CHAPTER 56: AFTER MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 56 GIRLFRIEND

When Shi Yang was taking the college entrance exam, Zhao Meimei was at home sweet-talking her mom, complaining of chest pain. Earlier, while messing around with Da Bao and the others, someone accidentally bumped into her, and just that one hit made Zhao Meimei sweat with pain.

Liu Xiue gently rubbed Zhao Meimei’s chest and lifted her clothes to take a careful look, only to find that Zhao Meimei was starting to show signs of development.

Liu Xiue told Zhao Meimei, "It’s nothing, you’re just starting to grow up."

Zhao Meimei, listening to her mom’s words, her eyes lit up, understanding what was going on.

Holding onto her collar, Zhao Meimei curiously looked at her still flat chest, experiencing for the first time the bashful feelings of a young girl.

Liu Xiue waited until the weekend when Zhao Dazhuang was off work and took Zhao Meimei shopping, buying her two small bandeaus. Once they were cleaned and dried, Liu Xiue helped Zhao Meimei wear them.

Zhao Meimei looked down at the barely visible mound under her clothes, pursed her lips, feeling embarrassed.

After finishing the last subject of the college entrance exam, Shi Yang came out of the exam hall and saw his mom and dad standing outside with umbrellas, eagerly waiting for him.

At the moment he saw them, Shi Yang was slightly stunned, and a bright light flashed deep within his eyes.

Shi Yang walked towards them.

Shi Yang’s mom, sharp-eyed, saw him first and quickly pulled Shi Yang’s dad to approach.

Shi Yang’s mom handed over a chilled bottle of mineral water, asking with concern, "How did it go? Were the questions difficult?"

Shi Yang took a sip of water, the cold liquid sliding down his throat, dispelling the sticky heat from before: "It was alright."

Shi Yang’s mom wanted to ask more but was stopped by Shi Yang’s dad.

Shi Yang’s dad said, "It’s already over; now it’s time to really relax and rest. As for the scores, no need to worry. We’ll know when the results come out."

Shi Yang’s mom was still a bit worried, advising Shi Yang, "When you get home, remember all the answers, so in a few days when you’re estimating your score, you can be more accurate."

Shi Yang nodded in agreement, and Shi Yang’s dad secretly gave Shi Yang’s mom an approving look.

A few days before the score estimates, Shi Yang’s dad would drive over to the family residence without much else to do, spending time with Shi Yang and his mother, using every opportunity to discuss life ambitions and future prospects with Shi Yang.

Shi Yang’s dad was knowledgeable and had real substance, with a personality that was both open-minded and astute. He understood young people’s thoughts well.

Since Shi Yang had just finished his entrance exams and was about to estimate scores for university applications, the decisions about school and major were at critical crossroads in his life, needing someone experienced to guide him.

Once Shi Yang’s dad understood Shi Yang’s genuine interests and future intentions, he privately arranged a meal with an old friend from the education bureau for detailed consultation about the ins and outs of score estimation and humbly listened to his application suggestions.

After leaving the dinner table, Shi Yang’s dad also specifically arranged to invite Shi Yang’s homeroom teacher, asking for advice on this matter, and eventually combined the opinions of both into a list of two universities and majors most suitable for Shi Yang’s application.

When handing over the information to Shi Yang, Shi Yang’s dad merely said it was for reference without much else.

Shi Yang casually received it and set it aside, only flipping through it carefully when no one was around, vaguely making some plans in his mind.

On the day of score estimation, all students were called back to school by the teachers. Shi Yang, according to his own estimated score, eventually applied to the computer science major at Northeast Little Tsinghua.

After completing his applications, Shi Yang stood in the hallway waiting for Qu Chaozong. Instead, he ran into the class learning committee member, Zhang Jiahui.

Zhang Jiahui was considered one of the prettier girls in Shi Yang’s class, with her hair in a ponytail and a lovely face always adorned with a friendly smile, appearing demure and very well-behaved.

Actually, when Zhao Meimei previously asked Shi Yang if Zhang Jiahui liked him, Shi Yang didn’t tell the truth.

In reality, Zhang Jiahui had been Shi Yang’s girlfriend back in the first year of high school, and they dated seriously for more than a month. But then Shi Yang had an accident and was hospitalized, and the matter was left unresolved.

Zhang Jiahui had clearly chased after Shi Yang on purpose. She gave him a gentle smile, her fair face blushing, and asked, "Shi Yang, can we talk a bit, okay?"

Looking at Zhang Jiahui’s shy expression, Shi Yang didn’t have the heart to refuse, given they had dated before, and he actually had a good impression of her.

Shi Yang followed Zhang Jiahui to an empty corner of the stairwell, and the two faced each other to talk.

Zhang Jiahui blinked her big eyes and asked, "Shi Yang, what do you plan to do about us?"

Shi Yang felt he had already put a stop to their relationship, but now, hearing Zhang Jiahui speak, it seemed like only he had ended it one-sidedly.

Shi Yang looked at Zhang Jiahui, feeling a bit troubled.

Shi Yang had applied to Northeast Little Tsinghua for university, while Zhang Jiahui seemed to have applied to a university in the south. Once they started college, they were destined to be apart. Shi Yang wasn’t very interested in long-distance relationships; he was someone who was particularly practical, planning everything meticulously. He generally wouldn’t consider things that were bound to cause many disagreements and uncertainties.

Shi Yang contemplated how to handle this matter smoothly.

"Shi Yang!" Qu Chaozong’s voice came before he did, probably after trying to find him in the classroom and not seeing him.

Shi Yang felt like laughing, but held it in, thinking to himself, "My dear Chaozi! You really know how to mess things up!"

Shi Yang shouted, "Chaozi!"

Qu Chaozong, hearing the voice, searched over and, upon seeing Zhang Jiahui, was momentarily stunned, turning to look at Shi Yang. The two exchanged glances, and Qu Chaozong cursed inwardly, resigning himself.

Qu Chaozong pulled a cheeky grin and slung an arm around Shi Yang’s shoulder, grinning at Zhang Jiahui, "Yo, isn’t this the learning committee member of class one? What a coincidence, bumping into you here! You’re done talking with my Shi Yang, right? Sorry, I need to borrow Shi Yang for now, my sister is at home eagerly waiting for us two old birds to return and feed her. Bye for now, see you at the class reunion if there’s a chance!"

After speaking, Qu Chaozong saw Zhang Jiahui’s expression shift to one of surprise, embarrassment, and unease, and quickly pulled Shi Yang away.

The two, arms slung around each other’s shoulders, left the teaching building. Qu Chaozong complained to Shi Yang, "Talk about having a flowering romance around you! To you, it’s a disaster, and to me, a debt. They say it’s better to dismantle a temple than break up a couple. For you, have I dismantled half of Southeast Asia by now?"

Shi Yang laughed, turning to sling his arm around Qu Chaozong’s shoulder, "Enough with the grumbling, are you blabbering now?"

Qu Chaozong held his chest, exclaiming, "I’ve truly spent my life without wearing an official cap, yet have encountered Little Shi Yang along the way!"

Shi Yang walked a few steps, catching on, "Are you calling me a traitor?"

Qu Chaozong chuckled slyly, "Oh my dear handsome guy, you finally have some self-awareness!"

"You’re terrible!" Shi Yang lifted his leg to kick him, "Get lost!"