The college entrance exam followed the usual routine.
The Chinese language test started at 9:00 AM.
This year, Qing City used the National Volume III exam papers. Unlike previous years, the difficulty level was exceptionally high. The Chinese test was manageable, but when it came to math—
Ye Shaohua could hear a girl sobbing quietly in the back row.
She finished the smaller problems first before tackling the major ones, mentally calculating how her Class 13 students would fare.
The first big problem was a solid geometry question. The initial sub-questions were straightforward, but the second and third parts required advanced thinking, even touching on calculus concepts usually taught in university.
If the first problem was this tough, the subsequent ones—like the spatial geometry question—were even worse.
Anyone with slightly weaker spatial reasoning or problem-solving skills would be completely lost. Many students wrote a single “Solution:” before giving up, some even breaking down in tears.
After finishing, Ye Shaohua began estimating how far her classmates could get.
A difficult exam had its advantages.
It sharply distinguished the high achievers from the average. Scores would be polarized—some would soar to unbelievable heights, while others might barely scrape 30 or 40 points, far below passing.
This exam was designed to widen the gap, with most scores clustering around 400.
Ye Shaohua finished in just over an hour.
By then, some had already left the exam hall—mostly those who gave up halfway, leaving entire sections blank.
Deciding her early exit wouldn’t pressure others now, she packed her stationery.
The invigilator assumed she, like the others, had surrendered to the impossible paper. But when he flipped her answer sheet, he paused.
First, her handwriting was strikingly elegant—the kind that would earn bonus points from any grader.
Second, every major problem was fully solved.
Though he taught sophomore year, he recognized legitimate work when he saw it.
No. 1 High student? No wonder.
Yun Yi didn’t leave like most parents. He waited under the shade of the trees outside the gate.
Though the exam wasn’t officially over, many had already emerged.
Ye Shaohua noticed a girl sitting on the ground crying, her parents crouched beside her, murmuring soft reassurances.
For some reason, the sight made her pause.
“It was too hard! The math was impossible!” the girl wept.
Yun Yi spotted her and immediately strode over, placing a baseball cap on her head to block the sun. “How’d our kid do?”
His palms were sweaty.
Mid-exam, rumors spread about a student fainting inside. For the first time in his life, he’d felt nervous.
What if she came out crying?
But she just took a sip of water, unfazed. “It was alright.”
Yun Yi almost laughed.
Of all the distraught faces around them, how was she the calmest?
…..
After the final English exam the next day, Ye Shaohua finally answered Ye Guofu’s call.
His business deal couldn’t be interrupted, but upon confirming she was safe, he’d worked overtime to wrap things up—just to call her the moment her exams ended.
At the school gate, he inevitably noticed Yun Yi.
His face darkened.
He had zero interest in hearing the man introduce himself. Grabbing Ye Shaohua’s wrist, he practically shoved her into the car.
Even if the guy looked polished—even vaguely familiar—it didn’t matter.
His precious daughter, who was usually ice-cold toward him, had smiled at this stranger?
His cabbage was being nibbled by some wild boar.
No way was he smiling back.
On the drive home, Ye Guofu finally spoke, tone odd. “Your stepmother… gave birth.”
“Oh.” Ye Shaohua showed no reaction.
After countless lifetimes, she was used to waking up surrounded by strangers. Only one person ever felt familiar.
Harboring hostility toward a newborn was impossible.
As for Ye Yun? She wouldn’t get off so easily.
Ye Guofu, however, was guilt-ridden. “I’ve made them move out. Yang Qin and Ye Yun won’t bother you again.”
He didn’t even mention Yang Qin’s “fall.”
He wasn’t blind—he’d never doubt his daughter.
The Ye family staff acted like nothing had happened.
The butler, dressed in a bright red shirt, greeted Ye Shaohua warmly.
Ye Yun descended the stairs with her luggage, smiling as if all were normal. “Welcome back, little sister.”
Ye Guofu gave a noncommittal grunt.
“Miss, you’re home!” The butler beamed, taking her bag. “The master cooked personally to celebrate the end of your high school years.”
“Graduating is worth celebrating,” Ye Yun agreed sweetly.
Ye Guofu puffed up with pride. “She asked me on the way home whether S University or B University is better!”
Ye Yun kept smiling but inwardly sneered.
Three years of skipping class and brawling, and now she’s picking between elite schools?
She couldn’t wait for the results in ten days.
Let’s see how hard she slaps her own face then.
