Someone Else's Child

Hearing Zhao Jincheng's surprised voice, Xue Wenhui looked over too. Sure enough, the three big characters "Accounting" were printed at the top.

"This is what I got after being reassigned. With my grades, I wouldn't have gotten into a Martial Arts Academy."

Seeing their reaction, Zhao Rui hurriedly explained.

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

They immediately stopped worrying about his major and excitedly called their friends and relatives to share the good news.

To be honest, ever since he'd regained the memories of his previous life, Zhao Rui hadn't seen any of these relatives.

But every family had its share of domestic squabbles. Overall, his extended family got along fairly well.

Zhao Jincheng had two brothers. The eldest was in business, a small-time boss with assets worth tens of millions.

He ran a shoe-and-hat factory that handled outsourced production, as well as a wood-processing factory.

The second brother was Zhao Jincheng, an ordinary office worker in the financial industry. He wasn't rich, but he had enough to eat and drink.

As for the youngest, he was impressive: a Level Seven Martial Artist, a member of the county's Martial Arts Association, and a shareholder in several companies.

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

He was already a Level Five Martial Artist, one of the county's top ten students.

Wherever there were people, there were rivalries. Even family gatherings could be a battlefield.

But to put it plainly, it was mostly a matter of currying favor with the powerful and looking down on the weak.

Zhao Rui had it better. He'd already been a Level 3 Martial Artist, so although he wasn't outstanding, he was still among the martial artists. He could take his time and improve in college; that was good enough.

But his younger brother, Zhao Ke, wasn't treated so well. Their cousin often bullied and put him down.

His dad was useless, and he had no talent of his own.

Wasn't he just born to be a punching bag?

Whenever they got together, their older cousins from their uncle's family would join in and mock him.

That made Zhao Ke hate these so-called family gatherings.

Thinking about it now, Zhao Rui wondered if his younger brother was the kind of protagonist he'd seen in novels in his previous life.

A down-and-out family scion with no martial arts cultivation who suddenly receives a divine gift of martial arts, kicks his Level 3 Martial Artist brother's ass, steamrolls his Level Five Martial Artist cousin, cuts down the school bully, and wins Yaru's heart...

Ahem!

No wonder his younger brother had so much pent-up resentment and was so determined to train in martial arts.

Anyone would feel indignant in his shoes.

Zhao Rui's thoughts wandered for a moment, and when he looked at his younger brother, his eyes held a touch of something different.

Poor kid!

While he was lost in thought, Zhao Jincheng held out his phone.

"It's your Third Uncle!"

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

"Congratulations, Xiao Rui. Reaching Level Four by the time you graduated took hard work. Your third uncle is very happy for you..." Zhao Jincheng's younger brother, Zhao Jinze, said with a laugh over the phone.

"Thank you, Third Uncle. Come visit us sometime! I haven't seen my little cousin in ages!"

"Him? He lost to someone last time and hasn't been able to let it go. He's been in seclusion all summer. I'll talk to him later and have him come spend a couple of days at your place."

"Okay, Third Uncle!"

After chatting for a couple of minutes, Zhao Rui handed the phone back to his father.

Family ties were complicated. It wasn't easy to sort out who was good and who was bad.

Some were simply closer than others, and affection was a matter of personal preference.

All morning, Zhao Rui's family basked in their happiness. Then, a little after ten, Tian Yaru called. He hopped on his bike and hurried over.

He was happy, sure, but he still had to earn money!

Before long, he arrived outside Tian Yaru's villa. A Toyota Alphard he'd never seen before was parked at the entrance.

He locked his bike by the wall near the gate and walked into the villa's courtyard.

As soon as he pushed open the entryway door, Tian Yaru came over with a delighted look. Without a word, she grabbed his backpack and dragged him toward the study.

"You're finally here! You've already made me fall behind on my revision. I'm docking your pay later!"

Her words left Zhao Rui baffled. From the corner of his eye, he glanced around the living room.

There were quite a few people sitting there. Besides Tian Muhao and his wife, there was another couple with a girl about Tian Yaru's age.

Zhao Rui had only just greeted his employers when Tian Yaru had already pulled him into the study.

Watching them, Tian Muqiang gave the family across from him an apologetic smile. "I've spoiled her rotten. She has no manners at all!"

"It's fine. It's good that she loves studying," the man opposite him replied with a smile. Then he asked casually, "The young man just now...?"

