Because Hu Min suddenly gave birth, Liu Fang stayed in Sanya for two more days before flying back to C City with everyone, leaving Wang Dong and Liu Chen in Sanya to take care of Hu Min.
Liu Chen visited her aunt daily and then visited Old Master Shen.
Old Master Shen, for some unknown reason, despite being fully recovered, refused to leave the hospital, claiming he felt unwell.
Shen Hong was rushed back to Beijing by Old Master Shen after being delayed for three days:
“Hurry back to Beijing and keep an eye on Chen Chen’s gaming investments. If you lose money, don’t say you’re part of the Shen family!”
As it was troublesome to travel to and from Yalong Bay, Liu Chen and Ren Yu also moved to the newly opened Mandarin Oriental Hotel near the hospital.
As days passed, her aunt’s emotions gradually stabilized. In fact, if not for the inconvenience of her two younger cousins being too young to fly, her aunt would have wanted to fly back to C City directly.
“Your aunt and I have decided. Since these two children were born in Sanya, they are destined to be here. Therefore, one will be named Wang Ya, and the other Wang Shan.”
Liu Chen: ???
Seriously, who names their children so casually?
“Aunt, are you sure?”
Hu Min blinked her eyes: “Then can you suggest two names for me? I can’t think of any, and your uncle said whatever I choose is fine.”
Thinking about Wang Dong’s completely acquiescent attitude after being scared by her aunt giving birth, Liu Chen felt that was something he would say.
However, naming the children couldn't be too casual. Not to mention anything else, what if she accidentally called them Sanya in the future?
“How about this: the brother will be named Wang Haiyan. ‘Hai’ refers to a broad mind and also alludes to being born in Sanya, while ‘Yan’ signifies peace and a smooth life.
The sister will be named Wang Qingyu? ‘Qing’ means pure and clear-headed, and ‘Yu’ refers to eloquence, liveliness, and cheerfulness, signifying a clear and happy life.”
Aunt Hu Min repeatedly recited these two names and nodded: “I think these two names sound better than what I came up with. Agreed, it’s these two!”
“Aunt, you should think about it again. What if you think of something more suitable? I’m just providing two options.”
Just as Liu Chen was about to say something more to calm her aunt down, her phone, tucked in her pocket, vibrated furiously.
She reached out and looked at the caller ID: “Teacher Lai is calling?” She swiped her finger across the screen, answered the call, and seeing her aunt’s curious expression, she turned on the speakerphone.
“Hello? Chen Chen?”
“Aunt Lai, it’s me.”
From the other end of the line came Lai Jing’s cheerful laughter, unlike her usual artistic persona: “Hahaha! Chen Chen, your college entrance exam results are out. Your total score is 720. Whether it’s your raw score or with all sorts of bonus points, you are the number one in S Province, the undisputed science top scorer!”
“Top scorer?!”
Hu Min, who had been lying semi-reclined on the head of the bed, heard this and instinctively pushed herself up with her palms, sitting forward. The pain from her C-section incision made her wince.
“Hiss…”
Seeing this, Liu Chen sat by the hospital bed and held the phone in front of her aunt.
“Sister Lai, how is my Chen Chen? Yes, Chen Chen is indeed the college entrance exam top scorer, it’s confirmed. You should expect calls from the admissions office soon, Chen Chen, so pay attention to your phone. Their news travels fast.”
As soon as Lai Jing finished speaking, a call from an unknown number appeared on the phone screen. It was a landline. Liu Chen ignored it.
However, Hu Min, seeing the call, quickly urged Liu Chen:
“Chen Chen, is this landline number from the admissions office? Sister Lai, what should we do now?”
“Chen Chen, you can talk to them first. You can discuss scholarship matters with both Tsinghua and Peking University. Generally, the provincial top scorer’s choice of university can generate the most publicity, so you can negotiate more.”
“Okay, Aunt Lai, thank you.”
“What are you thanking me for? I’m your homeroom teacher. The better your grades, the better my performance. With you as the only top scorer, I won’t be short of my bonus this year.”
Hearing Lai Jing’s words, Liu Chen couldn’t help but laugh:
“Teacher Lai, you’re starting to sound more down-to-earth now.”
Lai Jing on the other end of the line paused,
“It can’t be helped. After your batch graduates, I suddenly feel old. I have to start thinking about the future of the students. Enough, enough, why are we suddenly talking about this? I’m hanging up now!”
With that, Lai Jing indeed hung up the phone.
Liu Chen looked at the landline number on her phone that was still persistently calling her. It seemed to be from the admissions office since it hadn’t hung up for so long.
Under her aunt Hu Min’s fervent gaze, Liu Chen answered the landline call.
“Hello, is this Liu Chen from C City Normal University Affiliated High School?”
“Yes, it is.”
“We are teachers from the Tsinghua admissions office. Did Peking University call you earlier for admissions?”
