Chapter 24
Chen Zhiyu hugged Qiao Xi.
Chen Zhiyu only got his vacation two days before the college entrance exam. That day happened to be a Saturday, and Qiao Xi picked him up.
This holiday, they had to take all their luggage from school. The books alone filled two large bags, plus the mattress, bedding, and everyday clothes. It took the two of them a lot of effort to finally bring all the luggage home.
When Josh got home, he told him about his plans, including how to take time off to accompany his child during the college entrance exam.
"There's really no need for that." After hearing Josh's plan, Chen Zhiyu earnestly tried to dissuade him.
“Unnecessary? How is it unnecessary? Where is it unnecessary?” Josh tilted his head back to confront him. “You’re taking the college entrance exam.”
"Yes, it was my college entrance exam."
Josh really disliked his emphasis on pronunciation.
"What if something happens on the way..." Josh hesitated for a long time, but still didn't say it out loud, "I don't care, I have to make sure you get into the school smoothly, otherwise I won't feel at ease!"
"Your work is important."
"Your college entrance exam is important!" Josh said again. "Look how chaotic it is every year during the college entrance exam; all sorts of things can happen. I'm worried about you."
Chen Zhiyu wanted to say that you didn't pick me up or drop me off back then, but then he stopped himself.
When talking about Josh's college entrance exam, we have to mention what happened back then, a painful memory that the two of them have never dared to speak of for so many years.
But Josh saw through his thoughts and said, "Back in the day, we spent all those days of the college entrance exam at school, and we had a school bus to pick us up and drop us off, unlike your school."
The two argued back and forth without reaching a conclusion. Finally, Josh made the final decision, displaying the authority of an older sister. Pointing at him, she commanded, "Go back to your room and review your lessons. Don't worry about me."
Seeing Chen Zhiyu's discomfiture and his obedient return to his bedroom, Qiao Xi turned around and sat on the sofa in the living room, picking up her phone to search.
She suddenly remembered that there was actually a way to have the best of both worlds.
Josh usually passes by Chen Zhiyu's college entrance examination site on his way to and from get off work.
To avoid traffic jams, she could ride her electric scooter to drop him off, park the car nearby, and then take the subway to work.
After calculating, there's still enough time; nothing will be delayed.
Josh was fairly satisfied with the plan.
Having decided on his mode of transportation, Josh went downstairs again to check the electric scooter.
The electric vehicle's battery was replaced last year, and it currently has sufficient power and no problems. I just need to do a final check the day before the college entrance examination.
As Josh ran up and down the stairs, the tension in his heart hadn't subsided; his heart was pounding wildly, and he couldn't sit still.
The door to Chen Zhiyu's bedroom was ajar. Qiao Xi tiptoed over and peeked through the crack in the door.
Seeing Chen Zhiyu sitting at the table with his back to her, reading a book, Qiao Xi finally felt relieved and relaxed.
These past two days have been uneventful, and since she doesn't have to work overtime, Josh isn't going anywhere; she's just planning to spend time with Chen Zhiyu.
It's Saturday. I got up early to pick him up from school and have been busy until almost noon. Josh went downstairs to the nearby market and bought some vegetables, fruit, ribs, and fish.
The fish was cleaned and ready to cook as soon as it was brought home. When Josh got home, he carried the cleaned fish into the kitchen.
Next to the kitchen was Chen Zhiyu's bedroom. Qiao Xi tiptoed into the kitchen, put the fish in a basin, and turned the tap on very low so as not to disturb him.
He tried his best to control his movements and deliberately kept his voice down.
What are you doing?
"Oh my god! I was so scared." Josh jumped in fright and hurriedly turned around, not realizing that Chen Zhiyu was standing behind her.
"I'm cooking," she replied curtly.
Chen Zhiyu walked past her, turned the tap on full blast, and the gushing water quickly filled the fish basin. He then squeezed next to her, picked up the vegetables from the counter, and helped wash them. "What are we having for lunch?"
"Go study." Josh patted the back of his hand and snatched the vegetables from Chen Zhiyu's hand. "You don't need to worry about it."
