Chapter 32: After the Exam

With Qin Zhao by her side, Cao Xi didn’t sleep soundly. She skipped breakfast and headed to the shop early. It was still too early when she arrived, so she knocked on the shop’s door a couple of times. The one who opened the door was Shuiniu (Water Shui Niu).

“Xi-jie, you’re here so early today!” Shuiniu was holding a green onion in his hand, ready to start making breakfast.

Cao Xi replied, “It’s nothing. I just wanted to come earlier to help out. Have you eaten yet?”

Shuiniu said, “I’m just about to start cooking.”

“I’ll do it. You go handle something else.”

Taking the green onion from Shuiniu, Cao Xi noticed the prepped vegetables on the stove and naturally started cooking.

When Li Feng came out in the morning, he saw Cao Xi setting the table with bowls and chopsticks. He was momentarily dazed before snapping back to reality.

“You’re here?”

“Mm. Go wash up quickly; the food will be ready soon.”

Cao Xi busied herself while urging him to get moving.

Shuiniu looked at the four dishes and a soup on the table and grinned. “Having a woman in the house really is different. Breakfast is so luxurious.”

“The ingredients were already here. All I did was cook them. It didn’t take much effort.”

After serving everyone a bowl of rice, Cao Xi finally sat down to eat with them.

Shuiniu took a sip of the hot soup and felt the warmth spread from his mouth to his stomach. “Qin Zhao should be finishing his exams soon, right?”

Cao Xi smiled brightly. “Yes, tomorrow is the last day.”

Shuiniu chuckled. “That kid was so sharp even back then. I remember the first time we met, he was such a fierce fighter. He picked up a rock and aimed it straight at my head. It took all the strength I had to pin him down.”

Cao Xi couldn’t help but laugh heartily at the memory.

“Our first meeting was indeed unpleasant. We barely exchanged a few words before starting to fight.”

“Exactly! And you even climbed on top of Li-ge and wouldn’t get off no matter what.”

Before the words fully landed, Shuiniu let out a yelp as his leg was kicked hard. He grimaced and looked at Li Feng.

“Li-ge, why did you kick me?” Shuiniu complained, full of grievance.

“Eat. Stop talking so much.”

It was obvious that Li Feng was also recalling the awkwardness of their first encounter. He quickly picked up his soup bowl to hide his embarrassment, his ears gradually turning red.

“Hahaha!”

Cao Xi burst into unrestrained laughter, teasing Shuiniu for always bringing up the wrong topics and getting himself into trouble.

On the afternoon of the third day, Qin Zhao walked out of the examination hall. Cao Xi had been waiting outside early, and as the final bell rang, marking the end of the provincial examination, her heart began to race.

The gates of the academy slowly opened, and examinees stumbled out, their bodies exhausted. Some were even carried out by the officials. Seeing this scene, Cao Xi’s heart tightened with unease.

She kept craning her neck to look inside, and finally, she spotted Qin Zhao carrying his belongings, striding quickly toward the exit. Only then did she relax.

“Qin Zhao, I’m here!” Cao Xi started shouting from afar.

Seeing her stuck behind the crowd, Qin Zhao pushed his way through with all his might, quickly making his way to her. He grabbed her hand and led her out of the throng.

“You’ve lost weight,” Cao Xi exclaimed, dramatically cupping Qin Zhao’s face and turning it from side to side for inspection. She even gave his cheeks a few pinches.

“Nonsense. How could I lose weight after just two days?” Qin Zhao, visibly tired, kept his gaze fixed on her, letting her do as she pleased.

“Let’s go home. I’ll make you something delicious,” Cao Xi said as she held his hand and led him away. Despite the bustling street, Qin Zhao paid no attention to the crowd.

Back at home, Cao Xi didn’t ask him about his exam results. Instead, her questions were trivial, like whether he had eaten well or slept comfortably. When she started inquiring about his digestion, Qin Zhao shot her a glare, making her finally stop.

“Go rest in your room. I’ll prepare some bathwater for you.”

Cao Xi had already heated water while waiting for him earlier, so she could start right away.

The past two days of being cooped up in a tiny, less-than-two-square-meter examination cell would drive anyone mad.

Qin Zhao tidied up his exam materials and took the leftover food from his bag to the kitchen.

“I told you to rest. Why are you up and about?” Cao Xi chided him.

“I just had some leftovers,” Qin Zhao replied, handing them over.

