ushernet Chapter 146 Dragon Travels the World (5)
Chapter 146 Dragon Travels the World (5)
[Ding, Yang Linxin's favorability has decreased by 5, now at 55.]
When the favorability notification sounded, Dong Xiaoli was pouring tea. The sudden notification startled her so much that the teapot in her hand trembled.
It wasn't the inexplicable deduction of five points of goodwill that startled me, but rather the sudden sound that rang out.
[Host, aren't you worried?]
Dong Xiaoli wasn't in a hurry, but Yingying jumped out rather anxiously.
Dong Xiaoli took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Wasn't it just a matter of time before this goodwill dropped?"
【?!】 Yingying looked at Dong Xiaoli with a look of horror, not understanding why she said that.
In Yingying's view, Dong Xiaoli had provided Yang Linxin with food, drink, lodging, and transportation over the past few years, and even paid for his schooling. The money for his county and prefectural examinations was also provided by her host. Not only did Yang Linxin not gain favorability, but he actually lost it!
Dong Xiaoli smiled and gently flicked Yingying before saying, "So... I told you long ago, Yingying, you don't understand feelings."
Yingying covered her head in dissatisfaction and flew around Dong Xiaoli once.
"People aren't machines; favorability ratings can rise and fall," Dong Xiaoli said, carefully examining the pattern on the cup.
[But I just don't understand, you're so good to him, why did his affection level drop?]
"Silly Yingying, am I good to him?" Dong Xiaoli asked with a smile.
Yingying thought for a moment and nodded, saying, "Of course, that's excellent."
Dong Xiaoli continued, "Do I need anything from him?"
Yingying shook her head.
"It's because I'm too good to him," Dong Xiaoli said with a smile and a shake of her head.
I don't understand.
Dong Xiaoli chuckled and said, "This favorability rating hasn't increased for many years after it reached 60, has it?"
"That's right," Yingying muttered somewhat discontentedly.
Dong Xiaoli reached out and patted Yingying's head, saying, "60 is a milestone! You see, I've been too selfless in my love for him. The greatest and most selfless love in this world is the love of parents for their children."
“When I met him, he was only seven years old, and I…” Dong Xiaoli paused for a moment before saying, “I looked about sixteen or seventeen.”
"After spending so much time together, we're not related by blood, but we're closer than family. Over time, we've become like family." Dong Xiaoli smiled slightly and said, "So, losing favor isn't necessarily a bad thing."
When Dong Xiaoli decided to get to know Yang Linxin when he was seven years old, she already knew that one day her favorability towards him would drop.
60就是一个临界点，0—30可以说是从陌生人转变为朋友，30—60则是从朋友变为像兄弟姐妹一样值得信赖的密友，而60以上才是转变为恋人的开始。
It's not usually that difficult to go from close friends to lovers, but it was extremely difficult for Yang Linxin and Dong Xiaoli.
The support and help they've received over the years have made them more like siblings than close friends, like real siblings.
Therefore, it would be very difficult for Yang Linxin to overcome the obstacle of her family and let that relationship develop into love. Because in Yang Linxin's subconscious, this was her older sister, the older sister who treated her very well and supported her studies, an elder sister who was like a mother to her.
Actually, this matter isn't particularly difficult, but it's not exactly simple either. It just requires a suitable opportunity for Yang Linxin to realize that although he and Dong Xiaoli are as close as siblings, they are not truly siblings.
The misconception that an elder sister is like a mother will not exist.
Such an opportunity is hard to find.
Firstly, Dong Xiaoli is currently a widow, and in this era, it's very difficult for a woman to remarry. Ordinary families rarely accept a widow who has been married twice. Therefore, it's difficult for Dong Xiaoli to create a scandal to provoke Yang Linxin.
As for arranging a marriage for Yang Linxin to provoke him, Dong Xiaoli has no such plans for the time being. The imperial examination is imminent, and she doesn't want to distract Yang Linxin.
Secondly, Yang Linxin is only fourteen years old, which would still be considered a minor in modern times. The child is too young, and Dong Xiaoli can't bring herself to do it.
But I don't know what triggered Yang Linxin at the county school today, he actually started to awaken.
Dong Xiaoli put down her teacup, walked into the yard, glanced at the sun, and guessed that Yang Linxin would be back soon. She then sat on the swing in the yard and waited for Yang Linxin.
When Yang Linxin entered the courtyard, he appeared calm on the surface, but Dong Xiaoli still sensed the anger beneath his calm face.
Dong Xiaoli smiled and jumped off the swing, saying, "Little Star, you're back."
Yang Linxin paused for a moment, then walked past Dong Xiaoli without even glancing at her, and went back to his room.
[Ding, Yang Linxin's favorability -5, current total favorability 50]
Dong Xiaoli watched with a smile as Yang Linxin fled in a somewhat flustered manner, then turned and grabbed the young pageboy, Qiu Ming, who was about to follow.
"Hey~" Qiu Ming, who was suddenly pulled, stumbled and almost bumped into Dong Xiaoli. After finally regaining his footing, he looked at Dong Xiaoli with a puzzled expression and said, "Miss."
Dong Xiaoli looked at Qiu Ming with a smile and said, "Little page, did your young master encounter something at the academy today? He seems a little unhappy."
"Ah!" Qiu Ming scratched his head and said, "I don't know either. He was fine in class, and today the teacher even praised him for his excellent poem in the imperial examination!"
"And... what about after school?" Dong Xiaoli continued to ask.
"After school, the young master went to a restaurant with young masters Chen, Zheng, Li, and Wang to celebrate with drinks." Qiu Ming thought for a moment and said, "At that time, the young master asked me to go to the bookstore to buy paper, so I don't know if anything happened?"
Qiu Ming thought for a moment and then added, "I don't know if the young master is angry or not, but when I got back to the restaurant, the young master was already at the door."
The young masters Qiu Ming mentioned were all classmates of Yang Linxin from the same academy. They were paired with Yang Linxin for the county and prefectural examinations.
A "mutual guarantee" involves five familiar candidates who know each other well. After registering for the exam, they fill out a mutual guarantee form, meaning if one person cheats, all five will be held accountable.
The five people who could form a bond with each other naturally had a good relationship.
Dong Xiaoli also knew that they were going to a restaurant to celebrate today.
It's remarkable that all five of them passed the county and prefectural examinations and became students. Moreover, Yang Linxin ranked first in both the county and prefectural examinations. If nothing unexpected happens, Yang Linxin should also rank first in the provincial examination.
If one of the five players achieves a minor triple crown in the future, how can we not celebrate?
It wasn't that Dong Xiaoli and the other four had unwarranted confidence in Yang Linxin, but rather that Yang Linxin's first place in the college entrance examination was practically a foregone conclusion.
Don't ask why everyone is drawing this conclusion before the exam has even taken it.
To put it another way, as long as Yang Linxin doesn't submit a blank paper for the college entrance exam, he has a 70% chance of getting first place. And if Yang Linxin performs normally, he has a 100% chance of getting it.
Hmm, you're saying this is a cover-up?
Yes, this is the inside story, but it has absolutely nothing to do with Dong Xiaoli.
This was entirely due to the fact that Yang Linxin had achieved first place in both the county and prefectural examinations on his own merit, which gave the prefect hope of achieving the "Triple Crown" and led to this underhanded scheme.
It can be said that Yang Linxin had the support of the prefect behind him.