The summer in City W was as scorching as ever. Yu Shulin, holding his exam bag, lingered at the back of the crowd of examinees, waiting for the school gates to open.
This year's high school entrance exam papers were more difficult than in previous years. After being thoroughly tormented for two days, all the examinees looked utterly dejected. No matter how passionately the blazing sun overhead shone, it couldn't warm their hearts, which had turned icy cold after the exams.
A classmate came over to compare answers. Yu Shulin shook his head without a word, lowering his gaze to stare at the admission ticket inside the transparent exam bag, his expression complex.
This was a high school entrance exam admission ticket, bearing the examinee's basic information and assigned seat number. In the top right corner, a blue-background ID photo was pasted somewhat crookedly. The photo showed a teenager with fair skin and delicate, handsome features. His beautiful eyes were brimming with laughter, his lips curled in a smug, confident, and spirited smile.
This was Yu Shulin at fifteen. At this time, he hadn't yet lost his mother who loved him deeply, nor had he been worn down and left in a daze by harsh reality. Nothing had happened yet, and the future was full of hope.
Fifteen years old... what a vibrant age.
He looked up, all the complexity in his eyes concealed, leaving only calmness.
Returning from twenty-five to fifteen, standing once more at this fork in the road of life—he wouldn't dwell on how such a bizarre thing had happened. In any case, he had gained.
The bell signaling the end of the exam rang, and the school gates opened. He lowered his head and walked out with the crowd, carefully recalling what had happened after the entrance exam in his past life.
In his previous life, due to his mother's sudden passing, his emotions were unstable, and his exam results were a complete mess. By the time he recovered from the blow of losing his closest family member, the summer vacation had long passed. Panicking, he hurriedly called his junior high homeroom teacher to ask which high school he had gotten into. The answer was disappointing: he had missed the cutoff, and because he couldn't be reached, he had unfortunately missed the reallocation opportunity his teacher had painstakingly secured for him.
Though the teacher was angry that he hadn't cared about his academic future, she also felt sorry for him losing his mother at such a young age. After discussing it, she tactfully suggested he repeat the year. He agreed, but his guardian at the time, his uncle Yu Xiu, rejected the proposal, saying only that he had already arranged a school for him and he could start anytime.
He had been raised by his mother and had never met his father. After his mother's death, his uncle became his closest relative. Under his uncle's coaxing and persuasion, he politely declined the teacher's suggestion and went to the high school his uncle had arranged.
After that, his life began hurtling headlong toward tragedy. A life controlled by others, hypocritical and shallow familial affection, calculated schemes for inheritance, and... a miserable death.
Actually, the moment he agreed to hand over guardianship to Yu Xiu, his life was already destined for tragedy.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but frown. Right now, he was only fifteen. Having no guardian was definitely not an option, but his only remaining family happened to be his uncle's household...
Could it be that in this life, he still couldn't escape the control of his uncle's family?
"Shulin, over here!"
A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. His hand holding the exam bag tightened. He took a deep breath, tried to remain calm, and looked up toward the source of the voice.
At this time, Yu Xiu was not yet forty. Well-maintained, he looked more like he had just passed thirty. His neat shirt and trousers, paired with his gentle, refined appearance and the brand-new luxury car behind him, radiated an aura of a "refined scoundrel" with a nouveau riche flair.
Yu Shulin twitched the corner of his mouth and slowly walked over. He stopped, staring blankly at the shiny emblem on the luxury car—his sister had just died, and her younger brother had used her accident compensation money to buy a car. This was truly... touching family affection.
"Are you hot? How did the exam go? It's okay even if you didn't do well, don't put too much pressure on yourself." Yu Xiu said gently, his eyes full of seemingly sincere concern.
He shook his head and remained silent. As a vulnerable teenager who had just lost his mother, he had the right to be willful and melancholic. Moreover, he really didn't want to speak to this hypocritical man before him.
Yu Xiu didn't mind his silence either. He opened the car door himself, smiling as he said, "You must be hungry. Your aunt reserved a table at Baiweixuan. Let's have a good meal to celebrate the end of your exams. I've already informed your teacher. Let's go."
"The car." He didn't get in. Instead, he looked up, meeting Yu Xiu's eyes directly, wanting to see if there was even a trace of guilt in them.
"What?" Yu Xiu looked at him, puzzled.
