While Chu Qing was internally grumbling about not being her parents' biological child, she looked towards Qi Weichen along with her parents, also curious about why he had chosen her.
The gap between them was too great. For a long time after he had agreed to be with her, she couldn't believe it was real. She really didn't understand how such a good student could be so blind, but she didn't dare to actually ask him. What if he realized he truly was blind and broke up with her?
Later, when they time-traveled, she rarely thought about this question anymore and naturally never asked. Now that her parents brought it up, she wanted to know the answer again.
Under the gaze of the three, Qi Weichen calmly answered Mother's question: "Uncle and Auntie have taken care of her for so many years, you should know her good qualities better than I do. I'm the one who's fortunate to be with her."
Chu Qing: "?" What's this, just some empty flattery?
She was a bit dissatisfied, but her parents really liked Qi Weichen's answer. Father, who had been frowning all along, finally softened his expression: "That's true. Though my daughter may be lazy and gluttonous, and often causes trouble, she has a kind heart. Everyone likes her."
Chu Qing: "..." A bunch of flaws listed first, and only one virtue of kindness after the "but"?
"Anyway, you two will be quarantined together for a while. Don't say uncle doesn't trust you. You're still a boy, and at an age where it's easy to be impulsive. Let me be blunt upfront: if you dare to do anything with my daughter during this time, even if I die, I will never accept you as my son-in-law," Father said sternly.
Chu Qing sheepishly replied, "Dad, we won't."
"You'd better not, otherwise, if anything happens, I'll break your legs," Mother chimed in.
After the parents expressed their stance, they both looked at Qi Weichen. Qi Weichen was silent for a moment before saying, "Uncle, Auntie, I promise I'll behave and won't do anything inappropriate."
"Alright, that's settled then. I'll leave my daughter with you for a few days. When the quarantine is over, I'll come pick her up. In a while, Auntie will transfer some living expenses to you. Check if the supermarket in your community is still open and try to stock up on food as much as possible," Mother instructed.
Qi Weichen was about to say he had money, but Chu Qing lightly pinched his thigh, so he changed his words to: "Thank you, Uncle and Auntie."
After dealing with her parents, Chu Qing put her phone aside and nervously asked, "Will they beat me when the quarantine is over?"
"If you study hard during this time and show them your progress, they won't beat you," Qi Weichen comforted her.
Chu Qing snorted lightly, "My current grades are already a big surprise to them."
"But there's still a gap to A University," Qi Weichen pinched her face.
Chu Qing: "... Please don't discourage me."
Qi Weichen chuckled, then went to get a mask from the flower stand by the door, preparing to go out. Chu Qing asked, "Where are you going?"
"To the supermarket," Qi Weichen replied.
Chu Qing quickly stood up, "Wait for me, I'll go too."
"We don't have enough masks, we need to save them. You stay at home and wait for me," Qi Weichen refused.
Chu Qing stopped, "Alright then... Be careful and come back soon."
"Mm, I'll be quick."
After Qi Weichen left, Chu Qing sat in the living room waiting. It took almost an hour before he returned.
Qi Weichen, carrying two large bags of food, didn't look too happy. He went straight to wash his hands and disinfect after entering, then sat down on the living room sofa, staring at the table without a word.
Chu Qing worriedly moved closer, "You were fine just now, did something happen?"
Qi Weichen's eyes flickered slightly, and after a while, he said in a low voice, "I saw contraceptives at the checkout counter earlier."
Chu Qing: "?"
"They were almost sold out, the shelf was nearly empty."
Chu Qing: "... Hey, don't forget what you just promised my parents."
Qi Weichen glanced at her, "I haven't forgotten."
"Then why are you so dejected about other people's stuff being sold out?" Chu Qing looked exasperated.
Qi Weichen pursed his lips, and after a long time, he said softly, "Seeing the empty shelf made me remember that I forgot to bring back the ones we bought in 2042."
Chu Qing: "..."
"I was thinking we could try them out after coming back, but now we'll have to wait twenty years to try them," Qi Weichen's voice was muffled, clearly quite disappointed.
Chu Qing was about to go crazy, "Is this the time to talk about that? You bought a bunch of those things, did you ever think about what would happen if Qi Muyang found them after we left?! What would he think of us?!"
