Chapter 69: Postgraduate Study Ruined (2)
2
Due to health reasons, Xia Chi cannot go to school or participate in strenuous exercise.
He grew up at home until he was fifteen, and apart from his parents and older brother, he had no friends.
Now that I have met Zhu Qingchen, I get along very well with him and can tell him everything.
Except for the fact that I'm sick.
He didn't want to publicize his illness, and he didn't want to use it to gain sympathy and ask Teacher Zhu to give their family special treatment.
He just wanted to be like a normal person and make a friend.
Xia Chi and Zhu Qingchen sat together. Xia Chi opened his mobile phone and showed him the picture he had drawn.
"I learned it by myself online. Now some people are asking me to write for them. I get 20 yuan for each piece!"
Xia Chi still has the temper of a child. Although his tone is raised and a little boastful, he is not annoying.
Zhu Qingchen was also very supportive, holding his face and carefully appreciating his paintings: "It's very beautiful, and it feels fresh after the rain."
"Really?" Xia Chi smiled foolishly, "My brother's birthday is during the summer vacation. I want to draw more and save some money to buy him a birthday present, but I don't know what to buy."
Zhu Qingchen raised his eyes slightly. Although he knew that this was a foreshadowing of the plot, he didn't want to spoil his fun by saying something high-sounding like "your brother doesn't care about these things, your safety is your brother's greatest gift."
He just wanted to give his brother a birthday present, he did nothing wrong.
Zhu Qingchen nodded: "I think your brother will be very happy, have you thought about what to give him?"
Xia Chi glanced back at Xia Shu, then turned back and asked in a low voice: "Teacher, what do you think of giving me a collection of poems? Or a cultural and creative product, such as a calligraphy copybook, a pen holder, or an oil-paper umbrella?"
Zhu Qingchen thought for a moment and said, "A collection of poems or a picture album will do. Xia Shu will like these things."
"Yeah." Xia Chi lowered his head and his eyes fell on the book on the table. "Teacher, can you tell me about the Book of Songs? I also want to listen to the class my brother took in college."
"Okay." Zhu Qingchen opened the book and picked up an article to read to him.
Xia Chi listened attentively and was so excited that he took out his sketchbook and made a few casual strokes to outline the scene in the poem.
Zhu Qingchen held his face and watched him draw: "Have you ever thought about not buying gifts from outside, but drawing some pictures for him yourself?"
Xia Chi raised his head, his eyes lit up: "It seems to make sense, I can draw the Book of Songs for my brother."
"Yes." Zhu Qingchen nodded.
Letting him stay at home and paint by himself might prevent him from going to the mall and triggering the plot.
It may not work, but you should always try.
Xia Chi looked down at the book, flipped to a random page, and was puzzled: "Teacher Zhu, I don't know many words. I didn't go to school much."
Zhu Qingchen smiled and said, "You can ask me."
"Really?" Xia Chi raised his head, and because his voice was too excited, it attracted the attention of Xia Shu next to him.
He quickly waved to his brother, indicating that he was fine, then lowered his voice and quietly asked Zhu Qingchen: "Is it really okay?"
"Yes." Zhu Qingchen nodded, "If you have any questions, you can ask me at any time."
"Great, thank you." Xia Chi took out his phone, "Can you leave me an email address or other contact information? I'll buy a book when I get home, sort out the parts I don't understand, and then ask the teacher for help."
"Okay." Zhu Qingchen left him the email address he used to receive student assignments.
*
At 11:30 am, most of the customers in the cafe went to have lunch, and Xia Shu also got off work.
He changed into his casual clothes, put on his backpack, and walked over to see Zhu Qingchen and Xia Chi having a heated discussion over a book.
"What are reeds like? I have never seen reeds before."
“Like catkins.”
"I haven't seen willow catkins either." Xia Chi was a little confused. He had never seen anything like it.
"Hmm..." Zhu Qingchen thought for a moment, trying to make him understand, "Like cotton candy, like milk cap, like the bubbles on the coffee your brother makes."
Now Xia Chi knew: "Then I have seen it."
The two were so engrossed in the discussion that they didn't notice Xia Shu had walked over to the table.
Xia Shu cleared his throat and said, "Xiao Chi, don't pester Teacher Zhu with these messy questions. Let's go. I'm off work now. I'll take you to the school cafeteria for dinner."
