Chapter 0023 Apology
Li Jinghao was staring blankly out the window when a commotion broke out at the classroom door, followed by a slightly excited shout from a girl.
"Squad leader, someone's looking for you!"
He looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chen Yan and Ruyi beside him, the two holding hands, a perfect couple.
He didn't know what he was feeling when he left the classroom, or how he ended up with them in a secluded corner of the balcony.
Urged on by Ruyi's gaze, Chen Yan rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand and awkwardly said "I'm sorry" to him.
After speaking, he immediately looked away, his chin still held high with arrogance.
"Li Jinghao, can you forgive him?"
Li Jinghao looked at her, then at Chen Yan, and felt that one of them was like a naughty child who, after causing trouble, was forced to apologize to the victim under the patient guidance of a kind and gentle mother. But no matter how bad the child was, the parents would forgive, while he was the complete outsider.
He couldn't help but smile bitterly, a hint of sadness flashing in his eyes: "If this is what you want."
Ruyi said, "It's okay, you don't have to accept it. I know his apology wasn't very sincere, but this is the limit of what I can do based on his understanding so far."
Chen Yan felt like he had been insulted, but he had no evidence.
But it doesn't matter, his good mood isn't over yet, he can at least hold on for another five days.
He didn't care whether Li Jinghao forgave him or not; who did he think he was?
She shook Ruyi's hand affectionately and said, "Let's go, I'm so hungry." She completely ignored Li Jinghao.
Ruyi gave him an apologetic look before being dragged away by Chen Yan.
*
Ever since learning that Li Jinghao was in the top 10 of the grade, Chen Yan has been studying with all his might, determined to make up for this weakness and completely crush his opponent in every way.
The second semester of senior year flew by in the midst of the tedious repetition of reviewing and filling in knowledge gaps and taking mock exams. As people on the street put on light summer clothes and the tall plane trees on the main road of the campus shook their lush greenery under the sun, it was time for the annual National College Entrance Examination.
In the examination room, Chen Yan completed the entire test paper smoothly, with half an hour left before the end of the exam. He put his hands in his pockets, closed his eyes, and rested, waiting for the bell to ring.
In fact, he already knew what was going on at that moment. Since the mock exams, he had been in excellent form, scoring better and better each time. In the last one, he and Ruyi even made it into the top twenty in the grade, becoming a positive role model that the homeroom teacher of Class 11 would later talk about with countless students throughout his teaching career.
"You know Xu Ruyi and Chen Yan, right? If you can guarantee that you can reach their level of understanding, then go ahead and talk, talk with great fanfare, and I'll be the first to wholeheartedly support you!"
...
He called Ruyi, who was on another campus, from the back seat. Ruyi had just met up with He Caiyu outside the exam hall when her cell phone rang.
She immediately guessed it was Chen Yan, so she avoided her aunt and went to the side to answer the call.
How did the exam go?
"Just play your best."
"Sigh, I'm not." Chen Yan's voice was low on the other end.
Ruyi's heart tightened. "What question can't you answer? Seriously, with your skill level..."
"I performed exceptionally well!"
Even through the phone, Ruyi could imagine Chen Yan's smug expression, and she couldn't help but smile, sincerely congratulating him.
If what he said is true, then he might have done a little better than her this time, and he's definitely in the top 3 nationwide.
Chen Yan said in a low, gentle voice, "It's all thanks to you, baby."
Ruyi's ears tingled from his calling her "baby," and sweet ripples spread across her heart.
From her first year of high school to her third, she and Chen Yan were entangled for three whole years. Although countless people assumed they were a couple, it wasn't until recently that she truly felt that the two of them were dating.
The bus arrived, and Auntie waved to Ruyi from afar. She said to Chen Yan, "Let's chat by text. I'm with Auntie."
CY: [Where do you plan to apply?]
Ruyi: [Let's wait for the scores to be released. I'll most likely get into Lancheng University, but I don't want to be too far from home.]
CY: [Me too, let's agree to apply to Lan University together (rolling around like a cat)]
Ruyi: [Hmm]
Ruyi: [Wait, what if my score isn't high enough for Lan University? After all, it's a top 3 university (crying)]
CY: [Impossible! I can do it, but you can't?]
CY: [Even if that doesn't work, there are several 985 universities in Lancheng, you can choose whichever you like.]
CY: [In short, you absolutely must choose Lancheng!!!]
CY: [If you dare disobey, I'll kill you.]
