Shen Jianhua and Zhou Lanfang had been stunned ever since Shen Mianmian received the progress award. It all felt unreal, like a dream, until Shen Mianmian approached them and called out.
It was then that Shen Jianhua came back to his senses, though his expression remained somewhat unnatural, "Mianmian."
"Dad, I won the progress award." Shen Mianmian showed off the trophy in her hand, her tone akin to a child awaiting praise from an adult.
"Good, very good..." Shen Jianhua nodded, managing a forced smile.
Zhou Lanfang’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets in fury, and just as Zhou Siyu came out, she grabbed Zhou Siyu and demanded, "Siyu, what’s going on here? Didn’t you say the progress award was yours? How did it end up being hers?"
She had been waiting outside for so long, and after all this time, the progress award went to that little bastard.
Zhou Lanfang even suspected that the teachers had made a mistake.
How could a dunce possibly win a progress award?
She had heard the teachers announce the scores earlier, and although she didn’t know everyone else’s scores, she could deduce that Mianmian’s scores were decent by the class’s standards.
But if Mianmian was truly that impressive, she wouldn’t have been at the bottom of the class every single year.
She couldn’t make heads or tails of the situation.
Zhou Siyu hadn’t even begun to speak when her eyes reddened. She glanced at Shen Mianmian, looking as if she couldn’t bear to say what was on her mind.
"Siyu, just speak your mind, your aunt will handle it for you." Zhou Lanfang was certain there was something fishy going on.
Shen Jianhua also sensed that something was off and pressed, "Siyu, what exactly happened?"
Zhou Siyu bit her lip and took another glance at Shen Mianmian. Without saying a word, her demeanor alone conveyed to both of them that Shen Mianmian was somehow involved.
Shen Jianhua and Zhou Lanfang’s gazes turned to Shen Mianmian, one suspecting, the other wishing she could stab her to death.
"Dad, Mom, why are you looking at me like that? Is it my fault that I did well on the test?" Shen Mianmian asked coolly. The rıghtful source is 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹·𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒·𝗇𝗲𝘁
"..." Shen Jianhua, feeling guilty and growing impatient, pressed, "Siyu, what’s the matter?"
"Uncle..." Zhou Siyu was biting her lip, tears suddenly falling before she could speak, "Sister cheated, that’s how she got this progress award."
"Heh..." Shen Mianmian snorted derisively. Zhou Siyu really had the audacity to make such an accusation!
Was this to find an excuse, tossing aside all considerations?
Shen Jianhua paused and asked bluntly, "Mianmian, did you really cheat?"
Zhou Lanfang, however, flew off the handle, reaching out to grab Shen Mianmian’s ear while cursing.
"You little wretch, you actually dared to cheat, do you believe I’d beat you to death?"
Shen Mianmian had been prepared and quickly dodged behind Shen Jianhua. When Shen Jianhua finally reacted, he quickly intercepted Zhou Lanfang, "Just say what you want to say. Why resort to violence?"
Another glance back, and he saw the students in the classroom beginning to take notice. One of the students seemed to think they were bullying Shen Mianmian and looked like they wanted to come help. His face darkened even further.
No matter what, the progress award was in his family, and this issue shouldn’t escalate in front of outsiders.
"She had the audacity to cheat and steal Siyu’s progress award. It’s already lenient of me not to beat her to death."
Shen Mianmian poked her head out from behind Shen Jianhua to retort, "Just because she accuses me of cheating means I cheated? If she accused me of murder, does that mean I’ve killed someone?"
Hearing this, Shen Jianhua felt Shen Mianmian made a fair point, "Siyu, we need evidence for such allegations."