Zhao Guangran was in an exceptionally good mood, especially after receiving an invitation from his dream university.

"Bro, I’m going to USC." Zhao Guangran waved an acceptance letter excitedly.

Zhao Xuran responded with a neutral "oh." Although the school was good, it wasn’t the best. If his younger brother was at this level, he wouldn’t mind.

The issue was that Guangran could have applied to a better school, but this fool didn’t even try hard. His reason for choosing this university was the chance to see movie stars.

Does he really think he couldn’t see movie stars in China?

Despite his excitement, Zhao Guangran knew his big brother wasn’t satisfied. However, he would soon be free from his brother’s control, so he didn’t care much.

"Bro, I will try hard."

"Bro, when you go to the United States, I’ll be in Los Angeles waiting for you."

"It’s closest from here to Los Angeles."

"Bro, you must go study abroad, or I’ll cry."

Even though Zhao Guangran’s excuses for going were random, Zhao Xuran couldn’t stay angry for long.

As Ni Zi said, if he’d disagreed initially, he wouldn’t have helped send his brother’s qualifications and resumes abroad.

Over the past year, Zhao Guangran had indeed improved a lot, becoming more mature. "When are you planning to leave?"

Zhao Guangran hesitated, "I’ll wait until Ni Zi finishes her college entrance exam."

Although he wasn’t taking the exam, he wanted to be there to meet her outside the venue and also see Cao Na.

Despite being in the same school, due to their different majors, he wasn’t in the same class as Cao Na.

Particularly when some deliberately avoided them, so the chances of running into each other were low.

Before leaving, Zhao Guangran hoped to see Cao Na once more, to know if her exams went well, just like he always asked after tests before.

When her exams ended, Gong Ruini really didn’t want to take the blame, but considering they wouldn’t meet for a few years after this, "Alright, although I won’t wait for my results, it’s better if you leave earlier."

Initially, American relatives suggested taking a year off to improve his English speaking and listening before attending classes. Professors wouldn’t slow down just for a student from a non-English speaking country; complaints were inevitable.

Delaying college for a year was something Guangran outright refused, so it turned into him going to the United States early, trying to hone his speaking and listening skills within a month and a half — not a typical easy task.

The news of Guangran’s acceptance to a U.S. college spread through Fourth Middle School like wildfire. Although everyone knew about it before, they didn’t have the acceptance letter. Now that it arrived, the school wanted to leverage the opportunity for some publicity.

Guangran felt it was a bit phony and annoying but grudgingly complied.

"You have to do this; it’s good for our tutoring center’s reputation." Even if Fourth Middle School would take some of the attention, Gong Ruini wasn’t worried — anyone with sense would know who deserved the credit for Guangran’s university acceptance.

Guangran was helpless; he had no choice but to obey. His study abroad expenses relied on the tutoring center’s profits. If he didn’t earn enough money, how would he afford a comfortable life in the United States?

"Xiao Xiao." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"Strike a pose."

"Stand tall." Gong Ruini personally took charge of taking photos of Guangran. Of course, he was secondary; the focus was on the acceptance letter in his hand.

Guangran rubbed his sore back, feeling exhausted.

"Hey, what are you doing?" Gong Ruini poked her head out from behind the lens in annoyance.

"My back hurts." Guangran grumbled, even when the school made him take photos and share study tips; there was no such lousy attitude.

But with Gong Ruini, her attitude was intentionally difficult, making him want to strike.

"You’re too young to have back pains; what’s going to happen when you get older?" Gong Ruini shook her head, worried about Guangran’s weak constitution.

Is she looking down on him? Among everyone, he never met someone so irritating. How could his brother choose her as a sister-in-law? He truly didn’t get it.

Gong Ruini tossed a black ointment patch to Guangran from the side.

He instantly recognized it, skillfully applying it to himself.

As Guangran applied the ointment, he heard a camera shutter clicking behind him.

Oh my, did she have zero professional ethics? Guangran was enraged, "How could you take pictures?"

Suddenly, Guangran realized Gong Ruini was purposely tormenting him, intentionally causing back pain to take photos. How could he meet someone so despicable?

"It wasn’t me; it was Aunt Zhan." Gong Ruini straightforwardly replied.

"Aunt Zhan said you’ve used ointment before anyway; while you’re popular now, just take more photos for advertising." Gong Ruini couldn’t understand how Zhan Jing came up with this.

Guangran’s grades were good, but how could anyone link them to ointment? Just because Zhan Jing said so, Gong Ruini had to follow suit.

Ah, mom’s idea, Guangran was furious. His face turned red, "Hey, don’t you know this ruins my shining image?"

Thinking for a long time, although he couldn’t act as aloofly as his brother, being too approachable wasn’t right either. Top students had tempers; they maintained a detached demeanor.

To that end, Guangran practiced for a long time, hoping to use it someday, never expecting to be betrayed by Gong Ruini.

The frustration was beyond measure; Guangran gazed at Gong Ruini as if with daggers in his eyes.

Gong Ruini ignored him, retrieved some small banners from a nearby bag, "Take them."

What? Guangran shivered internally, sensing these things weren’t good, but he couldn’t refuse.

After opening the banners, his expression soured, and his voice trembled, "Ni Zi, my dear sister-in-law, this..."

Now, Guangran felt that having pictures of him applying black ointment seemed generous compared to holding banners advertising Shiyu Hall’s black ointment.

"Our ointment is effective; there’s no worry about business, right?" Guangran jabbed back, "If business is good, there’s no need for pictures, right?"

If these photos circulated, Guangran truly feared leaving the house; he’d lose face forever.

"But no one frets over good business; they only want it booming."

"Come on, take photos quickly. Once finished, we can relax. Aunt Zhan said once the photos are taken, she’ll sponsor your ticket to Los Angeles." Gong Ruini coaxed gently.

Would a ticket settle everything? Guangran hesitated, didn’t she realize he was making a big sacrifice?

"It’s not bad. According to Uncle Zhao’s thoughts, there’s no need to give you anything. You’re his son; it’s only right to help your parents." Gong Ruini reminded Guangran again that if he didn’t comply, he might not receive any reward.

No way, Zhao Guangran was heartbroken. This was his own dad, the closer the relation, rather, the worse it felt — pitiful.