Chapter 3

Having said that, grandmother smiled and handed over the receiver

This question has been asked by many people, and Xu Qing always responds with "uncertain, I don't know"; it is only in front of her grandmother that Xu Qing opens her heart and smiles confidently, saying: "Not only am I not afraid, but I even look forward to the exam coming soon. Grandma, I am still quite confident about mathematics."

After the exam, Xu Qing found him in the corridor, handed him the pen, and expressed her gratitude; the boy took the pen with a slight smile and casually asked, "How did it go?"

Zhang Xiaoxiao whispered with a laugh in Xu Qing's ear: "Just by looking at the way you look at Jie Jie, I can tell that you truly care about her"

Running to the auditorium, the classmates in the class were indeed walking in, doing the final cleaning. Xu Qing originally wanted to quietly find Zheng Jie Jie, but unexpectedly, someone with sharp eyes spotted Xu Qing's figure and immediately called out: "Xu Qing, why are you back? It's lively to come back."

Because it was a weekend morning, there were not as many people on the long street as usual. Xu Qing spotted the entrance of No. 7 Middle School at the end of the street, where people were gradually coming in and out. Xu Qing smiled and turned her head, her eyes dazzled by the sunlight reflecting off the numerous glass windows of a uniquely shaped building a few dozen meters ahead.

The classmates then all noticed her. Many asked her about the exam situation, and Xu Qing patiently answered each one, which consumed quite a bit of time. Xu Qing, seeing the large clock at the back of the auditorium, became increasingly distracted. Zhang Xiaoxiao noticed this and asked, "Do you have something on your mind?"

After entering the examination room, Xu Qing was surprised to find those deep eyes staring intently at her in the classroom. An unknown sentiment was clearly revealed in those eyes, causing Xu Qing to feel her face flush as she hurriedly averted her gaze. After sitting down, she realized that the owner of those eyes was seated just to the side and slightly in front of her. Xu Qing could just see that he had thin lips, broad shoulders, and his dark, lush hair covered most of his ears.

Xu Qing felt drowsy, and she was not in the mood to appreciate the scenery along the way, eventually dozing off against the backrest. Upon arriving in the city, it was the moment when thousands of lights illuminated the night. Xu Qing had spent a long time at school, feeling as if she could transcend her earthly form. Suddenly, she was greeted by beautiful and worldly sights, which left her momentarily stunned. After regaining her composure, she remembered that she had returned to the city, and in an instant, her drowsiness vanished. Excitedly, she jumped out of the car, looking around eagerly. The group leader, seeing Xu Qing display a rare expression of joy, was also affected and smiled. He began to share many of the instructions he had originally planned to convey, emphasizing the importance of arriving at the competition venue at the entrance of No. 7 Middle School before 8:30, and then allowed them to return home.

Xu Qing's cheeks flushed as she stammered, "I was lost in thought"

As she stepped through the door, Xu Qing excitedly called out in a loud voice while changing her shoes: "Grandma, I am back!"

Xu Qing took a deep breath and said sincerely: "If I am smarter than others, I must thank my mother."

After finishing her meal, Xu Qing took a nap to rest and quickly fell asleep. However, her dreams were bizarre and surreal, with various indistinct figures taking the stage, performing for Xu Qing in succession without pause. Xu Qing felt as if a heavy stone was pressing on her chest, struggling to breathe, and finally woke up in a cold sweat, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. Reflecting on the dream, she found that she could not remember a single detail.

What do you know

Xu Qing is a good friend of Zheng Jie Jie, and we have met before. Sun Wen introduced the two, saying, "This is my fiancée, Huang Ying"

Just after taking a breath of fresh air outside, Teacher Fang instructed Xu Qing to return to the dormitory to pack her things, stating that the school bus was already waiting at the gate. Xu Qing was quite surprised, "Teacher Fang, wasn't it said to be at 5:30"

"Then you can't wear wet clothes either," Zhang Xiaoxiao said, tapping her forehead and pulling Xu Qing's arm as they walked towards the dormitory. "Come on, I'll accompany you back to change your clothes."

After speaking, he walked away gracefully, not forgetting to turn back and wave. Xu Qing was left standing there, dumbfounded and at a loss for what to do.

Xu Qing stared blankly, reaching out her hand to wipe her face, but suddenly remembered that she was wearing makeup. She angrily stopped her hand and sighed: "Voltaire once praised a beauty by saying, 'You possess unparalleled grace, the gods have bestowed upon you a charming demeanor, even the most trivial matters are done enchantingly.' I think, I have fallen in love with you"

Xu Qing tidied up her things and found her grandmother in the yard, saying that she needed to return to school for a while; her grandmother was not surprised at all and understood Xu Qing's sudden request very well, but she was just worried that Xu Qing might return too late from school and might not find a bus. Xu Qing assured her, "Today is the school anniversary, and the school bus will continuously transport guests."

