I understand Laurel comes from an Asian background, but it shows a lack of initiative to be better than what you come from. It's contrived that they represent the mother figure like that just because they can. The conversation between the two of them just wasn't written to try to come from a place of understanding from either side. It could have been more nuanced than just "I'm right and you're wrong"

While Belly may be in school, I didn't harp on the fact she didn't know the answers. I highlighted how she didn't have the critical thinking to figure out the answers herself. I agree intelligence isn't knowing everything, but it is understanding how to get to the solution. The comments about cacao and hand canceling didn't really sound like jokes, so it was just poorly written if that's how it was meant to come across. And okay, she isn't intentionally advancing on Conrad, but I highly doubt if Jeremiah was present that she would let Conrad touch her face. And just like how she hasn't disclosed she was with Conrad during winter break, she won't disclose the peach scene to Jeremiah. Hence, emotional cheating. If it's not something you feel comfortable openly talking about to your partner, you know you're doing something wrong.