"He just doesn’t like to talk, right?"
Kang Li smiled with a hint of amusement at the corners of her mouth. "Or maybe it’s that you have a world within you, but just don’t care to speak!"
"Mom, you’re teasing me."
Min Rui blushed, a touch of complaint in his tone. He didn’t ask—it was a statement.
"Wrong, Mom is complimenting you."
Kang Li gripped the steering wheel, eyes forward, but the smile in her gaze was unmistakably bright.
"Are you sure you’re not lying to me?"
Min Rui stayed skeptical.
"Silly boy, why would Mom lie to you? You really are thoughtful and don’t talk much, that’s just your nature. Mom saw it even when you were little. Be good, don’t feel awkward. When Mom says it’s a compliment, it is. Absolutely not teasing."
Kang Li soothed her eldest son.
Min Rui listened and was now truly a little embarrassed. He didn’t actually think he was as great as his mother said. As he thought this, he couldn’t help but say, "Mom, I’m not as mature as you claim. If it’s about being thoughtful and having plans—I don’t really think I’m there yet."
"No need to be modest. Among kids your age, you’re already very outstanding. And in Mom’s eyes, my son is certainly someone who speaks and acts with consideration, never reckless or speaking boastfully in front of others."
Kang Li was genuinely confident in her child’s character, with real certainty.
Min Rui could feel her praise was heartfelt. Now he wasn’t embarrassed anymore—instead, warmth flooded his heart. Having a mother like Kang Li, he truly felt so blessed!
...
As the days passed, the college entrance exam scores finally came out. Min Rui was only eight points short of earning the honor of a perfect-score national champion, just like Kang Li had once done.
Even so, his exam results made him the national top scorer among all examinees, because no other provincial champion scored higher than him.
The closest was still seven points behind.
Last year, Kang Yilin ranked fifth in the province, third in the city, and first in the county.
His total was just six points shy of the provincial top scorer.
When Kang Yilin found out his score and provincial ranking, his eyes turned red and he almost cried. Later, he locked himself in his room for two days, not stepping out even once.
Second Brother Kang’s son, Kang Yihao, had bet with Kang Yilin—last year, his total score was two points higher than his cousin’s, but his rank among North City examinees was eleventh.
The poor guy was pretty upset about it too.
He felt that Kang Yilin and he were kindred spirits in their disappointment. When they met last summer, they hugged and sobbed together.


Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Reborn as a Weak Beauty Pampered by All