Chapter 151
Translator: Kyotot
in the darkness of the night sparks explode one after another, lighting up the whole night.
Shi Ning covered her ears and looked up at the sky full of colorful fireworks.
"It's so beautiful."
Shi Chen handed her a few fireworks sticks.
"Be careful when playing."
Shi Ning took it and said.
"Got it, I'm not a kid."
Shi Chen smiled and didn't say anything else.
Although Shi Ning likes fireworks very much, she was still timid in nature. She just want to look at it and doesn't dare to lit it up herself.
She took the box of fireworks, wanting to see this and that while Shi Chen put them to her one by one.
"Brother, let's put that one first. That must be beautiful."
Shi Ning picked up one and handed to her brother.
"Whichever you think looks good, just put it all out."
"But there's a lot, it has to be put off until next year."
"En, indeed. After twelve o'clock its already New Year's Day1."
Shi Chen was going to say that he going to help his sister set off the fireworks when his phone suddenly rang at this time.
Looking at, it was his mother.
"I'm going to take a call."
He stood a little farther away and picked up the phone.
Cao Shu: "What are you doing?"
"Setting off fireworks."
"With who?"
"Ning Ning."
There was silence on the phone for a few seconds.
Cao Shu broke the silence first, she said.
"Mom is home alone, can you come here and keep me company, ok."
"Didn't we agree that I would spend tomorrow with you, shouldn't you be at grandma's tonight?"
"I'll be back after dinner, son, I miss you come sleep on mom's side tonight."
As usual she thought Shi Chen would agree.
However, his eyes looked at someone not far away. Shi Ning kept waving the fireworks stick as she was smiling brightly and the pile of fireworks boxes he hadn't finished sorting out for his sister.
He stepped out of the garden as the crackling sound of exploding fireworks reached his ears.
Shi Chen raised his phone to the sky.
"Mom, what did you say I cannot hear you. I'll hang up first ah, do not worry the first day of New year I will accompany you."
After saying that, Shi Chen hung up the phone.
Seeing her brother walking back again, Shi Ning picked up the fireworks box and handed it to him with excited face.
"Brother, look this description says this is a wishing fireworks eh! It's almost twelve o'clock, let's set this off!"
Shi Chen took what she was holding.
"Okay, you can put whichever one you want."
The clock struck twelve, at the same time Shi Chen lit the box of wishing fireworks.
The fireworks rose to brief splendor and then quickly fell like a meteor.
A tall and short, the two siblings looked up at the sky. Shi Ning closed her eyes and folded her hands to make a wish.
When she reopened her eyes again, Shi Chen asked her.
"What did you wish for?"
"I won't tell you, or I won't work."
Shi Chen thought.
Fool, do you really believe in this wishing fireworks? This is all a strategy for merchants in order to promote the goods.
Also who else but your brother would help make your wish come true.
How could you not tell me?
Shi Chen casually pulled an excuse.
"When I put it just now, I saw that it said that it would be effective to say it when making a wish with this box of fireworks."
"Huh? Is that so?"
Shi Ning wondered.
"En, so come on and say it."
Shi Ning looked up and said to the night sky.
"I hope that grandmother would get better and that my family is always safe."
"Anything else."
Shi Ning turned sideways, tilted her head and looked at him and smiled.
"And brother this year's college entrance exams will get the gold medal and first in class."
"From school?"
"Isn't it normal for you to be number one in school? I wish my brother was the top student in the city!"
Shi Chen raised his lips.
"Brother always tried his best."
"Anything else."
"No more."
"Why don't you make one for yourself?"
"That's what I hope most now ah, the rest will be promised next year."
Shi Ning said.
A hand was place over her head.
"Why are you so charming?"
Such a lovely sister, he doesn't know which smelly boy would be cheaper in the future and would teach him how to be willing to give up such lovely sister.
Shi Ning smiled.
"Brother, Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year."
After returning to the room after the fireworks, Shi Ning realized that there were three missed calls in her phone all which were made at 12 o'clock.
…
….
These three people were arranged, how to choose the same time to call her.
Only fortunately, she was not able answer one.
All three also sent her messages, and she crossed them over one by one to read them.
Nan Xiao: Happy New Year, I like you.
Shi Ning's eyelashes gently trembled as she closed the text message.
Then came Lin Suno's message.
"Happy New Year"
Shi Ning thought that Suno's style was as brief as ever, but when she saw his effort she forgave him.
The last one was Jin Sihan.
"Happy New Year Ning! Love life and learning this new year and love me too."
She couldn't help but laugh.
Shi Ning looked out the window, the fireworks were still scurrying up one by one and then explode. Flaming tree and silver flowers were in pieces, like star river banquet. It was short but extremely dazzling.
She dialed a number, opened the window and gave him a loud word over loud noise.
"Happy New Year."
New Year's Day1– Chinese basically has two New Year, first is the New Year for the end of the year on our Gregorian calendar, 2nd is the Chinese calendar which they call Spring Festival.
Chapter 152
Translator: Kyotot
Time flies, and winter break passed in a blink of an eye and school starts again.
In the next semester, it was clear that everyone was more comfortable with the pace of study as her learning progress has been accelerated a lot.
Weekly and monthly exams seem to have endless, as papers waiting for them one after another.
Shi Ning performance was still as solid as ever at second in her grade.
Her score was always close with the first place, Lin Suno.
And when everyone talked about the student in the grade except for Lin Suno, everyone would mention her.
Before Shi Ning emerged, the second place and Lin Suno's score was precipitous gap until she appeared, the difference between the two became smaller and smaller.