I know what you are anxious about, " Zhang Xiaoxiao said, watching Xu Qing hurriedly change her clothes while fiddling with the watch on her wrist, " There are still ten minutes until the rehearsal begins.

The room was originally quite large, but due to the numerous actors, it became extremely crowded and chaotic. As Xu Qing entered the room, a teacher grabbed her hand and pressed her towards an empty chair, saying, "Why haven't you put on your makeup yet?" while picking up an eyebrow pencil. Xu Qing was startled and jumped up from the chair, repeatedly explaining, "I am not an actor."

At this moment, Zheng Jiejie also reined in her smile: "You too, not studying at home, suddenly returning to school for what? Is there something going on?"

After three years of being classmates, Zhang Xiaoxiao still had some understanding of Xu Qing's temperament. She knew it was unlikely to elicit any information and was not too curious, so she simply gave up on the question. However, she feigned anger and said, "You definitely know what happened, but you just refuse to tell me."

On the day of the competition, the weather was a rare sunny day in autumn, with the morning sun casting golden rays of light, illuminating every street and alley in the city, and making everyone appear to be draped in golden gauze. Xu Qing got off the bus with a simple bag, continuing to observe her surroundings as she had on the bus, and unexpectedly looking down, she discovered that her hands had also turned golden.

Xu Qing, feeling helpless, could only raise her hand to ask the teacher to borrow a pencil. The teacher asked the surrounding students, "Who has an extra pencil?"

Xu Qing was taken aback, "I never expected so much. It is commendable that they paid attention."

Zhang Xiaoxiao said: "This is the first one. It seems there are several other programs that require Jie Jie to appear."

You have ranked first in every mathematics competition, and your reputation has long spread throughout all the secondary schools in the city; they look at you without the slightest surprise

Then the sound of the piano began to play, and Xu Qing almost held her breath, staring intently at the stage. From a distance, she could only see Zheng Jie Jie in a white long dress in front of the grand piano, with white hairpins adorning her temples, exuding an exceptional grace. It must have looked splendid in the eyes of the audience, as the hall was filled with gasps of admiration, a clear testament to this. It was already late October, and the weather was slightly chilly. Xu Qing noticed Zheng Jie Jie's bare arms gliding gracefully over the piano keys, and suddenly felt a chill.

As lunch was just served at home, Grandma noticed that Xu Qing seemed a bit emotionally unstable and assumed it was due to an unsatisfactory exam result. She comforted her by saying, "It doesn't matter. It's okay if you didn't do well on the exam."

Xu Qing did not feel that anything was amiss: "Go to the auditorium"

Zheng Jie Jie was both angry and amused, with a stern expression: "Did you come here just to recite poetry to me? But when did you learn to memorize poems?"

Watch the rehearsal

Xu Qing returned to the dormitory, finding it empty. A girl from the neighboring class was startled by Xu Qing's appearance and then explained that the students from her class were all setting up the auditorium, as the evening party was about to begin.

The boy stared at Xu Qing in surprise: "You don't know?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as these words were spoken, half of the people present turned their gazes toward Xu Qing in unison, while the remaining half were also influenced, gradually shifting their attention over, and various whispers began to arise

"It's nothing," the boy said, shrugging lightly, not responding immediately. His almond-shaped eyes flickered as he added, "However, seeing how you almost fell just now was quite thrilling."

After speaking, Zheng Jie Jie gave a light tap on Xu Qing's back. The tap was very gentle, and Xu Qing pretended to be in pain, leaning forward as if about to fall. Unintentionally, Xu Qing noticed Zhao Qian staring blankly at her and Zheng Jie Jie, his face filled with shock. Xu Qing recalled what had happened in the morning, and suddenly, it felt as if a bucket of icy water had been poured into her heart.

The woman, surprised, smiled and took over the conversation: "So, the little sister is actually a talented woman."

Zhang Xiaoxiao said leisurely, "Do you believe it? I observe much more carefully than you do."

Zheng Jiejie has already applied her makeup, her complexion beneath the foundation is as smooth as jade, and her cheeks are flushed with excitement, resembling the red wine in a crystal glass; her hair is styled up at the temples, secured with white hairpins on both sides. She is wearing a sleeveless, high-quality white long dress, and due to the cold weather, she has temporarily put on a white shirt over the dress. The shirt is left unbuttoned, loosely draped over Zheng Jiejie's long dress, adding an indescribable beauty to her appearance.

