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墨書 Inktalez
Zhang Qiu sat in the bar, receiving a call from Liu Xinru, which reminded him that he needed to fill out his college application. He had been so busy with various matters after taking over the club that he completely forgot about such an important task. Liu Xinru, surprised, said to Zhang Qiu, "What have you been thinking? How could you forget something so big?"
"I'm busy, really too busy these days."
"How busy can you be to forget filling out your application?"
"I really am busy, but thank you."
"Hmph, I think you're just not paying attention." Liu Xinru didn't believe that Zhang Qiu was too busy to fill out his application. "How busy can it be? Did the county head invite you to dinner?"
"Actually," Zhang Qiu couldn't help but laugh, "the county head really did invite me to dinner."
"Enough with that. Let's get serious. Which school do you want to apply to?"
"As for me, I don't know." Zhang Qiu hadn't thought much about this question. First, he hadn't been to many places, and second, he didn't care much about where to go. He figured he would just apply to the same city as Jiang Xue.
"You see? You're not paying attention at all. It's time to apply, and you haven't even thought about where to apply. I bet you haven't even opened the materials the school gave you."
Zhang Qiu had to admit that Liu Xinru was right; the school had distributed two booklets about college applications, and after receiving them, he had indeed just tossed them aside without even looking.
Liu Xinru laughed and said, "I knew you wouldn't look at them, so I've already chosen for you."
"You've chosen for me?"
"Yes."
Liu Xinru explained the schools she had selected for Zhang Qiu one by one. Zhang Qiu interrupted her, saying, "Why are all the schools you've chosen in the capital?"
"Of course! Is there something wrong with studying in the capital?"
"That's fine, but I need to see where Jiang Xue is going. I don't have any particular requirements for the school; wherever she goes, I'll go too. If we can't attend the same school, at least we should be in the same city."
There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before Liu Xinru said, "She is really lucky; I'm a bit jealous of her."
"I'll seriously consider your schools. Jiang Xue is so busy that she doesn't have time; I'll contact her soon to see where she wants to go."
Liu Xinru asked curiously, "Aren't you two together?"
"No, a lot has happened recently, and you'll be surprised when you get home."
"Really? I've already started to look forward to it."
"That's great! Anyway, summer vacation is coming soon, so when you come back, we can hang out."
"Of course I'll come find you; that's a given." Liu Xinru paused and then added, "I won't be home much; please keep an eye on my sister for me."
"Don't worry, I will. A while ago, I suggested your sister work at my bar, but she refused."
"My sister is just too strong-willed. It's fine; I'll talk to her when summer vacation comes. Having a proper job is definitely better than doing that kind of work."
"Alright, then you can persuade your sister."
"Zhang Qiu!"
Liu Xinru suddenly shouted from the other end, startling Zhang Qiu, who quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
"Thank you."
Zhang Qiu sighed in relief. "No need to be polite; you scared me with that shout. I thought something happened to you."
"Are you concerned about me?"
Zhang Qiu was speechless and sighed, "I feel like you're just one person."
Liu Xinru, feeling wronged on the other end of the phone, replied, "I am a person."
"What I mean is, you remind me of someone I know."
"Who?"
"Rui Rui. When you come back, I'll introduce you two."
"Okay," Liu Xinru agreed, then asked, "In what way are we alike? Is it because we look similar?"
"No, it's how you both talk." Zhang Qiu felt helpless; whether it was Rui Rui or Liu Xinru, they both spoke as if they were trying to dominate the conversation.
Before hanging up, Zhang Qiu laughed and said, "I really do have to go again; the county chief is treating me to dinner."
"The county chief really invited you to dinner?" Liu Xinru sounded particularly surprised on the other end.
"Of course! I'll send you today's newspaper headline."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Zhang Qiu sent Liu Xinru the electronic version of the news report about the bar and then hurried to Fire Cicada to find Jiang Xue. On the way, Zhang Qiu thought that Jiang Xue must be busy; otherwise, she wouldn't forget something as important as filling out the application. Sure enough, when Zhang Qiu arrived at Fire Cicada, Jiang Xue was in her office, deeply focused on a stack of reports on her desk.
Seeing Jiang Xue so busy made Zhang Qiu feel a pang of sympathy. Zhang Qiu approached and placed her hands on Jiang Xue's shoulders. Only then did Jiang Xue react; looking at Zhang Qiu, she smiled and said, "Why are you here so early today?"
"Early? It's already quite late. Just think about what day it is." As expected, Jiang Xue had indeed forgotten to fill out the application.
"Is it time to fill out the applications?" Zhang Qiu asked, propping his head on his hand as he suddenly remembered.
"Yes, if it weren't for Liu Xinru's call, I would have forgotten about it," she replied.
"She certainly remembers it well."
Zhang Qiu looked at Jiang Xue's pout and couldn't help but lightly pinch her smooth cheek, laughing, "What's wrong? Is my little baby feeling jealous?"