Qi Weichen paused, "He's an adult now, he should understand."
"Understand my foot!" Chu Qing collapsed onto the sofa, suddenly feeling like she didn't want to see Qi Muyang anymore.
Qi Weichen's disappointment lessened a bit, and he reached out to poke her ear, "The embarrassment would be for our 40-something-year-old selves, it has nothing to do with us now."
Chu Qing's ear twitched.
"Besides, at forty-something, we probably wouldn't find it embarrassing anymore," Qi Weichen added.
Though he wasn't very good at comforting people, Chu Qing was quite receptive to his approach. With just these two short sentences, she calmed down considerably.
Seeing that she had calmed down, Qi Weichen handed her a bag of snacks, "Eat something first, I'll go make dinner."
"... You remembered to buy snacks while grocery shopping?" The blush on Chu Qing's face hadn't fully faded as she glanced at him and took the snacks.
Qi Weichen ruffled her hair, "We can't go out for a while, so I had to buy you some snacks to keep you content while studying."
Chu Qing, who had been blushing, suddenly sobered up, "Quarantine... and still have to study?"
"The quarantine won't cancel this year's college entrance exam, so of course you need to study. I bought several sets of practice questions before, but I was afraid they'd be too difficult for you so I didn't give them to you. Now they can be put to use," Qi Weichen said the most terrifying things in the gentlest tone, making Chu Qing swallow hard, wishing she could go home quickly.
However, going home was impossible. She could only eat her fill and do a couple more sets of questions. Her parents still seemed uneasy about them being together, often making sudden video calls while she was studying. The first time they saw her at the desk studying, they were so shocked their jaws nearly dropped, and they hurriedly hung up. After a few times, they got used to it.
"My parents don't trust you," Chu Qing teased the person beside her after hanging up another call.
Qi Weichen calmly placed his hand on her head, turning it back, "Focus on your questions."
Chu Qing's mouth twitched, and she obediently started working on the questions. After finishing, she went through the answers with Qi Weichen and corrected her mistakes. Just to fully understand one set of questions took over two hours. By the time she had done sets for all subjects, a whole day had passed.
Even though there was no physical labor involved, Chu Qing was so exhausted after each session that she didn't even want to move her fingers. She would sprawl out on the chair until Qi Weichen carried her to bed, where she would lazily adjust to a comfortable position.
This style of studying was a bit tiring, but the effects were significant. She made fewer and fewer mistakes, and Qi Weichen's explanation time grew shorter. Sometimes, if they were fast, they could finish a whole set of questions before dinner. After doing questions like this for about ten days, the epidemic still showed no signs of ending, and the school finally returned to online classes.
"I don't want to listen to teachers' lectures, I don't want to get up early," Chu Qing hugged her blanket with teary eyes, refusing to leave the bed.
Qi Weichen was a bit helpless, "If you attend classes, I won't assign you homework. You just need to follow the teachers' pace."
"No! I prefer your method," Chu Qing refused.
Qi Weichen sat down on the bed and gently persuaded, "But the teachers have more rich experience with the college entrance exam and are more suitable to guide you through systematic learning. Before, it was because you couldn't understand them that I taught you. Now you can understand the questions they're teaching, so why are you still resisting?"
"I... I..." Chu Qing stammered for a while before squeezing out, "I prefer your method, it's more flexible."
"I know you find online classes boring, but in this final stretch, it's best to review completely according to the teachers' methods," Qi Weichen pursed his lips and continued patiently, "Besides, the school requires you to check in. Not checking in is equivalent to skipping class. If you skip class, your parents will beat you."
The last sentence was clearly more effective, as Chu Qing immediately got up from bed and obediently began her online class journey. She then discovered why she had been resistant to starting classes - it was even more tedious to listen to lectures alone at home than with a group in a classroom. Fortunately, Qi Weichen was by her side, promptly reminding her whenever she was about to get distracted.
Patiently beginning to listen to the lectures, she found it awkward at first. Gradually, as she realized she could easily understand much of what the teacher was saying, she finally started to take it somewhat seriously. While she was in class, Qi Weichen began working on his independent admission to A University. Worried she might get distracted during class, he came up with a brilliantly ruthless idea.