"Oh, he's the tutor we hired. He's quite good at teaching," Ms. Song explained with a smile.

"Oh, that's nice. We should find one for Yi Yan too," the man said with a smile, turning to the girl beside him.

"Yi Yan's such a good student and a martial arts prodigy. How can she compare with our Yaru...?"

The group kept chatting about the subject.

In the study, Tian Yaru pursed her cherry-red lips in annoyance and pulled her little head away from the door.

She grumbled, "Whenever they visit, it's always the same thing. I'm sick of hearing it. Their daughter's a genius—what the hell does that have to do with me?"

Tian Yaru blushed. She stuck out her pink tongue and quickly changed the subject. "Can you stay a little later today? I'm worried they'll stay for lunch."

"Sure!" Zhao Rui agreed readily. "That'll cost extra!"

"Shame on you!"

Tian Yaru immediately flashed him a middle finger.

The gesture wasn't very elegant, but there was no denying that the girl's fingers were long and slender, like white scallions. Her pale pink nails were neatly rounded and very pretty.

"Let's get to the lesson. I'm starting school soon."

Zhao Rui ignored her, pulled out the notebook he'd used before from his backpack, and got ready to teach her.

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

"I did. Classes start on September first, less than two weeks from now."

"Oh!"

The girl pursed her red lips in displeasure, making the two shallow dimples at the corners of her fair mouth stand out.

"What? Can't bear to see me go?"

Zhao Rui smiled faintly.

"Brother, you're so full of yourself. I was thinking that when you start school, I'll have to go back too, okay? Hmph!"

Tian Yaru glanced sidelong at Zhao Rui. Her coquettish expression carried a bewitching charm that made his heart quiver.

"Haha! All right, let's get to the lesson!"

Who didn't like beautiful things?

Zhao Rui led her to the chair at the desk and began teaching in a serious, methodical way.

Before they knew it, an hour had passed.

Just as the two were absorbed in discussing their studies, someone knocked on the study door.

Tian Yaru called out brightly, "Who is it?"

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

A slightly lazy, husky voice came from outside, a young woman's voice as green and tart as an unripe plum.

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

At the sound of that voice, Tian Yaru immediately pouted, her cute little nose wrinkling as she sulked.

She looked like a little girl who hadn't grown up at all.

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

"Got it!"

Tian Yaru answered flatly, clearly with no intention of opening the door.

The other girl probably knew what she was like. After speaking, she turned and went back to the living room.

A little while later, Aunt Song came in carrying a plate of sliced fruit. Behind her followed a girl with smiling eyes and a languid posture.

She was probably the girl Tian Yaru had mentioned.

"Why are you studying so seriously today? Even if you don't want any, Zhao Rui should have some, shouldn't he?" Aunt Song said gently with a smile, setting the fruit plate down at the corner of the desk.

As she spoke, the girl behind her gazed at Tian Yaru with bright eyes, her pretty face wearing an ambiguous smile.

Tian Yaru gave a cold snort and couldn't be bothered to look at her.

"Study a little longer, then come out for lunch. Zhao Rui, you should join us too!" Aunt Song said with a smile after setting down the plate.

"No, Auntie..." Zhao Rui hurriedly declined. He was happy to stay longer for the lesson, but there was no need to eat with them.

But before he could finish, Tian Yaru jabbed him hard with her elbow and cut in, "Mom, Brother Zhao Rui is staying for lunch. You can go out first!"

Then she turned and gave Zhao Rui an emphatic look.

Her eyes practically spoke: first threatening him, then pleading with him.

"Sorry to trouble you, Auntie!" Seeing her expression, Zhao Rui stopped refusing and accepted with a smile.

"Don't be so polite!"

"You youngsters can chat!"

After speaking, Aunt Song turned and left the study. But the girl behind her didn't go. Instead, she leisurely examined the textbooks on the desk.

"Why are you still here? I have to study!" Tian Yaru flipped the books over and shielded the desk. She huffed.

"You should at least call me big sister!"

The girl spoke unhurriedly and pressed a hand down on the desk. Tian Yaru jolted as if struck by lightning, then bounced away from it.

"You!"

"I can't be bothered to look at what you're studying. Remember to call me big sister at lunch!"

The girl's lips curled in a faint smile, and she sauntered out of the study.

"Hmph! She's so annoying. She always uses martial arts to bully me!"

