「June 7th.」
The national college entrance exam, a montous event for countless parents and students, had arrived right on schedule. In an era where education was valued above all else, twelve years of arduous study had culminated in this one major test that would largely determine the course of a person's life. Across the vast 9.6 million square kiloters of Huaxia, the very air seed compressed by tension.
Like other parents who longed for their sons to beco dragons and their daughters phoenixes, Qin Chu and Wei Shuying felt the anxiety inside No.1 Villa. Although Qin Fan, the inventor of Spirit Water No. 1 and Spirit Fruit No.1, had no need for academic credentials to make a living, what parent wouldn't want their child to achieve results they could be proud of?
As dawn broke, the aroma of porridge was already wafting from the villa's kitchen. It was cooked, served, and left to cool.
At 7:30 a.m., Qin Fan finally strolled down from upstairs.
"Co on, Fan, hurry up and eat! We should get to the exam center early!" Wei Shuying urged, hastily placing the porridge on the dining table.
Seeing her fuss made Qin Fan feel a mixture of amusent and helplessness, but he understood the emotional state his parents were in. Smiling in response, he made short work of the two bowls of porridge. Wiping his mouth with a napkin, he looked at his parents, their faces etched with tension, and chuckled. "Mom, Dad, don't make the atmosphere so oppressive! Have so faith in your son. I promise I won't disappoint you!"
"That would be wonderful, Fan. Even though you don't need to rely on academic qualifications for your future, we still have to strive for the achievents we can. Your mother and I aren't putting too much pressure on you; just do your best! I believe in you!" Wei Shuying said, patting Qin Fan's arm.
"Alright, that's enough. Don't say too much, or you'll add to his stress! Fan, let's go. Dad will take you to the exam center. It's ti to leave!" Qin Chu said, glancing at the tall quartz clock in the living room.
"Okay, let's go!" Qin Fan nodded, accepting his father's kind offer.
A splendid Supre Black rcedes pulled out of No.1 Villa. The car, heavy with the tension of Qin Chu and Wei Shuying, sped out of the Half Mountain Villa District and toward the exam center at Qi Middle School.
"Mom, Dad, can you two relax a little? I'm the one taking the exam, not you," Qin Fan said from the passenger seat, a wry smile on his face.
"And whose son are you!" Wei Shuying retorted, leaving Qin Fan speechless.
The somber atmosphere returned to the car, only easing when Qin Fan turned on so music and slightly lowered the windows.
Upon reaching the exam site, he decided against a dramatic farewell. With a simple wave, he said, "Watch ," and confidently walked into the venue that so many others regarded as hell itself.
"Qin Fan!!!"
Suddenly, a surprised shout ca from his side, interrupting his confident stride. Hearing it, Qin Fan couldn't help but shake his head with a wry smile. That voice could only belong to Ji Yuchen.
"Morning," he said, turning around. It was the only word he could think of.
"Early? The exam starts in twenty minutes! By the way, have you found your exam room? Let help you look for it!" Ji Yuchen said, her mood seemingly lightening at the sight of him.
"No need to trouble yourself, I can find it. It's no big deal! You should go back, get ready, and relax a little," Qin Fan politely declined with a smile, not wanting to get too entangled with her.
Her initially joyful expression instantly dimd at his refusal. Ji Yuchen bit her lip and said nothing, simply staring at him. After several seconds, she finally asked, "Qin Fan, do you really hate that much?"
"No, you're overthinking it. Let's talk after the exam; there isn't much ti left. I need to find my exam room!" Using that as an excuse, Qin Fan turned to leave.
After a few steps, he abruptly stopped. He turned back, flashing a radiantly sunny smile at the visibly heartbroken Ji Yuchen. "Old Ji, don't overthink things! Just relax and do well on the exam. I believe in you!"
After speaking, he gave her a thumbs-up.
If he had a choice, he wouldn't have said that. But with the college entrance exam right around the corner, he couldn't be so heartless as to affect her performance. If he rembered correctly, in his previous life, this girl got into Peking University and studied economics and finance. If he caused her to fail the exam in this life, it would truly be a great sin!
Old Ji? He called 'Old Ji'?
Goes to show that a man can never truly understand a woman's heart. That simple "Old Ji" from Qin Fan was enough to send her imagination soaring. The wounded look on her face transford into a gleeful smile. "Yeah, you too!" she called out to his retreating back.
"Ah, what have I done... what have I done..." Qin Fan muttered to himself with a resigned, bitter smile. He didn't look back again, simply raising a hand in a final wave before disappearing around a corner.
However, this entire exchange was witnessed by Xu Jiayi from another corner. She felt no resentnt or jealousy. A smile played on her lips as she murmured coolly, "Yuchen, you should just give up on the man I've set my sights on. What do you have that can compare to ? What do you have to compete with ?"
With that, she chose not to reveal herself or greet Ji Yuchen, instead following in the direction Qin Fan had gone.
"Hey, Old Qin, we must be fated! To think we'd run into each other here, and even be seated at adjacent desks!" At the entrance to an exam room, just as Qin Fan was checking the seating chart, Xu Jiayi suddenly appeared behind him, tapping his shoulder with a playful laugh.
He ignored her, acting as though he hadn't heard a thing. Treating Xu Jiayi as if she were invisible, Qin Fan stepped into the exam room.
"Do you have to be like this? All I did was visit your house without permission. You're acting like I committed so terrible cri! Alright, alright, I was wrong. I'm sorry!" Xu Jiayi said, undeterred by his coldness as she hurried after him.
Her apology imdiately drew sidelong glances from the dozens of other candidates in the room, but Miss Xu paid these strange looks no mind at all.
"Old Qin, will you just say sothing? I know I was wrong, and I've apologized. Can't you forgive ? Why are you being so cold?" Completely shedding her usual haughty deanor, Xu Jiayi put her knowledge of human nature—a skill heavily influenced by her elders—to use. She knew that with soone like Qin Fan, being down-to-earth was the only way in. Arrogance would only push him further away.
But she had miscalculated. Her smug understanding was shattered in the next instant.
As she continued to chatter, Qin Fan suddenly whipped his head around, his face an expressionless mask. "Get lost!" he snarled.
"Old Qin, I—"
Without letting her finish, Qin Fan cut her off. "Can you not understand plain English?"
RING! RING! RING!
Just as he finished speaking, the bell signaling the start of the pre-exam preparations rang.
Qin Fan sat down in his assigned seat, not bothering to give Xu Jiayi another glance.
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