After Stealing a Kiss from My Sponsor Sister - Chapter 20

After a week of hard studying, Yu Shuang took Jiang Ya to a well-reputed private kitchen for a good meal.

Taking a sip of watermelon juice while Xiao Huang, the dog, enjoyed a special homemade meal from the kitchen, Jiang Ya finally explained systematically: “Actually, I don’t think it’s worth it. If I were to aim for the National First Prize, the competition would be fierce. I’ve asked around and looked up information—apparently, these first and second prizes also have something to do with the school and the teachers…”

Yu Shuang raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t they awarded based on scores?”

“The first and second prizes are score-based. What I’m talking about is the recommendation for admission. I’ve asked—most people taking this exam aren’t doing it for extra points but for the recommendation quotas.”

“Recommendation to good universities?”

“Yeah. If you get the National First Prize, you can apply to universities, pass their recommendation exams, and as long as you meet the undergraduate cutoff in the college entrance exam, you’ll be admitted. It’s like a three-part requirement: the award, the recommendation exam, and passing the college entrance exam.”

Yu Shuang asked, “That classmate of yours who got the National First Prize—is she aiming for a recommendation?”

Jiang Ya had indeed asked. “She said she applied to several schools and is waiting for interview notifications.”

“With recommendations, sometimes it depends on the relationship between the university and the high school. Some universities would rather take a second-prize winner from School A than a first-prize winner from School B.”

Yu Shuang caught on.

In short, these pathways were manipulable, tangled with social dynamics.

If everyone taking this exam was aiming for recommendations rather than extra points, then it really wouldn’t be worth it for Jiang Ya to pursue it.

Jiang Ya continued, “I’m decent at math, Chinese, and science, but my English is weaker. If I put the same effort into English, I feel like improving by ten points would take much less effort than what I’d spend on Olympiad math.”

After hearing all this, it was clear the girl had her own plans and reasoning. Yu Shuang’s urge to guide her faded, and she simply nodded. “As long as you’ve thought it through.”

“Let’s drop this topic. How about something else? Are you settling in okay? Are your classmates easy to get along with? Is it convenient to do homework at the hotel? Anything you’re struggling with?”

The barrage of questions made Jiang Ya’s vision blur for a moment.

In the past, her grandmother had asked her the same things.

Picking up a piece of vegetable, she used the time chewing to steady her emotions before smiling and answering.

“It’s a bit more tightly scheduled than my old school in town, but it’s fine. I have a lot more time for homework now.”

“I’m used to it. There’s nothing I’m not used to, really. It’s just school—the learning atmosphere is great…” She paused, tilting her head slightly, her eyes curving into crescents. “The students are a lot more capable too. Compared to before, I feel more like I fit in.”

Yu Shuang asked, “Because they’re all top students?”

“…Not all of them, but most are really outstanding.”

So it was still about being among top students.

The people around her were now on her level.

Yu Shuang didn’t point it out.

Being in one’s comfort zone did make things easier, and for Jiang Ya, that zone was likely this affiliated high school.

“The hotel is great, just too expensive. Staying a week costs about the same as renting a place nearby for a month. The classmates are nice too. Before coming here, I didn’t expect city students to be like this.”

“Like what?”

“Actually, the better the school, the less academic pressure there seems to be. They give students more time for self-study, and I feel like my classmates really know how to have fun too. It’s not like before, where teachers only wanted us to focus on studying and even used evening self-study sessions for lectures. Now, I can pretty much finish the day’s homework during evening self-study, and when I get back to the hotel, I just review some Olympiad math before going to bed.”

Jiang Ya’s eyes sparkled as she suddenly lowered her voice, “Oh, by the way, Miss Yu, I’ve noticed quite a few couples!”

“?” Yu Shuang perked up her ears.

Who doesn’t love gossip? It’s only human nature.

Jiang Ya listed two pairs, speaking in a hushed tone, creating an intimate, whispery atmosphere.

“Wow~”

“That’s great. Borrowing a famous line from Madam Wen, ‘Youth is the time to date a lot!'”

“Madam Wen?” Jiang Ya looked puzzled.

Yu Shuang: “My esteemed mother.”

“Ohhh.” After a pause, Jiang Ya hesitated and tentatively asked, “Miss Yu, your mom doesn’t disapprove of teenage relationships?”

