You Must Be Good 64

Chapter 64 

The first to speak was the director of studies. She looked at Qiao Xiaoxiao and, although she was smiling, her tone was serious. “Xiaoxiao, how do you feel about your recent performance?”

She had been paying attention to this poor student since her first year of high school. Back then, her entrance exam results were not bad, it was just that her English was a little behind. At that time, she had also paid attention to Xiaoxiao’s grades and had sighed when she had fallen to Class 10 in the placement test.

Later, the director had occasionally met Qiao Xiaoxiao in the hallway.

At that time, everyone else was walking in twos and threes with their friends. Only she was alone, wearing long sleeves even in the summer, her head down, not saying a word, like a nameless weed in a corner, with no sense of presence.

She had thought that this child would just “fade away” like this. But she had never expected that the first time Xiaoxiao had stood out was because of the incident of fighting with Wang Ying over bottles. At that time, not only she, but all the teachers in the school were surprised. They had never expected that a child who was a stranger in a strange land would dare to fight for territory with a janitor who had been working at the school for so many years.

Later… there were too many things about Xiaoxiao that surprised her.

Seeing that Qiao Xiaoxiao was very cautious and didn’t say a word, Song Yang, who was most familiar with her, smiled. “If you ask me, the director’s question is too shy. She should have just asked directly, what bad things have you done again?”

As soon as these words came out, Qiao Xiaoxiao let out a sigh of relief. She thought for a moment and said, “Besides having a fight with the basketball team with the track and field team and the high jump team, other than that… there’s nothing.”

She had expected that the teacher would look for her for this matter, but she had never expected it to be such a big fuss, with so many people coming.

In fact, Xiaoxiao’s personality had become much more stable and mature after the incident with Wang Ning. Under normal circumstances, she would not easily make a move.

But that day, Xiaohua was selling drinks on the sports field. The basketball team’s cheerleader, Zhang Hui, had seen her boyfriend, Tian Li, smile at Xiaohua when he was buying water, and had immediately exploded. She had rushed forward and had not only pushed Xiaohua down, but had also kicked away all the water bottles on the stall.

At that time, a passerby who couldn’t stand it had wanted to step forward to help but had been surrounded by the basketball team members.

Xiaohua’s arm was scraped and bleeding. She had fallen to the ground, wiping her tears. Zhang Hui was relentless.

“You slut, you’re still crying? Who are you trying to show? So young, and so shameless!”

“You poor thing, you don’t have money, yet you’re still getting close to my boyfriend!”

“I’ve seen you walking around with water every day. Your eyes are so restless! I’ve disliked you for a long time!”

…

At that time, a passing member of the track and field team had recognized Xiaohua and had quickly called Qiao Xiaoxiao.

At that time, Xiaoxiao was out running. Hearing this news, she had immediately started to call for people on her phone.

When she had run back, she was covered in sweat. With Xiaoxiao’s stamina, if it weren’t for an emergency, she would never have been like this.

The originally noisy crowd had suddenly fallen silent, as if the mute button had been pressed. Everyone’s gaze had turned in the same direction—Qiao Xiaoxiao had arrived.

The current Qiao Xiaoxiao could be described as the “number one sister of No. 3 High School,” and that would still be an understatement. Her face was gloomy, and every step she took was extremely heavy. She had walked straight up to Xiaohua, her gaze sweeping over the bruises and scrapes on the girl’s body, her voice as cold as ice. “Get up.”

Xiaohua had stood up, shrinking back, tears welling up in her eyes. “Jiejie, I’m fine…” she had bitten her lip, afraid of causing trouble for her sister, who was about to take the college entrance examination.

Qiao Xiaoxiao’s gaze had turned even colder. She had raised her hand and had wiped the dust from Xiaohua’s face. “How did she bully you?”

Someone in the crowd of onlookers had shouted indignantly, “That group of people kicked over Xiaohua’s stall and pushed her to the ground!”

