Back in the car.
The arrogance on Song Ning’s face was replaced by anger as she said, “I’m so pissed. Who does He Xiaoman think she is? The first thing she said was to tell us to transfer our daughter. Does she think she owns the school or something?”
Huo Jinyan turned to see his wife all riled up. He could not help laughing. “You were super cool when you threw away the cheque.”
Song Ning glared at him and said angrily, “That’s not the point here! She said Yaoyao bullied Xiaxia. Yaoyao has such a great personality. How could she bully Xiaxia? Her words were absolutely unreasonable!”
Song Ning might not have fully grasped Huo Xia’s personality, but she roughly knew what her daughter was like. She hadn’t bothered to explain herself, even when her eldest brother misunderstood her. She was so indifferent that it was impossible for her to bully someone else. Instead, she would more likely end up as a target of bullying.
Huo Jinyan went silent for a few seconds before he continued. “I think Lu Xia must have said something to her family. Or else, the Lu family wouldn’t have asked for this conversation.”
Song Ning frowned and said, “No matter what, I absolutely don’t believe that our daughter would bully Xiaxia.”
Huo Jinyan crossed his arms and pacified her. “After the contest, we can just ask her when she comes out, right?”
“Mhm,” said Song Ning and exhaled deeply. She could not help thinking about He Xiaoman’s expression when she took out the cheque. She turned to ask Huo Jinyan rather gloomily. “Do you think we have been too low profile?”
Huo Jinyan touched his chin. He looked at the Volkswagen Santana logo on the steering wheel and agreed with his wife for the first time. “I think so.”
How could someone throw money at them? How could something like this happen to them?
None of this made sense.
**
The contest ended an hour later.
Huo Yao handed in her answer script and left the hall. An unrestrained air emanated from her exquisite face. She did not have a look of worry like the other students. It was plain to see how easy the contest questions were to her, this time.
When Huo Yao left the bathroom, she saw a tall, slender youth standing in the corridor. He kept looking down at his feet, so she could only see his profile.
Huo Yao glanced at him indifferently before shifting her eyes. The youth finally looked up when she walked past him. He called for her in a cold tone. “Huo Yao.”
Huo Yao paused and looked sideways. She finally got a close look at the youth. He was a handsome young man with striking features, but his face was expressionless.
Huo Yao raised her brows and asked. “You are?”
He was not annoyed that Huo Yao did not know him. His lips curved upwards. His deep eyes instantly lit up and went ablaze with rivalry. He said, “You’re pretty good. You are a worthy opponent.”
Huo Yao, “…”
“But I won’t lose to you again in this round,” said the youth confidently. Then he stepped sideways and left.
Huo Yao stood there in a daze. After some time, she touched her nose. Did she just get provoked?
**
After this delay, Huo Yao left the building. Most of the other contestants’ parents had left, and she was the last one to come out.
Song Ning and Huo Jinyan finally saw her after waiting around for so long. They hurried over to her.
“Yaoyao, why did you come out so late today? Were the questions tough?” asked Song Ning worriedly. After all, she had been the first one to leave from the exam hall during the previous round.
