Chapter 499: A Letter Before the College Entrance Exam

June 1st, Saturday morning.

Xu Youyu slept soundly under the covers when suddenly she felt someone touching her hair.

Half-asleep, she opened her eyes and saw Li Luo fiddling with something on her head.

She raised a hand in confusion and touched her scalp, feeling something hard.

Was it a hair clip?

Xu Youyu pulled it off and looked closely—it was a Doraemon-patterned hair clip.

"What are you doing~" Xu Youyu mumbled, still drowsy from being woken, her voice thick and sleepy, "Where did this come from?"

"It's your Children's Day gift," Li Luo said, crouching beside the bed, pinching her cheek and leaning in to kiss her, "Let me put it on you."

"No… I'll wear it after I wake up," Xu Youyu grumbled, wriggling in bed, "Besides, I'm not a kid—why are you giving me a Children's Day gift?"

"Then give it back if you don't want it," Li Luo reached for the hair clip.

Instantly, Xu Youyu pulled her hand back and shoved the clip against her chest: "No way! If you want it, come take it!"

Li Luo: "..."

Watching the image of Doraemon buried beneath her chest, Li Luo was genuinely tempted—but made no move, only smiled at her.

"I'm going for a morning run. You keep sleeping."

"Okay~"

Xu Youyu closed her eyes and lay still, murmuring lazily; only when the footsteps faded and the door clicked shut did she pull the Doraemon clip from her chest.

She played with it in her hand for a while, then, after much thought, slipped it into her hair.

"Am I really that childish? He gave me a Children's Day gift," Xu Youyu muttered, though her lips couldn't help curling upward.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Yan Zhusheng fastened a Pikachu hair clip onto her head.

Ying Chanxi stared at the Totoro hair clip in her hand—a design from a Miyazaki animated film—then looked at Li Luo: "Why did I get Totoro?"

"Isn't it cute?"

"It's very cute."

"Then that's settled," Li Luo took the Totoro clip, gently fastened it into Ying Chanxi's hair himself, "It looks great on you."

The hair clips were bought on a whim—Li Luo simply used Children's Day as an excuse to give the three girls small gifts.

Small daily surprises, even just a few-yuan trinkets, were enough to bring joy.

But Ying Chanxi noticed that once she wore the Totoro clip, she could no longer see it on herself.

Yet the Pikachu clip Li Luo gave Yan Zhusheng was clearly visible to her the moment she turned her head.

"Hmph!"

"You're not happy even though I gave you a gift?"

"You don't understand," Ying Chanxi puffed out her cheeks, slipped on her shoes, and walked out the door.

It was now early June, just one week left until the college entrance exam.

The Gao San teaching building was thick with tension.

At Fuyi High, a top-tier school, no one let their guard down; all were racing toward the finish under their teachers' guidance.

Yet amid this atmosphere, Xu Youyu was the most relaxed of all.

She only wanted to get through the exam quickly, then be completely free—and no longer endure the strange glances from classmates.

Fortunately, with the exam so near, few classmates had time to notice her writing novels anymore.

Besides, her novel, Literary Era, had ended nearly a month ago, so the constant stares she once received had greatly diminished.

But.

Today was Saturday, and as the final morning self-study period arrived, Vice-Class Monitor Qin Yawei stepped onto the podium and addressed the class:

"Next week is the college entrance exam—we're about to go our separate ways. So I have a suggestion."

"Our school's literature club has a tradition: at the start and end of each semester, we write letters to classmates we want to speak to."

"To convey our inner thoughts through letters."

"I believe that over these three years of high school, we've all had things we wanted to say but couldn't bring ourselves to say face-to-face."

"So I propose we use the week left before the exam to write letters to classmates we want to speak to."

"And once received, don't open them—wait until after the exam, then read them slowly and savor them."

After speaking, Qin Yawei pulled out a box of pre-prepared envelopes and stationery.

Many students were moved; when one student stood up and took an envelope and paper, others followed in a steady stream.

Xu Youyu watched this scene with quiet emotion.

