Chapter 26.3 - (Part 3) (1/2)

It was only after Zhao Zhanhuai had returned when Madam Zhao discovered that Zhao Mingxi had come in 17th place for this month’s monthly exam, and that she had ranked even higher than Zhao Yuan.

She was naturally overjoyed. With mixed feelings, she said, “Mingxi’s results have never been good. Now that she has obtained such a rank, it shows that she has put in a lot of effort.”

“With such good results, if she was home, we would have prepared a huge meal for her so that we could celebrate.”

“It’s a shame that she’s not home.”

“Should I go to school and visit her tomorrow?” Madam Zhao couldn’t help but to straighten her back and ask.

Zhao Zhanhuai felt his scalp tighten. He hurriedly said, “There’s only three days left until the birthday banquet. She will come, so don’t go to school. If you say something insensitive she might get mad again.”

Zhao Zhanhuai thought, ‘No matter what, even if Mingxi never returns, I must bring her back for the birthday banquet.’

Or else this birthday banquet will truly cause the Zhao family to fall apart.

Madam Zhao could only sit back down.

When she saw how the house was so quiet and cold, Madam Zhao’s mood soured.

How did it become like this? Couldn’t they just get along with each other? Mingxi and Yuning just had to leave home and they both even blocked me on their phones.

Where did it go wrong?

Although Madam Zhao did not want to blame Zhao Yuan and thought that it was Zhao Yuning who had bullied Zhao Yuan— After all since they were young, Zhao Yuning had been an impatient one while Zhao Yuan was more obedient. However, now that she saw Zhao Mingxi and Zhao Yuning leaving this home because of Zhao Yuan, she couldn’t help but to blame Zhao Yuan a little.

Zhao Yuan cried as she sat on the sofa. “I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll try to get Yuning to come home tomorrow.”

Madam Zhao pushed her hand away and went upstairs in frustration. “Forget it. Don’t agitate him further. Send his eldest brother over after a few days.”

Zhao Yuan never could have imagined that things would turn out this way. She opened her mouth, but when she saw Madam Zhao’s figure, she closed it.

She looked towards Zhao Zhanhuai with watery eyes.

Zhao Zhanhuai gave her a glass of water. “Get some rest.”

Zhao Yuan wanted to get some comfort from Zhao Zhanhuai, just like how she did all this while.

However, when Zhao Zhanhuai saw her, he couldn’t help but to feel as if the person who was looking at him was ‘Zhao Mingxi’ who had no one by her side when she sprained her ankle during Sports Day.

Furthermore, he was continuously reminded that he had no blood relations with Zhao Yuan.

He felt uncomfortable. So he avoided Zhao Yuan’s gaze and hurriedly ran upstairs as if he was escaping.

“…”

Zhao Yuan watched his retreating figure in disbelief. She immediately stood up.

She felt increasingly nervous. The fear of an imminent loss was carving itself into her mind.

What’s going on with everyone at home? Is it merely because Zhao Mingxi had left home?

…If she left home as well, who would they pay more attention to?

*

Zhao Yuan couldn’t figure out why Zhao Yuning would suddenly appear at the Literature Department yesterday. She wondered if it was Zhao Mingxi who was behind all this. However, when she asked Pu Shuang and the others from her class, they all said that when she left the lecture hall, Zhao Mingxi was still performing on stage.

“…” Then who could it be?

As Zhao Yuning and her were still not talking, it was impossible for her to ask him this question.

She suddenly locked eyes with someone who was looking at her from the 5th floor of the academic building.

As they were too far apart, she couldn’t see who it was. Nonetheless, the arrogant short red hair which was shining gold due to him being under the sun had exposed his identity.

That person’s skin may be extremely pale, but his eyes were dark and cold.

Zhao Yuan felt a chilly wind blowing in her direction, causing her hairs to stand.

When she looked up again, Fu Yangxi had already left with his arms around two other guys’ shoulders.

—Could it be Fu Yangxi? Or is it just a coincidence?

Zhao Yuan was doubtful that the Young Master of the Fu family would do such a thing to her just for Zhao Mingxi.

*

As Fu Yangxi didn’t like to do exercises between classes, and the homeroom teacher couldn’t possibly force him to do it, so he let him be. Thus, for every period of exercise between classes, he would hug his Pikachu pillow to sleep.

Mingxi had just returned from exercising. When she passed by the Evergreen Class, she suddenly heard someone call out to her. “Mingxi!”

Mr. Lu ran up to her. He was out of breath when he said, “Why do you walk so fast? We’ll talk while we’re walking.”

“What happened, sir?”

Mr. Lu said, “I’ve received news that our school has received another spot for the Hundred School Tournament.”

Mingxi was shocked. “Really?”

Mingxi’s heart rate began to speed up. She couldn’t hide the excitement on her face.

If A High could obtain another spot, does it mean that the chances of her joining the Hundred School Tournament is a little higher?!

“Yes. The news is correct. I’ll notify the Gold Medal Class’ Mr. Jiang. Who knows, he might allow you to join.”

After he was done speaking and before Mingxi could react, Lu Wangwei hurriedly ran upstairs. He went to the office in search of Mr. Jiang while sweating bullets.

Mingxi stood on the spot for a while, stunned. Only after she had calmed down did she continue upstairs.

She shouldn’t raise her hopes, or else if she is not chosen to enter the Tournament, she will definitely be disappointed.

This was what her grandmother had taught her. Calm down and don’t put your hopes too high.

Mr. Lu wasn’t the person with the most information in school. If the news could reach him, it means that the other teachers had known about it for a while already.

There were even a lot of students from the Gold Medal Class and Evergreen Class who had found out about this.

“Oh my God, Kong Jiaze was right, our school did obtain another spot! She is truly ahead of everyone when it comes to such news!”

Ye Bai put down the experiment in his hands and exclaimed.

Shen Liyao had his sleeves pulled up as he assembled a few grey colored machines by the side quietly. There were stacks of parts which had been assembled placed on his table.

There was a high chance that Shen Liyao didn’t go home last night and slept in the experiment room.

Ye Bai couldn’t help but to say, “God Yao, actually with your current standard, you won’t face a lot of pressure when it comes to obtaining National Champion. So it shouldn’t take a lot out of you to date someone. I think Kong Jiaze is not bad. She can dance ballet and her results are good. The both of you are practically a match made in heaven…”

“Shut up.” Shen Liyao’s expression was so cold that it was terrifying, his hands not stopping at all.

“—” Ye Bai shut his mouth in fear.

He placed his attention on the parts which Shen Liyao had completed.

Then, he took a glance at Shen Liyao’s handwritten timing board. He didn’t know if it was his own misperception, but for the past few days the rate of Shen Liyao making a mistake seemed to be higher than before.

It was as if it all began on that day when Zhao Mingxi said she no longer liked him in the corridor.

Ye Bai instantly sensed where it went wrong.

“Or else—” Ye Bai suddenly said, “Why don’t you get Zhao Mingxi back? Actually, the both of you are quite a matching couple. Aside from her average results, she’s quite good. Besides, her results are slowly getting better…”