“Not at all. Maybe it’s just a different environment. Plus, I went to an international high school—relationships in my class were pretty dramatic. My mom even said I was clueless, only knowing how to paint. Later on…”

She trailed off, and just as Jiang Ya thought she was about to mention her own romantic experiences, Yu Shuang changed the subject. “A person’s happiness comes from healthy relationships around them. She’s always encouraged young people to date more, to figure out what they want sooner and find happiness early.”

Almost involuntarily, Jiang Ya asked, “Has she ever urged you, Miss Yu?”

“She’s too busy for me—she barely has enough time for her own painting and doting on her partner!”

Jiang Ya bit her tongue.

Though it was just a simple question, she knew she’d overstepped.

Stop, stop, stop. A beneficiary shouldn’t—and mustn’t—ask about the sponsor’s private matters.

She already…

Her long lashes fluttered downward, trembling slightly.

She already wanted to put some distance between them.

Taking a deep breath, she lowered her head and ate quietly for a while before speaking again. “There’s another pair—probably unrequited love. The girl thinks she’s hiding it well, and I’m not sure if the boy knows, but it’s actually pretty obvious.”

She was talking about Mu Xiao and their class monitor, Shu… Shu something? Never mind, it wasn’t important.

In any case, Mu Xiao had a crush on the class monitor.

As for how she’d noticed, it was pure coincidence. Jiang Ya was oblivious to friendly gazes but hyper-aware of scrutinizing or hostile ones. Mu Xiao often looked at her with a strange, assessing stare.

Mu Xiao was also the English class representative, so Jiang Ya occasionally asked her for help with problems. While Mu Xiao was good at explaining, her attitude was always a bit evasive. Plus, whenever Jiang Ya went to ask the class monitor for help, she’d look up and—nine times out of ten—catch Mu Xiao staring. After a few rounds of this, it became obvious.

“Does your class monitor not like her back?” Yu Shuang asked.

Jiang Ya shook her head. “Not sure. I hardly ever see them talk. The class monitor is really good at math, though—clear problem-solving approach, very useful.”

Useful…

Yu Shuang chuckled at the description.

“Do others know?”

“Not sure. I don’t think so.”

After a week of classes, Mu Xiao only seemed to stare when Jiang Ya went to ask questions. When others approached the monitor, the girl didn’t peek—so she must’ve been hiding it well.

“Then you absolutely mustn’t expose it. If she’s the sensitive type, you might just make her resent you.”

“No, I just think it’s kind of interesting.”

“Interesting?”

Jiang Ya choked slightly, lowering her head to shovel rice into her mouth as she mumbled, “Yeah, first time discovering an unrequited crush.”

But that wasn’t entirely true.

She often wondered whether the way she looked at Miss Yu appeared the same to outsiders—hopeless, unreciprocated, yet unable to stop herself from foolishly gazing.

Of course, she probably hid it better than Mu Xiao.

At least she didn’t look particularly stupid.

Or so she guessed.

That was why, after noticing it, she became the one who paid the most attention to Mu Xiao.

Would the girl give up?

How long would it take?

Would Mu Xiao’s lingering gaze fade first, or would she retreat to her rightful place, tucking away her delusions?

There was no answer.

But these secret sympathies made the meaning of this unrequited love feel entirely different in Jiang Ya’s eyes.

She peeked up slightly, stealing a glance at Miss Yu over the rim of her bowl. The woman in her line of sight was smiling—bold, dazzling, and radiant. A noble lady with a kind heart and generosity. Someone so perfect could have anyone she wanted.

Then she thought of the young master she had met on her first day in the capital.

Truthfully, his manners had been impeccable.

Even when she spoke so rudely, he hadn’t interrupted or scolded her.

Compared to him, she seemed even more lacking.

If Miss Yu were straight, there were plenty of wealthy, well-bred gentlemen.

And if, by some chance, she wasn’t—there were countless beautiful, cultured young ladies. What did Jiang Ya have to compete with?

She…

Was just a student who had been granted an opportunity she didn’t deserve, all thanks to Miss Yu’s kindness.

She should be grateful.

She should be grateful.

Not… repaying kindness with resentment, letting improper thoughts run wild…

“Xiao Ya? Ya-ya?”

A hand waved in front of her face. When she looked up, she met Miss Yu’s concerned eyes. “What are you thinking about? I called you several times with no response.”

Jiang Ya startled. “Oh, oh—I was thinking about vector problems, how taking the absolute value under a square root requires considering both positive and negative solutions, and then deciding whether to eliminate one based on the question stem… uh, mistakes.”

“……”

“……”

It had rolled off her tongue too easily—it was actually her deskmate’s mistake notebook. She wouldn’t mess up something that simple!

