CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: ODDBALL CLASSMATE

Early the next morning, Gu Xiaoqing made breakfast, took two black steamed buns and some pickles, and headed out with her backpack.

Gu Juying was at the usual spot waiting for Gu Xiaoqing with her bicycle. When they saw each other, both smiled.

Without saying a word in mutual understanding, in the twilight, two girls on a bicycle, heading towards school under the faint morning sunlight.

The classes weren’t too difficult for Gu Xiaoqing, after all, she wasn’t really twelve, and in her previous life, she had also attended night school for half a year. Plus, with the tutoring of her employer’s daughter back then, she was at least at a high school level, though not everything was complete. But this was junior high material.

None of it was too challenging.

Gu Xiaoqing studied very seriously; it’s fundamental. Even though she had some advanced learning base, her fundamentals weren’t solid.

So she paid extra attention in class, meticulously taking notes for review at home.

Gu Juying was also influenced by Gu Xiaoqing’s seriousness and earnestly asked after class, "What’s up with you? You used to work hard, but not this intensely."

Gu Juying saw Gu Xiaoqing’s notes, neatly written, with detailed classifications and explanations of what Teacher Li taught and the exercises from the day. Every difficulty was annotated with explanations, and each solution step was thoroughly analyzed.

These notes were no worse than a teacher’s lesson plan.

Gu Xiaoqing smiled, "It’s not about working myself to death. I just feel that going to school isn’t easy, and I should do justice to myself and my parents. So I’ve been more serious about it."

That’s what Gu Xiaoqing thought.

To change everything, it starts with academic performance.

At least the university, Gu Xiaoqing is determined to attend.

This lifetime, Gu Xiaoqing wants to see the outside world properly, to enjoy it and not waste this chance at life.

Gu Juying looked at the notes and said, "I also want to study seriously like you. Anyway, my dad wants me to go to school in the city. He wants me to apply to a military academy. If you also get into a city school, we won’t have to be separated."

Gu Juying was an easy-going person, but seeing her friend’s diligence inspired her. For Gu Juying, not being separated from Gu Xiaoqing would be great.

Gu Xiaoqing handed her notes to Gu Juying, "Then you should review well. I’ll lend you my notes. And if there’s anything you don’t understand, ask the teacher."

Gu Xiaoqing also hoped for the best for Gu Juying. In her previous life, after marrying, they lost contact. She heard much later that Gu Juying was deceived by a man from the city named Feng Shichao, got pregnant, but he ran away. Gu Juying’s father later found the man only to learn that Feng Shichao had a wife and children. He was only interested because of how pretty Gu Juying was.

Once she got pregnant, the Gu Family pressed for marriage, which frightened Feng Shichao. If exposed, Gu Juying’s father and brothers, all military men, wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.

So out of fear, he fled.

But even after finding Feng Shichao, there wasn’t much that could be done. Gu Yingguo almost beat Feng Shichao to death, which could have caused fatalities.

In a fit of anger, Gu Juying went to the hospital for an induction, resulting in severe bleeding and losing both lives. By the time Gu Yingguo and the other brothers arrived, they found only a cold body. It was said that Gu Juying was only twenty-five at the time.

Gu Juying’s mother suffered a stroke and passed away immediately after, while her father had a stroke and was bedridden. The family completely fell apart due to this incident.

It was a huge uproar then.

Gu Xiaoqing hoped for a bright future for Gu Juying, as in the previous life she met Feng Shichao because she failed the college entrance exams and became a nurse at a military hospital.

If possible, Gu Xiaoqing hoped this lifetime, at least, that Gu Juying could get into a university and avoid the potential tragic origin.

After all, she was a good friend through both lifetimes, and of course, Gu Xiaoqing wanted the best for her.

As Gu Juying agreed readily and was about to put the notes away, someone suddenly grabbed them.

Gu Juying, with her fiery temper, slammed the desk as soon as she saw it was Li Fengying, thoroughly engrossed in flipping through Gu Xiaoqing’s notes, exclaiming, "Gu Xiaoqing, these notes are really comprehensive. Let me borrow them, alright?"

Gu Xiaoqing wasn’t familiar with Li Fengying, knowing her only as a classmate, and after just two days of school, many people were still unfamiliar.

But this person came up, making Gu Xiaoqing uncomfortable.

She didn’t like overly familiar people.

She put away her smile and said, "Sorry, these notes are already lent to Gu Juying. Next time."

That was a refusal.

But Li Fengying didn’t seem to take the hint, immediately turning to Gu Juying not wanting to give up, "Let me take a quick look then, since you and Gu Xiaoqing are good friends, you can borrow from her anytime. I just need it for the next couple of days."

What kind of person is this, deciding matters on her own.

Who did she think she was?

Gu Juying immediately snatched the notebook right out of Li Fengying’s hand, saying, "Everything goes by first come, first served. I borrowed it first, so I get it first. Next time, arrive earlier."

It was clear she wasn’t going to give in.

Li Fengying’s father worked as a secretary at the county’s education bureau, well-regarded both in town and the village, so Li Fengying had no choice but to study here, as it was the only junior high in the area; but once she passed, she could attend high school in town.

Li Fengying was always flattered and surrounded by sycophants, no one dared to offend her given her father’s position.

So Li Fengying spoke as if it were a sure thing; she had already heard that Gu Xiaoqing was a timid pushover.

Though her grades were good, except for her hot-tempered friendship with Gu Juying, no one else interacted with her, as her family had no status or roots in the village, making it easy for others to bully her.

This made Li Fengying confident in what she said, believing it was already settled.

Who knew she’d face two refusals and even someone daring to snatch from her hand.

She immediately changed her expression, "Hmph, what’s the big deal, if it wasn’t for your good grades, who’d even want to borrow your notes. Look at yourself, what are you even proud of?"

These words infuriated both Gu Xiaoqing and Gu Juying.

What kind of person is this?