—Lùràng, аrе wе still kissing tоmorrow?
Zhаng Lu Rаng: "..."
During thе реriod waiting for thе сollegе entranсе ехаm rеsults to cоme out.
Zhang Lu Rang signed up fоr а driving schоol аnd аlsо tutоred а middlе sсhооl student in mаth.
Su Zai Zai originаllу wantеd to learn tо drive toо, but suddenly rеаlizеd shе wоuldn’t turn еightеen until the еnd оf the уеаr.
She simрly gаvе up.
Thrоugh а reсommendatiоn from her tutoring сlаss tеaсher, Su Zai Zai stаrtеd tutоring a high sсhооl frеshmаn girl whо lived nеаrby in gеogrаphy.
During а breаk.
Shе rеsted hеr сhin in hеr hаnds, watching the уoung girl chat with someоne on her рhone with а shy ехprеssion.
Su Zai Zai suddenly felt inspired. She took out her phone from her pocket.
While the girl beside her wasn’t paying attention, she quickly snapped a selfie.
In the photo, she wore an exaggeratedly bashful expression.
Su Zai Zai sent it to Zhang Lu Rang, along with a message.
—Lùràng, I’m so shy chatting with you~
Zhang Lu Rang replied quickly.
—Act normal.
"..." Fine.
The day after Zhang Lu Rang finished his driving theory test, his college entrance exam results came out.
Province B’s results were released faster than Province I’s.
He wasn’t particularly nervous, but Su Zai Zai kept urging him to check his scores.
Mother Zhang also kept calling.
Seeing that Zhang Lu Rang still hadn’t made a move, Su Zai Zai simply left home and headed to his place.
It was a weekday, so Lin Mao wasn’t home.
Taking advantage of this, Su Zai Zai boldly rang Zhang Lu Rang’s doorbell.
She hadn’t told him in advance, so Zhang Lu Rang inside had no idea it was her.
Soon, his low voice came through the intercom: "Who is it?"
Su Zai Zai didn’t answer and pressed the doorbell again.
This time, the person inside seemed to have guessed.
Zhang Lu Rang opened the door, but only halfway, as if he had no intention of letting her in.
Seeing this, Su Zai Zai widened her eyes: "You’re not going to let me in?"
Zhang Lu Rang nodded and said, "I’ll walk you back."
Su Zai Zai was dumbfounded.
But thinking about it, it was true—after two years together.
She had never once stepped inside Zhang Lu Rang’s home.
Similarly, he had never entered hers either.
"Isn’t your uncle not home? What’s wrong with me going in for a bit..." Su Zai Zai said, both frustrated and puzzled. "Stop joking around, I want to be with you when you check your exam results."
Zhang Lu Rang didn’t say anything. He walked to the shoe cabinet in the entryway.
Picked up his keys, changed into outdoor shoes, and stepped outside.
After waiting outside for half a minute, Su Zai Zai was genuinely starting to get angry.
She forced herself to calm down and said flatly when he came out, "Go back inside. I’ll go home by myself."
Sensing her mood, Zhang Lu Rang still didn’t give in.
He softened his tone and lectured, "Su Zai Zai, don’t go into a boy’s house alone."
Su Zai Zai couldn’t understand his reasoning at all and snapped, "Are you just any boy?!"
"I’m the same," Zhang Lu Rang said seriously.
Seeing his expression, Su Zai Zai’s anger instantly faded.
Zhang Lu Rang reached over to hold her hand, and she didn’t pull away.
The two stood in front of the door.
Su Zai Zai compromised and said, "Then go back and check. I’ll wait here."
Zhang Lu Rang curved his lips slightly and tucked the stray hair behind her ear.
"I already checked."
"...When?"
"Five minutes ago. I sent it to you on WeChat."
Su Zai Zai froze for a moment, then quickly pulled out her phone from her pocket.
Scrolling through the message he had just sent.——694
Before she could process it, she asked hesitantly, "So is that good or bad?"
Zhang Lurang comfortingly ruffled her hair.
"It's pretty good."
Su Zaizai let out a sigh of relief, suddenly laughed, and looked up to kiss his chin.
"See, who would believe it."
"You used to be someone who could only score 30 points in English."
Zhang Lurang didn't speak, his gaze soft as he looked at her.
"Ah, my taste is really good," she said proudly.
Two days later, Su Zaizai's college entrance exam results also came out.
Su Zaizai didn't dare to look. She sent her exam number and password to Zhang Lurang, asking him to check for her.
After waiting for a while,
Su Zaizai began to regret it.
After all, if she didn't do well, Zhang Lurang probably wouldn't know how to tell her.
Su Zaizai climbed out of bed, walked to the study, and turned on the computer.
Better to check it herself...
She hadn't even entered the website yet.
Her phone, placed beside the computer, vibrated.
Su Zaizai held her breath, gritted her teeth, and opened it, taking a look.
Zhang Lurang: [/image]
It showed her scores for each subject, along with the total.
Su Zaizai quickly scanned the total score: 645.
Then, she looked up, focusing on her math score.
—121.
Su Zaizai's eyes suddenly grew warm.
She thought, if it weren't for Zhang Lurang,
she probably would have only gotten into an ordinary top-tier university.
If it weren't for Zhang Lurang,
Su Zaizai would never have pushed herself so desperately, so recklessly, the way she did back then.
