Imperial Treasure
Chapter 166 - 127: Return to School, Exam Results

Chapter 166: Chapter 127: Return to School, Exam Results

"I chased after it and left, and you entered my room. While the computer was slightly damaged, you copied the files from the computer, handed them over to him, and then completely destroyed the computer... In this regard, you are better than I am, and I couldn’t detect the secrets hidden within. I just felt something was off, but what really made me suspect you was...."

"That night, you were protecting Grandma because she had lost her senses due to the Gu Arts. If I had walked over to check, you would have come out, wouldn’t you..."

Sui Yi’s words, piece by piece, snapped Wang Pu’s taut nerves one by one until only resignation was left.

"When we were kids, everyone in the village said you were the smartest, but none of us believed it since your grades weren’t good and even much worse than mine. I never felt that you were better than me... Now, I realize that I had overestimated myself and underestimated you."

Sui Yi turned his face, looking towards the twilight-green woods at the side.

"I now want to know whether the person you follow is Seventh Uncle or Ye Luanyun."

Wang Pu slightly closed his eyes; the ordinarily honest and slow-witted person suddenly showed signs of darkness.

"Does it make a difference? After all, you should be silencing me either way, since... you care most about Grandma."

He knew all too well how Sui Yi protected Old Mrs. Ye: fiercely like a god or a Buddha, always as such.

----------

"No matter whose side you’re on, I will not kill you."

"Why?"

"It hasn’t come to that point."

A crime not deserving death?

Wang Pu, with a lowered face, heard Sui Yi continue, "Killing is an ultimate resort which I wish to avoid as much as possible, I hope you won’t force me to break this oath."

"I hoped so too," Wang Pu bit his lower lip, looking at Sui Yi’s cool, indifferent face that however shone brightly like the autumn moon. He couldn’t quite pin down his feelings; perhaps it was the dispirited and wistful sense of a flower blooming then withering.

"I will be moving out soon..."

"Tonight is too hurried; let’s talk when you’re ready. Everything remains the same with Grandma; as for your mother, give me an excuse."

"Just say it’s inconvenient for a man and a woman to live together, it doesn’t sound good to the school."

"Okay."

Wang Pu watched Sui Yi walk into the room with his usual expression while he stood still on the balcony.

The wind grew colder.

He picked up a phone call, from Ye Luanyun.

The caller didn’t beat around the bush, speaking with a voice as cold as the gaps between the gears of a machine.

"I’ll prepare your rental house; just focus on learning the Gu Arts...."

Wang Pu paused for a long while before asking, "Is Seventh Uncle not around?"

The caller also paused before replying colder, "Yes."

"Brother, since I call you that, you should understand what I mean."

"Hah, you don’t want to learn my Gu Arts? What, don’t want to rise high, take revenge on those who bullied you, don’t want to keep up with Sui Yi’s pace anymore? Don’t forget, she is not the Sui Yi she used to be... You were never good enough for her even before, much less now! By the way, you also saw that young master who visited our village, didn’t you... Do you know who he is?"

"I don’t know... but one day I will..."

"You can’t even afford a house? With your poor parents?"

"I will handle it myself..."

Later, it was unclear what else was said, but eventually, Wang Pu hung up the phone.

Squinting his eyes.

Brother oh brother, the master had said before, if you remain obstinate, then it will be me who learns the orthodox Gu Arts of the Ye family.

As long as I learn it...

I can still stand beside her.

Not like the old days, not like today.

Never again!

----------

A bowl of light sweet potato porridge, a stack of golden fried eggs, and a glass of milk; the sunlight streamed in through the glass window. Sui Yi, with her sleeves rolled up, sat at the table, opposite Wang Pu. Old Mrs. Ye had woken up early, already had her meal, and now had gone to the park for a walk.

Despite facing tough early years, with Sui Yi’s care over the years, Old Mrs. Ye had grown chunkier. Along with her kind demeanor and good mindset, this made it easy for her to socialize in the neighborhood, with some children sweetly greeting her as Grandma Ye.

That made Sui Yi quite satisfied.

In this life, one does not seek wealth and honor across the world, but wishes for peace and health for the rest of their days.

Wang Pu ate his meal in silence, only occasionally looking at Sui Yi, who ate quietly across the table.

Perhaps from the way someone eats, one can discern their character.

Sui Yi always ate slowly, leisurely and gracefully.

The items on the table were never too many or too few, always just right.

Just like her.

After breakfast, Sui Yi picked up the backpack beside her and looked up at the person opposite her.

Sui Yi had thought that Wang Pu wouldn’t be able to eat, yet, to her surprise, he cleaned his plate.

Noticing Sui Yi’s surprised look,

Wang Pu was slightly embarrassed and softly said, "It was delicious...so I..."

He hadn’t expected Sui Yi to cook breakfast herself, let alone prepare a portion for him.

It was as if everything that had happened before didn’t exist, and yet it seemed so ordinary for her now.

