The reason is also very simple – the college entrance exam results have been released. The name of the young man, which was already well-known, has become famous nationwide once again. Everyone knows that he became the top scorer in the city of Beijing.
Now, who would dare to say that the children of wealthy families are all idle and unskilled? Especially this year, the top scorers from various provinces competed with each other. Among a group of studious young people with simple black-framed glasses, the handsome and upright young man stood out conspicuously, like a white poplar.
Female fans were even more excited, and they couldn’t contain their excitement on the internet. After all, a young man who looks good, has a great temperament, excels in academics, and can even start his own business is simply too outstanding and rare.
The Yin family was also very proud. Since their grandson was not a biological child, the old man had been suppressing his depression for many days. However, under the congratulations and praise of old friends who hadn’t seen him in a long time, his mood gradually improved, and he started smiling broadly.
“Oh, the top scorer in the college entrance exam! Your grandson, Minglu, is really remarkable. If my family had a top scorer, our ancestors’ graves would be emitting green smoke by now. Alas, my bratty kid didn’t even score half of what he did.”
“How does your Minglu usually study? Can you share some tips? I’ll have my daughter come over one day to learn from him. Her grades are really frustrating!”
“Minglu, I even carried him when he was a child. At that time, I knew he had talent. When he grew up, he would definitely be extraordinary. Look, it’s true. He hasn’t even filled out his college application yet, and many schools have already sent him acceptance letters. Which school is Minglu planning to attend?” This person’s tone was both envious and a bit sour. As soon as he entered, he saw a table full of acceptance letters from prestigious schools, all of which were well-known.
Recently, there had been rumors in their circle that Yin Minglu was not a biological child, and they had heard of it, but those present were not ordinary people. Even if he wasn’t a biological child, what difference did it make? If they had such a promising grandson in their family, even if he wasn’t their own blood, they would be overjoyed. When they thought about their own descendants who were always careless, relied on their parents, and couldn’t manage family affairs, they even needed their parents’ help to get into college. In comparison to Yin Minglu, they lived like embroidered pillows, and it was truly a case of “people are really envious of people.”
The more the old man listened, the harder it became for him to hide his smug smile. He felt that his grandson had really given him face. A few days ago, he was still feeling upset, as the older generation held deep-rooted beliefs about blood ties and family. However, upon further thought, since his grandson had been raised by his side since he was young, Yin Minglu would help relax his bones and massage his back when he was tired, and read newspapers to him when he was weary. This kind of relationship was as good as blood ties, or even better. He even thought that his own sons and daughters were not as filial as Yin Minglu.
They didn’t even peel an orange for him.
He was already quite old, and he was almost stepping into the coffin with one foot. He should be content.
The old man, feeling satisfied, picked up a piece of orange from the fruit platter. It was peeled by his grandson. Look at how considerate this child was.
On the other side, Jiang Mingqin, who had been listening to everyone praising the young man, had grown calluses on her ears. If it weren’t for the fact that these people all had a strong background, she would have wanted to shut them up on the spot.
However, the old man seemed to wholeheartedly agree with the praise. He listened intently, and his old face broke into a smile as if he were a blooming flower. He even started eating the fruit, clearly in a very cheerful mood.
Originally, it had nothing to do with her, but when she saw what the old man was eating, Jiang Mingqin’s smiling face froze, and her slender, pale hand trembled slightly under her sleeve.
Because it was she who had brought the fruit platter first. She had carefully selected, washed, and sliced the fruits before placing it on the dining table. Yin Mingluo later brought another fruit platter downstairs, but it was obvious that he hadn’t put in the same effort. His arrangement was very rough, and it lacked any presentation.
Yet, the old man only ate from the platter brought by Yin Mingluo, and he kept saying how delicious it was. This made her unable to help but roll her eyes and restrain the urge to leave.
So, in the end, she found a casual excuse and went upstairs. She didn’t see any need to please such a biased person, especially since they were already quite old and didn’t have many years left. In reality, she didn’t pay close attention to the two fruit platters. One had a poor presentation but contained fruits with a soft and easy-to-eat texture, while the other was elegantly arranged but not as easy to eat. Elderly people with dental problems would likely choose the latter, and someone who put in a little more effort could have noticed.
Jiang Mingqin didn’t know that when she left, the conversation downstairs finally began without much restraint.
