Chapter 91 (Combined with Chapter 91)

Ninety-one:

The discussion ended, and the temporary group discussing whether Ye Qingxi should skip a grade was temporarily disbanded.

Mu Feng and Mu Zheng were about to discuss official business.

Mu Shaoting went to ask Aunt Zhang what she wanted to eat tonight.

As for Ye Qingxi, she didn't rush to find Qin Cheng, but instead turned around and went back to Mu Feng's bedroom.

Cotton Candy saw him and followed him with small, bouncy steps.

Ye Qingxi was in a good mood, so she picked it up and carried it to Mu Feng's bedroom.

He sat on a recliner on the balcony of Mu Feng's bedroom, holding his kitten, looking out at his own amusement park.

I felt an indescribable joy.

This was an experience Ye Qingxi had never had before.

Never before had he sat down with his family like this, discussing his future calmly and rationally, and debating what decisions to make.

Each time, it was because his parents had already made the decision.

Every time, he couldn't express his opinion, and even if he did, it wouldn't be adopted; nobody paid any attention to it.

But today, he sat in the conference room with Mu Zheng and the others, discussing his thoughts on whether he should skip a grade.

There are people listening to everything he says, and people offering him answers.

Ye Qingxi felt that this feeling was absolutely wonderful!

He is not incapable of accepting rebuttal, rejection, or denial.

He knows, of course, that he is young and sometimes his thinking is not comprehensive, so he can accept criticism and opinions.

He just hoped that the other party could respect him, discuss things properly with him, and not talk about his affairs while ignoring his feelings, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"That's wonderful," Ye Qingxi thought. "His family is wonderful now."

We won't stop him from speaking just because he's only five years old.

They wouldn't disregard his words just because he's only five years old.

They are equal, at least when discussing his future, each of them is equal, and each has the right to speak and be heard.

The unpleasantness caused by skipping grades was instantly erased in this moment, replaced by a new, unique, and delightful joy arising from this wonderful meeting.

He loves the feeling of them sitting together and discussing things; he absolutely loves it!

For once, Ye Qingxi wanted to share his joy and feelings with someone.

Mu Shaowu called at that moment.

He really didn't understand why he had to skip a grade, or why he couldn't skip a grade anymore.

So after Mu Zheng hung up, he called Ye Qingxi directly, since Ye Qingxi was the key figure in this matter.

Ye Qingxi answered the phone and said with a smile, "Dad."

"So happy?" Mu Shaowu couldn't help but laugh as well. "It seems you really don't want to skip a grade."

"Yes." Ye Qingxi replied without hesitation.

Mu Shaowu asked him, "So what's going on with you? How come you're skipping a grade so soon after I left?"

Ye Qingxi hugged the cat, nestled in the recliner, and told him what had happened while petting the cotton candy.

Mu Shaowu was shocked, "Goodness, baby, you really are a little genius!"

"No, no," Ye Qingxi said somewhat embarrassedly. "My grandfather taught me those things before."

"Your grandfather?!" Mu Shaowu was even more shocked. "Your grandfather's early education was way too early and too profound!"

Ye Qingxi thought to herself, "Otherwise, how should I explain it?"

Fortunately, with Mu Feng, the president of Ye Min's fan club, the Mu family members were clearly influenced by him. So much so that when Mu Shaowu heard this, he was only shocked that Uncle Ye truly understood the importance of starting education from childhood.

He never doubted whether Ye Min would teach Ye Qingxi knowledge that was so advanced for his age. Could he really teach Ye Qingxi everything before he left?

"Are you kidding? That's his esteemed Uncle Ye! What can't he do?!"

His dad said that Uncle Ye can do anything! He's good at everything! He's incredibly skilled at everything! There's nothing Uncle Ye can't learn if he doesn't want to!

Teaching kids is a piece of cake for Uncle Ye!

“Then you can stay in your current class, baby. It’s perfect. I think your classmates are all pretty good.”

