After finishing breakfast, Cheng Ye closed his book, slung his black bag over one shoulder, and walked downstairs. By the time he reached the teaching building entrance, a torrential downpour was already crashing down outside.
At that moment, Cheng Fenghao and Chu Xiyan, along with the others, also arrived downstairs.
Third Sister Cheng Shiyan fussed over Cheng Fenghao, “Fenghao, I have a double umbrella here. You and Xiyan can share it.”
Cheng Fenghao happily accepted it. Opening the umbrella, he walked into the rain side by side with Chu Xiyan.
Father Cheng, Mother Cheng, and the three sisters each held their own umbrellas as well.
Suddenly, Mother Cheng caught sight of Cheng Ye standing by the corridor wall. He had his black bag slung over his shoulder, dressed in a dark short-sleeved shirt and long pants, wearing earphones as he lowered his head, playing games on his phone.
She was about to walk over when Cheng Shiyan pulled her back, “Mom, why are you always soft-hearted toward Cheng Ye? Fenghao is about to take his exam.”
Cheng Fenghao pressed his lips together and spoke with a deliberately anxious tone, “The exam starts at 9:00. It’s already 8:30. It’ll take more than 10 minutes just to walk there.”
Mother Cheng looked conflicted, “Xiao Ye doesn’t have an umbrella.”
“So what if he doesn’t?” Cheng Shiyan said with clear displeasure, “What does it have to do with us? Look at him. Does he even look like he’s seriously going to take the exam?”
“If he’s late, it won’t matter. Whether he takes the exam or not, the result will be the same,” Cheng Shiyan said irritably. “But if Fenghao is late, the loss would be huge.”
“That’s enough. Stop wasting time. Let’s go to the exam hall,” Father Cheng suddenly said.
He snorted inwardly. He wanted to see how long Cheng Ye could keep this up.
Once Cheng Ye ran out of money, he would definitely come back to the Cheng family on his own.
At that time, he would have to properly discipline him.
Completely lawless… to think he would heartlessly cut ties with them!
With the Cheng family’s blood running through his veins, he cut ties just like that. Was that something a person with a conscience would do?!
As Jiang Mian came around the corner holding an umbrella, she ran straight into Father Cheng, Mother Cheng, and the others.
Father Cheng showed her no kindness, warning sternly, “Stay away from Cheng Ye, otherwise—”
Before he could finish, Jiang Mian glanced at Cheng Ye, who was standing alone.
Then she looked back at them, her gaze steady, “You have so many umbrellas. Would it really be that hard to take him along with you?”
Father Cheng and the others froze.
“Or is it that none of you know Cheng Ye and Cheng Fenghao are in the same exam hall?” Jiang Mian continued. Her voice was soft, yet carried a coldness that kept people at a distance.
Chu Xiyan felt a sudden discomfort hearing Jiang Mian speak up for Cheng Ye, “Jiang Mian, what right do you have to speak for him? Don’t forget, he’s my fiancé now.”
The atmosphere around Jiang Mian dropped instantly, “Has he acknowledged that?”
Chu Xiyan was left speechless.
Father Cheng’s expression darkened as he instructed the butler beside him, “Go give the eldest young master an umbrella.”
The butler was holding an extra umbrella, originally prepared for Miss Chu. But since Cheng Fenghao and Chu Xiyan were sharing one, it had become unnecessary.
Father Cheng became furious from embarrassment, “I advise you not to provoke the Cheng and Chu families. You can’t afford the consequences.”
Jiang Mian said nothing. Holding her umbrella, she turned and left.
Father Cheng frowned deeply, feeling increasingly irritated.
Cheng Fenghao spoke considerately, “Dad, she’s my brother’s friend. Let’s be more understanding and tolerant toward them.”
Chu Xiyan suppressed her frustration, “If it weren’t for the elders arranging this engagement, who would want to be his fiancée?”
Father Cheng’s expression turned even worse. Cheng Ye was always like this… never considering their feelings, doing whatever he pleased, associating with all kinds of questionable people.
