Chapter 96: Chapter 96

Ye Ling was preoccupied with thoughts of the high school entrance exam, naturally not noticing Liu Zhiyuan glancing at her from time to time during dinner. She, unfortunately, was too absorbed in her worries and didn’t like Liu Zhiyuan, so she didn’t look at him even once. Though Ye Ling didn’t notice, Ye Qian did. How could she not when her mind was constantly on Liu Zhiyuan? Despite having a smile on her face throughout the meal, her heart was sinking.

After the Liu Family siblings left, Ye Qian claimed to be feeling unwell and went into the West Room. Bai Xue was worried about her daughter, but she needed to clear the table. She wanted her elder daughter to help, but since her elder daughter’s hands weren’t well yet, she hastily tidied up and went to the West Room, leaving the dishes unwashed.

"Where do you feel unwell again?"

Upon hearing her mother mention ’again,’ Ye Qian pouted, "I’m fine. Mom, go and do your work. You’re just annoyed at me for being sick again."

Bai Xue realized this and laughed, "You silly child, even complaining to your own mother. Tell me what’s wrong? I’m just worried because you seem unwell."

"Mom, the high school entrance exam is coming soon. I haven’t been to school these days. I’m sure I won’t do well. What should I do?" Ye Qian sat up, nearly in tears over the exams. "Every day I see my sister studying, and I study too, but I can’t go to school. I’m just anxious with no solution, and the purple spots on my body still won’t go away."

"Good child, Mom knows your struggles." Bai Xue hugged her daughter, gazing out the window with a long-held thought in her mind. Seeing her daughter , she felt it’s no longer the time to hesitate. "Qianqian, how about this? You take the exam, and if you don’t pass, you can repeat the year and take it again. This way, you’ll be a bit more prepared, and there’s less pressure."

Bai Xue knew her daughter always had high aspirations and pride, which is why this thought had remained unsaid for a long time. Now, with the high school entrance exam nearing and seeing her daughter so stressed, Bai Xue couldn’t bear it.

"Mom, I don’t want to repeat the year." Hearing this, Ye Qian grew excited, clinging tightly to her mother’s hand, refusing to let go. "My sister got in, and if I repeat my year, others will surely mock me."

From childhood to now, everyone praised her. Now, being outshone by Ye Ling, who came from the countryside, she felt she had no face to meet others. Unless Ye Ling also repeated or didn’t study either.

"You silly child, fine, we won’t repeat the year." Bai Xue could only swallow her words.

We’ll have to revisit this when the time comes. It’s no use discussing it now.

Ye Qian felt uneasy since her mother wasn’t continuing the topic. Nor did she mention what would happen if Ye Ling got in or not, biting her lip in secret. She’d have to think of another way. If Ye Ling wanted to enter high school, she’d first have to see if she had the luck. If she couldn’t get in, Ye Ling shouldn’t think about succeeding either.

Ye Ling, who was being plotted against, was at the Zhao Family’s home at the time, working on study problems with Zhao Guodong and two others. Since coming out of the warehouse, Ye Ling’s words had won Zhao Guodong’s trust even more. He occasionally sought her opinion on various matters. Most often, though, Ye Ling just listened without responding, letting the words go in one ear and out the other. Over time, Zhao Guodong grew disinterested in speaking further, though he didn’t mind discussing revenge plans against Liu Zhiyuan in front of Ye Ling, since these were postponed until after the exams and Ye Ling didn’t concern herself with them.

Boys in the neighborhood were all , growing up fighting.

As the high school entrance exam approached, the atmosphere in the neighborhood visibly tightened. Even mothers who usually worked away from home took leave to come back, specially for their children’s exams.

Wang Ping’s mother worked in the company cafeteria and occasionally brought back some white steamed buns. Wang Ping shared these with Ye Ling, saying his mother wanted Ye Ling to have better nutrition. After a few times of refusing, Ye Ling reluctantly accepted. Zhang Linong’s mother was a teacher in the neighborhood primary school. She was easygoing and didn’t object to her son hanging out with Ye Ling.

However, three days before the high school entrance exam, the school gave a break, allowing students to study freely at home. Exams were in three days. Seeing Zhao Guodong and the others had prepared adequately, Ye Ling also decided to skip studying for three days, choosing instead to review at home or relax.

Like a duck let out to play, Zhao Guodong could finally relax. He spent his days with Wang Ping, nesting in the small woods in the neighborhood, bird hunting. Ye Ling didn’t need to tutor Zhao Guodong and his friends these days, staying in the East Room except during meals. Although she lived in the same house as her mother and Ye Qian, they only met at meals.

On the second day of rest, the purple spots that had receded on Ye Qian suddenly flared up again, scaring Bai Xue. They hadn’t eaten anything allergenic recently, yet the spots were fiercer than before. The only peace of mind came after a hospital visit and some medication.

However, in the evening, Ye Qian developed a fever, muttering about the exam in her fevered state. Bai Xue, worried sick, stepped out of the West Room to fetch water, glanced at the tightly shut door of the East Room, and called out, "Ye Ling, come out."

Having both daughters constantly worrying about exams further agitated Bai Xue.

After a while, Ye Ling finally emerged, opening the door but standing at the entrance without stepping out. "Mom, what’s up?"

"Your sister is sick, and you don’t even know? Come over and help." Bai Xue vented her frustration on her elder daughter. "You act like you’re not part of this family, always watching from the sidelines with indifference. There’s no heart in you."

"Mom, you haven’t considered me family either. Besides, the exam is the day after tomorrow. Ye Qian just has a cold; she has medicine and doesn’t need anything else. With you here, it’s enough. Plus, if she transmits it to me and it delays my exam, wouldn’t it be troublesome?" Ye Ling stared at her mother, half-smiling.

What could be troublesome? It was completely intentional. Is she thinking that if Ye Qian can’t do well, then she shouldn’t do well either? Only she could plot against her daughter .

Bai Xue finally understood why she didn’t like her elder daughter. Those eyes seemed to see through one’s thoughts, making everything transparent, exposing one’s heart openly.

Just like now, with a single sentence, her elder daughter unveiled her newly surfaced thought, making her feel so embarrassed she wished the ground would swallow her up. This was why the more she looked at her elder daughter, the more frustrated she became.

"What kind of talk is that? Your sister’s got a fever. You make a hundred excuses when asked to bring a towel for her forehead. I’m accused of intentional sabotage if you get sick and do poorly on the exam. Alright, alright, I dare not use you. Heaven forbid you blame me if you don’t pass."

Bai Xue’s tone was sharp. (To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast votes or monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)