Chapter 128: The Toyed-With Goddaughter (3)
Yu Nian was a high school senior. School started right after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year. While other students were looking forward to the Lantern Festival, she was already drowning in a sea of practice exams.
Small tests every other day, weekly tests, monthly exams, and mock exams interspersed throughout. Since the start of the semester, she hadn’t returned to Pearl Manor, even applying to stay at school during weekends when other students went home. But before the mock exams, Yu Wanru called her back home.
“I’ve seen your scores. You’re still not reaching the level needed for the top two universities in the country, your performance is inconsistent—I told you to go straight to the foreign language school, but you refused, insisting on coming to this lousy school. Thankfully, you’ve already passed the AP and SAT exams. Take the TOEFL again this year, I’ve already had someone write your recommendation letters. These two schools, one is an Ivy League, the other, although not ranked, is excellent for business—”
Yu Nian understood what Yu Wanru meant. She glanced at the university brochures, their beautiful pictures and prestigious names, but she still interrupted:
“Mom, I’ve told you I don’t want to study abroad.”
If she hadn’t been busy with those exams during her first and second years of high school, her grades wouldn’t be fluctuating now. She had only started focusing on the regular curriculum in her final year. So, in her opinion, the mock exam scores weren’t a reliable indicator of her abilities.
Yu Wanru looked at her, her gaze as imposing as ever.
After a moment, as if remembering something, she said calmly: “I remember there’s a parent-teacher meeting after the second mock exam, but I’ll be in Europe on business, I won’t be able to attend.”
“I know,” Yu Nian replied calmly.
Despite her mental preparation, whether it was the stress of the new year or her resistance to Yu Wanru’s pressure, Yu Nian developed a low-grade fever before the mock exams, which turned into a high fever on the day of the exam, affecting her performance. Her score was even lower than the first mock exam.
As a top student, she was highly valued by the school, a prime candidate for the top two university spots. Not only her homeroom teacher, Zhou Yiming, but even the grade director showered her with concern, checking on her constantly after seeing her lower score.
Before the parent-teacher meeting, even though Yu Nian had told him that her parents wouldn’t be attending, Zhou Yiming still called Su Mingxiu, hoping for a miracle.
“Teacher Zhou,” a cheerful voice answered, as warm and gentle as a spring breeze.
Zhou Yiming had met Yu Nian’s “Little Mom” a few times. Even though same-sex marriage wasn’t uncommon now, he could still sense the underlying tension in this wealthy family, judging from Su Mingxiu’s youthful appearance and slightly arrogant demeanor. But thinking about Yu Nian’s quiet and seemingly introverted personality, he still explained about the parent-teacher meeting.
“Although Yu Nian has informed us that her parents are busy and won’t be able to attend, this is the last chance for the school to communicate with parents about their children’s progress before the college entrance exam. Yu Nian is a very bright student, and we all hope that she can be in her best condition, both at school and at home, to prepare for the exam…”
Teacher Zhou rambled on.
After he finished, he wondered if the person on the other end was still there, if they had the patience to listen to his nagging.
But to his surprise, that cheerful voice replied in a timely manner: “Okay, Teacher Zhou, I’ll be there.”
“Of course, if you’re really not… Hmm? You’re saying you’ll be there? Then, this Saturday at 7 PM, the meeting will be held in Class 1’s classroom. Thank you for coming.”
After hanging up, Su Mingxiu looked at her phone, wondering if she should inform Yu Nian in advance.
But thinking about the child’s sharp tongue, she decided against it, wanting to surprise her.
Saturday.
Su Mingxiu’s only car, a bright red Ferrari, stood out among the sensible SUVs parked near the school. She got out of the car, her elegant demeanor and designer clothes attracting the attention of other parents and passing students.
But she didn’t mind, walking straight towards the senior high school building. She stopped a student. “Excuse me, where does Yu Nian sit?”
At the same time, the class group chat exploded with exclamation marks.
