After Confessing To My Childhood Friend - Chapter 52

Chapter 52: The Eve of the College Entrance Exam

◎This Damn Inheritance!◎

After the second mock exam, came a flood of endless small tests.

Today’s paper came from a neighboring school, tomorrow’s from a nearby city, and the day after that, they went cross-province with a mock exam paper from one of the top-performing provinces—leaving the students of No.1 High School groaning in misery, their spirits crushed.

Not long ago, Chen Mengyin would’ve been among the broken-hearted. But ever since that “kidnapping” and heartfelt talk with Xie Zhirou, she had become much more relaxed.

With a good mood, her study efficiency soared.

By the time the third mock exam came around, Chen Mengyin’s score had surpassed the cutoff line for her dream university by over a dozen points. As long as she could maintain her current performance, getting into her dream school was practically a done deal.

As for Xie Zhirou’s scores, even under the teachers’ intentional grading suppression, she still topped not just No.1 High School but the entire Yonghuai City. Chen Mengyin was so thrilled she hugged and kissed Xie Zhirou multiple times.

The one being kissed was already used to it. She simply wiped the saliva off her cheek, lowered her head, and examined Chen Mengyin’s exam paper, trying to spot any areas for improvement to help her score a few extra points before the college entrance exam.

Chen Mengyin propped her chin up and looked at her. Sunlight from the window cast a fuzzy halo around Xie Zhirou.

There were fourteen days left until the college entrance exam.

The teachers no longer lectured. The senior students sat in the classroom, their desks piled with what seemed like an endless supply of exam papers and practice sheets.

Ironically, the closer it got to the exam, the more relaxed school discipline became. As long as the students didn’t do anything too disruptive, the teachers would often turn a blind eye.

Once, Ye Siying got so hungry halfway through an exam that she couldn’t help but pull out a piece of bread from her desk and start munching on it in front of the teacher. Being a generous soul, she even broke off half and shoved it into Jiang Yingxia’s hand, claiming that only with energy could one do well on exams.

Jiang Yingxia looked at the half piece of bread in her hand, then at Ye Siying’s bulging cheeks as she continued scribbling answers. After a moment of hesitation, she took a bite. The sweet wheat flavor melted in her mouth—it might’ve been the most delicious bread she’d had in a long time.

The teacher on the podium saw everything but said nothing. She pretended not to notice when Ye Siying finished one bread roll and moved on to a second.

Chen Mengyin sensed this rare leniency from the teachers and secretly brought her camera to school. During breaks or when teachers were absent, she would stealthily take pictures of her classmates—focused side profiles or their backs as they studied diligently.

When Zhu Danxue found out Chen Mengyin had a camera, she shyly asked if she could borrow it to take a few graduation photos with her friends.

Chen Mengyin readily agreed and volunteered as their photographer, suggesting compositions and poses, snapping vibrant and youthful pictures for them.

Once Zhu Danxue took the lead, other classmates—even those from different classes who were friendly with Chen Mengyin—came to borrow the camera too.

If she had time, Chen Mengyin would help them take photos. If not, she’d teach them how to take better shots themselves.

In less than a week, Chen Mengyin’s camera accumulated nearly a hundred new photos, each one filled with smiling faces radiating youthful energy and hope for the future.

Several times, Chen Mengyin even gathered the courage to ask teachers if she could take a photo of them for keepsake. Coaxed by the students, the teachers reluctantly agreed. As a result, the camera gained several awkward, forced-smile portraits.

Two days before the college entrance exam, the school organized the graduation photo shoot.

Chen Mengyin’s hair had grown a bit in the past few months. That day, she tied it in a small ponytail and stood in the back row of the class wearing her school uniform, hand secretly clasped with Xie Zhirou’s, smiling brightly at the camera.

After the group photo, it was free time.

Chen Mengyin dragged Xie Zhirou around the campus, taking photos at various meaningful spots.

Here in the courtyard, they once had lunch; in an empty classroom at dusk, they shared a secret kiss; at night, they walked hand-in-hand around the track; and so many more…

They had left behind countless treasured, sparkling memories at this school.

The afternoon sunlight was perfect. With the camera pointed at an empty classroom, Xie Zhirou sat in the center while Chen Mengyin set a timer and hurriedly ran over to sit beside her.

Three, two, one.

At the last second, Chen Mengyin turned her head and kissed Xie Zhirou on the cheek.

Checking the photo afterward, Chen Mengyin saw the light in the classroom was great. Only her side profile was visible, but even just that showed her crescent-shaped eyes brimming with the joy of a successful sneak kiss. Beside her, Xie Zhirou had slightly widened her eyes in surprise—her usual cool demeanor replaced with an endearing hint of innocence.

Chen Mengyin laughed and saved the photo.

Later, some friends came looking for them. After taking solo shots for everyone, they gathered for group photos, laughing and posing until the sun dipped behind the mountains, casting a warm orange glow. Under the sunset, everyone’s eyes shimmered with tears as they smiled and waved goodbye.

When Chen Mengyin got home, the first thing she did was kick off her sneakers and gulp down a glass of icy sweet honey water in the kitchen.

The chilled drink washed away the summer heat. She let out a long breath, feeling every pore on her face sigh with relief.

Li Ran had just returned from grocery shopping and was surprised to see Chen Mengyin at home when she should still be in school waiting for evening self-study.

“There’s no night study today?” she asked.

“They gave us a day off before the exam to relax,” Chen Mengyin replied as she rinsed her glass.

“That’s great. Your dad’s not too busy these days—he can cook you something delicious,” Li Ran said as she sorted the groceries into the fridge. “Don’t be too nervous, okay? Just do your best and hand in an exam paper you’re proud of. That’s all that matters.”

