The Stepmother’s Counterattack: Raising a Child in a Bygone Era
Chapter 740 - 739: Number One in the Art Exam

Chapter 740: Chapter 739: Number One in the Art Exam

Pei Wenping scoffed, "Unwilling to split? Then make a fuss! You’re young, can’t you wear down those two old geezers? Just remember this, ’Life is short, if you can’t beat them, fight back! Whoever makes your life miserable, don’t let them have it easy either!’"

The usually gentle Pei Qiuxia, seduced by Pei Wenping’s earnest advices, went down the path of fierceness and never returned.

...

It was noon, school had just let out.

Ren Jingshu and two of her dorm mates went back to their room to grab their lunch boxes when the dorm supervisor called out to her:

"Ren Jingshu, you have a registered letter."

"Jingshu, who sent you a registered letter?"

After Ren Jingshu signed for it and before she even had the chance to open it, Lin Ping and Xu Haining crowded around her, curious.

Since the water-splashing incident last year, the other five roommates, under Ren Jingshu’s scheming, had split into two factions.

One of the factions included Lin Ping and Xu Haining.

With Ren Jingshu’s deliberate influence, the three became fairly good friends.

On one hand, she didn’t want to be left isolated and unsupported; on the other, it was all part of the show.

The closer she got to Lin Ping, the more she convinced Hu Shuangyan that Lin Ping was the "informant," eliminating the possibility of the five reconciling and causing trouble.

"It’s probably the notification of my art exam results."

Judging by the stamp on the envelope, Ren Jingshu couldn’t hide her joy but did not immediately open the letter to check the result, instead waiting until she was back in the dorm.

Lin Ping and Xu Haining, one on each side of her, were more tense than Ren Jingshu, the person involved.

"Wow, you passed!"

"And you’re the top rank in your major! Jingshu, you’re really amazing!"

Lin Ping and Xu Haining were especially excited when they saw the result on the notification.

Ren Jingshu was also surprised.

Although she was confident about passing the art exam, she hadn’t expected to achieve the top score.

The Capital Dance Academy was a leading institution in the country, with candidates from all over vying for admission; being first had a worth not much less than the entire national dance competition.

"I’ll treat you two to something, what do you want to eat? I’ll bring it back for you this evening."

When they heard that Ren Jingshu was offering a treat, Lin Ping and Xu Haining couldn’t help but cheer and jump for joy.

At that moment, the other faction members, Hu Shuangyan, Yang Meiling, and Xia Li, also returned to the dorm.

Upon learning about Ren Jingshu’s first place in the art exam, although Yang Meiling and Xia Li didn’t say much, the envy in their eyes was unmistakable.

Ren Jingshu, being an art student, knew that art schools weren’t strict with academic grades; passing the art exam practically sealed her college admission, unlike them, who still had to struggle through the college entrance exams in July.

Hu Shuangyan was envious too, but she couldn’t stand to see Ren Jingshu doing well.

As the mastermind behind the water-splashing incident, she was the one in the dorm who clashed the most with Ren Jingshu.

"Some people might be celebrating too soon. With a record of impersonation, which good school would accept a student with such a tarnished reputation?"

The joyous mood froze with Hu Shuangyan’s sarcastic remark.

Everyone’s eyes turned to Ren Jingshu, filled with pity, sympathy, and schadenfreude.

However, Ren Jingshu remained as calm as if nothing had happened, picked up her lunch box and meal ticket, and said to Lin Ping and Xu Haining, "Let’s go eat, or there won’t be any dishes left."

Hearing this, the two hurriedly grabbed their lunch boxes and meal tickets and left the dorm with her.

Once they left, Hu Shuangyan, Yang Meiling, and Xia Li excitedly started discussing the possibility of Ren Jingshu being rejected by the Capital Dance Academy.

On the way to the cafeteria.

Lin Ping and Xu Haining, although also skeptical about whether Ren Jingshu could be admitted to the Capital Dance Academy, spoke comforting words.

"With such excellent professional results, the Capital Dance Academy definitely won’t give up on talented individuals like you."

"Being replaced in the competition isn’t unique to you; it’s just that it isn’t openly discussed."

"Just so."

Ren Jingshu smiled, "Thank you for your comfort. Entering the Capital Dance Academy has been my dream since I was young. If I’m really rejected, I won’t have any regrets because I tried my best. But whether I can get into the Capital Dance Academy or not, I won’t give up dancing."

The sunlight was good, evenly spilling over Ren Jingshu’s clear and unsophisticated face.

She looked like a cold and noble snow lotus about to bloom, born to dwell on the mountaintop, solitary and detached from the world.

...

After school in the afternoon, Ren Jingshu prepared to leave as usual when she encountered her homeroom teacher on her way home for a meal.

"Teacher Fan."

Fan Jingmei looked at her, "The college entrance exam isn’t far off, and since you have already passed the art exams, you should put dance aside for now and focus on your review."

"Teacher Fan, I won’t let my grades slip."

Seeing her stubbornness, Fan Jingmei walked away without saying any more.

From her departing figure, it was apparent that she was somewhat angry at her for not taking the advice.

Ren Jingshu actually understood that the other party meant well, but she had her reasons for needing to go out.

...

At 7 o’clock in the evening, it was the busiest time at Tang Palace Banquet.

Tang Palace Banquet was one of the few upscale restaurants in Fengcheng that featured song and dance performances.

The restaurant’s interior decoration and style were modelled after a Tang Dynasty tavern, with a performance stage set up in the center, and independent private rooms all around, each with carved flower window lattices.

Those who liked the liveliness could push open the carved windows, eating and drinking while watching the song and dance performance.

If one wanted a quiet meal to talk business, closing the windows would provide a tranquil space.

Inside Bright Moon Pavilion.

Two middle-aged men pointed at the performer dancing the Nishang Dance on stage and whispered to each other:

"Look, doesn’t the girl dancing down there look like President Ren’s eldest daughter?"

The other man narrowed his eyes and watched the girl’s graceful waist for a long time, "It really is her, at Old Master Ren’s birthday last year, she even performed a dance on the spot!"

Once their guess was confirmed, they cast a meaningful glance toward Ren Pingsheng, who was toasting with others at the head table.

Daughter on stage playing the entertainer, yet the father could still sit there jovially discussing and joking around.

After someone pointed it out, Ren Pingsheng also recognized that the dancer on stage was his stepdaughter, Ren Jingshu.

Although everyone praised Ren Jingshu’s talent and her dancing,

For the well-known Ren Pingsheng, each of those praises felt like a slap to his face.

His prestigious Ren Family certainly didn’t need his daughter to flaunt herself like this!

The performance ended.

Ren Jingshu came off stage and headed toward the dressing room when she was stopped by a livid Ren Pingsheng.

"Does the Ren Family lack food or clothes for you, that you need to come to this sort of place to make a spectacle of yourself?!"

As soon as they met, he unleashed a torrent of scolding.

At home, Ren Pingsheng rarely lost his temper with her, after all, she was only his stepdaughter, and he feared being too strict might tarnish his reputation for mistreating her.

His anger now was because Ren Jingshu’s actions had caused him substantial embarrassment.

"Dad, I come here to dance, and just like the other employees in the restaurant, I earn money through labor. I don’t think there’s anything shameful about it."

Ren Jingshu’s explanation, in Ren Pingsheng’s eyes, was simply obstinate.

His rage was uncontrollable, "There’s a limit to willfulness. The Ren Family paid for your education, for your dance lessons, in hopes that you would succeed, not bring shame upon the Ren Family. Go home immediately!"