Wife, please behave yourself.

Chapter 36 Mother and Daughter

Class 4, Grade 8.

The final seat reshuffle before the end of the semester has begun.

The classroom was bustling with activity, but Liu Songyan, sitting in the back row against the wall, stood out from the crowd.

At this moment, he frowned, pondering the scene he had witnessed at home this morning.

Why is Ning Mengyao at her own home?

As a son, Liu Songyan has always respected his father.

From his perspective, his father had done his best for the family. Although they lived a relatively poor life, the brother and sister had never suffered any hardship in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

My mother had so many clothes that they couldn't all fit in the closet, while my father changed into several different outfits year after year.

He couldn't remember when his father last wore new clothes.

All I remember is that in that chaotic home, my father, as the pillar of the family, silently held the family together.

With this comparison, Liu Songyan felt closer to his father.

After his partner divorced his mother, he felt not sad at all, but rather that his partner had finally escaped from the mire.

If his father were to find a new partner, he would wholeheartedly support it.

Liu Songyan didn't know much about Ning Mengyao, who worked at the flower shop.

But I've also occasionally heard my father talk about the other person.

They've been married for less than two years and don't have any children yet.

That's where the problem lies.

Judging solely by appearance, Ning Mengyao, aside from lacking a bit of energy and spirit, is undoubtedly a suitable candidate as a partner.

Her personality is also fine; at least from my current observations, she's much better than her mother.

However, his identity... was a real headache for him as a son.

What's wrong with Dad?
Even without his looks, his talent alone would have been enough to find a suitable marriage partner.

Why would you provoke someone who is already married?

Liu Songyan didn't understand.

I don't understand.

He, with his strong moral compass, couldn't understand this kind of behavior.

In his view, it is only natural to keep one's distance from married women.

Even if the other person is a woman who is not loyal to the marriage, you shouldn't bring her home directly.

He didn't know the reason behind it; he only saw his father bring the other person home.

Fortunately, the two were not lying in the same bed when they were found.

Otherwise, Liu Songyan's world would have collapsed long ago.

Perhaps there's some reason behind it, otherwise... based on his understanding of his father, the other party would never do such a thing.

My father was still a very upright and gentlemanly man.

He would rather sleep on the sofa all night than step into the bedroom.

It must be that woman's problem.

Ignoring some of the details, the 14-year-old boy comforted himself in order to maintain his father's image.

Completely unaware, the process of changing seats within the class had already come to an end.

Having spent most of his time sitting alone, he had no intention of getting up from his seat.

In any case, no one in Class 4 of the second year of junior high school dared to be Liu Songyan's deskmate.

"I'm sorry about what happened last time."

A sudden sentence reached his ears, pulling Liu Songyan back to reality from his thoughts.

He turned his face to the empty space beside him.

Looking at Shen Ruzhi, who was already sitting in her seat with her books in her arms.

The class monitor in the distance was going crazy.

She, who was in the front row, turned around and looked at the class monitor who had moved to the back seat.

He kept waving slightly at the other person, signaling them to come back to his side.

However, her actions went unanswered.

At this moment, Shen Ruzhi looked apologetically at the person beside her.

"If you're still not satisfied, you can punch me, and I won't fight back."

Shen Ruzhi's words elicited no response from Liu Songyan.

He simply kept facing her until he turned his face back.

He answered coldly.

"I don't have a habit of hitting women."

"Then I'll tutor you. It just so happens that we're now deskmates after the seating change!"

"Your grades are just average, not much better than mine."

"Better than you, right?"

When she responded, Shen Ruzhi couldn't help but feel slighted when she heard the other party's rebuttal.

Although she was able to become the class monitor of Class 4, Grade 8, it was not because of her outstanding academic performance.

However, she is a good student and often ranks in the middle to upper range.

As for Liu Songyan... she didn't know him very well before.

However, based on stereotypes, it should be at the lower end of the spectrum.

Seeing that the other party was ignoring her, Shen Ruzhi was not too upset.

She turned slightly to the side, tidying up the desk in front of her and taking out the textbook she would need for the next class.

"In this monthly exam, out of 54 students in the class, I ranked 21st."

"..."

"What about you?"

"23."

"See? My grades are still better than yours."

Shen Ruzhi, who was tidying up her books, replied with a smile.

But as soon as he put the book on the table, the smile on his face froze.

Staring at the books on the table, she looked around in surprise after a while, realizing something.

"23? You're ranked 23rd?"

"Is there a problem?"

"Your grades are so good?"

Looking at the boy beside her, who didn't even turn his head, he simply sat motionless in his seat.

In Shen Ruzhi's memory, the other person often slept in class.

If it wasn't cheating on the exam, then that means...

"You...you often go home to study, don't you?"

"..."

"That must be it, otherwise there's no way to explain it."

"Tsk."

Liu Songyan clicked his tongue, feeling that the noise around him was extremely loud.

He simply turned his back and used his arm as a pillow.

Lying on it.

Seeing that the other person had turned their back, Shen Ruzhi, who had been talking, wisely stopped.

As the school bell rang, the teacher entered the classroom.

The classroom fell silent.

