Shunzi was utterly confused. "The bag hasn't disappeared, but that can't be. Young Master Cheng has never cared about such things." Check latest chapters at novel⚑fire.net
The little devil was moody, and sometimes even he, a high-EQ servant who had served for many years, couldn't understand what was going on in the little master's head.
Zong Wenxiu nodded. "Alright, I understand. You all go out first, I'll talk to Jin Cheng."
"Yes," Shunzi handed him the clothes and left the room with Buyan.
Zong Wenxiu took the clothes and gently pushed the little one wrapped in the blanket, chuckling. "Jin Cheng, how old are you still lazing in bed? Aren't you going to get up and see the new clothes? Madam just had them made for you, they're very beautiful. You'll surely get lots of compliments when you wear them."
The little devil, usually so vain, didn't react at all to this, remaining motionless.
Zong Wenxiu was surprised and added, "The results are out today, aren't you curious? Our Jin Cheng is going to trample all the students of Hanlin Academy first, then go to the Child Prodigy Class to trample Qin Ye. You're about to complete the first step."
Hearing this, the little devil moved. He pulled down the blanket, revealing a pair of big, shiny black eyes, and said somewhat evasively, "Brother, I'm a bit nervous."
Zong Wenxiu couldn't help but laugh and teased, "You're nervous? I thought with your personality, you'd be up early, excited to rush to the academy to see the results."
The little devil pouted, blinked his eyes, and didn't respond, as if feeling guilty.
After a while, he finally said, "Brother, I don't want to ride in the same carriage as Xu Wan today."
If he didn't do well, that woman would surely laugh at him. The little devil cared about his face and didn't want to be embarrassed again.
Zong Wenxiu thoughtfully said, "Then I'll have Shunzi go ask?"
"Mm," the little devil nodded.
Zong Wenxiu went out to give instructions, and when Shunzi returned saying Xu Wan had agreed, he said to him, "Alright, get up now. Let's go see the results. Jin Cheng will surely do well today."
Hearing this, the little devil finally slowly got up and dressed, but his spirits were still low, like a wilted eggplant, all limp.
"Brother, what place do you think I'll get today?"
Zong Wenxiu thought for a moment and said, "You were 120th last time, but more than half of those were from other academies. There are actually only fifty eight-year-old students in Hanlin North Academy. Now that it's a joint exam between the two academies, I think you'll definitely make it into the top twenty, because you've improved so quickly, faster than anyone else."
"Only twentieth..." the little devil pouted, "I can't even get first place."
How could someone as weak as him say he was going to defeat Qin Ye, who was first in all four academies...
Zong Wenxiu brought him his shoes and comforted him, "If first place were that easy to get, wouldn't all the students of Hanlin North Academy be jumping off buildings? Give them some breathing room, okay?"
The little devil still couldn't muster any enthusiasm. He put on his shoes and went to wash up, holding two big meat buns his brother had given him as he climbed into the new carriage, munching on them as he went.
Zong Wenxiu sat in the carriage and tentatively asked, "Jin Cheng, are you feeling down because of what happened the day before yesterday with Madam?"
His brother had dark circles under his eyes, clearly not having slept well.
Zong Jincheng pouted unhappily, "I just can't understand... why do I always lose, and why can't I ever get first place? Brother, are you lying to me? Am I just an ordinary person, not some great talent, right?"
Zong Wenxiu felt his heart melt.
His brother was so pitiful, he couldn't help but want to tell the truth... but he held back.
Zong Wenxiu said, "You'll know when you see the results. No one has your strong learning ability and speed of improvement. All the students will be so jealous of you they'll go crazy."
"Really?" The little devil still looked dejected and defeated, not quite believing it.
When they arrived at Qingbo Academy, Xu Wan didn't get out of the carriage, nor did she speak to them.
Zong Wenxiu dragged the reluctant little devil out to see the results. The little brat was very resistant, his palms sweaty with nervousness.
Just as they were about to step out of the carriage, the little devil suddenly stopped in his tracks, a flash of light speeding through his mind.
Zong Wenxiu couldn't pull him along and asked instead, "What's wrong, Jin Cheng?"
Zong Jincheng's eyes suddenly lit up, those black eyes becoming lively again, and he exclaimed in delight, "I know! I know! I know why she can predict my behavior!!"
"Huh?" Zong Wenxiu hadn't expected him to still be thinking about this.
The little devil jumped out of the carriage excitedly, gesturing animatedly, "Because my actions are too predictable. Once they deviate from the norm, they're bound to be noticed. Like how I'm always the first to get out of the carriage, and how I always believe I'll do well on exams—these are all patterns! That's why you can easily see through my plans and predict my actions!"
Zong Wenxiu was surprised, then laughed, praising him, "That's right, exactly. I always said Jin Cheng is the smartest, figuring it out so quickly."
The little devil proudly raised his little tail, immediately floating on air, forgetting who he was. He confidently declared, "Not only am I smart, but I can also apply what I learn! By observing someone's fixed behavior patterns, once I notice any anomalies, I can detect changes and prepare accordingly. Hmph, I'm going to observe Xu Wan closely from now on, find her weaknesses, and strike her hard!"
"Heh... heh..." Zong Wenxiu couldn't laugh anymore. "Madam was helping you understand, how can you think of using this against her?"
The gloom that had been weighing on Zong Jincheng for the past two days dissipated, and he was in an extremely good mood. Even his brother speaking up for Xu Wan didn't seem so bad now. He waved his hand good-naturedly, "Alright, alright, I won't use it on her. I'll go observe other people's anomalies instead!"
"Let's go, brother, let's go see the results!" The fully revived little devil grabbed Zong Wenxiu's hand and ran, pushing through the crowd.
On the other side, Xu Wan lifted the curtain of the carriage and watched their retreating figures, smiling. "That kid's mood changes faster than June rain."
Cui Zhi laughed, "Then, Madam, will we still need two carriages?"
Xu Wan said lightly, "Of course not. After we send them back to the manor today, tell Steward Liu to put that carriage away. We'll continue to be frugal."
As the little devil ran through the crowd, he kept analyzing his insights to Zong Wenxiu, "I've seen this person before. Every time he looks at the results, he's dejected. He's so happy this time, he must have done well!"
"And this person usually walks slowly, but he's walking so fast now, it must be because he hasn't seen his results yet!"
"And this one, this one! He's usually as timid as a mouse, but today he's running to the teacher's courtyard. He must be going to brag, he definitely made the list!"