chapter 51-62

chapter 51-62

Chapter 51: Isn’t This Sister Xi?!

Xue Xi did not know this person and originally did not intend to meddle. After all, she was Xue Yao’s guest.

Nevertheless, the term “mute and deaf person” that Sun Ruoruo had mentioned made her stop in her tracks.

They frequently had children who were disabled in some way in the orphanage…

She turned to look at Xia Yiyi once again.

The girl’s lips blossomed into an extremely kind and sincere smile. She was as pure as those little children.

This Little Mute is quite cute, isn’t she?

Xue Xi pointed at the sofa on the other side, signaling her to move over. Little Mute’s eyes lit up instantly as she nodded her head.

When they were seated, she stared unblinkingly at Xue Xi, as though she was a cat waiting for its owner to give it a belly rub. She was so obedient and sensible that even the usually-aloof Xue Xi felt her heart turn soft at the sight.

Xue Xi moved to sit there too.

Little Mute was very quiet, but her two hands were placed on the coffee table. Her fingers moved nimbly, as though she were playing the piano.

However, halfway through, she seemed to have been met with difficulty. Her fingers paused and she frowned. This troubled expression easily made another pity her.

Sitting opposite her, Sun Ruoruo promptly started to mock. “Tsk, tsk. Does she really think she can make it? What is a deaf and mute person partaking in this for?”

Xue Xi calmly looked up and toward her, then said defensively, “Do you know Beethoven?”

Sun Ruoruo: “?”

The latter took some time before finally understanding what Xue Xi meant. She was instantly pissed. “How can you compare her and Beethoven? Do you think that currying up to her will make Madam Xia treat you better? Let me tell you, this mute can’t even speak, so she won’t ever complain! It’s useless for you to waste your time on her.”

As someone who valued her reputation the most and had put all her effort into studying, playing the piano, and constructing a socialite image for herself, how could Xue Yao possibly mistreat her guest?

She was merely bullying Xia Yiyi on the grounds that she could not speak and would never be able to complain!

At this moment, the girl who was the topic of discussion, Xia Yiyi, looked up. She, who did not even know that she was being mocked, took out the phone she always carried with her and typed on it: “Elder Sister Xue Yao, I have a verse that I don’t quite get in the piece I’ll be playing later. Can you instruct me a little?”

Xue Yao burst out laughing when she saw this.

Still, she nodded and pointed at the piano on the second floor’s living room. She was telling Xia Yiyi to play it.

The girl put her palms together, showing her gratitude to her, and moved to the piano.

Above the piano keys, her fingers were so nimble and her playing was so smooth. When she reached the part she was unsure about, she then took out her phone to write: “Might there be any abnormalities here?”

Of course it is abnormal.

Xue Xi could hear that this part was rather unpolished just by listening to her.

Moreover, this was likely her original piece. She was very talented, but there were some flaws in it. Although Little Mute could not hear, she was very sensitive to music!

Xue Yao’s face was tensed up. As an experienced pianist, she finally understood Xia Yiyi’s talents. She stared at the girl, then suddenly smiled. “Yes, it’s strange.”

Xia Yiyi stared at and read her lips. Once she understood, she wrote again: “Where is it wrong?”

Xue Yao immediately walked over to her. She bent down at the waist slightly, placed her fingers on the piano, and reproduced the particular sentence the girl had played previously.

Xue Xi immediately frowned when she heard it.

It sounded worse after Xue Yao edited it!

Xia Yiyi felt the same too. She frowned in confusion, then typed on her phone: “Is this really alright?”

Xue Yao’s face darkened as she stared back. “Ms. Xia, why bother asking me if you don’t trust me?”

The girl panicked when Xue Yao got angry, and she anxiously flailed her arms. She then typed on her phone again: “I’m sorry, Elder Sister Xue Yao. Don’t be angry. I trust you.”

She bit down on her lips and played it again on the piano using Xue Yao’s method. It did sound pretty good when played, but anyone who had even a little more experience in the piano could hear the disharmony in it!

Xia Yiyi still found it weird, but she dared not ask anything else. She had a helpless and lost expression.

As she stood beside the girl, Xue Yao’s eyes glinted with smugness.

In the entire Bin City, Xia Yiyi is the only one who is more talented than I am at the piano. Now that this piece has been laid to waste, what else does she have to rival me?

Right as she was gloating, an apathetic voice sounded. “Wrong.”

She froze and her head shot up.

Xue Xi had already stopped in front of Xia Yiyi. When the latter looked up, she used sign language and said, “What she said is wrong.”

The mute and deaf children in the orphanage communicated using sign language. She had learned it before and she had an extraordinarily retentive memory.

Xia Yiyi’s eyes lit up the moment she saw the sign language, and she instantly responded with her own.

Standing beside them, Xue Yao was stunned as she shuddered in fear. What are the two of them saying?

Can Xue Xi play the piano? Or did she see through my scheme?

At this moment, she caught the sound of a trail of people coming upstairs. An idea popped into her mind as she put on a pitiful expression. “Xue Xi, don’t teach Yiyi the wrong things. That is not how this verse is supposed to be played. How can you speak nonsense?”

The few people had reached this level right after she said this. Liu Yiqiu paused a little, then asked, “What’s happening?”

Xue Yao did not speak and, as expected, Sun Ruoruo stuck her head into the matter and accused Xue Xi. “Ms. Xia asked Yaoyao to instruct her, but Xue Xi insisted on speaking nonsense to Ms. Xia. The teacher is coming soon, so isn’t she just wasting time that could be spent on instructing?”

Liu Yiqiu immediately gave a side-eye to Madam Xia, then pretended to be anxious. “Xixi, you don’t know how to play the piano, so don’t create more trouble here! Hurry and let Yaoyao instruct Ms. Xia a little.”

Don’t know how to play the piano?

Madam Xia frowned. She had an extremely displeased expression.

Xue Yanmei even berated loudly, “What is wrong with you, Xue Xi? Don’t come and give the wrong instructions when you don’t know anything! Or are you jealous that other people can play the piano and so you purposely came to make trouble? How can you be so black-hearted?”

Ye Li rushed over and blocked Xue Xi from sight. She then asked, “Xixi, do you really know how to play the piano?”

The girl nodded, then slowly answered, “A little.”

Madam Xia’s face turned even darker at this reply.

Despite laughing inside, Xue Yao still put on an expression as though she was about to cry. “Sister, you cannot teach Ms. Xia in any way you want…”

Xia Yiyi had a totally confused look.

There were too many people speaking and they were speaking too quickly. She did not have enough time to look at all of them, and hence, she did not know what was going on.

At this moment, Xue Xi turned to look at her and asked in sign language, “Do you trust me?”

Both of them looked into each other’s eyes.

Half a beat later, Little Mute nodded resolutely.

Xue Xi then continued saying in sign language, “Look closely. I’ll play it only once.”

Little Mute nodded.

Xue Xi stepped up and placed her fingers on the piano keys.

In the next moment, music flowed out.

It was only one line and it was not quick. Those who did not know the piano would find it only average…

“What nonsense!”

Old Lady Xue chided. “Do you think you know how to play the piano just because you can press a few keys? Yaoyao is a certified Grade 10 pianist! You have never even taken any grade examinations, so what nonsense are you teaching here?”

At this moment—

Pak, pak, pak! An applause sounded. Everyone quickly turned their heads around and spotted Zhou Zhou. No one knew when he had arrived, but he was currently clapping. “The edit for this section is pretty good.”

As he was standing behind the crowd, his view was limited. Hence, he did not see who it was standing inside.

Now that everyone had made way, he could finally catch sight of the girl standing beside the piano.

He was totally dumbstruck.

The hell?! Isn’t this… Sister Xi?!?!

Chapter 52: Sister Xi!

Zhou Zhou’s eyes widened. Thinking that he had made a mistake, he rubbed his eyes and turned to look again…

The girl was dressed in a light blue sports attire. Her familiar hazy eyes also turned in his direction following his voice. Their gazes locked. Zhou Zhou sucked in a deep breath in shock.

With Sister Xi here, why did the Xue family use all sorts of methods and even pulled strings to seek me out?

The servant standing beside him explained, “Mr. Zhou heard the piano music when he arrived and so he came over…”

Zhou Zhou was the Xue family’s most important guest today. Hence, Liu Yiqiu had ordered the servant to definitely treat him with courtesy.

Therefore, the servant could not stop him when he said that he wanted to come up, resulting in the current scenario.

Since he was already here, Liu Yiqiu could do nothing—not that she minded, anyway. Still, why does Mr. Zhou keep staring at Xue Xi? Don’t tell me he fancies and is lusting over her because this lass is very pretty?

She frowned and glanced surreptitiously at Xue Yao. As expected of her biological daughter, the latter immediately understood what she meant and promptly took a side-step, using herself to block Xue Xi from Zhou Zhou’s view!

Liu Yiqiu quickly moved toward him with a huge smile. “Mr. Zhou, it is such an honor for you to grace our humble abode with your presence! Shall we have some tea downstairs while we let the children prepare themselves before we proceed with the assessments?”

She had already informed Zhou Zhou beforehand about the addition of a few more people for the assessment.

But, to assess Sister Xi?

Zhou Zhou gulped. “No. No need.”

Liu Yiqiu paused. “No need for tea? Then, shall we start the assessment now?”

She had already heard before that Zhou Zhou was the type to cut to the chase without wasting time, but she did not expect him to be this hasty.

Since that was the case, she decided to go straight to introductions. “Alright, then, let me introduce to you the four people taking the assessment today.”

She pointed at Xue Yao and said, “This is my daughter, Xue Yao. She has already passed Grade 10 in Piano and she is looking to further her studies under your tutelage. She is a hardworking person and she is good in her studies. You can take your time to test her on her skills! Yaoyao, go play a piece first.”

Xue Yao promptly stepped forward and said in an obedient and humble manner, “Mr. Zhou, I hope you will give me a chance!”

She then moved over to the piano and took a deep breath before playing the music piece she had practiced fluently.

The music resounded in the air smoothly.

Zhou Zhou finally regained his senses too. While listening, he occasionally sneaked glances at Xue Xi.

Meanwhile, after Liu Yiqiu had finished introducing Xue Yao, she turned to look at Madam Xia. When she saw the latter giving her an ingratiating gaze, her lips curled into a smile.

