When Zhu Fan arrived home, Meng Yin was downstairs watching TV with Zhu Ci, who was copying a funny expression from the TV drama to amuse her mother.
The mother and daughter were both laughing, collapsed on the sofa.
The air and humidity indoors were perfectly comfortable, dispelling the dampness from the continuous rain outside.
Zhu Fan changed out of her pink pig slippers.
Hearing the commotion, Meng Yin rested her chin on the sofa and turned her head with a smile to speak to Zhu Fan.
Meng Yin, who had given birth to two children and was approaching forty, still looked full of collagen and youthful charm, every smile and expression carrying warmth.
Even at night, resting at home and binge-watching dramas, she still dressed meticulously.
“A Fan, you’re back a bit late today.”
“We couldn’t reach you on the phone, and I was scared to death. Luckily, Yazhi answered and said you’d gone to a club dinner with classmates after class this afternoon.”
Hearing Meng Yin’s words, Zhu Fan realized Ming Yazhi had already covered for her with a lie.
She wasn’t good at lying. Meeting Meng Yin’s caring gaze, she said, “I won’t be back this late next time.”
Meng Yin waved her over. “You’re an adult now. You need to make friends and handle your own affairs. If you’re going to be late or stay at school, just let Mom and Dad know in advance.”
Zhu Ci noticed her mother’s attention had shifted entirely to her sister and blinked. “Sis, your clothes look like a boy’s clothes.”
“Sis, are you secretly dating someone?”
Zhu Ci’s two seemingly casual remarks carried a subtle, deliberate intent.
Zhu Fan looked down at her clothes. Fortunately, she’d had the foresight to stop by the mall and buy a pair of pants on the way home.
Her current outfit wasn’t strange at all—just a casual oversized style.
Meng Yin’s attention was also drawn to her daughter’s attire. “A Fan, you look cool dressed like that.”
Then she ruffled Zhu Ci’s head. “Your sister is an adult now. It’s fine if she’s dating.”
Zhu Fan gave Zhu Ci a cool, indifferent glance. “Senior year is a crucial year. Don’t you go secretly dating anyone.”
Meng Yin’s expression turned serious.
Zhu Ci’s smile froze on her face. “Mom, I’m not dating.”
Zhu Fan’s expression was serious as she simply looked at Zhu Ci.
Compared to Zhu Ci’s fluster and guilt, Zhu Fan, calm and composed, sat down beside Meng Yin with a faint smile curling at her lips. “Don’t video chat so late at night. It’ll affect your school the next day.”
With that, she picked up the remote and changed the channel to something she wanted to watch.
Meng Yin looked at Zhu Ci seriously. “A Ci, Mom doesn’t oppose you making friends, but you’re only in senior year and still a minor. Entering an intimate relationship too early would—”
Zhu Ci cut Meng Yin off. “Mom, I’m not dating. You have to believe me.” She hugged the plush bunny beside her. “I still have school tomorrow. I’m going upstairs to sleep now.”
Without waiting for Meng Yin to say more, she trotted upstairs.
Zhu Fan watched TV quietly for a while.
It had been a long time since Meng Yin had sat and watched TV with her eldest daughter like this.
“Is A Ci dating someone?”
Zhu Fan didn’t say anything, but Meng Yin had already formed her own judgment.
Under the light, the young girl’s features were relaxed as she quietly watched TV, exuding a cool, ethereal beauty.
When she heard Meng Yin ask if she herself was seeing anyone, she shook her head.
Meng Yin continued with a smile. “Then does A Fan have any boys she’s close to or on good terms with?”
Zhu Fan hesitated for a few seconds before nodding. “Close, but not on good terms.”
Meng Yin flicked her daughter’s forehead, already having someone in mind.
“Our Fanfan is so outstanding and so beautiful. Which boy wouldn’t be smitten or like her?”
Zhu Linjun came downstairs from the study and saw his wife leaning on their eldest daughter’s shoulder, the two chatting and laughing every now and then—a warm, peaceful scene.
Seeing her husband, Meng Yin smiled. “Dad wants to join us too.”
Zhu Fan handed the remote to her father. The drama wasn’t interesting, and she wanted to head back to her room to rest.
Zhu Linjun called out to his daughter. “A Wan just came home. She’s unfamiliar with the capital, has no friends, and isn’t close to us yet. She needs more time.”
“You’re her older sister. A Wan is closer to you than to me or your mother. Dad wants you to look after your little sister more.”
Zhu Fan gave an OK gesture.
