings for her. Loving someone like that was just wrong.

And now they still wanted him to help get their lunch?

Chu Nan found it amusing.

“Lunch, huh? Sure! As long as you call me ‘daddy’ once, I’ll consider helping you.”

“What! Chu Nan, what are you saying?” Tian Jiao Jiao’s expression darkened. What was he talking about? When did Chu Nan dare talk to her like that? He should always be gentle and sweet. Not just to He Qianqian, but even more so to her…

Chu Nan raised his voice a few decibels. “What? Not willing now? I’ve helped you get lunch so many times, it’s about time you returned the favor.”

“What are you talking about? Who do you think you are?” Tian Jiao Jiao was furious. Isn’t it natural for boys to help girls get lunch?

“Who am I? If you want me to get your lunch, I’m basically your provider. Calling me ‘daddy’ isn’t too much, right?”

“You!”

“Chu Nan, apologize!” At that moment, He Qianqian spoke up.

She disliked Chu Nan’s attitude. Tian Jiao Jiao was her best friend; how dare he talk to her like that?

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Chu Nan looked down on her with a sneer. “He Qianqian, I was your simp before because I was blind. Now, why should I listen to you?”

“Chu Nan, you… shut up! What simp? Who told you to simp? How dare you talk to me like that!” He Qianqian’s face flushed with anger, eyes wide and furious.

Though the term “simp” wasn’t common back then, it didn’t sound good to her.

Chu Nan looked around and loudly said, “Everyone, be fair. These two forced me to get their lunch and still owe me several meals. Why? Now they even want me to shut up. I didn’t insult or hit anyone. Why should I shut up? Do you want to take away my right to speak? Or do you think you’re the emperor’s favorite concubines? Please! This is a new era.”

His voice was like a dragon’s roar, leaving the other students stunned.

When did quiet, timid Chu Nan become so assertive? And so articulate?

“You’re lying! We didn’t!” He Qianqian was also shocked and instinctively wanted to explain.

“No? Fine, I forgive you. But don’t ask me to get your lunch again—I don’t have time for such childish games.” With that, Chu Nan smiled and returned to his seat.

He Qianqian’s eyes reddened, and she suddenly buried her face on the desk, quietly sobbing.

Tian Jiao Jiao saw this and copied her, lying on the desk crying. Her sobs were louder and obviously more fake.

So petty.

The thought popped in Chu Nan’s mind.

“Damn, Chu Nan, are you crazy?” Yang Jingtian, his deskmate, asked in surprise.

“What’s wrong with me? You’re the sick one. You need to lose weight before diabetes or hypertension finds you, then you’ll come crying to me,” Chu Nan retorted disdainfully.

Yang Jingtian lowered his voice, “Don’t talk nonsense! Didn’t you used to help get lunch without Tian Jiao Jiao asking? Now you won’t help and even talk to them like that. Don’t you regret it?”

“Why should I regret?”

“Didn’t you say you’d marry only He Qianqian?”

“Only her?” Chu Nan rolled his eyes. “Am I a fool or is she a goddess?”

“You really said she’s a celestial fairy who descended from the heavens.”

“... Stop talking.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m about to puke. Honestly…”

Chu Nan was about to say more when a bespectacled, refined-looking boy suddenly shouted, “Chu Nan, apologize to He Qianqian and Tian Jiao Jiao immediately!”