NOVEL NEXT Chapter 52
Chapter 52 – Don’t Tell Yuan Yuan It Was Me
Lin You Xi returned from the clothing store. Xia Yuan saw her from afar and approached with a bowl of tangyuan.
“You Xi, there’s still some tangyuan left. Would you like to eat some?”
Lin You Xi was taken aback. “It’s not what Fang didn’t finish and you saved for me, right?”
“No, no! These were specifically saved for you. I bought too much and couldn’t finish them.”
Xia Yuan then scooped up a spoonful of tangyuan and held it towards Lin You Xi’s mouth.
“I can do it myself…” Lin You Xi put down her bag, trying to take the bowl and spoon herself. But Xia Yuan wouldn’t let her, feeding her the tangyuan instead.
“Don’t be shy!”
Lin You Xi opened her mouth and ate the small tangyuan.
“Is it sweet?”
Lin You Xi nodded. “It’s delicious. Aren’t you going to eat any?”
“I already ate earlier! This is all for you.”
Although Lin You Xi and Mei Fang had experienced many things, in their daily lives, Mei Fang was busy with gaming and learning code, planning his future, while shopping wasn’t something he often participated in. On the other hand, Lin You Xi and Xia Yuan spent more time together, and their relationship remained simple and beautiful.
After finishing the tangyuan Xia Yuan fed her, Lin You Xi said to Xia Yuan, “By the way, Yuan Yuan, let’s settle accounts for today’s expenses?”
“Include me too,” Mei Fang reminded, but Xia Yuan scolded him.
“What do you need? You’re just here to accompany us.”
After the New Year, everyone had some extra pocket money. Lin You Xi also had her own wallet, instead of keeping cash in her pocket.
This wallet was a gift Xia Yuan had given her.
The hair accessory Xia Yuan wore today was also a gift from Lin You Xi.
Both of them carried many traces left by each other, showing they were very close friends.
Xia Yuan checked the receipts and said, “We spent a total of 103 yuan today, so you only need to give me 50.”
Lin You Xi frowned slightly.
“You didn’t include the cost of the small clothes?”
“Of course, how could I forget! Let me check the receipt again…”
“Yuan Yuan, don’t do this.”
Lin You Xi looked troubled. “I have money now. You don’t need to always take care of me so much.”
“Haha, no, no. I really made a mistake. My math isn’t good, please forgive me!”
Xia Yuan recalculated. “In total, it’s 140 yuan. You should give me 70.”
“Here you go.”
Lin You Xi handed over the money. Xia Yuan smiled happily and said, “Let’s go to my house later to do our winter homework. We can turn on the heater at my place.”
“Sure, I’ll go back first to get my homework. I think I only have two Chinese test papers left.”
Just as Lin You Xi finished speaking, Xia Yuan quickly added, “Bring your math homework too!”
Xia Yuan said seriously, “I want to study!”
“Why don’t you look at Fang’s work? His math is pretty good.”
Lin You Xi, puzzled, mentioned this matter, and Xia Yuan got quite upset. “His winter and summer homework are all filled randomly! He hasn’t been doing it seriously.”
“Checking and explaining winter homework is pointless. Why are you guys working so hard?”
“You are falling behind because you don’t study seriously. That’s why Li Jiaren in class has surpassed you.”
Xia Yuan recounted Mei Fang’s past achievements. “Before fourth grade, you always got first place in exams. Now sometimes you fall out of the top five, all because your current attitude towards studying is wrong.”
“People have limits in learning. Just do your best.”
“Only you would say that!”
Xia Yuan stuck out her tongue at Mei Fang, mocking him.
Mei Fang was originally an upper-middle student in class. In high school, he became obsessed with games and ended up only getting into a second-tier university in Jiangcheng. Although he had rich gaming experience and skills, he had no chance of getting into high-paying companies like Tencent or NetEase that required higher education.
Though he didn’t need to work this life, he still wanted a better degree to meet more impressive people.
So even though he said it was okay, he had always been studying diligently.
At this moment, Lin You Xi noticed the bag Mei Fang was holding.
“Fang, let me carry this bag. You’ve been helping us all the way.”
“It’s heavy.”
“No problem.” Lin You Xi took the bag directly from Mei Fang’s hands.
