Chapter 17: How Many Points???
Outside the conference room, Fang Huan frowned as he finished discussing the matter, then ended the voice call with a solemn expression.
His boss’s little cutie… had gotten his guardian called in.
A few minutes later, Qin Zelin’s expression cracked when he learned what had happened. Forgetting that he was in the middle of chairing a meeting, he asked in utter disbelief,
“What score did you say?”
Everyone in the conference room quietly perked up their ears.
“…?”
Was there gossip?
Fang Huan swept his gaze across the room. Qin Zelin immediately understood.
“We’ll take a ten-minute break before continuing.”
Everyone in the conference room: “…”
The gossip was gone.
Only after everyone had gradually filed out did Fang Huan answer Qin Zelin’s earlier question.
“The academic adviser said Young… Young Master Cen only got two multiple-choice questions correct. He scored six points in English.”
Qin Zelin: “…”
The two men, who had both received nearly perfect scores throughout their entire academic lives, stared at each other in silence for a long while, their expressions complicated.
“Wasn’t the investigation… saying that his grades had always been excellent?”
Fang Huan nodded. “The adviser said the same thing. He also called Young Master Cen’s parents first, but they… said they would no longer involve themselves in any of his affairs.”
“Additionally…” Fang Huan hesitated briefly. “The adviser suggested taking him to see a psychologist as soon as possible. He believes such a drastic decline in his grades may be connected to the psychological pressure caused by recent family upheaval.”
“I asked the adviser. Young Master Cen doesn’t have any classes this afternoon.”
Qin Zelin nodded. Then, as though suddenly remembering something, he picked up his phone and glanced at it.
The screen was completely clear.
There were no missed calls or message notifications.
Wasn’t he the little monster’s legal family now?
Something had happened, yet Cen Miao hadn’t contacted him first?
Moreover, he and the little monster weren’t even WeChat friends…
“Why did he call you?” Qin Zelin raised his eyes toward Fang Huan, his voice calm.
Fang Huan’s heart trembled.
“…!!”
He cautiously glanced at Qin Zelin’s expression.
“Young Master Cen must have been worried that you were busy and didn’t want to disturb you, so he called me instead. Haha.”
“Mm.”
Qin Zelin tapped his fingers against the table, seemingly satisfied with that answer. He then picked up his phone and made a call, but no one answered before it automatically disconnected.
He had no choice but to leave Shao Siheng a message on WeChat.
“Notify everyone that the meeting will continue. Clear my schedule for this afternoon and move everything to tomorrow.”
“Yes, Boss.” Fang Huan released a breath of relief.
At the school’s administration building, Cen Miao left the office and returned to the classroom with Chengcheng. He had barely sat down when Mrs. Cen called.
The woman’s voice was cold over the phone.
“Cen Miao, first you cut up all your clothes because we took back money that never belonged to you. Now you’re trying to attract our attention through this kind of behavior. I don’t care whether you’ve truly decided to throw your life away, but I hope you won’t disturb us again.”
“There’s a lot going on at the company. I don’t want to receive another call concerning you. I’ll have the agreement terminating our adoptive relationship delivered to your school. As for the money, don’t even think about it.”
“Mm. I understand. I don’t want the money.”
Cen Miao ended the call.
His heart felt strange, and he wondered whether the original owner of this body was feeling sad.
He placed a hand over his chest and silently comforted him.
Don’t be sad, okay? She doesn’t like you, but I like you.
“Miaomiao, are you all right? Don’t worry. We can slowly relearn whatever you don’t understand,” Chengcheng said with concern.
“Mm. I’m fine.”
Not far away, Cen Ning was surrounded by several people. Seeing Cen Miao looking somewhat dazed after the call, a trace of satisfaction flashed through his heart.
It wasn’t until after noon, when Shao Siheng had finished an operation, that he returned Qin Zelin’s call.
Qin Zelin was eating lunch. He glanced at the phone before answering.