And even in the midterm exam of the second semester of high school it was narrowed to a ten points gap.
She was selected as the most likely the person in this class to pull Lin Suno off the undefeated throne.
And Shi Ning has become the most fragrant nest in the eyes of their class of teacher. Lao Yang, even loves her more than Lin Suno.
For what reason?
Because Shi Ning not only learns well by herself but also brings her classmates to learn with her.
Looking at Nan Xiao, his grades have rank upwards. This mid-term exam he even rank eleven in the class, and only has a short gap of the top ten placer in their class.
Seeing that his son was getting competitive, Nan Xiao's father was so happy that he denoted another building directly to the school.
The grade director also named him to praise his class teacher for this good work, even those difficult students like Nan Xiao could also slowly influence into learning.
This was obviously an evidence that he was a good teacher!
And just because he thought Nan Xiao well, his year-end bonus this year was directly doubled. Lao Yang was happy inside but he knows that Nan Xiao interest in learning has nothing to do with him.
He has not ability to educate this master, if he was not willing even if he has one hundred life he couldn't force him.
Now, discerning the students in his class he could see that Nan Xiao like their class study addict Shi Ning.
At first Lao Yang, also thought that he needs to separate the two. Moreover Lin Suno once euphemistically expressed to him that he and Nan Xiao were brother and were willing to take and teach him.
But when he called the said person to his office, Nan Xiao put down his words directly.
"My motivation to study is Shi Ning, and if you transfer me away from her I won't learn a thing."
"!"
In all his years of teaching, this was the first time he had seen a student who dared to carry out an early relationship to such blatant degree.
But he did learn seriously, and his diligence was harder than any other students in the class but of course except Shi Ning, as she works even harder.
Lao Yang finally had to comply with him.
Nan Xiao thus hitched a ride on the rocket named Shi Ning, and the achievement was considered a flight of fancy.
After all, they were all in their first year of senior high school. As long as they were willing to work hard it was not difficult to catch up.
Moreover Shi Ning was happy to help him, after all she herself became a middle upper class student in just one leap.
Even on his third monthly exam, he got into tenth place in his class and midterm, if he counted the science grades only he would be in top five.
The grade director was happy and said to Lao Yang.
"Mr. Yang on you class Nan Xiao with his progress will be given a certificate as the third best student, this is the best encouragement for him. Chairman Nan is also happy!"
"No problem! That's exactly what I want!"
The class teacher of the class next door could not help but sour a sentence when he saw Lao Yan's spring like appearance.
"But it's not appropriate for him, the 'top three'. Nan Xiao's achievement progress so far was on his academics only. The top three good students don't just came from academics achievements but also his good character, academics and good health the last two was met but….his moral if I remember correctly half of the complaints we receive in school are from Nan Xiao and his group."
Lao Yang: "You can rest assured our class is busy studying now, so who has time to fight! This kind of thing he will not do it again!"
Even if wanted to do it, wasn't Shi Ning there watching over him?
Since he knew that Nan Xiao studied hard because he like her, Lao Yang had talked to Shi Ning already and asked her to supervise Nan Xiao and don't let him do anything bad again.
Now he was a hundred confidence in Nan Xiao!
"Brother Xiao, how did you come back today? Don't you want to be entangled with learning to the end of the world?"
On the open rooftop of the school building, stood a row of teenagers and all bloody. Some of them also had something in their hands.
Nan Xiao: "I'm going to suffocate in that broken classroom again, the fool in the south city has been taunting me everywhere for two days now. And why do I dare to confront him now? Today I finished my homework in advance and had time to kill him."
The younger brother nodded his head again and again as he took his lighter and lit a cigarette for his brother Xiao.
Tears filled his eyes and said.
"Brother Xiao we haven't moved our muscles and bones for months, we are bullied by Yang Chuan outside! We're going to kill the prestige of those boys in the south city today!"
Chapter 153
Translator: Kyotot
After saying this, the little brother glance at the two handsome men standing not far away while folding their hands on their chest and watching the show.
"But today, why did you bring them too? We can still understand Sihan but what is going on with Lin Suno? Isn't he so focus on his studies that he almost become an immortal!"
Truth be told, when the group saw this immortal they all suspected that there was something wrong with their eyes.
This number one big shot in their age was actually out to fight with them?
Nan Xiao replied.
"He lost a bet to me and the consequence is to participate in this activity of ours today."
"Why, can he fight?"
"No, just think of him as a mascot."
"If he can't fight, why did you asked him to come for?"
The little brother was puzzled.
Nan Xiao thought to himself.
You comprehend it yourself.
At this time, the three of them were still in the classroom and since the beginning of this semester even the little boy Jin Sihan thinks he couldn't degenerate like this.
So he also join the troops and stay in the classroom to study together after school.
Although he did this, he was still caught reading comic books hidden under the textbooks several time but since he did join and was able to study a little his grade were much higher than before.
With this events in the past months, Nan Xiao thought that if he only came out with Jin Sihan this time wouldn't that leave Shi Ning and Lin Suno behind again?
And with Lin Suno with him, he always felt a lot secure. With him, Shi Ning would never dreamed that they were out to fight this time.
Jin Sihan and Lin Suno were leaning calmly against the guardrail of the rooftop.
Jin Sihan looked at Lin Suno.
No matter how he looked at it Lin Suno and scene in front of them does not match in the slightest.
"Suno I never seen you fight."
"I never want to fight either."
"Later on, there are more people coming, but it's not just because you don't want to fight the other party won't hit you so how about you call me brother and I'll protect or better yet yell dad and I will stay with you today."
Lin Suno glanced at him lightly and spat out three words briefly.
