Chapter 187: Ning Li
“Sister Ning Li must’ve done better in the exam, right?” Ye Ci asked.
There were many teachers in the office. All three of them had been called there, yet they had announced Ye Ci’s results first.
Ye Ci thought, ‘Perhaps Ning Li and Pei Song’s results aren’t as good as mine…’
“Yes,” Zhou Fei suddenly spoke.
At the mention of Ning Li, the smile on his face became much more genuine.
He enunciated word by word, “First. In. The. Province. Of course, there’s no better achievement than that!”
Ye Ci’s smile suddenly froze.
‘Ning Li got first in the province?!’
“Pei Song also did very well in the exam with only one point lower than Ning Li, so he’s ranked second in the province.”
When he mentioned his star pupils, Zhou Fei’s face was filled with pride and honor.
These outstanding students had been taught by him, so naturally, he was happy.
Sun Quan and the others were a little jealous.
Zhou Fei was extremely young and had only been a teacher at Second High for a short time, but he had proven to be a great teacher.
In the beginning, when they heard that he had been asked to lead the competitive physics class, many teachers had opposed it, especially a few of the experienced veteran teachers. They were all unimpressed.
However, the principal had insisted, so they had no choice but to comply.
As a result, Zhou Fei’s class had produced the first, second, and fifth rankings in the province!
All from their school!
How many high schools were there in the province? How many students had participated in this competition?
They had actually taken up three out of the five slots.
Such a record would surely make them the envy of other schools.
This achievement alone would be enough for Second High and Zhou Fei to brag about for several years to come.
If not, the school would not be this excited.
Ye Ci’s face flushed red.
Only now did she realize that the teachers had only announced her results first because they were the most surprised by it.
Ning Li and Pei Song’s results in this physics competition were considered a “normal occurrence”.
To the teachers, Ye Ci and the two geniuses were on completely different levels.
Ye Ci then recalled the way Ning Li had said “congratulations” earlier and felt even more irritated.
Ning Li got first place in the province, yet she had congratulated Ye Ci. Was she being sarcastic?
“That’s great! Mom and Dad will be very happy when they find out.”
Ye Ci had paused for a while to think before she finally said something.
Ning Li raised her eyebrows lightly.
It was hard to say whether Su Yuan and Ye Ming would be happy or not. In any case, all she could see was that Ye Ci was not very delighted.
Sun Quan and the others did not notice this subtle shift in mood.
To them, this was a big win for the school.
“Yes, remember to tell everyone in your family about this good news when you get home! Also, you guys will have to prepare for the national finals.” Geng Haifan reminded them.
These words finally pulled back Ye Ci’s thoughts.
She looked up in a daze.
“The national finals?”
“Yes.” Zhou Fei gently tapped the table with one finger. “I mentioned it to you guys before, remember? The students who get into the top five in the province will be the provincial representatives and will participate in the national finals early March of next year. By that time, you won’t just be representing Second High or Yunzhou, but the whole province.”
At the mention of this, several of the teachers’ faces turned serious.
Ye Ci vaguely felt that something was off, but she could not pinpoint it.
Zhou Fei continued, “The certificates for this provincial competition will be delivered to you soon, and the good news will officially be announced tomorrow. After that, you’ll have to focus on the national competition. If you can win a prize in the national finals, it would basically be a guaranteed admission to the top colleges and universities.”
This speech moved Ye Ci.
She wanted to get into Xijing University, but with her last midterm results, she was afraid that it would be a little difficult.
Placing fifth in the provincial competition earned her a few extra credits for the college entrance examination. Although this was good, it still could not guarantee her a spot in one of the best universities in the country.
‘If I can do well at the national finals…’
Ye Ci nodded her head seriously and said, “Thank you, Mr. Zhou. We’ll definitely work hard.”
Zhou Fei gave her a look and nodded in response.
He was actually still skeptical about Ye Ci’s achievements.
However, without evidence, he would not simply say anything.
