Xiao-Zheng opened his white pupils, “En, ah. Study well, don’t make your mom worried.”
Ruan Qingmu softly said, “I’m more worried about you guys. In the future, please help me to protect both of them when I’m not here.”
He sighed, “If you’re unable to protect them, you don’t need to force yourself. Just remember to tell me afterward, and it will be okay.”
……
Mu Wanli personally got in the taxi and sent her son to Experimental No. 3 High School’s gate.
At night, there were entry restrictions on the school, and they forbid outsiders from entering. The guard at the gate saw that Ruan Qingmu’s leg was inconvenient, so he also accommodatingly called the boy’s dormitory to ask the male officer on duty to help take the suitcase.
Mu Wanli impatiently stood outside the school gate and didn’t leave. The night wind lightly blew her floral skirt. She looked at Ruan Qingmu with red-rimmed eyes.
“Take care of your body. If there’s something delicious in the canteen, no need to save, go ahead and buy it.” She repeatedly urged. She then spoke softly in a resolute manner, “In this life…your mom won’t marry anyone again. You don’t need to think about it too much.”
Ruan Qingmu calmly looked at her and softly said, “Mom, I didn’t mean that.”
He had lived luxuriously and was surrounded by many attendants in his previous life. But unfortunately, he didn’t have a mother. Only the wet nurse and maids had been with him since he was little.
He had only ever seen his mother from a portrait; it was a gongbi1 painting hanging in his father’s bedroom; her features were pretty and vivid.
Unexpectedly, she looked seven or eight points similar to this reincarnation’s mother.
No matter what, since he was using this body, he had to recognize his mother. He had also decided to support her for a lifetime.
At this moment, a car drove through the school gate and silently stopped. A boy walked out of the vehicle.
Uncle Yan followed Qin Yuan out of the car and helped him take his suitcase from the trunk. Once he lifted his eyes, he was excited. “Aiya, such a coincidence. Isn’t this the disabled student that couldn’t get a taxi during the day?”
Qin Yuan’s hand holding the suitcase stiffened slightly.
He turned his head and saw the mother and child pair in front of the school gate.
The street lamp in front of the school gate was very bright—it shone on Ruan Qingmu, who was standing in front of the guard room. Under the incandescent light, the bridge of his nose was clearly contoured.
It was completely different from his provocative and arrogant look in the morning. The youth had a slight smile on his face when facing his relative. His sharp eyebrows merely looked delicate, and there was no hint of anger in them.
Mu Wanli extended her hand and fixed her son’s collar, saying in a low voice, “Get along with your classmates and study well.”
Ruan Qingmu randomly made up some nonsense. “Rest assured, mom. I’m very easygoing; my classmates all like me. I will get good grades this semester and show them to you.”
A faint and soft snort suddenly came from his side.
Ruan Qingmu raised his head and in that instant, his eyes widened.
Under the snow-white incandescent light, that familiar face wasn’t far away. A pair of black glass-like pupils quietly looked at him.
Qin Yuan slowly dragged his suitcase and walked over.
Easygoing? All classmates like him? Get good grades?
His ability to lie with open eyes was quite good.
Ruan Qingmu helplessly looked as he approached and stopped in front of him. He felt a little bewildered. He tentatively waved at Qin Yuan. “Hey –”
Qin Yuan lowered his brows but didn’t respond.
The street lamp’s light shone on his face and created a shadow on his tall nose bridge. His gaze fell on the crutches by Ruan Qingmu’s leg. He seemed to hesitate for a few seconds, but he finally stooped and reached down to grab the handle of Ruan Qingmu’s suitcase.
Ruan Qingmu was stunned and stared at him.
??
Suddenly, he waved at Mu Wanli in high spirits. “Mom, you can go back! Look, my friend has come.”
He pointed at Qin Yuan, who was standing beside him. His peach blossom eyes created a faint smile. “First rank in the whole grade, class monitor, my good brother!”
……
It wasn’t nine p.m. yet; the classrooms of Year 3 were still brightly lit. Year 3 students started their classes earlier and have gone into hell mode in advance.
This was the first day of their return to school for Year 2, and there wasn’t any mandatory night self-study class yet. Except for the students from the Honors Class, most of the students hid in the dormitory with the air conditioning on to escape the summer heat.
The night self-study class hadn’t finished yet for now. The small trail leading to the boy’s dormitory was packed with green trees and few people’s shadows could be seen. There was no wind, only the soft chirping sounds of insects.
T/N:
1 Gongbi painting is a kind of painting method in Chinese painting, which pays attention to neat and meticulous techniques.