Just because of her grades, she tormented herself like that.
Even when her emotions were hard to control, when it felt impossible to keep going, she persisted.
At this moment, Su Zaizai could proudly say to herself—
Her youth had never been wasted.
Chapter 43
I know she did it on purpose.
But still, I want to indulge her.
—Zhang Lurang
Based on last year's cutoff scores, both of their scores and rankings were quite secure for getting into Z University.
After discussing with her parents, Su Zaizai finally decided to apply for Z University's Journalism and Communication program.
Once the decision was made, her tangled feelings instantly vanished.
She walked into the study and turned on the computer.
While waiting for the computer to start up, Su Zaizai called Zhang Lurang.
She held the phone to her ear, opened the college application website with her other hand, and entered her exam number and password.
Zhang Lurang answered quickly.
Su Zaizai picked up the college application guide beside her and flipped to the page for Z University.
"Lurang, what major are you going to choose?"
Zhang Lurang paused for a moment before answering, "Computer Science."
"Oh—" Su Zaizai's attention was completely on the book, her voice a bit slow.
Her finger traced the page, searching for the code for Journalism and Communication.
After finding it, she silently recited the numbers.
Only then did she react and ask again.
"Ah, what major did you say just now?"
Zhang Lurang didn't get annoyed and patiently repeated, "Computer Science."
"Computer Science," Su Zaizai thought for a moment. "That major ranks third in baldness rates."
"..."
"I didn't say that, I saw it on Weibo."
Zhang Lurang didn't want to comment on that statement.
He walked to his desk, turning on his computer as he asked, "What are you studying?"
Su Zaizai answered with a grin, "Journalism and Communication."
Zhang Lurang opened the website and entered his exam number and password.When entering the password, his fingers suddenly paused.
For some inexplicable reason, he thought he hadn’t changed the password—it was probably still the default last six digits of his ID number.
Before he could dwell on it further, he heard Su Zai Zai say:
“You won’t go bald, don’t worry.”
Zhang Lu Rang’s temple twitched: “…Mm.”
Su Zai Zai continued flipping through the college preference guide: “Hmm, what should I put for my second major? There are so many blanks to fill.”
Zhang Lu Rang glanced up absentmindedly. After logging into the system, he entered the school code for his first choice.
“Put whatever you want.”
“What did you put?”
“Nothing.”
“You only filled in one? For the school too?”
“Mm.”
Su Zai Zai felt a bit unbalanced: “Aren’t you afraid you won’t get in?”
Hearing this, Zhang Lu Rang’s voice carried a hint of hesitation: “Would that happen?”
“Of course! After filling all the major choices, I even checked ‘accept program adjustment’!”
“…”
Su Zai Zai let out a long sigh, her voice tinged with a touch of bitterness.
“I don’t feel like you really want to go to the same university as me at all.”
And then—
Zhang Lu Rang, who could have easily gotten into Z University’s most competitive programs, silently pulled out the college preference guide he had brought back from City B.
And meticulously filled in every single blank.
The next day, Zhang Lu Rang returned to City B.
After submitting his college preferences, he had to go back to his high school once to confirm his choices and sign the forms.
Zhang Lu Rang had originally planned to ask a classmate to sign for him.
But Lin Mao insisted he go back and sign in person.
His exact words were: “You’ll never have another chance to return to high school as a high school student again. Don’t miss this precious opportunity.”
…Actually, he wasn’t one anymore either.
Lin Mao was unusually enthusiastic, even proactively booking his flight ticket and driving him to the airport.
As if being forced into it, Zhang Lu Rang had no choice but to return to City B.
Before entering the house, Zhang Lu Rang stood at the doorway for a moment.
Suddenly, he took two steps back, opened the outermost pocket of his backpack, and took out his ID card.
Hesitantly, he slipped it into his pocket.
It was Sunday, and both Father Zhang and Mother Zhang were home.
Zhang Lu Li was at school and hadn’t come back.
Zhang Lu Rang walked in and greeted them.
Then he quietly headed upstairs.
Before he had taken more than a few steps, Father Zhang, sitting on the sofa, suddenly spoke.
“A Rang.”
His voice was steady and calm, carrying an air of authority.
It held the habitual tone of a command.
Zhang Lu Rang stopped and turned around, his expression calm.
The next moment, Father Zhang’s voice softened: “Get some good rest.”
Mother Zhang came out of the kitchen, holding a fruit platter, and offered it to Zhang Lu Rang.
Zhang Lu Rang didn’t take it.
Mother Zhang seemed to be in a good mood, smiling gently: “Your provincial ranking this time is even higher than A Li’s was back then. Your uncle and the others are all praising you. You’ll definitely get into B University now.”
Zhang Lu Rang’s brow furrowed slightly. He wanted to tell them he wasn’t applying to B University, but in the end, he said nothing.
Father Zhang leisurely picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea, asking: “What major did you apply for?”
Suppressing his impatience, Zhang Lu Rang replied: “Computer Science.”
“B University’s Finance program is excellent. It would help you manage the company after graduation.”
“Mm.” Zhang Lu Rang nodded, responding perfunctorily, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll go upstairs first.”
Mother Zhang offered him the tray again: “Have some. Mom spent a long time cutting it.”Zhang Lu Rang suddenly smiled, then uttered just two words before heading upstairs.
"Not eating."
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