Let's Do Some Questions - Chapter 97

Song Man stayed home with her parents for about half a month. Song Qinglan still hadn’t backed down. Tong Yiran visited, hoping Song Zici would accept, but Song Zici remained cold and didn’t want to see her, though she didn’t kick her out either.

“Auntie, if you’re worried about the heir issue, you really don’t need to be. With current technology, there have been cases of embryos being cultivated from two egg cells.”

No matter what Tong Yiran said, Song Zici maintained a cold expression. After Tong Yiran ran out of things to say, she asked her to leave.

Song Man was a bit confused. Since the heir wasn’t an issue, Song Qinglan’s ability wasn’t an issue, and their relationship wasn’t an issue, why wouldn’t her mother budge? Was public opinion really that scary? It was just having a partner of the same s3x. Was that worse than murder or arson, something people would point fingers at?

“Your mom is just being stubborn with your sister.”

Xu Qinglang sighed, feeling a bit helpless about the situation.

“This isn’t about the beginning anymore.”

The conflict between mother and daughter had completely erupted. How could Song Zici swallow her pride and accept this now?

Song Man felt it was so complicated, much more complex than a math problem. She could only sigh while hugging Chu Fengqiu.

“One of them will have to compromise first.”

Chu Fengqiu made Song Man a cup of soy milk and stroked Song Man’s soft hair.

“I don’t think it will be Song Qinglan.”

Song Man leaned against Chu Fengqiu, feeling a bit worried.

She knew Song Qinglan. Once she made a decision, she would never turn back.

“Lao Chu, after the Gaokao, should we come out?”

“We can tell Grandpa and Grandma first. As for your Uncle and Auntie, we can wait until I have enough confidence to be responsible for your life.”

Chu Fengqiu always liked to think things through. She didn’t like making empty promises. Showing something concrete would likely make Song Man’s parents more accepting.

“Okay!”

Song Man nodded. Song Qinglan and her mother were still at a stalemate over this matter. Maybe bringing it up then would only lead to an unsatisfactory outcome.

Spring turned to autumn, time hurried by. Qingcheng’s mountains turned green then withered, and in the blink of an eye, it was winter again.

Song Man and Chu Fengqiu had entered their third year of high school. By the end of this winter, they would be in the final stretch of high school.

“Hello, President. Hello, Senior Song.”

Passing Student Union members greeted Chu Fengqiu and also said hello to Song Man.

Chu Fengqiu nodded slightly and continued walking through the campus with Song Man.

“Is that Senior Song from the Student Union? How come I’ve never seen her? Do you know her?”

Chen Meng asked the Deputy Head of the Disciplinary Department who had just greeted them. She only remembered the President’s face.

“I don’t know her, but our Head said that the good-looking girl with short hair walking next to the President is usually Senior Song, no doubt. Greeting her will earn you points with the President!”

“Oh, you can do that!”

Song Man and Chu Fengqiu didn’t know that the people who had just passed were quietly discussing them behind their backs. They looked at the familiar campus with some emotion.

“I can’t believe in the blink of an eye, we’re seniors now, and it’s not long until we leave.”

“We met when we were in first year, right?”

Song Man couldn’t quite remember the exact day or circumstances when she and Chu Fengqiu met, only how they met. After all, the two buildings her family donated were still there to remind her.

“Yes, it was first year.”

Chu Fengqiu spoke. Her demeanor was a bit colder than in first year, and after becoming President, she had gained a touch more capability.

Song Man, however, hadn’t changed much compared to before. She was just a bit more steady and reserved, but she still often slept in class, making teachers both love and hate her.

Compared to Chu Fengqiu’s serious attitude, Song Man, the genius type, made teachers want to pin her to her chair to do problems, enduring the silent glares of her classmates every day.

“Time flies so fast.”

“Next semester, we should be putting up the college application wall, and the coming-of-age ceremony is also on the schedule.”

Chu Fengqiu quietly spoke about the academic plan for the second half of the year as they walked towards their classroom.

Their clasped hands didn’t separate until they reached the classroom.

The classmates were used to the two top students’ affectionate behavior. When they sat down, students came up with practice books to ask questions.

It was already third year, and the classmates were getting more and more nervous. Teacher resources were limited, so in this situation, everyone would ask those with good grades. The class’s Double Kings were naturally their first choice.

However, they preferred Class President Chu Fengqiu, which Song Man found very confusing.

“Is it because you can’t keep up with my problem-solving methods?”

Song Man could understand why they might not ask her about math problems, but why not biology and chemistry? The specific knowledge was right there; Song Man couldn’t make it complicated. There was no reason they wouldn’t understand.

The classmates hesitated, their expressions complex.

“I don’t know why, but when you explain problems, I always feel like I’m an idiot.”

The student who spoke said it timidly, and others nodded in agreement.

Song Man wasn’t sarcastic and was very patient, but that feeling of being intellectually crushed just lingered in their minds. Perhaps it was because Song Man’s expression was too relaxed; in short, the contrast made people feel very self-conscious.

Chu Fengqiu chuckled upon hearing this. It wasn’t that exaggerated, but Song Man was used to explaining problems without dragging it out, only stating the key points. She considered everything else basic knowledge and assumed everyone knew it. Those with a good foundation could keep up perfectly, while those who were a bit hazy found it hard to understand.

Song Man: …………

Alright, what else could she say? Song Man could only go onto the Question Bank app to guide the students asking questions.

And this scene, in the eyes of others, was yet another picture of a top student playing on their phone, making them feel even more bitter.

That evening, Song Man didn’t go back with Chu Fengqiu. They had already agreed that Song Man would eat at home today.

Song Man didn’t really want to go home. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to spend time with her parents, but she felt a bit stressed. Her mother had already asked her if she wanted to study finance-related majors and had even given her a few management books.

