Translator: _Min_
âThis is the most likely caseâ The grading teacher nodded, âThe scores are still higher than those of other students.â
Meanwhile, across the aisle, a male teacher leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at his screen.
He was mesmerized by an essay before him.
The handwriting was strikingly beautiful, resembling silver hooks and iron strokes, neat and elegant.
What made it even more precious was its unique style, not mimicking any known calligrapher.
However, the highlight wasnât the handwriting but the contentâthe essay was written in classical Chinese, employing ancient phrases with such ease that it didnât seem like a mere display of skill.
While itâs common for some to attempt essays in classical Chinese yearly, they often come off as stiff.
This one, however, flowed as if penned by an ancient scholar.
Taking a deep breath, the male teacher awarded a full score of 60.
He knew sleep would elude him tonight.
At that same moment, at the Ji residence, the household staff bustled about, tending to Ji Qingweiâs needs, with the chef preparing a nourishing feast.
Ji Qingyao paid no heed to anyone, packing her few belongings and heading out.
Ji Longtai was the only one who noticed her departure.
âYouâre leaving today?â Ji Longtai followed her out. âCanât you stay a couple more days? Your younger sister has missed you for so long, and now that youâre finally back, you wonât even spend time with her.â
âStay another two days?â Ji Qingyao responded coldly. âSo she can ruin her health crying over my departure and then blame me for her inability to participate in some joint exams?â
Ji Qingwei was still two months shy of eighteen, and they had never met.
Ji Longtai flew into a rage. âYour younger sisterâs concern for you is genuine, yet you choose to misinterpret her intentions so maliciously. Get lost! Just leave!â
Clutching the knife she had purchased, Ji Qingyao left without looking back, leaving Ji Longtai seething.
Inside the house, Ji Qingwei heard the commotion outside.
After finishing her medicine and coughing twice, she asked, âMother, whereâs sister?â
âShe had matters to attend to with the Thousand Army Alliance and has left,â Lady Ji frowned slightly. âDonât worry about her, focus on recuperating. You have the comprehensive exam tomorrow. â
Due to Ji Qingweiâs frail health, a teacher from Great Xia University Affiliated Middle School was specially arranged to proctor her exams at homeâa unique arrangement.
Ji Qingwei bit her lip. âMother, what if I donât do well? My heart hurt during the literature exam this morning, and I couldnât finish the essay.â
âHeart pain? What happened?â Lady Ji became anxious. âYou didnât vomit blood, did you? If it hurts, you shouldnât sit for the exam. Your abilities are clear to me; you can directly participate in the international joint exam without any issue.â
âI just wanted to try,â Ji Qingwei smiled faintly. âEven though my surname is Ji, I shouldnât receive special treatment.â
âMaster Mingdeng said you would recover by June this year,â Lady Ji reassured her. âThen, you can go out and enjoy yourself just like your sister.â
After consuming another bowl of medicine, Ji Qingwei lay down to rest.
Lady Ji, carrying the bowl out, spoke in a hushed tone, âIâve told you not to worry about her. She just canât stand to see us care for Qingwei. But she doesnât understand how much pain Qingwei endures daily.â
âIf only Qingwei had half the health of Qingyao,â Ji Longtai lamented. âDespite her brilliance, she canât live like a normal person.â
Ji Qingweiâs condition was peculiar, baffling doctors who could only sustain her with medication.
Master Mingdeng, the abbot of Guanghua Temple and a renowned figure in the Sijiu City elite circles, had Lady Jiâs confidence.
If he said Ji Qingyao would recover by mid-year, it must be true.
âIâd rather not deal with her,â Ji Longtai expressed his frustration. âSince she prefers being outdoors, let her fend for herself.â
âLet Qingwei rest quietly, especially with her exam tomorrow,â Lady Ji advised. âDonât mention her older sister and cause her unnecessary worry.â
Ji Longtai nodded in agreement.
Indeed, being raised apart meant no attachment had formed. His estate would not include Ji Qingyao.
