‘Youyou!’

Liu Miaomiao turned her head and mouthed. Taking advantage of the teacher’s distraction at the front of the classroom, a paper ball landed precisely on Xu Youyou’s desk which was two rows away.

Instantly, this drew the attention of the entire class. Upon realizing that it was Liu Miaomiao who had thrown the paper ball at Xu Youyou, they nonchalantly resumed looking up at the teacher, who was writing a series of numbers on the blackboard.

It was now the second half of the senior year, with less than three months left until the college entrance examination.

In this private high school, half of the students chose to study abroad, while the other half opted for the national college entrance examination, with some planning to go abroad after completing the exam.

Liu Miaomiao belonged to the latter category.

But regardless of which category they belonged to, the students in this class didn’t feel much pressure about the college entrance examination.

If they didn’t perform well in the exam, they could always choose to study abroad. Of course, performing well in the exam would be the best outcome, since their grades were all quite good, and they didn’t want to lose face later on.

Xu Youyou unfolded the paper ball, revealing a message that read, ‘Don’t go to the cafeteria after class. Aunt Qian is back, and there’s food for us!’

Although this was a private high school, the principal still placed importance on the college entrance examination. Last year, excluding students who did not participate in the exam, the admission rate to first-tier universities reached 90%, which was far ahead in Jiang City. Many parents were willing to spend a lot of money to ensure their children could attend this high school.

Therefore, after reaching the senior year, students were carefully divided into classes.

The students who were taking the college entrance examination and those who were not were placed in separate buildings, with one in Building A and the other in Building B.

Among the students taking the college entrance examination, they were further divided into five classes based on their chosen subjects and other criteria, with each class consisting of approximately thirty students.

Liu Miaomiao and Xu Youyou were fortunate enough to be placed in the same class.

Qian Xin and Liu Yanzhi were in the class next to theirs.

Knowing that Xu Youyou wouldn’t check her phone during class, Qian Xin sent a message to inform Liu Miaomiao.

As expected, after quickly glancing at the note, Xu Youyou made an OK gesture to Liu Miaomiao, then refocused her attention on the blackboard, listening attentively to the teacher’s analysis of past exam questions.

Meanwhile, Liu Miaomiao stealthily took out her phone and exchanged a few messages with Qian Xin.

Both of their grades weren’t bad, and they should have no problem meeting the regular admission criteria for first-tier universities. However, compared to someone like Xu Youyou, who consistently ranked in the top five of their year and top fifty in the city, they fell a bit short.

Fortunately, both of their parents had a relaxed attitude towards grades and never pressured their children to achieve certain standards. As long as they worked hard and did their best, it was enough.

【Youyou already knows. See you at the usual place later.】

【OK】

【I’ll be going with you guys after school.】

【Is Brother Juan back?】

【Yeah, Youyou told me this morning.】

【Dang, you didn’t even tell us, prioritizing love over friendship!】

【……Haven’t you gotten used to it yet?】

After sending that message, Liu Miaomiao suppressed a smile, put away her phone, and then looked up at the blackboard. Of course, she didn’t forget to sneak a glance at Xu Youyou, who was completely focused on the lesson.

Ah, my family’s Youyou is getting more and more beautiful every time I look at her!

After a fleeting sigh of motherly admiration, Liu Miaomiao couldn’t help but remember the gossip she had heard a few days ago.

Hmph, not even considering your own bottom-of-the-class grades, yet you dare to boast and pursue my family’s Youyou? If you really dare to make a move, I’ll beat you until you’re looking for your teeth all over the ground!

———pr

Please only read this translation at S h a n g h a i f a n t a s y . c o m to support the translator

At noon, in a pavilion in the school garden.

Xu Youyou and the other three looked at the sumptuous meal in front of them and collectively took a deep breath.

“I haven’t had Aunt Qian’s cooking for over a week. I feel like I’ve lost weight!”

