Start as a top student after transmigrating.

The entire room fell silent. Apart from Chen Zhenjiang and Zeng Ling, who were all smiles, everyone else seemed to have been frozen in place, as if time and space had been suspended at that moment.

Chen Yuan was still hoping to see a good show. Although his grades were poor, they were much better than Chen Dong's. He was at least in the first batch of vocational colleges, while Chen Dong probably wouldn't even make it to the second batch.

In the past, when asked about their grades, the criticism he received was at least halved whenever Chen Dong was at the bottom.

Dad, take a good look. This is what it means to be a genius even with only a vocational diploma.

As a result, Chen Dong made a shocking statement, revealing a score that Chen Dong could only dream of, leaving him stunned or rather, terrified.

After a long while, he came to his senses, first touching Chen Dong's forehead, then glancing at the paper cup, and said strangely, "You don't have a fever, so why are you talking nonsense, brother? There's no wine in the cup, are you drunk on your own?"

"Dong-ge, you really got 701?" Chen Lin was startled awake, somewhat incredulous.

She was also a senior high school student and knew how difficult the various exam questions were. Even if the questions were simple and the exam was open-book, Chen Dong probably wouldn't have gotten such a score based on his past grades.

"How many points?"

Chen Zhennan didn't look at Chen Dong as Chen Lin had said, but instead turned to Chen Zhenjiang for confirmation.

"He wasn't lying. He really did get 701 on the final exam. I was shocked when the parent-teacher conference came. I thought to myself, how could the Chen family produce a top scorer?" Chen Zhenjiang chuckled.

Although he wasn't one to boast, there was a hint of pride in his words, like when someone asked him about his income and he said he'd made a few million this year.

"My God."

Zhang Yanqing excitedly put down his wine glass and said incredulously, "Xiao Chen, how did you study? You've improved so much all at once!"

He was somewhat shocked but had no doubts. He had attended the parent-teacher meeting based on Chen Zhenjiang's words earlier. If the grades were fake, how could he say such a thing?

Moreover, he is part of the education system. Although he is not in Qingjiang City, it is not difficult for him to find out about the situation of the mock exam here. There is no need for him to lie.

"Did you really pass the exam?" Chen Zhennan asked Chen Dong with a hint of doubt when Chen Zhenjiang confirmed it.

It's no wonder he acted this way. After all, they all knew how good Chen Dong's grades were. The last time he took an exam was in his second year of high school, and he only scored a little over 100 points.

A score increase of over 500 points in one go? Do you really think studying is as easy as sleeping?

"Dad, do you know how prestigious it is to be number one in the city? You can't get that score without some knowledge, even if you just look it up in a book. You can't even cheat to get such a good result," Chen Lin explained.

Although she found it hard to believe and thought it was unbelievable, she still believed in the authenticity of the results.

"Zhenjiang, I really envy you."

Even his daughter said that. Chen Zhennan suddenly smiled bitterly, downed the wine in his glass in one gulp, and found Chen Yuan irritating no matter how he looked at him. He was already a little annoyed and couldn't help but want to explode.

When he first came back, he felt uncomfortable seeing Chen Dong with his long yellow hair shaved off. But at that time, he was just a little sentimental.

Now, hearing about Chen Dong's achievements, the brat is nothing but an eyesore.

You haven't changed your thuggish ways, and your grades are still being crushed. What use are you?

"We're doomed!"

Chen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine as he sensed his father's barely concealed anger and disdain. He suddenly regretted returning to his hometown for the New Year; this year's holiday was likely to be difficult.

"Everyone says they envy us, but to be honest, his mother and I didn't do anything. We were completely hands-off. Who knew he would suddenly become so awesome?" Chen Zhenjiang straightened his back, looking somewhat Versailles-like.

In the past, when discussing their children's academic performance, he and Zeng Ling would always keep their heads down and not say a word. If they couldn't avoid it, they would praise other children and never mention Chen Dong.

But today I have a different feeling. I can't say I'm triumphant, since no one is deliberately comparing or making fun of Chen Dong's achievements. I can only say that hard work has finally paid off.

"You have Xiao Dong's contact information, right? Keep in touch with your brother Dong more often, and ask him questions if you don't understand anything. Don't just play around, okay?" Chen Zhenying patted Zhang Mengjin.

"Xiaolin, you should learn more from your brother Dong. If your grades improve a little more, you'll be guaranteed a place in a top university. You should ask Dong for advice on what he was talking about earlier about building a knowledge system," Lin Yuxian reminded Chen Lin.

The two beautiful girls nodded blankly.

Whether or not I should ask for advice is another matter, but since Dong Ge has suddenly become so terrifying, I definitely need to ask him properly.

"After we finish eating, I'll help you with your study plan."

Zhang Yanqing was very excited. Such a huge improvement could definitely be used as a model, and Chen Dong could be used as an example to educate his students in the future.

It's never too late to learn, even in your senior year of high school, you can still achieve miracles.

Yes, that's a miracle!

A student who scored only around 100 points suddenly became the top student in the city. This is something that even if the ancestral graves of the Chen family were to emit auspicious smoke, it wouldn't be enough.

That would require the spirit of one's ancestors and a miracle.

"As expected of my precious grandson, he's really amazing," Qiu Shuying said with a smile.

Chen Fumin also tilted his head back and drank the small cup of wine in one gulp, unable to hide his excitement and joy. He poured another cup of wine and said, "Come on, everyone, let's raise our glasses to congratulate Xiao Chen on his comeback and wish the Chen family can produce a top scholar this year."

