"That's a top-tier scumbag—do you think just anyone can get with him?"

Emily Carter has a famous saying: For underachievers, the college entrance exam is like a scumbag boyfriend. It doesn't care whether you're good enough or not; as long as you work hard, maybe things will turn out the way you want.

"Besides, the scores aren't even out yet. Let's wait and see when they are. Why is he in such a rush? What if you totally outperform yourself and get first place in the province? Why bother with H University then—just go straight to A University."

Ethan Turner let out a sigh. "...Your brain really is simpler than a watermelon."

"Of course. Ugh, I'm about to be driven crazy by Charles Webb," Emily Carter pouted, pulling out her phone to show Ethan Turner their chat history, eager to complain. "I mean, I don't like those silly girls who give up the last two big questions for love, but someone like Charles Webb, who can't stop bragging about how well he did, is truly one of a kind. Doesn't he know my score might not even be as high as my dad's blood pressure!"

Charles Webb is Emily Carter's almost-boyfriend, from City No. 1 High School. The two of them started secretly dating after a basketball game, and things have been heating up ever since—they just haven't made it official yet.

Ethan Turner glanced at their chat history without any mental preparation—full of "baby," "miss you," "kiss kiss"—it was honestly an eyesore.

Ethan Turner mercilessly exposed her: "Is there really just a paper window between you two? More like bulletproof glass."

"Whatever, the point is we're not dating," Emily Carter stubbornly denied. "By the way, where's David Hayes?"

Passing by a pharmacy, Ethan Turner put away her umbrella and went in to buy two boxes of medicated plasters for Old Turner, skillfully finding the right shelf. "He bombed the exam."

"No wonder he hasn't talked to you lately. Looks like he's taking out his frustration on you again," Emily Carter followed behind, belatedly realizing. "Ugh, why is he always like this? Last time he did badly in the physics competition, he gave you the cold shoulder and randomly snapped at you. I think he's just PUA-ing you."

"Yeah, I'll find a time to talk it out with him," Ethan Turner replied, head down, comparing the ingredients of Yunnan Baiyao and musk bone-strengthening plasters, seemingly not bothered at all. "Hey, which one does Director Carter usually use?"

"He doesn't use these. He's too concerned about his image, you know that," Emily Carter said, spreading her hands.

"So what does he do about his arthritis?"

"He just uses a hot water bottle."

"Old Carter is really particular," Ethan Turner couldn't help but praise.

"He's just fussy for no reason," Emily Carter joked.

Neither of them has a mom, but the difference is that Emily Carter lost hers early on. Old Carter was busy with work and neglected her, and by the time he wanted to step in, Emily Carter was already in her rebellious phase, so their relationship has always been pretty rocky. Ethan Turner's mom passed away just a few years ago, leaving only her and Old Turner to rely on each other. Plus, Old Turner is extremely socially anxious, and Ethan Turner is very considerate—she never made him worry about extra things, not even letting him attend parent-teacher meetings.

When Ethan Turner's mom was still around, Ethan Turner was actually even more spoiled than Emily Carter—a little princess who loved to cry. Old Turner used to say that while other people's daughters were made of water, his was made of a faucet—once she started crying, she couldn't stop.

Now, even though Ethan Turner has become much more cheerful and outgoing, and even talks a lot, she doesn't cry anymore, nor does she get angry. If she's wrong, she apologizes, and she can't be bothered to argue with anyone—not even when David Hayes treats her like this.

**

"Dad, I went back to school this morning to estimate my score."

Comrade Samuel Turner was cooking in the kitchen, his glasses perched on his shiny forehead, pots and pans clanging noisily. He didn't really hear, and turned around holding a spatula, looking confused. "What did you say? Sun Wukong cried?"

"......"

"Right! Tang Monk was captured by Pigsy!" The old lady playing cards nearby exploded, "Estimate your score! Your ears are worse than mine!"

This time Samuel Turner heard, and turned around with a smile. "How did the exam go?"

"Not bad." Ethan Turner was playing cards on her phone with her grandma.

Samuel Turner made a sound of acknowledgment. "What about Little Carter? How did Little Carter do?"

The old lady played a pair of twos. Ethan Turner, head down, was debating whether to play a bomb. After a while, she replied:

"You sure care a lot about Little Carter."

Samuel Turner was flipping a potato pancake, not turning his head. "I'm mainly concerned about Director Carter's high blood pressure. He's not as healthy as I am—can't handle the stress."

Hearing this, Ethan Turner looked up from her phone at his busy figure in the kitchen and smiled. "Dad, I used to hate when people asked me what you did for a living, because I found it hard to talk about. But now I think you're great—you're healthy, and you spend a lot of time with me. Little Carter said she didn't even know what her dad looked like when she was little—though maybe that's just because she's face-blind."

Seeing that Samuel Turner was about to get mad, Ethan Turner quickly raised her hand in mock loyalty. "I swear, I absolutely respect every profession in the world, especially urologists."

"Then please respect my razor and stop using it to shave your legs," Samuel Turner replied in a mock-serious tone, glancing back at her. "What are your plans now that the exam's over?"

"I want to get a part-time job," Ethan Turner tilted her head. "I heard your department is looking for someone to collect bed sheets and quilts?"