What Chen Ru said was a cliché.

Wen Ying was not very disappointed.

She had gotten used to it in her previous life.

Chen Ru firmly adhered to her own discernment and remained resolute in not trusting anything Wen Ying had said prior to the release of the high school entrance exam results.

Wen Ying decided not to bother wasting her breath, so she shut her eyes and feigned slumber.

The city was not spacious. Before long, they arrived at Wen Ying's abode after leaving the hospital.

Wen Ying and her family lived in the house of Wen Dongrong's unit. The house was constructed in 1999. Despite acquiring another house subsequently, the Wen family never relocated. It wasn't until 2019 that Wen Ying discovered her parents had not moved out either.

There was nothing worth longing for the 20-year community. The range of amenities and facilities could not be compared to those in the new community. Wen Ying noticed that her parents showed no sentimentality for the past. They genuinely believed that residing here symbolized their social standing!

Even though Wen Dongrong was not at home, the Wen family were still bustling.

The living room was crowded with relatives of the Wen family.

When they saw Wen Ying coming back, they all went up to her with concern. Even her eldest cousin, Wen Kai, was here.

It was Saturday today, so it was normal for adults not to go to work. Wen Kai, an examinee-to-be, shouldn't be here!

"Wen Kai, don't you have classes today?"

Wen Kai perched his glasses on his nose, readjusting them. "This morning, the school organized a pep rally to motivate us before the exam. And in the afternoon, they granted us half a day off to unwind. Nevertheless, we have to return to school in the evening to hit the books. How are you feeling now? I've been eager to pay you a visit at the hospital. But you know, our homeroom teacher doesn't sanction such absences!"

Wen Kai was telling the truth.

It was impossible for a small city to compete with big cities in terms of teaching resources. Schools in small cities could only compete in management. Wen Kai and Wen Ying studied in the same school. Wen Kai was in high school, and she was in junior high school.

Wen Ying knew full well how strict the school rules were, especially for a student like Wen Kai who was about to take the college entrance examination. There was no need for him to ask for leave for his cousin's illness.

"I know. Wen Kai, you care about me. I appreciate your kindness."

Wen Kai burst out laughing at what Wen Ying said.

Their parents were engaged in a secret rivalry, which had no impact on Wen Ying and Wen Kai. Wen Ying recalled that she had always shared a good bond with her cousin since childhood. However, this changed when Wen Kai went off to college and Wen Ying had to endure a miserable high school life on her own. Consequently, their communication became less frequent. If they were to follow the same path as their previous life, this detachment would only occur in the future. Presently, Wen Ying's bond with Wen Kai had not yet grown rusty.

Wen Kai really cared about her. He deliberately ignored the adults and entered her room to encourage her.

Every time Wen Kai saw his cousin's room, he would have a headache.

This room did not resemble a typical girl's room at all. It lacked any feminine ambiance, with the absence of colorful star decorations on the walls or movie posters. The bedsheets were plain, the wardrobe was simple, and the old-fashioned desk housed numerous textbooks and educational materials. There were no girl's magazines in sight. Wen Ying only had four famous literary works and the book How The Steel Was Tempered on the bookshelf.

Wen Kai thought that his uncle and aunt were too strict with Wen Ying.

Wen Kai knew that his cousin was very fond of reading novels and would rather save her living expenses to buy and rent books. But she never dared to bring the novels home, brought home to be torn out by the second aunt. Wen Ying then stored the books she bought at her classmate's place. Wen Kai, who went to the same school as Wen Ying, also served as a "mobile library" for Wen Ying's books.

Wen Kai felt that this room did not look like a girl's boudoir, and so did Wen Ying.

As soon as Wen Ying entered the bedroom of her young age, she felt suffocated.

Wen Ying's mom, Chen Ru, was in charge of everything from the decorations in her room to her daughter's hobbies. The mom even controlled what clothes and shoes her daughter wore every day. With amazing endurance, Wen Ying lived in such an environment for more than ten years without losing her mind. Her mental endurance was indeed admirable!

"Wen Kai, do you have something to say to me? Take a seat."

