Chapter 97: The Sweetness and Troubles of First Love

Returning home that evening, Qin Tian received good news while playing games with his benefactor, Wang Laoban.

Wang Hao's relative—his aunt—had agreed to meet him.

However, just as he had requested, it would only be for the duration of a cup of coffee.

Clearly, the other party didn't take the matter seriously at all; she had likely only agreed reluctantly at Wang Hao's insistence.

Qin Tian didn't think much of it.

Having experienced the ways of the world in his past life, he knew that apart from one's parents, no one would treat you well without expecting something in return.

For a major company boss to give him this time, despite being complete strangers, was already giving him plenty of face.

Qin Tian expressed his gratitude repeatedly and arranged with Wang Hao to head to Jiangcheng the next morning.

"Alright, send me a message when you get on the bus, and I'll drive to the station to pick you up."

"No need, no need. Wang Hao, just help me find a place, and I'll just take a taxi there."

"It's fine, I'm an idler anyway. I promised that if you came to Jiangcheng, I'd host you. After you finish your business, we'll head straight to the internet cafe to game."

"Alright then, sorry for the trouble!"

Qin Tian said with a chuckle.

"What trouble? Come on, come on! The enemy jungler seems to be here. That idiot marksman on the other side is baiting way too provocatively."

"Haha... alright, I'm coming!"

After playing two rounds, the time reached 11:30.

"It's getting late, I'm logging off."

Qin Tian said goodbye to Wang Hao on the other end.

"Sure, see you tomorrow. We'll stay in touch by phone."

"Sounds good, logging off."

"Mm!"

Afterward, Qin Tian exited the game and shut down his computer.

After taking a shower and turning off the lights to lie in bed, Qin Tian picked up his phone and sent a message to Xia Nuannuan.

"I have something to do tomorrow and need to ask for leave to go to Jiangcheng, so I won't be at school in the morning."

Thinking Xia Nuannuan was likely already asleep, Qin Tian prepared to put his phone down and sleep after sending the message.

"Ding-dong!"

The sound of a reply rang out.

Qin Tian paused, hurriedly opened the app, and looked closely.

Sure enough, Xia Nuannuan had replied.

"Why are you suddenly going to Jiangcheng? What for?"

"I drew some clothing designs earlier, and a boss is interested, so I'm going to meet and talk tomorrow."

Qin Tian didn't hide anything and typed out the situation directly.

"Oh, then how are you going to ask Teacher Shen for leave?"

"I'll discuss it with my mom tomorrow morning and have her find an excuse to call Teacher Shen and ask for leave."

"I see. Are you coming back tomorrow?"

"Not sure, depends on the situation!"

"Okay!"

After Xia Nuannuan replied with those two words, there was no further response for a moment.

Qin Tian typed quickly, but suddenly felt it was a bit troublesome, so he simply dialed her number directly.

Inside the pink-themed bedroom, Xia Nuannuan, sitting at her desk, felt her hand tremble, and her phone nearly fell onto the table.

She subconsciously glanced toward her mother's bedroom, answered the call, held the phone to her ear, and lowered her voice as much as possible.

"Hello?"

"Why aren't you asleep yet? What are you doing? Cultivating immortality?"

Qin Tian's magnetic voice came through, carrying a tone of slight reproach.

"I'm doing a college entrance exam paper from another province from a previous year. I'll sleep as soon as I finish."

Xia Nuannuan replied in a soft, sweet voice.

As she spoke, she slipped her small, fair feet out of her cartoon slippers, slowly lifted them onto the chair, hugged her calves with her left hand, and rested her pointed chin on her knees.

"Stop doing that and go to sleep. You shouldn't push yourself like this. You know about balancing work and rest, right? If you're nodding off in class tomorrow, wouldn't that be counterproductive?"

Qin Tian said in a serious tone.

"I wouldn't! Have you forgotten who was punished for standing up for nodding off during morning self-study today?"

Xia Nuannuan said with a mischievous smile.

"Oh? You dare to mock me?"

"Hee hee..."

Xia Nuannuan couldn't help but laugh out loud, then realized and quickly covered her mouth with her small hand.

"Alright, enough talking to you. Student Xia Nuannuan, Teacher Qin orders you to hang up the phone and go to bed immediately."

"Hee hee..."

Xia Nuannuan laughed even more happily, nodded her little head, and agreed: "Okay, Teacher Qin."

"Don't try to brush me off!"

"I know, I know!"

"Good, I'm hanging up then. I need to sleep too."

"Mm-hmm, goodnight!"

"Goodnight, you hang up first!"

"Okay!"

Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly, moved the phone screen in front of her eyes, and hung up with great reluctance.

Since Qin Tian bought the phone yesterday noon, this was their first phone call, and it was also the first time she had ever talked on the phone with someone other than her parents.

"So bossy."

Xia Nuannuan pouted, but obediently tidied up her desk, turned off the lights, and got into bed.

She pulled the soft quilt over her head, curled up inside, and rolled around on the wide bed.

Beneath the thin quilt, the girl's muffled laughter could be heard.

Fortunately, the room had good soundproofing; otherwise, Su Xia, who was already asleep next door, might have been startled awake by her daughter's sudden and eerie laughter.

After a long while, Xia Nuannuan poked her little head out from under the quilt, her large eyes shining in the darkness.

She took the phone from the side, opened it, took a screenshot of the call log with Qin Tian, and saved it in a specially created album.

After doing this, she turned off the screen and held the phone against her heart with both hands.

"Are we not going to see each other tomorrow..."

Thinking of this, Xia Nuannuan felt inexplicably disappointed again.

The girl, whose heart had just begun to bud, was experiencing the sweetness and troubles of first love.

The next morning, while eating with her mother, Qin Tian mentioned that he needed to ask for leave to go to Jiangcheng today.

"Ask for leave?"

Tang Xiuxia furrowed her willow brows, looked at her son sitting opposite her with a serious expression, and asked: "What are you going to Jiangcheng for?"

"It's just like you know, Mom. That Wang Ge I play games with every day—he has a small, profitable business and wants to bring me along, so he wants me to go over and talk about it in detail."

Qin Tian brought out his prepared excuse, his face calm and composed.

Hearing this, Tang Xiuxia frowned even tighter and questioned: "Why would he bring you along for a profitable business?"

"Mom, you know Wang Ge's family is very wealthy. This small business is just something he's playing around with, and he's just bringing me along for the ride."

"No way. You're just friends who play games; you haven't even met in person. It's too unsafe for you to go alone."

"Mom, it's really fine. Don't worry!"

"Don't say another word. You are not allowed to go. Besides, the college entrance exam is right around the corner. Why are you messing around at such a critical time? It's enough to have enough money for now; wait until after the exam."

"Mom, I'm already an adult. You've seen how I've been acting lately. Do I look like the type to mess around without being sure?"

Qin Tian asked with a solemn expression.

Tang Xiuxia fell silent.

"Mom, this really is important. If it works out, you'll have your clothing store. Don't worry, I have a phone now. If anything happens, I'll call you immediately. That should be fine, right?"

After much persuasion, he finally managed to ease his mother's concerns, and she agreed to help him call his homeroom teacher to ask for leave. ===== CHAPTER 98 =====