Confessing To The School Queen In Front Of The Whole School - Chapter 21.2

Toward the end, another teacher asked that profound question: “How come there are no failing papers?” They were almost done. There weren’t many papers left. Could it be that all of Class 8’s papers were right here? They nervously started grading the last papers. After a final exchange, they stared at each other in shock: “Are you saying that not a single student in High School Year 1 failed the mid-term exam?”

This was tremendous news! Worth celebrating!

Teacher Ji was stunned. Others also voiced their doubts and questions. Impossible. This would mean Class 8 had also collectively passed. But how could Class 8 collectively pass?

They all thought of two words: cheating!

Would someone cheat at No. 1 High School? And would an entire class cheat together? The invigilating teacher for Class 8 turned red with anxiety: “No one cheated! I was watching them!”

Everyone looked at Old Yang again. He was still calm, neither happy nor surprised, completely serene, as if he had known all along. All for this moment, to astound everyone. A Trip to Grandpa’s House

After the exams, as was customary, Xia Meng’s mother took time off work to take her and her brother out. Wearing sunglasses and bright red lipstick, she said, “Tell me, darling, where do you want to go?”

Xia Ning knew that “darling” was only for Xia Meng.

Xia Meng didn’t want to go out but wanted to cherish the time with her mother: “I think staying home is great.” She really didn’t want to go out. What was so fun about the outside? Just visiting tourist spots, and because of the tight schedule, they’d rush back after flying there for a quick look. She’d rather go see Tao Yun.

But she couldn’t have both Tao Yun and her mother. This was the first time Xia Meng had asked herself a genuine question: Tao Yun or her mother?

Xia Meng’s mother was clearly annoyed: “What’s so fun about home? Unless you bring that girl back for me to see.”

Xia Ning was also curious about the kind of girl his sister liked: “I agree!”

Xia Meng: “…” She mumbled quietly, “We’re just friends.”

Xia Meng’s mother glared: “You don’t want to chase her because you haven’t caught her yet? Bad luck!”

System:

Bad luck!

Shut up!

Xia Meng thought the System was the one with bad luck. The System hadn’t issued any tasks during the exam period, and now the countdown was only a little over ten hours. That was truly bad luck.

She squatted at home and wasn’t going anywhere: “What’s there to see? Besides, Dad isn’t here.” Meeting the parents had to be when both parents were present, right? Xia Meng snuck a smile, hiding her face with a cushion on the sofa. Anyway, if Dad wasn’t around, bringing Tao Yun back would just be an ordinary friend visiting!

System:

Then bring Tao Yun over, ha

For some reason, the System had been incredibly jealous of Tao Yun lately. Xia Meng figured it was influenced by this broken System. The task hadn’t refreshed for a while. Thinking of this, Xia Meng cursed “bad luck” again.

Xia Meng’s mother was momentarily speechless: “It’s touching that you’re thinking of your father. His hard work to earn money and raise you wasn’t in vain.”

Speaking of which, it had been a while since their father had been home. He rarely came home before, but this time was truly a long absence, so long that after Xia Meng’s mother finished speaking, she also didn’t really want to go out. What was fun about the outside? Home was more comfortable. Fine, Xia Meng’s mother took off her sunglasses.

Just as Xia Meng thought she was getting her way, her mother remembered something and put her sunglasses back on: “It’s been a while since I saw your grandpa. Let’s go visit the old man.”

Xia Meng: “…” She couldn’t refuse that.

The two siblings went upstairs to prepare. They might stay overnight at Grandpa’s house. Xia Ning knocked on his sister’s door. When Xia Meng opened it, she saw her brother leaning casually against the door frame: “Tell me honestly, how far have you gone with that girl?” He was dying of curiosity. If it weren’t for the mid-term exams recently, Xia Ning would have cornered his sister and pressed her for details.

What kind of girl was she to make his timid and lazy sister actively confess, causing such a stir that even their mother knew about it? This could be his future sister-in-law! Xia Ning gripped the door frame. Seriously, he really, really wanted to know!

“Tell me quickly, or I’ll ask Mom to drive straight to that girl’s house!” Given their mother’s personality, she was entirely capable of doing that!

Xia Meng looked at Xia Ning in a panic: “Brother, you’re so despicable!”

Xia Ning: “…Learn how to use adjectives!”

Xia Meng scratched her head. She had thought about how to explain things to her mother, but her mother never asked much. Over time, she stopped thinking about it and forgot the carefully prepared draft. She had to improvise.

How far have they gone? Both sides seemed to have taken a big step forward, but they were actually still stuck in place. Saying they were friends was the most logical explanation. Xia Meng pouted, feeling sad: “Do you also think I’m bad luck?”

Xia Ning: ??? He pondered for a long time before remembering what their mother had said: “You mean you’re not going to pursue her anymore?”

Xia Meng: “We’re getting along very happily right now.”

Xia Ning thought the word despicable should be changed to humble and given back to his foolish sister. “You can’t give up just because you’re getting along happily right now. You have to think about the future.”

“The future?” Xia Meng’s eyes widened. The future was—she had promised Tao Yun she would watch her Physics Competition!

