Chapter 20 Not to be outdone, when instructing others, first ask yourself…
"I know you're blaming me."
Tao Jiang sighed softly, "I didn't do well enough before, and I can apologize to you, but I really cherish you as a friend."
"Cherish?" Hearing these two words, Yu Kui blushed for her. "If this makes you cherish your next friend even more, I wish you all the best."
Seeing her cold and hard attitude, Tao Jiang knew that she couldn't make up with her in a short time, so she could only return to her seat.
“She’s no good person,” Sun Shuya couldn’t help but say upon seeing this. “You’d better stay away from her.”
“I know,” Yu Kui smiled at her, “I was too stupid before.”
I always thought that as long as I gave my heart, I would definitely receive a heart in return, but in the end, all I got was hurt.
Seeing her like this, Sun Shuya breathed a slight sigh of relief.
After school, Tao Jiang came to find Yu Kui again, "You said you could tutor me before, is that still true?"
Yu Kui was taken aback, not expecting her to bring up the past again, and asked blankly, "Didn't you reject me?"
"I deeply regret my previous decision," Tao Jiang said, her eyes red. "Can you help me again?"
“I’m sorry,” Yu Kui shook her head, “I don’t have time right now. If you need tutoring, you can find your tutor or enroll in a tutoring class.”
"Can I hire you as my tutor?" Tao Jiang persisted. "I can pay you. My grades haven't improved much. If you tutor me, they should get much better..."
“I’m sorry,” Yu Kui said calmly, showing no sympathy for her show of weakness. “I need to spend my time on myself. You should find someone else.”
She slung her backpack over her shoulder, got up, and walked out of the classroom.
Since Tao Jiang transferred to our school, her grades have consistently been in the lower half of the class. At first, everyone thought that she was not adapting well to the new environment, which was why her grades hadn't kept up. But as time went on, they realized that those were her true scores.
No one laughed at her, and no one thought that good-looking people had to be good at their studies. On the contrary, they took the initiative to show her their notes and help her study.
In the past, Yu Kui would have definitely agreed to her suggestion, and she would have had no objection even if it meant spending a lot of time on her.
But now, she has learned to be selfish.
She no longer had the same enthusiasm for either Qin You or Tao Jiang.
Tao Jiang stood there watching her walk further and further away, then suddenly a sneer appeared on her lips.
How heartless!
But she just loves tackling tough challenges; the more resolute Yu Kui is, the more interesting she finds it.
After the final exams, school is on holiday.
The homeroom teacher said, "I will announce the exam results in the class group later. If you have any questions, you can call me."
"good."
Everyone seemed to be liberated, eagerly heading outside, chattering about their winter break plans.
Yu Kui was going to spend the Chinese New Year with her parents at her grandparents' house, so she returned to her hometown the day before New Year's Eve.
Grandpa and Grandma lived in a small two-story house in the suburbs. There were many fruit trees planted in front of the courtyard. In winter, oranges and pomelos were still hanging on the branches. Yu Kui took a picture and subconsciously wanted to send it to Qin You. But when she opened the social media app, she realized that she no longer needed to share these fun and interesting things with him.
But her conditioned reflex behavior still showed lingering affection for him.
It was a long, damp season. Even though she told herself a thousand times that the rainy season was over, the experience of raining felt just like yesterday, constantly reminding her that the past had never truly passed.
Yu Kui looked up at the gray sky above and restrained her urge to share.
After the New Year, the family of three returned home, and Qin's mother knocked on the door, saying she wanted to have a meal together.
"I was worried you wouldn't be able to come back in time," Qin's mother said with a smile, "but thankfully you made it today."
"Let's go out to eat," said Mrs. Yu. "It's on me."
"That won't do," said Qin's mother. "Let's cook at home instead. Wasn't it fine last time?"
“It’s convenient to eat out,” Yu’s mother smiled. “And you don’t have to clean up the dishes afterward, which is so easy.”
After thinking for a moment, Qin's mother did not refuse, "How about tomorrow at noon? I'll have Qin You come back early."
"good."
Yu Kui changed her shoes and went inside to put her things away. Her mother opened the door and asked, "Don't you want to see Qin You yet?"
Yu Kui didn't speak, but her mother said, "If you don't like it, we won't go."
“There’s nothing between us,” Yu Kui said. “It was just a meal.”
Upon hearing this, Yu's mother took her daughter's hand and said, "Although it may sound selfish, your feelings are more important to me than anything else. Don't make yourself suffer because of me."
Yu Kui understood what she meant, but she didn't want her estrangement from Qin You to affect her mother's friendship.
“Although Qin You and I had a fight, we’re not enemies,” Yu Kui blinked and said casually, “It was just a meal.”
"Okay." Yu's mother reached out and hugged her. "Go to bed early after you've washed up."
Yu's mother had booked a private room. When Qin's mother brought Qin You in, Yu Kui was looking at the restaurant's menu and adding the dishes she wanted to eat.
