Jiang Yucheng frowned slightly.
He, her biological father, hadn't even spoken yet. What was with his younger brother's attitude of making decisions on her behalf?
Although he also didn't want Xuxu to go to some Daoist academy, the previous incident involving her room had taught him a lesson. He had learned to ask for his daughter's opinion first.
"Yumin, Xuxu has her own ideas about which school she wants to attend. For you, an uncle, to refuse on her behalf is crossing the line."
Jiang Yumin didn't back down when he heard his elder brother speak. He turned his head and simply said, "Brother! I'm doing this for her own good! I've never even heard the name of this academy. Aren't you afraid Xuxu will be corrupted if she goes to a school like that? Are you planning to let her become a nun!?"
To say such things so bluntly in front of the admissions teacher was, frankly, quite rude.
But Jiang Yumin didn't care about that. He felt that his elder brother had changed ever since he brought this daughter back. He was terrified that his brother was starting to lose his mind.
"Cough... Daoist priests and monks are different. Entering monastic life is a Buddhist matter," the admissions teacher, dressed in Daoist robes, explained with a polite smile.
Jiang Yumin spared him a brief glance. To him, they were all the same. It was one thing for his niece to act all mystical and superstitious at home, but he absolutely would not allow her to go out and embarrass the family.
As a music producer, he couldn't afford to lose face like that.
Jiang Huai ignored his uncle's attitude and looked directly at Jiang Xuxu. "Xuxu, do you know anything about this school?"
Unlike the others in the family, Jiang Huai had witnessed Jiang Xuxu's abilities with his own eyes. He wasn't opposed to her applying to a specialized academy in that field, but the prerequisite was that the school had to be legitimate and not some fraudulent institution. After all, these days, many schools "sold dog meat under a sheep's head"offering one thing but delivering another.
Jiang Xuxu had been silent until now. Hearing Jiang Huai's question, she tilted her head slightly. "I know of it, but I'm not familiar with it."
What the Master of Qingfeng Temple had spoken of most often was the Daoist Academy at Peking University. She was indeed unfamiliar with the academy here in Hai City. However, that didn't stop her from being interested.
She remembered Boss Chu saying before that her master had once claimed to be a lecturer at the Hai City Daoist Academy. She had looked up information about the academy online afterward, but there were very few records.
"Our Hai City Daoist Academy is nationally certified. We are one of only three Daoist academies in the country with Tier-1 university status. You can rest assured on that point."
The admissions teacher remained perfectly amiable, not showing the slightest bit of resentment despite being questioned.
However, the Jiang family grew even more skeptical. A Daoist academy with Tier-1 status? They found that incredibly hard to believe.
Jiang Yuxin, while not opposed to her niece following her own pursuits, still offered a word of advice. "Xuxu, going to university isn't just for a degree. It's more about accumulating experience and building a network before entering society. I suggest you choose carefully."
Nearby, the twin brothers were also looking at their cousin with expressions of wonder. Unlike the other Jiang brothers, An Zhuo and An Xing had only met Jiang Xuxu once when she first returned to the family. They had heard from Jiang Han and Jiang Cheng that this sister had caused a scene and tried to run away from home recently.
The two brothers weren't as hostile toward her as Jiang Han and the others. On the contrary, they thought she was beautiful and certainly couldn't be as bad as Jiang Han described. But... was she actually interested in becoming a Daoist priest?
"Sister, if you go to a Daoist academy, will you graduate as a Daoist nun?" An Zhuo, the younger twin, couldn't help but chime in with a grin.
The Jiang family members imagined Jiang Xuxu as a Daoist nun, and their expressions became even more peculiar.
Jiang Xuxu was generally more tolerant of people who showed her no malice. Hearing this, she shook her head. "It's not like that."
"Everyone might have some misunderstandings about our Daoist Academy. How about this? Let me first introduce the highlights of our school to young friend Guan..."
As the admissions teacher spoke, he walked over and pulled out several small booklets bound like ancient texts from his bag.
Jiang Yumin frowned, about to speak up and refuse again, when the call came from the security post once more. After Uncle Ming listened and returned, his face was visibly filled with joy.
"Master, the admissions teachers from Peking University, Hua University, and Hai City University have all arrived."
Upon hearing this, the complicated mood brought about by the Daoist Academy teacher was instantly replaced by pure delight. For a moment, everyone stopped caring whether Jiang Xuxu was going to some Daoist academy and smiled as they waited for the other admissions teachers to arrive.
Jiang Han cast a silent glance toward Jiang Xuxu. Though he didn't speak, the meaning in his eyes was clear. He and she were simply different. She could only be accepted by an unreliable-sounding Daoist academy, while his options were the top-tier institutions in the country.
The Jiang family members all perked up to welcome the prestigious guests. Only the teacher from the Daoist Academy looked as if he felt threatened; he hurriedly spread out his booklets and began to describe the merits of his school to Jiang Xuxu with even more urgency!
Just then, the teachers from Peking University finally arrived. As they stepped through the door, they were met with the eager gazes of the entire Jiang family. Yao Lin's gaze was particularly intense.
The teachers were initially taken aback by the wealth of the Jiang family and the large gathering, but they quickly remembered their purpose. The Gaokao results were about to be officially released. Their eyes swept past all the boys in the room and landed specifically on the only two girls in the living room.
"Excuse me, which one of you is student Guan Xuxu?"
They had learned their lesson this time. They announced the full name immediately. They couldn't afford to repeat the same blunder twice.
Yao Lin had already been preparing to stand up and welcome the teachers on her son's behalf, but hearing that sentence, her entire expression froze. Jiang Han's cheek muscles twitched as he turned to look at Jiang Xuxu again in disbelief.
The rest of the Jiang family didn't fare much better. Why were they here for Jiang Xuxu again? And this time, they weren't teachers from some "pheasant university"!
Old Master Jiang, however, remained steady. He signaled Uncle Ming to invite them to sit and simultaneously introduced Jiang Xuxu.
The admissions teachers had actually identified Guan Xuxu the moment they walked overmostly because there were already several booklets spread out in front of her! And there was a strange man in Daoist robes beside her, explaining something!
Could it be that someone had already beaten them to it?
The teachers instantly entered "battle mode."
Once Jiang Yucheng confirmed that these people were indeed here for Xuxu, his usually stoic face showed a rare trace of surprise and pride. "Xuxu is my daughter. Have my daughter's Gaokao results been released?"
The teacher from Hai City University recognized Jiang Yucheng. As the only one who had previously dealt with the Jiang family to some extent, he spoke first, offering a congratulatory smile. "Yes. Student Guan Xuxu achieved a staggering score of 738 in this Gaokao. She is this year's Gaokao Top Scorer for Hai City. We have come today to sincerely invite Student Xuxu to enroll in our Hai City University."
The teachers from Hua University and Peking University beside him were not about to be outdone and chimed in immediately.
"Peking University also sincerely invites Student Guan Xuxu to join us!"
"Hua University also sincerely invites Student Guan Xuxu to join us!"
The admissions teachers all looked at her with burning anticipation. The Jiang family was collectively stunned. Jiang Han, in particular, couldn't believe his ears when he heard that score of 738.
Jiang Cheng blurted out, "Impossible! Did you get it wrong?"
How could Jiang Xuxu be the Top Scorer? In what way did she look like one?!
The teachers from the three universities frowned. Why was there another skeptic? Just as they were about to sternly reiterate the facts, Jiang Su suddenly spoke up. His tone was serious and certain, though tinged with excitement.
"It's true!"
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