Song Man’s head was spinning. She was genuinely not interested in that. Song Man was truly afraid her mother wanted to train her to be a second Song Qinglan or a second version of herself.

Originally, her mother didn’t have this idea, but Song Qinglan seemed determined not to turn back, so she shifted her focus to Song Man.

Song Man had been keeping an eye on Song Qinglan’s movements. After leaving home, Song Qinglan didn’t go start a business; instead, she went to paint and play the piano.

Song Man was shocked when she heard this news. Song Qinglan suddenly cultivating her artistic side like this made her a bit unaccustomed. Then she found that Song Qinglan truly loved whatever she did; her paintings even participated in an art exhibition. Song Man was a common person, but she still thought they were beautiful.

It seemed things had suddenly reversed. Song Man truly wanted to avoid the position of heir and didn’t want this matter to become her responsibility and burden. But she also clearly knew that if Song Qinglan didn’t come back, she would have to bear it all.

Sure enough, during dinner, her mother brought up the topic again, which Song Man brushed off with laughter.

“This is something others can only dream of, yet to you, it’s like a hot potato.”

Song Zici also felt a bit weary. She had long planned to hand over her business to her elder daughter in the future and let her younger daughter be free, but now that things had turned out this way, the number of times she sighed had increased.

“Mom, everyone has their own aspirations, right, Dad?”

Song Man frantically signaled her dad with her eyes, sending out a distress signal.

“Your mom isn’t wrong either.”

Xu Qinglang sided with his wife, his expression also helpless.

He worked alongside his wife and naturally knew her hard work and dedication. If Qinglan truly decided not to come back, Manman would have to bear it all.

If Manman were still like before, perhaps his wife’s expectations wouldn’t be so high.

He occasionally offered a few words of persuasion. After so long, it had shown some effect. He knew his wife was just being stubborn, and once he even found her researching laws on homosexuality and IVF.

After Song Man got home, she lay on the bed like a corpse.

Chu Fengqiu was already used to her state. She filled the bathtub with water, added essential oil, and called Song Man to take a bath together.

The bathtub was big enough for two with room to spare. Song Man’s leg was resting on Chu Fengqiu, who was massaging Song Man’s foot. When she hit a ticklish spot, Song Man couldn’t help but laugh.

“Lao Chu, it tickles.”

Song Man’s foot lifted, splashing water, but Chu Fengqiu cupped it back in her hands.

“Cheer up.”

“I can’t be happy thinking about that. I’m afraid my mom will make me apply for finance when I fill out my college applications.”

“If you really don’t want to, then stick to doing what you like. If you choose something that makes you unhappy, everything after that will be painful. Auntie is still very young.”

“Besides, your learning ability is so fast. If it really comes to that, just accept it.”

Song Man splashed the water and thought about it.

“If Song Qinglan really doesn’t come back, whether I accept it sooner or later, I still have to accept it, right? So I’ll do what I like first.”

Song Man made her decision just like that. As it turned out, she didn’t even have to stick to it for three months.

Because Song Qinglan came back!

Xu Qinglang and Tong Yiran spearheaded this, helping the mother and daughter let go and at least not act like enemies.

The happiest person about this was Song Man. She was absolutely overjoyed, not hiding it at all, which made Song Qinglan’s mouth twitch.

After Song Qinglan returned, the Gaokao wasn’t far off.

In the final sprint phase, there was no more idle chatting in class. Everyone was studying hard, and it was quiet during breaks.

Song Man also stopped sleeping in class, afraid of provoking the other students who stayed up late doing homework. She was intensely working through enhanced practice problems.

There was a reason Song Man was so motivated. It wasn’t just because she wanted to get a good score, but also because she had made a bet with Chu Fengqiu.

Whoever got the lower score had to wear a maid outfit and roleplay for a whole day, absolutely not breaking character.

Song Man suggested this, after all, she still couldn’t forget Chu Fengqiu’s white stockings.

Before this, Chu Fengqiu had kept her promise about the white stockings, giving Song Man a big surprise.

However, she really only wore a pair of white stockings, which made her legs look long, slender, and straight, exciting Song Man for a whole day.

Chu Fengqiu readily agreed to this suggestion.

If she could see Song Man in a maid outfit… just thinking about it made something that shouldn’t exist rise for Chu Fengqiu.

The countdown days posted on the wall decreased day by day until the number became 1, when the homeroom teacher went on stage to give the final speech.

Many classmates secretly wiped away tears. Song Man felt quite inspired and moved listening to it.

“Students, make sure not to be late tomorrow. Bring your admission ticket and answer sheet pen. Make sure to write with a black pen. The school will have buses for pick-up and drop-off tomorrow, leaving on time. Everyone, absolutely, absolutely do not be late.”

The homeroom teacher repeatedly reminded them on stage, her gaze falling on each person.

“Then I wish everyone can perform well tomorrow, worthy of your past efforts, worthy of your future prospects, worthy of yourselves and your hearts. Today, you are the pride of No. 1 High, and tomorrow, No. 1 High will be proud of you! Students, see you at the exam hall tomorrow.”

“Goodbye, Teacher!”

Forty students spoke in unison. After the teacher left, the students said their goodbyes among themselves and left their signatures on the blackboard.

Song Man left her name on it, right next to hers was Chu Fengqiu’s name.

“Goodbye, Class President. Goodbye, Boss Song.”

The most active boy in class, who often came to ask questions, spoke up. Some followed suit, and others loudly thanked classmates who had helped them.

Song Man looked at them and curved her lips into a smile.

“Goodbye.”

After leaving this classroom, this familiar place would no longer belong to them.

The short journey had ended, but this life was still very long.