Chapter 74: Chapter 74

Gao Tian’s question was also what everyone wanted to know.

Ye Qian smiled lightly, "If you want to know how well my sister studies, just wait for the middle school exams and you’ll find out."

Whether it’s good or bad, she didn’t say. Such a response leaves people thinking, either Ye Qian is being playful, teasing everyone, or she’s not willing to speak ill of her sister behind her back, so she can only respond .

The people here don’t like Ye Ling, so naturally, they think Ye Qian answered this way because she doesn’t want to talk bad about her sister. After all, in everyone’s eyes, Ye Qian is known for being gentle and kind.

"I knew she couldn’t do it." Song Mei was very happy with this answer.

Ye Qian laughed and looped her arm through Song Mei’s, "My sister’s pretty good. If she does anything wrong in the future, I’ll apologize to you. Don’t hold any grudges against her. To be honest, she’s quite pitiful, having grown up in the countryside with my grandma. Now that my grandma is gone, she feels miserable."

"Feeling miserable so she bullies others?" Ye Qian’s persuasion seemed to backfire.

Song Mei became even more disgruntled, and Ye Qian was secretly pleased. Ye Qian hesitated and said, "Song Mei, don’t be angry. That might have been a misunderstanding. After all, Zhao Guodong came to my house today for tutoring, maybe that’s why he stood up for my sister."

Ye Qian’s statement pushed the conversation further. Song Mei immediately exclaimed, "Yes, that’s it. Your sister must have agreed to tutor Zhao Guodong, and then asked Zhao Guodong to bully me. Otherwise, why would Zhao Guodong help your sister? I never understood it before, but now I get it. It’s truly infuriating."

Ye Qian bit her lip and didn’t say anything further.

"Alright, Sister Song, stop talking. Ye Qian is embarrassed. Let’s talk less about her sister in front of Ye Qian in the future, or it’ll put her in a difficult position." Liu Rui shyly spoke to everyone.

"Okay." Song Mei nodded at Liu Rui.

The four finally arrived at school. When they entered the classroom, they saw Ye Ling already sitting in her seat, and Wang Ping was holding something, asking Ye Ling, with Zhao Guodong listening nearby. Seeing this scene, they were all a bit surprised but didn’t say anything more and went to their seats.

With more than a month until the middle school exams, it’s mostly review time, and teachers from each subject wander into classrooms during their free time, so students can ask questions directly.

After tutoring last night, Zhao Guodong had already included Ye Ling in their ’inner circle.’ When the school bell rang, he did not rush to leave as he usually did. With him staying, Wang Ping and Zhang Linong naturally slowed down too. Seeing Ye Ling not packing up, Zhao Guodong urged her.

"Hurry up, we’re waiting for you."

"I brought food, not going home for lunch." Ye Ling looked at him.

Zhao Guodong was first taken aback, but then got up from his chair and walked out, irritated, "You brought food, and didn’t even say anything."

He was clearly displeased.

Wang Ping had long admired Ye Ling, able to explain such difficult and incomprehensible topics clearly, how could he not be impressed? His attitude made a complete 180-degree turn compared to yesterday, "Ye Ling, we’ll head home then."

"You guys bring lunch tomorrow too, tell Zhao Guodong." Ye Ling wasn’t making things difficult for them just to accompany her.

The middle school exams cover six subjects, not all of which Ye Ling remembers, but she’s copied a lot of problem types. Understanding problems from all six subjects isn’t something to be achieved in a few days, even the evening tutoring isn’t enough. Ye Ling plans to explain problems during lunch too.

Wang Ping nodded, "Okay, I’ll tell him."

Then he ran out of the classroom.

Finally, Zhang Linong got up, nodded to Ye Ling, and leisurely left the classroom.

Other students also brought lunch, seeing Ye Ling not go home and tell Zhao Guodong to bring lunch too, they glanced back, observed Ye Ling casually open her lunchbox and eat, then silently returned their gaze.

Ye Ling slowly ate her meal while flipping through books and jotting down problems. She’s not worried about her own middle school exams, but now with Zhao Guodong and Wang Ping, she has no choice but to work a little harder.

From yesterday afternoon until this morning, Ye Ling has been transcribing problems for Zhao Guodong, even during lunch. In Bai Xue’s eyes, Ye Ling eats roughly, but now at school, in others’ eyes, she’s seen differently.

Ye Ling takes big bites, chews slowly before swallowing, lacking elegance but exuding the efficiency of a boy eating, without pretension, even quieter than boys.

However, Ye Ling currently has darker skin, single eyelids, and a pointed chin, not as sweet or cute as Ye Qian. If it weren’t for her being new, people wouldn’t pay attention to this country girl.

On the road, Wang Ping caught up with Zhao Guodong, peeked at him, "Are you still angry? Ye Ling told me we’ll also bring lunch tomorrow."

Zhao Guodong’s expression improved a bit, but his tone was still harsh, "Who listens to her? She told us to, so I won’t."

"But didn’t you agree to listen to her?" Wang Ping didn’t finish his sentence before Zhao Guodong glared him down.

Wang Ping wasn’t afraid, scratched his head, and asked Zhang Linong, "What’s up with him? Why is he upset about Ye Ling not going home for lunch?"

Rarely waiting for a girl, only for her to not go home for lunch, how can one not lose face?

Zhang Linong knew Zhao Guodong was feeling embarrassed, not wanting to tease him further, he signaled to Wang Ping, "Bring more lunch tomorrow, bring Dongzi’s too."

Wang Ping nodded, "Okay, I’ll ask my mom to make potato sauce, you bring a different dish."

The three aren’t fussy about whose family they’re eating at, so this was settled without any pleasantries.

Ye Qian had fried eggs and a big bowl of white rice for lunch, before suggesting, "Mom, why don’t you try to persuade my sister? She’s helping Zhao Guodong with tutoring out of kindness, but what if they don’t pass the exam? Wouldn’t they blame my sister? Today Song Mei and the others were discussing it; it’s quite concerning."

Bai Xue was tidying up the dishes, sighed, "Couldn’t help if she tried, instead she’s causing trouble, truly don’t know what to do with her."

Seeing her mother indirectly agree, Ye Qian didn’t say more, went out to find Song Mei for school, while Bai Xue prepared a bunch of things to say after hearing her younger daughter’s voice. But when she came back and saw no sign of her elder daughter, it felt like a balloon being pricked, suddenly deflated, the energy gone. (To be continued. If you work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)