Subsequently, Qin Tian was, as expected, subjected to a thorough scolding and warning from his mother.
In essence, the message was:
Absolutely no fooling around before the college entrance examination ends.
To this, Qin Tian readily agreed with a firm attitude.
During this exchange, he also managed to finish all the dumplings in his bowl.
Tang Xiuxia, her throat dry from talking, took a sip of cool boiled water. She looked at her son opposite her with a complex expression.
Had she been too engrossed in work recently, paying too little attention to her son?
Why the sudden, drastic change?
Yesterday, he had surprised her with several perfect test papers.
And today, he had given her a scare.
If this continued, she feared her son might one day drop a bombshell that could give her a heart attack.
"Um... Mom, it's getting late. If you have nothing else to say, can I go wash up and go to bed?"
Qin Tian tentatively asked.
"Go on, then!"
Tang Xiuxia waved him away, feeling exhausted.
"Alright, Mom, you get some rest early too."
Qin Tian stood up with a cheerful grin, making to slip away.
"Wait a moment."
Tang Xiuxia suddenly called out to him.
"Is... is there something else?"
Qin Tian asked, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"When you visit their home tomorrow, mind your words and actions. Treat it as simply visiting a classmate or friend, understand?"
Tang Xiuxia said earnestly.
"Understood."
Qin Tian nodded firmly.
"Under no circumstances should you display any overly intimate behavior with that girl in front of her parents."
"Mom, I understand!"
"You understand nothing!"
Tang Xiuxia retorted with a mild expletive. After a slight cough, she continued seriously, "In short, remember what I said. Be mindful of your boundaries and maintain distance."
"I know."
Qin Tian nodded obediently.
"Alright, go to sleep!"
Tang Xiuxia waved him away again.
"Then... I'll be going."
Seeing that his mother seemed to have nothing more to say, Qin Tian made a hasty retreat.
After he left, Tang Xiuxia rubbed her temples, muttering to herself with a mix of amusement and exasperation:
"What's gotten into this kid lately? He doesn't let me have a moment's peace!"
"I wonder how that girl is. She sounds like she comes from a good family. Would they even take a liking to our family?"
"Little Tian really seems to like that girl. I wonder what she looks like, but more importantly, if she has a good personality."
"Sigh, I hope this brat behaves himself tomorrow. First impressions are crucial."
...
...
The next morning at breakfast, Qin Tian was once again subjected to his mother's lengthy advice, listing all the things he needed to pay attention to at Xia Nuannuan's house for lunch.
Qin Tian even worried if his mother had slept well the previous night.
After eating just enough to feel seven-tenths full, he grabbed a large meat bun and a cup of soy milk.
"What are you doing? Finish your meal before you leave!"
Tang Xiuxia frowned.
"No time, I need to get to the early morning study session a bit early today. The homeroom teacher has something to discuss."
Qin Tian offered a small, casual lie, smiling at his mother as he bid farewell. "Mom, you take your time eating, I'm heading off."
"Okay!"
Tang Xiuxia nodded, adding another reminder, "Remember everything I told you, don't take it lightly. It's very important."
"I know, Mom. Don't worry, I'll perform well."
Qin Tian assured her earnestly before heading out to school.
During the morning classes, Qin Tian remained composed, while Xia Nuannuan seemed preoccupied, stealing glances at Qin Tian from time to time.
Finally, the bell for lunch break rang.
The biology teacher announced the end of the class on time, and the hungry students immediately headed for the cafeteria.
"Brother Tian!"
A rather cheeky voice called out.
Qin Tian looked up.
Zhang Peng, with his arm around the shoulder of another close male friend, grinned at him and said, "Good luck, I'm rooting for you!"
The male friend and the surrounding classmates looked at Qin Tian with confused and curious eyes.
"Get lost and go eat!"
Qin Tian glared at him.
"Heh heh... I'm off then. Nuannuan, I'm entrusting Brother Tian to you. Make sure he makes it back to school alive."
Zhang Peng winked at Xia Nuannuan, teasing her with a mischievous smile.
Xia Nuannuan's cheeks flushed, and she didn't know what to say.
"Hurry up and get out of here!"
Qin Tian grabbed the biology textbook from the desk and threw it at him.
"Hahaha..."
Zhang Peng, prepared for it, easily dodged it, slinging an arm around his friend as they laughed and ran out of the classroom.
"That scoundrel!"
Qin Tian walked over, his face darkening, picked up his textbook, and placed it back on his desk. He then turned to Xia Nuannuan and said, "Nuannuan, let's go too!"
Xia Nuannuan nodded shyly, her face flushed. Under the astonished gazes of the classmates, they left the classroom together.
After they left, the remaining classmates immediately began to discuss animatedly.
"What's going on? Didn't Qin Tian usually go to the cafeteria with Zhang Peng?"
"From what Zhang Peng said, where is Qin Tian going with Xia Nuannuan?"
"It must be. Ahhh, I'm so curious, let's go ask Zhang Peng at the cafeteria."
"Count me in."
"Do you think... Qin Tian is going to Xia Nuannuan's house for lunch?"
A quick-thinking girl suddenly voiced her guess.
At her words, the classroom fell silent.
The classmates who hadn't left exchanged stunned glances, clearly shocked by the astonishing speculation.
"Oh my god, this... this has gotten to the stage of meeting the parents?"
A girl exclaimed, covering her mouth, her eyes sparkling.
The other girls present also felt their gossip flames ignite fiercely.
"Mu Nan."
The English class representative, Liao Juan, called out.
Class monitor Mu Nan looked at her with a questioning gaze.
"Let's go find Zhang Peng at the cafeteria."
Liao Juan said with shining eyes.
"Okay!"
Mu Nan agreed with a smile, equally curious about the matter.
As the two girls, hand in hand, quickly departed, the classroom erupted in a frenzy.
"Tsk, what's the big deal? Do they really need to get so excited?"
Xu Ying grumbled sourly, calling out to her two close friends, "Cui Ying, Qiu Man, let's go eat ramen outside the school!"
Cui Ying and Qiu Man exchanged glances and fell silent.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Ying frowned slightly.
"Um... we want to eat at the cafeteria today."
Cui Ying said with a sheepish smile.
"Yeah, yeah, Xu Ying, you go eat noodles by yourself. We're going to the cafeteria."
Qiu Man quickly added in agreement.
"You guys..."
Xu Ying's face showed a hint of displeasure, feeling that their attitude towards her had changed.
"I, we're leaving first!"
Cui Ying said with a smile, then grabbed Qiu Man and they ran out of the classroom.
Xu Ying stood there stunned, her expression somewhat dazed.
"Xu Ying, how about I treat you to noodles?"
Wu Xin asked, walking up to her.
Xu Ying cast a disdainful glance at him and said faintly, "You go by yourself. I don't feel like eating noodles anymore."
With that, she also strode out of the classroom.
Wu Xin felt the mocking gazes of the students in the classroom fall upon him, his face burning.