Even Top Students Fail

William's Old Man's Idea

Lilith's face flushed crimson down to her neck, her milky complexion making the blush impossible to hide. She felt even more embarrassed, as if her toes were turning red.

The William from her past life wasn't like this at all. In high school, he'd been arrogant. After college, though a hint of defiance remained in his eyes, his demeanor became more gentlemanly. This shameless side was new, aside from that one drunken incident.

Seeing Lilith's flushed face, William felt a mix of embarrassment and sweetness. According to his father's advice, her reaction likely meant she liked him.

"Listen," William said, trying to sound confident. "I was wrong about Zhang Panpan. I admit it. I'm ready to study now. I'll get into MIT next year. Take care of yourself this year. Don't flirt with anyone. Don't joke around with other guys, or you'll be in trouble. Call me once a week - actually, I'll call you. Don't ignore my calls. Tell me if anything happens. Be good. It's just one year, it'll fly by."

William patted Lilith's hair affectionately, acting every bit the official boyfriend.

Lilith was stunned. She wondered if William had been body-snatched - his behavior was so out of character.

"Why are you spacing out? Did you hear me? No getting too close to other guys, got it? I start school in a few days, but I'll visit you before you start. Remember that," William said, trying to maintain composure while reciting his father's script. His heart was racing, and he'd mentally cursed his dad a hundred times for this ridiculous plan.

Just as William's facade was about to c***k, Lilith gave a tiny nod. He inwardly cheered, resisting the urge to laugh out loud. His father was right - Lilith seemed inexperienced in these matters, just beginning to explore romantic feelings. If he took charge and guided her step by step, winning her over was within reach.

"It's so hot out. You should head back," William said, noticing sweat on Lilith's flushed face. He wanted to spend more time with her, but he needed to hurry home and get more advice from his dad. With only a week until school started, time was running out. The intensive review classes were even more grueling than senior year, leaving little free time. He'd have to rely on his aunt's help just to make weekly phone calls to Lilith. The thought gave him a headache.

Lilith had been eager to leave, feeling like she might combust. At William's words, she turned and fled, vanishing in an instant - a far cry from her earlier docile demeanor. William couldn't help but laugh.

Once Lilith was out of sight, William texted his father: "Comrade Ryan, I'd like to chat tonight." Though his father's plan had worked, William's pride wouldn't let him admit it outright. He'd never backed down from anyone before, yet somehow this gentle girl had him wrapped around her finger.

In his office, Ryan smiled at his son's message. Clearly, things had gone well today.

Though William hadn't said anything at home, Ryan and his wife weren't fools - they'd noticed their son's odd behavior lately. Normally, Aphrodite should discuss relationship matters with their son, but given her serious nature, Ryan feared she might make things worse. So he took it upon himself to intervene.

Ryan had always taken a hands-off approach to parenting, or as Aphrodite called it, "free-range parenting." Otherwise, given their family's scholarly background, William shouldn't have ended up a poor student. As for young love, Ryan was even more lenient. After all, what youth didn't experience infatuation? If he hadn't fallen for Aphrodite in his youth, who knows what William's last name would be now.

Previously, William's romantic interests had been fleeting. But this time was clearly different. He'd been distracted for weeks and was even refusing college to retake exams. Ryan couldn't ignore it any longer. After some discreet inquiries with relatives and probing conversations with William, Ryan nearly burst out laughing. His son, who'd always relied on his good looks, had finally met his match.

Ryan had actually met Lilith before - a sweet girl with a pure face and dimples when she smiled. Even his stern wife had praised her after a parent-teacher conference, calling her a promising student. It was no wonder William was smitten. Ryan remembered being drawn to Aphrodite's single-minded focus on studies back in the day.

But William clearly lacked skill in pursuing girls. Look at his foolish actions, even dragging in another girl to make Lilith jealous. It was a miracle she still gave him the time of day. So Ryan stepped in to give his clueless son a lesson. He knew just how to win over studious girls like Lilith - with a bit of shameless persistence and a strong attitude, success was guaranteed. When chasing Aphrodite, he'd written an entire playbook of courtship strategies, many of which he hadn't even used yet.

Still, Ryan patted his son's shoulder solemnly, silently mourning William's future hardships. Winning over such a girl might seem simple, but it had its challenges. She was a top student - to catch her eye, William would have to outshine her academically. Ryan himself had gone from a poor student all the way to a PhD, and even now at his age, he still studied to avoid disappointing Aphrodite.

Reminiscing about his own courtship struggles, Ryan returned to the matter at hand. He texted back: "Sure, I'm always available. Your old man's pretty impressive, huh? You've still got a long way to go, kid. Have my foot-washing water ready tonight."

Ryan chuckled, imagining his son's indignant reaction.

"Professor William, what's got you so amused?" a colleague asked, passing by Ryan's office.

"Oh, nothing much. Just chatting with young William," Ryan replied, composing himself. As always, he maintained a dignified image in public, despite his son's complaints about his dad's hidden goofball nature.

"Like father, like son. That boy's sure to be successful. No wonder you're so pleased," the colleague remarked, unaware that Ryan was secretly coaching his son in romance. If he knew the truth, he might have turned green with shock.

Meanwhile, William fumed at his father's text. Just a few words, but the smugness practically oozed through the punctuation. But thinking of Lilith's blushing face, William's anger deflated. Fine, he'd go home and prepare that foot-washing water after all.