Someone Else's Child

Chapter 33: Other People's Children

Hearing Zhao Jincheng's surprised exclamation, Xue Wenhui also looked over and saw the words "Accounting" clearly displayed.

"This is after the adjustment. If it were based on my grades, I wouldn't have been admitted to a Martial Arts Academy."

Zhao Rui quickly explained when he saw their expressions.

Zhao Jincheng and his wife understood a little, but they knew that getting into Dongqi University was a good thing.

They immediately stopped dwelling on the major and excitedly called friends and relatives to share the good news.

To be honest, Zhao Rui hadn't seen any of these relatives since regaining his past life memories.

However, family matters are the same everywhere. Their large family got along relatively well.

Zhao Jincheng had three brothers. The eldest was in business, a small boss with tens of millions in assets.

He ran a contract manufacturing shoe and hat factory and a wood processing plant.

The second eldest was Zhao Jincheng, an ordinary office worker in the financial industry. While not wealthy, he had enough to live comfortably.

As for the third, he was impressive: a Level Seven Martial Artist, a member of the County Martial Arts Association, and a shareholder in multiple companies.

Of course, that wasn't the main point. The main point was that he had a son, Zhao Rui's cousin, who was only sixteen, the same age as Zhao Ke.

He was already a Level Five Martial Artist, a top ten student in the county.

Where there are people, there is naturally a world of their own, and family matters are no different from worldly disputes.

However, to put it simply, it was nothing more than things like fawning over the high and stepping on the low.

Zhao Rui was doing alright. After all, he was previously a Level 3 Martial Artist. While not outstanding, he was still in the Martial Artist sequence. With future university studies and gradual development, he could manage.

But his younger brother, Zhao Ke, was not well-received, often suppressed and bullied by his cousin.

His father was incompetent, and he himself lacked talent.

Wasn't this a perfect candidate to be a punching bag!

Even during every gathering, his uncle's children would mock him.

This made his younger brother Zhao Ke deeply dislike so-called family gatherings.

Thinking back now, Zhao Rui even suspected if his younger brother was the protagonist from those novels he read in his past life.

—A fallen family son with no Martial Way cultivation, who one day received the Martial Way, kicked his Level 3 Martial Artist brother, pushed aside his Level 5 Martial Artist cousin, slew campus bullies, and won over Yaru...

Cough cough!

No wonder his brother held such resentment and was determined to cultivate the Martial Way.

Anyone would feel indignant in his place.

Lost in thought for a moment, Zhao Rui looked at his brother with a different kind of emotion in his eyes.

Poor brother!

While lost in his thoughts, Zhao Jincheng handed his phone to him.

"It's your third uncle calling!"

Zhao Rui took the phone and called out, "Third Uncle!"

"Congratulations, Xiao Rui. Reaching Level Four by graduation shows you've put in the effort. Third Uncle is very happy..."

On the phone, Zhao Rui's third uncle, Zhao Jinze, said with a smile.

"Thank you, Third Uncle. Come visit us when you have time. I haven't seen Xiao Di in a while!"

"Ah, he lost to someone last time and has been holding a grudge. He's been in seclusion all summer. I'll talk to him later, and we'll come visit for a couple of days."

"Okay, Third Uncle!"

After a brief chat, Zhao Rui returned the phone to his father.

Human relationships are complex; it's not so easy to distinguish good from bad.

It's just that some are closer than others, and affection varies from person to person!

The entire morning, Zhao Rui's family was immersed in joy. It wasn't until past ten o'clock that Tian Yaru called. Only then did he quickly ride his bicycle over.

No matter how happy he was, he couldn't stop earning money!

In a short while, he arrived at the entrance of Tian Yaru's villa. A Toyota Alphard he hadn't seen before was parked at the entrance.

After locking his bike in a corner by the wall, Zhao Rui walked into the villa courtyard.

As soon as he pushed open the entrance door, he saw Tian Yaru rush towards him with a happy expression. Without a word, she grabbed his backpack and pulled him towards the study.

"You're finally here! You're delaying my studying. I'll deduct your pay later!"

The little girl's words left Zhao Rui bewildered. His gaze swept across the living room.

He saw quite a few people sitting in the living room. Besides Tian Muhao and his wife, there was another couple with a girl about Tian Yaru's age.

Zhao Rui greeted the employer couple before Tian Yaru dragged him into the study.

Tian Muqiang watched this scene and awkwardly apologized to his guests, "We've spoiled her rotten. She has no manners at all!"

"It's fine, being eager to learn is a good thing." The male host on the opposite side responded with a smile, and casually added, "That young man just now?"

