Shen Qiushan knew all too well how much of a scam those raffles were.
So with just a little over a thousand Scholar Index points, no way in hell would he try it.
He exited the system page.
Shen Qiushan read for a while longer, and before he knew it, it was already ten o'clock.
He put down his history book and went to the kitchen to cook up several packets of deluxe braised beef instant noodles with egg and sausage.
Just as the noodles finished cooking, Shen Yanran and Shen Yixiao came home from their night classes.
As they came in, Shen Qiushan overheard his daughter Shen Yanran complaining: "Shen Yixiao, don't you dare fart in the elevator next time."
"Shen Yanran, aren't you taking this too seriously? So what if I farted!"
"Alright! Then tomorrow I'll tell Luo Yao…"
"Sis, come on, you're really taking it seriously? I was just joking, I definitely won't do it next time!"
Shen Yanran snorted and raised her chin, leading the way into the living room.
The two were fraternal twins, fighting all the way from childhood, bickering on the daily.
"Dad, instant noodles for late-night snack again?"
Smelling the aroma coming from the kitchen, Shen Yixiao shouted, unable to hide his disappointment.
"If you don't eat, stay hungry!"
Shen Qiushan shot back, then served up the noodles and brought them to the table.
"Actually, it does smell pretty good."
Shen Yixiao threw his backpack onto the couch, grinned, then came over and whispered, "Dad, how'd you handle Old Xu?"
"Wasn't he about to expel me?"
"Eat your noodles, stop worrying about grown-up stuff."
The whole red envelope thing was obviously not something Shen Qiushan could tell his son; this kid couldn't keep his mouth shut, and if word got out, it'd cause trouble.
At this moment, Shen Yanran, who had changed into pajamas, also sat at the table, picked up the smallest bowl, and quietly started eating.
"Yanran, are you close with Luo Yao?"
Earlier, Chen Xiangyu had said it was Shen Yixiao who met Luo Yao through Shen Yanran.
"We're alright, not that close."
Shen Yanran replied a bit guiltily.
"Then how come I heard you introduced her to your brother?"
"No way!"
Shen Yanran shook her head decisively and explained, "Luo Yao and I just always eat together, and Shen Yixiao always tags along, thick-skinned as ever!"
"Shen Yanran, be fair! Last month I got busted by Dad for secretly buying a game skin and he took my meal money. If I didn't find you, should I have starved?"
"I never told you to date Luo Yao though!"
"But you gave us the chance…"
The siblings started bickering again, and Shen Qiushan waved them off impatiently, "Alright, enough, knock it off!"
"Ahem, I have an announcement."
Seeing their dad suddenly put on such a serious face, both Shen Yanran and Shen Yixiao subconsciously put down their chopsticks.
"Starting tomorrow, I'm going to accompany you two for three months of studying."
"Our whole family will work together and nail the Gaokao!"
After finishing, Shen Qiushan even waved his fist for emphasis.
But Shen Yanran and Shen Yixiao just looked completely confused.
"Dad, what do you mean, 'accompany us studying'?"
"Are you gonna watch us study even at this late hour after evening classes?"
Shen Yixiao asked with a frown.
"Dad, you mean renting a place near the school to save on commuting?"
That made sense to Shen Yanran, since some of her classmates' parents who lived far away did just that.
Senior year, every minute counts!
Saving even 40 minutes of commuting a day could really make a difference.
"Yeah, that's one way."
Shen Qiushan nodded, then shook his head, "But that's not what I mean. Starting tomorrow, I'll go to school with you both, study together, and even take the Gaokao with you!"
"If you two can't even score higher than me, that'd be embarrassing, wouldn't it!!"
After hearing Shen Qiushan's statement, the twins were truly baffled.
They looked at each other, both with faces full of disbelief.
"Dad, this is not realistic!"
"Gaokao's fine, you can sign up as an adult, anyone can take it, but the school definitely won't let you join us in class!"
"Yeah, what's a parent doing attending classes anyway?"
The siblings took turns voicing their doubts.
Shen Qiushan waved his hand, "I'm just letting you know. As for how I'll pull it off, I've got my ways!"
"Eat your noodles and hurry back to review. Xiaoxiao, you wash the bowls!"
"Why me though?"
Shen Yixiao pouted in protest.
"Wanna talk about Luo Yao?"
"Uh, forget it… I'll just wash the bowls!"
Shen Yixiao caved instantly and quietly finished his noodles.
The next day.
Because they had morning self-study, Shen Yanran and Shen Yixiao left home at six in the morning.
"Shen Yanran, what do you think Dad's up to?"
"He said he's gonna come to school with us. Is he for real?"
"Of course not. What school would even allow a parent to pull that kind of stunt!"
"Yeah, I think he's bluffing, too. Dad was probably just drunk and talking nonsense."
The twins quickly reached a consensus: their old man was just daydreaming.
Nine o'clock.
Shen Qiushan rode his e-bike to Sanjiang City High School.
But as soon as he reached the gate, the security guard stopped him, "Stop! Who are you?"
"Sir, I've come to attend school!"
Shen Qiushan pointed at the backpack on his shoulders—it was a leftover from Shen Yixiao. Figured if he was gonna start school, he'd better carry a bag, so he took it along.
"Attend school?"
Hearing this, the security guard was so shocked his dentures nearly fell out, "What student your age do we have at this school!"
"We didn't before, but now you do!"
Shen Qiushan pulled out a couple cigarettes and handed two to the security guard, "I'll just call Director Xu."
The security guard took the cigarettes, half-believing, half-doubting. The whole thing was too crazy, but the guy seemed so calm about it, he didn't look like he was lying.
"Director Xu, this is Xiaoshen."
"So here's the thing, I came to report in, but was stopped at the gate…"
"Sir, a call for you."
Shen Qiushan held the phone up to the security guard's ear.
Once he heard it really was the dean Xu Decai on the line, the security guard let him through. As he watched Shen Qiushan ride off, the security guard took a drag, muttering to himself, "If someone his age can go to high school, maybe I can go to college…"
Shen Qiushan headed straight for the academic office, and with Xu Decai's accompaniment, completed all the formalities.
"Xiaoshen, do you want to go to Class 2 or Class 5?"
Xu Decai figured Shen Qiushan just wanted to supervise his kids, so let him pick between their two classes.
"Class 5."
"Xiaoxiao's the one who gives me the most headaches!"
Shen Qiushan picked his ex's class directly. That way, not only could he keep an eye on his son Shen Yixiao, but also date Chen Xiangyu! Kill two birds with one stone!
"Alright, then I'll take you to see Teacher Chen."
"By the way, I have to make something clear up front—Principal Wang only agreed to let you try this out. If you interfere with the other students' learning or cause any trouble, your visiting spot can be revoked at any moment!"
Xu Decai led Shen Qiushan toward the Grade 12 teachers' office, all the while warning him seriously.