Chapter 82 IF Line (1): If the baby wasn't switched at birth.
September is the start of the school year.
High schools across the country welcomed a new batch of students, mostly around 15 or 16 years old, who are entering puberty.
They smoothly transitioned from junior high school, curiously looking around at where they would be spending the next three years. Finally, everyone's gaze fell on a luxury car parked at the school gate.
To be honest, luxury cars and sports cars are nothing special in Beijing, where land is incredibly valuable. The important thing is the people who get out of the cars.
With long legs, he stepped out of the car, his posture upright, possessing the strength and beauty of an adult, while also retaining the naivety of a youth.
Unlike the newly arrived freshmen who wore all sorts of different outfits, the boy was wearing a tailor-made shirt uniform.
I'd guess he's a senior in his second or third year of high school.
The crowd moved about, whispering amongst themselves, and a few words inevitably escaped the ears of those nearby.
“I saw him on the honor roll, Song Moyan, a senior from Class 1 of Grade 11.”
"That's true, he's much better looking in person than in photos."
"I heard that his grades are also very good, and he always gets first place."
...
Song Moyan's appearance caused quite a stir.
But soon, everyone's attention shifted to the little boy behind him who had just gotten off the bus.
The boy was short, at most ten years old, and had not yet entered the developmental stage.
His eyes were exceptionally beautiful, especially when he smiled. His smile was bright and sunny, without a trace of gloom. As if infected by his smile, seeing those eyes would sweep away all bad moods.
So much so that when he called out "brother" to Song Moyan, the people around him didn't really react.
Until this little boy, who was five or six years younger than them, walked into the school building with them, sat in the same classroom, and introduced himself in a voice that had not yet gone through puberty: "Hello everyone, my name is Song Yunqing."
"Song Yunqing! Song Moyan's younger brother!"
"Hey! Get your priorities straight, Song Yunqing, the legendary student who skipped grades."
"What the hell? How did I end up in the same class as him?"
...
The crowd immediately erupted in uproar.
If Song Moyan was a model student who consistently ranked first and excelled in both character and academics, then his younger brother was a nightmare who stood above all the top students.
He skipped grades all the way up and started high school at the age of ten.
"I heard he has already completed high school studies."
"Then why are you even in the first year of high school?"
"Let's just go through the motions."
Indeed, it was just a formality.
In less than two years, Song Yunqing achieved three consecutive jumps and sat in the same classroom as her own brother.
The only word to describe it is "horrible".
He also has an exceptionally good temper. If anyone has a question they don't understand, just bring a small cake and he'll explain it to you thoroughly.
It's impossible to hate them.
Apart from Song Moyan.
"Brother Song, your brother surpassed you again in the monthly exam."
Looking at his ranking on the monthly exam list, Song Moyan didn't even glance at the people who were teasing him, and walked away without looking back.
It was at this time that their relationship underwent a subtle change.
After school, Song Moyan no longer walked home with his younger brother, or rather, he didn't want to walk with him, even though Song Yunqing was chasing after him, panting heavily.
"Brother, wait for me!"
Song Moyan kept his head down and walked faster and faster.
Even at home, I would turn away as soon as I saw him.
Song Yunqing was puzzled and couldn't understand what was going on. Did her brother hate her?
Recently, they have been ignoring his existence.
"Xiao Qing, what's wrong? Didn't you like dinner?" Lin Wenting gently stroked his head.
Song Yunqing wanted to tell her about her brother, but then shook her head.
"Since it's not, then finish it properly and don't waste it." Lin Wenting put another piece of his favorite shrimp on his plate. "It's the time when you're growing taller, so you can't be picky about food. Eat less dessert too, or you'll get cavities and ruin your teeth."
"All right."
Song Yunqing hugged the bowl and finished eating the shrimp she had peeled herself.
Feeling very full, I took a small carton of yogurt upstairs. When I got to the second floor, I heard an angry shout coming from the study.
"Is this your test score? It's even worse than last time!"
"You're not even worth a single finger of your brother's!"
"Yes! I am no match for him." After enduring for a long time, Song Moyan could no longer hold back. "You only have him as your son, and only he is worthy of being your son. What am I?"
"You! You've gone too far! How dare you talk to your old man like that!"
A crisp slap reached Song Yunqing's ears through the slightly ajar door.
Not long after, the study door was pushed open from the inside.
Song Moyan emerged with the slap mark on his face and walked past him without looking to the side.
"elder brother……"
Song Yunqing called out several times, but couldn't get the person to stop.
After that, he could feel his brother's coldness towards him even more.
They used to be very good friends.
His older brother dotes on him and always thinks of him first when there's something delicious or fun to do.
When did it start?
Was it when I was 6 years old, solving a problem in his math Olympiad homework? Or when I skipped a grade to go to high school at ten? Or now, as we're about to take the college entrance exam together next year...?
The yogurt cup was left overnight.
Song Moyan's indifference towards him grew day by day, and they even went a long time without eating together.
Only then did he belatedly realize that his brother probably hated him.
But he... loves his older brother the most.
My father was busy with work, and my mother was busy socializing with ladies from prominent families. Only my older brother was often with him.
He didn't want his brother to hate him.
Another monthly exam. After finishing the paper, thinking of her brother who hadn't spoken a word to her in the past few days, Song Yunqing bit her lip and made a few corrections.
This time... my brother is number one!
He should be happy now.
"Brother, you're number one!" He ran over happily and finally saw a long-lost smile on his brother's face.
That's great!
But while the older brother was happy, the father's face turned grim, and he even cut off the little dessert he had after the meal.
Song Yunqing was very sad.
