Chapter 8

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Wan Yue noticed Shen Luan seemed to be looking toward Xu Qingling and quietly explained, “Qingling hasn’t been in a great mood today; she’s been sulking with me since early morning.”

Shen Luan glanced briefly before withdrawing his gaze. Xu Qingling was laughing and chatting with Cao Siqing, hardly seeming upset at all.

However, since Xu Qingling wasn’t clinging to him today, Shen Luan breathed a sigh of relief. He had a lot he wanted to ask Wan Yue.

“I heard your father plans to have you retake a year at Jiangke?”

Wan Yue’s expression stiffened, and her smile turned forced. “My father… he hopes I’ll try harder for another year to get into a university in Shanghai.”

Shen Luan frowned. “Does it have to be in Shanghai? Isn’t Xunda good enough?”

To be honest, Xunda was highly reputable. Many locals preferred their children not to leave the province for university.

Wan Yue looked at him in surprise, seeing her own reflection in the depths of his dark eyes. A tingling warmth spread across her face as she instinctively glanced toward Xu Qingling.

For a fleeting moment, Wan Yue wanted to confide all her troubles to him, but she quickly dismissed the thought.

She murmured softly, “My father wants me to stay and work in Shanghai afterwards.”

Someone behind them snorted quietly, “Your father must be eyeing the 50,000 yuan Jiangke offers.”

Wan Yue turned to meet Shen Shun’s teasing gaze, feeling as if she had been stripped bare. Her eyes reddened instantly. “Don’t say nonsense!”

The girl’s eyes brimmed with tears; her pale face was like a magnolia drenched by spring rain. Shen Luan felt a pang in his heart and blurted out, “Actually, I can help you!”

Wan Yue looked at him, startled. Shen Luan avoided her eyes. “I—I mean, if you don’t want to retake the year and prefer Xunda, but your family can’t afford the tuition, the school can organize donations.”

He wanted to say he could ask his parents to support her but swallowed the words, fearing it would overwhelm her.

Wan Yue’s heart, gripped tightly for days, suddenly plunged. Forcing a casual smile, she said, “No need. I’m planning to go to Xunda. The tuition is already settled.”

Yesterday, the village chief Wei and his wife had come to their home, offering to sponsor her tuition. Her father wasn’t home, and Wan Yue and her mother were still hesitant about accepting.

Wei Wenshan spoke politely, saying that life in Oak Tree Village was steadily improving but that few had ever gone to a proper university. Now that she had been admitted to a prestigious school, how could she not attend?

Wei’s wife had pulled Wan Yue’s mother into the inner room for a long talk and emerged with a loving smile, patting her hand and urging her to study hard.

Hearing Shen Luan suggest organizing donations through the school was like a bucket of cold water dousing the fire burning inside Wan Yue. Those previous doubts suddenly seemed meaningless. She made up her mind instantly—she would go to Xunda. What she needed was a more certain future.

If she had to accept donations, she’d rather take them from the village chief’s family.

Had Shen Luan said anything wrong? He watched her retreating figure in a daze.

Shen Shun stood up, patted Shen Luan’s shoulder, and smiled meaningfully, “Brother, you’re righteous! A hero saving a beauty!”

…

“No wonder your skin is so fair!” Cao Siqing, upon hearing from Xu Qingling that she had been helping at her family’s shop during the holidays, rolled up her sleeves to show her own tanned arms. “Look at me, I’m all dark from running around outside every day.”

Cao Siqing’s brother owned a mural company, leading a team of artists painting cultural murals for various organizations in Xun City, gaining some fame locally. After the college entrance exam, Cao Siqing assisted her brother and taught painting at the youth center on weekends.

Cao Siqing was lively and talkative; once she started, no one could interrupt. “These places all want murals painted during summer break, and my brother’s business is swamped. I was dragged in as muscle, painting from dawn to dusk, earning just a hundred yuan a day. Exhausting! Teaching at the youth center is more comfortable—air conditioning—but the pay’s less…”

Xu Qingling shared her thoughts candidly: “Siqing, have you ever thought about opening your own painting classes?”

Cao Siqing’s eyes lit up. “Of course! I’ve long wanted to team up with a few classmates to start a class. That way, if you guys are busy, it’s not a problem!”

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Teaching painting at the cultural palace was arranged by her former studio teacher, who couldn’t manage multiple campuses alone and hired college students to help. Cao Siqing was among them. Compared to senior university students, Cao Siqing earned the least—just twenty yuan an hour.

The teacher charged sixty-eight to eighty yuan per hour, pocketing a hefty margin by outsourcing students.

Many parents in Xun City wanted their children to learn painting, and the youth palace’s interest classes were always full, nearly impossible to get into.

Substituting classes only earned her some hard-won cash; it would be better to recruit students and start her own class. Cao Siqing and Xu Qingling immediately hit it off.

Perhaps inspired by Cao Siqing’s enthusiasm, Xu Qingling confided that her parents were unwilling to continue funding her education, so she planned to earn her own tuition. Cao Siqing came from a well-off family and had never worried about money, but remained optimistic: “Maybe the studio’s enrollment will explode! There are two months left, and if I get any gigs, I’ll call you! My brother’s company is always looking for artists. You can come with me—100 yuan a day. It’ll be hard work, but you’ll definitely save up. If it’s still not enough, we’ll figure something out.”

The two grew more excited as they planned their summer money-making scheme. Nearby, a commotion arose.

Wan Yue lowered her head, wiping away tears as a few classmates surrounded her. Zhao Zibei had his arm around her shoulder, comforting her while glaring at Shen Shun.

