Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “Can it really work?” Ding Jiayi was eager to try.

  Qiao Zijin said with a smile, “Why not? Mom, you may not know the details since you have not been studying. But in short, you can say that you care for Qiao Nan, and hence you ask around. Nobody will know that girls usually lag behind in high school’s science class. I am in a humanities and arts class, so I will not know. It’s normal that you do not know as well. I have thought it out. Now that Dad is angry with you, you can use this to improve your relationship with Dad. This will be your goal for this year. You must bring up this topic from time to time. Sooner or later, Dad will realize that you care for Qiao Nan and no longer pick on her.”

  Actually, when Qiao Dongliang moved out with Qiao Nan, both Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin were taken aback.

  However, after a month, Qiao Zijin finally calmed down and sorted out her thoughts.

  Qiao Zijin had thought it through. If she wanted to be favored by both of her parents, she would have to think of a way. Ding Jiayi was not a problem. The problem was with Qiao Dongliang.

  After several failed attempts, Qiao Zijin realized that it was useless to sow discord. She would always be on the losing end. The best way was to make Qiao Nan fall from grace and let her father realize that Qiao Nan was not dependable.

  As long as Qiao Nan did not do well for her studies and disappointed her father, there was no need for her to sow discord. Her father would give up on Qiao Nan naturally, and she would be the one smiling in the end.

  Given the Qiao family’s situation, they only had the ability to finance one child through college, and she would be that child.

  Qiao Zijin sneered. She had a cold and emotionless smile on her face.

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  Her mother might be selfish, but her father was not any better either.

  Her father used to be very good to her. But that was because he felt that she had a way with words, and thus would have a bright future. They would be able to depend on her for the rest of their lives. Her father was only good to Qiao Nan because Qiao Nan had good grades. She would then be able to get into a good college, find a good job, and earn a lot of money.

  They could not provide the best for their children, yet all they could think of was how their children could repay them when they grew up. Qiao Zijin twitched her mouth and sneered coldly. Her parents had set a ‘good’ example for her.

  “Hey, what are you smiling for? Why do you have such a strange smile?” Ding Jiayi gave Qiao Zijin a slight push. “It’s getting late. You should go to sleep. As for the science class, you can rest assured that I will bear in mind to tell your dad. It’s not appropriate to bring it up now. Your dad is still angry with me. No matter what I say, he will not listen. But anyway, didn’t you say that there is still a year to go?”

  “Yes, there’s no hurry.” Qiao Zijin stretched her arms, getting ready to sleep. “Mom, I will go to sleep. Good night.”

  “Good night.”

  Now that Qiao Dongliang moved out with Nan Nan, Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin kept a check on themselves. During the day, when Qiao Zijin was at home with Qiao Nan, she would read her books and do her homework. She was more serious in her studies.

  In the evening, Ding Jiayi would drop by to clean up and prepare their dinner. After dinner, she would leave with Qiao Zijin.

  When it was the weekend, even though both of their daughters were not at home, Ding Jiayi failed to stay for the night and share a bed with Qiao Dongliang.

  “Qiao Nan, you are here.” Since Qiao Nan was the top scholar in the middle school examination, everyone in Ping Cheng High School, including the guards, knew her by the name. “Qiao Nan, which relative of yours is so enthusiastic to send you three letters in a week? If you want to return the mail, you can pass the letters to the reception office. We will help you pass them directly to the postman.”

  “Letter?” Qiao Nan blinked. “What letter? There are three of them?” She did not receive any letter, not even one.

  Did it mean that she had three letters this week, but she did not receive any?

  “That’s right. Did your classmate pass it to you?” The guard was stunned. “I passed it to a girl in your class. I remember that her name’s Tingting. She dropped by to collect her letters, but she did not have any letters. When she realized that there’re letters for you, she volunteered to pass it to you. Is there any problem? I could help you to check with her.”

  “Thank you. I can handle it myself for the time being. If need be, I will ask you for help.” Qiao Nan frowned. She had a stern expression on her face. She did not return to the dormitory and went straight to the classroom instead.

  “Nan Nan, why are you here in the classroom? When I went to the dormitory just now, Xu Tingting came looking for you. I left a note in the dormitory. Have you seen it?” Tao Zhenqin leaned close to Qiao Nan. “Nan Nan, why do you think Xu Tingting was looking for you? Is it because of the monthly exam two days ago?”

  “She was looking for me?” It seemed like Xu Tingting had thrown herself in her way. “I have no idea. If that’s the case, since I have something to settle, I will go back to the dormitory and look for Xu Tingting.”

  There were only a few people who would write to her. If there was a letter from Brother Zhai, then Xu Tingting could not blame her for being unruly to her. No matter how Xu Tingting pulled pranks on her, she must at least know her limits.

  Qiao Nan saw Xu Tingting leaning against the door frame of the dormitory, waiting for her. Xu Tingting said, “Do you want to drop your things at the dormitory while I wait for you here? I have something to tell you.”

  “No need. Just say your piece.”

  “It’s not appropriate here. Let’s go to another place.” The doorway was full of people. Xu Tingting led Qiao Nan to the back of the dormitory.

  “Okay, there’s no one here. You can tell me what it is that you want to say.” Qiao Nan sounded cold and aloof, different from her usual attitude. She looked at Xu Tingting as if she was just a schoolmate, when in actual fact, they have been classmates for a few months.

  “It’s rare that you are angry at me. In the past, when I deliberately sowed discord between you and the classmates in your dormitory, you did not get angry at me. I never knew that you have a temper.” Xu Tingting had a fake smile on her face. “Qiao Nan, you know what, I hate you.”

  “It doesn’t matter that you hate me. I don’t like you either.”

  “Wow, how dare you say such things? Aren’t you worried that you will offend me and I may do other things that are even more unreasonable in retaliation?” Xu Tingting pulled a long face and had a fierce look. She hated Qiao Nan to the core. From the first time she set her sights on Qiao Nan, she did not have a good impression of her. She wished that she would be kicked out of class one.

  It turned out that her sixth sense was accurate. All the boys she had taken a fancy to chose Qiao Nan and rejected her.

  On what grounds?