Going to school is about learning knowledge, but it's also about getting along with others. The character of your classmates is actually quite important.

Otherwise, given Ye Qingxi's young age, what if the fourth graders bully him because they are older and taller than him?

Children need to spend time with their peers to have normal social interactions.

Mu Shaowu thought Ye Qingxi's current class was pretty good. Not to mention anything else, when he participated in the sports meet, the sports committee member who looked fierce but was actually very gentle was a nice person. He would even secretly tell him that Ye Qingxi liked him and that he should treat Ye Qingxi well.

Mu Shaowu was satisfied with the decision, so he did not appeal and requested a second trial for Mu Feng and Mu Zheng.

As Ye Qingxi listened to his words, she felt her happiness rising like bubbles, growing higher and higher with each bubbling.

He couldn't help but whisper, "Dad, I'm so happy."

Mu Shaowu was surprised; Ye Qingxi rarely expressed her feelings so directly.

He softened his tone, as if coaxing a child, "Because you don't need to skip grades?"

Ye Qingxi scratched the kitten's ears and shook her head, "Because you all listen to me."

He said, "Grandpa listens to me, my uncle and aunt listen to me, and Dad, you listen to me too, so I'm very happy."

Mu Shaowu smiled. He thought Ye Qingxi was indeed a precocious and sensitive child.

He has his own ideas and hopes that others can hear them.

He certainly cares about whether or not he skips a grade, but what he cares about even more is the care and love the other person shows him.

Mu Shaowu keenly sensed that it was blooming little by little. The flower branches trembled, and the buds opened gently, like cicada wings, bit by bit, thinly.

Ye Qingxi would never have told him these things before.

They were physically close, but not emotionally close, so he subconsciously protected himself and hid himself away.

But now Ye Qingxi is slowly opening herself up.

He spoke to him about what was deep in his heart, about his feelings, and about what he cared about.

Mu Shaowu was very happy, and along with his happiness came a sense of pride and accomplishment.

His father chose him from among many children to be Ye Qingxi's father. The two had never met before; they were forced into this situation, one becoming the other's father and the other becoming the other's son.

His father was worried, and so was he.

Raising a child is not an easy task. Mu Shaowu's friend raises a cat. He watched his friend get up early every day to feed the cat and clean its litter box. If the cat ate too much, it would have soft stools; if it ate too little, it wouldn't gain weight. In spring and autumn, it would vomit, have diarrhea, and gastroenteritis. Sometimes, even when they had made plans to go out, his friend would send photos of the sick kitten and say that he couldn't go because he had to stay home to take care of the cat.

Cats are much more independent than children. They don't even need to go to school or socialize. They won't suffer from mental health falling behind their physical health if you're not careful.

Raising children is not an easy thing.

Raising them well is even more difficult.

But now, Mu Shaowu feels that he seems to have taken good care of Ye Qingxi.

They seem to have taken good care of this most precious treasure that others entrusted to them out of trust.

He is growing well, Mu Shaowu believes, and one day, Ye Qingxi's layers of petals will slowly bloom, revealing his nectar-filled pistil, rolling freely in his arms.

He definitely can.

Ye Qingxi can definitely do it too.

They can definitely do it!

After the midterm exams ended, the homeroom teacher issued a notice for a parent-teacher meeting.

Ye Qingxi and Qin Cheng's parent-teacher conferences were not on the same day, so Ye Qingxi called Mu Zheng and asked him to attend the conference.

But Mu Zheng had someone more suitable in mind.

For this reason, Mu Zheng even held a small meeting with him.

He sat on the sofa with Ye Qingxi and said to him gently, "I think you can have your uncle open it for you."

Ye Qingxi: ? ? ? Huh?

“He’s been unusually diligent lately, and you did well on the test again. The teacher will praise you, so let him go. Let him sit in the parents’ section and experience the atmosphere of the parent-teacher conference. Maybe it will have some impact on him.”

