Chapter Seven: Enrolling in Chunhua High School

The next morning, Lu You stood at the sink brushing his teeth. After returning home last night, determined to make "Little Bao’s backflip" a reality, he had subjected the little kitten to a relentless, merciless training session overnight.

After an hour of grueling, hellish training, Little Bao finally managed a backflip.

Lu You recorded a video, did a quick edit, and sent it to Tang Wan via WeChat.

By then, Little Bao had already crawled back to his cat nest to rest, his tail limp on the floor, utterly exhausted.

Soon enough, Lu You received a reply.

Wan: ?

Wan: I thought you were joking, but he really can do a backflip!

LY: Of course. Tomorrow, I’ll show you how he eats.

Wan: Great!

Their conversation ended there.

After finishing his morning routine, Lu You grabbed his phone and went to the kitchen. He scooped himself a bowl of black rice mixed porridge, then fished out a sticky egg, rinsing it clean under water.

The porridge ingredients had been prepared the night before and set in the smart rice cooker on a timer, with the egg placed inside to cook as well.

...

By a little past nine, Lu You returned home from the market.

Since his parents and little sister were moving back home that evening, he had bought more groceries than usual.

However, he didn’t run into Tang Wan at the market today. Considering how big the city was, meeting twice yesterday was clearly fate.

Lu You placed the ingredients for dinner into the fridge, then went downstairs to the cat room. He saw Little Bao crouching by the window, waiting for his owner to let him out.

As soon as Lu You cracked the glass door open a sliver, Little Bao eagerly squeezed through the gap and began circling Lu You’s feet while meowing incessantly.

“I know you’re hungry. Come on, I’ll add some extras today.”

Lu You headed upstairs to the kitchen. Little Bao trotted after him on his short legs.

Lu You cut the beef into small pieces and placed them on Little Bao’s special plate, then added an egg yolk, whisking it evenly with chopsticks.

As soon as the plate hit the floor, Little Bao sniffed eagerly and started purring like a motorcycle engine.

Watching the kitten eat so joyfully, Lu You remembered the video he promised Tang Wan yesterday and quietly took out his phone to start recording.

Since he had promised to send it, now was the time to capture it.

...

At Tang Wan’s home.

After finishing the last phone call, Tang Wan put down her phone, and the other two family members immediately became serious.

Tang Jing first asked, “Was that from the city high school?”

Tang Wan nodded. “Yes, from the city’s admissions office.”

“Have you decided which high school you want to attend?”

“I have. I’ll go to Chunhua.”

“Isn’t the city high school better?”

This question came from Zhao Huijuan.

“Let me share my thoughts,” Tang Wan said as she gathered her words.

“When I spoke with Chunhua, I asked about my prospects given my grades. They said I’d get a year’s tuition waiver, and if I remained in the top 100 of the grade, the waiver would continue the next year. There’s also a 300-yuan monthly subsidy for the meal card. Plus, for every major exam, top three in the grade and first in any subject get cash rewards—the exact amounts you only find out once you’re there.”

Tang Jing slapped his hand enthusiastically.

“Sounds delightfully materialistic. I like that!”

“Don’t interrupt!” Zhao Huijuan smacked her son, then turned to her daughter.

“What about the city high school?”

“The city high school,” Tang Wan said with a hint of disdain.

“I’m not too clear on the details, but their tone was very formulaic. My understanding is that it has a good study atmosphere, strict management, and better college entrance exam results than Chunhua. They promised to cultivate students well if you come.”

“No wonder it’s the city high school. No substance, just two certificates for exams and empty promises to lure students. The rewards I got in the college entrance exams were less than what my homeroom teacher gave.”

Though it was his alma mater, Tang Jing didn’t hold back his criticism.

“So I think Chunhua is better. Besides, you said Chunhua has poached many good teachers, and I’m curious about the luxurious campus you mentioned. I’ve decided on Chunhua.”

Zhao Huijuan still looked uneasy.

“What about those specially recruited students? Won’t they affect your studies?”

“I asked that too. Chunhua said for my grades, I’d be in one of the top two classes of 100 students each, occupying a whole floor, with no special recruits in those classes. So no worries.”

“Then it’s settled. As long as it doesn’t affect your regular high school life, any school is fine.”

“What about Dad? Any opinions?”

