Chapter 400: The Unusually Quiet Da Za Yuan

When Zheng Guoping came out, Lu Cheng was still standing there, staring blankly.

With his elbow resting on Lu Cheng's shoulder, Zheng Guoping teased, "I say, Third, do you like that little girl?"

Lu Cheng gave an annoyed glance, "What are you joking about? She's like a child; how could I possibly like her."

Zheng Guoping shook his head slightly, "No, no, you treat her differently from other girls."

Having lived in the same dorm for so long, Zheng Guoping knew Lu Cheng's temperament; with other female classmates, this guy always takes the initiative, a direct‑attack approach.

For example, he pretends to be pitiful, claims he has no food coupons and has been starving for days, then shamelessly begs a female classmate for a meal, later returns the favor, and through this back‑and‑forth they become close.

Or he rides a bicycle aimlessly around campus, spots a pretty girl, crashes into her, and regardless of her consent, scoops her up and rushes to the infirmary.

Another example: he reads a girl's palm, making her blush and turn red.

In short, he's full of rotten tricks, a spoiled brat, and shameless.

Only with Yang Yin does he always feel a sense of repulsion.

Yang Yin is clearly beautiful and cute, anyone who sees her would be smitten, yet Lu Cheng's behavior makes Zheng Guoping feel something is off.

Lu Cheng explained, "Isn't that nonsense? Yang Yin is Professor Yang's daughter. Who is Professor Yang? Would I dare touch her? I'm even counting on Professor Yang to give us more guidance on the Internal Combustion Engine Project."

Moreover, if I really did touch Yang Yin, Professor Yang would get angry, and it might even jeopardize my graduation."

The explanation sounds reasonable, but Zheng Guoping still feels he's covering something up.

"If you say it like that, I think you should actually go after Yang Yin. Imagine, once Professor Yang becomes your father‑in‑law, you won't worry about graduation, and he can provide huge resources for your future career."

Lu Cheng gave a sidelong glance, "Huh, you're full of nonsense today, why are you meddling in my affairs?"

Zheng Guoping laughed, "It's just a buddy looking out for you. You've been divorced for over a year; it's time to start a new relationship. Could it be you still can't forget your previous sister‑in‑law?"

Facing Zheng Guoping's words, Lu Cheng suddenly felt dazed.

Time passed so quickly; before he knew it, he had been apart from Lin Qingyan for a year and a half.

He also wondered how she was doing now.

Lu Cheng shook his head, convinced he had already started a new romantic life.

So there was no need for him to keep bothering anyone.

"I'm leaving, I'm leaving," Lu Cheng said, not wanting to discuss the topic, waving his hand to go home.

Avoiding again? That's not like Lu Cheng at all. Zheng Guoping saw he was a bit irritated, so he sensibly ended the topic.

"Then just stay in the dorm tonight; the holidays are coming, invite a few classmates over for drinks."

Lu Cheng didn't even turn his head, "Another day. I just finished my duty today and haven't gone home yet; Mom must be missing me."

…

When he returned to Da Za Yuan, it was very quiet.

It wasn't that everyone had finished work; rather, whatever the adults were doing now, they did it cautiously—washing clothes, cooking, all handled gently.

Afraid of making noise that might disturb the Old Wu family.

Not just this Da Za Yuan, the whole Hu Tong was tacitly coordinated, trying not to shout loudly.

There was no choice; the college entrance exam was right around the corner, and Gui Yun had been forced by Teacher Wu to study for half a year.

During those six months, Gui Yun didn't go out to play even once; day and night blurred as she spent all her time chewing on textbooks.

To get her into university, Teacher Wu was on duty twenty‑four hours a day, spending sixteen hours watching over his daughter.

If she's thirsty, he brings tea; if she's hungry, he cooks—basically, anything unrelated to studying doesn't concern Gui Yun; she only needs to seize every second for study.

Except when she goes to the bathroom, people in Hu Tong only occasionally see Gui Yun; otherwise she stays in the house.

When they do see her, the first impression is that the kid is almost going crazy.

She looks rather pitiful.

Of course, the reason everyone is so careful not to make noise isn't out of pity for Gui Yun, nor fear of Teacher Wu's scolding.

It's purely because everyone wants to watch TV.

Usually there's no TV, and that's fine, but now Teacher Wu's house has one; if they can't watch it, they feel like a cat being scratched.

Because Gui Yun needs to study for the entrance exam, Teacher Wu sealed off the TV, aiming not to affect his daughter's study.

The adults, too, haven't watched TV for half a year.

Thus, people in Hu Tong hope Gui Yun gets into university even more than Teacher Wu does, so they can watch TV themselves.

The funniest is Da Hu; the first thing he does after getting up is kneel on the bed and reverently bow his head three times to the heavens, muttering that Aunt Gui Yun must get into university.

Lu Cheng entered the courtyard and shouted hoarsely, "Mom, Mom, I'm hungry…"

At the Main Hall doorway, Pang Ya hurriedly pointed toward Teacher Wu's room, "Hey, lower your voice, lower your voice—do you still want to watch TV?"

Lu Cheng found it funny; to get a chance to watch TV, everyone this time was unusually coordinated.

And to be fair, Lu Cheng actually liked it; at least the nights were less noisy when sleeping.

Now even Pang Ya doesn't dare to let out a loud fart while pulling up her pants.

Afraid of disturbing Gui Yun's study, each time she squeezes it out like a horse‑stance squat, releasing a little at a time, trying not to make any sound.

Or she clamps her butt and runs to Hu Tong to let one big one out at once.

In Dong'er Fang, Wu Guiwen heard Lu Cheng's shout and couldn't help but frown.

"This Lu San'er comes back and yells nonstop; in a past life he must have been born from drums and gongs."

Gui Yun glanced at her father, seized the chance, and cautiously said, "Dad, I need to use the bathroom."

Hearing that, Wu Guiwen's brows furrowed even more.

"Why do you need to go again? You just went an hour ago."

Gui Yun clutched her stomach, "I… maybe ate something salty at noon and drank too much water."

Wu Guiwen pulled his face into a scowl and shouted at his wife, "See, I told you to use less salt—salt doesn't cost anything!"

Wu Dama also said cautiously, "I'm just thinking, a bit more salt gives you more energy for studying."

Even if you have strength, you can't eat like that—it's overly salty. Look how much water our daughter has drunk; she's been running to the toilet all afternoon, wasting so much time. The college entrance exam is coming up soon, I'm telling you, if she doesn't get in this time, it's all your fault.

Wu Dama opened her mouth, didn't dare say anything else, and Gui Yun tentatively said, "Dad, I can't hold it much longer."

"Then go, go, go, hurry back—every time you stay in the toilet for so long, now we need to seize every second, you know?"