"Thanks," Sui Yi gently smiled, nodded slightly toward him, then, with her backpack on, she walked out of the house. Wang Pu only heard her greeting an old lady who was exercising nearby, before she rode away on her bicycle.

The bicycle’s wheels printed a chain mark on the path and gradually faded from his heart.

He sighed heavily.

----------

Second High School,

The misty moisture had yet to dissipate, and groups of students, in twos and threes, nibbled on bread or pan-fried buns, clutching milk or soy milk, either idly or in a hurry as they entered the school.

Perhaps a few teachers were mixed in, then came the chorus of "Good morning, teacher" greetings.

Sui Yi entered the classroom just as the bell rang.

Upon entering, she saw Yhan Qingwu looking over, her long hair flowing, eyes like enchanting moons, luminous as jade.

"Hey, Sui Yi! Good morning! Have you eaten? I have some, do you want it!" Little Fatty Zhou was always so full of energy, completely different from the ice-cold and indifferent demeanors of Sui Yi and Yhan Qingwu.

Sui Yi politely declined the leek and pork bun, while placing her books into the drawer.

Yhan Qingwu quietly watched Sui Yi and Little Fatty Zhou chatting intermittently, occasionally interjecting a comment.

However, Sui Yi felt that the girl was not in high spirits today, seemingly preoccupied.

The classroom was noisy; no matter the topic, within three minutes, it was bound to circle back to one central theme:

--Test scores.

"My old man somehow heard about it, mentioned it three times yesterday and again early this morning, saying if I don’t make it into the top thirty of our class, he’d bury me..."

Little Fatty Zhou scrunched up his face, his normally plump cheeks now seeming incredibly expressive.

Next to him, Wang Xian commented, "That’s too harsh from the uncle."

"Yeah, totally!" Little Fatty Zhou nodded vigorously.

"Knowing full well you’re bound to be at the bottom, he’s definitely planning to bury you. But with your size, burying you would be so exhausting! Isn’t that just torturing himself?"

Little Fatty Zhou was dumbfounded, are you really my deskmate?

"You could let him dig it himself, then jump in and cover himself with soil. As long as more than two pounds of loess completely covers your nose and mouth, scientifically speaking, self-burial can be achieved. Uncle would just need to supervise,"

Sui Yi casually took out her math book and laid it at the edge of the desk, her voice light but serious.

Little Fatty Zhou and Wang Xian were horrified!

Miss Sui, are you cracking a cold joke? But why does it feel so spine-chilling!

However, they realized that once Sui Yi made such cold jokes, they were less fearful about the upcoming announcement of their exam scores.

"Heard that other schools had their exams too. This time, the teachers’ scores are going to be ranked in our town, might even be compared with other towns under Jiangnan District, trying to create a ranking. So my parents are really concerned, acting like this exam will affect our college entrance exam or something. Nearly everyone was warned last night..." Wang Xian frowned.

"Damn, it’s not even the college entrance exam, nor is it the district mock test. Why so serious? My cousins are pretty much in the same boat, all geared up to compete for rankings. If I end up last... just imagine how thick my dad’s bamboo cane might be..."

Little Fatty Zhou complained bitterly.

Next to Sui Yi, another group including the class monitor Wang Fang, just across the aisle from her, seemed to have overheard their conversation, chiming in: "Actually, one test can’t represent all students’ true abilities, but it at least reflects the strengths and weaknesses of most."

The world is full of talents, and Wang Fang’s comment hit the nail on the head.

Sui Yi and Yhan Qingwu, these two, were destined to only observe such discussions, hardly able to empathize.

However, Wang Fang was clearly concerned about the two of them.

She again pushed her glasses up and asked, "Sui Yi, Qing Wu, have you guessed your scores?"

Wang Fang had scores among the top ten in the class, representing those few active learners striving to excel, so she was quite curious about her fellow female classmates, particularly Sui Yi.

To be specific, curious about Sui Yi.

She didn’t quite like Sui Yi, who had poor academic performance but somehow always managed to attract attention.

That would make her feel as if her own unattractive appearance, albeit with good grades, was a joke.

Just because you look a bit pretty and act a bit aloof?

Wait until you fail to get into a college, and you’ll see how cruel this society can be.

Sui Yi, a smart and sensitive person, could discern the other’s thoughts with just a glance. She leaned her head on her hand and smiled slightly, "I only know that my name and class in that box are definitely correct."

"...."

Even more potent than being aloof is being nonchalant and sharp with your words.

It will leave you speechless.

--------

The bell quickly rang, and the math teacher Lin Zhong walked into the classroom with a relaxed gait, tapping forcefully on the blackboard with the protractor he carried.

"I know you’re restless, but you need to quiet down to hear me announce your scores!"

Immediately, the room fell silent.

This pleased Lin Zhong greatly, so he set down the bag of kraft paper tucked between his waist and arm on the table.

He noticed that at least half the class’s eyes followed the bag of kraft paper as it hit the table.

Kids will be kids! (To be continued. If you enjoy this piece, you’re welcomed to give it a recommendation vote or monthly ticket at starting point (qidian.com), your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to continue reading.)