Zheng Yixu kept comparing different outfits in front of the dressing mirror, still unsure of what to wear.

Attending a parent-teacher meeting, he couldn’t dress too lavishly; this would easily cause resentment toward Jiusi. He also couldn’t dress too formally; it would appear too stiff. And he couldn’t dress too casually either; it would embarrass Jiusi!

Jiusi was now in the second year of high school, studying science. He had just been assigned to this class, and it was the first parent-teacher meeting, so it couldn’t be taken lightly. Zheng Yixu postponed his regular running routine with Zhao Louqin to focus entirely on choosing the right clothes.

Being a parent is truly exhausting.

I really don’t understand how my mom and dad had the courage to just casually dress up and attend my parent-teacher meetings. It must have been because my grades were average and didn’t attract much attention. Those top students’ parents always looked so happy, dressed as extravagantly as possible.

Although Jiusi was also a top student, and every time Zheng Yixu saw Jiusi’s grades, he felt a sense of admiration, Zheng Yixu didn’t plan to dress too conspicuously. The highest level is to handle matters and then retreat quietly, keeping one’s achievements hidden.

In the end, Zheng Yixu chose the timeless combination of a white shirt and jeans, paired with a pair of non-prescription glasses. He looked exceptionally handsome, brimming with charm. Who knows, after attending the parent-teacher meeting, he might be regarded as the most handsome dad in the class.

The thought made him a bit excited, hehe!

When he went downstairs for breakfast, Zhao Louqin kept scanning Zhao Jiusi and Zheng Yixu with a resentful look. He also wanted to attend his son’s parent-teacher meeting; how fitting it would be for the three of them to go together!

But it was just a wish. If he went, it would cause some problems, not to mention that the identity of Jiusi, which he had painstakingly concealed, might be exposed. On the other hand, if Zheng Yixu were discovered, they could always say he was attending on behalf of a friend. With them watching, no media would dare write anything without solid evidence.

Zhao Louqin could only try to glance back and forth between the two of them with his small eyes.

Zhao Jiusi calmly enjoyed the bacon in his bowl. After all, this wasn’t the first time; his father was always like this. He never even changed his tactics. Hmph!

Zheng Yixu, on the other hand, was quite pleased, even the corners of his eyes showed his happiness. Zhao Louqin’s behavior made him even happier. Hahaha, see, no matter how powerful you are, you still can’t attend parent-teacher conferences for your son and can’t receive the envy and jealousy of other parents like I do!

“By the way, Jiusi, what’s the name of your homeroom teacher, and how old is he?” Zheng Yixu suddenly realized, as he ate, that he wasn’t familiar with Zhao Jiusi’s teacher at all. This wasn’t good! However, Zheng Yixu had only recently graduated himself and still wasn’t fully adjusted to the transition from being a student to being a parent.

Zhao Jiusi explained all the details about his homeroom teacher and, after thinking for a moment, also listed the names of his friends in the class. Maybe his dad would meet some of their parents!

“I’m done eating. Jiusi, let’s go,” Zheng Yixu said, wiping his mouth and looking smugly at Zhao Louqin, who was slowly sipping his soy milk. He looked just like a peacock flaunting its feathers.

Zhao Louqin silently lowered his head, feeling that today’s soy milk seemed to lack sugar. When Jiusi graduates from university, he was determined to dress up and attend Jiusi’s graduation ceremony. Nothing would stop him from wanting to attend parent-teacher meetings!

XX High School, Class XX.

As the best high school in the city, the scale of the parent-teacher meeting was certainly extraordinary!

Zheng Yixu had initially thought he shouldn’t dress too extravagantly to avoid drawing attention. But when he arrived at the school gate, he realized just how naïve that thought was. There wasn’t a single car parked at the entrance worth less than a million! And the items the parents were carrying or wearing were all incredibly valuable.

In comparison, what Zheng Yixu had previously considered flashy was nothing.

Of course, there were still many parents from average families.

The parents of children with good grades walked confidently, while those whose children had poor grades hurried by, not giving anyone a chance to stop and look.

It was so… familiar.

