“Well, Xiao Jiu can play for a couple of days, but then he needs to start on his homework. The college entrance exam is getting closer, so we can’t let him relax too much.”
“Xiao Jiu’s grades are stable and excellent. Getting into university won’t be hard for him. Don’t put too much pressure on him—it’s not like he *has* to get into the same university we attended.”
Hai Tong still remembered the pressure she faced in high school. It wasn’t as intense as what Zhan Yan might be experiencing now. Her older sister’s only expectation was for her to do her best, accepting whatever results came.
Of course, getting into a 985 university would’ve been ideal. If not a 985, a Tier 1 university was fine too. And if that didn’t work out, a Tier 2, a junior college, or even repeating a year—her sister could accept it all.
Her sister had said that as long as she stayed physically and mentally healthy through those three grueling high school years, she’d already surpassed many others.
Plenty of people buckled under academic pressure, falling into depression. Some couldn’t cope and dropped out to recover, while the worst cases turned to self-harm or even ended their lives by jumping off buildings.
Her sister feared she’d succumb to depression from the stress, so she’d reassured her with those words: no matter the outcome, surviving high school with her health intact was victory enough.
In the end, Hai Tong didn’t make it to a 985, but she got into a solid Tier 1 university. Both she and her sister were satisfied.
Did she have regrets?
Hai Tong did, a little. She’d been just a few points shy of a 985. But that was her limit, and she eventually made peace with it. Her college entrance exam score was the best she’d ever achieved in her three years of high school.
Her sister said she’d performed exceptionally under pressure. In middle school, her best result came during the entrance exam. In high school, it was the college entrance exam. She’d been lucky.
When her middle school and high school exam results came out, her homeroom teachers were shocked. They hadn’t expected her to score so well.
Zhan Yan’s grades now far outshone hers back then. Hai Tong felt confident he could get into a 985 without issue. Of course, his goal was the top university—the same one she’d never aimed for.
“We’re not the ones pressuring Xiao Jiu. He’s putting it on himself. You don’t need to worry about him. If he can’t handle this little bit of stress, what’s he going to do in the future? Once he steps into the real world, he’ll realize studying was the easiest part.”
“The adult world is full of all kinds of pressures. *That’s* real stress.”
Even with their family’s wealth and companies, being a boss came with its own burdens. Every day started with a list of expenses.
Workers just did their jobs and waited for their paychecks.
Bosses had to worry about no business, unpaid invoices, or a broken cash flow. The bigger the company, the greater the pressure. Salaries were just a small fraction of it.
Hai Tong, now a business owner herself, understood this. She had it easier, though—three partners shared the risks and stress, lightening the load.
“Xiao Jiu’s resilience is strong. No need to worry. From the moment he could understand, he knew he had eight older brothers above him, all exceptional. He’s been compared to them since he was little. If he didn’t have a tough spirit, he’d have collapsed ten thousand times by now.”
Zhan Yin had faith in his youngest cousin. He believed Xiao Jiu could handle the pressure of studying and was certain he’d get into the same university all eight brothers had attended after the exam.
The Zhan family’s sons never fell short.
A good family breeds good men!
“Even when he starts his homework, we’ll make sure he gets time to relax.”
Hai Tong smiled, “He’s your little brother. You know him better and care for him more than I do. Hearing you say this puts my mind at ease. I won’t meddle.”
Unless Xiao Jiu came begging for her help, she, as the eldest sister-in-law, would only step in then to shield him.
“Ring, ring, ring…”
As they stepped into the pavilion, Zhan Yin’s phone rang.
He pulled it out and checked—Zhan Yiyang calling.
“Old Four’s on the line. Probably nothing good.”
Zhan Yin muttered under his breath.
Lately, he’d grown wary of his brothers’ calls. They only reached out when they needed something from him.
Hai Tong sat at the stone table. Zhan Yin instinctively placed a hand in front of her stomach, protecting her from accidentally bumping into the table as she sat.
This small, natural gesture caught Cheng Qin’s eye. She whispered to the man beside her, “Young Master Zhan is genuinely attentive and caring toward Hai Tong.”
