Chapter 16

Lin ChuSui finally returned home.

At home, Xu SongBai and Fang YouYi were both there, sitting by the sofa with a solemn atmosphere, as if they were holding court.

Xu JiaNing deliberately took his homework to the dining room to do it, then pricked up his ears to eavesdrop, waiting for Lin ChuSui's final judgement tonight.

Lin ChuSui took a deep breath, went in, and said awkwardly, "I'm going back to my room to do homework."

"Stop right there," Fang YouYi sternly stopped her. "Where did you stay last night?"

"At a friend's house."

"Today Uncle Xu had a parent-teacher conference for you. The teacher said your situation at school has been very bad lately."

"I'm sorry, I was wrong. I'll study harder from now on." Lin ChuSui perfunctorily finished speaking, and walked towards the stairs. "I have a lot of homework, can't chat idly with you two."

Fang YouYi slammed the table and stood up. "Stand still! What's your attitude!"

Xu SongBai said repeatedly, "Don't blame the child. She's still young. I'll discipline her properly in the future."

Lin ChuSui suddenly turned back and looked at Xu SongBai.

This man had approached her directly outside the school today when talking to her. That wasn't his attitude!

Middle-aged men have two faces!

Lin ChuSui's eyes were filled with deeper meaning as she glanced back at Xu JiaNing.

Xu JiaNing gave her a "I'm used to it" look.

"It's really infuriating." Fang YouYi had a bad temper to begin with, and her face flushed red with anger. "I can't control her anymore. Apart from her dad, she doesn't listen to anyone."

"I'll make Little Chu listen," Xu SongBai poured Fang YouYi a glass of water, "Don't get angry. Aren't you trying to conceive? You must avoid emotional fluctuations."

Lin ChuSui sneered.

So the old lady is worn out. They're preparing for a second child.

Xu JiaNing looked at Lin ChuSui. The corners of her eyes lifted slightly. Although she pretended not to care, it was clear that...

Her eyes still looked a little hurt.

Xu JiaNing lowered his eyes and suppressed his emotions as he continued to work on his exercises.

But he heard Lin ChuSui's tone change as she said, "Mom, since you're trying to conceive, I'll be good and try my best not to upset you."

Fang YouYi frowned slightly, not knowing why this stubborn girl suddenly softened.

She had never called her "Mom" before. This was the first time.

Fang YouYi felt a little uncomfortable.

Xu SongBai knew this girl was not an easy target, so he said, "Yes, YouYi, don't get angry. Let's talk things through as a family."

Lin ChuSui threw her school bag on the sofa. "Okay, Uncle Xu, I'm listening to your teachings."

Xu SongBai said, "I heard that you had a very good academic foundation in elementary and middle school. Your grades only started to slip in high school."

Fang YouYi calmed down and said, "Ever since her dad left, her mind has not been on studying at all."

Lin ChuSui remained silent, playing along with whatever tricks this sly green tea man wanted to play.

Xu SongBai ignored her cold stare and continued, "I think too many things have distracted Little Chu's attention. I heard she also joined the school sports team and plans to take the physical exam in the future?"

Fang YouYi sneered coldly, "I haven't seen her train very hard either. Her dad used to have her do sports before, saying it's for self-strengthening and not to be bullied by others."

"It seems Little Chu's dad really spoiled her," Xu SongBai went on. "My parenting style for JiaNing is to have him focus on studying from a young age, and at most learn an instrument like piano. Too many interests can be distracting, especially sports. The underachievers all hang out doing sports. Of course Little Chu's grades will slip if she hangs out with them all the time."

Lin ChuSui clenched her fists tightly.

Xu SongBai ignored her cold stare and continued, "I've talked to her head teacher already and asked Little Chu to quit the school team."

Fang YouYi hesitated, "Quit the team? She's been doing sports for two years. If she quits the team now, what about taking the college entrance exam in the future..."

Xu SongBai said firmly, "There's still the last year. Make an all-out effort for one final push, otherwise the family and relatives will laugh if she gets into college relying on sports scores in the future."

"Alright, I guess this is the only way," Fang YouYi nodded and said to Lin ChuSui, "Go to school next week and quit the team."

Lin ChuSui looked timidly at Xu SongBai and readily agreed, "Okay."

