Chapter 115: Peace
Once the calico cat’s neutering outfit was removed and the tabby cat had been successfully neutered, Zhan Chuchen immediately took a photo of the tabby sticking its tongue out while still under anesthesia and sent it to Gu Qinghuan.
Gu Qinghuan: [You brought it home?]
It was Sunday, and it seemed Zhan Chuchen had accompanied the tabby for the entire procedure.
Zhan Chuchen: [Yes. We already cleared a room at home for it to stay in and get used to its new surroundings.]
Zhan Chuchen had prepared extensively to eventually welcome her own cat, so bringing the tabby home went smoothly.
Gu Qinghuan could relax and go about her own business.
On December 24, as Gu Qinghuan arrived at school early, she saw a large bus parked in front of the school’s main entrance, with a crowd gathered around it.
“Class president!” Xu Xinghe ran over excitedly. “The production team is here!”
“I thought they were coming on the 27th or the 31st? Today is only the 24th,” Gu Qinghuan said, surprised.
“You wouldn’t understand,” Xu Xinghe said, showing off his limited knowledge of the entertainment industry. Finally, he had a chance to appear knowledgeable in front of the class president, and he relished it.
“We’re performing at the gala. Starting from scratch, progress on the first day would be slow. Plus, the production team needs to shoot some promotional footage in advance. Starting today is perfect.”
“Two celebrities have already arrived, listening to the production team by the bus, signing autographs for the students.”
Gu Qinghuan nodded vaguely, then reached into her pocket and handed something to Xu Xinghe.
“What’s this?” Xu Xinghe asked, looking at the small package in her palm.
“Dried apple slices,” Gu Qinghuan said.
“Why are you giving me dried apples?” Xu Xinghe was confused.
“A Christmas Eve gift,” Gu Qinghuan said solemnly.
Xu Xinghe widened his eyes in dismay: “Class president, your Christmas Eve gift is just a slice of dried apple?!”
“There are also apple-flavored hard candies and chewy candies. Want some?” Gu Qinghuan rummaged in her pocket.
“Yes!” Xu Xinghe eagerly leaned over to pick some, popping the dried apple into his mouth with a crunch.
As Xu Xinghe was choosing between green apple or red apple candies, a sudden scream came from the crowd, followed by chaotic shouting.
Xu Xinghe instinctively wanted to see what happened, but Gu Qinghuan held him back: “Don’t go forward now. Wait for the situation to stabilize.”
She glanced at the entrance. The security guard had already gone over with a megaphone: “It’s very crowded there. If we go, it’ll only get worse. Stay on the outside and watch, keep an eye out for anything unusual.”
Xu Xinghe steadied himself: “Got it.”
With the guards clearing the way with a megaphone, most of those present were students and quickly regained order.
The guard confirmed the situation and shouted: “Did anyone bring candy? Someone has fainted from low blood sugar!”
Hearing “low blood sugar,” Gu Qinghuan immediately tapped Xu Xinghe: “Go get some cola from the classroom. I have some in my drawer.”
She usually ordered small bottled colas for delivery, rarely drank them at home, and had brought them to school just in case.
Xu Xinghe ran back to the classroom. Gu Qinghuan ran forward herself: “I have candy!”
She pulled out a candy, tore the wrapper, and held it to the mouth of a girl sitting on the ground with her head down: “Hold it in your mouth! Don’t swallow yet!”
She wasn’t too worried—the candy was soft and safe. Unlike hard candies, there was less risk of choking.
After a short while, the girl was able to take the candy on her own.
Xu Xinghe came back, out of breath, “Class… class president… cola…”
Gu Qinghuan took the cola and shouted to those nearby, “Be careful, don’t let it spray! Don’t get it on yourself!”
The students quickly cleared a circle of space.
She opened the bottle cap. Her hands got a bit sticky from the foam, but it was a minor issue.
The girl slowly drank half a bottle of cola, and her complexion improved significantly.