Zhang Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows, understanding her meaning

Xu Qing forced a smile, realizing that she was so flustered by her earlier words that it could truly be described as "a concern that leads to confusion." Xu Qing bent down to pick up the scattered stationery, checking to see if anything had been damaged; the items had scattered in all directions. As she half-squatted on the ground and reached for a fountain pen, another clean and slender hand had already grasped it and was extending it towards her. Xu Qing bent down to pick up the scattered stationery, checking to see if anything had been damaged; the items had scattered in all directions. As she half-squatted on the ground and reached for a fountain pen, another clean and slender hand had already grasped it and was extending it towards her.

For a moment, she could not see anything. Xu Qing covered her eyes and ran a few steps. When she opened her eyes again, the reflected sunlight had already fallen behind her. Taking a closer look at her surroundings, Xu Qing noticed that in front of the building there was an unusual white sports car, which was striking both in its design and color.

It was Sun Wen. He took a detour to the other side of the car, smiled down, opened the car door, and led out a tall woman. The woman was young and beautiful, with truly red lips and white teeth. Her long, simple dress made her appear even more slender, and her hair was parted on both sides, tied back in a low bun. Sun Wen wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they walked towards the entrance of the building, with the woman leaning against him, their demeanor very intimate, and their relationship was self-evident

Just like the sudden pain and embarrassment that arises when people unconsciously mention a name they had no intention of bringing up again, Liang Yuanyu's voice abruptly halted when she mentioned Ga Xuqing's father

You naturally wouldn't care, as you are inherently different from us. Not everyone is as smart yet slow-witted as you are, Zhang Xiaoxiao shrugged, considering Xu Qing's response to be quite normal. However... no matter what, your relationship is indeed rare.

Originally intending to experience the rich and joyful atmosphere of the school anniversary, Xu Qing expressed great regret, describing her mindset by saying: "I feel that I will regret this for a long time"

"Um." Xu Qing nodded hurriedly and almost ran away.

Zhang Xiaoxiao pointed in a direction: "Over there in the back," and after a moment of thought, added, "The room behind the stage with the hanging curtain is the one."

Xu Qing tapped her, saying, "Why are you looking at me instead of the stage?"

It doesn't matter. I will just take a look for a while

"Apart from noticing Jie Jie, who else did you pay attention to?" Zhang Xiaoxiao, feeling unconvinced, immediately presented her evidence, "I am different. Did you notice that while Jie Jie was playing the piano, Zhao Qian stood by her side the whole time, his gaze never shifting from Jie Jie?"

Xu Qing

Xu Qing could not help but recall what was said in a travel television program she watched last night: the original scenery of nature is always breathtaking, far surpassing those scenes deliberately created by humans, no matter how dreamlike they may seem.

Xu Qing naturally knew the root of the matter, but since Zheng Jie did not mention it, she would not say anything either. So, in a joking tone, she said to Zhang Xiaoxiao: "That's because Jie Jie is good-looking. Can anyone in the audience keep track of how many people are looking at her?"

The teacher looked at Xu Qing with a scrutinizing gaze

There were people around laughing, and the laughter was quite loud: "As soon as Teacher Zhang sees a beautiful girl, he hopes to push her onto the stage."

Zheng Jie Jie exclaimed with a smile: "This is too exaggerated, too exaggerated. I believe most people would think that competitions are more important than watching a gala."

As Xu Qing walked past an old building, she saw a group of high school students cleaning the dusty walls. Several tall boys were holding thick fire hoses, spraying water onto the wall. The water was gushing out too forcefully, and when it hit the wall, it burst like a bomb, scattering sparkling droplets in all directions, leaving no chance for anyone to dodge. The boys were soaked through, but they didn't care at all, laughing heartily as they exchanged glances with one another.

Grandma noticed Xu Qing's mature and composed demeanor that was not in line with her age, and tapped Xu Qing's bowl with her chopsticks: "Xiao Qing, don't think so much anymore; you have a competition tomorrow. That is the priority. Besides, what use is it for us to ponder over matters that are thousands of miles away?"

Grandma furrowed her brows: "Your mother had a quarrel with that Swiss man and came to me to complain, saying she wanted to come back. I told her to handle it as she sees fit, I won't interfere, but she thought I was laughing at her."

As the rehearsal began, they arrived at the auditorium just in time. The hall was lavishly and festively decorated, with most of the seats occupied by classmates, who were pointing and whispering, causing the front to be completely blocked. They could only stand at the back, watching the activity on the stage from a distance.

