Chapter 8, Once Again Requesting Parents

Upon seeing Xu Xilin's expressionless face, Dou Xun realized that from the perspective of 'mutual aversion,' they had reached a consensus.

That evening, in order to express his subtle protest, Xu Xilin did not return home for dinner and went to the McDonald's where Cai Jing was on duty.

Whenever Xu Xilin thought about having to see Dou Xun frequently in the future, it felt as if a restless volcano was stirring within him, eager to erupt. However, in front of Cai Jing, he could not let it out—Xu Xilin had never shown his smelly feet by taking off his shoes in front of any girl other than Yu Yiran, and similarly, he was not accustomed to being rude and cursing in front of Cai Jing.

On her fair wrist, she wore a lustrous bracelet, and the scent of soap wafted from the cuff, subtly mingled with a hint of an old-fashioned domestic skincare product fragrance, reminiscent of what women used over a decade ago—Dou Xun gently twitched his nose—this was the scent of his grandmother in her lifetime

Xu Xilin ignored him, and he curled up under the table, calling Xu Jin

The second person was rather cunning; taking advantage of Qili Xiang's instruction of the first person, they stealthily pulled out a partially completed physics exam paper, filled it out haphazardly without even looking at the questions, ensuring that there were words under each question, thus creating the illusion that they had completed and forgotten to submit their own paper.

Her hands are somewhat thin and frail; as one ages, the skin loses its fullness. However, with proper care, it still appears fair and smooth

Thus, Dou Xun packed a simple suitcase and moved into Xu Xilin's home

Xu Xilin always instinctively protects Cai Jing. The few people who usually play basketball together know that although Cai Jing struggles to dribble with his glasses on, he can always keep an eye on Xu Xilin with remarkable efficiency. Xu Xilin has developed a set of reasonable collision techniques from hanging out with the rascals of the school basketball team, but he never brings himself to use them on Cai Jing.

Lao Cheng turned around and said to Xu Xilin: "What a real man!"

As soon as everyone was seated at the family banquet, Xiao Cheng began her usual confessions.

Qilixiang did not expect someone to dare to confront her like this, and she gasped: "You... what did you say?"

Dou Xun casually remarked, "My mother has become a nun in the United States"

Xu Jin looked up at him and asked, "What, do you know him?"

Xu Xilin: "Well, you didn't mention bringing such a thing in at that time!"

Xu Xilin: "... ... The one who fought with me that day was him"

Qilixiang incredulously asked: "Why didn't you write?"

Xu Xilin and Xu Jin have always been timid in front of their grandmother, sharing a common trait of cowardice. They exchanged glances, each feeling anger yet unable to voice it.

"Do not be unreasonable with me," Xu Jin said, "I have told you countless times, one must be consistent in dealing with others and oneself. This is the most basic principle of being a person. If you are fickle and changeable every few days, what will that lead to?"

In a state of agitation, Qi Li Xiang burst in and began to reprimand: "Look at the state each of you is in! Out of the homework assigned yesterday, only thirty-six submissions have been received today, and three people still haven't turned theirs in. Who told you that you could skip submitting homework just because of the monthly exam? You dare to treat my class this way; what about the other subjects? What do you all intend to do?" Out of the homework assigned yesterday, only thirty-six submissions have been received today, and three people still haven't turned theirs in. Who told you that you could skip submitting homework just because of the monthly exam? You dare to treat my class this way; what about the other subjects? What do you all intend to do?

Xu Xilin was initially worried that Dou Xun, this ungrateful scoundrel, would speak disrespectfully in front of her grandmother. Taking the opportunity to go to the refrigerator for a drink, she perked up her ears to listen, only to find that Dou Xun was surprisingly well-behaved, responding appropriately to every question without any intention of being aggressive.

Qilixiang walked over in eight-centimeter high heels and said, "What is the matter with you again?"

The fragrance of the osmanthus permeated the air, and suddenly, he slammed the table: "Everyone who hasn't submitted their homework today, stand up!"

"What can be tolerated?" said Xu Xilin

After hastily making excuses, Xu Xilin felt even more suffocated in his chest and somewhat regretted coming out to find Cai Jing—he would have been better off going to the internet café with Lao Cheng and the others to play a round of CS.

Dou Xun uttered an even more outrageous remark, interrupting her in a leisurely manner

Grandma Xu turned to Dou Xun with a huff and said, "Look how impatient he is coming here"

Xu Xilin pretended not to hear and asked, "What is this for?"