Madam Xia was a well-known socialite in Bin City. She was prideful and difficult to get along with. Both the Xue and Liu families were considered the mid-upper range in terms of wealth, but they were still a far step away from being considered part of the real high society.

There was a charity ball happening in a few days. If Madam Xia invited her to attend it, it could be said that she had successfully entered high society.

This would prove to be extremely advantageous when her husband tries to inherit the Xue family and fight for the inheritance!

When she thought of this, she took a glance at Ye Li.

Ye Li was akin to an invisible person in an event like today’s. Madam Xia had not deigned to even glance at her since she stepped into the house, not to mention speak to her.

As she was thinking this, Xue Yao finished playing. She stood up and looked at Zhou Zhou.

Liu Yiqiu also asked, “Mr. Zhou, what do you think?”

Not much, he criticized silently. But this person is Sister Xi’s sister, right?

On Sister Xi’s account, he coughed and said, “Decent.”

Xue Yao promptly lifted her chin at this.

Zhou Zhou was famous for being strict among pianists. To be able to attain a “decent” from him meant that she would definitely be accepted as his disciple!

Liu Yiqiu repressed her joy inside, then pointed at Xia Yiyi, saying, “This is the Xia family’s little miss. Her talent at the piano is unparalleled. Ms. Xia had already obtained a Grade 10 at the age of ten. However, it is with huge regret that she became deaf and mute after becoming gravely ill at the age of ten.”

So what if she had to admit that Xue Yao was inferior?

This was a deaf and mute person. Other than relatives, who else would be willing to waste the time and effort to teach her?

Madam Xia’s face dimmed when she heard the last sentence. Still, she did not blame Liu Yiqiu as this was something that had to be made known beforehand.

Madam Xia spoke in sign language to Xia Yiyi and the girl instantly understood. She then played the music piece according to Xue Xi’s instruction.

After listening, Zhou Zhou gave a two-word evaluation: “A pity.”

There was only one Beethoven in this world!

Teaching a deaf and mute person was exceedingly difficult. The young lady was indeed very talented, but Zhou Zhou had no intention to do charity.

These two words sealed her fate of not being accepted.

Madam Xia and Xia Yiyi both revealed looks of disappointment.

Liu Yiqiu also heaved a huge sigh of relief. Now that her greatest threat was no more, she pointed at Sun Ruoruo and said, “This is Ms. Sun. We are relatives and she is rather good at piano.”

Sun Ruoruo’s playing was even more average.

If it were under usual circumstances, he would have already spat on it so much that the other party would be doubting their own existence. Alas, with Sister Xi around, he only shook his head and did not dare comment.

After the three of them were done, Liu Yiqiu then said, “This is Xue Xi. She has never learned the piano before.”

She’d intended to dismiss Xue Xi with just this once sentence to speak more on behalf of Xue Yao. However, Ye Li quickly took a step forward and said, “Our Xixi is very talented in learning. She learns everything very quickly, so can you please give her a chance, Mr. Zhou?”

Liu Yiqiu sighed. “Elder Sister-in-law, I know that you are anxious, but Xixi is too far behind.”

Just as Ye Li wanted to say something more to catch a sliver of a chance, Zhou Zhou’s shocked voice reverberated. “Never learned the piano before?”

How can that be?!

Sister Xi’s attainments at the piano have definitely surpassed mine.

At his huge reaction, Liu Yiqiu quickly added oil to the fire. “Yes, Mr. Zhou. Xixi actually grew up in an orphanage, and it is impossible for there to be piano teachers there. Also, this child is a little slow when it comes to emotions, so it will be a tall task for her to resonate with music. Sigh!”

Zhou Zhou was dumbstruck. “Orphanage? It is impossible for there to be piano teachers there…”

Liu Yiqiu found his tone to be a little queer.

Seeing the situation, Xue Yao spoke up in hypocrisy. “Mr. Zhou, I understand that it is an insult to you to let a person who has never touched the piano attend your assessment~”

She then turned to look at Xue Xi. “Sister, if you are really interested, shall I teach you instead?”

No matter what, being a kind person will never go wrong, right?

Just as she thought this, she saw the world-renowned pianist, Mr. Zhou Zhou, push aside everyone before him and rush to Xue Xi, shouting, “Sister Xi, you have really never learned the piano before?”

“…”

Everyone in the living room on the second floor was stupefied. They all turned to look at Zhou Zhou and Xue Xi in disbelief.

Did they hear wrongly?

What did Zhou Zhou call Xue Xi?

Details? West Street? It can’t possibly be… Sister Xi, right? [1]

[1] This is a play on the intonation of Chinese characters. In Chinese, the phonetic notations are:

‘Sister Xi’ \= ‘xī jiě’;

‘Details’ \= ‘xì jié’; and

‘West Street’ \= ‘xī jiē’.

Chapter 53: How Could I Dare?!

While everyone else was still in a state of confusion, Xue Xi slowly nodded. “…Mhm, yes.”

Zhou Zhou’s mouth gaped open.

He had a sudden epiphany. It was no wonder Sister Xi had said that she was unable to point out his problem and could only play it out for him. It turned out that she had never even learned the piano before and so she had no idea regarding the correct technical terms for piano!

He gulped and said, “Th-Then, why can you play the piano?”

Xue Xi: “…I self-learned it.”

“…”

He was known as a master in piano, but this was the result of him putting in his blood, sweat, and tears to practice for more than ten hours every day at least to reach his current height among pianists. This was despite his talents.

Yet, when compared to Sister Xi… how the hell can I possibly compare to Sister Xi?!

While he was doubting his own existence, the pair’s conversation attracted the attention of the rest.

Ye Li was the first to pose a question. “Xixi, you… can play the piano?”

Before the girl could answer, Liu Yiqiu had already caught on to another huge issue. “Xixi, do you and Mr. Zhou know each other?”

From their interaction, the two seemed to be rather close.

Xue Xi nodded at Ye Li, then turned to Liu Yiqiu and said, “Mhm.”

This made Liu Yiqiu panic. “How did you guys meet?”

Xue Xi usually could not be bothered with her. However, she had an exceptional interest today in seeing her panic, and hence, she slowly answered, “I did a small favor for him.”

The words “small favor” made Zhou Zhou speak up anxiously. “How is that only a small favor? Sister Xi, you saved my life!”

If the problem with that music piece had not been resolved, he would likely have ended up shackled with a real psychological problem that would have rendered him unable to perform ever again!

To him, being unable to play the piano was equivalent to asking for his life!

The moment he thought of this, his face turned serious. “Sister Xi, I can agree to any of your requests.”

Sister Xi’s younger sister, Xue Yao, was truly very average in her playing.

However, if Sister Xi were to ask for it, he would still force himself to take in this piece of shi—Ah, no, disciple.

I can’t help it. Only because Sister Xi is my boss!

Alas, the meaning of this sentence was distorted in others’ ears.

Xue Xi can immediately request Zhou Zhou to be her master!

Liu Yiqiu panicked furiously. She had come to a huge revelation—before Zhou Zhou had arrived, the two of them had not known each other’s identity. In the end, after Liu Yiqiu had pulled so many strings, only Xue Xi was the one to benefit from it?

She instantly shouted, “No way!”

At the same time, Xue Yao also shouted, “How can she?”

The pair’s strange reaction stunned Zhou Zhou. Why was the person-in-concern objecting to it? He turned to look at Xue Yao quizzically. “You’re not willing?”

Xue Yao balled up her fists. “As a member of the Xue family, we shall speak with our own abilities. If we have to rely on relations to be your disciple, how bad would we sound in others’ ears?”

Liu Yiqiu also nodded beside her. “Yaoyao is right. We are not the kind of people who expect debts of gratitude to be repaid! Am I right, Elder Sister-in-law, Xixi? We shall not do these kinds of things.”

Ye Li had a feeling that things were not that simple. She turned to look at her daughter.

The girl was simply sitting there quietly. She was so aloof and apathetic that it was as though she was an outsider to the situation. She only replied with an “Mhm,” as though it was a dispensable matter.

Zhou Zhou finally understood the situation.

Based on what I just saw, could Sister Xi’s relations with the Xue family be bad?

Just as he was thinking this, Liu Yiqiu turned to look at Zhou Zhou. “Mr. Zhou, since Xixi agrees to this too, may I ask for your final decision on who to take in as a disciple?”

Xue Yao looked at Zhou Zhou firmly with a confident expression.

Madam Xia and Xia Yiyi were also staring at Zhou Zhou. Despite knowing that their chances were slim, they still held a sliver of hope inside.

Under everyone’s gaze, Zhou Zhou sighed. “I had originally intended to take you in as a disciple on Sister Xi’s grace. Let’s forget it since you are unwilling. To be frank, I have not taken a fancy to any of you three.”

These words stupefied everyone!

Xue Yao even shouted in disbelief, “How can that be? You praised me for being decent!”

Since he now knew that Sister Xi’s relationship with them was bad, Zhou Zhou decided to be frank. He coughed and said, “I had been a little too humble before, so let me critique you now!”

He started by pointing at Xue Yao. “Have you been playing the piano for nothing the past few years? Grade 10 is only an elementary level! It merely says that you have learned the piano skills. I can’t hear a single shred of feeling in your music. With you like that, you’re not even a Professional Grade 1! Since you don’t even have any talent, just stop making things hard for yourself!”

Right after, he pointed at Sun Ruoruo. “As for you, simply playing the piano is an insult to the instrument. Is that even a performance? That is more like pressing the piano keys!”

After critiquing the two of them, he turned to look at Xia Yiyi with a look of regret. “It is a pity. Beethoven lost his sense of hearing in his later days. At ten years old, you are far too young. Your control over music is not there yet. I can teach you, but it is likely that you will be unable to reach a master’s level in your life. Therefore, I don’t want to waste my time.”

After he was done critiquing, Sun Ruoruo and Xia Yiyi did not say anything. After all, not being chosen was within their expectations. Rather, it was Xue Yao who could not accept this result.

She bit down hard on her lips and could not resist shouting out loud, “If the three of us can’t make it, who can?! No matter what you say, don’t you just want to accept Xue Xi as your disciple?”

Right after she said this, Zhou Zhou rebutted in shock, “What nonsense are you spouting?”

Alas, right before she could speak another word, she heard the following sentence: “How could I dare?!”