With friendships spanning over a decade, they didn’t fuss much about dining etiquette. Liu Miaomiao smiled and reached for her favorite sweet and sour pork first, taking a bite and revealing a happy smile.

Qian Xin chuckled at Liu Miaomiao’s exaggerated expression. “Miaomiao, don’t worry. My mom said she won’t leave until after my college entrance examination.”

Mother Qian had recently served as a judge at a cooking competition. She couldn’t wait to cook a delicious meal for her son and his friends as soon as she got home this morning, and she had her assistant deliver it.

“Wow! Youyou, we’re in for a treat!”

Upon hearing that news, Xu Youyou also smiled happily. “Please thank Aunt Qian for me.”

While the food in the school cafeteria wasn’t bad, it couldn’t compare to Mother Qian’s cooking. As a little foodie, Xu Youyou naturally felt thrilled to enjoy the good fortune her friend brings.

“By the way, Youyou, is Brother Juan coming over this afternoon?”

Although Liu Yanzhi was a few months older than Lu Chenjun, for some reason, he started calling him ‘Brother Juan’ just like Qian Xin.

In his words, it’s not about age; it’s about aura.

Brother Juan looks like he’s cut out to be the big brother!

Xu Youyou at that time: “……”

Those who didn’t know might think Lu Chenjun had joined some sort of gang.

“Yeah, didn’t he tell you guys?”

As soon as Xu Youyou finished speaking, she met the indescribable expressions of her three friends.

Xu Youyou said, “……Maybe he thought I would tell you?”

Qian Xin and Liu Miaomiao both answered, “It’s okay, we’re used to it.”

Lu Chenjun used to go to and from school with them until the second year of high school. However, his talent couldn’t be hidden anymore, and he was recruited early into a prestigious university in the capital city. It’s said that he had already started working on projects with his mentor.

However, Lu Chenjun didn’t seem to be too busy. He would come back roughly every one or two months, staying for three or four days each time.

“Used to what?”

Xu Youyou looked at the three, who seemed to have an even more inexplicable expression. How come she couldn’t understand what they were saying?

“It’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

The three of them shook their heads in unison, then felt a twinge of sympathy for Lu Chenjun in their hearts. It wasn’t easy for Brother Juan.

Xu Youyou had been cute and pretty since she was little, and with her excellent academic performance, and outgoing personality, she had been one of the most outstanding students in her grade since primary school.

Similarly, starting from primary school, there were always some clueless people who would pass love letters to Xu Youyou, bring her breakfast, or even confess their feelings to her.

Lu Chenjun and the others were always on guard, warning them time and time again, but there were always some fish that slipped through the nets.

Of course, all of those fish were eventually dealt with by Xu Youyou herself.

Xu Youyou would say, “My mom said the most important thing for students is to study hard! I won’t consider dating until after college!”

After all, they were still underage kids, and their faces weren’t that thick. After being told by Xu Youyou like that, basically everyone left with disappointment.

But Xu Youyou, at some point, had also been ridiculed behind her back as a mama’s girl by some people.

They felt that she always said ‘My mom said this’ and ‘My mom said that’, like a little kid who hadn’t been weaned.

But Xu Youyou didn’t see any problem with that at all because her mother was just that great, and she was proud to be a mama’s girl!

Jiang City wasn’t that big, and Xu Youyou had been attending the best schools in the area since primary school. Many of her classmates had also been the same, so her deeds gradually spread quietly among them.

After entering high school, Xu Youyou completely blossomed. With delicate features and a tall, slender figure, even if she just tied her hair up in a simple high ponytail, she stood out at first glance among the crowd.

However, the number of people confessing their feelings to Xu Youyou had dwindled.

She thought it was because her words had scared them off.

In reality……

Liu Miaomiao and the other two exchanged a knowing glance.

Who would dare to reach for the rose guarded by a fierce tiger?

Although Youyou hadn’t figured it out yet and was solely focused on studying and her mother, they believe in Brother Juan.

