"Ma'am, my name is Yu Xian. My family's originally from Sichuan-Chongqing, but I grew up in Yuecheng."
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Yu Xian introduced herself again.
"Oh?"
This time, Mao Xiaoqin studied Yu Xian properly. Her features looked radiant under the lights. She really was a budding beauty.
"Dear, are you also in Senior Year Class 11 at Zhixin Middle School?"
Mao Xiaoqin asked curiously. She had noticed the burgundy tips of Yu Xian's hair.
Yu Xian's expression froze for a moment, but she still answered openly, "Ma'am, I'm an art-track student in Senior Year Class 1. I study fine art."
After saying that, Yu Xian lightly bit her lip and stole a glance at Mao Xiaoqin's reaction.
"Fine art? That's impressive!"
Mao Xiaoqin's expression didn't change. There was even a hint of delighted surprise in her voice. "Chen Zhu took guzheng lessons when he was little, but we spent all that money and he never learned a thing. That's why we all think art is harder than math."
"Not at all. Math is so hard..."
Mao Xiaoqin's reaction made Yu Xian very happy. She was a girl without much guile, and she immediately began complaining to Mao Xiaoqin about how difficult math, physics, and chemistry were.
Mao Xiaoqin listened with a smile and nodded along, until Chen Zhu decided it was getting too late and hailed a taxi to take the two girls home.
Only then did Dr. Mao sigh. "They're both pretty, and they're both good girls. But Yu Xian's an art student. Art students don't usually do very well in academic subjects, do they? I still feel Weiwei is the better choice."
Empress Dowager Mao's earlier reaction had all been an act. She simply hadn't wanted to hurt Yu Xian's feelings, but like most parents, she instinctively harbored a certain prejudice against art students.
"Well, well! Things have barely started, and you're already picking one out."
Chen Peisong teased his wife. Watching the taxi disappear into the distance, he thought for a moment before saying, "I actually think Yu Xian is a lovely girl. She's sincere, kind, and straightforward, and she genuinely cares about Chen Zhu. As for being an art student..."
He smiled. "I'd say art is the ladder of progress for human civilization."
"But Weiwei..."
Empress Dowager Mao was about to argue again.
"All right, all right."
Chen Peisong waved a hand. "I know what you want to say, but none of that matters right now. The Gaokao is the most pressing thing for Chen Zhu and for our whole family."
Hearing her husband say that, Mao Xiaoqin immediately regained her composure.
That was close. I almost got completely swept up in fantasies of a beautiful daughter-in-law!
If Chen Zhu couldn't get into college, never mind Song Shiwei and Yu Xian-even Zhao Yuanyuan might not be interested in him.
"Should we take a taxi home, then?"
Mao Xiaoqin asked.
"Isn't Chen Zhu's homeroom teacher still inside the lobby?"
With his hands clasped behind his back, Chen Peisong climbed the steps to the service lobby again. "Let's ask how Chen Zhu did on the Second Mock Exam first, then take the opportunity to ask how he should fill out his college preferences in May."
In 2007, Eastern Guangdong still required students to submit their college preferences based on estimated scores. The process went like this:
On a day after the Third Mock Exam in May, the entire class would go to the school's computer room. After entering information such as their ID numbers on the admissions website, they would fill in their first, second, and third choices.
Chen Peisong and Mao Xiaoqin were thinking about choosing a suitable college and major for their son, but Chen Zhu already had a plan in mind.
Either Lingnan College or the Marxism School at SYSU.
If he chose the Marxism School, he would most likely still end up pursuing a career in government.
If he chose Lingnan College, he could go into either business or government.
Of course, whatever school or major he chose, Chen Zhu would secure a place in the university's selective civil-service recruitment program, leaving himself a fallback if his entrepreneurial ventures failed.
"Director Chen, we're here."
They soon arrived downstairs at Yu Xian's home. Wu Yu seemed to be staying over with her that night too, so Chen Zhu didn't even get out of the car. He simply waved and said good night.
Only he and Huang Bohan were left in the taxi now, and Chen Zhu decided to take his best friend home first.