"I'm going to rest for a bit."
"If you want to rest, go to the living room. What are you doing in the kitchen?"
The two faced off.
Finally, Chen Zhiyu spoke up: "I'm a student going to take an exam, not a patient going to the hospital."
"Ugh, your mouth is so annoying." Josh smacked him on the shoulder.
The two of them finally smiled.
The lessons I need to review have already been reviewed with the teachers at school. Now I'm just reinforcing the knowledge points that I might have missed or that I might have forgotten.
Upon hearing Chen Zhiyu's words, Qiao Xi calmed down and began to wonder if she was being too nervous. Moreover, Chen Zhiyu had noticed all of her nervousness, which might have a negative impact on her.
The more he cared, the worse it got, which put pressure on him.
With that thought in mind, Josh simply abandoned the vegetables and instructed Chen Zhiyu, "Wash the vegetables clean, then steam the rice, and I'll go make the fish."
Josh planned to make soup from the fish head and braise the rest of the fish.
She first pan-fried the cleaned fish head, making sure every part was cooked, then added boiling water, seasoned it slightly, and added some store-bought soft tofu, before simmering it over low heat. Making braised fish requires a little more preparation, but with Josh's cooking skills honed over the years, she was capable of doing it well.
Finally, I stir-fried some greens.
And just like that, a simple meal was prepared.
The next few days passed like this, continuing until the day of the college entrance examination.
Josh woke up very early on the day of the college entrance exam, or rather, he had been waking up very early for the past few days.
That day, after breakfast, the two prepared to set off.
"Did you bring everything you need?" Just before leaving, Josh stood in the entryway, holding the doorknob, and suddenly turned to ask Chen Zhiyu, "Pen, answer sheet pen, and exam admission ticket."
Chen Zhiyu waved the transparent bag he was holding in front of her and smiled, "It's all here."
Once confirmed and located accurately, Josh felt relieved. "Let's go!"
The weather wasn't too hot or humid in the early morning; there was a cool breeze. Traffic control measures were in place for the college entrance exams, but the journey was relatively smooth.
So when the two arrived safely at the college entrance examination site, it was still early, but there were already many students gathered around the school, and teachers were guarding the school gate.
Chen Zhiyu is tall, and as soon as he got off the bus, he spotted his school teacher.
To avoid traffic congestion, parking is prohibited in front of the school, so Josh quickly called him inside, "Come on in, parents aren't allowed to stay here."
Chen Zhiyu stood on the steps by the street, not in a hurry to leave, and suddenly bent down and hugged Qiao Xi.
Josh paused for a moment before reaching out to hug him back, patting him and whispering in his ear, "It's okay, relax."
Seeing Chen Zhiyu enter the school smoothly, Qiao Xi tightened her grip on the handlebars and quickly drove away from the street. She parked her car in front of a nearby shopping mall and rushed to catch the subway to work, arriving at the company on time.
After finishing the usual Monday meeting, Josh quickly checked his phone as he walked out of the meeting room. It was 9:30, and the first exam had already started.
Even at work, she would frequently check the time on her computer, her mind constantly on edge, unable to calm down.
After a long and agonizing wait until lunch break, Qiao Xi heard her phone chime. Forgetting about lunch, she quickly opened her phone to check the message. Seeing that it was from Chen Zhiyu, she finally smiled.
The message was simple: 'Exams are over.'
Students' phones are handed over to teachers before they enter the exam room. It seems that Chen Zhiyu has already gotten his phone back from the teacher.
Upon receiving the message, Josh's appetite returned. As she stuffed a mouthful of rice into her mouth, she immediately made a phone call, which was quickly answered. "Have you eaten?"
Josh was the first to ask.
The noise on the other end of the phone started to get a bit loud, then after a pause, Chen Zhiyu's voice came through clearly, "The food is ready."
"That's good." Josh didn't ask how the test went, and told him not to check the answers. "It's hot, so try not to drink ice water."
"I know." Chen Zhiyu chuckled softly.
