Xia Chengzong didn’t answer Xia Chuyi’s question, but instead spoke calmly, "Chuyi, school has already started. From today onward, you should do less work and read more books, study harder, and strive to get into college early and leave Ling County!"
His eyes still held a deep anger.
"Um, brother, actually working doesn’t affect studying..." She tried to explain.
"Who says it doesn’t affect studying?" Xia Chengzong glared at her, "A student should look like a student! You shouldn’t use work as an excuse to escape from studying!"
"And since you’ve chosen to study, you need to try even harder!"
Xia Chuyi: "...Um, well, brother, I’m just registered in name, I wasn’t planning on going to school."
"No excuses for laziness!"
She always felt like she was being scolded by a parent for trying to skip school.
"I will closely monitor your studies!" Xia Chengzong added finally.
"...All right." She could only helplessly accept.
In the afternoon, after she had prepared the marinades and explained the process to Xia Chengzong, she was sent into the house to study.
Once in her room, Xia Chuyi thought about how she needed to speak to her teacher the next day about studying from home. After a moment’s thought, without hesitation, she flashed into her special space.
Recently, she had often used this time discrepancy to study in the space, and by now, she had nearly completed the high school curriculum.
She felt quite confident about language arts, English, and social studies. As for math, as long as it didn’t hold her back, she was already content.
After spending a long time in the space, she came out and took a while to adjust before finally crashing into bed, sinking into a deep sleep.
The next day, as soon as she got up and was about to start working, Xia Chengzong pulled her aside, saying, "You go study. I can handle things here by myself."
"Also, I spoke to uncle last night; I told him you need to be reviewing properly."
"Uncle also told me to make sure I supervise you properly."
I guess... her brother was really fixated on supervising her studies.
Xia Chuyi could only helplessly say, "Then, brother, I will go to the school."
She was prepared to settle the formalities of her registration at the school.
"Okay, go on." Hearing it was about going to school, Xia Chengzong agreed very readily, completely different from the severe brother just moments before.
Great, her brother had successfully switched into parent mode.
As she approached Lingshan Middle School, she saw Liu Chunya—a vision in a green jacket paired with a bright red scarf, and her bangs more curled than ever—standing at the school gate, looking around as if waiting for someone.
Xia Chuyi merely glanced at her before averting her eyes.
It couldn’t be helped; Liu Chunya’s sense of aesthetics was increasingly jarring.
Just as she was about to bypass Liu Chunya and enter the school gates, Liu Chunya suddenly jumped in front of her, spreading her arms to block her way and exclaimed, "Xia Chuyi, stop right there!"
"I heard from the teacher that you’ve registered? In the senior year no less?"
"Also, I heard that you didn’t get married because your fiancé ran off with someone else?"
"So, you were dumped?"
Liu Chunya looked gleeful and her tone was particularly sharp, "Oh my, if I were you, dumped by a man, I would be too ashamed to come to school."
Xia Chuyi glanced at her sideways.
Was this never going to end?
She coldly said to Liu Chunya, "What happens to me is none of your business."
"Good dogs don’t block the way." After saying that, she simply walked around her.
"Xia Chuyi!" Liu Chunya roared.