Exam Aftermath and a Sister’s Teasing

On Friday morning, Lin Yi entered the classroom as usual. Today, far fewer students were present; it seemed those who had been punished with standing yesterday hadn’t shown up.

Lin Yi didn’t dwell on it. In any case, whatever happened to them was none of his concern. He returned to his seat and gazed out the window, passing the time.

Before long, Liang Rumeng walked to the podium, a stack of test papers in her hand. Her gaze swept over the dozen or so empty seats below, and she let out a helpless sigh.

She couldn’t fathom what had happened to those students today; they had all called in sick early this morning. Liang Rumeng had initially intended to inquire further, but their parents offered no explanation.

As a teacher, Liang Rumeng naturally felt a sense of responsibility. She knew she had to uncover the true reasons behind their absences.

With this resolve, she conversed with the parents for a long time, yet they remained stubbornly silent.

Liang Rumeng found herself at a loss. Ultimately, it was a family matter, and as an outsider, she felt it improper to pry further.

After her conversations with the parents, she consulted the principal. Given the sheer number of students absent, she, as a homeroom teacher, didn’t possess the authority to handle it alone.

However, the principal seemed rather indifferent to the situation. He simply told her not to inquire or speak further, and that was the end of it.

Liang Rumeng could only put the matter aside for now. Perhaps the students simply wished to avoid the exams, as such incidents had occurred before.

There was one time, during exams, when a whole group of students took several days off. Liang Rumeng had personally proctored a make-up test for them, and every single one left the room in tears.

****

His thoughts gradually drifted back from the distant past. Lin Yi stared at the test paper on his desk, rubbing his temples. Though the questions were simple, the mere sight of a test paper always gave him a headache. This peculiar symptom had persisted for decades, seemingly impossible to shake off in the short term.

Having filled in answers he considered satisfactory, Lin Yi handed in his test paper and strolled out of the classroom, feeling quite pleased. He believed his scores would be significantly higher than those of the idiot in the original novel. He wouldn’t dare claim a top ten spot, but a ranking within the top fifteen seemed well within reach.

Lin Yi walked out of the academic building alone, a sense of freedom carried on the gentle breeze that greeted him. After spending so long indoors, stepping outside always brought a refreshing feeling.

Moreover, with all his exams finally concluded, the immense weight that had pressed upon his heart had at last dissipated.

In this wonderfully comfortable state, Lin Yi instinctively stretched his body.

As he gazed at the sunset painting the sky, a smile never left his face. Taking advantage of the rare opportunity, he wandered around campus for a while, deliberately avoiding crowded areas. Once enough time had passed, Lin Yi finally headed home.

He did this, of course, to avoid Chen Sishi and Qin Ruoxue. They had submitted their papers earlier than him and were likely leaving school around this time.

Just as Lin Yi had expected, he encountered neither Chen Sishi nor Qin Ruoxue on his way. He surmised that Chen Sishi must have returned to the villa today; otherwise, she would likely be waiting at his doorstep.

Upon arriving home, Lin Yi collapsed onto the sofa. Hearing the commotion, Lin Yiting poked her head out from her bedroom.

“You’re back. How were your exams today?”

“They were alright.”

His voice was muffled as Lin Yi buried his head into the sofa cushion, resembling a lazy, dried fish.

“Alright, I’ll find you an outfit later. We need to leave at six tomorrow morning.”

Lin Yiting didn’t disturb him further. After saying her piece, she returned to her room.

As dinner time approached, Lin Yi was in the midst of his meal when Lin Yiting emerged conspiratorially from her bedroom. In her hand, she held a set of black attire, which appeared quite formal.

“Xiao Lin, what do you think of this outfit?”

“Cough, cough…”

Startled by Lin Yiting’s sudden pat on his shoulder, Lin Yi choked on a mouthful of rice, which went up his nose. It took him a moment of coughing before he could finally look up.

