"Just the first question." Yang Shuhuan was convinced. Geography is such a mysterious thing. It asked why people lived in caves and planted big trees. He first eliminated A, then thought back and forth between B, C, and D, and finally chose C.
When the answer is revealed, choose A.
"I don't understand, why plant trees to prevent people from falling into the pit?" Yang Shuhuan's expression was ashen, as if he had swallowed a heavy weight. "Shouldn't they be for preventing wind and sand?"
"The structure of a cave dwelling is designed to protect against wind and sand." Gu Chen handed the test paper back to him, then looked around. "Why hasn't my deskmate come back yet?"
"Didn't Brother Yu take the grade-level test last year? It should be coming soon." Yang Shuhuan continued to study the test paper with his head down.
"The 100-day countdown rally is this afternoon, and this rain couldn't be more inconvenient." Gu Chen looked out the window. From this angle of the senior high school building, he could see the small pond rippling under the willow trees and the red and green plastic track in the distance.
Spring rains fell in bursts, causing the temperature to drop several degrees. Both indoors and outdoors, the sound of rain filled the air.
Wang Zehao lifted his head from his armpit, glanced at Gu Chen who was standing up to admire the scenery outside the window, and sighed, "Brother Chen still has the mood to look at the scenery outside the window, unlike me, I can't even sleep peacefully during breaks."
Yang Shuhuan was busy studying her own test paper with incorrect answers and didn't notice Wang Zehao taking a nap next to her. Hearing this, she retorted, "You're still sleeping? How can you sleep at your age?"
"I can't study even if I don't sleep," Wang Zehao said with a pout. "It's been 100 days since the college entrance exam, and my grades haven't even hit a turning point yet. The pressure is immense."
"Bro, me too!" Zhang Boyuan, as if he had found a kindred spirit, excitedly leaned over and whispered, holding up his phone, "Want to play a couple of rounds to relieve some stress?"
This had to be done secretly, so the senior high school principal issued a strict ban on electronic devices in the class.
All of this was for the good of his classmates. Gu Chen, the executor, was selfless and ruthless.
Wang Zehao's last cell phone was handed to the dean by his brother Chen, who handled things in a businesslike manner.
"No, no." Wang Zehao lowered his voice and quietly advised, "Brother Chen is still ahead, let's talk about it when we get back."
After persuading Zhang Boyuan to leave, Yang Shuhuan rolled her eyes and chuckled at him, "Who said before that the outcome was uncertain and that we were both dark horses?"
Wang Zehao had been mocked with this phrase so many times that he couldn't help but feel dejected when he heard it again. "I'm not going to be a dark horse anymore, I'm going to be a beast of burden."
"Mouse." Gu Chen didn't turn around, but tapped his desk with the back of his hand. "Let's start rejecting the culture of negativity."
"No, it's too painful," Wang Zehao sighed. "When will I be able to endure this..."
The conversation ended abruptly there.
Wang Zehao looked at Xiang Yu, who walked in through the back door, and smiled awkwardly but politely, "Brother Yu."
"Hmm." Xiang Yu, holding the manuscript in his hand, walked around Wang Zehao and sat back down in his seat, radiating a low-pressure atmosphere.
"What's wrong?" Gu Chen came over and rubbed his shoulder, then took the rolled-up speech from his hand and spread it out on the table.
"I ran into Xu Youluo."
"Luo Zai? Brother Yu, did you run into Luo Zai? Where is he?" Wang Zehao leaned forward and lay on the table, waiting for Xiang Yu to speak next. Yang Shuhuan also stopped writing, sat up and listened attentively.
This name is the only one that can make a splash in the back row after the students are about to enter their senior year of high school.
Last year's study tour ended, and the second-year high school students officially became the soon-to-be third-year students. It was an ordinary but wonderful beginning.
However, a rumor circulating among the students spread like wildfire.
Xu Youqing from Class 13 of Science died.
On the afternoon of the last day of the study tour, it was the last time everyone saw this older sister-like figure.
Almost a year has passed, but Xiang Yu still can't forget it. If he had stopped Feng Rou from rushing at him, would the outcome have been different?
He was bound to the system beforehand, and he was invincible, but he was not indestructible.
Recalling this past event, Xiang Yu felt as if a thousand pounds were pressing down on her heart, making it hard to breathe, and her throat was choked with sobs, unable to utter a sound.
