ARBRMW : Chapter 13

Chen Xu’s parents had three children in total.  

The eldest, Chen Hao, was twenty years old and currently in university. Chen Xu was the second child. The youngest, Chen Yuqi, was a fifteen-year-old girl in her first year of high school.  

To be honest, Chen Xu didn’t have a great relationship with his parents, brother, or sister. After all, he had been sent to the Si family when he was twelve and had little time to spend with them after that. Even before he moved in with the Si family, he had been young but still keenly aware that his parents and siblings didn’t particularly like him. His older brother even led the others in bullying him.  

Chen Yuqi frequently asked him for money. Since she was his younger sister, Chen Xu didn’t mind giving her some as long as she didn’t go overboard.  

This time, he transferred her 200 yuan. The Si family had never been stingy with them—his regular pocket money and even the red envelopes he received during the New Year were more than enough for his expenses. On top of that, Chen Xu liked doing part-time jobs, so he had plenty of money saved up.  

However, he didn’t think a high school freshman needed that much money, and since the Shen family wasn’t stingy with her allowance, he saw no reason to give her more.  

Chen Yuqi: Only 200? Are you trying to brush me off like a beggar?  

Chen Xu frowned as he read the message.  

Chen Xu: Watch your attitude.  

Chen Yuqi: What’s wrong with my attitude? You’re living the good life in the Si family, eating well and drinking well, yet you’re too stingy to spare a little pocket money for your own sister. I can’t believe I have such a selfish and miserly brother.  

Chen Xu assumed that since she was so angry and dismissive about the 200 yuan, she wouldn’t accept it. But to his surprise, the next moment, she took the money—then immediately blocked him.  

Staring at his phone, Chen Xu was left speechless.  

He suddenly thought about his past life. His parents had scolded him endlessly for not studying economics and instead choosing to pursue the arts. Up until his death, his relationship with his family had been completely estranged.  

Now, he couldn’t help but wonder—if, in this life, he gained Si Ye’s favor, would the Chen family cling to him like leeches?  

He wasn’t trying to be overly pessimistic, but that was simply the impression they had always given him. Every time he saw them, his parents never asked if he was doing well at the Si family’s house, whether he was eating properly, or if he was happy. They never worried about whether he was being bullied.  

Instead, all they ever asked was whether Si Ye had spoken to him, whether he had gotten along with Si Yichen, and they constantly drilled into him the importance of currying favor with both of them.  

—

The next morning, Chen Xu received a call from his homeroom teacher asking him to come back to school.  

After washing up and having breakfast, he grabbed his bicycle, ready to head out.  

“Where are you going?”  

Si Ye rolled down the car window and asked.  

“School,” Chen Xu replied.  

“Get in.”  

Chen Xu waved his hand, intending to decline, but the driver had already gotten out and opened the door for him.  

“Thank you, Uncle Si.” Chen Xu got into the car and nodded slightly at Si Ye.  

“You’re welcome.”  

Si Ye rested his long fingers on his lap, sitting straight-backed with perfect posture.  

It seemed that no matter the situation, Si Ye always maintained his composed and refined demeanor. He was eternally calm, as immovable as a mountain.  

“Did you check your scores?” Si Ye asked, even though he already knew the answer. He was just making conversation.  

“I did,” Chen Xu nodded.  

“How did you do?” Si Ye turned his head to look at him.  

For the first time, Chen Xu felt a slight urge to show off.  

He wanted to tell Si Ye: I’m better than Si Yichen. I want to take his place.  

But he suppressed the thought and answered calmly, “It was okay.”  

Si Ye’s lips twitched slightly as if he was holding back a smile. He could see right through his little one’s thoughts.  

“Is that so? That’s good, then.” Si Ye deliberately let the topic drop.  

Chen Xu felt slightly annoyed that Si Ye didn’t press further.  

Then he scolded himself—I’m already twenty-two in my previous life, why am I acting so childish?  

Once the news came out, Si Ye would naturally know that Si Yichen wasn’t as good as him. There was no need to act like a kid desperately trying to get an adult’s attention. Otherwise, wouldn’t he be just like Si Yichen?  

With his head down, his soft black hair looked slightly messy and fluffy. Si Ye felt an overwhelming urge to reach out and ruffle it.  

Finally, he decided to stop teasing him.  

“How many points did you get?” Si Ye asked.  

Hearing his voice, Chen Xu snapped out of his thoughts. “Seven hundred thirty-eight.”  

Right in front of his eyes, Si Ye’s face broke into a smile. His usually sharp brows and cold gaze softened as he reached out and gently ruffled Chen Xu’s hair.  

“Well done, Xiao Xu.”  

Si Ye’s palm carried a faint warmth.  

Chen Xu felt a sense of reluctant attachment. His eyes widened slightly as he stared at Si Ye in a daze.  

At that moment, he suddenly realized—just like Si Yichen, he, too, craved a word of praise.  

In the past, he never had such expectations. He had given up long ago, knowing that his parents would never praise him.

Chen Xu’s eyes burned with emotion. He reached out, grabbed Si Ye’s wrist, and pulled his hand down from the top of his head, pressing his face into Si Ye’s palm.

“Uncle Si, praise me again, okay?”

Si Ye suddenly pulled him into his arms and lowered his head to place a kiss on the crown of his hair.

“Why are you so clingy?”

Chen Xu refused to admit it. “I’m not.”

“Alright, you’re not,” Si Ye chuckled softly, gently stroking the back of his head. His voice was low and soothing. “Xiao Xu is amazing. When I was your age, I wasn’t as outstanding as you.”

