Chapter 360

That Afternoon.

Years later, Aizhen still remembered it.

Su said she wanted to become a person who was useful to society.

Aizhen smiled indulgently. She was such a lovely 17-year-old girl, with such innocent aspirations. But it was truly beautiful.

Years later, Aizhen discovered that she had actually achieved it.

She thought it was just an unreal dream of a young girl, but she didn't expect that some people truly persevered for their dreams and made them a reality.

The boiling water was still bubbling.

Su gracefully prepared tea, but when Xiao Qi tasted it, she found it a bit too bitter.

Perhaps the water was too hot, or maybe it had been steeping for too long, causing Su to lose focus.

Xiao Qi had never tasted tea before, but after drinking the tea brewed by Yunshu, she realized that Su's tea was different.

Su seemed a bit rushed in brewing the tea, and although her movements were equally elegant, the resulting tea was either too weak or too strong, with the timing not quite right.

Especially when Mrs. Su came in, Xiao Qi suddenly felt that the taste of the tea had become bitter.

But it was just right; talking to Mrs. Su and drinking some bitter tea helped calm her nerves and keep her on track.

She didn't know if what she said was good or not.

In the end, Mrs. Su spoke up, saying, "From now on, come at this time every Monday afternoon."

Xiao Qi nodded gratefully in surprise.

Su Li saw the class monitor smile, and she smiled foolishly along with her. Then she heard her grandmother say, "Li, you come along too."

Su Li: ...What grudge or resentment? She just wanted to live a carefree life and didn't want to study...

Su Li was left behind to have dinner, while Xiao Qi and Aizhen left first.

Xiao Qi had made plans to have dinner with her roommates, and Aizhen's appetite had slowly recovered these past few days, but she still didn't eat much and went back to the apartment.

Back in the dorm, Xiao Qi went for a run first, completing her daily steps and working up a sweat. It was very refreshing.

Running helped alleviate the tension of the day.

To be honest, when she was talking to Mrs. Su, she was really nervous. Now her bones felt sour and her scalp tingled.

She felt as if those conversations were not just ordinary conversations, but rather a significant moment in her life.

After finishing, she felt a bit light-headed on her way back. It wasn't the kind of light-headedness that comes from being emotionally satisfied, but rather a dreamlike feeling, as if she couldn't touch the ground, and she felt exhausted.

Once again, Xiao Qi admired Su Li. She actually found her grandmother kind and amiable, and they got along so well. It was no wonder she became her grandmother's favorite little darling. Under the influence of such a strong and imposing elder every day, it was no surprise that her presence and communication skills were so formidable.

As she scooped the soup with a spoon, Su Li was splashed: ...

She was scolded by Su Shuyu.

It was really frustrating that her own great-niece was so inept; she couldn't do anything right, not even scoop soup without spilling it...

Xiao Qi happily took a sip of the canteen's seaweed and egg soup, feeling content and refreshed.

It was so hot in Enhua, even though it was autumn, eating a meal made her break out in a sweat.

Xiao Qi's roommates curiously asked about her afternoon because she had mentioned going to the school director's office.

The girls' dormitory didn't have many secrets, and even if they were shared, the roommates were tight-lipped and wouldn't go around gossiping about each other's affairs, even when it came to the carefree Mimi.

"I was really nervous. Ms. Su was so elegant and beautiful, but I was just so nervous that I can't even remember what I said at the time. She would speak English one moment, then Japanese, Spanish, and even Korean. It felt like an exam."

Wei Cheng's mouth hung open, and her usual phrase of astonishment was replaced with, "She's really amazing!"

Gu Yunshu nodded in agreement. She wasn't particularly interested in attending this school at first. Then, her mother told her that the school's manager was a formidable lady. She had heard both positive and negative evaluations about her, but it was clear that she was an exceptionally capable person.

She never expected that her roommate would actually have contact with the school manager and even go to her place for study sessions every Monday. It was truly impressive.

Mimi listened and felt nervous for Xiao Qi. She patted her chest and said, "It's a good thing I didn't go. It sounds as stressful as an exam. I would have wet myself if I had gone."

Xiao Qi shook her head. She felt that if Mimi had gone, she wouldn't have been as nervous as she was. Mimi was naturally fearless and had an endearing personality. Xiao Qi had developed a special fondness for her in the dormitory.

As they talked, they ate their meal and then went to the evening self-study session together.

Xiao Qi had plans to complete her credits ahead of time, so she studied at a faster pace.

During previous self-study sessions, she sometimes found herself with nothing to do, so she would read some extracurricular books or go for a stroll in the student street with Mimi a couple of times.

Although there wasn't much to buy, they had a pleasant time wandering around and enjoying some snacks.

But now, there were more books on her desk, and Xiao Qi organized and categorized them neatly.

She felt that even if she completed her credits ahead of time, she would still have enough time because there weren't many classes in university, and the free time was quite relaxed.

The evening self-study session was fulfilling. Xiao Qi brought up the schedule for their entire year and looked at the course arrangements, trying to figure out how she could audit some classes. She wanted to study them on her own first to assess the difficulty and progress. If it worked out, she planned to ask the class teacher for some assistance.