The basketball team captain, Wang Peng, had braced himself and had stood up, forcing a smile. “Sister Xiao, it’s all a misunderstanding…”

Qiao Xiaoxiao hadn’t even glanced at him, just staring at Xiaohua. “Go over now. Do to her what she did to you.” She had paused and had added, “I’m watching.”

The girl who had just been shouting’s voice had clearly become weaker, but she hadn’t wanted to “admit defeat” just like that. She had said stubbornly, “Oh, who do I think it is~ It turns out to be our big celebrity’s little sister. No wonder you’re so ill-mannered. Are you going to back her up?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao had crossed her arms and had looked at the girl with a cold gaze. “Yes.”

So what if I’m going to back her up?

This one word “yes” was so powerful, like an invisible slap, fiercely hitting the other person’s face. The girl’s expression had instantly twisted, her lips bitten white. She had frantically tugged at the sleeve of Tian Li beside her.

Just as Tian Li was about to speak, a commotion had suddenly come from the direction of the sports field. Two teams of people had rushed over like a tide, one team wearing the fiery red track and field team uniform, and the other wearing the deep blue high jump team battle robe. Although it was just an ordinary run, they had had the momentum of a thousand troops.

The moment Wang Peng had seen this, his face had turned green. No way? The entire track and field team and the high jump team are here?

Later, the commotion had gotten so big that it had attracted several coaches. The moment Lu Chen had seen Qiao Xiaoxiao, she had been furious. “You’re about to take the college entrance examination, and you’re still fighting?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao hadn’t cared about that. She wouldn’t tolerate the other party’s bad habit. So what if Xiaohua’s family is not well-off? Does she have to be bullied because of that?

Seeing that the two sides were really about to fight, Lu Chen had quickly called Chu Xinrou. Now, only she could control this ancestor.

Who would have thought that after hearing the whole story, the first thing Chu Xinrou had asked Lu Chen was, “Is Xiaoxiao injured?”

Lu Chen had been stunned for a moment. “What?”

In her impression, Chu Xinrou was gentle, polite, and considerate of the overall situation. Shouldn’t she have rushed over to pull the children apart first?

Chu Xinrou’s tone was calm. “I don’t think Xiaoxiao did anything wrong. At this time, you shouldn’t be calling me. You should be calling Zhang Hui’s parents and asking them to come to the school for a lecture.”

After speaking, she had hung up the phone with a click.

Beside her, Yang Feitang was holding a hamburger, her mouth wide open as she gestured. This morning, she had seen Xiaoxiao eat one in two or three bites and was studying how she was so fast.

Chu Xinrou had put on her coat and had glanced at her. “Let’s go.”

Yang Feitang’s mouth was still open. She had just found a good angle. “Where are we going?”

“We have to go and keep an eye on things.” Chu Xinrou was still worried. Yang Feitang looked at her. “Didn’t you just reject Coach Lu?”

Chu Xinrou: “I’m afraid Xiaoxiao will be at a disadvantage.”

Yang Feitang: …

Come on, how could that brat, who’s as strong as an ox, be at a disadvantage?

Facts proved it.

Chu Xinrou’s worries were not unfounded.

When she had gone, Xiaoxiao’s brow bone was injured, but at least Zhang Hui had bitten her lip, had lowered her head, and had apologized to Xiaohua.

“I’m sorry!”

Xiaohua had looked at Qiao Xiaoxiao’s injury. It was bleeding. She hadn’t shed many tears when she had fallen just now, but now, tears were streaming down her face.

Qiao Xiaoxiao was stroking her head and comforting her.

When they got home, Qiao Xiaoxiao was no longer the “god of war” on the sports field who didn’t even blink. She had leaned on Chu Xinrou and had sighed. “It hurts so much. Will it leave a scar?”

Chu Xinrou had snorted coldly. “Your Sister Yang said that after you finish the college entrance examination, she’ll take you to practice taekwondo.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao had grinned. She had turned to look at her sister. “You’re not angry?”