If this pair of childhood sweethearts could still be defeated by some ‘divine intervention’, they would never believe in love again.

“Aren’t you guys eating?”

Xu Youyou ate the food in her bowl in small bites. When she looked up, she saw her three friends looking at her with serious expressions.

Xu Youyou: “???”

“Is there food on my face?”

They all shook their heads in unison again. The synchronized movement was so neat that it seemed rehearsed.

Xu Youyou asked, “Are you guys keeping something from me? Could it be…… you’re going to eat something delicious behind my back?!”

That wasn’t just something Xu Youyou said casually; Liu Miaomiao and the other two had done something like that before.

Last year, when Lu Chenjun had a short break and returned to Jiang City for a few days of rest, Xu Youyou wanted to invite her friends to go out and have fun together. However, they all refused, saying they had other plans.

So, Xu Youyou ended up going out with Lu Chenjun alone. It just so happened that they spotted these three enjoying their meal at a newly opened restaurant!

Xu Youyou would remember the terrified expressions on their faces for the rest of her life!

Humph! Not even inviting me to eat delicious food, they’re too much!

“No, no!”

Liu Miaomiao interrupted Xu Youyou’s train of thought in time. “It’s just that I can’t go home together with you this afternoon.”

Xu Youyou and Liu Miaomiao lived in the same direction, so they naturally went home together. Now, hearing her friend say that, Xu Youyou asked distrustfully, “Why?”

Liu Miaomiao stuttered, “……Uh, well.” She glanced at Qian Xin. “Qian Xin and I need to discuss some things about going abroad.”

“Yes, yes.” Qian Xin responded quickly.

It sounded reasonable enough, but Xu Youyou couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

However, she couldn’t find any other reasons to suspect them, so she could only frown and look at her three friends, who were smiling like fools.

After finishing lunch, Liu Miaomiao said she needed to discuss something with Qian Xin and Liu Yanzhi, and asked Xu Youyou to go back to the classroom first.

Xu Youyou stated, “If you guys go eat something delicious behind my back again, I’ll be angry, you know.”

“We won’t, Youyou, you have to trust us!”

Liu Miaomiao blinked her big eyes vigorously, trying to show her sincerity.

After finally coaxing Xu Youyou away, the three quickly found a corner to talk.

Liu Miaomiao asked, “Tomorrow is Saturday. What if Youyou ask us to hang out again?”

They didn’t want to be third wheels under Brother Juan’s ‘scorching’ gaze; it would shorten their life span!

Liu Yanzhi suggested, “We could say we’re tutoring Qian Xin in language?”

Qian Xin shook his head. “We’ve already used that excuse last time.”

Liu Miaomiao said, “Then say you’re tutoring me in math!”

Qian Xin and Liu Yanzhi both looked at Liu Miaomiao, their expressions conveying the same message—— Is that the best reason you can come up with?

Liu Miaomiao waved her hand nonchalantly. “Aiya, as long as Youyou believe it!”

———pr

Meanwhile, Xu Youyou was pondering what the three were hiding from her, so she didn’t notice her surroundings.

A boy happened to be approaching, and upon seeing Xu Youyou, he cleared his throat lightly.

Xu Youyou didn’t react and simply brushed past him.

The boy: “……”

Thinking about what he had said a couple of days ago and seeing that there weren’t many people around, he turned around and took large strides to catch up.

“Xu Youyou!”

As he reached out to grab Xu Youyou’s arm, she reacted faster than he did. She dodged toward the wall as if out of reflex.

At the same time, the boy’s inner fire ignited. To cover up his embarrassment for failing to grab her, he spun around as well, striking a cool pose with one hand against the wall.

Oh sh*t, my reaction is so badass!

The boy complimented himself inwardly, then composed himself and attempted to flash the most charming smile at Xu Youyou.

Xu Youyou was busy looking down at her shoes. Did she step on something just now?

The boy: “……”

“Cough, cough.” The boy cleared his throat again, finally catching Xu Youyou’s attention this time.

