Chapter 12
After finishing the evening self-study, Lin Xiaoran returned to the Gu family. A video call from Lin Lan came in, as punctual as the morning alarm.
Lin Xiaoran didn’t talk much during their conversations, and most of the time, it was Lin Lan doing the talking.
“I heard from your Uncle Gu that Gu Yang has changed a lot recently, attending classes on time with you every day, and he’s been diligent with his homework. Your Uncle Gu is so happy; he said we must thank you. Well, our family Ran Ran is truly amazing. Gu Yang has been a headache for your Uncle Gu for so many years. Your Uncle Gu tried many ways to no avail. Still, unexpectedly, after you went, things changed overnight. My son is really fantastic! Come home, and Mom will reward you.”
Lin Xiaoran usually tuned out during these mother-son conversations. However, today, he listened attentively for a couple of sentences, and then absentmindedly responded with an “um” after hearing Gu Yang’s name. He thought, if they knew that Gu Yang’s obedience was due to the side effects of the mark and that it would return to normal after a week, he wondered if it would be a letdown.
However, he was surprised at how much the temporary mark affected Gu Yang.
Observing for the past few days, it was indeed as Gu Yang had said. Whenever he spoke, Gu Yang would follow through, no matter what he said.
He wondered if this was a normal response to marking or if it was because he was a hidden Omega.
Lost in thought, after ending the video call with Lin Lan, he opened his computer to search for information. Just then, someone knocked on the door.
He got up to open it and found Gu Xiuyuan standing outside.
“Uncle Gu is back?” he greeted politely.
Gu Xiuyuan nodded with a smile, “Yes, just got back. I hope I’m not disturbing your rest.”
“Not sleeping yet. Uncle Gu, come in.”
Gu Xiuyuan seemed to have something to say, and Lin Xiaoran let him in.
Once inside, Gu Xiuyuan didn’t beat around the bush and expressed his gratitude, “Ran Ran, Uncle came over mainly to thank you. Today, your homeroom teacher, Teacher Zhao, called me. She said Gu Yang has changed a lot recently, becoming more serious about studying. If he keeps it up, a fifty-point improvement in the next monthly exam is not a problem. In fact, I think a hundred-point improvement is also possible.”
Gu Xiuyuan was genuinely happy about this, and his smile couldn’t be contained. “You might think I’m bragging too much as a dad, but you don’t know. Gu Yang is really smart. He has been the top student in the school since elementary school. In junior high, he participated in the national math competition. I forced him to sign up, and he took it seriously for a week at home. He came back with a first prize. Although you are now in the twelfth grade with only a year left, I know that if he focuses on studying this year, he will definitely do well!”
Lin Xiaoran, not good at communication, quietly listened when others spoke at length. However, when he heard about the first prize in the national math competition, his dense eyelashes trembled slightly. He asked Gu Xiuyuan, “Why did Gu Yang’s grades decline?”
Regarding this matter, Gu Xiuyuan sighed helplessly, shaking his head, “I don’t know. Since the second semester of junior high, he suddenly lost interest in studying, skipped classes, and messed around outside. I asked him what was going on, but he didn’t say anything. I think… maybe it’s the rebellious phase?”
The rebellious phase?
Lin Xiaoran furrowed his barely visible eyebrows, seemingly dissatisfied with this answer.
Gu Xiuyuan, who had come for a simple thank-you, bid farewell after a short while and left.
But with this diversion, Lin Xiaoran forgot about his plan to search for information on the temporary mark’s aftereffects. Instead, he opened the drawer and pulled out an old book, from which he unfolded an honor certificate.
Written on it was “Lin Xiaoran, Second Prize in the National Junior High School Mathematics Competition.”
He obtained this during his second year of junior high, the only time he participated, and the only time he got a second prize in a competition.
To this day, he still remembered that the boy who won the first prize in the competition sat in front of him. His name was Gu Yang.
At that time, Lin Xiaoran hadn’t moved to this city yet, but he had always been determined to win when he had the chance.
That’s how he was; he hated losing the most.
So, when he moved to this city for high school and entered Seven Middle with Gu Yang, he was especially hopeful.
The result? Gu Yang turned into a poor student.
In the first high school exam, Seven Middle conducted a diagnostic test. Lin Xiaoran was confident that he would surpass Gu Yang this time. However, when the grades were announced, Lin Xiaoran’s name was at the top, and Gu Yang was at the bottom of the whole school.
Standing in front of the list, Lin Xiaoran doubted if he had mistaken the person. Why did someone who won a first prize in the national junior high math competition score only 58 points in the high school math exam?
It wasn’t just math; he failed all subjects.
But he knew he hadn’t made a mistake because he not only remembered Gu Yang’s name but also the face that was always smiling meaninglessly.
Thinking about it, Lin Xiaoran couldn’t help but curl his lips in displeasure.
Ever since he learned that Gu Yang had become a poor student, Lin Xiaoran had always looked down on him. He had been waiting since the second year of junior high to win someday, but every time he won, it felt frustrating.