“Also, during the winter holidays, you’ll need to set aside two weeks to attend the intensive training in the Capital. Everyone okay with that?”
Ning Li and Pei Song both nodded their heads. “No problem.”
They had both prepared for this a long time ago.
Ye Ci froze for a moment.
She had never thought that she could achieve this ranking, so she had never thought about the intensive training during the winter break.
Hearing what Zhou Fei said, she hurriedly replied, “No problem, Mr. Zhou.”
Zhou Fei nodded his head in satisfaction.
“Great! You guys can head back first. Adjust your mental state to prepare for the national finals. I’ll rearrange your study content and progress.”
“Thank you, Mr. Zhou.”
…
The three students left the office one after another.
Ye Ci sent a text to her parents before catching up to Ning Li.
“Sister Ning Li, I just told Mom and Dad the news. They’re both very happy and said that they will be hosting a celebration party this Saturday night. What do you think?”
The corners of Ning Li’s lips seemed to be smiling.
‘Isn’t it a bit too late to ask for my opinion when you’ve already shared the news and the decision to have a party has already been made?’
However, Ning Li did not mind it.
“Sure.”
Ye Ci blinked in surprise. “Then when the time comes…will you attend?”
The last time at Su Yuan’s birthday party, it had been so unpleasant that they were all still traumatized.
Who knows if Ning Li would be willing to cooperate with this celebration party.
Ning Li glanced with a faint smile.
“Don’t worry. It’s a good thing, so of course, I’ll be there.”
Knowing the Ye family’s style, they would host a big celebration to announce to the world that their daughter was ranked fifth in the province.
‘That’s great. The grander, the better.’
Seeing Ning Li’s honest response, Ye Ci felt relieved.
However, upon thinking further, Ye Ci felt a slight feeling of disdain.
How could Ning Li not care about this?
With this achievement, Ning Li would get more attention from her mother as well, right?
Being the first in the province would also be a good debut for her at the party.
“Okay, then I’ll reply to them.” Ye Ci said as she took out her phone and fell behind.
Ning Li continued to walk towards the classroom.
By this time, classes had already begun at the senior building, so there was no one else in the corridor except them.
Suddenly, Pei Song, who had been walking in front of them, slowed down his pace and glanced sideways at Ning Li, who had just happened to catch up.
They had arrived at the back door of their classroom.
The front and back doors were closed, so the people in the classroom could not see what was happening in the corridor.
Pei Song stood still and looked at Ning Li.
The young man’s posture was lean and straight. His expression was as distant as ever, and the light in his eyes behind his thin lenses was cold and indistinct, like a fog that shrouded her.
He said, “Ning Li, congratulations.”
Chapter 188: What Candy Do You Want This Time?
Ning Li looked up and smiled. “Back at you.”
Pei Song had only gotten one point lower than her, which was also an excellent achievement.
A breeze blew the slightly messy hair on her forehead, which made her porcelain skin seem even more fair and delicate.
Her beautiful eyes were slightly curved and seemed to be filled with glimmering light.
Pei Song could almost hear the sound of his heart pounding.
It felt as if it was trying to leap out of his chest.
The more he tried to ignore it, the louder it became.
He lowered his eyes and turned to walk away.
His legs were long, so he moved far away from Ning Li in a few strides.
When he came to the front door of the classroom, he raised his hand and knocked on the door.
This period was English class.
Kong Rou knew where they had been, so without any question, she smiled and let them in.
Pei Song and Ning Li came in one after another and returned to their seats.
Soon, Ye Ci also returned to her seat.
As soon as these three appeared, they immediately attracted the attention of every student in the classroom.
He Xiaochen could not hide her curiosity and asked in a low voice.
“Ning Li, have the results come out? How was it?”
Ning Li nodded. “Not bad.”
This news would soon be made public, so there was no need to hide it.
He Xiaochen was excited. “Did you get first place? Did you make it to the national finals?”
“Yup,” Ning Li said.
“I knew it!”