Seeing she was okay, Gu Qinghuan left, her hands still sticky.
Xu Xinghe saw her go and followed, “Class president, aren’t you staying there?”
“I need to wash my hands,” Gu Qinghuan said, frowning and spreading her fingers—the stickiness made it uncomfortable.
“Will you go back afterward?” Xu Xinghe asked.
“Why go back? It’s almost time for morning study,” Gu Qinghuan replied, surprised.
Xu Xinghe hesitated—should he praise the class president for being studious?
“Anyway, we’ll be filming the program soon, lots of chances to participate,” Gu Qinghuan said. “By the end, we might get used to it.”
Xu Xinghe thought about it—there were still many days, no need to rush.
Gu Qinghuan stopped walking, and Xu Xinghe followed.
“Why aren’t we moving?” he asked.
Gu Qinghuan pointed to the restroom sign: “Are you planning to follow me into the girls’ restroom?”
Xu Xinghe immediately ran off faster than when fetching the cola: too embarrassing!
When Gu Qinghuan returned to class after washing her hands, she saw Xu Xinghe standing on the podium, animatedly telling everyone about the low blood sugar rescue incident.
“Do you have to exaggerate so much?” she sighed.
“Class president! I want a Christmas Eve gift too!” Bao Qingsong raised his hand.
Gu Qinghuan had already prepared. She opened her bag and pulled out a large pouch: “Do you want dried apple slices, green apple hard candy, or the green and red apple chewy candy?”
Seeing this, the classmates immediately swarmed over—it was obviously meant for the whole class.
Gu Qinghuan protected her bag and squeezed back to her seat.
“What made you think of giving Christmas Eve gifts?” Jiang Chuchu asked.
“Because I bought some tasty dried apple slices. Apple is a symbol of peace, perfect for today. But dried apples alone are a bit plain, so I also got some apple-flavored candy,” Gu Qinghuan said seriously.
“What about Christmas Day gifts?” Jiang Chuchu asked.
“Go ask Santa at home,” Gu Qinghuan replied confidently.
Given their families’ circumstances, a small Christmas Eve gift was enough.
Jiang Chuchu laughed and held out her hands: “Give it here.”
Gu Qinghuan pretended to be clueless: “What?”
“Look how tightly you’re guarding your bag. You must have something nice inside, right? Is it for me and Xin Bao?” Jiang Chuchu said, half-joking, half-threatening: “If you say no, you’re dead.”
Gu Qinghuan shivered theatrically and then pulled out two neatly packaged boxes, handing them to Jiang Chuchu.
Jiang Chuchu immediately opened hers: “This is… a plush keychain?”
It was a cloth cat-shaped keychain, resembling the mop at home.
Gu Qinghuan displayed hers: “Mine is a black cat!”
Her family used to have a black cat.
Although Jiang Chuchu’s family had other breeds, the one she bought most resembled Gu Qinghuan’s black cat.
Jiang Chuchu immediately hung it on her bag. Just then, Yu Xin arrived. Jiang Chuchu waved: “Come open your gift!”
Yu Xin held a star-patterned gift box, a bit confused: “This is…”
“Gu Qinghuan’s Christmas Eve gift. Open it and hang it up,” Jiang Chuchu said, pointing to her bag.
Yu Xin carefully opened the wrapping along the seams so the paper and ribbon remained intact.
As Jiang Chuchu expected, Yu Xin’s keychain was a cow-patterned cat, very similar to her own Sesame.
Yu Xin hesitated to hang it—what if it fell off?
Gu Qinghuan noticed her worry: “This way everyone will know we’re good friends!”
Yu Xin then carefully hung it on her bag, giving it a gentle tug to make sure it wouldn’t fall.
Gu Qinghuan nodded in satisfaction, then handed dried apple slices to Jiang Chuchu and Yu Xin: “Quick! Eat your apples!”
She hoped her friends and classmates would always be safe and sound.
