Her gaze was cool, revealing no hint of emotion, as if she were looking at an inanimate object rather than a person.
This filled Elder Madam Ye with deep displeasure.
"Yes!" she replied. "If you can score in the top ten of your grade and bring honor to the Ye family, you can also have a good room."
"I understand," Yu He said, turning to Cheng Lizhu. "Let's go."
Cheng Lizhu was momentarily stunned, letting out a small sound before understanding. Yu He was asking her to lead the way to the guest room, and her heart felt even more guilty.
Elder Madam Ye watched their backs as they went to the guest room, her lips curling into a disdainful sneer.
A wild girl from some remote village, not even sure if she'd finished junior high education, and she dared to aim for the top ten?
It was nothing short of wishful thinking.
Evening.
The dinner was originally meant to welcome Yu He home and celebrate the family's reunion, but two seats at the long dining table were empty.
Ye Zi, who had a lump on her head and refused to eat dinner, and the eldest young master of the Ye family, whom Yu He had never met.
To ease the awkwardness, as the meal neared its end, Cheng Lizhu handed Yu He a list of schools.
"Hehe, school starts in a few days. Regarding transferring, Mom has found a few schools. Take a look and see if there's any you'd like to attend."
Yu He picked up a piece of spare rib, her eyes briefly scanning the school list. They were all middle to high-tier schools in Beishi.
"Dad, I heard Yu He's grades were quite good at her mountain school. Can't we directly arrange for her to attend Kaiwei International Academy? I can look after her there."
Ye Zisu put down his chopsticks and looked up, asking.
She appeared innocent, as if she genuinely cared about Yu He's well-being.
But everyone knew that the teaching quality at mountain schools was nowhere comparable to international schools.
"Kaiwei International Academy uses all English instruction. Can you understand it?" Ye Jianming glanced at Yu He.
She had changed into a black camellia cheongsam, which made her skin appear exceptionally fair. Coupled with her elegant dining manners, there was no trace of her coming from a remote village.
This pleasing appearance slightly eased Ye Jianming's previous disdain for her.
She was prettier than Zisu, and once she grew up, she could use this beauty for the Ye family in an arranged marriage...
"I'll go to Kaiwei International Academy," Yu He said after finishing a piece of spare rib.
As soon as she spoke, everyone looked at her in surprise.
She calmly picked up another piece of spare rib and began to eat.
It was as if her tone in saying she would go to Kaiwei International Academy was as casual as saying the spare rib was delicious.
"What are you trying to prove? Your dilapidated school in the mountains doesn't even have a decent English teacher. How can you attend classes at Kaiwei Academy?! Do you want to get zero marks in the college entrance exam and shame the Ye family!"
Ye Jianming slammed the table, shouting angrily.
Before selecting a school, they had investigated Yu He's previous academic performance.
Although she was first in her entire school, the school she attended was built with poverty alleviation and teaching support.
The few teachers sent there each year were multi-tasking and left within half a year.
Studying in such an environment, even if she ranked first in the school, how much academic value could it hold?
"With your grades, don't go to Kaiwei Academy and embarrass yourself! If you have the ability, go to City No. 1 High School and rank... just the top ten in your class. Then you can use Zizheng's study."
Elder Madam Ye, sitting at the head of the table, sneered dismissively and made the decision for Yu He.
City No. 1 High School was a public school in Beishi. Although it had a certain rate of students admitted to Peking University and Tsinghua University each year, its teaching quality was still somewhat lacking compared to Kaiwei International Academy.
Kaiwei International Academy was a century-old institution founded by the Lu family, one of the four major families, and it catered to students aiming for prestigious international universities.
Even if one didn't get into an international university through the college entrance exam, direct admission to Kaiwei's university department meant that upon graduation, one could secure a high-level position in society.
"Hehe, what do you think?" Cheng Lizhu asked Yu He.