Chapter 108: About to be Promoted
Luo Fei had experienced Wu Yan's temper firsthand, and he didn't dare provoke her at times like this.
With no hope for rescue, Luo Xiaoxiao was hesitating about whether to tell a lie to get by when Wu Yan said, "If you don't tell me, I'll ask your homeroom teacher myself tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Luo Xiaoxiao panicked.
Wu Yan helped out in the cafeteria of the junior high department, so normally it was very easy for her to meet Luo Xiaoxiao's homeroom teacher. The chances of a lie being exposed were too high, and Luo Xiaoxiao didn't dare take that risk.
With no other option, the little girl grudgingly admitted that she had messed up the exam.
However, she was careful not to mention the need to bring in a parent.
Not only that, she secretly put her hands together in a praying gesture towards Luo Fei, signaling him not to reveal her secret.
Seeing her pitiful look, Luo Fei couldn't betray her and pretended not to know anything.
Compared to the relatively mischievous Luo Hao, Luo Xiaoxiao was much more obedient and considerate, and her grades were usually good, rarely causing Wu Yan concern.
So when she heard that Luo Xiaoxiao had performed poorly, Wu Yan was both anxious and angry.
"Luo Xiaoxiao, what's the matter with you? Last semester you were in the top five of the class, and now you've dropped to fifteenth? Did you treat my regular reminders as mere noise?"
"Mom, don't be mad. You know I had a cold recently, that's why I didn't do well. I promise to get good grades at the end of the semester, so please don't scold me, okay?"
A few days ago, Luo Xiaoxiao had a severe cold and fever, which Wu Yan was certainly aware of.
Upon hearing this, her anger somewhat subsided, but she was still a bit suspicious, "Even with a cold, why did the performance drop so much? Aren't you just lying and pretending not to pay attention in class?"
"Mom, how could I dare to lie to you? It's really just the cold medicine making me sleepy, leading to a lack of concentration."
"Alright, I'll trust you this time, but if your final exams are the same, see how I'll deal with you!"
After reprimanding her daughter, Wu Yan turned to Luo Hao, "And what about you, Luo Hao? How did you do?"
Still gloating over his sister's misfortune, Luo Hao was suddenly startled and couldn't laugh anymore.
How did the focus turn to him now?
"Same as always, Mom, don't ask anymore. Let's quickly eat, or the dishes will get cold."
"Stop diverting the topic, just say it!"
Wu Yan slapped the table, startling Luo Hao who had to meekly confess, "Ranked 359th out of the entire school."
"What!" Wu Yan exploded instantly.
"Luo Hao, there are only over four hundred students in your freshman year, and you actually ranked 360th?"
"Mom, it's the 359th!"
"What's the difference between 359 and 360? What's going on with you? You managed to be ranked 290 last semester, and this time you fell so much?"
"Well, I was actually a bit sick during the exam days too, maybe I caught it from Luo Xiaoxiao!"
"You dare lie? You're running around playing basketball all day, looking anything but sick!"
The more Wu Yan spoke, the angrier she got. She quickly grabbed a clothes hanger from the shelf beside her.
Seeing her stance, Luo Hao was so frightened he jumped from his chair, "Mom, Mom, I was wrong, I promise I'll study well from now on and strive for good grades at the end of the semester, alright?"
"You said the same thing last year, and what happened? I think you're just asking for a beating!"
"Mom, I was wrong, brother, help me..."
Amidst cries and screams, Luo Hao received several solid hits.
After a few strikes, Wu Yan's anger subsided a bit.
She threw the hanger back on the sofa and angrily said, "From now on, no going out to play basketball in the afternoons. After school, you come home and study properly, or else I'll have your brother beat you up!"
Having been beaten and lost the privilege of playing basketball, Luo Hao yelled discontentedly, "Mom, you're biased! Luo Xiaoxiao did poorly too, why do you only scold me and not her? You're favoring girls over boys!"
Facing Luo Hao's grievance, Wu Yan replied irritably, "Your sister had reasons, and even if she did poorly, she still managed to be fifteenth in her class and within the top 130 in her grade. What about you?"
"You're the older brother, and you don't study as well as your sister, yet you dare accuse me of being biased?"
"I..."
Luo Hao was tongue-tied, "Forget it, Mom, since you already beat me, you might as well spare some time to visit the school tomorrow."
"What for?"
"The teacher said the bottom ten of the class have to invite their parents. Alright, Mom, I'm full, I'm going back to my room to do homework."
"Bottom ten?! Luo Hao, get back here!"
Wu Yan was genuinely enraged. No wonder he only mentioned his overall school ranking earlier, not daring to say his class ranking.
She felt she hadn't hit hard enough just now and wished she could give him another round.
Unfortunately, Luo Hao had anticipated this, so after speaking, he quickly slipped back to his room.
Wu Yan was seething, but Luo Fei comforted her with a few words, helping her to finally calm down a bit.
Luo Xiaoxiao quietly ate her meal, secretly grateful that she'd been clever enough not to mention the parent invitation, or else she might have been beaten too.
...
At seven thirty in the morning, Luo Fei walked into the office right on time.
He was still thinking about the plans from the previous night, so as soon as he sat down, he found Wang Yong and reviewed the entire file regarding Chen Chahua's disappearance that had been brought back from the Wenshui Town police station.
The result was still no leads, and amidst his frustration, he could only keep thinking through the entire event in his mind, hoping to find something he might have overlooked.
When Wang Yong and the others came in, they saw Luo Fei lost in thought.
"Team leader? Team leader… What are you so engrossed in?"