The villainous young lady is actually a scientific research genius!

Lu Zhaozhao returned to her room, where the door shut out the noise from downstairs.

She took out a notebook and a pencil that was only half-broken from the faded cloth bag.

The notebook had the most ordinary kraft paper cover, the paper inside was yellowed, the pencil was only half left, and the eraser tip was worn flat.

She sat at the table, opened her notebook, and began to write and draw on it.

Formulas and symbols flowed rapidly across the paper, like some kind of code that only she could understand.

This was a research topic she had studied in her previous life—the optimization of the crystal structure of semiconductor materials.

In the 21st century, this is already a relatively mature theory.

But in 1980, this thing was still in the stage of "heard of but never seen".

Lu Zhaozhao paused on the paper with her pen nib tucked in.

She suddenly realized something.

In this era, even basic computing tools are extremely limited.

The supercomputer she could easily access in her past life is now nowhere to be seen.

To verify these theories, she needs a large amount of experimental data and equipment support.

And these are things that the Lu family obviously cannot provide.

Therefore, the first step is to find a platform that can support me.

Lu Zhaozhao wrote a few words in her notebook: high school, competition, university, research institute.

This is the roadmap she has planned for herself.

First, they can leverage the learning environment of high school to distinguish themselves in international competitions, and then skip university to directly enter a national-level research institute.

As for the Lu family?

Ineffective socializing is a waste of time.

She closed her notebook, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes.

The plot of that melodramatic novel I had read in my past life began to flash through my mind.

After being taken back to the Lu family, the original owner of Lu Zhaozhao was jealous of her adopted daughter Lu An'an and targeted her at every turn. In the end, she was hated by the whole family, kicked out of the house, and met a tragic end.

The adopted daughter, Lu An'an, is a reincarnated individual who uses her "prophetic" advantage to plan ahead and become a winner in life.

[Tsk, a reborn person.]

Lu Zhaozhao opened her eyes and stared at the dappled light on the ceiling.

Let's see if your "prophetship" is more impressive, or if my 21st-century scientific knowledge system is more robust.

She turned over and quickly fell asleep.

Silent all night.

The next morning, Lu Zhaozhao was awakened by a knock on the door.

"Zhaozhao, get up and have breakfast."

It was the voice of her mother, Gu Wan.

Lu Zhaozhao glanced out the window; it was just beginning to get light.

She got up, washed up quickly, and put on the same old clothes she had worn when she arrived—faded from washing and patched at the knees.

When she came downstairs, Gu Wan was waiting in the living room. As soon as she saw the clothes she was wearing, her eyes were filled with self-blame and heartache.

"Zhaozhao, look at me, her mother..." Gu Wan walked over quickly, explaining somewhat awkwardly.

"You came back so suddenly, and I didn't know your size, so I didn't prepare any new clothes for you in advance. I was thinking of taking you to the mall so you could pick out some things you like."

Lu Zhaozhao stopped and looked up at Gu Wan.

"You came back so suddenly?" Her voice was cold. "Wasn't it all planned long ago that the Lu family would bring me back?"

Gu Wan was taken aback, and an awkward expression flashed across her face.

Lu Zhaozhao continued, "As for size, Lu An'an's wardrobe is overflowing; you all know her size perfectly. My own daughter doesn't even have a spare pair of pants. Do you think that's a valid excuse?"

"Zhao Zhao, that's not what I meant..." Gu Wan explained in a panic.

"Forget it," Lu Zhaozhao interrupted her. "As long as the clothes are wearable, I don't care about these things."

After saying that, she walked straight to the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, the Lu family members were already seated neatly.

Lu Zhenguo sat in the main seat, with a bowl of millet porridge and two white steamed buns in front of him.

Gu Wan sat next to him, with a bowl of bird's nest porridge in front of her.

The three older brothers each occupied one side, while Lu An'an sat obediently next to Lu Jingyu, with a plate of delicate side dishes and a bowl of congee with preserved egg and lean pork in front of her.

Lu Zhaozhao was seated at the very edge, with only a bowl of plain porridge and a steamed bun in front of her.

She glanced at the breakfast on the table and gave a cold laugh.

"Is this how the Lu family treats its guests?"

Lu Zhenguo frowned: "What do you mean?"

"I understand perfectly well."

Lu Zhaozhao pointed to the cornbread in front of her, then to the delicate side dishes in front of Lu An'an, "We're both eating in this house, but the difference in treatment is so obvious. Are you trying to make me back down?"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Lu Jingyan immediately exploded. "That's how it's arranged at home, stop causing trouble!"