“Oh, the little girl has quite the temper,” someone commented casually. He thought she was acting out because her comrades hadn’t praised her, but this young lady didn’t seem to realize that she had just arrived, and they didn’t know her well. It’s not like there was much to praise.
Of course, they had no idea that she was upset over a plate of fruit. They continued to chat as old friends, but the conversation was no longer centered around the young man.
“Guang1Must be Grandpa Yin’s name, not sure, I heard from someone that your newly adopted granddaughter scored zero in the college entrance examination? This… this… that score is unbelievably low! Especially when your grandson is the top scorer. It makes it even more embarrassing.”
As soon as this matter was brought up, Old man Yin’s face, which had been cheerful, immediately fell. He waved his hand and replied with a perfunctory tone, though he was actually trying to defend her, “The girl takes after her mother’s health. She’s often sick, and during the college entrance examination, she fainted, so she didn’t take the exam.”
Otherwise, would she have scored zero in every subject?
“Oh, so she’s the girl who made it to the news? I never thought she was your granddaughter. What a coincidence.”
Someone else exclaimed, “To faint during such an important examination, her physical fitness must not be great. Isn’t she going to have a tough time in marriage and childbirth in the future?”
“Yeah, she’s too delicate. She’ll suffer in the future. Maybe Minglu can help her. He’s in great shape, wins awards for running every year. And what about her education? Nowadays, girls without diplomas will be looked down upon by their in-laws. At the very least, she should go to college.”
“Otherwise, she should retake the college entrance exam. Strive to get into a good school the following year.”
The others nodded in agreement, saying, “If things don’t work out, she can go abroad for a few years to gain some international exposure and then come back.”
Listening to others discussing his granddaughter, the old man could hardly eat his fruit anymore. The mistakenly taken grandson had just regained his face for him, but now his biological granddaughter’s arrival was making him lose his face, not just figuratively, but also literally.
However, he couldn’t help but take their suggestions into consideration. While his family wasn’t known for being highly educated, many of them had impressive academic backgrounds. They had attended prestigious military academies, art schools, and universities like Cambridge and Oxford. Each one had a higher level of education than the last. Even his eldest son2Zhongyuan; if you guys noticed I only put brother if Zhongyuan is mentioned that’s cause mtl is confusing, in the early chapters it constantly switches, sometimes it’s Yunqiu’s older brother then in the next chapters it’ll be younger brother, who was considered the black sheep of the family, had graduated from a reputable university in Washington. His youngest grandson had recently achieved the top score in the national college entrance exam. They all seemed to be a perfect fit for the family, but appearances could be deceiving.
He had reviewed her academic records, and her grades in the months leading up to the college entrance exam were appalling. He couldn’t fathom where her mind had gone during that time. He couldn’t blame her family for her poor education, as they were all graduates of prestigious schools themselves. Yet, she had turned out to be quite the outlier.
The same was true for his own son, who was also facing a significant gap in abilities between his children. This discrepancy weighed heavily on him, and it had already caused him to feel somewhat distant from his granddaughter. He liked exceptional individuals and hoped his children would become successful in their own right.
He instructed his assistant to bring out the materials he had prepared and told her, “Pick a school you like, and next year, you’ll retake the college entrance exam.”
As she looked at the piles of school brochures, Jiang Mingqin’s smile froze. She hesitated, saying, “Father…” She had just blurted out the word but then noticed the stern look from Yin Yunqiu. Quickly, she corrected herself, “Uncle.”
Although this address felt like self-deception, she had to use it now since she was officially considered the adopted daughter of the Yin family.
Yin Yunqiu nodded in response. He didn’t particularly care about how Jiang Mingqin addressed him. However, he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable. She had called him “father” with such ease and without any emotional baggage on her first day here, which made him suspicious. He thought to himself, “She must have known about her true identity from the beginning. Otherwise, how could she address me so smoothly and change it so quickly?”
“Uncle, I don’t want to retake the college entrance exam,” she pleaded. Retaking the exam would be too demanding. She could afford to attend a good school with money, so why should she put herself through the hardship of retaking the exam? It was a year of her youth that would be wasted. She knew that a girl’s youth was fleeting, like a delicate flower. Locking herself in a room to study and turning herself into a bookworm would be a waste.