Watching his daughter head upstairs, Zhu Linjun felt deeply that he wasn’t exactly his daughter’s favorite person.
“Dad isn’t finished talking yet.”
Meng Yin chuckled secretly. “The Tang monk is about to start chanting sutras.”
Zhu Fan leaned back against the sofa. “Dad, go ahead. I’m listening.”
“A Ci tends to act like a child. Sisters should get along harmoniously.”
Zhu Fan nodded. “Harmoniously.”
Meng Yin looked a bit troubled. “We want to send A Wan to Gefe for her senior year, but A Wan herself says she wants to go to No. 2 High School.”
Gefe was a renowned international high school affiliated with Jing University. Parents in the upper echelons of Jing University’s social circle all sent their children there. Whether in terms of college admission rates, faculty, environment, or educational approach, it far surpassed public high schools.
A child’s horizons and breadth of knowledge shouldn’t be limited to textbooks. At Gefe, if your grades weren’t good, you developed your interests instead.
Zhu Linjun and Meng Yin didn’t have much confidence in the education from the small, underdeveloped town. They didn’t want Zhu Yuan to feel too much pressure in her studies.
No. 2 Middle School required both an interview and a written exam. Although they could pull strings if needed, they preferred Zhu Yuan to choose Grefey.
First, they didn’t want to undermine the child’s confidence. Second, they hoped Zhu Yuan could study happily and joyfully.
Zhu Fan recalled the plot of the original book. Zhu Yuan had insisted on attending No. 2 Middle School and had passed both the written exam and interview there, but after only a month, she transferred to Grefey.
Thinking back to the original plot, at No. 2 Middle School, on her way home after school one day, Zhu Yuan was followed by thugs hired by Zhu Ci and nearly found herself in danger.
Zhu Fan had been entrusted by her parents with the important task of changing Zhu Yuan’s mind.
Meng Yin said, “We want to respect A Wan’s wishes too, but senior year is truly exhausting, and No. 2 Middle School is far from home. Even with a driver picking her up, A Wan would still have to get up very early, and after evening self-study, she’d get home very late.”
Zhu Fan looked at her worried mother and her father, who was deep in thought. “Grefey also requires an interview and written exam, and both are more difficult than No. 2 Middle School’s. Tomorrow morning, we can take my sister to Grefey, and in the afternoon, to No. 2 Middle School.”
Let Zhu Yuan experience both for herself, and then make her choice.
In the original plot, Zhu Yuan hadn’t attended Grefey’s interview or written exam at the time, mistakenly believing that her parents had pulled strings and used their financial power. After hearing that the annual tuition was three hundred thousand yuan, she became even more determined to attend No. 2 Middle School.
Grefey International High School was full of rich second-generation and official second-generation kids. Having just arrived in the capital, Zhu Yuan wasn’t used to or comfortable with that environment.
In her studies, Zhu Yuan never dared to slack off. Even knowing that her grades might not be as impressive as others’, she still had confidence in herself.
Independent and proud.
Zhu Fan’s suggestion was adopted by Zhu Linjun.
She yawned and slowly climbed the stairs back to her room.
The original plot had already begun to deviate, and there was only so much Zhu Fan could do. What she knew about, she would find ways to avoid. What she didn’t know, she would deal with as it came—block the water with earth, stop the soldiers with weapons.
Noticing that light was still seeping through the crack of Zhu Yuan’s door, she knocked.
The door she knocked on didn’t open, but the door she hadn’t knocked on did.
Zhu Ci stood with her hands on her hips, fuming. “Tattletale.”
“I didn’t even tell Mom, Dad, or Grandma about you.”
Zhu Ci said this with extreme grievance.
Zhu Fan leaned against the doorframe and gave a rather perfunctory nod, indicating she’d heard.
Zhu Ci was furious. “You’re not just a tattletale, you’re a liar too. You were still home before 6:00 PM this afternoon—you never even went to school.”
“You said you were going to a club dinner, but you were actually sneaking off to meet some wild man.”
Zhu Fan furrowed her brow.
The driver had reported her whereabouts to Zhu Ci.
A flash of smugness crossed Zhu Ci’s eyes. She’d slipped Uncle Liu quite a bit of money over the years.
“Are you done?”
Zhu Fan’s calm composure infuriated Zhu Ci.
“Is this the attitude of someone asking someone to keep a secret?”
Zhu Ci’s shouting was practically meant to wake the whole household.
Zhu Fan walked past her. “You’re disturbing others’ rest.”
Zhu Ci stomped her foot hard, fuming with rage as she watched Zhu Fan shut and even lock her door.