Chapter 41.2

Gu Jia Jia was still chattering away. 

“Sigh… our child’s school has recently changed their teachers with increasing frequency and the quality of the teachers has significantly reduced. I’m so worried that Yuan Yuan will be affected by all the changes. This is making me fret to no end.”

“This girl, she recently scored 658 points in her examinations and the teachers even said that she stood a chance to qualify for Qing Bei. However, I have the intention to transfer her to another school. This caused her teachers to protest and the principal calls me every day trying to change my mind. There are also several schools vying to have her join them.”

Although Gu Jia Jia’s words were phrased as a complaint, it was not difficult to tell that she was very proud of her child.

“Our Yuan Yuan is so outstanding, those schools are not good enough for her. Cousin, we came today hoping to see if you can arrange a place in Fu Middle School for Yuan Yuan?” 

One should not assume that it was easy to get a placement in Fu Middle School based on Gu Mu Yang’s ‘simple arrangement’ for Gu Jing Yuan and Tao Yi Xi. In fact, not everyone could secure a place despite spending lots of money. One also needed to have connections. 

They need to have strong connections. Otherwise, Gu Jia Jia would not have come to seek Gu Mu Yang for this favor. 

Fortunately, her daughter pulled through and did well, scoring more than 600 points on the last semester’s test. This gave her the confidence to put forward her request.

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Fbl oyp yrryaldvzu alqlaakdt vs psxlsdl. 

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Tao Yi Xi could still smile calmly, not paying any attention to the nonsense that the lady spewed.

Perhaps it was because they sat to the side, Gu Jia Jia did not take notice of Gu Jing Yuan’s expression turning worse, or perhaps it was because no one interrupted her and she became more engrossed in what she had to say. 

“As a girl, one still needs to have some qualifications. What’s the use of just being beautiful? Sooner or later, the beauty will fade and one would get tossed aside for having no substance.” 

Xia Yan frowned. She was not so dense that she could not tell that Gu Jia Jia was indirectly degrading Tao Yi Xi; she was judging her based on her appearance, and she was talking about her daughter while indirectly criticizing her.

She took a peek at Gu Mu Yang’s nonchalant face, there was no fluctuation in his expression.

She pouted but also decided to let it slide. Without Gu Mu Yang taking the lead, no matter how upset she was about the situation, she would never dare to stand up and offend a relative of the Gu family.

Xia Yan knew that she and her daughter were the ones with the least say in this family.    

“Tch.”

A snigger broke through Gu Jia Jia’s self-righteous monologue. 

Tao Yi Xi sighed softly. In the end, she failed to stop him. 

She gave him a hard pinch. Taking advantage of the fact that he released her hand due to the pain, she withdrew her hand while taking the cushion together, bringing it to her front. 

If a person was astute, they would notice that the fingertips on the hand that was further away were pale. While the fingertips of the other hand were pinkish, obviously having traces of being warmed.  

Without her nearby, Gu Jing Yuan leaned leisurely against the sofa with his arms folded in front of his chest. His thin lips lifted mockingly.

“Aren’t you ashamed to take the number one spot with such a score?”

Gu Jia Jia was choked by his words, “Jing Yuan, you must not know how high a score of 658 is.”

As a retained student, what rights do you have to speak?

As Gu Jia Jia had always been pampered and protected when she was raised, she did not know how to hide her thoughts from her face. The insinuation of her thoughts was revealed for all to see.

Gu Jing Yuan did not care the slightest as he continued, “Then do you know how much our top student scored in Fu Middle School?”

“How many points?”

“738.”

“Indeed, Fu Middle School produces students of such caliber. Such an outstanding student, the next time when Yuan Yuan joined the school, she would learn from their example,” Gu Jia Jia laughed dryly.

“There’s no need to wait till then. Our top student is sitting right in front of you,” Gu Jing Yuan raised his chin, looking somewhat aloof and proud.

“What?”

“Oh, and about that provincial mathematic competition, the top two places came from our Fu Middle School, and one belongs to her. If all goes well, she would definitely secure a place in the national competition. Last time I overheard our teachers saying that Qing Bei were both fighting for her to choose their respective schools,” he stated.

“Tsk, Tao Yi Xi, why are you so popular?”