"In your dreams."
A group of people stood there waiting for the group from south city to come. Before long, the door at the entrance of the rooftop corridor was pushed open.
Everyone's expression were stern, waiting for a large wave of people from the other side to rush to them.
As a result, a silhouette of a small girl came out.
She pushed open the door, and her eyes scanned the crowd and at a glance she saw Nan Xiao.
Seeing the face she was searching, she walked over.
"What are you doing here? Why are you here?"
Among them, there were several junior middle school students who didn't know Shi Ning. Seeing her walking towards them they were puzzled.
"Looking for someone."
Shi Ning spat three words.
The junior student said.
"Looking for who? There's no one you're looking here, go back quickly or you'll hurt yourself later."
Shi Ning frowned.
"Are you all here to fight?"
As the junior student heard this he had some bad feelings so he quickly turned to Nan Xiao and said.
"Brother Xiao, this wouldn't be your school's student council coming here to arrest people, would it?"
Nan Xiao panicked the moment he saw Shi Ning coming in. For the first time he felt that fighting was something he mustn't do.
He obviously had never had such thinking nor experience before when the teacher came to arrest them in the past.
He walked up and kicked the simpleton who treated Shi Ning like a member of the student council.
"Get lost."
The young boy looked puzzled and retreated to the side with a condescending look.
"Don't think too much, we came here just to have a get together with the group."
Nan Xiao stood in front of her and explained.
Shi Ning smiled and asked.
"Get together while fighting on the side?"
Chapter 154
Translator: Kyotot
Since she was smart, of course it was also not easy to fool her.
Nan Xiao gave up struggling and bowed his head as he whispered.
"I don't want to but the boys in the south city are too arrogant and bullied several students in our school. I have to give them justice."
"It's just not right to use violence against violence. If you beat them today, what if those people go after those students again?"
"Then fight back again ah, fight until they shut up and dare not to do it."
Someone said this, next to Nan Xiao.
Nan Xiao threw a piercing looked over.
"I'll shut you up first, believe it or not."
The student who spoke was from their school and naturally knew Shi Ning.
"Brother Xiao, we have to fight. Are we still fighting today?"
In Shi Ning's gentle eyes, Nan Xiao turned around angrily and denounce the student.
"You all know was to fight, what else can you do besides fighting! You are still in the last examination room while me and your other brothers have gone to the third examination room. Can't you study like me and don't just always think about fighting in your mind? Can fighting let you go to college?"
Nan Xiao has always been famous for his few cruel words and the people around him knew about his temper better.
The student was knocked down by his crackling words, while everyone who listens to them from begging to end were all stunned.
"That does….. not allow me to go to college. Can't I just enroll into a sport school?"
"That's only after you pass your cultural score."
Nan Xiao was too lazy to explain it to him, he turned his head to Shi Ning and as soon as he saw Shi Ning all his temper were gone and only a smile was hanging on his face.
"Shi Ning, am I right?"
Shi Ning nodded.
"Well, that's right."
She paused and slowly added.
"So, this fight of yours, are you still gonna fight?"
Nan Xiao immediately shook his head.
"No more fighting! We'll slip away now, when the gang from the south city comes we're already gone."
The students under Nan Xiao howled.
"Boss, we're going to be ridiculed by those bastards if we run away from the battle now! In the future our little brothers will be looked down also."
Being mocked is being mocked, can't you see that your boss is now facing a situation more terrible than death.
Nan Xiao ignored them and smiled directly at Shi Ning.
"That's always okay."
Shi Ning sighed.
"Let's dispersed now. You and—"
Her eyes fell on the two men standing over the corner trying to narrow their presence.
"You two come with me."
The three followed Shi Ning back to the classroom together, and half an hour after school the whole student was gone.
Shi Ning pointed to the wall at the back of the classroom.
"Now, go there and stand."
The three looked at each other, but finally no one refuted her words and obediently stood at the back of the classroom.
"I don't think anyone is around at the moment."
Jin Sihan whispered.
"The seniors should all be home."
Lin Suno said.
"𝓓𝓪𝓶𝓷 what a shame, teachers are afraid to let me punish standing. If any unlucky egg unfortunately see us, I must silence them."
Nan Xiao said sideways.
Shi Ning moved a desk and chair to sit directly in front of them.
"Is this what you three told me about going to play basketball together this afternoon after school?"
After she said these, her eyes fell on Lin Suno and said with immense disappointment.
"Suno I really didn't expect you to be with the two of them."
However Li Suno was calm.
"I'm willing to bet and admit defeat, I can't help it."
"What are you betting again?"
Jin Sihan said it for him.
"It's like this, we three would go to a store every morning and the owner who always saw us coming often to his store gives up an extra dumpling every time. They then both bet whether the boss made dumplings with corn or leeks, today the one who guessed wrong had to promise the other one a request."
Lin Suno nodded.
"I bet corn but it turned out to be leek."
What kind of boring bet this is?
Just because of a dumpling, Suno a thousand years good student was forced to go to the rooftop and she could not see this coming at all.
"In the future, you do not promise him such. In case he lets you break the law, will you really break a law ah?"
Shi Ning admonished.
Nan Xiao: "? That's too much."
Betting was a bet, a habit they have had since childhood and as a pleasure.
But between brothers, they know where each other's principles were and would not cross the line.
Shi Ning asked again.
"And what if you win, what are you going to have him do?"
Lin Suno's eys flickered as he looked at her and whispered.
"Let him change seats with me."
Shi Ning was stunned.
She didn't expect the bet he wanted to make to be this.
