Don't beat around the bush!

Sometimes people likes to boast about something they've achieved to someone that they seek acknowledgment of, but many people often do it in a way that mocks the other party. They would say something like "Hey! How's your exam results? Are you in the top honored few?". After some rounds of exchanging questions, it's so obvious that the coming words will be "I am in it". Some people just prefer the answer straight to their face rather than you going one round and mocking him or her. But it's human courtesy to show concerns to another party.. Well, it's kinda contradicting...