In fact, from childhood to adulthood, he had often encountered such discriminatory looks. But he never gave in to despair; instead, he worked ten or a hundred times harder, and with outstanding academic achievements, he earned the respect of those around him.

“Auntie, my name is Andrew Brooks. There’s only my mother and me at home. My mother is a Chinese teacher at Binhai No. 2 High School.” Andrew Brooks calmed his emotions and replied respectfully and calmly.

Ethan Stone snorted through her nose, ignored Andrew Brooks, and turned toward the kitchen.

Emily Summers glanced worriedly at Andrew Brooks. Seeing that he was emotionally steady, she felt reassured. She hurriedly pulled Andrew Brooks’s hand and said softly, “Little Andrew, come on, let’s go to my room.”

“Stop. Come here, I have something to say to you.” Ethan Stone suddenly walked out of the kitchen and beckoned to Andrew Brooks.

Andrew Brooks hesitated for a moment, let go of Emily Summers’s hand, and walked over to Ethan Stone.

“You’re not suitable for our Emily. You’re an educated person; you should understand what I mean.” Ethan Stone said coldly.

Andrew Brooks was taken aback, then smiled.

“May I ask, Auntie, why are we not suitable?”

“Your families are not a good match. Don’t you understand this principle?” Ethan Stone grew angrier as she spoke, frowning. “Not suitable means not suitable.”

“Heh, Auntie, may I ask, when you and Uncle Summers got together, were your families a good match?” Andrew Brooks recalled what he knew about Ethan Stone and her husband from his previous life, and a teasing smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Noah Summers was an ordinary civilian’s son, while Ethan Stone was the daughter of a veteran cadre. The two of them were both educated youths who fell in love while sent down to the countryside. After becoming the son-in-law of the Shi family, Noah Summers gradually rose through the ranks, going from an ordinary staff member at the city science association to deputy mayor of a prefecture-level city, though he was ranked very low and never made it to the standing committee.

Chapter 003: Keeping the Appointment

Ethan Stone clearly hadn’t expected Andrew Brooks to be so relaxed, even “teasing” the two of them. Her face flushed, and she couldn’t help but scold in a low voice, “You… how dare you!”

“Auntie, I know our family backgrounds are very different, but Emily and I truly love each other. I hope Uncle and Auntie won’t break us up. Please believe me, I will definitely make Emily happy.” Andrew Brooks said very sincerely.

Ethan Stone gave a mocking smile. “What makes you think you can make Emily happy? Our Emily is about to study abroad—can you go with her? Our Emily wants to live in a big house and drive a nice car—can you provide that for her?”

Andrew Brooks smiled faintly. “Auntie, Emily will not go abroad.”

Andrew Brooks was deeply opposed to Emily Summers going abroad. No matter what, this time, he would never let Emily Summers leave his side again. He glanced back at Emily Summers and saw her looking at him with deep affection, which made him even more composed.

At this moment, under Ethan Stone’s aggressive and condescending scrutiny and disdain, he didn’t feel humiliated. Instead, he felt calm and determined that he would fight for the happiness that should have been his. He couldn’t give up; he clenched his fist secretly.

“Even if Emily doesn’t go abroad, you’re just an ordinary guy. How could you be worthy of our Emily?”

“Auntie, back then Uncle Summers was just an ordinary staff member, but now he’s a deputy mayor.”

“How can you compare yourself to Old Summers?”

“Why can’t I?”

“…Hmph.”

Andrew Brooks quietly and gently argued with Ethan Stone, feeling increasingly calm and even finding it a bit ridiculous. What made him uncomfortable was Ethan Stone’s snobbery and materialism, which he found quite distasteful. He couldn’t imagine that gentle, unspoiled Emily would have such a mother.

“Auntie, I’ll say it again: please believe me, I will work hard, and I will make Emily happy.”

“Ridiculous.”

“Not just now—even in ancient times, it was said that ‘are kings and generals born noble?’” Andrew Brooks smiled and said resolutely, “Auntie, I have always worked hard, and I will keep working hard. Please believe me.”

After a pause, Andrew Brooks continued, “From elementary school to high school… In 1994, I was the top liberal arts scorer in the city’s college entrance exam, and in my sophomore year of university, I joined the Party… For a student, these already prove my efforts.”

Ethan Stone was stunned. Even Noah Summers, who had been quietly listening to their exchange from the living room sofa, couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows. Although the couple knew that getting into Yanda already proved Andrew Brooks’s academic ability, they hadn’t expected that he was the city’s top liberal arts scorer in 1994.

“……” Noah Summers suddenly stood up and said in a deep voice, “You were the liberal arts top scorer that year who received the 10,000 yuan scholarship from the boss of Mintai?”

Andrew Brooks nodded with some pride. “Yes, Uncle Summers.”

The social trend of celebrating top scorers in the college entrance exam basically started in the mid-1990s. Andrew Brooks and another science top scorer, a girl named Ma Yan, each received a 10,000 yuan prize from a private entrepreneur, which caused quite a stir at the time. Since Emily Summers also took the college entrance exam that year, Noah Summers and his wife remembered it very clearly.

……

……