Xue Yao, who was just about to fly into a rage: “??”

Zhou Zhou looked at them in astonishment. “Have you guys never heard Sister Xi play the piano? Her standard can only be described as higher than mine!”

Right after that, he turned to Xue Xi ingratiatingly. “Sister Xi, I just finished composing a new piece. If you are free, could you help me to take a look and give me some pointers?”

Xue Xi still had her usual laid-back attitude. “…Alright.”

Seeing that everyone was so stunned, as though they were unable to accept that his Sister Xi was a genius and mogul with the piano, and that they were ignoring him, he decided to make his way out. “Then, I shall leave first?”

“Wait,” Xue Xi suddenly said, making him halt in his footsteps.

Xue Xi pointed at Xia Yiyi and opened her mouth, saying, “She is not bad.”

What she meant was very clear—for Zhou Zhou to accept this disciple.

Zhou Zhou did not expect his Sister Xi to take a fancy to this little mute. Nevertheless, he insisted on obeying her orders and, hence, he answered without a second’s hesitation, “Sure. I’ll accept her as a disciple, then!”

Madam Xia was exhilarated.

After Yiyi’s voice and ears were damaged from her high fever at ten years old, she had only ever been interested in the piano. She even idolized Zhou Zhou to no end.

Still, she knew that Zhou Zhou was not short of money and money could not buy him. She had not held any hope initially. After all, Xue Xi did not even bother helping Xue Yao—what more them…?

But surprises were always this unexpected!

She held Xia Yiyi’s shoulders tightly, so agitated that her eyes had turned red as she said, “Thank you!”

Thereafter, the main lead of today, Liu Yiqiu, was relegated to the sidelines. She could only watch as Madam Xia held Ye Li’s hands for the rest of the duration, with the former no longer acting high and mighty. Before leaving, she even said, “There is a charity ball to be held a few days from now. Let me bring you there!”

At the same moment, Xue Xi, who was sending the guests off with Ye Li, was currently thinking this in her head:

The Bartra theory has been proven. I’ll take a picture and send it to Teaches Math later.

Chapter 54: The Most Valuable Item.

Ye Li felt as though she was in a dream.

She came from a scholarly family. Having been a reserved person her whole life, she was unaccustomed to socializing.

In contrast, Liu Yiqiu had always been networking with wealthy madams. Hence, her network was huge. This resulted in her high standing at home.

The old lady would always mock her with one sentence—and that was that she could not bring any benefits to the house.

Liu Yiqiu had painstakingly buttered up to Madam Xia and even provided an assessment chance to her, yet the latter still maintained her prideful and arrogant demeanor toward her. Alas, the same Madam Xia was currently holding hands with Ye Li as though they were sisters, and she was even being unbelievably polite and warm.

“You don’t have to send me off anymore. Hurry and go back in!”

Madam Xia still had much to prepare for the apprenticeship ceremony, and she had to bring Xia Yiyi to visit Zhou Zhou at his place.

When they had left, Xue Xi held on to Ye Li as they returned back to the house. It was then that Ye Li finally came back to her senses. She held her daughter’s hands and was so excited that her eyes turned red as she said, “Xixi, you are truly much more outstanding than I can ever imagine!”

The two entered the living room as this was said.

Right after they entered, they were greeted with a loud “Bang!”

A teacup smashed toward them.

Xue Xi had pulled her mother one step back, just in time to avoid the teacup. When she looked up again, she saw Old Lady Xue, who had not spoken a single word since Zhou Zhou came, glaring at her in fury. “You ingrate! Since you and Zhou Zhou are that close, why did you help outsiders to snatch this one and only placement from your sister? Do you have any idea who exactly is your sister?! Your surname is Xue! Not Xia!”

Xue Xi cocked her eyebrows at this.

The old lady had not dared to speak a single word when Zhou Zhou and Madam Xia were around. Now that they had left, she immediately flared up—a perfect example of one who was imperious only within their own family.

Beside her was Xue Yao, whose eyes were red as she stared fixedly at Xue Xi. Her gaze seemed to be filled with grief from having something she loved forcefully snatched away. Liu Yiqiu also seemed despondent. After all, the blow on her today was so strong that she actually revealed a fatigued look.

Ye Li was no longer her doormat-like self from before.

Ever since Xue Sheng had told her that they would have to live apart one day, she had been filled with conviction and confidence. Faced with such chiding, she instantly rebutted, “Mom, if I did not hear wrongly, when Mr. Zhou Zhou asked if we wanted a chance on account of Xixi’s grace, it was Xue Yao and Younger Sister-in-law who rejected it, right?

“‘As a member of the Xue family, we shall speak with our own abilities. If we have to rely on relations to be your disciple, how bad would we sound in others’ ears?

“‘We are not the kind of people who expect debts of gratitude to be repaid! Am I right, Elder Sister-in-law, Xixi? We shall not do these kinds of things.'”

Liu Yiqiu and Xue Yao: “…”

These were the words they had said just now, and Ye Li had returned the words back to them without changing a single one!

Not giving a care about the trio’s ugly expressions, Ye Li turned around and brought Xue Xi upstairs.

Soon after arriving upstairs, they spotted Xue Yanmei standing at the staircase. The woman quickly shouted when she saw them arrive, “Eldest Sister-in-law, Xixi, you guys are back?”

Her tan face had an extremely forced smile. With her plump figure, she blocked the pair’s path and said loudly, “That… Xixi, since you are so close with Mr. Zhou, go recommend your Sister Ruoruo too. She is not part of the Xue family and so she doesn’t care for face.”

Xue Xi was taken aback.

Although she had grown up in the orphanage, she had truly never seen such a “thick-skinned” person. At that moment, she did not know how to deal with the situation.

Still, despite her speaking that way, the eyes of this person had kept flickering to her room. She was panicking and flustered. Her words were also incoherent, as though she was simply trying to drag the time out.

Xue Xi suddenly thought of something: Sun Ruoruo was not downstairs, nor was she here. This could only mean that the girl was—

She frowned and promptly pushed Xue Yanmei aside and made a dash for her own room.

“Aye, Xixi, why are you going off already? Aunt is still speaking to you!”

Xue Yanmei reached over to grab her, but Xue Xi was already in front of her door. She immediately pushed it open!

In the room, Sun Ruoruo was currently at the study desk flipping things around and searching for something. All the textbooks and rough papers were being strewn around haphazardly on the floor.

When she entered, Sun Ruoruo turned her head around and quickly spotted the girl standing at the door. She clearly seemed like an obedient girl, but the eyes on her poker-face were glowing with ruthlessness. “What… are you looking for?”

Sun Ruoruo inadvertently panicked. She raised her hands, as though she was about to explain, but accidentally hit a glass cup filled with water. The rough papers on the floor were instantly soaked!

She jumped in shock and put on a smile while stuttering, “I… I just came to see if you have any piano materials that can help me to become an expert myself. Why is your table filled with all kinds of nonsense…? I can’t even decipher anything…”

She had actually come to look for some music scores.

A single music score from Mr. Zhou could be sold for an exorbitant, sky-high price!

Since he had said that Xue Xi was better at him at the piano, then the music scores she wrote would definitely be able to sell for a higher price.

However, after searching around, she found only a bunch of rough paper with indecipherable mathematics workings.

She turned to look at Xue Xi again, saying ingratiatingly, “Younger Sis Xue Xi, I am your elder sister. So don’t be shy to display your talents to me. Why don’t you teach me how to play the piano? Or you can let me see the music you wrote too.”

She stared at Xue Xi right after saying this. Two seconds later, the girl slowly said in a cold and apathetic voice, “Are you going to scram by yourself, or do you need my help?”

Sun Ruoruo paused. “Ah?”

In the next second, Xue Xi moved forward and grabbed her by her collar. The 65-kilogram Sun Ruoruo was thrown out of the room by her, as though she was a mere rag doll.

“Aye, we are all relatives. So what if I enter your room for a while? You… Aiyo!” Sun Ruoruo jumped up and was just about to barge in again.

Bang! The door closed right on her and her nose kissed the door!

The world was finally quiet again.

Xue Xi was very frustrated and annoyed with these family feuds.

If not for Ye Li and Xue Sheng, she would have already left this place.

She took a deep breath and picked up the rough papers on the floor. Sun Ruoruo had wanted to look for music scores to sell for money, but that girl would never have expected that the most valuable item in this room was actually the rough papers she had deigned to take a look at.

There were a few sheets that were totally drenched. Luckily, she had already memorized the entire process of the calculation and could just write it out again.

But I think I told Teaches Math that I will give him the solution today, didn’t I?

As she thought about this, she took out her phone and sent him a message.

…

Far away in the capital, Feng Xingshen was currently attending a top-class scientific conference. His phone, which was on the table, lit up with a WeChat notification.

Learning: “Sorry, I had a small mishap. I’m afraid that I can only give you the solution in another two days.”

He was not the least bit surprised at this result. The lady was too young, so how could it be possible for her to prove it? This was just her giving an excuse for more time.

He replied: “It’s fine if you can’t solve it.”

Learning: “There probably won’t be any more problems in two days’ time.”

Probably…

He could not resist sighing. Is there a point in pushing it back for another two days every single time? Just admit it if you can’t solve it!

Chapter 55: My Boyfriend Is Timid.

It was not that he despised the girl.

The young lady was, after all, only a high school student. It was normal for her to be unable to solve it—just that he still held a little hope inside.

He was already old and could barely take a single step of improvement in the mathematics field even after years. He truly wanted to help nurture more talents for the country.

As a paramount existence in the local mathematics field, he had met a mathematical genius many years ago. He had originally thought that he could pull that person into the mathematics field and bring the local mathematicians to greater heights. Alas, that person was much too secretive with their identity and had far too many responsibilities. It was impossible for that person to give up everything else and focus on only researching mathematics.

With pain in his heart, he gave up—cough, or he should say—he did not dare to go bother that person. After so many years, he thought that he had met another one.

After all, anyone who could enter this group was not your average Joe.

He gave a self-deprecating smile when he realized he had driven himself into a dead-end again.

The young lady had never claimed to be good at mathematics. It was he who was too desperate for a disciple and hence had given her a mathematical question to test her. She must already be excellent in piano, so how could her mathematics be good too?

After the conference was over, he lowered down his head and was about to leave when a professor from the mathematics department of Huazhong University came over. “Have you heard of the first-place holder in the Math Star Competition this year?”