Compared to Nan Xiao's forcing someone who never fights to fight, Lin Suno's bet could be said to be a lot gentler.
It was not even difficult for Nan Xiao to do it, in fact it was very easy.
She would think like this if that was when she didn't know that Nan Xiao had a crush on her.
Nan Xiao couldn't stand it anymore and scolded Lin Suno across, with Jin Sihan in the middle.
"𝔽𝕦𝕔𝕜! No wonder when I said today to bet a little bigger you did not even think about it and agreed, so your abacus had this little calculations. I tell you! Don't even think about it, even if I die today I'm going to put a monument on that seat, don't you think I'll move it!"
The risk was so great that he decided never to bet Lin Suno again.
Shi Ning: "….this is not necessary, you want to scare me death?"
She knew that his harsh words were not directed at Lin Suno but to her.
Chapter 155
Translator: Kyotot
After the third monthly exam, Lao Yang reminded everyone that their first year of high school would come to an end and soon the school would send out career form for the division of liberal arts and sciences asking students to choose according to their actual learning situation.
After this announcement, the most frequent asked question in the class was.
"Did you choose arts or science?"
Shi Ning didn't ask anyone, with her unbelievable results in the arts how could she not choose liberal arts?
But everyone didn't know that she was hesitating with her decision.
When Lao Yang talked about the division of Arts and Science, she was doing a math contest questionnaire.
Since the last session the school has set up a class competition in order to train students and obtain the right to extra points in the college entrance examination.
The students inside were all interested in mathematics competitions and have excellent results.
In addition to their daily study, the school would send professional teachers to teach them how to better achieve excellent results in the provincial league and qualify for the national.
After more than half a year of study, she finally felt that she had entered the door of mathematics competition.
After opening the door, she saw a more and how wonderful and exciting athletics world was.
She wanted to continue her exploration and entering a competition was a good option for her.
However there were only sciences students who qualify in the competition, no art students.
If she wanted to choose liberal arts, she was not destined to receive a systematic study of competition knowledge learning.
The day the forms were sent down, Nan Xiao asked her a question.
"You're choosing liberal arts, right?"
"Probably so."
In liberal arts, she has a lot of self-confidence while in science she may not be sure to enter her favorite university.
Nan Xiao asked her again.
"What do you mean probably, are you thinking of possibly choosing science?"
She was one of the perspective liberal arts student that could lead the major to a newer heights while Lin Suno was the prospective leader for the science major in the eyes of the teachers.
So how could she not choose liberal arts?
Shi Ning: "I'm thinking about it, I should go home first and ask my brother."
"Why do you need to ask your brother about everything, it doesn't look like you're a grown up."
"It's a choice that concerns my life so of course I have to ask my brother."
Nan Xiao put the pen cover back on and put the form into the drawer.
"Ok, ask all the questions you need to ask properly and let me know when you decide."
Shi Ning felt odd after hearing him say this.
"Why should I tell you when I've decided, you won't want to choose the same major as me do you?"
Nan Xiao said naturally.
"Of course, I've thought about it and we'll continue to be desk mates when we get to sophomore year."
"In your dreams ah, why do I have to be desk mate with you again?"
Shi Ning pulled his school bag then took out his test paper and spread it on the table.
"Look at your grades, if you choose science and work hard you can improve. If you look at your grades in liberal arts I think you're hanging both. You're a person who is seriously biased towards science, if you're in your right mind how can you chose liberal arts?"
"I can study well in science, so why can't I in arts?"
Shi Ning rolled her eyes.
"You have little talent in science so you can make rapid progress, while in liberal arts you obviously don't have any talent at all."
"The admission rate of liberal arts students in our school is lower than that of science students every year. It's too difficult for you to choose liberal arts and get on a line."
"Besides, there are a lot of classes in liberal arts so how do you know you can be in a class with me?"
"I naturally have a way. As long as we choose the same, I'm sure we can be desk mates for three years."
Who wants to sit at the same table with you for three years?
Just go and harass other people already!
Every year, June was destined to be extraordinary.
Starting from one hundred days before the entrance examination, the 100 day declaration from senior candidates could be heard every day on campus.
The voice was loud and the fighting spirit was high. Listening to them could make their blood surged.
At this time, parents were more concerned about their children's nutritional problems. Even if the school had provided the nutritional meal it was still different if they could see through their children's meals.
Every day there were a bunch of ladies in cars to deliver meal and supplements to their children, for fear that their children won't eat well.
In the senior A classroom.
After the fourth class in the morning, a classmate called out to her.
"Shi Ning, your mother is looking for you."
After hearing this, Shi Ning walked out of the classroom and saw Lin Xuemo standing in front of the classroom waiting for her, she was holding two thermos buckets.
"Why are here Mom?"
Lin Xuemo pushed her into the classroom.
"Mom is free today so I thought I'd cook you a meal and send it over."
As she was saying this, she opened the thermos and took out a tablecloth and spread it on Shi Ning's desk placing the meals on box by box.
Shi Ning watched her mother who quickly made a feast for her on the table.
She made a braised spare ribs, fish flavored shredded pork soup, eight treasure chicken and pork belly with wolfberry and red dates.
She tasted it and it tasted delicious, different from the food cook by chef's at home. The food made by her mother tasted more homey.
"Mom what were you thinking when you brought dinner today?"
She asked.
Lin Xuemo smiled.
"Aren't you happy that mom came to bring you food? I can see that you are eating quite well, look there's oil stain your chin."
"I see that there is another one over there, I don't think it's for me right? Your daughter is so thin, she can't eat so much."
Lin Xuemo finally told the truth.