Upon receiving the pen, Xu Qing noticed a pair of exceptionally clean sneakers. As she said "thank you," she looked up to see a boy bending down to gaze at her, a slight smile on his lips, as if he found Xu Qing quite amusing; he had a pair of standard almond-shaped eyes, with unusually dark irises and deep, unfathomable pupils, which made his gaze appear very special, as if it contained a thousand unspoken words.

Sun Wen did not notice Xu Qing's unusual behavior and continued to embrace the shoulders of the woman, smiling broadly as he asked: "Xu Qing, isn't it your school's anniversary today? Why are you in the city?"

Xu Qing no longer asked, returned to the dormitory to pack her things, and ran breathlessly to the school gate, where the school bus was indeed waiting. Five people were already seated on the bus. Xu Qing chose a window seat and tilted her head to look at the scenery outside the school gate. The bus waited for another fifteen minutes before the remaining students participating in the competition gradually boarded. As the bus traveled along the road, the teacher discussed several important points to pay attention to for the exam.

Xu Qing replied softly. With each answer she provided, Liang Yuanyu would say something like "good" or "not bad," and his tone was no longer as heavy as it had been at the beginning, at least as it seemed to Xu Qing. Liang Yuanyu smiled and praised her: "Indeed, you are my daughter. It reminds me of when I was studying back in the day; I was just as outstanding as you. And then there was Shiyan..."

Xu Qing asked, "Why are we arguing?"

I truly wish my eyes were a holographic camera, capable of capturing the best moments of life. Whenever needed, I could replay everything I wanted to see

Grandmother was indeed shocked, but she concealed it very well. To Xu Qing, Grandmother appeared calm, her gaze gentle, and her speech was composed and unhurried. "It is not surprising; if you think about it carefully, you have not seen each other for ten years. At that time, you were only five years old, and not everyone retains memories from their childhood... Moreover, this is the responsibility of your parents, not yours. They have been abroad and have not returned even once since then."

"That won't do," Grandma said, embracing Xu Qing's shoulders and speaking pragmatically. "If that were the case, your eyes would never be able to shed tears; they would remain fixed in their sockets, unable to move like those of a normal person, only able to observe the surroundings through stiff rotations. You would be unable to express any of your feelings through your gaze, and no one would be able to see what you are thinking. Therefore, as your grandmother, I do not wish for my granddaughter to resemble a robot; I hope you can have kind and bright eyes.

"Certainly not." Xu Qing put down her chopsticks, contemplating her conclusion

Xu Qing knew it was her mother's call, but for some reason, speaking with her mother felt even more daunting than facing a stranger. She hesitated to answer the phone and took a long time before finally picking up the receiver. After awkwardly saying a dry "Hello, Mom," her voice got stuck. Xu Qing's mother, Liang Yuanyu, felt similarly; speaking on the other end of the line also seemed quite laborious for her.

Although it is a national competition, the questions are relatively simple and accessible. Xu Qing completed the exam with considerable ease, finishing nearly an hour ahead of time. However, she encountered a minor issue while working on a question that required drawing; she discovered that her pencil had been broken in an accident at the school gate.

Xu Qing saw that Zhang Xiaoxiao had a somewhat strange expression in the mirror, and turned around to ask: "What is it?"

These eyes made Xu Qing's heart race, leaving her utterly at a loss. She stood frozen for a long time before gathering the strength to rise, tossing the sweat-soaked pen into her bag. Taking a glance at the boy in a dark coat who was a head taller than her, she inhaled deeply, striving to regain her composure and express her gratitude once more

Zhang Xiaoxiao was originally a generous and straightforward person. Xu Qing was startled by her sudden anger and was about to explain when someone patted her on the back and called her name in a low voice. The person behind her was Teacher Fang. He looked anxious and said, "Why are you still here? Many people are waiting for you. Come out with me quickly"

Zhang Xiaoxiao glared at her, pulling at her eyelids: "What should we do if you catch a cold? You have a competition tomorrow! Don't try to argue with me about getting your outerwear wet and not catching a cold. We need to take precautions and prepare in advance, do you understand? Besides, I remember Teacher Fang reassuringly telling you that you are the hope of the school, and with you here, we cannot let the people from No. 7 Middle School surpass us..."