Ruyi: [(slap) (slap) (slap)]
CY: [By the way, Cheng Jue said he's going to have a graduation party and asked me to bring you. Want to go?]
Ruyi: [Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to go...?]
CY: [Why?]
Ruyi: [They're all people you know in your circle, just have fun.]
CY: [I can't be happy without you]
As one wishes:[……]
Ruyi: [Alright then]
CY: [Good girl (kiss)]
...
Seeing Ruyi holding her phone with a sweet smile, He Caiyu asked with interest, "Are you in a relationship?"
Upon hearing this, Ruyi exited the chat with Chen Yan and shook her head, saying they were just classmates, but her shy expression betrayed the truth.
Knowing that Ruyi had performed well in the exam, showing that her studies hadn't been affected by her early romance, He Caiyu had no objections and simply patted her niece's back affectionately.
"My Ruyi is so outstanding, it's perfectly normal for boys to like her."
She then asked, "Tell your aunt who it is? Is it Xiao Li? I knew it, he definitely has feelings for you..."
Ruyi quickly interrupted He Caiyu's outrageous conjecture. Luckily, Chen Yan didn't hear it, or he would have jumped up.
"It wasn't him."
"Oh..." What a pity.
He Caiyu held old-fashioned views. No matter how old someone was, if they were dating, it had to be with marriage in mind; otherwise, it was considered playing around. She thought that Xiao Li was good at studying, good-looking, and polite—a good person in every way. The only drawback was his mother. She had come to the shop twice to get dumplings to go, and each time she kept a close eye on the clerk and even counted them again after receiving them, afraid that she wouldn't get enough. She was clearly the kind of person who was meticulous to the point of being calculating. A woman like that would be difficult to get along with as a mother-in-law.
He then said, "It's better if it isn't."
She pressed further, asking, "So which boy is he?" She was eager to learn about the character and family background of her ideal romantic partner.
Ruyi didn't want to lie to her, so after hesitating for a moment, she asked her if she remembered how this shop came to be.
He Caiyu certainly remembered that when Ruyi had just started high school, her family's business at the vegetable market was failing, and she had no choice but to set up a stall outside. Unfortunately, she was involved in a car accident. A boy accompanied Ruyi to the hospital and introduced her to her current shop, saying that the rent was reasonable and the location was excellent.
After signing the contract, He Caiyu asked Ruyi to invite the male classmate to her home for dinner as a token of her gratitude. Ruyi didn't say anything at the time, but later told her that the boy was unwilling. She thought to herself, "That boy is obviously from a wealthy family. How could he possibly care about a simple meal from our humble background? It's better if he doesn't come, so that his parents won't find out and think I have ulterior motives."
He Caiyu couldn't help but become serious: "I think that child is unusual. What does his family do?"
Ruyi shook her head, saying she only knew that his father owned a real estate company and didn't know anything else. She deliberately concealed more information, only revealing a tiny corner of it. Actually, it wasn't really concealment; she had never verified the incredible background stories Hao Jing had told her with Chen Yan, so they were just rumors.
He Caiyu asked nervously, "You two are just dating, you haven't done anything else, have you?"
Ruyi denied it without changing her expression.
He Caiyu trusted her and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "It's fine to date, but we can't reach that level."
"They may not be sincere towards you. They just see you as good-looking and are attracted to your appearance, seeking temporary pleasure."
"You need to be careful to protect yourself. There are many excellent boys in college. We can choose one from a slightly better family background, but he must be a good person with a sense of responsibility and open-minded and reasonable parents. Of course, he must be handsome, otherwise how can he be worthy of my Ruyi?"
...
Unlike some rebellious teenage girls her age, Ruyi is often willing to listen to the opinions of her elders. Their experience is the culmination of a lifetime of wisdom, which may seem out of touch with the times but is still simple, practical and has some reference value.
For several days, He Caiyu's earnest words lingered in her mind. She knew that marrying someone of equal social standing was a universal value believed by most people. Even Cinderella was born into nobility. Without her aunt's advice, she had never thought that she could have any future with Chen Yan. In the past, she had been eager to end things, but now, the thought that the two of them would one day be separated made her heart ache.
It wasn't until Cheng Jue's graduation party that she composed herself, dressed up carefully, and prepared to go out for the date. He Caiyu knew she was going to a party organized by her friends. Although she didn't understand these young people's gimmicks, she knew it would cost money, so she insisted on giving her five hundred dollars.
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