"These days I heard others say that senior students should pay attention to nutrition and I've seen people around delivering meals to their children every day."
"Xiochen often lives in school this semester and doesn't go home very much, I just made some delicious home-made dishes to supplement him with nutrition however I'm afraid he'd be tired of me so…."
In order to avoided crowding the canteen, the school specially separated the meal time of graduating seniors. Shi Chen finished class 20 minutes ago later than them.
Shi Ning looked at her watch, Shi Chen and the other had eight minutes for break.
Shi Ning said.
"Mom if you don't send this to brother, you'll have to go to the canteen after class."
Lin Xuemo hesitated.
"Or I'd better not send it, Xiaochen must want the person who comes to be his mother, not me."
Chapter 156
Translator: Kyotot
A mother who used her son to take revenge was inherently selfish and it would be strange if Cao Shu could think of sending food to her brother.
Shi Ning didn't care to finish her meal and took her mother's hand.
"I'll take you to my brother."
Shi Ning rushed to the door of Shi Chen's classroom just as the bell rang for the end of class.
Senior three students don't even seems to eat so actively and a third stay in the classroom to review the questions.
Shi Chen walked out of the classroom door, followed by two boys.
"Ning Ning?"
As soon as he went out, he saw his sister waiting at the door as well as…. his stepmother.
"Shi Chen, your sister is here to see you and this one behind her is…is the aunt right?"
The classmate behind Shi Chen poked his head out and smiled politely at Lin Xuemo.
"Hello auntie mother!"
Another boy who followed him also said.
"It seems that Shi Chen is blessed today, there is a mother who brings you food. We will go to the canteen first!"
Shi Chen nodded, and the two waved their hands at him and left first.
The three of them stood in the corridor and the atmosphere was slightly awkward.
Lin Xuemo handed the thermos to Shi Ning to take and said to Shi Chen.
"You study hard, auntie made you some food. You can eat if you want. It doesn't matter if you don't want to."
Shi Ning who was listening felt pain for Lin Xuemo for a second.
She thought.
'What do you mean it doesn't matter if you don't want to eat?'
Mom you are too humble!
Shi Ning stepped forward and directly shoved the lunch box into his brother's hand.
"My mother made it for you by herself, I was able to eat it because of brother. You have to eat it whether you want to eat it or not, you should eat more if you study hard! Got it?"
This domineering tone sounded spoiled.
The little girl was also becoming more and more lawless in front him.
"Okay, got it."
Shi Chen hugged the thermos and walked into the classroom.
Shi Ning pulled Lin Xuemo and they all walked in together.
When Shi Chen opened the lunchbox and was still slightly shocked when he saw the layer of so many dishes.
"You made all of these?"
Li Xuemo: "Well, they are some home-cooked dishes that I used to be good at, now I only cook them less. The taste may not be as good as before."
Shi Chen picked up his chopsticks and picked up a piece of chicken and put it in his mouth to taste.
He didn't make any comments but reading on his expression it should have tasted good. At least he didn't show any dissatisfied expression.
"Is it good brother?"
Shi Ning asked.
Shi Chen knew his sister was asking for his stepmother, he glanced sideways at Shi Ning. His gaze telling her.
Don't think I don't know what you're thinking.
"Just tell me if it's good."
She wouldn't relent.
Shi Chen was helpless, he whispered.
"Delicious."
Lin Xuemo smiled and the atmosphere immediately eased a lot.
"Eat more, you're so tired in your senior year. You should eat more to replenish your body. This fish soup and this pork tripe soup are good for your health. Eat more quickly."
Shi Chen's barrier against Lin Xuemo has not been completely eliminated but as soon as she become enthusiastic he was unable to put down his chopsticks.
"Mom, don't you have other things to do? Why don't you get busy first? I'll eat with my brother. Don't worry I'll make sure he finishes them."
Shi Ning said at this time.
Lin Xuemo nodded along with her words.
"Okay, then mommy will go first. Ning Ning you bring the box home tonight."
Only after Lin Xuemo left Shi Chen seemed to be relieved. Siting on the stool to eat peacefully and doesn't need to awkwardly say how delicious food was..
"Not to mention, your mother's cooking is really delicious."
Shi Chen said.
Shi Ning propped her chin to watch him eat.
"That's natural, and you should be able to feel it too mom is concerned about you. She's just afraid to express it for fear of annoying you more."
Shi Chen chopsticks paused.
"But I have a mother after all."
If his parent's divorce was really because of Lin Xuemo he would have not been able to fully accept this woman in his life.
Just…
Shi Ning was right, putting aside the grudges of previous generation. He really could not pick even a slight problem with Lin Xuemo.
Even for her bad-tempered stepson, she was also tolerant and even thought to do some motherly duties to care for him.
"Forget it, let's not talk about such things. She is your mother, I promise you that I would not make things difficult for her in the future."
Shi Chen said.
People were not plants1, Lin Xuemo has not mistreated Shi Chen for so many year, she could be said to be a model stepmother.
She believes that Shi Chen was not without feelings.
Shi Ning knew her brother does not like this topic and did not continue to talk.
"Brother, our class is already deciding to divide between arts and science."
Shi Ning said.
"Hmm."
Shi Chen responded as he continue eating his meal.
"What do you think should I choose, arts or science?"
Shi Chen raised his head and looked at her.
"Don't talk nonsense. You must choose liberal arts, your liberal arts is so good. What else will you chose if not liberal arts?"
"I'm not bad at science, and I want to learn mathematics competition problems but only science students can enter the competition."
"If you go back and make a set of science college entrance examination papers, you will know how difficult it is for you to get the score of your liberal arts."
