“Change your application? This…”
The principal hesitated.
After all, the student who wanted to change their application hadn’t come in person, so he couldn’t make the decision.
He Mingchu pushed Bai Xiaomei forward.
“Principal, this is Lin Xiyue’s mother.
“Do you still remember Lin Xiyue? She’s only thirteen this year. Initially, you didn’t want her to skip directly to senior high, but you agreed because she promised to take the Qingbei entrance exams with me.
“Now, Lin Xiyue’s application doesn’t include Qingbei. Moreover, her mother is here too.
“Think about it—would her mother or her brother ever do anything to harm her?”
His words swayed the principal’s heart.
“But… but this is ultimately Lin Xiyue’s own matter. Shouldn’t we go back and discuss it with her before making a decision?”
He Mingchu frowned inwardly. Why was the principal being so stubborn?
“Principal, don’t you want our school to have more students admitted to Qingbei this year?
“If this news gets out, think of how many students would flock to our school next year because of its reputation!
“And our Xiyue is still so young. If she goes alone to an unfamiliar school, with no one to rely on, what will she do?”
The principal’s resolve wavered. Half-reluctantly, he retrieved Lin Xiyue’s application form, watched as He Mingchu tore up the paper listing several unfamiliar schools, and then let He Mingchu fill out a new application on Lin Xiyue’s behalf.
After leaving the principal’s office, Bai Xiaomei was still puzzled.
“That Moon Maiden—how could she be so headstrong? Making such a big decision without discussing it with us, wanting to go so far away!
“Luckily you found out, Ming Chu, otherwise…”
At the thought of her teenage daughter going alone to study in a distant place, her eyes reddened.
She wiped her tears. “I need to have a good talk with her when I get back!”
He Mingchu’s eyebrows twitched, and he quickly stopped her.
“Aunt Mei! We just secretly changed Xiyue’s application behind her back. If she finds out we altered it without her knowledge, she might come back and change it again. Wouldn’t all our efforts be in vain then?”
Bai Xiaomei slapped her thigh. “Ah! How foolish of me! What should we do now?”
He Mingchu curled his lips into a smile. “Aunt Mei, you go to work first. Let’s pretend we know nothing. Once the admission letter arrives, she’ll have no choice but to attend!”
Bai Xiaomei nodded. “You’re so thoughtful!”
He Mingchu returned home as if nothing had happened.
Lin Xiyue greeted him with a smile. “What took you so long?”
She had already returned home and was busy preparing some sweet drinks.
Looking at the two bowls of mung bean soup on the table, He Mingchu narrowed his eyes and smiled, suddenly feeling like teasing her.
He sighed with feigned distress.
“Filling out the application took a bit longer. I thought my scores were more than enough for Qingbei, but after reviewing the answers with Teacher Wang today, I thought it’d be safer to be cautious. So, I changed my application at the last minute…”
Lin Xiyue’s heart skipped a beat. “Where did you change it to?” she blurted out.
He Mingchu stared at her, a faint smile playing on his lips. “First choice—changed to Northwest University.”
It was exactly the first choice Lin Xiyue had painstakingly selected after careful consideration.
But her first reaction was: “Northwest University? He Mingchu, what’s in your head? You were consistently top in all pre-college entrance exams, and your condition during the exam days was perfectly normal. Your scores guarantee admission to Qingbei—why would you apply to Northwest University? That’s such a waste!”
He Mingchu had expected her to feel guilty or avoid the topic, but instead, she rattled off a string of complaints about him wasting his scores.
He was taken aback for a moment before responding, his thin lips moving slightly: “I was lying to you.”
Lin Xiyue’s heart felt like it had been on a rollercoaster. Hearing him say it was a lie, she patted her chest in relief.
“He Mingchu, don’t go looking for trouble. Just go to Qingbei properly. Why would you even consider Northwest University…”
Only then did she remember—that was the school she had chosen for herself.
Lin Xiyue’s eyes darted around nervously. Why would he bring up this school out of nowhere?
“But now that you mention it, why did you think of lying to me about applying to Northwest University?”
She awkwardly changed the subject, wondering if He Mingchu had discovered her plan.
He Mingchu observed her expression.
This dull little pet had only just realized he was testing her. Now her eyes were wandering, her expression lively—she must be scheming how to escape!
He looked at Lin Xiyue with slight confusion: “I saw someone write ‘Northwest University’ during the application process and remembered it. Why? Does this school mean something to you? Why would you think me going there would be a waste?”
Lin Xiyue put on a serious face: “Just joking! What other domestic universities can compare to Qingbei? With your level, going anywhere else would be a waste!”
She spoke with righteous conviction.
If he didn’t know how scheming this little creature could be, he might have actually believed she was genuinely concerned for him.
Hmph, just wait until you receive your own admission letter. Let’s see how you’ll bounce around then.
Right after submitting applications, Jin Yao came looking for her.
“I’m planning to go on a short trip. Why don’t you ask He Mingchu to come with us? It’ll be a good chance to bond.”
Lin Xiyue looked troubled: “This… wouldn’t that be inappropriate?”
The He family didn’t have spare money for them to go on trips!
She’d been researching how to make money at home these past few days.
Jin Yao made a disapproving “tsk” sound: “It’s our last summer after high school! You’re not planning to go out? And it’s not like you have to pay—I’m treating you both. You’re still not going?”
Lin Xiyue lowered her head in thought: “Then I’d better go ask He Mingchu first. He might not be willing to go.”
He Mingchu definitely wouldn’t want to go.
Jin Yao: “Go talk to him! Plead with him properly!”
Lin Xiyue hesitated before asking: “Is your second brother going?”
Jin Yao looked meaningfully at Lin Xiyue.
Jin Yu was already twenty-two—nine years older than Lin Xiyue. Could it be that this girl preferred older men?
Hmph, on application day, she had indeed seen Jin Yu, just as Lin Xiyue predicted, going to the school intending to change her application. Hearing she hadn’t submitted hers yet, Jin Yu simply filled it out for her first.
The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
Jin Yao had replaced the application Jin Yu filled out for her.
Fortunately, Lin Xiyue had warned her.
Jin Yao still held some resentment toward Jin Yu in her heart.
But since Lin Xiyue specifically asked, and considering Lin Xiyue had just helped her, she was willing to return the favor.
Besides, if something developed between Lin Xiyue and Jin Yu, then He Mingchu wouldn’t keep his eyes fixed on Lin Xiyue all the time.
Jin Yao collected her thoughts and nodded, “I understand. I’ll handle it appropriately, don’t worry.”
Lin Xiyue breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to herself how wonderful Jin Yao was—she didn’t even ask why she disliked her second brother before agreeing to help arrange things.
As long as she didn’t have to see Jin Yu, Lin Xiyue felt there was nothing wrong with spending time with Jin Yao.
Although Jin Yao had a bit of a spoiled young lady temperament, her fundamental nature was quite good.
Having a female lead’s character setting was truly advantageous.
He Mingchu was about to tend to the wound on his hand.
In the sweltering summer heat, keeping the wound covered was uncomfortable. Since it had scabbed over, he had stopped wrapping it in gauze, though his left hand still wasn’t very nimble. He Mingchu couldn’t even twist open the iodine bottle.
Lin Xiyue stepped forward to open the bottle for him and then took a cotton swab to apply the medicine.
He Mingchu raised an eyebrow—unexpected kindness often harbors ulterior motives.
“Something you want to tell me?”
The question on the tip of Lin Xiyue’s tongue was swallowed back. She looked up and glared at him.
“What, can’t I just be nice to you? Haven’t I been cooking for you all these days? Have you forgotten already after eating my food?”