The family stared wide-eyed at Tao Yi Xi’s tranquil expression in complete bafflement. 

Unlike her parents, who might not understand the full implications, Wang Yuan Yuan’s heart fell into turmoil.

It turned out that she was Tao Yi Xi.

The top two winners of the competition this time around belonged to Fu Middle School. Chen Ze was a name that students from other schools had long been familiar with. As long as there was an inter-school examination or competition, he would beat them all into the dust.

The rumored Tao Yi Xi was said to rival Chen Ze. This unfamiliar name drew more people’s attention.

In the era of social media, one could browse a few forums of Fu Middle School to gather some information about her.

She was a transfer student from a suburban city who managed to surpass Chen Ze and take the number one spot.

Compared to Chen Ze, she was an even more powerful Study God. 

Wang Yuan Yuan scrutinized Tao Yi Xi carefully. The dissonance within her heart grew bigger and she was about to be swallowed up by her jealousy.

How could she have forgotten that when she searched up Tao Yi Xi, the first thing that came up was – Fu Middle School’s Campus Flower.

Because the photos were taken secretly to be circulated in the forum, they turned out a little blurry. Even so, it could not conceal her beauty. Wang Yuan Yuan had just casually assumed that it was just another girl that shared the exact same name. 

She shared the same mindset as her mother and did not believe that there were people who were born beautiful and capable.

Yet, the reality was enough to slap her face.

She hated that God was so unfair. 

Gu Jia Jia was skeptical at first, “That’s impossible.”

Gu Jing Yuan noticed Wang Yuan Yuan’s constantly changing expression and knew that she already had the answers.

“You don’t have to believe me, just ask your daughter. She has such good grades, so she should be very familiar with who her competitors are.”

She had expected Wang Yuan Yuan to give her a negative answer, but Wang Yuan Yuan nodded her head ever so slightly.

The person who spoke the most just now currently dare not open her mouth again. 

To brandish a broadsword in the presence of Lord Guan¹To make a fool of oneself by showing off in front of an expert., the person of ridicule had switched. 

After Gu Jing Yuan finished speaking, he was too lazy to even glance at Gu Jia Jia. He did not gloat after delivering the face-slapping news. He just wore his slippers and turned to Tao Yi Xi in boredom, “Tao Yi Xi, let’s go. I have a question I can’t answer.”

Having been forced into the limelight to show off her study prowess, Tao Yi Xi, herself, did not have much chance to speak. So she just maintained a polite smile from start to finish. She nodded at the group and followed behind Gu Jing Yuan as he left.

There was a heavy and sharp gaze that was piercing into her back. She did not need to turn around to guess who that heated gaze belonged to.

“Cousin, I didn’t expect this unwan-, girl to be so outstanding,” Gu Jia Jia praised dryly.

How did this happen? It could be seen that the relationship between Gu Jing Yuan and this stepmother of his was not good, so why was he so protective of this unwanted child of hers?

Gu Mu Yang’s expression was dark but he remain silent as he continued watching Gu Jia Jia’s one-man show.

People did not need to use much brainpower to understand her childish thoughts. 

“Tao Yi Xi is quite good. It’s partially because of her that Jing Yuan’s grades have improved.” 

“Oh I see, I didn’t realize she was useful in that way.”

The two finally escaped from the adults and fled back to the room.

Looking at her, he stepped closer and played with her hands freely.

It had only been how long? Her hands were cold again. 

Freeing one of his hands, he reached for the air conditioner remote. 

Whenever she came over to his room, he would always need to increase the heat setting.

Tao Yi Xi clenched her fingers, “Why did you speak up for me just now.”

“I can’t stand their snarky and arrogant behaviors. Besides, what I said is the truth, why should I be afraid of them?” 

She pondered for a moment before saying, “Thank you.”

She was ridiculed, and her own mother did not step forth to defend her.

Only he would act so unbridledly and always be willing to stand up for her. Time and again, according to what she expected, but also going beyond what she originally imagined.   

Lowering her gaze, she read through the practice paper while her heart was in turmoil.

She wondered what would happen when one day he realized that she treated him as a Guinea pig for an experiment, manipulated his weaknesses, and played with his emotions.