“You’re lying. Uncle Si, when you were my age, you had already graduated and started working in the company.” Chen Xu’s mind was still clear—he wasn’t going to blindly believe Si Ye’s flattery.

Si Ye laughed lightly. “But I never took the college entrance exam.”

“If Uncle Si had taken the exam, you’d definitely score higher than me,” Chen Xu said with certainty.

Si Ye’s intelligence was well-known. At fifteen, he had co-founded a startup overseas with his classmates. By eighteen, he had graduated from university and returned to assist his father in managing the company. At twenty, he took over the Si family, becoming its youngest head.

In just a few short years, he had taken a once deeply divided and conflict-ridden family and brought it under firm control. It could be said that he single-handedly saved the Si family from internal collapse.

Si Ye only smiled and didn’t argue.

He had left for overseas education at twelve, never experiencing the domestic college entrance exam. His mother had always disapproved of foreign education, considering it a waste of time, believing it encouraged idleness. No matter how outstanding Si Ye was, in her eyes, he could never compare to his eldest brother.

His late older brother, Si Jinwen, had once been the top scorer in the college entrance exams. Their mother, Madam Tao, had been incredibly proud of that fact.

Si Ye had never understood her sentiment before, but now, perhaps he did.

Chen Xu asked the driver to stop a short distance from the school rather than directly at the gate.

“When will you be done? I’ll have the driver pick you up,” Si Ye asked before he got out.

“No need, Uncle Si. I’ll take the subway home.”

In the past, Chen Xu either rode his bicycle or took public transportation to school. He was long accustomed to life without luxury car rides.

Since Chen Xu refused, Si Ye didn’t insist. He simply watched as Chen Xu walked toward the school before signaling the driver to leave.

As soon as he reached the school gate, Chen Xu noticed a massive red banner strung up across the entrance, celebrating his achievement as the province’s top scorer.

And it wasn’t just one banner—there were several.

Chen Xu felt an overwhelming sense of awkwardness and had the sudden urge to turn around and leave.

The old security guard at the entrance spotted him and immediately called out in a booming voice, “Isn’t this our top scorer?!”

The moment he shouted, reporters who had been interviewing the teachers swarmed over.

“Chen Xu! Are you Chen Xu?” A crowd of microphones was shoved right into his face.

Chen Xu took a step back. “Hello, I am Chen Xu.”

The reporters, upon getting a closer look at him, were stunned.

They hadn’t expected this year’s top scorer to be this handsome.

Their headlines practically wrote themselves—“The Most Handsome College Entrance Exam Top Scorer is Here!”

It was guaranteed to go viral.

Today, Chen Xu wore a crisp white shirt and black trousers. His hair had been freshly trimmed, clean and neat. He wore no accessories, and his sharp yet delicate features stood out even more. His lips were a natural rosy hue, his teeth perfectly aligned, and his demeanor refined yet striking.

He looked better than most celebrities.

Forced into an interview, he had no choice but to answer questions. Even the school principal came out, praising him over and over again.

And why wouldn’t they?

Their school was just an ordinary high school. Producing a provincial top scorer was a once-in-a-lifetime event. The entire school viewed him as a treasure.

Walking through campus, it didn’t matter who you asked—every student knew his name.

A reporter turned to a group of first-year students and asked, “You’re only in your first year. How do you know so much about Chen Xu?”

The group of girls burst into laughter. “Chen Xu is our school’s heartthrob! The forums are filled with posts about him.”

The reporters suddenly understood.

A school heartthrob and the top scorer?

This was insane.

He clearly had the looks to make it in the entertainment industry, yet he succeeded through sheer talent.

Meanwhile, at a private club, Si Yichen’s friends were celebrating his exam results.

Tong Jiaxi was also present, but Si Yichen’s mood remained sour. He sat in the corner, drinking alone with a dark expression.

“Chen Shao, you scored so high! Why the hell are you sulking?” One of the young masters from another prominent family slung an arm around his shoulder.

“Yeah! What, are you not satisfied with your score? What do you expect the rest of us losers to do? My dad just scolded me yesterday and is ready to bribe my way into a university.”

“Come on, today’s about celebrating for Young Master Chen. Let’s all raise our glasses!”

Surrounded by flattery, Si Yichen’s mood gradually improved.

Chen Xu is nothing.

Once his father found out how badly Chen Xu had done, he would finally realize who the true heir of the Si family was!

“There’s definitely going to be a grand celebration for you, right? Your dad wouldn’t miss throwing an event for his brilliant son.”

“Of course! Young Master Chen’s score is so impressive. We just need to prepare our gifts.”

Si Yichen was certain of this.

Even if his father didn’t bring it up, his grandmother definitely would. This was a huge deal.

On that day, everyone would be celebrating him.

Chen Xu?

He’d be utterly humiliated.

Just imagining Chen Xu being overshadowed filled Si Yichen with glee.

At another table, a girl was scrolling through her phone.

“The top scorer for this year’s college entrance exam has been announced! Holy crap, 738?! Is he even human?”

A moment later, she suddenly let out a high-pitched squeal, covering her mouth with her hands.

“Oh my god! He’s gorgeous!”

“What? What? Let me see!” The other girls huddled around her in excitement.

“I’m done for. He’s insanely handsome and the top scorer. What kind of god-tier existence is this?!”

“With that face, why doesn’t he debut as a celebrity? I’d be his biggest fan immediately!”

The boys nearby rolled their eyes. “Girls always exaggerate. How good-looking could he possibly be?”

They leaned over to check—

And suddenly, the entire group fell into silence.

Then, all of them slowly turned their heads toward Si Yichen.

Si Yichen frowned. “What?”

A girl hesitated before saying, “Uh… he’s also named Chen Xu.”

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