In fact, she had never even taken the college entrance exam.
She didn't think it was anything important.
After all, in her mind, studying was for acquiring knowledge, not for taking exams.
"Not admitted through exams? Then you..."
An Shimeng suddenly realized and said, "Oh, I see. Sister, you mean you're planning to take the exams for Luocheng University, right?"
"That's great, Sister! I'm a student at Luocheng University; I can help you with tutoring! I still remember all the high school material."
"With half a year left, as long as you study hard, you can definitely get in!"
An Yan shook her head and refused bluntly. "I don't need it!"
Embarrassed, An Shimeng retracted her smile and hung her head in disappointment.
An Yaoluo frowned in disapproval. "Yanyan, don't be willful. Mengmeng's grades are very good; she's been in the top ten of her grade every year. You can ask her anything you don't know."
An Yan looked up to meet his gaze. "I've already arranged everything for school!"
Her porcelain-white face was impassive, her dark eyes staring steadily at him.
That composure momentarily bewildered him, as if what she said was true.
But that was Luocheng University. What could a child from the countryside, who had never even been to Luocheng, possibly arrange?
"Yanyan!"
An Yaoluo forcibly ignored that inexplicable feeling, his voice taking on a more severe tone. For her own good, as her older brother, he wanted to remind her to be more down-to-earth.
Just as he was about to speak, he noticed his father's gaze, practically radiating a warning.
All An Yaoluo could do was shut his mouth.
「After the meal, An Zhongbo called An Yaoluo into the study.」
"Yanyan is your biological sister. If she doesn't want to do something, you are not to force her."
"But she just says it's 'arranged,' Dad! That's Luocheng University! How could a girl from the countryside just arrange something like that? These bad habits Yanyan picked up in the countryside must be corrected!"
"Correct what! Yanyan has been separated from us for eighteen years. In those eighteen years, we haven't shown her a shred of concern."
As An Zhongbo spoke, his distress grew, and finally, he glared sternly at An Yaoluo. "Now that she's back, I just want her to feel the warmth of home and the acceptance of family, not criticism!"
"If you don't like Yanyan, then you move out!"
An Yaoluo was speechless. "..."
An Yaoluo said helplessly, "Dad, I don't dislike her. I... maybe I was too hasty. I'll be more mindful in the future!"
An Zhongbo's expression softened slightly. "Just now, Yanyan mentioned wanting to go to Luocheng University. Go contact them for me right now. Ask Luocheng University how many buildings they're asking for. A lab building, or a classroom building? She said it's arranged, so it absolutely must be arranged!"
"Dad! No one respects a degree from a university you got into through connections. I still think the best solution is for Mengmeng to tutor her. As long as she can just scrape by on the entrance exam, we..."
"Does our Yanyan need anyone else's recognition? If your sister has to take the college entrance exam herself, then what good are you as a brother? Get to it!"
An Yaoluo helplessly rubbed his forehead. "Alright, I'll contact them."
Coming out of his father's study, he wasn't sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him, but he thought he saw Mengmeng's silhouette flash past the staircase.
An Yaoluo frowned and was about to go check when Bai Xiaoyun approached with a glass of milk. "Yaoluo, working overtime again tonight?"
An Yaoluo halted. "Yeah."
"Take the milk; it's good for your bones!"
"Thank you, Auntie!"
Watching An Yaoluo leave, Bai Xiaoyun looked behind the curtain. "Come out!"
An Shimeng emerged from behind the curtain, her face contorted with extreme emotion. "Mom, did you hear that?"
"Last year, when I was taking the college entrance exam, Dad said, 'Mengmeng, this is a major event in your life. If you don't get in, you'll have to attend an ordinary vocational college...'"
"To get into Luocheng University, I strived every minute and second, but now that it's his biological daughter, they'd rather donate buildings!"
"Shut up!" Bai Xiaoyun said in a hushed, stern voice. "Next time I catch you eavesdropping, your allowance is gone."
"Mom, are you going to bully me too?"
"Bully? Let me tell you, An Shimeng, if you can't keep your composure and you ruin our plans, there will be plenty of people bullying you in the future!"
"Mom!"
"Unless you manage to marry someone like Li Tianyao, you'd better learn to keep a low profile!"
Bai Xiaoyun reached out to straighten An Shimeng's collar. "Mengmeng, remember, the only ones who can help us are ourselves. Mom was thinking the Bai Family could give you a bit of a boost, but today..."
A pang of anger, sharp as a toothache, shot through Bai Xiaoyun as she recalled how the Bai Family had kept her in the dark, intending to push her forward to bear the brunt of Li Tianyao's anger. "The Bai Family is unreliable. You can only rise higher by leveraging your status as Miss An of the An Family."
"Mengmeng, don't let these things affect your mood. Focus on your studies and strive to make your mark as soon as possible."
"Show your dad and your brother that you are the one who can truly uphold the An Family's honor. Not that An Yan!"
An Shimeng nodded obediently. "I know, Mom. I'll work hard."
「As soon as An Shimeng returned to her room, she threw herself onto the bed in anger.」
To think that she, An Shimeng, had attended all sorts of talent classes and won numerous awards since childhood! Yet now, just because An Yan had returned, her mother was pressuring her again to focus on her studies!
What was there to study? Those notes were like esoteric texts. She had worked so hard for so long and only understood a tiny fraction.
She wanted to use the school's lab for direct research, but her application was rejected due to insufficient theoretical knowledge.
It was infuriating!
No, she had to find a way to ruin An Yan!
As long as An Yan became useless, An Shimeng could rest easy, no longer fearing being overshadowed.
She had plenty of time to bide.
「Ten o'clock on the dot.」
An Shimeng got up, took a stack of materials, and went to knock on An Yan's door. "Sister, I'm lending you my notes. Don't worry, I can definitely help you get into Luocheng University!"
An Yan replied through the door, "No need."
An Shimeng paused for a few seconds, then said in a tearful voice, "Sister, I just want to be friends with you. Please don't shut me out, okay?"
An Yan opened the door.
Her cool gaze landed on An Shimeng's reddened eyes. "I don't need your notes!"
"Sister, don't be like this! I really want to help you."
An Yan said, "First, I opened the door to speak with you; I didn't shut you out."
"Second, I don't need your notes."
"Third, I'm very busy and don't have time for meaningless chats. In short, please don't bother me again. Thank you!"
After speaking, she slammed the door shut with a BANG!
An Shimeng stood at the door, pale and overwhelmed with sorrow.
Tears blurred her vision, and she bit her lip hard, stifling a sob.
「As usual, An Yaoluo finished his overtime work at ten o'clock sharp.」
Opening his door, he witnessed the entire scene.
The sight of An Shimeng's tears made his chest tighten.
He was naturally happy that his biological sister had returned. But even if she's my biological sister, she can't just bully people like that!
An Yaoluo walked over and knocked on An Yan's door.