"Okay." Xia Chi responded and turned to look at Zhu Qingchen, "Teacher Zhu, are you going to eat?"
"I..." Zhu Qingchen paused, "I won't go to eat."
He had just eaten a large portion of cake, trying every flavor, and hadn't finished the milk tea in his thermos yet.
Besides, Xia Chi came here specifically to find Xia Shu. Now that Xia Shu is off work, of course they have to have a good talk. What does it look like if he always follows them?
As a result, when Xia Chi heard this, his expression fell and he said with a long tone: "Ah..."
Xia Shu was about to remind him not to be rude, but Zhu Qingchen said, "But I will go back to school with you. I will go back to the apartment to rest."
"Great!" Xia Chi immediately became happy again, packed his things and prepared to leave.
He is just like a little kid, everything is written on his face.
Xia Chi walked happily in front, while Xia Shu and Zhu Qingchen walked behind.
Xia Shu felt a little embarrassed and whispered to Zhu Qingchen, "Teacher Zhu, my brother doesn't really understand the ways of the world. I'm really sorry to have caused you trouble."
"It's okay." Zhu Qingchen said with a smile, "Xia Chi and I get along pretty well. He's exactly like you, except that you're a little too tense sometimes."
Xia Shu was stunned and whispered, "I didn't."
"It's okay." Zhu Qingchen looked at him. "You are very strong-willed. You want to be the best in both study and part-time job. You can relax once in a while. At least for me, social skills are not important at all."
Xia Shu lowered her head and nodded gently: "Well, I understand, thank you teacher."
He thought that Teacher Zhu must know about his family situation, so he reminded him like this.
Not long after, Zhu Qingchen arrived downstairs of the apartment building and waved to them: "I'm going back first, see you next time."
Xia Chi stood on tiptoe, waved at him vigorously, and said goodbye enthusiastically: "Bye, teacher."
After Zhu Qingchen left, Xia Shu looked at him suspiciously: "It's only been one morning, and you and Teacher Zhu are so familiar with each other?"
"Yes." Xia Chi hugged his brother's arm. "Like you, I also like the Book of Songs and I like listening to Teacher Zhu's lectures. Teacher Zhu is so gentle. Listening to Teacher Zhu's lectures on poetry, it feels like I have really returned to thousands of years ago."
Xia Shu smiled and patted his childish brother's head: "Really? When you recover from your illness, you can also study Chinese, okay?"
Xia Chi thought about it seriously and said, "Then I still prefer painting."
The two brothers walked towards the cafeteria.
Xia Shu suddenly remembered something, took out her phone, and sent a message to Zhou Ziqian: "Ziqian, can you come back in time for dinner? Do you want me to help you get food?"
While he was sending the message, Xia Chi just stood there, looking at him with a gossipy look.
After he finished sending the message, Xia Chi spoke up, "Is Brother Ziqian still working part-time outside?"
"Well, I left in the morning, and I don't know if I'll be back for dinner."
"Should we wait for him? Wait for him to come back and have lunch with his brother."
Xia Chi felt a little sour, and Xia Shu looked at him with amusement.
"What about you? What will you do? Don't you want him to know you?"
Xia Chi pouted and made a wronged expression: "I will just sit next to you and pretend that I am someone else's child and don't know you at all. I will go home after eating."
Xia Shu laughed and patted his head.
The two waited at the cafeteria door for more than ten minutes, and when they didn't see Zhou Ziqian reply to their message, they walked into the cafeteria together.
There was still some time before the class was over and not many people were in the cafeteria. Xia Shu swiped his card and the two of them quickly got their meal.
Xia Shu is strict with himself but very indulgent towards his younger brother.
Xia Chi ordered a steamed fish, a chicken stewed with mushrooms, and an eggplant with minced meat. He said nothing.
The two brothers sat facing each other. Xia Chi held the spoon and gave most of the meat and vegetables on the plate to his brother: "Brother, have you never eaten meat? The cafeteria auntie just now knew you and gave you a portion of vegetables directly."
Xia Shu smiled and said, "Every weekend when I go home, doesn't mom cook for us? We eat a little more at home and less at school."
"Really?" Xia Chi remained skeptical.
"Yes, eat quickly."
Half an hour later, after they finished their meal, Zhou Ziqian replied to Xia Shu.
"I won't go back to eat. Have you eaten?"
The background noise was a bit noisy, Xia Shu thought, maybe he was still busy.
