Skip to content
Novel Catalog
As Gerard had pointed out, Gordon, as Carlisle’s father, understood his son’s academic performance better than anyone else. The pressure of the upcoming exam results weighed heavily on Gordon’s mind.
After finishing his meal, Carlisle retreated to his room, eager for some quiet. He lay on his bed, the familiar hum of his phone pulling his attention. He logged into MSN Messenger, but Wanda still hadn’t accepted his friend request. His heart sank a little. He sighed, helplessly pulling out the pink letter that he had kept hidden beneath his pillow. He read it again, as if the words might offer him some solace.
Meanwhile, in a luxurious mansion miles away, Wanda sat in front of her desk, clad in soft pajamas. The glow of an LCD desktop monitor illuminated her face, but her thoughts seemed distant. Her cell phone rang, and she picked it up without hesitation.
“Zac,” she answered, her voice light, yet betraying a hint of worry.
“Your results are in. You scored 1350!” Zachary’s voice was tight with a restrained frustration, the anger clear even through the phone. Wanda’s score was much lower than it should’ve been. With her academic capabilities, she could’ve easily scored over 1450, a mark that would have made her a shoo-in for any Ivy League university.
Wanda blinked her big, expressive eyes, unfazed by the news. “That’s not bad. I can still get into Riverland University!”
Zachary’s tone darkened, his frustration boiling over. “Tell me, are you seeing someone? Are you planning to stay in Riverland for some guy?”
Wanda was caught off guard by his bluntness. “Zac, what are you talking about? This year’s SAT questions were exceptionally difficult. Getting into Riverland University is already quite an achievement!”
Zachary sighed, his voice softening with resignation. “Never mind, do as you wish. After all, you are my one and only sister,” he said bitterly. It was clear that Zachary felt the weight of his expectations for her and the pressure to see her succeed.
She grinned, attempting to lighten the mood. “You’re the most handsome brother on earth. Can I ask you for another favor?”
Zachary’s tone became wary. “What is it?”
Wanda hesitated before asking, “Can you help me check Carlisle’s results? He’s from Rainville High School.”
Zachary paused for a moment, his mind quick to catch on. “Carlisle? The brave kid from last time? You’re quite intrigued by him,” he remarked coldly, his suspicions growing.
Wanda’s face flushed, and she hurriedly responded, “Zac, don’t talk nonsense. Carlisle is just a student I tutor. I’m only curious to see if he’s improved.”
Zachary was unconvinced, but he softened slightly. “I’ll check it later. I suspect the exam papers haven’t been graded yet. We don’t have any connections at the Education Bureau. It took me a lot of effort to expedite the grading of your papers,” he said curtly.
“Alright then,” Wanda said, her disappointment clear, but she understood his reasoning.
Zachary sighed, his voice tinged with a rare indulgence. “Give me three days. I’ll tell you his results in three days.”
Wanda’s face lit up with gratitude. “Thanks, Zac! You’re the best!” The relief in her voice was palpable, and for a moment, the tension between them seemed to ease.
Time passed quickly, and soon the day arrived for the SAT results to be released. In those days, the internet wasn’t as advanced, and candidates had to visit the school in person to check their scores.
As fate would have it, Carlisle and Sean ran into Sienna and Sarah at the school gate.
“Carlisle, are you here to check your scores too?” Sarah asked, her tone playful. She wore a short-sleeved shirt and impossibly short shorts, and her long, fair legs caught the attention of anyone who looked her way.
“Yeah,” Carlisle replied with an air of calm indifference.
Sarah chuckled and teased, “If you don’t pass, will you retake the exam?”
Carlisle’s expression remained cool and unbothered. “There are no ‘ifs,’” he said firmly, then walked past her into the school.
Behind them, Sienna snorted loudly, her voice dripping with mockery. “I hope you won’t walk out of the school crying!”
Carlisle didn’t respond, and Sean, not one to let an insult slide, shot back, “You’ll be the ones crying later!”
Sienna immediately retorted, her voice cutting. “Sean, I bet you won’t even get into a Tier 3 university!”
Sean, not giving them the satisfaction of a response, continued walking ahead, ignoring their taunts. Sienna was left fuming, her face reddening with frustration.
“Sarah, look at them,” she said, her tone dripping with disdain.
Sarah shook her head, her lips curling into a smirk. “How could people like them possibly get into university? They’re just parasites in society!”
Sienna’s eyes narrowed, and she suddenly suggested, “Sarah, maybe you shouldn’t be so cold toward Carlisle. If he doesn’t get into university, he’ll definitely start working. That way, you won’t have to worry about finances when you attend university!”
Sarah’s expression shifted, her gaze momentarily thoughtful, but she didn’t respond immediately. The mention of Carlisle’s future—whether academic or in the workforce—lingered in the air, adding an unspoken tension to the encounter.
