The Hot-tempered Young Master and His Village Flower Child Bride - Chapter 32

Chapter 32: My Girlfriend

Chu Zhi Lu wasn’t angry, but she couldn’t be affectionate with Zhao Xunyu right after they argued. After the scores were released, she received a flood of messages, giving her a reason to ignore Zhao Xunyu.

Although policies prevented schools from publicizing top scorers, there were always ways around it. If the school couldn’t, the ‘alumni’ could. Media outlets and television stations could. The alumni association could proudly and openly publicize it. What could anyone do to stop them?

According to her head teacher and classmates in the group chat, their class did very well. Chu Zhi Lu was going to give a speech as an outstanding graduate at the opening ceremony and scholarship awards for the next senior class. She was going to receive a 100,000 yuan scholarship from the county and a 60,000 yuan scholarship from the school. Her head teacher also convinced her to agree to interviews with the county high school alumni association and two television stations.

Chu Zhi Lu disliked the limelight and avoided interviews and invitations. However, considering the school’s wishes, she agreed to a few interviews.

While talking, Chu Zhi Lu put her phone on silent. When Zhao Xunyu confessed his mistake and begged for forgiveness, she turned on the sound. WeChat messages, QQ messages, and phone calls never stopped. Zhao Xunyu clung to her, gently tugging at her skirt and begging for forgiveness. He was afraid to speak in case he disturbed her, so he only made soft whining sounds. However, Chu Zhi Lu remained unmoved.

After sitting on the sofa for another half hour, she went back to her room. Before leaving, she stopped the persistent Zhao Xunyu. “Don’t follow me. I don’t want to see you now.”

“…” Zhao Xunyu, afraid of angering her, didn’t dare move. He slumped his shoulders dejectedly and called his father.

Zhao Qingtang was very happy. In his opinion, Zhao Xunyu’s score was a blessing from his ancestors. There was no need to talk about repeating the year. He might not even get this score if he studied for another year.

He shared his thoughts on the phone and said that he had found a suitable school for Zhao Xunyu: G University’s finance program. G University wasn’t the best, but it was at least a 211 university, located three bus stops away from A University. A taxi ride to A University would take ten minutes. The finance program was highly competitive, so it wasn’t guaranteed. He should list it as his first choice and business administration and hotel management as his second and third choices.

Zhao Xunyu recounted Chu Zhi Lu’s anger. Dejectedly, he said, “Forget about college. My girlfriend is about to fly away.”

Zhao Qingtang didn’t think his daughter-in-law was going to abandon him, but he said, “Then don’t cause any trouble. Your little sister doesn’t have to wait for you for a year. If you want to repeat a year, do it yourself. Don’t hold her back.”

“… You’re really my father.”

“What? Still not giving up? Then tell your little sister that you’re repeating the year and see what happens.”

“…” He wouldn’t dare do that if he valued his life.

It was a good day. Zhao Qingtang didn’t want to keep scolding him, so he said something to cheer him up. 

“Since your score exceeded my expectations, I’ll go back to the village to see you today. Let’s have a good meal tonight. I told your grandmother, and you can have your phone back. High school is over. You have plenty of time. Take your little sister out more often.”

“…” He hadn’t even managed to coax her yet, and now his father was arriving. How could he continue? 

“Dad, why don’t you come back in a few days?”

“Oh, I’m already on my way. Your grandmother is coming home today, too.”

Zhao Xunyu collapsed onto the sofa, lamenting his despair.

***

Grandma Chu and Song Zhi Yuan arrived home first.

Seeing the slap marks on Song Zhi Yuan’s face, Zhao Xunyu felt sympathy. He was in a bad mood and didn’t greet Zhao Xunyu, going straight upstairs instead. Because of this Zhao Xunyu looked at his back unhappily. “So rude.”

Grandma Chu glanced at him, implying that he shouldn’t criticize others.

Zhao Xunyu asked, “Grandma, how is Aunt doing?”

“The baby’s still there. Your uncle doesn’t want an abortion. I don’t know what will happen,” Grandma Chu replied.

Song Zhi Yuan had been slapped for acting up. He felt even more disheartened, thinking that his parents were planning to have another child.

Grandma Chu wasn’t one to explain things in detail. She simply described the current situation and ended the conversation. Zhao Xunyu really couldn’t talk to her, so he said he was going upstairs to take a look. He knocked on Chu Zhi Lu’s door, but she ignored him. After three knocks, he said through the crack in the door, “Zhizhi, Grandma’s back.”

“I know.”

Zhao Xunyu waited, but she didn’t open the door.

He went to his room, turned the doorknob, and found that it was locked.

Zhao Xunyu was furious. Chu Zhizhi was one thing, but being locked out of his own room was another! Was this fair?

“Open the door.”

“…”

“Song Zhi Yuan, what’s wrong with you? You locked me out after entering my room?”

Song Zhi Yuan mumbled angrily from inside. “So noisy!”

Zhao Xunyu, who was already in a bad mood, became angrier at the young brat. He yelled, “Are you opening the door or not? Are you forcing me to kick it down? I’ll count to three: one, two…”

Click—

Song Zhi Yuan unlocked the door and buried himself under the covers. Zhao Xunyu pointed at him. 

“Who are you showing this pathetic act to? What’s the point of acting like that? Such useless rage.”