Huaxia University and Huazhong University were the top two schools in the country. Both schools were situated in the capital. Competition and cooperation existed between the two.

Feng Xingshen shook his head. “Isn’t there a first placer every year?”

The other replied, “She scored 288 marks in the Math Star Competition!”

To Feng Xingshen, such competitions were third-rate and he never saw any importance in them. “That still cannot mean anything. We still have to look at the national competition.”

…

…

Bin City.

The weather turned colder in mid-September. It was cold from dawn to dusk. Hence, Xue Xi put on another school sweater when she went to school.

As usual, she wore her white baseball cap and carried a heavy school bag as she alighted from the car in front of the provision store.

Autumn was here, and the leaves along the roadside had tinges of yellow. At this timing, the shops on both sides of the street were all peddling their breakfast menus.

Xue Xi was beautiful. Hence, she was the focus of the crowd wherever she went. She pressed her baseball cap down lower, ignored the crowd’s gaze, and entered the provision store.

The moment she entered, she could feel that something was amiss.

The store was usually empty and void of any customers. Yet, there were seven to eight different men standing inside currently. They all had short, shaved hair and donned a variety of clothes, but when she entered, they all turned to look at her in unison.

The leader of the group was a scar-faced and fierce-looking individual. When he spotted Xue Xi, he was first momentarily stunned, then forced out an ingratiating smile at her.

Xue Xi was a little stunned.

These few people must be hooligans who collect protection fees along the streets. From this leader’s fierce expression, was he warning her to not stick her head into other’s business?

She subconsciously turned to look at the counter.

Xiang Huai was still sitting in the darkness in a laid-back manner and holding a book. His posture was very elegant and noble-like. One who knew him would know that he was a provision store owner, but those who did not would even believe if told that he was from a wealthy family.

However, currently, on his chiseled face, she saw that his sharp eyebrows were slightly furrowed together, his jaw was tense, and his brown eyes were dark. He did not seem happy.

That’s true. No one would be happy when asked to pay protection fee, right?

Under the gazes of the few men, she instinctively inched toward the shelves beside her, pretending to be buying something to show that she had nothing to do with him.

She did not notice what was on the shelves but peeked at Xiang Huai from the corner of her eyes.

An idea popped into her mind right at this moment.

What if—only suppose—Xiang Huai got beaten to death by these hooligans? Would the curse on her be automatically dispelled?

The same moment her hazy eyes lit up, her heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly!

The pain was excruciating—more so than at any other time. It felt as though breathing itself was a painful act!

…F*ck! As expected, that won’t work.

No matter how indifferent she was usually, she still could not help but spew vulgarities inside.

How could one simply watch as the person she loved died?

She merely toyed with the idea a little and her heart was already in such terrible pain.

She took a deep breath. Despite seething in anger, she still stepped toward Xiang Huai and stood before him, asking, “You don’t have money to pay the protection fee?”

Xiang “God of Poverty” Huai: “?”

Since he did not speak, she took it as a silent admittance. “…Leave it to me.”

The man, who was just about to explain, shut his mouth up tightly upon hearing this.

He then saw the little kid turn to face the few idiots in front of him and say in an indifferent voice, “My boyfriend is timid, so look to me if you have any issues.”

Right after saying this, his little girlfriend took a half-step back with her right leg and arched her body forward slightly. She held up both fists and displayed, in all seriousness, an attacking position from the Army Boxing Style. Her small face was tensed up, as though she could rush at them at any moment.

From his angle, he could see her side profile from under her baseball cap.

Her small nose bridge, slightly-curled eyelashes, plump and moist cherry-pink lips… Every inch of her looked perfect.

He, who had just been raging because these idiots had messed up a task, instantly deflated. His dark expression softened and the corner of his lips even curled up into a light smile.

Meanwhile, the supposed-hooligans standing before them: “???”

Their gazes flitted between Xiang Huai and the young lady. They were dumbstruck.

Holy cow!

What did we just hear? This young lady said that Boss is her… b-b-boyfriend?

And that Boss is… timid?

They turned to look at Xiang Huai in fright, only to see the frightening and infamous “Black Yama” extend an arm to place on the table, then rest his head lazily on the same arm. In that instant, the alluring-looking man slowly said, “They are so scary.”

“…”

“Little kid, protect me well.”

“…”

The crowd: Boss, how can you be this shameless?!

While they were in a daze, Xue Xi instantly attacked after confirming that these people were here to collect protection fees!

Bang!

Scar-faced man was dealt with a heavy Army Boxing fist and fell onto the ground.

The rest of the group cowered backward in fear as they stared at the young lady walking toward them slowly and without any expression . Inside, they screamed: Sister-in-law, please listen to us. We are here to pay protection fees!

If they did not say it, Sister-in-law would pummel them.

But if they did say it, Boss would pummel them.

After weighing the odds, they decided to run for their lives in the end.

Xue Xi rubbed her fists and worked her wrists, then said to Xiang Huai, “They ran away.”

Xiang “Gigolo” Huai was a conscientious person. With his eyes lowered, he sighed. “They will come again.”

“…”

“Can I call you?”

Xue Xi paused for a moment. “Fine.”

She then turned to look at the prepared breakfast on the dining table and said to him, “Let’s eat.”

Xiang Huai did not move from his seat.

When Xue Xi looked at him quizzically, he “weakly” said, “I’ve been frightened.”

“?”

“My legs feel weak. I can’t walk.”

“…”

His tone was amorous, yet also lazy, as he said, “Help me walk there.”

Chapter 56: Her Proof Is Out!

Xue Xi sized up the man.

There seemed to be no fear in his dark brown eyes except that he looked slightly pale. It might have been because he was reeling from the shock.

Regardless of whether he was faking it or it was real, she could not reject her boyfriend’s “reasonable request,” but she could—

Xue Xi casually said, “I’ll bring breakfast to you, then.”

Then wouldn’t I end up farther from the little kid?

Xiang Huai stood up when she turned around and followed behind her. He said without batting an eyelid, “With you around, I’m not afraid.”

Lu Chao had been sitting by the dining table and keeping as quiet as a quail. “…”

Back then, when they gathered together, they would secretly discuss if there was anything in the world that his boss was incapable of doing. In the end, he realized that the only thing his boss was incapable of… was dating.

Now, it seems like… a mogul is a true mogul!

It was his first time dating, and yet he had numerous tricks up his sleeves. His tricks made him giddy. Hence, he decided to plead with his boss for additional emotional allowance for this current task. Is it humane to be forced to see them acting lovey-dovey every day?

They sat at the dining table and continued eating.

Xue Xi’s phone vibrated.

She took a glance and saw that it was a message from Actor: “Sister Xi, I received the bag! Thank you! How much is it? Give me your bank card number, I’ll transfer it to you.”

After getting the bag last week, Xue Xi had mailed to Cen Bai right away. When she saw this message, she realized that she had not paid Xiang Huai yet.

“How much is the bag?” she asked.

Xiang Huai swallowed the bun and replied, “Two hundred.”

Xue Xi sent a message to the man.

Learning: “Two hundred. Bank card number is 6XXXXXXXXXXXX.”

Actor: “Sure. Sister Xi, I’ve transferred the money.”

Xue Xi was not bothered by it and continued eating.

After finishing her meal, she fished out her wallet and placed 300 yuan on the table. “The remaining 100 yuan is for the food.”

Lu Chao: “…”

He silently swallowed his bun just as he swallowed the fact that the bag was actually two million yuan.

In “Who is the young lady?” group.

Cen Bai sent a message: “Sister Xi is really not bad. No idea where she got the bag from, but she didn’t charge me a premium either. The original price is two million yuan and she sold it to me at that price.”

Limited edition bags have collectible value and can be sold at higher prices because, after all, there is demand but no supply.

Zhou Zhou: “Sister Xi comes from a wealthy and powerful family. She doesn’t care about your pennies. Aye, she is truly formidable. I sent her my scores yesterday and she pointed out three parts that were not well done.”

Cen Bai: “Follow Sister Xi and you can buy bags.”

Zhou Zhou: “Follow Sister Xi and you can play the piano.”

The rest: “…Suck-ups.”

Somebody “@-ed” Feng Xingshen and asked: “How is the young lady’s math?”

Feng Xingshen: “She is still saying that she could prove it. She probably doesn’t know that she is trying to prove Bartra’s theory. I don’t harbor any more hope because, after all, not everyone in this group can be as omnipotent as the group manager. Aye!”

The rest comforted: “She is, after all, a young lady. Don’t have high expectations.”

…

After eating, Xue Xi walked toward the school.

At the entrance, a black Rolls-Royce was parked as the chauffeur politely opened the rear car door. Gao Yanchen, with his red hair, alighted from it.

He was wearing his school uniform and was looking at his phone.

He exuded an obstinate and overbearing aura that terrified the rest, who hid away from him. Nobody dared to stay within a few meters of him.

Someone walked in front of him and failed to see him. By the time the man had realized it, they were inches from each other. That student could only muster up his courage and greet, “H-Hi, Brother Chen.”

The boy lifted his eyes impatiently and stared at the student as though his eyes were raging with fire. The latter was so shocked that his legs nearly turned to jelly.

He lowered his head again, and just as he was walking ahead, someone tapped on his shoulder. Having been interrupted consecutively, he was on the verge of flying into a rage.

“Who the hell doesn’t wanna live anymore and keep bothering me…?” Gao Yanchen instinctively wanted to bash up the person, but when he turned his head, he saw a pair of clear, misty eyes.

The girl, who was shorter than he was by half a head, was staring at him expressionlessly.

The boy froze and pursed his thin lips as he swallowed the vulgarities. He then called reluctantly, “Sister Xi.”

Xue Xi: “…Oh.”

Gao Yanchen, who was like a lone wolf moments earlier, was walking obediently with her. He turned his head and could see that the girl’s backpack was drooping to the floor. It must be very heavy while his own school bag had been left in the classroom and he did not bring it home.

Just as he was pondering, Xue Xi’s curious voice rang. “What are you looking at earlier?”

Gao Yanchen instinctively locked his phone screen and tossed it into his pocket. “Nothing much.”

Afterward, he shot her a glance. If she keeps asking, how should I brush her off?

“Oh,” the girl replied while he was contemplating and stopped asking.

