Chapter 549: Jiang Silu Wins the National Second Prize! Who to Tell First?!

He Lingyi picked up a piece of fish, eating slowly in silence. Mr. He walked back from the window, sat down, and took another sip from his wine glass.

He looked at He Lingyi, his tone heavier than before. “Lingyi, I’m not forcing you, but I want you to think this through. Your life is your own, no one else’s.”

He Lingyi nodded without a word. The atmosphere at the dining table felt heavy. Aunt Zhang wanted to speak several times but swallowed her words. Mr. He finished the wine in his glass and poured himself another. After a few more bites of food, He Lingyi said she was full and returned to her room.

Aunt Zhang sat at the dining table, staring blankly in the direction of He Lingyi’s room for quite a while. She picked up her phone, found Jiang Sifan’s number, and hesitated for a moment before dialing. The phone rang twice before it was picked up.

“Aunt Zhang?” Jiang Sifan’s voice came from the other end, carrying a hint of surprise.

“Xiaojiang, am I bothering you?” Aunt Zhang’s voice was very soft.

“No, Aunt Zhang. What’s wrong?”

“Lingyi’s results for the first mock exam are out, and she did well,” Aunt Zhang paused. “But she wants to apply to your school.”

Silence hung on the line for a couple of seconds.

“Jinling Institute of Technology?” Jiang Sifan asked.

“Yes. Her dad and I both advised her to aim for Jinling University, but she refuses. She said Jinling University is over a thirty-minute commute from your place, so you wouldn’t be able to see each other every day.” Aunt Zhang sighed. “Xiaojiang, please help me talk her out of it. She listens to you. Even if she goes for Nanhang, it would be better.”

Jiang Sifan fell silent for another few seconds before saying, “I understand, Aunt Zhang. I’ll talk to her.”

“Xiaojiang, let me be honest with you.” Aunt Zhang lowered her voice. “I don’t oppose you two being together. Once you’re both done with the college entrance exams, if you truly like each other, it’s fine to date. But right now, her grades can’t be put to waste. The gap between Jinling University and Jinling Institute of Technology is just too massive.”

“I know, Aunt Zhang. Don’t worry,” Jiang Sifan replied.

After hanging up, Aunt Zhang sat on the sofa, staring at the door to He Lingyi’s room with a sigh. Mr. He came out of the kitchen with a cup of tea in hand and sat down beside her.

“What did Xiaojiang say?” Mr. He asked.

“He said he’ll talk to her,” Aunt Zhang replied.

Mr. He nodded and said no more.

The next evening, Jiang Sifan went to He Lingyi’s home.

Aunt Zhang opened the door. Her eyes were a bit red, and she forced a smile upon seeing him. “You’re here, Xiaojiang? Lingyi is in her room.” Aunt Zhang stepped aside to let him in.

Jiang Sifan changed his shoes, walked up to He Lingyi’s door, and gave it a knock. “Lingyi, it’s me.”

The sound of a stool shifting came from inside, and then the door opened. He Lingyi stood in the doorway, wearing a white hoodie with her hair tied in a ponytail. She wasn’t wearing any makeup, and her eyes were slightly swollen as if she had been crying.

“Brother Sifan,” she greeted, her voice a little hoarse.

Jiang Sifan walked in and took a seat on the chair in front of her desk. He Lingyi closed the door and sat on the edge of her bed, her head bowed. The room was very quiet. Test papers and textbooks were spread out across the desk beneath the glow of the desk lamp.

“You did well on the first mock exam,” Jiang Sifan was the first to speak.

He Lingyi nodded without a word.

“Aunt Zhang told me everything.” Jiang Sifan looked at her. “You want to apply to Jinling Institute of Technology?”

He Lingyi looked up at him for a moment before lowering her head again, whispering, “I want to be closer to you.”

“Jinling University is also in Jinling,” Jiang Sifan said. “It’s only a bit over half an hour away by subway.”

“But then we wouldn’t be able to see each other every day,” He Lingyi said, her voice muffled.

Jiang Sifan fell silent for a moment. When he spoke again, his tone was serious. “Lingyi, listen to me. With your grades, you have a very good chance of getting into Jinling University. Although Jinling Institute of Technology is also good, it’s a tier below Jinling University. It’s not worth giving up a better school just for me.”

He Lingyi raised her head and looked at him, her eyes reddening.

“It is worth it.” Her voice trembled slightly. “I think it’s worth it.”

“It’s not,” Jiang Sifan shook his head. “You’ll regret it in the future.”

“No, I won’t,” He Lingyi said, her voice growing a bit louder.

“You will.” Jiang Sifan looked at her, his tone calm but firm. “Once you get to college, you’ll realize that the quality of the school has a much bigger impact on your future than you can imagine. You worked incredibly hard for the grades you have now. You can’t just let them go to waste.”

Tears slipped from He Lingyi’s eyes. She turned her face away, reaching up to wipe at her eyes again and again.

“I just want to be closer to you,” she sobbed. “I want to see you every day.”

Seeing her cry softened Jiang Sifan’s heart, but he stood his ground. “If you get into Jinling University, I’ll go see you whenever I’m free,” Jiang Sifan said. “Once a week, three times a week—whatever you want.”

He Lingyi turned her head back to him, her eyes red. “Really?” she asked.

“Really,” Jiang Sifan nodded.

He Lingyi lowered her head and stayed silent for a long time before giving a gentle nod.

“Alright,” she murmured softly. “I know all of you want what’s best for me, I just… I just really wanted to be closer to you.”

Watching her, Jiang Sifan felt an ache in his chest but kept quiet. He Lingyi looked up at him, tear tracks still wet on her face.

“Brother Sifan,” she called out to him.

“Yeah?”

“Promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“No matter which school I get into, you have to visit me often.”

Jiang Sifan smiled and nodded. “Alright, I promise.”

He Lingyi wiped away her tears and managed a smile.

The tutoring session began. Jiang Sifan opened the math textbook and flipped to the chapter on derivatives. He Lingyi leaned closer to look, her hair falling forward and brushing against the back of his hand.