"Your freshman year in senior high school is just the simplest. Choose the right one that suits you."
He thinks that studying science would not be easy, high school was just the beginning later on college science students were a lot more miserable than liberal arts students.
He just wants his sister to take the easier road, so he doesn't want her to go bald for math and science later.
"I was going to take liberal arts too but I didn't want to give up the math competition."
It was so hard for her.
Shi Chen said in a light voice.
"Then don't give up. Who said arts students can't enter competitions? There is no such rule, right?"
?
But in the past, she only heard science students engaging in mathematics competition beside which liberal arts student would take trouble to do this?
Her brother was really a genius.
"There's no precedent for this in our school, is there?"
Shi Chen didn't care and said.
"Then you'll set this precedent. Someone will always be the first, it's no big deal."
Shi Ning felt surprised and vaguely excited at the same time.
She seems to have finally found a solution to her problem.
"But can I?"
Chapter 157
Translator: Kyotot
Shi Chen finally finished eating, he cleaned up the things on the table. He took out a piece of tissue, wiped his mouth and looked at Shi Ning seriously.
"You spent a lot of energy on English and Science in your first year of senior high school in can be seen that your liberal arts is very easy to learn."
"In this way you will have more time to do what you want to do. Moreover if you learn math well, your liberal arts math score must be high. Mathematics in liberal arts is the most troublesome, if you want to study to the extreme only few can catch up with you."
"Finally—"
He paused and smiled.
"You are my, the sister of Shi Chen, of course you can."
He picked up the chopsticks on the table and knocked on Shi Ning's head.
"After all this little head just like her brother is born smart."
After talking to her brother, Shi Ning became more firm in her choice.
The form was checked under Liberal Arts.
And of course, Nan Xiao stared at her while filling this in.
He also plans to follow her and enroll in liberal arts.
He was about to put on his paper when Shi Ning said suddenly.
"If you choose liberal arts, we'll never see each other again."
Nan Xiao: "?"
Wasn't this forcing him to choose science?
After Shi Ning said these harsh words, she softened her voice and persuaded.
"This is a matter of your own life, you should be responsible for yourself. If you select liberal arts course it must be only related to you examination results but also related to your major in college and what kind of person you want to be in the future. If you change the results because of me, I can't afford this responsibility."
"It's not that I don't know what you are talking about but I still want to take liberal arts."
He doesn't care what kind of person he becomes in the future but he couldn't stand the thought of not having her in the future and the thought of not being able to see her every day in the same class with her makes him feel bad.
"You're only childish like that and I don't like childish boys."
She didn't like it, made Nan Xiao's faith in choosing liberal arts collapse.
"Okay, then I'll take science."
He said.
Shi Ning understand his domineering nature and made a decision that ten cows were difficult to pull back. It was a surprise to her that he changed his mouth so soon.
"Will you really be a good boy and choose science?"
Don't say with your mouth and then put a check mark under the liberal arts with your hand.
In front of her, Nan Xiao made a big thick check under the word science.
"Don't worry, I did a lot of things you didn't like before and I won't do any of them again."
Soon the entrance exams descended.
All freshmen and sophomores were off for the holidays, thanks to the senior candidates.
Shi Ning personally sent her brother to the examination hall, after sending her brother she went to the local temple to pray for her brother to bless him with all the success in the college entrance examination.
On the second day of the college entrance examination, after the last English subject examination bell ended, it was announced that the college entrance examination was over and the high school career of this year's senior official came to an end.
Shi Chen fame out of the examination room, it was five o'clock in the summer and the sun was still very big. Regardless of the sun, the dazzling oily road and the endless crowd, he felt that the world was a little shaky.
When it was over, he had an inexplicable sense of illusion and emptiness.
"Brother!"
Across the crowd, a petite figure came running towards him.
All of a sudden, the pent up fatigue, the unspoken sense of emptiness all dissipated a lot and the corner of his lips rose as he quietly waited for her.
Shi Ning searched for Shi Chen for a while and finally found him.
She ran up to him.
"It's good thing you're tall or I wouldn't have been able find you with so many people."
Shi Chen smiled.
"What's not to find, your brother is always the most handsome one in the crowd."
Shi Ning smiled.
"That's certainly true."
The two walked together in the direction of their home.
"Brother how is your test?"
"Okay."
"What do you mean by okay?"
"It means it was normal."
"That should also mean you did well."
"I don't to worry about whether I did well in the exam, I want to go home and a have good sleep and then have a good time for three days and three nights. I'll wait until the day when I get my grades."
After the college entrance exam, Shi Chen neither answered the questions nor talked about the exam when others asked him and just answered them uniformly.
"It's okay."
He just played, let loose and soaked up two consecutive all fighters in an in an internet café.
Seeing his indulgent appearance, Shi Ning was completely unable to judge how well he actually did on the exam.
"Brother when will your results come out?"
Shi Ning asked him.
"I forgot the exact day just the middle and end of June."
How can you forget this?
She made a point of looking it up and remember the date.
Shi Ning was almost feeling more concerned about this than her brother.
On the day of the results of the college entrance exam were released, Shi Ning was still in class.
When she finally got out of school, the first thing she did when she ran home was to find her brother.
Fortunately, her brother did not go out today so when she ran into his room Shi Chen was sitting on the bed reading comic books.
"Brother have you checked the results?"
"Checked it."
Knowing the little girl came back to ask him about this, he pushed the evening meal with his classmates today and waited for her to come home to personally tell her.
Shi Ning had the illusion that it was her college entrance exams results were coming out and gulped nervously.
