Ye Peilin returned home in a daze, feeling all the way as if it were a dream. In his impression, his son was silent and not fond of speaking. Though his past grades were not too bad, they were not particularly outstanding either. How did he suddenly become the top scorer of the provincial college entrance exams this time?

"What’s wrong with you? Why the long face?" Han Hui asked with confusion when she saw her husband’s constipated-looking expression, as if he were holding back words.

Ye Peilin did not reply directly but instead looked around the house and asked, "Where’s Ye Qiu?"

"Oh, he went to his part-time job and hasn’t come back yet."

Only then did Ye Peilin remember that after the college entrance exams, his son had apparently found a part-time job. Their daughter had told them about it, saying he was teaching other kids in a training class. He remembered they had severely scolded their son at the time, telling him not to hold back other people’s children.

How had his son responded then?

It seemed he had asked them to believe in him, that he wasn’t holding anyone back. But he had also said their son was too arrogant and shouldn’t think of taking another penny from them. He even said if he got into any trouble, they shouldn’t expect him to clean up the mess.

Thinking back now, their son really did have the capability, he hadn’t exaggerated. In fact, now that his status as the top scorer had spread, others would be begging him to teach.

So had he and his wife truly wronged their son?

Ye Peilin was unwilling to admit his mistake, only feeling that their son communicated too little with them, leaving him and his wife completely unaware of him. If only he talked a little more about his academic progress, they wouldn’t have scolded him that day.

However, Ye Peilin forgot that if Ye Qiu hadn’t volunteered this information, did he and Han Hui ever take the initiative to ask? As parents, not caring about their child at all, yet thinking their child’s character is problematic — wasn’t this idea just shirking responsibility?

Moreover, Ye Qiu had asked them twice to attend parents’ meetings in his senior year. Had they gone even once or even inquired about his daily affairs from teachers, would they really have not known Ye Qiu at all?

Also, don’t keep saying Ye Qiu never told them about his grades. After the college entrance exams, Ye Qiu mentioned more than once that he did well this time, but who in this family believed him?

Not only did they not believe him, but they also called him arrogant and oblivious. Are these words a parent should say to their own child?

Yes, in their hearts, their daughter is precious. They attend to Ye Qing’s matters in every detail, but is their son as insignificant as grass, undeserving of any attention or effort?

"What’s wrong with you?" Han Hui asked again. "Did something happen?"

"The principal of Ye Qiu’s school just called me," Ye Peilin said, looking uneasy.

Han Hui immediately tensed up: "Did he cause some trouble? Was he reported for teaching at the tutoring center, or is it something else?"

"Neither," Ye Peilin took a deep breath and looked at his wife with a complicated expression. "The principal said that tomorrow, recruitment officers from Q University and A University will be going to the school."

"What does that have to do with Ye Qiu?"

"The people from both schools are coming to recruit; they both want Ye Qiu to study at their school."

"How is that possible?" Han Hui exclaimed, eyes wide open in surprise.

"Because he is this year’s top scorer in the provincial science category, with a total score of 725. The principal also said he scored full marks in math and science synthesis exams."

"Full marks? A total score of 725?" Han Hui’s jaw dropped in shock. Though merely a middle school teacher herself, she knew exactly what scoring 725 in the science category of a college entrance exam meant, let alone with perfect scores in math and science synthesis.

Could someone with such scores really be her son? There was no mistake?

"Could it be a mix-up with someone of the same name?" she instinctively asked.

"Do you think the principal would make a mistake on this? This is the top scorer for the entire province’s science major!"

"Since when did Ye Qiu’s grades improve so much? He never mentioned a word!" The couple looked at each other, both at a loss.

So when Ye Qing returned, this was the dazed expression she saw on her parents’ faces. She asked just as Han Hui had earlier asked her husband: "Mom and Dad, what’s wrong with you? What’s with that expression?"

Han Hui swallowed and her eyes sparkled as she looked at her daughter: "Just before your dad finished work, the principal from your high school called him."

"Did something happen? Is it about Ye Qiu giving lessons at the tutoring class?" Ye Qing frowned, "I knew he’d get into trouble. He couldn’t take a hint to back down when he doesn’t have the ability. I warned him, but he wouldn’t listen. Mom and Dad, you shouldn’t intervene this time, let him face the consequences to learn a lesson."

It just shows how family is: their first reaction was always whether Ye Qiu had caused trouble. No one in this family ever believed in him.

"No, it’s about your brother’s college entrance exam results."

"Then why would the principal call Dad? Did he flunk it badly? That can’t be, the principal usually only calls parents of the best performers, or could it be that he got into some other trouble?" Ye Qing asked with curiosity.

"The principal called to deliver good news; your brother scored 725 this time and is the provincial top scorer in the science category," Han Hui said in one breath, her lips curving upwards. As a teacher, she was thrilled whenever her students achieved good results, let alone her own son?

She really did not expect her son to give her such a huge surprise this time — provincial top scorer in science. Once her colleagues heard this news, they would surely envy her.

Moreover, due to her son being taught by her — her very own son, the school might even give her special treatment at the start of the semester, and she might receive points toward an outstanding teacher’s title, right?

"How is that possible?" Ye Qing asked, eyes wide with disbelief. "Wasn’t his performance always bad? How could he be the top scorer? Isn’t it a mistake of someone with the same name?"

Han Hui still smiled: "That was my first reaction too, but the principal himself called, so could there really be a mistake? The principal also said that representatives from Q University and A University have already come, hoping your brother will study there."

"Q University and A University?" Ye Qing gasped, knowing these are the top two educational institutions in the country. Even back then, she could only dream of attending them, yet her brother Ye Qiu now had the capability that representatives from both schools are competing to recruit him?

"Yes, I remember your brother once mentioned wanting to study in the information technology department of Q University. Back then, we thought he was daydreaming. But now, it seems he knew exactly what he was doing, and it was we who wrongly blamed him. By the way, hasn’t your brother come back yet? Call him quickly."

"He doesn’t have a phone."

Han Hui smacked her forehead: "I forgot about that. We’ll buy him one tomorrow. Otherwise, it really is inconvenient to reach him."

Ye Peilin spoke up: "Let’s buy a good one, shall we? Attending a prestigious school, he can’t lose face."

Ye Qing heard this and felt a pang of bitterness, even a bit of jealousy, though she looked at her phone, which was also the latest model bought not long ago.