He Xiaochen’s eyes glowed. “OMG! You really made it to the top five in the province! Holy sh*t…”
“First.”
Ning Li took out the book she had been reading earlier and flipped the page.
He Xiaochen gasped and thought, ‘Girl, can you not say such earth-shattering words with such a calm expression? This news is very exciting, ok!’
She had been deskmates with this genius for some time now. She thought that she had already gotten used to Ning Li’s amazing achievements and could accept anything calmly, but she was still too naive.
Ning Li was a real freak.
“Then what about Pei Song? Did he also…”
“Second.”
He Xiaochen glanced at Pei Song.
‘Sigh… God is always so unfair. How could they be blessed with such good looks and brains?!’
“Then, what about Ye Ci? Why did she follow you guys?”
Ning Li did not even raise her head when she said, “She got fifth.”
It took He Xiaochen quite a while to digest these words.
‘Ye Ci… Fifth in the province for the physics competition?! Was the examiner blind?! Ye Ci’s skills in physics are certainly not as good as mine. How did she get fifth place in the whole province?!’
He Xiaochen was puzzled and finally managed to say, “I didn’t know that she’s been hiding her intelligence all this while…”
The corners of Ning Li’s lips curved down lightly.
“Yeah…”
…
Before the official announcement of the results, the entire senior class of Yunzhou Second High had already heard this amazing news.
Ning Li, Pei Song, and Ye Ci had scored first, second, and fifth respectively in the provincial physics competition!
Ning Li and Pei Song’s supernatural performances were already a recognized fact, so there was nothing anyone else could do except lament how insanely smart they were and look up to them.
However, what was going on with Ye Ci?
“Fifth in the province? Is Ye Ci even that good?”
“Did the school confirm it? They wouldn’t make a mistake in this kind of thing, right?”
“I heard the students in the competitive physics class say that her results are usually just average in their tests. Sometimes when the teacher asked her to solve problems on the board, she seemed to be stuck. How can that kind of standard get fifth place in the whole province?”
“Maybe she’s just low-key? Look at Ning Li. Rumor has it that she used to be in the lowest class in Lincheng, but she became a genius here, right? Maybe Ye Ci is the same.”
“Ye Ci doesn’t seem like that though. She’s always trying to be the best. Why would she deliberately pretend not to learn?”
“Do you think she cheated?”
In the afternoon gym class, a few girls had gotten together to exchange gossip.
One of the girls had just finished speaking when the back of her head was suddenly hit by something.
She screamed in pain and turned around quickly.
“Who did that?!”
Not far ahead, Cheng Xiangxiang was holding a badminton racket in one hand and looked at them with a scowl on her face.
She had hit that girl with a shuttlecock.
Ye Ci was standing next to her.
The group of gossiping girls looked at each other and stopped talking.
Cheng Xiangxiang said in a cold voice, “What nonsense were you just talking about?”
Whether it was Cheng Xiangxiang or Ye Ci, the ordinary students could not afford to provoke them because of their family background.
Thus, the few girls quickly conceded.
“No, we didn’t say anything.”
Cheng Xiangxiang held the racket and was about to storm over.
“What, so you don’t dare to admit what you said?”
Ye Ci pulled her back. “Xiangxiang, forget it… Let’s go.”
Cheng Xiangxiang was furious. “But, they falsely accused you!”
Ye Ci glanced at the girls. “My conscience is clear.”
One of the girls stepped forward and said, “Ye Ci, we’re sorry… We didn’t mean that.”
Ye Ci’s face was expressionless as she pulled Cheng Xiangxiang away.
It would only be more humiliating if they fought in a place like this about this matter.
After walking out of the gym, Cheng Xiangxiang was still angry.
“Lil Ci, aren’t you angry? Why is it considered as talent when Ning Li scores well, but when you do, they think it’s fishy?”
Ye Ci shook her head, took a deep breath, and suppressed the rage in her heart.
She forced a smile and said, “There’s no need to care about what other people think.”
