Chapter 26: Then We Must Not Be Family

 Chapter 26: Then We Must Not Be Family

Jumping a grade?

Li Fei was stunned.

Thinking that Gu Qingning had heard rumors in school, she smiled and said, "Qingning, it's okay if you can't keep up with the coursework for now. You don't need to care about what others think. Take your time. The most important thing for you now is to build a solid foundation."

Knowing that she had misunderstood something, Gu Qingning also had no intention of explaining and went straight to the point. "Is it the same as the entrance exam, passing the assessment is enough?"

Li Fei smiled helplessly. "The test for skipping a grade is very difficult, and if you want to take the exam, you need the principal's approval."

She thought that by pointing out the difficulty of skipping a grade, Gu Qingning would automatically give up.

However, the result was the opposite of what she expected.

Gu Qingning asked her, "Where is the principal's office?"

Li Fei was taken aback. "Huh?"

Gu Qingning repeated, "Where is the principal's office?"

Li Fei blinked her eyes, meeting Gu Qingning's clear gaze. She hesitated to remind her, "Qingning, the test for skipping a grade is very difficult, even more difficult than the exams in the second year. You..."

She didn't want to discourage her, but Gu Qingning's entrance exam score was too low. Skipping a grade was simply impossible.

Taking over her words, Gu Qingning said, "I won't go to the second year."

Now Li Fei was even more confused and asked in a daze, "But didn't you want to skip a grade?"

"I want to go to the third year."

Li Fei couldn't believe her ears. It was like a bolt from the blue, and her mind went blank for a moment.

The third year?

She was at a loss for words.

"Teacher Li?" Gu Qingning raised her hand and waved it in front of her, calling out in a calm voice.

Li Fei forced a smile. "Qingning, skipping a grade is not as simple as you think. Why don't you go back to your class and attend your classes for now?"

Gu Qingning raised her lips and said, "Teacher Li, since you can't inform me, then I won't disturb you."

After saying that, she walked away.

"Qingning, wait." Li Fei followed her in high heels and caught up, asking, "It's time for class, where are you going?"

Gu Qingning didn't stop her steps. "To find the principal."

Helpless, Li Fei couldn't resist her anymore. "Don't wander around everywhere. I'll take you there."

If she wandered around the school during class time and got caught by the headmaster, as her class teacher, she would undoubtedly receive a reprimand as well.

Gu Qingning glanced at her and slowed down her pace. "Thank you."

However...

Someone had arrived at the principal's office ahead of them.

The atmosphere was cold and tense.

"Third Young Master, this matter is not what you think. We have sent out many people to look for her."

A man spoke in a low and humble voice. His name was Zhang Wenfu, the principal of Yizhong School. He was in his fifties, with a big quiff hairstyle and a slightly overweight figure that couldn't be concealed by his suit.

Gu Zhao swept his gaze over him and said coldly, "You searched all night and then stopped? The reason given is that my sister got lost on her own, and the school is not responsible. Is that how it is?"

"No, of course not." Principal Zhang waved his hand and forced a smile. "You have misunderstood."

"I have been busy with a business trip these past few days, so I only know part of the story. It was due to this negligence that the misunderstanding occurred. Rest assured, I will definitely reprimand the staff responsible and have them apologize to you."

"I will send more people to find Miss Qingning and bring her back as soon as possible."

Gu Zhao wasn't a fool; he could naturally hear that Principal Zhang was finding excuses for himself.

Now that Qingning had returned, he wouldn't dwell on this matter anymore. Changing the topic, he asked, "In which class is my sister?"

"Knock, knock, knock..."

Principal Zhang was about to speak, but the sound of a tight knock on the door interrupted him.

"Principal Zhang, are you in there?"

Recognizing Li Fei's voice, a gleam of anticipation flashed through Principal Zhang's eyes.

The scapegoat had arrived.

"Come in."

Li Fei pushed open the door and saw a figure on the sofa. His handsome profile was easily recognizable.

He was once the legend of Yizhong School, the youngest professor at A University in the capital, and a renowned genius musician. Regardless of which identity, it was enough to make people envious.

She was slightly dazed and suddenly remembered the person behind her. Her expression immediately became subtle.

"Teacher Li."

The cold voice of the young girl resounded, neither loud nor soft. Gu Zhao also heard it.

This voice...

He turned his head and looked towards the door where the sound came from, only to see Li Fei standing alone.

Principal Zhang asked, "Teacher Li, who is the person behind you?"

"It's a student from my class," Li Fei replied. As she stepped aside, the figure behind her entered Gu Zhao's field of vision.

The girl was still wearing the same black casual outfit as yesterday, with a slightly tilted hat.

Leaning against the doorframe, she had her usual carefree demeanor.

Gu Zhao's eyes brightened unexpectedly upon seeing her. 

He stood up, his expression warming. "Qingning."

Compared to his excitement, Gu Qingning glanced at him indifferently, then straightened up and walked towards Principal Zhang.

Seeing Gu Zhao's concern for Gu Qingning, Principal Zhang chose his words carefully and said, "Qingning, it's good that you're back. Young Master Gu was worried about you."

Without beating around the bush, Gu Qingning straightforwardly stated, "Principal, I want to skip to the third year."

Her words caused the office to fall into silence.

Li Fei scratched her temple with a wry smile, knowing it would turn out like this.

Principal Zhang glanced at Gu Zhao, adjusted his wording, and said tactfully, "Qingning, skipping a grade is not a simple matter."

Gu Qingning nonchalantly responded, "I know, but as long as I pass the skipping exam, it should be fine, right?"

Since she had come back to attend classes, she had no intention of going back to the second year.

"But your entrance exam results..." Gu Ji, considering Gu Zhao's presence, Principal Zhang didn't dare to be too harsh with his words, "...were not ideal."

Not just "not ideal," they were abysmal, setting a new record for the lowest score in the history of the school.

Gu Zhao gazed at the girl across from him, his thin lips twitching. "Principal Zhang, if I remember correctly, our school has always allowed students to skip a grade as long as they pass the exam."

"That's true," Principal Zhang sighed, steeling himself, "but Qingning's entrance exam only scored a little over twenty points."

Implicitly, she wasn't qualified to take the skipping exam.

"..."

A little over twenty points?

Gu Zhao's gaze faltered, unable to imagine how she could score so low, given that 

he had always been a top student.

Even if she randomly guessed the multiple-qchoice questions, she shouldn't have scored that poorly, right?

He approached her, closing the distance, and spoke in a gentle tone tinged with helplessness, "How did you score a little over twenty points?"

Gu Qingning raised her eyes and calmly asked, "Is it really that strange? Haven't you ever scored low?"

"Of course not, my big brothers and I have always been ranked first in the entire year," Gu Zhao replied.

Gu Qingning lightly responded, "Then we must not be related."

"..."

Gu Zhao felt another pang in his heart.

The siblings didn't hold back their voices, and Principal Zhang and Li Fei stood by, experiencing various levels of awkwardness.

These two didn't seem like siblings at all; they were more like strangers.

Trying to recover from the previous sting, Gu Zhao asked, "Do you really want to skip a grade?"

Gu Qingning raised an eyebrow and nodded lightly.

(End of this chapter)