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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nDing Jiayi, who was drying the laundry, heard the elder daughter’s voice and rushed to Qiao Nan’s room. “What happened?”

n“Mom, where is Qiao Nan?”

n“Qiao Nan?” Ding Jiayi rolled her eyes. “It’s already 10 o’clock. Qiao Nan woke up at half past six. She washed her clothes and left. I don’t know where she went.”

nA family of four but Qiao Nan only washed her own clothes. Of course, Ding Jiayi had to wash the rest of the clothes for the remaining three.

nIn the past, when Qiao Nan helped her everyday, Ding Jiayi did not feel that she was helping her much. Moreover, she felt that Qiao Nan was expected to help.

nWhen Qiao Nan stopped helping with the household chores, Ding Jiayi found herself busy all day long. There was never a moment of rest.

nJust the household matters alone, she wished that she was a superhuman with three heads and six arms. Ding Jiayi was skeptical – if she went out to find a job today, who would do all the housework?

n“Right, Zijin, you should wake up and wash up. I need to go out to look for a job. There are some household chores – why don’t you help out?”

nDing Jiayi really had no choice. She had to find a job. If not, she would not have money for the elder daughter.

n“Mom.” Zijin woke up quickly, her face of full displeasure. “I don’t even know how to do these things, wait for Qiao Nan come back and let her do it.”

nLast night, she clearly intended to pester Qiao Nan continuously. Unless Qiao Nan gave her the money, she was not prepared to let Qiao Nan sleep.

nBut, in the end, she fell asleep herself and Qiao Nan woke up earlier than her. She was so mad!

nIt was almost 11 o’clock when Qiao Zijin finished her breakfast. “Mom, Qiao Nan will definitely be back later. I don’t believe she will not come home for lunch.”

n“This is already not the first time.” Ding Jiayi no longer harbored any hopes for the younger daughter.

nDuring the last few days of the summer vacation, every morning after Qiao Nan finished her breakfast, she would leave the house and only come back in the evening, when Qiao Dongliang was off work.

nThat wretched girl was emboldened as she had Old Qiao’s money in her pocket.

nNow that Qiao Dongliang gave money to Qiao Nan directly, Ding Jiayi wondered how much her husband would give Qiao Nan each time. At the thought of this money, she could not help feeling the pinch.

n“Alright, today, you’re going to be alone at home. I will be out looking for a job. Zijin, it is rare that you are alone at home. Even if you are really reluctant to do the housework, at the very least, please read up more. For your sake, I did everything. But if you still can’t catch up on your academic performance… ”

nPreviously, Ding Jiayi bit the bullet and was willing to take out all the family savings for Qiao Zijin to attend The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China because Qiao Zijin said that the school’s teachers were more qualified. Hence, she would definitely be able to do well and catch up on her studies.

nTo allow Qiao Zijin to study in a famous high school was not the only reason why Ding Jiayi parted with so much money.

nQiao Zijin’s expression changed. She smiled thereafter. “Mom, I know, I’ll definitely not let you down. The teachers in our school are so good and I can understand all their lessons. I’ll definitely be serious in my studies. Mom, go and find a job. Since I’m home, I will do whatever chores I can. I will leave those that I can’t finish and read my books thereafter?”

nStudying was the Achilles’ Heel of Qiao Zijin. In the recent months, Qiao Zijin had put all of her thoughts to the row dance. How could she remember what the teachers had taught in the past month?

nThere were more exams in high school than the experimental high school. She also recalled that when she went to school, the teacher mentioned about an important upcoming exam. At the thought of this, Qiao Zijin felt guilty.

nAt other times, Qiao Zijin would always have ways to appease Ding Jiayi. But when it came to exams, Qiao Zijin’s words would not be more convincing than her grades – which would stare directly at Ding Jiayi’s face.

nQiao Zijin saw Ding Jiayi out personally. When Ding Jiayi was further away from the house, Qiao Zijin then pulled a long face. “Damn Qiao Nan, she thwarts my plans since she was a child. If only…”

nIf only her parents had not given birth to another daughter – Qiao Nan. If Qiao Nan, this sister, did not exist, how good would that be?

nIf her parents only had her as the daughter, regardless of how bad her grades were, they parents would definitely do their utmost to nurture her. There would not be a need for her to let the grades speak for themselves.

n“I don’t believe I can’t find Qiao Nan’s money.” Qiao Zijin snorted and rushed into Qiao Nan’s room angrily. She searched the entire room once, until she was sweaty and panting.

n“Horrible horrible!” After much sweat, Qiao Zijin, who could not find a single cent, wanted to wreck Qiao Nan’s room.

nQiao Zijin sat on the bed and let out a breath, thinking of what to do about her future.

nDuring that rainy night, Qiao Zijin was really the one who had removed the blanket from Qiao Nan’s body. She had also opened the windows.

nQiao Zijin had everything planned out. Qiao Nan’s grades were so much better than hers. If Qiao Nan wanted to study in a good school, the family would have to spend even more money. Her father’s income alone would not be sufficient for this. Moreover, her father’s income also had to provide for Qiao Nan’s living expenses.

nIf Qiao Nan went to work, the family would have fewer expenses and more income.

nAs such, if there were two people working in the family, she would be able to continue her studies regardless of the situation.

nMost importantly, Qiao Zijin had long schemed about this – once Qiao Nan quit school, her grades in the school would no longer matter.

nQiao Nan had already quit school. If her family discontinued her studies because of her poor grades, they would never be able to lift up their heads in the quad.

nTo put it bluntly, Qiao Zijin wanted to be the only one. She had to be the only one.

nQiao Zijin had it all planned. However, there was a large gap between the ideal and reality.

nQiao Nan would not co-operate and stubbornly contended against her. In addition, with Qiao Dongliang’s support, Qiao Zijin’s plan was a fiasco without any success.

nIf not for this, she would not look so awkward and guilty when Ding Jiayi asked her about her grades.

nThe more she thought about it, the more anxious Qiao Zijin felt. She started rubbing her hands on her thigh.

nIt would be too difficult to improve her grades. The teachers in the school were good but the students were better. She was not in the same league of those who entered the school with their own abilities.

nAlso, as she had not built a good foundation in her studies while she was in junior high school, it would not help even if the teachers taught well in the senior high school.

nIf she did not do well for this month’s test again, her parents might really discontinue her studies.

nSenior high school was not junior high school – it was not considered as part of the nine years of compulsory education.

nQiao Zijin had ants in her pants and she was spinning with anxiety.

nShe had not resolved the matter regarding the dance dress yet. Because of Ding Jiayi’s words, she now had another problem (her studies) to worry about.

nShe could not understand why senior high school had to be different from junior high school. There were four important examinations in senior high school instead of two.

nNevertheless, if there were no Parent-Teacher conferences after each month’s examination, she could probably find a way to keep this from her family.

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