Chapter 393: Back When Song Yao Was Still Very Cold

In the living room, Song Yao looked at him as if he were an idiot, astonished that someone could have such thick skin. Pfft, you call that going to study? I don't even want to spell it out for you.

"Is that not a good reason?"

Seeing Song Yao stay silent, Xu Xu Qingzhou rubbed his chin and said, "Then I'll pick another."

Song Yao's Qilin arm was barely under control; she secretly clenched her fists.

"Cough~ cough~" Xu Xu Qingzhou cleared his throat twice, winking toward the kitchen to remind Song Yao that Wang Wang Nushi and others were still inside.

Song Yao gave him an annoyed side-eye but didn't strike.

"Are your eyes twitching?"

Wang Wang Xiaping stepped out carrying a dish of stir-fried pork, just in time to see Xu Xu Qingzhou's winking.

"Got sand in my eye."

Xu Xu Qingzhou replied—he couldn't admit he was courting disaster.

"Little Yao, this brat never acts serious. If he dares to bother you, give him a good beating," Wang Wang Xiaping said, not believing his nonsense.

Song Yao nodded, covering her mouth as she giggled softly.

"Mom, I'm your real son."

"Adopted."

"I really haven't bullied her—I just said I wanted to study English with her."

"Study English?"

Wang Wang Xiaping turned to look at Song Yao, puzzled: "He meant that?"

"Yes, he said he wanted to study English together."

Song Yao could only nod—it was English study, just that it happened in a hotel.

"Talking nonsense," Wang Wang Xiaping thought this wasn't simple. She warned Xu Xu Qingzhou not to bully Song Yao, then returned to the kitchen to cook.

Soon after, the aroma of the dishes in the living room grew even richer.

Wang Wang Xiaping called out, and Xu Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao followed her into the kitchen, carrying dishes and ladling rice.

At 5:30 p. m., the four of them sat around the dining table.

The atmosphere was as pleasant as ever.

They talked about many things—from Xu Xu Qingzhou's childhood embarrassments to studying abroad. Of course, Xu Shou and Wang Wang Xiaping had little experience with overseas study, so they only emphasized one thing: stay safe.

Xu Shou said, "Your homeroom teacher came to visit us with school leaders a few times. You don't need to bother the principals, but if you have time later, go see your homeroom teacher."

When their own son was in high school, they had troubled Liu Laoshi often.

"Is our old homeroom teacher still the director?" Xu Xu Qingzhou asked.

Wang Wang Xiaping corrected him: "Don't call him 'old homeroom teacher.' Call him Liu Laoshi."

"I heard he's about to retire."

Xu Xu Qingzhou asked Song Yao's opinion: "Before we leave, should we go see him?"

"Mm, it's been three years," Song Yao nodded. Liu Ying had always been kind to her—or rather, responsible toward the whole class.

After dinner, the four sat on the sofa watching TV. At 7 p. m., Song Yao stood up to head home.

Before leaving, Wang Wang Xiaping warned: "Walk slowly."

"Got it."

Xu Xu Qingzhou waved goodbye and closed the door.

"Not bad—by Chinese New Year, we'll have a full table for mahjong," Wang Wang Xiaping said, sitting back down and sighing. "This brat's over twenty and still lazy and irresponsible."

"Look at how polished Little Yao looks, while Xu Qingzhou's a mess. What's that online phrase again? Layers—right? These two aren't even on the same layer."

"The kids have their own ideas. We don't need to worry about them."

Xu Shou turned his attention to the soccer match on TV, then realized something was wrong—he saw his wife's face had darkened. He quickly added: "What I mean is, times are different, experiences vary. Xu Qingzhou and the others have their own rhythm."

In Wutong Community, the two young people turned a corner, leaving the house behind.

Song Yao glanced around—no one nearby—then narrowed her eyes. "Xu Xu Qingzhou."

"Song Yao, we're still in the community. Someone might suddenly appear and see you beating up your boyfriend."