In Lin Yiting’s hands was a black garment, somewhat resembling a suit jacket. Lin Yi had rarely, if ever, worn formal wear like this. His understanding of such clothing was minimal, leaving him at a loss for how to appraise the item in her grasp.

“Uh… it feels…” Unsure what to say, Lin Yi searched his mind for adjectives for a long moment before finally speaking.

“It’s… decent, I suppose.”

Lin Yiting tilted her head, her gaze darting between the outfit and Lin Yi. She held the clothes up against his body, estimating that the size should be about right.

“Come on, try it on. I think it’ll suit you perfectly.”

“Sister… I don’t really like wearing clothes like this.”

“Oh, come on, come on. My little brother is so handsome; anything he wears will look good.”

Under Lin Yiting’s persistent coaxing, Lin Yi eventually nodded in agreement.

After changing into the outfit in his bedroom, Lin Yi looked at his reflection in the mirror, an unsettling feeling that something was amiss.

Without considering his face, the outfit was quite stylish and fit him perfectly. Yet, when Lin Yi’s face was added to the equation, he felt an undeniable awkwardness.

His features were undeniably attractive, capable of captivating countless older and younger female students. However, this face, with its slightly sinister aura, paired with a black suit, gave him the distinct air of a villainous boss.

“Are you done changing?”

Lin Yiting, waiting outside, grew a little impatient; she was quite eager to see her brother in a suit. Moments later, the sound of the door opening reached her, and Lin Yi, clad in the suit, stood before her.

Lin Yiting’s eyes widened, and she involuntarily took two steps back. She felt her heart pounding rapidly in her chest, like a startled deer trapped within.

For a fleeting moment just now, Lin Yiting had entertained a rather peculiar thought about Lin Yi. She quickly dismissed it, however; he was her younger brother, and even her teasing needed to have limits.

A mischievous grin spread across her lips at this realization. Anything beyond appropriate boundaries was out, but within them, she could certainly have some fun.

Lin Yiting rose on her tiptoes, elegantly lifted the hem of her nightgown, and bowed. She looked exactly like a maidservant attending to a young master from a noble family.

“Young Master, would this humble servant be of service to you?”

Lin Yi was completely bewildered by his sister’s antics. He rubbed his amber eyes, instinctively taking a step back, wondering if he was seeing things.

Seeing Lin Yi’s amusing reaction, Lin Yiting burst into laughter, like a blooming flower.

“Hahaha, I’m just teasing you. So, Xiao Lin, didn’t I tell you this outfit would suit you?”

Ignoring Lin Yiting’s recent odd behavior, Lin Yi nodded noncommittally. From a certain perspective, the outfit did indeed suit him well.

However, wasn’t the vibe a bit too grand? Lin Yi was now slightly worried that wearing this ensemble to a banquet would draw far too much attention.

“Sister, don’t you have any more… normal clothes?”

“Hm? It’s perfectly normal. Look how handsome my Lin Yi looks in this! If you go out dressed like this, how many little girls will you charm?”

Lin Yi stared at Lin Yiting, a figurative dark line appearing on his face. How had he never noticed, when reading the novel, that this tall older sister was actually quite devious?

“Sis, I’m serious. Don’t I look a little too eye-catching? Don’t you have something more subtle?”

Hearing his plea, Lin Yiting rummaged through a nearby package. She then pulled out a women’s outfit: a lace-trimmed jumpsuit.

“How about you wear this, Xiao Lin? Our heights are quite similar, after all.”

Gazering at the exquisitely beautiful blue jumpsuit, Lin Yi instinctively swallowed.

“Sis! Can’t we just be normal for once?”

“Hehe, I won’t tease you anymore. Wait here; I’ll find you something.”

Lin Yiting chuckled, and this time, she retrieved a white trench coat from the package. The fabric appeared thin, and the garment lacked excessive embellishments, yet it exuded a remarkably stylish aura.

“How about this one? It was also bought in your size.”

Lin Yi glanced at it, felt the coat was acceptable, and nodded.

“This one will do, then.”