Chapter 47 [VIP]
Tan Quelu finished eating the fish ball noodles amidst the noise.
The noodle stall was located on the inside of the road, while Wei Zhiyan and Xia Xing lay on the outside, separated by a short distance.
Tan Quelu sat on the side, eating noodles while blinking as she watched Wei Zhiyan and Xia Xing fight.
They had become enemies after their fight yesterday, and now they were even more eager to kill each other. However, in Tan Quelu's opinion, this level of fighting was about the same as chickens pecking at each other.
Passersby walked around these two lunatics.
Some people even took out their phones to secretly take pictures, but Wei Zhiyan finally came to his senses, kicked Xia Xing away abruptly, and gave him a cold look with his bruised eyebrows.
He turned and left before passersby could take pictures.
Xia Xing wiped his mouth, gave a cold laugh, quickly got up, and left in the same car.
The two were so engrossed in their fight that neither of them noticed Tan Quelu, who was just a few steps away.
The system was furious: [What are these two idiots doing? My pure, innocent, cute, and kind host is sitting right here, and they didn't even see her? If they're blind, they should go get it treated!]
Tan Quelu blinked, chewed the last fish ball without any emotion, and nodded in approval: "Delicious."
He marked this place on Dianping (a Chinese review platform) and gave it a five-star rating before leisurely strolling back to school.
St. Weston was as bustling as ever.
Because of the system reform, specially admitted students no longer need to work part-time to earn credits, so they have more free time. Along the way, various libraries are where they spend the most time.
The campus charity fund was established, and while Class A students verbally protested the most, they surprisingly donated the most when it came to rankings. The latest list on the Dome app shows that the top fifty are all from Class A, and the number of zeros after their donations is staggering.
The top three are still the familiar F3 group.
Several trucks carrying fresh ingredients were parked at the cafeteria entrance, with staff checking accounts with the cafeteria manager. A clothing company representative brought the latest seasonal designs to the purchasing office to discuss materials for welfare clothing. An AI swarm flew low overhead, a robotic arm carrying yet another box of welfare subsidies to the special admissions student's residence.
The sounds of pleas for mercy or sobbing no longer frequently come from secluded spots on campus.
Tan Quelu walked slowly on the cobblestone path, sensing the subtle changes in the atmosphere of St. Weston.
Special admission students with rosy complexions kept passing by him, greeting him with smiles, and he would respond with smiles as well, his steps gradually becoming lighter.
System: [Not bad, not bad, this is more like a normal school! Bullying and all that can get out of here!]
[Host, what are we going to do next?]
"Nothing."
After scanning his iris with a green light, he walked into the library near his dormitory, took out his exam papers and study materials, and said in a good mood, "Have you forgotten something?"
"I still have a task to complete with a perfect score."
There's only one month left until the midterm exam in the storyline. Tan Quelu must get a perfect score, otherwise, according to the rules, he and the system will be executed.
[...]
The system was startled for three seconds, but quickly regained its confidence: [Don't worry, host, I've been watching you these past few days!]
You're constantly learning and improving; all the professors genuinely praise you. I believe you can get first place!
If all else fails, on the day of the exam, just say you want to team up with the F3 students.
The system cleverly offered this suggestion: [Whoever flies to Venezuela first and personally extracts a barrel of oil, then goes to Africa to personally dig out a two-carat diamond, and finally goes to the Sahara Desert to personally fill a bottle with oasis water.]
[Finally, they'll all be shipped back to China and given to you as proof of your abilities; you can choose whichever one. By then, the midterms will definitely be over!]
Tan Quelu hummed in agreement, her expression unchanged: "Why don't you have them go to the Amazon rainforest and pick bananas for me by hand?"
[Because the host doesn't like bananas, oh well, never mind!]
Tan Quelu couldn't help but laugh.
The system watched him lower his head, chuckled softly, and began to study and read. Sunlight fell on his face, casting gray shadows on the boy's fine eyelashes, light and airy, like butterfly wings.
It suddenly realized that, without knowing when, Tan Quelu had begun to become a living, breathing person.
He no longer prays nervously in the dead of night, no longer holds a pen and slowly writes that absolutely beautiful sentence, no longer deliberately mistreats his body, and no longer occasionally reacts to indifference and fanaticism.
Eating, sleeping, dressing.
Studying, doing tests, watching cartoons.
