Chapter 63: 58.2

The first day’s competition proceeded as scheduled. Before the interview portion, the judges had already announced the first round of disqualifiers, and some female students began crying upon seeing their names. Meanwhile, Qin Juran’s fighting spirit was only getting more fierce; she was the type of person who only became even more steady and resolute the bigger the stakes were. Under her direction, the other members of S University’s team also felt more and more confident. After their interviews, the teachers on the judging panel even smiled and nodded repeatedly.

Each segment of the interview portion was scored on the spot. After a few rounds, Qin Juran’s team was already in the lead with the highest scores.

Chi Ying was also performing well this time and didn’t seen seem to have any intention of battling Qin Juran anymore, instead opting for the role of support. In one fierce battle of strength, akin to a game of hot potato, getting struck would mean a chance for the opposing team to take the lead. Right when the hot potato was passed to Qin Juran, she was just about to take it when Chi Ying directly went for the answering button.

And in doing so, protected the entire team.

When the game ended in the evening, Qin Juran and the team exited the school doors to see their teacher standing outside waiting for them wearing a pair of sunglasses. The teacher energetically high-fived them one by one and shook her phone excitedly: “The competition results just came out: S University’s ‘Roaring Waves and Rolling Mountains’ team, coming in first place, has advanced to the National competition!!”

“Yay!!!” The chubby student and another male student eagerly hugged each other, and everyone’s faces lit up with beaming smiles. All of the late nights and early mornings that they endured were all for their happiness at this moment. Although the finals were still yet to come, winning first place in the provincial competition was still a feat that offered them the greatest encouragement.

The teacher called a few cabs, wanting to treat them all to hotpot. Qin Juran asked her for a screenshot of the competition results, and once she got into the car, she forwarded it to Ruan Nan with the message: 【Don’t praise me too much, stay humble.】

Ruan Nan replied with an emoji of a smiling face with the mouth covered, along with three “thumbs up” stickers accordingly.

【How do you want to celebrate?】Ruan Nan asked.

【No need this time, let’s wait until the 10th when the national competition is over. If we still come in first place then, then I have a request for Ah-Ruan.】

The other party is currently typing…..

【Alright.】

【You’re not curious as to what it is?】

After a moment, Ruan Nan smiled at the phone from her end while typing: 【I think I can make a guess, should I write it out?】

【No no no.】

【Then the art department student who’s been competing with you – has she said anything?】

Qin Juran glanced at Chi Ying, who was sitting in the passenger’s seat: 【Don’t know, I haven’t paid attention.】

Seeming to have come to an unspoken understanding, the two continued to chat. Ruan Nan asked Qin Juran what she was eating for dinner, to which Qin Juran mentioned that the team was going out together for a meal. Ruan Nan warned her not to drink alcohol, but Qin Juran replied that she only would drink when she was with her.

The group soon arrived. Hotpot was always a popular spot during the winter; as they entered the restaurant, the warm and flavorful aroma of the hearty hotpot cooking on the stoves was a welcome change from the brisk outside air, and completely dispelled the sense of anxiety and exhaustion from the day.

This hotpot restaurant offered a specialty rice wine that wasn’t very strong, with just the right amount of sweetness that also offered a warming effect, making it a popular choice amongst young women. The teacher ordered two bottles, and due to the positive mood, everyone was poured a glass. When it was Qin Juran’s turn, she reached out to cover the mouth of her glass to decline. Although some people tried to persuade her, Qin Juran merely laughed and shook her head, not minding the teacher sitting across the table from her, and admitted: “I promised my girlfriend that I wouldn’t drink outside.”

Qin Juran was sitting in the outermost seat of the table, while Chi Ying sat in the innermost, and they were originally separated by another female student who was sitting in between the two. However, after Chi Ying drank a few glasses of wine and had to continuously get up to go to the bathroom, the middle student suggested that they switch seats so that Chi Ying could sit outside.

Looking at Qin Juran, who was seated beside her, Chi Ying gladly nodded in agreement.

Qin Juran didn’t react except for a slight crease in her brows, and she angled her body the other way.

The teacher sitting across from them was already flushed from the alcohol. She raised a raised towards the two girls:

“Qin Juran, Chi Ying, you are both very extraordinary students. To be honest, we teachers and everyone all know how unfair this circumstance is, with one of you tagging along and acting as the substitute. But there is simply no other choice, it is what it is. Yet over the course of the last month’s training, not only is there no disharmony amongst you two, but it seems that you’ve only gotten along better with the fierce competition! It’s truly great progress to see.”

“Especially Chi Ying, your performance today was essential to our team’s success. Teacher will surely give you a VIP ticket for the finals!”

Everyone laughed and raised their glasses in agreement. Chi Ying flicked her ponytail and smiled wryly, raising her glass and declaring somewhat artificially: “Of course, with this personality and pride of mine, I initially couldn’t settle for the idea of being someone’s substitute. But who allowed our Campus Flower Qin Juran to be so utterly charming, that anyone would be willing to make sacrifices for her just from looking at her~”

“Ooh~” The group burst into cheers. The female medical student, Zhang Ying, chanted in response: “Who’s sacrificing for who here, really?”

“Come come come, everyone, let’s raise a glass – to a victorious final competition!”

