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She could actually have been discharged on the third day after surgery, but Shen Wan wanted to be safe and kept her there for a few more days. She stayed at the hospital with her throughout, and together they finished a melodramatic TV series, discussed the plot, and went for walks. Life settled back into a warm, peaceful rhythm.

During that time, the system acted as though it had never appeared.

Shen Baili had never expected to rely on the system anyway. Rather than worry about an unknown future, she would make the most of the present.

Life did not change much when they returned to the Xie Residence. Her stepfather and second-eldest Xie brother still had not come home, while her eldest Xie brother left early and returned late. Their schedules never overlapped, so they hardly saw one another.

With only Shen Baili and Shen Wan at home, life was much as it had been before.

Every day, she read, watched anime, and walked outside for an hour or two. Her wound was healing well, but she still had to watch what she ate. The worst part—worse even than the pain—was that she couldn't take a bath!!!

She could only wipe herself down with a damp towel to keep water from getting into the wound and causing an infection.

Whenever Shen Baili suggested a bath, Shen Wan shut the idea down. No amount of wheedling worked. Her daughter's health was a line she would not cross.

At last, the two weeks were over. After her bath, Shen Baili felt refreshed, as though she had come back to life.

Her high school entrance exam results were out, too.

Her total score ranked first in her school and twenty-eighth in the city, with perfect scores in math and English.

The prize money was hers!

Shen Wan was overjoyed. "Suìsuì, you're amazing. You've always been Mom's pride."

"My daughter came first in her school and twenty-eighth in the whole city!"

Shen Baili's eyes curved with her smile. "I inherited my mom's brilliant genes. Hee-hee!"

Shen Wan stroked her head, her heart aching for her. "Our Suìsuì worked so hard."

Her daughter had not said a word about what she had gone through along the way.

Butler Lin watched the two of them with a smile. "Congratulations, Miss Baili and Madam," he said sincerely.

Butler Lin thought highly of Shen Baili. Few adults disliked a polite child who did well in school.

Shen Baili beamed. "Thank you, Uncle Lin."

"Shall we hold a party to celebrate Miss Baili's exam results?" Butler Lin asked. "You could invite your friends over."

Butler Lin meant well, but Shen Baili declined. "No need. My friend has gone back to her hometown."

She was not particularly close to her middle school classmates, and her only good friend had left Haicheng because of a change in her parents' jobs.

Shen Wan respected her daughter's wishes and offered another idea. "Then we won't have a party. Mom will give you a big cash gift instead."

"Thanks, Mom!" Shen Baili hugged her in delight. "You're the best!"

Shen Wan's eyes brimmed with affection. "You little charmer."

"I want the seafood noodles you make!" Shen Baili promptly put in her order.

"All right," Shen Wan agreed.

"And beef patties."

"Sure, I'll make those too." Shen Wan was happy to indulge her.

"And I want spicy stir-fry!!!" Shen Baili looked at Shen Wan hopefully.

"Not that one. You can't eat it yet." Shen Wan pressed a finger to her forehead, refusing to be swayed.

Shen Baili drooped. "Okay."

"I could make it without the chili or Sichuan pepper. Would you like that?" Shen Wan softened, though only a little.

Shen Baili flopped onto the sofa. "How is that any different from boiled vegetables?"

"I'll wait until my wound heals. It's only another two months, right?" She clenched a fist and gave herself a pep talk. "I can do this."

She needed to stay healthy to do everything she had to do. She had to take good care of herself.

"All right. When the time comes, we'll go to the food street and have a feast," Shen Wan relented.

Shen Baili's eyes lit up. "It's a deal."

She held out her pinkie. Smiling, Shen Wan hooked hers around it. "It's a deal."

That afternoon, a new visitor arrived at the Xie Residence.

Both Shen Wan and Shen Baili knew him. They had met Assistant Li a few times before. He was one of Xie Chengyue's trusted aides, a graduate of a prestigious university whose ability at work had earned him his boss's high regard.

Assistant Li had come on an errand from his boss. After a polite exchange of greetings, he got straight to the point. "Miss Baili, congratulations on your excellent exam results. My boss was delighted to hear the news, but he couldn't leave an important meeting, so he specifically asked me to come..."

Xie Chengyue did not have time to keep track of his stepdaughter's every update. His team of assistants did that and passed the news along to him, after which he gave instructions.

The man himself had not come, but he had sent a gift.

Assistant Li took out a gift box and a bank card and pushed them toward Shen Baili.

"These are my boss's gifts to congratulate Miss Baili on entering high school. The card contains three million yuan: two million as a reward for your exam results, plus one million for this month's living expenses."

"Your living expenses will be deposited on the first of every month from now on," Assistant Li added. "This is the standard allowance for members of the Xie Family. Young Mr. Xie and Second Young Master Xie receive the same."

Shen Baili instinctively looked at her mother. Numbers that large barely seemed like money anymore.

Shen Wan gave a gentle smile, neither servile nor arrogant. "Take it. It's a gift from your Uncle Xie. Remember to call and thank him later."

Shen Baili picked up the bank card from the coffee table. Only then did it sink in: was she a little rich lady now???

Seeing that they had accepted it, Assistant Li breathed a sigh of relief. He liked talking to sensible people. There was no need for the arguments he had prepared.

"One more thing. My boss is very concerned about Miss Baili's education."

Assistant Li thoughtfully handed them two documents containing detailed information about two schools.

Haicheng No. 1 High School was the best public school. Nearly every year, the city's top college entrance exam scorer came from there. Its proportion of students admitted to the country's top universities far outstripped the competition, and every student qualified for undergraduate admission. It was the dream high school of many students and parents.

Nanya International High School was an exceptionally strong private school. Its board members were wealthy or powerful, as were its students. The students themselves were valuable connections, and most went on to apply to Ivy League universities abroad rather than compete with millions of other candidates for a narrow path to admission.

Ranking List

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Transmigration into a Book

Wish-Fulfillment Fiction

Rich CEO

Supporting Female Character Fiction

Time Travel and Rebirth Romance

Pumpkin Vine

Mind Reading

Beloved by All