Chu Xinrou wouldn’t be angry. She had objectively evaluated, “Zhang Hui indeed deserved a beating, but you’re also a bit of a rookie.”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: …

“If she hadn’t bullied Xiaohua, I wouldn’t have bothered.”

Chu Xinrou’s hand, which was holding a cotton ball, had paused. She had looked at Qiao Xiaoxiao. “Don’t you like older people?”

This unexpected sentence had almost choked Qiao Xiaoxiao to death. She had looked at Chu Xinrou speechlessly. “I think of Xiaohua as a younger sister.”

Chu Xinrou had thought for a moment. “But I don’t think she necessarily thinks of you as her older sister.”

Really?

Qiao Xiaoxiao didn’t quite believe it, but she had continued with her words. “Jiejie, if it were you, could you accept someone younger than you?”

“Are you asking what my attitude would be if you accepted Xiaohua?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao: …

Chu Xinrou had stared into her eyes. “Xiaoxiao, your sister has never experienced love, and I don’t understand these things. I just think that if it’s true love, it shouldn’t be divided by age or gender.”

This answer, which was beyond the scope of the syllabus, had made Qiao Xiaoxiao’s mood soar. Even the injury on her brow bone didn’t hurt anymore.

It was worth it, so worth it.

Although the road was long, in her sister’s heart, she was not against being liked by someone younger. This was already very rare.

…

Speaking of the fight, Song Yang had shaken her head. “You, you can’t be so impulsive when you get to university.”

The director had nodded in agreement. “That’s right. You’ll be a university student in the future.”

What university student? How strange.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had craned her neck. “Is there anything else? If not, I’m going to study, teachers.”

Seeing her so anxious, Song Yang had exchanged a look with the director and had smiled. In the end, it was the director who had spoken. “Xiaoxiao, our school is a key high school in the city. You know that there are recommended admission quotas every year, right?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao had hesitated and had nodded.

She knew.

But for a child from a rural background with no connections like her, those quotas would never fall on her.

Sometimes, fate is just that strange.

It will always gently lift your chin at the most unexpected moment, letting you see a different sky.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had felt her eardrums ringing, and the blood had been pounding in her temples. She had looked at the expectant gazes of the several teachers before her, her lips trembling slightly. “Teacher, are you serious?”

…

When Qiao Xiaoxiao had run out of the school, the wind had brushed against her cheeks, bringing a hint of coolness. Only then had she realized that at some point, her face had been streaked with tears.

Memories had flashed by like a revolving lantern. How she had survived day by day in the cowshed, how she had endured and persevered amidst Huang Sulan’s beatings and scoldings, and the ghost-like gazes and gossip of the neighbors… the university she had longed for had once been so far away from her.

And now, this unattainable dream had descended so unexpectedly.

In the art studio, Chu Xinrou was bending over to guide Chu Ge’s painting. Ever since she had started university, this child had always been absent-minded, and her painting skills had regressed instead of improving. Chu Xinrou had gently held her hand and was about to correct her brushstrokes when the door was suddenly pushed open with a bang.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had rushed in like a gust of wind. In Chu Ge’s astonished gaze, she had buried her head in Chu Xinrou’s embrace.

The brush had fallen to the floor with a clatter. Chu Ge’s eyes had widened.

???

“Xiaoxiao? What’s wrong?” Chu Xinrou’s heart had tightened, and her cold fingers had stroked her wet cheek.

Qiao Xiaoxiao had buried her face deep in her shoulder, her voice muffled, with an uncontrollable tremor. “Jiejie… I… I’ve been recommended for admission…”

Chu Xinrou’s hand had paused in mid-air. The suspended heart had finally settled, and was then submerged in a torrent of joy. She had hugged Qiao Xiaoxiao back forcefully, her voice also trembling. “Xiaoxiao, is it true?”

