Chapter 10

Chapter 10

Before she could say anything more, she heard Qin Si say, "I have received the items."

"How do you wish for me to repay you?" The boy lowered his gaze to look at her, standing against the light.

He's not angry!!! That was Lu Nian's first reaction. Her eyes brightened, wanting to ask if he liked it, but hesitating, she instead contemplated saying that there was no need to return anything.

Yet she changed her mind, thinking that such words surely wouldn't be accepted by Qin Si, and would probably provoke his anger once more.

So she said, "I haven't thought about it yet. Can I keep it for future reference?"

Qin Si remained silent for a long while before nodding slightly.

At that time, Lu Nian's thoughts were simple and she didn't take this matter to heart.

Due to the impact of her severe illness, Lu Nian missed almost half of the school days during her fourth grade's second semester. She was recuperating at home and began staying at the Lu family's mountain villa in the suburbs for the summer break, to breathe fresh air.

Finally, Lu Nian's life seemed to be getting back on track this year. A nutritionist at home designed a diet plan to rejuvenate her body, and she spent time each day absorbing the fresh air outdoors, adhering to a fixed one-hour exercise regimen.

At school, besides the daily studies, she began learning how to paint. Seeing her interest, Lu Zhihong arranged for a specialized art teacher to visit and instruct her every weekend.

For the first time, Lu Nian truly experienced the joy of affluence – the ability to learn whatever she wanted under the guidance of the best teachers, without considering costs or the utility of the skills acquired.

Her academic performance also improved gradually, reaching the upper echelons of her class.

Given that she was still in elementary school, she had the potential to rank even higher if she wished. However, Lu Nian chose not to draw too much attention to herself, understanding her academic limits and not harboring illusions about enrolling in top schools, preferring to maintain a grounded approach.

Particularly when there was a living comparison right beside her.

Qin Si grew up in an orphanage, where the head of the institution taught him to read and write using textbooks. Due to the orphanage's financial constraints, his early years of schooling were intermittent. Only after being adopted by the Lu family did he transfer to An Cheng affiliated elementary school.

Yet, his academic performance was excellent.

His mind was sharp, almost photographic, allowing him to grasp new concepts quickly. He could achieve high scores in his current curriculum with minimal effort.

This terrifying learning capability seemed to be innate.

Lu Nian thought to herself, indeed, without a certain level of intelligence, one couldn't be a formidable antagonist.

If she were to take on that role, the story might end by the second chapter.

However, Qin Si was spending less and less time at home lately. Even when Lu Nian sought him out in the attic, most of the time, he wasn't there.

Time flew swiftly, from winter to spring. As the second spring was nearing its end, Lu Nian suddenly realized that Qin Si's sixth grade was coming to an end, and he would soon be facing the entrance examinations to progress to middle school, a year ahead of her.

Lu Nian asked Lin Guoguo, "After we graduate, will we all continue to the affiliated middle school?" She remembered that Lu Yang and Xu Hui were at the affiliated middle school, having progressed directly from the elementary school.

Lin Guoguo said, "Who doesn't aspire to that? However, it all hinges on one's grades. Our class has only ten slots available, and the tuition fees at the affiliated secondary school are quite steep... But you, Nian Nian, don't have to worry about that." She added with a tone of envy.

Lu Nian pondered, in that case, given his grades plus the tuition fees, Qin Si would surely have no issues.

Nonetheless, to be on the safe side, she decided to inquire further.

She knew where to find Qin Si's classroom.

She peered inside, her eyes widened as she looked for Qin Si.

The young girl, petite and exquisite, with features as delicate and adorable as if drawn by an artist, resembled a beautiful porcelain doll. Her peeking around at the doorway caught many eyes soon enough, and before long, a boy approached her, asking, "Are you here to find someone?"

With a joyous nod, Lu Nian responded, "Could you please call Qin Si for me? Thank you."

The boy dashed into the classroom and shouted, "Qin Si, someone is looking for you!" This proclamation drew the attention of two-thirds of the class, all turning to glance towards the back rows.

When Qin Si emerged, he spotted her face hidden behind the door, her eyelashes fluttering as she searched for him around.

