School Beauty's Invincible Martial Expert

Chapter 183 Xiao Han's Promise

"Curiosity killed the cat indeed," Xiao Han let out a bitter smile and then said, "Actually, my appearance isn't important. But since everyone is so eager to see my true face, I'll satisfy your wish."

"That's great!" The crowd went wild with joy.

"Oh my God, are we finally going to see his real face?" some girls covered their faces, almost bursting into tears. It had been nearly a year, and everyone was curious about Xiao Han's true face, each person harboring an image of him in their hearts. But how far off was Xiao Han's true appearance from the image they had in their minds? They were very curious.

Everyone held their breath, not daring to blink, afraid to miss the most exciting moment.

However, Xiao Han suddenly laughed, "But, not today!"

"What?!" Upon hearing this, the crowd's excitement turned to profound disappointment.

"But, I promise you will definitely see the real me!" Xiao Han quickly said, "Let's set a time."

"Sure!" Everyone nodded in agreement.

"After the college entrance exam," Xiao Han smiled and said, "I will give a speech at Linjiang No.1 Middle School."

"Ah!" The students of Linjiang No.1 Middle School exclaimed in surprise.

"What about us?" students from other schools felt a bit let down.

"At that time, students from all schools are welcome to come and observe," Xiao Han smiled and said, "Don't forget that Principal Li Hengzhong endorses the Hanmen Training Class, so Principal Li is very welcoming to everyone visiting Linjiang No.1 Middle School. Of course, before you see my true face, please make sure to do your best in the exams.

You must achieve good results and give me a satisfying answer, okay?"

"Sure!" The crowd nodded again.

Everyone was happy, looking especially cheerful. Having made a promise with the teacher seemed to hit a tender spot in all the girls' hearts. They were exceedingly excited and thrilled. Each person was so exhilarated.

Xiao Han left the teacher's office as he wished.

In the office.

Li Dapang, with a cigarette in his mouth, looked at Xiao Han with a grin and asked, "Xiao Han, are you really going to give a speech at Linjiang No.1 Middle School after the college entrance exam?"

"Yes!" Xiao Han nodded, "Definitely."

"Really?" Li Dapang said in surprise, "Did Principal Li Hengzhong invite you?"

"This isn't the first or second time," Xiao Han said helplessly, "Actually, I didn't want to, but he insisted on me giving an inspiring speech at the school, to tell those students who are about to enter their senior year an uplifting story."

"Alright then," Li Dapang chuckled, "I think you should go, your own story is quite inspiring."

Xiao Han sat in the office, looking at the stack of thick exercises on the desk. Was his high school life really coming to an end? Was he really about to start his university life? A smile appeared in Xiao Han's heart, and he couldn't help but fantasize about the beautiful and wonderful life he and Chen Zihan would have at university.

But little did he know, over in Fulin Garden, Chen Zihan and her mother were having a fierce argument.

"I'm going, I have to go!" Chen Zihan clenched her teeth, insisting, "What right do you have to stop me from taking the college entrance exam?"

"You and your college entrance exam!" Chen Zihan's mother spoke, "You must go and take the SAT for me. Otherwise, your TOEFL score from last year will expire."

"I don't want to!" Chen Zihan shook her head, "I don't want to study at a university in the United States."

"You have to go even if you don't want to!" Aunt Chen delivered a harsh line, "I've already destroyed your college entrance exam admission ticket. Your ID card has also been taken away. I've already contacted the school in the United States for you, so just focus on that exam. Besides, I'm your mother, I wouldn't harm you. What's so good about that Xiao Han?

Even if he's great at exams, can he be a national top scorer? He can't..."

"He can!" Chen Zihan shouted hysterically.

"Fine, if he can become the national top scorer of the college entrance exam, I'll let you see him!" Aunt Chen scoffed, "What's so good about him? His family is so poor they don't even have a place to stand on! I don't understand, how could you like someone like him?"

"Like is like, where do all these whys come from?" Chen Zihan bit back, "I just want to be with Xiao Han!"

"I won't allow it!" Aunt Chen said with a cold laugh, "Tomorrow you'll obediently go with me to SH to take the SAT. With your abilities, getting into Harvard University shouldn't be a problem, and if not Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is also possible."

Aunt Chen had pinned all her hopes on her daughter.

That's why she wished for her daughter to live the ideal life she had envisioned for herself, the glory she herself had never experienced was now nearly all entrusted onto her daughter. Aunt Chen was a typical Chinese woman and likewise, a typical Chinese mother. She had bound her own fate with that of her daughter's.

