Let's Do Some Questions - Chapter 30

Chu Fengqiu could feel the vitality radiating from Song Man, like the sun, warming everyone it shone upon.

Yet, she wasn’t someone you could see through at a glance. She seemed easy to read, but looking deeper, you’d realize you might only be seeing the tip of the iceberg, only able to glean a little from what she showed. The warmth transmitted through their intertwined fingertips felt like being in warm water, dispelling the ice hidden deep within one’s heart.

In the evening, the overall results were released. Song Man was undoubtedly at the very bottom of the class. The homeroom teacher looked at the score sheet with a relatively pleased expression.

Although the class average was embarrassingly low this time, she felt it wasn’t hopeless. The lowest score in their class was 510, making Song Man’s 320 particularly glaring. But then she thought about how Song Man used to score just over 100 every time. Now, in just a short period, she had increased her score by 200 points. She was teachable! So, she immediately notified Song Man’s father of this good news.

Song Man had no particular feelings about her score. The score sheet was posted on the wall. While everyone else went to look, Song Man didn’t move, and neither did Chu Fengqiu.

Song Man knew she was definitely last place and wasn’t surprised at all. But she looked at Chu Fengqiu, who remained as still as the wind in her seat, feeling a bit curious.

“Chu Fengqiu, aren’t you going to see what you scored?”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Chu Fengqiu twirled the pen in her hand, not even glancing towards the score sheet.

Song Man found her attitude interesting. It wasn’t the arrogant nonchalance of someone certain they would get first place, but a genuine air of not caring.

“That confident?”

“I don’t study for scores.”

When Chu Fengqiu said this, her eyes held a hint of weariness, and a flash of coldness quickly crossed her face.

She wasn’t looking at Song Man, but Song Man saw her expression clearly.

That hint of weariness was like the sunset she had seen before a frozen lake, beautiful and captivating yet carrying a sense of decay. A hole had opened in the ice, and silver-white fish leaped within it, flipping onto the thick ice layer. Their white scales reflected a dazzling light, and that glaring light was just like that hint of coldness.

Song Man felt a strange attraction, wanting to explore the secrets within the clouds where the first light appeared, to push aside that layer of mist. The thought came quickly but also retreated quickly.

Song Man found her body unconsciously leaning forward, then she retreated back into her seat.

Chu Fengqiu didn’t notice her movement and continued looking at the problems in her practice book.

If Song Man had moved a little closer just then, she would have noticed that Chu Fengqiu wasn’t doing high school problems, but writing something much more obscure and profound.

The day at school passed by with the test papers being reviewed. Dawn turned into dusk, but the warmth didn’t diminish.

When Song Man came home for dinner in the afternoon, she suddenly heard the sound of a small party popper being pulled, and then she was showered with confetti.

Chu Fengqiu, who was behind her, couldn’t escape either, looking a bit bewildered at the confetti fluttering down through the air.

“Housekeeper Liu, what’s going on?”

Song Man looked at the smiling maids holding the party poppers and Housekeeper Liu next to them with a doting “auntie smile.”

Housekeeper Liu was their family’s cook. She had been working for their family since Song Man was born and had watched Song Man grow up, doting on her especially. Song Man had a very good relationship with her and asked her instinctively.

“Celebrating for you. Didn’t you just finish your exam?”

“No… I’ve taken exams before, scoring at least 80 or 100. Why are we celebrating the end of an exam today?”

It wasn’t the Gaokao, what was there to celebrate?

“This time is different. We all heard, Miss, that you improved a lot in this exam. I specially made you a red velvet cake.”

Song Man swallowed, maintaining her composed facade.

Cake? A cool girl like her didn’t like sweets.

“Dad didn’t… did he? He wouldn’t bring this up.”

To be honest, Song Man didn’t think scoring 300-something was anything to celebrate. If she scored 700 next time, her dad would probably go crazy with happiness.

“Manman is back. Wash your hands and eat with Fengqiu. We should thank Fengqiu properly this time too.”

Xu Qinglang had a smile on his face. Ever since he received the text message from the homeroom teacher in the afternoon, the smile hadn’t left his face.

He had watched Song Man stay at the bottom for a long time. Even a little bit of improvement would make him very happy. After all, Song Man used to be a little genius, and he had watched her grow up under his nose. He didn’t know where things went wrong for her to become like this.

He didn’t necessarily need his daughter to have excellent grades, but which parent didn’t hope for their child to become a dragon or a phoenix?

“Your mother will be back soon. We’ll start dinner when she arrives.”

Seeing Song Man about to reach for her chopsticks, Xu Qinglang quickly stopped her.

“Huh? Why does Mom have time to come home for dinner today?”

As the current head of the Song family, Ms. Song was naturally very busy. She rarely ate at home during the day and sometimes worked late, which was why Song Man asked.

“Of course, it’s to come home and celebrate your academic progress! Your mother heard about this and insisted on coming back for dinner. She even said she wants to give you a good reward.”

“Wow.”

Song Man’s face showed anticipation for the reward.

“Your sister will also come back with your mother.”

Song Man’s smile gradually stiffened.

“Oh.”

A single word perfectly conveyed her mood.

“What kind of expression is that? Don’t be like that in front of your sister later.”

Xu Qinglang genuinely couldn’t understand and couldn’t have a proper talk with his daughter.

In his eyes, Song Man’s rebellious phase was sudden. She suddenly started learning martial arts, suddenly her grades got bad. He tried to guide her, but Song Man always smilingly brushed him off.