Afterward, Zhang Ying wanted to take a nice group picture of all of them, so she placed a glass of wine into Qin Juran’s hand for a symmetrical effect. Qin Juran held it up for just enough time for the shutter to click, then immediately placed it back onto the table before Chi Ying even had the chance to clink against hers. She instead reached for a cup of tea to slowly sip.

When they finished eating, everyone asides from Qin Juran was red-faced and giddy from the alcohol. They stood outside of the restaurant chatting gleefully as they waited for the cabs to take them back to the hotel.

Zhang Ying’s performance today was very extraordinary, and she ended up drinking a little too much in her excitement. She seemed fine when they left the restaurant, but she might’ve gotten a little carsick from the ride; she shakily made a beeline towards the hotel as soon as they arrived, her face writhing in pain. Qin Juran and Chi Ying quickly followed, and right as they made it to the bathroom door, they heard a burst of retching from within.

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Chi Ying immediately took a step back, furrowing her nose.

Qin Juran frowned and turned to ask: “You’re not going in?”

Chi Ying shook her head.

Qin Juran took off the heavy coat and scarf she was wearing and handed it to her: “Go to the front desk and ask for a bottle of water.”

She then proceeded to go into the bathroom.

Chi Ying paused for a moment, then walked towards the front desk to buy some water, still carrying Qin Juran’s coat in her arms. She really couldn’t stomach the sound of someone throwing up, so she waited outside for a long while, clutching the coat to her chest. When she estimated that Zhang Ying must just be about done, she began slowly making her way back toward the restroom. Suddenly, a loud ringtone resounded from Qin Juran’s coat pocket. Chi Ying fished out the phone and glanced at the caller ID, then answered the call nonchalantly.

“Juju?” The voice of “My Darling Ah-Ruan” sounded from the other end of the receiver.

“You’re looking for Qin Juran?” Chi Ying answered.

“And this is…?”

“This is Chi Ying, her team member in the competition.”

There was a moment of silence. Rather than outright asking “Why do you have her phone?” Ruan Nan suppressed her temper and continued: “Please pass the phone to Qin Juran.”

Chi Ying had just made it to the bathroom door when by chance, Zhang Ying let out a piercing sound of painful retching from within. She rolled her eyes and replied:

“Juran drank too much, so now is not a good time. You should call her back a bit later.”

She then briskly hung up the call.

Qin Juran waited until everything was out of Zhang Ying’s system, only coming out of the bathroom to grab the water bottle so that Zhang Ying could use it to rinse her mouth. When Zhang Ying was finally better, she emerged from the bathroom leaning on Qin Juran’s shoulder. After vomiting, Zhang Ying felt much better and reluctantly walked to her room. When one of the other roommates arrived back at the room, she even rushed to go help her.

Qin Juran retrieved her coat from Chi Ying, then returned to her room without a second glance. After taking a shower and washing her underwear, she glanced at the time but guessed that Ruan Nan was already sleeping by then. Since the final exams were approaching, Qin Juran didn’t want to disturb her, so she sent her a “Good night” sticker and then went to bed.

The third day was spent traveling back to S University. It was Monday when they arrived, and since this week marked the start of final exams, there were no classes. Practically all the students were cooped up in the library studying.

Qin Juran was already impatient to go see Ruan Nan, but it turned out that Ruan Nan was busy with her study abroad preparations.  In between the constant trips back and forth from the Global Exchange Center, as well as the visa appointments she had booked, she practically wouldn’t be on campus at all for the next few days.

Qin Juran was understanding. Seeing that she had been so busy with her own academic competition lately, it only made sense for Ruan Nan to be preoccupied with her study abroad matters as well. She couldn’t put off such important matters just for the sake of seeing her. She finally resigned to meet up with Ruan Nan on the day of their exam.

On Wednesday, the school counselor called Qin Juran to ask her whether she had made a decision on the study abroad opportunity. Qin Juran recalled that when she had first transmigrated, the counselor had given her a study broad application form with a specific code to apply, and told her that she had a semester to think about it.

At the moment, Qin Juran had considered the option just to avoid Fan Chuan, but now things were different. Because of her parents, her brother, as well as Ah-Ruan, she would not leave.

Qin Juran personally went to his office to return the application. The old counselor kept expressing what a shame it was, but Qin Juran countered by insisting that for her field, sometimes it was better to have hands-on experience.

The two chatted for a while. The counselor asked Qin Juran how the collaborative entrepreneurship project was going, and Qin Juran explained that it was doing well and that they might even start making some investments during the upcoming break.

“That’s great, that’s great. Our Qin Juran truly has both the looks and the smarts, and never fails to surprise us.” The old counselor raised his cup of tea in the air, smiling.

Qin Juran returned the smile. She also raised the application form in her hands and pointed to a pile labeled “Study Abroad Resources” on the counselor’s desk. “Then, Teacher, I’ll just leave this here?”

“Sure, please place it under the winter break study abroad announcements. I will be hanging up those up in the school later this afternoon, better not wrinkle them.”

Qin Juran nodded in understanding. Her eyes casually skimmed the announcement when she went to adjust them.

《List of Students Participating in the Winter Semester UCLA Exchange Program》

At first, Qin Juran thought that she misread it. She pointed to the roster and asked the counselor: “Professor, is this the final list of the students who are going abroad this winter?”

“That’s right.” The counselor nodded.

Qin Juran froze, unconsciously tightening her grip on the paper.

Ruan Nan’s name was nowhere to be seen on the list.

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