16
Wu Jiao couldn’t face her exam results and was about to make a run for it when Cao Haotian called out to her.
“Wu Jiao, wait up!” He hurried over, excitement written all over his face. “You did really well this time! You’ve improved so much—go take a look!”
Without finishing his sentence, Cao Haotian grabbed Wu Jiao’s arm and pulled her through the crowd to the scoreboard.
“Look! 511 points! Wu Jiao, you’re a total genius!”
Wu Jiao stared at the score next to her name in disbelief.
511 points—a full 213 points higher than last month’s mock exam! And her math score? A solid 128 points!
She did some quick mental calculations. The question types that Si Xiuyuan had reviewed with her—she must have gotten every single one right. The points she lost were mainly on the last two multiple-choice questions, the final fill-in-the-blank, and the steps for the last two big problems.
She had some idea of how to solve them, but got stuck on unfamiliar steps. Give her a bit more time, and she was sure she would master them eventually.
Now, Wu Jiao was over the moon.
Cao Haotian had witnessed all the hard work Wu Jiao had put in recently, and seeing her this happy made him even happier than she was.
Just as they were talking, Wu Jiao felt a weight drop onto her shoulder, someone had pulled her into a back hug, using her like a human body pillow.
“Our dear Jiao Jiao~ You did pretty well, huh? Laughing so happily, what are you two chatting about? I want to hear too.”
Wu Jiao: “…”
That teasing, sarcastic tone and nickname—who else could it be but Pei Jiamu?
“Why do you pop up everywhere?”
Wu Jiao jabbed him with her elbow, but he dodged it smoothly out of habit and casually leaned against her like she was a pole.
The moment Pei Jiamu showed up, he completely stole all of Wu Jiao’s attention.
Cao Haotian watched how close the two of them were, and something sour churned inside him.
Pushing down his emotions, he took the initiative to greet him. “Hey, Pei Jiamu, I’m Cao Haotian. Wu Jiao, I didn’t know you and Pei Jiamu were so close.”
Cao Haotian? That name sounded familiar.
Wasn’t he the one who said he liked Wu Jiao last time?
A flicker of irritation, one Pei Jiamu himself didn’t even notice sparked in his chest.
It felt like someone had set their sights on a hidden gem he had discovered.
Annoying. He wanted to tell him to get lost.
Wu Jiao was annoyed too.
She said flatly, “No, we’re not close.”
Pei Jiamu said, “We grew up together. You could say we’re childhood sweethearts.”
They spoke at the same time, then turned to glare at each other.
Pei Jiamu: “Not close? If we’re not close, then why did you bite me? You wanna bite him too?”
“Pei Jiamu! That’s ancient history!”
Wu Jiao’s face flushed red with anger.
“I never said it was ancient history!”
Within moments, the two childish kids started squabbling again, while Cao Haotian, left standing there ignored, could only muster a bitter smile.
……
After the monthly exam, No. 1 High School gave half a day off, and Wu Jiao’s parents happened to be back home.
Upon hearing about Wu Jiao’s results, Wu Zihui let out a few sobs and started crying. She hugged Wu Jiao tightly, showering her with praise and insisting on taking her to a fancy restaurant for a big meal.
“Honey, resting well helps you study better. Look how thin you’ve gotten.”
Wu Jiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Mom, I’m not thin. I’ve actually gained weight.”
She knew that health was the foundation of everything. Besides practicing sanda (Chinese kickboxing), she had been intentionally eating more meat. She had gained quite a bit of weight and was even starting to show faint muscle definition.
The improvement in her grades had given Wu Jiao a taste of the joy of studying. Now, she was actually nervously looking forward to the next monthly exam.
She asked Xiao E, “What’s this month’s side quest?”
Xiao E: [Raise monthly exam scores by 50 points, and raise morality score by 100 points.]
“Why do I need to raise my morality score by that much? Will I even have time to study?”
[Don’t be afraid, host. After your morality score maxes out, you’ll receive a mystery item. The sooner you max it out, the sooner you can enjoy it.]
“Don’t tell me it’s another junk item like mind-reading that only works on non-main characters.”
[No, no, absolutely not. It’s definitely something good. Host, it’s just dinner—it won’t take much time. You can still study after you get back. Balance work and rest. You might even get a chance to earn some morality points.]
Wu Jiao thought that made sense.
