Chapter 33

Yang Jingxing returned to the dormitory and found Tan Dong still practicing the guitar diligently. To his surprise, Tan Dong had already made some progress and could play a decent tune.

Tan Dong looked at Yang Jingxing and asked, "Have you been with Tao Meng the whole time?" His tone was very calm, as if his soul had been cleansed by his own music.

Yang Jingxing nodded, "We were discussing friendship."

Tan Dong sneered, "Discuss whatever you want. Once tomorrow is over, it won't be our problem anymore."

Yang Jingxing was angry, "You're too unrighteous."

Tan Dong asked, "Do you want to drink something?"

"Sure!"

They opened a half-bottle of red wine that had been sitting around for a long time and paired it with beef jerky. The two of them chatted aimlessly, going over the same topics repeatedly until two o'clock in the morning.

On the morning of the 10th, many people slept until the sun was high in the sky, truly a blissful experience. Yang Jingxing didn't go to the classroom until eight o'clock, packed his books, and put them in a large suitcase, ready to move out the next day.

Classmates chatted in small groups, enjoying the leisure. Tao Meng didn't arrive until ten o'clock, packed her books in a designer travel bag, and without hesitation, asked Yang Jingxing, "The car is waiting. Can you help me carry them down?"

On the way, Tao Meng said, "I'll go home after the evening party."

Yang Jingxing said, "I'll leave tomorrow."

Tao Meng quickened her pace, making Yang Jingxing follow her. It was the same Lexus, but this time only the driver was there. The trunk was full, indicating that all her belongings had been packed.

After the car left, the two returned to the classroom. Tao Meng slowed down and suddenly asked, "Was I a bit neurotic yesterday?" Her serious expression clearly wanted a professional answer.

Yang Jingxing said, "You are a bit now."

Tao Meng analyzed herself, "Maybe the pressure of exams has built up for too long and needs to be released."

Yang Jingxing said, "I finally found a benefit of the college entrance exam."

After a few steps, Tao Meng asked again, "You won't tell others what I said, right?"

Yang Jingxing shook his head, "No."

Tao Meng looked at Yang Jingxing's expression and said, "I know you won't."

Yang Jingxing teased, "You can still comfort yourself."

Tao Meng said, "I'll write in your yearbook and then go back to the dorm to prepare for the evening speech."

Yang Jingxing tried to get closer, "Do we really need to?"

Tao Meng disagreed, "I think we do."

Tao Meng took Yang Jingxing's yearbook and, leaning on the desk they were about to part with, wrote for a few minutes. Her handwriting was beautiful: "Yang Jingxing, you are a positive, friendly, and generous person. I am glad to have been classmates for three years. As we part, I won't say too many words of farewell. I wish you a happy journey in your future studies and life. —Tao Meng."

Yang Jingxing read it at a glance and said, "Thank you."

Tao Meng said, "I'll go back to the dorm now."

"Sure."

Tao Meng smiled lightly.

The dinner was a gathering in the large cafeteria, with dozens of tables set up. Although drinking was not allowed, the atmosphere was still lively. At 7:30 PM, all the third-year high school teachers and students gathered in the auditorium. The principal gave a speech, the teachers gave their blessings, Tao Meng spoke as a student representative, and then a long video was shown, showcasing the achievements and memories of the graduating class. Finally, all the teachers and students sang the school song together, and amidst the enthusiastic cheers, high school life truly came to an end.

Many parents were already waiting outside to pick up their children, and the air was filled with farewells among classmates, whether they knew each other or not.

Tao Meng waited for Yang Jingxing and Shao Lei to finish their "emotional farewell" and then asked, "Will you change your phone number? I'm afraid there might be something, like the admission notice..."

"No," Yang Jingxing praised, "You're a good class president."

Tao Meng's expression was not very happy, "Why do you talk like that again?"

Yang Jingxing, helpless, said, "It's not early, go home quickly."

Tao Meng added, "I'll go to Canada once the results are out."

Yang Jingxing said, "Wish you a smooth journey and have fun."

Tao Meng suddenly gave a bright smile, "Aren't you going to tease me one last time?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Dream on, I said I'd annoy you to death."

Tao Meng laughed genuinely, "Goodbye."

"Goodbye."

Yang Chengyi arrived the next day at noon, asking if his son had packed all his books and saying that all the math and physics he had learned would be useless at the music college. The family of three took a photo at the entrance of Shangpu, as a memento of the money Yang Chengyi had spent.

They went directly back to Jiuchun without stopping in Quhang. The parents arranged for Yang Jingxing to get a driver's license during the summer break, and Yang Chengyi even wanted his son to attend driving school, but Yang Jingxing was unwilling to waste time.

Dinner was at home, but after eating, Yang Jingxing immediately ran out to meet up with Lu Lin and the others. Some of them were going to the music college, so they naturally went to sing first. Yang Jingxing was thoroughly teased and ridiculed.