Xu Xu Qingzhou stepped back several paces, hurriedly saying.

True enough, Song Yao stopped moving, only saying: "Why are you standing so far away?"

"Too hot up close," Xu Xu Qingzhou moved slightly nearer but kept a safe distance.

Yet Song Yao seemed genuinely uninterested in hitting him. She stepped lightly past him.

The two walked out of Wutong Community, one behind the other.

In July, Rongcheng was as hot as a furnace; only now did it feel slightly cooler. They strolled slowly—less than a week remained before they left for overseas study.

"Full?" Xu Xu Qingzhou looked at Song Yao.

"Mm," Song Yao nodded. She'd eaten one bowl of rice, but under Wang Wang Xiaping's insistence, she'd finished half a bowl more. She paused, then added willingly: "Want to feel?"

"No," Xu Xu Qingzhou suspected she was fishing.

"I promise I won't hit you."

"This—"

Seeing Song Yao's sincere expression, Xu Xu Qingzhou hesitated, but finally, following the principle that if you don't act, you'll lose, he reached out.

Before his hand touched her stomach, she grabbed his wrist.

No mistake! One strike! One hit! Content confirmed!

Damn, I fell for it again.

"You just promised."

"I don't remember."

Pia~

The next day, Xu Xu Qingzhou called Liu Ying.

He assumed she'd just finished teaching senior year and would be resting in July–August, but luckily, she was at school handling lesson plans.

They set a time. After a quick tidy-up, they bought some fruit and headed to Chengnan High School.

At 9:30 a. m., they arrived at the school gate, standing outside, occasionally hearing the clear chanting from the nearest classroom building.

At the gate, there was indeed a sign: "Unauthorized Personnel Prohibited."

Xu Xu Qingzhou was about to call Liu Ying when he saw his homeroom teacher walking out—someone he hadn't seen in three years.

Liu Ying's temples had sprouted many white hairs.

"Liu Laoshi."

"You coming to see me already makes me happy—why did you bring gifts?" The stern director, usually expressionless, smiled for once.

"Just a small token."

Xu Xu Qingzhou smiled. Since they were at school, expensive gifts would be inappropriate—fruit was perfect.

As they walked toward the classroom building, they chatted about recent events.

Handsome man, beautiful woman.

That was the phrase that came to Liu Ying's mind when she saw Xu Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao. To Chengnan High's students, these two were almost legendary figures.

For instance, the last time she caught a couple kissing on the playground, the boy had said: "Even Xu Shen and his girlfriend dated in high school."

Result? —Parents called in.

Think you're Xu Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao?

With the college entrance exam over, all other teachers were on break; only Liu Ying remained in the office.

When she learned Xu Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao were going abroad, she sighed again—who could have imagined that once-silent students would achieve this?

Life is unpredictable.

Liu Ying said: "I've taught many classes. Of all the high school couples, few end up together. You two had better take good care of each other."

Having mentored two such students, her teaching career felt complete.

Xu Xu Qingzhou and Song Yao both nodded. Clearly, in Liu Laoshi's eyes, they were still those secret lovers.

After visiting their former homeroom teacher and catching up, they had no other plans. They stayed in the office half an hour, then rose to leave, wanting to stroll around campus.

Chengnan High hadn't changed much—only the playground had been renovated.

Xu Xu Qingzhou felt nostalgic. Unlike before, the hallways and windows were no longer barred with iron grates.

He didn't know the school had once seriously considered such measures—students were under immense pressure, and they feared accidents on campus.

But the plan was ultimately canceled.

As the school that had produced winners of the Chen Chen Jingrun Mathematics Prize and the Wolf Prize in Mathematics, Chengnan High was currently at its peak. Not only did many teachers and students oppose it, even higher authorities objected.

Chengnan High's status had soared—it could rightly be called a model school. To make it look like a prison? What kind of image would that be?

(End of Chapter)