“Schoolmate, is there something you need?” Xu Youyou looked at the awkward posture of the person in front of her, suspecting that he might have hurt his waist just now. As she was about to ask, the boy flashed her a ‘devilish’ smile.

Xu Youyou: “……” Sooo nauseating.

Right after that, she heard the boy say, “I’m Lin Zeming. Xu Youyou, be my girlfriend!”

“I refuse.” Xu Youyou’s response was prompt and decisive, without any hesitation.

Lin Zeming was instantly angered. He withdrew his hand and, relying on his height, took a step forward. He spoke in an unhappy tone, “Why? I’m so handsome, and my family is wealthy. What’s not to like about me?”

Xu Youyou looked at the person who appeared out of nowhere with an expressionless face and shook her head firmly. “I won’t date before college, and also……”

She couldn’t see this person being someone who loves studying.

Xu Youyou once again uttered the familiar words she hadn’t said in a while.

“My mom says, the most important thing for students is to study. Otherwise, they’ll become the scum of society!”

Lin Zeming, who thinks that he’s good at everything except studying, and could even get a single-digit score on a 150 points paper: “……”

He felt like he was being scolded, but he had no evidence.

“You…… You’re just a nerd!”

Determined to salvage his pride, Lin Zeming attempted to save face.

Xu Youyou’s gaze became even more peculiar. “Then why are you looking for a nerd to be your girlfriend?”

Lin Zeming: “……” Damn, nobody told him that Xu Youyou was so eloquent!

But because at this moment the two were less than a meter apart, Lin Zeming saw Xu Youyou’s face up close.

Especially those eyes that seemed as if they could speak, well, they were quite beautiful.

Lin Zeming felt a flush of warmth creeping up his face. He stuttered, trying to speak again, but Xu Youyou was impatient to listen to him.

Seeing him so lively, Xu Youyou wasn’t worried that she had stepped on someone.

She turned around and left.

Lin Zeming shouted, “Hey, wait up!”

Was she even a girl? Being confessed to by such a handsome guy, how come there was no reaction at all, and she even refused!

Unfortunately, just a few more steps and around the corner, there were more people around. Lin Zeming, who had a strong sense of being an idol, naturally didn’t want too many people to see him being rejected. He simply put his hands in his pockets and pretended as if nothing had happened as he went downstairs.

As for his original intention to find a secluded place to quietly smoke a cigarette, he had long forgotten about it.

Lin Zeming’s mind was now filled with Xu Youyou’s face and the words she had just said. No wonder those people were encouraging him to pursue Xu Youyou. Turns out she was really hard to deal with.

But if he could win over Xu Youyou, wouldn’t that also mean he was impressive himself?

Lin Zeming had transferred just this semester. Transferring in the second half of senior year, it was clear he must have done something extreme before.

But Lin Zeming didn’t care. After all, his family was wealthy. What did it matter if his grades weren’t good?

Even if he changed schools and swore off gaming forever, he still couldn’t study!

———pr

Xu Youyou didn’t dwell on what had just happened. She attentively listened to the afternoon classes and the school dismissed promptly at 4:35 PM.

This school didn’t have mandatory evening self-study sessions. After school, students could choose to stay or go home as they pleased.

Xu Youyou used to stay occasionally, but today Lu Chenjun came back and said he would come to pick her up from school, so of course she wouldn’t stay.

“Miaomiao, hurry up, Juanjuan is waiting for us.”

Liu Miaomiao packed up her things and silently thought to herself, Please remove the ‘us’.

Of course, as the number one fan of Butter Rolls^[1]油卷 – you juan CP, Liu Miaomiao was still very happy that both sides would meet.

“Alright, Youyou, you go ahead. I’m going back with Qian Xin today, remember?”

“I didn’t forget, but haven’t you also not seen Juanjuan for a long time?”

Once again, silently lighting a candle for Brother Juan in her heart, Liu Miaomiao walked hand in hand with Xu Youyou towards the school gate.

