Xue Jiao moved closer. Yin Fang wasn’t tall, so she had posted the list rather low, and those in the back couldn’t see it at all.

She approached, and stood on her tiptoes, but still couldn’t see.

Suddenly, something lifted her—

“Ah—” Xue Jiao was startled and cried out.

Yi Tian Yu, who had lifted her, said urgently: “Quick, look! Check for me too!”

Xue Jiao glanced over and could only see part of the list.

Name: Xue Jiao, Score: 730, Rank: 1

Name: Chu Sheng, Score: 728, Rank: 2

Name: Shang Zhi Yuan, Score: 715, Rank: 3

Name: Gu Shi Yun, Score: 714, Rank: 4

…

She continued looking down, then said helplessly: “I still can’t see.”

Yi Tian Yu disappointedly set her down. Just as he was about to push his way through the crowd, a voice came from behind: “I have the report cards here!”

It was Xi Jun Yang.

Yi Tian Yu’s eyes lit up. He turned and rushed over, not forgetting to pull Xue Jiao along.

“Here, Jiao Jiao’s. Academic god, awesome, awesome! Firmly in the first place!” He handed the first card to Xue Jiao.

Xue Jiao took it and asked: “What about Yi Tian Yu’s?”

Xi Jun Yang quickly said: “Oh, oh, I’ll find it right now.”

As he spoke, he directly flipped to the last four, but… it wasn’t there.

“Huh?” He exclaimed in surprise, then hurriedly flipped backward from the end, going through many more before finally seeing Yi Tian Yu’s name.

Xi Jun Yang’s eyes widened, his eyeballs nearly popping out of their sockets, his mouth agape. He was so shocked that after a long while, he finally blurted out—

“Holy shit! Holy shit!”

Yi Tian Yu, who originally didn’t want to look at himself, couldn’t wait anymore. He pulled it out and looked.

Name: Yi Tian Yu, Score: 623, Rank: 99

“Hahahahaha!!!” Yi Tian Yu grinned widely, reached out, and pulled Xue Jiao over.

The petite Xue Jiao was easily pulled toward him. With another exertion of force, he tucked her under his arm and ran outside.

“Ah—” Xue Jiao screamed in fright.

She was very light. Yi Tian Yu could not only run but also hop and skip while cheering.

“Hahaha! Bookworm, how are you so amazing! We can be desk mates again! Oh yeah—”

“Yi Tian Yu! You lunatic, put me down!!!” Xue Jiao was so frightened her voice became hoarse, and she hammered him while clutching her report card.

Yi Tian Yu wouldn’t let go. He ran to the school gate before stopping and putting her down. Xue Jiao nearly collapsed.

He bent down, his eyes level with hers: “Bookworm, thanks.”

His response was a moderate punch from Xue Jiao—

“Lunatic!”

——

Today’s task was just to collect the report cards. Once that was done, they could leave. Cheng Ming Ze had come out earlier and was already waiting.

“Alright, I’m leaving. You go home and celebrate.” Xue Jiao said to Yi Tian Yu.

“Oh… see you next year.”

Xue Jiao rolled her eyes: “According to the Gregorian calendar, see you when school starts, Yu-Yi.”

Then she left.

Cheng Ming Ze unobtrusively watched them from a distance, his gaze deep.

When Xue Jiao approached, he opened the car door while casually asking: “Who was that just now?”

“My desk mate.”

“Oh… the one from the Yi family?”

“Mm.”

Cheng Ming Ze’s brow furrowed imperceptibly, and he said nothing more.

Yi Tian Yu was feeling a bit depressed now. According to the lunar calendar, wouldn’t it be next year when they met again?

Next year…

That seemed so damn far away.

But at least they would see each other again, right?

He watched the back of the car, his expression somewhat unpleasant.

At this moment, a familiar car stopped in front of him. The window rolled down, revealing Yi Da Fa’s face, with Yi’s mother visible in the passenger seat.

“Son? Why do you look so upset? Didn’t do well on the exam?” Yi Da Fa probed.

Year-end was busy, but they had still made time today to pick up their son and planned to go out for a celebratory meal.

Yi Tian Yu didn’t speak.

Yi’s mother was startled and quickly said: “It’s okay, it’s okay. If you didn’t do well, then you didn’t do well. It’s just temporary but still worth celebrating. After all, my son has been working so hard this month, we’ve all seen it!”

“That’s right, that’s right, don’t worry about it.” Yi Da Fa hastily added.