On another day of online classes, Chu Qing glanced at the computer in front of her, then at the phone stand next to it with the phone displaying an ongoing video call. After a moment of silence, she asked her mother on the phone, "Why are you video calling me at this hour?"
"Weichen said he's a bit busy lately, so he asked me to watch you study," her mother replied elegantly, looking as if she planned to stay for a while.
Chu Qing calmly responded, "Wait a moment, let me ask him about this."
She ended the call and stormed into Qi Weichen's room, grabbing him as he was preparing materials and angrily demanded, "Did you ask my mother to supervise my studying?!"
"Not supervise, just keep you company," Qi Weichen, having dated for a while now, had mastered the art of conversation. "I was worried you might get bored."
"Don't give me that useless talk, you're just having her supervise me. Why are you guarding me like I'm a thief?!" Chu Qing was furious.
Seeing her genuinely angry, Qi Weichen paused before trying to soothe her, "I was just worried about your self-control. I'm sorry, I didn't consider your feelings. I'll tell Mother, and I'll keep you company from now on."
"I don't need you to keep me company! Focus on preparing for your independent admission!" Chu Qing glared at him angrily before storming back to her computer.
In this short time, her mother had made several video calls. Chu Qing called her back with a sullen face, greeting her when she answered, "Mom."
"Did you bully Weichen?" Her mother glared, "Don't be ungrateful. Your parents have never managed you like this. It's your good fortune that he's willing to care for you!"
Chu Qing grunted in response without saying a word. Her mother frowned, "What kind of attitude is this?"
"...I get it, I'm not being ungrateful," Chu Qing reluctantly spoke, "I just feel like he doesn't trust me. I'm not a child anymore, is it necessary to watch me constantly?"
Her mother gave her a stern look, "Don't I know you? If no one's watching, you'd get distracted all the way to the South Pole."
"Mom, why don't you believe in me either?" Chu Qing was unhappy.
Her mother scoffed, "I won't say anything more, and I won't supervise you either. Study on your own."
Chu Qing hesitated for a moment before asking uncertainly, "Really?"
"Really. You think we don't trust you, right? So I'll trust you this time. I'll give you one day. If your efficiency today is the same as when you're supervised, we won't interfere anymore. But if it's not, you'll have to apologize to Weichen." With that, her mother promptly ended the call.
Chu Qing pouted, vowing to make them see her in a new light. Having made her decision, she immersed herself in studying, listening to online classes and solving problems. The morning passed busily and productively, just like before. While feeling proud, she refused to even look at Qi Weichen properly.
"What would you like for lunch? I'll cook," Qi Weichen asked softly, knowing he had acted inconsiderately.
Chu Qing, still a bit angry, glanced at him and grabbed a pack of cookies, "I'll eat these," before returning to her room.
Qi Weichen paused, then sat in the living room without moving.
When afternoon classes began, Chu Qing came out of her room. Qi Weichen had already gone back to his room, and there was no hint of food smell in the living room air, indicating he hadn't eaten lunch. Thinking about him not eating made her heart soften, but she resisted the urge to check on him and continued with her classes.
Although she was supposed to be listening to the lecture, her mind was preoccupied with wondering if he was hungry. Moreover, not having napped at noon, she kept dozing off, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep worrying about him. When she woke up, an hour had passed. Chu Qing quickly sat up straight, but despite her best efforts, she kept getting distracted and barely absorbed anything throughout the afternoon.
In the end, as her mother had predicted, her efficiency was very low. Chu Qing felt dejected.
After classes ended, she sat on the sofa lost in thought. She didn't even notice when Qi Weichen approached until he had embraced her like a big dog.
"I'm hungry," Qi Weichen mumbled.
Chu Qing's hand, which was about to push him away, paused. After a moment, she couldn't help but say softly, "Go eat something."
"You're still angry with me. I don't have an appetite," Qi Weichen said, rubbing his forehead against her shoulder and pressing his cheek tightly against her neck.
Chu Qing stiffened at his intimate gesture, her anger instantly dissipating. "Serve you right. Who told you to act on your own?"