Half an hour later, Xiao E’s words turned out to be spot on.
Qiushan Ting Restaurant was spacious and semi-ecological. The first-floor lobby was enveloped in natural plants, with a winding artificial stream running through it. Under the bridge walkways swam many kinds of large fish whose names Wu Jiao didn’t know, leisurely moving to the soothing music.
Before she could even reach their booked private room, as Wu Jiao stepped onto the bridge walkway, she saw a child not far away crouching by the water, reaching out to grab the big fish.
Xiao E: [Side quest triggered—Save the child about to fall into the water. You’re the best passerby! Morality points +5.]
Seeing the child already half-submerged, Wu Jiao swiftly vaulted over the railing, lunged forward, and intercepted the child mid-fall.
The child’s parents finally reacted and rushed over to thank her. “Young lady, thank you so much!”
Wu Jiao handed the child back to the parents, but the child clung to her and refused to leave.
“Big sister! Do it again! That was so much fun!”
Wu Jiao: “…”
Wu Jiao’s parents were also terrified. They ran over from the bridge and only relaxed when they saw she was fine.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the other parents wanted to give a gift as thanks, but all three members of the Wu family refused in unison and fled with remarkably synchronized strides.
On the way back to the private room, Wu Jiao ran into Si Xiuyuan unexpectedly.
She turned to look at him—who knew how long he had been watching her from across the way? Seeing that it took her so long to notice him, he let out a soft laugh and greeted her.
What was he doing here too?
Si Xiuyuan’s casual outfit looked great. He was probably meeting someone important, because he was wearing a white suit.
The suit clearly looked custom-made—the fabric was excellent, and it complemented his figure perfectly. It accentuated his long legs and broad shoulders, making him appear even more mature. For a moment, Wu Jiao felt as if she were seeing him a few years into the future.
He stood at the restroom entrance, holding a small ladies’ handbag, apparently waiting for someone.
“Hello, Uncle and Auntie. Wu Jiao, what a coincidence, running into you here.”
Si Xiuyuan waved at her and walked over to greet them proactively.
“Hello, hello! Xiao Si is getting more handsome every day!”
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Wu Zihui pulled Wu Jiao closer and looked back and forth between the two of them, grinning from ear to ear. “Both of you kids are good-looking—a perfect match. One like a big brother, one like a little sister. Both look like they came from me.”
“Mom!”
“Honey!”
Wu Jiao and Ji Feng spoke at the same time.
“What’s wrong with that? Can’t I just say it? Look how much these two kids have the same vibe.”
Wu Zihui was grinning from ear to ear.
Wu Jiao was almost breaking out in a cold sweat, and Ji Feng nearly found himself wearing an imaginary green hat.
The two quickly scanned their surroundings. Only after confirming that no other members of the Si family were around did they breathe a sigh of relief.
Wu Jiao and Ji Feng: Whew, as long as Si Xiuyuan’s father didn’t hear.
Wu Zihui was an only child. Back in those days when every family had at least two kids, the big brother next door would walk his little sister home from school every day, save money to buy her food and things, and if anyone bullied her, he’d immediately take her to their doorstep and make them apologize.
From that time on, her wish for a brother became an obsession.
Wu Jiao being a brother-con probably came from Wu Zihui’s genes.
Wu Zihui’s wish was never fulfilled, so after marrying Ji Feng, she became determined to give Wu Jiao a brother.
Wu Zihui insisted on having a girl, so after Wu Jiao was born, she was overjoyed, yet at the same time, she felt sad for quite a while that Wu Jiao didn’t have a brother.
The rain of having no brother had been falling ever since—right up to today.
Wu Zihui clutched her chest and sighed. “Jiao Jiao has never experienced what it’s like to have a brother growing up. What a pity.”
Wu Jiao: “…”
Mom, you’re really overacting!
Si Xiuyuan smiled. “Auntie Wu, if you’re willing to take me as your godson, I’d be honored to be Jiao Jiao’s brother.”
Following Wu Zihui’s lead, Si Xiuyuan switched to calling her Jiao Jiao.
Wu Zihui’s eyes lit up. “Really? Can we?”
This was the Si family! Si Xiuyuan—the one with the best family background among all the restricted novel male leads!
He was clearly just joking to give everyone an easy way out, but Wu Zihui took it seriously.
Taking the only son of the Si family as a godson—such social climbing was something only Wu Zihui would dare to think of and do!