Gao Yanchen: “…”

The experimental class was on the third floor while Gao Yanchen’s class was on the highest floor. They separated on the third floor and Gao Yanchen immediately strode to his classroom.

Class Eight was the worst-performing class in the whole school, and four members of the Roaring Flame Society belonged to this class.

Seeing him, Flame Number One rushed up to him. “Brother Chen!”

“Mhm,” Gao Yanchen acknowledged him and sat in the last row. He removed his phone once again and the web page had the following words “Vote! Who will clinch the first place in the National Mathematical Olympiad!”

Other than Sun Jie, who was from their province, there were two other contenders who did not participate in the Math Star Competition but were well-known in the Math Olympiad circle.

Xue Xi was the underdog and had a thousand fewer votes than the contender in the first place.

Gao Yanchen sent the link to the Roaring Flame Society group and typed three words: “Campaign for votes.”

…

Xue Xi had zero idea about what was happening on the Internet.

She took her books to the Math Olympiad class and wanted to sort out the soaked portion of Bartra’s theory.

A day flew past in a blink of an eye.

Soon, it was dismissal time and Xue Xi had completed it a day earlier than expected!

After she had sorted it out, her train of thought became even clearer.

In order to prevent further accidents from happening when she was home, she labeled the drafts on the spot. After taking pictures of all 30 or 40 pages, she was going to send them to Teaches Math.

Far away in the capital, Feng Xingshen was in the laboratory. He was wearing his thick, heavy glasses as he looked at the math model on the computer screen. At this moment, his phone rang.

Learning: “Are you there?”

Feng Xingshen sighed.

The young lady is probably looking for an excuse to delay it, huh?

He should not put her in a difficult position. Hence, he picked up his phone and sent a message: “Nobody has been able to prove Bartra’s theory so you don’t have to do it anymore.”

Before he could even send the message, he saw hers.

Learning: “Send me your email. I’ll send the answer to you.”

Feng Xingshen widened his eyes in shock.

Chapter 57: She Truly Solved a World-Class Problem!

Feng Xingshen stared at his phone. Although he recognized the individual words, he felt that he did not know what it meant when they were strung together.

He was in a daze for too long and his heavy spectacles slid down onto his nose. He used a finger to push his spectacles back in place and narrowed his eyes at the phone.

As he was in his sixties, the wrinkles on his face were obvious. His fingers trembled as he deleted the message that he had typed. He then replied: “Are you kidding?”

How could an 18-year-old young lady prove Bartra’s theory?

Learning: “?”

Learning: “What’s your email address?”

Feng Xingshen collected himself and sent her his email address. He put down the phone and waited in silence.

No hurry, no hurry.

All these years, there had been many times when people claimed to have proven Bartra’s theory, but after announcing their proofs, mistakes and loopholes were found. The young lady might not have proven it after all.

Ding! He took a deep breath, and about five minutes later, his computer’s mailbox notified him of a new message and his phone lit up as well.

Learning: “I’ve sent it. Have you received it?”

Feng Xingshen replied indignantly: “Do you have any idea what you’re trying to prove?”

Perhaps she did not understand the significance of this theory in the mathematical world.

Learning: “Bartra’s theory. The topic is slightly challenging. When you asked me, I’ve already been working on it for half a month. I spent nearly 20 days, including this week.”

Feng Xingshen: “??”

Why do I sense the tone of ‘I actually spent 20 days to prove this’ from the young lady’s message?

Does she know that some people spent an entire lifetime and still could not prove it?!

Feng Xingshen no longer harbored any hope for this theory. He responded: “Yes, I’ll take a look first.”

After replying, he downloaded the thirty-plus pages of drafts from his mailbox. He printed every piece, filed them accordingly, and started reading from the first page.

Once he started reading, he could not stop.

…

Xue Xi waited for some time and realized that Teaches Math still had not replied to her. Taking a look at the time, she noticed that the class would only end in ten minutes so she took out a set of Math Olympiad questions and began doing them.

Fan Han, who was also in the same class, stared at her back.

During this period, he searched numerous information relating to Bartra and realized that she was actually proving this difficult theory.

Now it seems like she has given up?

The class ended ten minutes later.

Fan Han packed up his books and stood by her side before advising her earnestly, “Bartra’s theory isn’t something that people our age should deal with. We shouldn’t reach for what is beyond one’s grasp, so it’s better that you stay down to earth and prepare for the National Mathematical Olympiad!”

Xue Xi shot him an aloof glance and kept silent.

Fan Han thought that his words sank in so he continued to explain, “The competition this time around is to be held at the national level and you should not belittle others. Do you know about the winner of last year’s Math Star Competition? He scored 270 marks, and most importantly, he was in his sophomore year last year! Furthermore, he won the first prize of the National Mathematical Olympiad last year, and if it weren’t for his poor health, he would have attended the winter camp and probably been accepted by Huazhong University. He is Li Xuekai from our province. Also, don’t belittle Sun Jie. Although he didn’t perform as well as you during the Math Star Competition, it doesn’t mean that he will do worse than you in the National Mathematical Olympiad.”

Xue Xi found him irritating, so she hastily packed up her books and walked outside.

Fan Han followed behind her and wanted to continue nagging, but Xue Yao, who had just left the Physics class, caught up with him hurriedly. “Fan Han!”

Fan Han paused in his steps. Xue Xi was already downstairs and far away.

He then turned to look at Xue Yao and had a guilty conscience over his actions earlier. Therefore, he tried to show that he was caring for her and asked, “I heard that Mr. Zhou went to your house for an assessment during the weekend. Given your skills, you should have successfully become his apprentice, right?”

Xue Yao: “…”

Her face froze, and moments later, she dipped her head and smiled. “No.”

Fan Han froze. “How can it be? Everyone said that Zhou Zhou accepted a new apprentice! If it isn’t you, could it be Xue Xi…”

Xue Yao shook her head. “No, it’s Xia Yiyi. I pitied her. She neither has been to school nor has any friends, so I gave her the chance.”

Fan Han paused and followed Xue Yao into the classroom as he heaved a sigh of relief. “I knew it. Xue Xi grew up in an orphanage, so why will she know how to play the piano…”

Upon hearing this, Xue Yao gripped her physics papers. She did not tell the complete story, but she would just let Fan Han be mistaken.

When they arrived in the classroom, they realized that most of their classmates were still around.

Xue Yao and Fan Han were slightly taken aback.

Someone took a phone and asked, “Fan Han, who do you think will be the winner of the National Mathematical Olympiad this time around? Li Xuekai has the highest votes now and is followed by someone from another province. Sun Jie is third while Xue Xi is fourth! Do you think that Xue Xi has the chance to be the winner?”

National winner…

These words made Xue Yao’s pupils constrict. She sneered. “It isn’t easy to be the national winner! It has only been some time since Xue Xi started undergoing systematic training. Fan Han, what do you think?”

The moment she said it, she saw Fan Han in a trance.

Only a short while ago, the class would always discuss whether I could get the province’s first prize when it came to math competitions. However, currently, it has already elevated to the scale of the national winner?

He subconsciously turned his head and looked at the girl in the last row.

She stiffly placed her books in her school bag and left with her heavy bag…

He retracted his gaze and answered, “I think it’ll be tough.”

The competition would select first prize awardees to participate in the National Mathematical Olympiad. Other than the winner, the rest are merely first prize awardees. What was the difference?

Since Xue Xi had returned home, had dinner, and finished several questions, she had been looking at her phone while lying on her bed.

Why isn’t Teaches Math replying to my message?

In the capital.

In Huaxia University’s math laboratory.

A postgraduate was conducting the last checks and realized that the lights in the room of his mentor, Feng Xingshen, were still on.

He instinctively walked there. As he was going to turn off the lights, he saw Mentor Feng holding his spectacles in one hand and squinting at the paper.

His hands were trembling as though he was in ecstasy.

The postgraduate paused and asked, “Teacher, why aren’t you going home yet?”

It was almost twelve midnight, and today’s problem did not seem to require him to burn the midnight lamp.

Upon being interrupted, Feng Xingshen returned to reality.

He stared at the answer in disbelief. He jumped. “Correct, it’s correct!”

She truly solved a world-class problem!

Chapter 58: National Mathematical Olympiad.

“What is correct?”

The postgraduate was feeling puzzled. He took a step forward to take a look and was astonished. “This…”

It was only then that Feng Xingshen regained his senses. He anxiously stood up and put away the papers. Seeing his student retract his gaze tactfully, he heaved a sigh of relief.

The postgraduate was still in a state of shock. “It’s correct?”

Feng Xingshen nodded.

He seemed to have recalled something and hurriedly took out his phone. He gave Xue Xi a call via WeChat.

It was late at night and the young lady seemed to be asleep. The phone rang for some time before it was picked up. The young lady appeared uncomfortable to be interacting in this way. “Hello,” she simply greeted moments after answering the call.

Her low and aloof voice had a hint of sleepiness.

Feng Xingshen quickly said, “Have you sent the results of the proof to anyone else?”

She paused before responding, “No.”

The man heaved a sigh of relief and said in a serious tone, “Before publishing it, don’t let anyone else see it for the time being. There are many academics who would take others’ credit for their own.”

“…Oh. I got it.”

Her voice was as calm as before. Feng Xingshen felt as though he was the eunuch who was worried sick while the emperor himself was not at all anxious.

He coughed and asked, “Did you proof this theory on your own?”

She paused and replied in earnest, “No. My maternal grandfather proved two-thirds of it. It should be obvious from the draft that I sent you.”

Feng Xingshen noticed it, but many had tried to use this method to prove the theory in the past. They always got stuck in the last step and could not proceed from there.

Hence, the first two-third portion of it did not really matter and was considered elementary. The hard-to-come-by portion was the last one-third!

Even if the young lady said that she was the one who proved this theory, there would be no problem at all.

Feng Xingshen developed greater trust in her character.

He treated her as his junior and grew fonder of her. He smiled. “Which journal are you intending to publish this on?”

She paused. “Huh?”

She was clearly confused.

Feng Xingshen responded, “You need to arrange this into a thesis and submit it to the most influential math journal. Do you know how to write a thesis?”

“…I don’t.”

Feng Xingshen chuckled. “I can help you with this. I advise you to submit it to Inventione-Mathematica. Your proof would create a buzz in the international math scene for sure!”

