"Now that we've got our diplomas and scores, we need to hurry up and think about what universities to apply for. Have you two thought about it yet?"
After the scores were released, both families got together again to celebrate.
Liu Rushuang asked with concern, her child's college entrance exams were over, and she was about to go on a business trip again.
Xu's mother chuckled, "Musen has been going on about applying to Tsinghua these past few days. I'm not sure if his scores are good enough, but he's so full of himself. As for Ming Yue, her scores are definitely no problem."
"Mom, can't you have a little faith in your son?" Xu Musen retorted, still not convinced.
In recent days, he had been spreading the message far and wide that he was determined to get into Tsinghua, or at the very least Peking University.
Yao Mingyue listened and gradually accepted the idea that Xu Musen wanted to apply to Tsinghua.
Actually, she had wanted to go to Hu Hai University all along, since one of her mother's branch offices was located in Hu Hai.
But for Yao Mingyue, the most important thing was to keep him close by her side.
Tsinghua? That could work too.
If the two of them really got into the same university, Yao Mingyue had decided to let him taste a bit of sweetness first.
Even when he thought about touching someone in a wheelchair, it must have been because he couldn't have her own legs every day, that's why he was like this.
He really was starving, able to eat anything!
It was all because she was too charming!
Yao Mingyue looked down at her own slender and fair legs, tender yet plump, hmph... in the future, she would have to punish him severely.
Her face flushed as she got lost in her reverie...
Xu Musen, meanwhile, stealthily watched her.
Time to advance the plan!
The next day.
The driving test for the second subject was coming up, but it seemed like an overcast day.
Xu Musen felt the air was particularly humid when he left the house, hoping to finish the test quickly and be done with it.
Yao Mingyue wore a sun-protection coat today, accompanied by light-colored long pants on the bottom.
She used to wear skirts specifically for Xu Musen to admire her legs, but then she realized that at the driving school, others stared at her more than Xu Musen did, even the envious glances of other girls!
Annoyed, she put on long pants.
The two of them had gotten used to going to the driving school together every day.
Xu Musen mounted the bike, and Yao Mingyue sat on the back with practiced ease, her hands clutching his waist.
Xu Musen couldn't be bothered to wrangle with her; after all, once school started, they probably wouldn't see much of each other.
They rode all the way to the driving school.
There were quite a few people taking the test today, as the second subject has always been a wholesale purveyor of geniuses and jesters.
Parking in the side space turned into flipping over to the side.
Starting on a slope turned into launching off a slope.
Driving through an S-curve turned into bumper cars.
The loudspeaker at the test site never stopped broadcasting.
The coach had everything arranged in advance; there was nothing superfluous on the test site.
Even a blade of grass, a patch of earth, had its unique purpose.
Many girls practiced the motions with an invisible steering wheel, nerves on high.
"Contestant number 54! What are you doing sitting in the passenger seat?"
"Contestant number 63! Are you checking the chassis because you want to fix the car?"
Xu Musen, Yao Mingyue, and He Qiang all waited for their turn to test, laughing at the announcements they heard.
There were also many others who had failed and were secretly wiping away tears.
Xu Musen sighed, thinking those people might as well give up on getting their driver's license early – they were too emotionally unstable.
"The exam is too slow. I feel like it's going to rain outside today."
He Qiang looked at the weather; it was only a bit overcast in the morning, but now the clouds seemed to be gathering.
"The weather forecast said the rain wouldn't come until tonight."
"Pfft, weather forecasts are full of nonsense. Last time I went fishing at the reservoir, they said there would be light rain, but then damn hail started to fall, nearly killed me," He Qiang complained bitterly. Fishermen care a lot about the weather.
Finally, at noon, it was their turn.
Xu Musen, like an old hand at driving, performed a fluid set of maneuvers and was done in no time.
"Your examination has passed, please return to print your score report."
Xu Musen walked off with an air of relaxation.
But He Qiang came off with a long face, "I forgot to signal, lost ten points, nearly failed."
"Come on, you passed, didn't you?"
Xu Musen said, patting him on the shoulder with a smile.
At that moment, Yao Mingyue also got in the car to start her test.
Xu Musen and He Qiang watched from outside the wall fence.
The school's cars were old models of Santana; classic indeed, but as tastes changed, they weren't exactly considered good-looking anymore.
They say if you drive a Range Rover or a Benz into your village, even the village chief will offer you cigarettes.
But if you drive a Geely Emgrand, the village chief will send a voice message telling you to keep your distance.
