"Wan Xiaoxiao, 200 points, ranked 647th in the grade. This parent needs to take this seriously!"
Jiang Junyi glanced at Wan Xiaoxiao, who had lowered her head, then walked up to the podium and took her report card.
His youthful, handsome face surprised quite a few parents.
The homeroom teacher was also very surprised that someone had actually come to Wan Xiaoxiao's parent-teacher conference this time.
Jiang Junyi slapped the report card onto the desk and fixed Wan Xiaoxiao with a sharp gaze. Under that burning stare, she guiltily looked away.
"Care to explain?"
Wan Xiaoxiao scratched her head. "Well, I fell asleep during one math class, and when I woke up, I couldn't understand anything after that."
"As for English, that foreign stuff, we can't be bothered learning it..."
Jiang Junyi was so angry he laughed. "What, do you expect me to praise you for being patriotic?"
"No need... no need..." Wan Xiaoxiao smiled sheepishly.
Jiang Junyi sighed softly. Wan Qingyun had been unable to keep an eye on this little girl after she started high school, so it was understandable that her grades had turned out like this.
"How many students are there in the whole grade?"
"647."
"???"
"Just you wait until we get home!"
He shot Wan Xiaoxiao a vicious glare.
At that moment, the homeroom teacher on the podium called out Su Shuangshuang's name.
"Su Shuangshuang, 395 points, second in the grade. I hope everyone will learn more from Su Shuangshuang."
Jiang Junyi looked at Su Shuangshuang beside him, but the girl appeared somewhat uneasy and did not seem prepared to go up and collect her report card.
"Is Su Shuangshuang's parent not here?" The homeroom teacher frowned and looked toward Su Shuangshuang, who was sitting alone.
"Brother-in-law... why don't you go get it for her?" Wan Xiaoxiao whispered.
Jiang Junyi glanced at Wan Xiaoxiao. You've got quite a kind heart.
Actually, that had been his plan all along. As for why, hehe.
Jiang Junyi stood up and walked toward the podium under Su Shuangshuang's surprised gaze.
"Uh, this parent, you are Su Shuangshuang's...?"
"Brother."
"Then Wan Xiaoxiao is...?"
"My sister-in-law."
Jiang Junyi took the report card and walked back under everyone's strange stares.
Handing the report card to Su Shuangshuang, he softly said, "You're excellent. Be more confident."
Hearing his gentle voice beside her ear, Su Shuangshuang's little face reddened slightly. She nodded and quietly said, "Th... thank you..."
Jiang Junyi looked at Wan Xiaoxiao again. "Looks like you don't want your phone anymore."
"Mhm... I just don't know where to start..." Wan Xiaoxiao muttered.
She wanted to study, but she simply had no idea where to begin and felt completely lost.
Jiang Junyi vigorously rubbed Wan Xiaoxiao's head. "Your mouth is right under your nose. Can't you ask the teachers?"
"But I'm a bad student..."
"So what if you are? I believe that if you're willing to learn, the teachers will definitely be willing to teach." Jiang Junyi rolled his eyes. "And if that doesn't work, you can ask Su Shuangshuang."
Jiang Junyi tilted his head. "I think Su Shuangshuang would be more than happy to teach you. You're desk mates, after all."
Su Shuangshuang nodded. "I... I'm willing..."
"See?"
"I know, I know!" Wan Xiaoxiao curled her lips. "I'll ask!"
After all the report cards had been handed out, the homeroom teacher began talking about the same old things.
Parents of students with poor grades were scolding them, while those with good grades looked proud and pleased.
Jiang Junyi leaned against the desk, lost in thought.
Suddenly, Wan Xiaoxiao leaned over. "By the way, brother-in-law, how old are you?"
"Twenty. Why?"
Wan Xiaoxiao looked as if she had seen a ghost. "Wait, you're twenty and not in college?"
Jiang Junyi gave a disdainful laugh. "Are you serious? Who do you think I am? I had already mastered this ridiculously simple academic material by sixteen."