Cao Xi took them from him and set them on the stove. “Go move the bathtub into the room. I’ll bring the water over shortly.”

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As soon as Qin Zhao moved the bathtub into the room, Cao Xi came in carrying a large bucket of hot water. Qin Zhao reached out to take it from her. “I’ll handle this.”

Being tall and strong, Qin Zhao was used to doing all the heavy work at home. After a few trips, the bathtub was filled.

“Cao Xi, I’m going to take a bath now,” Qin Zhao called out toward the door before bolting it shut. He tugged on it twice to ensure it was secure before finally relaxing and stepping into the tub.

Thinking back to his last bathing experience, a faint smile appeared on his face. What was once an embarrassing memory now brought a mix of humor and warmth, along with a slight blush.

While Qin Zhao soaked in the bath, Cao Xi busied herself in the kitchen, preparing his favorite dishes: braised pork and a big plate of cold mixed vegetables. She sliced the marinated meat from the previous night, plated it, and warmed up some steamed buns.

When Qin Zhao finished tidying up, the food was also ready.

Cao Xi set the table and said, “Come eat once you’re done pouring the water.”

Qin Zhao replied, “Alright, I’ll put away the bathtub and come over.”

The table was laden with three dishes and a soup.

“Why did you make so much food?” Qin Zhao asked, popping a piece of marinated meat into his mouth.

“Just trying to treat you a bit,” Cao Xi replied.

For the past two days while Qin Zhao was away, Cao Xi had eaten at the shop, and coming home to an empty house didn’t inspire her to cook. Now that Qin Zhao was back, the house felt alive again.

Qin Zhao’s heart warmed, and he smiled. “You’re exaggerating. I was only gone for two nights.”

Cao Xi ladled a bowl of soup and set it in front of him, teasing, “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

Hearing that, Qin Zhao shot her a glance, his ears turning visibly red.

With Qin Zhao back, life returned to normal. Over the next few days, while waiting for the exam results to be announced, Qin Zhao stayed home working on his manuscripts, and Cao Xi resumed helping out at the shop as usual.

However, the idle days were too much for Qi Qige, who decided to visit Qin Zhao at home. The problem was, he didn’t know where Qin Zhao lived, so he headed to the spicy hotpot shop to find Cao Xi.

As soon as he entered the shop, he saw Cao Xi moving chairs and hurried over to help.

Feeling the weight lighten, Cao Xi noticed Qi Qige and greeted him.

“Is Qin Zhao here with you?” Qi Qige asked directly.

Smiling, Cao Xi replied, “He’s at home. Do you need something from him?”

“Nothing serious. Just wanted to hang out,” Qi Qige said with an easy laugh.

“Then head to the house and find him,” Cao Xi suggested.

“I don’t know where you live,” Qi Qige admitted.

Though they were close, they’d never visited each other’s homes and barely knew much about each other’s families.

Cao Xi walked him to the shop door and pointed out the way. “Follow this street, turn left at the first intersection, and keep walking until you see a courtyard with a jujube tree. That’s it.”

“Thanks. I’ll head over now,” Qi Qige said cheerfully.

Nearby, Xiao Rui remarked, “Sister Xi, Brother Zhao seems to enjoy himself too much at home. Tomorrow, have him help at the shop too!”

Cao Xi chuckled. “He has his own things to take care of.”

Xiao Rui pouted. She’d always wanted to chat with Qin Zhao, but every time he came by, the water Shui Niu seemed to find endless things to distract him with.

By the time Qi Qige reached the courtyard with the jujube tree, he found the door closed. Unsure if Qin Zhao was home, he knocked a few times.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

Inside, Qin Zhao, who was doing laundry, frowned in confusion. Who could it be at this hour? He stood up and opened the door.

“Ah, Qin Zhao! I finally found you!” Qi Qige exclaimed, arms wide as if to embrace him, but Qin Zhao deftly sidestepped.

“Why are you here?” Qin Zhao asked, stepping aside to let him in.

“The academy’s closed, and I had nowhere to go, so I thought I’d visit you,” Qi Qige replied, grinning as he wandered inside like he owned the place.

“Are you… doing laundry?” he asked, spotting a tub full of clothes by the well. Qin Zhao’s sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, exposing his fair forearms, confirming the obvious.

Qi Qige, whose father doted on him but whose stepmother showered him with performative kindness, had always lived a pampered life. His food, clothing, and living arrangements were impeccable, and his spending was unchecked. As Qin Zhao once put it, “He’s being spoiled to destruction.”