Chapter 38: Results and a Reunion
During the high school end-of-semester exams, Xiang Yang stays home to review. When it's time for the Year 2 students to take the exam, Xiang Yang goes to school and only finds out through classmate gossip that Fu Guanxian came back for the exam.
But it seems like he only came back to take a few exams.
After Xiang Yang finishes her exams, she subtly asks Jiang Manxin, “Do Grandpa Fu and Grandma Fu live at the Fu residence?”
The elderly couple has their own villa in the suburbs, and they usually don't like to come back to the city center.
Jiang Manxin casually says, “They are still living in the suburbs. Why? Are you going to spend time with Grandpa Fu and Grandma Fu now that you're on break?”
Xiang Yang says, “I'll go in a couple of days.” Then, she cautiously asks, “Mom, are Uncle Fu and Auntie Fu living at the Fu residence by themselves?”
“Who else would be there?” Jiang Manxin asks with a smile. “What are you trying to ask?”
Xiang Yang is embarrassed to ask directly.
Jiang Manxin thinks for a moment and says after a while, “You want to ask about Guanxian, right? I heard from Auntie Fu that he came back for the exams, but he went back to the States on the same day that he finished his exams. It seems like there was still some unfinished business there. By the way, didn't he tell you?”
Xiang Yang doesn't respond and shakes her head. He hasn't contacted her since he went abroad.
Xiang Yang was initially happy that he wouldn't come to bother her, but she's always felt uneasy about his quiet absence. It's like he's brewing some kind of conspiracy.
Sometimes, Xiang Yang wonders if she's letting her imagination run wild.
Jiang Manxin looks at her. Her bright eyes roll slightly, then she smiles and says, “Auntie Fu told me that he came back this time and he seems to have lost weight. Auntie Fu feels sorry for him. It seems that he's all alone in a foreign country and also has to help his dad manage the company over there. He must have suffered a lot.”
Xiang Yang hears this and says with a bit of an opinion, “Uncle Fu is strange too. Isn't he only in Year 3? Why make him manage the company at such a crucial time? He even went abroad!”
Although Xiang Yang has never been involved in work, she sees Xiang Yi going on business trips, often going out to socialize late at night. She knows how tiring it can be.
Fu Guanxian is not even eighteen years old yet. How can he handle the pressures of an adult?
Jiang Manxin sees her pouting and angry, so she smiles and says, “Auntie Fu said that this was Uncle Fu's punishment for Guanxian. As for the reason, maybe Guanxian caused some trouble again.”
Xiang Yang has nothing to say. After all, it's someone else's family affairs.
Fu Guanxian has always loved to go against the grain, but he's always listened to his father.
Xiang Yang returns to her room, lies on her bed bored, and thinks for a moment. She thinks that Uncle Fu probably punished Fu Guanxian because of the incident with Xing Zhaoyan, and also because of his attitude towards school. Uncle Fu probably wanted to humble him and sent him abroad.
But is he really alright with not going to school for such a long time?
A few days later, the end-of-semester results for all grades are released. Xiang Yang is still first in her grade, Xing Zhaoyan is nine points behind her and is third.
Like other students, Xiang Yang also specifically checks Fu Guanxian's results. She discovers that he's like a cheat code. Except for Chinese, where he lost ten points, he got full marks on most of his other subjects. Even those that aren't full marks only lost one or two points, at most three points.
Seeing Fu Guanxian's results, the students all shout, “This guy is a freak!”
Xiang Yang can't help but smile, he's more than a freak! Even if she worked her tail off, she couldn't catch up to his level.
Xiang Yang is a little relieved—thank goodness he's not in the same grade as her, otherwise, even if she worked harder, she would definitely be crushed by him. Also, with her mental fortitude, she might be completely devastated and give up if she was constantly crushed by him.
Xiang Yang suddenly feels a little sympathy for those in the same class or grade as Fu Guanxian.
All high school seniors are busy burying themselves in their studies for the entire winter vacation. Fu Guanxian is busy handling all sorts of company affairs abroad. After he finishes his work and returns to China, he gets home the morning of New Year's Eve. Unexpectedly, no one is home. Only Xiang Yang is there.
When he opens the door, he finds that it's unusually quiet. When he sees the figure curled up on the sofa in the living room, he stops.
Xiang Yang's long hair is spread out on the white leather sofa. Her loose white sweater reveals her delicate collarbone, and her black leggings make her legs look extra long. Although she's only a high school student, she's petite and perfectly proportioned.
He carries his luggage and looks at her for a while. Perhaps his gaze is too intense. When Xiang Yang wakes up groggily, she sees his face and is startled. She leans back, and her head bumps against the glass coffee table.
She frowns, tears welling up in her eyes. It really...hurts!
Even if Xiang Yang wants to blame him, she doesn't dare. She can only rub her head. Her eyes, because of the pain, uncontrollably start to tear.
Fu Guanxian looks down at her from above. “You're acting like I bullied you.”
Xiang Yang lowers her head, covering the back of her head with her right hand. She's enduring the pain, and she doesn't have time for nonsense.
Fu Guanxian looks at her silently for a moment, feeling inexplicably angry. He can only ask, “Where are my parents?”