Xu Qing smiled faintly, took her hand and placed it in her palm, and spoke softly: "There is nothing else, I just came to see you"

Yes. I will be leaving in the afternoon, so I probably won't be able to see the formal evening event

Xu Qing hesitated for a moment, turned to look at Zhang Xiaoxiao, and saw a smiling face, devoid of any anger. Only then did she realize that she had been deceived. Instantly, she felt a sense of relief. As she lifted her leg to leave, she glanced at the stage once more, where a captivating dance was being performed. She took a deep breath and squeezed her way out of the crowd with Teacher Fang.

Xu Qing had not been in contact with her mother for a long time; the last time she heard her voice was more than half a year ago. However, even this simple exchange of questions and answers made her immediately sense that her mother's voice was off, forced and suppressed, as if she did not care about her own culture. Xu Qing felt a sense of gloom in her heart, thinking that if this were the case, it would be better to find an excuse to end the call to avoid awkwardness for both of them. While she was pondering, Liang Yuanyu began to ask some routine questions, such as "Are you in good health? How are your grades? You are in the third year of junior high, right? You will be entering high school soon; do you feel confident?" and so on.

I recall how others have evaluated you and Jie Jie, but you probably do not know these remarks. Zhang Xiaoxiao displayed a rare expression of deep contemplation, which made Xu Qing feel quite uncomfortable. Many people say that Zheng Jie Jie should be grateful to you. You are well aware that not every girl is willing to become friends with her, to be that close, inseparable. She shines brightly, and it is difficult for those standing beside her not to be overshadowed. You are indeed aware that not every girl is willing to become friends with her, to be that close, inseparable. She shines brightly, and it is difficult for those standing beside her not to be overshadowed. Even I am not particularly willing to stand next to her, fearing the stark contrast of being outshone. However, it is peculiar that you have not been overshadowed by her at all. Everyone says that when Zheng Jie Jie appears, no one pays attention to whether there are others around her; you are the only exception.

The day of the school anniversary coincides with the date of the competition; in other words, Xu Qing will be unable to attend the anniversary gala. Unless she rushes back to the school located in the suburban area immediately after the first day's exam ends, and then hurries back home overnight, it may be possible. This competition is also the largest and most important one that Xu Qing has participated in during her middle school years, and according to the teachers, the results of the competition are crucial to the reputation of the school.

The sound of the piano gradually resonated through every corner of the auditorium via the loudspeaker. The auditorium, which had been somewhat noisy, fell into complete silence half a minute after the piano music began. The piano piece was played with remarkable smoothness, and thunderous applause erupted in Xu Qing's ears. Zheng Jie Jie slowly stood up, bowed to the audience in gratitude, as the curtain closed. Xu Qing reached up to pat her cheek and realized her hand was sweaty

Grandmother did not speak immediately; Xu Qing looked up to see her sitting on the sofa talking on the phone, her expression serious, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes, her voice very low, seemingly saying, "If you wanted to leave back then, you shouldn't come back now." However, that was just for a moment. When Xu Qing blinked and looked again, her grandmother was smiling at her, calm and kind, just as usual, beckoning her to sit beside her, speaking into the microphone, "Yuan Yu, Xiao Qing is back. Do you want to talk to her?" It seemed she had said, "If you wanted to leave back then, you shouldn't come back now." However, that was just for a moment. When Xu Qing blinked and looked again, her grandmother was smiling at her, calm and kind, just as usual, beckoning her to sit beside her, speaking into the microphone, "Yuan Yu, Xiao Qing is back. Do you want to talk to her?"

Xu Qing raised her gaze from the photo and softly replied: "Grandma, while I was on the phone, I was trying hard to recall what my mother looked like, but to my surprise, I have completely forgotten her appearance; the same goes for my father. Not to mention their looks, I have no impression at all of their body shapes, whether they wore glasses or not... I don't know why I have forgotten them"

Teacher Fang replied sternly: "It is not a bad thing to go home early and have a good rest"

Watching a video cannot compare to being present at the scene

A famous boy rushed over to apologize. Seeing Xu Qing staring blankly at her clothes, completely motionless, he thought she was angry and kept saying "I'm sorry". In fact, Xu Qing was rendered speechless by a series of unexpected events; she had no intention of being angry, but rather felt a vague sense of joy. After regaining her composure, she noticed the boy in front of her was quite frightened, his face full of regret, and she couldn't help but smile brightly: "It's okay, it's okay"

Xiao Qing, are you home?