She, however, did not seem to be very excited and continued to reply calmly, “Sure.”

Feng Xingshen: “…”

If it were him, he would definitely prepare the thesis for the whole night, but her attitude…

He asked further, “Are you free?”

“No.”

“Are your studies hectic?”

“No, I have to attend the National Mathematical Olympiad.” It had been a week since Xue Xi did her math questions. In order to show that she regarded the competition to be of great importance, she decided to spend the next three days doing questions.

“…”

Feng Xingshen once again felt that the world was a fantasy.

Why would someone as formidable as you, who proved Bartra’s theory, participate in a competition with a bunch of high schoolers?

However, at the thought that the young lady was merely a high schooler, he gulped. “Are you in your senior year?”

“Mhm.”

“Okay. If you don’t mind, I’ll get someone reliable to write the thesis for you!”

“Thank you, then.”

Only then did he feel relieved. He asked, “We’ve spoken only twice in the group chat. Why did you trust me and sent me the draft?”

Although he was a math expert in the nation and of proven character, he could not even promise that he would be able to resist when it came to theses like this…

This was an honorable event that would go down in history!

Listening to this question, Xue Xi thought it was weird and replied casually, “Aren’t you the one who asked me to help you with this question?”

Feng Xingshen: “??”

…

Xue Xi, who was woken up in the middle of the night, was not bothered by this matter and continued sleeping.

For the next three days, she spent all her attention and effort on doing the Math Olympiad questions.

Old Lady Xue wanted to mock her on several occasions but was prevented by Xue Sheng. Liu Yiqiu and Xue Yao seemed to have received a great blow from the piano incident. Thus, they were well-behaved.

Three days passed and Xue Xi packed up her luggage to go for the National Mathematical Olympiad.

The students participating in this competition were almost the same as those who went for the Math Star Competition. The international school had three girls as well, and the other two girls were staying together.

Old Liu asked Xue Xi for her opinion and allowed her to stay alone.

On the bus, Fan Han saw the girl, who was wearing a cap, sitting alone in the last row. He pursed his lips and sighed. There were too many people on the bus and tongues might wag, so he decided to comfort her after they had checked in to the hotel.

Five hours later, the bus arrived at the hotel.

During the check-in, Fan Han moved slowly on purpose because he wanted to find out Xue Xi’s room number. She passed her identity card to the receptionist and the latter smiled. “Hello. Single rooms are no longer available in our hotel. Is it alright that we upgrade you to a presidential suite for free?”

The rest were startled. There is such a good bargain?

Fan Han was stunned. The presidential suite was on the 28th floor, and average guests could not go to that floor unless they were staying there.

Xue Xi did not give it much thought and replied, “Mhm.”

Immediately, the service staff came to collect her luggage. When the others had left, Fan Han pondered over it and realized that he still had a lot of allowance. Just as he was about to upgrade to the suite, he saw other guests checking in. “Are single rooms still available?”

“Yes. Which floor would you like, sir?”

Fan Han was dumbfounded and could not comprehend what had happened. By the time it was his turn, he requested to upgrade his room but was notified, “Sorry, but our hotel’s suites have all been booked. There is no available room that we can upgrade you to.”

Fan Han: “???”

Xue Xi slept particularly well that night, and breakfast was delivered to her room the next morning. By the time they had gathered, she boarded the bus in great spirits.

They arrived at the competition venue, and Old Liu briefed them on the instructions before they headed in. When Xue Xi arrived at the examination hall, she took out her admission card and entered the classroom.

Immediately, she met someone familiar—Liu Liyuan.

As luck would have it, Liu Liyuan sat right beside her.

Ever since the previous incident, Liu Liyuan had been harboring hatred for her. She spread rumors about how Xue Xi enjoyed her life as a rich heiress. In the end, the latter’s first place put her back in her place and she became the butt of the joke!

During this period of time, she could not get down to studying and knew that she had no hope of winning an award.

She clenched her fists in enmity. Standing up all of a sudden, she lifted her pencil case and threw it fiercely at Xue Xi. Since she could not get an award, the perpetrator should not think of finishing the competition peacefully!

Pak! Instantly, her wrist was gripped by Xue Xi.

The teacher came over and hollered, “What’s going on?”

Liu Liyuan narrowed her eyes and fell backward. She toppled the desk and chair behind her. Enduring the pain on her waist, she shouted, “Sir, she hit me!”

Both would be disqualified if they fought in the examination hall!

Chapter 59: I’m Shipping This Couple!

Outside the examination hall, the person in charge of maintaining order stood there with Xue Xi and Liu Liyuan.

The venue was held in a school and there were surveillance cameras in the classroom.

The person-in-charge replayed the CCTV footage for Old Liu and Liu Liyuan’s teacher-in-charge, Mr. Zhang. He explained, “From the CCTV footage, Liu Liyuan struck the first blow while Xue Xi merely acted out of self-defense and pushed her. However, according to the rules, both parties who fought are to be disqualified.”

High schoolers were young and tend to go to the extreme. Therefore, some fights originated from quarrels, and it could not be determined who was at fault. Regardless of who struck the first blow, the competition’s rules mandated that both parties had to be disqualified.

From the footage, Xue Xi grabbed Liu Liyuan and the latter struggled while moving back. She pretended to be pushed by Xue Xi, and based on the CCTV footage, it was impossible to determine whether Xue Xi had pushed her or she fell on her own.

Liu Liyuan’s waist hurt even more as she stood up. Gritting her teeth, she said, “Right, I fought and I’ll accept the punishment!”

She stared at Xue Xi. Since she could not get any award, she would drag the latter down with her.

Xue Xi kept a straight face and pursed her lips. She was infuriated.

Old Liu became anxious. “Teacher, have a good look. Liu Liyuan clearly hit her and Xue Xi defended herself. She merely pushed Liu Liyuan gently. How could she have used such great force?”

Mr. Zhang cut in, full of grudge, “Old Liu, what do you mean? Are you trying to say our school’s Liu Liyuan was pretending?”

Old Liu nodded. “She’s harbored much hatred for Xue Xi since the last examination. They didn’t even speak this time around, so it’s very obvious that she did it on purpose!”

Mr. Zhang sighed. “I have no idea about the actual situation, but the rules are written and Xue Xi fought back. Old Liu, are you trying to go against the rules?”

Old Liu continued to plead with the in-charge.

Xue Xi’s phone was originally handed in when she entered the examination hall, but it had been returned to her.

At this moment, her phone vibrated.

Omnipotent Boss: “Has the competition started?”

Xue Xi sighed and replied: “No.”

The competition had already started and Xue Xi actually replied to him. Xiang Huai immediately sensed that something was off.

Omnipotent Boss: “What happened?”

Xue Xi angrily drafted a simple message to explain everything that happened.

The moment her message was sent, Omnipotent Boss replied to her: “Give me 20 minutes.”

Xue Xi paused for a moment. Taking a look at the time, she saw that it was already 8 AM.

She did not reply to the message.

Old Liu refused to relent and continued arguing with the in-charge. He pestered him for another 20 minutes, and seeing that the latter was unwilling to give in, he was on the verge of giving up—

A man sporting a crew cut suddenly dashed toward them from afar. Wearing a jumpsuit, he was fair and appeared adorable. When he got to them, he gasped for air and looked at his watch. “Twenty minutes and not a second late.”

Having said that, he lifted his head, and when he saw Xue Xi, he nearly addressed her as “Sister-in-law.” Thankfully, he stopped in the nick of time. “The incident has been explained clearly over the phone. Right now, please extract the CCTV footage.”

The in-charge and Old Liu were startled to see him. Mr. Zhang asked, “Who are you?”

That man paused and hit his head. “Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I’m a police officer.”

He then took out his identity card and showed them. “Give me the footage.”

Nobody reported to the police…

The in-charge was confused. He dazedly replayed the CCTV footage for the man.

After getting hold of the computer, the man tapped on the keyboard and played the footage eight times slower. “Look here, after this student had been pushed, she clearly froze for a moment. She had regained her balance before falling. It’s not obvious when played at the normal speed, but when this is slowed down eight times, it’s clear, right? My sis… Xue Xi did not retaliate at all. This entire incident is clearly staged by this student. Does Xue Xi still have to be disqualified?”

He took only three minutes from the moment he got hold of the CCTV footage to when he presented it to the rest.

Seeing that the evidence was irrefutable, the in-charge bellowed at Liu Liyuan, “Liu Liyuan, you’ll be disqualified from all official competitions from now on for obstructing the competition’s order!”

He dipped his head and looked at the time. “Xue Xi, I can let you return to the examination hall, but because there’s another exam following this, I can’t make up the lost time. Are you fine with it?”

The competition was split into the first and second parts.

The first part would last from 8 AM to 9:20 AM while the second part would begin at 9:40 AM and end at 12 PM. He really could not afford to make up the lost time.

Xue Xi expressed her understanding.

Old Liu comforted her. “Xue Xi, don’t feel flustered! The spirit of competition is to never give up. All the best!”

She nodded, and as she ran back to the examination hall with the in-charge, the plain-clothed police officer shouted, “Sis… Xue Xi, I’m Jingfei! Please remember my name! We’ll meet again in the future!”

Xue Xi shot another glance at him. This man was standing at the same spot and jumping as he waved. He appeared really adorable, just like a little pigeon.

Since Xue Xi got delayed for some time, when she got back to the examination hall, she had 30 minutes less time than other competitors.

After finishing the competition, with the papers having been collected, Xue Xi heaved a sigh of relief. She sat dazedly on her chair, and, at this moment, it turned dark.

Lifting her head, she saw a tall, skinny boy standing in front of her. He was wearing Haicheng High School’s uniform and looked dashing. He grinned. “Xue Xi?”

Xue Xi was a little stunned.

That person continued, “I’m Li Xuekai. In order to be fair, I’ll wait for you for 30 minutes during the second part.”

Before Xue Xi could say that he need not do so, the boy had left and sat in the first row.

When the second part of the competition started, the boy really slept on his desk for 30 minutes before starting.

When it ended, a new thread appeared on the National Mathematical Olympiad’s forum: “Ah ah ah. I’m shipping this couple! Both curve-wreckers, Li Xuekai and Xue Xi are really sweet! I can imagine an entire campus romance novel!”