"Oh, he's a tutor I hired. The young man teaches quite well!"

Ms. Song explained with a smile from the side.

"Oh, that's great. We should get one for our Yi Yan too..."

The man looked at the girl beside him and said with a smile.

"Yaru is so good at studying, and she's a Martial Way genius. Unlike our Yaru..."

The group continued to chat along these lines.

In the study, Tian Yaru's cherry lips curled up, and she withdrew her small head from the door with a displeased expression.

She pouted, "They say the same things every time they visit. I'm so sick of it. Their daughter is a genius, what does that have to do with me... damn it!"

Tian Yaru's pretty face flushed. She took a sip of her fragrant tea and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Can you stay a little later today? I'm afraid they'll ask us to stay for lunch."

"Sure!"

Zhao Rui readily agreed. "But I'll need extra payment!"

"Shame on you!"

Tian Yaru immediately made a rude gesture at Zhao Rui.

Although the gesture was not very elegant, to be fair, the little girl's fingers were slender and long, like white scallions. Her pale pink nails were trimmed round and were extremely beautiful.

"Let's start class quickly. I'm starting school soon."

Zhao Rui ignored her and took out a used notebook from his schoolbag, preparing to teach her.

"Huh? You got your acceptance letter? When does school start?"

"It's here. School starts on September 1st, less than two weeks away."

"Oh!"

As soon as the young girl heard this, she pouted her rosy lips, her two shallow dimples appearing at the corners of her clean mouth.

"What? You don't want me to leave?"

Zhao Rui smiled slightly.

"Brother, you're so thick-skinned. I mean, when you start school, I'll have to start school too! Humph!"

Tian Yaru glanced at Zhao Rui out of the corner of her eye. Her coquettish look carried a hint of charm that made one's heart tremble.

"Haha! Alright, let's start class!"

Who doesn't like beautiful things!

Zhao Rui gestured for her to take the seat in front of the desk and then began to teach her in a serious manner.

An hour passed without them realizing it.

Just as the two were engrossed in discussing their studies, the study door was knocked.

Tian Yaru asked crisply, "Who is it?"

"Yaru, it's me, Yi Yan!"

A slightly lazy and hoarse voice, like an unripe green plum, came from outside.

"What do you want? I'm studying!"

Upon hearing this voice, Tian Yaru immediately pouted, her cute little nose furrowed slightly, looking unhappy.

She was like a little girl who hadn't grown up.

"Auntie said for you to take a break and come out for some fruit!"

"Got it!"

Tian Yaru replied indifferently, with no intention of opening the door.

The other person probably knew her temper and turned to leave for the living room after speaking.

A moment later, Aunt Song knocked and entered with a plate of cut fruit.

Behind her followed a young girl with smiling eyes and a lazy posture.

She was likely the girl Tian Yaru had mentioned.

"Why are you studying so diligently today? Even if you don't eat, Zhao Rui should, right!"

Aunt Song smiled as she placed the fruit plate in a corner of the desk, speaking softly.

As she spoke, the young girl behind her looked at Tian Yaru with her bright eyes, a half-smile on her face.

Tian Yaru snorted coldly, too lazy to look at her expression.

"Let's study for a while longer, then come out for dinner. Zhao Rui, you too!"

After putting down the fruit plate, Aunt Song said to Tian Yaru and Zhao Rui with a smile.

"No, Auntie..."

Zhao Rui quickly refused upon hearing this. He was fine with having more time to study, but he didn't need to stay for dinner.

However, before he could finish speaking, Tian Yaru elbowed him hard and cut in, "Mom, Zhao Rui ge is staying for dinner. You guys can go out first!"

After saying that, she turned her head and shot Zhao Rui a meaningful look.

Her eyes seemed to speak, conveying threats one moment and pleading the next.

"Then I'll trouble you, Auntie!"

Seeing this, Zhao Rui no longer refused and agreed with a smile.

"No need to be so polite!"

"You young people chat!"

Aunt Song finished speaking and turned to leave the study. However, the girl following behind her didn't leave. Instead, she leisurely examined the textbooks on the desk.

"What are you still doing here? I still need to study!"

Tian Yaru flipped over the books on the desk, shielding them, and huffed.

"You have to call me 'sister'!"

The girl said unhurriedly, reaching out and pressing down on the desk. Tian Yaru immediately felt as if she'd been struck by lightning, her body trembling as she sprang away from the table.

"You!"

"I don't care what you're studying. Remember to call me 'sister' at dinner!"

The girl's lips curled into a smile, and she swaggered out of the study.

"Hmph, I'm so angry! She always bullies me with her Martial Arts!"