Wan Xiaoxiao and Su Shuangshuang: ?
"To clarify, that includes undergraduate and graduate studies."
"What about a doctorate?"
"I got bored and didn't feel like studying anymore." Jiang Junyi spread his hands.
Seeing Jiang Junyi's smug expression, Wan Xiaoxiao gritted her teeth. Damn it, he'd actually pulled that off.
"Ah, the road I walked on today was a little too smooth," Jiang Junyi suddenly said for no apparent reason.
"What does that mean?" Wan Xiaoxiao was confused.
"No gravel—no strength."
"Jiang Junyi! You bastard!"
Jiang Junyi snorted and ignored the enraged Wan Xiaoxiao.
Watching their interaction, a trace of envy flashed through Su Shuangshuang's eyes.
Wan Xiaoxiao's grades were poor, but she had a brother-in-law who cared for her.
If she could, Su Shuangshuang would have traded her grades for that.
At that moment, applause rose from the classroom. One of the parents of a top student had gone onstage to speak and share their educational experience.
After seeing that parent step down, Jiang Junyi noticed the homeroom teacher looking in his direction.
"Um... brother-in-law... you might have to go up and give a speech..." Wan Xiaoxiao said awkwardly.
"Hm? Why?" Jiang Junyi asked, puzzled.
"Because I usually have to go up and write a self-criticism..."
Jiang Junyi narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean? They make you criticize yourself in front of all these people?"
"Ah, it's just explaining what affected my studies and what I'll do in the future, blah blah blah." Wan Xiaoxiao spoke carelessly.
Jiang Junyi's eyes darkened, and his expression became somewhat grim.
"Next, let us welcome Wan Xiaoxiao's parent to the stage for a speech."
Jiang Junyi stood up, his gaze somewhat cold.
He walked to the center of the podium and glanced at the homeroom teacher beside him. "It is an honor to speak here. Taking this opportunity, I would like to say to every student with poor grades—"
"Poor grades do not mean poor character."
"Nor do they mean you lack ability."
"A school exists only to provide the best possible platform for you to realize your dreams, but that does not mean poor grades leave you with no path forward."
"Students, you are only eighteen. Your lives have only just begun."
"Do not wallow in self-pity, and do not belittle yourselves."
"The world is vast, and life is still long."
"Of course, you must understand that I am talking about grades, not learning."
"Students, never give up learning. You can devote yourselves to any field you enjoy and excel in, but never stop moving forward."
"Finally, for those of you who are completely lost about your futures, my advice is still to work hard to improve your grades. That way, you can go farther and find the dream in your hearts in better places."
"That concludes my speech. Thank you, everyone."
Jiang Junyi calmly stepped down from the podium, leaving the homeroom teacher stunned.
"Clap, clap..."
Gradually, applause rose, growing louder and louder until it thundered through the room.
Wan Xiaoxiao looked at Jiang Junyi with a face full of admiration. "Wow, brother-in-law, you're so cool."
Jiang Junyi gave a soft snort. "Is this the first day you've realized that?"
"It's different, it's different." Little stars seemed to shine in Wan Xiaoxiao's eyes.
She knew Jiang Junyi's words had been meant to stand up for her. She had thought he would go up there, criticize her harshly, then say something like, "Teachers, you've worked hard."
She never could have imagined it would end like this.
Su Shuangshuang's eyes also gleamed. Jiang Junyi's actions had planted a seed in her heart.
It was also the first time she felt that her life had a goal, a dream.
After school, Wan Xiaoxiao skipped into the car while Jiang Junyi strolled behind her with a helpless expression.
He turned his head slightly and caught Su Shuangshuang watching him from the corner of his eye.
The corner of Jiang Junyi's lips lifted into the faintest curve. When hope appeared before your eyes, despair's arrival cut all the deeper.
Su Shuangshuang, are you ready?
Before you continue