Following the popularity of this thread, the incident whereby Xue Xi had been delayed for 30 minutes spread like wildfire.

Immediately, in the other thread regarding who was to be the winner, Li Xuekai and Xue Xi’s votes plummeted. Sun Jie now had the highest votes.

Xue Xi was not bothered by things happening on the Internet.

After the competition had ended, she had a lot on her plate, along with Teaches Math.

He’d found a reliable person to help her with the thesis and uploaded her drafts onto the computer. However, there were some details that she was required to edit and confirm.

They used more than a week in total to complete the thesis. Feng Xingshen helped her to submit it to international journals, and it was pending checks and replies.

At the same time, the National Mathematical Olympiad’s results came out.

Chapter 60: Overly Flirtatious!

Xue Xi did not think too highly of the competition this time around.

She participated in the competition to learn and did not care much about results. On the day of the results’ release, she woke up as usual.

When Xue Xi went downstairs, Old Lady Xue and Xue Yao dared not taunt her openly.

Old Lady Xue said, “Yaoyao, let me tell you. You need to be humble. If you seek to beat others down at everything and leave them with no other way out, you’ll offend them. Look, that girl could not make it by herself and had the thought of dragging her down as well. She was delayed for 30 minutes and there were only 80 minutes in the first part, right? Aye.”

Xue Yao smiled, and when she saw Xue Xi coming downstairs, she finished her meal. “Grandma, stop talking. She was the national winner for the Math Star Competition, and if she scores too poorly for the National Mathematical Olympiad, others will doubt her Math Star Competition’s results.”

Ye Li came out from the kitchen and handed the specially-prepared breakfast to Xue Xi. She frowned and consoled her daughter. “Xue Xi, the results aren’t a great deal. Everyone knows about your special circumstance. Don’t take their words to heart.”

Xue Xi lifted her eyes calmly and replied, “Oh,” before asking, “What words?”

Ye Li: “…”

She felt that her daughter was unbreakable as though she would never need her mother’s help. Although she was comforted by it, her heart ached for her.

She was merely an 18-year-old girl. Other girls her age would act pettishly to their parents and cry when they faced challenges. However, her Xixi had been used to solving everything on her own, and she had erected a wall that isolated her from this world.

Ye Li smiled and did not continue speaking.

After seeing that Xue Xi and Xue Yao were on bad terms, Ye Li arranged a car for each of them. They did not have to wait for each other to go to school now.

Her daughter would not need to endure any absurd grievances now.

After sending Xue Xi off, Ye Li returned to the living and Old Lady Xue sneered. “On one hand, there is the Math Olympiad, and on the other, there is the Physics Olympiad. You really adore her and aren’t afraid of being insatiably greedy. Look, now she can’t be the winner, can she?”

Xue Yao smiled and kept silent.

Ye Li replied, “This is merely a national competition and not the true Olympiad Competition. As long as she obtains the first prize, she will be able to join the winter camp. With that, she will have recommended admission and lower admission scores. These are sufficient.”

Old Lady Xue harrumphed.

Ye Li turned to look at Xue Yao and launched an attack on the latter. “Yaoyao, it’s best that you stop worrying about other things at present. Do your questions and don’t let your guard down for the Physics Olympiad Competition this weekend. If not, you won’t be able to get the first prize and may not even qualify for lower admission scores.”

Xue Yao’s expression changed instantly when she heard these words.

Ye Li had become more powerful, and Xue Yao dared not speak another word.

…

As usual, Xue Xi alighted in front of the provision store and had breakfast with Canine Teeth and Xiang Huai.

A month and a half had passed and their interactions had become more normal.

After having a bun, Xue Xi thought of something suddenly. She picked up her phone and sent a message to Omnipotent Boss: “Mentor, the National Mathematical Olympiad’s results will be out today.”

Ding! When the message was sent, a notification was heard coming from the opposite.

She paused and saw Xiang Huai picking up his black phone with his well-defined hand. His lazy actions appeared particularly calm. Shooting a glance at the message, he casually typed a line of words and placed the phone beside him.

Bzz…

Xue Xi’s phone vibrated.

She lifted her head to look at the man. He downed a soup dumpling in three mouthfuls, but he did not appear boorish when he ate. Instead, amid his elegance was an air of nobility. It was as if he was eating some sort of delicacy.

After finishing, he licked his lips. His dark brown eyes were filled with nonchalance while his casual actions were overwhelming with lust.

Xue Xi felt her heart skip a beat, and she tried her best to turn her eyes away from him. She drank her soya bean drink as she looked at her phone.

Omnipotent Boss: “Awaiting your good news.”

She arched her brows.

Having been delayed 30 minutes, she was unsure whether she could be the winner, but for some unknown reasons, she sensed that he still had faith in her.

She did not reply.

At this moment, Lu Chao, who was playing on his phone, lifted his head in shock. Turning to Xue Xi, he asked, “Do you know about the online thread?”

Xue Xi took a quick look at him with her misty eyes and shook her head.

Lu Chao: “…”

He lowered his head and looked at that thread in the National Mathematical Olympiad forum.

People like him would not follow a small forum like this. However, he chanced upon it because his boss told him to follow the forum.

Since the young lady is clearly unaware of this, should I report it to Boss?

If Boss breaks his jar of vinegar, will he do something terrifying?

Just as he was pondering over it, he sensed his boss’s icy stare at him. Lu Chao smiled and revealed his two small canine teeth as he handed his phone to his boss. “Boss, look at this.”

Xiang Huai dipped his head to have a look.

The forum title was: “Ah ah ah. I’m shipping this couple! Both curve-wreckers, Li Xuekai and Xue Xi are really sweet!”

The thread had over 2000 likes, but the Math Olympiad was a small social circle, so 2000 likes were a lot.

There was also a photo in the thread. The boy was grinning as he bent over in front of Xue Xi and spoke to her.

The sun rays shone in from the window and reflected on the two of them. Basking in the sunlight, the young boy and girl looked beautiful.

Following this, Lu Chao saw his boss gripping his phone tightly.

Instantly, his heart ached.

Will Boss crush my phone?

I got this Lemon brand phone only a few days back!

Just as his heart was aching, he saw his boss slowly putting down the phone. Heaving a sigh of relief, he quietly took it back and asked, “Do you want to delete it?”

“No need.”

Xiang Huai sounded casual, but it froze Lu Chao’s heart. He then heard his boss chuckle. “Why would I fuss about this with a child?”

Lu Chao: “…”

Hearing this tone, he lit a candle for the boy named Li something Kai in his heart.

Xue Xi had no idea and did not ask. After finishing breakfast, she held Xiang Huai’s hand as usual and left.

Right at the moment when she was at the entrance, a voice called her, “Wait a minute.”

She paused and turned around.

Xiang Huai put his hand in his pocket and approached her casually.

The tall man exuded a strong aura and walked up to her. He suddenly dipped his head and whispered into her ear, “Little kid, all the best for your results.”

Xue Xi was slightly stunned. Why must he whisper into my ear? Can’t he say it out loud?

She took a step back uneasily and replied, “Mhm,” before leaving.

Sitting in the provision store, Lu Chao was dumbfounded by this scene.

He clearly saw a student taking photos of Xue Xi!

Boss must have seen it too. He is truly, overly flirtatious!

Five minutes later, another forum thread appeared on the internet: “A Certain Curve Wrecker’s Gigolo Boyfriend. There are pictures and evidence!”

Chapter 61: Xiang “Gigolo” Huai.

Xue Xi had always been the center of gossip. After getting first in the level and getting first in the Math Star Competition, she became famous in school.

However, she kept a low profile and spent most of her time studying. Her daily life was boring and uneventful.

But ever since Li Xuekai and Xue Xi’s posts became popular within the Math Olympiad circle, everyone began paying more attention to her.

This led to people secretly taking photos of her and posting them on Taiba.

Coincidentally, when she left the provision store today, she came across a classmate who was secretly taking pictures. Xiang Huai made good use of that to make things clear!

Xue Yao had long ago publicized the fact that Xue Xi had a gigolo. Hence, when they saw the intimate photos, everyone instantly understood that the store owner was that gigolo!

Xue Xi knew nothing about what’s happening on the Internet.

She was wearing a baseball cap and a loose school uniform, as well as carrying a heavy bag. Just as she was approaching the school gate, she saw a group of people surrounding someone.

She had not intended to join in on the fun, but then she heard a familiar voice. “Brother Chen!”

Xue Xi paused and walked forward.

Although everyone was surrounding two people, there was a huge space in the middle because the red-haired Gao Yanchen was one of those standing there. The young man’s red hair was standing on end, making him look like a non-mainstream punk. His face was handsome and cold, and he exuded an unyielding and powerful aura.

Not far from him stood a short girl. The girl was wearing Bin City First High’s uniform—it was Liu Liyuan.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she complained, “Did you get my parents fired from their jobs?”

Gao Yanchen lowered his head to look at his phone. With his long fingers, he was currently switching to a smaller account. In the Math Olympiad thread, Xue Xi had a shot at winning first place. His efforts were weak, however, and Xue Xi’s votes still had her only in third place.

He was frustrated and became even more impatient when he heard Liu Liyuan’s words. “Yes. And?”

“It’s really you! Gao Yanchen, how could you do this? If someone’s done something wrong, it’s them you should punish! If I’ve done something, then come at me! What right do you have to fire my parents from their jobs?!” Liu Liyuan cried as she continued to shout, “Do you think you can bully ordinary people just because the Gao family is powerful?”

Gao Yanchen put down his phone. He was originally feeling too lazy to explain, but he could not leave such words unanswered. His star-shaped eyes stared blankly at Liu Liyuan, and his tone was cold and indifferent. “Is there something wrong with firing two employees who have made huge mistakes in their jobs?”

Liu Liyuan panicked. “Don’t make up excuses. You’re clearly seeking revenge for Xue Xi! I already know that you acknowledged her as your boss! I’m really curious. What did Xue Xi give you to make you, Gao Yanchen, stand up for her like this?! Did she sleep with you?”

The moment she said “sleep,” Gao Yanchen’s violent aura intensified.

He suddenly took a step forward and said in a vicious and deep voice, “What the hell did you just say?”

Liu Liyuan was shocked.

She came from an ordinary family. Her parents lived from paycheck to paycheck, and now they suddenly lost their jobs in their middle-age. It was only later that they realized that it was because their daughter had offended someone she should not have offended!