Fang YouYi frowned.

She knew her daughter's personality all too well. At home, she had been spoiled by her dad to the point of fearlessness. How could she suddenly become like a little kitten? Xu SongBai also felt it was a bit strange, but before he could think more, he saw Lin ChuSui roll up the sleeves of her uniform and say, "If Mom has nothing else, I'll go back and do homework."

As a mother, Fang YouYi's eyes were sharp, especially towards her own child.

She immediately noticed the bruise on Lin ChuSui's forearm.

"What happened to your arm?" She immediately blocked Lin ChuSui's path, grabbed her arm and examined it carefully, "Have you been fighting again?"

Lin ChuSui shook her head repeatedly, "Mom, don't ask. I can't tell you."

"What can't you tell!" Fang YouYi looked very serious. "If you don't tell, I'll call the Lu siblings and ask them!"

"Don't..." Lin ChuSui looked at Xu SongBai fearfully.

Xu SongBai's heart suddenly sank. He said in a deep voice, "It was me..."

"What?"

"At the time... I really shouldn't have lost control. I apologize."

"Mom, don't blame Uncle Xu. I was disobedient. Uncle Xu came out of his office and saw my terrible math score. He lost his temper in the heat of the moment. It's understandable."

Xu SongBai: ?

What level is this girl playing at!

He examined the bruise on the girl's wrist carefully. This was definitely not his doing. When he pulled at her earlier, how could it have caused a bruise like she had suffered domestic violence?

Fang YouYi examined the scars on her daughter's hand and felt extremely distressed. A mother's love for her child surpassed her newlywed joy. She turned to Xu SongBai and said, "I don't care how you educated JiaNing, but in our home, we do not hit children."

Xu SongBai looked at Lin ChuSui. The corner of the girl's eyes curved up with icy mockery.

He had indeed underestimated her.

He had thought she was just a simple-minded, physically agile rebellious teen, but he didn't expect... this rebellious teen was above his level.

He tried to explain, "Actually, I didn't use much force, just pulled at her a bit."

"Then how did her arm get injured like this?"

"She's your daughter. Don't you know what she's usually like?"

Fang YouYi also knew Lin ChuSui was rebellious. She asked doubtfully, "Did Uncle Xu do this?"

"Uncle Xu really didn't mean it. He just lost his temper for a moment."

"Losing your temper is still no reason to hit someone."

Xu SongBai explained, "I really didn't hit her."

Lin ChuSui looked back at Xu JiaNing again. "I saw Brother JiaNing take pictures with his phone at the time too, right, brother?"

The corner of Xu JiaNing's mouth twitched. His gaze crossed swords with Lin ChuSui's from afar, sparks flying.

"I recorded a video, but got bored and deleted it halfway through," Xu JiaNing said nonchalantly. "But there was indeed a conflict."

The "conflict" was Old Xu and Lin ChuSui almost getting into a fight, but Lin ChuSui didn't give him an inch and even taught him a lesson instead.

He smiled meaningfully without further explanation.

Seeing even Xu JiaNing say this, Fang YouYi naturally believed Lin ChuSui's words. She turned to Xu SongBai and said, "Since the whole family is here today, let me reiterate that violence is not allowed in our home, whether it's JiaNing or Little Chu. I will not tolerate any hitting of children."

With the two children now allied against him, Xu SongBai was at a disadvantage. He could only awkwardly reply, "Yes, I understand. It won't happen again."

...

In the second round, Lin ChuSui was once again the overwhelming winner.

But she felt no joy of victory at all. Her mood was gloomy.

It was obvious that although Xu SongBai was stern with his juniors, he deferred to Fang YouYi and treated her very well.

Although Lin ChuSui still missed her dad with all her heart, she would never make unreasonable demands for her mom to be shackled with her, waiting for someone who would never come back.

Fang YouYi had the right to pursue her own happiness. Lin ChuSui did not want to destroy her happiness and family.

If only she could grow up faster.

[South City No. 1 Middle School Elite Group Chat]

Lin ChuSui: "Comrades! Brothers! Big Bro Chu is here to bid you all a tearful farewell! I urge you to drink up, for Xiao Lang will be but a passerby from now on!"

[Lu Chi rolled a dice.]

