One night, the child was writing her homework late into the night and suddenly burst into tears, screaming that she hated studying. "I’m just an ordinary person! Why does Mom insist on forcing me to excel?! I’d rather jump off a building and end it all than endure the humiliation of being scolded in class because I can’t finish my homework or solve equations."
Sister Zhao became even angrier and pointed toward the balcony: "Jump, then! If you have the guts, go ahead and jump. If you jump first, I’ll follow right after you."
In the end, mother and daughter held each other and cried their hearts out.
What can she do? This is just how the rules of society are.
How did she know that Shen You’an was this year’s top scorer in the high school entrance exam?
Because once, she accidentally saw a cartoon character drawn in her daughter’s planner, with Shen You’an’s name and bio written next to it. Even more absurdly, her daughter had stuck the drawing on the wall and was kneeling before it day and night.
She thought her daughter had gone crazy from studying, but her daughter explained, "She’s my idol. We all call her the ’God of Academics.’ She’s incredible. Before every exam, we pray to her, hoping she’ll bless us to achieve our ideal scores."
And whether it was due to psychological suggestion or not, ever since praying to the ’God of Academics,’ her daughter’s grades really did improve.
Even she found it unbelievable.
So now, the ’God of Academics’ that her daughter prayed to every day was sitting right there next to her, and she had even eaten the food Shen brought. For a moment, it felt like a dream.
Zhang Jian smiled warmly: "Sister, you never asked me about it."
If you go around shouting about it, wouldn’t it come across as bragging? That wouldn’t be good for anyone.
"An’an," Sister Zhao rubbed her hands nervously.
"My daughter... she’s your little fan. She’s idolized you since she was young..."
Sister Zhao’s face turned red with embarrassment. Her daughter was only about a year younger than Shen You’an.
"Do you think you might have the time to give her some guidance...?"
Was this request too shameless?
Sister Zhao couldn’t care anymore; she was fully committed.
Shen You’an gave a faint smile. "How about this—I still have some notes from my third-year middle school revision. I’m not sure if they’d be of any help to your daughter, but I’ll ask my uncle to bring them over tomorrow."
Notes from a top scorer—these are priceless treasures.
Sister Zhao was so excited she didn’t know what to say. "An’an, let me treat you to a meal!"
"No need. You’ve always been so kind to my uncle, so it’s only right I help you," Shen replied earnestly.
Sister Zhao looked at the girl’s sincere smile and felt truly embarrassed.
What kindness was she talking about? She had always been the type to gawk at drama and hadn’t actually done anything to care for Zhang Jian.
Now, she’d received such a huge favor from the girl. If she didn’t start looking after Zhang Jian, she’d truly feel like she was in the wrong.
Sister Zhao slapped her thigh. "Xiao Zhang, don’t you need a car? Don’t worry, I’ll handle it for you right away."
She dialed the phone, and within just a few sentences, she had it settled.
"A custom Mercedes business car. It’ll be parked in the lot at the entrance later. Absolutely won’t embarrass you."
Zhang Jian froze for a moment, instinctively looking across the table at Shen You’an.
Shen You’an picked up a shrimp and placed it into Zhang Jian’s bowl, her voice gentle: "Uncle, eat."
Song Qi was hopping mad, frustrated beyond belief. That meddling old lady had caused trouble again.
A colleague muttered awkwardly under their breath, "I want the top scorer’s notes too."
The temptation of the notes was undeniable; who wouldn’t desire them?
Song Qi might not care, perhaps because he had been married for years but had no children and therefore couldn’t understand the pains and anxieties of "tiger parenting."
When the branch manager heard about all this, he merely sighed.
Zhang Jian is truly a hidden gem.
Then, finding an excuse, he called Zhao Hong into his office and began probing. "Do you think it’d be possible to make a few extra copies of those top scorer’s notes? My son is about to take the high school entrance exam as well."
"Manager, wouldn’t that be inappropriate? These notes are Shen’s private property; how could I share them without permission? Why don’t you ask Xiao Zhang yourself? After all, you’re his boss...."
The manager’s face darkened slightly; first, he had reprimanded Zhang Jian, and now he was shamelessly asking for favors—didn’t he have any dignity as a manager?
Zhao Hong secretly rolled her eyes. What an old fox. Not willing to offer a bit of goodwill yet expecting to reap all the benefits—ugly face with delusions of grandeur.
Meanwhile, Shen You’an left the bank and took the bus to the city library.
On the bus, she received a phone call from Shen Huailu.
"Shen, school starts the day after tomorrow—have you prepared your speech yet?"
Shen You’an basked in the lively afternoon sunshine, feeling the warm breeze and lazily replied, "Sorry, Teacher Shen, I forgot."
Shen Huailu took a deep breath. "It’s alright, Shen. One day is enough."
"Tomorrow at this same time, I’ll call you again."
As soon as Shen Huailu hung up, he received a call from the secretary’s office at the group headquarters.