Yin Yunqiu’s expression turned cold, and as she began to voice her objections, she immediately presented her prepared argument. “Ever since I passed out in the exam room, I seem to have developed a psychological trauma related to exams. Whenever I open a book, my mind goes blank, my hand trembles when I pick up a pen, and all I can think about is the feeling of passing out. I feel helpless… I think I might never be able to take an exam again in my life.”
As she spoke, her eyes welled up with tears. However, Yin Yunqiu was not emotionally attached to her like the Jiang family was, and he wouldn’t change his mind because of a few tears. Compassion wasn’t a word in his dictionary. Sometimes, when he issued orders, it wasn’t up for discussion; it was simply an official announcement.
His displeasure showed on his face as he replied coldly, “If you have a psychological trauma, I will arrange for the best doctors in the country to provide counseling. You will still need to take exams for university. Unless you decide not to attend university at all, you need to overcome your fear of exams.”
With that, he took out his phone and began dialing a number, seemingly intending to contact a doctor.
She didn’t expect the man to be so resolute, and he actually started calling someone over. This could easily expose her lie about not having a psychological issue. Jiang Mingqin panicked and quickly stepped forward, grabbing his sleeve, and said, “Father, there’s no need for that. I will work hard to overcome it myself! I… I just feel that even if I retake the exam for another year, I won’t perform as well as Minglu, and I won’t be able to get into a good university. It might be better to choose an easier path.”
As for what she meant by an easier path, she left it vague, without specifying. However, because someone had already tried this tactic on him more than a decade ago, Yin Yunqiu quickly understood what she meant. She was basically asking him to spend money to buy her a place at a university. The so-called psychological trauma was likely just an excuse. Both the mother and daughter seemed to be using the same strategy, and they didn’t seem to find it tiresome at all.
Yin Yunqiu’s brows slightly furrowed, and he didn’t want to waste any more words. He said directly, “You want me to pay for your university education?”
Without waiting for the girl to respond, he continued with a cold smile, “Do you think this is like a decade ago when you could easily get into a university through connections? I’ll give you two options now. First, I’ll send you abroad. Second, you choose a school to retake your exams. If you don’t want to choose either of these options, you can go back to the Jiang family.”
This left the young girl’s face completely drained of color, and there was no room for the situation to turn around.
Seeing her father being so resolute, it seemed like he was ready to send her abroad at the slightest provocation. The girl cried in fear, tears flowing uncontrollably, “I, I will retake the college entrance exam, I won’t go abroad!” Only a fool would go abroad, isn’t this like exile? After a few years, there won’t be a place for her at home anymore.
As for Yin Yunqiu’s decision, Yin Minglu naturally wholeheartedly supported it. He had known from the beginning what the girl was planning, and he wouldn’t let her get her way, especially if he didn’t give her something to do, she would try to obstruct him.
He thought that a secluded, closed-off type of school for retaking exams would be ideal, preferably one where she could only come back for two days a month. So, he decisively went to Yin Yunqiu’s study to help select a school.
After sorting through a pile of preferred school brochures, Yin Minglu visited the Jiang family. His sudden arrival excited Jiang Shifu and his wife, and their aging faces turned red. They wanted to approach and greet him warmly, but they refrained from impulsively reaching out, as they didn’t have much emotional connection with him yet, and acting too familiar would be inappropriate.
At the appointed time, they even prepared a lunch for him. The meal consisted of all kinds of delicious dishes, accompanied by two bottles of wine, and it ended up taking almost two hours.
Yin Minglu took out a set of keys from his pocket and said solemnly, “I’ve bought a house for you, right next to the Yin family’s. If you’re willing, you can move in together. I can take care of you in the future.”
Living close to each other would make it easier for them to take care of each other in their old age.
Their son’s decision to do this meant that he was willing to accept them and adapt to their ideas. Jiang Shifu and his wife were very pleased but politely declined.
Although Kong Jinghua’s eyes were red, her voice was filled with joy. She said, “We don’t need the house; you can keep it for your future marriage. Nowadays, if a young man doesn’t have a house and a car, it’s hard to find a girl to marry him. I know you’re capable, but you should also consider yourself. Just visit us more often, and that’ll be enough to make us happy.”
As long as their son visits them frequently, they are already a family, aren’t they?
