Chapter 262: 255: I Will be Your Stepmother

That’s exactly why she turned three meals a day into four.

Now Lin Yile wouldn’t have to starve anymore, she could always eat until she was full, which made her even more motivated to study.

The final exams were soon, after which, the New Year would follow in a few days. The quality of their New Year would depend on the outcome of this final exam.

In the past, Xu’s mother dreaded the New Year because relatives would always ask about the children’s grades during family visits. As Miaomiao’s grades weren’t that good, they ended up being laughed at every year.

But ever since Miaomiao’s grades improved, she felt more confident and no longer felt inferior in front of anyone.

And she expected this year to be no different.

Her Miaomiao has never once let her down as a mother.

On the day of the final exam, Xu’s mother prepared fried dough sticks and eggs for her three children at home. Over the years, they always ate the dough sticks she fried. Right up to this final exam, they never missed a meal.

This was Lin Yile’s first time eating them. She couldn’t stop at just one, ending up eating three dough sticks in a row. However, only by eating three eggs afterwards would they be able to get a full score for each, just enough to gather three hundred points.

If her stomach could bear it, she’d like to eat a few more hundred points, but the capacity of her stomach was limited. If she continued to stuff herself, she really would burst her stomach.

Final exams were always taken very seriously by the school. The strict exams in Qing’an’s Fifth Middle School were also famed citywide. Each class is monitored by at least three teachers. Other than stationary and watches, students were not allowed to bring anything else.

There was enough space between each desk to ensure no cheating during the exam.

If you drank too much water and needed to use the toilet during the exam, you would not be allowed to re-enter. Having taken so many exams throughout high school, the students were aware of this and hence didn’t drink much water before the exam.

Inside the examination room, the only noise was the sound of pen tips brushing against paper; swish, swish…

A teacher then walked in, and who would it be if not Teacher Song?

First, she glanced around, her gaze finally resting on Tang Yuxin.

“Keep a close eye on the students in this class. They scored so well last time, who knows what methods they used?”

The other teachers felt a slight disdain after hearing Teacher Song’s words. She implied that the high grades scored by their students were not earned, while the students in her Fifth Class, who all ranked within the top hundred in the grade, were considered normal?

Not every class had dumb students, some were good at studies, some weren’t. The principal wouldn’t move all top students to Fifth Class. If that were the case, wouldn’t the school be better off with only one class? What were the other classes there for, just to support the Fifth Class?

Seeing the other teachers ignoring her, Teacher Song felt something was amiss and promptly left, her face red.

“If you’re so capable, why don’t you stay? Weren’t you saying that the grades in their class were achieved through dishonest means? Then keep an eye on them yourself.”

“Enough, she’s not the principal. Who does she think she is, deciding who should invigilate which class?”

“She’s so arrogant, acting like all her students will make it to Nanqing University or Qing University.”

“Let’s wait and see.”

The two teachers murmured amongst themselves, but didn’t forget their duty to supervise the exam. Even though they didn’t particularly like Teacher Song or her Fifth Class, they, as invigilators, naturally knew their responsibility not to allow cheating.

After the final exams, it was almost New Year. The results would only be released a week later, but Tang Yuxin and the others couldn’t enjoy any holiday like the others.

They still needed to revise and preview next year’s curriculum. Although third year was tough, they hoped their hardships in high school would pay off in university.

Tang Yuxin knocked on the door. She hadn’t been home for a while comepletely enveloped in her studies and also to give Ren Li a chance.

If Ren Li didn’t take advantage of such a good opportunity, there would be nothing left to say.

As soon as the door opened, a hand reached out and pinched her face.

She frowned, she didn’t like being touched on the face, especially with a force like this. Was it trying to break her face?

“Zhinian, your daughter is here.”

Oh, they’re using names now. That should mean things are going well, right?

Ren Li winked at Tang Yuxin. From her expression, Tang Yuxin guessed that things had worked out.

After a while, Tang Zhinian appeared. He looked a little embarrassed, especially when he saw Ren Li. It was so awkward between them that it seemed as if something was going on, but the problem was that it didn’t look like anything was going on at all.

“Yuxin, how was your exam?”

Tang Zhinian asked his daughter, feeling guilty deep inside. He’d been busy running his business all these years, never involving himself in his daughter’s studies. No, that’s wrong. Since she was little, he, as an illiterate father, had never tutored his daughter. She had taught herself everything.

“It was okay,” Tang Yuxin wasn’t worried about her grades. Her gaze moved between Tang Zhinian and Ren Li, finally resting on Tang Zhinian. Don’t think that she hadn’t noticed them making eyes at each other behind her back.

“Dad, don’t you have anything to tell me?”

Tang Yuxin wasn’t smiling, her voice sounded quite serious.

“Well…” Tang Zhinian didn’t know what to say. Ren Li subtly pulled at his sleeve.

Tang Zhinian honestly didn’t know how to bring it up. He had promised his daughter he wouldn’t remarry. But who would’ve thought this situation would arise? Had it not been for that night, they wouldn’t be in this dilemma. But now he couldn’t escape it anymore because of that one night.

“Yuxin, when will they distribute report cards?”

After some awkward silence, this was the only sentence he could muster. Ren Li shook her head. If they were to rely on Tang Zhinian’s fumbling speech, she might remain an undercover worker until next year.

“Alright, I’ll do the talking,” Ren Li gently pushed Tang Zhinian behind her and took the lead.

“Yuxin, I’m marrying your dad. I’ll be your stepmother, but you can trust me. From now on, you’re my real daughter. If anyone dares to bully you, I’ll have your back.”

Well, she even called herself ‘mom’.

Tang Yuxin coolly watched as Ren Li made her spiel. There was sincerity mixed within her words.

Looking past Ren Li, she asked Tang Zhinian, “Dad, you’re a man. How can you let a woman speak for you?”