They were treading carefully, afraid of dampening Yi Tian Yu’s enthusiasm since he had genuinely studied hard this month.

Yi Tian Yu was somewhat speechless. He rolled his eyes, tossed his report card through the car window, then walked to the back and opened the rear door.

Yi Da Fa was momentarily confused but still hurriedly opened the report card.

As the card was fully revealed, Yi Da Fa’s eyes grew wider and wider, as if having a seizure, trembling for a moment, then—

“Ahhh!!! Ninety-nine!!!”

“What? Our son’s class has more than ninety students now?!” Yi’s mother exclaimed in shock.

“He’s ninety-ninth in the grade!!!” Yi Da Fa shouted back.

“Ahhhhhh—Really?! Son!!! My son!!!” Yi’s mother screamed in joy.

Yi Tian Yu covered his ears: “Keep it down…”

Yi Da Fa was still excited: “Son, son, you’re amazing! What do you want? Tell me, tell me! Whatever you want, tell Dad and I’ll buy it for you! Want a Lamborghini?”

“Give me a break, I don’t want one.” Yi Tian Yu rolled his eyes, thinking to himself, I wonder if that bookworm accepts New Year gifts?

What would be good to give her?

What do young girls like?

“Okay, okay! All money for you! New Year’s money for you!”

Yi Da Fa slapped his forehead: “Bonuses for all the teachers! Red envelopes!”

Yi Tian Yu continued rolling his eyes: “Give me a break, my score isn’t due to their efforts.”

“Then whose is it? Xue Jiao’s?” Yi Da Fa turned his head.

Yi Tian Yu suddenly felt a bit embarrassed.

“I know, I know. Our son has been sending WeChat messages every day reporting his review progress. The other side also sends him tasks. There are many materials with a girl’s handwriting on his desk, probably all made by Xue Jiao for our son!” Yi’s mother smiled.

Yi Tian Yu became angry: “Mom! You went through my things!”

Yi’s mother shrank her neck: “…” Exposed.

——

The Cheng household seemed somewhat quiet after the two children left. Li Si Tong glanced at the time and continued waiting in boredom.

Half an hour later, the phone rang.

“Hello! Sister Li? You’re here? I’ll come and pick you up now!”

She hurried out.

After a while, she returned with Li Shu and a young man dressed sloppily with an unhappy face.

Unlike Cheng Ming Ze and Xue Jiao’s good looks, Bai Hong Yi was quite ordinary. Due to his long-term irregular lifestyle and diet, he was slightly overweight, had quite a few pimples, and had a sleazy look that wasn’t very appealing.

Li Si Tong, accustomed to seeing Cheng Ming Ze and Xue Jiao’s faces, even momentarily thought this boy was… somewhat ugly.

Of course, she wouldn’t comment on his appearance, but moments later, he casually tossed his shoes aside, sauntered in, and sat down carelessly.

“Hong Yi! Greet people!” Li Shu reprimanded him, though her tone could hardly be considered stern.

“Oh, Aunt Li.”

“Hey! Hello, Hong Yi!”

Bai Hong Yi pursed his lips and said nothing more.

Li Shu smiled: “Si Tong, sorry for the trouble!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Li Si Tong also smiled politely. “Stay for a while, best to stay until Jiao Jiao and the others return for school!”

“Return for school?” Li Shu was taken aback, puzzled. “Where did they go?”

Li Si Tong smiled and said: “Sister Li, I almost forgot. I had originally thought the children could spend time together, but when I received the notice, I remembered that Ming Ze and Jiao Jiao had passed the first round of the math competition and went to Beijing for winter camp!”

“Huh?” Li Shu exclaimed in surprise, and then her expression became somewhat displeased.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Let the child stay. Cheng Shuo and I will set strict standards for him, just like we do for Ming Ze and Xue Jiao! If there are things he doesn’t understand, we can have Ming Jiao come over and teach him. Ming Jiao is also at the top of the grade!” Li Si Tong continued smiling, appearing very welcoming.

Li Shu was somewhat unhappy, but considering that the competition had been held long ago and the Cheng family couldn’t have known whether they would pass, she didn’t say anything. Their family atmosphere was good, capable of nurturing Cheng Ming Ze and Xue Jiao. Perhaps it would be good for Hong Yi to stay here for the holiday. It wasn’t far, so she could often come and check on him to make sure he wasn’t mistreated.

“Alright then, Hong Yi, you must behave while you’re here!”

“I know, aren’t you annoying!” Bai Hong Yi slouched, his eyes glued to his phone.

