We ordinary people also need to fall in love.

When? How was it discovered?

Countless questions flooded Xie Shu's mind instantly.

She reached into her pocket and touched the phone. She and her father, Xie Zhiqiang, had bought it together at a physical store. From the time she paid until she turned it on, the phone had been with her the whole time and had never left her side.

beep!

A short horn blast interrupted her thoughts, as if urging her to get in the car.

Xie Shu hesitated for a few seconds, but finally stepped forward, opened the back door, and got in.

There was only one person in the BMW: her mother, Xu Ting.

A raindrop landed on the windshield, and then fine raindrops began to fall in a steady drizzle.

The car was eerily quiet, with only the patter of raindrops hitting the metal.

The car slowly started and drove away from the community. The windshield wipers swept away the rain that kept falling on the windows, and the street scene outside the window became blurry and clear, clear and blurry.

Xie Shu sat in the back row, facing the back of Xu Ting's chair.

She couldn't see her mother's expression—was she frowning angrily? Or was she impatient with her rebellious daughter?

Since her birthday, they have rarely spent time alone together. It's as if there's an invisible barrier between mother and daughter. When Xie Shu gets home, she locks herself in her room and tries to avoid eating at the same table as Xu Ting.

The car drove onto the ring expressway, which is the fastest route back to school; taxi drivers usually take this route.

Ahead was a large truck, its tailgate swaying slightly in the wind.

Xie Shu stared at the vehicle, and a thought suddenly popped into her mind: if the big truck had an accident at this moment, their small car would probably be hard-pressed to escape unscathed.

Di-

Xu Ting pressed the horn once, the sound was sharp and hurt Xie Shu's ears a little.

The truck in front responded and moved to the right, making way for them.

Xu Ting stepped on the gas, and the car accelerated. As they drove alongside the truck, Xie Shu glanced at it. The cargo on the truck was piled high, like a wall that could collapse at any moment.

The overtaking maneuver took only a few seconds. Before she could even process any more emotions, the view outside the car window had opened up again, and the mountains and fields on both sides of the ring road were tinged with a grayish color in the rain.

Xie Shu thought the silence would continue indefinitely.

"How's Li Mubai's fever?" Xu Ting suddenly asked, her tone devoid of emotion, as if she were asking what he ate that day.

Xie Shu's body tensed up instinctively. She didn't answer immediately, but stared at the back of the seat in front of her.

In the rearview mirror, Xu Ting's eyes twitched slightly, as if waiting for her response.

"...It's alright." Xie Shu carefully chose his words, his voice low, "Maybe I can go back to school tomorrow."

She didn't know what Xu Ting was up to, but since Xu Ting already knew she was there, there was no need to hide it.

"He's been assigned to Class 18 now, right?"

Xu Ting asked again, and after a few seconds, not hearing any sound from the back, she quickly glanced at the rearview mirror. Xie Shu was looking down, his bangs covering most of his face.

She already knows the answer, so why bother asking?

"The homeroom teacher of Class 18 is Zhong Jianjun, the academic affairs director of your school," Xu Ting continued. "He is a little lenient with students who have good grades, but very strict with those who have poor grades. He used to teach at Hengshui High School before coming to No. 6 High School."

Xie Shu's brows furrowed more and more; she couldn't understand what her mother was trying to do.

After Xu Ting finished speaking, she suddenly let out a long sigh.

"Xiao Shu—" Her voice softened, "Mom apologizes to you for what happened before."

Xie Shu's breathing slowed down. She turned her head and looked at the scenery outside the car window. Mountains, trees, and telephone poles flashed by one by one, but her gaze did not fall on anything.

The rest of the journey seemed to return to the beginning. Neither the mother nor the daughter spoke; only the sound of rain and windshield wipers filled the entire carriage.

We're almost at school.

"Xiao Shu, Mom has already asked for leave for you," Xu Ting's voice came from the front row. "You just need to go back to the classroom and continue your lessons."

Ask for leave?

Xie Shu wondered why Xu Ting had found her, but she was unwilling to ask Xu Ting.

The BMW was parked at the back gate of the school. It had arrived a few minutes early. The campus was quiet. Lunch break was not over yet, and the rain had lessened, leaving only a light drizzle.

Xie Shu placed his hand on the car door handle, preparing to get out of the car.

"Xiao Shu," Xu Ting suddenly called out to her.

Xie Shu's hand paused.

"I've seen the results of the preliminary test," Xu Ting said calmly. "Li Mubai dropped two places."

Xie Shu tried to open the car door, but it wouldn't budge. The lock was still on. She had to wait for Xu Ting to unlock it before she could get out. Was she going to have to listen to her mother criticize Li Mubai and her rebellious behavior...?

"It must be related to the environment," Xu Ting said, changing the subject. "Studying would be more motivating in a more relaxed environment."

Xie Shu's hand was still on the doorknob, and he didn't move.

A more relaxed environment...

"The library at No. 6 Middle School has been renovated, and there are many unused classrooms inside," Xu Ting continued. "I can apply to your school leaders to secure a room for you and Li Mubai, so you can serve as student librarians and study there for one or two evening self-study sessions every day."

Xie Shu suddenly raised her head and looked at her mother in the front row, her eyes filled with disbelief.

"If flowers grow under high pressure for a long time, they won't grow into beautiful flowers," Xu Ting said calmly. "They won't be vibrant or energetic."

After she finished speaking, she didn't say anything more, but just waited quietly.

The bell rang suddenly, signaling the end of lunch break, as if urging Xie Shu to give an answer as soon as possible.

Xie Shu's tightly closed lips parted slightly.

"What are the conditions?"

She didn't believe Xu Ting would kindly make amends to her. Perhaps Xu Ting wouldn't object to her dating, but she would never help her date. Everything was conditional.

Upon hearing Xie Shu's question, Xu Ting seemed to chuckle.

"I only have one request: after the college entrance examination, I must listen to my mother's advice and study abroad."

Studying abroad... Xie Shu's fingers clenched the hem of her school uniform. She couldn't understand why Xu Ting was so insistent on sending her to study abroad.

"After you go abroad for a while, Mom will find you a suitable school, and try your best to get a doctorate." Xu Ting's voice was tinged with excitement. "During your holidays, you can also come back to China and meet Li Mubai."

She paused, as if waiting for Xie Shu to process this information.

"Of course, if Li Mubai can work hard and go abroad with you, Mom won't object."

Xie Shu remained silent.

Xu Ting's words were like a snake, coiled on the branches of a tree in the Garden of Eden, constantly tempting her.

Going abroad? Going abroad with Li Mu Bai?

Regardless of whether Li Mu Bai himself is willing, it would be difficult for his parents and family to support him.

Xie Shu could donate her own pocket money without expecting anything in return, but would Li Mubai accept it unconditionally? He even refused her small snacks repeatedly, feeling embarrassed.

"I..." Xie Shu paused, and Xu Ting looked at her in the rearview mirror with expectant eyes, "I need to think about it first."

The car was silent for a few seconds.

Click.

A slight mechanical sound was heard, and the car lock popped open.

"If you agree, just let your mom know." Xu Ting turned around with a kind smile on her face and handed an umbrella through the gap in the passenger seat. "It's raining, remember to bring an umbrella."

Xie Shu looked at the umbrella, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally reached out to take it.