Chen Yanxi's living conditions were far worse than Wang Ge had imagined.
It wasn't just that she had so many cram classes to attend. Her parents' methods of educating her were also extremely strict.
If she did poorly on an exam, she was either beaten or scolded. Otherwise, they would wear sorrowful expressions and say that she was unfilial.
Even if she did well, there was no praise or reward. It was always, "You still have a long way to go. Keep working hard next time."
"You should've seen the look on Chen Yanxi's mother's face when she bragged to me. She was so smug, saying that she did this so Little Yanxi wouldn't become arrogant and could continue improving... To hell with that! At the time, I really wanted to slap her across the face."
"Really, Little Wang, Little Yanxi's life is worse than that cow back in my hometown. That couple has completely treated her like a cash cow..."
"What a wonderful child she is. Growing up in that kind of environment, she can still be smart and sensible, care about others, and be polite... But if this continues, that child will be ruined by those two sooner or later. She'll be ruined by those two sooner or later..."
"I want to help her. I really want to help her. But this is someone else's family matter. Other than cursing them a few times here, what else can I do? I can't do anything. I can't do anything!"
The image of Grandpa Liu pouring alcohol into his mouth as tears nearly streamed down his face echoed in Wang Ge's mind. He gazed from afar at the building where Chen Yanxi had disappeared and stood there for a long time.
It was hard to imagine what Chen Yanxi's mental state was like. To avoid developing a psychological disorder in such an oppressive environment was already quite an achievement.
Even if she didn't have any psychological problems now, as Grandpa Liu had said, if things continued like this, Chen Yanxi would be ruined by her parents sooner or later. She would become numb, turn into a tool for her parents to make money, and degenerate into a puppet.
Countless thoughts collided and reverberated in his mind. In the end, he sighed, did nothing, and silently left the residential compound.
What could he do?
As Grandpa Liu had said, this was someone else's family matter. At most, he, Wang Ge, could be considered one of Chen Yanxi's suitors. He wasn't even her boyfriend. What right did he have to interfere in someone else's family affairs?
"System."
Wang Ge suddenly spoke. "Do you have any way to help her? Is there anything you can do to help her?"
This was the first time he had actively sought the system's help since obtaining it.
"Host, there is no need to worry."
The system's distinctive electronic voice rang out in Wang Ge's mind. "Host, do not forget that Chen Yanxi has been certified by this system as the most outstanding girl in the host's region.
"Wasn't Gu Panyan's situation extremely dire in the past as well? She was only fourteen at the time, yet she easily broke out of that predicament through her own abilities while protecting herself.
"Please trust that Chen Yanxi, who is even more outstanding than Gu Panyan, will certainly do better than Gu Panyan."
After hearing the system's words, Wang Ge recalled the eyes hidden behind Chen Yanxi's large-framed glasses. They seemed to remain calm forever, and he suddenly understood.
What filled her eyes was calmness—the calmness of having everything under control—not numbness that meant she no longer cared about anything.
That was right. How could he have forgotten? Chen Yanxi was a monster.
Would someone as outstanding, clear-headed, and rational as her willingly allow herself to become a puppet? Would she numb herself and accept such an outcome?
The answer was obvious. She absolutely wouldn't.
With this thought, Wang Ge's mind suddenly cleared, and he found several doubts he hadn't noticed before.
Given the extent of Chen Yanxi's monstrosity, she should have been able to skip grades all the way to USTC's gifted youth class long ago, right?
Yet she hadn't done so. Instead, she had chosen to advance one grade at a time in a regular manner.
She was hiding her abilities!
Why was she hiding her abilities?
Of course, it wasn't for something like pretending to be weak so she could surprise her enemies.
It was because she had a scheme!
Wang Ge was utterly certain. Based on what he had learned about Chen Yanxi over the past several days, she definitely had some kind of scheme!
She must be secretly planning something. It was just that the circumstances were stronger than she was. Living under someone else's roof, she could only endure patiently and bide her time.
Perhaps, when the time was right, Chen Yanxi would do something that shocked everyone.
After reaching this conclusion, Wang Ge let out a long breath, and his entire body relaxed.
Then, he couldn't help laughing at himself. What on earth had he been worrying about just now? Chen Yanxi was such an incredible person. Did she really need him to worry about her?
Whatever. Time to go home!
He took a taxi home, washed up, and played games for a while.
Feeling a little bored, he thought for a moment and decided to go bother that schemer, Chen Yanxi.
"I miss you, Xixi."
He sent Chen Yanxi a message on VX, but she didn't reply for a long time.
At this hour, she was probably being forced by her parents to do problems, right?
Wang Ge didn't mind. Since Chen Yanxi wasn't replying, he would go find someone else.
So he turned around and went to bother Gu Panyan instead.
"What are you doing, babe? Do you miss me?"
Not long afterward, Gu Panyan replied:
"I miss you so much I'm practically dying."
Several photos of math problems followed right after.
"I can't do them. Teach me," she said.
Wang Ge couldn't help laughing. He found his notebook and a pen, then immediately video-called Gu Panyan.
The call connected, and Gu Panyan's classic oval face appeared on the phone screen.
She was wearing a black nightgown and seemed to have just showered. Her long black hair hung damply over her shoulders, her cheeks were flushed with a fair glow, and her peach-blossom eyes blinked softly, making her extraordinarily alluring.
"You look beautiful today," Wang Ge praised.
Gu Panyan rolled her eyes at him. "Cut the nonsense. Hurry up and explain the problems."
"You really don't know how to appreciate romance."
Wang Ge muttered, aiming his phone at his notebook. Holding the pen, he wrote and explained, "This problem isn't actually difficult. It's just a little complicated. Mainly, it tests your mastery and application of this theorem..."
After explaining every problem in detail and waiting for Gu Panyan to fully digest the knowledge, she left him with, "I don't miss you anymore. I'm hanging up," and the video call ended with a beep.
Wang Ge: "..."
Damn, she really had no manners!
He opened the chat window and indignantly sent messages accusing her of being heartless:
"You treat me like a tool and throw me away as soon as you're done with me, huh? You couldn't even be bothered to say one more sentence to me!"
"You really are a cold-blooded creature without any feelings!"
"In the end, my love was misplaced..."
Before he could finish typing the last sentence, Gu Panyan sent over a photo.
The photo seemed to have been taken casually. She was still wearing the same black nightgown, and a pair of fair, straight, long legs extended from beneath it.
The shape of her legs was beautiful, their proportions perfect, slender and long, without a trace of excess flesh. Even with Wang Ge's experience from living two lifetimes, he couldn't find the slightest flaw.
They were legs capable of driving countless leg enthusiasts wild.
Along with the photo came three words: "Do you like them?"
Wang Ge swallowed, thinking that he was a dignified seven-foot man, the second young master of Wang Corporation, and a flower of the motherland's future. How could he bow his head for a pair of long legs?
So he replied righteously, "I like them."
"I'll let you touch them next time."
Wang Ge stared at the five words on his phone screen for a long time, then sneered.
Did she think this would be enough to buy me off? How laughable!
A true man's ambition should be like the Yangtze River, rushing eastward toward the sea. Why cling to a land of tender beauty?
He replied with great righteousness:
"Sister Yan, you go ahead and keep busy. I'll get lost now. I'll be gone in a second."
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