Chapter 57 Early Exam Test

Chapter 57: An Early Exam

Cheng Feng and Li Anmo asked for time off, making sure to tell the coach they had something to attend to this afternoon and wouldn't make it to practice.

As soon as the bell for the last class of the afternoon rang, Cheng Feng got into the car with Shang Shaohao.

Inside the car, Shang Shaohao was still studying.

He had his notebook open, eyes fixed on the densely packed words, softly reciting them under his breath.

Cheng Feng wasn't idle either, lowering his head to carefully study the mistakes on the test papers, pondering each question one by one.

Suddenly, Shang Shaohao plopped both legs directly onto Cheng Feng's lap.

"Massage," he lazily said.

Cheng Feng had no choice but to put down the test papers and start massaging his legs.

The car drove all the way back to the Shang Family Manor.

After getting out, Cheng Feng followed Shang Shaohao towards the villa where Shang Xu lived.

The path leading to the villa was flanked by neatly trimmed greenery, with clean stone slabs underfoot.

Shang Shaohao tilted his head to look at Cheng Feng.

"Are you nervous?"

Cheng Feng nodded. It was impossible to say he wasn't nervous; in fact, he was even more nervous than the young master beside him. After all, if his performance this time was poor, he was genuinely afraid the eldest young master might give up on him and stop providing support.

Entering the villa's main hall, Cheng Feng saw right away that both the second young lady and the third young master were there.

Two tables were placed in the center of the hall. The tables and their matching chairs were excessively exquisite, with smooth lines and fine materials, clearly worth a fortune.

Cheng Feng instinctively exchanged a glance with Shang Shaohao, surprised to see so many people present.

Shang Xu sat on the sofa, composed and at ease, holding a cup of tea and sipping it quietly.

Seeing the two enter, he lifted his gaze and calmly instructed Butler Liu:

"Have them seated."

It was the third young master, Shang Nanzhou, who handed out the exams.

He looked at the two with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of teasing:

"You two, give it your all. If you don't do well, hmm~"

That drawn-out ending made Cheng Feng's heart tighten sharply. He took a deep breath, accepted the test paper, and immediately lowered his head to start reviewing the questions.

Shang Shaohao rubbed his nose, glanced at the test paper, and couldn't help but sneak a peek towards Cheng Feng's side.

"Tap—"

A crisp tapping sound rang out.

Shang Zixuan, holding a wooden ruler, rapped it on the table and said coldly, "No looking around, no copying, otherwise—"

This remark was clearly aimed at Shang Shaohao.

Shang Shaohao frowned and grumbled:

"Sis, why are you watching me? Do you think I'm the kind of person who would copy someone else's answers?"

Shang Zixuan and Shang Nanzhou nodded in unison.

"Damn," Shang Shaohao cursed under his breath. "You have zero trust in your own younger brother."

At this point, Shang Xu, who had been silent, finally spoke:

"Alright, there are many more exams waiting for you. Begin."

His voice wasn't loud, yet it was full of authority.

Cheng Feng immediately wrote his name on the test paper, then focused entirely on the questions, his hand gripping the pen slightly tighter.

Shang Shaohao, however, scanned the major questions at the back, his whole demeanor visibly deflating, the corner of his mouth twitching. Clearly, there were quite a few questions he couldn't answer.

Shang Nanzhou and Shang Zixuan sat on either side, acting as invigilators.

The living room was so quiet that only the rustling of paper being turned, the faint sound of pen tips scratching across the paper, and occasionally the sound of Shang Shaohao scratching his head and ears in frustration could be heard.

Shang Nanzhou and Shang Zixuan were bored. They huddled together, whispering in voices so low they were almost just breaths.

"Sis, want to go to the pool hall tomorrow night?" Shang Nanzhou asked, tilting his head.

Shang Zixuan propped her cheek with one hand, but her gaze fell on Cheng Feng's face, which was focused and almost tense. After a few seconds, she slowly replied in a low voice:

"Brother, don't you think... Cheng Feng is really good-looking?"

Shang Nanzhou rolled his eyes and whispered a retort:

"Sis, get a grip. He's just a caretaker. People of our status can't be with someone like him. You'd better give up that idea early. It's simply impossible between you two. Besides, you already have an arranged marriage and a fiancé. Why are you thinking about other guys?"

