Leon let out a breath and looked down at Luna in his arms.
"Baby, you're so amazing."
"It's Daddy who's amazing~"
'Haha, baby, that's a great thing to say, but don't say it again next time.'
But the fact that his darling daughter got second place even with the deliberately lowered interview scores they had planned just proved that Luna was indeed talented, having earned a very high score in this tougher test;
And with this result, it was also the most perfect ending to his and Rossweise's "Don't Socially Die Plan."
It ensured they wouldn't be labeled a model family, while also avoiding any heavy sense of failure for their daughters.
That said, Luna and Little Light didn't actually have a strong obsession with getting first place; they both came with the mindset of "just pass the test."
After all, they were much younger than the other dragonlings, and had only one month to prepare and review.
On the other hand, if Luna and Little Light were as strict about scores as Noah was, then Leon and Rossweise would never have deliberately lowered scores just to avoid social death.
That would be letting playthings ruin ambition, losing sight of priorities, they weren't that kind of parents.
In any case, this second place result was a win-win for everyone.
Mom and Dad didn't socially die, and the baby girl's abilities were also proven.
"Leon...", Rossweise's voice interrupted Leon's wandering thoughts. Her tone sounded a bit heavy.
Leon immediately reined in his playfulness and looked at her, "What's wrong?"
"Why did the vice principal only mention 'Luna' and not 'Little Light'?"
Leon blinked and shrugged, "Even though Luna and Little Light are both ours, the results are calculated separately."
Rossweise swallowed, slowly turned her head, and stared into Leon's eyes.
"Then do you think... is it possible that Luna is second, and Little Light is—"
"First place, Silver Dragon Clan's Aurora K. Melkvei!"
———
Even as he stood on the podium, Leon couldn't believe this was really happening.
Before the entrance exam, he and Rossweise had stayed up all night studying techniques for lowering their scores, just so their daughters could pass the test without their family becoming the model family of the year.
To this end, they simulated at least twenty interview scenarios;
Listed nearly a thousand possible interview questions.
They even tried a short separation, hoping to dull their passion for each other that way, though it didn't work at all.
Because this pair of dumb lovebirds had no idea how deep their affection really was. A simple separation wouldn't do anything.
After all that effort, they thought victory was assured. Even if Luna got second place, they would have barely avoided the grip of the God of Death, and not be pushed into the abyss of social death.
However, just when the couple thought they could stand atop the mountain of victory and pop champagne in Death's face, Death took off the mask and revealed Little Light's face.
Leon felt his life was like a coffee table, full of tragedy.
"Daddy~ Daddy~ Little Light got first place, why aren't you happy?", The little pink-haired girl tugged on his sleeve, blinking her beautiful eyes up at him.
Leon lowered his head and rubbed her little head, "Daddy's not unhappy, Daddy's very happy. Look, Daddy's even laughing—Ha, ha, ha—"
"Daddy, your laugh sounds worse than crying," Little Light cut straight through.
"..."
"Look at Mommy, she's very happy, but still composed."
'Composed?'
Leon turned to look at Rossweise.
'This mother dragon doesn't seem emotionally shattered at all?'
At first glance, her face still had that cold expression, but if you looked closely, you could see a barely noticeable curve at the corner of her mouth.
She was clearly secretly delighted.
'Delighted your ass, sister!'
'We're totally exposed now! Our carefully laid plan crumbled like sand in the wind before our youngest daughter. Poof—gone!'
"Keep your composure, Leon. Even though we failed, think of the positives."
Leon raised an eyebrow, "What positives?"
"Your daughter got you another championship."
Rossweise paused, then sharply twisted the knife, "Oh, and a runner-up too."
"Thanks a ton for the reminder."
Speaking of which, although the configuration for the top model family was [Little Light + Leon + Rossweise], Vice Principal Wilson had specially allowed Luna, who got second place overall, to join them on the podium.
After all, they were family. You couldn't make the little girl stand all alone below, watching, right?
That would be too inhumane.
Once the whole family of four was on stage, Vice Principal Wilson also walked up.
According to tradition, the first to be interviewed was Little Light.
"Hello, Student Aurora."
The vice principal bent over and half-knelt beside Little Light, smiling kindly.
You could tell he genuinely liked the Melkvei dragonlings, each one bright and clever. That's exactly what St. Heath Academy wanted in its students.
Leon glanced at the old guy and muttered internally, 'Uppercut, uppercut, give him a big loud uppercut!'
