Chapter 61

In the car, Lin Miaomiao proudly showed the red envelope to her dad. "Look at this, Dad."

Glancing at what Lin Miaomiao was holding, Lin Dawei asked, "What is that?"

"Tang Yuanming gave this to me. He's the epitome of an elite teacher," Miaomiao said with pride.

"Your mother's brother-in-law gave you a red envelope. Just you?" Lin Dawei inquired curiously.

"He gave one to everyone in our class. If only all teachers were like him," Lin Miaomiao smiled as she thought about it.

"He's certainly well-off," Lin Dawei remarked, holding the red envelope. "I wonder how much is inside."

Lin Miaomiao snatched the envelope back. "Teacher Tang said to open it at home," she replied.

...

Ye Bai meticulously unpacked his belongings in his room before changing into fresh clothes, his mood buoyant with satisfaction.

Taking a moment to stretch, he then proceeded to check his system status.

[ Ye Bai ]

Age: 17/20

Physical: 87 -> 90

Intelligence: 92 -> 94

Charm: 83 -> 85

Skills:

Acting: 54/100 C -> 34/100 B-

Singing: 76/100 B -> 81/100 B+

Dancing: 44/100 C- -> 91/100 C-

Musical Instruments:

Guitar: 81/100 A -> 47/100 A+

Piano: 58/100 B+ -> 80/100 A

Martial Arts: 30/100 D+ -> 81/100 C-

Sword Arts: 37/100 D+ -> 55/100 C-

Traits:

[Master of Tongues]

[Photographic Memory] (Instead of Enhanced Memory)

Debuff:

Ye Bai looked at his status. He was satisfied with his progress, especially with the traits he acquired. These traits were gained through his exploration of foreign languages.

**Master of Tongues**

*Fluent in 10 or more languages, mastering diverse linguistic nuances and effortlessly communicating across cultures worldwide. They've not only mastered the grammar and vocabulary of each language but also delved deep into the cultural contexts, idiomatic expressions, and regional dialects, making them invaluable assets in international diplomacy, translation, and cross-cultural communication.*

After studying languages and reading different foreign books, he enhanced his foreign language skills.

Checking its effect, Ye Bai's eyebrows furrowed.

Effect: Individuals with this trait not only excel in language learning but also become extraordinarily skilled kissers. Their flexible tongues and understanding of linguistic subtleties translate into passionate and satisfying kisses.

Additional Effect: They possess an intuitive understanding of their partner's desires and can adjust their kissing style accordingly, leading to deeply intimate and pleasurable experiences.

He felt that it was a slightly perverted skill. But it doesn't mean he doesn't want it.

Turning his attention to his phone, he attempted to message Lin Miaomiao to check if she had reached home safely.

...

"Mom!" Lin Miaomiao's voice echoed through the house as she burst through the door, her excitement palpable as she rushed toward her mother, who was busy kneading dough at the dining table.

"Change your shoes first," Lin Dawei reminded her, his voice gentle but firm.

Though eager to share her news, Lin Miaomiao obediently retraced her steps to the doorway to swap her shoes. "Let me tell you this, Mom, I aced all my exams," she announced eagerly while changing, her voice barely containing her excitement.

After swapping her shoes, she hurried back to her mom, the anticipation evident in her every step. "Look!" she exclaimed, waving her exam results in front of her mother.

Wang Shengnan glanced at the paper. "I'm 39th in the grade!" Lin Miaomiao pointed proudly to the paper, her eyes shining with accomplishment.

"Wait, I can't see it clearly," Wang Shengnan said, taking the paper to inspect it closely. Upon seeing the grade, she enveloped her daughter in a tight hug. "Counterattack!" she declared jubilantly after releasing her from the embrace.

As Wang Shengnan examined the grade more closely, a proud smile played on her lips.

Lin Miaomiao took a seat across from her mother, her excitement bubbling over as she reached out her hand, palm up. "Come on, give me money."

"What money?" Wang Shengnan responded, still engrossed in her daughter's achievements.