"Please, who’s jealous? I'm busy," Jiang Xue said, pushing aside the various forms on the table while turning on her computer. "Have you decided where you want to apply?"
"I'll apply wherever you do. Even if we can't be at the same school, I want to be in the same city as you."
Jiang Xue asked, "Did Liu Xinru recommend any schools when she called you?"
"She did, and they were all schools in the capital," Zhang Qiu admitted without hesitation.
Jiang Xue pondered for a moment and said, "Then I'll apply to a university in the capital too, and you should come along."
"Huh?" Zhang Qiu was surprised that Jiang Xue would go to the capital. "I remember you once told me you wanted to go to Hong Kong."
Jiang Xue suddenly smiled, recalling how Zhang Qiu had taken her to the riverside woods to play guitar. She indeed had wanted to visit Hong Kong. However, times had changed. She laughed and said, "Back then, I was infatuated with Cantonese songs. I really do want to go there someday. But going to school in the capital is a well-considered decision for me; there is better education there, and your future stage will definitely be in the capital."
"My stage?"
"Yes." Jiang Xue nodded seriously. "You carry an important mission on your shoulders. If the rumors are true, you might not be able to separate yourself from the capital. In the capital, you'll have greater opportunities for development. Besides, two forces are already paying attention to you there; it's only a matter of time before you have to deal with them. It’s better to dive into the lion's den; I'll accompany you."
Zhang Qiu hugged Jiang Xue from behind and kissed her, laughing, "Rui Rui, you're becoming more and more mature."
"Of course! I'm Sister Zhang."
After a bit of playful banter, Zhang Qiu said, "I need to talk to you about something."
"What is it?"
"It's something regarding you that I've been thinking about for a long time. Now that the club's various systems are starting to be implemented, and the entertainment venues we received are operating normally, with the college entrance exams over, there's one thing I can't let go of before heading to Africa. I want to take you to meet my aunt."
"Ah, okay."
Zhang Qiu was surprised. "You agreed so quickly?"
"Of course. Your family has met me; it's time for my family to get to know you too. It's just that about that man, you..."
"Don't worry, I understand." Zhang Qiu took Jiang Xue's hand and placed it over his heart.
Regarding Jiang Xue's nominal stepfather—only nominal, as the things that man had done did not deserve to be called a stepfather—Zhang Qiu had long wanted to meet him. This person stood as a huge obstacle between Jiang Xue and her mother. The most intolerable thing was that this despicable man actually had thoughts about Jiang Xue, his wife's daughter.
"I plan to have Tao Ya stay with you for a while."
"Stay at home?" Jiang Xue turned to Zhang Qiu in disbelief.
"Yes, stay at home and keep Auntie company."
Jiang Xue was a good child; she couldn't bear to make her mother uncomfortable. She could avoid going home and not see her stepfather. But Zhang Qiu couldn't let Jiang Xue suffer; it was her home, and she had the right to return and live there safely.
"But..." Jiang Xue furrowed her brows, her worries evident.
Zhang Qiu held Jiang Xue tightly and whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I'll arrange everything. I understand how you feel; you want to see your aunt and go back home. I'll help you."
Jiang Xue remained silent, trembling in Zhang Qiu's embrace as tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto his hand. She certainly wanted to go home; living at Auntie's place all this time felt uncomfortable, like being a guest in someone else's house.
"Be good, don't cry, everything will be alright."
"Really?"
Jiang Xue looked up, her tear-filled eyes gazing at Zhang Qiu. Zhang Qiu nodded firmly and said, "It definitely will, I promise you."
"Okay then." Jiang Xue wiped her tears, "Let's fill out the application. Once we're done, I want to buy something for Mom."
"That's the spirit." Zhang Qiu smiled, "I'll go with you to buy a gift for your mom."
Jiang Xue had already planned which university in the capital she wanted to attend, but their scores were nearly sixty points apart. Zhang Qiu insisted that Jiang Xue apply to a good one. Of course, Zhang Qiu chose a university that was closest to Jiang Xue's school. After deciding on the school, Zhang Qiu sent the name to Liu Xinru, and then the two of them went out shopping together. The receptionist watched as the boss and Sister Zhang rushed around, feeling a bit nervous, thinking something must have happened again.
In the largest shopping mall in Beilan County, Zhang Qiu and Jiang Xue moved through floors one to six, buying everything from snacks to clothes and shoes. Jiang Xue held onto her bank card from the bar's profit-sharing, her face beaming with happiness. It felt wonderful to use her own earnings to give back to her parents who raised her. In the end, they had bought so much that they couldn't carry it all. Jiang Xue sighed regretfully, "Sigh, it's been so long since I've been home; I want to buy everything this time. Do you think I've bought too much?"
Zhang Qiu looked at the large bags on the ground and laughed, "Not at all, it's not too much at all."
After a few minutes, members of Hall Society arrived from all directions at the shopping mall and took various gift bags from Zhang Qiu and Jiang Xue's hands. Zhang Qiu said with a smile, "Madam, let's continue shopping!"
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