Chapter 548: Jiang Silu Wins the National Second Prize! Who Will She Tell First?!

Meanwhile, on the day the results of He Lingyi’s first mock exam were released, a light rain fell over Jinling.

She sat in the classroom, her fingers trembling slightly as she looked at the numbers on her report card. Her total score was forty points higher than the previous mock exam, and her grade ranking had surged from over one hundred into the top eighty. Standing at the podium, her homeroom teacher, Teacher Zhang, deliberately paused when he read He Lingyi’s name and glanced at her. That look contained surprise, approval, and a hint of something indescribable.

After class, Teacher Zhang called He Lingyi to the office. It was a small room with several desks pushed together, piled high with test papers and lesson plans. Teacher Zhang pulled up a chair for her to sit, then leaned back in his own chair, holding her report card and studying it for quite a while.

“Lingyi, you did well this time,” Teacher Zhang said mildly, setting the report card down. “You’ve improved by forty points since the last exam. That’s a massive leap.”

“Thank you, Teacher Zhang,” He Lingyi replied with a smile.

“I looked at your scores for each subject. Your math and English have both come up, and your Chinese has stabilized,” Teacher Zhang continued, pausing for a moment. “With your current level, as long as you perform normally during the college entrance examination, you won’t have any problems.”

He Lingyi looked up at him.

“Have you thought about which university you want to apply to?” he asked.

He Lingyi hesitated before replying softly, “Jinling Institute of Technology.”

Teacher Zhang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. “Jinling Institute of Technology? With your grades, you can aim for much better schools. You could try for Jinling University, Nanhang, or Southeast University.”

“I want to go to Jinling Institute of Technology.” Her voice was quiet but resolute.

Teacher Zhang looked at her and fell silent for a few seconds before nodding. “Alright, as long as you’ve thought it through. However, there are still two months until the college entrance examination, and you have plenty of room for improvement. No matter which school you ultimately apply to, focus on bringing your grades up first. When the time comes, the choice will be yours.”

He Lingyi nodded.

When she returned home, Aunt Zhang was busy in the kitchen. A pot of chicken soup was simmering on the stove, BUBBLING gently, its savory aroma filling the entire house. Mr. He was sitting on the living room sofa reading a newspaper. Hearing the door open, he looked up and took off his reading glasses.

“You’re back?” Mr. He said with a smile. “How did the exam go?”

“Pretty well.” He Lingyi changed her shoes and set her backpack on the sofa.

Mr. He asked with concern, “How many points did your teacher say you got?”

“My total score was forty points higher than last time,” she replied.

Mr. He almost dropped his reading glasses, his face breaking into a wide, beaming smile. “Really? That’s wonderful! Just wonderful!” He turned and shouted toward the kitchen, “Wife, your daughter got a high score!”

Hearing this, Aunt Zhang laughed. “Not bad, not bad at all. Your hard work over the past two months hasn’t been in vain.”

“Come, daughter, sit down.” Aunt Zhang pulled He Lingyi over to the dining table, sat her down, and served her a bowl of chicken soup. “Drink some soup first to nourish your brain.”

He Lingyi took the bowl and took a sip, letting out a sharp HISS from the heat.

“Drink slowly, no one is fighting you for it,” Aunt Zhang chuckled, turning to look at Mr. He. “Old He, say a few words too.”

Mr. He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and looked at He Lingyi, his tone turning serious. “Lingyi, let me tell you—good grades are great, but your health is more important. You’ll be free in just two more months. Don’t push yourself too hard during this time. Rest when you need to.”

“I know, Dad,” He Lingyi nodded.

Aunt Zhang placed a piece of pork rib in her bowl. She hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “Lingyi, your homeroom teacher called me today.”

He Lingyi’s chopsticks paused.

“Your teacher said you want to apply to Jinling Institute of Technology.” Aunt Zhang looked at her, keeping her tone very light. “Is that Teacher Jiang’s school?”

He Lingyi kept her head down and remained silent. She poked at the food in her bowl a few times with her chopsticks, then stopped.

“Lingyi, Mom isn’t against you.” Aunt Zhang set her chopsticks down, speaking patiently. “With your current grades, you wouldn’t have any problem getting into Jinling University. If you like Teacher Jiang, you can go to Jinling University—you’ll still be in the same city. Both Jinling University and Jinling Institute of Technology are in Jinling. Taking the subway only takes a little over half an hour.”

Mr. He nodded beside her and chimed in, “Yes, your mom is right. It’s not that Dad doesn’t support you liking that boy. Although I haven’t met him many times, I’ve heard your mom talk about him, and he really is outstanding. You can absolutely go to Jinling University. Being in the same city, you can meet up whenever you want.”

He Lingyi looked up at Mr. He, then at Aunt Zhang.

“It takes over thirty minutes to get there from Jinling University,” she said, her voice a little muffled. “We wouldn’t be able to see each other every day.”

Aunt Zhang was stunned.

“I want to go to Jinling Institute of Technology and study the same major as him,” He Lingyi continued. “I want to be his direct junior. That way, we can see each other every day.”

Mr. He’s expression darkened slightly. He put down his chopsticks and leaned back in his chair. He didn’t say a word, but his brow furrowed.

Aunt Zhang looked at Mr. He, then back at He Lingyi, and let out a sigh. “Lingyi, listen to Mom. I don’t object to you being with Teacher Jiang. Once you finish your college entrance exams, if you two truly like each other, it’s fine for you to be together. Mom isn’t some old-fashioned person. But you can’t treat the biggest milestone of your life like a child’s game just for one person. Jinling University and Jinling Institute of Technology aren’t on the same level.”

He Lingyi lowered her head in silence.

Mr. He stood up, carrying his wine glass, and walked over to the window. He stood with his back to them, not turning around.

Aunt Zhang looked at He Lingyi. She wanted to say more, but seeing her daughter sitting there with her head bowed, she swallowed her words.

“Let’s just eat for now. The food is getting cold.” Aunt Zhang picked up her chopsticks and placed a piece of fish in He Lingyi’s bowl.