Oubei No. 1 Middle School rented a small pickup truck to publicize throughout Wen City that Fang Bai had become the provincial top scorer in the college entrance examination. In reality, it was to show off Oubei No. 1 Middle School's teaching quality to other middle schools, hoping that more top students would apply to Oubei No. 1 Middle School.
After so many years, they finally had a chance to feel proud, and they certainly couldn't miss it.
In addition to the car with a loudspeaker promoting all over the city, they also provided information to TV stations and newspaper reporters, hoping for some help with publicity.
Principal Zhang also wanted to pull Fang Bai into the car for publicity, but then he thought about his financial situation and decided against it. He was a god of wealth who couldn't be moved by money.
If Fang Bai knew what the principal was thinking, he would definitely not agree.
Standing on the car, wearing a big red flower on his chest, and being gawked at by the entire city's populace, that would be too idiotic!
Tsk, isn't he just a top scorer in the college entrance examination? What's there to show off about?
Besides, how could he be worthy of such a thing?
He wasn't some great hero.
If it was a TV interview, he wouldn't mind agreeing. Anyway, since he was going to college, showing off a bit wouldn't matter.
At this moment, Fang Bai was quite pleased with himself. It could be said that being the top scorer in the college entrance examination was his most glorious moment so far.
After Fang Bai's parents learned he was the top scorer, they were overjoyed all day, handing out red envelopes to their employees, a hundred yuan each, which was very generous and made the employees beam with happiness.
They planned to host a banquet for relatives, friends, and teachers after the admission notice arrived.
The next morning, the news of Fang Bai becoming the top scorer in the college entrance examination appeared in the Wen City Daily, including his photo.
His opinion wasn't asked; his photo was directly published, with no regard for his right to his own image.
And the fact that Fang Bai was the son of the Xinghai Shopping Mall owner was directly exposed. With his family's wealth and his excellent grades, the local TV station went directly to his home for an interview, but they couldn't find Fang Bai.
Fang Bai's parents also refused to accept a TV interview. In fact, they didn't want their identities to be exposed, nor their appearances to be known to the outside world.
At this time, Fang Bai was at home reading professional books, and in his leisure time, he read the newspaper. When he saw himself in the paper, he knew things were not good!
"Damn it!"
"It's over, it's over!"
This was not a good thing.
He estimated that his in-laws would soon know his identity. By then, how would he face his father-in-law? Would his father-in-law still chase him three streets with a wine bottle, calling him a "little bastard," like in his previous life?
"Sigh, truly, man proposes, God disposes!"
Fang Bai still wanted to keep it a secret for two or three more years, the longer the better.
But now, it was uncertain.
…
At four o'clock in the afternoon,
Chen Jiahui went out to buy fruit and picked up a newspaper. A headline in the Wen City Daily caught her attention.
"Provincial Top Scorer Fang Bai, Is Actually the Son of the Xinghai Company Owner"
She was a little surprised. This Fang Bai had the exact same name as her husband's business partner, and he was also young.
However, she had never met this young man, Fang Bai, and didn't know if it was the same person.
But from the photo in the newspaper, this Fang Bai looked quite sunny and handsome.
With curiosity, after she finished reading the newspaper, she was even more surprised.
"Oh, this Fang Bai is actually a retaker from Oubei No. 1 Middle School!
Doesn't that mean he's in the same grade as our daughter? And he's a science student, probably in the advanced class. Could he be in the same class as our daughter?"
Chen Jiahui bought a newspaper and went home. Seeing that her daughter wasn't home, she had originally wanted to ask her if she knew this Fang Bai.
This morning, her daughter said she was going out shopping with a classmate and would be back in the afternoon.
Chen Jiahui didn't think much of it. She walked into her daughter's room and looked for her graduation photo in the album. The back of the graduation photo had each student's name.
Soon, she found Fang Bai's name!
The facial features in the photo were very similar to the person in the newspaper; it was indeed the same person.
Moreover, when the photo was taken, Fang Bai was standing behind her daughter!
It seemed the two were in the same class, and her daughter most likely knew this Fang Bai.
There were many students in one class, and her daughter wasn't very sociable. Perhaps she didn't talk much to boys, but she definitely knew there was such a student in the class.
Chen Jiahui returned to the sofa and sat down, feeling very curious, but actually not taking it too seriously.
Hmm, she would know the situation after her husband and daughter came back and she asked them.
Around five o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Jiahui saw her daughter return in high spirits and casually asked her how her shopping went today and where she had gone.
Mother and daughter chatted casually. Chen Jiahui saw the newspaper on the tea table and remembered what she had wanted to ask in the afternoon.
"Daughter, was there a classmate named Fang Bai in your former senior year who retook the exam last year and became the provincial top scorer this year? He's in the newspaper."
"Oh, I think so. Let me see the newspaper. He's that amazing."
Qin Shuyu didn't know about Fang Bai's college entrance examination results yet. Hearing her mother say he was the top scorer, she was very happy.
