C4 The Quick Learner Was Hard to Serve

After a long day of studying, Qin Su left Gao Yan's house feeling mentally exhausted but grateful for the refreshing air outside.

"Wow, Gao Yan is so laid-back when chatting, but when it comes to studying, he's intense! It's unbelievable!"

...

"Hey, how's the studying going? Are you getting the hang of it? It's such a rare opportunity to have someone like Gao Yan willing to teach you, so make sure you learn well. Don't mess it up."

"Got it, Mom. I'm really focusing on it, so don't worry. Maybe you should check the finances with Dad and see how much we've saved up. That's more important."

"Oh, you and your wild ideas."

Qin Guangjun, pretending to watch a soccer game on the couch, felt uneasy. Why did it seem like his daughter was dropping hints lately? Could she have discovered something? It couldn't be. She wasn't one to keep secrets, and even if she knew something, she'd usually talk to him first before mentioning it to her mom. That was her usual way.

But lately, she seemed different, and he couldn't quite figure her out. This uncertainty made Qin Guangjun anxious and a bit frustrated.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his shirt pocket. He glanced at Hsing Guizhen, busy in the kitchen, and Qin Su, who was helping her, and noticed they weren't paying attention to him. He discreetly checked his phone.

"Hey, Jun, are you free tonight? We need a fourth for mahjong."

Without a change in expression, Qin Guangjun deleted the message and slipped his phone back into his pocket. He wasn’t in the mood for mahjong today. Little did he know, Qin Su, who was lingering in the kitchen, had already noticed his every move.

Ha, she thought, just as she suspected, the old cat's sneaky habits would eventually show. But she wasn't in a rush; she planned to take her time, like a frog in slowly warming water.

On her second visit to Yan's place, Qin Su finally found an excuse to borrow a camera. Yan, being generous, simply gave it to her, saying he had a new one and the old one was just gathering dust. As Yan put it, "Waste not, want not!"

On the first day back to school, Qin Su arrived in a daze. The mix of unfamiliar yet familiar faces left her feeling nostalgic.

"What are you staring at, Biscuit?"

She didn’t need to guess who tapped her on the back. Only one person had ever given her that nickname in both her lifetimes.

"Scared me there, Rat."

Pan Hao, nicknamed Rat, was Qin Su's childhood friend and the younger son of her dad's good buddy, Pan Minwei. With a bit of family money and a confident demeanor, he carried himself like he owned the place. Their friendship had its own story.

What are you supporting?

Back when they were just kids in elementary school, Qin Su and Pann Hao didn't know each other yet. They were in the same class. Pann Hao was always the bossy one, expecting everyone to listen to him, but Qin Su was equally headstrong. Neither wanted to back down. Usually, they stayed out of each other's way, but Pann Hao matured early and by fifth grade, he was already trying to flirt with a girl who sat next to Qin Su. He scared the poor girl to tears.

Qin Su couldn't stand it and gave Pann Hao, the little troublemaker, a good beating.

The school eventually called in their parents, and it turned out their dads knew each other and were actually friends.

Qin Su's dad was fiercely protective. Without even asking if his daughter was in the wrong, he glared and said, "Your son bullied my daughter. You better handle it."

Talk about being overprotective.

Pann Minwei, Pann Hao's dad, was a stand-up guy. Right then and there, he gave Pann Hao a good spanking. Pann Hao felt wronged, thinking, "Look at how her dad stands up for her. Am I being raised by a stepdad or something?"