Bai Shuqin was right about one thing.
The release of the Gaokao results was a major event that captured the entire nation's attention.
On the day the results were posted, countless people online were already live-streaming their score checks or waiting to post screenshots of their grades.
Guan Ruirui had spent the morning dressing herself up. Her mother had told her that once the scores were out and her university was confirmed, they would take a photo to post online, using the opportunity to regain some public favor.
Guan Baocheng also arrived at the hospital early, waiting for the exact moment to check the scores.
Noticing that Guan Qishen hadn't shown up, Guan Ruirui couldn't help but pout.
"Big Brother hasn't come to see me for two days. Is he still angry with me and Mom?"
Thinking back to the way Guan Qishen had lost his temper with her in the hospital room that day, she felt a wave of grievance. She was clearly the pitiable one, yet her brother hadn't shown her an ounce of consideration. He had even tried to take away her Protective Jade Plate.
Guan Ruirui decided that when her brother finally came to apologize, she would give him the cold shoulder for a while before deciding whether or not to forgive him.
As she was thinking this, she heard Guan Baocheng speak up.
"Your brother is at Qingfeng Temple. Things at home have become a bit complicated, so he's been staying there for the past couple of days."
Guan Ruirui was somewhat surprised to hear this, but she maintained her obedient facade. "I've heard that Qingfeng Temple is quite effective. I'm sure Big Brother's problems will be resolved there. Don't worry too much, Dad."
Guan Baocheng listened to his daughter's sweet words and nodded with a smile.
Suddenly, his phone began to ring. Thinking it was a call from the office, Guan Baocheng's brow furrowed slightly. However, when he looked at the screen, he saw it was their nanny calling from home.
He picked up, and as he listened to the news from the other end, his face instantly lit up with excitement.
Guan Ruirui and Bai Shuqin watched him with curiosity.
In public, Guan Baocheng was always composed and gentle; even at home, he rarely showed such intense emotion.
The last time they had seen him look like this was when he received news that Jianghai Group wanted to collaborate with them.
At the thought of Jianghai Groupand then Jiang XuxuGuan Ruirui and Bai Shuqin felt a surge of bitterness.
As Guan Baocheng hung up, Bai Shuqin hurriedly asked in a soft voice, "Husband, did something good happen?"
Guan Baocheng didn't even try to hide his smile. When he turned to Guan Ruirui, his eyes were brimming with pride.
"It's great news! Nanny An said that admissions officers from Jing University and Hai University have come in person to deliver an admission notice. They're at the house right now!"
Guan Ruirui and Bai Shuqin were stunned for a moment before they were overcome by a wave of pure ecstasy.
Jing University!
Hai University!
And the admissions officers had come to their door in person? That kind of treatment was usually reserved only for the Gaokao Top Scholar!
At the thought of this, Bai Shuqin's face flushed with excitement, and her gaze toward Guan Ruirui burned with an intense light.
Guan Ruirui was equally thrilled, but a flicker of doubt crossed her mind.
Had she really performed that well on the exam?
While her grades had always been in the top twenty of her year, she had never once cracked the top three.
Could it have been an extraordinary stroke of luck?
But that doubt was gone in a flash, replaced by a surge of triumph. With the title of Gaokao Top Scholar, those people online would surely stop their relentless attacks on her.
It wasn't even that big of a deal to begin with, yet so many people had made it a moral issue. It was beyond annoying.
But now, they would finally be forced to shut up.
"Husband, since the admissions officers are here, shouldn't we head back immediately? But what about Ruirui?"
Ruirui was the star of the day! Yet she was stuck in the hospital. They couldn't exactly ask the officials to come directly to her ward, could they?
"We have to go back, but it's not ideal for Ruirui to be discharged yet," Guan Baocheng said, looking down at his daughter's leg with concern.
Guan Ruirui grew anxious. "Dad, I want to go back. Those teachers are looking for me; I can't just not show up."
