"It's just a stupid competition, I can't even get a ranking, and he keeps nagging me all day long," Feng Shuang casually spat out her chewing gum, sticking it to the wall, and continued nonchalantly, "He's so old and he still worries every day, isn't he afraid of overworking himself to death?"

“But my parents listen to him without question. I just don’t understand. He’s just a high school principal. He’s been a high school principal his whole life,” Feng Shuang said bluntly. “He has a lot of students all over the world. What does it matter to him if those students are brilliant? He’s still just a principal. He’s useless.”

Hearing this, Ruan Chen couldn't help but frown.

Ruan Chen held Feng Yuankai in high esteem.

Not only her, but many of Feng Yuankai's students were the same.

Take Zeng Han's case as an example. Feng Yuankai's attitude has always been neutral and fair. He did not use any means to erase Zeng Han's relationship with No. 1 Middle School in public opinion. Instead, he openly admitted that No. 1 Middle School had made a mistake in recruiting talents.

In fact, if he wanted to, his connections could completely extricate No. 1 Middle School from the public opinion storm.

On the contrary, as Ruan Chen later learned, Feng Yuankai used some of his connections, but not for Zeng Han or No. 1 Middle School. Instead, he asked the media to minimize Ruan Chen's information and not expose her too much to the public eye.

Ruan Chen was grateful.

That's why she felt a vague discomfort when she heard Feng Shuang's contemptuous and disdainful tone when describing Feng Yuankai.

She subconsciously quickened her pace, leaving Feng Shuang and Yao Na a few steps behind.

"Ruan Chen".

As soon as the distance between them increased, Feng Shuang's face darkened.

Ruan Chen sighed inwardly. Old He meant well, but he was really making trouble for himself.

Feng Shuang quickly caught up with Ruan Chen, forcefully grabbing her shoulder. He looked at Ruan Chen with a rather aggressive expression, his eyes unblinking, and sneered, "What, are you upset about that old man? You skip classes, are late, and miss exams without any problems. That old man must have been taking care of you a lot behind the scenes, right?"

Ruan Chen's frustration was reaching its peak. She suppressed her temper with great patience and said calmly, "It's alright. Generally, if there's a valid reason, closing the school won't be difficult."

Feng Shuang smiled and raised her fingertips to stroke Ruan Chen's face. "You're good-looking, he should like you a lot."

This statement not only questions Feng Yuankai's character but also humiliates Ruan Chen.

"I remember you're Principal Feng's granddaughter, right? He seems to care a lot about your grades."

"I need him? I'd be grateful if he just stayed out of it. By the way, let me tell you, don't expect me to help you in this competition either. Nana has her own things to do, so you'd better be sensible."

Ruan Chen really wanted to slap Feng Shuang right there, but for Feng Yuankai's sake, she held back. She simply shook off Feng Shuang's hand indifferently, didn't even glance at her, and tried to leave quickly and return to the classroom.

As she shook off Feng Shuang, Feng Shuang erupted.

"Ruan Chen, who the hell do you think you are? All you're good at is your grades. What else do you have besides grades? You're just an illegitimate child. Your parents don't want you anymore. You're an orphan now! What are you doing acting so arrogantly here?!"

Ruan Chen stopped, somewhat troubled and quite seriously considering whether there was really something wrong with her.

Otherwise, why would trouble keep coming to you on its own, never ending?

Just then, the office door next to them opened, and the old man looked at them, his gaze lingering on Feng Shuang for a moment.

Ruan Chen was closest to the old man, so she was the only one who saw the disappointment in Feng Yuankai's eyes at that moment.

She felt somewhat guilty.

The door opening at this moment was not a coincidence; this corridor was not the only way back to the classroom, and Ruan Chen had deliberately brought Feng Shuang here.

Feng Shuang was engrossed in criticizing her grandfather at the time and did not notice that Ruan Chen had led her down a somewhat roundabout route.

Ruan Chen noticed something interesting: Yao Na didn't point it out, but quickly caught up after a slight deviation in her steps.

Ruan Chen also knew that Feng Yuankai usually took a lunch break in his office. At this time, he had just woken up and would make a round of inspections up and down the stairs.

The corridor where Feng Yuankai's office is located is the office area, which is quiet. Feng Shuang's voice is so loud, he will definitely hear it.

Feng Shuang also saw Feng Yuankai coming out, and instinctively took a step back, calling out "Grandpa" with some fear.

"I told you not to call me that at school."

Feng Yuankai heard everything, but his expression remained natural, as if he knew nothing at all.

"...Grandpa...Hello, Principal." Feng Shuang knew that Ruan Chen had tricked her, and she was furious, but she couldn't show it on her face at the moment, so she greeted him respectfully.

Feng Yuankai nodded, signaling them to return to their classes, but he only said to Ruan Chen, "You stay."

In the principal's office, Ruan Chen expertly brewed two cups of tea, one for each person.

"I asked Lao He to arrange it."

Ruan Chen's sense of guilt vanished completely.

"I should have brewed that 13,000 yuan bag of black tea," Ruan Chen shrugged. "I was thinking of saving you money, and you just send me this trouble?"

Feng Yuankai waved his hand dismissively, “If you like that bag of black tea, take it with you and drink it slowly later. I really have no choice. Feng Shuang has been very rebellious since she entered high school. She spends all day playing games and surfing the internet. Last month, her grades dropped to 300th in the grade. To be honest, the only reason she can stay in the top class is because of my old face.”

Ruan Chen remained noncommittal and did not express any opinion.

“If she continues like this, it will be difficult for her to get into university. I can’t force knowledge into her brain, so I’m thinking of having her participate in more high-level competitions to see if she can get lucky or maybe she’ll turn over a new leaf and start studying.”

Feng Yuankai's tone was full of apology, "Ruan Chen, I really have caused you trouble."

Ruan Chen was startled by his apologetic tone, stood up and waved her hands repeatedly, "School closure, I was just talking nonsense. If it weren't for your help, given my attendance and absence rates, No. 1 Middle School would probably have expelled me long ago."

"At least you have a conscience. You don't need to worry about Xiao Shuang during the competition, just focus on your own results—I just wanted to broaden her horizons. It's just that you deliberately brought her here earlier, and I'm afraid she'll make things difficult for you with her personality."

At this point, Ruan Chen couldn't help but ask, "Did you know?"

Ruan Chen brought Feng Shuang over so that Feng Yuankai would know.

She didn't want him to be kept in the dark.

Feng Yuankai sighed deeply, neither saying he knew nor that he didn't, but simply said softly, "They're all my own children, I can't just watch her ruin herself, can I? Ruan Chen, if Feng Shuang does anything to you in class, don't hold back, don't worry about me."

"Alright, I'm relieved to hear that."