10: Chapter 10 The Insignificant Character in a Pampered Novel 10

Although the news of Xu Zhao forming a study group with those three slackers from Class 3 hadn't spread, Teacher Chen and the homeroom teacher of Class 3 both knew about it.

In the eyes of others, it was a different story altogether. To Xu Jiao in particular, it looked like Xu Zhao was degrading herself by associating with slackers. Yet, she couldn't afford to offend these particular slackers, so her eyes were filled with pained disappointment whenever she looked at Xu Zhao.

If Xu Zhao knew what she was thinking, she would probably retort: a slacker looking down on three other slackers is truly a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Teacher Chen had specifically sought her out to understand the situation, only agreeing after repeatedly confirming that she wasn't being forced and that it wouldn't affect her grades. However, he found Teacher Li, the homeroom teacher of Class 3, to be an eyesore in every respect; it was a bit much for a Class 3 teacher to come to Class 1 to poach his best student.

Who would get the credit if their grades improved?

Sure enough, during these two months of tutoring, the three slackers' grades really did improve, and their weekly test scores rose steadily, especially in math, physics, and chemistry.

Consequently, Teacher Li from Class 3 looked at Teacher Chen with a hint of fawning.

The night before the midterm exams, Xu Zhao had the three of them bring out all the problems they had gotten wrong since the start of the semester and redo them.

Seeing Zhou Chi still looking worried, she tapped the desk with her pen and said, "Relax, you'll be fine."

Zhou Chi's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Mhm. You've cleared up all of Zhou Qing's mistakes, and you've practiced the major questions I predicted for the exam. Passing won't be a problem."

"What about me and Brother Gu?"

Xu Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Even he can pass, so what do you think?"

Cheng Yi couldn't help but laugh, and even Gu Yunjing spared her an extra glance; the little tutor was actually quite interesting.

Xu Zhao stood up and began packing her bag.

"Why are you leaving so early today?"

"My family asked me to go home."

Actually, since the last time she spoke with Xu Jiao, the latter had approached her several more times, but she had been rejected every time. Xu Zhao's eldest and second brothers had also called her, but she had hung up on them directly. This, inevitably, had alerted the Parents of the Xu Family.

It was time to go back once and make them give up, and also take this opportunity to get rid of the Xu Family.

After Xu Zhao left, Cheng Yi spoke up, "I heard that the Study God isn't very well-liked at home. Could it be that Xu Jiao filed a malicious complaint?"

Cheng Yi felt that the widely acclaimed Great School Beauty, Xu Jiao, was only so-so; she was pretty, but not stunning, and she didn't even rank that high. But her brain... it definitely had some issues.

"Is it still about giving up that slot?"

Gu Yunjing snorted, "Li Yan is dreaming. Even if it's given to him, could he actually win an award?"

Cheng Yi and Zhou Chi exchanged a glance; Brother Gu seemed to have a lot of resentment!

At 8:55 PM, Xu Jiao appeared at the school gate.

The Xu Family car was already parked there. Xu Jiao and the second brother of the Xu Family were sitting in the back seat. Xu Congxuan's originally warm smile immediately darkened when he saw Xu Zhao.

He rolled down the window and said coldly, "Aren't you getting in? So dim-witted, making us wait for you for so long."

Xu Zhao opened the front passenger door and sat inside. "I'm not late."

"You!"

Seeing that his second brother was about to get angry, Xu Jiao quickly held him back and gave him a look. "Second Brother, didn't we agree not to get angry?"

Xu Congxuan glared fiercely at the front seat. If it weren't for needing her cooperation later, he wouldn't even want to bother with these pleasantries.

Xu Zhao was simply a freak in the Xu Family. Who wouldn't want a soft, cute, and lovely sister? But she was dull and uninteresting, spending all day locked in her room. She used to be quiet like a mute, but now she talked back, making her even more annoying.

Fortunately, he still had a sweet little darling; Jiao Jiao was simply the family's treasure, and everyone loved her.

Seeing Xu Congxuan look over, Xu Jiao immediately gave him a sugary smile, which instantly made him beam.

Arriving at the Xu Family home, it was like a trial by the three courts.

Mother Xu and Father Xu were there, and even the eldest brother, Xu Congtao, who was supposedly always busy with company matters, was present.

