Chapter 102: Chapter 101: Men Just Love Being on the Bottom
Considering his total score was quite good, Xia Shanshan ultimately managed to hold back her anger. She just huffed softly, then walked out to the balcony with a cheerful look to make a call.
The cutoff for a regular Tier 1 university was only about 500 points. Her son’s score was over a hundred points higher, meaning he could easily get into an average 211 or 985 university, and could even take a shot at Qingbei. On top of that, he was an art student, which gave his application extra weight.
At this thought, the smile on Xia Shanshan’s face grew even wider.
’I have to admit, my daughter-in-law deserves most of the credit. She quietly helped him undergo a complete transformation in just three months. Before, a score this high would’ve been absolutely unthinkable.’
’Nothing more needed to be said. In a word: a blessing!’
Watching his mom’s triumphant look, Jiang Xia’s face twitched. ’She looks angry on the surface, but isn’t she actually pretty happy on the inside?’
’Women... they always say one thing and mean another.’
He still remembered his past life. In 2009, with nearly 200,000 students taking the exam in Yu Du, the top liberal arts score was 659. If he hadn’t written a love letter for his essay, the title of top scorer from that past life might have been his in this one.
’Hmm... no, that’s not right.’
’There were two women ranked above him—one was his wife, and the other his deskmate. Both were top-tier academic prodigies. To score better than them, he would have had to use the time he spent making Cat and Mouse to study and grind practice questions instead.’
’I wonder if someone will rewrite history in this life. Who will end up taking the title of top scorer?’
None of that seemed to have anything to do with him. He snapped back to reality and pulled out his phone to message his wife.
[Jiang Hanhan]: Baby, my scores are out. 648 points, ranked 29th in the city.
[Lin Baobao]: I was just about to tell you. I checked mine too. Total score 657, ranked 13th in the city.
Jiang Xia froze for a second. ’If 659 was the highest score in the city, then 657 should be second or third place. But she’s ranked 13th. Does that mean other people scored even higher?’
He quickly figured it out. Since this was a parallel world, anything was possible.
[Jiang Hanhan]: Oh, great Goddess of Studying, please accept this humble bow from a lowly slacker!
[Lin Baobao]: Stop being a smart-aleck. You’re not that different from me. A slacker with 648 points? Does that mean everyone who scored lower than you has to be sent back to the factory for a rebuild?
Seeing Jiang Xia’s score, Lin Yanwan let out a small sigh of relief. Their scores were close, so with proper planning, they should be able to get into the same university and become the fairytale couple many people saw them as.
Jiang Xia typed out a series of "hehehe"s.
[Jiang Hanhan]: So is that weight finally off your chest? What does this prove? The reason you stumbled in your past life was because you didn’t start a proper relationship with me sooner.
[Lin Baobao]: ...While you might have a point, you’re also really shameless.
[Jiang Hanhan]: By the way, don’t rush into choosing your university preferences. Let’s research it together later. We’ll find a suitable plan.
[Lin Baobao]: Mm, okay.
[Jiang Hanhan]: I’ll come over this afternoon?
[Lin Baobao]: Oh? How come someone isn’t afraid of wasting time on me today?
[Jiang Hanhan]: How could being with my baby be a waste of time? It’s an irresistible, ecstatic pleasure.
[Lin Baobao]: ?? I suspect you’re being lewd.
[Jiang Hanhan]: I’m being serious. I just miss you.
[Lin Baobao]: Missing me while being lewd?
[Jiang Hanhan]: ? Wow, haven’t seen you for one night and your "driving skills" have improved, baby. Just wait till I get there. We’ll need to have a deep... exchange... later.
Lin Yanwan’s face flushed slightly. ’Who can’t talk big online? Anyway, even if she teased him until he was burning with desire, she wouldn’t have to take responsibility for it.’
[Lin Baobao]: I think you’d better not come over. Just focus on your work. I have to do some voice acting in a couple of days. Let’s wait until the twelfth episode is completely finished and submitted.
[Jiang Hanhan]: Alright, whatever you say.
Jiang Xia "calmed down his little brother," sighed, and put his phone away. Since his wife told him not to come, he had no choice but to keep working at home. The sooner he ground it out, the sooner he could hold her.
His gaze drifted to the balcony. He saw his mom was *still* on the phone. It was obvious how incredibly happy she was.
After all, 29th place in the entire city... a few hundred years ago, that would be like the family producing an imperial scholar who would serve in the court. It was an event that would bring immense honor to their ancestors. Even after death, his memorial tablet would be placed in the ancestral hall to be worshipped by future generations.
Jiang Xia smiled wordlessly. The Central Academy of Fine Arts and the National Art Museum, which had been but a distant dream in his past life, were now within his grasp.
And all it took to achieve such a transformation was a single rebirth.
A little while later, Xia Shanshan, beaming, hung up the phone and came inside. She asked casually, "What about Yanwan? How did she do?"
"657. Nine points higher than me. Ranked 13th in the city."
"She really lives up to her title as first in the grade," Xia Shanshan praised, before her tone shifted again. "If you hadn’t been so arrogant as to write a love letter for your Chinese essay, you might have gotten the same score as her."
"...Here you go again."
Jiang Xia was rendered speechless. This incident was probably going to be a black mark on his record for the rest of his life.
’Still, among the 200,000 exam takers, who else could so openly write a love letter for their college entrance exam essay like him?’
The thought made him feel a little smug.
"Son, keep working hard and try to surpass her one day. If a man is constantly being overshadowed by a woman, people will look down on him."
Jiang Xia pouted. ’What’s so bad about being "overshadowed" by my own wife? I like it when my wife is on top. It’s more comfortable when my wife is on top.’
"Then do you look down on Dad?"
"How is that the same thing?" After a pause, Xia Shanshan continued, "That man just likes being pressed down by me."
Jiang Xia slowly fell into deep thought.
’See? All men have the same hobbies.’
"Alright, what do you want for lunch? I’ll go make it for you, as a reward."
"Anything is fine. Weren’t there still leftovers from last night?"
"That works."
Since they were just eating leftovers, lunch wasn’t so urgent. Xia Shanshan turned on the air conditioner, setting it to 26 degrees, and the summer heat in the living room gradually began to recede.
"Have you and Yanwan discussed what you’re going to do about your university applications?"
At this point, Xia Shanshan no longer objected to her son giving up a more suitable school in pursuit of love. After all, without Yanwan, how could Jiang Xia have gotten such good scores?
Leaving all else aside, that "husband-booster" trait alone was enough to make her dead set on this daughter-in-law.
Besides, if the two of them could get into the same university as a couple, then get married and have children later on, the story would surely become a wonderful tale to be told.
"It’s still early. Let’s wait for the major universities to announce their admission cutoffs," Jiang Xia said.
"Mm... you two can make your own decision. Just let me know what it is."
Xia Shanshan sighed softly. Over the past few months, she had noticed her son had truly matured a lot. The way he spoke and handled things had the air of an adult; he was no longer the child who needed her constant protection.
’He’s grown up.’
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