We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

"The exam is over. Please stop writing immediately. If any candidate continues to answer..."

Li Mubai put down his pen and let out a long breath. There was a diagnostic test on Saturday of the first week of school. After the test, he could finally go home and catch his breath.

He glanced at Xie Shu sitting in the first row; the two of them had barely had time to meet this week.

I had hoped we could spend time together during free time in PE class, but now all of PE class is used for training. In the end, we only see each other occasionally during evening self-study.

"Alright, you can get up now." The proctor finished counting the papers, looked up and announced loudly.

The students stood up eagerly, and the creaking sounds of desks and chairs being pushed and pulled filled the air.

"Thank you, Shu." Li Mubai walked to the door and slung his schoolbag over his shoulder.

"Hmm. How did you do on the exam?" Xie Shu turned around.

"It was just so-so." Li Mubai couldn't quite describe his feelings. Finishing the exam felt like drinking a glass of plain water—neither bitter nor sweet.

"It's okay, we still have a year, take it slow."

"Chen Qiuhe, how did you do on the exam?" Li Mubai asked Chen Qiuhe as she walked out of the exam hall.

"So-so." Chen Qiuhe waved her hand, looking like she didn't want to say more.

"Alright..." Li Mubai's gaze returned to Xie Shu. "Then, Xie Shu, shall we go home now?"

"Okay, see you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

Xie Shu only picked up his suitcase and walked towards the back door after Li Mubai's figure disappeared at the end of the corridor.

The first and second year high school students haven't started school yet, so the campus is much quieter. Fortunately, the afternoon sun is still warm enough that it doesn't make you feel bleak.

She dragged her suitcase to the back door, her gaze sweeping over the row of cars parked there. There were no BMWs or Bentleys as she remembered.

No one's coming to pick her up? Why didn't they tell her beforehand? That way she could have taken the bus with Li Mubai and the others.

Xie Shu took out his phone, preparing to contact Li Mubai.

The moment the screen lit up, a text message popped up at just the right time:

"Xiao Shu, I'm at the back gate of your school. Just turn right and you'll see me."

Well, someone still came to pick her up...

Xie Zhiqiang is not as flamboyant as others; he is always very low-key, and even the cars he buys are under one million yuan.

Xie Shu walked a hundred or two meters before finding the black Mercedes. It seemed her father had arrived late and hadn't managed to get a good spot.

Bang.

The trunk was opened, and Xie Zhiqiang came up from the front door to take his daughter's suitcase and put it inside. Although it wasn't heavy, he did it anyway.

Xie Shu reached out to pull the back door.

"Xiao Shu, come sit in the passenger seat. Your mother is at the company today."

Xie Shu paused on the door handle, released it, and walked around to the other side to get into the passenger seat.

Xie Zhiqiang smiled kindly, started the engine, released the brakes, and the car smoothly drove out of the school zone.

"Dad, are you not busy at work anymore?" Xie Shu fastened his seatbelt.

"I'm not as busy as I used to be, and Dad is getting on in years; it's time to start thinking about retirement," he said with a smile.

When Xie Shu was born, they were considered to have a child late in life, and now they are almost sixty years old.

"By the way, Xiaoshu, how was your week at school?" Xie Zhiqiang suddenly asked.

"It's alright." Xie Shu suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Dad, why were we suddenly divided into different classes in our senior year? I heard it was because someone donated money to our school. Do you know who it was?"

Xie Zhiqiang's smiling face froze for a moment, then he shook his head nonchalantly: "Dad really doesn't know. Do you want Dad to ask the school for you?"

"Okay." Although knowing this wouldn't be of much use to Xie Shu, she still wanted to get more information.

"I feel that the class reassignment has had a significant impact on some students," Xie Shu continued. "Dad, can you ask the school to stop reassigning classes?"

"Well..." Xie Zhiqiang gently stepped on the brake, and the car came to a steady stop in front of the red light for left turns. "Public school matters are generally under the jurisdiction of the Education Bureau. Since classes have already been assigned, it might be difficult to withdraw them now."

He looked troubled, his tone carrying a sincere sense of helplessness.

"Okay." Xie Shu's tone softened.

"Don't worry, Xiaoshu, when we get home, Dad will ask the school for you." Xie Zhiqiang changed his words again, as if he couldn't bear to see his daughter disappointed.

"Okay, thank you, Dad."

"It's alright, as long as Xiaoshu is happy." Xie Zhiqiang smiled. "By the way, Xiaoshu, do you want to go abroad?"

Going abroad...

Xie Shu was silent for two seconds. She looked at the bus in the rearview mirror. The green light for turning left came on, the bus started moving, and slowly slid out of the rearview mirror, eventually disappearing around the corner.

"Not really." She looked away.

"Why?" Xie Zhiqiang's voice was gentle, as if he were talking about something very ordinary. "Don't worry, Dad just wants to know the reason."

"Because I prefer staying in China."

"Specifically?"

"Eating habits, scenery, and...people."

"people?"

"Hmm." Xie Shu nodded and didn't say anything more.

Xie Zhiqiang looked at the road ahead, remained silent for a moment, and then his tone returned to its previous gentleness: "Okay, Dad supports your decision."

Xu Ting doesn't seem to have given up on sending Xie Shu abroad. Last time Xie Shu ran away from home, she also suggested sending him abroad so that Xie Zhiqiang could achieve his goal.

However, since Xie Shu didn't want to go abroad, he couldn't let his daughter be unhappy, because being unhappy for too long could easily lead to depression.

How can I stay away from "yellow-haired" people without going abroad...?

"Look at that little house inside, relax, just stare at it normally... Okay, my left eye is about 200 degrees, and my right eye has a little astigmatism."

"Do you need to get glasses?" Li's mother asked.

"He's probably still a student. We recommend he get some glasses, and we happen to offer a discount for students."

Why are there discounts everywhere during the fourth month of the lunar calendar? Li Mubai immediately became alert.

"Then let's get him some glasses."

"OK."

The shopkeeper brought over a clip and put it on Li Mubai. It felt strange to have something on his nose...

"You guys decide what kind of frames and lenses to choose. For senior high school students, you could get blue light blocking lenses, and for the frames, you could choose lightweight ones, like this one..."

The shopkeeper was enthusiastically promoting the product, and Li Mubai glanced at him.

"How much is this?" he asked.

"This 499, if you include the lenses it would be 1299. Since you're a student, we'll give you a discount of 100, so it's 1199."

Wow! That's so expensive! Li Mubai was secretly surprised. Although it wasn't his own money, he still couldn't bear to part with it. So what if he was nearsighted? He was sitting in the first row anyway, so it didn't really matter...

"Just pick one," Li's mother urged, while Li's father crossed his arms and remained silent.

Li Mubai hesitated for a moment, then glanced at a half-rimmed eye socket and pointed, asking, "How much is this?"

"This..." The shopkeeper looked hesitant. "This one is only 299. Although it looks nice, you get what you pay for. Compared to the previous one, it might not be as durable."

"Then I'll take this one."

"Are you sure?" the boss asked, looking at Mr. and Mrs. Li.

"Choose a good quality eye socket, so it doesn't break down too soon," Li's mother said.

"This one is fine," Li Mubai insisted. "I don't usually wear it; I only wear it to class."

"Then you see..." the boss still tried to struggle.

"Okay, I'll take this one." Li's mother waved her hand, then took out her phone from her bag to pay.

"It's 999 in total. Just scan here."

It took another ten minutes to get his glasses fitted. On the way back, Li Mubai took out his glasses and wondered how they compared to Xie Shu's.

He carefully put his glasses back into the box and stuffed them into his backpack.