CHAPTER 309: CHAPTER 306: CINDERELLA’S COMEBACK 51

Anning was carrying her suitcase downstairs.

Miss Xiao hurriedly went over to help her with it.

Anning quickly gestured with her hands: "I can handle it."

Miss Xiao insisted on carrying it, so Anning let her try.

However, the suitcase that Anning easily lifted, Miss Xiao couldn’t even move.

At that moment, Miss Xiao’s face turned red.

Anning quickly said: "I’ve been strong since I was little."

Once they were in the car, Miss Xiao began to praise Anning while driving: "Xiao Yuan told me you were very beautiful. I imagined it many times, and when I saw your photo, oh my, it was stunning, but seeing you in person today, you are even more beautiful than in your pictures."

Anning chuckled awkwardly: "You’re giving me too much credit."

Miss Xiao didn’t care that Anning felt embarrassed by the compliments and continued: "I’m only speaking the honest truth. I haven’t seen such a pretty girl like you in many years. No wonder Xiao Yuan had his eye on you from the start, telling me he’s certain about you."

Anning bowed her head, feigning shyness.

Miss Xiao smiled: "You could easily live off your looks, and yet you choose to rely on your talents; how can others even compete?"

Anning said softly: "I enjoy studying, and apart from that, I don’t know what else I can do. Besides, I am a student now, and a student’s duty is to study."

While waiting for the traffic light, Miss Xiao glanced at Anning.

She noticed the young girl’s blushing face, which carried no trace of frivolity; instead, her gaze was pure, and she seemed very composed – clearly a very good girl.

"Don’t be shy with auntie once we’re home. If you want to eat anything or need anything, just tell me, and I’ll buy it for you."

"Okay."

"I also don’t know if you have any dietary restrictions. Let me know when we get home, and I’ll inform the housekeeper."

"Mhm."

"You probably won’t be training tomorrow, so I’ll take you out for a day of fun. We can relax a bit, and oh, Xiao Yuan has arranged a laboratory for you. You can do chemistry experiments there, and I’ll drive you over."

"Thank you, auntie."

Throughout the drive, Miss Xiao was talking with Anning.

She was afraid that Anning might feel scared arriving in an unfamiliar place, so she didn’t stop talking.

Nowadays, Miss Xiao lives alone.

She lives in a villa, a three-story house that isn’t very large, but also has a small yard with many flowers planted.

This was the season when chrysanthemums were in full bloom, and Miss Xiao’s yard had several pots of fine chrysanthemums on display.

Miss Xiao parked the car, and when Anning got out, she took a few looks at the flowers, which were well-maintained.

Upon entering the house, Miss Xiao instructed the housekeeper to serve the meal.

She led Anning upstairs to see her room.

Xiao Yuan called Miss Xiao quite late, so she didn’t have much time to tidy up the room.

However, she still made up the best guest room for Anning, placing a new vanity table and buying some plush toys.

The bed sheets and quilt were all freshly changed, and the entire room looked quite elegant and tidy.

Miss Xiao left Anning to unpack her things and went out.

Anning opened the wardrobe, finding it full of various clothes obviously bought for her.

Anning gave a wry smile, then arranged her own clothes in the wardrobe, and placed the books and some problems on the desk. By the time she finished and went downstairs, the meal was all set.

Anning thanked Miss Xiao again.

Miss Xiao, smiling and holding Anning’s hand: "What’s there to thank? Honestly, I’ve always longed for a daughter. Who knew I’d only have a son like Xiao Yuan? Now that a girl has finally moved in, I can live out my wish. I’ve got to dress you up nicely."

After eating, Anning went upstairs to study.

Miss Xiao called Xiao Yuan, but who knows what she said.

The next day, Miss Xiao really did take Anning out for a day of fun.

She took Anning to several famous sights in Capital, and the two had lunch outside at noon.

While eating, Miss Xiao bumped into a few acquaintances. Seeing her with Anning, they asked her to introduce Anning, and she kept saying that Anning was her daughter.

Anning was also constantly accompanying them with a smile and greeting the elders.

Although she knew Miss Xiao was this kind to her for Xiao Yuan’s sake, Anning appreciated it and had always respected Miss Xiao. The two of them also had a warm and close time when playing together.

In the following days, Anning went to the laboratory Xiao Yuan found for her to do experiments.

It wasn’t long before the finals for chemistry and physics were approaching.

These two subjects had exams back to back; Anning took the chemistry exam on the first day and the physics the following day.

Then, after waiting a few more days, it was time for the math exam.

Once the math exam was over, Anning was set to return to Qing City.

Miss Xiao was really reluctant to let her go. When Anning was leaving, Miss Xiao personally took her to the airport and made sure to remind her of many things.

Anning saw Miss Xiao’s eyes were red, put down her suitcase, and gave her a hug, "Once the final results are out, I will have to come to Capital during the winter holiday, and then I can keep you company again."

"Okay."

Miss Xiao smiled like a child.

After Anning left, Miss Xiao immediately called Xiao Yuan: "My son, you need to get a hold of yourself, that girl is truly outstanding. She’s beautiful, so smart, down-to-earth and hardworking, kind-hearted too. Anyway, I really like her, I accept her as my daughter-in-law. If you mess this up, I won’t take it easy on you."

Xiao Yuan was diagnosing a patient at that moment.

He was now entangled by several patients, couldn’t leave unless he treated their illnesses, so he couldn’t accompany Anning for the exams, which made him quite frustrated.

Miss Xiao’s call made him even more distressed: "Mom, I’m busy right now, I’ll call you back in a bit."

When Anning got off the plane, she saw Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu.

Mrs. Gu was waving at Anning from a distance.

Once Anning approached, Mr. Gu took the suitcase, and the family walked outside together.

Mrs. Gu asked Anning, "How did the exams go?"

Anning smiled, "Pretty well."

Mr. Gu glared at Mrs. Gu: "Why are you asking that... the exams are done with, what’s the point of asking now? Our Ningning has already tried her best. Whether it was good or not doesn’t matter; after all, she is already number one in the province, that’s super incredible."

What else could Mrs. Gu say.

The family had just gotten into a taxi when Teacher Li called Mr. Gu: "Is this Mr. Anning? I have good news for you. The biology results are out, Anning got first place with a perfect score. She’s the only student who scored full marks."

"Really?"

Mr. Gu was particularly happy, smiling so wide he couldn’t close his mouth.

Mrs. Gu, although not hearing clearly, also knew Anning got first place, and joined in the laughter.

Just then, at a red light, the taxi driver who loved to chat turned around to glance at the Gu family of three: "Coming back from an exam? Where did you go for it?"

Mrs. Gu boasted proudly, "Went to Capital for the exam, participated in the Olympiad. During the joint exam, my daughter was number one in the province for all four subjects. She just went to Capital for the competition, and wouldn’t you know it, the teacher just called saying my daughter got first in biology."

Before Mrs. Gu finished her words.

Mr. Gu received another call from Principal Lan: "Mr. Anning, I just got a call from the Education Bureau. Anning scored full marks in both chemistry and physics, making her number one in the nation. Congratulations."

"Congratulations to us all, it’s all thanks to the teachers’ hard work and Principal’s care."

Mr. Gu also made some polite remarks.

Mrs. Gu’s laughter grew even louder.

The taxi driver also understood and envied how they got national first in two subjects.

Comparing their child with his own, he thought, there’s just no contest.