Every day this past week, they had been trying to get a job. Alas, no one dared to offend the Gao family. The pressure of life quickly crushed the two of them and they started to scold Liu Liyuan.

She really could not take it anymore!

At the thought of her parents, Liu Liyuan felt a strong urge to commit suicide. She raised her head and shouted, “What’s wrong? How dare she do it and not let others know?”

“F*ck!” Gao Yanchen bellowed. “If you dare to say that again, I’ll beat you until your parents can’t recognize you!”

Liu Liyuan shouted, “She’s a b*tch! Just because she’s pretty, she seduced you, the school bully, so you’d submit to her…”

Gao Yanchen did not speak further. He took a step forward and was about to attack!

There was a flash in Liu Liyuan’s long sleeves. She took out a fruit knife and rushed at Gao Yanchen. “If you won’t let me live, then everyone else can also stop living!”

A cold glint flashed across Gao Yanchen’s eyes. He thought that this person did not want to live since she dared to take out a knife.

Just as he was about to dodge, a petite and skinny figure rushed in.

The girl in the baseball cap grabbed his arm and pulled Gao Yanchen to the side. Then, the girl took a step back with her right leg and raised her fists. After receiving a series of kicks, hits, throws, grabs, and twists, Liu Liyuan fell to the ground. With her hands held behind her back and her face pressed against the ground, she was unable to move.

With one hand gently controlling the girl, Xue Xi looked up at Gao Yanchen and slowly asked, “Are you alright?”

Gao Yanchen was stunned as he stared fixedly at Xue Xi.

Under the white baseball cap, the girl’s eyes were covered in a layer of mist. They were pure and mysterious. At this moment, she was still expressionless and indifferent, but Gao Yanchen could see a hint of concern.

The young man pursed his lips and his heart felt warm.

No one had ever rushed in front of him to protect him during a fight.

He pulled a long face and asked, “What about her?”

Xue Xi thought about it and finally said, “Call the police.”

Liu Liyuan came to their school with a sharp weapon, clearly intending to kill.

The last time something happened involving her, it was the pigeon-like police who helped.

Gao Yanchen nodded. “Sure.”

After calling the police and waiting for them to arrive, Gao Yanchen could not help but look at Xue Xi. Recalling Liu Liyuan’s words, he coughed and raised his chin. “Don’t believe her words.”

Xue Xi: “…What words?”

Gao Yanchen choked and finally said, “Nothing.”

He definitely did not have such thoughts about girls.

Back then, Xue Xi had defeated him in front of so many underlings. In order to save face and uphold justice, he could only lower his head and call her Sister Xi.

He helped to canvass for votes only because the Roaring Flame Society could not be bullied!

But that did not mean that he would really submit to her from the bottom of his heart.

He had to find an opportunity to spar with Xue Xi in the future and snatch back the position of “boss” so that she could dye her hair red!

As he thought this, Gao Yanchen calmed down a little. He received a link from Flame Number One on WeChat: “Brother Chen, Sister Xi really has a boyfriend!”

Gao Yanchen: “?”

He opened the thread and took a look. The man in the photo was facing the camera, and one could tell only that he was good-looking. As expected of a gigolo.

He tensed up.

Xue Xi was so naive. This person must have cheated money and manipulated others’ feelings. No, he could not just stand by and watch!

When the police arrived and took Liu Liyuan away, Xue Xi returned to class.

Gao Yanchen looked at the time. The results of the National Mathematical Olympiad were to be released at 10 AM. There was still time!

At this thought, he turned around and found the provision store.

He pushed open the door and entered. When he saw the gigolo behind the counter, he threw a card over.

“There’s a million inside. Leave her and the money is yours.”

Xiang “Gigolo” Huai: “?”

Chapter 62: Raising Little Kids Is Very Expensive.

After Gao Yanchen said this, the man sitting behind the counter slowly lifted his head.

The man’s features were well-defined and his expression was cold. His thin lips were pursed tightly and exuding a chill. His sharp eyes swept across the room, and an invisible killing intent surged over, causing Gao Yanchen to tense up as a chill crept up his spine.

He had been pampered by Elder Gao since he was young and developed a lawless personality.

Even when facing a vicious murderer, he was not afraid at all. However, for some reason, this person in front of him made fear rise from the bottom of his heart.

This person was definitely not related to the so-called “little gigolo.”

Just as Gao Yanchen thought this, he saw the man’s gaze gently sweep across his red hair. Immediately, the coldness faded a little. Only when the pressure was not as strong did he feel his breathing become smoother.

The man then said coldly, “Does she know that you went looking for me?”

Gao Yanchen paused. He had always been haughty, but at this moment, he acted as though he was facing his superior and did not dare to not reply. “I don’t know.”

Xiang Huai put down the bank card and tapped his fingers on the table. “You should ask her first.”

Gao Yanchen tensed up.

Only now did he realize that he had done something wrong.

Xue Xi had the freedom to date whoever she wanted. He had no right to interfere, especially when the man in front of him was definitely not ordinary…

However, Gao Yanchen did not want to be outdone and embarrass Xue Xi. He straightened his neck and said, “No matter what, if you dare to bully Xue Xi, I…”

At this point, he paused for a moment and changed his tone. “Our Roaring Flame Society will not let you off!”

Xiang Huai’s face tightened. He took a good look at Gao Yanchen before retracting his gaze. “You can leave now.”

It was only when Gao Yanchen had left the provision store and had the warm wind outside blowing on him that he suddenly realized he had left just because the man ordered him to.

But it’s not cool to rush in again now… Forget it, we’ll talk about it next time.

In the provision store.

Xiang Huai stared at Gao Yanchen’s back with a dark expression. No one knew what he was thinking.

Beside him, Lu Chao tried to reduce his presence and shrank his shoulders. He was so frightened that he did not even dare to breathe. He waited silently for two minutes before Xiang Huai burst out laughing.

Lu Chao froze. Was his boss mad?

Just as he thought this, he heard his boss say softly, “Little kids are quite popular.”

Lu Chao: “…”

He really wanted to become air.

His gaze landed on the bank card in Xiang Huai’s hands and he finally found an opportunity to speak. “B-Boss, can I help you send the bank card to Old Gao?”

“No need.” Xiang Huai shot a glance at the bank card. “It’s very expensive to raise a child.”

“…”

“But you can tell Xiao Gao that there is a limit to doting on children.”

“…”

Lu Chao silently lit a candle for Gao Yanchen’s allowance.

…

Because it took the police some time to get her statement, Xue Xi was already late when she entered the classroom.

The first period was Old Liu’s class. He knew Xue Xi’s attitude when it came to studying, so he did not say anything. He waved and let her in.

After class, Old Liu was not in a hurry to leave. Instead, he turned to look at Xue Xi, seemingly afraid that her results would affect her. He chuckled and said, “Xue Xi, looks like you won’t get first place this time!”

His joking tone made the entire classroom relax.

Old Liu smiled and continued, “There will always be accidents in life. It doesn’t matter. This is just the National Mathematical Olympiad. The real examination will be held in November. As long as you win the Provincial First Prize, you will be able to participate in the Chinese Mathematical Olympiad. That will be the most important! The students who’ll be admitted to Huaxia and Huazhong University will be chosen from there.”

Qin Shuang quickly turned around. “Sister Xi, everyone knows that you were delayed for half an hour, so it’s fine even if you didn’t score well!”

After saying this, Qin Shuang picked up her WeChat and took a look at the news in the Roaring Flame Society chat group. She continued to comfort her. “Besides, it’s already impressive to be able to get a first-level prize. Look at our school. There aren’t many people who take part in the Math Olympiad examination. There are even fewer who can get a first-level prize!”

The Math class representative, Zhou Zhen, stroked his thick glasses and said, “That’s right, Xue Xi. You are already very impressive!”

Everyone started comforting her.

An unfriendly voice sounded. “What if you didn’t even get the provincial first prize?”

“…”

The classroom suddenly fell silent. Everyone turned to look at the person who had spoken—Xue Yao. She forced a smile and said hypocritically, “I’m just worried. After all, after that incident, Sister’s mental state must have been very chaotic. The first test lasted for only 80 minutes. When she entered the classroom, there were only 50 minutes left. There were many questions in the first round and most people couldn’t even finish them. She had quite a delay. As long as one question is wrong, it will be very difficult to catch up. After all, the Provincial No. 1’s score must be around 200 points.”

Everyone fell silent. Only Qin Shuang sneered. “Sister Xi, even with your eyes closed, you can score 200 marks! Stop making sarcastic remarks over there. Who do you think you’re fooling? You’re probably hoping that Sister Xi won’t do well!”

Xue Yao’s face stiffened. Seeing that Fan Han was also looking at her in confusion, her eyes reddened. “I’m just worried about my sister. Why are you maligning me?”

She lowered her head and wiped her tears.

Fan Han frowned and said, “Qin Shuang, Xue Yao is also kind-hearted. Why are you so rude?”

“Good intentions? Pui! If Xue Yao has good intentions, I’ll take off my head and give it to you as a ball! Anyone who’s not blind can tell that she’s envious of Sister Xi! You’re among thousand-year-old foxes here, so why are you acting like a vegetarian?”

Xue Xi wanted to laugh when she heard this. The little chatterbox was really good at insulting people.

Xue Yao’s face turned red as she lowered her head and started crying. “I-I really said that for Sister’s sake. I was afraid that she would be too arrogant and embarrass herself if she did not get the first prize…”

When Fan Han heard this, he frowned. “Even if Xue Yao’s mathematics is inferior to Xue Xi’s, she is still one of the best among people her age. Moreover, she is good at playing the piano and almost became Zhou Zhou’s disciple. She is a prodigy to begin with, so what’s there for her to be jealous of? Moreover, her results are not out yet. Don’t be too arrogant!”

Qin Shuang was inexplicably confident. “See you in an hour!”

Old Liu wanted to continue reassuring Xue Xi, but the bell for the second period rang. He could only leave the class. Just as he returned to the office, the phone in the room rang.

He walked over to answer the call and heard the other party say, “Hello, is this the representative of Bin City International High School’s math team?”

Old Liu nodded. “Yes. You are…?”

What did the other party say? Old Liu was stunned, and a look of ecstasy appeared on his face.

chapter 63 to be continued....

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