Shao Boya immediately folded the money and took out his cheap wallet and kept the money. He planned on dropping them in his piggy bank once he returns home.
Turning to look at Yao Chao with interest in his eyes, he spoke. " Does my picture really worth 12 Dollars? "
Yao Chao turned his phone off and nodded. " Well, giving 12 Dollars to you is not a big deal for me. "
Shao Boya rolled his eyes and grumbled.
Not a big deal?
NOT A BIG DEAL?!!!!!!!!
Is this little guy mocking him for being poor?!!!
Shao Boya felt insulted but he had just received money from him so he no longer concerned himself with his cheap pride.
The competition proceeded without any hassle but when a certain question was asked out loud.
Shao Boya's opponents froze and had a hard time to comprehend when the answer was showed.
" What? How can it be three? " Jiang Shirong widened his eyes in surprise.
The last question was this. : A grandfather, two fathers and two sons drove to park together. Each of them bought one entry ticket each. How many tickets have they bought in total?
Fan Qin, Jiang Shirong, Wan Ling, Song Jingjing, and Yao Chao confidently answered 5.
But then, all of them got it wrong. There were only 3 people as the father is also a son and grandfather is also a father.
And only Shao Boya got it right.
In the middle of the competition, several staffs appeared and layed sandwiches and drinks on top of the candidates' table.
Teacher Qi Ru , watching at the sidelines covered his mouth in emotional and hugged his fellow teacher at the side. " That curly haired, cute boy over there is my student. I'm so proud of him. " Qi Ru dramatically boasts and acted as if he was Shao Boya's mother.
Qi Ru's fellow teacher expressed their envy by saying they were jealous, and they wished to also have such a promising student in their class.
At the end of the competition, the mc initiated to total all the tallies and decide the winner on the spot.
However, everyone could see already that Shao Boya, who doesn't have any single mistake was the final champion.
" Ok, I am sad to say this but the event will be ending soon.. I am so proud to witness these promising students, competing with each other. We have witnessed it all am I right? They are really smart and promising. I hope, that all of you will continue to work hard until you finished studying. "
" May we call the champion out to recieve the medal and certificate from our sponsor? Mr. Yi? President Yi? "
Old Yi and Yi Meilin stood up as everyone in the Hall clapped with bright smiles. Although students of the Cherry Blossom Primary School were disappointed. They can't deny that their candidate can't defeat a true genius.
Shao Boya pocketed the marker and held his whiteboard as he took a step forward beside the mc.
The mc smiled and gently patted the little boy's head while waiting for the sponsors to come up.
" Oh!! I nearly forgot!!! Teacher Qi Ru!! Hahaha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Come here please . " The mc light heartedly invited the champion's mentor.
Qi Ru burst out of laughter and run forward to hug the unenthusiastic boy.
" I'm so proud of you boy. "
Qi Ru felt his suspended thrilled emotion, he wanted to rub Shao Boya's head so hard he couldn't be anymore satisfied with Shao Boya. ( In Tagalog, this would mean that Qi Ru is Nanggigigil. )
Yi Meilin smiled gently and held the medal in his hands as he stepped forward.
Old Yi indifferently followed after his grandson and stared silently at the young boy who won the competition.
Yi Meilin knelt down beside Shao Boya and opened his arms. " Can Uncle Yi recieve a hug from Little Boya? "
" Uncle Yi " Shao Boya greeted politely.
When Yi Meilin suddenly knelt down, Shao Boya expressed his surprise. Then his face showed awkwardness..
In the end, under Qi Ru's encouragement. He yielded and obediently hugged his suspected father.
When the little genius got within the president's embrace. Yi Meilin felt his emotions surging out with tidal wave. He tightly embraced his son and kissed the child's forehead.
I miss you, I miss you my son.
Yi Meilin carried the child emotionally and burried his face in the nook of the child's neck.
The president's shoulders shook inconspiciously that only Shao Boya and Old Yi discovered.
" Son " Yi Meilin hoarsely whispered.
Shao Boya's body turned stiff when Yi Meilin called out to him in such kind of desperate tone.
It was full of sadness, longing and guilt.
Even the indifferent child who mostly thinks only with money, wavered and felt like he have to coax Yi Meilin.
Shao Boya pursed his lips.
He doesn't want to feel such emotions.
He feels uncomfortable with it.
And he doesn't want to show his weakness to others.
