Guardian Chapter 7: Estimating Grades

 

Chapter 7 Estimating Grades

The custody dispute that had tormented Yu Shulin for years in his previous life was resolved with surprising simplicity. Ling Chun could handle the remaining minor matters alone. To avoid Yu Xiu, whose emotions were somewhat unhinged, He Long took Yu Shulin to a nearby restaurant to discuss matters over a meal.

Several years behind bars had left their mark on Yu Shulin. He ate swiftly, though not unpleasantly, though his movements seemed a touch too stiffly formal.

He Long observed him for a while, somewhat puzzled. Yu Shulin, sensing the gaze, paused mid-bite. Swallowing the food in his mouth, he said, “Thank you for today.”

“You're welcome.” He Long withdrew his gaze and broached another subject: “What are you planning to do about the accident compensation your uncle spent?”

“Nothing much. He'll just have to repay it according to the rules.” Yu Shulin didn't wish to discuss Yu Xiu further. After answering, he swiftly finished the last mouthful in his bowl, set down his chopsticks, and dabbed his mouth with a napkin, signalling he was done.

He Long glanced at his empty bowl and hastened his own eating. “Wait a moment. I'll see you home after you finish.”

Neither man was particularly talkative, and an awkward silence settled over them. After dropping him off, He Long observed Yu Shulin, head bowed, looking rather subdued. Frowning slightly, he retrieved something he'd prepared beforehand and handed it over. “If anything comes up, give me a call. Here, take this.”

Yu Shulin took the bag and asked, “What's this?”

“A mobile phone.”

“...Thank you.”

He Long glanced at his slender shoulders, his voice softening involuntarily. “I'll leave now then. Once you've sorted your things, give me a call. I'll pick you up and take you to the hotel.”

Yu Shulin nodded obediently.

After seeing He Long off, he swiftly shut the door, stumbled into the living room, and collapsed onto the sofa. He pulled the new mobile from the bag and fiddled with it. His mind churned for a moment, suddenly feeling rather lost—he’d escaped Yu Xiu, only to choose a complete stranger, Liang Zhou. He couldn’t tell if this choice was right.

Recalling the wretched existence of his previous life, he gave a self-deprecating chuckle. Rolling over, he buried himself in the cushions and sighed. Well, whatever the outcome, it couldn't possibly be worse than his last life. Besides, though mobile phones were commonplace these days, few parents would provide them for children. That He Long had simply offered to give him one suggested his current guardian was fairly well-off... Surely he wouldn't be scheming to take advantage of him like Yu Xiu had?

The heavy weight pressing on his chest vanished abruptly. His taut nerves suddenly relaxed, and drowsiness began to overtake him.

This time around, he should be able to study with peace of mind and get into a university he liked... It felt like he was forgetting something... Ah well, never mind. If he couldn't remember, he wouldn't dwell on it.

As it turned out, some things weren't so easily forgotten. When the call from his form teacher came through, Yu Shulin finally grasped the stark reality: he had reincarnated back to the age of fifteen.

Fifteen years old, just after finishing his secondary school entrance exams.

T

The timing of his rebirth was utterly cruel—it happened right in the examination hall during his final paper. At first, he’d thought he was dreaming, sitting dumbly at his desk doing nothing. By the time he realised everything around him was real, the exam had entered its final ten minutes.

Recalling that starkly blank exam paper, he buried his face in his hands, overcome with despair. After wrestling with himself and repeatedly urging himself onward, he steeled himself to rise and head to school to compare answers.

Yes, that's right—to compare answers!

The day after the secondary school entrance exams concluded, newspapers printed with all the answers would be distributed. The form tutor, acting responsibly, would summon the students back to school for a collective answer-checking session. This allowed for a detailed estimation of scores and discussions about school choices with the pupils.

In his previous life, he’d hazily missed this opportunity. But this time around… this time, he wouldn’t escape it.

...Heaven only knows how many years it had been since he'd touched a textbook or exam paper.

A true warrior faces his dismal exam results head-on. Before the age of fifteen, Yu Shulin had been an exemplary student. After fifteen, however... well.

Form tutor Hu Jun clutched the estimated subject scores, his hand trembling slightly, the crease between his brows deep enough to trap a fly.

“Er, Shulin…”

He straightened his back, his expression composed, though his heart fluttered slightly as he looked up and replied obediently, “Please speak plainly, Mr Hu. I... can handle it.”

Hu Jun studied the gauntness of his face, considering his family circumstances, and found himself utterly unable to voice any reproach. Finally, he could only sigh and speak with resignation: “Shulin, your English and science exam results... these marks…”

“I'm sorry.” He bowed his head, meekly admitting his fault. Having no recollection whatsoever of the exam questions, he'd estimated his marks based on his scores from his previous life. Given he'd handed in a blank paper for the final paper, his estimated results were... even lower than those from his past life.

Scores worse than those of the academic failure he’d been in his previous life—one could imagine how utterly dreadful they must be. No wonder the form tutor looked as though he’d been struck dumb, his expression screaming, ‘These marks defy logic. I’m having a heart attack.’

Seeing him so docile, Hu Jun found himself at a loss for words. Shaking his head, he set down the score sheet. After a long, hesitant pause, he said, “Shulin, with this score, getting into a decent high school will be difficult. Your foundation is sound; you just didn't perform well this time. How about... how about we try again next year? If you're willing, I'll still teach you during that repeat year.”

“Thank you for your kindness, Teacher Hu, but repeating the year... I likely won't need it.” A faint warmth touched Yu Shulin's heart, and an involuntary smile graced his face, accentuating his delicate features and making him appear all the more approachable. “My current guardian is from City B. Soon, I'll be leaving here to travel there. Whether I repeat the year or proceed directly to high school will depend on his opinion. Rest assured, Sir, I won't neglect my studies.”

Hu Jun's expression softened slightly as he nodded. “I see. But does your uncle currently live in City B? I've never heard of this before.”

Yu Shulin's smile faded a little. Thoughts raced through his mind before he settled on a sorrowful expression. Lowering his head, he replied: “Not my uncle. My current guardian is my elder brother.”

“Brother? What happened?” Hu Jun frowned. “Weren't you an only child? Has some change occurred?” He considered himself reasonably familiar with this student. He'd met Yu Xiu several times; the lad seemed decent enough. How had his guardian suddenly become someone else?

“My uncle... he used the accident compensation money from my mother to buy a car…” He glanced up at Hu Jun, then lowered his head again, his fingers twisting the newspaper used for marking exams with a nervous intensity, knuckles turning white. “Everyone says he only got close to me for the money. I didn't know... But he did use my mother’s accident compensation. That money was paid for with her life. I’m furious, but he’s my uncle. I don’t know what to do…”

“What?!” A lifetime of teaching and nurturing had instilled firm principles in Teacher Hu. This revelation left him momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, he turned to the boy with a hint of urgency in his voice. “Is this all true? Are you certain?”

“Mhm.” He lowered his eyes, concealing the flicker of calculation in his gaze, his voice still hushed. “I didn't believe it at first either, but the lawyer's accounts simply didn't add up. My uncle couldn't produce that money…”

“This... this... he's worse than a beast!” Hu Jun slammed his fist on the table, his face flushing crimson with fury. His heart ached for the hardships his student had endured. “I thought he was decent, but to think... he's utterly devoid of decency, a heart of stone!”

 

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