Initially, all the female classmates had participated in the bet for the fun of it, while the male classmates had entertained themselves by simply watching from the sidelines.
But now that Ye Tianxin's test results were unexpectedly better than Ye Youran's, the girls somehow felt that Ye Tianxin was embarrassing them and making them feel uncomfortable.
"Ye Tianxin, you were just lucky. If you're that good, why don't you take first place in every test after this?!"
"Exactly, it was just 149 points, and she's behaving so arrogantly…."
Suddenly, Ye Tianxin laughed. Her laugh, like peach blossoms perched prettily on their branches in March, had an uplifting effect on the emotions.
"Ye Tianxin, why are you laughing? Don't you know that we're merely stating a fact? Preening and posturing just because you scored 149 points!! if you're that good, you should score 149 on every test…."
"What's my test score got to do with you anyway? If you have so much time on your hands, you should focus on improving your own scores. Otherwise, you'll be really embarrassed if you do worse than me on future mock exams!!"
Ye Youran, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said, "Ye Tianxin, let's say that you didn't cheat. Even so, you were only lucky to beat me this round. To test your real ability, let's make a bet on the second mock exam scheduled in two months!"
Ye Tianxin looked at Ye Youran, who was still reeling in disbelief at her defeat. Understandably, if the shoe had been on the other foot, she would've felt the same way!
A top student being beaten by a bad student. That must hurt bad!
"No way. I don't want to see your teary face when you lose!!" Ye Tianxin replied, making a mischievous face at her.
Ye Youran stood in front of Ye Tianxin, blocking her way, and exclaimed, "I think you've lost your nerve! Didn't you say you wanted to be accepted into Capital University? Ye Tianxin, since you're the resident bad student, just admit that you don't want to compete. No one will ridicule you for it."
Ye Tianxin looked at Ye Youran. Deep in thought, she recalled the trite expressions on the faces of Ye Youran's parents at her grandmother's funeral.
Suddenly, she clenched her fists and took a deep breath.
"What are the stakes?"
In for a penny, in for a pound. Ye Youran decided that they should up the stakes. She was a top student, and this small defeat was just a minor pre-competition setback. In the next round, she would make sure she rubbed Ye Tianxin's face in the mud.
"The loser has to do a rabbit hop in front of all the students and teachers during school assembly while the flag is being raised."
"My fellow classmates, you've all heard this, yes? You must keep your word and not try to worm your way out of doing the rabbit hop when the time comes!"
Making a "humph" sound of disdain, Ye Youran said jeeringly, "Ye Tianxin, I think you'd better start training for the hop. Otherwise, you'll be hopping like a zombie when you lose!"
"Ye Youran, are you absolutely sure that you'll be the winner?"
That said, Ye Tianxin didn't even bother to look at Ye Youran's frowning face.
Turning around, she asked the classmate who shared her desk, "Bro, come on. How about I buy you a meal at the restaurant?"
"No need. I still have a lot of exercises to complete."
Ye Tianxin didn't push him further, this bookworm who shared her desk in class. She knew better than anyone else that Jiameng High School was just an ordinary high school in the southwest zone.
All the students at this high school wanted was to learn as much as they could and sit for the college entrance exams in the hopes that this would be their ticket to a better life….
"All right, then. I'm going to head home."
She put on her backpack and walked happily out of the classroom toward the school's bicycle rack.
She had gone back ten years, from age 27 to age 17.
At that age, her grandmother had still been very much alive.
Her life at this age... had been brimming with unlimited possibilities.
Not having ridden a bicycle in a very long time, Ye Tianxin started off wobbling as she rode along, not riding straight.
It was only after all that had happened that Ye Tianxin realized that when knowledge was acquired, it was deeply etched into one's bones and never forgotten. In fact, this knowledge could become a life-saving ability at a certain time in the future.
This time on the way home, she cycled very slowly.
The familiar landscape flashed past before her eyes, scene by scene. This was the little town where she had lived for seventeen years.
This was the little town where she had lived for most of her short life.