The taxi had only been moving for a short while when Huang Bohan turned around from the front passenger seat and asked, "Chen Zhu, you're not seriously trying to have two girlfriends, are you?"
Huang Bohan put it so bluntly that even the driver, who had been listening intently to the radio, discreetly turned down the volume and pricked up his ears for the gossip.
"Of course not."
At first, Chen Zhu didn't really want to admit it.
"I've never been in a relationship, but I'm not stupid."
Huang Bohan said glumly, "I was thinking about it in the car just now. A lot of what you've been doing lately is basically betting on both sides, isn't it?"
Chen Zhu fell silent for a moment. Streetlight filtered through the window, casting shifting patches of light and shadow across his face.
After a long while, Chen Zhu let out a quiet sigh. "I hope you can stay this clearheaded when you're in a relationship yourself."
That was as good as admitting Huang Bohan's suspicions were right.
"Why?"
Huang Bohan couldn't help asking.
"Why..."
Chen Zhu had reflected on that question himself. What was the reason?
If it came down to feelings, what he felt for either Yu Xian or Song Shiwei wasn't all that deep yet.
So why was he subconsciously betting on both sides, exactly as Huang Bohan had said?
He was probably just too greedy. He couldn't bear to let something wonderful slip away from him. Of course, he struggled with it internally too, which had led to his current stance: "Don't make a move, don't turn anyone down, and wait until college to figure it out."
Chen Zhu told Huang Bohan that reasoning, and for once, Huang Bohan actually expressed understanding. "I've fantasized about that too-all the pretty girls in school being in love with me alone."
"But!"
Huang Bohan said frankly, "I don't have what it takes to pull it off."
Chen Zhu said nothing. Huang Bohan couldn't pull it off because he hadn't been reborn.
Or, to put it another way, some people might not be able to pull it off even if they were reborn.
But he had been reborn. For plenty of things, as long as he set his mind to them, they really weren't difficult.
Just like earlier at the police station. The moment he thought, "I don't want Song Shiwei and Yu Xian to get the wrong idea," all sorts of ideas and maneuvers had naturally fallen into place.
Seeing Chen Zhu remain silent, Huang Bohan assumed he was seriously reflecting on his actions and couldn't resist advising him, "You say you don't want to let wonderful things slip away, but what happens if you meet an even prettier girl later?"
Chen Zhu genuinely hadn't considered that. After all, counting both his lives, he had seen quite a bit of the world, and Song Shiwei and Yu Xian were already about as good as it got in both looks and figure.
"Just forget it."
Huang Bohan continued trying to persuade him. "Pick one and stick with her. I think Yu Xian is honestly perfect already. That's Yu Xian we're talking about! Song Shiwei's family is way too well-off. You can tell just from that car."
Although Chen Zhu currently spent more time with Yu Xian, hearing Huang Bohan firmly join "Team Yu" still made him joke:
"Isn't a wealthy family a plus? Our goals as men are basically making money and finding a partner. If I get together with Song Shiwei, I can go straight for my partner's money. Wouldn't that save a lot of time?"
"Hahaha..."
Huang Bohan laughed a couple of times, then said with feeling, "Chen Zhu, I know you. You're not that kind of person. Besides, do you really think rich people are all idiots? Song Shiwei's dad looks pretty shrewd."
Chen Zhu agreed with that. He couldn't help looking up at the cool, pale moon, wondering whether Song Shiwei had made it home yet.
Song Shiwei had actually only just reached the entrance to her residential complex. She lived at Pearl River Imperial View, an ultra-luxury development right on the riverfront.
Five hundred meters away, the Little Waist-Guangzhou's future landmark-was under construction.
However, the Mercedes-Benz S600 only stopped downstairs. Song Zuomin didn't go up with his daughter. He handed Song Shiwei her schoolbag and reminded her, "Get to bed early when you get upstairs. Also..."
He paused, then shook his head. "Don't tell your mom what happened today. Knowing her, she might even go to school to keep you company while you study."
(Updates will return to normal tomorrow, at noon and 8 p.m. Revising the text at noon today led me to adjust the plot a little.)
(End of chapter)
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