As Tian Yaru spoke, her eyes reddened. Two clear pools slowly gathered in them, and sparkling tears looked ready to spill over.

"All right, quit the act. Even if you keep it up, I'm not going to step in and help you," Zhao Rui said crossly, turning the textbooks on the desk back around.

"Hmph, you're awful!" Tian Yaru immediately dropped her pitiful expression and sighed. "She's a Level Five Martial Artist. You might not be able to beat her."

Zhao Rui paid no attention. He picked up the textbook and continued helping Tian Yaru with her problems.

"You're no fun!"

Seeing that Zhao Rui wasn't moved, Tian Yaru had no choice but to listen to the lesson properly.

Before long, it was a little past twelve. Aunt Song knocked on the study door and told Tian Yaru and Zhao Rui to go to the dining room for lunch.

Only then did Tian Yaru reluctantly leave the study with Zhao Rui and head for the dining room.

The dining room was spacious, with a huge rectangular table in the middle, laden with all kinds of dishes.

Some came from the fields, others from the sea. The cooking was quite elaborate, and Zhao Rui had never seen many of the dishes before.

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

"Come, come! Xiao Zhao, make yourself at home!" Seeing her daughter and Zhao Rui arrive, Aunt Song immediately stood up and warmly invited him to sit. After all, he wasn't only her daughter's tutor; he was also the junior fellow apprentice of a good friend.

In every respect, it was only right to invite him to a home-cooked meal.

Zhao Rui didn't stand on ceremony. Since he'd decided to stay, he might as well enjoy the meal.

After thanking them, he sat down.

"I'll sit next to Brother Zhao Rui!" Tian Yaru followed close behind and took the seat beside him.

"That girl!" Tian Muqiang smiled indulgently, then gestured for everyone to dig in and make themselves at home.

The two families seemed very familiar with each other, so they didn't exchange many pleasantries. They chatted as they ate.

Before long, the conversation turned to their young guest.

It turned out that the girl had taken the Gaokao that year too, but she'd applied to Dongqi Martial Arts Normal University.

"Brother Zhao Rui got into Dongqi University, you know!"

Hearing the adults praise this "big sister" again, Tian Yaru couldn't help making a pointed remark.

"Dongqi University?"

The girl called Yi Yan looked at Zhao Rui, visibly surprised.

"I know your Brother Zhao is a good student. That's why we asked him to tutor you! You should study hard with him," Aunt Song warned when she heard her daughter speak. She knew Tian Yaru was being difficult again.

Tian Yaru pursed her lips and said nothing more. She lowered her head in displeasure and pushed the food around in her bowl.

As if he noticed his daughter was unhappy, Tian Muqiang stopped talking about studying and started telling them some interesting stories from the business world instead.

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

After all, the dishes weren't cheap, and they tasted quite good, too.

After this meal, who knew when he'd get to enjoy another feast like it?

There was no way he'd pay out of his own pocket to buy a meal like this.

Nobody had been drinking, so they finished eating quickly. Before long, they left the table and headed to the living room to resume drinking tea.

Zhao Rui sat for a little while, then stood up to say goodbye.

To his surprise, the young girl called Yi Yan took out her phone and offered to add him on WeChat.

She said they'd be studying in the same city from now on, so they might as well get to know each other.

"Brother Zhao Rui is busy. He doesn't have time to bother with you!"

Tian Yaru hurriedly grabbed Zhao Rui by the arm and dragged him toward the door.

Zhao Rui gave Yi Yan an apologetic smile, then let Tian Yaru pull him away.

Once they were outside the villa compound, Tian Yaru released Zhao Rui's arm and said, "Brother Zhao Rui, that girl's got a nasty streak. Don't add her!"

Zhao Rui swung onto his bicycle and looked at Tian Yaru with a smile. "I don't have anything to do with her, so it doesn't matter whether I add her or not. I'm off. Study hard at home."

With that, he rode out of the neighborhood.

Another five days flew by, and the celebratory banquet Zhao Rui was throwing for his Gaokao results finally began.

Relatives from both sides of Zhao Rui's family had mostly made it to Lincheng.

Zhao Rui had done so well on the Gaokao that Zhao Jincheng felt proud, so he steeled himself and booked a banquet at a local five-star hotel.

The cost was high, but the service really was excellent!

The hotel had taken care of so many things in advance. They didn't need to lift a finger.

We had relatives over tonight and had a little to drink, so this update is a bit late. Sorry!