DLSRWAR Chapter 20 A classmate? Male or female?

The Lu family’s house was a two-story, standalone villa.

In the front, there was a spacious yard where Grandpa Lu and Grandpa Qin often played chess under the osmanthus tree.

When Qin Yumian and Qin Xian arrived, the two old men hadn’t yet packed up their chessboard.

“Mian-ah, you’re here?” Grandpa Lu waved to her. “Come and help me figure out this move.”

Qin Xian eagerly volunteered, “Grandpa Lu, I’ll help you.”

Noticing that Qin Xian’s gait was somewhat off, Grandpa Lu asked, “What happened to your leg?”

Grandpa Qin, taking a slow sip from his enamel cup, smiled with a weathered face. “Did Mianmian give you another beating?”

Grandpa Lu had initially wanted Qin Xian to roll up his pant leg for inspection, but upon hearing this comment, he waved his hand in disdain. “Let Mianmian do it. Your chess skills are no better than this old man’s.”

Qin Xian: “…”

He must’ve not been their biological child, right?

Qin Yumian picked up the two enamel cups on the table. “Grandpa Lu, I’ll go make some tea for you and Grandpa. In the meantime, just let Qin Xian keep you company.”

“Alright, then. Little Xian, you help me figure out this move.”

Familiar with the Lu household, Qin Yumian found her way to the kitchen and started boiling water for tea.

The Lu family’s housekeeper was preparing dinner. Seeing Qin Yumian, she greeted her with a bright smile. “Professor said you were coming for dinner tonight. I bought a few pounds of ribs from Uncle Zhang and will make your favorite braised ribs.”

“Thank you, Aunt He.” Qin Yumian looked around. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Aunt He shook her head while continuing her work. “No need. Just go out and chat with your grandpa and the professor. Dinner will be ready in about half an hour.”

Finding nothing she could assist with, Qin Yumian boiled the water, brewed the tea, and carried it back outside.

In the yard, Qin Xian was boasting, “Grandpa Lu, how do you think my chess skills measure up to yours? Not bad, right?”

Grandpa Lu placed the chess pieces into the box and snorted. “Your skills are good enough to beat two old men like us. If you’re so great, try winning against Mianmian.”

Qin Xian protested, “Qin Yumian learned from my dad. Otherwise, she—”

Before he could finish, his rear end was suddenly kicked.

Grandpa Qin continued picking up the chess pieces with an air of nonchalance, as if he hadn’t just kicked his own grandson.

Qin Xian was about to ask why, but turning around and seeing Qin Yumian coming out of the house, he immediately fell silent.

Placing the enamel cups in front of the two old men, Qin Yumian sat down on a small stool. “Grandpa Lu, shall I play a couple of games with you?”

“No need, no need,” Grandpa Lu signaled for Qin Xian to pack up the chessboard, took a sip of the tea Qin Yumian had just brewed, and remarked, “The tea our Mianmian makes is always the best.”

Grandpa Qin chimed in, “How could the tea my granddaughter makes not be good?”

Ignoring Grandpa Qin’s smug tone, Grandpa Lu turned to Qin Yumian and asked, “Mian-ah, have your exams finished?”

Qin Yumian nodded. “I just finished the exams today.”

“As soon as school starts, you’ll be in your senior year. Do you have any plans for the future?” Grandpa Lu asked casually. “For example, which university are you aiming for?”

Qin Yumian responded with a question of her own. “Grandpa Lu, where do you think I should apply?”

Grandpa Lu replied, “In my opinion, aiming for a university in the capital is the best.”

Grandpa Qin chimed in immediately, “What’s so great about universities in the capital? In my view, Nanjing University is quite good.”

“Even if Nanjing University is good, it can’t compare to Tsinghua-Peking University. Don’t listen to your grandpa. Apply to the universities in the capital. Grandpa Lu has a house there. If you don’t want to stay in the dorms, you can just stay there.”

“Old Lu, just because you’re a professor from Tsinghua-Peking University, don’t go around acting like the peddler praising his own wares,” Grandpa Qin said with a smile, squinting his eyes. “Our Mianmian won’t be going to the capital; she’s staying right here in City H.”

Grandpa Lu became displeased. “Who’s being like the peddler praising his own wares now? Old Qin, explain yourself—what’s wrong with Tsinghua-Peking University?”

To prevent an argument between the two old men, Qin Yumian quickly intervened. “Grandpa Lu, given my current grades, I might not get into universities in the capital or Nanjing University. So, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with.”

“What is it? Just say it.”

“I’d like to ask if you could tutor me and a classmate of mine.”

Grandpa Lu asked, “A classmate? Male or female?”

Hearing his granddaughter’s request, even Grandpa Qin looked over at Qin Yumian. After all, this was the first time Qin Yumian had mentioned bringing a classmate to their home.

Qin Yumian didn’t hide anything and answered honestly. “It’s a male classmate.”

Upon hearing this, Grandpa Lu’s eyebrows almost jumped up. He tentatively asked, “Are you close with him?”

Qin Yumian knew what Grandpa Lu was thinking and responded with a hint of resignation, “We’re just ordinary classmates.”

Grandpa Lu tried to act nonchalant and replied, “Oh.”

After having dinner at the Lu household, Qin Yumian and her family left.

Xinghua Street was quite peaceful at night. Being a small county town, the public security wasn’t very good, so everyone tended to stay indoors and watch television at this time.

Qin Xian slowed his pace, walking beside Grandpa Qin, while Qin Yumian did the same. The family of three finally arrived home at nine o’clock.

Grandpa Qin, being old, went to bed early. After they arrived and freshened up, he retired to his room to rest.

Qin Xian had originally planned to sneak out at night to go online, but Qin Yumian sat on the sofa watching cartoons, making it impossible for him to find an opportunity to leave.

“Qin Yumian, aren’t you going to bed?” Qin Xian feigned exhaustion, yawning dramatically. “I’m so tired. Hurry up and go to your room. Don’t hog my bed.”

The sofa was Qin Xian’s bed.

Qin Yumian kept her eyes fixed on the small TV screen. “Wait until I finish this episode.”

Qin Xian: “…”

You said the same thing thirty minutes ago.

“What’s the matter? In a hurry?” Qin Yumian lightly lifted her eyelashes, her expression rather calm. “Aren’t internet cafés open 24 hours?”

Qin Xian: “…”

Despite being exposed, Qin Xian stubbornly refused to admit his intentions. “Who says I’m going to the internet café?”

The teenage boy sulked as he sat beside Qin Yumian. “You’re so grown up, yet you’re still watching cartoons. How childish.”

Qin Yumian ignored him and continued watching her cartoon.

Time passed silently, and Qin Xian couldn’t understand the appeal of this ridiculously childish cartoon. He leaned against the sofa, growing increasingly drowsy.

The clock on the TV struck midnight. Qin Yumian blinked her slightly sore eyes and glanced over at the teenage boy beside her.

He was already asleep.

Turning off the TV with the remote, Qin Yumian covered him with a blanket that had been folded nearby. She then took out a pen and paper and began scribbling something at the table.

After leaving a note on the table, Qin Yumian went to the bathroom to shower and prepare for bed.

In the middle of the night, Qin Xian suddenly woke up. The room was quiet and pitch dark, clearly indicating that everyone else was asleep.

Now was the time to slip away or never?

Hmm? What was this?

Qin Xian unfolded the crumpled note in his hand, squinting in the moonlight to make out the writing: Leg not sore anymore?

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