nChapter 61: Two Dependent People

nTranslator: Lan Editor: Efydatia

nThe boy looked at the girl in unconscious surprise.

"I was afraid to have the same answers as you. I didn’t want to make the tutor suspicious, so I changed my last answer to C.

"

nWell, the guy might get a higher score than his girlfriend after all.

nQin Guan shared the secret with them and left in satisfaction. The girl suddenly squeezed her boyfriend and shouted,

"He is Qin Guan!

"

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"Qin Guan?

" The boy was confused.

"Is he famous or something?

"

nThe girl glanced at him unhappily, and said with a pout,

"You should go to class more often. You have skipped so many classes that you don’t even recognize the most renowned student in our university.

"

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"Qin Guan is a straight-A student with a full scholarship in the Department of Accounting. My roommate, who went to the college ball, found his dancing skills quite good.

"

n

"Plus, the most fashionable girl in my neighbourhood has a shirt poster of him somewhere. Her roommates fought over that poster furiously. They decided to hang it up on the wall facing the door of their dormitory.

"

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"Actually, he’s pretty legendary,

" the girl went on.

nShe got more and more excited, while the boy got more and more uncomfortable. I think my girlfriend would follow Qin Guan if he so much as whistled at her. I should attend more classes to protect my love.

nQin Guan didn't know that he had unconsciously saved a strong-willed young man. He called Huang Jiajia's mother when he returned his dormitory. Huang Jiajia was his student, so he had to keep an eye on her score in the general student examination.

nHuang Jiajia's mother sounded happy on the phone. She discussed her daughter's status with Qin Guan. According to her, Huang Jiajia was quite happy after finishing the exam, which reassured Qin Guan.

nAt the time, arranging his vacation was his first priority. First, I should buy a sleeper ticket for my girlfriend. It would be too tiring to sit on the train.

nQin Guan had a lot of spare time before summer vacation. He had bought two student sleeper tickets from a scalper, which had cost him an extra 100 yuan in total. Anyway, I have a 10,000-yuan income now. I can make better arrangements for my girlfriend so she can have a more comfortable journey home.

nSummer vacation came in July, and it was a golden time for college students. Qin Guan carried Cong Nianwei’s luggage off the train, treating her like a queen. They had finally reached the end of their trip, which was city of Y, their hometown.

nNeither of their parents had come to the station to pick them up. It seemed that after meeting each other, they had become friends.

nIn such a small city, a short chat was enough to clear one’s public relationship. Most people had common friends or relatives, which connected them in a way.

nTheir parents had soon gotten familiar with each other over some common interests. When they knew that their son and daughter would return home together again, they had automatically chosen not to show up at the station.

nQin Guan is a quite reliable young man. Parents can express their love for their children by making breakfast at home.

nQin Guan pulled their luggage along and stopped a taxi. He took Cong Nianwei home first.

nWhen she got out of the taxi, Qin Guan remembered to hold her hand.

"Do give me a call,

" he urged her.

"I have so many plans for summer vacation.

"

nCong Nianwei looked at the smiling driver in the front seat shyly before pulling her hand away.

"I know. Wait for my call.

" Then she took her suitcase and ran into the building.

nWhen her back was out of sight, Qin Guan told his address to the driver.

nA warm, sweet breakfast was ready when he got there. It was take-away breakfast from the Blue-White Group. It was the first new project after his mother's bread factory had been absorbed by the Blue-White Group.

nThat year, staple food retail stores with that symbolic blue roof and white walls could be seen everywhere in the urban area. Every day there would be trucks carrying supplies to retail stores.

nThe food-processing plants subordinated to the China Administration of Grain had retreated from the stands in the farmer's market, and Blue-White Group staple food appeared on the dining tables of the residents of Y city in a more convenient manner.

nThat day, Qin Guan had his first Blue-White Group breakfast after returning to Y city.

nIt included newly-ground, aromatic soybean milk and big crispy, fried bread sticks. (The sticks were really big. They were actually longer than a laptop.) Qin Guan’s mother had bought two steamed stuffed buns with braised pork and soy sauce as well, for fear that it wouldn’t be enough for her son.

nThere were also homemade radish pickles, which were slightly sweet.

nAfter breakfast, Qin Guan thought for a while before asking his parents, who were about to go out,

"Are we doing anything today?

"

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"No, do you have any arrangements?

" they answered.

nQin Guan waved his hand.

"I want to have a good day’s sleep. I’ll turn off my cell phone. Don't worry about me, I’ll stay at home.

"

nHis parents nodded in understanding and left for work. Qin Guan rubbed his hands together, pulled the phone line out, turned off his cell phone, and collapsed on his bed.

nIt was getting hot, so his quilt had been replaced by a thinner one. Qin Guan arranged his pillow, which was filled with buckwheat hulls, into the most comfortable shape and fell asleep.

nHe had just fallen asleep when there was a knock on the door. Burying his head under the covers, Qin Guan pretended to hear nothing. The people outside were quite stubborn though. They kept knocking and shouting,

"Qinnnnnn… Guannnnnn!

"

nGrinding his teeth, Qin Guan jumped out of bed in a roll. He opened the door and found Zhou Jing and Li Jian there. They entered one by one, changing into slippers at the shoe case without any shame.

nThey were both complaining,

"You’re not a loyal friend, Qin Guan. One of my remote relatives saw you get off a taxi and come home. You had decided not to tell us that you returned, is that right?

"

nQin Guan was quite angry. Those evil friends won’t leave me alone, even when I pull the line out. There goes my sleep.

nSitting on the couch in the living room, Qin Guan asked helplessly,

"Tell me then. What's the matter?

"

nZhou Jing answered matter-of-factly,

"Did you forget? We have to make money. My pocket money for summer vacation depends on you!

"

nQin Guan got even angrier.

"Why are you here again?

" he said helplessly,

"Can't you find some other way to make money yourselves? I’ll return to college in August.

"

nLi Jian took a frozen lollipop from Qin Guan's fridge before he asked in confusion,

"Why are you returning so early? Aren’t you going to enjoy your summer vacation?

"

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"I’ll participate in the Chinese New Model Competition, which will take place between August 20th and 30th. I have to prepare in advance.

"

nZhou Jing and Li Jian were really surprised by the news. Their mouths opened so wide that one could have jammed an egg in them. With a particularly regretful expression, they said,

"So you decided to quit your studies and make a living off your looks. Congratulations! You took a shortcut to life!

"

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