As Mu Zheng spoke, she reached out and put her arm around him. "Of course, if you don't think that's a good idea, then I'll go instead."

"Of course your uncle is willing and wants to attend your parent-teacher conference. It's just that it's a rare opportunity, and you've always been very concerned about your uncle's studies. Your uncle also likes you very much, so I think it's worth a try. What do you think?"

Ye Qingxi felt that it might indeed be possible.

“Alright then,” he agreed.

Mu Shaoyan's midterm exams are coming up soon, and attending his parent-teacher conference would be a great opportunity for him if it could have a positive impact on him.

and……

They didn't invite Mu Shaoyan to the meeting about him skipping a grade, and he didn't find out until he got home that night. He was so jealous that he spent the whole night about it.

He'd probably be happier if we let him attend his parent-teacher conference now.

"Should you go and talk to him, Uncle, or should I?" Ye Qingxi asked him.

"Wow." Mu Zheng patted his head. "Good boy."

Ye Qingxi smiled. He thought his uncle was very well-behaved, like a patriarch, always caring about everyone in the family.

When Mu Shaoyan heard Mu Zheng tell him that he should attend Ye Qingxi's parent-teacher conference as a parent, he was stunned for several seconds.

"Aren't you going?" he asked. "Aren't you the one who loves attending parent-teacher conferences the most?"

Mu Zheng: ...

Mu Zheng felt there was something wrong with what he said.

"What do you mean I'm not the one who loves attending parent-teacher conferences the most?"

“That wasn’t my parent-teacher conference, it was Mu Shaoting’s. You were the one who organized it.”

Mu Zheng: ...

"You want me to go? Dad doesn't have any objections?" Mu Shaoyan looked at him. "Dad isn't going?"

Mu Zheng: ...

Mu Zheng sighed helplessly, "Shao Yan, Dad is already sixty, not in his twenties, thirties, or forties. Although he doesn't look very old and still holds some positions in the company, he is still this age. As his children, we shouldn't let him work so hard anymore, do you understand?"

Mu Shaoyan: ...

Mu Shaoyan fell silent, a rare occurrence for him.

“Of course,” Mu Zheng said, “if you don’t want to…”

"Who said I'm unwilling!" Mu Shaoyan quickly interrupted him, "How could I be unwilling? I just... I just..."

Mu Shaoyan lowered his head. "I thought Dad would want to go to Xiaoxi's parent-teacher conference."

Mu Zheng looked at his younger brother and said to him in a good-natured manner, "Of course Dad wants to go."

“But if any of us go, he will let us go, and would even prefer us to go.”

"Because he's old."

“If he were twenty-six years old this year, he would never have registered Xiaoxi under Shaowu’s name and let Shaowu be his father. He would be his own father and take care of everything for Xiaoxi. But he is sixty years old, so he would prefer that Xiaoxi be closer to us and that we give more affection to Xiaoxi, because he has limited time to spend with him, and we are the ones who can truly watch him grow up.”

“Especially you,” Mu Zheng said. “You are only thirteen years older than Xiao Xi and twelve years younger than me, his older brother. You will be the one who can spend the most time with him among all the elders.”

Mu Shaoyan was stunned.

He had never thought that far ahead.

He just felt that his dad really liked Ye Qingxi, and Ye Qingxi's grades were so good, so he would probably want to attend Ye Qingxi's parent-teacher conference.

Or perhaps, they might feel that he, with his current poor grades, doesn't deserve to attend Ye Qingxi's parent-teacher conference.

He never expected that his father, or rather his brother, would have such thoughts.

At this moment, Mu Shaoyan suddenly realized that he had been very willful in the past.

It's a waste of time.

He was so preoccupied with his own unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and resentment that he forgot his father was no longer young.

"I understand," Mu Shaoyan said. "When is Xiaoxi's parent-teacher conference? I'll go then."

Mu Zheng then told him the time.

