Teacher Wang hadn’t expected this child to be so bold and was momentarily speechless.
Lin Xiyue grew anxious: “Teacher, there’s no issue with my living situation. I can take care of myself!”
I’m already in my twenties—how could I possibly not know how to take care of myself!
Teacher Wang hesitated: “Your brother is He Mingchu, right? I’ll call him, and we can discuss this together with the principal!”
Only then did Lin Xiyue nod.
Another year of schooling meant another year of tuition fees. She observed that the He family wasn’t particularly wealthy, so it was better to save where possible.
After understanding the whole story, He Mingchu gazed deeply at Lin Xiyue.
His first thought: This little girl actually tested into senior year of high school?
His second thought: She’s actually thinking about saving money for the He family?
Things were getting more and more interesting…
This was perfect. If she were in the same class as him, wouldn’t there be more opportunities for them to interact?
Thinking this, He Mingchu smiled and said: “Teacher, Xiyue is my sister. I’ll take good care of her. We’ll always be together from now on.”
Lin Xiyue shot He Mingchu a surprised look.
What did he mean by “always be together”? Such a suggestive phrase!
But seeing He Mingchu’s expression, Lin Xiyue mentally slapped herself. Look at your dirty thoughts! How could the gentle male lead have such intentions? He just wants to take care of his sister!
The principal and Teacher Wang exchanged glances, still somewhat hesitant.
“But college admissions are unpredictable. What if one gets accepted while the other gets assigned through adjustment…”
He Mingchu shook his head: “We won’t accept adjustments. I’ll coordinate with Xiyue’s situation.”
The principal grew anxious: “He Mingchu, you’re our school’s hope! You have what it takes to get into Qingbei. Don’t throw away such a bright future because of these matters!”
Lin Xiyue was inwardly shocked. The male lead was willing to give up Qingbei for her? How could she accept that?
When she’d told Teacher Wang earlier that He Mingchu would take care of her, it was merely a temporary measure. But now that He Mingchu said it himself, the meaning was completely different.
“Brother, you can get into Qingbei! Don’t be reckless!”
He Mingchu felt somewhat irritated. Who’s your brother? I’m an only child!
Yet his smile remained warm: “Xiyue, you’re still young. If you take the college entrance exam this year, who will take care of you at university? Why don’t you listen to the teacher and study for two more years!”
Lin Xiyue lowered her head without responding.
He Mingchu continued: “Otherwise, Xiyue, why don’t you work hard and take the Qingbei exams with me? How does that sound?”
Lin Xiyue’s eyes widened.
Are you even listening to what you’re saying?
I couldn’t get into Qingbei even if I had decades to prepare!
Let alone now!
The principal and Teacher Wang quickly made the decision: “This is perfect! He Mingchu, you and Lin Xiyue are siblings. Look after her studies regularly. Our school’s honor rests on both of you now!”
Having said this, as if afraid they might change their minds, the principal waved them out of the office.
Lin Xiyue was bursting with things to say, but He Mingchu had already pulled her out of the office.
“He! Ming! Chu!”
Lin Xiyue was angry and shook off his hand.
“Do you even know what my academic level is? How could you tell them you’d drag me along to Qingbei? Let me make this clear—I’m hopeless deadwood that you can’t salvage!”
He Mingchu looked at her flushed face and her arms-crossed posture, which could only be described in four words: small but mighty.
Even an angry little pet is adorable.
He raised an eyebrow and said cheerfully, “You don’t even know my capabilities, so how can you be sure I can’t do it?”
Lin Xiyue’s furrowed brows relaxed. Oh right, this is the male lead—is there anything he can’t accomplish?
“Alright, don’t overthink it! We haven’t even started yet, and you’re already intimidated?”
He reached out and took Lin Xiyue’s hand. “Let me take you back to the classroom first.”
On the way, He Mingchu asked casually, “Did you study before?”
