Age of Legends

Chapter 337 Speechless
What do you mean by "you tried to control your score"? Can't I just have a breakout performance and get into Tsinghua or Peking University?
Zhang Chen appeared fierce but was actually weak-willed. He knew he was just an average person, and if it weren't for this journey of rebirth, he would still be that middle-aged soul trapped in the past, having accomplished nothing.

That's why he became even more certain and envious, thinking how great a gift from heaven it was that Shen Nuoyi had such a brilliant mind.

And she actually wants to stand with me through thick and thin? Isn't that crazy?
So Zhang Chen said, "My grades aren't good, so I don't have such high ideals. But have you ever thought about it? If our children have parents who graduated from Tsinghua or Peking University, they'll have some confidence. They can tell them, 'You have such good genes, so don't be lazy!'"

As a result, Shen Nuo, who was in parallel with her, punched her with zero frames, and said with a red face, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

But she blinked, as if she were thinking again.

"Life is so long, and we have a long road ahead of us. Why worry about every day and night? Do what you can now. If one day you find that you could have done it but didn't, will you have any regrets? So I strongly hope that you will strive for that highest peak, stand on it, and see for yourself whether you can see all the mountains below."

Zhang Chen added, "Besides, even if we can't go to the same university, distance isn't an obstacle for us. University schedules are flexible, and I have money now, so I can afford the travel expenses. Four years will pass quickly, and what comes after that is the long term."

Words fell on the path at dawn and dusk.

As the two walked, dappled shadows fell on Shen Nuoyi's pupils, causing her beautiful brown eyes to alternate between light and dark.

The girl nodded gently.

In the days that followed, Zhang Chen noticed that she often carried a notebook and wrote something.

During a long break between classes, Zhang Chen walked a little ahead and saw her seemingly...

Keep accounts.

"Why are you writing this down...?"

Zhang Chen noticed one of the entries written in her notebook: Bus fare 0.5 yuan, lunch 2 yuan, dinner 2.5 yuan. 12 yuan remaining.

Shen Nuoyi had already put the notebook away and put it in the drawer, but when she looked up at Zhang Chen, she realized that she couldn't get away with it, so she could only say, "It's for future preparation."

“Once you’re in college, I can’t keep letting you spend money on me. So let’s start preparing now.” She spoke calmly, her slender fingers deftly putting away the notebook as if she had just finished a set of exercises. She stared at Zhang Chen, as if she were casually saying, “Just letting you know that there’s a big cleaning tomorrow.”

Zhang Chen suddenly didn't know what to say.

At the same time, another thought occurred to me. Wasn't Shen Nuoyi quite wealthy? I'd heard before that she'd saved all her New Year's money since she was little. Then, thinking about Shen Mingbo's misfortune, could it be that this girl had voluntarily handed over all her savings to support her father?
Zhang Chen watched from behind as Shen Nuoyi's well-proportioned frame, supported by her shirt, was bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window, her figure tinged with a rosy hue before blending into the classroom background.

"...Let's get started! This restaurant's Kung Pao Shrimp Balls and Crispy Pork Intestines are pretty good. They're their signature home-style dishes, come and try them!" In a quiet and elegant private room of the restaurant, Zhuang Yanyue's father, Zhuang Xuefeng, gestured to the dishes on the table and introduced them to Zhang Chen's family.

This Saturday, Huang Huifen mentioned that Zhuang Yanyue's family had invited them to dinner. Once they arrived at the upscale restaurant and sat down for a brief chat, Zhang Chen learned that Zhuang Xuefeng had already invested in Xuhui Real Estate, so this was essentially an investor's treat. However, Zhuang Xuefeng's company itself is an investment firm, previously focusing on engineering projects.

Zhuang Yanyue's outfit today was extremely eye-catching. Sitting at the dining table with her parents, she looked like a little princess. She had excellent taste in clothing, wearing a maroon casual jacket and a lively inner layer. Her hair was styled in a half-up princess bun with long bangs, and her almond-shaped eyes were long and upturned, giving her a beautiful and sweet temperament.

Even Huang Huifen couldn't help but admire her porcelain doll-like appearance, and her pure cotton outfit was definitely the kind of elegant style that the elders in the family would like the most.

As one of the hosts, Zhuang Yanyue handled everyone's manners perfectly throughout the event, remaining neither arrogant nor humble, and was polite and proper. She didn't even make any of the underhanded moves she used to make towards Zhang Chen, as she had done at school. In fact, apart from the few times their eyes met when they first met and when she led him to the private room and indicated his seat, her main focus was on Huang Huifen and Zhang Zhonghua when her parents sat down and she was talking to Zhang Chen's parents. She didn't even glance at Zhang Chen.

It was as if the banquet was held at the request of the parents, and Zhang Chen was just an ordinary guest, not the main guest, so the main focus did not need to be on him.

Just like before, Huang Huifen grew to like Zhuang Yanyue more and more the more she looked at her. Knowing his mother as he did, Zhang Chen knew that Huang Huifen liked Zhuang Yanyue's type: generous, friendly, and good at talking. She was sweet-talking and could make you happy with just a few words.

Zhuang Yanyue, sitting opposite Huang Huifen, said with a smile, "Auntie, my mom talks about you every day, saying you're incredibly capable, that you single-handedly run the company, and that you're amazing."

Huang Huifen was actually stunned, but secretly pleased. Usually, when she was with her relatives, Zhang Chen and his son Zhang Zhonghua, they all thought she was too "impulsive" and "didn't understand social etiquette." Now, hearing Zhuang Yanyue's sweet and not cloying praise, she was already very proud. She even glared at Zhang Chen and his son, "Look, she understands how hard I work, but you two don't appreciate it!"

When Zhuang Yanyue saw Zhang Chen suddenly turn to look at her with a dark expression, she smiled and said to Huang Huifen, "Auntie, let me tell you, I often hear my classmates talking about Zhang Chen at school. He's quite famous. I think his personality is probably like yours."

Zhang Chen glared at Zhuang Yanyue again, but she clearly ignored him and just smiled at Huang Huifen.

Everyone likes to have their child praised, even if it's Zhang Chen. Huang Huifen felt pleased to hear this, but instinctively launched into a tirade, "What's so great about being famous? Getting good grades is more important than anything else! As students, your priority right now is studying. Don't you understand, Zhang Chen!"

Zhang Chen, who had casually given himself a piece of advice, was once again caught in the crossfire. He then watched Huang Huifen turn around and talk to Zhuang Yanyue with a smile on her face, and thought to himself that his mother had been hooked by Zhuang Yanyue.

Huang Huifen, being a straightforward person, was most susceptible to Zhuang Yanyue's charm. Zhuang Yanyue was generous yet clever, and her words were witty and charming. Huang Huifen couldn't resist her.

Then Huang Huifen peeled shrimp. After peeling two for Zhuang Yanyue, Zhuang Yanyue declined. Only then did she remember that Zhang Chen was next to her, so she casually tossed a boiled shrimp into his bowl.

Zhang Chen opened his mouth, but then decided not to say anything.

(End of this chapter)