Chapter 17 - He Isn't Worthy of Her
Xie Ning was furious.
Had Ye Hao not come to her daughter's rescue, Xie Ning would've surely struck him.
He was totally unsuitable for her daughter!
“Come with me!” Xie Ning commanded, locking her gaze on Lee Qianqian.
Lee Qianqian, hesitant to speak further, tucked away the documents. She gave Ye Hao a regretful glance before trailing after Xie Ning.
Ye Hao watched Lee Qianqian walk away, a profound sense of emptiness gnawing at him.
Maybe he would never get such a chance in the future.
With a soft sigh, Ye Hao gathered the documents and headed home.
Once in bed, his thoughts were dominated by images of Lee Qianqian.
In that quiet moment, Ye Hao realized he had genuinely fallen for Lee Qianqian.
As the night drifted away, Ye Hao emerged from his room the next morning with evident dark circles under his eyes, making Guo Xiu concerned, yet somewhat proud.
“Hao, remember to take care of yourself, even with your rigorous studies,” Guo Xiu gently advised.
Her concern weighed on Ye Hao, prompting him to respond, “I promise, Mom.”
Post breakfast, Ye Hao cycled to school, leaving Guo Xiu attending to chores at home.
About an hour later, the doorbell rang.
Guo Xiu was a little confused. Who would come to visit at this time?
As she opened the door, her eyes met Xie Ning's. Taken aback momentarily, she soon greeted with a smile, “Xie Ning, welcome inside.”
With a stern expression, Xie Ning replied, “No need. I've come to relay a message.”
Perceiving the tension on Xie Ning's face, Guo Xiu invited, “Why don't we discuss it inside?”
“Guo Xiu, instruct your son to stop bothering my daughter,” Xie Ning stated icily.
Alarmed, Guo Xiu queried, “Could there be some miscommunication?”
Xie Ning responded, “My daughter, Qianqian, tops the list in No.1 High School's Key Class. She's destined for one of the six premier universities.”
A bit irate, Guo Xiu asked, “What are you implying, Xie Ning?”
Every mother naturally defends her child.
With a sarcastic tone, Xie Ning retorted, “Simply that your son doesn't match up to my daughter's stature.”
Locking eyes with Guo Xiu, she emphasized, “Considering your son's academic performance, do you truly deem him deserving of my daughter?”
Having conveyed her message, she briskly turned and departed.
Guo Xiu stared at Xie Ning's retreating figure, simmering with indignation.
Once her anger subsided, Guo Xiu pondered over Xie Ning's remarks.
If indeed Lee Qianqian ranked first in the Key Class of No.1 High School, she undeniably stood a solid chance of securing a seat in one of the elite six universities.
The alumni from these prestigious institutions were universally acclaimed, with even their least successful members enjoying esteemed social statuses far above those from other notable schools.
Given this, Xie Ning's assertion held weight.
Yet, Guo Xiu couldn't stomach Xie Ning's disparaging view of Ye Hao.
That evening, after self-study hours, Ye Hao made his way home.
Instead of continuing his studies upon reaching his room, he sprawled out on his bed.
His mind wandered to Lee Qianqian.
The vivid memory of Lee Qianqian's every gesture and expression played in Ye Hao's mind, revealing his growing infatuation.
“Hao! Hao!”
Ye Hao vaguely felt that someone was calling him, and his thoughts gradually returned to his body.
“Dad.” When Ye Hao saw that the person who called out to him was Ye Zhiguo, he suddenly woke up.
From the look on Ye Hao's face, Ye Zhiguo instantly grasped the situation.
“Do you have feelings for Lee Qianqian?” Ye Zhiguo inquired directly.
Ye Hao was momentarily taken aback by Ye Zhiguo's forthrightness but then a thought crossed his mind.
How did Ye Zhiguo come to know about this?
In a gentle tone, Ye Zhiguo remarked, “You're at an age to experience love, but I hope you prioritize your academics. Consider dating during your university years; there, you'll encounter various individuals from around the globe.”
“Dad, how did you find out about Qianqian and me?” Ye Hao couldn't hold back his burning question.
“Xie Ning visited us today and wasn't very pleasant. Haven't you noticed how downcast your mother's been?” Ye Zhiguo revealed this to stir Ye Hao.
Ye Hao required a jolt at the moment, lest he become overly engrossed in his feelings.
Love has always proven to be both a blessing and a curse.
“What did Lee Qianqian's mother mention?” The thought of his mother's distress filled Ye Hao with remorse.
Ye Zhiguo gave a concise account of the day's events.
“If you wish to be with Lee Qianqian, you must earn your place in one of the top six universities,” Ye Zhiguo voiced firmly, gazing at Ye Hao.
“I am determined to get into one of those universities,” Ye Hao responded confidently.
“Securing a spot in one of the top six isn't a feat achieved by all.” Despite not fully comprehending Ye Hao's drive, Ye Zhiguo held reservations about his chances.
“Just watch me, Dad,” Ye Hao said with a determined glint in his eyes.
Was their relationship deemed unsuitable?
Ye Hao resolved to show everyone who truly deserved whom.
Once Ye Zhiguo departed, Ye Hao began perusing past college entrance exam papers.
In the recent one and a half months, Ye Hao had prepped extensively, focusing mainly on questions from past years.
Ye Hao was confident about achieving stellar marks in the upcoming monthly test.
“Tomorrow marks our final monthly exam. I hope everyone achieves their best.” Hsu Lee surveyed the classroom and whispered, “Always double-check your answers. A single point can change your destiny.”
“Once this exam concludes, you'll get a two-day break. Yet, those days are not for relaxation. Zhou Xian, distribute these two math papers,” directed Hsu Lee, passing two tests to Zhou Xian.
The students showed little displeasure.
If they gave it their all, university acceptance was within reach. Now, no one would give themselves an excuse to avoid studying.
Zhou Shuai received the exam paper and nudged Ye Hao, asking, “Ye Hao, what score are you aiming for this time?”
“Over 800 points.”
Zhou Shuai looked taken aback, then chuckled, “You must be joking.”
“I'm dead serious,” Ye Hao responded, tilting his head slightly. “And, after this test, I need a favor.”
“What's that?”
“Assist me in transporting my books home,” Ye Hao indicated the stack of papers on his desk, adding, “My bike can't handle that much weight.”
“What's the occasion?”
“Remember when I mentioned the special admissions for No.3 High School?”
“You're transferring to No.3 High School?” The realization dawned on Zhou Shuai.
“I plan to, after this exam.”
“There's barely a month before university entrance tests. Isn't switching schools risky now?”
“There's not much I cherish at No.2 High School.” Ye Hao's thoughts inadvertently drifted to Hsu Lee as he spoke.
No.2 High School had given Ye Hao nothing but bitter memories.
He yearned to leave its confines as soon as possible.