Chapter 40: Is Sun-Zi a Scum?

"This brat, he’s truly gone too far!" Grandfather slammed the table, his entire body trembling with rage.

Just then, the sound of the front door opening echoed from the courtyard.

Lin Qianfan walked in, carrying a heap of items. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Xu Qian sitting in the main room.

"Why are you here?" Lin Qianfan’s expression darkened instantly.

"Can't I come to see Grandma and Grandfather?" Xu Qian stood up, a smug smile flickering across her face.

"What are you here for? You aren't welcome here, get out!" Lin Qianfan said bluntly, showing her the door without a hint of politeness.

"Qianfan, what kind of tone is that? The girl came out of the kindness of her heart to visit us; how can you chase her away?" Grandmother said, displeased, as she moved to stop him.

"That's right, Qianfan. You child, why are you so rude?" Grandfather added, his face also stern.

"Grandma, Grandfather, you don't understand, she—" Lin Qianfan tried to explain, but Xu Qian interrupted him.

"Lin Qianfan, don't go too far! I came here with good intentions to visit your grandparents; what right do you have to drive me away?"

As she spoke, Xu Qian began to cry, wearing the expression of someone who had suffered a great injustice. Her acting was so good it could have earned her an Oscar.

"Qianfan! Explain yourself clearly—what is going on here?" Grandfather’s face grew increasingly grim, his tone turning severe.

"Grandfather, I..." Lin Qianfan started to speak, but was cut off again.

"What 'I'? A real man should be brave enough to take responsibility. You cannot let Xiao Qian down!"

"Let her down? How have I let her down?" Lin Qianfan was so angry he nearly laughed. He pointed at Xu Qian, his voice rising an octave. "During the vote, she impersonated someone else and acted like it was only natural! She’s been stringing me along the whole time; I chased her for so long and never even held her hand! She’s just treated me like a spare tire, a pathetic fanboy!"

Lin Qianfan poured out everything he had been bottling up in one breath.

"You're lying!" Xu Qian’s face shifted, and she shrieked, "I didn't string you along! I was only testing you!"

Lin Qianfan let out a cold snort. "Let me tell you, I, Lin Qianfan, must have been blind to ever have set my sights on someone like you!"

"You..." Pushed into a corner by Lin Qianfan’s barrage of questions, Xu Qian had nothing left to say. She pointed her finger at him, trembling with rage.

"I’m telling you all, no matter how much I might be struggling, I would never want a woman like this!"

"You're too much!" Xu Qian covered her face, turned, and ran out, sobbing.

Grandfather knew his grandson’s personality; he was someone who always spoke his mind and would never falsely accuse anyone without cause.

Grandmother sighed, her thoughts drifting to her own disappointing son—Lin Qianfan’s father. Back then, the divorce of Lin Qianfan’s parents had caused quite a stir. Later, both had remarried and built new lives, moving into mansions and driving luxury cars, leaving Lin Qianfan behind with the two elderly people. For all these years, they had been indifferent to both Lin Qianfan and the couple, not even calling once.

Thinking of this, a wave of sadness washed over Grandmother. She knew that she and her husband were aging and could not be by Lin Qianfan’s side forever. That was why she had always hoped he would find a good girl to marry, so he would have someone to rely on in the future.

Lin Qianfan took a deep breath and said, "It’s getting late. I’m going back to my room; you two should get some rest."

Grandfather sighed. "Children have their own fortunes; we can’t control everything."

"I don't control it? If I don't, who will? His parents can’t be counted on. If I don't step in, what will happen to him in the future?" Grandmother said, tears beginning to fall. Grandfather sighed again and remained silent.

Back in his room, Lin Qianfan felt restless. He opened his laptop and began to write. Only while writing could he temporarily forget those vexing matters. Suddenly, his phone chimed; it was a message from Xia Ruo.

"I’ve decided to apply to A University."

"Really? That’s great!" Lin Qianfan’s spirits lifted instantly. A University was the best university in the city!

"Yeah, I thought about it for a long time. I still want to go somewhere nearby," Xia Ruo’s message carried a hint of shyness.

"Great! Let’s work hard together and make sure we both get in!" Lin Qianfan replied excitedly.

"Mm, let's work hard together!"

Seeing Xia Ruo’s message, Lin Qianfan’s mood improved significantly. He closed his novel document, opened his study materials, and began to review diligently. Since Xia Ruo had made her decision, he couldn't fall behind. He had to get into the same university as her!

As the college entrance examination grew closer, Lin Qianfan became busier. He had to juggle the bubble tea shop and the delivery platform business while carving out time to study. But he never complained of hardship or exhaustion, because he knew it was all for his and Xia Ruo’s future.

At school, he began to spur on his roommates. "Yongpan, Dawei, you guys need to pick up the pace, too! The exam is only a few days away; stop thinking only about playing around! If you don't get into university, you’ll only have yourselves to blame later!"

Under Lin Qianfan’s prodding, his roommates began to study seriously as well. Although they complained from time to time, they all knew deep down that Lin Qianfan was doing it for their own good.

The day of the exam finally arrived. Students from all over the city rushed to their respective testing centers to face the most important exam of their lives. Lin Qianfan and Xia Ruo were assigned to different test sites, but before entering, they high-fived to cheer each other on.

"Xia Ruo, good luck! You can definitely do it!"

"Qianfan, you good luck too! I believe in you!"

During the exam, Lin Qianfan performed with great composure. He thought through every question and answered with care. He felt like a precision machine, accessing all the knowledge he had learned and outputting it onto the paper in an orderly fashion.

Two days passed in a flash, and the final bell rang. Candidates filed out of the exam halls, each wearing a different expression. As Lin Qianfan exited, he spotted Xia Ruo in the crowd at a glance. She was smiling at him, a bright light shining in her eyes.

"Qianfan, how did you do?" Xia Ruo ran to his side and asked with concern.

"Not bad. How about you?" Lin Qianfan said with a smile.

"I did well, too. I feel like I performed even better than usual," Xia Ruo said, a trace of excitement in her voice.

"That’s good. We both did well, so let’s wait for the good news!" Lin Qianfan said.

"Mm, waiting for the good news!" Xia Ruo nodded firmly.

After the exams, the students were finally completely relaxed. Lin Qianfan’s bubble tea shop entered its busiest season yet. Every day, a large number of students came to buy bubble tea, and long queues formed outside the entrance.

"Boss, one pearl milk tea!"

"I want a coconut jelly fruit tea, extra jelly!"

"I want a cheese-foam green tea, make the foam thick!"

Orders rang out one after another, and the two employees were kept frantic. Lin Qianfan didn't stay idle either; he helped greet customers and handle the payments and change.