“What did you need me for?” Shao Siheng’s voice carried a hint of exhaustion.
“Hey, wash your hands first.”
“Oh, you germaphobes are so annoying!”
“Is Qin Zexi there too?” Qin Zelin asked after hearing the two voices through the phone.
“Mm. He came to visit Grandpa. Hurry up and tell me what you need. I just got out of surgery and haven’t eaten yet. I’m starving.”
“Do you know any reliable psychologists?” Qin Zelin asked, setting down his chopsticks.
Shao Siheng replied, “Have you finally realized that your obsession with work is an illness and decided to seek treatment?”
“What? My brother needs treatment?” Qin Zexi’s lazy voice came through the receiver.
Qin Zelin: “…”
“You two are the ones who are sick.”
“It’s Cen Miao. His grades have… declined a little. His adviser suggested taking him to see a psychologist.”
Shao Siheng rubbed his brow and gave a puzzled hum.
“Old Master Cen passed away, so it’s normal for his mood to affect his grades a little.”
Qin Zelin fell silent for a moment, still intending to preserve some of the little monster’s dignity.
“…A little more than a little.”
“What score did he get? Aren’t you overreacting? His mental state seemed perfectly fine the last time I saw him.”
“Besides…” Shao Siheng shifted his position and earnestly advised him, “You can’t hold him to your freakishly high standards. These days, education is supposed to focus on happiness. A child’s happiness is more impor—”
“Six points.”
“How many?!” Shao Siheng’s volume instantly shot up.
“…Six points.”
Qin Zelin closed his eyes and uttered the two icy words with a heart full of despair.
Shao Siheng: “…”
That was indeed a little too much happiness.
“…”
“I’ll contact a psychologist for you right now! He’s extremely reliable—a senior of mine who ranked first in his field! Don’t worry!”
Qin Zelin: “…Mm. Thank you.”
A few minutes later, Qin Zelin looked at the contact card Shao Siheng had sent him on WeChat and tapped Add Friend.
As for the little monster…
Adding him on WeChat would make it easier to communicate whenever something happened.
It was a reasonable excuse, and he could do it while he was at it.
Qin Zelin entered Cen Miao’s phone number and sent a friend request.
It was accepted almost instantly.
Qin Zelin raised a brow.
The little monster had accepted so quickly. He must have wanted to add Qin Zelin for a long time.
At two in the afternoon, a black Bentley was parked not far from the campus entrance.
Qin Zelin stared at the school gates for a long while before finally spotting Cen Miao pushing his little electric scooter. Two people were walking beside him.
One of them was pushing a similar electric scooter. After exchanging a few brief words, that person left.
The other was much taller than Cen Miao. He wore a constant smile, and his gaze remained firmly fixed on Cen Miao.
He looked like a pervert.
Something was clearly wrong with him.
Qin Zelin disliked the man on sight.
Near the school gates, Xu Jianian sighed softly after Cen Miao refused his offer to stay at the apartment he owned near campus.
“I understand. But if you run into any difficulties, you must tell me immediately. Don’t worry about inconveniencing me. I’m willing to help.”
“Okay. Thank you, Senior Xu.”
“Mm. I’ll head back to school now. I still have class this afternoon. Message me when you get home safely, and don’t overthink things.”
Xu Jianian smiled gently and lightly ruffled Cen Miao’s hair before turning and walking back through the school gates.
Inside the car, Qin Zelin frowned as he watched the two of them talking.
What was the little monster saying to that pervert?
Why hadn’t the man left yet?
“???”
Why was that pervert touching the little monster’s head?!
Why didn’t the little monster dodge?!
After Xu Jianian left, Cen Miao glanced at the black car parked nearby and sighed inwardly.
Why were there so many ugly cars that looked exactly like his husband’s?
Then he climbed onto his beloved electric scooter.
Qin Zelin, who had assumed Cen Miao had noticed him and would happily run over:
“…………?”