He possessed nothing of his own and could only follow the arrangements made by Dou Junliang and Zhu Xiaocheng, who provided him with living expenses. His childhood unrealistic expectations of his parents had long since turned into numbness after repeated disappointments. Dou Xun initially planned to make do at the Sixth Middle School for a few months, settle down a bit, and then quickly take the university entrance exam to leave, allowing that peculiar couple to love whomever they wished.

The two individuals ignored each other, barely maintaining a strange sense of coexistence.

Xu Xilin: "Mom!"

Seizing the seven-mile fragrance, he swept away the characters of the twisting yangge dance and lion dance above, immediately understanding the situation, and then roared: "Who are you trying to fool! Stand behind!"

Xu Xilin was so angry that he couldn't speak, and he irritably crumpled the empty cup of red tea in his hand: "No wonder..."

Dou Xun was wandering through the ages and across cultures, when he suddenly heard a question. His lips moved slightly, but he did not respond immediately; instead, his face turned red first.

In this way, he missed the opportunity to express his opinions and, in a muddled manner, allowed the adults to determine his future circumstances for a period of time

You go stand outside!

Xu Xilin: "Did I not buy you a new one?"

The first person said: "Teacher, I wrote it, I had time this morning, but I forgot to bring it."

Dou Xun is very quiet at the Xu family; he will not leave the house unless called.

Dou Xun: "Because most of the questions have been seen in other practice books."

But he only had time to utter a single word when Grandma Xu suddenly reached out her hand and touched the top of his head and the side of his face

As soon as Dou Xun and the others left, Xu Xilin rushed into Xu Jin's study in a state of panic

He originally intended to say, "No wonder Dou Xun has such a deserving demeanor, it turns out he was unwanted since childhood," but before he could finish, he realized that this statement was inappropriate in front of Cai Jing, so he hurriedly swallowed the latter half of his words

Xu Jin raised his eyebrows slightly after listening and calmly replied, "That is truly a fateful connection."

Is it called Baicao Yutang? Yumeijing? Or is it the snow cream of Night Jasmine? Dou Xun's previously coherent thoughts suddenly diverged sharply.

I did not write it" Dou Xun repeated word for word, pausing after each word

Dou Xun looked at her calmly, disdainful of making trivial excuses: "I did not write it"

Xu Xilin : `` ... ... ''

The elderly tend to be nostalgic, and Grandma Xu was overjoyed, pulling Dou Xun to ask about everything in detail

Regardless of whether it is a major or minor exam, the self-study class on the afternoon of the exam day is always the most relaxed in terms of discipline, with half of the class engaged in calculations and the other half chatting casually

Xu Xilin: "I am not a human, I have no shame, I am a dog, is that acceptable? Woof woof woof!"

Classmate Xu Xilin, what use is it for you to speak out now? When I asked you back then, you agreed without a second thought, leaving me isolated and helpless in front of your grandmother, extremely passive, and I had no choice but to yield. Xu Jin sighed, "Oh, now you are backing out again, it's too late!"

That evening, when Xu Xilin returned home, he saw Dou Xun accompanying his grandmother Xu in the living room. On the coffee table lay his grandmother's out-of-tune radio, which had been disassembled into several parts. Dou Xun was using a small cotton swab dipped in alcohol to clean the dusty components inside.

At that moment, Cai Jing gently poked Xu Xilin under the table and pointed backward

"One thing conquers another." Xu Xilin felt reassured, sensing that his grandmother was indeed extraordinary, sweeping across the universe, pacifying the four seas, and unmatched in the world

Dou Xun and Xu Xilin exchanged glances, each finding the other unappealing, and thus simultaneously averted their eyes with indifference

Grandmother muttered, "Not a single shadow of a person was seen all night, and they didn't even greet us upon entering the house. Truly, the older they get, the more they understand things."

Dou Xun glanced at the Seven Mile Fragrance, tidied up his belongings, picked up his backpack, and directly exited through the back door. Before leaving, he civilly closed the classroom's back door.

Dou Xun did not know how to respond, awkwardly nodding his head. After a while, he felt that he should probably smile, but time had passed, and there was no logic in making up for a smile that was not given at the moment. He could only focus on the task at hand, meticulously refurbishing the long-neglected radio and replacing the batteries. He pushed the radio towards Grandma Xu and said, "It’s done"

After a moment of silence, a few individuals slowly stood up

Xu Xilin: "Comrade Xu Jin, I must tell you that I do not agree."

Xu Xilin turned around and smiled, only to see in the corner of the classroom, a place that stood apart from the world, Dou Xun was standing there with his straight pen holder, wearing an indifferent expression

Xu Jin silently took out his wallet and pulled out a stack of bright red cash: "Take it and spend it, don't bother me."

"Poor thing," said Grandma Xu, "Your mother says you are very studious, how old are you now?"