In the end, Shao Boya could still feel emotions.
He was still a human.
" Do you hate me? "
When Yi Meilin asked him that. Shao Boya nodded. " Yeah.."
" I hate you. "
Shao Boya coldly lowered his head and clenched his fist. " I hate you for letting mom suffer under the hands of that bastard fake father of mine. I had even inherited his disgusting surname which wasn't originally mine. "
Yi Meilin patted the boy's back. " Then let's change your surname. "
" You're not even my legal father. You and mom are not married. "
Hearing the cruel truth from his child's mouth. Yi Meilin's heart throbbed painfully.
He couldn't deny it.
As it was indeed the truth.
" D... Do you want me to marry your mom? "
Yi Meilin wiped his tears and carefully asked his son.
And Shao Boya answered. " If you marry my mother, can you make her feel happy? Will she feel at ease under your protection?"
Yi Meilin and Old Yi was surprised to hear this words from the child.
Old Yi expected the boy to ask. : If my mom marries you, will I get a toy car? Can I recieve an expensive phone? Can I eat a lot of food? Can you give us money?
Yet this genius boy instead asked if his mom would be happy if she married his grandson.
This boy... He looks indifferent and only has money in his eyes.
Yet originally, he only has his family in his eyes.
That is right... Shao Boya has his family first, before money.
He was obsessed with money, because he wanted Shao Yu to eat what she wants.
To give Shao Yu what she likes.
And bring happiness for them.
Shao Boya believes, that if he has a lot of money.
They would no longer suffer in poverty.
-----
Old Yi suddenly remembered a memory.
A haggard man cried while kneeling down as he despaired. " I had Yi Meilin because I committed an adultery with my true love. "
" Father! I had never loved my wife... I wanted to give my family and son a beautiful life. I wanted to bring happiness to them! But why are you obstructing me? Now that my son wanted to be with Lu Meifeng , you wanted to ruin his life too? "
" Why are you so cruel father? Do you only have money in your eyes?!!!! "
" Do you only see THE COMPANY as your family? Then who are we?!! "
" Are we your tools to connect with businessmen to earn more money? Father!!! Have you forgotten the real reason why we became wealthy like this? "
" It's because WE WERE POOR. EVEN MY BROTHER COULDN'T FINISH HIS EDUCATION BECAUSE WE HAD NO MONEY TO PAY FOR HIS TUITION!!! "
Old Yi's hands trembled when his son's voice echoed within his mind.
He doesn't want to recall such past memory in this time.
Yi Cheng handed the certificate to Qi Ru and immediately walked out of the hall.
As he stepped out of the hall. The memories of his difficult past flashed by.
" Yi Cheng "
Old Yi suddenly stopped and turned to look in the right direction. When he turned his head, he saw his old friend.
" Old Cui. "
When he had his eldest son. This man was still young and was still delivering newspaper. Now, he had grown to become a successful businessman.
" You've grown really old. " Cao Sheng chuckled.
Cao Sheng was also poor when he was young and thus didn't get to turn his body back to health. It was already late, and now... He now looked just as old as Old Yi.
Old Yi sighed and leaned on his cane. " Although I'm already old, I am still strong enough to wander in this world. "
Cao Sheng nodded. " Why are you here? "
" I've come to see my great grandson. "
Hearing his words, Cui Sheng laughed. " You already had a great grandson? "
Cao Sheng smiled. " My eldest grandson is still not old enough to give me a great grandson. I have to hurry him up in order to witness the birth of my great grandson. "
" You are really strong and persistent, Old Yi. You can still reach and have a great grandson hahaha. "
Hearing Cao Sheng's cheerful laughter. Old Yi subconsciously smiled.
He is really old...
Old enough that Shao Boya even came within his field of blurry vision in this kind of times that he is already old.
Old Yi touched his wrinkles.
Maybe it's time to stop meddling with his grandson's affairs already.
" You've been stressing out yourself these times, Old Yi. I advice you to avoid that. "
Old Yi sighed and massaged his aching temple, which scarily bore resemblance to Shao Boya's actions before when dealing with Yao Chao.
"Have I changed a lot? Old Cui? "
Cui Sheng nodded. " Indeed... You have changed a lot. "
Cui Sheng could still remember how the kind hearted Yi Cheng invited him into his house when he was shivering during winter, and lost his home after he was kicked out of his rented apartment.