“Report!! Yu Nian’s stunningly beautiful parent is here again!”
“What are you waiting for, give us the coordinates!”
“Wuwuwu, I’m going to ask Yu Nian if she needs a partner, the kind who can call that beauty ‘Mommy’!”
Seeing the messages, Dong Lin, who had just left the cafeteria, nudged Yu Nian. “Seriously? Are you trying to hide her from me?”
Yu Nian: “?”
Yu Nian: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Dong Lin showed her the phone screen. Yu Nian, reading the messages, frowned in confusion, then, catching the keywords, her expression changed, and she ran towards the classroom building.
Dong Lin, startled, chased after her. “Why are you running?”
But Yu Nian didn’t answer. Reaching the classroom, seeing that the homeroom teacher had already started speaking, she quickly walked to Su Mingxiu’s side through the back door, placed her report card on the desk without a word, then left.
Su Mingxiu, resting her chin on her hand, glanced at the report card, seeing the class rank: 3, grade rank: 3, and sat up straighter, intrigued.
Just then, the parent beside her also saw the report card and said enviously: “You’re Yu Nian’s older sister, right? It’s so nice to have such a smart child.”
Su Mingxiu smiled politely, then realized that Yu Nian’s deskmate was Dong Lin. Compared to Yu Nian’s single-digit ranking, Dong Lin’s three-digit rank seemed less impressive.
She suddenly remembered praising Dong Lin for being “smart” in front of Yu Nian, her smile deepening.
The homeroom teacher on the podium quickly captured the parents’ attention, giving a brief report on the second mock exam, then inviting the other subject teachers to speak. After that, he gave a lecture on educational psychology, emphasizing the importance of reducing students’ stress and not burdening them with excessive expectations.
After the lengthy meeting, it was already 9 PM, time for the parents to talk to the teachers individually.
Zhou Yiming approached Su Mingxiu first, explaining that Yu Nian’s performance had been affected by her illness, that based on her usual performance, her score should have been twenty or thirty points higher. He tried to reassure Su Mingxiu, giving her confidence.
As he spoke, the usually talkative homeroom teacher stammered slightly, his eyes fixed on the student’s file, not daring to look at Su Mingxiu. He was a dedicated teacher, his only concern the student’s academic performance.
“Thank you for your concern, Teacher Zhou.”
She nodded, her tone polite and respectful, unlike the original owner’s usual dismissiveness and arrogance.
So Teacher Zhou continued: “I know that she focused on preparing for overseas exams during her first two years. Although I don’t know the results, based on her current level of knowledge, she’s definitely capable of getting into the top two universities in the country by the college entrance exam in June. The quality of domestic education is excellent now, even if she doesn’t study abroad, she can still become a very successful individual.”
This was information Su Mingxiu hadn’t found in the original owner’s memories. She quickly realized that the original owner, whose mind was filled with designer brands and the latest fashion trends, wouldn’t have cared about such things, even if she had heard them.
As if worried about overstepping, Teacher Zhou added: “Of course, I won’t interfere with the student and her family’s decisions. If there’s a better plan, I fully support it.”
Actually, the school had given him quotas and pressure—
But Zhou Yiming believed that what the student wanted was most important.
Su Mingxiu wasn’t the clueless original owner. From the moment she entered the school, she had guessed the pressure these teachers in ordinary high schools faced. She thanked Teacher Zhou sincerely and prepared to leave.
Yu Nian had been waiting by the back door. Seeing Su Mingxiu leave, she followed her. “I’ll walk you out.”
“You’re not going to ask why I’m here?”
Su Mingxiu looked her up and down, confirming that she was healthy, then looked away, glancing at the bulletin board by the classroom.
Yu Nian followed her gaze. She was wearing the same blue and white striped school uniform as the other students, an ugly design.
But even in this unflattering outfit, she looked like a model on a runway.
Su Mingxiu alone was already eye-catching. With Yu Nian beside her, they turned heads wherever they went.