"The universities in China are not inferior to those abroad," Chen Zihan said through clenched teeth.

"Let me tell you, there is no comparison whatsoever," Aunt Chen countered without hesitation.

"Uh…" Chen Zihan was taken aback. She hadn't expected her mother to refute her so directly. She continued, "The top ten universities in China are also recognized internationally. Why can't I attend one of them?"

"Cambridge University and Harvard University are among the top three universities in the world. At least among the famous institutions around the world, Chinese universities don't rank," Aunt Chen had thoroughly researched these world universities. She was determined for her daughter to study abroad, utterly unwilling to have her stay in China or to have any connection with Xiao Han.

"I…" Chen Zihan lowered her head.

"You want me to take the SAT the day after tomorrow, fine," Chen Zihan said, gritting her teeth, "but you cannot stop me from seeing Xiao Han in these few days."

"No problem!" Aunt Chen agreed with surprising alacrity.

Chen Zihan's face turned icy, to whom could she express her inner suffering? She felt as if she was living in suffocation, living in repression. She didn't understand why she had ended up like this, nor did she understand why she had become so downtrodden.

Aunt Chen said soothingly, "Zi Han, Mom is doing this for your own good. If you could study abroad and get a degree from Harvard University, then when you return, your status, your position will surely be different. You could integrate into the elite class of the country, rather than living a life of poverty and low status like Xiao Han!"

"He is neither poor nor lowly," Chen Zihan retorted, "His spirit is rich, and his character is noble. I believe that one day he will be part of the elite class you speak of, not the lowly person you describe."

"Alright, alright, we'll see," Aunt Chen said with a dismissive laugh, "My dear daughter, do you know why I want to send you abroad to study? It's simply to let you 'gild' yourself. Do you understand the impact a family's education can have on a person? Do you know the life-long influence one's environment has on them? I couldn't provide you with a good family education, so I can only send you abroad.

Once you're back, you'll quickly integrate into the elite class."

"Mom, isn't it nice to live an ordinary life?" Chen Zihan pleaded, "To get through life without major disasters; isn't that enough? Why the relentless comparisons? It's exhausting to live this way!"

"What do you know?" Aunt Chen reacted fiercely, "If you're not excellent, if you're not outstanding, people around you will look down on you. Everyone will look down on you. Then, they will look at you differently and say, 'Look there, that's the Chen Family's daughter, how ordinary!'"

Unable to sway her mother's inner convictions, Chen Zihan chose silence, perhaps seeing it as the best approach.

The college entrance exams were imminent, and Chen Zihan could no longer take part. Alone in her room, she cried in silence. She didn't know how to face Xiao Han. If she didn't sit for the national college entrance examination, she wouldn't be able to attend a domestic university. After having promised to attend Shuimu University with Xiao Han, she was now about to break her promise.

Just then, the phone rang.

Chen Zihan glanced down to see the call was from Xiao Han. She quickly wiped away her tears and answered the phone in a hurry.

"Zi Han, where are you?" Xiao Han asked with a laugh.

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"I'm at home, studying for the entrance exams," Chen Zihan's voice was subdued.

"You…" Xiao Han was briefly stunned before changing the subject, "I found a really great dessert shop, do you want to go together?"

Chen Zihan was about to decline, but thinking that her opportunities to be alone with Xiao Han were dwindling, she quickly nodded, "Okay, I'll come now. Where are you?"

"I'm outside your residential complex!" Xiao Han replied.

"Mm, wait for me!" said Chen Zihan, quickly nodding.

Afterwards, Chen Zihan hurriedly put down the tissues in her hand and dashed downstairs.

Time was not on her side, and she could hardly wait to cherish every minute alone with Xiao Han. As soon as she left her room, Aunt Chen blocked her at the door, "Where are you going?"

"Xiao Han is waiting for me downstairs," Chen Zihan looked at her mother and said, "You promised not to stop me these next few days. I hope you keep your word."

"You can't go!" Aunt Chen said sternly.

"Okay, I won't go, and I won't take the test the day after tomorrow either!" Chen Zihan said, her face darkening as she dropped the gauntlet.

Aunt Chen abruptly softened her tone. She understood her daughter – a mother knows her own child. Her daughter had inherited her steadfast nature, and if she really refused to let her meet Xiao Han today, perhaps in her obstinacy, she wouldn't go to the test the day after tomorrow, which would jeopardize her whole future.

After a moment's thought, Aunt Chen relented, "Alright, go then, but come back early!"