As soon as Su Zelin entered the house, his parents, who had been waiting, rushed to greet him.

"Son, how was it going to the No. 2 High School to receive your award today? Did you meet any big leaders from the education department?"

"I heard TV reporters came to shoot, you didn't say anything inappropriate, did you?"

"Did you get any certificates or awards? We should frame them and keep them as a memento!"

"..."

Su Jianjun and Zhao Lixia bombarded Su Zelin with questions, making his head spin.

"Dad, mom, the deputy director came, don't worry, I won't embarrass you. No certificate, but I got an award certificate!"

He answered a few questions in one breath.

"An award certificate is good too, where is it?"

Su Jianjun glanced at his son, only to see his hands empty.

Su Zelin took it out from his pocket.

The rascal didn't think much of this thing, so once he left school, he casually crumpled it into a ball and stuffed it into his pocket.

Seeing this, Zhao Lixia felt heartbroken and quickly unfolded and smoothed the certificate: "Oh dear, my little ancestor, this is a college entrance exam single-subject top scorer award certificate, bringing glory to our family! How could you not take good care of it! Someday I'll get it laminated, and frame it on the wall!"

If this award certificate was lost, how could they boast about their son being the English top scorer in the college entrance exam to guests and relatives without sounding pretentious?

But having the award certificate framed on the wall is different, no need for words, they can see it for themselves.

Zhao Lixia indeed had a bit of vanity, especially since this was an honor her son earned for the Su family.

Before this, she had never dared to hope that Su Zelin would make her proud academically.

At this moment, Su Jianjun suddenly recalled something, and asked, "Wasn't there also a cash prize? How much was it?"

"Five thousand!"

Su Zelin did not conceal it.

Even if he didn't say or falsely reported, his parents could find out from Qin Shiqing.

"So much!"

Zhao Lixia's eyes lit up, just about to say something, when Su Zelin interrupted: "Mom, I deposited the prize money into my own bank account!"

Once money entered his pocket, it was impossible for a rascal to spit it back out!

Moreover, it was money he legitimately earned.

Anticipating that his mom would plan to manage it, he went to the bank to deposit the money right after parting with Qin Shiqing, before heading home.

"You brat, you're so wary, you can't even trust your own mom!"

Zhao Lixia said sulkily: "I'm doing it for your own good. Even if you have money, don't waste it, don't develop a habit of being extravagant, and definitely don't gamble. You better remember this!"

"Got it, mom, this is also my start-up capital!"

Su Zelin chuckled.

This money was indeed very useful to him.

Shenghai Meilin's stocks could still rise for another ten days or so before reaching the peak. He planned to invest all of it, to see how much he could earn.

...

A few days later, Lu Haoran and Tang Yan were both admitted to their respective universities.

The former to the University of Technology, the latter to the Teachers' University, both as they wished.

Despite knowing their son's score was quite stable, and having applied to a few lucrative majors, if it didn't work out they could spend some money, his parents were still anxiously waiting, fearing any accidents.

The 2000 college entrance exam was just a year after the expansion of admissions. There were still fewer colleges and fewer admissions, still like thousands of troops crossing a single-log bridge.

Plus, applying before knowing the results added a layer of luck.

If a particular university had more applicants one year, the admission line could inexplicably rise by dozens of points, and many had encountered such bad luck and failed.

So his parents were very anxious, especially Zhao Lixia, who called to inquire ten times a day, never mind the high long-distance fees, she just wanted the results sooner.

Su Zelin, on the other hand, remained calm. His test scores this time around were even higher than in his previous life, it was impossible that he wouldn't get into the Financial College, his parents' worries were completely unnecessary.

He continued his routine, surfing the internet and reading novels, living his days leisurely.

If he didn't enjoy this time properly, he would soon have to start university.

Sure enough, within a couple of days, when Zhao Lixia called to inquire again, the admission information for Su Zelin came through the line.

"Son, you've been admitted to the Financial College!"

Upon hearing the good news, Zhao Lixia joyfully rushed into Su Zelin's room to immediately share it with her son, who was lounging on his bed reading "Ranma 1/2".

"So what if I got admitted, it's just the Financial College, you're acting like I got into Tsinghua or Peking University!"

Su Zelin didn't even lift his head.

This news wasn't particularly exciting.

He had known all along he'd get in.

Even in his past life when he found out he was admitted to the Financial College, he wasn't especially thrilled.

"You brat, the Financial College is at least a decent second-tier university in the province. After graduation, with some connections, there's a good chance of working in the finance department!"

Compared to Su Jianjun, who hoped Su Zelin would go into business or saw more potential for him in business, Zhao Lixia had a slightly different idea.

She thought it would be better for her son to get into a government agency, especially a good department like finance, it would be something she could proudly speak of as parents.

Unfortunately, this was just Granny Su's wishful thinking.

With Su Zelin's nature, the monotonous life of an office worker would be the death of him.

"Mom, I don't want to get into the finance department. A 9 to 5 job, day in and day out, what's the point!"

Su Zelin replied lazily.

"What do you know, the finance department is a stable job!"

Zhao Lixia snorted.

