I'm the demise's white moonlight of the bigshot - Chapter 66-Part 1
Chapter 66-Part 1
The air briefly froze, then quickly filled with awkwardness. Fortunately, everyone present was used to such scenes, and after a few seconds, someone began to laugh.
Ji Qingli glanced at Ji Ran and whispered, “Ranran, don’t be mischievous.”
His expression was somewhat helpless, but he wasn’t angry.
In his view, Ji Ran was merely being playful.
However, when Ji Ran mentioned scoring first in the city in the final exams, Ji Qingli couldn’t help but glance at Shen Zhi.
Unexpectedly, Shen Jiming’s son turned out to be quite impressive.
At that moment, Old Master Shen, after hearing the conversation, waved his hand and laughed heartily, “Qingli, don’t scold the child. It shows that Ranran is very ambitious!”
He turned to Shen Zhi, his expression filled with satisfaction, nodding approvingly.
“They used to say that ‘a bright youth may not become a great adult,’ but Grandpa has always believed in you.”
Old Master Shen’s words were filled with deeper meaning, and given that he said this in public, it went beyond mere praise.
Previously, Shen Zhi had displayed arrogance at school, even getting into fights, and the other two branches of the Shen family had not hesitated to complain to the Old Master.
They even used phrases like “wasting one’s talent.”
Even Shen Jiming couldn’t explain Shen Zhi’s behavior, as his poor grades were undeniable.
He couldn’t just tell people that Shen Zhi was intelligent but simply didn’t want to study.
At the start of this semester, Shen Zhi was still ranked last in his grade in the first monthly exam.
However, to everyone’s surprise, in both the midterm and final exams, he consistently ranked first.
Even Shen Jiming couldn’t help but feel proud; such a performance could certainly be called that of a prodigy.
Eager to seize the moment, Shen Jiming spoke up, “Father, Ah Zhi has indeed matured a lot this semester. He has ranked first in his grade in every exam.”
Shen Zhi frowned slightly.
The reason he was willing to do well in exams was because of Ji Ran, not to give Shen Jiming an opportunity to boast in front of the Old Master.
To him, Shen Jiming’s behavior was repulsive.
However, it seemed that others shared his feelings toward Shen Jiming.
Shen Min, who had been standing beside her parents, accompanying her grandfather, had initially felt surprised when her third uncle brought this father-daughter pair to wish the Old Master a happy birthday, only to hear such a conversation unfold.
Having spent years studying abroad, Shen Min wasn’t well-informed about what had been happening back home and had assumed that Shen Zhi was still the troublemaker he’d been before.
“It’s just exam results—what’s the big deal? Is it really worth bragging about?” Shen Min muttered, unable to hold back.
After all, since Shen Zhi had returned to the Shen family, he had always carried the air of a child prodigy.
Studying came as easily to him as drinking water.
Participating in math competitions but not winning a gold medal was considered an underperformance for him.
Their third uncle had even once considered accepting a special offer from a youth class at a university for Shen Zhi, but the Old Master refused, believing that children shouldn’t grow up too quickly and that progressing step by step was perfectly fine.
Shen Zhi was so dazzling, like a blazing sun hanging over the Shen family, casting his siblings into the shadows.
At first, Shen Min and the others had been pleased by Shen Zhi’s decline, thinking how wonderful it was that he was no longer the brilliant young man they had once had to look up to.
But now, the situation seemed to be reversing once again.
Shen Min couldn’t help but make a few sour remarks.
Her mother shot her a glance and lightly tugged her arm, signaling her to remain silent.
However, Ji Ran overheard her words.
She shot a sideways glance at Shen Min, instantly recognizing her as the person who had badmouthed Shen Zhi in the bathroom earlier.
Convenient—now she didn’t have to go looking for her.
Ji Ran’s appearance was naturally deceiving—sweet and innocent.
Especially today, dressed in a sweet, charming style, she looked like a lively, pretty fairy.
She tilted her head slightly, gazing at Shen Min across from her, her lips curving into a slight smile as she spoke, “Yes, academic performance isn’t that big of a deal. I didn’t think much of it either. But no matter how hard I tried, I still couldn’t outdo Shen Zhi. He was first in the midterms, and before the finals, I studied until midnight every night, but I still couldn’t surpass him.”
She frowned slightly, looking troubled.
It was as if she was saying, “What can I do? Shen Zhi is just that amazing.”
Shen Zhi, standing nearby, tilted his head slightly, his gaze falling softly on her, his eyes filled with warmth.
How could he not understand her intention? Though she seemed to express annoyance with him, her words were all praises.
This girl—was she a graduate of the acting school?
Still, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, and his previously irritated mood inexplicably eased.
A sense of indescribable joy welled up within him.
He had always known that Ji Ran was fiercely protective of him.
Anytime someone said something bad about him, she would get upset.
Shen Min’s words were nothing new to him; during middle school, when he was still in junior high, Shen Min and her peers, who were in high school, were constantly overshadowed by him.
Even the elders at home had urged them to look up to Shen Zhi as a role model.
“This sister must have great grades too. Someone who speaks so confidently must have the ability to back it up,” Ji Ran said with a sweet smile, batting her long lashes like a doll.
Her voice was soft, her tone admiring, with no hint of sarcasm.
But the more sincere she appeared, the more embarrassed Shen Min felt.
Why was Shen Zhi always held up as a benchmark?
It was only because they were so useless themselves.
Shen Min was currently attending university abroad, and while it wasn’t a diploma mill, it was still a well-known school.
But everyone in the family knew how she got into that university—her father had spent a large sum of money, using the loopholes in the foreign admissions system to secure her spot.
However, getting in was easy; graduating was another story.
Now in her third year, Shen Min faced multiple failed courses and retakes.
She didn’t dare tell her family, fearing they would be disappointed.
But as graduation loomed, her anxiety deepened.
Ji Ran’s comments only made her feel more guilty.
Shen Jiming glanced at Shen Min and sneered.
If he weren’t an uncle, he would have said something harsher.
Shen Min’s grades had always been shockingly bad, yet here she was, still having the audacity to dismiss exam results.
Old Master Shen nodded slightly at her words and remarked calmly, “Indeed, exam results aren’t everything, but as high school students, isn’t your focus on academics? I must say, Ranran is quite driven. But don’t stay up too late studying, kids.”
“Grandpa, it’s all Shen Zhi’s fault. He keeps scoring above 700 points in every exam!” Ji Ran said, her expression one of helplessness, as if she were saying, “I’m helpless too; I don’t want to do this either.”
But Shen Zhi is too powerful; what can I do?
Old Master Shen was thoroughly amused by her, laughing heartily as he looked at Ji Ran. “Then give Grandpa some face and don’t argue with Shen Zhi anymore.”
Ji Ran glanced at Shen Zhi, then back at the Old Master, nodding obediently. “Alright, today is your birthday, Grandpa. Whatever you say goes.”
Ji Ran’s clever and sweet behavior made Old Master Shen like her even more.
As a result, he suggested, “In that case, would you be willing to open the dance with Shen Zhi at Grandpa’s birthday banquet?”
As soon as he said this, the expressions of those around them subtly changed.