At the same time, she was a little curious how her mother knew there was a student named Fang Bai in her class.
Chen Jiahui pointed to a section in the newspaper and exclaimed, "It's the one here, a student who is incredibly good at studying."
Qin Shuyu took the newspaper from her mother, glanced at it, and indeed it was the provincial top scorer, her Fang Bai. She couldn't help but smile, but fearing her mother might notice something, she quickly pursed her lips.
But her fleeting smile and expression still couldn't deceive her mother.
Chen Jiahui had been paying attention to her daughter's expression. She felt her daughter was even happier than if she herself had become the top scorer, but her eyes were darting around, trying to hide something, which made her feel a little abnormal. She asked gently, "I looked at your graduation photo, and this Fang Bai is standing behind you. You two know each other, right?"
Qin Shuyu pretended to be silent for a moment, then honestly replied, "Uh, I guess so."
"Daughter, are you and this Fang Bai in a relationship?"
"Mom, we're just friends." Qin Shuyu's heart quickened, and she spoke evasively.
Chen Jiahui saw her daughter speaking with her head down and knew something was off. Her tone became firmer: "Are you really just ordinary friends? You two aren't in a relationship?"
"Mm."
Qin Shuyu lowered her head even further, and her voice became softer.
Chen Jiahui had originally just asked casually, with a hint of teasing.
But unexpectedly, seeing her daughter's response, she knew she was lying.
Perhaps, they really were in a relationship.
She sighed, not getting angry, but gently said, "I'm not scolding you for being in a relationship. If you are, you are. But lying to your parents isn't good. Think about it, have you lied before?"
Qin Shuyu was mainly worried that her parents wouldn't agree to their relationship. Now, hearing her mother say this, it seemed she wasn't against dating, so she breathed a sigh of relief. She looked up slightly and pursed her lips, but she didn't know how to answer.
However, her appearance further confirmed Chen Jiahui's suspicions by three points. She lowered her head slightly and looked directly at her daughter, continuing to ask:
"Looking at you, you're in a relationship with him, aren't you?"
"Mm."
Qin Shuyu finally nodded and admitted it.
Chen Jiahui got the confirmation and sighed, "Oh, how far has it developed?"
"Mom, I don't understand."
Chen Jiahui's temper flared: "I'm asking you, have you given yourself to him? Has he bullied you?"
Qin Shuyu still shook her head, indicating she didn't understand. When her mother spoke more plainly, her face instantly turned red, and she directly shook her head.
Chen Jiahui roughly understood her daughter's current relationship progress. It indeed hadn't reached the final step. She was clear about her daughter's personality.
Regarding her daughter being in a relationship, she couldn't say she was against it; she was just a little angry about being kept in the dark and not being told by her parents.
If Fang Bai, who was dating her daughter, was indeed her husband's business partner, she felt this matter was not that simple.
Seeing that it was getting late, her husband would be home for dinner soon, so she would wait for him to come back before asking in detail.
"I'll go cook first. We'll talk when your dad comes back. I need to ask your dad's opinion. Don't be too happy too soon."
"Mom, I'll help you wash the vegetables."
"Daughter, actually, I'm not against you being in a relationship. Your dad and I got married early. At your age, if you hadn't gone to school, you might already be married.
What I'm worried about is you being deceived, not even knowing about the other party's family situation."
"Oh, Mom, I'm sorry. Fang Bai is a very good person."
"Mm, when did you two start knowing each other?"
"We were in the same class in our first year of high school."
"I'm asking you, when did you two start dating?"
"Third year of high school, uh, after the college entrance examination, I guess."
"This Fang Bai is a rich second generation, right? I'm worried that rich kids like him aren't responsible in relationships."
"Mom, Fang Bai wouldn't be like that. I trust him, and besides, he's not a rich second generation."
"Hmph, you're not even married yet, and you're already speaking well of him. He's the son of the Xinghai Shopping Mall owner. You probably don't know how much assets he has. What else is he if not a rich second generation?"
"Fang Bai started his own business. He told me. He should be considered a rich first generation."
"Started his own business? What kind of business would a student start? You've been deceived by him, haven't you? I didn't expect a student with excellent grades to have such poor character and still love to deceive girls."
"Mom, Fang Bai really did start his own business. He started by selling TVs from a street stall last year. I know about this."
"It seems I don't know quite a lot of things."
"Mom, we weren't trying to deceive you. We just didn't know how to bring it up."
"Wait until your dad comes back and see how he deals with you. I suspect this Fang Bai is your dad's business partner."
"Mom, can we not talk about it?" Qin Shuyu pulled her mother's arm, acting spoiled. Fang Bai said to try not to let her parents know so early, so she didn't mention Fang Bai partnering with her dad. It seemed it would be hard to keep it a secret.
"Hmph, wishful thinking. They'll find out sooner or later." Chen Jiahui glared.
Qin Shuyu puffed out her cheeks and pouted, feeling a little secretly relieved that her mother hadn't lost her temper, but she didn't know how her dad would react.