“Mr. Ruan, Wanwan ranked third in her grade for this month’s exams. This child really… she’s still dissatisfied with herself even after placing third, frowning and complaining to me that she underperformed this time.”
“Mom, I really didn’t do well this time. Please don’t say anymore. I’ll definitely do better next time.”
…
In this household, Qiao Li could only address him as “Mr. Ruan” – this was something Ruan Ting had warned her about before she entered the family, and Qiao Li didn’t dare overstep.
Even from this distance, the pretentiousness was so thick you could cut it with a knife.
When Ruan Xing came down for dinner that evening, this was the scene that greeted her.
The way Qiao Li and her daughter carried on was like stray dogs begging at the doorstep, desperately wagging their tails before her father. In Ruan Xing’s eyes, it was nothing but a ridiculous spectacle.
The spacious living room felt somewhat solemn. The gorgeous, dazzling crystal chandelier overhead cast brilliant light throughout the space.
The three of them sat together in complete silence, the atmosphere unbearably awkward.
That these two could persist in such circumstances truly earned Ruan Xing’s reluctant admiration.
These two really were… nothing but clowns performing for an audience.
Ruan Xing couldn’t help curling her lips into a smile as she walked over confidently and naturally took a seat beside Ruan Ting.
If Ruan Ting had been wearing an icy, emotionless expression earlier, it could now be described as an instantaneous spring thaw.
The previously motionless Ruan Ting finally allowed some of the coldness to melt from his features the moment his daughter sat beside him.
He then reached out to affectionately stroke his daughter’s soft hair, his eyes holding a tenderness even he himself failed to recognize.
Not the head pats again. Ruan Xing was seriously starting to suspect that if she ever went bald, there would be no doubt – her father’s constant head rubbing would be to blame.
“Dad, why are you patting my head again? Don’t you know too much of this will stunt my growth?” Ruan Xing exclaimed in frustration, speaking to Ruan Ting with feigned fierceness.
Though she didn’t realize that in her current state, she possessed about as much intimidation as an angry kitten – utterly adorable.
“With your petite stature, how much taller were you hoping to grow anyway?” Ruan Ting’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
The two chatted and laughed together for quite some time, while Qiao Li and Lu Wan sat to the side without any voice in the conversation. Their uncomfortable demeanor made them seem like insignificant servants in the Ruan household.
Lu Wan was practically grinding her teeth in frustration.
Even though she had performed so excellently in her exams, Uncle Ruan wouldn’t even grant her and her mother a kind look, let alone offer her any praise. Meanwhile, that good-for-nothing Ruan Xing, who couldn’t achieve anything worthwhile, could make Ruan Ting throw his head back in laughter with just a few casual words.
Was this the difference between being blood-related and not?
Lu Wan simply couldn’t accept this.
Why should it be this way? Ruan Xing was nothing but worthless, perpetually incapable of amounting to anything. Meanwhile, Lu Wan wasn’t inferior to Ruan Xing in any aspect – at the very least, she had long surpassed Ruan Xing by miles in both academics and dance.
Why couldn’t Ruan Ting just notice her more?
Lu Wan had tried to curry favor with Ruan Ting before, but he wouldn’t have any of it.
Qiao Li and her daughter had been left hanging for what felt like an eternity before they finally made it through dinner.
Qiao Li’s eyes shifted thoughtfully as she casually glanced toward Ruan Xing, a warm smile still fixed upon her face.
If Ruan Xing didn’t know the venomous heart hidden beneath that face, she might have actually been fooled by that smile.
Seeing Qiao Li flash such a nauseating grin, Ruan Xing felt an ominous premonition.
Sure enough, trouble arrived the very next second.
“Xingxing, how did you do on this month’s exams?” Qiao Li wore a kindly expression, perfectly mimicking a caring elder concerned about her junior.
Beside them, Lu Wan couldn’t conceal the glee in her eyes—finally getting to release some pent-up frustration.
Little did they know their scheming hearts had long been seen through completely.
In her previous life, this mother-daughter duo had frequently “casually” mentioned her academic performance to her father. Every time they brought it up, her father would show a trace of sorrow, though he never once scolded her—only occasionally failing to hold back a few reproachful words.
After each incident, the two would perform their good-cop-bad-cop routine, claiming it wasn’t intentional, smoothly glossing over the matter in front of her.
This time around, having seen through many things, how could she not recognize their deliberate intentions?
But Qiao Li and Lu Wan had miscalculated this time—she wasn’t last place anymore. She wondered what expressions they’d wear when they found out.
The atmosphere in the living room chilled several degrees at Qiao Li’s question, falling into utter silence.
After a long pause, Ruan Xing finally broke the stillness.
“Quite well, thank you for your concern, Auntie.” Ruan Xing’s expression remained completely unchanged, as if utterly unbothered.
She offered Qiao Li a sweet, polite smile, her manners impeccable.
Even this situation can be spun? How shameless. Since when has being dead last been considered “quite well”? I never knew last place could be so arrogantly flaunted.
Qiao Li nearly laughed aloud internally. “Is that so? How wonderful! If you need any help, Xingxing, you can always ask your sister. She did quite well this time too.”
“That won’t be necessary. Someone of Lu Wan’s caliber really can’t teach me.” Ruan Xing was stating facts—who knew if Lu Wan would even hold her ranking next month?
“Can’t teach you? Although Wanwan didn’t perform exceptionally this time, she still ranked third in the grade! Surely she’s qualified to tutor you!” You wretched girl! How dare the last-place student look down on Wanwan? Don’t you have any self-awareness about your own results?
Ruan Xing had already noticed the thick cloud of sorrow surrounding her father. She glanced at him before speaking slowly.
“I ranked 45th in the grade this time. I achieved that in one month—something Lu Wan couldn’t do. If I need tutoring, I’ll naturally find someone more capable than me.”
“You… you say you ranked 45th? Are you dreaming? I’ve seen your grades—it’s not like I don’t know what they’re like.” Lu Wan sounded as if she’d heard the world’s funniest joke, unable to stop herself from arguing.
The idea of Ruan Xing ranking 45th held zero credibility for Lu Wan.
Even if Ruan Xing had studied without eating or sleeping for the past month, she could never have scored that well.
Ruan Xing really is getting more and more shameless—making up any lie that comes to mind. Has she gone mad?
“Xingxing, is what you’re saying true?” The man who had been silent on the sofa for a long time furrowed his brows, his eyes clearly devoid of the sorrow they held earlier as he looked at his daughter.
“Dad, it’s true. This is the Grade Ranking List. I took a photo of it—take a look.” Ruan Xing said as she pulled out her phone and found the picture she had taken before leaving today in her album.