Chapter 124 Down Jacket

Jiangcheng has almost two seasons a year.

Spring and autumn are both short. The plane trees on the streets of the old city are like command lights. The new leaves turn green, and the sweatshirts have to be changed into short-sleeved shirts after just two days of wearing. The old leaves turn yellow and fall off, and the coats and sweaters can't hold up for long. Winter comes with a continuous cold rain.

When choosing a birthday gift for Xu Jiqing, practicality is paramount.

Su Xia was struggling between clothes and shoes for most of the week. She had even switched her shopping app to a male account and the recommendation page was full of eight-in-one shower gels and game console peripherals. Finally, she made a choice.

She planned to give Xu Jiqing a down jacket.

The winter uniform of No. 1 Middle School is quite thick, but it is just a coat after all.

The school leaders are afraid that students will catch a cold, so the principle of checking school uniforms in winter has always been "just wear it." When lining up for physical exercises during recess, all you can see are all kinds of cotton coats and down vests, with only the school uniform hats showing.

But whether in my memory or when I saw him last winter, even if it was windy and snowy, Xu Jiqing seemed not to be afraid of the cold. At most, he would wear an old sweater inside, and I never saw him wearing any other clothes.

Later, when he became rich and could afford any team of medical experts, his old injury on his right hand still couldn't be cured. Could it be related to the cold he suffered in his youth?

No one is born not afraid of the cold.

It’s just that some people don’t talk about it and have endured it for so many years.

With a goal in mind, Su Xia began to carefully screen styles.

Originally, she was looking at several international first-line outdoor brands, but she was afraid that the prices were too expensive and Xu Jiqing would not buy them, so she carefully selected and switched to a national down jacket brand that was commonly seen in stores.

The one I finally chose was a black mid-length jacket. After removing the liner, it becomes a windbreaker that can withstand strong winds for more than two days. When it snows around the New Year, I put the down liner back in, zip it up, and put on the hood, so I won’t be cold even if I go out early and come back late.

The saleswoman at the old town mall knew a lot of people. Seeing that Su Xia didn't care about the price at all and didn't ask about discounts after getting the invoice, but was rummaging through the shelves nearby, she rushed over enthusiastically.

Su Xia is not good at saying no.

When I checked out and left, I had bags in my hands. In addition to the down jacket, I also picked up two fleece sweatshirts that the aunts highly recommended, saying they were light and warm.

When she got home, while Su Xiaojuan was out on the weekend, she took off the labels on her clothes one by one, secretly folded them and stuffed them under the bed, waiting for the midterm exam to be over and the next Sunday to come.

The desensitization effect of the high-pressure schedule of senior year is encouraging.

Life was relaxed in the first two years, with two major exams per semester.

Two weeks in advance, Su Xia didn't have to worry about it herself, as Teacher Ding's messages encouraging study would flood the home-school group. Su Xiaojuan would respond immediately and give him instructions in person for several days no matter how busy she was.

These days, exams are as frequent as eating and drinking, and they're already making people tired. Su Xiaojuan doesn't want to put more pressure on her daughter, so she casually asks on the day of the exam, "Have you brought your markers and stationery?"

"Remember to drink the ginger and jujube tea in the thermos. Don't worry. Teacher Ding called us a couple of days ago and said you've made great progress this semester. As long as you don't make those careless mistakes, your ranking won't drop."

Su Xia was busy putting on a sweater when she was electrocuted by the small sparks. "How can I reach it if I can't fall down?"

"What else do you want?"

Su Xia pulled her ponytail out of her collar, her cheeks puffed out. "Just wait and see, I'm going to be in the top 20 this time."

Su Xiaojuan helped her pull the hem of her sweater and said, "You are so arrogant, little girl."

Su Xia turned her head and snorted.

Regardless of whether she did it out of vanity or to watch a movie with Xu Jiqing, she had been working hard for this top 20 ranking.

In the past, she would sleep, play with her phone, and check the updates of her classmates on the way to the Conservatory of Music. Now, she feels that the troubles in the world have nothing to do with her, and she forgets about them in a blink of an eye. Nothing can compare to the reality of getting the scores in her hands.

Her current examination room is in the middle of all science students, and the experience of writing the test paper is much better than before.

No one dozed off at the table or cracked melon seeds and shook their legs anymore. Once the papers were handed out, the whole classroom was focused and silent. The rustling sound of pens sliding across the draft paper rose and fell, creating a naturally uplifting atmosphere.

There is a path to the mountain of books, but there is no end to the sea of ​​learning.

The pen is the Noah's Ark under her feet, and she has her own flow.

It was the last English subject. After the invigilator collected the test papers, the senior students finally had their first early dismissal of the semester. They were delighted to have a mini-vacation for one night. They returned to the classroom, put on their backpacks, and rushed to the school gate, like rescued island savages.

Su Xia went home and turned on her computer. Following the opening hours for self-recruitment applications for students with artistic talents written on her schedule, she submitted all the materials to Tsinghua University's official website as soon as possible. She checked them several times and clicked submit.

She couldn't truly relax for a moment from now.

Two days later, when the midterm exam results were handed out, Su Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the glaring number 18 in the class ranking, and she lifted her face and curled her lips.

He Miao turned around and looked at her, "No way, Your Majesty, you are so powerful!"

"You've already made it to fifth place," Su Xia praised her generously, shaking her hand and making a chopping gesture. "Next time, get rid of the monitor."

"No, no," the girl waved her hands, "Not even close."

Su Xia smiled slightly.

Everyone is different when it comes to studying. Some people can unleash their potential by pushing themselves, while others become more tense the greater the pressure. He Miao had fallen into this dead end in his previous life.

Having joined the provincial youth group, He Miao now has the possibility of taking the self-recruitment examination. Although his score may not be reduced by much, his mentality is much more relaxed and his performance is better than before.

Su Xia asked, "Which school did you apply to?"

He Miao leaned close to her ear and whispered a few schools, all of which were in Beijing.

Su Xia blinked, "Aren't you going to Hong Kong?"

Good sisters are in tune with each other.

She didn't say anything, but He Miao understood instantly, blushing. "It's too hot, and the rent is expensive and small. It's nothing compared to meeting you every week for dinner and a walk. I saw the news on TV. Universal Studios is going to open in Beijing in a few years. I heard that there won't be so many classes after I go to college. We can go together on a weekday."

"Actually, I've come to a point recently. The reason I feel moved when I see Liang Zhuoqian isn't necessarily because I like him."

He Miao raised her hand and said, "First of all, I'm a straight-laced woman."

"But the other day I tried to imagine if he were a girl, with tanned skin, who loved surfing and debate, with white teeth when he smiled, and could speak many foreign languages ​​fluently, shining brightly in the crowd. As a result, I... became even more dizzy."

The girl leaned on the edge of her desk and smiled with relief, "I think I mistook admiration for love."