Chapter 93 - The End
“Student Lin, congratulations.” Principal Qiu welcomed him with a ruddy face.
At first, Principal Qiu didn’t understand Lin Qian’s thought process when he gave up his recommendation to F University. But now, he knew that Lin Qian did this because he was fully capable of getting into an even better school. Now, not only did Lin Qian get an admission letter from China’s top university, but universities in Hong Kong were also vying for him.
“Thank you, principal.” Lin Qian smiled. “Congratulations to you too, for retiring. Enjoy your retirement, ah. We’ll visit you often.”
“Hahaha, of course!” Principal Qiu laughed and patted Lin Qian on the shoulder. “You don’t need to visit me at home though, because I definitely won’t stay idle. I can’t help myself, ah. While Principal Zhou is taking over, he isn’t that familiar with Rong City’s education system and asked me to continue being an honorary principal. I’ll still be coming to school often.”
“Oh, then our younger classmates are fortunate.” Lin Qian looked at Principal Qiu’s bright and cheerful face. Although he had officially retired, his enthusiasm hadn’t decreased, and he was still as vigorous as before. Lin Qian finally put down all his regrets and fears that weighed him down for the past ten years.
Standing next to Principal Qiu was the new principal, surnamed Zhou. He had just been transferred from another city to take charge of No. 12 High School. He had been transferred here primarily due to Huo PingChuan’s bribery incident. Principal Zhou initially thought that he would have to clean up the mess Huo PingChuan made, but surprisingly, he ended up with a prestigious school that made headlines in national news.
The first problem Principal Zhou faced when he took over was the sharp increase in school transfer applications. Parents in Rong City and even other cities were trying their best to get their children into No. 12 High School and this increased the pressure on Principal Zhou. Of course, besides the pressure, Principal Zhou was also feeling excited and had a deeper sense of responsibility.
Principal Zhou had met Lin Qian before, so this was their second meeting. However, his attitude was sincere as he said: “Congratulations, Student Lin.”
“Thank you, Principal Zhou.” Lin Qian nodded towards him.
Behind them, Class 8’s homeroom teacher Bai YanZhu was between Dong MingEn and Lou XingGuang.
“Damn it, Teacher Bai, we helped you get the top senior teacher award, yet you don’t invite us to a meal!” Dong MingEn lifted his arms and put Bai YanZhu in a headlock.
“That’s right! Principal, I want to report Teacher Bai!” Lou XingGuang yelled.
“Goodness, Teacher Bai. Now that you’ve accomplished your lifelong dream, what are you going to do now that you have nothing else to aspire for? ” Zhou Daota exaggerated.
“Wait, isn’t he the legendary ’successful person’ now?”
“Hey, hey, hey, I heard that Teacher Bai was also successful in his blind date?”
“What?! Not only did Teacher Bai succeed in his career, but also his love life? Ahh, and he doesn’t even want to invite us to a meal. We can’t let this go!”
The students looked at each other, then simultaneously grabbed Bai YanZhu’s limbs in tacit understanding. They lifted him up and pretended to be mad as they threatened: “Teacher Bai, what’s your answer?”
Bai YanZhu wasn’t angry and instead loudly laughed. He yelled: “Please, please, spare me. I’ll gladly treat you all, ah. Once the commendation assembly is over, let’s all go to a snack shop nearby, and I’ll treat you all to some spring rolls.”
“That’s more like it.” Lou XingGuang nodded, then motioned the others to put Bai YanZhu down.
At Bai YanZhu’s happy and content expression, Zheng PingQing showed a relieved smile.
Bai YanZhu loved being a teacher. Zheng PingQing was glad that in this life, Bai YanZhu will be able to continue doing what he loved.
In fact, in addition to Bai YanZhu, during the holidays, three other teachers from No. 12 High School were awarded as top senior teachers. Rong City’s education bureau was strict when handing out awards, and this particular title wasn’t easy to get. That is to say, having four teachers from one school receive such an award at the same time was something only a school as prestigious as No. 12 High School could do.
Bai YanZhu managed to escape his students’ clutches. He walked up to Zheng PingQing, gave him a thumbs-up, then said: “Student Zheng, congratulations on getting accepted to L University. You gave Class 8 a lot of face this time.”
Although Zheng PingQing’s grades had steadily improved throughout the year, his score in the college entrance exams was still a big surprise. Zheng PingQing suddenly reached No. 12 High School’s top ten and passed the requirements for F University.
On the day the results came out, Bai YanZhu was so moved by Zheng PingQing’s score that he directly called Zheng BuLu’s secretary. When he finally got in touch with Zheng BuLu, Bai YanZhu’s first sentence was: “This parent, how can you put such an excellent child in the underachiever class!”
The Zheng BuLu at the time: “....”
Zheng PingQing had resolved to go to the same university as Lin Qian, and this was why he worked so hard.