"What's the use of an iron rice bowl? If Dad had stuck with the steel factory, would our family have money today? And besides, iron rice bowls aren't stable either. Look at Uncle Qin and Auntie, they still got laid off!"

Su Zelin didn't care.

"That's different. How can a steel factory compare to a government office, especially the finance department? They're dealing with money, so how could there be layoffs!"

Despite saying that, Zhao Lixia didn't bother to persuade him further.

Knowing her son's unruly nature, it was indeed impossible to expect him to obediently work at an office job, so she let it go.

Anyway, the Finance Academy is still very useful. Even if he takes over his father's business in the future, he still needs to be meticulous!

Granny Su actually didn't know much about the Academy. She thought attending such a university would make you better at counting money. If you mentioned economics, finance, international trade, or human resource management, Zhao Lixia didn't understand any of it.

At this moment, footsteps were heard from outside—it was Qin Shiqing.

"Shiqing's here, hehe, you're just in time. I was just about to tell you and your parents that Zelin got accepted into the Finance Academy! You both will be studying in Lin'an, so you can take the bus home together and look out for each other!"

Zhao Lixia happily shared the good news with Qin Shiqing.

"Congratulations to Zelin then!"

Qin Shiqing was also very happy.

"Shiqing, your reaction is even bigger than that rascal of ours. He doesn't care about anything, not even something as important as getting into college. It nearly worried me and your uncle to death!"

Zhao Lixia pulled Qin Shiqing to sit down and started complaining.

Just then, Su Zelin suddenly strode out of the room, and before Granny Su could react, he rushed out the door: "Mom, I'm going out!"

"Shiqing just arrived, where are you going!"

Granny Su hurriedly called out, but it was too late. Su Zelin was already gone in a flash.

"Such a grown person, still doesn't know manners!"

Zhao Lixia was fuming.

Qin Shiqing had come over, providing a chance for her to interact more with her son.

But that rascal ran off on his own!

"Even after graduation, he doesn't let his parents have peace of mind. I'm really afraid he'll be the same in university and won't even get his diploma! I heard that Zhejiang University isn't far from the Finance Academy, they're both in the university town. Shiqing, I'm counting on you to often check in on Zelin for me!"

Zhao Lixia instructed.

Apart from worrying that Su Zelin would lose himself in university, she had another intention: to let the two kids interact more, so they don't drift apart because of different universities.

"Auntie, I got it!"

Qin Shiqing nodded slightly, feeling a bit perplexed.

In recent days, whenever she came to the Su family, her childhood friend always found excuses to go out, as if purposely avoiding her.

If it were because she liked to tattle to Zhao Lixia and Su Jianjun, Qin Shiqing wouldn't believe it.

She had been supervising Su Zelin on behalf of their parents for a long time; it wasn't just these few days. In the past, Su Zelin might complain a bit, but he never threw a tantrum.

So, what could be the reason?

As Qin Shiqing pondered this, Zhao Lixia spoke again: "Shiqing, are you free now? Auntie hasn't done a thorough cleaning in a while and plans to tidy up the house today."

"Sure, Auntie. I have nothing to do, just came over to hang out!"

Qin Shiqing had been diligent since childhood, often helping Zhao Lixia with chores. It was second nature to her. Sometimes, even if Zhao Lixia didn't ask, she'd help with cleaning around the Su house.

"Shiqing is still the best. Our rascal, just like his dad, acts like a pampered big man and won't help me with any housework. If it weren't for you, Shiqing, Auntie would be exhausted to death!"

Zhao Lixia nagged, then got busy with Qin Shiqing.

They swept the floor clean, mopped it wet and dry, disassembled and cleaned the exhaust vent, polished the windows…

After a few rounds of work, the house looked much cleaner.

"Shiqing, I'll handle the windows. Could you help tidy up Zelin's room? That kid leaves things everywhere!"

"Sure, Auntie!"

Qin Shiqing washed the rag, hung it up, and walked into Su Zelin's bedroom.

The slacker sure was lazy; his stuff was scattered wherever he left it, like comics on the headboard, footboard, desk, and chair. Clothes and random items were strewn around too.

Su Zelin never had the concept of sorting things, and most of the time, it was Zhao Lixia and Qin Shiqing who tidied up for him.

Qin Shiqing adeptly gathered the clothes, folded them neatly, and placed them in the wardrobe.

Then she tidied up other bits and pieces.

When she organized the comics by name into stacks to put in the drawer, Qin Shiqing suddenly noticed something.

Among one stack of comics at the bottom of the drawer, there was a book whose condition and thickness seemed a bit different, suggesting it was a different type.

Her mild OCD kicked in, and she pulled the book out, intending to reorganize it properly.

However, seeing what it really was, Qin Shiqing was slightly taken aback.

It wasn't a comic, but a senior high school Chinese textbook.

The handmade cover was very familiar. She had made it for her childhood friend.

As far as Qin Shiqing knew, Su Zelin had sold his other textbooks and study materials.

Yet he discreetly kept this one.

As she caressed the Chinese textbook, a faint smile spread across the girl's lovely face.

Let's see how long you can keep pretending!

After a while, she quietly placed the Chinese textbook back where it was.

This can stay as it is.

…

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.