Originally, Ye Ci had been very happy about her results. She had not expected such conspiracies to circulate in school.
Once someone started talking about it, this kind of gossip would spread like wildfire, whether it was true or not.
Ye Ci had not expected that after doing so well in the exam this time, she would attract suspicion instead of receiving the envy and admiration of others.
Her initial good mood dissipated and her chest felt suffocated.
If not for the fact that there was still a crowd watching, she would not have held back her anger.
“Yeah, they’re all just jealous of you and can’t stand that you’re better than them!” Cheng Xiangxiang held Ye Ci’s arm and continued, “Don’t worry, the school already confirmed your results, so those girls can talk all they want! Anyway, you’re the one who got extra credit for the college entrance exam.”
As she said that, she looked back.
“By the way, you still have the national finals, right? When the time comes, come back with an award and slap it in their faces!”
At the mention of this, Ye Ci’s heart thumped.
Since she found out that she had to represent the province in the national finals, she felt like a boulder was weighing on her mind.
Cheng Xiangxiang’s words made her feel worse.
She pursed her lips before she gave a very faint smile. “Mm.”
…
Ning Li sat in the bleachers and watched as the field was buzzing with activity.
Suddenly, the phone in her pocket vibrated.
She took it out and looked at it. It was a message from Lu Huaiyu.
[What candy do you want this time?]
Chapter 189: Your Second Brother
Ning Li considered it for a while.
[Hazelnut praline chocolate.]
Lu Huaiyu quickly replied.
[Secretly playing with your phone in class again?]
Ning Li snorted.
[It’s just P.E.]
Lu Huaiyu did not reply.
About half a minute later, just as Ning Li was about to put away her phone, he called her.
Ning Li looked around and saw about a dozen students sitting on the bleachers. They were all scattered and far away from her, so she answered the call.
“Hello, Second Brother?”
A lazy voice came through, “Just one chocolate for doing so well in the exam? You’re too easily satisfied.”
Ning Li kicked the bleachers lightly.
“I think it’s fine.”
There was nothing she wanted, so Lu Huaiyu’s candy was enough for her.
“Do you have time this Saturday?”
“Probably not.”
“Do you have something to do?”
Lu Huaiyu was a bit surprised. Ning Li had just finished the provincial competition and achieved such good results, so she should be relatively free this week.
Ning Li replied and looked forward, just in time to see Cheng Xiangxiang and Ye Ci walking past the field not far from her.
It looked like they had just finished playing badminton.
A flash of contempt appeared on Cheng Xiangxiang’s face as she spoke. She then smiled faintly, but it looked more bitter rather than happy.
“The Ye family is having a celebration party on Saturday,” Ning Li said.
Lu Huaiyu could already guess what was going on when he heard this.
“For Ye Ci?”
Ning Li replied, “I’m going too.”
Lu Huaiyu smiled.
Knowing the Ye family’s style, they would certainly insist on Ning Li’s attendance.
After all, she was the Ye family’s adopted daughter on paper.
Ye Ming liked to keep up his reputation. Regardless of whether he accepted Ning Li as his own, the party had to be so impeccable that no one would be able to pick a fault.
However, this celebration was mainly for Ye Ci.
Even though Ning Li had gotten first place in the province, to the Ye family and many people in the upper society of Yunzhou, she still could not compare to Ye Ci, who had placed fifth in the province.
After all, Ye Ci was the legitimate daughter of the Ye family.
On the other hand, Ning Li would always be just an outsider.
Lu Huaiyu suddenly chuckled. “If you go, someone would be unhappy, right?”
Ye Ci was very competitive and arrogant. Since young, she had been coddled by her family.
Now that she was being pressured by Ning Li, she would not be happy.
The corners of Ning Li’s lips curved up. “Maybe, but they seem quite sincere in inviting me.”
‘Especially Ye Ci.’
Ye Ci certainly did not want Ning Li to steal her limelight, but that was precisely why Ye Ci had to invite Ning Li.