Furthermore, she didn’t know how much money her younger son had. She always felt he was very wealthy, but she didn’t know if he earned the money himself by starting a company or if it was provided by the Yin family. After all, the media and tabloids were constantly reporting that Yin Minglu was wasting money, losing money in games, and that the company was laying off employees, among other sensational claims. Some of the news was true, some were false, and they couldn’t always tell the difference. So sometimes, they worried about their son.
If it was indeed money from the Yin family, they couldn’t accept this gift. It wouldn’t be right to raise a son for eighteen years and then take money from him.
Jiang Shifu3uhh I forgot if it was Jiang Shi or Shifu hehe felt the same way. He smiled and said, “Yes, your mother and I have been living in this community for over twenty years. It’s a good place, and we know all the neighbors. Moving would be hard to adjust to.”
The young man had to temporarily give up on that idea. He then took out a pile of brochures from exam preparation schools and told them the truth while exaggerating a bit, saying, “My dad is currently helping classmate Jiang choose a school. He wants her to retake the exam for a year and try to get into a good school the following year. But she seems unwilling, and I think it would benefit her in the long run. So, I brought these brochures for you to take a look.”
Compared to houses and cars, this gesture moved Jiang Shifu and his wife even more. The couple looked through the brochures, each one treasured, and couldn’t help but sigh, “Your father is very thoughtful.”
Even though their daughter didn’t show much affection towards them, they had raised her and still had feelings for her. They couldn’t help but worry more, especially since their younger daughter didn’t excel like their sons did. Naturally, they couldn’t help but be more concerned.
Moreover, what the young man brought over were all top-tier schools in the country, with excellent reputations and top-notch education quality. They even offered specialized psychological counseling programs tailored for students who had failed due to psychological factors, ensuring that they would not be defeated in the second attempt at the exam. It was quite considerate.
“Darling, take a look at this school. It not only emphasizes exam scores but also focuses on physical education. Since Mingqin’s health is poor, this could be an opportunity to improve her physical condition.”
“Let me have a look.”
So, for the entire afternoon, the young man helped the Jiang family select schools, occasionally offering reference opinions. The advice of the top scorer was like a precious “words of wisdom” or “valuable advice” in any other family, and the Jiang couple took it very seriously.
The decision that Jiang Mingqin had been hesitating about was now made by others. She had originally seen a review school closest to her home and the city center. While its academic standards were average, the advantage was its proximity to the bustling area. With a two-day break every week, she could go home on weekends or go to the city center for shopping to maintain her appearance.
However, as soon as she made her choice, she discovered that the Jiang couple had intervened and selected a school for her. Yin Yunqiu accepted their choice, and there was no doubt about the reason. After all, the Jiang couple had been her parents for eighteen years, so they naturally had a say in the matter.
Moreover, although the school carried the name of the capital city, it was actually located in a neighboring province, far away from the bustling city center. Not to mention having only two days off per month, even one round trip from her home to the school would be a challenge. It was the kind of fully enclosed facility with periodic phone submissions, a focus on studying, and occasional physical exercise.
Hearing this news, Jiang Mingqin was almost overwhelmed, and her heart ached for real. That evening, she called Kong Jinghua and cried, “Uncle and Auntie, we have such a good relationship. Why do you want to hurt me like this? My health is so poor. What if I collapse on the playground? Is it because Yin Minglu instigated you? He’s really ruthless!”
In these past few days, it was always the parents calling their daughter. It was rare for them to receive a call from her, but when they did, she was scolding them for meddling. The Jiang couple felt a chill in their hearts.
It was bad enough that she scolded them, but she even scolded their younger son. Over the past few days, both families had devoted so much for her. According to their eldest son, the younger son was usually very busy. After achieving the top score in the exam, many people invited him to celebrate, and it was said that he had to deal with many company matters. Even in the midst of all this, he found time to help her choose a school, all for the sake of securing a bright future for her in the following year. She didn’t appreciate it at all and even turned the tables on them.
The couple was genuinely disappointed, and a sense of shame welled up in their hearts. They felt that they hadn’t raised their daughter properly. Even though they repeatedly told themselves that their young daughter’s rebellion and ingratitude were normal, they still couldn’t help but feel estranged from Jiang Mingqin. They even had thoughts of letting go and letting her be.
Because she was upset and had no support at home, Jiang Mingqin went to her birth mother to pour out her grievances. She hoped her mother could help persuade her father to change his mind. However, she didn’t expect her mother to be so useless. Her mother not only refused to give her the phone number but seemed to have completely sided with her father.