His hard work gave him the chance to study in F University, but in the end, Zheng PingQing chose to go to L University instead. L University’s national ranking was a little below F University, but it was still a good university in its own right.
Of course, the main reason why Zheng PingQing chose this school was because L University was just two blocks away from China’s top university, A University.
Zheng PingQing sighed at Bai YanZhu’s celebratory words. Obviously unhappy, he replied: “What’s so great about University L? I wanted to go to A University, ah.”
Bai YanZhu: “....” Are underachievers this ambitious nowadays?
He suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of pressure, as well as a burst of fighting spirit.
After Bai YanZhu, other teachers also came forward to congratulate him. Among them was Hong KeYi, the homeroom teacher of Class 1 and one of the four teachers who were awarded by the Education Bureau.
Outsiders may not know, but the people in No. 12 High School all understood that without Zheng PingQing’s contributions, No. 12 might’ve never achieved such amazing results.
As this was going on, Bai YanZhu asked Lin Qian: “Student Lin, is your father really not coming today?”
The other teachers who heard Bai YanZhu’s question also looked at Lin Qian.
Lin YaZhi’s absence puzzled both the teachers and students of No. 12. Lin YaZhi had worked in No. 12 High School for several years, but this was the only year where both his reputation and achievements had become something to be proud of. Lin YaZhi should be at the pinnacle of his teaching career. But unexpectedly, he suddenly resigned, saying he already found another job, and directly gave up the chance to receive a teaching award.
Not only that, but his new job made him so outrageously busy that no one had been able to contact him since the college entrance exams.
Even on such a big day like today, the principal only received a text message that said he was much too busy to attend.
Lin Qian smiled and skillfully deflected Bai YanZhu’s question: “He started work during his job’s busiest period so he really can’t afford to ask for a day off.”
At Lin Qian’s words, the teachers could only stop asking.
Bai YanZhu turned to Zheng PingQing and asked: “How about you? Why can’t your father come?”
Zheng PingQing’s reply was more direct. “He’s rich and willful.” Actually, he’s also outrageously busy.
Bai YanZhu: “....”
Zheng PingQing patted Bai YanZhu’s shoulder. “But we still have a parent representative attending, ah.”
“Where, where?” Bai YanZhu looked around.
“Ugh, finally.” Suddenly, a tall girl wearing a high ponytail approached them. She was holding a selfie stick that held the latest mobile phone, and as she squeezed past the crowd, she talked to her phone’s front camera. “I’ve finally arrived.”
Zheng PingQing pointed to the girl. “Her.”
Bai YanZhu blinked. “...what is she doing?”
Zheng PingQing touched his chin. “She’s doing a live stream.”
Bai YanZhu was a little confused. At this time, the concept of live streaming had yet to appear in mainstream media. The app Shao SiJia was using was actually the internal test product developed by the company Lin Qian and Ke MuZi had jointly established. It hadn’t been officially launched, but it was in working order, so Shao SiJia was able to run it. This particular live streaming was also being recorded for Lin YaZhi and Chen ShiYi to watch later on.
Shao SiJia asked the one audience member watching: “Oh, you want to see your son? Gift me an aircraft carrier first.”
Zheng BuLu, who was currently watching the broadcast in his office, replied like a true rich man: “I’ll gift you ten aircraft carriers.”
At his words, Shao SiJia immediately pointed the camera towards Zheng PingQing. “I’ll record it in high-definition.”
Zheng PingQing: “...”
Then, because the phone screen was facing towards him, Zheng PingQing was able to see the barrage message that suddenly popped up.
‘I’ll give you another fifty if you let me see Ah Qian.’
Zheng PingQing: “....?”
I thought we’ve already established that I was your favorite son, ah?
......
Truthfully, there was no difference between this commendation assembly and any other usual assembly. The principal made a speech, awards were handed out one by one. It was a slightly tedious process. However, today, none of the students or parents felt impatient.
Everyone was immersed in their joy and excitement. In fact, some even hoped that time would pass a little slower just so they could spend more time in school with their friends.
Finally, it was Lin Qian’s turn to take the stage. Not only was this his last speech as a student representative, but this was also the last time he would be able to speak to his fellow schoolmates.
This time, his achievements made sure that no one would be able to question his qualifications and strength.
As he walked onto the stage, loud applause and cheers resounded.
“Lin Qian, I love you!”
A familiar scene and a familiar shout.
But this time, it wasn’t Zheng PingQing who came forward, but his younger brothers. Naturally, they had to help their Boss suppress his love rivals, ah. “Who just shouted?! Drag yourselves up here!”
“Hey! Thoughts of teenage puppy love are no good!”
Lin Qian only smiled and said: “Thank you.”
The applause started to die out when he began speaking. But then, someone shouted: “Boss- Boss- look here!”