Xia Shu replied: "Well, I've already eaten. The fish in the school cafeteria today is very good. You are out of luck."
After a while, Zhou Ziqian replied: "Xiao Shu, I work in a hotel. There are a lot of dishes prepared in the buffet. There will be leftovers in the evening. I can take some back. Do you want them? If you want, I can take some back."
Xia Shu subconsciously glanced at his brother, afraid that he would feel embarrassed.
But Xia Chi said, "Wow, I haven't eaten the buffet at a big hotel yet. Brother, can you try it for me and tell me what it tastes like?"
So Xia Shu smiled and replied: "Okay, if possible, then you can bring some back, I don't mind."
He really didn't mind.
He also worked in a hotel and there was indeed such a rule.
In order to avoid waste, dishes that are not served in time will be handed over to the waiters at the end of their shift so that they can take them home.
If they don't take it away, it will be thrown into the trash.
There's nothing wrong with saving food.
After sending the message, Xia Shu put away his phone and, together with his brother, put the used plates and cutlery in the designated location.
Xia Chi asked: "Brother, do you still have to go to work in the afternoon? Or do you have classes to attend?"
"I don't have classes in the afternoon, so I won't go to work. I'll take a day off and walk you around the school. Didn't we finish the tour last time?"
"good!"
It was too hot and crowded at noon, so Xia Shu took Xia Chi to the library.
He sat away from the air conditioner, took out the notebook he carried with him, and organized his ideas for the thesis.
Xia Chi sat obediently beside him, borrowed a book of flower and bird paintings, and brushed his fingertips over the blooming magnolia flowers.
Both of them were quiet, doing their own things.
At the same time, in the extravagant private room.
Zhou Ziqian was slumped in the middle of the sofa, surrounded by young men and women, a group of whom were playing cards.
Suddenly, Zhou Ziqian raised his hand high, and everyone fell silent and turned to look at him.
"Mr. Zhou, what's wrong? Is your boyfriend back?"
"Yes."
"Hey, hurry up, let's hear what he said!"
Everyone whistled and cheered together.
In the last game of cards, Zhou Ziqian lost and had to accept punishment.
His friends came up with a dirty trick:
Let Zhou Ziqian ask Xia Shu if she wants their leftovers.
Zhou Ziqian hesitated for a moment, but finally turned on his phone.
I'd better accept the defeat, he thought.
Besides, it’s no big deal, just a question.
So he sent a message to Xia Shu, and who knew that Xia Shu would reply to him very quickly.
Zhou Ziqian cleared his throat, and everyone fell silent, looking at him eagerly.
He clicked on the voice bar, and Xia Shu's clear voice came out of the phone: "Okay, if possible, then you can bring some back, I don't mind."
As soon as Xia Shu finished speaking, everyone in the private room burst into laughter, holding their stomachs and laughing so hard that they almost slipped off the sofa.
"Help me, Mr. Zhou, why are you dating a poor student like this?" "I can't take it anymore, Mr. Zhou, your boyfriend is really making me laugh to death."
"Can't he even get enough food? Does he have to eat our leftovers?"
Some even started to imitate Xia Shu's voice: "'Okay, if you can, I don't mind.'"
Someone turned on the singing microphone and handed it to Zhou Ziqian: "Mr. Zhou, we didn't hear it clearly. Please play it again."
"Play it again! Play it again!"
Zhou Ziqian held the phone with a complicated expression.
His friends' laughter was a little harsh. They were obviously laughing at Xia Shu, but he felt a little uncomfortable.
His silence also caught the attention of the others, and they finally stopped laughing and turned to look at him.
Seeing that his expression was a little gloomy, I felt even more uneasy.
"Mr. Zhou? Are you angry?"
"Isn't it... that the joke is over?"
"In fact, saving food is also very..."
Zhou Ziqian raised his head: "No, I was pissed off by him. He smells so poor. Just hearing his voice makes me sick."
Everyone then felt relieved and continued to laugh at Xia Shu unscrupulously.
“It turns out that I was disgusted.”
"That's what I said. Our Master Zhou is well-informed and experienced. How could he possibly be attracted to such a stingy person?"
A friend poked Zhou Ziqian's mobile phone screen, and Xia Shu's voice came out again.
"Okay, if..."
The next second, Zhou Ziqian locked his phone, threw it on the sofa next to him, and rolled up his sleeves: "Don't listen to it, it's annoying. Come on, let's continue playing cards."