But she was only sad for a short while before shaking her head to comfort herself, "It's okay, I don't have to eat the snacks, as long as my brother is happy."
In the following monthly exams, Song Yunqing's scores got worse and worse, while Song Moyan successfully returned to the top spot.
With his outstanding looks and excellent grades, he once again became a popular figure at school, and Song Jingguo often mentioned him.
In contrast, Song Yunqing not only received no desserts or yogurt after meals, but also had several extra sets of test papers every day.
…………
"Brother Song, what's wrong with your brother lately? Has he hit a plateau?"
"Who knows?"
"Why don't you go and comfort him? He seems pretty upset."
"What's there to comfort him about? He overestimated himself by wanting to skip a grade; he should suffer the consequences."
...
The groan came from just around the corner of the corridor.
Song Yunqing slammed against the wall, collapsing from exhaustion, the words "He deserves it" echoing in her ears.
Why did my brother say that?
Even until the college entrance examination, Song Yunqing couldn't figure out this problem. But when he walked among a group of eighteen or nineteen-year-old high school seniors, he suddenly felt a sense of fear.
They walked past, their eyes lowered, just like their brother's, as if they were looking at a monster.
Is he a monster?
No, he didn't want to be treated like a monster!
…………
In July, after the results came out.
Song Moyan was admitted to the Computer Science Department of Peking University as he wished.
The happiest person was Song Jingguo, who immediately invited business leaders to a celebratory banquet for his son.
Everyone is praising him: "Old Song, you're so lucky to have such a successful son."
Song Jingguo was beaming with joy, his eyes crinkling with laughter.
At this moment, someone, oblivious to the situation, asked, "Where is your youngest son?"
The atmosphere instantly turned cold.
Everyone knows that the youngest son of the Song family is a rare genius. It is said that he took the college entrance examination with his brother this year, but he was not mentioned at all during the entire banquet, nor was he seen.
After a long silence, Song Jingguo forced a smile again: "Don't mention it."
Three words are enough to explain everything.
Song Yunqing did not do well on the exam.
It's not just bad, it's extremely bad.
The title of "prodigy" was suddenly in jeopardy.
I actually breathed a huge sigh of relief.
He thought that this would bring him closer to his brother, and his brother would become the loving brother he used to be.
But instead of a brother like that, he was met with his father's harsh scolding.
"Completely useless!"
What good are you for?!
"dad……"
"How dare you call me Dad? You've made me lose all face."
After his older brother disappeared, the kind and loving father who would pat his head and praise him as his proud father also disappeared.
Only his mother would comfort him, bringing him some brain-boosting medicine and coaxing him, "Little Qing, after you finish this, do two more sets of practice papers."
After graduation, the older brother used the reward money given by their father to travel abroad with his classmates, while Song Yunqing stayed at home every day doing exam papers, preparing to repeat the year.
Day after day, I have no friends.
"Fortunately, he is only twelve years old. Even if he fails to get into Peking University, the title of genius is still very useful."
When Song Jingguo got home that evening, he opened his arms and let Lin Wenting take off his coat, saying, "I heard that it's the tenth birthday of the Pei family's eldest son in a couple of days. You should prepare a gift and take him with you."
“But…” Lin Wenting looked troubled, “The Pei family didn’t send us an invitation.”
"So what if you don't have an invitation? You can go with the other ladies who received invitations. Do you think the Pei family can stop you?"
Lin Wenting wanted to speak again, but Song Jingguo didn't want to listen anymore.
Having no other choice, Lin Wenting had to swallow her pride and go to Mrs. Tang, with whom she had recently gotten along quite well, that very day.
"Madam Song, there are no invitations..." Madam Tang glanced at the obedient Song Yunqing beside her and swallowed the rest of her sentence. "Never mind, let's all come together. It'll be more lively with more people."
Lin Wenting successfully brought Song Yunqing into the Pei family.
By this time, quite a few people had arrived.
Each family brought their children.
"Xiao Qing," Lin Wenting nudged him, "go go play with your older brothers and sisters."
"Mother, I want to go back."
"Little Qing, be good."
Song Yunqing sighed, lowered her head, and slowly walked towards a group of children around her age in the garden.
"What! Your mom gave you a British Shorthair for your birthday!"
"That's great, I'd like to have a cat too, but unfortunately I'm allergic to cat fur."
...
Song Yunqing stood awkwardly in place, unsure of what topic to bring up.
He could only talk about calculus, which he was familiar with, and mention sodium hydroxide, but no one responded; instead, they stared at him as if he were a monster.
He was terrified and could only sit silently in the garden pavilion, watching them play with various toys.
He has no toys.
There were only endless exam papers to write and a piano.
"Little friend, why are you here all alone?"
Suddenly a shadow fell in front of her. Song Yunqing looked up blankly and saw an older brother she didn't recognize.
Which company are you from?
He quickly shrank to the side.
"You're quite wary." The man chuckled and sat down opposite him. "My surname is Pei, and my name is Pei Yanli. This is my home."
Pei!
Song Yunqing cautiously glanced back, only to meet the other person's mischievous gaze. She hurriedly looked away, stammering nervously, "I'm from the Song family, my name is... Song Yunqing."
"Yun Qing".
"That's a good name."
————————
The surname has been changed, but the given name remains the same; otherwise, calling someone Song Xuechen just feels awkward.
In terms of age, Pei Yanli is still ten years older than Yun Qing, so at this point in time he is 22. He treats 12-year-old Song Yun Qing like a child (he is not a pedophile).
Furthermore, at this point in time (it's the eldest son of the Pei family, not Pei Hengzhi), the eldest son of the Pei family was two years younger than Song Yunqing.
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