chapter 5
Chapter 5
“Really, can you actually focus on your studies living alone?”
Madam Zhang immediately picked up the conversation, her tone deliberately light.
“Your dad knows people at the Education Bureau. He can help keep an eye on your Gaokao registration and printing your admission ticket. If you miss anything, you’ll regret it.”
Wu Ai put down his spoon and looked up at Madam Zhang, his usual rebelliousness gone from his eyes.
“I can move back home, but after the First Mock Exam, I still want to move back to the apartment.”
“Why?” Madam Zhang raised her eyebrows, tapping her fingers lightly on the tablecloth.
She had expected her son to set conditions, and was curious to hear his reasoning.
“My apartment is rented with one month’s deposit and three months’ rent paid up front. If I move back now, it’ll just sit there empty for nothing.”
Wu Ai’s tone was calm, but there was a hint of calculation.
“Besides, you were the ones who said I should move out to learn independence. You can’t just go back on your word right after the Art College Entrance Exam, can you?”
Madam Zhang was about to retort, but Aunt Wang suddenly tugged her arm, gave her a look, and smiled to smooth things over.
“Qiulan, young people have their own rhythm. It’s better than him drifting outside all the time.”
As she spoke, she leaned in close to Madam Zhang and whispered.
“Let him come home first. After the First Mock Exam, you can persuade him slowly.”
Madam Zhang shot Wu Ai a glare, but in her heart, she agreed with Aunt Wang.
Getting this stubborn kid to agree to come home was already a pleasant surprise. As for the rest, she could deal with it later.
“Fine, we’ll do as you say.”
She picked up her teacup and took a sip, her tone softening.
“Start moving back home next Monday, just in time for the First Mock Exam. Don’t embarrass me then.”
Wu Ai felt relieved, quickly picked up his spoon and took another sip of soup, tacitly agreeing.
As the meal was ending, Chen Qi took advantage of Madam Zhang and Aunt Wang chatting happily to secretly pull Wu Ai into the corridor corner.
She lowered her voice and said, “Shi Xian just asked me if there’s a quiet library near your home. She said she wants to study with you.”
Wu Ai’s ears instantly grew hot. “Doesn’t she still have to take the IELTS? If she falls behind in her studies, she’ll blame me for holding her back.”
“You’re just being stubborn!” Chen Qi laughed, poking his arm, her eyes full of teasing.
“Wu Ai, Shi Xian is a good girl. Don’t let her slip away.”
Back in the private room, Wang Xiuchun saw the smile Madam Zhang couldn’t hide and joked, “Kids grow up, you have to go with the flow. You’re just too forceful.”
Madam Zhang picked up her teacup, her eyes full of satisfaction. “That brat, if he doesn’t do well in the First Mock Exam, I’ll show him what’s what.”
…
Three weeks passed in a flash. High school students in Beijing had just finished the First Mock Exam, and with the Qingming holiday, they were enjoying their last high school celebration.
But Wu Ai didn’t seem in the mood for festivities. Early in the morning, he turned on his computer, ready to check his First Mock Exam results.
He knew his own study habits well-not that he knew everything, but he could honestly say he hadn’t studied at all.
He entered his name and ID number, closed his eyes and hit Enter. When he opened them again, the score on the screen stung his eyes.
“Damn, am I headed for a vocational college?”
378 points, not even reaching the Undergraduate Admission Score Line.
“Wu Ai! Did you check your results? How did you do?”
Wu Ai was startled. If he told the truth, he’d definitely get scolded. Looks like he’d have to lie.
“458 points. I definitely passed the Undergraduate Admission Score Line.”
The difference between these two scores wasn’t huge, so Madam Zhang would be more likely to believe him, and it gave him more room to keep up the lie later.
Moreover, only his own phone number could access the results, so as long as he hurried back to the apartment building, Madam Zhang would have no way of knowing his real score.
Thinking of this, Wu Ai slung his guitar bag over his shoulder, ready to escape the scene, but as soon as he got downstairs, he ran straight into Madam Zhang.
“Did you really score that high?”
“Of course! After all, your son is handsome, suave, charming, elegant, and as talented as he is knowledgeable…”
“Don’t get smart with me!”
Madam Zhang scolded him unceremoniously.
“You’re a grown man now, but your mouth is still the only thing that works well.”
After saying this, her tone softened a little: “As long as you passed the Undergraduate Admission Score Line, that’s enough. That means your spot at university is secure.”
Wu Ai pretended not to hear her, sitting by the shoe cabinet to change his shoes. “The Qingming holiday is almost over. I’ll head back tonight.”
“Leaving right after the exam?”
“Still need to study when I get back,” he said, already putting on his shoes. “Besides, I bet you and Dad can’t wait for me to leave.”
“You brat, I wouldn’t care if you died out there!”
Madam Zhang had originally planned to talk to Wu Ai again after the First Mock Exam, but with work being so busy, she had no choice but to let him be.
Walking down the familiar streets, watching the people and things passing by, Wu Ai unconsciously found himself downstairs at her building, once again lost in always-present memories.
He took the guitar out of its bag, but as soon as his fingers touched the strings, he jerked them back and cursed himself inwardly, “How pathetic.”
At that moment, a window on the fifth floor opened a crack.
A pair of eyes silently watched his figure in the spring breeze, lips biting gently, wanting to speak but holding back.
Only when his silhouette faded from view did the girl slowly close the window and walk back to her desk.
On the open Japanese textbook, densely written notes began to blur and twist, and a sudden wave of bitterness rose in her throat.
Rushing into the bathroom, a violent dry heave forced her to grip the edge of the sink just to stay upright.
As cold water splashed on her face, she stared at her pale reflection in the mirror, her pupils shrinking in fear as a terrifying suspicion gradually surfaced.
Her fingertips unconsciously brushed her flat abdomen, and the expression in the mirror grew more complicated.
But Wu Ai knew nothing of this. He simply wandered aimlessly through the streets, feeling more and more bored.
He took out his phone, and countless notifications popped up.
“Hehe, I just made some snacks. I really want to share them with you!”
“What are you doing? Why haven’t you replied to my messages in so long!”
“My sister says I’m too childish… I send you everything…”
Seeing the contact name “Shi Xian” on the screen, Wu Ai couldn’t help but smile.
This girl, two years older than him, should have been a mature older sister, yet she always exuded a kind of innocent, youthful charm.
He didn’t type a reply, but sent a voice message instead, teasing a little: “I’m out wandering around. I’ve sent you my location.”
Shi Xian lived in Jiuxianqiao, more than ten kilometers from here.
No one but a fool would actually come all this way.
After sending the message, Wu Ai didn’t linger. He started thinking about where to look for a new part-time job and casually hailed a taxi.
“To Sanlitun SOHO, please.”
Wu Ai tossed his guitar bag onto the back seat and was just about to get in himself when he was suddenly knocked off balance by a force.
Immediately after, a hand wearing a Chrome Hearts bracelet slapped onto the car door frame with a “smack.”
A girl leaned in, looking as if she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine-except her face was a little pale.