She wanted to take a photo with the admissions officers!
Guan Ruirui was convinced that if she appeared in a wheelchair looking fragile and pitiable, combined with the halo of being the Gaokao Top Scholar, the internet trolls would have nothing left to say! They might even start to pity her.
She had to go back!
Guan Baocheng clearly had the same idea.
The internet had been in an uproar lately, and both their family and the Qin family had been hit hard. After the Jiang family's banquet, the company had lost several contracts, and now, dragged down by his daughter's bullying scandal, the business was suffering. He was already at his wits' end.
Their family desperately needed a victory to wash away the recent disgrace.
"I'll go talk to the doctor. Ruirui's fracture has been stabilized; she'll be fine going out for an hour or two in a wheelchair."
Although Ruirui was still suffering from the ongoing bad luck brought by her Fate Backlash, at least she still had that Protective Jade Plate on her person. Otherwise, Guan Baocheng wouldn't have dared to take her out so casually.
Guan Baocheng acted immediately. Soon, a few nurses came in to help Guan Ruirui into her wheelchair and gave them detailed instructions.
The three of them quickly piled into a car and raced toward the villa.
However, Guan Baocheng had still underestimated the collective power of their combined bad luck.
Leaving aside the fact that anyone who got close to Guan Ruirui would be tainted by the misfortune of her destiny, the Guan family itself was currently thick with Yin Qi, and both the father and mother were already contaminated by it.
Even with the Protective Jade Plates suppressing it, the car still encountered two significant accidents on the way home.
First, a car lost control and swerved toward them, and then a massive road sign suddenly collapsed in their path.
Guan Ruirui was terrified out of her mind. She instinctively clutched the Protective Jade Plate around her neck.
Guan Baocheng did the same, gripping his own jade plate tightly.
Bai Shuqin, who didn't have a jade plate of her own, was on the verge of tears, grabbing onto both of their hands for dear life.
The journey back was arduous, and when they finally reached the villa, Bai Shuqin tripped and fell face-first into the dirt the moment she stepped out of the car.
One of the wheels on Guan Ruirui's wheelchair even inexplicably fell off, and it was only thanks to the driver catching her that she didn't tumble out.
By the time they stood before the villa's front door, all three of them were looking more than a little disheveled.
But at last, they were home.
The Guan family members straightened their clothes, and two security guards carried Guan Ruirui inside, wheelchair and all.
The sight of them left the admissions officers from both universities stunned.
"Is... is this Student Guan? What on earth happened to her?"
Guan Baocheng wiped the sweat from his forehead, trying his best to maintain the dignity of a businessman. "She was in a car accident a while back and was supposed to be recovering in the hospital. When she heard you were coming, the child insisted on being here in person."
The admissions officer from Jing University was genuinely taken aback. "There was really no need for that. Given Student Guan's injuries, she should be resting. If you had just let us know, we could have gone to the hospital ourselves."
Guan Ruirui had already adjusted her state, putting on a look of sincere fragility. "The Gaokao results are a major milestone in life and a testament to my hard work over the last three years. I wanted to receive the notice with my own hands."
The officers from both Jing University and Hai University were moved. They all felt that this student possessed a remarkably resilient character.
Their expressions softened with newfound respect.
"Well then, let's keep this brief. Student Guan, congratulations on achieving a total score of 738 on this year's Gaokao, making you the Hai City Top Scholar. On behalf of Jing University, we sincerely invite you to join us."
The officer from Hai University quickly chimed in, "As the premier institution in Hai City, Hai University also sincerely invites Student Guan Xuxu to join us!"
The three members of the Guan family were already trembling with excitement at the words of the Jing University official, and Guan Ruirui was just about to open her mouth to accept.
But then, the words of the Hai University official hit them.
The smiles on all three of their faces froze simultaneously. Their eyes slowly widened in shock.
Who... who did he just say?!
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