Now... Cui Sheng had heard a lot about his old friend. As well as the chaos that happened in their family.
" Elderlies' minds are already muddled. I think, you have to retire already, my friend. Let your sons take good care of you. Stop caring about them. You'll die early if you exhaust yourself with stress. "
Cui Sheng leaned his back on the wall and smiled. " Look at me now, Cui Ren is now always beside me, always taking good care of my health. My grandson, Cui Manyan had also shown me his promising talents and always made me proud and laugh. "
" Old Yi, don't cover your eyes with prejudice. Why do you have to concern yourself with the matters about illegitimate blood? As long as he has your Yi Family's blood, he's your family. "
Cui Sheng patted Yi Cheng's shoulder. " I know that you are concerned about the face (reputation) of your family, but if you think about it. Which is more important to you. Reputation? Or family bond?"
Of courses... It's family bond.
But Old Yi gradually realized.
That he had already gone further and further away from his son's and grandson's heart.
---
" U-uncle Yi, please put me down. " Shao Boya uncomfortably expressed his thoughts and pushed Yi Meilin's shoulders lightly.
" Oh, sorry.." Yi Meilin put the child down.
Shao Boya recieved the gold medal and certificate from Yi Meilin and Qi Ru's hands.
When Shao Boya recieved these awards.
Shao Boya suddenly had a thought.
It would be better if his mom and Shao Yu were present in this occasion.
" Ok, I would like to invite Song Jingjing, Yao Chao, Jiang Shirong, Fan Qin and Wang Ling, to take a picture with the Champion and sponsor!!. "
The mc beckoned to the pitiful guys behind and had them hold their certificates and medals.
Yao Chao was the second runner up, and Wang Ling was the third runner up.
Yao Chao wore his silver medal, while Wang Ling recieved her bronze medal.
Although Fan Qin, Jiang Shirong and Song Jingjing didn't recieve a medal, they still recieved a certificate.
The two young masters were depressed, but the cheerful little girl remained happy and immediately run towards her mother's embrace and proudly showed off her certificate.
After all of them took a picture.
Yao Chao pouted and held his mother's hand.
" Mom... I've disappointed you. I didn't get the gold medal. "
Yao Chao pouted and began crying silently. " I'm so sorry... I did my best, I swear. "
Mother Yao sighed and hugged his little son. " You're still young, and it's your first time competing in this kind of competition. Don't worry son, next time. We'll work harder and defeat that genius, ok? "
Mother Yao worriedly wiped his son's snot and kissed Yao Chao's forehead. " Just fight ok? Son? "
Yao Chao hiccuped and nodded with a determined expression.
Although his eyes were red and his nose was dripping with snot. He still expressed his strong fighting determination and clenched his fist. " I'll fight harder next time!!! "
While Yao Chao immediately recovered from his depression.
The two young masters on the other hand cried within their maid's embraces.
Sadly, these two young masters didn't have any parents accompanying them this time.
It was kind of depressing as their parents are always busy and no one was there to comfort their depressed minds.
Fan Qin fell asleep within his maid's arms. His maid was patting his back and wiping the wet tears dripping from his eyes. Even when he was asleep, Fan Qin is still crying.
Because he knows...
That he'll only recieve his father's disdainful words once he return home.
He is not as good as Shao Boya.
His mom would beat him to study harder.
His father would lock him in his room to read books all day.
Fan Qin groaned and sobbed while curling his body up, expressing his insecurities.
" I'm sorry... I'm not a good son. "
" I'm so sorry."
Most of them returned home.
When Jiang Shirong entered their black van. He saw his mother's disappointed expression.
She did not even comfort him, nor hug him, and say to him that it's alright and he could study harder in the future.
Jiang Shirong clenched his fist... And felt envy for Song Jingjing.
Once could see...
That Song Jingjing grew in a very loving and complete family.
When Jiang Shirong arrived in his house. He immediately locked his door and burried his body in the warmth of his bed.
No... It's actually not warm...
It's cold.
Jiang Shirong curled up and sobbed as he covered his red rimmed eyes.
So pathetic... Cry baby.
Why was he not born better than that genius Shao Boya?
If he was just smarter... He could have made his parents proud of him.
He wished ... He wished that his parents would also someday hug and kiss him just like what Yao Chao's mother did to Yao Chao.
I envy them... I envy them so much!!