As the osmanthus approached, this person handed it over first: "Teacher, I apologize, I forgot to submit it this morning"

Xu Jin fell silent for two seconds, then let out a long sigh: "Understood"

Qilixiang trembled in place for a minute, then chased out with a surge of anger

"Teacher," he said, "repetition is not a method of learning; it is a method of training dogs"

Xu Xilin firmly held onto his principles: "Don't try that with me, am I someone who can be bought with money? Even if you were to adopt an entire orphanage, that would be fine, but having that... person with the surname Dou come is absolutely out of the question!"

Grandma Xu, with a theatrical tone, sighed deeply, while Aunt Du took on the role of comforting the weeping. Meanwhile, Xu Xilin and Dou Xun, this pair of feigned adversaries, wore expressions of utter despair as if mourning a loss.

Qilixiang anxiously interrogated each person: "What is the matter with you?"

That new peculiar thing, I cannot make use of it again

Grandma Xu spoke softly to Dou Xun, reassuring him to stay at ease, and at that moment, Dou Xun finally found the opportunity to speak: "I ... ... "

Qilixiang: "You forgot to bring your homework, what can you remember? Go back home and get it!"

Stay as long as you want, with someone to clean and also take care of the three meals—perfect

Grandmother complained, "The radio is not working well, and I have been telling you for a long time, but no one has come to fix it for me"

"Your Majesty, I have a matter to report to you," Xu Xilin said, glancing around the classroom like a thief. "Lord Dou Xun was just dragged out through the noon gate for failing to submit his homework and disrespecting the teacher. It looks like his head is about to roll. Do you think you need to come and collect the body?"

The entire class of more than thirty large wolfhounds fell silent for a moment, and then they heard the "keeper" roar like thunder: "Call your parents to come here, immediately, right now! If your father doesn't come, then call your mother!"

Who knows that Zhu Xiaocheng will go to Xu Xilin's house!

Cai Jing understood that Xu Xilin was merely complaining casually and chose not to comment on it

Cai Jing waited for a long time but did not receive any further information, and asked in confusion: "What is so strange about it?"

"If you can, then go ahead and settle things with your grandmother. Starting tomorrow, I will call you 'Dad.'" Ms. Xu spread her hands, no longer caring about her dignity, "Otherwise, you can just stay wherever you feel comfortable. From now on, get along well with your classmates and do not fight anymore—it's embarrassing, even if you grow taller!"

Every morning, as Xu Xilin just gets out of bed, Dou Xun has already left for school. Once they arrive in class, the two of them ignore each other. After school, Xu Xilin engages in many activities, while Dou Xun promptly packs up and heads home, closing the door behind him and not coming out again

Xu Jin: "If you continue to play with your phone during class, you might as well bring an IC card to school in the future"

Xu Jin was momentarily taken aback by her shameless son, but quickly regained his fighting spirit: "It’s useless to talk to me; this is a decision made by my mother and your grandmother. Can you handle your grandmother?"

Dou Xun knew that Zhu Xiaocheng wanted to send him to stay at someone else's house for a few days, so as to free up space for the couple to have their own time. To be honest, there was nothing to miss about the chaotic state of their home; after all, he had grown accustomed to living under someone else's roof over the years

In high school science, one cannot avoid the "sea of questions" strategy; a single problem is encountered more than once, yet there are still people who cannot solve it. Qilixiang has never heard anyone use such a rebellious excuse to resist homework, and is so infuriated that she nearly stutters: "Repetition is... repetition is a method of learning! It is meant to reinforce your knowledge, to help you identify and fill in the gaps..."

Xu Xilin sighed and said, "No wonder my eyelids have been twitching for the past couple of days"

It is not that he sees Cai Jing as a girl, but it is also difficult for him to regard Cai Jing as being on the same level as the likes of Wu Tao and others.

Sensing that her nagging would be endless, Xu Xilin hurriedly ran upstairs

Xu Jin was driven nearly mad by Zhu Xiaocheng's incessant chatter about the wheels of her car. Together with those two mischievous children, she created a tense atmosphere akin to a tripod standing firm. Meanwhile, the dog Doudou, locked in the basement, occasionally howled like a wild wolf, lamenting its plight.

He had not even completed a semester at the Sixth Middle School, and it was likely that no one nearby would be willing to offer him a short-term rental. Having just had a disagreement with Wu Tao and his group, staying in the dormitory would also bring a host of troubles. Amidst the background noise of Zhu Xiaocheng's incessant chatter, Dou Xun pondered back and forth, ultimately making up his mind, thinking: "Why not just find a hotel near the school to stay in"

Three days later, the first monthly examination has concluded