"Hmph, so you finally decided to come back!" Father Xu was the first to snort coldly.

"I didn't plan on coming back. Didn't you all call me?"

Father Xu said angrily, "Your sister went to beg you; why did you refuse her? Do you know this is a great opportunity to please the Li Family? Many people couldn't get it even if they fought for it. Since he wants it, just give it to him. If you don't take the exam this year, there's always next year. You can just take it then."

A sycophant being a sycophant with such confidence.

The key was that since he couldn't suck up to them himself, he had to force someone else to do it!

Mother Xu comforted the angry Father Xu while gently reproaching Xu Zhao, "Zhao Zhao, quick, apologize to your father. Look how angry you've made him. It's just a slot, isn't it? What can't be discussed properly within the family? Don't let it damage our feelings."

"Zhao Zhao, we are family. Don't make Mom and Dad angry." Xu Jiao stepped forward to grab Xu Zhao's hand, but she dodged.

"Are you finished? If you're finished, can I go back to school now?" She turned as if to leave.

"No, you can't leave!" Xu Jiao, who was closest to her, hurriedly reached out to stop her.

A mocking smile touched the corners of Xu Zhao's mouth. "What? One person isn't enough, so the whole family has to pressure me together?"

"Zhao Zhao, that's the Li Family! We have no choice; how can the Xu Family compete with them? Don't you feel for your father and brother? It wasn't easy for them to build up the Xu Corporation. Listen to your mother; it's just one slot. You've been under too much study pressure lately and aren't feeling well. Go stay in the hospital and rest for a bit." After Mother Xu finished, she used a tissue to dab at the corners of her eyes, which didn't have a single tear.

"There are five slots in total. Did the Li Family go and pressure every single one of them? Or am I the only one enjoying this treatment? Because I was born into the Xu Family and am the younger sister of Li Yan's girlfriend, Xu Jiao!"

"What kind of talk is that? You still know Li Yan is your sister's boyfriend? Since we're all family, what's there that can't be discussed?" Father Xu interrupted.

"Is this the Li Family's idea, or are you acting on your own?"

"It's because I saw that A-Yan really wanted this opportunity, so... He said he would work hard and would definitely win an award," Xu Jiao said hesitantly.

"You believe him just because he said so? If he were really that capable, how did he get filtered out in the preliminary round?"

"He... he just didn't perform well this time," Xu Jiao said weakly.

"If he didn't perform well this time, will he magically perform well next time?"

Xu Zhao pondered for a moment, lowering her eyes slightly. When she looked up again, her eyes were red as she scanned the people present.

"Family? Heh... is this 'discussing' it with me? You're forcing me to be 'sick,' forcing me into the hospital, forcing me to give up this slot. I've been obedient since I was a child. Dad said good grades bring honor to the family, so I studied hard. When my grades were good and I wanted to go to The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China, you made me enter Yinghua Middle School instead. Because Xu Jiao only scored 250 points and wanted to enter Yinghua, she only had a chance if I agreed to go there too."

"Fine, I gave up The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China and entered Yinghua Middle School. Then she started dating Li Yan, and I was bullied by Li Yan's fan club. Both of them knew I was suffering in their stead, yet they never said a single word for me. They only said we couldn't afford to offend those people, and that I should just let them vent their anger on me, and once they'd vented, it would be fine. And what about you, Mom and Dad? You told me it was because of my personality, that my being withdrawn and poor at socializing caused it. But it clearly wasn't like that! Are you all blind? Are you deaf?"

It was like this in her previous life; as long as Xu Jiao was around, the Xu Family, and even her followers, chose to be selectively blind.

"You unfilial daughter! How dare you curse your family like that!" Father Xu cursed loudly.

The Xu Family didn't think Xu Zhao had been replaced; they just thought her personality had become more stubborn and that she had learned to resist. They merely assumed she had been pushed too far this time.

"I understand that you dote on Xu Jiao. She's pretty, cute, and knows how to act spoiled—unlike me, who is dull, a bookworm, knows nothing, and only knows how to bury my head in my studies." Xu Zhao laughed self-mockingly, tears brimming in her eyes but not falling.