"Okay."
Everyone sat around the table again, and Zhou Ziqian threw the cards on the table.
Then they played cards, and almost every once in a while, someone would imitate Xia Shu's voice: "Okay, I don't mind."
Zhou Zishu did not stop them. Instead, he watched them laugh at Xia Shu without any concern and laughed along with them.
*
Five o'clock in the evening.
Xia Shu and Xia Chi stood obediently at the school gate, waiting for their parents to pick them up.
Xia Chi was calling his parents: "Mom and Dad, my brother and I are already at the school gate."
Mother Xia responded gently: "Okay, Dad is driving, we will be there soon."
Xia Chi handed the phone to Xia Shu, who pursed her lips and whispered, "Ask dad to drive slower and be careful."
"Okay, I'll tell you the truth."
The Xia family is not well off. Xia's father drives a taxi and Xia's mother works as a cleaning supervisor in a hotel.
Since Xia Chi went out to play, Xia's father temporarily stopped taking orders and came to pick up his wife and children to take home.
After a while, Xia's father drove over.
Only temporary parking is allowed near the school, so Xia Shu quickly took Xia Chi forward and helped him open the back door: "Hurry, get in the car."
Mother Xia took out a bunch of things from the passenger seat: "Xiao Shu? Come on, take the fruits and milk and cereal that your parents bought for you back to the dormitory to eat."
Xia Shu quickly said, "No, I can't finish this much. Leave it at home and I can eat it when I get back."
"There's some left at home. Come on, take it." Xia's mother stretched out her hand and stuffed a large bag of things into his hands. "Hurry up and take it. You can't keep parking here. If you don't take it away, Dad will get a ticket."
"Okay." Since she said that, Xia Shu had no choice but to take the things, but she grumbled a few words, "I went home at the weekend, and it broke after just two days in the dormitory."
Mother Xia said seriously, "No way, how could it go bad after just two days? Share it with your classmates."
Father Xia, who had been silent all this time, suddenly said quietly, "Then let's finish eating before the weekend."
"Yes, just finish eating before the weekend." Mother Xia said with a smile, "Mom and Dad are leaving first, you have fun and study happily in school, bye!"
"Bye, brother."
"Okay, bye." Xia Shu smiled and waved at them.
Watching his family leave, Xia Shu lowered his head and looked through the things in his arms.
His parents not only bought him fruit milk, but also bought him a lot of spicy snacks, including spicy strips, beef jerky, small grilled sausages, pickled pepper chicken feet, and everything else.
Because Xia Chi has a special physique and cannot eat spicy food, the whole family also follows his light diet.
But his parents also know that he is young and that he likes to eat snacks.
So they always took advantage of the time when the two brothers were separated, one of them would calm Xia Chi down, the other would take him out for some snacks, and ask him not to tell his younger brother.
This habit has been maintained to this day.
Other parents tried their best to get their children to eat less snacks, but Xia Shu's parents were the only ones who tried hard to make him eat more snacks.
Xia Shu smiled, held the things, and walked back contentedly.
As he walked, he sent a message to Zhou Ziqian to share his joy: "When will you get off work? My parents sent me some snacks, let's eat together."
After a while, Zhou Ziqian finally replied to him, saying perfunctorily: "Not so fast."
"Okay." Xia Shu moved the things back to the dormitory and gave some to his roommates. He couldn't help but eat a piece of beef jerky.
Then he locked his things in a cabinet, took out his notebook, and began typing out his paper.
He couldn’t eat anymore, he wanted to eat with Zhou Ziqian.
*
It was ten o'clock in the evening when Xia Shu received a call from Zhou Ziqian.
Xia Shu had just finished writing the conclusion of the paper and answered the phone with a smile: "Hello, are you off work?"
Zhou Ziqian's voice sounded a little vague: "Well, come down, I brought you some food."
"Okay, I've prepared food for you too."
"Um."
Xia Shu took out a big bag of snacks from the cupboard and went downstairs happily.
It was getting a little late, and downstairs in the dormitory, several young couples were bidding farewell to each other, reluctant to part.
Zhou Ziqian was waiting next to the flower garden downstairs in the dormitory building, carrying a few exquisite lunch boxes.
There was a car parked not far away, and the high beam was dazzling.
Xia Shu subconsciously stretched out his hand to block it.