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked Mother to watch you without your consent. Next time, I'll definitely discuss it with you first. But I hope you understand, I didn't mean to disrespect you." Qi Weichen's attitude was as humble as could be.
Chu Qing was the type who needed gentle handling. Seeing his good attitude, she felt a bit guilty. After a moment of silence, she said dejectedly, "You were right not to trust me. This afternoon, my mind was full of thoughts about you, and I even accidentally fell asleep. I barely heard anything... My self-control is really poor."
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't appear in your thoughts so frequently," Qi Weichen said, kissing her neck before sitting up and pulling her into his arms.
Chu Qing laughed at his words, but her expression quickly turned gloomy again. "Forget it, it's my own problem. Without someone watching me, I really can't accomplish anything."
Qi Weichen frowned slightly, finally realizing the negative impact his actions had on her—
She was developing some insecurities based on his judgment, genuinely believing she had no self-control. If the situation worsened, she might become overly dependent on others, lacking confidence in her ability to complete tasks independently.
He sighed, his voice filled with sincerity: "That's not true. You were upset because of me, which is why you didn't rest well at noon, affecting your afternoon classes. It was the external factor - me - that influenced you, not your own doing."
"I really..."
"Why don't we try again tomorrow? I won't make you angry, and you try not to worry. Study like you normally would for a day, how about that?" Qi Weichen interrupted her.
Chu Qing looked at him glumly, "Will it work?"
"It definitely will. I believe in you," Qi Weichen reassured her gently.
Chu Qing snorted softly, "If you believed in me, you wouldn't have asked my mom to supervise me."
"That's why I want to apologize to you. I was wrong. Can you forgive me this once?" Qi Weichen asked sincerely.
Chu Qing bit her lip, then muttered after a while, "Does the almighty Qi make mistakes too?"
"I'm human too, and I make mistakes often. Otherwise, why would I keep making my Qing angry?"
Chu Qing paused, suddenly feeling a wave of grievance that needed comforting. Qi Weichen, sensing her thoughts, gently held her chin and slowly kissed her. Chu Qing relaxed a bit, quietly exchanging a long, tender kiss with him.
When both of their breaths became slightly unsteady, Qi Weichen spoke softly, "I'm sorry. Please don't be angry anymore, okay?"
"...I'll think about it." Though her words were awkward, Chu Qing's cheeks were flushed red, all traces of anger gone.
Qi Weichen smiled gently, then cooked many delicious dishes for her, feeding her until she was full. The tension between them that had lasted all day finally dissipated.
It's unclear how Qi Weichen communicated with her mother, but the next day, she didn't make any video calls. Chu Qing calmed down and tried to listen to classes and study on her own without any negative emotions. To her surprise, her efficiency for the entire day was almost the same as when she had been supervised.
She regained her confidence and excitedly called her mother, asserting that she had enough self-discipline to handle her studies. She also expressed her dissatisfaction with her mother's lack of trust in her, acting as if she hadn't been the one doubting herself just yesterday.
Her mother couldn't be bothered to argue and, following Qi Weichen's instructions, lavished praise on her. She then hung up the phone while Chu Qing was still basking in self-satisfaction. After that, whenever she called, she only inquired about Chu Qing's daily life and rarely interfered with her studies anymore.
"You must have said something to my mom. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to hold back," Chu Qing clung to Qi Weichen, unwilling to let him get out of bed. Ever since she confirmed that Qi Weichen wouldn't dare do anything to her before high school graduation, she occasionally slept in his room. While Qi Weichen welcomed this, it also gave him a headache. After all, when a cake is in the display window, one might not have any thoughts of eating it. But when it's right in front of your mouth, it's quite difficult to resist the urge to take a bite.
For instance, right now, with her arms and legs wrapped around him, he didn't even dare to move.
"Come on, tell me what you said to my mom," Chu Qing narrowed her eyes, completely oblivious to how precarious her position was.
Qi Weichen's ears turned bright red, but he struggled to maintain his composure on the surface. "I just told her not to discourage you and to give you more trust."
"Is that all?" Chu Qing asked suspiciously, lying on his chest.