Frowning slightly, he pulled her out of the classroom, closing the door smoothly behind him, shielding them from the curious gazes inside.

"Don't come to my class without reason," he finally uttered after studying her face for a moment, deliberately avoiding eye contact.

Lu Nian asserted, "I have something important to discuss with you!"

Qin Si asked tersely, "What is it?"

Lu Nian found, to her dismay, that he seemed even more distant in school, especially in front of others.

However, she didn't rule out the possibility that their rapport had become somewhat awkward due to the length of time they hadn't seen each other.

"Can we walk home together today?" she suggested. The matter at hand wasn't something that could be explained in a sentence or two; a walk home would provide the time needed to discuss it thoroughly.

"I have other commitments," replied Qin Si.

"What commitments?" Lu Nian asked hurriedly.

A vicious cycle of death.

Qin Si, "...", he stepped back slightly, intentionally avoiding the girl's bright, innocent eyes.

Lu Nian advanced closer, pressing, "What is it? Why can't you tell me? Don't be so secretive; is it something unspeakable?"

She tiptoed, leaning in closer, seemingly trying to read something from his facial expressions.

Unable to withstand her persistence, he conceded, leaving her with a resigned promise, "... I'll meet you after school."

With that assurance, Lu Nian felt content and did not press any further.

As promised, he was there waiting for her at the school gate when the classes ended, having arrived a bit earlier.

It has been a long time since she walked home with Qin Si. The chill of spring had faded, and the summer heat was yet to arrive. The weather was exceedingly pleasant. As Lu Nian walked, she couldn't contain her joyful spirits.

Qin Si remained silent, not pressing her to reveal why she sought him out, simply accompanying her in quiet solidarity.

It was Lu Nian, delighted by the scenery, who broached the main topic, "You see, you're about to have your graduation exams soon. Have you decided which high school you're planning to attend?"

If he chose to continue his studies at the current institution, he would naturally progress to Ancheng Attached Middle School. Given Qin Si's academic performance, securing a spot there wouldn't be an issue.

The cost of Qin Si's tuition and living expenses was covered by the Lu family, or to be more precise, dispersed by Xu Ruohai. The specifics of the past were unclear, but according to a few casual conversations with him, Lu Nian felt that the funds for his tuition should be settled without problems.

She had previously hinted, through considerable effort and subtlety, that the tuition fees would not pose an issue. Given Qin Si's intelligence, she believed he must have grasped the underlying message.

Therefore, Lu Nian was confident that his choice would be Ancheng Attached Middle School, a certainty in her eyes, especially considering Qin Si's dedication towards his studies. She was merely here to confirm it.

At this moment, the sky was bright and the breeze gentle, with bustling pedestrians adding life and vitality to the scenic surroundings.

Yet, he seemed lost in a rare moment of confusion.

Where should he go?

He was resolute in his decision to leave the Lu family. Over the years, he had meticulously calculated the debt he owed them, vowing to repay it in the future. He had already found a potential place to stay, which, at its worst, would not be inferior to the attic room he once inhabited.

However, when Ming, a few days earlier, asked if he wished to move in with him, he hesitated and hadn't yet given an answer.

He wondered, hadn't he endured enough, living as a subordinate in the Lu household? Was he intrinsically predisposed to such servility?

The little girl stared at him with wide, clear, and translucent eyes, patiently awaiting his response.

He found himself in a state of confusion, unable to pinpoint the source of his hesitation, gripped by a complex and indefinable irritation that clung to him tenaciously.

This sudden influx of deep and subtle emotions perplexed him, a sensitive yet proud individual. Even in their turbulent teenage years, where everyone was fumbling and growing at a rapid pace, he found himself unable to decipher his feelings fully.

Finally, he uttered, "I haven't decided yet."

As memories from the past year became increasingly blurred, Lu Nian realized, triggered by his words, that according to the original storyline, Qin Si did not choose Ancheng Attached Middle School during his junior high years. Instead, he attended the infamous Thirteen Middle School, a haven for delinquents.

From the age of thirteen to fifteen, Qin Si spent his transitional years from boyhood to adolescence there. Throughout those three years, he scarcely returned to the Lu residence.

These three years could indeed be deemed a pivotal turning point in his destiny.