The driver smiled and said no more.

Shen Siyan looked at his silent phone, gave a few instructions, and then turned his head to look out the window.

He thought about it for a while and realized there was no way to verify the car accident from his previous life. He could only let it go.

If he had the chance to do it all over again, he wouldn’t make the same mistake.

_

When Shen Siyan got home, Shen Man was still sitting in the living room, as if waiting for him.

They exchanged glances, and Shen Siyan called out, “Mom, why are you still awake so late?”

Shen Man looked at him and said, “My son doesn’t come home at night; how can I sleep as a mother?”

Shen Siyan: “…”

He had slept well the night before, even though he hadn’t come home.

Shen Man knew what he was thinking by looking at his expression. She snorted and said, “I’m speaking seriously.”

Shen Siyan nodded. “Go ahead.”

He stood up and walked over to Shen Man, looking ready to do whatever she wanted.

Shen Man tugged at his clothes. “How is Zhilu doing recently?”

“Fine.”

“Is she tired from working?” Shen Man sighed. “Why is she so stubborn? I’ve already told you it doesn’t matter if she works at home or at the company…”

She continued to mutter, feeling sorry for Xu Zhilu.

Shen Siyan listened and smiled slightly. “Don’t worry.”

He said softly, “It’s fine. Nothing is wrong.”

Shen Man glanced at him. “What are your plans now?”

“What?”

“The results will be out the day after tomorrow. What about summer vacation after that?” She said, “Zhilu is working part-time. I’m not asking you to do anything specific, but you need to have a plan for yourself.”

Shen Man wasn’t the type of mother to force her children into anything, but their family situation was different. Shen Siyan could enjoy high school, but as an adult, the responsibilities on his shoulders would be substantial.

He could pursue his interests, but he needed to stop being lazy, take on responsibility, and be mature.

People who don’t have their own thoughts will eventually be eliminated by society.

Shen Siyan understood what she meant. He thought for a moment and said softly, “After I finish filling out the application form, I want to intern at the company.”

He looked at Shen Man and continued, “There is no need to go to the head office. Just apply to the subsidiary company and follow the normal process.”

Shen Man eyed him suspiciously. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah,” Shen Siyan smiled and said, “How about starting as a salesperson?”

Shen Man was taken aback, thought for a moment, and said, “It’s up to you. Whatever you think is best.”

Shen Siyan nodded. “Start from the grassroots.”

Hearing this, Shen Man didn’t know what to say. “As long as you have a plan.”

“I know.”

Shen Man stared at him for a while and then said softly, “I feel like you’ve changed a bit, son.”

Shen Siyan laughed and hugged her. “Mom, thank you.”

Shen Man couldn’t take his sentimentality anymore, so she patted his hands and said, “Alright, stop being sentimental with me. Go take a shower and get some rest. I want to visit Zhilu. Is that inappropriate?”

Shen Siyan thought for a moment and said, “Let me check for you.”

“OK.”

_

On the day the results were announced, Xu Zhilu went to work at the milk tea shop as usual.

As soon as she arrived, her homeroom teacher called.

“Xu Zhilu! The results are out!”

Xu Zhilu was startled and quickly asked, “Teacher, please tell me.”

The homeroom teacher replied, “…Why aren’t you excited?”

Xu Zhilu laughed. “Did you do well in the exam?”

The teacher was speechless. “Very well! You’re the top scorer in science this year. What do you think?!”

Xu Zhilu was stunned. “Really?”

“Yes!” The teacher was very excited. “It’s been a long time since our school had a top student. I didn’t expect one this year! Now the principal and others want to give you a prize…”

Xu Zhilu didn’t catch the rest of the conversation clearly.

She only knew that her big dream had come true.

She smiled and said, “Thank you, teacher.”

“Why are you being so polite? I’m going to tell the other students the good news. By the way, Shen Siyan did well in the exam too.” Xu Zhilu’s eyes lit up. “How well?”

“Very well.”

The teacher said, “He was at the bottom of the grade, but he was only behind you this time. He improved by nearly 100 points compared to the monthly exam before the college entrance exam.”

Xu Zhilu was stunned. “More than 700?”

“Seven hundred and five points. You’re first in our school, and he’s second. We’re also in the top five in the city.”

The teacher was very excited. “I didn’t expect our class to have such outstanding students this year…”

_

After hanging up, Xu Zhilu called Shen Siyan.

As soon as the call connected, Shen Siyan’s voice came from the other end. “The teacher called you?”

Xu Zhilu replied, “…Yes. Did you hear from her too?”

“Yes, but she’s not my homeroom teacher. She’s a friend of my mom’s.”

Xu Zhilu said, “The results are out.”

Shen Siyan laughed. “I know.”

He paused and whispered, “Congratulations, Xu Zhilu.”

Xu Zhilu smiled. “Thank you, and congratulations to you too.”

Shen Siyan looked at the milk tea shop not far away and walked forward while talking on the phone with her. “Well, thank you.”

Xu Zhilu chuckled. “Thank you for what?”

Shen Siyan: “I don’t know. I just want to thank you.”

He was silent for a moment, then pushed open the glass door of the milk tea shop and walked in, gazing at Xu Zhilu silently.

Shen Siyan slowly ended the call.

He looked at her with a smile, extending his hand. “I’m lucky. We can be classmates again, Xu Zhilu.”

It was an indescribable feeling.

Xu Zhilu liked it when he called her by her full name. He pronounced the words clearly, and his voice was crisp. But when he said her name, it carried a special kind of gentleness.

Xu Zhilu looked at his outstretched hand and smiled silently. “It’s quite lucky.”

She reached out and shook his hand.

Shen Siyan brushed her palm and whispered, “I hope our college life will be very different this time.”

Xu Zhilu looked at him and smiled, her eyes curving up.

She didn’t know how to express it, but she felt happy and joyful from the bottom of her heart, and it felt real.

They stared at each other for a while. Xu Zhilu then looked away and said, “There’s no one in the milk tea shop right now. Why don’t you sit over there for a while?”

Shen Siyan nodded. “Can you take a break?”

“Yes,” Xu Zhilu said, “No one is sure if they can rest.”

“Then I’ll stand here and chat with you.”

Xu Zhilu looked at him and didn’t refuse. “Okay.”

“I don’t know how An An and the others did in the exam.”

“I’ll check the group.”

“Good.”

The two chatted casually, and the group was already very lively.

The class group was full of congratulations for Xu Zhilu and Shen Siyan. Besides them, many other students had also performed very well on the exam.

In these final years, their efforts had paid off.

Shen Siyan looked at Xu Zhilu, raised his eyebrows, and said, “They asked you to treat us.”

Xu Zhilu laughed. “Sure.”

Shen Siyan thought for a moment and said, “No.”

“…”

Xu Zhilu looked at him in confusion. “Why not?”

Shen Siyan raised his eyebrows and said, “Just eat with me. There is no need to eat with them. It’s too noisy and annoying.”

Xu Zhilu was speechless.

She quietly rolled her eyes. “I didn’t realize you cared about this.”

Shen Siyan put away his phone and said calmly, “I didn’t care before.”

He looked at Xu Zhilu with a half-smile. “It takes two lifetimes to get a girlfriend. I have to protect her well.”

“…”

Xu Zhilu was amused, and her face turned red. “What are you talking about?”

Shen Siyan said, “Tell the truth.”

He was silent for a moment, looking at Xu Zhilu with intense eyes. “I’m serious.”

“Um?”

Shen Siyan hesitated before saying, “I feel very lucky right now.”

Xu Zhilu was momentarily stunned, then nodded and replied, “Me too.”

***

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