Qin Yu and Shi Jing had similar grades. The two of them were genuine academic grinders.
Back in high school, every weekend or holiday, they would be standing outside the Municipal Library by six-thirty in the morning. In their left hands were science review books; in their right hands were mathematics and English materials. As for Chinese literature—don’t ask. If asked, the answer was simply that they didn’t want to study it.
Their grades had come from mountains of practice exercises stacked at home and countless pen refills that had run dry.
They were the result of years of unwavering persistence, late nights, early mornings, and serious dedication to studying.
Jiang Yu was the complete opposite.
His level of effort in studying was about the same as an average person’s. He listened attentively during class, but once vacation arrived, he would run off to play basketball or queue up for online games with his friends.
In terms of hard work, he couldn’t compare to Shi Jing.
Yet his grades remained firmly in first place.
Back then, the Director of Studies at Canghe First High School taught mathematics. Whenever he substituted in other classes and encountered students who were hopelessly clueless, he would throw chalk pieces around while saying, “There’s a genius in Class Three. He only needs to look at a problem a few times before he understands it.”
From that day on, the title “Genius” followed Jiang Yu for more than a year.
Shi Jing hated that title the most.
Letting out a cold laugh, he crossed one leg over the other. Looking every bit like an idle young master from an ancient wealthy family who spent his days teasing cats and dogs, he tapped the back of the sofa with a finger and said to the little turtle soaking peacefully in its tank beside him,
“Son, did you hear that? Uncle Qin says you’re a genius.”
Qin Yu nearly thought he had misheard.
After coughing lightly, he asked, “Wasn’t I talking about Jiang Yu?”
With lowered eyelids, Shi Jing stared seriously at the little turtle’s green head.
“I forgot to tell you. My son is surnamed Jiang and named Yu.”
“…”
Qin Yu was speechless for a long time.
Looking at the turtle lord he had carefully cared for over the past month, his vision darkened.
Pulling out a tissue to wipe his lips, he stood up.
“Well… let me just make one thing clear. I didn’t hear anything you just said.”
Shi Jing glanced at him.
“Coward.”
Qin Yu replied sincerely,
“Thank you for the compliment.”
Shi Jing: “…”
It was difficult not to admit that the only reason he and Qin Yu got along so well was because fate had arranged for them to be deskmates for over a decade.
If they had spent any less time together, then with Qin Yu’s personality, Shi Jing would probably have kicked him while passing him on the street.
Snatching the remote control from Qin Yu’s hand, Shi Jing said irritably,
“You should go home.”
Qin Yu looked innocent.
“Why?”
“I need to go buy a wedding gift for my mom.”
After a pause, he added,
“Want to come with me?”
Qin Yu immediately replied,
“I think I’ll just go home.”
Qin Yu suffered from terminal indecisiveness.
Even choosing between a blank notebook and a grid notebook could take him half a day.
Not only did he drive himself crazy, but Shi Jing never liked taking him shopping either.
When Ye Zhenzhen called, Shi Jing was wandering around a shopping mall.
Wearing jeans and a short-sleeved shirt, he strolled around for quite a while before finally deciding to buy Ms. Ye a gold necklace.
The sales associate smiled and asked which one he liked.
Unfortunately, Shi Jing was the embodiment of a straight man.
After glancing over them a few times, he decisively pointed at the thickest necklace.
“That one.”
The heavier the gold, the more sincere his feelings would be.
Carrying the necklace box, Shi Jing stepped outside to answer the call.
“I’m already sitting in the wedding car. When are you coming, you little brat?”
Ms. Ye’s voice was slightly hoarse.
She was in her forties and had smoked quite a bit over the years.
“I’m getting a taxi right now.”
Shi Jing walked toward the mall exit.
After hesitating briefly, he asked,
“By the way, where exactly is the wedding being held?”
Ye Zhenzhen: “…”
“You really are my biological son.”
“Right? I can barely believe it myself. I even used your hair and mine for a DNA test before. Unfortunately, it confirmed that we’re actually mother and son.”
Ye Zhenzhen: “…”
“I’ll send you the address on WeChat.”
After throwing out those words, Ms. Ye hung up without hesitation.
Following the address Ye Zhenzhen had sent him, Shi Jing successfully arrived at the wedding venue.
The moment he got out of the car, he was stunned.
A hotel more than twenty stories tall stood before him, colorful ribbons cascading from the roof all the way down. Everywhere he looked were the names of Ms. Ye and her future husband.
Two giant human-shaped helium balloons floated through the air.
Tilting his head upward, Shi Jing squinted against the bright sunlight and examined them carefully.
The balloon wearing a wedding dress had delicate makeup and looked about seventy percent similar to his mother.
“…”
The corner of Shi Jing’s mouth twitched involuntarily.
Immediately, he dialed Chen Xiaorong’s number.
“Are you sure my mom has successfully entered high society and married some wealthy business tycoon?”
As Ye Zhenzhen’s younger brother by neither blood nor marriage, Chen Xiaorong was one of only two relatives from her side of the family, the other being Shi Jing.
At that moment, Chen Xiaorong was dressed like a colorful butterfly, holding a wine glass while socializing with guests at the wedding.
Walking into a corner, he lowered his voice.
“What else would it be?”
“Why does this look kind of… nouveau riche to me?”
Shi Jing suppressed the urge to complain as he walked into the hotel.
“The Zhou Family really is a wealthy family. Half the houses in Canghe City belong to them.”
Chen Xiaorong lowered his voice even further, afraid someone might overhear.
“Besides, don’t you think this is exactly your mom’s style?”
Shi Jing: “…”
It really was.
The current chairman of the Zhou Family was Zhou Mengshu, a real-estate tycoon whose every move could shake the entire city of Canghe.
Naturally, guests had shown him plenty of respect.
The banquet hall was packed with distinguished attendees, surrounded by luxury and elegance.
Meanwhile, Shi Jing wore a simple outfit and a pair of low-top green canvas shoes.
He looked completely out of place.
Ignoring the surprised looks from others, he casually sat down at a table in the corner and picked up a glass of orange juice.
There were dozens of banquet tables.
After searching for a long time without finding Chen Xiaorong, Shi Jing was preparing to leave when a shadow suddenly fell across him.
The newcomer wore a black suit and gold-rimmed glasses.
He had affectionate peach-blossom eyes and a smile that seemed amused.
“Long time no see, dear little brother.”
The man’s name was Li Nanxun.
He was Zhou Mengshu’s second son and carried his mother’s surname.
Despite his young age, he had already taken on much of the Zhou Family’s responsibilities.
Shi Jing wasn’t particularly familiar with the Zhou Family.
Ms. Ye rarely talked about them.
The last time they had met was the day after Shi Jing’s college entrance examination, when he had shared a meal with several members of the Zhou Family.
Shi Jing asked flatly,
“Need something?”
“We’re family now. Can’t I just come say hello?”
Li Nanxun smiled as if he hadn’t noticed Shi Jing’s impatience.
Setting down his orange juice, Shi Jing replied leisurely,
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Let’s keep things simple between us.”
Li Nanxun’s smile faltered briefly before returning.
“We also have an elder brother. Have you met him?”
Shi Jing glanced at him, feeling somewhat baffled.
“Wasn’t he absent from that dinner last time?”
Li Nanxun curled his lips into a smile.
“I heard you went to Australia a few days ago. Elder Brother was there too. I thought perhaps the two of you had met.”
Hearing that, Shi Jing immediately understood.
This guy was here to gather information.
Relaxing into his chair, he leaned back calmly and said,
“No, we never met. To be honest, I don’t even know what Elder Brother looks like.”