"You're here?" Upon seeing the mother and son, Yu's mother stood up to greet them. "Yu Kui and I went shopping at the mall this morning and didn't have time to pick you up. I'm so sorry."
"What's there?" Qin's mother pulled her son to sit down. "What did you all buy?"
“These are Yu Kui’s clothes,” Yu’s mother said. “She needs some spring clothes.”
Upon hearing this, Qin's mother glanced at Yu Kui and said, "Yes, I should also buy some for Qin You. He's growing so fast, he can't fit into last year's clothes anymore."
The two chatted and laughed. Yu Kui got up and handed the menu to the waiter who came in, and poured herself a glass of hot water.
She didn't look at Qin You sitting opposite her; her expression remained calm.
Qin You didn't look at her; instead, she stared blankly at her phone.
He was a little surprised when he found out last night that they were going to have dinner together, but he quickly calmed down. Although he and Yu Kui had broken up, their parents were all good friends, and he couldn't let his own reasons affect his mother's interpersonal relationships.
In particular, Qin's mother had very few friends.
After hesitating, he sent a message to Yu Kui and expressed his thoughts.
Yu Kui still didn't reply to him, but Qin You knew she must have seen his message.
He glanced at Yu Kui out of the corner of his eye; she was paler and thinner than before. The childishness on her face was gradually disappearing, revealing the grace of a young woman.
Qin You never imagined she would grow up to look like this, like a gardenia blooming in summer, pure and quiet.
It was as if she had become a better person after breaking up with him.
Whether it was academic performance or anything else, it was all things he had never imagined. This made Qin You feel a little strange.
During the meal, Yu Kui was unusually quiet. Even when Qin's mother took the initiative to speak to her, she was polite but distant, completely lacking her former enthusiasm.
They were like strangers to her, her pale face expressionless.
Qin You even noticed a hint of impatience in her eyes, as if going out for this meal was a form of torture for her.
This discovery made Qin You take a deep breath. She really wanted to ask her why she came out if she didn't like it. She could have just found an excuse to leave like last time.
But he couldn't bring himself to ask, and could only suppress the anxiety in his heart.
After the meal, Yu's mother went to the front desk to pay the bill, Yu's father went to the parking lot to move the car, and Yu Kui and Qin You and their son stood at the restaurant entrance to wait.
"Yu Kui, how did you do on your final exams?" Qin's mother asked with concern. "Qin You said the test was a bit difficult this time, and his results weren't very good. How about yours?"
Yu Kui didn't look at Qin You and said calmly, "I'm number one in the class."
Although she didn't boast, her calm tone was like a slap in Qin You's face.
He didn't get first place in the class, and even fell out of the top ten.
"Is that so?" Qin's mother asked curiously, "Then what is your ranking in the grade? Qin You is in the thirties, which is a bit lower than before."
Third place.
Qin's mother opened her eyes wide, seemingly surprised by her high ranking, and exclaimed in admiration, "You are indeed suited for the humanities. Your grades have improved so quickly since you started studying humanities."
Although she didn't say it outright, she subconsciously attributed Yu Kui's grades to her choosing a subject that suited her, rather than praising her efforts.
After all, Qin You's grades were much better than Yu Kui's in the past, which made Qin's mother lose face.
Yu Kui understood her unspoken meaning and was not angry.
To her, neither Qin You nor Qin's mother were people she should care about.
She wouldn't be easily swayed by a few words from her, but she also wouldn't take her words to heart; instead, she would become indifferent to her because of them.
Yu Kui said calmly, "Auntie, science is also Qin You's forte."
Qin's mother's expression stiffened slightly, and her pupils contracted sharply. She seemed surprised that Yu Kui would say such a thing, especially since Yu Kui had always been so respectful to her...
Qin You was also stunned. He looked at Yu Kui abruptly. Although her face was expressionless, Qin You still felt offended.
"Is third place really that impressive?" he blurted out without thinking. "It's not like you're first."
"What are you saying!" Seeing him so angry, Qin's mother raised her hand and patted his shoulder. "Yu Kui is already very good for getting third place."
“I didn’t say anything wrong,” Qin You stared intently at Yu Kui. “What do you think?”
Yu Kui didn't speak, her clear black and white eyes staring at him quietly. There was no trace of grievance or sadness on her face from his belittling. Her nails dug into her palms, refusing to let herself break down because of a few words.
How could he say such a thing?
Denying one's own efforts and belittling one's own achievements.
What gives him the right?
Just because she always accommodated and tolerated him in the past, does that give him the right to hurt her so recklessly?
Under Qin You's condescending gaze, Yu Kui slowly lowered her eyelashes.
She gritted her teeth, not letting herself show the slightest weakness. "I am indeed third, but I am still better than those in the thirties. Before pointing fingers at others, ask yourself if you are worthy."
In fact, Qin You regretted saying those words as soon as he did. He didn't know what was wrong with him. Seeing Yu Kui's cold and distant appearance, he became very irritable and subconsciously said those hurtful words.
He wasn't like this before, but he just lost control.
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