But that was just Leon grumbling in his heart. Little Light's passive uppercut skill might be easily triggered, but it depended on the situation.
If she knocked the vice principal's glasses flying during the entrance ceremony, their family would dominate academy gossip for years.
"As everyone knows, this year's test was much harder than previous years. But you and your sister Luna still scored very highly. May I ask, what's your usual study method?"
Little Light answered seriously, in a sweet, childlike voice, "Listen to Daddy."
"Oh? So, you're saying that you and your sister got such good grades all thanks to your daddy?"
"Yes."
'Good daughter, why is everything you're saying true, but when Daddy hears it, it feels like knife after knife stabbing into his heart?'
'If I had known this, I wouldn't have taught you two so well—'
'It's all Daddy's fault for being too excellent (covers mouth to stifle laugh).'
Leon used bad jokes in his mind to ease the current awkwardness.
The vice principal stood up with satisfaction, then walked over to Leon and put an arm around his shoulders like an old friend.
Leon gave a side-eye to the hand on his shoulder.
'Really don't like dragons with no sense of boundaries!'
"I believe everyone has heard of Mr. Leon's name. Just a few months ago, he prevented a spatial rift crisis, saving many nearby clans. Our principal, Angelina Ouellette, affectionately calls him—"
"The Hero of the Dragon Clan!"
As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
But up on the stage, General Leon was drenched in sweat.
'Damn frogs!'
'Who clapped first just now? Was it you?'
'I'm cutting off your dragon horns later and soaking them in wine!'
Back when Principal Ouellette called him the Dragon Clan's Hero in a private meeting, Leon already felt super uncomfortable.
Dude enlisted in the Dragon-Slaying Corps at fifteen. The number of evil dragons he's seen and slain was nearly a thousand.
Who would've thought that just a few years later, the dragon-slaying hero would transform into the Dragon Clan's hero—
'Ah, unpredictable fate.'
'So unpredictable!'
And now the vice principal shouted that glorious title in front of hundreds of dragons.
'You might as well roast me on a fire!'
'Being worshipped as a hero by all those who earned first-class and special-class honors... is weirdly bizarre.'
"And Mr. Leon also cultivated three great seedlings for our academy."
The vice principal continued passionately, "His eldest daughter is currently the top-ranked student in the dragonling department, Noah K. Melkvei. I believe the students present have heard of Senior Noah, yes?"
"Yes~"
"Senior Noah is amazing!"
The little dragonlings responded in unison.
"Excellent. And after Noah, Mr. Leon brought his equally outstanding second and youngest daughters to St. Heath Academy. It's no exaggeration to say Mr. Leon's feat has made an extraordinary contribution to the future of the dragon race."
After the vice principal's exaggerated praise, the audience broke into another round of applause.
Just as the vice principal was about to keep going, he suddenly noticed his palm on Leon's shoulder felt a little warm.
He looked down and muttered, "Why's my palm sweating... Am I too excited?"
Leon glared at the old guy and silently prayed for this damn ceremony to end already.
After that, the vice principal continued to praise our Dragon Clan Hero, Mr. Casmodeous.
Then he let Luna and Little Light each hug the old father who contributed greatly to their successful admissions.
The old father was on the verge of tears, besides hugging, what else could he do?
After the hug came the classic encore.
"Mr. Leon, now that your daughters' segment is over, may I ask, do you remember what else you did here three years ago?"
Leon swallowed and sneaked a glance at Rossweise.
The mother dragon still looked straight ahead, a light smile on her lips, clearly not intending to join this conversation.
Leon looked away, feigning ignorance in a last-ditch effort, "For...forgot, Vice Principal."
"Well, let me remind you. Three years ago, standing right here, you kissed your wife, Ms. Rossweise."
Leon squinted and smiled, "Is that so... haha, I was young and foolish, just playing around."
"Then Mr. Leon, as this ceremony comes to a close, please use the same kiss to give today's ceremony a perfect ending!"
"Uh this…"
"What do you all think~"
The gossip-hungry dragons in the audience were excited.
"Yes! Support it!"
"Been hearing about how loving the Silver Dragon couple is, finally get to see them be lovey-dovey. Kiss! Gotta kiss!"
"Kiss one~ Kiss one~"
"..."
The shouting rose in waves.
Leon couldn't tell if this was an entrance ceremony or a damn wedding.
"Ooh~ Daddy's gonna kiss Mommy~", Little Luna also joined the fun nearby.
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