The downside of having an excellent memory was showing again.
He could remember every detail, every word, and even reconstruct every action from a scene. And then he realized how self-centered he was, indifferent to everything except his own affairs.
So, while others could easily spot patterns, it took him days to figure them out.
Discovering one's flaws is a disheartening experience, but what saddened Zong Jincheng even more was that he had been selfishly seeking attention and care from Zong Wenxiu, who never seemed to get angry or mind it at all.
How could there be such a kind person in the world?
Zong Jincheng tilted his head slightly and asked, “Brother, aren’t you mad at me at all?”
“Huh? Why would I be mad?” Zong Wenxiu replied.
Zong Jincheng felt even more defeated. He said, “Like forgetting to accompany you to check your grades. Doesn’t it hurt to be ignored like that?”
He put himself in Zong Wenxiu’s shoes. If Zong Wenxiu had only checked his own grades and then told him to go home, completely forgetting that he also needed to check his results, he would have exploded with anger, like a sunflower bursting into flames, ready to burn everything in sight.
Zong Wenxiu smiled gently. “It’s fine. You’re my younger brother, and I’m your older brother. It’s natural for me to be good to you and to be understanding. Besides, you just forgot this one time. I know you’re focused on advancing to the next class and defeating Qin Ye. That’s a good thing—it shows you’re ambitious. I understand.”
Hearing this, Zong Jincheng felt even guiltier.
How could he have taken advantage of such a wonderful brother without giving anything in return? It was too much.
He pouted and said, “Do you ever get angry at all?”
Zong Wenxiu, who had been walking, suddenly stopped and retorted, “Yes, I do get angry.”
“Huh?” Zong Jincheng looked up in confusion.
Zong Wenxiu said seriously, “I get angry when you take advantage of me. I get angry when you act recklessly without thinking. And I get angry when you fail to appreciate the kindness of others and instead think of repaying them with resentment.”
Zong Jincheng replied honestly, “So you have quite a few things that make you angry.”
Zong Wenxiu: “…”
Not as many as you, though.
How can you, a young master who gets angry eight hundred times a day, have the nerve to say that…
Zong Wenxiu continued, “Anyway, the things that make me angry are usually matters of principle. I won’t get upset over small, everyday things.”
“Oh, I see,” Zong Jincheng replied, though he was still pondering the three principles his brother had mentioned.
Taking advantage, being unreasonable, and lacking gratitude.
Am I really that bad?
The little troublemaker pouted, lost in thought and a bit disgruntled, when he suddenly heard his brother let go of his arm and say, “We’re here. I’ll go take a look ahead.”
Zong Jincheng followed, but unlike Zong Wenxiu, who started searching from the bottom of the list, he began from the top.
Although his brother’s talent wasn’t quite on par with his own, it was still far superior to that of ordinary people. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to catch up so quickly in less than a year.
Moreover, with the help of the seemingly odd but actually highly effective Marquis Manor Elite Class, both of their learning progress had accelerated significantly.
So, he was sure his brother had done exceptionally well this time!
Starting from the top were the names of students from Hanlin North Academy, listed in a dense, orderly fashion. At a glance, none of them were from their academy. But in the second column, he spotted a name from Qingbo Academy!
Nineteenth place, Grade A, Qingbo Academy, Zong Wenxiu.
Zong Jincheng shouted excitedly, “Brother! You’re here! You made it onto the list! And you’re in nineteenth place! You’ve surpassed so many students from Hanlin North Academy!”
Zong Wenxiu, who had been searching at the bottom of the list, turned around abruptly upon hearing this and saw his younger brother jumping up and down excitedly at the top.
His brother said he had made the list, and was in nineteenth place.
In the noisy academy, students crowded around the list, their chaotic discussions almost drowning out individual voices. But his brother’s loud, clear voice was full of energy and excitement.
He heard it.
“I made it onto the list…” Zong Wenxiu hadn’t dared to dream he could do so well.
Perhaps seeing his brother’s high talent and learning ability had made him default to thinking of himself as ordinary. But he had forgotten that he, too, had once been someone who could catch up to his peers in just half a year.
Zong Jincheng ran over from the top of the list, pulling him excitedly, and boasted, “It’s true, it’s true! Come and see, your name is written so beautifully on the list!”
Standing in front of the list, Zong Wenxiu saw his name for the first time. He thought of the long nights of hard study, his mother lying sick in bed, and the endless hunger and despair of the slums.
At that moment, he began to believe: I will have a very, very bright future.
The two brothers, both with excellent exam results, walked together, discussing how much they could improve in the next exam.
“Brother, I think I really need to move up to the next class. What’s the point of getting first place among eight-year-olds? It’s embarrassing. I should at least aim for first place among nine-year-olds.”
“That makes sense. I think you can definitely get first place among nine-year-olds.”
“Haha, of course! I’m going to be a great scholar in the future! Oh, and so are you. You’ll definitely get first place next time and leave all those students from Hanlin North Academy in the dust!”
“Shh… Keep your voice down. I’m afraid they’ll get so angry they’ll want to hit you. That’s such a provoking thing to say.”
“Hmph, I’m not scared. Buyan can handle them.”
“Right, right… You always let Buyan take the hits. He’s always getting into fights because of you.”
“I don’t, I don’t…”
The two brothers bantered and teased each other, their bond warm and affectionate.
However, before they could leave the academy grounds, they saw Lin's Father pointing at Lin Yu and shouting, “You’ve climbed back to second place this time, surpassing four students from Hanlin North Academy. Not bad, not bad. If only you’d worked this hard earlier, you wouldn’t have had to suffer in the academy for a month. Come home with me. If you behave, your old man is still willing to support your studies.”
Zong Jincheng’s fists clenched in anger.
That old man really knew how to hit every nerve.
Lin Yu sneered coldly, walked past him, and headed back into the academy, refusing to say a word to Lin's Father.
Lin's Father grew anxious and chased after him, shouting, “What are you sulking about? Do you really think suffering in the academy is better? Look at your clothes—they’re torn, and you don’t even have money to buy new ones. Our Lin family is a wealthy household. Don’t make people think I’m mistreating you.”
