Chen Yanxi's words made Wang Ge frown.
There were really parents like that in this world?
"Wasn't getting into a good university enough? What use is anything learned in high school besides dealing with exams? Why demand such high scores?" Wang Ge was utterly baffled.
"Maybe they use them to satisfy their vanity," Chen Yanxi said flatly.
Wang Ge turned his head and studied her face carefully, trying to find a trace of displeasure or disgust.
Unfortunately, there was nothing. Chen Yanxi's face held only waterlike calm.
"Living like this must be exhausting, right?" Wang Ge asked.
"It's been like this since I was little. I'm used to it," Chen Yanxi said calmly.
Then she shook her head again. "Don't take this to heart. I was just complaining to you a little. After complaining, life still has to go on.
"Still, I do feel much better after saying it out loud."
Wang Ge still wanted to say something, but by then, the taxi had already arrived at the entrance to the residential compound where Chen Yanxi lived.
After Chen Yanxi paid and got out, Wang Ge followed close behind.
"I'm going home. It's getting late, so you should head back soon too," she said.
"Good times really are short-lived." Wang Ge smiled helplessly. "We're already parting. At this final moment, how about a hug?"
"You've already hugged me all day. Aren't you tired of it yet?"
Though she said that, after hesitating for a moment, Chen Yanxi still slowly stepped forward and gave Wang Ge a gentle hug.
"I like the smell of your shampoo." Holding her soft body, Wang Ge chuckled.
"I bought it for a few yuan a bottle when the supermarket had it on sale," Chen Yanxi said. "If you like it, I can bring you two bottles tomorrow."
"No need. I only like that scent when it's on you." Wang Ge smiled. "What's that saying again? Love me, love my dog."
Chen Yanxi pressed her lips together, took two steps back, slipped out of his arms, and straightened her clothes.
"All right, I'm heading back."
"Mm. Bye-bye. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
Wang Ge watched Chen Yanxi walk back into the compound step by step. Only after her figure had completely disappeared did he turn around and enter the compound's supermarket.
Don't misunderstand. He wasn't there to buy shampoo.
He bought some cigarettes and alcohol, all fairly expensive brands, and carried them into the security office.
"Grandpa Liu? Is Grandpa Liu here?"
"There's something I'd like to ask you about..."
An hour later, Wang Ge walked out of the security office. After exchanging a few polite words with Grandpa Liu, he declined the invitation to stay for dinner and left the compound.
His expression was somewhat heavy.
He had gone to find Grandpa Liu to ask about Chen Yanxi's family situation, of course.
Grandpa Liu had lived in the compound for over ten years and had worked as a security guard for several years. He knew most of the residents well. Apart from his own neighbors, the family he knew best was Chen Yanxi's.
There was no other reason. Chen Yanxi's parents simply loved showing off everywhere.
They were always speaking in a tone of reproach, saying that their child had scored 730 on a 750-point exam, even though she could clearly have scored 740 or even gotten a perfect score.
The entire compound knew that there was a family surnamed Chen whose child came first in the whole school every time and could score 740 out of 750.
Grandpa Liu said that Chen Yanxi had practically become the model that all the parents in the compound used to educate their children. Her neighbors in particular constantly said, "Look at Chen Yanxi..."
Because of that, Wang Ge obtained fairly complete information about Chen Yanxi's family situation.
Chen Yanxi's parents were ordinary workers. Like most ordinary people, they were stingy, concerned with appearances, and fond of haggling over every little thing.
There were countless parents like them all over the country, but they were lucky because they had given birth to a genius like Chen Yanxi.
Chen Yanxi had been smarter than other children her age from a young age. She learned everything exceptionally quickly. While other children were still stumbling through their first steps, Chen Yanxi could already go downstairs to the supermarket alone to buy soy sauce.
At first, Chen Yanxi's parents didn't notice that she was different. They were first-time parents with no experience and merely thought their child was a little smarter than the others.
Since she was smart, she should put that intelligence to proper use.
So, like the overwhelming majority of parents across the country, Chen Yanxi's parents began instilling in her the idea that she had to study hard as soon as she became old enough to understand. Only by studying hard could she find a way forward. Knowledge changed one's fate, and if she didn't study hard, she could only end up doing manual labor like them in the future.
Chen Yanxi had been obedient and quiet since childhood. Unlike other children, she wasn't lively, active, or mischievous. Whatever her parents told her to do, she obediently carried it out.
Later, as she scored perfect marks on exam after exam and ranked first time after time, she could solve the math problems that tormented other children at a single glance.
She could even fully understand many topics that her teachers had never taught simply by reading the textbook once.
These unusual performances gradually made Chen Yanxi's parents realize that their child might be more than just a little smart.
She was much smarter!
They felt that since Heaven had gifted them such a talented child, they couldn't allow that talent to go to waste!
At this point, Grandpa Liu, the security guard, let out a scornful laugh. "What a load of crap about not wasting her talent. They make it sound as if they cherish little Yanxi. The two of them clearly just want to use little Yanxi's talent to turn their lives around, escape their class, and rise into the heavens in one bound!"
Grandpa Liu went into great detail about this because Chen Yanxi's parents didn't just enjoy showing off her grades. They also loved showing off their parenting methods.
When showing off Chen Yanxi's grades, they wore expressions of reproach. When showing off their parenting methods, their faces were full of pride.
It was as if Chen Yanxi's excellence and high scores were entirely their achievement.
At first, Chen Yanxi's parents had felt sorry about spending money on tutoring classes and hadn't enrolled her in any. But after realizing that she was talented, they arranged every kind of tutoring class for her, filling all her free time and leaving not a moment unoccupied.
Would Chen Yanxi be willing to accept that?
Of course not. She had tried to protest.
But was it useful?
No.
"You don't want to attend tutoring classes? Then don't eat."
"You eat our food and drink our water, so you have to listen to us. When you stop spending our money, then it'll be your turn to call the shots."
"Study hard in your tutoring classes. Only then can you earn big money and have the final say in your own life. Understand?"
"We're doing this for your own good."
"Studying is the only way forward. You have to study hard. Don't end up like us."
"Your mom and dad have been useless all our lives. We're counting on you to bring honor to us."
"We worked ourselves to the bone raising you this far. You have to listen to us, study hard, and repay us. Understand?"
"We're all doing this for your own good."
"..."
I gave birth to you and raised you. I'm doing this for your own good, so I can place myself above your thoughts and order you around;
I gave birth to you and raised you. I'm doing this for your own good, so I get to plan your life and bind your hands and feet.
No matter what, a child could never win a struggle against their parents.
The result of refusing outright was being beaten and cursed at, then forcibly sent to tutoring classes.
So little Chen Yanxi could only passively accept that kind of life.
No time to rest, no time for entertainment, no time to socialize. All she had were endless tutoring classes and never-ending problems to solve.
"Damn it, even if you raise an ox to plow the fields, you still have to let it rest properly. You can't work it to exhaustion. But those two damn animals didn't leave little Yanxi a single moment to rest. They're fucking beasts."
Grandpa Liu, who had farmed in the countryside when he was young, cursed furiously.
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