chapter 26
“Skip a grade?”
Li Fei was dumbfounded.
She thought Gu Qingning had heard some rumors at school, so she smiled and said, “Qingning, you just transferred here recently. It’s okay if your studies aren’t up to speed yet. You don’t need to care about what others think. Take your time. Right now, the most important thing is to build a solid foundation.”
Knowing that she had misunderstood something, Gu Qingning didn’t bother explaining and went straight to the point: “Just like the entrance exam, I just need to pass the assessment, right?”
Li Fei gave a helpless smile. “The skip-grade test is very difficult. And if you want to take it, you first need the principal’s approval.”
She thought that by emphasizing the difficulty, Gu Qingning would automatically give up.
Unexpectedly, the result was the opposite.
She asked, “Where is the principal’s office?”
Li Fei froze. “Huh?”
Gu Qingning repeated, “Where is the principal’s office?”
Li Fei blinked and, meeting her clear, determined eyes, hesitated before reminding her, “Qingning, the skip-grade test is very hard—harder than the second-year exams. You…”
It wasn’t that she wanted to discourage her. With such low grades in the entrance exam, skipping a grade was basically impossible.
Gu Qingning finished her sentence: “I’m not going to second year.”
Now Li Fei was even more stunned and asked blankly, “But… didn’t you want to skip a grade?”
“I want to go to third year.”
Li Fei couldn’t believe her ears. It was like a bolt from the blue; her mind went blank for a moment.
Third year?
She was momentarily speechless.
“Teacher Li?” Gu Qingning raised her hand and waved in front of her, calling out calmly.
Li Fei gave an awkward smile. “Qingning, skipping a grade isn’t as simple as you think. Maybe you should just go back to class first.”
Gu Qingning tilted the corners of her lips. “Teacher Li, since you’re not willing to tell me, I won’t bother you.”
With that, she stepped forward to leave.
“Qingning, wait!” Li Fei chased after her in high heels. “Classes are about to start. Where are you going?”
Gu Qingning didn’t slow down. “To see the principal.”
Li Fei had no choice but to give in. “Don’t wander around. I’ll take you there.”
Wandering the school during class could get her, the homeroom teacher, scolded by the director.
Gu Qingning glanced at her and slowed her pace. “Thank you.”
However…
Someone had already arrived at the principal’s office before them.
The atmosphere was cold and tense.
“Third Young Master, this isn’t what it seems. We’ve sent many people to look.”
The man speaking humbly was Zhang Wenfu, the principal of No. 1 High School, in his early fifties, slicked-back hair, wearing a suit that barely concealed his slightly overweight figure.
Gu Zhao glanced at him coldly. “You spent the whole night searching, then just stopped? And now the excuse is that my sister went missing on her own and the school isn’t responsible? Is that it?”
“No, of course not.” Principal Zhang waved his hand and smiled apologetically. “You must have misunderstood. I’ve been busy on a business trip these past few days. I only knew part of the situation, which caused this oversight. Don’t worry, I will personally reprimand the staff and have them apologize to you.”
“I’ll send more people immediately to find Miss Qingning and bring her back as soon as possible.”
Gu Zhao wasn’t naive; he knew the principal was just making excuses for himself.
Since Qingning had returned, he didn’t press the matter further. He changed the topic: “Which class is my sister in?”
Knock knock knock—
Just as Principal Zhang was about to speak, a series of firm knocks sounded at the door.
“Principal Zhang, are you inside?”
Hearing Li Fei’s voice, a sharp glint flashed across Zhang’s eyes.
The person taking the blame had arrived.
“Come in.”
Li Fei pushed the door open and, out of the corner of her eye, saw the figure on the sofa—handsome and distinctive.
Once a legend of No. 1 High School, the youngest professor at Beijing A University, and a famous musical prodigy, his reputation in any one of these roles was enough to make others envious.
She was momentarily distracted and suddenly remembered the person following her, her expression turning subtle.
“Teacher Li.”
The cold, clear voice of the young girl rang out—not too loud, not too soft. Gu Zhao heard it too.
That voice…
He turned and followed the sound to the door, seeing only Li Fei.
Principal Zhang asked, “Teacher Li, who is the person behind you?”
“She’s a student in my class.” Li Fei stepped aside, and the girl behind her entered Gu Zhao’s line of sight.
The girl wore the same black casual outfit as yesterday, her hat slightly askew.
She leaned lazily against the doorframe, as carefree as ever.
Seeing her here was unexpected. Gu Zhao’s eyes lit up.
He stood up, his expression warming. “Qingning.”
Compared to his excitement, Gu Qingning glanced at him coldly, then straightened and walked toward Principal Zhang.
Seeing Gu Zhao’s concern for Qingning, Principal Zhang tried to sweeten his words. “It’s good that you’re back, Qingning. Third Young Master was worried about you.”
Without beating around the bush, Gu Qingning said plainly, “Principal, I want to skip a grade to third year.”
Her words fell, and the office went silent.
Li Fei scratched her temple and smiled wryly. She knew this would happen.
Principal Zhang glanced at Gu Zhao, then chose his words carefully: “Qingning, skipping a grade isn’t a simple matter.”
Gu Qingning replied calmly, “I know. But isn’t passing the skip-grade exam enough?”
Since she was back for classes, she had no intention of returning to first year.
“But your entrance exam grades…” Principal Zhang hesitated with Gu Zhao present, careful not to sound harsh. “They weren’t ideal.”
Not just not ideal—they were abysmal, setting the lowest score in the history of No. 1 High School.
Gu Zhao stared at the girl across from him. His thin lips moved. “Principal Zhang, if I remember correctly, No. 1 High School has always allowed students to skip grades, as long as they pass the exam.”
“That is true.” Principal Zhang sighed and forced himself to continue. “However, Qingning’s entrance exam score was only in the twenties.”
Meaning she wasn’t qualified for the skip-grade exam.
“…Twenty-something points?”
Gu Zhao froze. Being a lifelong top student, he couldn’t imagine how she could score so low.
Even if she guessed randomly on multiple-choice questions, it shouldn’t be this bad. Her luck was just that unlucky.
He stepped closer, narrowing the distance, his voice gentle yet tinged with helplessness. “How did you end up with just twenty-something points?”
Gu Qingning looked up, calm as ever. “Is it that strange? Haven’t you ever scored low?”
“Of course not. My brother and I have always been top of our year,” Gu Zhao replied.
Gu Qingning let out a soft “Oh.” “Then we probably aren’t family.”
“….”
Gu Zhao felt a sting in his heart.
Neither sibling was holding back their voice. Principal Zhang and Li Fei listened on the side, feeling an awkward tension.
They didn’t sound like siblings—they sounded more like strangers.
Finally recovering from the sting, Gu Zhao asked, “You really want to skip a grade?”
Gu Qingning raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly.
