Chapter 181: 175 Slap in the Face Part 2, Emperor Ying Shows His Power【2 More Updates】

While the Mu family has a General’s Background, over the years, their business ventures have already propelled them to become the strongest commercial empire in the imperial capital.

Not to mention the four major noble families of Shanghai City, those business families in the imperial capital also have to build good relationships with the Mu family.

“You’re talking about Chen Zhou? Today he went to Verdant with Wanwan, said he wanted to look around the campus,” Madam Mu smiled, “You know how young people are, always active. We can’t really control them.”

“I see,” Zhong Manhua felt a bit uncomfortable, “Sister-in-law, thank you for taking care of everything these days. I am planning on bringing Chen Zhou back to the Ying Family.”

It was true that the Zhong Family was her maternal family, but since she had married into the Ying Family, she had to consider the Ying Family’s interests.

“Bring him back?” Lady Zhong’s face soured instantly, “Why suddenly take him back? Wasn’t it you who said that you were afraid the foster daughter would clash with Chen Zhou, and that’s why you sent him to the Zhong Family in the first place?”

Zhong Manhua felt embarrassed and awkward: “Zijin has already moved out, there is no more clashing.”

“Moved out?” Lady Zhong was surprised, “Isn’t she the one you brought over from the small county town? You actually let her move out?”

Zhong Manhua did not answer, merely saying, “Chen Zhou was personally handed over to me by Madam Mu, he should still be with the Ying Family.”

“Manhua, that’s not right of you,” Lady Zhong was also firm, “Xiao Xuan is overseas, and there is no one from the Ying Family close to Chen Zhou’s age. Do you want him to be bored and lonely all by himself?”

“I think it’s better this way. Let Wanwan be with her for now, and when Xiao Xuan comes back, then it wouldn’t be too late for Chen Zhou to go to the Ying Family.”

To have married into the Zhong Family, Lady Zhong was not someone to be trifled with.

A chance to get close to the Mu family had been handed to her by Zhong Manhua; how could she possibly let go?

Zhong Manhua opened her mouth but couldn’t think of a good reason, so she could only agree: “Alright then, Xiao Xuan will be back by mid-June, it’s not many days away.”

Lady Zhong frowned slightly.

So soon?

It’s already May 31st today.

Lady Zhong’s thoughts spun, and she had already made up her mind, then laughed again: “Alright, let’s do that.”

**

Noon.

During lunch, Wen Tinglan only ate rice, not touching the dishes even once.

It seemed he had once again retreated into his protective shell, refusing to communicate with the outside world.

Wen Tinglan’s mood had been off for the past couple of days, and even though he tried to hide it, it was impossible for Ying Zijin not to notice.

She had studied micro-expressions, and even if something flickered by in a fifth of a second, she could catch it.

“I’m fine,” Wen Tinglan said when she asked him about it, just gripping his chopsticks tighter, “The college entrance exam is near, and I’m under a lot of pressure.”

Ying Zijin went silent for a moment.

Although Wen Tinglan had almost fully recovered, he still habitually isolated his emotions, unwilling to talk about anything.

That time when she was bitten by a snake, Wen Tinglan semi-carried her to the hospital, severely spraining his own ankle in the process, yet he never uttered a complaint.

“If there is anything, tell your sister,” Ying Zijin gave him an apple, “Keeping it to yourself is not good for your condition.”

“I really am fine,” Wen Tinglan lowered his head, “Sister, go rest. You’ve only just been in a car accident; I’m perfectly okay.”

Ying Zijin didn’t ask again; she knew persistence might be counterproductive.

She picked up her chopsticks and served him some dishes.

Then, after finishing a mouthful of rice, Wen Tinglan broke the silence, “Sis, are you really cutting ties with the Ying Family forever?”

“Yeah, no more,” Ying Zijin leaned back lazily in her chair, “I can be beaten up now.”

The young man’s expression slightly shattered.

“You reminded me,” Ying Zijin pondered, “Starting tomorrow, you’ll run five kilometers with me every day to get in shape.”

The young man’s expression completely broke.

He shouldn’t have spoken to his sister.

What bad luck.

**

Wen Tinglan returned to his class dispirited, took out the pillow and earplugs that Ying Zijin had prepared for him, and began his studies.

Ying Zijin stood outside the doorway of the Elite Class for a while before calling over the class president.

The class president, also a boy, was somewhat reserved, “Hello, Sister.”

Although the students in the third year of high school were all older than Ying Zijin, they got used to calling her sister following Wen Tinglan.

They also knew that in the midterms of second year, someone from the Elite Class had scored a full mark, an abnormal occurrence.

They were more than willing to call her grandma, not just sister, if they could learn something from her.

Ying Zijin glanced at Wen Tinglan and spoke softly, “Sorry to bother you, let’s talk over there.”

The class president scratched his head and followed her.