"How did you do on the exam?"
"It's okay."
Shi Chen still had unhurried look, not even taking his eyes off the comic book.
Shi Ning was in a hurry.
"Don't sell yourself short just tell me the score!"
The scores were out and still saying it's okay, if this was not deliberately teasing her, then what.
Shi Chen put down the comic book in his hand and raised his eyes.
"Remember the wish you made at the fireworks this New Year?"
Of course she remembers!
Her first wish was for her grandmother's good health.
The second was to hope that her brother's college entrance exams get good results, its best if…. He could top it.
Shi Ning's eyes widened in surprise and covered her mouth in surprise.
"Brother you can't be serious, you go the first place in the city, right?"
Her brother was so powerful!
Shi Chen chuckled.
"The exam was okay, I guess it exceeded my sister's wish with a total score of 721 not only first in the city but also first in the province."
People were not plants1– Chinese idiom, pinyin: rén fēi cǎo mù, which means that people have thoughts and feelings and are easily moved by external things, which are different from the lifeless, unconscious, and unfeeling green grass and trees.
Chapter 158
Translator: Kyotot
"Not only the first in the city but also the first in the province."
So the top science student in their province was the one standing in front of her in this national college entrance examination?
When Shi Ning heard the news, she was first stunned then ecstatic.
She couldn't help but pinch her cheeks, feeling the pain she then gently patted her cheeks then shook her head.
This slightly silly actions was captured by Shi Chen's eyes.
Shi Chen smiled.
"What are you doing?"
Shi Ning: "Checking if I am dreaming of my brother getting first place?"
Her brother indeed was the best and most powerful brother in the world.
Shi Chen took the first place in the province, it didn't take long for it to spread all over the school. Even outside school there sometimes reporters who wanted to interview Shi Chen, but they were all ignored.
In his defense, he said.
"If these reporters interview me they will get me on TV. I'm smart and handsome what if I become popular? I just want to be a low-key scholar."
Shi Ning knows that he said these words in front of her was purely jesting.
He does not want to accept interview was in fact for only one reason, purely because he was lazy.
"Don't lie to me, when did you keep a low profile? After college entrance examination who in Yangcheng does not know your name? Before, everyone who saw me call me Shi Ning, now they started calling me 'Shi Chen's sister'."
Shi Ning these days, whether walking to school or meeting a relative to congratulate the family she would most called was Shi Chen's sister.
In school, because Shi Chen was not in school after the college entrance examination as his sister Shi Ning endured too much for him.
"Look, Shi Chen's sister, Shi Chen did really well this time, really give the school a long face. Our school has not had a provincial top student for three years! Now there is a provincial science topper, the principal's mouth is grinning until the back of his ears every day."
"Shi Chen's sister is really good looking ah, indeed they have good family genes. I heard that her performance is also great, in the future she may also be as great as Shi Chen!"
And even at home too, Shi Chen that stinky temper of his was always too lazy to deal with people so every time, she has accompany her parents to entertain the guests at home.
These days, the people who came to their house where the one who heard about Shi Chen's achievement and came to congratulate the Shi family.
There were some that Shi Ning didn't know at all, and haven't met before in the memory of the original owner.
When Shi Ning greeted all the uncles and aunts everyone looked at her with eager expectation.
"You are Shi Chen's sister, right? Your brother got the top 1 this time as his sister will you be under pressure?"
"Aiya, this girl looks very smart, worthy of Shi Chen's sister. Like her brother in the future she will also get a top rank!"
All of these, Shi Ning have heard them a hundred times that her ears were going to be calloused.
Shi Chen: "Isn't that rather annoying?"
Just like when he was a child, no matter where they went everyone's concern was not his but because he was Shi Pingzhan's son.
After growing up, many people would say,
'Ah was this the son of Yangcheng rich businessman Shi Pingzhan.'
Which made him quite annoyed sometimes.
However after Shi Ning was asked, she had a different opinion.
"No, except that there are too many people coming up to me and asking questions making me annoyed but other than that what other things could annoy me?"
"If you want to keep a low profile, then not me I don't want to keep a low profile. Being the sister of the number ranker in the province is more powerful."
Shi Ning said.
Shi Chen listened and laugh lightly.
"When you get an achievement in the future, other should call me Shi Ning's brother. I look forward to such day."
The last exam of the senior year was the final exam.
This was also the last exam before the division of arts and sciences, Shi Ning prepared more carefully than ever.
Even Nan Xiao crammed for the exam, and stayed up two or three nights to read books crazily for fear of missing anything.
Shi Ning on the other hand, she who loves to clean herself and would always took a bath every day. But after a few days of crazily studying she was too tired that she went directly to bed and forgot to take a bath.
She was so focused that she even forgot to eat, after the exams Shi Ning went to weigh herself and in this half month she lost three or four kilograms.
She prepared so desperately, coupled with her usual routine in studying. After the final exam Shi Ning knew that this was best she had ever take, nine subjects each of which she answered carefully as she could.
After the result came out, the day she received the notice Shi Ning was also more nervous than any of the previous exams.
She opened the report card and her eyes fell on the name at the top.
It was still Lin Suno.
Sure enough, even though she tried to this extent she still failed to pass him.
Lin Suno was really a mountain that couldn't be crossed.
Shi Ning's heart has a trace of loss slipped through at the same time, and admiring Lin Suno more.
Chapter 159
Translator: Kyotot
Shi Ning's heart has a trace of loss slipped through at the same time, and admiring Lin Suno more.
And the very moment the report cards were handed out the class completely exploded.
"Crap, I'm not wrong!"
"I'm shocked."
