"You should go up now, isn't it about to start?" Zhou Xinfang smiled at her son.
Qi Anlu nodded blankly, "Okay."
"I'm sorry, Teacher Cen, we're late."
"It's alright, come in quickly, we're about to begin."
"This chair..." Qi Anlu hadn't expected anyone to be at home, so he didn't bring a chair. He had planned to let his mother sit while he stood or squatted, but unexpectedly...
"I brought it for you, thoughtful, right?" Chu Mingyan raised his eyebrows at Qi Anlu. He had gone to get a chair and, finding Qi Anlu wasn't there, grabbed one for him.
"Thanks."
On the podium, Cen Xi began today's parent-teacher meeting.
"Dear parents and students, good morning. The reason I've called you here today is mainly to discuss the issues revealed by the recent midterm exams. This exam was the first formal assessment since you entered high school, and it's clear that many students haven't yet adapted to the intense study environment of high school..."
"...At the same time, parents should try their best to create a good learning environment at home. The high school curriculum is heavy, and the study pressure is immense. While studying, everyone should also learn to adjust. Parents should pay close attention to their children's learning status and psychological issues..."
"...The school is very keen on promoting cooperation between home and school. After the meeting, if you have any opinions or suggestions about the school and class development, you can raise them now for group discussion, or come to me privately..."
As the parent-teacher meeting ended, it was almost time for the lunch break. This period was left for everyone to arrange freely.
"Mom, you sit here for a moment. I'll go return the chair," Qi Anlu picked up the chair and went with Gu Zhijing and the others to return it.
"Suian, shall we have lunch together? There's a mall across from the school," Jiang Yun had just seen her son's English test paper and felt faint. She decided to have a good meal to recover.
"Sure," Nian Suian now wondered who they might encounter at the mall this time... after all, it was a magical place.
When the two children returned, they were immediately sent off again.
"I'm going to have lunch with your Aunt Nian. You two go eat as well."
"Little Mom, I'll walk you out."
"No need for that. I'm not going to get lost in this school, am I? Go eat quickly."
Watching the two walk away arm in arm, Jiang Yun sighed to Nian Suian, "Zhijing is such a good kid. You've raised him well."
"He's always been a sensible child." In some ways, Nian Suian felt she was very lucky.
...
"Mom, why are your eyes red?" As Qi Anlu was seeing his mother out, he noticed Zhou Xinfang's eyes were red, which seemed odd.
"It's nothing. Just got some dust in my eyes earlier and rubbed them. I'm heading back now, you go eat lunch." Zhou Xinfang waved her hand, gesturing for her son to go back.
After watching his mother leave the school, Qi Anlu didn't go straight to the cafeteria but returned to the classroom.
He rummaged through his drawer and saw that the hospital records were still safely tucked in the back, not looking like they had been touched. Only then did he feel relieved.
"Anlu, what are you dawdling for? Why are you so late? The pork tenderloin is almost gone."
Qi Anlu quickly ran over to his three buddies: "I just saw my mom off. Why didn't you guys get food first? Why wait for me?"
"We share the good times, we share the pork tenderloin. How could we not wait for you?"
"No sharing now, it's all gone." While queuing, Gu Zhijing stretched his neck to look, estimating that by the time it was their turn, the pork tenderloin would be finished.
"Auntie, I'll take all the pork tenderloin." Seeing there wasn't much left, Hao Leyun decided to take it all.
She was right in front of Gu Zhijing in line. He had been hoping there would be some left, but Hao Leyun had pulled the rug out from under him!
"..." Looking at the heaping spoonful of pork tenderloin, tears of envy rolled down from the corners of Gu Zhijing's mouth.
Hao Leyun turned her head to see Gu Zhijing staring at her tray with a woeful expression.
"What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing, nothing. Enjoy your meal." He had to do justice to that pork tenderloin.
Hao Leyun looked at his expression and quietly moved away with her food tray. Was it her imagination, or did it feel like Gu Zhijing wanted to snatch her food?
"Leyun, what's your relationship with Gu Zhijing? The way he looked at you just now was so intense," Cao Shan asked with a gossipy look.
Hearing this, Hao Leyun's mouth twitched: "What kind of eyes do you have? He wasn't looking at me." He was clearly looking at the meat on her plate.
"What are your plans for this weekend?" Qu Zizhou figured that by the weekend, his mother's anger should have subsided, and he could happily play again.
"I'm going to a hot spring. You guys can come too if you want. I'll talk to my dad about it tonight."
"Tsk tsk, your life is so sweet."
"My mom's birthday is on Saturday. Our family is going out for dinner," Chu Mingyan told the three.
Qu Zizhou looked hopefully at Qi Anlu: "What about you? Don't tell me you have plans too?"
Qi Anlu nodded: "Actually, I do have plans." Unable to take medication, he could only try some psychological counseling to see if it helped.
"All of you are abandoning me, aren't you?!" Qu Zizhou cried indignantly.
"Don't be a hypocrite. You did the same thing last week."
"How is that the same? You guys are enjoying yourselves this week, hot springs, dinner out. What about me?! Last week I was being chased by my mom, I had no choice."
Gu Zhijing picked up a piece of braised pork and gave it to Qu Zizhou: "Well then, I wish you a peaceful weekend."
Meanwhile, Nian Suian and Jiang Yun had already started their meal at the mall.
"Suian, are you looking for someone?" Jiang Yun noticed that after sitting down, Nian Suian had glanced outside several times.
"No, no, I'm just looking around." Conditioned by previous events, Nian Suian had developed a reflex, always feeling like someone she knew might suddenly appear.
The meal finished without anyone suddenly calling out her name, and Nian Suian breathed a sigh of relief. It seems the previous incidents were just coincidences after all!
After lunch, with nothing to do in the afternoon, they decided to browse around the mall.
"Let's check out that store. I need to buy some clothes too," Jiang Yun pointed to a shop ahead.
While Jiang Yun went to the fitting room to try on clothes, Nian Suian sat down on a chair in the store to wait for her.
"Hehe, how does this one look?"
"Try it on and see."
This was a common exchange in a clothing store, and Nian Suian didn't pay much attention when she heard it.
"You suddenly saying you want to get engaged caught me off guard. Where's your boyfriend? Ask him to come out for a meal. As your best friend, I can't believe you're getting engaged and I haven't even met your boyfriend yet. How can that be?"
"Not today. I'll ask him first. Jiang Heng seems very busy with work. I'm not sure when he'll be free."