After the self-study session ended and she returned to the dormitory, Xiao Qi didn't practice calligraphy as usual. Instead, she took out her drawing board and began to paint.

She recalled the image of Ms. Su, the school manager, from the afternoon and wanted to paint her.

Using a quick and nostalgic stroke, she finished the painting just before the lights went out. The roommates turned on a bedside lamp, shining it on Xiao Qi's painting. It felt as if Ms. Su, the school manager, was silently observing them in the dark night, which made them feel rather nervous.

Even the fearless Mimi trembled.

Wei Cheng also felt uncomfortable.

Gu Yunshu, on the other hand, exclaimed with excitement, "Xiao Qi, you should paint one for me next time too. Your progress in painting is so fast."

"Sure, next time when you're making tea or arranging flowers, I'll paint for you. It always looks beautiful when you do those things," Xiao Qi admired Gu Yunshu's patience. She could spend the whole day calmly making tea or arranging flowers without getting anxious. Moreover, after drinking Su Li's tea, Xiao Qi found it to be truly delightful. The tea brewed by Yunshu had a sweet and layered taste that left a lingering aftertaste. It was truly mouthwatering and made one crave for more.

Xiao Qi felt that having talent in this area was necessary, and it wasn't her strong suit.

Currently, Xiao Qi demonstrated great execution and didn't just set plans aside after making them, thinking that the tasks were completed. Instead, she genuinely started learning in an organized manner and even borrowed textbooks from higher grades.

Although the workload of her studies had increased, she still persisted in her daily jogging routine. Unlike during her last year of high school, where studying had taken a toll on her physical health, combining exercise with learning now felt quite good.

Furthermore, after a few days of consistent learning, Xiao Qi discovered that the more she used her brain, the more active it became. When she first entered university and saw the numerous subjects, she thought she wouldn't be able to handle them all. However, after a period of adjustment, she found it surprisingly manageable. Now, Xiao Qi even added more tasks for herself and found it quite satisfying. She no longer felt overwhelmed and chaotic.

Indeed, human time is flexible.

Xiao Qi still continued to tutor Li Weijin. Although the system provided money every day, Xiao Qi still didn't have an absolute sense of security and believed that earning her own money was more fulfilling. Therefore, she still valued her job and earning money.

Recently, Li Weijin had become particularly diligent in his studies. He realized that it wasn't as difficult as he had initially thought, and it was actually quite easy. Xiao Qi said he could do it, and indeed, he learned with satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment.

On this day, while Xiao Qi was tutoring him, Li Weijin wanted to show off a little. He had been working hard recently, and he was confident that he could excel in the questions Xiao Qi gave him.

He happily solved the questions, and indeed, everything went smoothly. Hard work pays off, and his efforts weren't in vain. However, in the midst of solving the questions, he couldn't help but look up at Xiao Qi.

Seeing her serious expression while reading her book, he felt joy in his heart, especially because she was still wearing the little Buddha pendant he had given her around her neck.

His phone was placed on the desk with a hanging ornament of a small lamb.

Lately, he had been racking his brain trying to think of another gift to give Xiao Qi, but he always felt like he didn't have a good reason, and he doubted whether she would accept it.

Let's focus on the questions for now. Xiao Qi liked diligent and intelligent people. He regained his focus and quickly finished solving the questions, then handed them over to Xiao Qi.

He eagerly watched as Xiao Qi corrected them.

Seeing her ticking the answers one by one, he felt a sense of pride. He realized that he shouldn't be too arrogant and conceited. He believed that his efforts during this period of time had not been in vain and that he would soon catch up to Xiao Qi.

Feeling content in his heart, Li Weijin shifted his attention to the book beside him. It was the book Xiao Qi had just been reading.

The cover read "Java Source Code Analysis," but he flipped through it and couldn't understand anything...

Curiosity got the better of him, and he couldn't help but ask, "What is this?"

"This is a course we have to take in our sophomore year," Xiao Qi replied without lifting her head.

The assignments were also corrected, and almost all of them were correct, except for a small mistake in the second-to-last question.

"You've been doing really well lately. You'll definitely have no problem with the makeup exam this week," Xiao Qi said, giving Li Weijin an encouraging smile.

Her experience as a teacher taught her the importance of encouraging students, but the encouragement had to be meaningful. She acknowledged every progress made by her students, and it had a remarkable effect.

However, as Li Weijin looked at Xiao Qi's smiling face, a sense of pride as towering as the Himalayas emerged within him, but now it was slowly crumbling. He had a foreboding feeling.

"Xiao Qi, why are you already studying second-year courses?"

"I checked the school's regulations. If I complete the required credits, I can graduate early. I'm considering finishing my credits early and then taking the postgraduate entrance examination," Xiao Qi replied.

Li Weijin: ...

He had just managed to catch up with his studies and worked hard to pass the makeup exams... and now the goddess was contemplating early graduation... and the postgraduate entrance examination... Li Weijin rubbed his hair. He felt like he might go bald early. It was too difficult... He was already studying until two in the morning.

"Do you think I would look good with a bald head?" he asked, looking up.

Xiao Qi: ...???