“Let me carry this one! Fang, you’ve worked hard today.”
Xia Yuan imitated the way Mei Fang used to pat his head.
“What am I supposed to do then!”
“You hold the little pig!”
Xia Yuan gave Mei Fang the stuffed toy pig.
The three of them parted ways near their homes, went back to get their backpacks, and then gathered at Xia Yuan’s house to do their homework.
There was only one week left before the start of sixth grade, and the upcoming middle school entrance exam was the main topic of discussion among the three. Both Xia Yuan and Lin You Xi hoped to be in the same class.
“There are 13 classes in Experimental Middle School per grade. It’s not easy to be in the same class,” Mei Fang yawned lazily, spinning his pen.
“As long as you work hard to get a good score, it won’t be 13 classes, but 6,” Xia Yuan encouraged Mei Fang. “You and You Xi have such good grades, you don’t need to worry.”
“Don’t you have good grades too?” Lin You Xi asked, confused.
Xia Yuan shook her head, looking dejected. “Math is really difficult.”
Xia Yuan’s elementary school grades were excellent before fourth grade, always ranking in the top ten. However, after fourth grade, the difficulty of math increased sharply, and Xia Yuan couldn’t maintain her top ten ranking, often dropping to the teens or even twenties.
“Mom says we will learn physics, biology, and chemistry in middle school. If I become a poor student—”
Xia Yuan started drawing circles on a scratch paper again.
“Will you look down on me and stop playing with me?”
“Why are you still saying such childish things in sixth grade?”
Mei Fang pinched Xia Yuan’s cheek. “Stupid girl, even if you become the last one, we will still support you.”
“Stop being mean, Fang! How can you not hope for your friend’s success? And, are you copying You Xi’s winter homework!”
Xia Yuan caught Mei Fang red-handed. “Wait, I’m going to tell Mom!”
“If you tell Teacher Yu, I won’t play with you anymore!”
Mei Fang was very sensitive about Teacher Yu’s opinion.
“My mom is more important than you! Stinky Fang! I’ll teach you a lesson!”
Xia Yuan puffed up her cheeks and grabbed Mei Fang, calling Lin You Xi to help. Lin You Xi had been eager to join since the beginning. With the help of the two girls, Mei Fang was soon pinned down and unable to move.
“Alright, alright… I surrender, I surrender. I won’t copy anymore.”
“That’s better.”
Mei Fang and Lin You Xi left Xia Yuan’s house as it was getting dark.
“Are you coming to my house for dinner?”
Lin You Xi shook her head. “No, Dad will be back late, and I need to cook for him.”
“Working in the construction site in this cold weather?”
“Dad said the equipment broke down, and he has been repairing it all day. He shouldn’t come home hungry.”
Such a considerate child…
Unlike the frozen dumplings in the past, Lin You Xi could actually cook now. She learned some basic cooking skills from Xiao Xia.
Mei Fang stretched lazily. “I wonder how Dad is doing in Baizhou.”
“Remember to call him often. Uncle Mei is alone outside and it’s not easy for him. Got it?”
Mei Fang grumbled and sighed. “If only you could speak so firmly in front of Yuan Yuan.”
Lin You Xi pinched Mei Fang’s waist in annoyance. “Mind your own business about how I talk.”
“I’m wearing thick cotton clothes, so I can’t feel anything.”
“Then… like this!”
Lin You Xi grabbed Mei Fang’s clothes and reached into his belly.
“Damn, it’s so cold!”
Mei Fang jumped around, being teased by Lin You Xi.
They played for a while on the way and when it was time to part, Lin You Xi called out to Mei Fang and gave him her math homework.
“Oh… for me to copy?”
Lin You Xi nodded and whispered, “Don’t tell Yuan Yuan it was me who gave it to you.”
“Great! You Xi, you’re so nice.”
“You can only use it as a reference for your homework. Don’t cheat during the exam, or I’ll look down on you,” Lin You Xi added.
“I won’t cheat. You can trust me,” Mei Fang nodded. “I’ll take the exam honestly.”
“By the way, there’s another thing.”
Lin You Xi tugged at her hair thoughtfully. “I plan to earn some money in my free time by playing games or writing code. Do you have any recommendations?”
End of Chapter