The Marquis Mansion's Elite Class-Chapter 346

It definitely wasn’t because she felt awkward talking to Zong Zhao alone. Xu Wan stubbornly insisted to herself.

At the desk, the little troublemaker had already climbed onto it, fawning and whispering, "My most amazing father in the world, are you done with your work yet?"

Zong Zhao didn’t even look up as he replied, "Go back and get ready. I’ll come over tomorrow morning."

He had overheard the conversation between mother and son earlier.

The little troublemaker jumped up in excitement. "Wow! Yes! Dad, you’re the best! I’ll go tell them right away!"

Xu Wan, sitting in the outer room, couldn’t hear what they were saying. She only noticed that the little troublemaker hadn’t been inside for long before he started cheering loudly, then ran out to tell her that his father had agreed—proving once again how awesome his dad was.

Xu Wan: "???"

Zong Zhao was really efficient.

It seemed like he did everything with lightning speed, packing his schedule tightly and diving into tasks without hesitation. Xu Wan thought: If he were in the modern workplace, he’d probably rocket up the career ladder.

Zong Jincheng dashed off to deliver the news but turned back halfway.

Xu Wan asked, "What’s the matter now?"

The little troublemaker grinned. "Well, they haven’t finished their exams yet. I’ll just have lunch with you and Dad before going back. It’s not too late."

Xu Wan looked at her half-finished breakfast porridge and sighed. "I’m already full."

Unfazed, Zong Jincheng tugged at her sleeve. "Perfect! Let’s go for a walk to work up an appetite."

"Where to?" Xu Wan couldn’t keep up with his train of thought as the little rascal dragged her outside.

In the courtyard, Shunzi was already waiting with supplies. Zong Jincheng magically produced a pile of bamboo and paper, which was promptly brought to the table inside.

Xu Wan recognized it immediately. "You’re making lanterns? How is this ‘working up an appetite’?" She had assumed they’d be strolling outside, not doing indoor crafts.

The little troublemaker beamed. "Of course it counts! When I first learned to make lanterns with my brother, it took forever—so much effort and brainpower. The night I finally got it, I ate two extra meat buns!" He held up two fingers for emphasis.

Xu Wan teased, "That just means your hands-on skills are terrible. Isn’t lantern-making pretty simple?"

"No way! Mom, you’ve never tried it—you’ll see how hard it is," Zong Jincheng enthusiastically began his lesson. "First, we tie the bamboo strips into the lantern frame. Like this, starting from here. Hold it tight."

Each holding a lantern, one demonstrated while the other pretended not to know, occasionally asking, "Can I make an oval frame instead?"

The little troublemaker pondered. "Sure, I guess. Whatever shape you like, as long as the bamboo is secure. Then you can cut the paper to size and glue it on."

Xu Wan wasn’t in a hurry to cut paper. Instead, she kept teasing him. "I think I’ll bend a few more small strips."

Zong Jincheng frowned. "Why? That’ll make it messy and hard to glue."

Before he could finish, Xu Wan had already bent and fixed the extra strips into place. When she turned the frame around, it took the shape of a little rabbit.

The little troublemaker gaped. "Wait, you can make lanterns like this?"

Xu Wan said, "Now for the paper-cutting."

"Right…" Zong Jincheng hurriedly handed her the scissors.

With swift motions, Xu Wan cut the paper, applied glue, and soon held up a finished rabbit lantern, lifelike with its carrying stick. Zong Jincheng glanced at his own plain lantern and suddenly felt it was painfully ordinary.

Suspicion dawned on him. "Mom… you’ve made lanterns before, haven’t you?"

Xu Wan smirked. "Can’t I just be a natural prodigy who learned from you?"

In truth, she was quite skilled. She’d made a few in the orphanage to entertain the younger kids, and during her idle days at the Shangshu residence, she’d crafted some to pass the time. Quick-witted, she could experiment with new shapes, turning out beautiful lanterns every time.

The little troublemaker grumbled, "I don’t think I’m that good of a teacher."

As Xu Wan painted designs on the lantern, she teased, "Oh? The heir to the God of Literature isn’t feeling confident? That’s not like you."

Zong Jincheng huffed. "Being the heir just means I’m good at books, not everything. If I were perfect at all things, people would be so jealous they’d jump into rivers."

Xu Wan laughed. "So the world should thank you for leaving us a way to survive?"

The little troublemaker lifted his chin proudly. "No need to thank me, Mom. I’ll always leave room for you."

"Pfft—keep bragging. Come on, let’s see what masterpiece you paint on that lantern."

Zong Jincheng set down his lantern and picked up a brush. "I’m writing a poem, not painting."

"Afraid your drawing skills are terrible?" Xu Wan mercilessly called him out.

Flushing red, he retorted, "No! My lantern should reflect my style—poetry is my strength!"

Xu Wan blinked. "Wait, wasn’t poetry your weak point?"

The little troublemaker sniffed. "People change! Just wait—you’ll be amazed!"

Xu Wan finished her painting and set it aside to dry, while Zong Jincheng scribbled his poem in secret, looking smug as if he’d penned an immortal verse.

Xu Wan wondered: Had his poetry really improved that much?

Finally, the ink dried.

The little troublemaker spun the lantern around, beaming. "Mom, look! Isn’t it incredible?"

Xu Wan squinted at the words:

"Of the world’s talent, eight parts exist,

Zong Jincheng claims ten, leaving the rest in debt.

Borrowing two more, he stands unmatched,

His brilliance shakes heaven and earth,

His thoughts flow like springs.

His pen stirs storms,

His verses make ghosts and demons weep."

Xu Wan: "………………"

Just end me now.

The little troublemaker pestered her. "Well? Isn’t it epic?"

Xu Wan deadpanned, "It’s a death wish. Hang this outside, and you’ll get mobbed."

Zong Jincheng waved it off. "Anyone who wants to hit me is just jealous because they’ll never measure up."

Xu Wan thought: More like they’ll never match your ego.

But ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‍after all this, Xu Wan felt emotionally drained—which, ironically, gave her enough appetite to eat a hearty lunch.

Finally achieving his goal of dining with both parents, Zong Jincheng happily sat at the table, watching as servants brought dish after dish.

During the meal, the little troublemaker and Xu Wan bantered back and forth, their playful bickering a daily routine. Meanwhile, Zong Zhao ate in silence, as if he weren’t even there. Zong Jincheng finally asked, "Dad, why aren’t you talking? Is the food bad? But you’re eating a lot…"

Sensing the little rascal was stirring trouble, Zong Zhao set down his chopsticks and stared.

Unfazed, Zong Jincheng lectured him earnestly: "Mom loves chatting and laughing during meals—it makes the food taste better. Dad, if you keep being this quiet, she’ll only like me and not you."