Chapter 122: Not the Same School

Zhai Sheng appeared to be dejected when he thought of that.

“It was quite good. I guess the results will be coming out in a few days.” This time, Qiao Nan walked automatically out of habit to the seat beside Zhai Sheng and sat down. There was no need for Zhai Sheng to motion her over.

“You seem to be pretty confident. Where did you get these books?” Zhai Sheng looked at the foreign language books on the desk.

“My deskmate gave it to me.” Zhai Sheng held an English book which Zhu Baoguo gave her in his hands. “Since I am free this summer break, it would be good to do some reading. When I go to high school, I would still need to take English as a subject after all.”

“Do you like English?”

“It is okay.” In her previous life, she managed to earn a fair amount of extra income with her proficiency in English. It could be out of habit that she had the love and will to do well for English.

“You can read those books as well.” Zhai Sheng had flipped through the foreign language books that Qiao Nan had. It was covered with detailed notes. It looked like she put in a lot of efforts in them.

Qiao Nan’s English proficiency level was way higher than the standard of a junior high school student. In fact, she had the talent in foreign languages.

Therefore, Zhai Sheng picked some books from his study room that were suitable for Qiao Nan and brought them over today.

“These books... Are they for me?” Qiao Nan’s eyes lit up. She took the books in excitement and started to look through them. She realized that these books were suitable for her standard.

Qiao Nan had already read through most of the books Zhu Baoguo gave her and was fussing over what she was going to do for the rest of the summer break.

“Thank you, Brother Zhai!”

“Use them well.” Qiao Nan’s eyes sparkled with excitement, shining brightly like the stars in the night. Zhai Sheng turned awkwardly to avoid eye contact with her.

With that, Qiao Nan started to pore over the books.

Whenever Qiao Nan was into her books, she would be so focused to the point of being oblivious to her surroundings. She forgot all about Zhai Sheng who was beside her and failed to notice his occasional glances.

By the time Qiao Nan went back home, Zhai Sheng still did not ask the burning question he had had with him all this while.

“Maybe she has thrown it away.”

He remembered that he gave Qiao Nan a slip of paper half a year ago but never received a single phone call from her in the past half year.

“Dad, Mom, Sister.” The three of them were already back by the time Qiao Nan reached home.

“Your sister just had her exams. She finally had her school break; the two of you could have a good chat.” Qiao Dongliang was in a good mood today because his two daughters had finished their exams, and they were all back at home.

“Nan Nan, this is an expensive book. Where did you get it from?” Qiao Zijin had sharp eyes. She did not hear what the conversation was about, but she spotted the book in Qiao Nan’s hands.

Without getting her consent, Qiao Zijin grabbed the book to read. “Published overseas... Where did you get the money to buy such books?!”

“Return it to me!” Qiao Nan pulled a long face and snatched her book back like a young leopard cub who would not take no for an answer. “You can put your heart to rest. Dad did not give me so much money, and I did not buy this book. Someone lent it to me. If you tear the book, we could not afford to compensate for the loss!”

Qiao Nan went straight to her room afterward.

“Dad, look at Nan Nan’s attitude!” Qiao Zijin stomped her feet. If she could bring the book to school next semester, she would be the envy of all other students. Qiao Nan was too stingy. She did not want the book for herself; she only wanted to borrow it. There was no need to be so tensed up.

“Is that book really very expensive?” Qiao Dongliang was more worried about the book.

“If I am not wrong, it is priced in US dollars, not Chinese currency renminbi. It must be very expensive.”

“So expensive?” Ding Jiayi was shocked. “Old Qiao, you had better tell Qiao Nan to return the book. She should know that we do not have the money to compensate for the loss so how could she have the guts to bring the book home? Something must be wrong with her. For a book to cost that much, is it made of gold?”

“What do you know? Isn’t it natural for books to be expensive?” Qiao Dongliang was shocked at the price as well. Though he was conscious about the price, he did not ask Qiao Nan to return the book. “Nan Nan must have needed it for her studies. Since a young age till now, Nan Nan had been very careful with her things. She knows what she is doing so you do not have to worry about the book.”

He was curious where Nan Nan borrowed such an expensive book from.

Qiao Zijin was annoyed at the fact that Qiao Dongliang would always side with Qiao Nan. “Mom, did Qiao Nan say how she did for her middle school exams? Can she go to The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China?”

“I am not too sure.” Ding Jiayi twitched the corner of her lips. “It seems like she did not flunk her exams. If not, she would not behave this way. She acted her usual ways; it shows that she performed well.”

“...” Qiao Zijin was displeased. “Mom, are you really going to allow her to advance to high school? Didn’t you say—”

“Shh, don’t talk nonsense.” Ding Jiayi covered Qiao Zijin’s mouth. “Don’t speak of a word to anyone, especially your dad, about what I said last time. It was just a joke. I gave birth to Qiao Nan. Why would I do that? Besides, she has given her word. If her results are good, she would go to The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China; if her results are not as good, we would not spend a single cent on her for such a purpose.”

Previously, she had said that she would think of ways to make sure Qiao Nan could not sit for the middle school exams. But she had been too angry then and only said those words out of anger.

After that Ding Jiayi had reconciled with Qiao Dongliang and her temper gone, she also could not remember her words said in a moment of anger.

If Qiao Zijin had not brought it up today, Ding Jiayi would have forgotten all about it.

“I don’t want to be in the same school as her!” Qiao Zijin was upset. “You know about the incident with the essay. If Qiao Nan studies in The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, how am I going to continue my studies there? How would my teachers view me?”

Not everyone in the school knew that she copied Qiao Nan’s essay, but there had been rumors going around about her.

If both of them were in the same school, what would other students think of her?

“I don’t care, Mom. You have to come up with a way to help me. No matter what, Qiao Nan cannot go to The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China. I cannot be disgraced.”

“Alright, we will decide when Qiao Nan’s results are out.” Ding Jiayi had a headache. “Zijin, do you not think that you have made things too complicated at times? It is good if Qiao Nan can get into The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China based on her own abilities. After all, it is the best high school in Ping Cheng.”

She would be so proud to let everyone know that both of her daughters were students at The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China. Everyone would think that she did a good job as their mother.

“Mom, are you not helping me?!”

“Alright, I will think of ways.” Ding Jiayi was helpless when Qiao Zijin used this tactic on her.