“Juanjuan!”

From a distance, Xu Youyou saw that particularly eye-catching figure. She smiled and waved at Lu Chenjun.

Perhaps it was the obsession with height from childhood, or maybe the influence of drinking milk, but Lu Chenjun suddenly had a growth spurt in his first year of high school, shooting up twenty centimeters in just two years. Now he stood a solid one hundred and eighty-eight centimeters tall.

Who knows if he would still grow taller in the future?

If Juanjuan grows any taller, I’ll probably have to stand on tiptoes just to reach his hair, Xu Youyou thought regretfully, with her ‘mere’ height of one hundred and seventy centimeters.

Lu Chenjun also spotted Xu Youyou at this moment. He strode over to her and effortlessly took her backpack. Then, he walked to her other side and said, “Come to my house for dinner tonight. My mom and Aunt Xu are both there.”

“Okay. How many days can you stay this time, Juanjuan?”

“Four days. I’ll come back when you’re taking the college entrance exam.”

“Wow, then I’ll pay my respects to you when that time comes. Please bless me with your knowledge!”

Xu Youyou’s actions and words amused Lu Chenjun, though even when he laughed, it wasn’t a big one. Just a slight curve at the corner of his mouth revealed his good mood.

As Lu Chenjun grew up, he didn’t look as similar to Qin Xiao as he did when he was younger. His eyes were slightly larger, with darker pupils, and his eyebrows weren’t as sharp, making him resemble Qin Yiren a bit more. Coupled with his fair skin, he gave off a delicate and handsome young man vibe.

Of course, if anyone thought Lu Chenjun was easy to bully because of it, they’d be in for a surprise.

“Do you still feel uneasy about your grades?”

Xu Youyou grinned. “Isn’t it just wanting to do better?”

Liu Miaomiao, who was one step behind and had become completely invisible, knew that this would happen. That’s why she didn’t want to be the third wheel!

Fortunately, at this moment, she saw Qian Xin’s car and Qian Xin and Liu Yanzhi waiting beside it. After the three of them met up and quickly exchanged greetings with Lu Chenjun, they left.

This made Xu Youyou start thinking again. “They must be hiding something from me!”

Hearing that, Lu Chenjun thought of the encouraging gesture Qian Xin had secretly made to him just now. He found it amusing but also didn’t forget to divert Xu Youyou’s attention. “Has anything special happened recently?”

“Not really, I have a regular pattern every day. What about you, Juanjuan?”

As for that strange guy named Lin something, Xu Youyou had long forgotten about him.

He’s not an important person anyway, so why bother remembering him? It’s more useful to remember a couple more questions.

As they chatted, the two arrived at the Qin family’s villa.

It was still the same house as before; they hadn’t moved in all these years.

When Xu Youyou and Lu Chenjun entered together, they saw Xu Wenyin and Qin Yiren studying a brochure.

“Mom, Aunt Xu/Aunt Qin, we’re back.”

Hearing the voices of the two children, the two mothers finally looked away from the brochure.

Xu Wenyin greeted Xu Youyou happily, “Youyou, are you tired from studying today?” As she spoke, she started massaging Xu Youyou’s shoulders with her hands, making Xu Youyou giggle uncontrollably because she was ticklish.

Over the past decade or so, time hadn’t left too many traces on Xu Wenyin’s face.

Even without makeup, she looked like she was in her early thirties. When standing next to Xu Youyou, most people’s first reaction would be that they were sisters rather than mother and daughter.

Moreover, now that Xu Youyou had grown up, Xu Wenyin’s time had extended to eight hours, thirty-six minutes, and thirteen seconds, which was enough to handle a lot of everyday things.

She could go shopping, attend parent-teacher conferences, and even travel, as long as she paid a little attention to time.

“Mom, what were you looking at just now?”

With a smile, Xu Youyou dodged Xu Wenyin’s hand and walked a few steps to the sofa, where she saw Qin Yiren holding another brochure about a villa.