She herself had no one specific she wanted to write to, but looking at her desk-mate and then at others, she eventually walked up and took several envelopes.

The final self-study period ended quickly.

By the time class was dismissed, Xu Youyu had received over twenty letters.

They came from both boys and girls, and because this was a liberal arts class, there were more from girls.

Xu Youyu had always been solitary and unconventional in class—she never expected to receive so many letters.

Moved, she carefully collected them all, tucked them into her backpack, and resolved to open them after the exam, as Qin Yawei suggested.

Perfect—June 8th, the day the exam ends, is her birthday; these letters could be her birthday gifts from everyone.

It was rather romantic, she thought.

"Xu Youyu," Qin Yawei walked up to her after class and handed her an envelope.

Xu Youyu froze—she never expected her rival in the literature club to write her a letter on the eve of graduation.

"Thanks." Xu Youyu took the envelope.

Qin Yawei watched her accept it, even smiled faintly—nothing like her former hostility toward her.

This made Xu Youyu feel a pang of reflection.

It seems people do change.

Thinking this, Xu Youyu put away the envelopes, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and went to find Li Luo and the others.

…

"Starting tomorrow, I'll come over here every morning."

At dinner in Bihai Lanting 1502 that evening, Cui Suling said to Xu Youyu and the others, "I'll make your breakfast, then cook soup for you at night—drink some after evening self-study."

With the college entrance exam approaching, Cui Suling looked even more serious than Xu Youyu, planning next week's menu while eating.

Xu Youyu had wanted to refuse, but ultimately couldn't resist her own mother, so she gave in.

"Look how good your mom is to you," Li Luo joked as they washed dishes after dinner.

"Good? What's good about it?" Xu Youyu rolled her eyes. "It's only for these few days. Once the exam's over, she'll go right back to her old self."

That's what she said.

But in these final days before the exam, Cui Suling truly was unusually serious.

The next morning, before six o'clock, she arrived at 1502, opened the door, and started fussing in the kitchen.

When Li Luo woke up, changed clothes, and stepped out, he smelled a fragrance, following it all the way to the kitchen door.

"Oh, Li Luo, you're awake?" Cui Suling smiled as he approached. "Didn't I wake you?"

"No," Li Luo shook his head. "I usually get up at this time."

"Your schedule is really good," Cui Suling clicked her tongue. "Unlike our Youyu, who sleeps in all day—even with the exam coming, she won't change."

"Better not change," Li Luo smiled, reassuring and reminding her. "Auntie Cui, right before the exam, the worst thing is altering your routine—it disrupts the examinee's state. Everything should stay normal."

"I'll listen to you," Cui Suling chuckled. "I won't disturb her sleep—I'll just wait for her to wake up on her own."

"You can wake Youyu-jie at half past six," Li Luo glanced at the clock. "That way, breakfast and getting to school will be just on time."

"Alright, got it." Cui Suling nodded, then asked, "I made egg and lean pork congee—why don't you both have some too?"

After that,

Li Luo and the others enjoyed this luxurious treatment for nearly a week.

Every day, Cui Suling arrived punctually to make breakfast and cooked soup every night.

As time passed, the evening of the 6th finally arrived.

Gao San students had finished school instruction on the 5th and were free to manage their own time.

Teachers remained in their classrooms; students could visit anytime to ask questions.

If they had their own review plans—or simply wanted to adjust their mindset—they could stay home.

Xu Youyu's choice was obvious: she stayed home, doing light review and filling gaps.

At Li Luo's private suggestion, Cui Suling, unusually, didn't pressure her much. At home, aside from cooking and cleaning, she barely nagged—leaving Xu Youyu slightly unsettled.

With the end of evening self-study on the 6th, Gao Er and Gao San students also entered vacation.

After Li Luo and the others returned, they wouldn't need to attend classes anymore—just wait for the exam to end.

Xu Rongsheng made a rare visit, checking on Xu Youyu's condition.

