Chapter 11: Lacking the Life of Jia Baoyu, Yet Feigning the Maladies of Jia Baoyu!

The next day.

The high school entrance exam mobilization and oath-taking rally was held today.

When He Chen and the others arrived at the school, the playground was already adorned with fluttering red flags and colorful banners, creating a lively atmosphere.

“Is everything okay now?”

His deskmate, Du Tiantian, quietly asked as soon as he saw him.

“What could possibly be wrong?” He Chen replied with a smile.

The one he had just clashed with was merely the head of the grade group, not the principal, and the matter also involved some unspeakable issues with the deputy district chief. Seeing that He Chen was not someone easy to provoke, naturally, what could have been a big deal was toned down.

Of course, the influence of Aunt Ruan, a well-known university professor, also played a part.

“You’re impressive!” Du Tiantian exclaimed.

“Is your queen coming today?” He Chen asked curiously.

“My mom went abroad on a business inspection trip. It’s my aunt who’s here,” Du Tiantian said, then complained, “You really changed over the summer vacation. How could you call my mom ‘queen’? My mom is very gentle, not domineering at all — definitely not a queen!”

He Chen smiled silently to himself: If your mom isn’t a queen, then who is?

Back when he was an average student with an ordinary memory and limited in other aspects, these elegant aunts had always caught his attention.

So when He Chen merged his memories, he instantly recognized the treasure of this daughter’s kingdom, the queen, whom he had only seen once before — his deskmate’s mother.

“Your aunt is an emergency doctor, busier than anyone. If she can make it to your exam rally, your mom must be even busier. Isn’t your mom the queen, managing a big company and handling countless affairs every day?”

“No choice. I want to help her soon too,” Du Tiantian said with a hint of sorrow. “But I’m still too young.”

If he were an ordinary second-generation rich kid, he would have probably played the part — reluctant to inherit the family business, insisting on making it on his own, undergoing a series of failures and romantic escapades, and finally ‘maturing through battles’ and ‘succeeding through hard work,’ only to return home ‘reluctantly’ to take over the family empire.

Du Tiantian wasn’t that pretentious. He was straightforward: his purpose in studying hard was to return home early and take over the family business.

And he wasn’t inheriting the business to show off or flirt, but to lighten the burden on his single mother.

“Later, help me tell your aunt that I want to ask her for a favor,” He Chen said, patting Du Tiantian on the shoulder, steering clear of the family troubles.

“What favor?” Du Tiantian looked at him in surprise.

What favor could He Chen possibly want from his aunt?

He was increasingly sensing that his deskmate had changed. Before, he never mentioned his family; now he brought them up easily, without the slightest awkwardness typical of teenagers. It felt rather strange.

“Your aunt is a doctor and highly skilled. Ruan Liuzheng is determined to study medicine. When your aunt arrives, I want to take her over to ask some questions — to understand what it’s really like to study medicine,” He Chen explained. “They’re both girls, so your aunt can give Ruan Liuzheng a clear picture, so she doesn’t overestimate herself or underestimate how hellish medical school really is.”

“Oh, that’s it,” Du Tiantian understood. “No problem. When I see my aunt later, I’ll tell her. She’ll definitely agree.”

He teased He Chen, “I didn’t expect you to care so much about Ruan Liuzheng. My aunt studied abroad and is a top student. She knows the ins and outs of medical education both home and abroad and can give the best advice to anyone wanting to study medicine, helping them avoid many detours.”

“Well, she is Aunt Ruan’s daughter,” He Chen said with a smile, then called Du Tiantian to join him as they followed the crowd out of the classroom toward the playground.

On the playground, each class stood together in formation.

On the stands, teachers were guiding arriving parents to their seats according to their children’s classes, and the air was filled with warm greetings.

Among the ranks of Senior Grade 3, Class 2,

Ruan Liuzheng stood with Xia Xue, who was softly reciting a speech from a script, glancing at it from time to time. Because she was top of her class and sunny and cheerful, she had defeated Huang Zitao and others to become the representative of the senior grade to speak on stage. Seeing her close friend nervously peering toward the stands, Xia Xue put down her script and teased, “Still worried your aunt won’t come?”

“That’s not what I’m worried about,” Ruan Liuzheng shook her head.

What she cared about was whether her mother would sit with the parents of Class 2 or those of Class 7.

When she saw Ruan Lu enter and, guided by the teacher, sit with the parents of Senior Grade 3, Class 2, a smile couldn’t help but spread across her face.

After the entire senior grade paraded around the playground, various speeches began.

First, the principal spoke.

Then, a parent representative.

Unexpected but reasonable, this year’s parent representative was Ji Yangyang’s father, who had just returned to the city. He even surpassed the district chief Yuan Hua, the father of another student, to speak on behalf of the parents.

As He Chen observed this plump man with an official bearing confidently take the stage, he suddenly sensed a gaze upon him. Following the look, he saw Ji Yangyang standing in the last row of a different class, already turning his eyes away, casting a disdainful and rebellious glare at his father on stage.

He Chen chuckled quietly and withdrew his gaze.

Expressing disdain for relying on one’s father in such a childish way was really quite immature!

Ji Yangyang kept watching He Chen’s reaction out of the corner of his eye. His rebellious and scornful expression froze, and he clenched his fist, responding with a hateful “go away” to the teasing of classmates calling him “Young Master Ji, your dad’s awesome.”

Trying to act cool and arrogant requires someone to play along; otherwise, it just looks foolish.

He Chen’s genuine indifference and contempt were far more powerful than any cold disdain Ji Yangyang tried to show.

When Xia Xue, as the student representative, took the stage to start the oath-taking ceremony, a sudden commotion rippled through the playground.

A student holding a camera above the stands suddenly lost control and slipped, hanging precariously from the roof, about to fall at any moment.

The height was neither too high nor too low, but if he fell, it could cause a serious accident.

Everyone’s eyes fixed on him. Who else but Fang Yifan?

Ordinary-looking, bottom of the class, unremarkable family background, yet he loved to seek attention.

Now that there was no spotlight, he would create one!

Chaos erupted as the crowd surrounded him, unable to catch him as he lay still after the fall. His childhood friends, the academic ace Qiao Yingzi and the school beauty Huang Zitao, both looked anxiously on.

“I just wanted to take a picture for everyone,” Fang Yifan weakly explained, raising a finger.

“Stop talking. The teacher isn’t blaming you. Teacher Pan, quickly go to the infirmary and bring the school doctor and a stretcher!” Li Tiegun, who understood Fang Yifan’s intentions, urgently reassured, then looked up and noticed He Chen standing calmly to the side, watching the scene with curiosity rather than concern. Li Tiegun immediately glared at He Chen, “Stop watching and move aside! Give Fang Yifan some space to breathe!”

“I’ll help take a look,” He Chen said. He had already noticed Fang Yifan was faking it, especially since Fang Yifan’s goddess Huang Zitao was anxiously calling his name, almost making him reveal an expression of extreme pleasure. It was obvious he didn’t have the constitution of a Jia Baoyu but was trying to pretend to be as sick as Jia Baoyu. He Chen squatted down and gently touched him.

“What are you trying to do now?” Li Tiegun reached out to push He Chen away, not wanting him to interfere, but Fang Yifan suddenly jumped up with a “Whoa!” knocking Li Tiegun’s hand aside, hopping energetically and cursing profanely, showing no sign of weakness or faintness.

Li Tiegun nearly exploded with anger, massaging his sore arm where Fang Yifan had forcefully bounced off, fully aware now of what Fang Yifan was up to.

“Teacher not blaming you? Yeah, right!”