……

The atmosphere became even more cheerful in the following days, with the adults spending most of their time discussing topics such as how Chen Dong could change and how he should study.

The four younger members of the family also gathered together to chat.

"Dong-ge, how did you study? I remember you only scored around 100 points last time, and you haven't studied much this semester. How did you suddenly become the top student in the city?"

Chen Lin inquired out of curiosity.

"Brother, that's not fair of you. Why don't you tell everyone that you accidentally cheated on the final exam?" Chen Yuan said with a wry smile as he leaned closer to Chen Dong.

Zhang Mengjin laughed and said, "Brother Yuan, do you believe that? You think you can get first place in the city by copying? I think your best record was only in the top ten of your class and the top two hundred of your grade."

Cheating happens in every school, but who has ever seen someone cheat their way to the top of the city?

Even if Chen Dong comes in second in the city this time, there is still a chance to fight back. But who can the first place copy?

"This is killing me!" Chen Yuan felt like dying.

Originally, he and Chen Dong were the only two academic underachievers in this family. In junior and senior high school, he was able to avoid being subjected to harsh treatment at home because of Chen Dong's safety net.

Now Chen Dong has changed completely, inside and out, making him seem like a useless fool in comparison.

"You've already graduated from high school, what are you afraid of? Mengjin and I are the ones under immense pressure." Chen Lin rolled her eyes at her older brother.

"What do you know, you little brat? Believe me or not, Dad will definitely give me a beating when I get back this time. He might even expel me from school and make me come back to retake the college entrance exam."

Chen Yuan felt terrified just thinking about it, and couldn't help but tremble.

After the college entrance examination last year, Chen Zhennan told him to repeat the year, since he was already in the first batch of junior college and not far from the undergraduate line. If he worked hard, he might be able to get into an undergraduate program.

But he resolutely refused to repeat a year of high school and chose a vocational college to live a carefree life.

The matter is actually not a big deal at this point, and the family has already accepted the established order. However, Chen Dong's sudden transformation into such an extraordinary person is likely to make his parents feel more and more upset, and at the very least, they will get a scolding.

"Come on, stop worrying unnecessarily. The most painful thing is that Dong and I are in the same year. I'm afraid we'll be living in Dong's shadow for the second and third mock exams and the college entrance exam." Chen Lin said with a wry smile.

The most direct comparison is between students in the same grade. The younger generation doesn't care and won't bring up their grades, and neither did the older generation in the past, since the gap was too big to be comparable.

But now that Dong Ge has emerged and suddenly become number one in the city, it makes all her years of hard work seem like a sham. Who understands this kind of life?

"Sister Lin, stop talking. You only have six months left. You'll be free after graduating from high school. I have two and a half years left. From now on, all the pressure will fall on me during holidays." Zhang Mengjin wanted to cry.

Having an excellent sister like Lin is already a bit of a struggle, and now there's this perverted brother Dong. I can't even imagine how painful the next two and a half years of high school will be.

I'm afraid that if you do even slightly worse on the test, you'll hear their names.

"Even the high school finale has to be dragged out and whipped," Chen Yuan sighed bitterly.

Chen Dong remained silent, only offering a pitying look.

Sorry, cousins, but from now on, my grades will be a nightmare you can't escape during holidays, especially for Mengjin. Get ready to bear the heavy pressure for two and a half years.

……

After the meal, Zeng Ling and the others cleared the table, while Chen Zhenjiang and the others drank tea at the table and discussed parenting tips, mainly about how Chen Dong suddenly became so amazing.

Chen Dong and the others didn't stay at home, mainly because Chen Yuan and the others wanted to go out. Otherwise, they were afraid that their drunken father might kick them and drag them away for a lecture.

Chen Dong was willing to provide this much cover.

"Don't play for too long, we're going to your second uncle's house tonight," Lin Yuxian reminded him, mainly to remind Chen Yuan. Chen Lin was fine, but Chen Yuan was playful and shouldn't stay out too long.

"Okay." Chen Yuan rushed out the door first.

Running downstairs to breathe fresh air, Chen Yuan felt the taste of freedom; this was what a free life should be like.

"You're a true friend, bro. How do you want to have fun? It's on me." Chen Yuan put his hand on Chen Dong's neck and patted his pocket with his other hand to indicate that he had money. He looked so excited that he didn't seem to remember the look Chen Zhennan had given him.

This is Chen Yuan—living life with clarity, unafraid of anything, at least for now, he's free.

"How about we go buy some fireworks?" Chen Lin suggested.

Setting off fireworks during the Lunar New Year is a tradition that children love to do, and the regulations on fireworks are not particularly strict these days, so many residential areas allow them to be set off.

"How old are you to still be playing with fireworks? Do you still think you're a kid? If you want to set them off, go ahead. Bro, let's go to an internet cafe." Chen Yuan looked at Chen Lin and Zhang Mengjin with disdain, wanting to take Chen Dong to an internet cafe.

"Do you want to go?" Chen Dong asked Chen Lin and Zhang Mengjin.

Going home now is definitely not an option, but I could type a few words at an internet cafe.

"I don't have any money on me," Chen Lin said pitifully, glancing at Chen Yuan out of the corner of her eye.

"Alright, stop pretending to be poor. I've already treated my younger brother, how could I leave you out? Come with me." Chen Yuan waved his hand and led his younger brother and sister to the internet cafe.

A smile appeared on Chen Lin's lips.

Although I often bicker with Chen Yuan, I have to admit that having a brother is great.