Far out in the distance, Ye Tianxin could make out her grandmother's little yard.
Suddenly, her heart felt like it had stopped beating.
Her grandmother loved her more than anyone else in the whole wide world.
Unfortunately, before she had the opportunity to repay her grandmother's love and concern in her past life, her granny... passed away.
At the thought of seeing the grandmother who doted on her, Ye Tianxin's heart brimmed with joy and the excitement of returning home.
"Auntie, Tianxin's been bullying Youran in school and making her cry…. She even cheated during the mock exam. Auntie, since there's only one Ye family name, Tianxin's behavior has brought shame to all of us who bear the Ye family name.
"Back then, when our little sister got pregnant and was abandoned by the father, we advised her to get an abortion. Then, when she recuperated, we could get a man to marry into the family. But you insisted on pandering to our little sister's request. Our little sister's since disappeared into thin air without a single word from her all these years. We don't even know if she's dead or alive….
"As for Tianxin, she used to be a sweet and obedient little girl when she was a kid. But since entering junior high, she's been hanging out with the bad boys in town and is always up to no good. Her academic results are a train wreck, and now she's bullying her own cousin in school. Is this behavior appropriate for an elder sister?"
"Auntie, in my opinion Tianxin will never achieve much in her life. It wouldn't be realistic for you to rely on her to look after you in your old age until you pass on. Since you're my Auntie, my husband and I will take care of you until you pass on. Now, about this house…."
Parking her bicycle in the yard along the old street, Ye Tianxin could hear the voice of Ye Youran's mother.
Standing quietly in the yard, she listened in for a long time on the conversation.
She finally got to the main subject of the conversation. So, had Ye Youran gone home and whined about the incident at school, resulting in her mother rushing over to their house and giving her grandmother the third degree?!
And what was that about her, Ye Tianxin, not being able to care for her grandmother until she passed on?
What a load of horse manure! She was blatantly trying to get her hands on this courtyard house!
"Auntie Zhu…."
Ye Tianxin stepped into the house and walked directly to her grandmother's side, adopting a protective stance.
"Auntie Zhu, don't assume that Grandmother can be easily manipulated just because she's old. Haven't you been beating about the bush, spouting all kinds of nonsense because you're trying to get your hands on my grandmother's house? Well, you can stop dreaming. We'd rather tear this place down than give you even a piece of tile or brick of it."
Not feeling an iota of guilt at being sprung at by Ye Tianxin, Ye Youran's mother turned the tables around and reprimanded Ye Tianxin instead.
"Ye Tianxin, you're just an illegitimate daughter who doesn't even know who her father is. This is a matter concerning the Ye family. Since when have you been given the right to interfere?"
Rudely, Ye Tianxin retorted, "Yes, I don't have a father, but I do have a mother, whose family name is Ye. Therefore, I'm a member of the Ye family. My grandmother's affairs are none of your concern, so you shouldn't waste your time!"
"You little motherless b*tch with no upbringing whatsoever!" Auntie Zhu heaved and hmphed. "Even resorting to cheating during the exam!"
"Get lost!"
Not wishing to see Auntie Zhu's snobbish and mean face a moment longer, Ye Tianxin swiftly reached behind the door for the broom. Moving toward Auntie Zhu, she began to hit her continuously with the broom across her body.
"Get out of here. You're not welcome in our home.
"I forbid you to turn up here ever again. Otherwise, I'll beat you up every time you come here!"
Ranting and raving, Auntie Zhu ran off. As she watched Auntie Zhu's receding figure, Ye Tianxin callously marked this incident up in her mind as another bone to pick with Ye Youran.
Turning around, Ye Tianxin noticed that her grandmother looked pale, and helped her to a nearby chair.
Grasping her grandmother's calloused, dry and wrinkled hands, she crouched in front of her and said softly, "Grandma, don't listen to Auntie Zhu. I didn't cheat. In fact, I did very well on the test. My test results were even better than Ye Youran's. Grandma, I will definitely make it to university."
Her grandmother's eyes lit up with joyful surprise. "Really?"
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