Chapter 773: Chapter 772: I Treat Him Like a Grandson, But He Treats Me Like…

Mo Si asked with a laugh.

Xiao Jianli snorted, “That was all in the past, I’m too old to keep up with those complicated variety shows, and I don’t recognize the people in them. Now it’s different, this is the hottest science competition show, I can learn knowledge, and it sharpens my mind, why wouldn’t I watch it?”

Mo Si held back his laughter, “Another day, I’ll find all the episodes you’ve missed and you can watch them at your leisure.”

Xiao Jianli paused for a moment, then slowly picked up his teacup.

“Forget it, too much TV isn’t good for an old man’s eyes,” he said, and then, proper as ever, put on his reading glasses, ready to watch the show.

Mo Si turned back to the kitchen to get some easy-to-digest sweets for the old man and saw Xiao Qimo coming out of his room, changing from his loungewear into a suit.

He put down the plate and took a few steps to catch up, “Grandfather, are you going out?”

“Mm.”

Xiao Jianli glared at Xiao Qimo, “What are you going out for at this hour? Sit back down!”

“Grandfather…” Xiao Qimo was somewhat speechless.

“Nobody’s asked you out this late at night, come back and watch the show with me! Mianmian is on it!” Xiao Jianli shook his head in disgust, “You call yourself a boyfriend, but you don’t even watch Mianmian’s shows, you’re really not up to standard.”

Xiao Qimo lifted his eyelids dispassionately.

“Sorry, but I’m going to watch it live.”

The cultured man pushed his glasses up, left Xiao Jianli and Mo Si behind, and headed out the door, decisively and mercilessly.

Xiao Jianli, cup in hand, complained to Mo Si.

“He’s going to the live show? And he didn’t invite me? I treat him like my own grandson, but he treats me like I’m nothing?!”

Mo Si had no choice but to quickly smooth things over.

Ah, their family’s Mr. Mo would do anything for Miss Lu, it seems.

The old Mr. Mo had never cared about these programs before, but now he even got tickets to be there live.

Tsk tsk.

—

The show soon started.

The live broadcast had many people waiting in front of their TVs for it to begin.

The first segment was to introduce the twelve contestants.

This time, six out of the twelve contestants would be eliminated, and for some, this appearance might be their last.

But it was clear that the host, Yin Feng, was giving different amounts of time to each contestant.

However, everyone’s focus was on the program, and few noticed these things.

Soon, it was Lu Mian’s turn.

The director’s voice came through the earpiece of host Yin Feng, who was much more composed this time and handed the microphone to Lu Mian.

“Lu Mian, I’ve heard that you’ll be taking the college entrance exams as a junior high school student, are you confident?”

This question was also off-script.

Lu Mian, cool and distant, just “hmm-ed” in response to the question.

The “hmm” meant, she was confident.

Again, there was an awkward silence.

This time the host managed to control the situation well, and with a shift of his gaze, he asked another question.

“So, why did you repeat a grade before?”

As soon as the host finished his question, not only were the audience members below craning their necks curiously, but also the contestants on stage all cast inquiring glances at Lu Mian.

For many young prodigies who became famous early on, the word “repeat” was very foreign to them; they were more familiar with its antonym: “skip.”

Because they had learned advanced-grade material early on, many of them were actually in college despite their young age.

And at twenty years old, Lu Mian was not young, plus she had repeated a grade.

This was quite puzzling.

In the corner of the audience, a man’s eyes hidden behind his glasses flickered with a dark gleam.

—

Within a certain residence.

The dim and gloomy room, with its heavy drapes drawn, was unlit, shrouded in darkness.

The only source of light in the room came from the palm-sized screen of a smartphone.

Lu Xinnuan had opened the program “Extreme Brain” on her phone.

Her initial reason for following the show was because of Pei Wenda’s participation. Having entered into a binding agreement with him, she was definitely going to pay more attention to the program.

Unexpectedly, she saw Lu Mian on it.

Because of Lu Mian, she had been forced to drop out and transfer schools at such a critical time during her senior year, missing the chance to buckle down for the college entrance exams, and now she could only choose the path of an arts student.

Of course, she harbored resentment.

They were family, after all, and she hadn’t committed any heinous crimes. Why did Lu Mian have to drive her into a dead end?

As Lu Xinnuan was watching the show, the door to her room was pushed open, and light from the living room flooded in.

Fu Man walked in with a cup of brown liquid, smiling.

“Nuannuan, I’ve been asking around these past few days and specially acquired a formula from a well-known traditional Chinese medicine doctor. This can protect your throat, remember to drink it while it’s warm.”

Fu Man set the cup on the desk.

Lu Xinnuan likewise sat up from the bed and handed her phone to Fu Man.

“Mom, take a look.”

“What’s wrong?”

Fu Man took the phone, somewhat puzzled and confused, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the cool and indifferent girl on the live show.

“How did Lu Mian end up on the show too?”

“Exactly,” Lu Xinnuan replied with a chill in her voice, glancing indifferently at the cup of herbal medicine on the desk to protect her throat, “I’m on the show, and she’s on the show. If it weren’t for Brother Wenda, I really wouldn’t have known about this…”

“Nuannuan, let it be,” Fu Man said, unable to describe her feelings. After all, the relationship had been completely severed; whatever happened to Lu Mian, she was powerless to intervene.

“I know, Mom. As long as she doesn’t trouble me, I won’t do anything. Right now, all I want is to compete well and repay our family’s debts as soon as possible,” Lu Xinnuan said magnanimously.

Fu Man affectionately ruffled her daughter’s hair, “My Nuannuan, you have finally grown up.”

—

When faced with the host’s stifling questions, Lu Mian’s response was just as suffocating.

As everyone speculated how she would reply, Lu Mian donned the same haughty expression and coldly counter-queried.

“Does that have anything to do with the show?”

The host was sternly rebuffed once again.

A cascade of comments floated up in the barrage.

[Same formula, same embarrassment!]

[Today is yet another day of ‘I don’t give a damn about your questions’!]

[So, cool and aloof missy, why exactly did you have to repeat a year?]

[Lu Mian seems quite capable, I really can’t understand how she’s just starting her freshman year at twenty…]

[Everything on the show is fake, I advise those before this comment not to get too emotionally invested!]

[Exactly, I can’t believe someone would dare to talk back to the production crew like that, isn’t that openly offending people?]

Lu Mian remained unconcerned with all of this and proceeded as usual.

After each of the twelve participants had introduced themselves, the competition officially began.