"Where did this car come from? This brand is very expensive, right?" He tilted his head, using the pointed corner of his exam bag to scratch at the car door. "Did you borrow it just to pick me up? Uncle, you're so good to me."
"Hey, don't scratch it." The gentle smile, mask-like on Yu Xiu's face, finally cracked. He hurriedly reached out to block the scratching motion, coughed, and forced a gentle tone, saying, "This is a car your uncle just bought. Alright, alright, your aunt and the others must be getting impatient waiting. Let's go."
After being ushered into the car and seated, Yu Shulin carefully observed Yu Xiu's expression. Sure enough, as Yu Xiu walked around the front of the car to open the driver's door, he caught a fleeting glimpse of impatience and displeasure on his face. He lowered his eyes, sat obediently, looked straight ahead, and sneered inwardly.
Given a second chance, those who were heartless indeed remained heartless.
The car started and gradually drove away from the school gates surrounded by students and parents.
Once on the main road, Yu Xiu suddenly spoke up, "Shulin, after we eat, I'll take you to a law firm. Don't be afraid, it's just to sign some documents."
Yu Shulin turned his head sharply, gripping the seatbelt tightly, and stared at him, asking, "Sign? Sign what?"
Yu Xiu, thinking he had forgotten, quickly explained, "I know it's a bit rushed, but you're about to start high school soon. It's better to settle the guardianship matter early. Taking this opportunity, we can also redo your student records and household registration, to make things easier for your future schooling. Shulin, don't worry. Your aunt is a teacher; she has experience in these matters. You just need to sign."
So the guardianship was settled this early on? Yu Shulin's emotions churned violently. He hurriedly turned to look forward, took a deep breath, suppressed the rising sense of agitation in his heart, and lowered his eyelids.
In his past life, he had been so deeply affected by his mother's death that he had done almost everything his uncle said, his mind in a daze. He simply couldn't remember when he had gone to the law firm to sign the papers. So it was right after the entrance exam?
Hah, how eager.
Seeing his silence, Yu Xiu thought he had agreed. Adjusting his tone, he launched into his daily routine of brainwashing: "Your uncle is your only family," "Your uncle will definitely care for you like his own son," "Everything your uncle does is for your own good." His attitude was kind, his words gentle, the very picture of a concerned, loving elder.
Yu Shulin's face was a picture of calm obedience, but inwardly he was utterly disgusted, wishing he could smash his exam bag right into the man's face. How eloquently he spoke, truly befitting someone in education—his smooth talk didn't even require a draft. To so brazenly deceive a fifteen-year-old child who had just lost his mother, he must have no fear of karma.
He looked out the window, trying hard to ignore Yu Xiu's nagging, and frowned—signing those papers today was absolutely out of the question. He had to think of a way.
The scenery outside grew gradually familiar; Baiwei Xuan was almost in sight.
"Shulin, don't be afraid of those villains trying to seize guardianship. Your uncle will drive them away for you. You just focus on enjoying your holiday," Yu Xiu said with a gentle expression, even reaching out to pat Yu Shulin's head.
Villains trying to seize guardianship?
The words jolted Yu Shulin back to attention, stirring vague memories. As Yu Xiu's hand approached, his body stiffened, but in the end, he didn't pull away. Instead, he asked quietly, "Someone is fighting for guardianship?"
Yu Xiu was quite pleased with his nephew's recent docility and obedience, so his tone grew even milder as he replied. Without batting an eye, he began slinging mud at his opponents while still managing to present himself in a favorable light: "It's people from your father's side. Don't worry, they're just a bunch of despicable characters coveting your mother's inheritance. Your uncle will handle it for you; I won't let them near you."
Yu Shulin's frown deepened. After pondering for a long moment, he finally vaguely recalled that there had indeed been such an episode in his past life. However, back then he had been naive and utterly trusting of Yu Xiu. Whatever this man said, he believed, and later, foolishly, under the other's brainwashing, he had completely forgotten the whole matter.
He curled his lips into a sarcastic smile, covering his face with his hand—yes, there were indeed people fighting for his guardianship... How utterly ridiculous. His mother had just died, and now his father, whom he had never met, was coming to seize guardianship, along with this wolf in sheep's clothing of an uncle... Ah, he was about to laugh himself to tears.
