Li Zheng was curious, his eyes filled with anticipation. "What kind of artwork is it?"
"Top secret. You’ll find out later," Jiang Mo teased.
"Hey sis, do you think Mom and Dad will let me go on a trip with my friends after the college entrance exams?" Li Zheng asked enviously. "You and Mom are so lucky, getting to vacation abroad."
"I don’t expect much—just a little domestic trip would be nice."
Traveling required money, and Li Zheng was fishing for hints on whether he could score some cash.
Jiang Mo shot him a glance. "You’ve got the biggest exam of your life coming up, and you’re already dreaming about vacations? But honestly, I think it’ll be fine."
With that reassurance, Li Zheng felt relieved.
The siblings grabbed a meal at the night market and stocked up on snacks and fruit.
"Stay home and study these next three days. I’ll be there to accompany you during the exam days," Jiang Mo laid out the plan.
She added sternly, "And no gaming during this time, got it?"
Li Zheng nodded. "Don’t worry, sis. I know what’s important right now."
If he didn’t, his sister’s disciplinary slap would remind him.
Jiang Mo was pleased—her little brother was finally getting sensible. If he aced the exams, she wouldn’t mind playing genie and granting him a few extra wishes.
When Su Yunjin heard Jiang Mo was taking time off to support Li Zheng during the exams, she agreed immediately.
"Time flies. Little Xuan is all grown up now, about to start university," she mused.
"Yeah, it really does," Wang Xia chimed in.
"Will Jiang Mo be enough for the exam support? Wang Mom, do you want to go back for a couple of days too?" Su Yunjin asked. "Tell Xuan to do his best. If he scores well, I’ll reward him with a new computer."
"Jiang Mo can handle it alone," Wang Xia quickly declined. "There’s no need—we already have a computer at home."
"What’s yours is yours. My gift doesn’t conflict with that," Su Yunjin waved it off. "It’s just a little something, barely costs anything. Don’t refuse a small reward for the kid."
Jiang Mo, overhearing this, scratched her head. Her own laptop had been a post-exam gift from Su Yunjin years ago.
Looks like her little brother’s wish for a new computer was coming true ahead of schedule.
The college entrance exams were a big deal. To avoid any food safety issues, Jiang Mo decided to take charge of the kitchen and ban takeout for Li Zheng during this critical time.
They had already scouted the exam location beforehand. On the first day, the atmosphere at the school gates was electric, packed with anxious parents.
Even Jiang Mo, who had been calm, felt a twinge of nervousness.
She killed time at a nearby café and posted on social media.
Gu Ye instantly popped up in the comments. "Jiang Mo, I’m coming back the day after tomorrow!"
"Oh, work’s done?" Jiang Mo thought, No need to announce it like a grand reveal.
"Tsk, your reaction’s so cold," Gu Ye complained. After typing and deleting several times, he finally sent: "Don’t you miss me at all?"
Jiang Mo replied coolly, "Nope."
Gu Ye: "Jiang Mo, you’re breaking my heart here."
"Whatever, I’ll go back to work then."
Jiang Mo was baffled but used to Gu Ye’s dramatic flair, so she didn’t think much of it.
The weather held up during the exam days, and everything went smoothly.
Li Zheng reported that each test went as well as he’d hoped.
When the final exam ended, Li Zheng burst out of the school gates like a freed prisoner, jumping around like a monkey. "Hahaha! Three years of prison—finally liberated!"
Jiang Mo understood his excitement but ducked her head at the stares. "Hey, hey, tone it down a little."
Otherwise, people might think he’d lost his mind from exam stress.
"Who cares? I’m already shameless!" Li Zheng spread his arms and took a deep breath. "Ahhh, the smell of freedom!"
Seriously, is this a movie scene? Jiang Mo dragged him onto her scooter. "Let’s go home. Mom and Dad are waiting."
To celebrate the end of Li Zheng’s exams, the family gathered for a rare dinner together.
Wang Xia cooked a feast to reward him, carefully avoiding any talk of scores or results—just a happy, relaxed meal.
"Come on, everyone, raise your glasses!" Li Daming toasted. "To Li Zheng finishing his exams! May he get great results and get into his dream university!"
Li Zheng clinked glasses with everyone and joked, "Thanks for the love and support, fam. No words needed—I’ll finish this, you take your time." He downed his juice in one go.
Wang Xia beamed, having already heard from Jiang Mo that her son had performed well.
For someone without much education herself, seeing both her kids excel in academics felt like a blessing—proof of their hard work.
"Dig in! I made all your favorites."
Li Daming, slightly tipsy from a few drinks, boasted, "Gotta say, the Li family genes are strong. Look how well I’ve raised these two!"
"Please, as if you had anything to do with it," Wang Xia scoffed. "Did you tutor them? Hire tutors? Nope. It’s all their own effort."
Jiang Mo stifled a laugh and gave her mom a thumbs-up. Well said.
Li Daming rubbed his nose. "I never said they didn’t work hard!"
"Then, Mom, Dad… since I did work hard, can I make a small request?" Li Zheng seized the moment to pitch his summer trip idea, using Jiang Mo as a reference.
"Look at sis—she got to enjoy a fancy vacation abroad!"
Jiang Mo, munching on her food, decided to back him up. "Mine was a work trip, but I do think traveling with friends is a great way to see the country."
After all, once he joined the workforce, free time would vanish.
Li Daming slapped his thigh. "Go! Wherever you want! I’ll cover it—10,000 enough?"
"Wait, 10,000?!" Li Zheng had mentally prepared a pitch for 5,000, thinking that would suffice if he budgeted. He was overjoyed.
Wang Xia shot Li Daming a look. "Oh, so you’re loaded now?"
"Well, I—no, not really. My salary goes straight to you every month," Li Daming backtracked quickly.
Li Zheng turned hopeful eyes to Wang Xia. Her approval was the final hurdle.
"Fine, you can go," Wang Xia said slowly. "But you travel with friends, and you check in daily. As for the money… your dad already promised to fund it."
"Thanks, Mom and Dad!" Li Zheng grinned foolishly, pressing further to secure more perks. "So, what about my computer...?"
"Your new computer is covered by Madam," Jiang Mo chimed in. "She said you did well on your exams, so she’s rewarding you with a new one."
Li Zheng’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Seriously?"
Truly, the wealthy were on another level—even someone like him, a nobody, could benefit from their casual generosity.
Wang Xia had originally planned to break the news later, but seeing the secret was out, she simply nodded. "Yes, your sister got the same gift when she took her college entrance exams."
"Madam treats my sister way too well—gifts, trips, everything," Li Zheng mused, his imagination running wild. "Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if my sister is actually Madam’s daughter."
Jiang Mo pondered for a moment before turning to Wang Xia with a playful smirk. "Mom, quick—tell me the truth. Am I the Gu family’s long-lost heiress?"
"Or maybe Gu Ye is actually your child, and when you worked as their maid, you got jealous and swapped us at birth."
Wang Xia lightly tapped Jiang Mo’s head. "Have you been binge-watching too many dramas? Did you leave your brain at the door and fry it with all that nonsense?"
"You and Gu Ye are a month apart. If I’d really swapped you two, wouldn’t I have mistreated you? Would you be living this comfortably, eating well and enjoying life?"
"Mom, you know all the tropes so well," Jiang Mo giggled.
"Of course! It’s not like I’ve been wasting my time watching all those short dramas on Hongguo for nothing."