Song Man didn’t seem like a child with worries or troubles, so Xu Qinglang could only assume it was because she loved to play and her rebellious phase was prolonged.

Fortunately, Song Man’s grades were improving now, which meant she still had a smart head, she just hadn’t been willing to study before.

Moreover, Xu Qinglang never understood why Song Man, who used to be so clingy to her sister, now seemed somewhat resistant when her sister was mentioned. In the end, he could only explain it by saying the child had grown up and didn’t like being clingy anymore.

“Got it.”

Song Man drew out her words, knowing what her dad was thinking.

It was nothing more than worrying that Song Qinglan would be unhappy, that Mom would be unhappy. After all, they all wanted a harmonious family, and her dad, as a stepfather, was extremely careful in how he treated Song Qinglan.

Sometimes Song Man wanted to tell her dad the truth. When her dad scolded her because of Song Qinglan, she really wanted to scream, ‘Do you know how she sees you?’ But Song Man didn’t. She couldn’t bear to make her dad sad.

On the surface, Song Qinglan was still very polite to her dad. Their relationship had been slowly improving over the years, and sometimes Song Qinglan would even bring her dad gifts.

Song Man didn’t know what Song Qinglan was thinking, but she felt this was okay. If one day she could sincerely call him ‘Dad,’ her dad would probably cry.

Chu Fengqiu naturally sensed the change in atmosphere and saw Song Man’s sinking expression.

She had never met Song Man’s sister, nor had she heard about her from Song Man. Seeing Song Man’s expression, she couldn’t help but feel a bit curious.

What kind of person could make Song Man show such an expression?

After learning that Song Qinglan was coming, Song Man’s expression became somewhat listless.

About ten minutes later, the sound of a car engine turning off came from outside. The maid quickly went to open the door, and Song Zici and Song Qinglan walked in.

“Mom.”

Song Man waved her hand and smiled at her.

“My Manman is really good.”

Song Zici walked over and pinched Song Man’s face. Song Man affectionately rubbed against her, looking very well-behaved.

When Song Man’s eyes turned to Song Qinglan, her smile faded slightly, but she still called out, “Sister.”

Chu Fengqiu and Song Qinglan’s eyes met. Chu Fengqiu nodded at Song Qinglan, and Song Qinglan nodded back. They exchanged a greeting without words.

Chu Fengqiu compared Song Man and Song Qinglan’s appearances and found that Song Qinglan resembled her mother more, while Song Man resembled her father more.

Song Qinglan’s features carried a hint of aggression, and her aura was colder. Song Man had a softer, more delicate appearance, but her eyes gave her a bit more aggression and rebelliousness, making her look somewhat cool.

“I heard you did well on your monthly exam this time. What do you want? Sister will buy it for you.”

Song Qinglan took off her suit jacket, handed it to the maid nearby, and sat down on Song Man’s other side. Her beautiful face, lightly made up, carried a faint smile.

“There’s nothing I want,” Song Man replied, then looked at Xu Qinglang, “Dad, can we start eating? I’m so hungry. Chu Fengqiu and I still have evening self-study later.”

“Manman doesn’t have to go tonight if you don’t want to. If student Chu wants to go, Mom can have the driver take her. You scored so well today, you should have a good time! Do you want Mom to ask for a few days off for you to go swimming abroad?”

Song Zici was so happy to hear from her husband that Song Man’s score had increased by over 200 points that she left work early. Hearing Song Man say she was going to evening self-study made her even happier, thinking her daughter could relax.

“Mom, Manman is in class, what swimming?” Song Qinglan’s face showed a hint of helplessness, then she turned to look at Song Man, “Want to go play in the snow in Switzerland?”

Xu Qinglang and Chu Fengqiu on the side: ………

Chu Fengqiu fell into thought. It was truly a miracle that Song Man hadn’t been spoiled and still had such a good personality.

“You two mother and daughter are enough. Manman is already this old. Let her go to evening self-study later. Just because she did a little better doesn’t mean she can slack off.”

Xu Qinglang was used to this side of them. He used to be busier, and Song Qinglan took care of Song Man. When he took over, he realized how spoiled the little girl had become. He wanted his wife to manage the child, but his wife spoiled her just as much. He had no choice but to take on the banner of guiding the child’s values. Fortunately, even though Song Man was a bit wild now, she was still a particularly good child.

“Okay, okay.”

Song Man dragged out her tone again in response to Xu Qinglang, picking up a piece of food to eat.

“Mom, Dad said you were going to give me a reward. What is it?”

Song Man asked somewhat indistinctly while chewing her food.

“What, you want Mom’s reward but not mine? Manman has grown up and looks down on her sister’s gifts?”

Song Qinglan raised an eyebrow and poked Song Man’s face with her finger.

“You should use that little bit of salary to buy yourself something good to eat.”

Song Man glanced sideways at her. Saying no would be awkward, but she didn’t really want to accept it either.

“Manman has grown up and knows how to care for me.”

Song Qinglan turned to Song Zici and praised her.

Song Man gave a fake smile. Yeah right, I pity you a shovel.

“Chu Fengqiu, eat your food. We have to leave later.”

Song Man didn’t want to talk to Song Qinglan anymore and picked up a piece of food for Chu Fengqiu.

“Manman has never picked up food for me.”

Song Qinglan said with a hint of complaint, her eyes falling on Chu Fengqiu with a bit of scrutiny.