As Tian Yaru spoke, her eyes began to redden, and two clear springs gradually gathered in the depths of her eyes. Crystal tears were about to fall.

"Alright, stop pretending. I won't help you even if you keep it up!"

Zhao Rui reached out, flipped the textbooks back on the table, and said irritably.

"Hmph, you're annoying!"

Tian Yaru immediately dropped her wronged expression, sighed, and said, "She's a Level 5 Martial Artist. You might not be able to beat her."

Zhao Rui ignored her, picked up his textbook, and continued to help Tian Yaru with her problems.

"So boring!"

Seeing that Zhao Rui was unmoved, Tian Yaru had no choice but to listen to the lesson attentively.

Time quickly passed, and it was past twelve o'clock when Aunt Song knocked on the study door, asking Tian Yaru and Zhao Rui to go to the dining room for dinner.

Tian Yaru reluctantly left the study with Zhao Rui and headed to the dining room.

The dining room was very large, with a huge rectangular dining table in the center laden with many dishes.

There were ingredients from the land and the sea, prepared with great care. Zhao Rui had never seen many of the dishes.

Tian Muqiang and his wife were already seated at the dining table with their guests.

"Come, come! Little Zhao, don't be shy at Auntie's house!"

Seeing her daughter and Zhao Rui arrive, Aunt Song immediately got up and enthusiastically invited Zhao Rui to take a seat. After all, he was not only her daughter's tutor but also the junior disciple of her own friend.

It was only right and proper for him to join them for a home-cooked meal.

Zhao Rui didn't hesitate. Since he had decided to stay, he might as well eat with a good appetite.

After thanking her, he sat down in his seat.

"I'll sit next to Zhao Rui ge!"

Seeing Zhao Rui take his seat, Tian Yaru quickly sat down in the seat next to him.

"This child!"

Tian Muqiang smiled indulgently and then signaled for everyone not to be formal and to eat freely.

The two families seemed to be very familiar with each other, and there wasn't much formality. They ate and chatted.

After a short while, the conversation turned to the girl who was visiting.

It turned out that the girl was also taking the Gaokao this year, but she had applied to Dongqi Martial Arts Normal University.

"Zhao Rui ge is from Dongqi University!"

Hearing the parents bragging about this "sister" again, Tian Yaru couldn't help but chime in teasingly.

"Dongqi University?"

The girl, named Yi Yan, looked at Zhao Rui with a look of surprise.

"Of course, I know your Zhao ge is smart. Otherwise, why would I have him tutor you! You need to learn from him properly!"

Aunt Song heard her daughter's words and knew she was throwing a small tantrum. She couldn't help but warn her.

Tian Yaru pursed her lips and didn't interject further. Instead, she lowered her head with an indignant expression and started pushing the food around in her bowl.

As if sensing his daughter's displeasure, Tian Muqiang stopped talking about studies and began to share some interesting stories from the business world.

Zhao Rui listened attentively, broadening his knowledge while diligently eating the food on his plate.

After all, the meal wasn't cheap, and it tasted quite good too.

Who knew when his next grand feast like this would be?

He would absolutely refuse to pay for it himself.

No one drank alcohol, so the meal was finished quickly. Soon, everyone left the dining table and went to the living room for tea.

Zhao Rui sat for a short while before getting up to leave.

He didn't expect the young girl named Yi Yan to proactively take out her phone, wanting to add him on WeChat.

She said they would be attending school in the same city, so they might as well know each other.

"Brother Zhao Rui is busy, he doesn't have time for you!"

Tian Yaru quickly grabbed Zhao Rui's arm, pulling him outside.

Zhao Rui gave the girl an apologetic smile before letting Tian Yaru drag him away.

Once outside the villa grounds, Tian Yaru released Zhao Rui's arm and said, "Brother Zhao Rui, that girl is really scheming. Don't add her!"

Zhao Rui swung his leg over his bicycle and looked at Tian Yaru, smiling as he said, "I don't have any interaction with her, so it doesn't matter if I add her or not. I'm leaving now, study hard at home."

With that, he rode his bike out of the residential area.

Five days passed in a flash, and the celebratory banquet Zhao Rui was hosting for his Gaokao success finally began.

Both of Zhao Rui's parents' extended families would basically come to Lincheng.

Zhao Jincheng felt honored by Zhao Rui's excellent results, so he gritted his teeth and booked a banquet at a local five-star hotel.

Although the cost was high, the service was indeed excellent!

The hotel handled many things in advance, so there was no need for them to exert themselves.

Tonight, visiting relatives and having a few drinks made the update a bit late, apologies.