Xu Qingxin's heart skipped a beat; it turned out his name was Jiang Luosheng

The young man saw Xu Qing's smile, his lips curving into a crescent shape, the joy spreading from his mouth to his brows and hair tips. His pair of eyes sparkled with vitality, and he couldn't help but be momentarily stunned. By the time he regained his senses, Xu Qing had already walked far away

Xu Qing's eyes brimmed with tears

Xu Qing curled her lips

Zhang Xiaoxiao stared at Xu Qing and suddenly sighed

The boy revealed a broad smile and quietly said something. As the exam concluded, the students who participated began to emerge from the classroom, filling the corridor with a crowd. Voices discussing answers and sharing exam experiences rose and fell in succession. Xu Qing completely failed to catch what he had said. In her anxiety, she focused her gaze back on him and asked eagerly, "What did you just say? I didn't hear clearly."

She did not want to see his smiling face as he embraced the woman, so Xu Qing took the opportunity to turn her gaze away and said while looking at the entrance of No. 7 Middle School, "I am going to No. 7 Middle School to participate in the mathematics competition"

Xu Qing did not dare to look into his eyes, her gaze fixed on the distant buildings as she replied: "Thank you, I did average on the exam"

During the meal, Xu Qing couldn't help but ask: "What did Mom suddenly call about?"

The crowd surged out like a tide, leaving only a few people in the room. Besides them, several hosts were nervously rehearsing their lines, and the room appeared quite spacious. Zheng Jiejie pulled Xu Qing to sit down, her eyes sparkling with brilliance, and her smile radiated from the depths of her heart. She first asked Xu Qing: "Did you do well on the exam?"

Xu Qing was infected by this joyful atmosphere and looked over there several times. Just as she paused for two seconds, Xu Qing saw a dazzling string of pearls flying towards her. Still in a daze, she was then hit by a larger splash of water that surged towards her, and in an instant, Xu Qing's outer clothing was completely soaked

Xu Qing felt her mind go "bang" all of a sudden. She recalled her childhood when she built blocks, and just when she managed to stack them to a height taller than herself, the blocks suddenly collapsed, crashing down with a loud noise, some hitting her and causing a sharp pain. She took a deep breath twice, glanced at her watch, and politely said: "I’m sorry, I have to go now"

"You occasionally behave like a child," Zhang Xiaoxiao said in a reminding tone, "It seems that Jie Jie was absolutely right. She truly understands you."

This is the wonderful use of the canvas

Oh my, Xu Qing, what are you doing

Xu Qing observed Zhang Xiaoxiao's hesitant demeanor, choosing not to inquire further, and could only manage a subdued smile

The laughter startled Zheng Jie Jie, who was in the corner of the room. Curious, she came over and saw Xu Qing standing helplessly among the crowd. Zheng Jie Jie was greatly surprised and ran over in two or three steps to grab her: "Xu Qing"

It was precisely afternoon, and both grandmother and aunt had gone out, leaving the house empty. Since she could not sleep, Xu Qing went to the sunlit study to pull out a volume of poetry to read, but the words seemed to roll around, deliberately preventing her from seeing them clearly; she put down the book and attempted some math problems, but the questions were monotonous and quite tedious. Xu Qing felt restless, and a strange unease gradually grew in her heart, like a fire in a field of wild grass; once a spark jumped out, it could not be contained.

The two words "thank you" left Liang Yuanyu momentarily stunned, and then her face turned red as she hurriedly hung up the phone. To be honest, she felt that she only owed Xu Qing the gratitude of giving birth.

Xu Qing smiled awkwardly and said: "It's nothing, just came back to take a look. However, do you know where Jie Jie is?"

Later, Xu Qing recalled that time and felt that the only way to describe her situation then was to say she had to "flee in disarray"

After the opening speech of the evening party, the two hosts took the stage. From a distance, Xu Qing could not see their appearance clearly, but the voice sounded somewhat familiar. Just as she was feeling puzzled, she overheard a few girls in front of her excitedly whispering, and only then did she realize that the male host was Zhao Qian.

"However, do you have confidence in this math competition?" Grandma asked with a smile, "Are you afraid?"

The school's auditorium was completed just over a year ago, reportedly built for this year's school anniversary, which is why the stage is particularly grand. As the red curtain rises, a crescent-shaped stage is revealed, with a large backdrop depicting a vibrant scene of green mountains and clear waters. Xu Qing exclaimed, "Oh!" and Zhang Xiaoxiao was also surprised, saying, "Why does the stage look much larger than usual?"

Xu Qing gazed at her beautiful face, unable to contain her smile: "I learned it on the spot. I happened to remember it from this afternoon."

Xu Qing fell silent for a moment, lowering her head to see her parents in the photo as vibrant young individuals. Xu Shiyan was handsome and tall, while Liang Yuanyu was beautiful and graceful, both smiling joyfully as they leaned against each other, perfectly attired in harmonious clothing. Turning to another picture, it depicted Liang Yuanyu holding Xu Qing while strolling in the garden; little Xu Qing was chubby, with round arms resembling freshly harvested, plump lotus roots.