Yu Shuang: “Speak human.”

Jiang Ya: “Thinking about vector problem-solving.”

“Switch to manual.”

“…Mistake compilation.”

Jiang Ya: “Maybe I’ve been studying too hard.”

Yu Shuang burst into laughter and ruffled her hair. “I can tell!”

Then, with a flick of her chopsticks, she mercifully reminded her, “Xiao Huang’s about to steal all your shrimp.”

“?”

Jiang Ya whipped her head around just in time to see Xiao Huang’s eyes widen before the dog dramatically opened its mouth—swallowing the last visible bit of shrimp tail.

If I didn’t see it, it didn’t happen!

“Ahhh! Spit it out!” Jiang Ya pried at the dog’s jaws.

“Woof! Grrr—” Xiao Huang stubbornly clamped its mouth shut.

“Stupid dog, spit!” Jiang Ya smacked its head.

“Whine… yip, yip!” The puppy dug in its heels, refusing to surrender.

Watching the girl and dog wrestle, Yu Shuang tried to hold back—but failed, doubling over in laughter.

–

The pleasant weekend passed in a flash.

After some discussion, they decided Xiao Huang would temporarily stay with Jiang Ya.

She would rent a place near the school instead of living in the dorms—easier for raising a dog, and more comfortable for her.

Yu Shuang, swamped with company matters, had no time to spare, so she sent her assistant to help Jiang Ya find an apartment.

Jiang Ya spent three hectic days moving—on the first day, she picked out a new place; on the second, she took time off to move; and on the third, she took another half-day to barely get her new home in order. During this time, it rained heavily several times, and the class group chat was full of reminders to stay warm and avoid catching a cold.

Jiang Ya forwarded one of these messages to Miss Yu.

Miss Yu seemed even busier than before, replying slowly each time.

Suppressing all her emotions, Jiang Ya focused solely on moving and studying—keeping herself as occupied as possible.

By Thursday, the chaos of moving had finally settled. She woke up early, took the dog out for a walk, then locked Xiao Huang in his crate. Patting the little golden retriever’s head, she said, “Be good, okay? I’ll come back for lunch, and I’ll take you out to play in the evening!”

“Woof~” Xiao Huang gazed at her with pitiful, pleading eyes.

Jiang Ya promised, “If you behave well during this time, I’ll listen to Miss Yu and keep you for a while before sending you to a good dog boarding school. They have big lawns and lots of other dogs—you can make friends there.”

“Whine~” The puppy didn’t understand but nuzzled against her affectionately.

After ruffling his fur a bit more, Jiang Ya checked the time—she was about to be late. She shut the crate and hurried out.

She sprinted all the way, barely making it through the school gates before they closed.

At the classroom door, she thought she heard someone call out, “Hey, classmate!” Turning around, she saw a figure suddenly lurching toward her.

Instinctively, Jiang Ya raised her hands to push back. She was strong from years of physical labor, and with just a slight shove, the figure went flying backward—slamming hard against the doorframe with a dull thud.

Jiang Ya winced at the sound. That had to hurt.

“S-sorry! Are you—”

Before she could finish apologizing, the boy coughed violently twice, then looked up at her with a resentful glare. “Did you have to push that hard?”

“……”

Jiang Ya: “S-sorry! Class President! My bad!!!”

Shu Tianxin coughed again, his face flushed an unnatural red.

Jiang Ya paused. “You’re sick?”

Shu Tianxin’s vision swam with stars. “My back kills!”

“……”

Jiang Ya: “Sorry about this.”

She pressed the back of her hand against his forehead—burning hot.

“You’ve got a fever,” she confirmed.

“Can someone—anyone—take me to the infirmary?” Shu Tianxin muttered, aware he wasn’t in great shape.

Jiang Ya studied his hunched posture and, after a moment’s hesitation, decided to be merciful and escort him.

Might as well check his back too—just in case he tried to blame her for injuries later!

But before leaving, she called into the classroom, “Xiao Hua, Pangpang—someone who knows the class president’s name, come here!”

“He needs to go to the infirmary—high fever!”

If he passed out halfway there, she wouldn’t know how to fill out his name!

The entire class fell silent for a second before erupting into chaotic laughter.

“Holy crap, that post from last week was real?!”

“I can’t—this is the first time I’ve heard someone’s only requirement for helping a sick person is knowing their name!”

“Goddess Ya, you’re legendary!”

“Told you two study machines would never develop feelings for each other—hahaha!”