Transferring schools seemed like a way out.
Of course, at this stage, it was also her fault.
With Yang Fang’s transfer, the rumors circulating in the school last week about “Shen Xingruo liking Lu Xingyan” gradually subsided, mainly because the students of Class 1 were all actively working to debunk the rumors.
When asked by students from other classes, they vehemently shook their heads and vehemently denied it, “What nonsense are you talking about? Do you think it’s possible? Don’t dream.”
Seeing all their classmates so resolute, the students from other classes, upon a little reflection, also felt it wasn’t very plausible, and gradually stopped discussing it.
The week leading up to the parent-teacher meeting seemed particularly agonizing. Some people were fearless, while others were apprehensive.
Shen Xingruo and Lu Xingyan belonged to the former category. Although the reasons for their fearlessness were miles apart, they ended up in the same boat.
The parent-teacher meeting arrived on schedule that Friday. All class leaders stayed behind to receive parents, while the rest of the students could go home first or return to the dormitories and wait for the meeting to end.
Shen Xingruo was also required to stay behind because she was the top student in both liberal arts classes and had to speak as an outstanding student representative at the broadcasting station.
At dismissal time, the Mingli campus resembled the scene of a luxury car exhibition. The parking lot and playground were full of cars, and the parking spaces along the road outside the school were also filled up, with traffic police maintaining order at the intersection.
“Porsche, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, damn it…”
Li Chengfan looked at each car one by one, still reciting the names.
Zhao Langming grabbed his backpack strap and pointed to the side, “Stop cursing, there’s a Rolls-Royce over there.”
Just as Li Chengfan glanced over, he spotted a familiar car. “Hey, Bentley Continental… isn’t that your family’s car, Yan Ge? But wait, I remember your license plate is 088.”
Before Li Chengfan could finish his sentence, Zhao Langming patted him hard on the shoulder. “Damn it! Bugatti!”
Lu Xingyan also followed their gaze— the car seemed somewhat familiar.
Lu Xingyan remembered something but didn’t say anything. Instead, he patted their shoulders and walked straight to the parked Bugatti.
A man quickly got out of the driver’s seat. He had a distinguished demeanor and took off his sunglasses, revealing an even more distinguished appearance.
He glanced up and down at Lu Xingyan, shook his head, circled, and opened the passenger door.
With the convertible top down, Pei Yue was a bit disheveled by the wind. Holding her phone, she checked her hairstyle and kept complaining, “Jiang Che, you’re not good at driving, too fast. Look at my hairstyle, is it messed up?”
Jiang Che leaned against the car door, chuckling softly. “Auntie was born beautiful. Any hairstyle is just icing on the cake. Once you step into the parent crowd, no one will be more stunning than you.”
Pei Yue loved hearing such words, instantly feeling elated.
But when she turned her head and saw Lu Xingyan’s sour face, her smile faded instantly. “What’s with that expression? Your brother and I rushed here specifically to attend your parent-teacher meeting. What’s with your attitude? How old are you? Can’t you greet people?”
“You’re not here to attend the parent-teacher meeting with me…”
“Hey, Lu Xingyan, watch your language.”
Lu Xingyan made a gesture of surrender, lazily calling out, “Mom,” then “Bro.”
Afterward, he asked, “Where’s my dad?”
Pei Yue teased him effortlessly, “Your dad thinks attending the parent-teacher meeting with you would tarnish his reputation as the distinguished chairman, so he found an excuse not to come.”
Lu Xingyan fell silent.
Speaking of which, Lu Shan was also someone who couldn’t be relied on. He kept saying he could make time, but then last-minute emergencies always came up. He had to rush off to the capital, so he called his nephew Jiang Che to come and help out.
Seeing Lu Xingyan looking constipated, Jiang Che teased him, “What’s wrong? Even with me, a graduate from MIT, here to attend this parent-teacher meeting for a score of less than four hundred, are you still feeling aggrieved?”
Lu Xingyan remained silent.
He couldn’t predict how deeply his mom had instilled this obsession with achieving a score of four hundred.
After chatting in the car for a bit, Lu Xingyan asked Li Chengfan and Zhao Langming to go ahead while he went back with Pei Yue and Jiang Che.
When they arrived back at the classroom, many parents had already arrived. People were whispering to each other and some were on the phone.
The class leaders were welcoming parents, handing out mineral water, and writing on the blackboard.
Lu Xingyan led Pei Yue and Jiang Che to their seats, then grabbed Ruan Wen and asked, “Where’s Shen Xingruo?”
Ruan Wen was startled by the sudden pull and stuttered like a little chicken, before managing to say, “She’s… she’s in Mr. Wang’s office.”
Seeing Pei Yue sitting in Shen Xingruo’s seat, she subconsciously thought Pei Yue was Shen Xingruo’s mom and quickly greeted her, “Hello, auntie, I’m Xingruo’s friend. Please wait a moment, I’ll go get Xingruo.”
Pei Yue smiled warmly, “Thank you, little classmate.”
Ruan Wen nodded and quickly disappeared.
In the office, Ruan Wen knocked on the door and then went in to tug on Shen Xingruo’s school uniform sleeve, “Xingruo, your mom’s here.”
Wang Youfu was checking the speech draft for the outstanding representatives later. Upon hearing this, he felt that something was off, “Wait, Shen Xingruo, your mom, your mom is here?”
Shen Xingruo asked Ruan Wen to leave first, then explained to Wang Youfu, “Ruan Wen made a mistake. It should be my aunt.”
Wang Youfu paused, “How can you ask your aunt to come and attend the parent-teacher meeting? It should be your dad who comes for the parent-teacher meeting, right?”
Shen Xingruo remained silent.
Wang Youfu also felt that something was off with her family situation. He sighed and said, “This won’t do. Although you excel academically and there’s nothing for teachers to worry about, education must be a concern shared by parents and the school. So, leave me your dad’s phone number. I’ll find time to communicate with him.”
After a few seconds of silence, Shen Xingruo nodded.
With time running short, Wang Youfu didn’t say much more. He asked Shen Xingruo to help him carry the report cards and they headed towards the classroom together.
As they approached the door of Class One, Shen Xingruo saw Lu Xingyan playing with his phone in the corridor.
They exchanged a glance but didn’t speak.
Entering the classroom, Wang Youfu subconsciously glanced at Shen Xingruo’s seat.
He vaguely remembered Pei Yue from last semester when she attended Lu Xingyan’s parent-teacher meeting. So, he initially assumed that Jiang Che was Shen Xingruo’s parent and sat in the wrong place. But upon further thought, something didn’t add up. Wasn’t it said that the parent coming was the aunt?
He walked over, greeted Pei Yue first, then turned to Jiang Che, “Hello, may I ask if you are…?”
Jiang Che nodded towards Wang Youfu, “Hello, teacher. I’m Jiang Che, Lu Xingyan’s cousin.”
Wang Youfu was momentarily taken aback. So, he didn’t score 400 points, but the entourage was quite grand. Not only did the mom show up, but also a cousin.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts before saying, “Lu Xingyan’s mom, then you two should sit on a small chair nearby. Let me ask a classmate to help you move. This is Lu Xingyan’s desk, reserved for his parents.”
Pei Yue smiled gently, “No need to trouble you, Teacher Wang. I’m here today for Xingruo’s parent-teacher meeting.”
Wang Youfu was once again taken aback, “But you’re not Lu Xingyan’s mom. How… Shen Xingruo…?”
“It’s all the same. We’re all family.”