“Classmate…” Gu Chen noticed Xiang Yu’s red eyes and tightly grasped the cold hand that was resting on his side.
After remaining silent for a long time, Wang Zehao realized that his reaction was ill-timed and silently returned to his seat.
"I'm fine, much better." Xiang Yu composed herself. "I was in the first year of high school, and when I came in, I ran into Xiao Luo and Aunt Xu who were just coming out..."
Xiang Yu paused for a moment, then said, "I heard from Director Tang that Xiao Luo wants to study abroad."
Gu Chen was slightly taken aback, then understood and said, "...With so many businesses at home, it's normal for him to go abroad to study."
But isn't his dream archaeology?
No one said this aloud. During this period, apart from Xiang Yu, no one in Class 2 of the Literature Department had seen Xu Youluo. Including this time, Xiang Yu had only met her twice.
The last time was six months ago. Xu Youluo was still despondent and hadn't recovered from the trauma of the incident. She had to see a psychologist every now and then. Xiang Yu was called to Xu Yubo's house, and the two of them stayed with Xu Youluo for one night. And then just now, Xu Youluo completely changed her style, becoming shrewd, capable, and decisive. She seemed to have fully recovered from the trauma, but her way of doing things was becoming more and more like a different person…
When the school bell rang, everyone silently flipped through their papers. Even Wang Zehao, who usually found math the most dreaded subject, mustered all his energy to study.
These teenagers are on the same marathon track, some fast and some slow, but they all have a firm goal ahead of them, and they already know which is more important.
As the Awakening of Insects arrives, the spring sun rises again, and all things begin to thrive, the sudden rain stops.
As the speaker for the 100-day countdown rally, Xiang Yu stood on the stage in the auditorium, looking at the students and parents sitting neatly below, and put down his speech.
The Xiang Yu on stage was completely different from the Xiang Yu who needed the system's help and Gu Chen's persuasion.
"...Dear students, the past cannot be undone, but the future can be changed. Let us seize every moment."
The June wind blows gently, carrying away immaturity and worries. The innocent and energetic teenagers are like seedlings buried in the ground. When the wind comes, they muster all their strength to reach upwards, swaying their bodies and remaining resilient and upright in the wind and rain that follow.
Chapter 91 Extra: Gu Chen, I'll just take care of you, don't tire yourself out.
Chapter 91 [Extra] Gu Chen: I'll take care of you, don't tire yourself out.
The start of the semester at G University in the capital is a week earlier than at S University, so Gu Chen packed her and her boyfriend's luggage well in advance, ready to welcome their upcoming university life.
"...You picked me up a week early just so I could go to J City with you?"
Xiang Yu sat on the bed in the bedroom, watching Gu Chen bustling around, filling his suitcase with all sorts of things. Twenty minutes ago, Gu Chen had just picked him up from City B to City X. He still had his glasses on and hadn't changed his clothes. This guy was preparing to have him catch the 8 pm flight to City J in this outfit.
Xiang Yu rubbed his temples. "I promised to tutor the neighbor's little sister for free, and there's still half a lesson left."
"Didn't we already finish explaining the questions?" Gu Chen helped him fasten the elastic straps in his suitcase, then leaned closer to him, grinning at him: "Brother Xiangyu~"
"Don't call me that." Xiang Yu pushed away Gu Chen's face that was leaning in. After the college entrance examination, Gu Chen, who had shed the burden of being a high school student, became more and more demanding. He came and went, completely treating Xiang Yu's place as his own home. His own clothes alone took up half of Xiang Yu's wardrobe.
"Why not?" Gu Chen's expression changed instantly, and he lowered his tail like a big dog, feeling aggrieved by his master's command. "Even the neighbor's little sister calls you that."
“You’re not childish,” Xiang Yu said with a helpless laugh. “They’re only in middle school.”
"That grandson of Grandpa Liu's family keeps calling you 'Brother Yu'..."
"He's a high school sophomore, it's a time when studying is the most important thing," Xiang Yu interrupted him, pinching Gu Chen's cheek. "Is it okay for him to come over with his workbook, right?"
No problem at all. I had a boyfriend when I was in my second year of high school.
Gu Chen pursed her lips, not daring to say anything, afraid that her boyfriend would push the door open for her.
Seeing his expression, Xiang Yu couldn't help but laugh. She took the initiative to kiss the corner of his mouth and whispered, "My flight is at eight o'clock tonight, and you're going to pick me up at eight o'clock in the morning? Hmm?"