"Stirring up trouble?" Lu Zhaozhao looked at him coldly. "I'm just stating the facts. You all know whether you consider me a member of the Lu family or not."

"Zhaozhao, you've misunderstood..."

Gu Wan wanted to explain.

"A misunderstanding?" Lu Zhaozhao interrupted her.

"Fine, let me ask you this: Lu An'an, an adopted daughter, lives in the biggest room, wears the best clothes, and eats the most exquisite breakfasts. My biological daughter lives in the storage room, wears tattered clothes, and eats cornbread. Is this a misunderstanding?"

The restaurant was silent for a few seconds.

Lu An'an lowered her head, a look of panic flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her gentle demeanor.

"Sister, I'm so sorry... It's all my fault..." Her voice trembled with tears. "How about I give you my room, and you can have my clothes too..."

"Don't give me that." Lu Zhaozhao gave her a cold look. "I don't want your stuff."

"You!" Lu Jingyan slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Lu Zhaozhao, don't push your luck! An'an has already given in, what more do you want?"

"What do I want?" Lu Zhaozhao sneered. "I just want fair treatment. If the Lu family can't do that, then just say so. Don't put on this disgusting act."

"Enough!" Lu Zhenguo roared. "Lu Zhaozhao, do you think the Lu family owes you something?"

Whether you owe them or not, you know the answer in your hearts.

Lu Zhaozhao said expressionlessly, "I spent fifteen years in the orphanage, and the Lu family never visited me once. Now you've brought me back not because you miss me, but because you need a biological daughter to save face for the Lu family."

"You're talking nonsense!"

Gu Wan's eyes reddened. "We really wanted to bring you back..."

"Truly?" Lu Zhaozhao sneered. "If you truly mean it, why didn't you have a decent set of clothes on my first day back? If you truly mean it, why is my room a storage room? If you truly mean it, why is my breakfast cornbread?"

Her barrage of questions left the Lu family speechless.

"Jingchen, did you finish what I asked you to do yesterday?"

Lu Zhenguo took a deep breath and forcibly changed the subject.

The eldest brother, Lu Jingchen, put down his chopsticks and pushed up his glasses.

"It's all taken care of. I've contacted Jingyu and An'an's school, and the principal has agreed to accept her."

He paused and glanced at Lu Zhaozhao.

"However, Dad, the principal has already stated that, according to regulations, all transfer students must take an entrance exam. Considering that Lu Zhaozhao comes from the countryside and her educational level may be different, the principal has made a special exception and will appropriately lower the difficulty of the test. As for which class she will ultimately be assigned to, it will depend on her own actual situation."

"Reduce the difficulty?"

Lu Zhaozhao sneered, "Do you all think that just because I come from the countryside, I must be illiterate?"

"Isn't that right?" Lu Jingyan sneered. "What kind of education can a rural orphanage provide? You'd be lucky if you could even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet."

"Really?" Lu Zhaozhao looked at him coldly. "Then how about testing me now?"

"Test you?" Lu Jingyan scoffed. "Who do you think you are? Do you think I need to test you myself?"

"Since you all look down on me so much, then I'll be frank."

Lu Zhaozhao stood up, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. "I don't need to lower the difficulty of the entrance exam. I will prove with my abilities that I am much stronger than you imagine."

After saying that, she turned and left the restaurant, leaving the Lu family members dumbfounded.

Lu Jingyan was so angry that his face turned red.

"Dad! Look at her attitude! It's utterly arrogant!"

Lu Zhenguo took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.

"Jingchen, you will personally take her to school for the test next week."

"Yes, Dad."

Lu Jingchen responded, his gaze behind his glasses calm.

Lu An'an lowered her head, but a smile curved her lips.

[Lu Zhaozhao, the more you act like this, the more this family will abandon you.]

[An entrance exam? A wild girl from a rural orphanage probably can't even recognize all 26 letters of the alphabet, right?]

She sneered inwardly.

In her previous life, she was too kind and soft-hearted, which is why Lu Zhaozhao took everything from her.

In this life, she will make Lu Zhaozhao taste what it's like to be abandoned by the whole world.

The day you lose face in the entrance exam and are kicked out of the Lu family, I will personally watch you kneel on the ground and beg me.

Lu An'an thought to herself with smug satisfaction.

She is a reborn person; she knows all the opportunities for the next few decades.

She wanted to be the brightest star, while Lu Zhaozhao was only fit to struggle in the mud.

Upstairs, Lu Zhaozhao sat at her desk, continuing to write and draw in her notebook.

She spoke frankly and decisively just now.

Since we're going to have a falling out, let's go all the way. Anyway, I didn't plan to stay in this house any longer.