"The Progress Prize. Since I did well in math. What do want to get an extra discount?" Lin Miaomiao's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Wang Shengnan smiled. "Acquaintances usually get discounts, besides, I'm your mother."

Hearing her mother's words, Lin Miaomiao's expression soured. "Ah—"

"How can you... Uh, what? Why do you keep bargaining with your parents? You're studying for yourself, not for money," Wang Shengnan quickly rebutted.

"I—" Lin Miaomiao looked shocked. "Did you decide on the Progress Prize? Did you encourage me to earn it?"

"You are a student, and your priority is learning and excelling in exams. Why are you asking for money? Look at me, I work hard at work and at home to take care of you both. When did I ask you for money?" Wang Shengnan replied while rolling dumplings. She looked at her daughter and smiled. "Did I go around the world boasting about it? I didn't."

"Stop," Lin Miaomiao said, gesturing to cut off the conversation, standing up to go to her room annoyed.

"Wait a minute," Wang Shengnan called out, a soft smile playing on her lips as she pointed to the grade on the paper. "This time, you got 130 points in the literature exam." She gave Miaomiao a thumbs up. "Good job."

Lin Miaomiao's smile returned, and she settled back into her seat. "Right? That's why I'm going to win the full prize this time."

Upon hearing Lin Miaomiao's words, Wang Shengnan's smile faded, and she focused intently on her work.

"The rules of the Progress Prize were set by you from the beginning, and we didn't change the dynasty, so why did you overturn it?" Lin Miaomiao explained.

"Who says the rules can't be changed? People have to constantly change as they move forward," Wang Shengnan responded.

"But you don't have to make unpredictable changes in policy. You can't be a teacher like this," Miaomiao said, her disappointment evident in her voice. "Do the leaders, teachers, and students at your school know that you are like this at home?"

Wang Shengnan acted as if she hadn't heard what Lin Miaomiao said. "I just think you can still improve in math."

Hearing this, Lin Miaomiao took a deep breath.

...

Inside her room, Lin Miaomiao seethed with anger as she threw her jacket onto the bed. "I lost again."

Suddenly, her phone buzzed with a notification, but she ignored it. Peeking out of her room, she spotted her father watching TV. "Psst, Old Lin," she gestured for him to come over, but Lin Dawei just shook his head.

With no other choice, Lin Miaomiao walked out and sat beside Lin Dawei. She didn't forget to playfully slap her father's legs as she passed by. "How can you watch TV now? Why didn't you save my life? You're such a lazy teammate."

Lin Dawei moved closer and whispered, "Why are you in such a hurry? You're not a single-parent child. I'm here, so just wait patiently."

"LIN-DA-WEI," Wang Shengnan said, catching sight of the father and daughter whispering. "Agreeing overtly but opposing covertly, what are you doing?" She stood up, eyeing her husband.

"What? I'm not doing anything."

"What are you pretending for? Don't think I don't know what you're up to. Every time I string her, you're there to untie her," Wang Shengnan accused.

"How dare I? I'm your gun, pointing wherever you aim. If you tell me to go east, I won't go west. If you tell me to catch a dog, I won't chase a chicken," Lin Dawei retorted.

Listening to her father's words, Lin Miaomiao looked at him in disbelief.

Wang Shengnan nodded. "It's okay if you don't ask anything. We're not educating our kid well because you don't cooperate with me."

"Okay, I understand. Everything must be my fault in the end," Lin Dawei said sarcastically. "What's wrong with our kid? She's 39th in the whole grade. That's very good."

Unable to contain herself, hearing their argument Lin Miaomiao stood up. "Fine. You two can argue. The older you get, the arguments get stronger."

Both Wang Shengnan and Lin Dawei's eyes widened at her outburst. "Who do you think is old?" they asked simultaneously.

Lin Miaomiao paused, looking at her parents. "You two are in your 40s. It's an awkward stage of age. You can't pretend to be young and hang out with people in their 30s, but you're not willing to be grouped with those in their 50s. Being in your 40s is a unique stage; you're highly sensitive. One of your taboo words is 'old'." She said mischievously.