“He’s not really informed about these schools. As long as you study hard, he won’t have objections.”

Mentioning her father, Zhao Huijuan’s temper flared.

“He didn’t even come back for his daughter’s exam, and he dares to have opinions?”

Tang Wan quickly soothed her, explaining for her father.

“Dad did come back during my brother’s college entrance exams. Besides, he already told me he’d be busy during my exams and wouldn’t have time. I don’t mind; don’t be angry.”

At that moment, Tang Wan’s phone, which had been on standby, lit up with a WeChat message.

She glanced at the sender and couldn’t help but smile.

Zhao Huijuan, seeing her daughter’s sudden smile, looked puzzled.

“What’s so good?”

“Nothing, just saw an interesting video.”

Tang Wan rose from the sofa, greeting them, “I’m going back to my room first.”

The WeChat chat window displayed:

LY: Video

LY: Cat eating.

...

At Li Yu’s home.

Compared to Tang Wan’s relaxed atmosphere, the room here was particularly serious, even cold.

Three people sat in the living room, including a middle-aged man with glasses and a stern expression, who said, “We know your entrance exam scores. Tell us roughly where you stand.”

Li Yu looked up and met the man’s gaze, replying expressionlessly, “Okay. The full score is 780; I scored 750. The highest in the city is 767. I’m not sure about the exact city ranking, but certainly within the top 50.”

The man nodded without emotion.

“Not bad. Your studies weren’t for nothing.”

Li Yu clenched his hands on his knees, feeling inexplicably irritated.

“The high schools you’re choosing between are Chunhua and the city high school. Don’t consider others. Your science grades can’t fall below the top 30 in the grade. Those are the only two requirements. Understand?”

Hmph, they just assumed he was doing science without asking.

Li Yu’s irritation deepened, cursing silently.

But he only said two words: “Understood.”

Seeing no more to say, Li Yu stood and turned to leave, dropping a sentence: “I’m going back to my room.”

After he left, the previously silent middle-aged woman spoke with concern and reproach, “Why do you always talk like that? You’re obviously happy inside, yet your words twist everything. Do you want to be enemies with your son?”

The middle-aged man’s stern expression softened into guilt and helplessness.

He knew his son would choose Chunhua; he also knew his son’s preferences and abilities—science was inevitable, and top 30 was a low bar.

But when he spoke, it sounded like a superior imposing orders on a subordinate, not a father speaking to his son.

He was troubled and distressed.

“Sigh, I don’t know how it got like this. I always kept up appearances before him when he was young, and now I can’t let go.”

What can’t be said between father and son? Sometimes, it’s precisely because they are family that words are hardest to speak.

...

At four in the afternoon.

Lu You put down his tablet and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

Considering his little sister was only 15 months old and weaning, soft porridge would be perfect.

Tonight, he planned millet porridge, then nourishing steamed pig’s heart, steamed sea bass, and stir-fried sweet potato leaves.

Having decided on the menu, Lu You took out the ingredients from the fridge and began processing them one by one.

Just as he finished marinating the pig’s heart and started handling the sea bass, a black car pulled up outside the villa.

The rear door slowly opened, and a young, beautiful woman stepped out, cradling an adorable little girl.

The woman was tall with her hair pinned up neatly, her features delicate and pretty, dressed in a white shirt dress and white canvas shoes.

The little girl had smooth, shiny short hair, big bright eyes like grapes, and a round face.

As the woman walked toward the villa door, she asked the little girl in her arms, “Xiao Shu, you haven’t seen your brother in a month. Do you miss him?”

The girl named “Xiao Shu” nodded.

“Brother… brother… miss.”

After fingerprint recognition, the door automatically opened.

The woman gently placed Xiao Shu on the tiled floor inside, changed into slippers by the entrance, then held her hand and stepped inside.

Near the dining room, the woman caught a faint sweet scent, like red dates and longans, along with soft sounds from the kitchen.

Passing the kitchen, she seemed frozen in disbelief.

My son can cook? The one cooking is my son!

She was engulfed in deep self-doubt.

The little girl stared at Little Bao, who was napping by the living room window.

Mother and daughter stood rooted just outside the kitchen.

Soon, Lu Jianyan—Lu You’s father—came out of the elevator after parking the car, changed his shoes, and saw the two large figures at the door.

