Chapter 68: Invitation
After their conversation at lunch that day, Gu Qinghuan didn’t see Xia He at school, but he would still occasionally send messages via WeChat. It didn’t feel like his presence had diminished.
If anything, his tone in the messages felt more normal, no longer carrying the deliberately cutesy tone she had noticed before.
Exchanging messages this way was much easier for Gu Qinghuan.
By comparison, Yu Xin felt that Xia He had become even harsher when scolding people.
The midterm exams for Mingde High in the second semester were scheduled for early November, combined with the October monthly exams.
Before the midterms, Su Lin, following the twice-a-week tutoring schedule, had tutored the four-person group from Class Three nine times. Additionally, on the Saturday before the midterm, she gave Yu Xin an extra session focused mainly on predicting exam questions.
The other three didn’t attend this session. Although they knew that, with Su Lin’s abilities, her predictions might coincide with the actual exam questions, Jiang Chuchu wanted to rely on her own strength to see how much she had improved rather than aiming purely for high scores.
As for Gu Qinghuan and Qin Yue, they simply had no energy left to cram more questions into their heads.
Even though the “study god” Su Lin taught well and could adjust her lessons based on their levels, being constantly pushed was truly exhausting.
The college entrance exam is essentially a three-year marathon. With Gu Qinghuan and Qin Yue’s abilities, even if they could significantly improve in a short time with Su Lin’s help, they couldn’t sustain it for long.
It was only the first semester of sophomore year; it was better to advance steadily. As long as there was continuous progress, it was still better than burning out later.
The test papers Su Lin gave Yu Xin didn’t cover everything. For Chinese, Math, and History, Yu Xin decided not to create her own papers.
Although she hadn’t finalized her subject choices, Yu Xin had already decided between Physics and History to select Physics. Among the remaining four subjects, Math was also fixed, Politics was excluded, and she was still hesitating between Biology and Geography.
Even just choosing subjects, Yu Xin felt scolded enough by Xia He that she wanted to turn off her phone.
At first, when Yu Xin mentioned considering her subject choices, Xia He had been rather satisfied: “Your grades are good, so choosing subjects might make you hesitate. Thinking ahead is a good choice.”
But what followed was the sharpest verbal barrage imaginable.
Xia He: “‘Considering career paths’? What career? You should be thinking about joining the Yu family company!”
Xia He: “Not just Yu the Third — have you even learned about the main business of the Yu family?”
Xia He: “And you’re still underperforming in English, one of your main subjects?”
Xia He: “What do you mean ‘seems like humanities suit me better’? What does ‘suit’ even mean? Have you looked at your science scores?”
Xia He: “Why care about what others think? Is it them taking the exam or you?”
Xia He: “Not a single person in the Yu family scored higher than you. What can they teach you?”
Being forced to confront how narrow-minded her own thinking was, and the mental constraints imposed by traditional societal expectations, fighting against ingrained habits — for Yu Xin, it was genuinely painful.
She even felt weak and listless in class for a few days.
Yu Xin sat behind Jiang Chuchu, so her low energy was quickly noticed. At the end of class, Jiang Chuchu worriedly asked her about it.
“Although the midterms are important, don’t stress too much,” Jiang Chuchu said, assuming Yu Xin’s fatigue came from exam preparation.
Yu Xin hesitated, then quietly admitted, “Actually, it’s not really about preparing for exams. There’s another reason… um, have you ever privately chatted with Senior Xia He?”
Just hearing “Xia He” made Jiang Chuchu tense. “He chatted with you privately?”
Yu Xin explained what had happened with Xia He: “…Yes, recently we’ve talked a few times, and he talks really harshly.”
Jiang Chuchu patted her shoulder with a complicated mix of feelings. Compared to having one’s head shoved in a toilet, a few sharp words were nothing.
She hadn’t expected Yu Xin to have private interactions with Xia He, assuming he was only interested in Gu Qinghuan.
“If he scolds you too harshly, you should go complain to Qinghuan,” Jiang Chuchu suggested.
Yu Xin scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed. “Well… I already threatened him like that…”
Jiang Chuchu was impressed. Who knew? Even Xin Bao had learned to complain!
“It worked before, but these past two weeks, threatening him hasn’t changed much,” Yu Xin said.
“Could it be that he thinks you’re just making an empty threat?” Jiang Chuchu immediately called to Gu Qinghuan. “Qinghuan!”
She couldn’t miss an opportunity to trip up Xia He!
Gu Qinghuan, overwhelmed with physics problems, immediately dropped her pen, full of energy since she didn’t have to do her own work. “What is it?”
Yu Xin didn’t exactly complain; she simply mentioned her chats with Xia He.
Gu Qinghuan remained calm. “I see. So, Xin Bao, do you feel annoyed? If you do but can’t express it, I’ll go talk to him.”
She was curious about what Xia He was like when scolding harshly.
Jiang Chuchu waited, a few seconds passing without Gu Qinghuan continuing. She raised an eyebrow in surprise. “Huh? And then?”
“Then what?” Gu Qinghuan asked in confusion.
“I mean, isn’t it weird that he behaves so obediently in front of you but is so harsh behind the scenes?” Jiang Chuchu said.
“I’d say he puts on that persona whenever strangers are around,” Gu Qinghuan explained patiently. “Privately, he has his ‘true self.’”
“But he’s obedient with you and harsh with Xin Bao,” Jiang Chuchu argued.
“Different people, different attitudes,” Gu Qinghuan replied calmly. “I behave differently with teachers and classmates because of the different roles I occupy.”
Jiang Chuchu felt like she’d been struck by a sudden revelation. “Ah… I see…”
Yu Xin had come to understand and shook her head firmly. “It’s okay. Although it’s a little unpleasant, I don’t think this kind of discomfort is bad.”
After a pause, she added, “If it really becomes unbearable, I’ll talk to him myself.”
Gu Qinghuan applauded. “Good!”
Jiang Chuchu also relaxed, relieved at Yu Xin’s attitude.
At the start of the semester, Yu Xin had been so flustered when criticized about her handwriting that she couldn’t say a word. This progress wasn’t easy to come by.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Yu Xin quickly changed the topic. “By the way, after the midterms, do you guys want to come over to my place?”
“Wait — you can already invite friends over?” Jiang Chuchu asked immediately. She didn’t think Yu Xin could just invite friends into her house on her own, given the Yu family situation.
“It’s my father’s idea,” Yu Xin said, glancing apologetically at Jiang Chuchu and Gu Qinghuan.
Gu Qinghuan instantly understood. “I get it. You just want to see how close you and Chuchu are — I’m just along for the ride!”
“You’re not just along for the ride!” Yu Xin and Jiang Chuchu said in unison.
The three of them looked at each other and, without planning it, laughed.
They all knew that Gu Qinghuan was really the one connecting them.
So if Yu Xin wasn’t fully aware, it didn’t matter — as long as they knew and cared.
“All right, all right,” Gu Qinghuan waved her hand. “Of course I’m free to come over. You just set the time.”
“Me too!” Jiang Chuchu said eagerly.
The exams ended on a weekday, and the three quickly arranged it. On Saturday morning, Jiang Chuchu would first pick up Gu Qinghuan, then head to Yu Xin’s house. They set the time for 10 a.m.
Jiang Chuchu rubbed her hands together in anticipation. This time I can actually see it for myself! No more just hearing about it!
Ch 67 is missing.
Thank you for your work!