Seeing his daughter eating and drinking normally, relaxed, he felt reassured—her mindset was clearly fine.

As long as Xu Youyu performed normally, the exam would be easy.

Then, late at night, the door to Bihai Lanting 1502 suddenly rang.

Li Luo opened the door curiously and saw a deliveryman holding a large box. "Hello, please sign for this."

"Oh, okay," Li Luo stepped aside, curious. "Just put it on the floor—what's inside?"

"This… let me check…" The deliveryman reached for the label, but Ying Chanxi rushed over and blocked Li Luo. "This is something I bought with Zhusheng—don't ask."

"What did you two buy?"

"A birthday gift for Senior Xu," Yan Zhusheng added from the side. "Can't tell."

"So mysterious," Li Luo laughed.

"Alright," Ying Chanxi signed for the package, sent the deliveryman off, shut the door, then patted Li Luo's shoulder. "Help me carry this box to my room."

"Fine," Li Luo said, crouched down, and strained—almost couldn't lift it. "What is this? So heavy?"

"Cough… Don't ask. Just move it."

Since it wasn't for him, Li Luo didn't press further. He heaved it up, carried it to Ying Chanxi's room, and set it beside her desk.

Night.

After Cui Suling and Xu Rongsheng left, Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng bathed and prepared for bed.

After finishing his writing, Li Luo knocked on Xu Youyu's door, then entered to find her seated at her desk, making final preparations.

"Remember to check your pencil case—don't forget anything," Li Luo whispered, stepping behind her.

"I know~ You've been more naggy than my mom these days."

"It's the college entrance exam—just take it seriously."

"Relax," Xu Youyu chuckled. "Everything's ready. Just waiting for the east wind."

"Where's the east wind?"

"Right here," Xu Youyu turned, stood up, leaned close to Li Luo, wrapped her arms around his neck, and grinned. "I'm missing one victory kiss."

"Tomorrow's the exam—isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

"You talk too much," Xu Youyu ignored him and kissed him directly.

Only after drawing enough energy did she reluctantly pull away, murmuring, "On my birthday, we'll do something bigger."

"What big game are you playing?"

"Of course, it's the upgraded version of Monopoly," Xu Youyu chuckled, eagerly saying.

Li Luo: "... Why do I always have a bad feeling?"

"Just don't get too addicted when the time comes," Xu Youyu snorted.

The two lingered affectionately in the bedroom; seeing it was already eleven at night, Li Luo decided not to disturb her further and said, "Time to sleep. Good luck on tomorrow's exam."

"Okay~ Goodnight~"

June 7.

The day of the Gaokao.

Early in the morning, Cui Suling came as usual, arriving early to prepare breakfast.

Xu Rongsheng came along too, planning to personally escort his daughter to the exam center.

Although the exam center was right at the affiliated No. 1 High School, just a few steps away, the ceremony still had to be proper.

But just as Xu Youyu, rarely rising early, sat with everyone eating breakfast in the living room,

the front door was knocked on again.

Hearing the knock, Li Luo's eyes flickered slightly, then he said to Xu Youyu, "Youyu, could you open the door?"

Xu Youyu paused, didn't refuse, and stood up to head for the door.

When she opened it, a delivery boy stood outside, handing her a package: "Hello, are you Ms. Xu Youyu? Please sign for this delivery."

"What is this?" Xu Youyu took the package and asked curiously.

"It's from Qiongzhou City. I don't know exactly what it is."

Upon hearing the words "Qiongzhou City," Xu Youyu immediately realized—she whirled her head to look at Li Luo.

She signed for it right away, saw off the delivery boy, then eagerly tore open the outer packaging and pulled out a letter inside.

Joy flooded Xu Youyu's eyes.

But Ying Chanxi, sitting across the table, saw this and pouted slightly, remembering the letter Li Luo had sent her on her birthday.

So he didn't just write to her?

Ying Chanxi shifted her gaze from Xu Youyu to Yan Zhusheng beside her, then back to Li Luo, her eyes filled with wounded reproach.

That bad boy...