Often happy, occasionally confused, a sudden breakup, and a seamless transition.
This is the life an innocent 18-year-old boy should have!
The system rolled around happily, looking at its host with delight, selectively forgetting Wei Guan's existence, and feeling that it had taken really good care of him!
It knew that bringing Tan Quelu into the new world would bring about a turning point.
The warm autumn sun slowly shines down.
Because she needed to prepare for her exams, Tan Quelu ruthlessly cut off all contact with the characters.
Whether it's Wei Zhiyan, who has just gotten together with Xie Chenbi, who is in the hospital, or Zhong Wan, who has been bailed back to the Xie family.
This includes Xia Xing, who still lives in dormitory 401.
With WeChat set to Do Not Disturb, Tan Quelu only frequented various libraries except for eating, sleeping, and attending classes. On the day of her elective class, she simply disappeared and was taken to the Wei family's house to practice piano as usual.
Wei Guan sometimes accompanied him, sometimes went to work, and sometimes taught him how to do problems.
But no matter what, he will return home from Eden to meet with Green.
My phone keeps vibrating.
Familiar with the bright and airy Weijia Restaurant.
After peeling the shrimp for Que Lu, Wei Guan took off his gloves and asked the maid to change the bone plate. He looked up and asked, "Would you like to continue practicing the piano this afternoon?"
"Yes." Tan Quelu took a bite of shrimp and, in return, picked up a piece of turbot for Wei Guan: "I've been in great form lately. I'll practice a bit more and amaze everyone on the day of the exam."
Wei Guan smiled and gestured for him to look at his phone: "There's a message."
"I'm not going to look, it's definitely the same few people again." Tan Quelu was too lazy to pay attention: "I need to study now, I don't have time to deal with them."
Remembering something, he asked Wei Guan, "Are midterm exams important?"
“I heard that the elective courses will be open to the public, with photographers recording the process, and parents and students will also be there to watch.”
Wei Guan nodded and calmly explained, "It's a tradition of St. Weston."
“There is a performance stage for all grades' exams, once per semester. This performance is considered positive exposure, and the school will select suitable videos to be released on each social media platform based on the final grades and voting results.”
Even the upper class and the wealthy are human beings.
Their vanity is stronger than that of ordinary people; besides pushing themselves, they also push their children. And students naturally crave the spotlight, so once the video is uploaded, it will be seen by even more people, naturally motivating them to put in their best effort.
In today's fast-paced society, public opinion often follows marketing. Entrepreneurs, children of wealthy families, beautiful and rich women, handsome and rich men... these positive titles represent certain labels, conveying a sense of ease and effortlessness.
When the public clicks on a tag, whether they like or comment, like or dislike it, it can all be converted into a part of the market traffic.
“St. Weston’s elective course exams are not only recorded every year, but there is also a special venue for students and parents to watch from the audience.”
Equestrian venues, racetracks, ski resorts, fencing halls... they have money and land, so they can build anything they want.
Wei Guan said, "Traffic and marketing will solidify the public's impression."
All parties tacitly use the exam as a publicity stunt, so over the years, specially admitted students have never appeared in the main promotional videos.
The school usually only films their less popular or niche courses, such as cooking or flower arranging.
High-class courses such as horseback riding, fencing, and racing are naturally reserved for the upper class.
Tan Quelu gave a vague "oh" and clicked on St. Weston's official Douyin account, where she indeed saw a large number of videos with hundreds of thousands of likes.
It even garnered millions of likes.
Without exception, the photos all showcased the luxurious and spacious environment of St. Weston, drawing envious comments praising the students' excellence and unattainability.
Tan Chuanlu calmly liked a few comments expressing resentment towards the wealthy.
[Ha, you stupid rich guy]
These young masters keep provoking me.
[We have no obligation to provide emotional value to wealthy people!]
A pause in the fingertips.
He suddenly clicked on the official account's profile and looked at the line of text: "The student with the most likes on the platform each semester will be awarded the title of Outstanding Student and receive a reward of 200,000 yuan?"
There's a bonus too??
Wei Guan hummed in agreement and met Tan Quelu's eyes.
The boy looked up, staring at him innocently and purely, his eyelashes fluttering, revealing a stubborn, forbearing, and pure white lotus flower.
Every time he does this, it means he wants Uncle Wei's help.
Wei Guan looked at him for a moment, then suppressed a laugh and said, "Don't play on your phone while eating."
