Is this how you test a cadre

Evening Self-Study

Chen Zhi stacked the books on his desk as high as a fortress. In front of him was Five Years of Gaokao, Three Years of Mock Exams, to his right was an English dictionary, and to his left was a thermos.

Behind this impenetrable, 360-degree defensive fortification, he was comfortably swiping through short videos with his phone's brightness turned down to the absolute minimum.

Big data is a wonderful thing. It understands you better than your own mother, perhaps even better than you understand yourself.

Ever since Chen Zhi's finger slipped and he clicked on an auto show video last time, his recommendation feed had completely fallen.

A dynamic BGM played right on the beat. On the screen, a tall and slender young woman was making a finger heart at the camera. Her long legs, which took up two-thirds of the screen, were wrapped in a layer of black silk stockings as thin as cicada wings.

Chen Zhi remained expressionless, but his fingers were very honest.

Double tap, like, swipe away.

His movements were smooth as flowing water, completed in one breath, mainly emphasizing that the video had been read.

Looks good, love to see it, recommend more.

Just as he was preparing to deeply study the next academic video regarding calculus and the aesthetics of black silk, a faint, ghostly voice suddenly came from beside him.

Is it good to look at?

Chen Zhi was so startled his hand shook, nearly throwing his phone across the room.

He quickly locked the screen, stuffed the phone into his sleeve, and then turned his head with a look of absolute righteousness.

Pei Ningxue was resting her chin on one hand. Her cold, clear eyes stared at him with a half-smile, her gaze sweeping over his sleeve.

What do you mean, good to look at? Chen Zhi picked up a pen and pretentiously drew a circle on his scratch paper. I am thinking about the third way to solve this derivative problem, don't disturb me.

Oh?

Pei Ningxue raised an eyebrow and lowered her voice, Does a derivative problem require researching the light transmittance of Balenciaga?

Chen Zhi was speechless.

He was careless. How was this woman's eyesight as good as a fighter pilot's?

Since he had been exposed, Chen Zhi simply stopped pretending.

He sighed and spoke with earnest intent, Classmate Pei, this is where you are wrong. You look at things too superficially.

Superficially?

Of course. Chen Zhi spouted nonsense with a straight face. Black silk is not just an article of clothing; it is the crystallization of human industrial civilization.

The pen in Pei Ningxue's hand stopped. She was clearly left speechless by this shameless rhetoric.

Seeing this, Chen Zhi immediately began quoting classics and citing sources: Scientific research shows that this tight fabric can effectively promote blood circulation in the legs and prevent varicose veins, which is especially suitable for us students who have to sit for a long time.

Moreover, appreciating beautiful things can stimulate the secretion of dopamine, relieve study pressure, and prolong life.

So how am I looking at black silk? I am undergoing a low-cost psychological therapy.

If you want to learn, I can send you a few papers to study another day.

He spoke with righteous indignation, as if the perverted guy drooling at the screen just now was someone else entirely.

Pei Ningxue listened quietly to his nonsense.

It wasn't until Chen Zhi finished speaking that she nodded gently, seemingly agreeing with his point of view.

So that's how it is.

Pei Ningxue looked thoughtful. It seems I was too narrow-minded.

Chen Zhi breathed a sigh of relief.

Although this young miss was difficult to deal with, sometimes she was quite easy to fool.

He couldn't help but give a thumbs up to his own quick wit.

He was just about to unlock his phone again and continue his unfinished grand task of reviewing videos.

Pei Ningxue chuckled softly.

She suddenly put down the pen in her hand.

Then, under Chen Zhi's shocked gaze, she turned slightly, her slender fingers resting on the leg of her loose school uniform pants.

Is it like this?

With her movement, the blue and white school uniform pant leg was slowly pulled up.

First, it revealed a pair of proper white knee-high socks at the ankle, looking full of student innocence, pure to a fault.

However, as the pant leg continued to move up.

Above that pure white sock cuff, it didn't reveal the originally delicate and pale skin.

Instead.

It was a layer of translucent black.

Chen Zhi's pupils instantly experienced an earthquake.

That layer of black tightly wrapped around her slender calf. Because of the contrast with the white socks, that layer of black looked exceptionally ascetic, yet carried a strong visual impact.

Silk under pants!

This was actually the legendary silk under pants!