Cheng Shiyan muttered unhappily, “I told you, anything or anyone related to Cheng Ye will ruin our mood.”
“Mom, you really shouldn’t feel sorry for him anymore!” Cheng Shiyan raised her voice.
Mother Cheng remained silent for a long while before saying, “Fenghao’s exam can’t be delayed. Let’s go.”
Cheng Wei hesitated, wanting to say something. She felt that what they had done this time was indeed a bit excessive.
As Jiang Mian had said… with so many umbrellas, was it really that difficult to take Cheng Ye along?
…
Cheng Ye wore his earphones, immersed in his game.
Even after the physics competition started, late entry was still allowed within the first 30 minutes. Cheng Ye planned to wait until the rain lightened before leaving.
With his head lowered, he was focused on his game when he suddenly noticed a pair of small white shoes appear in his view. Looking upward, he saw a pair of slender, fair legs.
Cheng Ye exited the game, took off his earphones, and raised his dark, deep eyes.
Standing before him was the slender figure of Jiang Mian.
Her hair was tied into a bun. She wore a white shirt on top and a black pleated skirt below.
Compared to when he had seen her at the small clinic, her style was completely different. Back then, she had worn delicate makeup, like a fairy descending from the heavens.
Now, without makeup and with her hair tied up, she looked like a pure and graceful high school girl.
Both versions had their own kind of beauty.
Cheng Ye wasn’t completely oblivious.
A girl who would immediately panic and blush from even an accidental touch… that already said everything.
“Cheng Ye, the exam is about to start. Let’s hurry to the exam hall,” Jiang Mian said, holding two umbrellas as she handed one to him.
Cheng Ye’s gaze deepened slightly, “Thank you.”
He opened the umbrella and immediately noticed it was slightly larger than the one Jiang Mian was holding.
Walking through the rain, he glanced at the small figure beside him. The violent wind and rain made it seem as if her delicate body might be blown away at any moment.
After a moment of thought, he suddenly reached out and grabbed her soft, slender hand.
Jiang Mian’s mind went blank. She turned her head back in confusion.
“Let’s share,” Cheng Ye said.
Jiang Mian obediently put away her umbrella without hesitation and moved closer to his side.
By the time they reached the exam hall, it was exactly 9:00.
Jiang Mian’s exam room was right next to Cheng Ye’s.
After Cheng Ye entered, Jiang Mian simply opened her umbrella and walked back to the classroom.
As for the exam?
That was impossible.
Everyone from Senior Year Class 1 had gone to take the physics competition.
When Jiang Mian returned, the classroom was completely empty.
She had just sat down when a young man in a well-tailored suit appeared at the door.
Jiang Mian looked surprised, “Brother, why are you here?”
…
Cheng Ye handed in his paper early, while Father Cheng, Mother Cheng, and the others were still waiting for Cheng Fenghao to finish.
Seeing Cheng Ye come out early, Father Cheng frowned and questioned, “Why didn’t you take the exam properly? You came out so quickly?”
It had only been 35 minutes. If he could still get a good score, that would be unbelievable!
“The questions were easy. I finished early,” Cheng Ye said, noticing the Cheng family all waiting neatly outside the exam hall.
He had never received this kind of treatment before.
“Nonsense!” Father Cheng didn’t believe him. “You clearly didn’t know how to do them!”
Mother Cheng’s eyes filled with tears, “Xiao Ye, why have you become so cold?”
“We’re a family. Is it really necessary to go as far as cutting ties?”
Cheng Wei had not yet told their parents about Cheng Ye getting first place in the basketball group competition.
Suppressing her emotions, she supported Mother Cheng, unsure how to speak.
Cheng Ye didn’t want to waste time or energy on them.
But Mother Cheng stepped in front of him again, blocking his path, “Xiao Ye, at least explain it to us!”
Cheng Ye crossed his arms, his voice cold to the extreme, “Am I your biological son?”