“Are you buying another house?” Xu Youyou’s tone was calm as if she were talking about something trivial.

Xu Wenyin also sat down next to Xu Youyou. “Yes, with your summer vacation being so long, we thought of picking a nice place to escape the heat. Considering we might stay there for a month, it’s better to just buy a property.”

“Yeah, we’ve already planned it out. It’ll be all about cruise ships, beaches, swimsuits, and handsome guys~ How’s that?” Qin Yiren said deliberately, blinking at Lu Chenjun as if she wanted to see his reaction.

Unfortunately, this move was too old, and Lu Chenjun couldn’t be bothered to respond. He preferred to take the initiative instead. “How about spending some time in the capital during the summer vacation? I can accompany you.”

Over the years, Xu Youyou had been to the capital a few times, but each time it was for a specific purpose, such as competitions, more competitions, and even more competitions!

She had hardly had the chance to have fun. Thinking that her dream university was also in the capital, Xu Youyou was somewhat tempted to go and see it early. However, she didn’t immediately agree. “Let’s talk about that later. Also, you haven’t gone around the capital as well, Juanjuan!”

“That’s right, we can travel around one place at a time since we have time,” Xu Wenyin agreed with Xu Youyou’s words. She then took out the brochure again and resumed browsing through it until dinner began.

———pr

At eleven o’clock in the evening, Xu Youyou finished reading the book in her hand and was about to turn off the light to sleep when she heard a knock on the door.

At this time, it could only be Xu Wenyin.

As Xu Youyou grew up, Xu Wenyin appeared less and less directly in her mind to talk to her. In Xu Wenyin’s words, this was respecting children’s privacy.

Although Xu Youyou herself didn’t mind, she felt that there was nothing she couldn’t tell her mother.

“Baby~”  Xu Wenyin poked her head in. “Weekly check-in!”

Xu Youyou smiled. “Everything went smoothly this week. I haven’t encountered any messy guys, and no one’s bullied me.”

Things were fine before, but since she entered her senior year, her mother seemed to constantly worry that someone might bully her at school or that she might attract troublesome guys, hence the weekly check-ins.

Xu Wenyin nodded at that and blew Xu Youyou a kiss before returning to her own room.

She still had an hour left today, just enough time to have a late-night snack later.

During this free time, Xu Wenyin took out her diary again.

Over the years, she didn’t write in her diary every day. She mostly wrote down significant events, but she had accumulated about ten volumes, and they almost filled half of the safe.

At first, she worried that something might happen to her suddenly, so the diary could leave a clue for Xu Youyou. But now it had evolved into a kind of ritual.

A record of their continuing happiness.

Xu Wenyin picked up the pen and continued to record the events of the week. As she wrote, she was reminded of the original plotline.

It seemed that Xu Youyou wouldn’t encounter any messy situations in high school anymore. If she went to the capital for college, the current Lu family wouldn’t be anything to fear either. As for Lu Haoyu, if he dared to come near her daughter, he’d have to face her iron fist!

The tax evasion scandal involving Yao Fanyu was uncovered when Xu Youyou was in sixth grade, and the amount involved had doubled compared to when Xu Wenyin first discovered it. That person was really courageous!

Afterward, those who needed to be banned were banned, and those who needed to make payments did so. Even Yao Yunyou remained silent for many years and didn’t dare to resurface until two years ago when she started acting again.

But without Yao Fanyu’s support and planning behind the scenes, Yao Yunyou could only barely make it as a second-tier actress with the help of her director father. Moreover, she was the kind with poor popularity among passersby.

So, to sum it up, these people were completely unworthy of concern!

Moreover, with Ruan Rourou being caught and with the protection provided by Lu Weizheng and the state in recent years, Lu Chenjun’s safety was also nothing to worry about.

When Xu Youyou goes to college, Xu Wenyin will move to the capital with her, and there will be a lot of fun things to do in a new place~

With that in mind, the future looks bright!