This scene happened to be witnessed by Jiang Mingyao, who was out running errands with Jiang Mingqin. When he saw Jiang Mingqin crying in the arms of An Meijun, he didn’t think much of it. People were reuniting with their loved ones, and it wasn’t his place to interfere. But when he saw a man with them, his gaze turned suspicious.
Even though eighteen years had passed, he was old enough to remember. He immediately recognized the man’s face, and it was the same man who used to linger near their home when he was a child!
Every time he saw that suspicious-looking man, he had tightened his grip on his sister, staring at the man warily. He was afraid that the man, who appeared decent on the surface, was actually a human trafficker. Why else would he keep staring at his sister?
Later, the man disappeared, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Mingyao didn’t know that the man had disappeared because An Meijun had been kicked out of the Yin family and couldn’t afford to use her little brother for her own purposes. But now that he knew, he was shocked beyond words when he discovered that the man’s identity was none other than An Meijun’s younger brother and Mingqin’s biological uncle.
He suddenly felt that the incident of his sister being switched at birth might not have been an accident, but rather a deliberate conspiracy.
When he shared his suspicion with his parents, the Jiang family couple was almost on the verge of fainting but managed to hold themselves together. “Are you saying that the man named An Jun, who used to keep an eye on you when you were kids, likely knew that both families had switched children? Or even more terrifying, is it possible that he deliberately switched them, taking away their son and sending their daughter over? If he knew about the switch over a decade ago, why didn’t he step forward to inform us?” They were horrified at the implications of these questions.
Jiang Mingyao nodded heavily in agreement.
The significance of this revelation was instantly clear to them. A woman left her own daughter behind but took away someone else’s son. What could be the motive behind such an act? Considering that the child was taken in by a top-tier conglomerate, and recalling the pitiful woman who had cried at their doorstep that day, the Jiang family couple’s pupils dilated with anger. Accidental baby swaps could be seen as twists of fate and unfortunate accidents, but a deliberate switch was premeditated and tantamount to profiting at the expense of others. It was clear that they were being played for fools, and they were not going to let this slide.
Soon, Jiang Mingqin realized that An Meijun was of no use and had no way of getting help. She resorted to calling the Jiang family couple, hoping they could talk to Yin Yunqiu and get her transferred to a less demanding school.
However, when she dialed their number, she found out that she had been blocked.
What was going on? Did her last conversation with them hit too close to home and touch a nerve? Otherwise, why would they block her? After all, throughout her life, due to her beauty, she was usually the one doing the blocking, not the other way around.
Although Jiang Mingqin was shocked and angry, she didn’t take it seriously. She had often thrown tantrums at the Jiang family couple before, and after they scolded her, all she had to do was shed a few tears, and they would immediately forgive her. This time would surely be no different, so she didn’t care.
Yin Minglu looked at Jiang Mingyao exploring and discovering many things with satisfaction. He happily stuck out his tongue and licked the ice cream in his hand.
He was currently waiting in the underground parking lot until he saw the appearance of his idol’s car before walking over.
Seeing the young man with sticky and sweet hands, Chu Run sighed and took a tissue, gently wiping the other person’s hand. As he continued to wipe, he felt the sweet fragrance from the other person’s body constantly entering his nose. Unable to resist, he leaned in and took a bite of that hand.
Yin Minglu, who was eating ice cream: ???
Just as he was about to retract his hand, his palm was unexpectedly licked again, and then once more.
“Mmm, quite sweet,” in the dark of the night, this slightly sensual wet kiss, coupled with the man’s husky and low voice, in his raised eyes, there was a beautiful animalistic radiance. Yin Minglu felt momentarily confused, and his heart skipped a beat.
He couldn’t help but think, he hadn’t had much to drink, so how did he get so intoxicated?
Author’s note: The dimly lit and deserted underground parking lot is perfect for all kinds of romantic plays.
Chu Run pressed him against the car and softly said, “I really want to kiss you.”
The teenager blushed and forgot to eat his ice cream, “Then why don’t you?”
Chu Run smiled, “Because the author’s old story got locked for nearly twenty chapters, and she’s afraid to write it.”
Sigh. Actually, every time I want to write a romantic scene, I feel like I want to get straight to the action.
There probably won’t be any updates tonight; I’ll update tomorrow.
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