"Wait! Don't drink the juice, it's cold. You might get a stomachache. Have some warm water instead."
Nian Suian snatched the cup from Gu Zhijing's hand and replaced it with a glass of warm water.
Gu Zhijing, taken aback, accepted the warm water and began sipping while shooting a meaningful glance at his father.
Gu Junxing, meanwhile, picked up some food with his chopsticks and placed it in Nian Suian's bowl, reassuring her, "Suian, don't be so nervous."
Nian Suian gave him a puzzled look. "You're saying that to the wrong person. Shouldn't you be telling Zhijing that? Why would I be nervous? It's not like I'm the one taking the exam!"
Indeed, after three years of hard work, young Gu Zhijing was about to face his college entrance exams!
This was the last dinner before the big day, and Nian Suian had been extra cautious, instructing Nanny Zhang to prepare only light and simple dishes.
"Mom, Dad's not wrong. You really do seem nervous," Gu Zhijing chimed in.
"Really?"
Gu Zhijing nodded, picking up on a subtle cue from his father. He turned to Nian Suian and said, "Mom, there's no need to be nervous. It's just the college entrance exam. Even if I don't do well, what's the worst that could happen?"
Nian Suian paused for a moment before realizing that Gu Zhijing truly had no reason to stress. His reputation for being frugal had overshadowed his true identity.
"Oh, right! I almost forgot—you're the heir to a business empire!"
"Exactly! If I don't get in, I'll just live off my parents. Dad's been doing better and better these past few years. He could easily support not just me, but ten or even eight more!"
"You're right! Though we don't have ten or eight. You're the only freeloader in this family."
"Oh, right! I forgot Dad already got a vasectomy. But what about Tangyuan? Doesn't he freeload too?"
"Tangyuan earns his keep by being adorable. That doesn't count as freeloading."
"I can be adorable too! You can't discriminate against humans!"
As their conversation veered further off track, Gu Junxing remained unfazed.
This kind of banter had become a regular occurrence over the years, and he was used to it by now.
No matter how off-topic the discussion got, the goal was always achieved—Nian Suian was no longer nervous.
The next day, Gu Junxing and Nian Suian accompanied Gu Zhijing to the exam site. He was lucky; his assigned exam hall was at his own school, in his own classroom. Taking the exam felt like coming home.
The area around the exam hall was crowded with parents. Gu Junxing parked the car a distance away, and the three of them walked to the entrance together.
"May you know all the answers and guess the ones you don't! Good luck!" Nian Suian cheered as Gu Zhijing entered the exam hall.
Gu Junxing patted his son on the shoulder. "Do your best."
"I know, I will. Dad, you and Mom should head back. Don't wait for me out here—it's too hot. Once the exams are over, we'll go out for a big meal and plan a trip."
"Don't worry about eating and traveling today. Just focus on the exam and get in there."
Nian Suian waved until his figure disappeared from sight before turning back.
"Let's go. It's too hot to wait out here."
Nian Suian nodded. She had wanted to experience the anxious wait outside the exam hall like other parents, but the heat was unbearable. To bring good luck, she had worn a traditional qipao and even put on makeup, but the sweat was ruining her look.
They stayed in the car with the air conditioning on, not venturing anywhere. Nian Suian pulled out a movie she had prepared earlier. The two-hour runtime was perfect for passing the time.
The qipao had a high slit, and as soon as she sat down, Gu Junxing's eyes were drawn to her.
Over the years, her figure had only improved. At home, she usually wore casual clothes, so it wasn't as noticeable. But today, in the form-fitting qipao, her curves were impossible to ignore.
Gu Junxing wanted to say something but was afraid of coming across as old-fashioned. As a husband, he shouldn't criticize his wife's clothing choices. If she wanted to dress up, he should be proud.
He understood all that, but still...
Gu Junxing's intense gaze didn't escape Nian Suian's notice.
"What are you thinking about? Your son is taking an exam! This is a sacred place—don't let your mind wander!"
"No, you've got it wrong," Gu Junxing replied, both amused and exasperated. He wasn't some pervert with inappropriate thoughts in such a serious setting.
"You'd better not be!"
Given his past behavior, Gu Junxing's credibility on this matter was practically zero.
He had no choice but to obediently focus on the movie screen and watch alongside Nian Suian.
By the time the movie ended, the morning exam was almost over. They got out of the car and headed to the entrance to wait for Gu Zhijing.
At the school gate, a group of reporters had gathered, ready to interview students. The college entrance exam was a major national event, and every year, news outlets covered it extensively.
Nian Suian hadn't expected that reporters would also interview parents.
One reporter noticed Nian Suian in her qipao and thought she could make for a great story—perhaps something like "The Most Beautiful Exam Parent." The reporter approached her with a microphone.
"Hello, ma'am. Who are you here to support today?"
"Are you talking to me?" Nian Suian was momentarily stunned by the microphone and camera but quickly composed herself. "We're here for our son."
The reporter, seasoned and experienced, wasn't too surprised by Nian Suian's youthful appearance. After all, wealthy women often aged well.
"Could you please offer a few words of encouragement for your son and all the other candidates?"
Nian Suian thought for a moment, then spoke into the camera. "I wish all the candidates the best of luck. May they perform beyond their expectations and achieve their dreams."
The reporter couldn't linger too long on one person, so after a brief interview with Nian Suian, they moved on to other parents.
As the exam bell rang, students began streaming out of the hall.
Gu Zhijing quickly spotted Nian Suian and Gu Junxing in the crowd—his mother, being the most beautiful, was hard to miss.
Gu Zhijing looked relaxed, and neither parent asked how the exam had gone.
"Let's go home for lunch."
Since the exam site was close to home and home-cooked meals were always more comforting, they decided to head back for lunch.
As soon as they got in the car, Gu Zhijing started laying on the charm.
"Mom, you look stunning in that qipao. When I walked out, I was worried I wouldn't find you in the crowd, but then I saw you right away—the most beautiful one there! Dad standing next to you just looked like your chauffeur."
Nian Suian burst out laughing, while Gu Junxing, now dubbed "Driver Gu," drove in silence. It was the exam period, so he decided to endure Gu Zhijing's antics for a couple more days.
But Gu Zhijing wasn't done yet.
"Dad, why aren't you happy? Don't like being called a chauffeur? How about bodyguard? I didn't know you had a thing against certain jobs."
"How about I send you to work in a factory after the exams? They usually hire part-time students around this time. You'd fit right in, and you even have some work experience compared to them."
"Sorry, Dad, I was wrong. I was really wrong. You're handsome, dashing, and the only man in the world worthy of Mom."
...
Gu Zhijing loved pushing buttons but was quick to backtrack. Scenes like this were practically a daily occurrence.