Zhou Ziqian pointed to a secluded place in front and said, "Go sit over there."
"OK."
Xia Shu followed him and the two of them sat down on a secluded bench.
Xia Shu smiled and asked, "Is your part-time job hard today? Have you had dinner?"
"Yeah." Zhou Ziqian threw the takeaway box to him, "I ate outside."
"Then can you still eat the snacks I brought you?"
“I can’t eat.”
Xia Shu was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect him to say that.
Of course Zhou Ziqian had eaten at the hotel with his group of friends.
Before leaving, the friends called the waiter and asked him to pack up the leftovers.
"Someone is still waiting for Young Master Zhou to bring food back to feed him."
Zhou Ziqian finally stopped their behavior and asked the waiter to make a new package.
Xia Shu opened the box and her eyes lit up: "It's very beautifully made. Is this what's left?"
"Yes." Zhou Ziqian said calmly, "A customer ordered it but didn't want it anymore, so he brought it back."
"Great." Xia Shu took out disposable chopsticks and broke them apart with force, "Let's eat together."
"No, you eat it, I've already eaten."
"Then do you want to eat some fruit? I brought some fruit and snacks."
"No, I'm full."
"All right."
Noticing Zhou Ziqian's lack of interest, Xia Shu thought he was just tired from work today, so she stopped talking and ate quietly.
Zhou Ziqian looked at Xia Shu who was eating happily, but frowned and subconsciously looked towards the car parked not far away.
Look at how ignorant he is. He was just eating a piece of goose liver, something he normally doesn't like to eat, but Xia Shu ate it like this.
Originally he felt a little guilty about his friends' ridicule of Xia Shu, but now, he doesn't feel anything at all.
Anyway, Xia Shu doesn’t know either, and he has made up for it anyway, right?
Xia Shu turned around and looked at Zhou Ziqian, and asked in confusion: "What's wrong? Is your part-time job hard lately?"
Zhou Ziqian said perfunctorily: "No, it's not hard."
Since he didn't say anything, Xia Shu didn't dare to ask any more questions. She finished her food in silence and packed up the takeaway box.
When he threw away the box and turned around, Zhou Ziqian had already left without even looking back, leaving only one sentence: "I'm leaving first."
Xia Shu pursed her lips, not knowing what was wrong with him.
Never mind, maybe he's just in a bad mood.
Xia Shu chased after him, stuffed the snacks given by his family into his hands, and waved at him: "See you tomorrow."
After saying this, he picked up his things, returned to the dormitory, and continued polishing his paper.
As soon as Xia Shu left, Zhou Ziqian walked to the road and called Liu Hao again: "Hey, Liu Hao, come pick me up, the night show will continue."
"Okay." Liu Hao responded.
The next second, the car parked not far away with its high beams on slowly approached.
Those sitting in the car were all Zhou Ziqian’s friends.
Xia Shu was eating here just now, and they all saw it.
For them, it was live.
When Xia Shu was eating, they were laughing at how Xia Shu could eat like that.
When Xia Shu caught up and stuffed her favorite snacks into Zhou Ziqian's mouth, they imitated him and laughed out loud.
Liu Hao poked his head out of the driver's seat and asked in surprise, "Mr. Zhou has dealt with her boyfriend? So quickly? It hasn't even been ten minutes."
Zhou Ziqian snorted coldly, threw the snacks given by Xia Shu into the car, and got in as well.
"What boyfriend? He's just a freeloader. It's all your fault. You made a bet to make me send him a message, which made me come back specially. I'm annoyed when I see his inexperienced look."
"Don't be angry, Mr. Zhou. Let's go to the newly opened place and play all night long."
"Okay." Zhou Ziqian said again, "But I'm really fed up with him. If it weren't for your bet, I would have wanted to break up with him a long time ago."
"Come on, Mr. Zhou, we are still waiting to see who will win or lose."
"That's right, Mr. Zhou. I'm betting that this guy is infatuated with you. Don't let me lose."
I don’t know which words pleased Zhou Ziqian. He laughed and didn’t say anything.
Although he deceived Xia Shu and played with her true feelings, he knew in his heart that Xia Shu liked him very much.
This makes him look good in front of his friends.
The friends casually opened the snacks Xia Shu gave Zhou Ziqian, took a look at them, and threw them out of the car window: "He can afford such stuff."
Zhou Ziqian just glanced at it and quickly turned his head away, not caring at all. !
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