"You still dare to talk back." Gu Chen felt it was necessary to have a serious talk with her boyfriend about this. "You called me three days ago saying you were coming back, and you kept calling back every day. If I hadn't picked you up and told you the tickets were already booked, would you still not have planned to come back today?"
"No, I was planning to go back this morning." Xiang Yu was afraid that Gu Chen would use other words to shut him up, so he quickly pointed to the backpack on the desk, "When you came, didn't I already pack my bag?"
Gu Chen snorted, still dissatisfied. He hugged him and buried his head in his neck, nuzzling against him. "It's been a month, and you've been staying at Grandma's house every day, not letting me go. Don't you miss me?"
"Didn't we video chat tonight?" Xiang Yu reached out and hugged him, rubbing the back of his head.
"Isn't that even more frustrating? You can see it but you can't have it." Gu Chen grumbled. Xiang Yu was amused by his words and was about to pat him on the shoulder to get him up when she realized that this guy's hands were starting to wander around.
"Hey." Xiang Yu shuddered. Gu Chen was always there for him, and he hadn't done this kind of thing in a long time.
"I missed you." Gu Chen looked up into his eyes, took off the silver-framed blue glasses from Xiang Yu's nose with his other hand, and gently kissed his forehead, while his hand continued to wander restlessly.
Xiang Yu was so enraged by the actions of his subordinates that he couldn't calm down or find any relief, leaving him feeling miserable.
"Gu Chen..." Xiang Yu's slight panting was swallowed up by the other party in this passionate and intense kiss. After a while, she heard Gu Chen whisper in her ear.
"Baby, why do you think I picked you up now for your 8 PM flight?"
"..."
On the plane that night, Gu Chen massaged Xiang Yu's back the whole way, smiling apologetically as he did so. He had been holding it in for too long and couldn't help himself for a moment.
Are you still feeling unwell?
"Hmm." Without the system, all the injuries and illnesses I was supposed to suffer were now present, and I could no longer be as gifted as before.
Unable to withstand her boyfriend's glare, Gu Chen sincerely apologized, "I was wrong, I won't do it again next time."
"What if there's a next time?" Xiang Yu lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze, looking clearly angry.
"If there's a next time..." Gu Chen clicked his tongue, unable to recall any significant promises for a moment.
Xiang Yu continued, "Next time, you should try this feeling too."
"..."
Gu Chen didn't realize what was happening until they got off the plane and arrived at the hotel.
Gu Chen sat on the bed, watching her boyfriend with his back to her, looking out the window at the night view while making a phone call, his thoughts already wandering off somewhere else.
"Hello, Mom, I've arrived. Okay, I know. Gu Chen? He's here. Okay." Xiang Yu handed the phone to Gu Chen's ear. "My mom is talking to you."
"Huh?" Gu Chen suddenly snapped out of his daze, picked up his phone without thinking, and blurted out.
"mom."
Xiang Yu: "..."
"Hmm..." Sun Xiaoli on the other end of the phone probably didn't expect Gu Chen to be so familiar with people. She cleared her throat twice and said, "It's a bit early to call him that now. Let's wait another four years."
Gu Chen exclaimed "Ah!" before realizing what he had said and immediately corrected himself, "Sorry, Auntie, I was just spacing out. Oh, right? Professor Lin from the School of Public Security is your teacher? A visit? No problem, okay, okay."
Gu Chen handed the phone back to Xiang Yu, saw the other person trying to suppress a laugh, rubbed his nose, and after the call ended, he pounced on her onto the bed, saying, "Boyfriend, why are you laughing at me?"
Xiang Yu frowned slightly and pushed him, "It hurts, don't press on me."
"Ah, sorry, sorry." Gu Chen felt that she was a little too excited after seeing her boyfriend and couldn't control herself.
She quickly helped Xiang Yu up and rubbed his lower back, saying, "You seem to be in a lot of pain."
"A little." Normally, lying down and resting after exercising would have made them feel better, but Gu Chen didn't stop. After they finished, they took a shower, boarded their flight on time, and sat for more than two hours.
Xiang Yu lay back on the bed, finding a comfortable position, and saw Gu Chen squatting by the bedside looking at her.
"What's wrong?"
Gu Chen didn't seem to be in a good mood.
"Baby." Gu Chen reached out and continued massaging his lower back. "How about you come next time?"