Lu Lin applied to Quhang University of Electronic Science and Technology, which should be no problem. Xu Wei aimed for Zhejiang University, being modest, he said it might be risky. Zhang Yang's Southeast University should be fine. Du Ling applied to East China Normal University, which might be risky.

Liu Miao and Xia Xue were still in class and wouldn't be on break until early July. But the two girls couldn't wait for Yang Jingxing to treat them to dinner at Xiaodongting and even asked him to pick them up. So on the afternoon of the 13th, Yang Jingxing drove his mother's small Honda Fit to wait outside the high school.

Seeing the two girls looking around outside the school gate, Yang Jingxing waved and shouted, "Over here."

The two girls held hands and skipped over, Liu Miao complained in surprise, "You're driving? Why did you park so far away!"

It wasn't the first time they had ridden in Yang Jingxing's car, so the two girls weren't too worried. Liu Miao opened the right door, "I want to sit in the front." Xia Xue didn't object and sat in the back first.

After Yang Jingxing started the car, Liu Miao sniffed, "Is that perfume? Whose?"

Yang Jingxing said, "My mom's!"

Xia Xue chuckled.

Yang Jingxing should have taken a detour, but just as he passed the tobacco company, he saw Xiao Shuxia talking to someone. Yang Jingxing sped up, hoping to avoid her, but Xiao Shuxia waved at him.

Yang Jingxing pretended not to see her, but his phone soon rang, and Liu Miao answered it for him, hearing Xiao Shuxia shout, "Where are you running? Come back here."

Yang Jingxing reversed the car, and Xiao Shuxia, not very friendly, scrutinized the three people in the car. Xia Xue was sweet, "Aunt Xiao, are you off work?"

Xiao Shuxia nodded and asked, "Why aren't you going home after school?"

Liu Miao said, "We've already told our parents."

Xiao Shuxia, not caring about her son's face, reached out to pinch Yang Jingxing's ear, "Is this how you practice driving!"

Yang Jingxing was sweet, "Aunt Quan, please save me." The person Xiao Shuxia was talking to was Zhou Longlong's mother, surnamed Quan, who was similar to Xiao Shuxia.

"Get out, let me see!"

Yang Jingxing had to get out of the car, and Aunt Quan praised him from head to toe. Xiao Shuxia listened first, then humbly responded. This took some time.

Liu Miao and Xia Xue didn't move, waiting in the car. Xiao Shuxia ordered Yang Jingxing, "Come home and have dinner with me!" Although Yang Jingxing had already gotten her permission.

Aunt Quan looked at the two girls and asked Xiao Shuxia, "Whose daughters are these?"

Xiao Shuxia gave a brief introduction, and Aunt Quan suddenly understood, saying to Liu Miao, "Oh, I know your mother, she says her daughter is very pretty."

Xiao Shuxia seemed a bit unimpressed, "Yes, that's true."

Yang Jingxing wanted to run, "I'm hungry, I'll go first."

Xiao Shuxia was angry, "Aren't you going to take me home first?"

Xia Xue quickly opened the back door.

In the car, Xiao Shuxia started questioning Yang Jingxing. Where did you have lunch? Where are you going now? When will you be home tonight? Yang Jingxing tried to drive faster to get out of this ordeal sooner.

Before getting out of the car, Xiao Shuxia warned the two girls, "Go home early, or people might think Yang Jingxing has kidnapped you."

Yang Jingxing said, "I don't have that kind of power."

As soon as Xiao Shuxia got out of the car, the two girls smiled again. Liu Miao planned to come to Yang Jingxing's house to listen to the piano over the weekend and suggested it would be best to get Xiao Shuxia out of the way. Xia Xue asked when Yang Jingxing would get his admission notice, as she wanted to see it.

Liu Miao tempted Yang Jingxing, "We'll wear our school uniforms then."

Yang Jingxing was proud, "I'm not a high school student anymore."

Xia Xue said, "I heard from my cousin that there are very few students at the music college, only one or two thousand."

Yang Jingxing was frustrated, "Yes, and even fewer girls, I was fooled."

Liu Miao asked, "When you graduated, did you feel sad about the girls in your class?"

Yang Jingxing was sour, "They didn't feel sad about me."

Xia Xue said, "You must have taken group photos, right? What about graduation messages?"

Liu Miao was excited, "I want to see, I want to see!"

Yang Jingxing lectured, "What's there to see? You're about to be in your third year of high school, focus on your studies and get into a good university, then you can see them in person every day."

Liu Miao assigned a task to Yang Jingxing, "Find all the good places to eat in Puhai and wait for us."

Xia Xue was delighted, "I really want to eat that ice cream you mentioned."

Yang Jingxing said, "If you both get into a first-tier university, I'll buy you ice cream in the future."