“Yu Yin, why are you standing there? Why not sit on the sofa? And where’s our son? I don’t see him.”

Shen Yu Yin pointed toward the kitchen.

“You… go see for yourself.”

Lu Jianyan frowned and hurried over, curious about what his son could have done.

Then, in front of the kitchen stood three pieces of wood.

Lu Jianyan looked as if he had seen a ghost.

“Is this really our son?”

“I was about to ask you the same.”

Meanwhile, Lu You scored the sea bass with a knife, laid a few slices of ginger over it, placed it in the steamer, and covered the lid.

“Only the sweet potato leaves left. I’ll take a five-minute break first.”

Just as he turned around, the figures of two adults and a child outside startled him.

“Coming home without a sound? Scared me to death.”

The four of them soon gathered in the living room. Lu You poured water for his parents, handed a small plush toy to his little sister Lu Jing Shu to play with, and sat on a single sofa nearby.

Lu You hadn’t even settled when Shen Yu Yin couldn’t help asking, “Were you just cooking?”

“Otherwise? Playing house?”

“When did you learn?”

This conversation sounded familiar.

“You’re asking the same question as Li Yu.”

“Anyone would be curious, right? If suddenly a pig could fly, wouldn’t you find that strange?”

Lu You was speechless.

“Isn’t me cooking way more real than a pig flying?”

“But to your mother, there’s no difference between the two.”

Lu You changed the subject to avoid his mother’s probing. His parents were far more formidable than Li Yu’s, after all, they knew exactly what kind of person he was at home.

“Alright, alright, time’s up. I need to check if the fish is done. Wait a moment, I’ll stir-fry some greens, then we can eat.”

Shen Yu Yin watched Lu You busy in the kitchen, her eyes moist.

“Our son has grown up.”

“Grown up after just a week? Isn’t that ridiculous?”

Lu Jianyan thought his wife was talking nonsense.

“Then explain it. Give me a reason.”

Lu Jianyan: …

Ten minutes later.

The couple sat before the fragrant dishes and the millet porridge, feeling as though in a dream.

Before starting to eat, Lu You reminded them:

“I cooked the millet porridge a bit softer, so it’s just right for feeding Xiao Shu.”

Seeing their son begin to eat, the two exchanged a glance and stopped overthinking. They would ask questions after dinner.

After the meal, the couple brewed questions silently in the living room.

After clearing the dishes, Lu You took a bowl of millet porridge at a comfortable temperature and stepped out of the kitchen.

Before the couple could speak, Lu You beat them to it.

“Dad, I have something important to tell you.”

Then he handed the bowl to Shen Yu Yin.

“Mom, you go feed Xiao Shu first.”

Shen Yu Yin suppressed her flood of questions, took the bowl, and carried Xiao Shu into the dining room.

Seeing his son’s serious expression, Lu Jianyan straightened his own, looking somewhat solemn.

“Go ahead. What is it?”

Lu You sat on the sofa, composed himself.

“You probably already know my entrance exam results.”

“Yes, we learned yesterday.”

“Aren’t you going to ask what my plans are?”

“You’ll tell us when you’re ready.”

“I want to continue high school. At a good high school.”

He spoke with uncommon seriousness.

“Are you serious?”

Lu Jianyan knew his son’s grades. To attend a good high school, it had to be Chunhua, and connections would be needed. He was also aware of the demands.

“Yes. I’m serious.”

Lu You’s tone was firm.

“Then you know what you have to do.”

“Yes, I know what to do.”

“Good. I’ll help you.”

Lu Jianyan didn’t ask further. If his son said he understood, then as a father, he would provide the conditions and trust him.

“And the second thing, can you help me find a tutor? Someone who just finished the college entrance exams this year, for about a month. I’ll tell them what to teach.”

“I’ll talk to your mother about that. She knows more people in that area. Anything else?”

“No, just these two things.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu You stood up.

“I’m going to the gym first.”

“You still go to the gym?”

Lu Jianyan’s eyes went wide as if they were copper coins.

“Come back! I still have questions for you!”

Without looking back, Lu You slipped away, his voice carrying from down the hall.

“If I don’t exercise, I won’t grow taller. We can talk after I’m done.”

There was nothing more to say.