Qin Ye was a person with a sharp memory and exceptional talent, but his sole focus was on his studies, and he paid little attention to anyone or anything unrelated. In his memory, Zong Jincheng was just one of the countless students who couldn’t surpass him academically, albeit with a worse temper, often stomping his feet in frustration in front of him. However, he hadn’t yet matched the name to the face.
When Qin Ye’s question was uttered, Zong Wenxiu felt the air freeze around them. Oh no, oh no. Although he had long suspected that Qin Ye probably didn’t recognize them, for Qin Ye to ask so bluntly was no different from stomping on his younger brother’s pride. Zong Jincheng was going to lose it…
“What… what did you say?” Zong Jincheng wondered if he had misheard.
The person he regarded as his greatest rival, the one he dreamed of defeating every day, didn’t even know who he was?
Insult!
An outrageous insult!!
Like a bubble filled to the brim with air, Zong Jincheng was struck by this thunderbolt from the heavens, igniting a fury so intense it seemed to shake the earth and split the skies. He was now in the most furious state of his life!
“Qin Ye, you scoundrel! How dare you ask who I am? How dare you not recognize me? I’m the one who’s going to defeat you, the most talented student in the entire capital!”
“How infuriating! How can there be someone so arrogant and cocky in this world? Are you proud of yourself? Let me tell you, I’m the best! If I hadn’t started studying later, the top spot in the four academies would never have gone to you!”
The little devil struggled to lunge forward, his dark, gleaming eyes bloodshot, his chubby arms flailing in the air like two white radishes, resembling an adorable yet pitiful little hedgehog.
Zong Wenxiu found the situation both amusing and frustrating, but there was nothing he could do. He could only stand in front of his brother and try to calm him down. “Jincheng, listen to me. It’s normal that Qin Ye doesn’t know you. We’ve never been formally introduced. I know you’re angry, and I understand, but you need to realize that anger won’t solve anything. We can start getting to know each other now, and when you defeat him in the future, he’ll definitely remember your name for the rest of his life.”
Zong Wenxiu’s advice was spot-on, and under normal circumstances, it would have been enough to soothe the little devil. But this time was different. Zong Jincheng was consumed by a rage as if he had been ghosted by someone he had been pining after for five months. His mind was a blazing inferno, and no words could penetrate it.
Qin Shi had never seen such a scene before and didn’t even know where to start mediating. He hurried over to Qin Ye’s side and whispered, “Xiao Ye, this is Zong Jincheng, the one I told you about. He’s highly talented and caught up in just a few months. He’s really impressive.”
Qin Ye remembered.
His brother had said that Zong Jincheng might surpass him.
He looked at the red-eyed guy who got angry just because he couldn’t outperform him. Someone so easily controlled by emotions didn’t seem like the type who could surpass him.
Forget it. His brother must have been mistaken.
“Oh, got it,” Qin Ye replied.
Meanwhile, Zong Wenxiu was still trying to hold his brother back, and Qin Shi quickly stepped in to explain, “Jincheng, don’t be angry. Xiao Ye knows your name; he just hasn’t formally met you or connected your name to your face.”
Zong Wenxiu chimed in, “Yes, yes! See, even Qin Shi said so. It’s not too late for us to get acquainted now.”
The little devil glared at Qin Ye and spat out a threat, “Who wants to get to know him? Damn it, we’ll settle this on the rankings! Just wait until I crush him, and then I’ll consider acknowledging him!”
That damned Qin Ye.
How dare he not recognize me? Just you wait!
You can act all high and mighty now, but someday you’ll be crying!
Zong Jincheng stormed off, utterly uninterested in befriending Qin Ye.
Of course, Qin Ye wasn’t particularly interested either.
Zong Wenxiu quickly apologized to Qin Shi and rushed off to catch up with his furious brother.
Watching their retreating figures, Qin Shi said, “Xiao Ye, Jincheng is the same age as you and has seen you as a rival for a long time. He’s mentioned you many times in front of me, so he clearly pays a lot of attention to you. You… you really hurt him just now.”
Qin Ye replied bluntly, “I was just telling the truth.”
He really didn’t know Zong Jincheng. Was he supposed to pretend otherwise?
He didn’t have time to play games with this kid.
Qin Shi sighed helplessly, “The truth isn’t always pleasant… but there’s nothing to be done. I was too far away earlier, or else I could have whispered a reminder to you.”
Qin Ye said impassively, “It’s just a small matter. Don’t take all the blame on yourself.”
Qin Shi: “…”
Thankfully, Zong Jincheng had already left, or else hearing this would have sent him into another rage.
Qin Ye seemed to have found a topic to lecture on and began scolding, “Earlier, when Luo Chen bumped into you, why didn’t you fight back? If you let people bully you too often, they’ll think you’re an easy target, and everyone will try to step on you.”
The younger brother lecturing the older brother seemed to be a common occurrence.
Qin Shi shut his mouth, trying to change the subject, “Let’s go home. Mom said she’s making crab today.”
Qin Ye: “You’re doing it again.”
Qin Shi smiled apologetically, “I really don’t like arguing with people.”
“Then what will you do when you enter the officialdom?” Qin Ye asked.
While many believed Qin Ye’s personality would make it hard for him to thrive in the bureaucratic world, Qin Ye was confident that with enough ability, all dissent would be silenced.
But Qin Shi was different. With his mediocre skills and tendency to be bullied, he would be devoured in the officialdom.
Qin Shi smiled, “I can join those departments where you just work and don’t have to deal with people. There’s always a place that suits me.”
Qin Ye frowned, thinking his brother was being overly optimistic.
But this was just his nature, and it was hard to change.
Still, he would enter the officialdom before his brother, and as long as he climbed high enough, he could pave the way for him.
“Let’s go home.”
Over at Xu Wan’s side, she soon learned about the encounter between Zong Jincheng and Qin Ye. Just as she finished receiving the news, the little devil came charging back like an angry bull, fuming with rage.
Once in the carriage, no one spoke, but the tension was palpable. The little devil was in such a hurry that he urged the coachman to go faster.
Xu Wan wisely chose not to provoke him at this moment and instead chatted with Zong Wenxiu about food and drinks.
Under normal circumstances, the little devil would have eagerly joined in, reaching out for snacks, but today his entire being radiated fury. His eyes bore into the carriage wall as if he wanted to drill a hole through it.
Xu Wan thought to herself that he was probably mentally flaying Qin Ye a hundred times over. Such a fragile ego and jealousy.
When they arrived at the Marquis Manor, the little devil was the first to jump out of the carriage. Ignoring everyone, he rushed straight to the study.
Pan Hongzhi, seeing him return in such a hurry, assumed the exam hadn’t gone well and asked, “What’s wrong, Jincheng? Was today’s test too difficult?”
The little devil sat down at the desk, trying to calm his raging emotions. He declared loudly, “Prepare the next lesson. My goal isn’t just to get into the Child Prodigy Class—it’s to defeat Qin Ye… to defeat Qin Ye!!!”