Song Zhi Yuan heard this and pounded the bed hard. Zhao Xunyu was also annoyed. Song Zhi Yuan was staying in the same room, acting like a surveillance camera. How could he sneak into Chu Zhizhi’s room and steal a kiss?

This f*cking light bulb is 5,000 watts!

Out of sight, out of mind. Suddenly, Zhao Xunyu pulled the covers over Song Zhi Yuan’s head and said, “If you have any backbone, go on a hunger strike. Stop this childish tantrum.”

Song Zhi Yuan remained motionless, playing dead.

Zhao Xunyu heard Chu Zhi Lu close her door and go downstairs. He hurriedly got up to chase her. She turned to look at him but said nothing, calmly turning around. Zhao Xunyu tried to appease her. 

“Zhizhi, are you done?”

Chu Zhi Lu ignored him.

He persisted, continuing, “Zhizhi, don’t be angry. I’ve decided to apply to G University. It’s close to you, so we won’t be apart.”

Chu Zhi Lu asked, “Have you seriously considered this decision?”

Zhao Xunyu had PTSD and didn’t dare answer immediately. He thought for a moment. 

“This is my preliminary decision, but I’m positive that I won’t have to repeat a year. I won’t be separated from you.”

The stairs were short, and before he could continue professing his love, they reached the bottom. Seeing his grandmother in the living room, he couldn’t say a word.

D*mn… Why was he so shy? He didn’t dare act up in front of his elders.

Grandma Chu returned Zhao Xunyu’s phone. “Your father said you did well. Continue working hard and don’t act impulsively in the future.”

“Got it, Grandma.” Zhao Xunyu took his phone and playfully winked at Chu Zhi Lu.

Chu Zhi Lu looked away and talked to Grandma Chu. Grandma Chu spoke sparingly to Zhao Xunyu, but talked much more to Chu Zhi Lu.

Zhao Xunyu kept his distance from Chu Zhi Lu, neither too close nor too far, and occasionally feigned accidental physical contact. Chu Zhi Lu didn’t react, but Grandma Chu noticed his actions several times.

When he got his phone back, Zhao Xunyu felt apprehensive. He stared at the home screen for a minute before opening WeChat.

His friends were still thinking of him. As soon as he went online, messages flooded his recent contacts. When he was finished, it showed 999+.

Zhao Xunyu didn’t immediately open the chat box. First, he opened the search function and entered Chu Zhi Lu’s number. However, he found no results. Then, he switched back to the recent chats page, took a screenshot, and posted it to his Moments with the caption: Looks like I’m your whole world. Without me, you’re all like headless flies, not knowing what to do.

Xu Qingchen seemed to live on WeChat. As soon as he posted, he commented: Dog, don’t be so c*cky. You should be locked up for a few more months.

Zhao Xunyu replied: Good son. Look at how many messages you’ve sent. You miss your dad the most.

Xu Qingchen messaged back immediately: You idiot! Does your dad know anything about parenting? How did he let you out?

Zhao Xunyu replied: There is no way. I’m too promising; my dad can’t bear to let me suffer.

Xu Qingchen: How many points did you get?

Zhao Xunyu: Sigh. Who knew the top scorer was my girlfriend?

Xu Qingchen: ?!

Zhao Xunyu: Fate didn’t want to put us too far apart. I got lucky. Thanks to my girlfriend.

Xu Qingchen: You can’t speak the human language, can you? Did you turn into a caveman in the countryside?

Zhao Xunyu: Actually, I’m not satisfied with my score. It’s too far from my girlfriend’s, and I feel inferior.

Xu Qingchen: 1

Zhao Xunyu: I only got a 588. It’s nothing compared to my girlfriend’s score.

Xu Qingchen didn’t reply. Five minutes later, Xu Qingchen initiated a group call in their four-person group, calling out to Zhao Xunyu: Come get a beating, you dog.

Zhao Xunyu wasn’t scared. He showed Chu Zhi Lu his phone. “I’m going out to answer the phone.”

He didn’t want to answer in the living room because those guys were noisy and unreliable, and he didn’t want Chu Zhi Lu to think the same of him.

All four were in the group call. Xu Qingchen said, “Confess and get a lighter sentence. Resist, and face harsh consequences. Be honest with us. Did you really get a girlfriend?”

Zhao Xunyu confessed honestly. “Yes. For the next few years, this will be my only label—the boyfriend of the top scorer.”

“Whoa… Can you stop being so smug? Can you walk independently?”

“Hee hee hee, sorry. I’m my girlfriend’s accessory.”

“No, how did you two get together? Show us a photo. Is she really the top scorer? Are you daydreaming?”

“Would I joke about my purity? It’s like this: My girlfriend followed me around when we were kids. Now that she’s grown up and seen my handsome face, she’s fallen for me again. Then we got together, and now she’s the top scorer.”

“… “

“…”

“…”

After a moment of silence, Song Ting said, “Show us your score, otherwise we won’t believe you.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. The world is declining. People have lost their trust. You don’t even trust me.” He said this, but he quickly opened the score system and took a screenshot.

“I thought this score was enough, but it’s nothing compared to my girlfriend’s.”

Song Ting got a score of 546 and was satisfied with his normal performance. “…”

Jiang Xiang got 576 after an abnormal performance. “… D*mn, I’m not happy.”

Xu Qingchen got 558 after an exceptional performance. “…”