After he finished speaking, he was about to leave when he suddenly heard his younger brother ask him, "What should I wear to the parent-teacher meeting? Do I need to prepare a speech in advance? Xiaoxi did so well on the test, the teacher won't suddenly ask me to speak, will she?"

Mu Zheng: ...

Mu Zheng could only reply, "No need."

"Just take it easy, there's no need to be nervous."

However, how could Mu Shaoyan possibly remain calm!

This was his first time attending a parent-teacher conference as a parent! And it was Ye Qingxi's parent-teacher conference!

After Mu Zheng left, Mu Shaoyan couldn't help but start choosing clothes. He rummaged through his wardrobe, thinking, "This one won't do, it's not formal enough. This one won't do either, it's too childish. This one still won't do, it doesn't make me look like a proper person."

After much deliberation, Mu Shaoyan finally chose the suit that Mu Zheng had given him on the day he turned eighteen.

Very good, very formal, very handsome and stylish.

On the day of the parent-teacher conference, Mu Shaoyan, dressed in his bespoke suit, appeared elegantly at the door of Ye Qingxi's classroom.

Ye Qingxi: !!

Ye Qingxi was shocked. "Uncle, I sent you to the parent-teacher conference! Not to walk the red carpet!"

Boys and girls passing by: "Wow~"

"So handsome~" A child secretly exclaimed in a low voice as he passed by Ye Qingxi.

Mu Shaoyan instantly became even more proud, his peacock tail practically sticking out.

Ye Qingxi: ...

Ye Qingxi thought it was okay. Although it was a bit too formal, it was indeed quite handsome.

As soon as the homeroom teacher reached the classroom door, she saw someone sitting in Ye Qingxi's seat.

A young, very handsome man!

But... this is clearly not the same parent she met before!

head teacher:……

She said she felt Ye Qingxi's family situation was very confusing, right?

She must visit their home when she has time!

The homeroom teacher walked into the classroom and stepped onto the podium.

Mu Shaoyan was sitting in Ye Qingxi's seat when he suddenly felt that the light next to him had dimmed. He looked up and found that it was Pei Ying.

Good heavens!

Why is it him who came to Pei Liang's parent-teacher conference!

"Hello, Uncle Pei," Mu Shaoyan said politely.

Pei Ying was even more surprised than him.

He thought it would be Mu Feng who came this time. "Why didn't your dad come?"

"My father is getting old, so we younger generation members will handle these matters on his behalf," Mu Shaoyan said modestly.

Pei Ying nodded, "You are indeed filial."

Mu Shaoyan: ...You absolutely mustn't let his dad hear this, his dad won't agree!

Mu Shaoyan smiled, looking obedient and compliant.

Once most of the parents had arrived and it was time for the parent-teacher meeting, the homeroom teacher closed the door and began the meeting.

Mu Shaoyan sat up straight and listened intently, so intently that Pei Ying could hardly believe this was his old friend's unambitious youngest son!

So, when the parent-teacher meeting ended and Mu Shaoyan was about to leave, Pei Ying called him back.

He said, "Xiao Xi did very well on the exam this time."

Mu Shaoyan said proudly, "I did well on the exam."

"When your dad was in school, he repeated a year and did very well on the college entrance exam."

Mu Shaoyan: ? ? ?

Why are you suddenly bringing this up?

Mu Shaoyan nodded. "Mm."

"Your older brothers and sisters are also doing very well in their studies."

Mu Shaoyan: ...I understand, they're targeting him.

"Shaoyan, I know what you're thinking. You think that because your family is rich, whether you study or not, and how well you do on the college entrance exam, doesn't really matter to you."

“What you’re thinking isn’t a big problem, but Shao Yan,” Pei Ying said gently, “you need to know that your father was able to rank in the top ten in the city in the college entrance examination, which means that your father actually values ​​this aspect very much and hopes that his children can be like him.”

“Your older brother and sister have already done it. You all have the same parents and the same genes. You are no less capable than them. As long as you want to, you can definitely do it too.”