Lin Qian looked towards the shouts and saw that it was Guo DangLi and Li Gao’s group. With a swish, they once again unfurled a huge banner. The cloth was much bigger than the previous one, and the letters were bigger and more conspicuous. Everyone in the auditorium could read it clearly.
There were six words on the banner. It said: Best Boss, our Boss for Life.
Surprisingly, it even contained a homonym.
Lin Qian: “...”
The parents who saw this kind of scene for the first time: “...”
The parent who had just heard about Lin Qian’s accomplishments began to worry once more. “He really didn’t start a triad in school?”
Lin Qian sweated a bit, managed to laugh it off.
Then, he swept his eyes around the audience until his gaze collided with Zheng PingQing’s.
“Congratulations, everyone. We’ve finally graduated.” Lin Qian started. “At last, we’ve started afresh.”
“...the college entrance exams are only one small part of our lives. In the future, we’ll meet plenty of people and experience many things. However, I think we now can all understand that we shouldn’t look at our experience during the college entrance exams as something to despise. On the contrary, this experience is our proof that as long as we are dedicated enough, diligent enough, and put in serious investment in something, we can get through seemingly insurmountable challenges.”
“So, in the many years to come, no matter what you encounter, please believe in yourself and persevere.”
The applause that followed was thunderous.
......
The commendation assembly concluded amongst a reluctant crowd.
After the assembly, Bai YanZhu kept his promise and summoned the students of Class 8 to go to a nearby snack shop. Unexpectedly, he was found out by the other members of the tutoring group who weren’t in Class 8, and was shamelessly taken advantage of.
Bai YanZhu didn’t mind and generously bought food for everyone.
Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing didn’t go with them. Instead, they withdrew from the crowd and headed someplace else.
Walking past the main building, through an archway of trees, Lin Qian and Zheng PingQing eventually arrived at a familiar building.
Because the new semester hadn’t started, the building was empty and quiet. Just like old times.
“Let’s go.” Zheng PingQing told him.
Instead of asking, Lin Qian let Zheng PingQing hold his hand and lead him into the building. The walked up the stairs step by step, then finally stopped at a corner.
In a certain school building, past a corridor and halfway up the stairs, there was a corner that had a square window. At this time, sunlight was passing through this window, creating a few strands of slanted gold lines. These streaks fell on half of Lin Qian’s body, casting him in both light and shadow. It was as if both their new and old lives were converging.
“Do you remember the first time we ever met?” Zheng PingQing asked him.
Lin Qian nodded. It was more than ten years ago.
It had been the first day of his sophomore year. Like what Lin Qian usually did, he and Xu Yao were walking amongst the crowd of other returnees, heading towards their classroom. As he walked up the stairs and turned the corner, he was his by a strange boy.
The boy had deep facial features, edges sharp and chiseled. He was very eye-catching, but his handsome face couldn’t overcome his gloomy expression.
He had looked at Lin Qian so fiercely.
Xu Yao complained that he saw the boy standing still at the corner of the stairs and only moved when Lin Qian approached to deliberately bump into him.
Their first meeting had been unpleasant.
As he thought of the past, Lin Qian’s lips unconsciously curved up into a smile. He looked at Zheng PingQing and noted that his facial features were the same, the place was the same, but this time, the gloom in the boy’s eyes had dissipated. His gaze was clear and sincere.
“Back then, I was a really annoying teenager.” Whenever they talked about the past, Zheng PingQing couldn’t help but cuss at himself.
Lin Qian wrapped his arms around Zheng PingQing’s neck and hugged him. “No, at the time, you were very handsome. I remember thinking that the moment I saw you.”
This was true. No matter what happened immediately after, it didn’t make his initial thoughts any less valid.
Zheng PingQing smiled. “Actually, I was the same. I saw you in photos before, but when I actually met you, I was still surprised. But I hated your father and my mother...”
“I think that if it wasn’t for them, we would’ve been good friends.”
Zheng PingQing moved his head back to lock eyes with Lin Qian. His tone was serious as he said: “Fortunately, we have more than enough time to understand each other.”
“Nn.” Lin Qian smiled. “Fortunately.”
Then, Zheng PingQing knelt down on one knee. Still holding Lin Qian’s hands, he gently stroked Lin Qian’s left index finger, where a silver ring faintly flashed against the light.
Ever since they come out of the closet, they had worn rings on their hands.
But for Zheng PingQing, this was far from enough.
“Will you marry me?” Zheng PingQing asked, looking up towards Lin Qian.
Lin Qian held onto Zheng PingQing’s hands just as firmly as him, and faintly smiled.
“I will.”
And that’s the end of the main story
A beautiful sweet moment to close the main story~
I’m glad Zheng PingQing and Lin Qian were able to completely put their regrets to rest and finally look forward to their future.
There’s still a couple of side stories, so look forward to that!
The 𝘮ost uptodat𝑒 novels are pub𝙡ished on fre(e)webno(v)el.𝒸𝑜𝘮