Back to 1984: Let's Work Hard Together to Raise The Kids!-Chapter 227: Don’t Be Too Obvious

With a picky glance, he sneered, "So now you’re trying to work hard, huh? What were you doing all this time? Anyway, you’re graduating next year, no matter how hard you try it’s useless. You might as well think about the wedding."

Xue Lingxue no longer exploded at the slightest provocation like before, instead she treated Zhang Jingxuan like air and buried herself in her books.

His provocation felt like a punch to a cotton ball, not only ineffective but also quite ridiculous.

He chuckled twice coldly, simply sat down leisurely, waiting—he didn’t believe Xue Lingxue really got smart and knew about ambition, she must be pretending!

Thinking this way, he sat there for an hour, even ordered coffee and desserts delivered.

Yet Xue Lingxue remained as motionless as a meditating monk.

Zhang Jingxuan angrily slammed the coffee cup down, the abrupt noise startled Xue Lingxue. She abruptly turned around, wrinkling her brow disdainfully, "Why are you still at my house? Are you that free? Don’t you know time is money? If you have nothing to do, go do something, don’t bother me with my studies, nonsense!"

Zhang Jingxuan pointed at himself in disbelief, so furious he was on the verge of exploding, but before he could, Xue Lingxue turned back to her books and continued taking notes.

They clashed all morning, ultimately ending with Zhang Jingxuan storming out in frustration.

It was the first time she had the upper hand in front of Zhang Jingxuan. She was so delighted that she danced around the apartment, eagerly waiting to share the good news with Chen Xinyue upon her return.

Chen Xinyue was also thrilled for her sister’s victory.

Before long it was summer vacation.

Chen Ruiyu and Qu Zhiyang arrived as promised.

This time they brought quite a bit of luggage, seeming intent on staying in Britain for a while.

Chen Xinyue had early on rented an apartment for them and took Xue Lingxue to the airport to pick them up.

The four had a joyful reunion, immensely excited.

The ride was filled with Qu Zhiyang’s exaggerated humor, making Chen Xinyue and Xue Lingxue laugh heartily.

Xue Lingxue also playfully bickered with Qu Zhiyang as she had before.

Once at the apartment, Chen Xinyue and Xue Lingxue helped them settle in, deciding to have a dinner gathering at Chen Ruiyu and Qu Zhiyang’s place.

During dinner, Chen Xinyue stood up for Xue Lingxue, recounting all the ways Zhang Jingxuan had been a jerk, even suppressing Xue Lingxue in detail.

Qu Zhiyang listened, anger rising, he glared at Xue Lingxue in exasperation, "You were the boss back home, even I couldn’t beat you. When did the fierce flower turn into bindweed? So useless!"

Xue Lingxue kicked Qu Zhiyang hard in embarrassment and annoyance, "What nonsense are you talking! I never hit you!"

"You say you didn’t? Third grade, I was playing with a boy from the compound and accidentally threw a stone at you! You chased me around the compound three times, finally caught me, and scratched my face."

"Hahaha..." Chen Ruiyu and Chen Xinyue laughed hard.

Xue Lingxue angrily twisted Qu Zhiyang’s arm, "Big mouth, needs a beating!"

"Look, look, oh no, oh no, help me, good buddies!" Qu Zhiyang exaggeratedly jumped and hid between Chen Ruiyu and Chen Xinyue.

Xue Lingxue charged after him, Chen Ruiyu quickly pushed Qu Zhiyang aside, "Your mouth really deserves a beating, apologize, or even your friends won’t cover you."

"Ah...forsaking friends for beauty, huh?" Qu Zhiyang wailed more dramatically.

Chen Xinyue also seized the chance to push him.

Qu Zhiyang was thrown out, promptly grabbed by Xue Lingxue by the collar.

His face fell, "Xinyue sister, I treated you so well, yet you bully me too, I don’t want to live..."

The four laughed and played together, as though reclaiming the wonderful memories of their youth.

In the following days, Chen Xinyue and Xue Lingxue played local guides, taking Chen Ruiyu and Qu Zhiyang around, completely forgetting Zhang Jingxuan existed.

Zhang Jingxuan came around twice to find them, but learning from Xue Lingxue’s neighbors that she had recently been going in and out with two guys.

He seemed to have caught a handle on her and decided not to leave, waiting for a chance to catch her in the act.

After waiting for a while until Xue Lingxue returned, Zhang Jingxuan was ready to confront her until he saw Qu Zhiyang’s familiar face, his expression stiffened, his eyes squinted as he looked at Qu Zhiyang, saying to Xue Lingxue, "Won’t you introduce us?"

Xue Lingxue was already fuming but she held back her temper in front of Chen Ruiyu, she fake-smiled and said, "This is Xinyue’s brother, his name is Qu Zhiyang."

Zhang Jingxuan automatically overlooked Chen Ruiyu, muttering repeatedly, "Qu? From the Qu family?"

Qu Zhiyang stepped forward and politely extended his hand, "Hello, I’m Lingxue’s childhood friend, our families are close. We’ve grown up together, and I’ve flown from the United States to visit her during break, and you are? What’s your name?"

Zhang Jingxuan glanced at Xue Lingxue casually, "You didn’t tell your childhood friend? We’re getting married next year, their friends are also mine."

"Hello, let me introduce myself formally, my name is Zhang Jingxuan, my father is the chairman of Zhang Group."

Zhang Jingxuan showed friendliness to Qu Zhiyang and continued, "It’s rare for you to be in Britain, I know the place better than Lingxue, I can take you around."

Qu Zhiyang promptly refused, "No need for such trouble, we’ve been exploring for almost a month now, and recently studying at the university library; if you’re interested, Mr. Zhang, feel free to join us."

Only then did Zhang Jingxuan notice each of them holding books, he laughed out loud, "So that’s the case, since you’re studying, I won’t disturb you, Lingxue, I’ll visit you another day."

The four watched Zhang Jingxuan leave until they saw him drive away.

Qu Zhiyang then put on a serious face, "I thought you exaggerated, but now I see this guy truly is something else!"

Chen Ruiyu frowned deeply, "Too transparent in his opportunism; if it weren’t for you, he wouldn’t have pretended to be so genteel just now."

Knowing Chen Ruiyu’s reputation for kindness, seldom speaking ill of others, Zhang Jingxuan being criticized like this was quite a feat.

After venting, both looked toward Xue Lingxue with concern.

After some thought, Qu Zhiyang followed Xue Lingxue into her apartment to use her phone to contact her mother.

"You rotten girl, remember calling me now? What was up with the princess attitude hanging up on me last time? If it weren’t for me and your dad being so busy, I’d have flown over to set you straight! You’re such a headache!" Her mother’s scolding left Qu Zhiyang stunned.

Chen Ruiyu and Chen Xinyue both grimaced awkwardly.

Qu Zhiyang cleared his throat and called, "Auntie, it’s Qu Zhiyang."

The line went quiet for a few seconds before her mother’s shocked and apologetic voice emerged, "Zhiyang! Is that you? I thought it was Lingxue, sorry about that! You wouldn’t know, since going overseas to study, Lingxue’s been quite rebellious, without her fiancé watching her, who knows what trouble she’d cause!

She ran off to ski privately last time and broke her bones, scaring us out of our wits. I criticized her a few months ago over the phone, she wasn’t happy and hung up right away. Please do talk some sense into her there, it’s hard to understand how she can be so rebellious at her age!"