If she thought about it further, Wen Ying was afraid that she would turn around and run out of the house, so she could only talk to Wen Kai to distract herself.

Wen Kai gathered his thoughts and proposed, "Have you considered remaining in our alma mater for high school? I understand that you didn't perform well in the high school entrance exam this time, and I am aware of uncle's intention to utilize his connections in order to secure a placement for you at a reputable high school in Rongcheng City. However, Wen Ying, while the said high school may boast exemplary educational practices, it might not necessarily be the most fitting choice for us. Choosing to enroll there would require you to acclimate to a novel setting, and this greatly concerns me!"

Well, the best one might not be suitable for Wen Ying.

It was a controversy whether to be a high-achieving student at an average school or a low-achieving student at an elite school.

Wen Kai knew her very well. In her previous life, she went to high school in Rongcheng City and failed to keep up with the teaching progress. She had difficulties in studying.

The heavens gave her a chance to start over, and Wen Ying had been thinking about her aunt Chen Li and uncle Deng Shangwei these days, but she had not thought about her own future yet.

Wen Kai had hit the nail on the head.

What should she do?

Based on the previous life's trajectory, she studied at the same high school and attending the same university. She defied her parents' expectations and declined to take the civil service exam. Instead, she bravely ventured to Shanghai on her own. Starting as an assistant lawyer, she eventually became an established lawyer. It was during her journey in the legal field that she met and fell in love with He Zhen. After years of hard work in Shanghai, she managed to stand her ground and purchase a house. Despite the seemingly satisfying life, Wen Ying couldn't help but ponder over those worn-out four classic novels of Chinese literature on her desk, realizing that there might be other paths awaiting her.

He Zhen was probably in deep love with his schoolmate in England now. Why should she wait for him?

If she didn't become a lawyer and still had a chance to meet and fall in love with He Zhen, then their bond might have held some semblance of destiny.

"Wen Ying?"

Wen Kai woke Wen Ying up from her stupor. "Think about what I said. If you've made up your mind, I'll support you. If you want to stay in the same high school, I'll help you persuade your parents!"

"Wen Kai, you're so kind to me. Thank you. No matter where I go, I'll be very grateful for your kindness."

Wen Ying was telling the truth.

Wen Dongrong and Chen Ru possessed an overwhelming longing for control, and yet despite this, Wen Kai remained steadfastly supportive of her. What an extraordinary bond between siblings!

Wen Ying wanted to cherish her cousin, who was so affectionate. Wen Kai's college entrance exam was coming up, and Wen Ying didn't want him to be scolded by Wen Dongrong. "Wen Kai, your primary focus should be on the college entrance exam. There is no need for haste in regards to my affairs. Once the high school entrance exam results are released, which will likely be around July, we can deliberate together."

Wen Kai nodded approvingly.

After they sat in the room for a while, the adults outside called them out for dinner.

At the dining table, the adults were not paying attention to Wen Ying who had just been discharged from the hospital, but to Wen Kai, who was about to take the college entrance examination.

Mrs. Wen Sr was busy picking meat for her eldest grandson. She insisted that Wen Kai had lost weight due to studying too hard.

Wen Dongrong was concerned about which university his nephew wanted to go to. Wen Kai said that it would depend on his grades in the college entrance examination. "I want to go to the Capital. What do you think, uncle?"

Wen Dongrong smiled and said, "It's crucial for young lads to explore the world and expand their horizons. I find your idea quite remarkable and ambitious! If your sister, Ying, excels academically just like you, I will gladly support her in studying outside our province. It would be ideal if she could secure a place in prominent cities like the Capital and Shanghai."

Wen Ying was still immersed in her meal, but now she was a little stunned.

What Wen Dongrong said was completely different from what she did when she filled in the college application letter later. She remembered that Wen Dongrong had repeatedly emphasized that she must study inside the province. Under the pressure of her parents, Wen Ying did choose a university inside the province, which was located in Rongcheng City. It only took her an hour or two from her home to school, so that Wen Dongrong and Chen Ru could control her at a close distance. If what her father said was not a lie now, what would change her father's mind in the future?