Elsewhere, in An City.
âHow did todayâs exam go?â Ye Zhenmian offered two fruit platters. âYiâan, you didnât faint, did you?â
âNo,â Nian Yian replied listlessly. âThinking of saving Sister Qingqing some money, I managed not to faint, though I felt nauseous.â
He couldnât fathom why the world harbored such torturous questions.
Si Fuqing, with a hearty appetite, devoured three buns.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Ye Zhenmian, wiping her hands, went to answer it.
The corridorâs light fell upon the man at the door, casting his handsome features in half shadow, captivating all who saw him.
âMr. Yu?â Ye Zhenmian was taken aback. âCome in, Mr. Yu. Qingqing is having dinner. Iâll call her.â
âNo need,â Yu Xiheng smiled, raising his hand. âIâm just dropping something off. I wonât stay. Let her rest.â
Before Ye Zhenmian could respond, he had wheeled away.
Nian Yiâan was puzzled. âSister Qingqing, shouldnât you have been excited to greet him?â
âIâve set a goal for myself: ignore him for three days,â Si Fuqing took another bite of her bun. âA few hours to go; itâs not time yet.â
Nian Yian: â
He realized his cousin had suddenly become somewhat childish.
âSo, whatâs the deal between you and Mr. Yu?â Nian Yian was curious. âArenât you two on good terms?
Si Fuqing briefly recounted their situation, âHeâs deceived me several times, bullying me.â
Nian Yiâan gasped. âHeâs Jiu the God?!â
His other idol was also this close?
Si Fuqing glanced at him, unimpressed. âPlanning to switch sides?â âAh?â Nian Yiâan caught on. âNo, Iâm not.â
âIs that so?â Si Fuqing said calmly. âIf I find out youâve switched sides, once your wings have grown, Iâll clip them.â
Nian Yiâan: â
That was a bit too intimidating.
The next morning, Ye Zhenmian prepared meat floss, purple sweet potato, and taro rice balls, packing two for Nian Yiâan. âIâve added fish meat for Huanhuan.
She loves fish. Leave early today.â
Nian Yiâan agreed, delivering them to Lin Jihuan at school.
âWow! Desk mate, youâre the best,â Lin Jihuan, moved to tears, accepted the rice balls. âYour momâs cooking is so delicious. No wonder our schoolâs students flock to your place after class.â
Numerous schools surrounded Northern State No.l Middle School, from universities to elementary schools.
Ye Zhenmianâs restaurant had gained fame in just three months, attracting a steady stream of customers and increasing daily sales.
However, Nian Yiâan had always been discreet, with only Lin Jihuan knowing his family owned a restaurant.
âTodayâs comprehensive exam will probably see another wave of students carted off in ambulances,â Lin Jihuan finished the rice balls quickly. âLetâs go, letâs take the exam.â
Nian Yiâan had taken stomach medicine, hoping not to vomit in the exam hall.
Si Fuqing, fully equipped, entered the examination room, quickly and steadily completing her answers and once again handing in her paper early.
Her fellow examinees were unsettled.
The comprehensive examâs difficulty, especially in physics, surpassed even mathematics.
Some students regretted choosing physics.
Ambulances indeed transported several students away.
The afternoonâs English exam offered no relief, challenging from start to finish, with the listening section being particularly brutal.
The sealed exams were delivered to Great Xia University.
The comprehensive and English groupsâ teachers had intended to rest, considering paper grading wasnât urgent.
However, the literature and math groupsâ teachers rushed over, urging them to grade faster.
âDo you understand? Thereâs a perfect score in math this time! Hurry and grade; I want to see who it is.â
âA perfect score in math? We have one in literature too. Iâm also waiting to see the name.â
The teachers from both groups exchanged glances, pulling out the test papers and projecting them onto the large screen simultaneously.
Their gazes locked, both parties fell silent at the same moment. The handwriting on the two test papers was identical in style..