Xia Meng suddenly panicked. She pushed Xia Ning out and closed the door again, pacing around the room. She was about to visit her grandpa. She only had a little over ten hours left. She didn’t know if she could still delay the time. No, it must be delayed, because she promised. Even if she couldn’t delay it, she should tell Tao Yun. She couldn’t break her word.

Xia Meng pulled out her phone. First, she would ask Tao Yun to meet up. The phone kept ringing, but Tao Yun didn’t pick up. She must have been busy with something.

Xia Meng held the phone. Finally, the call was connected. Tao Yun’s voice was slightly breathless. She must have been exercising, maybe running. The fact that she was breathing heavily meant she was definitely busy.

Xia Meng: “I—”

System:

You have two options.

The System always issued a task at this time. Xia Meng changed her tone: “Are you busy?”

Tao Yun and the System’s voice rang out simultaneously: “Mhm, a little busy.”

Option 1: Invite Tao Yun to go to your grandpa’s house together. Task Reward: 48 hours of survival time

Option 2: None.

This was a very friendly task. The reward time was generous, and there was no penalty. Xia Meng swallowed. Thinking of her mother’s words, she felt like her question would sound wrong.

She asked, with a slight change of tone: “I’m going to my grandpa’s house. Grandpa’s house is very big. Do you want to come and play with me?”

Tao Yun’s breathing calmed down. She didn’t think much of it. “I’m a little busy right now…”

“Oh—”

Xia Meng felt a little pitiful, rejected. Even the incoming survival time couldn’t lift her mood: “Then I’ll come find you.” In short, she really, really wanted to see Tao Yun. Even if she couldn’t attend Tao Yun’s Physics Competition, she still wanted to accompany her in her efforts.

Tao Yun chuckled: “Aren’t you going to see your grandpa? Go first.”

Xia Meng hummed, a little nasal: “Okay.” She was very obedient to Tao Yun. When Tao Yun spoke, she couldn’t help but do as tell. Xia Meng packed her things and went downstairs. Her mother and Xia Ning both noticed her low spirits.

“How about we don’t go today?”

Xia Meng: “No, I want to see Grandpa.”

System:

Host.

Xia Meng’s mother drove the siblings to Grandpa’s house. Grandpa lived in a large compound with many elderly people. His usual life consisted of gardening, playing chess with other seniors, and living a very fulfilling life. Xia Meng looked out the car window.

Don’t be sad.

The System said.

The compound wasn’t very far from the Xia family home, about an hour and a half drive. This hour and a half made the System quite anxious.

Grandpa’s Courtyard

The phone call was disconnected. Tao Yun checked the battery: thirty percent. She should have continued charging, but thinking of Xia Meng’s wronged voice, Tao Yun ruthlessly unplugged the charger so she wouldn’t miss her messages.

In the courtyard, the voices of several elderly men could be heard. There were differences between old men; there was the unreasonable one at home, and then there were the energetic and friendly ones in the courtyard. Tao Yun had just been helping pull weeds in the yard, working diligently without complaint.

Now, back in the courtyard, she heard Mr. Ji’s voice: “Checkmate!” Mr. Ji swept his hand, slamming the chess piece onto the board, which annoyed the old man opposite him: “It’s checkmate, just say it! Why shout so loud!” He put away the board, not because Mr. Ji’s shout startled him, but because he was unhappy about losing to Mr. Ji.

Tao Yun went to pour them some tea. Mr. Ji was Teacher Ji’s father and was half a benefactor to Tao Yun. She had come to him this time hoping he would teach her physics. He was much smarter than Teacher Ji. Tao Yun brewed a pot of tea to calm their tempers, worried that the old men would get angry over the chess game. It wasn’t worth it. She brought the tea over, and the two old men had already set up the board again, playing with intense focus.

She didn’t understand chess very well, only that the two were playing a difficult match, and it was hard to say who would win. Mr. Ji saw Tao Yun approaching: “Put it there.” Several other old men were sitting next to the board, offering suggestions from time to time. Seeing Tao Yun bring tea, they all chuckled: “Old Man Ji, the girl rarely comes over, so don’t just focus on playing chess!”

“Hurry up and step down, let me play a few rounds!”

Mr. Ji didn’t look up: “Let me win one more round.”

The old man playing opposite him’s eyes lit up. He grabbed a piece: “Aha! Let’s see how you win this time!” This move must have been good, as Tao Yun heard cheers from the others.

When she got old, she also wanted to live in a large compound like this, chatting and sunbathing with a group of old ladies. And doing some gardening. Tao Yun went back to pulling weeds. Xia Meng probably wouldn’t like gardening; she was too delicate. Lin Ruoruo, though, could be ordered around.

After an unknown amount of time, Tao Yun heard a car horn outside. She looked up and saw a cold, glamorous beauty steps out of the car. Time had not aged her a bit, and her demeanor was commanding as she walked.

She looked at the old men playing chess in the courtyard: “Dad, I’m here to see you.” She was calling out to the old man opposite Mr. Ji. This time, it was that old man who said, “Don’t rush, let me win this round first.”

The beauty was followed by two others, her children. They were twins, each with a smile-like expression on their faces, looking like little cherubic good-luck charms, very endearing. The girl among them looked a bit listless, but the moment she stepped into the courtyard, she broke out into a big smile and greeted her grandfather.

“Grandpa!”

The girl turned her head and saw Tao Yun.