But Yu Nian, like Su Mingxiu, didn’t care about other people’s gazes. “Teacher Zhou is talkative and kind, he must have called you.”
Su Mingxiu turned to look at her, feeling that this world’s little one…
…seemed much more mature.
So, intrigued, she asked: “What do you think?”
Yu Nian remained silent as they walked down the stairs, only the clicking of Su Mingxiu’s high heels echoing in the air. Yu Nian noticed the thin, stiletto heels, wondering if they would break.
After confirming that Su Mingxiu was walking steadily, they left the building, and Yu Nian finally spoke, her voice soft. “What I think… does it matter to you?”
The person walking beside her stopped.
Su Mingxiu understood the underlying meaning. “You want to study in the country, but Yu Wanru disagrees?”
Under the streetlights, Yu Nian’s light brown eyes were like ancient amber, staring at her intently, a gaze that made Su Mingxiu feel strangely uneasy.
She didn’t want to get involved in their family matters. After all, the original owner had been part of that dysfunctional family.
But before she could think of a response, Yu Nian looked away, her expression as indifferent as before, as if the trust and probing in her earlier gaze had been an illusion.
Su Mingxiu clicked her tongue, then suddenly said: “For all the times you’ve called me ‘Mom’—”
“How about this, if you get into a top two university, I’ll sell my bags and support you?”
What was with this condescending tone?
Yu Nian looked at her with disgust, then replied with a deadpan expression: “If I get into a top two university, I’ll get a 300,000 yuan scholarship, I can support myself.”
“Oh,” Su Mingxiu mimicked her expressionless tone. “Then why are you pretending to be troubled?”
Yu Nian realized that she was actually discussing money with Su Mingxiu.
She looked around, not seeing any flashy cars, guessing that Su Mingxiu had parked in the lot. She walked towards it, Su Mingxiu following behind.
After a while…
The high school student turned around. “How many?”
“What?”
“If I get in, how many bags will you sell to support me?”
Su Mingxiu, surprised that she was still thinking about this, glanced at her. “One.”
“Hmm?” Yu Nian decided to pretend she hadn’t asked such a stupid question.
The person walking behind her replied casually: “A Birkin—but you have to take care of me in my old age.”
Hearing this, Yu Nian wasn’t surprised at all. This woman would never make a loss. She had been foolish to think that this miser would actually spend money on her.
But…
Strangely, in this absurd conversation, she felt that Su Mingxiu’s offer might actually be genuine.
On their way to the parking lot, they passed a small street with convenience stores, fast food restaurants, and milk tea shops, their businesses dependent on high school students who were tired of the school cafeteria, playing hide-and-seek with the security guards. They followed the students’ school schedule, closing during holidays.
Yu Nian saw a small flower shop, its entrance filled with cheap bouquets of wilting flowers.
She remembered the Damask roses Yu Wanru had ordered during the New Year and, for some reason, suddenly asked Su Mingxiu: “What kind of flowers do you like?”
Consider it a thank you for attending the parent-teacher meeting, she thought.
It wasn’t even a special occasion…
Su Mingxiu, although confused, still replied: “Roses, peonies, lotuses, lilies…”
Before she could finish, Yu Nian had already walked away. Su Mingxiu could only chuckle and wait. After a while, the girl returned, holding a bouquet of carnations.
The flower shops near the school were small businesses. With Valentine’s Day long past, they only stocked lilies, carnations, and water lilies, the kind usually given to teachers.
Not finding any roses, and unable to have them airlifted like Yu Wanru, Yu Nian pretended to be nonchalant as she thrust the bouquet into Su Mingxiu’s arms.
“It’s almost March,” she said. “Happy Women’s Day in advance.”
Su Mingxiu: “…”
Su Mingxiu: “??”
She looked at Yu Nian, then at the carnations in her arms.
She suddenly wanted to throw the flowers in the child’s face.
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