“Uncle and Aunt went shopping with my parents. I think they'll be back in a while.”
“Hm.” Fu Guanxian is surprised. It's such a coincidence that the two couples went shopping together. He clearly told his mom last night about the approximate time he'd get home.
Fu Guanxian stands tall in front of Xiang Yang. Even though she doesn't look up at him, she inexplicably feels that he seems to have grown taller and that his aura has become stronger.
Both are speechless, and the atmosphere is a bit awkward.
Xiang Yang didn't know he was coming back today. Otherwise, she would never have come here with her parents. After Fu Guanxian puts his luggage back in his room, he sees her sitting there in the living room. He thinks for a moment and gives her an order. “Come up.”
Xiang Yang looks at him warily. “What...what do you want to do?”
Fu Guanxian, with a mischievous idea, intentionally asks, “Do you want me to do something?”
Xiang Yang, who is no match for him, immediately loses all resistance and chooses to give up.
Fu Guanxian sees that she's lowered her head again and says unhappily, “Come up and help me unpack.”
“…Ah?”
“How many times do I have to tell you! Come up here!”
Even though Xiang Yang is reluctant, she doesn't dare to refuse. She reluctantly goes upstairs.
When she gets to his room, she sees the open suitcase on the bed. She slowly takes out his clothes, folds them, and puts them aside.
Fu Guanxian folds his arms and watches her actions. He's very pleased: Let's see you try to avoid me! I don't believe she can refuse my request!
But the good times don't last long. As soon as Xiang Yang finishes unpacking, the adults come back.
Fu Guanxian complains: So fast!
Xiang Yang is clearly the opposite of him. She sighs with relief and a smile appears on her face. She thinks: They're finally back!
She hesitantly raises her eyes to look at him. She finds him standing there, deep in thought. She hesitates for a moment before reluctantly speaking, “They're back. I...”
Fu Guanxian speaks impatiently. “I know they're back. You don't have to tell me!”
Xiang Yang looks at him and says nothing.
Fu Guanxian sighs. “Go now. What are you standing there for?”
Xiang Yang endures it and just stands up. But Fu Guanxian suddenly grabs her wrist. “Hey, it's New Year's. What's with the look on your face? You look so wronged.”
“No...no.” Xiang Yang raises her head in a panic to explain.
Fu Guanxian hums. “What have you been doing this winter vacation?”
“Nothing…”
“Nothing?” Fu Guanxian's eyes narrow. “Xiang Xiaoyang, are you trying to fool me? You haven't done anything in all these days. All that time was wasted!”
“…Just…just writing and reading books.” Xiang Yang truly thinks that her misfortunes will start when he comes back. She suddenly feels that she shouldn't have been so kind to him. She was so stupid for defending him.
“Hm, starting tomorrow, you have to come to my house every day. I'll tutor you in senior year subjects. You don't have to be grateful to me.”
“No...no need!”
“Xiang Xiaoyang, you're getting bold! How dare you say no? Go downstairs and tell my parents and your parents yourself. If you don't, you know the consequences.”
Xiang Yang's face turns pale. She stares at him and wants to question him. But she doesn't dare to say anything.
Under Fu Guanxian's coercion, Xiang Yang goes downstairs and tells both families that she's going to be tutored by Fu Guanxian. But Xiang Yi says, “No rush. Tomorrow, I'll take you to visit some elders. We can start on the second day of the new year.”
Xiang Yang looks at her dad with gratitude. He's a lifesaver!
Fu Guanxian's face darkens.
On New Year's Day, Xiang Yang visits elders.
On the second day of the new year, Grandpa Fu takes Fu Guanxian to visit relatives and friends.
On the third day of the new year, Fu Guanxian receives a call and leaves on a flight back to the States early in the morning. When he leaves, Xiang Yang is having a reunion with her junior high classmates.
Although her class held a reunion in Year 1, Xiang Yang didn't attend at the time. This time, it was Hou Xingrou who coaxed her for a long time, cajoling her until she agreed to go.
Xiang Yang has always disliked these kinds of gatherings, because she's not the kind of person who can easily socialize, so she's afraid of awkward silence. On the contrary, Ding Wanjun is a social butterfly. She can chat with boys and girls alike.
Hou Xingrou sits next to Xiang Yang with a drink in her hand and asks her, “Do you want to sing a song?”
Xiang Yang shakes her head. Although she can sing, she's never sung in front of so many people.
Hou Xingrou laughs and sits with her for a while. She stares at Ding Wanjun and says, “She's still the same.”
Xiang Yang smiles, not knowing what she means.
Hou Xingrou changes the subject. “I heard from Lian Rui that Fu Guanxian came back for the Spring Festival?”
Xiang Yang nods.
Hou Xingrou says, “He's such a busy man.”
Xiang Yang smiles. “Yes, he's quite busy.”
Xiang Yang finally gets home in the evening, just so she doesn't have to go to the Fu residence and see Fu Guanxian. But as soon as she enters the door, Jiang Manxin tells her that Fu Guanxian has already gone back to the States.
Xiang Yang is inexplicably delighted. She finally doesn't have to stay with him.
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