“Fine, fine, I know you find your mother annoying. I’ll leave now. Si Tong, please take care of him!”

“It’s no trouble, Sister Li’s son is my nephew, it’s only right!” Li Si Tong smiled sincerely.

After seeing Li Shu off, Li Si Tong returned to the living room, holding her phone and smiling: “Hong Yi! How did you do on your final exams?”

Without waiting for his answer, she continued: “Your brother Ming Ze and sister Xue Jiao both ranked first in the grade. You should learn from them. Believe in yourself, and you can also rank first!”

Bai Hong Yi instantly became extremely impatient. Why did this woman talk like a homeroom teacher? How annoying was that?

The homeroom teacher at school was annoying enough, and now he had to encounter another one at home.

“My grades are bad!” Bai Hong Yi said irritably.

“Oh, oh, Auntie knows, it’s okay. Just learn more from Jiao Jiao. Your mother told Auntie that it’s just because your attitude toward studying isn’t right. Xue Jiao would be reading books at this time. Come, Hong Yi, Auntie will take you to the study. You should be reading now.”

Study? Reading books?!

Bai Hong Yi widened his eyes, almost not believing his ears.

“Come, come, Auntie will take you.”

“I won’t go!”

Immediately, Li Si Tong’s face showed sadness. “Hong Yi, your mother said you would listen to me. Do you… not want to stay at Auntie’s house? Should I call your mother?”

Bai Hong Yi instantly thought of his cards that would be confiscated if he went back home. He suppressed his anger: “Lead the way!”

“Alright!” Li Si Tong responded and quickly led him to the study.

As soon as the door closed, Bai Hong Yi kicked the desk hard.

Reading? What the hell! He wasn’t going to read anything!

Li Si Tong didn’t care whether he read or not. After leaving the study, she went to rest.

In the evening, Cheng Shuo returned.

“Where’s Bai Hong Yi?”

“In the study.” Li Si Tong made a gesture of playing with a phone, and Cheng Shuo nodded.

Going upstairs, he pushed open the door directly. Sure enough, Bai Hong Yi was engrossed in playing games, completely ignoring whether anyone had entered.

Cheng Shuo walked over and unplugged the network cable.

“Fk your uncle!!!”

“Who is your uncle?!” Cheng Shuo’s face was serious as he said, “People in our family don’t like playing with phones, let alone playing games. So you can’t play games in my house either. Now hand over your phone and go downstairs for dinner.”

“I’ll let your mother’s…”

“Si Tong! Call his father!” Cheng Shuo said sternly.

“Bang—” Bai Hong Yi angrily smashed his phone and went downstairs.

Cheng Shuo followed him down. As they ate at the same table, Bai Hong Yi’s face looked extremely unpleasant.

To make matters worse, Li Si Tong was saying: “Ming Ze and Jiao Jiao always do a set of math problems after dinner before sleeping. Later, your Uncle Cheng will find some problems for you. Remember to do them before going to bed.”

“Bah!” Bai Hong Yi directly smashed his rice bowl, then returned upstairs and shut himself in the guest room.

Cheng Shuo calmly finished his meal, went upstairs, and entered the guest room.

“If you don’t eat dinner, then you’ll just have to go hungry tonight. You don’t have your phone now, so you can’t call your parents either. Now, do these exercises.”

After speaking, he found a set of exercises for Bai Hong Yi and handed them to the person on the bed. Bai Hong Yi tore them up with a few motions.

Li Si Tong, who had just come upstairs, began to nag: “Xue Jiao would never waste exercise papers. She thinks every sheet of exercises is valuable knowledge. Hong Yi, get up and finish them before sleeping! You should learn from…”

“You fing bch, shut up!” Bai Hong Yi threw off the blanket, got up, raised his fist, and swung it toward Li Si Tong.

Cheng Shuo blocked him and pressed him down onto the bed.

“I originally thought you were just disobedient, but I didn’t expect that your character was fundamentally flawed.”

“I’ll let—Ah!”

Cheng Shuo applied pressure with his hand and continued with a serious face: “It’s time to study.”

Bai Hong Yi looked defiant and seemed about to continue cursing. Cheng Shuo applied more pressure.

“Ow, ow, ow! I’ll read!” Bai Hong Yi screamed.

Only then did Cheng Shuo release his hand, forcing him to sit at the desk, opening a first-year high school math book, and watching as Bai Hong Yi read.

Yielding to force, Bai Hong Yi temporarily submitted tonight.

But what he didn’t realize was that today was just the beginning of “hell.”