[Zhang ChengYu rolled a dice.]

Lu Chi: "You're younger than me, give me money!"

[Zhang ChengYu sent a red packet]

Lin ChuSui received the red packet and said, "Did you guys see what I said? I'm bidding you all farewell!"

Lu Chi: "I saw it. Did Madam Fang serve you a cup of poison or a white silk3 feet long?"

Lin ChuSui: "Worse than poison! Turns out the fine company president is actually a sly green tea man! Acting all gentle and caring in front of my mom. Pah! Btw, did Xu JiaNing get kicked?" Xu JiaNing: "No."

Lin ChuSui: "Do you mind if I viciously curse Your Esteemed Father with vulgar and offensive words?"

Xu JiaNing: "I do mind."

Lin ChuSui: "Alright! Admin, kick him out."

Xu JiaNing: ......

Admin Lu TianBai: "Cursing doesn't solve any problems. What exactly happened?"

Lin ChuSui: "Can't play ball and run together anymore."

Lu Chi: "Why not?"

Lin ChuSui: "The 'caring dad' at home applied for me to quit the school team."

Lu Chi: "......"

Zhang ChengYu: "......"

Lin ChuSui: "[shrugging shoulders]"

Lu Chi: "Wait, Big Bro Chu, with your grades, the extra points from sports is just enough to get into a decent college. If you quit the team now, what'll you do? We'll really have to go to Blue Sky Vocational School together and learn excavators!"

Zhang ChengYu: "Could it be he wants to cripple you so he can prop up his precious young master as the heir apparent?"

Xu JiaNing: "This young master has no desire to inherit her measly family fortune."

Lu Chi: "Young man, what misunderstanding do you have about 'measly'? Madam Fang YouYi, ranked 9th on the domestic Forbes rich list, don't pretend your heart isn't moved."

Lin ChuSui: "@Lu Chi, shut up."

Lu Chi: "I I I I...I shut up? I'm trying to help you!"

Lin ChuSui had always felt that although the pseudo-foreign devils were hypocritical, pretentious, and arrogant... they were not sinister, greedy villains.

Xu Jia Ning said: "Is her mother that awesome?"

Lu Chi: "Are you kidding?"

Xu Jia Ning: "From now on, she is my mother."

Lin ChuSui: ...

"Admin, kick them out!"

Zhang Cheng Yu said: "Let's get back on topic. Let's discuss you quitting the team, ChuSui. Brother Octopus has a plan to please Mrs. Fang and allow you to stay on the school team until graduation."

Lin ChuSui: "Let's hear it."

Zhang Cheng Yu: "Get in the top 10 for the next monthly exam."

Lin ChuSui: "Keep dreaming."

If she could do that, why would she still be on the sports academy team?

Zhang Cheng Yu: "You really can do it. Just think, you sit next to the class genius!"

Lin ChuSui: "Only if I swapped heads with the genius."

Lu Chi: "Why don't you just memorize all the questions and answers from the study guides? Science subjects - memorize all the questions from the study guides, and you're bound to run into some identical exam questions."

Lin ChuSui: "If that would work, I'd be going to Peking University already."

Lu Chi: "Wealth and status, don't forget your friends!"

Lin ChuSui: "Definitely, definitely."

Xu Jia Ning: "There's not a big chance of seeing identical questions in science subjects, because the numbers in each question may change. But the formulas and theories remain the same. So my suggestion is..."

Lin ChuSui: ?

Xu Jia Ning: "If you can't get into Peking University, Beijing Blue Bird welcomes you."

Lin ChuSui: ...

"Admin, why haven't they been kicked yet?!"

Zhang Cheng Yu: "Looks like I'll have to use my ultimate strategy."

Lin ChuSui: "?"

Zhang Cheng Yu: "Enter the marathon next month, take first place, and take home the 50,000 RMB scholarship prize... to buy your amazing brother Octopus a mechanical keyboard."

Lu TianBai: "Buy your amazing best friend a skincare set."

Lu Chi: "Buy your amazing best friend's brother a Bluetooth headset."

Xu Jia Ning: "Buy your amazing..."

Lin ChuSui: "[Sharp Blade Dripping Blood]"

Xu Jia Ning: "Goodbye."