After the Chinese New Year’s Eve, the Yue Family collectively remained silent, save for Yue Jiandong, who was furious.
Yue Xiaofang teased him intentionally, "Big brother, it’s probably time to prepare Qingqing’s dowry."
Nothing would set Yue Jiandong off like mentioning this matter, as if he were a barrel of gunpowder waiting to be ignited.
"Nonsense, Qingqing is still young, not even of age yet, the legal age isn’t even here, what dowry are you talking about?"
Yue Jiandong blustered and stared fiercely, determined not to let his daughter marry off so soon.
His daughter, so dear and clever, how could he let someone like Jiang Jingze, that rascal, benefit so early?
Yue Qingqing sat in her bedroom, chin propped on her hands, dazed.
That evening, the two of them set off fireworks together.
In the tranquil night, their breaths formed a mist in the chilly air.
The brilliant fireworks fell from the sky, and as Yue Qingqing stood in the snow looking up, her hand was grasped by another, larger one.
This scene replayed incessantly in her mind, often leaving Yue Qingqing lost in thought.
She seemed to understand what it meant to not see someone for a day and feel like it’s been an eternity.
Suddenly, Yue Xingxing appeared and patted Yue Qingqing on the shoulder.
The usually sharp senses of a cultivator seemed to fail, and Yue Qingqing was startled.
Yue Xingxing made faces, "What are you thinking about?"
Yue Qingqing felt guilty, "No, nothing."
"When you lie, your nose wrinkles unconsciously, did you not know that?"
Once Yue Xingxing mentioned it, Yue Qingqing immediately reached to touch her nose, as laughter echoed around her.
Yue Qingqing realized then, "You’re framing me."
Yue Xingxing burst into laughter, "Sure enough, girls in love are all silly, Qingqing how come it’s your turn today."
Yue Qingqing thought back to the night when Jiang Jingze kissed her between the eyebrows and her face flushed again.
Seeing this, Yue Xingxing remarked wistfully, "It looks like our Qingqing is really smitten, you’ll definitely want to apply to Minghua University to be with your Jiang Brother."
"Probably, Sister Xingxing, you’re applying to universities this year too, are you planning to apply to Minghua University as well?"
Yue Xingxing shook her head, "I do want to attend school in Beijing, but I prefer Beiping University."
Beiping University is also one of the top universities in the country, ranked alongside Minghua University as a comprehensive university.
However, each emphasizes different aspects in humanities and sciences.
Beiping University leans more towards arts.
Yue Qingqing cheered her on, "You can do it, Sister Xingxing, no doubt about it."
Yue Xingxing was brimming with confidence, "Although Zhuancheng No. 1 Middle School isn’t as good as Lingguang No.1 Middle School, since your Jiang Brother made it into Minghua University, I also want to give it a shot, maybe I can make it."
She usually ranked first or second in school, and while she was not unbeatable, her rank seldom slipped.
But, the college entrance examination is like a fiercely competitive bridge crossing, where a small mistake could lead one to miss their desired university.
Seeing her sister’s conviction, Yue Qingqing made a resolution as well.
She would also have her college entrance exams next year, and she had to study hard in the remaining days, certainly not to slack at such a crucial juncture.
Reflecting on this, Yue Qingqing no longer dwelled on her rosy memories; instead, she took out her textbooks and started studying seriously.
Yue Xingxing was also reassured seeing this.
Being a top student herself, she had no objections about Yue Qingqing being with Jiang Jingze, her only fear was Qingqing neglecting her studies because of the romance.
"You get busy, I’ll go check on Xiaohu."
Yue Xingxing was indeed busy.
On one hand, worried about her sister balancing love and academics.
On the other, anxious about her brother preparing for the military school exams, planning to use the holidays to help him improve in his weaker subjects.
Yue Xingxing, the authoritative class leader, left the bedroom, leaving Yue Qingqing, the freshly in love, studying arduously.