Lin Miaomiao fixes her eyeglasses and begins again "Because 'old' has been waiting at your door for a long time. When you're over 50, you slowly accept it and your heart becomes calm because you're finally willing to bow your head to the years."

"Congratulations on finally entering your old age." After finishing her words, she swiftly retreated playfully to her bedroom, closing the door behind her.

"If you know we're unstable, don't mess with us. This kid," Lin Dawei chuckled and shook his head, glancing at his wife, who was staring at him blankly. He became serious, "Don't mess with your mom," he reiterated.

"Darling," Wang Shengnan called her husband. "Am I old?" Her voice carried a hint of sadness.

"In my heart, you'll always be 18," Lin Dawei replied with a smile.

Hearing Lin Dawei's words, Wang Shengnan smiled shyly, feeling like an 18-year-old once again.

...

In her room, Lin Miaomiao hastily snatched up her cellphone, her fingers tapping furiously on the screen as she composed a message to Ye Bai, eager to share the injustice she had faced.

Xiaobai: Are you home yet?

Lin Miaomiao's reply was swift, her frustration evident in her words.

Meowmeow: Xiaobai, I've been bullied and faced serious injustice. .⁠·⁠´⁠¯⁠⁠(⁠>⁠▂⁠<⁠)⁠´⁠¯⁠⁠·⁠.< p>

Meanwhile, Ye Bai, engrossed in a show on his cellphone, was interrupted by a message from Miaomiao. Upon reading it, a smile tugged at his lips, and he quickly responded.

Xiaobai: What happened? [pat head.gif] Tell your boyfriend, what's going on?

Lin Miaomiao, feeling a rush of relief at the opportunity to vent, flopped onto her bed and began typing back to Ye Bai.

Meowmeow: Wang Shengnan didn't keep her promise about the Progress Reward. (⁠ب⁠_⁠ب⁠)

Ye Bai's curiosity was piqued.

Xiaobai: What did Uncle Lin say?

Lin Miaomiao's frustration bubbled as she replied.

Meowmeow: I'm still waiting for him to come up with a solution.

Xiaobai: Don't let it ruin your mood. Remember the snacks I gave you? Eat them and you'll feel better.

Lin Miaomiao's spirits lifted at the thought of the snacks Ye Bai had given her. She eagerly reached for the paper bag and tore it open, grabbing a snack.

Meowmeow: [photo] I'm diving in now.

She sent a photo of herself indulging in the snack.

Meowmeow: We're heading to our grandparents' house to celebrate Chinese New Year. What about you?

Xiaobai: Same here, we're also going to our grandparents' house for the festivities.

Just then, Lin Miaomiao and Ye Bai's phones buzzed at the same time, and checking, they found messages from Haozi.

Xiaobai: Did you receive a message from Haozi? He invited us to go karaoke after Chinese New Year!

Meowmeow: Yes, I received his message too.

Lin Miaomiao opened the group chat and called out to Haozi.

Meowmeow: @Haozi, what's the message you sent?

The message was quickly seen by everyone in the group chat. They were all curious about Haozi's plan.

Haozi: Yes, I miss the time when we were all together in the Experimental Class. Why don't we hang out? Our male dorm and your female dorm.

Xiaobai: Okay with me, and I'm free most of the time.

Meowmeow: Me too! I want to get out of the house.

Xiaoqi: How about you visit our house, Miaomiao?

Lin Miaomiao's eyes lit up reading Xiaoqi's invitation. They had discussed before that she would visit Xiaoqi's house next time.

Meowmeow: Okay, Xiaoqi ＼⁠(⁠^⁠o⁠^⁠)⁠／

Haozi: @Alien123, you're just leaving us on read there. Are you coming?

Alien123: [thumbs-up]

Haozi: Okay, see you later after Chinese New Year!

Meowmeow: See you later!

Xiaobai: See you later!

Alien123: See you!

Xiaoqi: See you later, Yiyi!