A low, magnetic laugh drifted over, making Josh's ears tingle. She deliberately straightened her voice, "Are you annoyed by me?"
"How could that be?"
"That's more like it." Suppressing the inexplicable tingling feeling in her heart, Josh suddenly asked, "What time does the exam finish this afternoon? I remember it should be earlier than when I get off work."
A few seconds later, Chen Zhiyu said, "The exam will finish at 5 p.m., and I'll send you my admission ticket."
Josh calculated the time, "Just go straight back after the exam. I parked my electric scooter downstairs at the China World Mall. I'll send you a photo in a bit. If you don't want to drive, just take a bus back. Just let me know when you get there."
"Okay, I understand."
After confirming that everything was fine, the phone call didn't last long. Qiao Xi was worried that he would find a place to rest as soon as he finished eating, but Chen Zhiyu said that the school teachers had made arrangements, so she was relieved.
After hanging up the phone, Josh continued eating his lunch, while using his other hand to fiddle with his phone and send him a photo of where the electric scooter was parked.
Only after sending it did she open the admission ticket that Chen Zhiyu had sent her.
His admission ticket showed his admission ticket number, name, examination location, and examination room number.
Josh first glanced at the exam times for each subject, and finally fixed his gaze on the photo on the admission ticket.
The photo was probably taken at school; judging from the exposed upper body, Chen Zhiyu is still wearing his school uniform.
In the photo, he has a tense expression, his jawline is clearly visible, outlining a smooth contour, and his deep eyes are sharp as he gazes straight ahead with a calm expression.
Josh stared at the photo for a long time.
The past few days of the college entrance examination were peaceful. After all the subjects were finished, Chen Zhiyu's high school life came to a complete end.
On the day the exam was over, Josh took him to a nearby barbecue stall after work.
With a clatter, a bottle of beer was placed in front of Chen Zhiyu. "You can have a drink now." Qiao Xi excitedly poured him a glass, raised his own glass, and clinked it with the one on the table. "Celebrating your success in the college entrance examination."
Chen Zhiyu looked down at the amber liquid in the glass. For some reason, he thought of last year and suddenly laughed out loud. When he looked up, he saw Qiao Xi eating chicken wings.
I don't know who it's celebrating for, but the table is covered with a variety of meat skewers and grilled vegetables, most of which are Josh's favorites.
The two ate and chatted.
"Travel?" Josh asked, a meat skewer in his mouth. "You guys are going on a trip?"
"Yes, Yao plans to go for three days. It's not far, just in a nearby city."
"Why is the trip so short? You finally finished your exams, you should relax and have a few more days to play."
"No, I have to go to my internship when I get back."
After finishing his last exam and leaving the campus, Chen Zhiyu contacted Qiao Xi and then called Liu Weifeng again.
Liu Weifeng said that anyone who wants to work at his company can do so anytime.
Chen Zhiyu wanted to go as soon as possible, but before he went, he wanted to go for a walk first. He looked up at Qiao Xi and said, "Come with me."
“Me?” Josh was taken aback, then waved his hand in refusal. “You’re a bunch of kids your age going out to play, what’s the point of inviting me along? I won’t bother you.”
"It's just me and Yao Chen, and you're not much older than me, Qiao Xi. Stop acting like a parent to me."
Upon hearing Chen Zhiyu's words, Qiao Xi did not respond, but half-jokingly said, "Don't worry, I will definitely give you enough money for the trip."
“I want to go with you.” Chen Zhiyu’s attitude was firm. He stroked the inside of the cup, looked at her, and slowly said, “Qiao Xi, let’s consider it as fulfilling the wish you couldn’t complete back then.”
"I still have to go to work." Josh avoided his gaze and took a sip of his wine.
“Go on Saturday and Sunday, and then take another day off on Monday. There’s enough time.”
Chen Zhiyu did not give up trying to persuade her, and repeatedly found ways to remedy the situation, blocking her excuses.
Actually, Josh was attracted to him, but her mind was a bit confused.
After a moment, she calmed down and thought about it, and finally relented, "Okay, let's go together then."
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