Today, Gu Xiuyuan came to tell him that Gu Yang became like this just because of the rebellious phase!
He crumpled the honor certificate, slapped it on the table, grabbed an untouched notebook from the shelf, and went to knock on Gu Yang’s door.
“Come in, the door is not locked,” Gu Yang’s voice came from inside.
Lin Xiaoran pushed the door open and saw him lazily playing games on the computer. Gu Yang had already showered, and his wet hair clung to his forehead.
Seeing Lin Xiaoran, Gu Yang was a bit surprised and raised an eyebrow, “What’s up?”
Lin Xiaoran raised the notebook in his hand and threw it onto his desk, “This, finish writing and show it to me.”
“Huh?” Gu Yang picked up the notebook and flipped through it, completely unprepared for Lin Xiaoran to assign him extra homework.
In recent days, due to the temporary mark, he had almost become the teacher’s ideal student. Today, because it was a special day, he had actively completed all the assignments during self-study and even voluntarily asked Lin Xiaoran to check them.
Unexpectedly, Lin Xiaoran had assigned him additional homework.
This was too much!
“No, I’ve already finished all the assignments today. Didn’t you check them? Besides, today is the Qixi Festival.” Gu Yang knew he couldn’t refuse Lin Xiaoran, so he could only try to reason with him.
But Lin Xiaoran just looked at him with clear eyes, not saying a word, but the meaning was clear: So what?
So, of course…
Forget it.
Gu Yang swallowed back the words on the tip of his tongue. He felt that discussing the Qixi Festival with Lin Xiaoran was meaningless. This guy might not even know what the Qixi Festival was.
“Fine, I’ll write it.” Gu Yang had no choice. Since he couldn’t refuse Lin Xiaoran, he could only accept his fate. He took the notebook and silently counted the days until the damn temporary mark would be over.
Seeing him reluctantly taking the notebook, Lin Xiaoran finally felt a bit relieved in his heart.
As he turned to leave, he glanced at Gu Yang’s computer screen and noticed that Gu Yang was playing the game “Seventh World.” However, he didn’t wear his glasses, so he couldn’t see Gu Yang’s ID. In fact, he didn’t care.
Back in his room, he took a shower and, finding it wasn’t too late, turned on his computer to log in to the Seventh World.
Upon entering, he discovered that the entire game interface had changed. Magpies were flying everywhere, and the world channel was filled with messages about completing tasks on Qixi Festival and obtaining rare equipment.
He had no interest in such things.
He had already completed the Seventh World many years ago, reaching full level with divine equipment. He preferred soloing in the arena rather than doing tasks and missions.
So, as usual, he directly found Ji Duqiu’s profile picture and was about to send a message when the system suddenly prompted that Ji Duqiu had sent a team invitation.
Lin Xiaoran was stunned for a second, blinking his thick eyelashes. He was a bit confused.
Except for the beginning of the game when he teamed up with Ji Duqiu to complete dungeons, they had basically only soloed in the arena afterward.
So why did Ji Duqiu suddenly want to team up today?
After a moment of bewilderment, he still slid the mouse to accept the invitation and only realized after entering that their team consisted of only the two of them.
Most dungeons usually required a team of five. Could it be a new dungeon?
At this moment, in the team channel, Ji Duqiu sent a message: Are you there? I can’t find anyone to team up for the Qixi Festival mission.
Lin Xiaoran: “…”
Qixi Festival mission? He vaguely remembered that holiday missions were usually quite boring.
Lin Xiaoran was about to click to exit, but the interface had already begun to enter the dungeon.
Considering that he and Ji Duqiu had known each other for several years, he gave face and didn’t forcibly exit.
However, it had to be said that this kind of holiday dungeon was really not suitable for two guys. The plot was dragging.
Lin Xiaoran walked through the plot while pulling out a notebook, answering questions while occasionally replying to Ji Duqiu’s messages.
Ji Duqiu: Today is Qixi Festival. Why aren’t you out on a date?
Lin Xiaoran glanced up and ignored him.
Ji Duqiu apparently understood his temper and didn’t mind, continuing: No girlfriend? No problem, neither do I. Isn’t this a good way to spend Qixi Festival, brushing dungeons together?
Who is accompanying who? Lin Xiaoran silently complained and continued to ignore.
Ji Duqiu: I heard that there’s a chance to get a large firework in the Qixi Festival mission this time. When launched, everyone on the server can see it. Isn’t that interesting?
Where is the interest?
Sometimes Lin Xiaoran couldn’t understand Ji Duqiu’s thought process. While others played games to get equipment and rare materials, he was focused on large fireworks, something completely meaningless to others.
But evidently, Ji Duqiu had good luck. After completing the dungeon, they did indeed get a large firework.
Ji Duqiu: Wow, such good luck. Come on, let’s go to Starfall Lake and set off the fireworks.
“Not going.” The two words hadn’t even been typed out yet when, because their follow relationship hadn’t been canceled, he was directly transported to Starfall Lake along with Ji Duqiu.