Hu Min was about to say no, but Liu Chen gently pressed her hand on the quilt and shook her head.
As expected, after not hearing a reply, the other party didn’t press further and quickly said:
“Student, you must believe that our Tsinghua’s programs have more advantages for science students. Moreover, we have special scholarships for provincial top scorers. If you come to our school, all four years of tuition will be waived.”
Liu Chen listened quietly, not saying a word.
The person on the other end of the line, not hearing a response, became a little anxious and quickly added:
“Also, our school has replaced a batch of new beds in the dormitory building this year, upgraded to a bunk-bed structure, all four-person rooms, with air conditioning and heating.
Every two dormitories share a living room, the dorm doors are open 24 hours, not locked, there are multiple washrooms on each floor, each with three showerheads, and a gym!
Liu Chen, what do you think? If it’s okay, we can come to sign the contract tomorrow.”
Liu Chen blinked. She had initially intended to go to Tsinghua for the Food Engineering and Science program and had arranged to be schoolmates with Ren Yu. However, since the admissions teacher was willing to introduce the future benefits of the school, she naturally wouldn’t refuse.
If the admissions teacher could hear Liu Chen’s thoughts, they would probably be so angry they would spit blood.
I’m here desperately worried about you being lured away by Peking University, and you’re treating it as a school introduction?
“Teacher, can I discuss it with my family and give you an answer tomorrow?”
The Tsinghua admissions teacher on the other end of the line heard this:
“Give me an answer tomorrow? No! Absolutely not!”
How many top scorers have said this! And how many have defected to Peking University after saying it!
We must make one last effort!
“Liu Chen, we have just applied for a support fund. If you enroll in Tsinghua, you will receive a freshman scholarship of ten thousand yuan!”
Hu Min heard that Liu Chen was going to Tsinghua University, not only having her tuition waived for four years but also receiving a ten thousand yuan freshman scholarship?!
Making money before graduating!
Hu Min quickly grabbed Liu Chen’s hand and nodded vigorously, signaling her to agree quickly!
Liu Chen looked at her aunt’s anxious expression and the admissions teacher’s desperate tone on the phone.
“Hmm, okay, then I’ll enroll in Tsinghua.”
Faint cheers could be heard from the other end of the phone, followed by the admissions teacher’s hurried question:
“Then, can we bring the admissions intention letter to your home tomorrow morning?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Ah? Why… why is that?”
“Because I’m not in C City. I’m playing in Sanya and will probably return to C City in a few days.”
Upon hearing this, Hu Min quickly shook her head until she felt dizzy, then waved her hands, gesturing with her mouth:
“Go back! Go back!”
“Ah? Then, in that case, Liu Chen, I’ll fly to Sanya tomorrow. Can we sign the admissions intention letter?”
Hearing this, even Liu Chen felt a little sympathetic.
“Don’t worry, I promised you, and I will definitely sign with Tsinghua. Teacher, you don’t need to be in such a hurry.”
“No! I’ll come over tomorrow! Can I call you when I arrive?”
“…Okay.”
After hanging up the phone, Liu Chen was about to talk to her aunt about the naming issue when her phone vibrated again.
It was still a landline number, but not the previous one.
“Why aren’t you answering?” Hu Min curiously peeked at the number displayed on the phone screen. “It should be Peking University’s admissions call, right?”
Liu Chen shook her head: “Since I’ve already promised Tsinghua, what if Peking University offers better terms? It might make me waver, so it’s better not to listen.”
“But if Peking University offers better terms, why not go to Peking University?”
Liu Chen winked at her aunt Hu Min: “Because I decided to go to Tsinghua from the beginning~”
“Ah! No wonder! I really wish my two little ones could be as smart as their cousin in the future.”
Speaking of this, Hu Min remembered the phone call that had forced her to give birth prematurely.
To be honest, she didn’t have deep feelings for her niece Hu Qian, and even felt some annoyance. Because of her existence, her sister-in-law divorced, which had caused her niece Chen Chen to be quite dispirited for a while.
However, if it was just a small favor, she wouldn’t mind, considering it as accumulating merit for her two children.
But Hu Qian’s request was impossible for her. She had just gotten married and was pregnant, and she and Wang Dong were in the honeymoon phase. How could she possibly let an eighteen-year-old girl like Hu Qian live with them? It would be too awkward!
Moreover, she didn’t trust Hu Qian’s character. She might even be framed later, so it wasn’t worth it.
“Hu Qian hasn’t called me these days. I wonder if my elder brother has changed his mind, or if she’s given up on her own.”
…
Two thousand kilometers away from Sanya, in C City.
Hu Qian, hugging her knees, curled up in the corner of her bed, her eyes vacant. Despite it being the height of summer, she clutched the summer quilt tightly.
“Knock, knock.”
A knock came from outside the door.
“Qian Qian, it’s Dad’s fault. Dad was drunk that day, which is why Uncle Fang dragged you to the hotel.”