Top Student at Their Peak

However, thinking that Keke might be with Qiao Xi, Qiao Yu felt that his judgment might not be wrong, and unconsciously quickened his pace a bit.

...

Qiao Yu's judgment was indeed correct.

In the warm two-bedroom apartment, Keke was sitting with Qiao Xi in front of the TV, just like in Star City, chatting while watching a boring soap opera.

Mainly it was Keke talking, and Qiao Xi listening.

Actually, it's been like this since they were little. Compared to Liu Lu and Old Xia, Keke preferred to share her little girl secrets with Qiao Xi.

This might have something to do with Old Xia's family's unique work situation. When they had free time, Keke had to be at school, doing homework. Even on weekends, they might not be home.

When Keke had her winter and summer vacations, they would be too busy to take off. This is why every winter and summer, Keke would always follow Qiao Yu around to have fun.

The two little ones would be tired from playing during the day, and Keke never wanted to go to her grandparents' houses, so she would just sleep at the Qiao Family's house.

There's no helping it, without their parents around, the gap between children and the elderly is too wide to fathom.

So in this respect, ever since they were young, Qiao Xi, who never had a job, spent more time with Keke.

Even Qiao Yu's grandfather took Keke and Qiao Yu out to play more often than Old Xia and his wife did.

The phone vibrated, Keke took it out to check, and immediately her previously excited little face turned sour.

"Oh no, Auntie, does Qiao Yu know I'm here?"

"Oh? Let me see what he said?"

Qiao Xi reached out for the phone and glanced at it, then pouted and said, "Silly girl, he's bluffing you."

Then Qiao Yu sent a video request, and Qiao Xi just tossed the phone aside.

Keke glanced at the phone that kept ringing and subconsciously asked, "Bluffing me?"

"Of course! I went with the people Elder Yuan arranged to pick you up, why would I be so bored to tell Qiao Yu? As for Quan Huaqing being his spy, do you really believe that? He's bluffing!"

Qiao Xi said disdainfully, then earnestly added, "Now that you're all grown up, you need to have your own opinions. Don't always listen to that kid Qiao Yu's bluffs. Just follow what we discussed earlier, and leave the rest to me."

"Oh." Keke suddenly became sullen, murmuring in low spirits.

"What's wrong? Just got bluffed by him, and you're upset?" Qiao Xi asked with a smile.

Keke shook her head, saying wistfully, "No, I just feel that the gap between me and Qiao Yu is getting bigger and bigger. Back in junior high when he was in class thirteen, I thought we'd definitely end up together. But now I'm getting more uncertain."

Qiao Xi uncharacteristically sat up straight, saying, "It's not right to think that way. What's this about the gap getting bigger? When it comes to feelings, what's the gap?

And besides, don't you know Qiao Yu? That kid is typically warm on the outside but cold on the inside. He seems friendly to everyone, but genuinely cares for only a few. It's tough to really get into his heart!

At least in this regard, you're definitely unbeatable. Qiao Yu has been protecting you since childhood; he's truly good to you. Not to mention, you two have been partners in mischief since you were kids!

As you said, when you had dreams as a kid, Qiao Yu would make them come true. Who else has that privilege? Even now, I haven't seen him genuinely care for many people.

So, don't be discouraged. I'm counting on you to keep that brat in check for me! If one day I'm not around, without anyone to rein him in, I'm really afraid he might make a huge mess."

Qiao Xi said the last sentence very seriously; she genuinely worried about this...

Principal Zhang, Tian Yanzhen, and Elder Yuan, through their rich life experiences, noticed that there might be some unsatisfactory aspects in Qiao Yu's character.

But Qiao Xi is the one who understands Qiao Yu the most.

It was like when Keke previously recounted some incidents to her, she actually knew about them and even understood the details better than Keke.

Especially the time when Qiao Yu sought revenge against a classmate's father.

He deliberately placed a piece of jagged stone on the roadside. If it weren't for the fact that those executing the plan were just kids and couldn't follow Qiao Yu's plan perfectly, if that stone had really hit the mark, the person might not have survived...

Qiao Xi still remembers asking Qiao Yu if he wasn't afraid of causing a big incident, what if it really resulted in someone's death?

Qiao Yu nonchalantly replied with, "That just means he's done a lot of bad things, so even the heavens can't stand it. What's it got to do with me?"

That day was the only time in her life that Qiao Xi hit Qiao Yu...

Yes, Qiao Yu only got beaten up that one time. That day, she was so tired from hitting him that she developed a throbbing headache, and had to stop because she couldn't keep going. It was only then that Qiao Yu started to cry.

But how effective it was, Qiao Xi wasn't sure. Even if from that day onwards, Qiao Yu started becoming very friendly to everyone around him.

But Qiao Xi knew very well that it was all an act by that kid, and if he ever did something like that again, he would hide it from her and not tell her at all. She also knew that the kid wasn't afraid of getting beaten up; he was simply afraid of her getting a headache again.

What can I say? Having a son like Qiao Yu is indeed quite something. But that innate coldness he has towards others can be quite frightening. Without a strong heart, one could be in constant fear and anxiety.

After all, with Qiao Yu's nature, he'd either not cause any trouble, or any trouble he caused would be big. But these things, Qiao Xi couldn't tell Keke.