Shen Ruzhi looked at the blackboard, and after a long while, she slowly looked to her side.

Observing Liu Songyan, who hadn't gotten up since lying down, I wondered... how could he possibly get 23rd place like this?

He never listens in class; he just sleeps during class.

----------

"Mom, I'm back."

The security door opened, and Shen Ruzhi, who had just finished school, returned home.

As soon as I entered, I could smell the aroma of food filling the air.

She was already hungry after evening self-study.

"Go wash your hands first."

A gentle voice came from the kitchen.

"Good~"

She responded with a raised tone; she was always decisive and efficient in front of outsiders, but only at home did she show this girlish side.

Seeing the kitchen light on, Shen Ruzhi went to the bathroom to wash her hands before entering the house.

Simple rental room, one bedroom and one living room.

This is the second place the mother and daughter have moved to this year.

The apartment she rented this time was closer to the school, so she didn't have to get up early to catch the bus.

After helping to bring the dishes out of the kitchen, Shen Ruzhi sat down at the table.

Holding the rice bowl in my hands, I savored the food my mother had prepared.

"..."

After putting it in her mouth, she slowly raised her head, remaining silent.

Looking at her mother's expectant face.

"How's it going? Is it delicious?"

"It's a little...salty."

"How could that be? I didn't put in too much this time!"

Upon hearing her daughter's evaluation, Wen Yunwei, who had been looking forward to it, hurriedly picked up her chopsticks and put some in her mouth.

She chewed and swallowed it; although it was a bit salty, it was still within her acceptable range.

At least it's an improvement over the last time.

"Then I'll use less seasoning next time..."

The cookbook I bought didn't provide specific measurements for seasonings.

She clearly followed the instructions in the book and only added one spoonful, so how could it be too salty?

Shen Ruzhi sat at the dining table with chopsticks in her mouth.

Noticing her mother's disappointment, she immediately smiled and comforted her again.

"But this makes it even more appetizing; I feel like I can eat two bowls today!"

"Really……"

"of course!"

As he spoke, he picked up some food and placed it on top of the rice, forcing himself to endure the unpalatable food.

With just one bite, half of the rice was gone.

Shen Ruzhi was not lying.

The food my mother prepared was indeed very appetizing.

He picked up the water glass on the table and gulped down a large mouthful.

Shen Ruzhi put down the cup, slightly out of breath.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed something placed on the floor against the wall. After a moment of silence, he asked his mother with a puzzled look.

"What are those?"

"These... are some accessories I made, and I was thinking of setting up a stall to sell them."

"Set up a stall? Mom, aren't you going to look for a job?"

"I can't find it anymore."

Wen Yunwei shook her head slightly, responding to her daughter with a wry smile.

With the development of the times, academic qualifications are becoming increasingly important.

Having not even finished university, she seemed to lack even the qualifications to apply for a job.

Instead of doing all this futile work, she thought it would be better to try selling at a stall first.

The bracelet she made last time received praise from her junior, Liu Changcun.

The positive response from the other party gave her confidence to set up her stall.

"I don't know if they'll even sell, let's not talk about that... How was your day at school?"

"I changed seats and sat next to a boy."

Pick up another mouthful of rice and put it in your mouth to chew.

Shen Ruzhi looked at the plates on the table, and Liu Songyan's face appeared in her mind.

That was the scene where the other person bumped into the wall while going down the stairs, and the hair that had been covering their face was lifted up by their father.

Even though several days have passed, Liu Songyan's face still automatically appears in her mind whenever she thinks of him.

His head was lowered slightly.

"Mom, do you really think someone who sleeps in class all day can get a good grade?"

"all right."

"Really? Why? He hasn't attended any classes."

On Friday, the seating arrangement changed, and Shen Ruzhi became Liu Songyan's deskmate.

None of the other students in the class wanted to sit with her, but the girl who was assigned that seat took the initiative to come and ask her to switch.

As the class monitor, Shen Ruzhi always liked to help her classmates.

She rarely refuses anything she is capable of doing.

After becoming Liu Songyan's deskmate, she secretly observed him for a whole day.

Whenever class is in session, the other person will lie down on their desk and fall asleep.

After class, get up and move around.

If he had this kind of attitude towards learning, how could he have only ranked two places lower than himself in the monthly exam?
Shen Ruzhi felt curious.

However, her mother's reaction after she voiced her doubts made her even more puzzled.

At the dinner table, Wen Yunwei's memories returned to her student days.

During her high school years, she often overheard the teachers talking about interesting things in their offices.

Seeing her daughter's curious expression, she snapped out of her daze and replied with a smile.

“When I was in high school, I had a junior who basically never listened to lectures and often did other subjects’ tests during class. The teachers were often annoyed by him.”

"Is someone like that... also academically excellent?"

"First place!"

"what?"

He was the top student in the entire school.

"..."

I stood there, stunned.

Shen Ruzhi was truly surprised by her mother's words.

In her mind, only by studying hard can she improve her grades.

Only by listening attentively in class can you understand the key points that the teacher is explaining.

However... her mother's personal experience told her that some people can achieve surprisingly good grades even without attending classes.

First in the whole school...

Do people like that really exist?