"Oh." Tan Quelu obediently put down her phone, blinked, and said directly, "Wei Guan, I want to be on TV too."
He also wants to be featured on the homepage of St. Weston and win the $200,000 prize.
Wei Guan nodded calmly: "I couldn't ask for more."
"This clause is on the last page of this year's credit reform."
The system quickly searched for the host, and a few seconds later cheered: [Host, the big boss is right! This year, St. Weston underwent reforms. The contract stipulates that the official account's annual filming quota for the exams must be split 40/60 with that of the specially recruited students, ensuring fair selection based on performance!]
You were in the top ten of Class A in last week's placement test, which is more than enough!
It turns out that Wei Guan had thought of these things so early on.
Tan Quelu was very happy.
He is currently in a strange state. Like a stagnant child starting to grow again, he is clumsily learning to express his emotions normally and accept himself.
The boy put down his knife and fork and suddenly stood up.
The butler, who had come to deliver drinks, abruptly stopped in his tracks.
She stared wide-eyed as the slender young man walked a few steps to the other side, and suddenly raised his hand to hug President Wei tightly.
The restaurant suddenly fell silent.
The young man suddenly stopped.
The boy's aura was familiar and warm.
They were so close that he rested his head on the crook of Wei Guan's neck, like a green bird that had landed lightly on Wei Guan's shoulder, chirping softly as he breathed, so moved he almost cried: "Hey... Wei Guan, thank you so much."
She is especially petite and delicate.
"......"
Tan Quelu was very tall, and Wei Guan was sitting down, but the boy awkwardly leaned his head on his shoulder, his spine twisted in a particularly strange way, like a cartoon character.
Wei Guan took a slow breath.
He should stand up and hug the person.
But I don't know why.
The young man sat still, strangely motionless.
Tan Quelu brushed against Wei Guanping's straight shoulder, her soft hair brushing against his Adam's apple, and her porcelain-white earlobe occasionally brushing against his chin.
Skin to skin, their scents mingled in the small space, slowly becoming damp and warm.
The air is filled with the aroma of citrus.
Tan Quelu blinked, then suddenly realized something and looked up in bewilderment: "Wei Guan, why aren't you moving?"
The man remained seated in the chair, like an AI robot.
Wei Guan didn't answer, but simply raised his hand, his long, slender fingers completely gripping Tan Quelu's wrist, preventing him from unconsciously continuing to rub downwards.
The young man had handsome features, dark pupils, and an unusually calm demeanor.
He lowered his eyes, picked up the green tea on the table with his other hand, and fed it to the boy without changing his expression: "Drink tea."
"......oh."
Although Tan Quelu didn't understand, he still obediently drank the tea and politely praised, "You changed your tea again? This tea is good, even more fragrant than last time!"
Wei looked at him for a long while, then hummed in agreement, his dark eyes repeating, "It smells even better than last time."
The green peacock really smells amazing.
He gently patted the boy's head, and after a moment, he took the initiative to distance himself from the boy, maintaining a sense of closeness without taking advantage of him.
The system in his mind suddenly narrowed its eyes.
The electronic voice let out a sound of surprise, trying to peer down into the host's field of vision, suspiciously attempting to see what was under the dining table.
—Why does it feel like something was very energetic just now?
Some things rise from the ground to become skyscrapers.
What makes something stand out?
Something suddenly stood up.
What is it?
The system is so confused, so adorable, so bewildered and at a loss!
......
In the end, the system still couldn't figure out what that mysterious thing was.
After the meal, Wei Guan remained seated, leaving Tan Quelu to practice her piano at the villa.
"I have some work to take care of."
He said, "I'll come back in a bit."
Tan Quelu looked at the empty plate in front of her, then glanced at the butler who was pretending to be dead with his head down.
What kind of work requires working at a dining table? Practicing clearing plates and washing dishes?
Tan Quelu blinked, gave an "oh," glanced at Wei Guan suspiciously, and then turned and left alone.
The huge restaurant was completely silent, quieter than a cemetery at night.
The butler stared intently at the floor, saying nothing and asking no questions, before quickly leading the servants away.
—Oh my god! It's all her fault for having such sharp eyes! Bestie, wait for me, we're really going to chat all night long!
I don't know how much time passed.
The young man finally raised his hand and took a sip of the cooled green tea.
