My Mr. Mermaid

Untitled Part 13

Chapter 13: Level 4 Tutoring Group by ryuxenji

When Tang Yi-Bai smiled at the camera, Yun Duo's gaze would always shift a little to avoid looking at it straight on.

After taking a good shot, he returned the handphone to her. Yun Duo bowed her head and accepted it, saying, "That ... you still have classes, right? I'll be going then ..." and she moved to get up.

"Wait a moment, Yun Duo," Tang Yi-Bai gently pressed down on her arm. He did not put much force behind it, but Yun Duo could not get up. He pursed his lips briefly, then said, "I want to ask you a question."

"What?"

"How much did you score for your level 4 English exam?"

"652 marks."

Tang Yi-Bai's jaw dropped, as if stunned by this number. His pretty eyes sparkled with a special light. "You're amazing."

"Cough cough," Yun Duo was rather flustered being praised by Tang Yi-Bai, "What's with that? Each industry just has its own strengths. My swimming is definitely no match for yours." Even these words were — the truth was that she did not know how to swim at all.

Tang Yi-Bai smiled and said, "Then, for someone with rather poor foundations in English who wants to pass level 4 English, what would you suggest?"

Yun Duo understood instantly. "Don't tell me you're the one who wants to pass level 4?"

He nodded candidly.

"Why do you want to take the level 4 exam? Whether you pass level 4 or not has no impact on your graduation." Yun Duo did not understand.

"It's not that I definitely must pass. I just wanted to try."

Yun Duo rested her chin on her hands, head tilted as she looked at him. "Tang Yi-Bai, I have always been curious — why are you willing to put so much effort into your studies? Don't most sports students usually just do the bare minimum to get a qualification?"

"I am also very curious why you would ask such a question." Tang Yi-Bai glanced at her curiously. "Since I can do well, then why shouldn't I try my best?"

Yun Duo's mouth opened and closed — this classic example of elite thinking left her feeling a little ashamed in comparison. After some thought, she asked, "Then do you feel like what you've learned is useful to you?"

"Yes," he nodded, "Studying can make people wise and calm, and broaden their horizons. Earning an academic qualification is a type of learning experience. No matter whether there is that proof in paper at the end, this experience will always be present in your life. Your entire being will definitely be changed from it."

"That ... has anyone ever said something like this to you: You study so much but it does not do anything for your professional career. Isn't it just kind of pointless?"

Tang Yi-Bai smiled. His smile was always so gentle and warm, like a balmy spring breeze. He said, "Of course, but I don't think it matters. I study to change myself, and I swim to challenge myself. These two things do not clash with one another, so there is no need for me to just choose one and abandon the other."

As a bystander, Yun Duo felt that Tang Yi-Bai was simply being too enlightened. This mentality, this poise, this settled and steady determination, this incomparable drive ... it was all truly unlike a 21 year old. She suddenly found that the most precious thing about him may not be his domineering explosive power in the pool, but these personality traits she was seeing right now.

She praised him from the bottom of her heart. "I think that no matter what you do, you'll surely achieve remarkable results."

"Thank you, but I haven't even passed level 4." Tang Yi-Bai seemed a little sad as he said this. He had always felt that it was a shame to not pass level 4 within his 4 years in university.