Qiao Xiaoxiao had nodded vigorously, her nose red from crying. Chu Xinrou had raised her hand and had wiped away her tears, saying with a smile, “This is a good thing. Why are you still crying? Stop crying.”

How could she not cry?

In front of others, Qiao Xiaoxiao could still pretend. But in front of her sister, she didn’t have to at all.

Not only had she cried, but it could almost be described as “wailing.” Qiao Xiaoxiao had cried out all the fatigue, anxiety, and worry from her early mornings and late nights, her star-lit and moon-lit days, all these years.

Chu Xinrou had gently comforted her and had stroked her hair. In the end, her eyes had also turned red.

Seeing that they were about to cry into a ball.

Chu Ge had chewed her gum and had raised her hand. “Hey, hey, hey, that’s enough. There’s a big living person here!”

…

Chu Xinrou had decided to handle the news of Qiao Xiaoxiao’s recommended admission in a low-key manner, trying not to mention it to others.

This was also in line with her always-humble personality.

Although she had been recommended for admission, Xiaoxiao still had some procedures to handle at school and was not at home in the afternoon.

Chu Xinrou had first gone to Yang Feitang’s music room.

As the summer vacation approached, the music room was very busy. Students were coming in one after another to inquire. Yang Feitang had her chin in her hand, lazy, with no enthusiasm at all. “If you want to come, just read the admissions brochure yourself. Isn’t it all written in the booklet? Don’t make me explain it one by one.”

Fortunately, everyone knew her unrestrained personality and could understand.

“What is it?”

Yang Feitang had seen Chu Xinrou standing beside her, clearly having something to say.

Chu Xinrou: “Do you know what’s wrong with Xiaoxiao?”

Yang Feitang had pondered what could be so important as to make Chu Xinrou come all this way. She had thought for a moment and had asked, “Is she in a relationship?”

Chu Xinrou had looked at her and had shaken her head, smiling sweetly. “She’s been recommended for admission!”

This sweet girl’s smile, which was purely “showing off,” had almost blinded Yang Feitang’s eyes. She had been stunned for a long time. “She’s… that outstanding?”

Clearly, the sweet girl Chu was very dissatisfied with her reaction. She had frowned. “No wonder Xiaoxiao always suspects whether you’re really a graduate student. Your vocabulary is too poor.”

Can this be described as simply outstanding?

Then, the low-key Sister Chu had successively conveyed the news to Nuonuo, Song Qiu, and Qiao Banshan. In the end, she had even smugly shown off to the Second Miss.

In the phone, the Second Miss had looked at Chu Xinrou in shock and speechlessness. “Jie, you haven’t called me in half a month, and the first time you call is to tell me that Qiao Xiaoxiao has been recommended for admission?”

This was a big deal!

Chu Xinrou had even been about to drag Yang Feitang to buy hot pot ingredients to celebrate for Qiao Xiaoxiao that night.

But the two of them had only taken a few steps when they had seen a wonderful scene.

Qiao Xiaoxiao was holding a large bouquet of red flowers, smiling brightly at Bai Fei, who had come specially to congratulate her. “Sister Bai, why did you come in person?”

Bai Fei was the person in charge of the factory who had helped Qiao Xiaoxiao through her difficult times. They had been cooperating for a while, and she greatly admired Qiao Xiaoxiao’s intelligence and determination. She would also praise her endlessly when she talked about her to others.

“Hey, the college entrance examination is a major event in life. The moment I heard your news, I immediately bought a plane ticket. I had to come!”

Yang Feitang’s ears had perked up like a big white rabbit’s. She had said to Chu Xinrou in shock, “Oh, she found out the news at the same time as you.”

Chu Xinrou’s cheerful expression had disappeared. She had looked at the flowers in Qiao Xiaoxiao’s arms, at her sunny and brilliant smile at Bai Fei, had raised her hand, had pinched a small piece of flesh on Yang Feitang’s arm, and had twisted it in a circle.

“Ah!!!”