The aroma of tea filled the air.
Wei Guan got up, walked into the bathroom on the first floor, closed the door without changing his expression, and turned on the shower.
......
After practicing the piano that day, Tan Quelu received a gift from Wei Guan.
A delicate silver necklace, I don't know what material it's made of, but it has a beautiful halo effect. The pendant is a detachable, translucent emerald, and it complements my skin tone perfectly.
"I went to Avalon on a business trip last week and passed by a second-hand store."
Wei Guan lowered his eyes and helped him put it on, his gaze not sweeping down the boy's loose collar: "I thought it suited you well, so I bought it."
Tan Quelu gave an "oh" and looked at the man's sharp Adam's apple.
The necklace was put on quickly.
The delicate silver chain, like moonlight or shimmering water, wrapped around the slender white neck, and the gemstones made the boy's fair skin stand out even more.
Tan was amazed by the peacock green and couldn't put it down: "Thank you."
"I really like it."
Wei Guan hummed in agreement, leaning against the organ, his handsome features gazing at the cheerful Elm Green: "I'm glad you like it."
Sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the man, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, appear exceptionally tall.
After a long pause, Wei Guan spoke up: "Can I come see you during the exam days?"
Tan Quelu paused, stared at the young man in the mirror, and blinked: "...Not bad."
Actually, the reason Tan Quelu asked Wei Guan this question today was to ask Wei Guan to take some time to visit him.
There's been a lot of discussion about midterm exams on the forum these past few days, and it seems like everyone has parents watching.
Most of the specially admitted students are orphans, but St. Weston is an exception. During the exam days, the director and children from the welfare home are allowed to attend the ceremony. After all, there are cameras on camera that day, so it can be considered a charity show opportunity.
Only Tan Chulü was a time traveler.
The graves of his homeless predecessors, who had raised him, are overgrown with grass; his mothers and fathers, who nurtured him, are singing "Tears Behind Bars"; and the system itself is nothing but electronic waste, devoid of any physical form.
And those beautiful handmade umbrellas that had always been with him couldn't come to life or become human.
Tan Quelu no longer wanted to sit alone in front of the organ and play, no matter how many people were watching him, his heart remained empty and indifferent.
Wei Guan looked at the boy for a moment, then calmly said, "Thank you for your permission, Que Lu."
"You are so outstanding, I am especially honored to be sitting in the audience applauding you."
Tan Quelu's eyes crinkled into a smile, and she couldn't help but laugh: "Don't get too cocky, I'm planning to invite a lot more people, like—"
"For example, the driver, the housekeeper, the security captain, and Vivian."
"For example, the head of the Green Green Foundation, all the children at the Green Green Welfare Home, and Eden's senior secretariat."
Wei Guan finished Tan Quelu's sentence without changing his expression.
The boy froze, staring at him in disbelief: "...How did you know all that?!"
—The Green Green Foundation is the name of the charitable foundation that Wei Guan helped Tan Quelu establish after he sold the church.
The same applies to the Green Green Welfare Home.
Vivian was one of the people who had been in charge of this project since he added her on WeChat last time. Eden's senior secretarial team would occasionally send gifts to St. Weston when he was too busy to go himself, and he would pay them a bonus to help deliver them.
The security captain, on the other hand, hadn't stopped him from teaching those young masters a lesson when the game was rewound by the pool last time.
Tan Quelu remembers everyone.
Wei Guan also knew that he would remember everyone.
"Does St. Weston make you any happier now?"
He once said that he wanted to create an absolutely wonderful little universe for himself.
Tan Quelu looked at Wei Guan, and after a long while, nodded gently: "Yes."
The young man then smiled.
He was about to say something.
Tan Quelu suddenly walked over, raised her hand, and hugged Wei Guan tightly, pressing them together forcefully.
"Remember to record it for me then."
He buried his head in the man's shoulder: "Wei Guan, I need to release a film."
"......"
The system, which had been navigating the data stream, suddenly became energetic.
It sprang to its feet, excitedly peering into its host's field of vision, scanning the surrounding area warily, and demanding suspiciously: "Where's the thing? Where did you hide it?!"
[Come out! I clearly felt it while we were eating!]
Where is that thing that rises from the ground to become a skyscraper? Where is that thing that stands so majestically? Where is that mysterious thing?!
Come out, I, Old Sun, am going to destroy you!