“Wan Yue’s family wants her to retake the year at Jiangke to get into a Shanghai university. Shen Shun said her parents only sent her there for the 50,000 yuan Jiangke offers, and it made Wan Yue cry…”

No one knew who said it.

Xu Qingling understood Wan Yue’s hurt.

In her previous life, Wan Shupeng had debts, eventually unable to continue teaching and hiding away for years. When Wan Yue was upset, she confided in Xu Qingling but never wanted classmates, especially boys, to know.

“What’s there to cry about?” Cao Siqing was blunt. “My father also wanted me to retake the year at Jiangke. He said I wouldn’t earn 50,000 yuan a year after graduating and might as well get the money upfront.”

Xu Qingling laughed. “So what did you think?”

Cao Siqing rolled her eyes. “I thought my father was talking nonsense. I’d rather die than retake the year.”

They exchanged smiles. Everyone was gathering as Li Zhengqi was organizing teams.

Actually, no one needed him to assign groups. A bunch of freshly minted adults naturally formed teams—those with close bonds, mutual interests, or relationships already understood among themselves.

Feng Bo, entrusted by Wei Donglai to watch over Wan Yue, thought Wei considered Wan Yue like his own woman. If so, she’d be his sister-in-law someday, so he had to take good care of her.

Since the trip to Xiutan Peak required cycling 50 kilometers, Feng Bo wanted to team up with Xu Qingling. If he got tired halfway, she could help out since they used to commute together.

Feng Bo craned his neck to look around but saw Xu Qingling had already ridden ahead with Cao Siqing and two other girls.

“What’s wrong with her today!”

Just as he grumbled, he turned to find Shen Luan cycling up behind them.

“I’ll join you guys.”

Feng Bo was pleasantly surprised; Shen Luan rarely spoke to him. He had heard from Wei that his uncle had business dealings with the Shen family.

“Sure, let’s go together.”

Wan Yue didn’t dare look back, letting her long hair shield her flushed cheeks.

She felt a gaze fixed on her, and the surrounding breeze suddenly grew warm. Her mind felt dizzy under the sun, and deep inside, a secret joy and pride blossomed.

Xu Qingling had chased after him for so long, only to realize he liked her.

*

Xiutan Peak was a famous scenic spot near Xun City, known for its beautiful views and pristine waters, surrounded by upscale resorts and sanatoriums.

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Xu Qingling had never cycled such a long distance before. Riding alongside a group of teenagers, she felt the dormant vitality within her gradually awaken.

Leaving the urban area, cycling along the national highway, the view suddenly opened up.

Rows of straight poplar trees lined the road, beyond which stretched vast fields. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting segmented shadows on the asphalt.

The summer breeze brushed her face, redolent with earth and plants.

Xu Qingling pedaled through patches of shade, her cheeks flushed, wheels spinning rapidly. The air was as fresh as if washed by water, and her heart seemed to expand with it.

Cao Siqing, who hadn’t slept well, suddenly perked up, singing loudly as she rode, drawing curious glances from passersby.

Their clothes dried and dampened repeatedly, and the group was parched. Luckily, some nearby farmers were selling vegetables and fruits—juicy persimmons, cucumbers, homegrown grapes, and tangerines.

Xu Qingling’s mouth watered at the sight of the grapes, a childhood favorite. Strictly speaking, they weren’t even proper fruit, looking like bitter melons but tasting sweet.

She bought a few bunches of grapes and persimmons for just two yuan. Carrying three hundred yuan in her pocket, she felt like a wealthy magnate.

Cao Siqing bought cucumbers and tangerines. Others, seeing them snacking, stopped to buy as well. Several stalls were quickly surrounded by this group of city kids.

Li Zhengqi, holding a bag of sugarcane, saw Xu Qingling sitting there and couldn’t help but say, “Why are you riding so fast? Aren’t you waiting for Shen Luan?”

Xu Qingling, nibbling on a persimmon, looked up at him. “Why would I wait for him?”

Li Zhengqi’s first thought was she was speaking in anger. “You guys must have argued. I heard you got into Xunda too, even heaven is on your side…”

After all, with Xu Qingling’s grades, getting into Xunda’s junior college was already a blessing. She had worked hard in the last months of senior year to be with Shen Luan. Now that wish was fulfilled, why was she suddenly cold?

“Don’t say that. Shen Luan and I ended things long ago. He has someone he likes.”

Zhao Zibei was stunned, confusion clouding his eyes. “Shen Luan has someone he likes? Who?”

As they spoke, Feng Bo came panting on his bike. “Today’s unlucky—my tire got punctured. Wait for me a bit…”

No one listened. All eyes turned to the scene behind him—sun shining from the west, the privileged Shen young master actually letting a girl ride on the back of his bike? And carrying her bag?

The girl on the back seat—Wan Yue? So Shen Luan liked Wan Yue?!

The slender strap of the white shoulder bag pressed against him like a declaration, a sign.

Shen Luan noticed everyone watching him as if it were a show and felt a bit awkward. His gaze instinctively searched the crowd and found Xu Qingling smiling quietly at him.

He explained reflexively, “Feng Bo’s bike tire burst; I was just helping him by giving Wan Yue a ride.”

Everyone’s expressions said, “We can see clearly; you’d better keep quiet.”

Xu Qingling thought of the quirks he had in their past life after marrying him:

No touching his phone. No using his computer. No eating in his car. No women wearing perfume. Hated kissing and physical contact.

Carrying a woman’s bag? Dream on!

So this is what true love looks like. In the face of true love, rules are just—nonsense.