“Dad, follow me. It’s too crowded here; let’s go in through the back gate,” Zhao Jiusi said as he rolled down the car window and glanced around, unimpressed by the scene. The school had repeatedly asked not to park at the front gate, but it never worked. The parents sending their kids to this school either had excellent grades or were wealthy and influential. The principal couldn’t afford to offend them, so he let it slide. After all, the parent-teacher meeting only lasted a day or two. Let them park if they want to.

“Alright,” Zheng Yixu replied, feeling a bit disappointed. If he’d known, he would’ve brought out his flashy sports car and entered through the main gate smoothly!

“Zhao Jiusi! Why are you going through the back gate? Why not enter through the main gate?” A boy with a crew cut asked with a cheeky tone, accompanied by a beautiful woman with striking eye makeup.

Zheng Yixu glanced at the woman; her outfit alone could buy a house.

Maybe he was being a bit too low-key.

Zhao Jiusi ignored the boy. “Dad, that guy’s hair was shaved by the principal. He’s an art student.”

“He doesn’t get along with you?” Zheng Yixu could tell immediately that the boy was probably there to show off to Jiusi.

“Yeah, when we first entered the school, the freshmen had to perform on stage, and I outperformed him. Later, I beat him in the long-distance run as well. He’s just someone who can’t handle losing,” Zhao Jiusi shrugged, indifferent.

“What kind of sport?”

“An 8-kilometer marathon!”

Zheng Yixu: …….

Zheng Yixu finally understood why that boy didn’t get along with Jiusi. It’s one thing for an art student to be outperformed in a performance, especially since Jiusi comes from a family with a strong artistic background. But for a slim, small-framed boy like Jiusi to beat him in a marathon… Zheng Yixu recalled that the boy was almost six feet tall and couldn’t help but feel speechless.

“It’s no big deal. My father used to drag me along when he went running to lose weight,” Zhao Jiusi said, noticing Zheng Yixu’s thoughts.

Well, that reason really was quite compelling.

“Tch! That guy got away,” the boy said with a hint of immaturity, though his masculine features were starting to show. With a handsome face and a height of six feet, plus his skills in violin and basketball, he was definitely the school’s heartthrob admired by many girls! But every time, he was overshadowed by that jerk Zhao Jiusi.

It was one thing to lose academically, and maybe it was just a fluke that he lost in a performance. But losing in a long-distance run was truly infuriating! To top it off, on Valentine’s Day, Zhao Jiusi received more chocolates than he did!!!

Compared to a local handsome guy like him, the girls preferred a mixed-race boy, which was really disheartening for him.

“Xiaoyao, was that your classmate just now?” The woman’s face seemed to show a trace of nostalgia, her expression somewhat strange.

“…Don’t call me Xiaoyao!” The boy blushed. He definitely needed to change that girly name!

“Auntie, he’s the Zhao Jiusi I’ve told you about.”

“Zhao? No wonder, no wonder,” the woman chuckled quietly. If she was only 80% sure before, she was now completely convinced. This boy named Zhao Jiusi was undoubtedly Zhao Louqin’s son.

Perhaps the students had forgotten, but to her, Zhao Jiusi resembled a young Zhao Louqin very much. And that man with glasses standing next to him also seemed to be Zheng Yixu.

She hadn’t expected to encounter them in this place.

“Auntie, let’s go. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late,” the boy said, pulling the woman’s hand with a look of frustration. “The teachers will definitely compare me to Zhao Jiusi again today. It’s so annoying!”

At their age, both he and Zhao Jiusi were supposed to be closely monitored by the teachers, especially given the risk of early romance. Unfortunately, this intense scrutiny always seemed to be focused on him. The teachers only believed in Zhao Jiusi’s academic performance and didn’t think he would be involved in early romance. In contrast, as an art student who was six feet tall and had a rebellious image with his head shaved by the principal, he was constantly watched by teachers, as if they feared he might corrupt some girl.

It was truly disheartening.

His own parents focused all their attention on his older brother. The marriage was more about family connections than affection. The only one who could attend parent-teacher meetings for him was this very kind aunt.

His aunt had no son, only a daughter in kindergarten, so she doted on him.

It was a shame, though. If it weren’t for his aunt being tied up with Zhao Louqin, she could have married someone better!