novelraw Chapter 254: I Already Knew That in My Previous Life...
Chapter 254: I Already Knew That in My Previous Life...
You Shan: [Don’t even imagine it. I doubt that’ll ever happen. Guys who are too outstanding are destined to be single forever. Take our leader, for instance—I’ve never seen him give any girl a second glance.]
Xu Su couldn’t help but laugh when she read that. She tapped on her keyboard and joined the chat: [Destined to be single forever? Isn’t that a bit harsh? Surely not.]
Sika asked: [Susu, does your school have a study god? You know, someone whose grades leave the person in second place in the dust, who’s handsome, and comes from a really good family? My dream guy is from a super-duper-rich family.]
’Leave the person in second place in the dust?’
As the second-place student herself, Xu Su paused for a moment. Xi Zirong came to mind.
She replied: [We do. He’s handsome, has never placed lower than first since enrolling, and his family is pretty well-off too. Maybe not super-duper-rich, but not far from it.]
Liu Yun: [Are there really that many amazing guys in high school these days? I remember back in my day, the person in first place was always changing, and there weren’t that many cute ones, either.]
Feifei (Alchemist): [I so want to go back and do high school all over again. I love handsome young men, and a study god to boot! So aloof and unattainable!] followed by a thirsty emoji...
Beiyue: [Where are all these handsome guys coming from? You’re all just looking through rose-colored glasses. I’ll admit the kid in Sika’s photo is okay-looking, but Susu, aren’t you the one with the ’idol filter’ on? Dazzled by the glow of first place.]
Sika: [@Little Susu, Susu, send a picture! Let’s see!]
Xu Su felt like she had just shot herself in the foot...
’Why are they asking for a picture all of a sudden...’
She wanted to pretend she hadn’t seen it, but then several people tagged her at once, forcing her to reply awkwardly: [I don’t have a picture, and I can’t just sneak one. But I’m not looking at him through a filter, I’m serious.]
The thought of trying to sneak a photo of Xi Zirong with her phone and getting caught made Xu Su shake her head vigorously in her mind. ’Sneaking a picture is absolutely out of the question.’
Sika and the others in the group kept pestering her for a while, leaving Xu Su with no choice: [I really don’t have a picture, and it would be super awkward to get caught trying to take one. If all goes as planned, he’ll be next year’s top science student in our province’s college entrance exams. He’s aiming for University B in Beijing. Aren’t you all in Beijing? Maybe you can meet him then.]
Sika: [The college entrance exams are still six months away. He even tells you which university he’s aiming for? Susu! I remember you have a boyfriend. Don’t tell me it’s him!]
’Don’t tell me it’s him...’
Xu Su was a little stunned...
Nanyang: [University B? Wow... What about you, Little Disciple? You’re not aiming for University B too, are you? A few of us are there. Is it possible my great disciple could become my junior schoolmate?]
Liu Yun Fairy was pleasantly surprised: [Really? Susu is planning to apply to University B? All five of us are from University B! When you get here, just let us know in the chat, and I’ll come pick you up! We can finally meet in person!]
The five she mentioned were herself, Nanyang, Beiyue, You Shan, and Si Xuan.
Xu Su was utterly astonished. She never expected such a coincidence. University B was one of the top universities in the country, yet five of its students were in this little online gaming group.
In all the time she’d spent chatting in the group, she had developed a great impression of her gaming friends from the Qingxuan Sect, even the quiet Si Xuan.
He had saved her twice when she was just a clueless newbie and had even arranged for Nanyang to take her on as a disciple. When her master, Nanyang, wasn’t online, Si Xuan would help her grind and complete quests, with none of the arrogance you’d expect from a top player.
Besides Nanyang, he was arguably the person who had treated her best in the game.
’This must be fate,’ Xu Su thought happily as she replied: [That’s right! I’m aiming for University B too. I’ll come find you all in Beijing next year!]
The little disciple from the game was about to become his junior schoolmate in real life. Nanyang was thrilled. He sent a smiley face: [How are your grades? Are you confident you’ll get in? If you really make it to University B, your master will treat you to dinner.]
Xu Su: [I’m ranked second in my grade. I can’t beat our school’s study god, but my grades are still great. Getting into University B is a sure thing. I like spicy food, Master, don’t forget!] She added a smug emoji.
Sika was a little envious: [My grades are nowhere near good enough, but I’m going to Beijing too, so we can meet up in person! But Susu, what’s really going on between you and your school’s top student? You’ve both decided on University B!]
Xu Su didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She couldn’t believe Sika was still hung up on that. She typed back helplessly: [There’s nothing between us. We just chat sometimes.]
After finding out that several group members were University B students, Xu Su’s enthusiasm for chatting with them reached an all-time high.
She would pull out her phone to check the chat whenever she had a spare moment. Time flew by, and soon, the New Year was approaching.
On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Xu Su got a call from Chen Shulan asking when her winter break would start.
Chen Shulan’s tone wasn’t pleasant, and Xu Su could faintly hear Xu Weiping yelling in the background. Their daughter hadn’t been home in more than half a year, and they sounded extremely anxious.
’Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were just a pair of deeply concerned parents...’
But Xu Su knew the truth. The couple was afraid that she had grown independent, and since she wasn’t close to them, she wouldn’t be willing to give them any benefits.
After the huge scene at the Kang County wedding banquet, the couple had surely heard that their daughter had a "boyfriend" with a powerful background.
Xu Su was sick and tired of it all, but she was still unwilling to completely burn bridges with her own parents. She maintained the last shred of civility...
After Zhou Mochen picked her up for lunch as usual, Xu Su watched him place food in her bowl and ladle soup for her. She asked, a little confused, "Zhou Mochen, aren’t you planning to go back to Beijing for the New Year?"
’It’s already the twenty-seventh. The New Year is in three days...’
Zhou Mochen placed a piece of beef brisket in her bowl and smiled. "Are you coming back with me?"
"I only have a two-day break." Xu Su shook her head. "Just New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. I don’t feel like traveling."
’A round trip would take the better part of a day...’
Zhou Mochen said, "Then I won’t go back this year. I can’t bear to be away from you, so I’ll stay here and celebrate with you."
His lovesick behavior earned him a glare from Xu Su. "You don’t have to stay for me. I have to go home for the New Year. I haven’t been back all semester, so I have to be there for the holiday."
’I’m still trying to keep up appearances,’ she thought. ’If I don’t go back for the New Year, Chen Shulan and her husband will probably show up at school and cause a scene.’
Xu Su had no desire to become the subject of school gossip again—the girl ’so wrapped up in her relationship that she refuses to go home, forcing her parents to hunt her down at school’.
"Alright, you go home then." Zhou Mochen nodded agreeably. "I’ll spend the New Year at my maternal grandparents’ house. Did I ever tell you? My mother’s family lives right here in the city. As it happens, the textile factory where your parents work belongs to my grandfather."
’I already knew that from my past life...’
Xu Su pursed her lips. "You never mentioned it."
After briefly explaining a bit more about his mother’s family, Zhou Mochen asked, "My relatives on my grandfather’s side are quite curious about you. Susu, would you like to meet them?"
"No," Xu Su said, shaking her head decisively. "That sounds too much like a formal meeting with the parents. I’m not comfortable with that."