Qi Weichen looked down at her and caught sight of her loose neckline and the view it offered. He froze for a moment, then quickly looked away, but it was too late. Chu Qing clearly felt his reaction, and she immediately stiffened.
"...I didn't mean to. Can you please get off me?" Qi Weichen said with difficulty.
Chu Qing stiffly climbed off him and was about to sneak away when she noticed his furrowed brows. Suddenly feeling a bit sympathetic, she stammered, "You know, if we hadn't time-traveled, we'd be almost in our second year of university by now."
"Hm?" Qi Weichen was still trying to calm down and didn't quite catch what she said.
Chu Qing's lips moved, and she said something in a low voice.
Qi Weichen's eyes widened in obvious surprise. "What did you say?"
Chu Qing's face turned crimson, but she still mustered up the courage to step forward and embrace him again, saying, "I can help you with that."
Qi Weichen: "..."
Fifteen minutes later, Qi Weichen was hiding under the covers like a shy bride, completely wrapped up. Chu Qing sat on the edge of the bed, trying to comfort him: "It was just an accident this time, don't mind it. If you're really that embarrassed, we can pretend it never happened, okay?"
As she spoke, she realized her tone sounded a bit like a scumbag boyfriend, and she couldn't help but laugh.
Qi Weichen silently peeked out with just his eyes, staring at her quietly. Chu Qing coughed and stopped laughing: "What's wrong?"
"You're laughing at me," Qi Weichen said flatly.
Chu Qing hurriedly replied, "I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing at myself."
Qi Weichen: "..."
Chu Qing felt that her words might have been a bit off, so she quickly explained in detail why she had laughed. After finishing, she looked at him innocently: "So I really wasn't laughing at you."
"Really?" Qi Weichen frowned.
Chu Qing nodded solemnly: "Really... pfft..."
She had almost finished speaking when she unexpectedly broke down, accidentally letting out a laugh. Qi Weichen gave her a long look, then silently covered himself up again.
Chu Qing quickly lay on top of the lump under the covers to comfort him: "I really wasn't laughing at you. I just thought you were cute, that's all. Haven't you learned about basic physiology? It's normal for guys to not last long their first time. Don't take it too seriously."
Indeed, the reason for Qi Weichen's current state of self-isolation wasn't embarrassment, but rather because it had been over too quickly.
...She hadn't expected it either. They had spent ten minutes just psyching themselves up, but it had all ended barely a minute after they started. Both of them had been stunned for a while, and then Qi Weichen had quietly hidden himself away.
Chu Qing finished reminiscing and sighed, continuing to comfort him: "Don't overthink it. Look at it this way, maybe it's because you like me so much that you got a bit excited and couldn't control yourself... That's totally normal, right?"
The lump under the covers moved a bit at her words. Seeing an opportunity, Chu Qing quickly continued: "I really won't mock you. I'm actually quite happy because it shows how much you care about me and like me. I'm grateful, if anything."
Qi Weichen peeked out with his eyes again, and after a moment of silence, he asked in a low voice: "Really?"
"Really," Chu Qing dared not laugh this time.
Qi Weichen looked at her for a moment, then lowered his gaze and said: "What if it's always like this?"
Chu Qing was taken aback: "Huh?"
"I'll only like you and care about you more and more. Does that mean it'll get... faster and faster in the future?" Qi Weichen's ears were so hot they were almost cooked, and a rare hint of panic appeared in his eyes.
Chu Qing laughed awkwardly: "Surely not. We managed to have Qi Muyang, so there's obviously no problem with our bodies."
"You can still... conceive even if it's quick," Qi Weichen said with some difficulty.
Chu Qing: "..." This was beyond her realm of knowledge.
After a long silence, she cautiously suggested: "Well, should we... try again?"
Qi Weichen paused for a moment, then silently nodded.
Chu Qing took a deep breath. With one arm around the lump under the covers, she carefully slipped her other hand under the blanket. Qi Weichen's muffled groan sounded in her ear, causing her own ears to start burning as well.
The angle was awkward, and after several unsuccessful attempts to adjust, she was considering moving to the other side when Qi Weichen suddenly lifted the covers and pulled her underneath with him.
