Substitute Wife, Genius CEO novel Chapter 351

His genius wasn't just limited to math. His performance in every other subject was equally terrifying. Despite his young age, he spoke multiple foreign languages with flawless, native-level fluency.

He effortlessly recited complex classical poetry, possessed an encyclopedic knowledge of global geography and current events, and was a grandmaster at chess. Even the adults couldn't beat him on the board.

The entire Sterling family showered Leo with endless praise, constantly fawning over Great-Grandfather Carlson's supposedly brilliant educational methods.

Carlson beamed with overwhelming pride, a smug, satisfied smile plastered to his face for the entire evening.

After performing like a circus act all night, Leo racked up a massive haul of red envelopes. He was highly satisfied with the payout.

A group of older kids, furious and humiliated by their crushing defeat, blocked his path. "You think you're so great, don't you, Leo? You're younger than us, but you made us all look like idiots."

Leo shook his head.

Crushing a group of intellectually average children offered zero sense of accomplishment. Why would he be proud of something so incredibly easy?

The only time he felt genuine satisfaction was when he outsmarted his equally brilliant peers back at the academy.

In the future, he fully intended to go head-to-head with the greatest prodigies from around the world.

Headmaster Hedges had repeatedly drilled it into them: the only way they could become the global vanguard and ensure their country dominated the future of technology was by crushing international prodigies.

But Leo kept that little detail to himself.

He figured these kids wouldn't comprehend a word of it anyway, and trying to explain elite geopolitics to idiots was a complete waste of breath.

So Leo just deadpanned, "I just didn't want to get beaten."

"Beaten?"

"If I lose," Leo said coolly, "my Great-Grandfather will punish me."

The ringleader scoffed in disbelief. "Are you kidding?"

Leo casually lifted the edge of his shirt, exposing the skin underneath. "My Great-Grandfather did this."

Staring at the faded, horrific scars marring Leo's small back, the group of kids instantly fell dead silent and quickly backed off, completely abandoning their revenge plot.

Leo returned to his bedroom, stuffing the thick stack of red envelopes into his backpack. He planned to hand the cash straight over to Summer for safekeeping as soon as he got home.

Xavier pushed open the door and walked in, handing him a massive red envelope. "Happy New Year, Leo."

Leo took the envelope, his expression entirely apathetic. "Thanks. Happy New Year."

Xavier looked at his son, a heavy sigh escaping his lips. "Do you want to go set off some fireworks with me?"

Leo had zero interest in going. Setting off fireworks with Xavier sounded incredibly boring. If he were doing it with Dad Jude or Dad Silas, it would have been infinitely more fun.

But Xavier was relentlessly determined to repair their fractured relationship, so he bypassed the rejection, scooped Leo into his arms, and carried him downstairs.

Leo, entirely unaccustomed to the physical contact, stiffened violently and squirmed in his grip. "Put me down. I can walk by myself."

"You're just being shy," Xavier teased, setting him down.

It wasn't shyness; it was pure physical discomfort. For as long as Leo could remember, Xavier had practically never held him.

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