The two young men seemed accustomed to the attention they received, completely unfazed.
Lu Kuo asked curiously, “Why did you make me go to Class 3 instead of being in the same class with you?”
Because before transferring to Qining High School, he remembered that Teacher Cheng had said that they would be arranged in the same class together as companions. As a result, he arrived a few days late for registration and only learned that he was assigned to Class 3. It was said to be Zhu Yu’an’s suggestion.
Lu Kuo sneered: “If you didn’t want to see me, what were you doing waiting for me every day after school? You’re such a hypocrite!”
Zhuo Yu’an ignored him and left on his bike, backpack slung over his shoulder.
The two couples’ homes were not in the same direction. Lu Kuo and his parents lived in a different residential compound.
When Zhuo Yuyan rode his bike to the school gate, he suddenly slammed on the brakes and stopped with a thud. He saw that girl again. She was standing in front of a black sedan with her classmates, saying goodbye to his classmate Wen Jian.
That car belonged to Tinglan’s father, Shu Minghai. He happened to be passing by Qining High School at the time school let out today, so he came to pick up Tinglan specially.
Tinglan called out to Chengchen and they both got into the car.
Her father, Shu Minghai, poked his head out and said to Wen Jian outside the car, “Xiao Jian, aren’t you getting in the car?”
Wen Jian shook his head: “I rode my bike here today.”
“Then be careful when riding your bike.” Shu Minghai glanced at her and instructed with concern.
“Okay.”
Wen Jian stood there, watching the car drive away until it was out of sight before getting on his own.
A boy rode his bike past her, and she quickly pedaled her own bike to catch up:
“Zuo Yu’an!”
He called out his name, finally catching up and walking beside him.
Does your house also face this direction?
“Right?” Wen Jian asked.
“Hmm.”
“My name is Wen Jian.” Although they had been classmates for a week, she still introduced herself very formally.
“Hello.” Zhu Yu’an turned his head slightly and responded politely, not too close nor too far.
The setting sun bathed him in its glow, as if outlining him with a golden rim. There was a particular nobility and refinement about him that Wen Jian had never seen in other boys or men.
Zhuo Yu’an rode his bike fast, Wen Jian struggled to keep up behind him. After passing several intersections, they arrived at Wen Jian’s residential complex, while Zhuo Yu’an continued on.
In the black car ahead, Tinglan and Chengchen sat in the back seat exchanging glances about school anecdotes, giggling quietly. They didn’t dare talk as boisterously as usual, mainly because Chengchen was a bit afraid of Tinglan’s father.
Ting Lan’s father is the president of a state-owned enterprise in Qi Ning. Although Ting Lan always says her father is actually a good person, looking at his imposing and dignified appearance, Cheng Chen didn’t dare to speak up.
Shu Minghai, while driving, glanced at the two young girls behind him through the rearview mirror and spoke.
“Were you two in the same class after high school?”
“Yes,” Cheng Chen replied, trembling.
Then we should study together and get into a good university in the future.
“Got it, Dad. You’ve said it many times already.” Tinglan leaned forward, resting her head against the backrest of the driver’s seat and looking at her father’s profile.
Shuminghai: “Dad believes in you. However, the academic pressure in high school will be great, and you need to be more focused. I’ll tell your teachers that you should avoid extracurricular activities that take up too much of your time, especially things like playing the piano at the welcome event for new students…”
Things that are not helpful for learning.
Tinglan secretly curled her lips: “Dad, are you Mom’s megaphone now? Did she tell you to say these things to me?”
Because she performed poorly on the middle school entrance exam and almost didn’t get into Qingshan High School, while Wen Jian got in with top marks, her mother has always been upset about it. She made a decision to manage her studies even more strictly.
Shuminghai: “Lanlan, Mama is doing this for your own good.”
Tinglan is a good girl. Her performance in the middle school entrance exam was not as expected, resulting in a lower ranking. She already felt bad about it, and without her parents reminding her, she would still work hard to catch up. So Shu Minghai only gave her hints.
“Excuse me, uncle, my house is just at the next intersection. You can just let me off there.” Cheng Chen decided to get off a stop early. The atmosphere in the car felt a bit tense and uncomfortable.
After Cheng Chen got out of the car, Tinglan leaned forward again, resting her head on the headrest of the driver’s seat, looking at her father’s profile, and suddenly asked, “Dad, are you under a lot of work pressure recently?”
What’s wrong?
“You’ve got all white hair now.”
Shu Minghai was taken aback. Lately, work pressure had been intense. Many things were spiraling out of control, and he was pulling with all his might to keep them from falling apart.
“Dad, I will study hard in the future, get good grades, go to a good university, find a good job, and then you and Mom won’t have to work so hard.”
Shuminghai’s eyes were a little hot, he turned his head and touched her head: “Thank you, Lanlan, Dad doesn’t feel hard.”
Their family wasn’t incredibly wealthy, but they were comfortable enough, living a life of ease without financial worries. Their children didn’t have to concern themselves with such things.
When the father and daughter arrived home, their mother Zhang He had already finished work and cooked dinner waiting for them. The three of them were also very happy together.
The next day, Tinglan still…
Cheng Chen had made an appointment with Wen Jian to meet at the bus stop and go to school together. Wen Jian arrived a little earlier than him, still riding her bicycle as usual.
But when Wen Jian rode his bike past the bus stop, he was taken aback to see Zhuo Yu’an standing under the billboard at the platform, with a backpack slung over one shoulder and headphones on.
How come he is so good at this bus stop?
Based on yesterday’s cycling route, his house should be quite far from this bus stop.
In the distance, Tinglan and Chengchen walked over holding hands and chatting. Because it was school time, there were many students queuing at the bus stop. The two of them proactively lined up at the end of the queue.
The bus arrived soon. After those at the end of the line got on, there were no seats left. The two of them, as usual, stood in the aisle, holding onto the handrail with one hand and the seat with the other.
“Here, sit here,” a boy in the front seat suddenly stood up and gave them his seat.
The boy was too tall, Tinglan jumped in fright and took a step back.
“No, it’s alright.” She waved her hand dismissively.
But the boy had already stood up and made space. Tinglan thought that he was probably about to get off at the next stop, so she felt relieved and said to Cheng Chen beside her, “You sit.”
Cheng Chen happened to have her period these days, so she didn’t hesitate and sat down directly.
Cheng Chen recognized him. He was the transfer student from Beijing, who was friends with Lu Kuò, the boy sitting behind her. Sometimes after class, he would wait for Lu Kuò outside their classroom 3B.
Tinglan moved slightly forward, standing closer to Cheng Chen’s position. When the bus reached the next stop, the boy beside her didn’t get off. Instead, because many people got on this stop, making it even more crowded than before, he ended up standing behind her.
She only realized later that the boy was also wearing a qi.
Ning Gao’s school uniform, you can’t blame her for that either. Because ordinary uniforms on him, wore out a high-end feel.
Author’s Note: Some plot points in this part of the story have been mentioned in the main text, and there may be minor differences. However, these are insignificant details that do not affect the plot (mainly because some were glossed over at the time, and I’ve forgotten about them myself, haha! When I revisited them, I made some changes here and there).
Besides, some of the high school parts were intentionally set by me, it’s not like that. Let me know if you have any other text you’d like me to translate! ?