"Our class, this time has two first placer in our grade!"
"After Shi Chen picked up the provincial top in science, his sister Shi Ning has once again created a miracle."
"I never thought that in my lifetime I would be able to see the another first place other than Li Suno."
"Don't ask, Shi Chen is a genius, Shi Ning is a genius. The Shi family sibling are all geniuses."
In the midst of this chatter, Shi Ning also noticed at this time that just below Lin Suno's ranking serial number next to his own name was 1.
She rubbed her eyes and looked carefully again, still 1.
She and Lin Suno both scored 892 and tied for first in their grade.
The report card were issued by the school committee and it wasn't long before the class teacher Lao Yang walked into the classroom.
"The result are there for everyone to see, right?"
The audience was unanimous.
"Saw!"
Lao Yang: "This time I will not say anything else, but I'll focus on praising Lin Suno and Shi Ning in our class."
"Congratulations, you have set a new record in the final examination of senior 1. Although the test papers are different there are only eight points deducted from nine subjects, I've seen if for the first time."
The class was cheering and countless people were applauding.
Shi Ning looked at her results a little out of breath, she couldn't believe she had done it just like that.
In the last exam of her senior year 1 she finally got the top of her grade, although she still wasn't able to surpass the person she wanted to surpass.
Yet she feels that this was the best possible outcome.
On the campus road, Shi Ning and Lin Suno were walking side by side.
After receiving the notice today, Shi Ning was called into the office to talk with her homeroom teacher along with him.
It was not really a serious conversation after all, from the next semester onwards Lao Yang would not be their homeroom teacher.
It's not that Lao Yang doesn't take sophomores, he takes a sophomore science class and they both have a science class and arts class.
Lao Yang has been praising them since they entered the office, not only Lao Yang but also with the other teachers in the office.
When they were finally sent out, Lao Yang who has never take the drama route put one hand over the shoulder of one of them.
"You are the best students I have ever taught, not just in academics. And this teacher will always be proud of you."
They bowed deeply to Lao Yang to express their gratitude.
After coming out of the office, Shi Ning originally wanted to go back to the classroom first and tidy up her seat.
Although today was not her duty but Shi Ning thought of that this was her last time sitting in that classroom.
Feeling reluctant she wanted to do something one last time.
But before she could enter, her hand was pulled.
Shi Ning turned her head and looked the person tugging her in surprise.
Lin Suon said.
"Can we go home together today?"
Shi Ning: "Yeah, I'll go to the classroom and move the chairs up before I go."
Lin Suno: "You don't have to, Nan Xiao will help you with it."
If she went it, how could Nan Xiao let her walk back with him alone again?
He won't even think about it.
Chapter 160
Translator: Kyotot
Thinking of this, Lin Suno frowned lightly pulling Shi Ning directly away the classroom door to the other direction of the building.
"Why, even if we go back we don't have to make such a big detour, right?"
Shi Ning was truly confused.
Lin Suno: "I ate a little too much for breakfast and wanted to walk more."
"Oh, okay."
Why does this reasoning feel a bit odd…?
The two were walking together on the campus road and as Shi Ning was feeling so embarrassed by the quiet atmosphere, she was about to talk when she heard him say.
"You did very well on the exam this time, congratulations."
Shi Ning: "Although I always wanted to take the first place in the exam thank you for your blessing. I also know how difficult it is to be the first in the exam."
"This time it felt a little untrue."
"That's what you deserve, and you worked hard to get that score."
Lin Suno said.
"Shi Ning you are a very good competitor."
Speaking of which, Shi Ning still feels some regret.
"This is also the last time we take the same test paper right? We won't have the chance to compete again in the future."
"I don't know if there will be anyone else in the class who will be our Suno's opponent"
She said this half-jokingly.
"I don't think there is anyone else in our school."
He said in a light voice.
…
….
Abundant and Peaceful.
This was the description of the god of learning and confidence he was, after the separation of arts and science he couldn't even find a competitor was it?
They walked together to the entrance of the school.
Lin Suno watched her get into the private car that came to pick her up from home.
Ning Ning, I'm waiting to meet you in the highest place.
He silently said in his mind before turning around.
Shi Ning got into the car and rolled down the window, she then looked in the direction of his back.
That was the end of her senior year one, and she would never have to spend so much time trying to improve her grades in physics and chemistry again.
At the beginning she wanted to trying to get the first place.
But to be able to do that she needs to beat the reigning number one spot.
So her goal became him.
The last exam of her senior year 1 she studied as hard as she could, not actually to be first but to surpass him.
There was always a chance to get the first place in the grade and it would be much easier to get the first place after she goes to the arts class now.
It's just that the chance to surpass him on the exam was just this once, that's why she's leaving no stone unturned.
The final result could only be tied with him.
And her academic career as a senior one has come to full circle.
Shi Ning thought this way and felt much better.
She woke up too early in the morning and just as she was about to catch up on some more sleep in the car, her phone rang.
Shi Ning took it out and saw that it was Jin Sihan who called.
She picked up the phone and asked directly.
"What are you doing today, today is the day to get the notice do you not know? How come I didn't see you come to school, Lao Yang asked us where you are. Tell me did you sleep too much?"
After the exam, even if it was summer vacation he was so relaxed that he didn't even want to get his report card?
Jiin Sihan's lowered voice came over the phone.
"I didn't sleep in, I woke after seven but on the way to school I met a man who claimed to be a talent scout. He said he saw a lot of potential in me and wanted to train me to be a star."
"He dragged me to talk in starbucks for more than an hour, and said he would show me around their company. Do you think this is a fraud?"