Chen Mengyin placed the cup on the drying rack. “Don’t worry, Mom. You and Dad can rest easy.”

Li Ran rolled her eyes. “Wasn’t it you who freaked out and had to be dragged out by three people just to calm down?”

“No clue, never heard of her,” Chen Mengyin said with feigned innocence. “Mom, I want spicy marinated chicken wingtips for dinner.”

“Call your dad and tell him yourself. What about Zhirou? Why didn’t she come back with you today?”

“Her parents are back tonight,” Chen Mengyin said, sending a voice message to her dad asking for the dish. He replied with a thumbs-up emoji.

“Well, that makes sense. With the big exam coming up, any parent would take time off to come home.” Li Ran waved her off. “Alright, enough standing around. Go shower. You stink.”

Chen Mengyin sniffed her arm—didn’t smell bad to her—but still obediently went upstairs to shower.

By the time she came back down, Chen Lin was in the kitchen marinating the chicken wingtips. The aroma of spices filled the air.

“Dad, you’re back!” she said.

“Yeah. Go keep your mom company watching TV. Dinner should be ready in about half an hour,” Chen Lin smiled.

“Okay!” Chen Mengyin plopped onto the couch next to Li Ran and tried watching the over-the-top soap opera.

She couldn’t stand it for long. Picking up her phone, she started messaging Xie Zhirou.

Unfortunately, Zhirou seemed busy—she sent a few short replies, then disappeared.

Li Ran noticed Chen Mengyin pouting and teased, “Did Zhirou think you’re too clingy and stop replying?”

That lit a fire under Chen Mengyin. She checked the chat—last message was five minutes ago.

“She probably just went to eat and left her phone behind,” she reassured herself.

“Hopeless romantic,” Li Ran judged.

Chen Mengyin didn’t deny it. She was in love.

“Dinner’s ready!” came Chen Lin’s voice from the kitchen. Chen Mengyin replied, “Coming!” and went to help bring the dishes out.

During dinner, Chen Lin repeated what Li Ran had said earlier, then added some extra chicken wingtips to her bowl, urging her to eat more since she’d lost weight.

The wings were delicious, but they would’ve tasted even better if Xie Zhirou had replied.

…

Meanwhile, the Xie household was in the middle of a shocking conversation.

Tang Jingxue and Xie Yunzhao had come home to be with their daughter before the exam, keeping an eye on her mental and physical well-being.

They never expected that the real shock was yet to come.

Just as dinner was wrapping up, Xie Zhirou announced—in front of both parents—that she and Chen Mengyin were dating, and had been for almost a year.

Tang Jingxue nearly choked, and Xie Yunzhao quickly handed her a glass of water, patting her back.

“You—what did you just say? You and Mengyin…what?” she gasped.

“I said we’re dating,” Xie Zhirou calmly repeated, looking her mother in the eye. “And we plan to get married after college.”

Tang Jingxue pushed Xie Yunzhao aside and stood up, her hand shaking as she pointed at her daughter. “Do you even know what you’re doing?! This will ruin Mengyin! Do you think being gay is easy? Can you bear seeing her judged by others?!”

She was so furious her whole body trembled. Xie Yunzhao tried to calm her down, saying it wasn’t the time to scold their daughter before the exam.

But Tang Jingxue was furious. Clearly, Zhirou had chosen now to reveal the truth knowing they wouldn’t dare do anything drastic before the test!

“I know,” Zhirou said, unflinching. “But why should I care about other people’s opinions? Our love is enough.”

“Love? You’re just a kid! You can’t tell friendship from love and will ruin both your lives!”

“I’m eighteen,” Zhirou said firmly. “Don’t forget—you and Dad eloped when you were my age.”

Xie Yunzhao: “…”

Tang Jingxue: “…”

This damn inheritance!

Xie Yunzhao quickly supported his wife before she fainted.

“It’s still not okay—not now. You’re too young to understand how cruel the world is. A same-s3x partner will make your life and career harder in ways you can’t even imagine,” Tang Jingxue said, finally calming down.

Her anger came from fear. Zhirou and Mengyin were so young, so full of hope, thinking love could conquer all. They didn’t know the damage gossip could do.

She just didn’t want them to be hurt by love.

Love is not a crime.

“Mom, I know you’re trying to protect us. And I know at my age, everything I say sounds immature. But I hope you can give us a chance—to prove ourselves,” Zhirou pleaded, holding her mother’s hand.

Tang Jingxue sighed. “You’re really sure about Mengyin?”

Zhirou nodded. “If it’s not her, it’s no one.”

Tang Jingxue was livid again. “You’re trying to give me a heart attack!”

“…Fine,” she huffed. “Your dad and I worked hard so you could walk your own path with fewer obstacles. So what if it’s a girlfriend? If anyone dares insult you, I’ll curse them right back!”

But then it hit her—how was she supposed to face Li Ran?!

Her daughter had seduced the neighbor’s daughter—the one they were indebted to!

She paled instantly and collapsed into Yunzhao’s arms.

Oh, the headache.

Seeing her daughter smile so brightly only made the headache worse.

Li Ran-jie… I’m so sorry.

Back in her own bed, Li Ran was also wide awake.

She nudged the half-asleep Chen Lin and asked, “What do you think of Zhirou?”

“Huh? She’s… great,” Chen Lin muttered sleepily.

“And if—just if—our daughter liked her?”

Still half-asleep, Chen Lin replied, “You found out?”

“…What did I find out?” Li Ran asked, confused.

“That Mengyin likes Zhirou.”

“???”

Li Ran shook him awake. “You knew?! Since when?!”

“I’ve been a cop for years, of course I knew. She had a crush since middle school.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?!”

But Chen Lin had already dozed off again.

Fuming, Li Ran kicked him and turned over, scowling in the dark.