Half an hour later, Chu Qing lay in Qi Weichen's arms, her breathing uneven. The blanket had long since been kicked off to who knows where, and they were both sweaty, lying lazily without moving.
Chu Qing's arm was a bit sore, and she left it motionless by her side. After a while, she muttered softly: "See? There's nothing wrong with you. Why did you pretend to be incapable?"
"The first time really was unintentional. I was a bit scared then," Qi Weichen, having now proven himself, could speak frankly, though his ears were still persistently red.
Chu Qing glanced at him sideways, her face flushed as she complained: "I told you it was normal. Don't you even know this basic information?"
"I do," Qi Weichen said, then paused for a moment. "But I thought I was different from others."
...Fair enough, probably every man thinks that way. Chu Qing inwardly scoffed, then adjusted her position in his arms and quickly fell asleep. Qi Weichen gently patted her back and slowly drifted off as well.
After that day, they rarely mentioned the incident again. Chu Qing became a bit more careful not to stimulate him too much, and Qi Weichen didn't ask for her help again. Their lives continued to be dominated by studying.
Two months passed in the blink of an eye, and the pandemic was finally under control. The lockdown in various neighborhoods was lifted. On the second day after the restrictions were eased, her parents came to pick her up.
They had thought her parents would arrive around noon, but to their surprise, they showed up early in the morning. When Qi Weichen opened the door and saw them, he was visibly startled.
"You must be Weichen. My, you're so tall," Mother said, trying to make conversation.
Qi Weichen came to his senses: "Hello, Uncle and Aunt. Please come in."
The parents exchanged a glance before entering without hesitation. Mother looked around the living room as she spoke: "We're here to take Chu Qing home. Where is she?"
"It's the weekend, so there are no classes. She's probably still asleep," Qi Weichen said respectfully, standing beside them.
Father looked up at his face, feeling a bit disgruntled: "What did you eat to grow so tall?"
"Being tall is good for boys. The taller, the more handsome," Mother, seeing how clean the house was, felt quite satisfied and was happy to speak up for him. "I think you look more handsome in person than in the video calls. You must not be very photogenic."
Qi Weichen smiled politely.
Hearing the commotion outside, Chu Qing came out yawning, but froze when she saw her parents: "Why are you here?"
"The lockdown's been lifted. We're here to take you home," Mother said. Seeing her daughter's unkempt appearance, she felt irritated, but tried to control herself in front of Qi Weichen. "May I have a look around?"
"Of course," Qi Weichen, understanding her concerns, readily agreed, taking the opportunity to ingratiate himself with his future mother-in-law.
The two of them toured both bedrooms. Mother didn't see any of Chu Qing's things in Qi Weichen's room, nor any of Qi Weichen's things in Chu Qing's room. She immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and her fondness for Qi Weichen grew even more. "Her room is usually not this clean. Surely she didn't clean it herself, did she?"
"Who says that? I'm always very clean," Chu Qing protested.
Qi Weichen smiled gently. "Yes, she's very tidy."
"She may be tidy, but she absolutely doesn't touch housework. You must have put in a lot of effort these past few days," Mother said. She knew Chu Qing too well to believe that such meticulous cleaning could be her handiwork.
This time, Qi Weichen didn't refute, silently agreeing with her assessment.
Afraid that her mother would expose more of her shortcomings, Chu Qing quickly stepped between them to interrupt. "Shall I introduce you two?"
"Why didn't you wait until we got home to introduce us?" Mother gave her a sidelong glance, then turned to Qi Weichen. "Well, let's do it this way. We'll take her home with us now."
"Of course, Auntie," Qi Weichen naturally didn't dare refuse.
It was Chu Qing who felt a bit reluctant. "We're leaving now? Isn't that too sudden?"
"Sudden, my foot! You've been here for two months!" Mother's attitude turned harsh as soon as she addressed her daughter.
Father was somewhat displeased. "Don't talk to our little princess like that."
"That's right, that's right," Chu Qing immediately agreed.
Mother sneered. "Little princess? Do you think you're the emperor? Want to bet I'll throw you both out and let you beg on the streets?"
Father and daughter instantly fell silent. Mother made the final decision to take Chu Qing home, and Qi Weichen escorted them all the way downstairs. Chu Qing looked at him reluctantly, whimpering, "I'll come visit you often."