Car rides can enhance an ordinary person's charisma.
But when Yao Mingyue sat in the car, she managed to give this Santana the air of a luxury vehicle.
"Tsk tsk, can't deny it, Yao Mingyue's charisma is really something special, Moriko, you sure you don't want to pursue her?"
He Qiang asked.
Xu Musen shook his head: "Just average, I'd say, not even half as good as her mom's."
"Come on, Yao Mingyue isn't even half her mom's age, and in the future, she's sure to be a charismatic and rich beauty. Would you really be okay with her ending up with someone else?"
He Qiang muttered, but Xu Musen didn't respond, lost in thought. Searᴄh the nôvel_Fire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"By the way, it's time to choose college preferences, have you decided on a school?"
He Qiang quickly changed the subject.
"Probably Hu Hai,"
Xu Musen responded as the image of An Nuannuan surfaced in his mind. The girl had been busy with something these past few days and they hadn't met.
She also mentioned wanting to go to Hu Hai. If he could go to the same school as her, it might be quite interesting.
"Weren't you the one adamant about going to Tsinghua or nowhere?"
"Well, people should be self-aware."
Xu Musen chuckled.
It's said that female drivers are frightening, but Yao Mingyue has strong learning abilities and even aced her driving test without breaking a sweat.
However, no sooner had the three of them finished their test, the sky dimmed and heavy winds began to blow.
"Damn, looks like it's really going to rain. I've got to hurry back!"
He Qiang said with some excitement, rubbing his hands together.
"Why are you so thrilled about it?"
"The heavier the rain, the bigger the fish that come up for air, increasing the chances of catching them!"
He Qiang smirked with gleaming eyes.
Xu Musen couldn't help but tease, "That look in your eyes is nearly identical to someone heading to Red Romance to find an 'older sister'. Tell me, how did the breeding go with the fish at your place?"
"Get lost, fishing is way better than girls. No more talk, I'm off!"
He Qiang chuckled, hopped on his electric bike, and zoomed off.
Xu Musen shook his head with a smile, thinking it was good for him to have a hobby.
When he turned around, he found Yao Mingyue standing behind him.
She was watching him with great interest.
"...When did you come out?"
"Is Red Romance fun?"
"..."
Xu Musen didn't explain, and Yao Mingyue also knew him—he didn't have the guts.
If he dared to fool around, her steel wool scourer would be waiting for three days of scrubbing!
"Hurry up and get in the car, it looks like it's going to rain."
Xu Musen looked up, noticing the clouds had turned even darker.
Summer was always like this: clear skies one moment, but the next a storm could break without warning.
"Looks like it's really going to rain. Do you want to call a cab and head back first?" Xu Musen felt a few drops of rain.
"No need, it's not far. I've got an umbrella,"
Yao Mingyue said, still seated in the back, holding a small umbrella.
Xu Musen didn't waste words and started for home, twisting the throttle.
As expected, within the short ten-minute ride, a downpour began halfway through.
The sudden rain left them unprepared.
The rain pounded on their faces, forcing Xu Musen to squint.
"Stop for a second,"
Yao Mingyue said from behind.
"What's wrong?" Xu Musen stopped by the roadside and looked back.
He saw Yao Mingyue taking off her sun protection jacket and passing it to Xu Musen. The jacket was roomy and had a sunshade cap, which could provide some shelter from the rain.
"You wear it,"
Xu Musen said as he turned back.
In the torrential downpour, Yao Mingyue's thin short-sleeved shirt was soaked through, becoming somewhat translucent and clinging to her body, Xu Musen could even clearly see her light pink bra.
The girl's slender frame trembled slightly in the rain, her face determined as she bit her cold lips, stubbornly holding out the sun protection jacket to him.
Xu Musen knew this stubborn girl too well; he had no choice but to drape the jacket over himself. With the sunshade cap, he could finally open his eyes against the rain.
Yao Mingyue, meanwhile, snuggled into the windbreaker, wrapping her arms around his waist. The two of them pressed tightly together.
The rain-soaked clothes felt almost as if they were wearing nothing at all, and Xu Musen took a deep breath and hurried home.
While Yao Mingyue, hugging Xu Musen's waist, warmed her cold cheeks against his broad back, the chill from the rain began to dissipate.
She even wished for the road to stretch longer, to hold him tighter, as if to merge into his very being...
Yet suddenly, she noticed that the space where she was embracing his waist seemed to have shrunk.
Hmm... do abs also come in long strips?