He glanced back at Pei Liang and Ye Qingxi's desks, his voice soft and gentle, "Shaoyan, when you were little, your father was just like this, just like you are now, sitting in a small classroom, holding parent-teacher conferences for you."

Mu Shaoyan paused for a moment, then heard him say, "You hope Ye Qingxi will have a good future, that she will be number one in her class when she was young, and that she will be number one in her class when she grows up, just like him."

"When he sat in your seat, he must have hoped that his child would be just as outstanding now, and would always be just as outstanding."

Mu Shaoyan listened quietly.

Time seemed to be blown away by the wind that entered the classroom, revealing a small corner that he had almost forgotten and kept hidden for a long time.

That happened when he was very, very young.

At that time, the teacher was holding a parent-teacher meeting in the class. He didn't leave, but instead leaned against the window and looked at his father inside.

His father, such a tall man, sat on his small chair, looking somewhat cramped, yet he sat with great presence and upright posture.

Some parents around him were talking or busy playing on their phones, but his father listened quietly to the teacher's speech, ignoring everyone and not replying to any messages.

He's so busy; he's President Mu.

But his phone never rang.

Those past scenes gradually surfaced before his eyes, like sand paintings, filled with wind and sand.

Mu Shaoyan lowered his head, using silence to conceal his true feelings.

Pei Ying patted his shoulder and encouraged him, "There's still a year left, keep going."

Mu Shaoyan nodded and sincerely said, "Thank you."

"What are you saying? You are your father's son, and I watched you grow up. Your father is a proud and arrogant man. You think his children are all outstanding, but what parent doesn't think that way? Now that you are a parent yourself, you should be able to understand this feeling, right?"

Mu Shaoyan nodded.

He truly understands.

If one day Ye Qingxi suddenly stopped studying properly, skipped classes every day to fight, dyed her hair, got tattoos, smoked and drank, Mu Shaoyan would find it terrifying just thinking about it!

He's going to break down!

I'll be at a loss!

I want him to get back on the right track, but I don't know how to do it!

They would wish they could shorten their own lifespan by three years just so he could return to school.

Mu Shaoyan suddenly realized that his father had actually had a tough time too.

Not only his father, but also his brother.

Over the past year, they have been able to accept their sudden downfall with a clear mind, rationality, and even emotional stability.

I neither forced him to control me, nor did I ignore or verbally abuse him.

No matter how you look at it, this is something that not everyone can do.

"How much must she love him?" Mu Shaoyan exclaimed.

How painful it must be for them.

At this moment, Mu Shaoyan fully matured.

All the complaints, resentments, and grievances he once felt vanished in that moment.

He finally understood how cruel his past actions had been to his father, brothers, and those who loved him.

He finally understood why his brother had asked him to attend this parent-teacher conference.

He graduated from his second year of middle school, along with his past struggles and confusion.

Mu Shaoyan politely said goodbye to Pei Ying, took a car home, and realized that the midterm exams were in three days. He needed to seize the time to review and try his best to get a score that he could be proud of.

When Ye Qingxi saw him return, she quickly ran over to see what his teacher had said.

Before he could even finish speaking, Mu Shaoyan picked him up and kissed him passionately for a while.

Ye Qingxi: ...

After Mu Shaoyan had absorbed enough spiritual energy, he looked up and kissed him on the cheek. "Baby, you have to take good care of yourself when you grow up!"

Never be like him!

Ye Qingxi: ? ? ? Huh?

"Thank you!" Mu Shaoyan said, then kissed him on the cheek before reluctantly putting him down and turning to immerse himself in the ocean of knowledge.

Ye Qingxi: ...

"Alright," Ye Qingxi nodded. Although she didn't know why he suddenly said those things, it seemed that this parent-teacher meeting had some effect on Mu Shaoyan. That was good.

Keep it up, Uncle!

Two days before the midterm exams, Duan Yi gave Mu Shaoyan two papers: one for science and one for math.