She wanted Ning Li to know who the true host of the party was.
‘So what if Ning Li is number one in the province?’
Ning Li’s background had already determined that she would never be able to be on the same level as Ye Ci.
“So, you’re going?” Lu Huaiyu had already guessed what Ning Li wanted to do and asked casually, “Will it be at the Jinsheng Hotel?”
Jinsheng Hotel was the property of the Ye family. Su Yuan’s birthday party had also been held there previously.
Ning Li answered, “Mm, so I don’t think I can hang out with you, Second Brother.”
Lu Huaiyu laughed and said, “It’s alright. You have fun then! I’ll give you the chocolates the next time we meet.”
Ning Li smiled lightly, “Okay.”
“Ning Li!” He Xiaochen came up the stairs from the stands, speaking as she walked. “I’ve been looking for you all day! Pei Song and the others are playing basketball, do you want to…”
Ning Li turned to her and pointed at her phone.
Only then did He Xiaochen notice that Ning Li was on the phone, so she lowered her voice and put her hands together.
“Oops, I’m sorry! I didn’t know that you were on the phone. Whose call is it that is better than watching our class monitor play the game…”
“A game?”
A cool and deep, nonchalant sounding male voice that could be heard.
He Xiaochen stopped talking abruptly and froze in place.
‘What kind of divine voice was that?!’
Ning Li coughed and said, “Second Brother, my deskmate is looking for me, so I’ll hang up now.”
Lu Huaiyu said, “Mm. Watching a basketball game sounds good. Go have fun.”
Ning Li looked at her phone. ‘Why did something sound…off?’
He Xiaochen was shocked.
“My Goddess Ning Li, was that your second brother?!”
Right after she blurted it out, He Xiaochen immediately covered her mouth.
‘OMG! I got too excited and carelessly blurted out my secret nickname for Ning Li… This was so humiliating!’
Lu Huaiyu suddenly laughed.
Even though he did not say a word, his low chuckle still made the tips of Ning Li’s ears turn red.
Ning Li did not know if it was because He Xiaochen called her goddess or whether it was because of something else.
She was inexplicably embarrassed.
“My deskmate likes to joke around. Second Brother…”
“Is it the one you bought an ice cream for previously?”
Ning Li sighed in her heart.
Lu Huaiyu was too smart for his own good.
Whatever he wanted to know, he would definitely find out.
“Yeah, it’s her.”
He Xiaochen stood by the side, dumbfounded.
‘Wait a minute, these two celestial beings seem to be talking about me! Ice cream? Was it the one I ate last time?’
Lu Huaiyu spoke in a light tone, “Cool, this deskmate of yours is quite interesting.”
Since Ning Li was quiet, introverted and kept everything to herself, it was good for her to have more bubbly friends.
Ning Li breathed a sigh of relief.
“Then Second Brother, if there’s nothing else, I’ll hang up now.”
After Ning Li hung up, she put away her phone.
“OMG…” He Xiaochen suddenly crumbled.
Ning Li was startled and turned to see He Xiaochen’s grieving face.
“Ahhhhhhhhh! That’s your second brother?! He’s so handsome and he even has such a sexy voice?!’
He Xiaochen wanted to pull her hair out from feeling so ashamed.
Initially, she had wanted to make a good impression on this handsome hunk, but now her dreams were shattered.
Ning Li said, “Don’t worry, Second Brother doesn’t care about these things…”
He Xiaochen grabbed her hand and asked, “Did you guys just talk about ice cream? How does your second brother even know about that?”
Ning Li honestly said, “I clicked on the post you shared that day and he happened to see it.”
He Xiaochen thought, ‘Thanks. I can die in peace now that the gods saw my meager post…’
How could she ever imagine that such godly people would see such earthly things?
‘I don’t deserve it!’
Ning Li gently patted her back. “Are you…okay?”
He Xiaochen held her chest and spoke with difficulty, “I’m fine… I can take it…”