Chapter 66: The Gift (1)

The dean was not foolish enough to air the school's dirty laundry to outsiders, especially not about Jian Yiling, not out of concern for her reputation but rather to save face for himself.

"Her grades are poor?" Cheng Yi thought, feeling somewhat incredulous. He had just spent the afternoon getting a firsthand lesson in Jian Yiling's exceptional capabilities. How could the dean claim that her academic performance was lacking? Could it be that Shenghua High School had more than one "-10" student? The surname "Jian" wasn't common, and "Yiling" was unlikely to be a name that was easily forgotten or widespread.

Cheng Yi maintained a composed expression while continuing to inquire, "Oh? Poor grades? That sounds quite serious, doesn't it?"

"Indeed, it's serious," the dean replied, shaking his head with a sigh, his expression a mix of disappointment and frustration. "She's at the bottom of her class. In the last monthly exam, she failed several subjects. Such a shame!"

Cheng Yi's eyes narrowed slightly behind his glasses. "It seems like you're particularly concerned about this student's performance," he remarked. 

Under normal circumstances, it would be typical for a homeroom teacher or subject instructor to discuss a student's academic struggles. However, as the dean, who oversaw the entire school, his interest in one student's grades seemed unusual. Even if Jian Yiling was underperforming, it shouldn't warrant such concern from him.

The dean explained, "This student is a bit more troublesome than others, so I pay extra attention to her."

"Troublesome?" Cheng Yi echoed, intrigued.

"She's a problem student. Dealing with her has been quite challenging for the school," the dean elaborated, shaking his head as if to indicate how difficult Jian Yiling was to manage. "By the way, Dr. Cheng, how did you come to ask about her? Do you know her?"

Cheng Yi replied with a gentle smile, "I probably don't know the Jian Yiling you're referring to, Mr. Li, but I appreciate the information."

"Dr. Cheng, you're too polite. It's nothing really! If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. I'm here to help!" the dean insisted eagerly.

"Thank you, but I have some matters to attend to at the institute, so I won't keep you any longer," Cheng Yi said, sensing that their conversation had reached a natural conclusion.

"Of course! You go ahead, Dr. Cheng. I won't keep you from your important work," the dean replied, stepping back to allow Cheng Yi to leave.

As Cheng Yi drove away, the dean watched him go, thinking about how fortunate it would be if Shenghua High School had more researchers like Dr. Cheng. His own position would gain respect just by association.

Not long after Jian Yiling arrived at school, the bell rang for dismissal. She walked out of the campus as usual and got into the car her grandmother had sent to pick her up.

Although Grandma Jian could have easily assigned a driver for the task, she insisted on coming personally every day during Jian Yiling's stay at the old mansion. The grandmother wanted to spend as much time as possible with her beloved granddaughter.

Whenever Grandma Jian was in the car, it was never short of snacks. According to her, after an afternoon of intense mental activity at school, students expend a lot of energy and easily get hungry.

"Let's stop by Jian Mansion for a moment," Jian Yiling said unexpectedly, voicing a rare request to her grandmother.

To her surprise, Grandma Jian was taken aback but also a bit concerned. They would indeed pass by Jian Mansion on their way back to the old home, where her parents lived.

Arriving at the entrance of Jian Mansion, Grandma Jian instructed the driver to pull over.

"Sweetheart, what do you want to get? Grandma will go in with you," she offered kindly.

Jian Yiling shook her head. "Just a moment," she replied, pulling a pre-prepared paper bag from her backpack and dashing toward Jian Mansion.