"Why are you bringing this up? Isn't it your own problem?" Xu Congxuan waved his hand impatiently.

"Second Brother, I just want to study hard. I've prepared for this exam for a long time. Because I have a dream—I want to represent the National Team. Is even that not allowed?"

"Pfft... you make it sound so grand. Who do you think you are? Just because you luckily won a National League championship, you think you're so great? Can you guarantee you'll definitely win an award this time? Can you even make it to a world-class competition?" Xu Congxuan sneered.

"I can." Xu Zhao took off her glasses and wiped her eyes hard, brushing away her weak tears, and stared stubbornly at everyone.

That sharp gaze pierced straight into their hearts, causing everyone to be momentarily dazed and somewhat afraid to look her in the eye.

Father Xu looked away in a panic and shouted, "What 'representing the National Team' nonsense? What use is it? Can it be eaten as food, or spent as money? The Xu Family is your greatest support and should come first. As a daughter of the Xu Family, you should do whatever I tell you to do."

"I won't!" Xu Zhao gritted her teeth.

Father Xu was furious. His authority was being challenged, and by the most insignificant person in the house! He grabbed a ceramic teacup from the coffee table and threw it at Xu Zhao.

Xu Zhao didn't dodge. The teacup struck her right on the forehead. In an instant, blood gushed out, flowing down her fair face—a shocking sight.

"Zhao Zhao!" Xu Jiao screamed. "Are you okay? Let's not argue with Dad anymore, just agree."

Xu Zhao gritted her teeth and said, "I. Will. Not. Agree!"

"You are incorrigible!" Father Xu was so angry he wanted to rush forward and hit her again. Mother Xu was also getting a bit annoyed; how did she give birth to such a stubborn thing?

Xu Congtao hadn't spoken from beginning to end, but that didn't stop him from making a judgment: this sister, who had always been controlled, seemed to be slipping out of their grasp.

"Enough. Tomorrow I will call your homeroom teacher and say you are sick and hospitalized, and need to rest well." Xu Congtao stood up, his sharp suit making him look even colder. He then walked over to the silently sobbing Xu Jiao and comforted her softly, "Don't worry, with Big Brother here, I'll make sure you get what you want."

Xu Jiao looked at her eldest brother with tearful eyes, her gaze full of gratitude.

Xu Zhao understood that once her "good" eldest brother spoke, the matter was settled. But that didn't stop her from playing out the end of the scene.

"Big Brother, you are the head of the Xu Corporation after all; how can you be so unreasonable! This isn't the time to be petty about personal gains or losses. Li Yan couldn't even get a slot in the school's preliminary round; what right does he have to participate in the Municipal Competition or National Competition? He will only waste this opportunity. Can't you be a little fair to me!"

Xu Zhao: I really want him to go read the Chairman's quotations to fix his worldview.

She tried her best to make her voice tremble to sound more miserable. In fact, she didn't even need to act; her small frame, which looked like it could collapse at any moment, along with her blood-soaked hair and half-bloody face, was already shocking enough.

"Nanny Xu, take her phone and bring her back to her room. She is sick, so you 'must' take good care of her." Xu Congtao made the final decision.

Forced back to her room, 1105 finally dared to pop out, circling around in distress: [Zhao Zhao, are you okay? Why did you let yourself get hurt?]

Xu Zhao: "Filial piety comes first, and public opinion is a powerful thing. I don't care, but the Wisher is a good child with a bright future; I can't let her carry a bad reputation. If I'm leaving the Xu Family, I'll leave openly and honorably, ensuring the Xu Family can never get another ounce of benefit from me again."

1105 nodded: [Aren't you going to bandage the wound?]

Xu Zhao asked back, "The Xu Family caused it, why should I bandage it? My hands hurt, I have no strength." She then did a practice test to calm her nerves.

1105: ...With the way you're writing so furiously, do you think I believe you?

1105 fawned: [Zhao Zhao, do you want a recording? Do you? It's absolute 360-degree high-definition with no blind spots.]

Xu Zhao glanced at its round body. "Asking you would consume merit points. The Xu Family has surveillance."

Besides, things like 360-degree high-definition recordings could indeed be obtained through otherworldly channels, but they wouldn't stand up to scrutiny. It was better not to violate the laws of nature.