Who would have thought that the usually aloof Pei Ningxue would hide such a blood-pumping little secret under those school uniform pants.

Chen Zhi felt his throat go a bit dry.

Gulp.

A clear swallowing sound seemed exceptionally harsh in the quiet corner.

Chen Zhi swore that this was absolutely a physiological conditioned reflex and had nothing to do with his moral character.

Pei Ningxue seemed very satisfied with his reaction.

She didn't put her pant leg down, but maintained that posture, even slightly wiggling her toes.

The lines of that calf wrapped in black were smooth and elegant, like a work of art carefully carved by God.

Want to touch?

Her voice was very soft, continuously bewitching Chen Zhi.

Chen Zhi took a deep breath.

He felt that his Dao heart was undergoing an unprecedented test.

This woman was absolutely doing it on purpose.

And to think I treated you as a good bro!

Using this to test a bro?

What bro could withstand such a test!

Inside Chen Zhi's mind, an angel and a demon were fighting.

The angel said: Chen Zhi, you have to think clearly! She is your good bro, if you don't touch this time, there might not be a chance next time!

The demon said: To hell with being bros! You're a bastard if you don't take advantage of this! Touching once won't make you lose a piece of meat! Just touch it!

Chen Zhi was quite receptive to advice; he decided to adopt the opinions of both the angel and the demon.

But if Chen Zhi acted too desperate at this moment, he would fall into a disadvantage and would never be able to hold his head high in front of this woman again.

Therefore, he pulled a long face, revealing an expression of utter heartache.

Pei Ningxue, I misjudged you.

I treated you as a bro, yet you actually use this kind of thing to corrupt my will?

Pei Ningxue blinked, seemingly not expecting him to still be stubborn.

You don't like it? She made a gesture to put down her pant leg.

Hold on!

Chen Zhi was quick of eye and deft of hand, subconsciously...

Reaching out, he pressed down on the back of her hand.

The skin under his palm was slightly cool, delicate as jade.

Smooth and tender.

Pei Ningxue paused her movements, looking at him with a half-smile: What is it?

Chen Zhi coughed and said with a straight face: Although this kind of behavior is inadvisable, since you're already wearing them, as your desk-mate and good bro, I have an obligation to help you check the quality of the fabric. It would be bad if you bought a low-quality product and got a skin allergy.

As he spoke, his hand naturally slid downwards.

His fingertips touched that thin layer of fabric.

That sensation was very wondrous.

Slightly cool, smooth, carrying a tiny bit of a matte texture.

Although separated by a layer of fabric, he could still feel the warm body temperature and the curves of the leg underneath.

The pads of Chen Zhi's fingers gently rubbed against it.

The feel was indeed...

Outrageously good.

If he had to use one word to describe his current feelings,

It could only be...

Awesome!

Actually, Chen Zhi said, opening up a sage-mode critique while checking the quality, compared to pantyhose, I personally feel this pairing is still lacking a little something.

Pei Ningxue didn't pull her leg back. Instead, she asked with great interest, "Oh? What brilliant insights does Professor Chen have?"

"Look," Chen Zhi gestured in the air with his fingers, his tone turning professional. "Pantyhose under pants like this might give off a sense of contrast, but it lacks a visual sense of layering."

"The true pinnacle of aesthetics should be thigh-high socks."

"Preferably thick black thigh-highs, ending exactly ten centimeters above the knee."

"Then paired with a Japanese schoolgirl skirt of an appropriate length."

Chen Zhi's eyes grew profound as he began his theoretical guidance.

"Between the top of the socks and the hem of the skirt, that faintly discernible, pale and delicate skin of the thighs."

"In the anime world, this is known as the Absolute Territory."

"That is the true treasure of human civilization!"

Chen Zhi spoke with spit flying, completely immersed in his own theoretical system.

"Think about it, the top of the sock squeezing out just a tiny bit of flesh, that half-hidden, bashful hazy feeling... tsk, tsk, tsk, that's the real deal!"

Pei Ningxue was dumbfounded by his speech.

She looked down at her own leg, then at Chen Zhi's fascinated expression.

A few seconds later, she suddenly said softly, "If you took your hand off my leg, I might actually believe your nonsense."

Chen Zhi looked down.

Good heavens.

His right hand was firmly gripping her calf, and his thumb had even unconsciously pressed down twice, as if checking its elasticity.

