"Uncle, Uncle Zhao said that if I ever face difficulties, I should look for him. He's a good friend of Dad's and will definitely help me out," Shen You'an said casually, as if reminding him unintentionally.
Zhang Jian slapped his forehead. "That's right! Why didn't I think of that? Your dad used to be Director Zhao's trusted right-hand man. Director Zhao would consider this a favor to your father and will surely help you."
"Since it's your dad's dying wish, An'an, don't worry. Your uncle will make it happen for you."
Shen You'an watched Zhang Jian rush off in a hurry, his figure disappearing at the end of the corridor. Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"You wretched girl, with your poor and scraggly appearance, you think you can go to Lanya Primary School? At least you had a dad before; now you don't even have that. Dream on! Do you think Lanya Primary School will accept just any random stray dog or cat? You won't even make it through the front gate," Zhou Qin's sharp voice rang out, her disdainful gaze fixated on Shen You'an.
Nowadays, parents valued education highly. Zhou Qin's cousin had gone to every length, exhausting all social connections, to get her son admitted to Lanya Primary School. But Lanya had an entrance exam, and if the child's score was below ninety, no matter how outstanding they were, they'd still be rejected.
Zhou Qin wasn't looking down on Shen You'an for nothing. This girl was slow-witted, and more importantly, just a little girl. Thinking she'd get into Lanya? She might as well be dreaming.
Shen You'an blinked her eyes, her demeanor entirely innocent and guileless. "If I can't get in, can Little Treasure? Auntie, why are you so gleeful about this?"
Her determination to attend Lanya Primary School stemmed from its status as the city's only boarding primary school. She wanted to get away from this coarse, stupid, vulgar woman and never repeat the mistakes of her past life.
In her previous life, she went to an ordinary school, where her orphan status made her a target of isolation. At home, she was forced to do chores, take care of children, and no matter how hard she studied, no matter how diligent and excellent her grades were, Zhou Qin would always pick faults with her. The only thought that sustained her, keeping her alive, was the hope of getting into university and escaping this nightmare.
But just before her college entrance exams, Zhou Qin drugged her water with sleeping pills, causing her to miss the exam—her greatest regret in her past life.
Afterward, Zhou Qin sold her to a widower for a dowry of ten thousand yuan, using the money to buy her precious son's admission into high school.
She fought desperately to escape, fleeing to another city where she survived through sheer will, distributing flyers, working as a waitress, experiencing the bitter cold and warmth of the world. Eventually, a talent scout discovered her, and she signed a contract to debut.
But that was merely the beginning of the nightmare.
The little girl sitting on the sofa had a face as delicate as a porcelain doll—a doll-like perfection with soft, long, slightly wavy chestnut hair. She was impossibly well-behaved and beautiful.
Yet, when her jet-black eyes stared fixedly at you without blinking, it felt like facing a deep abyss, emitting an icy chill that made your heart tremble involuntarily.
That sensation... It was as if a ghost had its sights set on you.
Zhou Qin shivered suddenly, her expression startled, before muttering under her breath, "You damn brat, just wait and see. Little Treasure is definitely better than you." With that, she slammed her bedroom door shut.
Shen You'an lowered her head and stared at her outstretched palm.
The baby-soft hand still bore traces of chubby infancy, its lines clear and pronounced—just like her mind at this moment: sharp and composed.
Her palm slowly curled, forming a tight fist. A look of unprecedented determination flashed in Shen You'an's eyes.
She wouldn't let anyone ruin her life ever again.
——
Though Zhang Jian wasn't particularly capable, his job at the bank's customer service department meant he was adept at dealing with all sorts of people, knowing exactly how to play his emotional cards. After laying down his case, Director Zhao personally guaranteed that he'd arrange for Shen You'an to attend Lanya Primary School.
Still, Lanya was a school that strictly kept up appearances; they didn't compromise rules for anyone. Finally, Director Zhao managed to pull some strings and leveraged connections such as his distant cousin's uncle twice removed. In the end, Shen You'an was given permission to take the entrance exam—admission hinges solely on whether she passes or fails the test. No exceptions.
This was already the best result they could hope for. But for Shen You'an, facing the elementary-level exam questions was laughably easy for someone with the mental acuity of a twenty-eight-year-old.
On the day of the entrance exam, Shen You'an woke bright and early, freshened up, and tied her soft, chestnut-colored curls into a high ponytail using a red ribbon. Her rounded, baby-fat cheeks and adorable, fair complexion were as delicate as a snowball, complemented by large, deep black eyes that carried a detached maturity far beyond her years.
Zhou Qin emerged from the bedroom, holding her three-year-old son Zhang Tianci, bottle-feeding him as she shot a sideways glance at Shen You'an. Her arched brows and sneering tone were as cutting and unpleasant as always: "If you ask me, you'd be better off letting Little Treasure have this chance. A little girl like you will end up marrying anyway. What's the point of attending such a good school? It's a waste of resources."
Zhang Jian adjusted his tie in front of the mirror and gave her a cold look. "I'll handle Little Treasure's schooling on my own. Just worry about yourself and stop meddling with An'an's affairs."
Zhou Qin pouted slightly. Last night, she had called her cousin, who laughed dismissively: "Pipi has been attending tutoring classes for a year now. All the teachers praised his intelligence. But he caught a cold the night before the exam, which affected his performance—the only reason he didn't pass. As for your niece, who has no preparation or foundation whatsoever, she's sure to fail the test. Why not save yourselves the trouble and give the opportunity to Little Treasure instead?"
Agreeing internally, Zhou Qin casually suggested as much to Zhang Jian, but he nearly jumped down her throat for it. Ever since, the atmosphere between them had been sour.
Well, she was looking forward to seeing that girl make a fool of herself.
Carrying her schoolbag on her back, Shen You'an cast a brief glance at the child in Zhou Qin's arms. Three-year-old Zhang Tianci was far chubbier than others his age, his coarse features squeezed on a bloated face, indulging in the bliss of milk—a stark reminder of a pig waiting for slaughter in the pen.
Her eyes flickered briefly with contempt before she turned her head without pause and left with her schoolbag.
——
The entrance exam consisted of one comprehensive test paper, timed at sixty minutes.
The exam venue was in the office of Academic Director Wu Xishan.
Shen You'an sat at the desk by the window—this table had been specially arranged by Wu Xishan. Behind the decorative screen, Wu Xishan and Zhao Qian were seated in the tea lounge, and occasionally the faint sounds of water flowing or muted conversation could be heard. The entire room was suffused with a subtle aroma of tea.
The test posed no challenge to Shen You'an. Even the trickier riddles required only a modest detour of her well-seasoned brain.
With time to spare, Shen You'an turned her head to gaze out the window.
As a prestigious private school, Lanya spared no expense in its facilities. The sprawling sports field featured orange and green running tracks that glimmered like rainbows following a storm. On the field, a class was midway through PE lessons, and the loud unified chants of "Left, right!" rang clear across the open sky.
To the left of the sports field stood a massive, modern-art-style indoor gymnasium that reflected the azure heavens, its design strikingly beautiful.
Shen You'an rested her chin in her hands and took a deep breath.
School... It's been a while.
"Ding." A faint sound reverberated in her mind—gentle ripples in a quiet lake created by a falling droplet.
"Congratulations, Host. You've successfully activated the Academic Genius System. From now on, we'll grow together and embark on the journey to academic greatness."