Due to the heavy atmosphere at home, Ding Chen, wanting to show concern for Gu Xingping, dared not speak up, only managing to send over delicious food in various ways every day.
A week later was the day the school released results. Gu Xingping got up early, sporting two large dark circles under her eyes. She forced down a bite of breakfast, informed Chen Lishu, and headed to school to await her results.
In the scorching heat of July, the sun hung high, making the objects before her eyes seem to warp and distort.
Gu Xingping stared at the large posted list for a full five minutes before stumbling out of the campus in a daze.
Just as she reached the school gate, she looked up and saw Ding Chen standing under a large tree.
Gu Xingping's eyes darted, a mischievous smile appearing at the corner of her lips. She quietly sidestepped to Ding Chen's back, suddenly slapped his shoulder, and exclaimed, "Why are you here instead of working?"
Ding Chen turned, a smile blooming on his face when he saw her. "It's just developing photos; a little earlier or later doesn't matter."
After speaking, Ding Chen carefully observed her expression before cautiously asking, "How were the results?"
Gu Xingping's mouth drooped, but she pretended to be nonchalant, saying, "About the same."
Ding Chen guessed she might not have done well and quickly comforted her, "It's okay if you didn't get in. Look at me, I only graduated high school, and I'm still developing photos for others. Actually, doing anything is the same. I think it's great that you and Aunt Chen are making clothes together; that earns much more than my salary."
"Haha." Gu Xingping looked at him and suddenly smiled, her lips curling upwards.
Accompanied by the maiden's bell-like laughter, Ding Chen heard her say, "You silly goose, I was teasing you! I actually performed exceptionally well this time, ranking twenty in the entire grade, and narrowly got into No. 1 Middle School!"
No. 1 Middle School? That was the school where his parents taught!
Ding Chen's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Seeing his excited reaction, Gu Xingping asked with confusion, "Why do you look happier than me?"
Ding Chen's face flushed slightly, and he scratched his head sheepishly. "I'm happy for you."
"Let's go, let's hurry back. I want to tell my third sister-in-law this good news quickly."
"Okay." Ding Chen responded, walking quickly back home with her.
Upon hearing that Gu Xingping had been accepted into No. 1 Middle School, Chen Lishu breathed a sigh of relief and happily said, "This is wonderful! I'll call your third brother right away to tell him the good news, and then we'll head back to the village this afternoon."
Chen Lishu spoke as she walked towards the door.
"Third sister-in-law, I'll go with you." Gu Xingping raised her foot and followed her out.
Seeing her about to leave, Ding Chen quickly said, "It's about time I went back to work too."
The three of them walked out of the courtyard gate and separated at the street corner. Ding Chen went to work, while Chen Lishu and Gu Xingping went to call Gu Xingdong.
The phone rang several times. Just as Chen Lishu thought he was busy and was about to hang up, a deep, magnetic voice came from the other end: "Hello?"
Hearing the familiar voice, Chen Lishu tightened her grip on the receiver. "It's me."
Her gaze fell on Gu Xingping, who was looking somewhat anxious beside her. Chen Lishu quickly said, "Xingdong, little sister has something to tell you." With that, she handed the receiver in her hand to Gu Xingping.
"Hello, Third Brother, I have good news for you. I got into high school!" Gu Xingping said impatiently as she took the phone.
"Third Brother, Third Sister-in-law is going to take me to Shanghai and Beijing to play as a reward for getting into high school." Listening to Gu Xingdong's praise, Gu Xingping's lips curled upwards, unable to resist showing off.
When Gu Xingdong heard they were going so far, his brow furrowed into a deep frown. "Xingping, give the phone to your third sister-in-law."
Gu Xingping's heart skipped a beat upon hearing the change in tone from the other end. While handing the phone to Chen Lishu, she whispered, "My third brother seems unhappy."
Gu Xingping felt a pang of regret, thinking she shouldn't have spoken so carelessly. If her third brother forbade it, wouldn't her much-anticipated plan fall through?
"Hello, Xingdong."
Gu Xingdong heard the soft, sweet voice from the other end. He pressed his long fingers against his temples, ultimately unable to scold her. "Is it okay for you to go to such a far place?"
"It's fine. Uncle Ding and Aunt Ding have been there before, and I've inquired about everything. Besides, it's just the two of us."
Gu Xingdong was silent for a moment before asking, "When are you leaving?"
"The day after tomorrow." She had to go back to the village in the afternoon to inform the family and get a certificate, and then prepare for tomorrow, so the day after tomorrow was the earliest.
"Then let's take the bus that passes through the provincial capital at noon. I'll send some things over for you." Da Feng Novel Network
Chen Lishu asked curiously, "Send what?"
"Heh." Gu Xingdong chuckled softly, deliberately being coy. "You'll know when the time comes."
Chen Lishu was curious, but since he wouldn't say, she finally hung up reluctantly.
...
After hanging up the phone, Gu Xingdong stood up and left his office. Just as he reached the staircase, he bumped into Wu Zheng coming up from downstairs. Gu Xingdong immediately gave him a friendly smile. "Old Wu, where are you off to?"
Wu Zheng felt a chill run down his spine from the smile. He swallowed hard, his throat dry. "I'm going to deliver something to Old Wei."
Gu Xingdong nodded, walked down two steps to stand on the same step as him, and familiarly slung an arm around his shoulder. "No rush to deliver the things. Come on, let's go to my office; I have something to discuss with you."
Wu Zheng's temples throbbed. "Just say it here if you have something."
Gu Xingdong narrowed his eyes and said dangerously, "Say it again."
Wu Zheng blinked twice and finally resigned himself to following him into the office.
...
"Old Wu, what's wrong with you? You look like a eggplant wilted by frost."
Zhou Liang bumped into Wu Zheng, who had just come out of the office building. Seeing his dispirited appearance, he couldn't help but lean over and tease him.
"Don't mention it."
Wu Zheng sighed and began to pour out his woes to Zhou Liang, finally asking resentfully, "Tell me, where can you find someone like him? He's no different from a bandit!"
Zhou Liang patted his shoulder sympathetically. "You should have been more firm from the start."
Wu Zheng said indignantly, "I was firm! I just couldn't be firmer than him."
Zhou Liang: "..."
"What are you two talking about?" As they were talking, Gu Xingdong walked over from behind with a smile. Wu Zheng's body tensed, and he let out a dry laugh. "Nothing, nothing much."
Gu Xingdong didn't press further. His gaze landed on Zhou Liang, his eyes like a butcher surveying a lamb to be slaughtered, measuring where to start.
"Old Zhou, I need to discuss something with you."
Hearing his opening, Wu Zheng immediately looked at Zhou Liang sympathetically, and for some reason, felt a hint of shared misfortune and excitement.
Zhou Liang asked directly, "You want coupons?"
He had actually already made up his mind. If it was ideal, he would directly say no if Gu Xingdong said yes.
Gu Xingdong stretched out his arm and slung it around his neck. "Look at you, what kind of person do you take your brother for?"
Zhou Liang's tense nerves relaxed for a moment, but then Gu Xingdong's next sentence choked him, leaving him unable to breathe.
"You lost last time on the gaming field, didn't you? It just so happens I'm free now, let's have another match. Also, I'm short on some coupons; how about one per ticket?"