It sounds like some trivial matters

Xu Qing suddenly felt as if she had become a dinosaur from prehistoric times. In surprise, Xu Qing asked her classmates, "Why is everyone looking at me?"

The boy was the first to turn his head, leaning forward, and with a slight smile, he handed over a sharpened pencil.

The corridor fell silent all at once, and everyone turned their gaze to Xu Qing, eager to hear her comments on the exam questions. Many had already heard of Xu Qing's reputation, but this was the first time they had seen her. They were surprised to discover that Xu Qing was such a beautiful and serene young woman, and they found it hard to look away from her. Xu Qing suddenly felt that even this moment of being the center of attention was better than the previous unconscious eye contact. It was as if she had been granted a reprieve as she waved in the direction of the voice: "Let's go. Since the exam is over, there's no need to dwell on it. Don't let it affect tomorrow's exam." Xu Qing suddenly felt that even this moment of being the center of attention was better than the previous unconscious eye contact. It was as if she had been granted a reprieve as she waved in the direction of the voice: "Let's go. Since the exam is over, there's no need to dwell on it. Don't let it affect tomorrow's exam."

Qizhong is a school that is renowned alongside Yizhong, and their architectural styles are quite similar. Xu Qing quickly found classmates and teachers from Yizhong near the main building of Qizhong; all the students had gathered and were lining up to enter the examination hall. The sudden appearance of a boy earlier left Xu Qing feeling puzzled, so she kept looking around in the crowd, but she could not find any trace of him. The lead teacher noticed Xu Qing's distracted demeanor in the center of the crowd and was quite worried, calling out from the front of the line: "Xu Qing, focus." The sudden appearance of that boy earlier left Xu Qing feeling puzzled, so she kept looking around in the crowd, but she could not find any trace of him. The lead teacher noticed Xu Qing's distracted demeanor in the center of the crowd and was quite worried, calling out from the front of the line: "Xu Qing, focus."

Grandmother has always disliked foreign men, especially after Xu Qing's mother married a foreigner, her aversion has only intensified. She is even unwilling to mention their names. When they first got married ten years ago and came to visit, she did not show them a pleasant demeanor. Liang Yuanyun was aware of this, and thus it became one of the excuses for not returning to the country for many years

At this moment, distracted? The boy raised his wrist to check the time, and Xu Qing noticed that his watch was quite special, with a rare design. "There are still half an hour until the exam"

When Xu Qing saw his eyes again, her heart skipped a beat, and she took the pen, lowering her head heavily.

Zheng Jie Jie was about to frown again when she suddenly caught a glimpse of the genuine affection in Xu Qing's eyes. She couldn't help but be taken aback. Although she felt that something was subtly amiss, her heart also began to warm up.

Indeed, that is the case

Before leaving the school, Xu Qing specifically went to the auditorium to watch the final rehearsal of the evening performance. In order to celebrate the school anniversary, the school had suspended classes for two days, allowing students to tidy up the classrooms, clean, and decorate the classrooms as venues. Xu Qing was an exception, having no extra tasks, so she stayed in the dormitory for a full two days. At this moment, stepping outside, she was taken aback to see that the school had suddenly transformed; the trees along the tree-lined path were adorned with colorful lights, and every corner was bustling with students, all radiating joy. Xu Qing couldn't help but smile, wondering how she had never noticed so many people in the school before.

Sun Wen did not notice the change in Xu Qing's attitude, pointed to that building, and smiled as he introduced, "This is my company. You can come over to play with Jie Jie when you have time. She really likes it here"

Xu Qing was brought to laughter by these words, pouting her lips and smiling: "Grandma, I have always known that you studied mechanical design, you don't need to describe it any further."

Xu Qing foolishly asked, "Are you here to participate in the competition as well?" After asking, she remembered that today is the weekend; if not for the competition, what else could one come here for

Xu Qing shook her head: "Grandma, it's not about the exam." After saying this, Xu Qing slightly furrowed her brow, and a fine wrinkle appeared. She then stared blankly at her bowl of rice, looking completely puzzled. Grandma was surprised and wanted to say something, but seeing Xu Qing's expression, she realized that it would take her some time to digest and understand, so she decided not to bring it up again.

