Chapter 45: The Best!

They had stayed up late playing yesterday and only returned home late into the night, so the next day, Xixi, Haha and Jiang Mingyue woke up quite late.

After a fun day of play yesterday, Xixi and Jiang Mingyue had patched things up.

The two dogs and one person spent the day lying at home today.

The third day after the exams, the results were released around noon.

Jiang Mingyue felt a bit nervous. She wasn’t sure how well she could do on the high school exam after a gap of two or three years.

With a mixture of excitement, she opened the score sheet in the group chat, and the first name she saw was Qi Ze’s.

Qi Ze’s score: 726

Grade ranking: 1

Class ranking: 1

Oh my god, Qi Ze was amazing!

He went from being last in the class to first place, either doing nothing or doing his best when he decided to do something.

As expected of Qi Ze!

Then she found her own name, located in the middle-lower part of the class’s score sheet.

Jiang Mingyue’s score: 412

Grade ranking: 401

Class ranking: 28

Not bad at all. It was much better than she had expected, and she had improved about 400 places compared to when she first came.

The group chat was buzzing with activity, most of the conversations focused on Qi Ze’s score.

【！！！】

【Qi Ze, first in grade? First in class? This can’t be right】

【Wow, the big shot was hiding his strength!】

【Wow, wow, wow, wow!】

【726! Is this a score any normal person can achieve?】

【I became last in class, crying to death】

Haha, He Jiaqi came last in the class.

Jiang Mingyue immediately mocked with a smile, replying with a sarcastic message: “Congratulations, congratulations, coming last is still being first, everyone will remember you now.”

“Qi Ze always seemed like a top student. He probably didn’t study properly before.”

“This time, he dropped 12 places. He’s going to get scolded to death when he goes home.”

“Could he have cheated? From last place to first place, it seems a little suspicious.”

“Maybe the results were mixed up.”

“Who knows?”

“He definitely cheated. How else could that happen?”

“Totally possible. Maybe Qi Ze just didn’t study properly before.”

Seeing these messages, Jiang Mingyue felt both angry and amused. It seemed they couldn’t stand seeing anyone else succeed.

She quickly responded to each sarcastic comment about Qi Ze.

At first, she tried to stay calm, but by the end, her replies became even more sarcastic than theirs.

Jiang Mingyue: “He didn’t cheat, Qi Ze is naturally excellent.”

Jiang Mingyue: “If you think there was a mistake with the results, go talk to the teacher and verify it. Don’t spread nonsense here.”

Jiang Mingyue: “If you don’t know, just keep quiet.”

Jiang Mingyue: “How can you be so sure he cheated? Do you have proof? Haven’t you heard of presenting evidence when you speak? Didn’t your parents teach you that? Didn’t the 9-year compulsory education teach you that? Well, I guess with your IQ, even if they did, you probably wouldn’t understand.”

Jiang Mingyue: “How can it be impossible? Just because you can’t do something doesn’t mean others can’t. How should I say this to you? Shallow? Jealous?”

After her barrage of responses, the group chat gradually quieted down.

However, there were still a few who were dissatisfied and immediately jumped out to argue.

“What do you mean? Are you not allowing others to speak?”

Jiang Mingyue: “I’m not stopping you from speaking, but can you please speak like a human being, speak the truth, speak in accordance with socialist core values?”

“…..”

The Class Monitor saw that the argument was escalating, so they had to step in and say a few words to calm things down.

“Everyone, please stop arguing. The results have been thoroughly checked by the teacher, and there shouldn’t be any issues. If anyone has any objections to their results, they can privately discuss it with the teacher. Please don’t create further discussion in the group.”

Jiang Mingyue stopped responding angrily and instead sent a final message: “Congratulations, Qi Ze, you’re amazing!”

Soon, others began replying with congratulations too.

She then privately messaged Qi Ze.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Congratulations on getting first place, Qi Ze!” 🎆🎆🎆

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Don’t listen to those people. They’re just foxes who can’t reach the grapes.”

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “As long as you know it, you’re amazing!”

On the other side, the chat bubble said: “The other person is typing…”

Jiang Mingyue patiently waited for Qi Ze’s response, but after a long time, no message came through.

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Qi Ze sat by the window, looking down at the message Jiang Mingyue had sent.

The sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on his face, but it couldn’t reach his eyes. His dark, deep eyes concealed some kind of turmoil.

His fair and slender fingers hovered over the keyboard, deleting and retyping, until he finally responded with a simple “Hmm.”

When the results first came out, Qi Ze had immediately searched for Jiang Mingyue’s name.

He carefully looked through each of her scores, column by column, from left to right.

He was happier to see that she had improved so much than even getting first place himself. He knew she would be happy about it too.

He had opened his phone to message her and congratulate her, but before he could do so, her message in the group chat popped up first.

In fact, Qi Ze had seen all those sarcastic messages, but he didn’t want to pay them any attention.

He had heard countless similar doubts, insults, and slanders about him from childhood to now.

He had become numb to it.

He was even tired of arguing back. There was no need for it, and it would only waste his time.

But now, there was someone who cared, someone who would unhesitatingly choose to believe in him and respond to every single comment that attacked him.

Someone who would stand by his side, wanting to shield him from the storm.

Someone who would say: “Qi Ze, you’re amazing!” with their eyes shining.

It felt like the numb heart had blood rushing back into it.

It was warming up!

He had told himself he didn’t care, but when someone was willing to stand in front of him and face those attacks for him, his heart would still beat wildly.

Not just once.

Looking at Jiang Mingyue’s words, buried among the many messages, Qi Ze felt his heartbeat speeding up.

He really wanted to see her right now.

Qi Ze took a deep breath, calming his emotions.

Then he replied to her again.

Qi Ze: “You did great this time too, a big improvement.”

Jiang Mingyue’s message came back quickly.

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Yes, I’m amazing, aren’t I?”

Qi Ze could already imagine the expression on her face when she sent that message—her eyes sparkling and a big, happy smile on her face.

Qi Ze: “Mm, very amazing.”

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Hehe.”

Qi Ze: “How about I come find you and we go out to eat to celebrate?”

Where Moonlight Wanes and Weather Shifts: “Sounds good, sounds good.”

⋆⁺₊⋆ ━━━━⊱༒︎ • ༒︎⊰━━━━ ⋆⁺₊⋆

Qi Ze packed his things and went downstairs. Li Li was sitting downstairs, chatting with a wealthy lady.

As soon as Li Li saw him, she immediately asked warmly, 

“Ah Ze, you’re going out? Will you be back for lunch? I had the kitchen make your favorite dishes. This is Aunt Chen, say hello to her.”

Qi Ze nodded slightly toward the rich lady sitting on the sofa and then walked straight out.

“Hey, you child, how can you be so rude?” Li Li’s scolding voice came from behind him. “Be careful on the road.”

Then she turned to the lady and said: “Aunt Chen, don’t mind him. Our Ah Ze has a temper. He doesn’t listen to me when I say something.”

Sighing, she continued: “After all, I’m not his real mother. Sometimes I can’t scold him, can’t say anything.”

At the end, her voice was filled with an unspoken bitterness.

Aunt Chen immediately tried to comfort her,

“You have it tough too. You’re not his biological mother, but you’re better than a biological mother. Everyone outside says you treat him better than your own son. Don’t be too upset, maybe one day he’ll understand your intentions.”

Li Li had played this role countless times. Every time in front of others, she would always perform as the selfless stepmother.

Qi Ze had practically memorized her lines.

The next line was supposed to be: “Maybe, but with the way he is now, I really feel guilty toward his real mother.”

Qi Ze expressionlessly quickened his pace and left.