"Now's not the time to be running around," Qi Weichen said gently.
Chu Qing pouted. Mother glanced at her askance, then looked up at Qi Weichen. "If you're free, come over for dinner sometime. You can also help tutor her studies."
"Certainly, thank you, Auntie," Qi Weichen replied politely.
After chatting for a few more minutes, the family of three got into the car. As they drove out of the complex, Chu Qing leaned on the back of the seat, looking out. As Qi Weichen's figure grew smaller and smaller, she let out a melancholy sigh.
"He's already been invited to our home, what are you sighing about?" Mother scoffed.
Father immediately responded with displeasure. "Our daughter is still young. Letting him come over now, what would others think if they found out?"
"At a time like this, few people are visiting each other. If you don't say anything and I don't say anything, who else would know?" Mother brushed it off. "Besides, it's to tutor our daughter. He's the top student in his grade. Where else could you find such a good tutor?"
"That's right, that's right," Chu Qing chimed in.
Father sneered. "The college entrance exam is just around the corner. Our daughter has been slacking off for three years. Even with the top student tutoring her, how much progress can she make? Won't she still end up in a vocational college?"
"Dad, I'm going to A University!" Chu Qing protested indignantly.
Mother, who was about to defend her, choked for a moment and looked at her daughter in exasperation. "If you're going to brag, at least pick something believable. Your mother doesn't have the ability to get you into that school."
"I can get in on my own!" Chu Qing insisted stubbornly.
Her parents exchanged a glance, thinking she had gone mad. Knowing she couldn't reason with them, Chu Qing angrily lowered her head to message Qi Weichen and complain.
With Mother's support, Qi Weichen came over the next day. He obediently accompanied Chu Qing through a day of online classes and took the initiative to help Mother with housework. This not only made Mother like him even more, but even Father couldn't find fault with him. In fact, because he could chat with Father about his favorite teas, Father began to warm up to him as well.
The start of school seemed far off, and after Qi Weichen had settled his independent recruitment matters, he accompanied her in online classes every day. His status in the Chu household skyrocketed. When Mother gave him one of the two chicken legs at dinner, Chu Qing finally felt a sense of crisis. "Aren't you coming over too often?"
"Is that not okay?" Qi Weichen looked at her.
Before Chu Qing could answer, Father spoke up. "What's wrong with that? We're not short of food for you. Hurry up and finish eating, I want you to try my newly arrived tea leaves."
"That's right, eat more," Mother said, putting more food in his bowl.
Chu Qing pouted, only cheering up when Qi Weichen gave her the chicken leg from his bowl.
The weather warmed up imperceptibly, and by April, they finally welcomed the start of school. At this point, there was only a little over a month left before the college entrance exam. On the first day back, they were greeted with a mock exam to test the effectiveness of their online classes during the home quarantine period.
To better coordinate with parents for the final month and a bit, the school hurriedly convened a parents' meeting after the exam. By the time of the meeting, the results were out.
Chu Qing held her report card, hardly daring to believe it. "I... I'm second in the class this time? Right behind you? Are you sure?! This isn't like when Qi Muyang was here. Our class has over eighty people!"
"You're not mistaken. It's excellent, but you need to keep working hard," Qi Weichen said gently.
Chu Qing was almost delirious with joy. Just then, she saw her mother walking towards the classroom and immediately ran over, cheering.
Mother was startled. "What's going on? Why are you so happy?"
"Mom, guess how well I did on this exam," Chu Qing said excitedly.
Mother understood. "You've improved, haven't you? You've been working so hard lately, of course you'd improve. Don't get carried away, though. Try to maintain it and get into a regular university. That would shock your father."
"Pah, a regular university isn't good enough for me. I'm going to A University!" Chu Qing declared, then proudly handed over her report card.
Mother took it with a smile, but fell silent upon seeing the score. Chu Qing's eyes curved with delight. "How about that? 643 points. If I work hard for another month, I'll definitely get in."
But there was no smile on Mother's face. After a long pause, she looked at her daughter dryly. "Sweetie, even if we're eager for success, we shouldn't cheat, you know."
Chu Qing: "?"
