Chapter 77

Countdown: 17:00:00.

In the morning, the chirping of birds came from outside the window. Qingchen turned over and heard the sound of cooking from the kitchen.

He got up, the bedroom door still closed, and Jiang Xue had already gotten up early to cook for them.

Seeing him, Jiang Xue smiled and said, "It seems you often cook at home; you have all the seasonings."

"Um, eating out is too expensive," Qingchen explained.

Jiang Xue said, "Your parents are really something, leaving you alone like this. Don't worry, Auntie will cook for you from now on. You just focus on your studies. By the way, are you taking any tutoring classes? I can recommend one to you."

Qingchen was somewhat amused and puzzled. She was already planning tutoring classes for him?

No wonder Li Tongyun started planning her "escape" early...

But he really didn't need tutoring classes.

Last year, when Qingchen was in his first year of high school, he had to work a part-time job at night and would often be too tired to stay awake during the day.

At that time, if Math Teacher Tian Hailong was lecturing and Qingchen suddenly lifted his head, Tian Hailong would subconsciously wonder if he had made a mistake.

Jiang Xue smiled and asked Qingchen, "Did you promise Xiao Yun to go to Laojun Mountain with her?"

"Um," Qingchen nodded.

"You spoil her too much. She said she wanted to go, and I didn't agree, but now that you've agreed, she's insisting on going," Jiang Xue said, though her tone wasn't really scolding.

Qingchen thought for a moment and said, "After all, she's just gone through two dangerous situations. It might be good for her to go out and relax a bit. Kids shouldn't be left with any psychological scars from such experiences."

"Alright," Jiang Xue nodded. "We'll take the bus this afternoon after you finish school. It's only a two-hour ride. We'll stay there for one night, climb to the top the next day to watch the sunrise, and then return. I checked the reviews on Meituan; some of the homestays have high ratings and serve delicious food."

Qingchen glanced at her. It was clear she had already done her research.

He asked, "Won't two days and one night be a bit rushed?"

Jiang Xue thought for a moment. "I wanted to go early and return early so Xiao Yun could catch up with her tutoring classes. But if you want to stay longer, we can give her a longer break."

...

Qingchen arrived at school early and found Nan Gengchen and Wang Yun whispering together, while Bai Wan'er hadn't arrived yet.

None of the four were seriously injured yesterday; they were just knocked out and put in a sack.

After being rescued, they were given a symbolic IV of saline at the hospital and then sent home.

At that moment, Wang Yun was telling Nan Gengchen about what happened last night, her eyes red, and Nan Gengchen was occasionally comforting her.

It looked more like a date...

Qingchen suddenly felt that he had missed a lot by skipping class.

It was like going to the bathroom during a movie, and when you come back, the male lead has become the female lead's second uncle.

It was surreal.

You couldn't tell if the problem was with the movie or with your bladder.

At that moment, Nan Gengchen asked, "Qingchen, have you decided if you're going to Laojun Mountain?"

Before Qingchen could answer, Wang Yun whispered, "Xiao Nan, we already have enough people. The bus Hu Xiaoniu rented can only seat 47 people. Both classes are already full, and there are still four or five people who want to go but can't."

Qingchen smiled and said to Nan Gengchen, "You guys go. I have other plans for the National Day holiday."

"Okay," Nan Gengchen nodded. "Then I won't go either. What are your plans for National Day? Can I join you?"

Wang Yun's expression changed slightly, but she saw Qingchen pat Nan Gengchen's shoulder and say, "Why not go if someone is treating you? I really have something to do. Otherwise, I would have agreed last night. By the way, when are you going?"

"Tomorrow," Wang Yun said, relieved that Nan Gengchen didn't insist. "We'll meet at the school gate at 7 a.m. tomorrow. It's a shame you can't come this time, Qingchen. We'll definitely invite you next time."

Qingchen ignored her politeness. When he heard that their schedules didn't overlap, he felt relieved.

After all, there's only one place to watch the sunrise at Laojun Mountain. If everyone left tonight, they might run into each other at the top of the mountain tomorrow morning...

After the violent incident last night, Liu Dezhu's status seemed to rise again.

During the break, Hu Xiaoniu, Zhang Tianzhen, Bai Wan'er, and others were gathered around him, whispering excitedly.

However, Liu Dezhu seemed a bit distracted, looking around as if searching for someone.

Hu Xiaoniu noticed this and asked curiously, "Liu Ge, who are you looking for?"

The way he called Liu Dezhu "Liu Ge" had a bit of a gangster vibe.

But Hu Xiaoniu couldn't think of what to call him. The name was too unique.

Calling him Liu Dezhu seemed too formal.

Calling him Dezhu made him sound a bit simple-minded.

Calling him Zhu Zi made it sound like they were going to the fields to pick corn.

"Ah?" Liu Dezhu snapped back to reality. "Don't overthink it, I'm not looking for anyone."

Only Liu Dezhu knew that the mysterious big shot was probably watching him from somewhere.

The feeling of being on edge was unpleasant, but he had already tasted the benefits. Working with the big shot satisfied his vanity and provided real gold bars, which would improve his life in prison.

His future depended on clinging to this big shot.

At that moment, Liu Dezhu seemed to remember something and seriously instructed Hu Xiaoniu, "There's one thing you need to be careful about. In this school, don't make enemies with anyone!"

Hu Xiaoniu was puzzled. "Why are you saying this, Liu Ge?"

"It's nothing," Liu Dezhu sighed inwardly, afraid they would provoke the wrong person and ruin the business.

...

At that moment, He Jinqiu, dressed in a gray suit, was walking through the courtyard at No. 4 Xingzhu Road.

He suddenly stopped on the sidewalk and looked up at the French plane tree above.

In autumn, the leaves of the plane tree had turned yellow, and they would spiral down with the wind.

He Jinqiu was lost in thought, standing there for over an hour, as if admiring the scenery was the most important thing, and everything else was unimportant.

After a long time, someone behind him asked, "Why are you wasting time in such a small place when you should be in the capital?"

He Jinqiu snapped back to reality and turned to see Zheng Yuandong, dressed in a neatly pressed Zhongshan suit, smiling. "Aren't you here too, Mr. Zheng? It seems we're on the same wavelength."