Damn it, my brain wasn't thinking about this, but my hand doesn't seem to listen to my brain.

"Cough..."

Chen Zhi resentfully withdrew his hand, his face showing no sign of embarrassment. "What's wrong with bros touching each other's legs? It's a way to enhance our friendship. Worst case, I'll wear shorts next time and let you touch mine back."

Pei Ningxue rolled her eyes. "Who wants to touch your leg hair."

She straightened her pant leg, covering up that heart-racing touch of black.

Just when Chen Zhi thought this topic was over and prepared to go back to scrolling through videos.

Pei Ningxue suddenly asked another question: "Do you like it?"

Chen Zhi instinctively wanted to retort, wanting to maintain his image as an upright gentleman.

Who are you looking down on?

Am I the kind of person to be moved by lust?

But the image from just now lingered in his mind, and his fingertips seemed to still retain that smooth sensation.

Chen Zhi decided to follow his heart.

"I like it." He nodded honestly, then pushed his luck and added, "Can you wear thick black ones next time?"

Pei Ningxue looked at him, the corners of her mouth slowly curling up.

That smile seemed to carry a hint of slyness.

"Sure."

She agreed exceptionally readily.

"Gulp."

Chen Zhi swallowed another mouthful of saliva.

At this moment, Little Chen Zhi had completely taken over his brain.

At this moment, he felt that Pei Ningxue was simply an angel descended from heaven, the best bro in the world.

What aloof school beauty, what wealthy young lady.

This was clearly my blood brother from another mother and father!

Chen Zhi was so moved he wanted to cry.

He reached out his hand again, wanting to express his gratitude to his good brother.

Which meant going to confirm that tactile sensation from just now once more.

However.

"Click—"

A crisp camera shutter sound seemed exceptionally piercing in the quiet self-study class.

Chen Zhi stiffened all over.

He whipped his head around.

Only to see Pei Ningxue holding up her phone, the screen displaying a photo she had just taken.

The angle of the photo was extremely tricky.

It perfectly captured Chen Zhi's sinful large hand firmly pressing on her leg, the fingers even sinking in a bit.

Chen Zhi's expression of enjoyment and intoxication was captured crystal clear.

Caught red-handed.

Irrefutable evidence.

Chen Zhi's brain crashed instantly.

Reason regained the upper hand.

He instinctively reached out to grab it: "Fuck! What are you doing? Delete it quickly!"

Pei Ningxue was already prepared; with a twist of her wrist, she easily dodged his grab.

She locked her phone screen, gripped it tightly in her hand, and leaned back, opening up a safe distance.

The intimate smile that originally belonged between good bros instantly vanished from her face.

Replaced by a smug expression of having grasped the other party's lifeline.

"Classmate Chen Zhi," Pei Ningxue waved the phone in her hand, "I have leverage on you now."

Chen Zhi only felt a chill rush straight from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.

If this photo got out...

If Li Zhiyi saw it...

If Lin Wanwan saw it...

It would all be over!

"Pei Ningxue!" Chen Zhi gritted his teeth. "You set me up?"

This woman was too ruthless, actually using herself as bait!?

"All's fair in war." Pei Ningxue hummed in a very good mood. "Who told you to lack self-control and be moved by lust?"

She turned her head, looking at Chen Zhi's face twisted from defeat, and a surge of unprecedented satisfaction welled up in her heart.

That's for bullying me normally.

That's for pretending.

You finally fell into my hands this time, didn't you?

"What exactly do you want?" Chen Zhi took a deep breath, trying to awaken the conscience in her heart.

Pei Ningxue thought for a moment, those beautiful eyes darting around.

"I haven't decided yet."

She stuffed the phone into the innermost layer of her backpack, zipped it up, and even patted the bag.

"I'll save it for now, and tell you when I figure it out."

After saying that, she picked up her pen again, opened her book, and returned to the appearance of a well-behaved good student.

Leaving Chen Zhi with only a cold and ruthless side profile.

Chen Zhi slumped in his chair, looking at the girl beside him who was earnestly doing practice questions.

What angel?

What good bro?

This was clearly a two-faced bad woman!

She is a bad woman!!!

He touched his hand that had just committed the crime, weeping tears of remorse in his heart.

Lust is a knife dangling over one's head.

The ancients truly did not deceive me!