Lin Xiyue repeated the same explanation she had given the teacher: “Yes, my mother taught me.”
He Mingchu smiled faintly. “Then your mother must be quite remarkable to have taught you up to a high school senior level.”
Lin Xiyue’s heart raced a little. What did he mean by that? Was he suspecting something?
But for the rest of the journey, He Mingchu said nothing more.
Originally, He Mingchu had been the youngest among the college entrance exam candidates. Now, with Lin Xiyue joining, everyone was both curious and impressed.
“This little girl—can she really take the college entrance exam?”
“Are all the He family members this smart? The siblings are both exceptionally talented!”
“Is this little girl even ten years old?”
Lin Xiyue straightened her posture. “I’m thirteen years old!”
He Mingchu found it amusing and placed her bag on the desk next to his seat.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to get your textbooks.”
When the siblings returned to the He household, Lu Jianguo and Bai Xiaomei were already cooking in the kitchen.
Upon hearing that Lin Xiyue had been placed in the senior year of high school, He Jianguo and Bai Xiaomei were stunned for a long moment.
“Hahahaha!”
He Jianguo burst out laughing first.
He patted Lin Xiyue’s small frame. “Wow, our He family ancestors must be smiling upon us! Two genius children in one family!”
Bai Xiaomei finally snapped out of it. “Moon Maiden, can you really take the college entrance exam?”
Lin Xiyue put down her backpack, picked up the bowls and chopsticks, and went to fetch water by the well. Suddenly, a mischievous thought crossed her mind.
“Of course! Brother said he’s going to get me into Qingbei!”
Wasn’t he the one boasting?
He Mingchu crouched down, washing the bowls and chopsticks with a faint smile.
He saw right through his little pet’s sly intentions.
Let her talk—she’d behave once he started supervising her studies.
He Jianguo beamed with excitement. “Ming Chu, you must guide your sister well. If our family produces two Qingbei university students, I’ll take you both to Shen City for a trip!”
He Mingchu responded lazily with an “Oh.”
“By the way, Dad, Aunt Mei, how did it go at the neighborhood office today?”
He Jianguo’s laughter abruptly stopped.
“We submitted the application and handed in the documents. Now we have to wait for the review.”
He Mingchu nodded. “The sooner we get the marriage certificate, the better. Is there any way to speed up the process?”
He Jianguo thought for a moment. “There’s a colleague in my workshop whose wife works at the office. I’ll ask tomorrow if we can expedite it.”
Lin Xiyue finished a bowl of rice and tried to dash off as soon as she put down her chopsticks.
He Mingchu pressed down on her shoulder.
“Only eating this much? Let me serve you some more.”
Lin Xiyue looked at him, puzzled. “I’m already full!”
He Mingchu frowned at her slender frame. “Look how thin you are—you look like you’re only ten! If you don’t eat more, people will think our family is mistreating you!”
He Jianguo nodded in agreement. “That’s right, Moon Maiden, you need to eat more to make up for what you missed before! And you too, Xiao Mei, eat more!”
Reluctantly, Lin Xiyue was forced to eat another bowl of rice, so full she could barely move.
After dinner, without even a moment’s rest, He Mingchu took out his backpack and made her start on her homework.
“Let’s take advantage of the daylight while it’s still bright. The incandescent lamps at night will strain your eyes.”
The current incandescent bulbs had such low wattage they were barely adequate for lighting homework sessions—oil lamps provided better illumination.
Lin Xiyue felt a fleeting sense of returning to her childhood, when her grandfather would watch over her, urging her to finish homework quickly.
What a pity—back then, after finishing homework she could still watch television, but now…
Staring at the problems in her textbook, Lin Xiyue furrowed her brow and began chewing her fingernails.
This was her habit whenever she encountered difficult questions.
Suddenly.
A hand pulled hers away.
Lin Xiyue looked up blankly and saw He Mingchu holding a pair of scissors.
“What are you doing!”