Xia Rou wasn't afraid of his ridicule.
"My expectations are different! If I am to get in the first five and got placed twenty-third instead I would probably cry to death," Xia Rou was self-aware. "My goal is to not be dropped from the class. The last five students are going to be moved next semester. My spot in the twenty-third place is safe!"
It was really a matter of celebration!
"…" Cao An couldn't even bear to look at her. "You're so easily contented!"
"Contentment is not bad," Xia Rou smiled. "It suits me."
Cao An smiled then. Translated by The Novelst
A content girl was good; she was at least much better than those with bottomless greed.
Living under the same roof, they ran into each other every day. Moreover, they even lived on the same floor.
Cao An was still the same as in the past. He became close with Xia Rou, who was the only person to know his secret. He liked Xia Rou, taking her as his little sister, same as before.
He had the intent to tell Cao Xiong about her contentment.
In response, Cao Xiong only nodded his head and said: "She's a good child."
"If we had a girl in the house before our house wouldn't be so cold now," Cao An said. "If only Xiao Rou was my real sister."
"Father," he continued, nearing Cao Xiong, "Tell me the truth, is she really my little sister?"
Cao Xiong felt that he had been too loose with this son.
Ever since he'd gone to study abroad, he hadn't personally beat him even once. Now, he came to the conclusion that he needed to hold a practical father and son session to remind him of the traditional way of communication in this household.
Cao An quickly noticed that the situation had taken a bad turn and made his escape from the scene.
As September passed, the boiling hot weather began to cool down.
Cao Yang wasn't as busy these last few days, so when he returned home it was still early.
However, he noticed that the A8 was in the garage. Had no one gone to pick up Xia Rou?
He took out his phone to call Xiao Yang, but the one to answer was Lady Fang.
"Cao Yang? Sorry, Xiao Yang's not available, he's vomiting and has diarrhea. I'm taking him to the hospital right now… Ah? Xia Rou? I was thinking to call her and asking her to take a taxi… You're going to pick her up? Yes, I understand."
Cao Yang inquired about Xia Rou's school hours, returning to his car and driving to Nan Hua.
Luckily, class for high school students ended quite late and he had returned early that day. The distance to Nan Hua from the house wasn't very large, and he arrived there in just twenty minutes.
He parked his car on the opposite side of the road, watching the clock. Every grade let out at different times; sophomores came out the earliest while the seniors came out the latest. It looked like there were just a few minutes left before her class ended, so his timing was right on.
He lit up a cigarette and stared at the school entrance.
Very soon, students started to trickle out. The sky was rapidly turning dark, but Cao Yang still managed to spot Xia Rou within the crowd in just a glance.
He didn't know why but he felt she was somewhat different from the other girls.
She was so quiet, but somehow she was able to attract a lot of attention to herself.
Xia Rou was a little anemic and scared of the cold. While the other girls were only wearing long sleeved shirts with a vest, she had an additional jacket on top of that.
Her school uniform, having been tailored by Cao An, flattered her well.
She wore a black top, a crimson plaid skirt, and knee-high stockings in boat shoes; her legs were slim and straight, her uniform flattering her figure.
She’s pleasing to the eye.
She even smiled, waving to a few other girls to say goodbye. It was good, she looked like she had made friends at school already.
Cao Yang pushed the door open to get off the car, planning to call out for her. By the time he'd shut the car door behind him, he saw Xia Rou standing to the side of the school entrance, talking to a boy.
Cao Yang squinted his eyes. That little kid was… the kid from the Hu Family?
A huge bus drove in front of him, obscuring his view.
He looked again, and neither Xia Rou nor the boy were by the school entrance.
Cao Yang's expression turned slightly cold. He strode across the road and quickly approached the school entrance.
A security guard came out to block his path. Cao Yang said, "I'm looking for Wang Hao." Wang Hao was the dean of the school.
He was in his uniform, epaulets shining brightly. Since he was able to clearly state who he was looking for, looking righteous and imposing, the security guard took a second look at him and didn't dare stand in his way anymore, turning to let him in.
This was also Cao Yang's alma mater. Although there were two new buildings, otherwise it was the same as it had always been.
If Xia Rou had been taken by that kid from the Hu Family… Cao Yang took even bigger strides down the narrow lane behind the stadium.
The stadium was quite far from the teaching building, so no matter what went on there, not a sound would be heard.
As he'd expected, he heard Xia Rou's voice as he got further down the lane.
"Get off of me! Don't touch me! If you don't stop I'm going to scream!" Xia Rou was angrily shouting.
"You're quite ferocious. Quit struggling," the Hu Family kid said. "Don't you know who my grandfather is? You should be my girlfriend while I'm still asking nicely. Ouch, don't bite people!"
Cao Yang's face immediately froze over. He was going to walk over to them but then he heard Xia Rou's calm voice ring out: "I know your grandfather is Hu Bin, and your father is Hu Liang, and you also have a brother named Hu Chen."
Cao Yang's footsteps stilled for a moment. Translated by The Novelst
The kid was shocked more than Cao Yang. "You really do know quite a bit. But so what, being my girlfriend has its advantages, right?"
"Then do you know who my big brother is?" Xia Rou asked.
"My big brother is Cao Yang!"
Proofread by: Hannah