"Tsk—" Shang Zixuan curled her lip disdainfully. "What do you mean 'thinking about'? Everyone appreciates beauty. I'm just saying he's good-looking, not that I want to date him. Why are you so sensitive?"

"Wasn't it because you almost eloped with someone before?" Shang Nanzhou immediately dragged up old history. "You were so young, daring to run off with a boy your age? Were you trying to give Mom and Dad a heart attack?"

"I admired him, I didn't like him!" Shang Zixuan bristled a little. "You're so annoying!"

"Sis, if you appreciate beauty, isn't our eldest brother good-looking?"

"Our brother is a top-tier handsome guy. Almost all the girls at his school like him. A bunch of people are into him, even guys. Isn't he handsome? Just look at Big Brother, why stare at someone else?"

"Look? I've been looking for years, I'm sick of it by now," Shang Zixuan calmly rebutted. "Besides, no matter how good-looking our brother is, I can't have that kind of relationship with him. Mom and Dad would definitely kill me then."

Shang Nanzhou was speechless: "Sis, I really don't understand what you're thinking."

Shang Zixuan also didn't understand what Shang Nanzhou was thinking. How did her looking at a guy a few more times turn into love in his eyes?

This damn brother with his romance-obsessed brain.

Just as the two were whispering, a cool voice suddenly sounded above their heads:

"You two, are you here to chat or to invigilate?"

Shang Xu had somehow walked up to them without them noticing.

Shang Nanzhou and Shang Zixuan immediately snapped to attention like students caught misbehaving and dutifully looked over at Cheng Feng and Shang Shaohao, who were taking their test.

The living room went quiet again, leaving only the scratch of pens on paper and the occasional light sound of pages being turned.

An hour and a half flew by.

Cheng Feng was the first to finish the exam. After checking it over, he put down his pen, stood up, and prepared to turn in his exam.

Shang Shaohao, leaving the ones he couldn't do blank, also turned in his paper.

Just then, Butler Liu glanced at the time.

"Let's eat first and continue the test after."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion came from outside the door.

Master Shang was here.

Shang Xu, Shang Nanzhou, Shang Zixuan, and Shang Shaohao all immediately stood up and called out in unison, "Dad."

Shang Xu stepped forward, slightly frowning.

"Dad, what brings you here?"

Master Shang smiled and waved his hand. "I heard you were all gathered here. Since it's so lively, of course I wanted to join in the fun. What's going on?"

Shang Zixuan immediately ran over, hooked her arm through his, and said with a grin, "Dad, Shang Shaohao and Cheng Feng are taking exams—a practice test to see where they stand."

"Oh?" Master Shang's gaze immediately fell upon Shang Shaohao upon hearing this.

Shang Shaohao chuckled, instantly shedding his usual sickly, irritable, and lazy demeanor. A guileless, charming look appeared on his face, looking well-behaved and cute.

Master Shang then looked toward Cheng Feng.

The moment Master Shang entered, Cheng Feng had already stood up straight alongside the other servants, slightly lowering his head, not daring to look around.

Master Shang gave him a once-over, a slight smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Bring me Shao Hao's and Cheng Feng's test papers to look at."

"Aiya—" Shang Shaohao immediately exclaimed dramatically, clutching his stomach. "Dad, you haven't eaten yet, have you? Why don't we eat at Big Brother's place? I'm starving! Let's eat first!"

His little scheme was far from fooling Master Shang.

However, Master Shang didn't expose him. He just glanced at him and went along with it, instructing,

"Then let's have the meal first."

Soon, the servants brought out the long-prepared dishes.

Over thirty dishes were laid out on the dining table, a perfect balance of meat and vegetables, each appealing in color, aroma, and taste—an extremely lavish spread.

Master Shang took his seat at the head of the table. Shang Xu sat on one side of him, Shang Zixuan on the other, with Shang Shaohao and Shang Nanzhou seated further down.

The servants bustled back and forth. Cheng Feng also helped, alongside Butler Liu, carrying dishes and setting out bowls.

Once everyone was seated, Master Shang picked up his chopsticks first, and only then did the others follow suit.