Mu Shaoyan answered very seriously, and Duan Yi explained to him in detail one by one the mistakes he made.

The day before the midterm exams, Duan Yi handed him a list of all the necessary materials for each subject, telling him to cram at the last minute and memorize them thoroughly.

Moved, Mu Shaoyan hugged him tightly: "If I improve after this exam, I'll give you a raise."

Duan Yi: ...

Duan Yi felt that his salary was definitely going to increase.

Mu Shaoyan ranked last in his class and grade in the last exam. With so much room for improvement, he could easily make great strides forward with just a few strokes of his pen.

On the day of the midterm exam, Ye Qingxi personally took Mu Shaoyan to school, holding his hand and saying, "Uncle, I'm passing on my good luck to you. You'll definitely get good grades too."

Mu Shaoyan's heart softened completely, and he hugged him and kissed him passionately.

After the kiss, he got out of the car nonchalantly and headed to the examination hall.

He met his former high school classmate in the examination room.

Mu Shaoyan was shocked. "What are you doing here?"

Even the worst student in their class got into the top class!

How did we end up in the same exam room now?

Did he skip class too?

His classmate naturally remembered him as a prominent figure. He scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and said, "I had something to do at home last month, so I couldn't take the exam. That's why I'm in this exam room this time."

Mu Shaoyan nodded, "That's what I was thinking."

He sat down in his seat, rubbing his hands together, eager to try.

The first subject was Chinese, and Mu Shaoyan answered very well.

Second place went to mathematics, and Mu Shaoyan instantly felt deflated.

Next up is the combined science exam. It's so hard! Mu Shaoyan cursed inwardly as he wrote: Who are you trying to kill by making it this difficult!

Then came English. Mu Shaoyan finally breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he had been learning English since elementary school and had a pretty good foundation!

After two days of exams, Mu Shaoyan felt like he was on a rollercoaster, his mood fluctuating with the questions. But thankfully, it was only the first semester of his senior year, and he still had time.

Mu Shaoyan thanked Ye Qingxi once again.

Thank goodness, thank you to his little nephew for saving him.

Two days later, the midterm exam results were gradually released.

The ranking list was released near the end of the afternoon.

Feeling uneasy, Mu Shaoyan took advantage of the fact that no one was in front of the ranking list and pretended to be passing by, glancing at it casually.

You've made progress!

You've made a lot of progress!

This time, ten people in his class actually did worse than him. But that's not the point. The point is that he improved his ranking by nearly 300 places in the grade!

Mu Shaoyan was overjoyed!

The little devil in my heart is jumping three feet high.

He took out his phone, took a picture of the ranking list, and sent it to Ye Qingxi.

Mu Shaoyan: [I've improved!!!]

Ye Qingxi was shocked when she saw the ranking list he sent!

Wow, you've improved so much!

Ye Qingxi: [Uncle is amazing! Uncle, you're incredible! I knew you could do it!]

Mu Shaoyan felt a surge of joy upon hearing his words.

Hehe, he's improved.

Hehe, if he improves by another 300 places in the next monthly exam, he can achieve a significant rise in his class ranking!

Mu Shaoyan felt that his future was incredibly bright.

However, while he thinks this way, some people don't.

Looking at Mu Shaoyan's score on the ranking list, He Guang felt there was something wrong with it no matter how he looked at it.

How could someone improve so much all at once?

How could this not be cheating?!

Mu Shaoyan is the kind of person who has no morals and no bottom line, so cheating should be something that he can do without any burden or effort.

In particular, when He Guang discovered that Mu Shaoyan's classmate from the first year of high school was sitting behind him during the midterm exam.

The other student is in the top class and has good grades.

It's suspicious that Mu Shaoyan did well on the exam now, when he could have done it earlier or later.

That evening, after returning home, He Guang anonymously posted on the school forum: "I heard from a friend that Mu Shaoyan seems to have improved his ranking a lot this time. Could he have cheated?!"