Liu Miao was sensitive, "You're talking about me!" Her grades were slightly lower.

Yang Jingxing said, "Xia Xue, you should encourage her, for her own sake."

Xia Xue laughed. Liu Miao wouldn't have it, warning Yang Jingxing, "Even if I don't get into a college, you won't escape... What universities are near the music college?"

Yang Jingxing said, "Fudan University, it's only a half-hour drive."

Liu Miao threatened, "I'll just get into a junior college to make you angry!"

When they arrived at Xiaodongting, the three of them sat in a private room. The waiters had changed their uniforms, wearing short skirts, high heels, and stockings, keeping up with the economic growth and living up to the reputation of Jiuchun's top restaurant.

Liu Miao stood up, pulled up her loose long skirt, and tightened it from behind, exposing half of her long legs, asking Yang Jingxing, "Does it look like it?"

Yang Jingxing lectured, "Girls should be more dignified."

Liu Miao continued, "We compared, my knees are a little higher than Xia Xue's, but my calves seem a bit thicker."

Xia Xue pulled up her pants, exposing most of her calves, and compared with Liu Miao, saying, "I don't have muscles."

Yang Jingxing said, "You can compare when you're in college, focus on your studies now."

Liu Miao said, "You're about to be a college student."

"That's me, what does it have to do with you?"

Liu Miao huffed, "We won't lose to anyone."

Xia Xue giggled, embarrassed.

Liu Miao even started doing leg kicks, "Look... Oh... Ha ha."

Yang Jingxing threatened, "Order two pig trotters, and I'll fatten you up, see how beautiful you are."

Liu Miao wasn't afraid, "The loss will be yours... When we're in college, you'll see a whole new us!"

Xia Xue stopped her, "Don't say that."

Liu Miao wouldn't listen, "We bought stockings, but they're not really stockings, you'll see when you're on break."

Yang Jingxing was puzzled, "I haven't done anything to deserve such a reward."

Xia Xue said, a bit anxious, "I haven't worn them, I'm not used to it."

Yang Jingxing said, "You can't wear them, you're about to be in your third year of high school, and the boys need to focus on their studies too."

Liu Miao was angry, "Just for you to see!"

But Yang Jingxing didn't seem interested in stockings, and kept nagging the two girls to study hard during dinner, which was very annoying. When Yang Jingxing paid the bill, Liu Miao checked his wallet again, saying the photo stickers were worn out and needed to be replaced. Then Yang Jingxing sent the two girls home, with Xia Xue getting out first.

Liu Miao told Yang Jingxing that there was a scandal at the high school, a third-year boy had been caught by the police for soliciting a prostitute and was expelled, even though his grades were good.

Yang Jingxing was suspicious, "Are you warning me?"

Liu Miao said, "If you're so shameless, I'll never talk to you again."

Yang Jingxing said, "Don't worry, it will never happen."

Liu Miao was skeptical, "Don't think I don't know, in junior high, Zhang Yang and the others watched those things with you... That's why I hate them."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "You've got it wrong, I was the one who showed them."

Liu Miao shook her head, "That's too disgusting... Such private matters, can't you be more discreet!"

Yang Jingxing scolded, "Then why did you bring it up!"

Liu Miao said righteously, "What kind of relationship do we have, we've even shared a bed."

Yang Jingxing was unhappy, "Don't talk nonsense!"

Liu Miao chuckled, "But back then, you definitely didn't understand."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Do you understand?"

Liu Miao sighed, "The older we get, the less fun it is. When we were young, we didn't have to think about anything or study all day. You didn't know I was a beauty, and I didn't know you were a handsome guy."

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Wrong, I knew you were a beauty when we were young."

Liu Miao said, "In our childhood photos, was Xia Xue prettier than me?"

Yang Jingxing said, "You both were equally pretty."

Liu Miao, embarrassed, recalled, "Once, I tore your book." It was a fairy tale book, which Yang Jingxing first gave to the book-loving Xia Xue, but the non-book-loving Liu Miao was very unhappy and tore the book out of frustration.

Yang Jingxing laughed, "Didn't she also throw your toys?"

In fact, there were many conflicts among the three of them when they were young. Sometimes when Liu Miao and Xia Xue were overly close, Yang Jingxing would even feel jealous. The biggest joke was when the two girls were whispering, and Yang Jingxing tried to eavesdrop, only to fall off the bench and get scolded by Xiao Shuxia. What a failure!

Liu Miao didn't go home directly, saying she wanted to buy some snacks at the supermarket. Yang Jingxing treated her, bought a lot, and reminded Liu Miao to share half with Xia Xue.

In the following days, Yang Jingxing hung out with Lu Lin and the others, really just playing basketball, gaming, swimming, singing, and eating every day. Of course, he still practiced the piano, listened to music, transcribed, and wrote melodies at home at night.