Qiao Nian did not look back. Her dark eyes were bottomless as she replied with only one sentence: "There are many paths in life; studying is simply the easiest one that everyone has collectively proven through practice. Everyone needs a ticket to enter society, but how well you fare afterward depends on your own ability."
"Your current task is to study hard."
Having said her piece, she had no desire to argue logic with an adolescent brat. Turning her back to him, she waved a hand: "Alright, I'm leaving. Go back and take good care of your mother. Make sure you watch Uncle Chen to ensure he brews the supplement I sent into soup and drinks it."
Chen Yuan watched her retreating figure, silently clenching his fists.
He must make something of himself!
...
Qiao Nian walked slowly all the way to the stairwell and greeted the two people waiting for her.
"Brother Ye."
"Gu..."
She couldn't recall Gu San's name for a moment.
Gu San reacted quickly, wittily saying, "Miss Qiao, you can just call me Gu San. I'm the third child in my family."
The term "Brother" was better left for Lord Wang.
It would surely melt Lord Wang's heart!
Sure enough, after hearing her call him "Brother," Lord Wang's expression improved significantly.
Even though Miss Qiao's tone was casual and perfunctory—clearly lacking any real sentiment—the listener took it straight to heart!
Qiao Nian nodded, going with the flow: "Gu San."
"And don't call me Miss Qiao either. Just call me Qiao Nian."
Hearing the title "Miss Qiao" made it easy for her to recall certain unpleasant people and events.
Gu San, being perceptive, immediately changed his way of addressing her with a smile: "Qiao Nian. That's a beautiful name. How about I call you Niannian?"
He even turned back to Ye Wangchuan, saying, "Lord Wang, you shouldn't call her by her full name either. Calling her Niannian sounds so much more intimate."
Ye Wangchuan narrowed his eyes and shot him a glance. Gu San's boiling blood froze instantly; he lost his arrogance and stood obediently to the side with his hands clasped.
His gaze bypassed Gu San and landed on the girl standing before him—the one who lacked formality yet was incredibly well-behaved. He asked her, "Are you here at the hospital to see Auntie Chen?"
That night, when she was eating spicy hot pot, she had mentioned being close to the woman who sold it.
But he hadn't expected it to be to this extent.
She had rushed to the hospital to visit as soon as school was out.
Qiao Nian nodded vaguely: "...Something like that." Along with educating a bratty kid.
Gu San, listening from the side, grew anxious and blurted out a nosy question: "Niannian, I just saw you talking to a boy your age in the hallway. Who was that?"
Ye Wangchuan's eyelids twitched, and his brow sharpened as he shot him a glance.
Gu San shut his mouth again.
In a low, alluring voice, Ye Wangchuan answered before Qiao Nian could: "It should be the boy we saw that night. Chen Yuan, right? Auntie Chen's son."
Qiao Nian hadn't expected his memory to be so good. She looked up at him with a hint of surprise and wonder, nodding: "Yes, it's him."
*Tsk~* This was the first time Gu San had ever found himself explaining a romantic rival's identity; it was truly an eye-opening experience.
Lord Wang is incredible.
But he didn't dare show it; he could only swallow the words back.
"Since you're already at the hospital, do you want to go see Chenchen with me?"
Seeing that she was still carrying her schoolbag, Ye Wangchuan reached out. His beautiful fingers were well-defined, slender, and long, with smooth, strong wrist bones: "Give me the bag. I'll carry it for you."
The schoolbag was filled with things that were precious to her life. Qiao Nian frowned and hesitated for a moment, but her bag had already been snatched away dominantly.
(End of Chapter)