The tension between Yuanying and her father, Chi Yuantian, was still palpable, even across the school grounds.
Earlier that morning, Huaijin had seen Yuantian drop Yuanying off. He had merely given her a curt nod and a stiff, "Ensure your performance today reflects the Chi standard," before driving off.
Yuanying hadn't even looked upset; she simply looked resigned, used to the lack of direct affection.
The hours crawled by until the final period in the Homeroom. Huaijin's teacher, a cheerfully exhausted young woman named Ms. Li, clapped her hands together with excessive enthusiasm.
"Alright, my little scholars! Listen up, because I have fantastic news!" Ms. Li declared, her voice ringing with the promise of something truly exciting.
Huaijin, ever the pragmatist, immediately braced herself for a new, mandatory logic competition.