A neurotic episode.
He remained unfazed by the green hue and blocked the "Foolish Fortune" system.
Wei looked at the floor for a while, then raised his hand to touch the top of his head and hummed, "Okay."
"But if you want a hug next time, you can tell me first."
Tan Quelu exclaimed, completely bewildered: "Why?"
That's how it is in cartoons. They stick them on whenever they feel like it.
He was afraid something might happen if he did it a few more times.
First understand what love is, then understand what sex is. Confusion will only lead to confusion, and he didn't want to offend him.
Wei looked at the pure and beautiful eyes of the peacock.
After a long pause, the young man explained without changing his expression: "Because you are too innocent and stubborn."
"I think you are sacred, like a pure white flower."
"So next time, please tell me first."
As long as the health and observation department provides a reason.
No matter how illogical it may seem, people will automatically understand the thought process behind the green peacock and then suddenly realize, "Oh, I see."
He nodded knowingly: "Okay, I'll tell you next time. What about this time?"
Wei Guan lowered his eyes, and after a moment, tightened his arms and gently pulled the slender and warm Que Lü into his embrace.
"this time."
"Let's hug for a while."
......
The system was extremely angry.
Even after leaving the Wei family, it still hadn't found that mysterious and spiritual substance!
This is a disgrace to the reputation of its electronic products!
Tan Chuanlu ignored him, returned to St. Weston, entered the elevator through the back door, and went all the way back to his room to close the door.
Looking down from the small balcony, one can vaguely see Wei Zhiyan's lonely figure.
The boy had handsome features, like a lost left-behind child or a lonely old man guarding the village entrance, staring longingly at the crossroads, waiting for Tan Quelu to appear.
—These days, Wei Zhiyan and Xia Xing are feeling down in every way.
Tan Quelu remained calm, attending classes and leaving get out of class as usual, still eating with Xia Xing, and occasionally paying attention to Wei Zhiyan.
He suddenly stopped responding to topics that he used to discuss very well.
Whether it's new jewelry designs, clothes and bags, auction items... In the past, when talking about peacock green, I would smile and agree, ask questions with doubt, and watch them talk eloquently while holding my cheek.
Talking about what new restaurants have opened nearby, we'll discuss where to eat tonight.
If I see any gossip about wealthy families online, I'll chat with them with interest.
Tan Quelu listened helplessly to their complaints about what new stupid policies the school had introduced.
But after returning from the hospital that day.
These topics suddenly became irrelevant.
Tan Quelu stopped blinking at them, still smiling, but after saying less than three sentences, she picked up her bag and left.
When eating, Tan Quelu shamelessly sat across from him, and he didn't chase her away. He just took photos to record the scene and then sent messages to someone.
If you ask him who he sent it to, he ignores you. Only after you finish chatting does he look up and say, "What's it to you?"
She wanted to hold his hand intimately, but he ruthlessly pushed her away. The boy, who used to let them hug and hold hands, frowned, staring intently at his exam paper, and said somewhat impatiently, "Could you please leave me alone?"
After racking my brains for a long time, I finally turned on the living room TV late at night, casually playing a bloody horror movie. I expected the boy to, as usual, glance at it while drinking water, immediately scream in terror, instinctively look for me, and throw himself into my arms, saying he was scared.
But the boy walked through the living room, finished his water without changing his expression, as if he hadn't seen the distorted faces and limbs and screams filling the screen. He walked away without even blinking and slammed the bedroom door shut.
"......"
This left Wei Zhiyan and his men completely bewildered.
Because Tan Quelu seems like a completely different person.
Someone they had never met before.
She smiled innocently, but was actually cold and distant, and looked down on them.
A complete stranger.
How could that be?
That's impossible.
Who can act so well, easily fooling them all without them even realizing it?
Was he angry because he lost him at the hospital that day?
It must be.
But by the time the midterm exams began, Xie Chenbi had recovered, Zhong Wan had been released on bail, and everyone had returned to school.
Even the green peacock never returned to its original state.
The St. Weston campus was bustling with activity.
Wei Zhiyan, dressed in a trench coat, stood outside the door, watching the innocent-looking boy in the classroom take out his pencil.
He suddenly had a vague and frightening premonition—
The end and the beginning of this complex relationship were never up to them.
And now.
Tan Chulü is going to end all of this.
A note from the author:
I started to remember them one by one.
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