Chapter 217: Chapter 217

Ye Ling washed her face and didn’t wait to go to the cafeteria. Zhao Guodong and the others arrived, holding lunch boxes. This time, Zhang Linong handed the lunch box to Ye Ling because none of the people in the dormitory had woken up. The group went to the cafeteria to find a place to sit down and eat.

Zhao Guodong looked at the lunch box next to Ye Ling and snorted. Wang Ping couldn’t stand it and helped him ask, "Ye Ling, why did Xiang Weilai bring you food?"

With that one sentence, Zhao Guodong stopped snorting and his eyes were on Ye Ling.

Zhang Linong watched with a faint smile, like an adult observing children playing.

Ye Ling thought that if she didn’t explain, Zhao Guodong might fuss all day, so she patiently explained to them, "I don’t know what happened either. I returned to the dormitory yesterday and fell asleep. When I woke up hungry, I saw a lunch box at the bedside, still warm, so I ate it. It was only after Zhao Guodong left angrily that I checked and saw Xiang Weilai’s name on it."

"He’s thoughtful," Zhao Guodong said, feeling better after hearing the explanation, and took the lunch box. "I’ll help you return it to him."

"I’ll return it myself. After all, he meant well, and we’re in the same exam venue, which is convenient. Besides, why should you return it for me? What are you to me?" Ye Ling took back the lunch box and continued eating the porridge. "Let’s go now, don’t delay the exam. We still have two subjects today, and then we’ll be free."

"My grandmother said to come back for lunch," Zhao Guodong said, still unhappy about Ye Ling returning the box, but Ye Ling’s words left him without a comeback, so he changed the subject.

After arriving at the exam location, Ye Ling returned the washed lunch box to Xiang Weilai and thanked him. Seeing she was better, Xiang Weilai didn’t say much and put the box away. After the exam, Liu Zhiyuan asked Xiang Weilai, "When did you bring her the food?"

"Last night." Xiang Weilai packed his things and walked out with Liu Zhiyuan.

Liu Zhiyuan felt uncomfortable. "Why didn’t you call me?"

Even he didn’t realize why he felt uncomfortable upon hearing this and only knew he was upset, without pondering why.

Xiang Weilai raised an eyebrow, giving his friend a half-smile, "I saw you were down yesterday, so I didn’t call you. After all, when we were confined, she brought us food. Now that she’s ill and there’s no one to take care of her, we can’t just ignore it."

"I thought the same. It was my mistake that made her suffer like that; I should be the one bringing her food." Liu Zhiyuan said with a bitter smile, "Seeing she’s better today, that’s good. But I wonder how she did on the exams; if she did poorly on those two subjects, I won’t be at peace for life."

"Then you’ll owe it for life," Xiang Weilai suddenly laughed. Seeing his friend looking over, he raised an eyebrow, "Even if you owe it for life, she might never ask you to repay."

Recalling Ye Ling’s pride, Liu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but laugh, "You’re right, she... really is a special person."

Xiang Weilai smiled silently. Special? Indeed, very special.

Someone that special, it’s impossible not to notice her.

As they approached the compound, Xiang Weilai finally mentioned, "I heard Ye Qian’s illness relapsed because she was upset that day. Aren’t you going to see her?"

Liu Zhiyuan paused, "I’ll go home and tell my mom first, then I’ll go over."

"Ye Qian has always cared about your matters. Believe it’s a mistake with the medicine." Xiang Weilai gave him a serious look, and seeing his friend staring blankly at him, Xiang Weilai smiled and left.

Liu Zhiyuan shook his head at his friend’s manner and followed along.

After dinner, Liu Zhiyuan naturally went to the Ye Family. Seeing Liu Zhiyuan arrive, Ye Qian smiled but still looked sad, "Brother Zhiyuan, I’m sorry for putting you in a difficult position."

"You didn’t mean to." Liu Zhiyuan didn’t want to bring up the matter again, knowing it was a misunderstanding, but mentioning it always troubled him, "How’s your illness? With just a few days until the high school entrance exam, can you manage?"

Ye Qian bitterly smiled, "Look at me, how could I possibly take the exam? It seems I’m really not meant for the high school entrance exam this life."

"Not taking it this year, planning to repeat a year?" Liu Zhiyuan rarely showed a surprised expression.

Ye Qian didn’t lift her head but clutched the mattress tightly, "Brother Zhiyuan, if I don’t go to high school or university, would you look down on me?"

"What nonsense are you saying? If you don’t make it this year, you can try again next year. Besides, there’s the adult college exam. As long as you’re determined, you’ll definitely pass." Liu Zhiyuan advised, unsure how to comfort her.

Moreover, this wasn’t just about comfort. She missed the exam last year and again this year, meaning it’s two consecutive years without exams. Ye Qian is already sixteen, turning seventeen next year. As she gets older, it won’t be suitable to stay in middle school.

"My mom says I should start working." Ye Qian knew it couldn’t be hidden forever. Rather than let Liu Zhiyuan hear it from others, it was better he heard it from her, so he wouldn’t overthink, "My mom wants me to join the company and learn there."

Bai Xue wants her daughter to join the company, and through connections, arrange a clerical job — not exhausting, and not as challenging as the college entrance exam.

But Ye Qian certainly wouldn’t say this, knowing Liu Zhiyuan would look down on her if he heard the truth. So learning in the company and arranging work through connections might make her less scrutinized in the compound.

"Joining the company sounds good. We’ve all grown up in the compound, so we’re used to that life. Just that the new employee training is demanding and requires technical knowledge. Will your health hold up?" Liu Zhiyuan asked out of concern.

This made Ye Qian’s ears warm with guilt, "I don’t know, but I’ll take it one step at a time. After all, I ended up with this illness. By the way, Brother Zhiyuan, how’s my sister? If I hadn’t suddenly fallen ill, I wanted to visit her at school. But now I didn’t manage to go, and the school should close after the exams, right? If you see her, tell her to move back home. Also, aren’t you filling out your college applications? Did my sister say which school she’s attending?" New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel_fіre.net

"I’ll pass on the message when I see her at school. As for the applications, we fill them out the day after tomorrow. You know, I’m not really familiar with her, so I don’t know her choices." Liu Zhiyuan realized, thanks to Ye Qian’s reminder, that he hadn’t considered this.

Ye Qian’s eyes flickered, "If those two subjects hadn’t been affected by me, my sister would surely have scored well and gone to a good university. Now I’ve ruined it for her." (To be continued. If you work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)