As Zheng Jiejie would later comment about him, "He is not the handsome and dashing young man that most people envision, but he possesses a pair of very remarkable eyes"

The boy seemed to sense what Xu Qing was thinking in her heart, and he pointed towards the campus: "Our teacher is in front of the main building, I will go gather there first," he said. At this point, a glimmer flashed in his eyes, and a smile spread across his lips: "Make sure not to lose focus during the exam again, otherwise, I won't accept anyone else taking first place. I wish you good luck on your exam."

After walking a few steps down the corridor, the noise erupted again. She couldn't help but turn back and saw that the boy had now become the center of attention for that group. Someone was asking, "Jiang Luosheng, how did you solve the last question?" He moved the corner of his mouth, a hint of a smile, as if he were speaking to someone else. However, it was undeniable, and it was not an illusion; at the moment Xu Qing turned her head, his gaze was indeed directed towards her.

At that moment, upon seeing his eyes, which were deep and unfathomable, Xu Qing felt as if her very soul was about to be drawn away. Just then, a fellow student from the adjacent classroom emerged and, upon spotting Xu Qing in the crowd, called out loudly: "Xu Qing, Xu Qing, do you think this set of problems is difficult? I couldn't finish it. How did you solve the last two questions?"

Putting down the phone, Xu Qing was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat. She hurriedly ran into the study, grabbed a pile of photo albums, brought them to the living room, dumped them all onto the sofa, and sat down herself, silently looking through them.

In the remaining few steps, Xu Qing was adjusting her mindset, reminding herself to remain calm regardless of the circumstances, not to be frightened by the news, and to face the exam with a normal state of mind

This section of the story will be passed over without further mention

Although her clothes were soaked, Xu Qing, seeing that the auditorium was already in sight, was too lazy to go back and change, allowing herself to walk straight ahead in her wet attire. Just then, Zhang Xiaoxiao passed by with a classmate, carrying a dustpan filled with leaves. Upon looking up, she saw Xu Qing dressed in clothes that looked as if they had just been pulled out of the water, yet her expression was quite at ease, as if the clothes were worn by someone else. With a somewhat displeased smile, she instructed her classmate to take out the trash and hurriedly called out to Xu Qing.

Xu Qing sighed: "However, I may not be able to watch it, as I will be returning to the city soon."

Xu Qing tugged at her clothes in front of the mirror, smiled happily, and said nothing. "Let's go."

On stage, Zhao Qian is delivering the announcements with a rhythmic cadence, articulating clearly and with a crisp voice. In fact, Zhang Xiaoxiao's remarks are entirely reasonable. It is unclear when rumors about Zheng Jiejie and Zhao Qian began circulating in the school, but they have been described in vivid detail; the two parties involved have completely ignored these claims, and their noncommittal attitude has only fueled the spread of the rumors. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it is now common knowledge among everyone at Yizhong.

Grandma asked her: "What is this for?"

Xu Qing was momentarily taken aback by the bean-like speech, and then recalled the eager gaze of Teacher Fang behind those thick glasses. With a sense of hesitation in her heart, she allowed Zhang Xiaoxiao to pull her back to the dormitory.

Hearing Sun Wen's voice finally brought Xu Qing back to her senses. Xu Qing saw Sun Wen smiling and waving at her, signaling her to come over quickly. She forced a smile and composed herself. Approaching them, she looked up and said: "Hello"

Seeing the people coming in and out at the school gate and the vehicles parked outside, Xu Qing immediately knew about the lively atmosphere on campus. No. 1 High School is a renowned institution that has produced many talents over the past fifty years. Alumni of various ages, tall and short, gather throughout the campus, engaging in lively conversations, often expressing pride in having studied at this school.

Xu Qing glanced at him and was about to shift her gaze elsewhere, but her mouth fell open when she saw the man stepping down from the car with an air of nonchalance. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, and from Xu Qing's angle, she could see that he had high cheekbones, and his jet-black hair was neatly parted to the side

Perhaps too focused on organizing her thoughts, Xu Qing did not pay attention to the steps as she entered the gate of No. 7 Middle School. She missed a step, stumbled, and lost her balance. Although she managed to steady herself with great difficulty, the bag in her hand had already flown out at some point, scattering pens, pencils, a compass, and a ruler all over the ground.

Generally speaking, students who do not attend classes are usually willing to accept any tasks assigned to them with pleasure

Yes

Xu Qing let out a sigh of relief, smiled innocently, and revealed a hint of embarrassment

Xu Qing clearly saw Zheng Jie-jie's smiling face, nodding with a mix of joy and urgency, opening her mouth to say something, but her voice was interrupted by the loud announcement from the loudspeaker: "Actors can go for dinner now. Remember not to smudge your makeup"