The key was, Si Xiuyuan actually looked serious, staring at Wu Jiao as if asking for her opinion.
Wu Zihui nudged her. “Sweetie, say it.”
The situation had completely taken an unexpected turn.
Xiao E shrieked: [Host, whether Si Xiuyuan really wants to be your brother or not, latch onto that connection first! More friends, more paths. An extra brother is just an extra brother!]
Wu Jiao: “…”
Awkwardly, Wu Jiao opened her mouth. “…Brother.”
Maybe because she was too shy and hesitant, her voice came out sounding almost like a girl playfully whining. The moment she realized it, her face turned red.
Si Xiuyuan took in her reaction completely.
He affectionately ruffled Wu Jiao’s hair. “I saw your grades. Great improvement. Keep it up.”
“Thank you. I’ll work hard. Mom’s hungry, so we’re going now!”
How did Si Xiuyuan end up becoming her brother?
And the word “brother”—calling Si Xiuyuan that felt strangely hot in her mouth, making her head spin.
Wu Jiao wished she could crawl into a hole.
“I’m not hungry! You and Xiao Si should talk some more—”
“You’re hungry!”
Wu Jiao quickly dragged her parents away.
Yan Yixin had witnessed everything just now.
Wu Jiao had dressed up a bit for dinner tonight, she wasn’t wearing her glasses, and Wu Zihui had done her makeup and curled her hair.
The young girl stood beside Si Xiuyuan in a white dress. Their outfits looked as if they had been coordinated on purpose—very pleasing to the eye, like a well-matched couple.
Yan Yixin dug her nails viciously into her palm.
When exactly had Wu Jiao—someone she had never taken seriously—started to become different?
It seemed to have begun on the day of the water-throwing incident.
And when had she learned to dress up and grow closer to Si Xiuyuan?
Who did she think she was? What gave her the right to call Si Xiuyuan “brother”?
Combined with Wu Jiao’s strange behavior lately, Yan Yixin finally understood her game.
—Her interest in Pei Jiamu and others was just a smokescreen. What she really wanted was to use her as a stepping stone, climb up over her, and seduce Si Xiuyuan.
Yan Yixin was consumed with jealousy. Only now did she suddenly realize that she had been careless and invited a wolf into her home.
……
The show was long over. How much longer was she going to stand there spying?
Si Xiuyuan had grown tired of waiting. He walked over on his own.
Seeing him approach, Yan Yixin hurriedly greeted him. “Brother Xiuyuan, I’m ready. Who were you just talking to?”
Yan Yixin adjusted her expression and put on a smile.
Si Xiuyuan, who had been cold-faced just a moment ago, curved his lips at the question, his smile tinged with a hint of shyness. “A girl I like.”
“Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
Yan Yixin froze.
So she was right. She had guessed correctly.
Wu Jiao had been hiding her intentions well.
Yan Yixin clenched her fingers imperceptibly, a surge of hatred rising within her.
“Let’s go. They’re about to start on their side.”
Si Xiuyuan lowered his gaze, a smile still playing on his lips.
……
Every night during the designated report time, Wu Jiao spoke into the phone: “Today, three girls came to ask the class monitor questions, and a few class monitors from other classes came to get some materials from him. They exchanged a few words, and that was it.”
She didn’t mention a thing about what had happened at the restaurant tonight.
Wu Jiao had developed a set of rules for what to say and what not to say when it came to keeping the young lady happy.
Besides that, Wu Jiao felt that Si Xiuyuan had acted strangely tonight, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on what exactly was off about him.
Was he more warm than usual? Not really.
Yan Yixin sneered coldly, but when she spoke, her voice was sweet and coquettish. “Wu Jiao, I heard your class is having class committee elections. Go run for class monitor. I don’t want these people bothering Brother Xiuyuan all the time.”
“Ah… I’m not as capable as the class monitor. There’s no way I’d get elected.”
“How do you know if you don’t try? Look how capable you are—you’ve improved so much.”
Enough to seduce Brother Xiuyuan, anyway.
“Just run for the position. Leave the rest to me. It’s decided. Bye.”
Her? Class monitor? Who would vote for her? Was she kidding?
Wu Jiao didn’t take Yan Yixin’s sudden whim too seriously and continued burying herself in her studies.
But the next day, things turned out beyond her expectations.
**