“Has something happened these past days?” Ying Zijin asked, “Xiao Lan seems off.”

“Sister, please don’t tell Tinglan that we told you.” The class president hesitated before speaking, “Sister, you know the school has three interview slots for Norton University, right?”

Ying Zijin nodded, “Go on.”

“The interview qualifications were agreed upon from the beginning: two for the International Class, and one for the top of the grade, which is Tinglan,” the class president said. “After all, in the tri-school joint exams, he always scores full marks.”

The tri-school joint exams are an examination taken by the top three high schools in Hua Country.

Naturally, the difficulty of the tests is high, but they’re still far from the Elite Class’s level.

“The Norton University interview is just a few days after the college entrance exams, and it’s not far off. Tinglan had been preparing for it for quite some time,” the class president said indignantly. “But just the other day, that dismissed teacher from the International Class came and stated the interview qualification wouldn’t go to Tinglan because, because…”

Ying Zijin finished the sentence he didn’t: “Because I’m his older sister.”

“Sister, you can’t blame yourself for this,” the class president hurriedly said. “It’s that He Xun, taking personal revenge under the guise of public interest. He’s too petty. It’s just a pity for Tinglan…”

With Wen Tinglan’s intelligence, securing a place at Norton University was a sure thing.

But without the interview qualification, even talent was useless.

Just yesterday, the entire Elite Class of the third year of high school protested, but He Xun remained unmoved.

Although the interview qualification was distributed by the principal, to go to Norton University, one still needed He Xun to lead the team.

Without his willingness, Tinglan couldn’t even go.

What mattered most wasn’t that the interview qualification was taken away, but that He Xun had told Tinglan to his face that he wouldn’t get the interview because he was Ying Zijin’s brother, which would have been a blow to his psyche.

The Elite Class of the third year of high school was also aware of his illness and were always careful around him.

Tinglan, who was two years younger than them, was like a younger brother they cared for.

“I understand,” Ying Zijin said emotionlessly. “Don’t let him know about this. I’ll handle it.”

“Don’t worry, sister. We’ll all comfort Tinglan,” the class president hesitated for a moment. “Sister, don’t go looking for that He Xun. Tinglan definitely didn’t want you to clash with him; that’s why he didn’t tell you himself.”

“Mm, I know,” Ying Zijin said indifferently. “Thank you for telling me. Now go back, and do well on your college entrance exams.”

Hearing this, the class president suddenly took three steps back.

Then he took out a pen from his backpack, held it between his palms as if in prayer, and bowed three times toward the girl.

Ying Zijin, preoccupied with her thoughts, only noticed his actions after he finished bowing.

The class president took a deep breath and then ran off like mad: “Hahaha, you fools are doomed, I’ve prayed to God Ying today; I’ll definitely do better than all of you on the college entrance exams!”

The corridors echoed with his maniacal laughter.

Ying Zijin: “…”

No wonder Tinglan said his classmates were fools.

She could see why.

**

After being dismissed from Verdant, He Xun rented a single apartment next to it.

But the conditions of this apartment were much poorer compared to the accommodations provided by the school; He Xun, accustomed to the school’s housing, found it uncomfortable to live here, lacking even someone to cook for him.

However, he had no choice. Until the Norton University interviews were over, he couldn’t leave this place.

The elevator in this apartment building was broken, and the property management hadn’t sent anyone to fix it.

Today, he had to climb eighteen floors to get groceries from the supermarket.

While checking out at the supermarket, He Xun felt utterly dejected.

He walked out with his shopping bags, his expression icy.

As soon as he stepped out of the supermarket, someone kicked him.

The kick landed directly on his abdomen, precisely hitting the most painful spot.

It was ruthless, with considerable force.

With a “thud,” He Xun fell backward onto the supermarket’s glass door.

Surprised by the attack, even He Xun, who had a pretty good temper, could feel a thin layer of anger rising in his eyes.

He propped himself up against the glass door, and as he looked up, he saw the girl standing against the light.

Her outline was hazy, her features cold.

After more than half a month without seeing her, He Xun paused for a moment.

“You found out that Wen Tinglan is my brother, so you took away his interview qualification? Is that what you told him?”

This was the first time Ying Zijin had spoken so much to him since that open question session.

Yet her gaze never fell on him, as if he was just air, cold and clear.

Suddenly, He Xun felt a bit awkward.

But following that, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

“Are you angry?” He Xun didn’t see what was wrong with it. “Yes, you should be angry because I took away something your brother deserved. But that’s just the rule of survival in society.”

“If it’s not yours, it will be taken away.”

He Xun even smiled faintly, looking down from his height advantage.

This moment, he finally felt the capital to be proud again: “If you really had the capability, you’d secure an interview at Norton University’s D-level college for your brother.”

“But you don’t, you don’t even know where Norton University is.”

Ying Zijin finally looked at him: “Who told you I want to get him an interview at a D-level college?”

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