Regarding the arrival of the new classmate, Zhou Nianyuan, Gu Jingchen didn’t have any particularly strong feelings.
Mainly because, well, this new classmate was quiet, and focused on studies. For someone like Gu Jingchen, who was not particularly good academically, he couldn’t really connect with this bookish type.
Although the homeroom teacher repeatedly urged him to take good care of the new classmate, he always felt that the new classmate didn’t need his care at all. On the first day, when he greeted the new classmate, the response was quite cold.
But he didn’t mind. After all, he had a broad mind.
As the leader in the school, he always promoted unity and friendship, helping the weaker ones.
When he saw someone being bullied, he would step in to ensure justice.
As a result, the school atmosphere was very positive, and there had been no incidents of campus violence in these years. The principal would send a banner to the Gu family every year, thanking little Gu Jingchen for his contributions.
Old Master Gu was delighted, proudly displaying the banner in the living room and even inviting his old comrades to appreciate it.
Well, Gu Jingchen was indeed a very upright and sunny kid.
The first time he noticed the new classmate was about a week later during the exams. Surprisingly, the new classmate ranked first, while Xu Zhou came in second.
Both Xu Zhou and Zhou Nianyuan scored a perfect 100 in math, but Zhou Nianyuan got 99 in Chinese, while Xu Zhou only scored 98.
The reason was that Xu Zhou’s composition was deducted two points, while Zhou Nianyuan’s composition only lost one point.
Gu Jingchen looked at the report card, feeling particularly incredulous.
In his mind, Zhou Zhou was a genius.
How could the new classmate outperform a genius?
He glanced at Xu Zhou and suddenly slammed the table hard, “No, how can he be better than you!”
As a result, because he slapped too hard, he felt intense pain and quickly withdrew his hand with a distressed expression.
Xu Zhou: “…”
This silly boy, what would he do without him?
He gently held Gu Jingchen’s hand, leaned over, blew, and kissed it, saying, “It’s okay now, not hurting anymore.”
Gu Jingchen was deeply moved, holding his hand and acting cute, “Zhou Zhou, you’re the best.”
Xu Zhou smiled softly.
He was quite handsome, and when he smiled, there was even a dimple on his left cheek.
Gu Jingchen touched Xu Zhou’s dimple and also smiled, completely forgetting that he was still upset with the new classmate.
Xu Zhou leaned close to his ear and whispered, “Jingchen, let’s be friends with the new classmate.”
Gu Jingchen looked at him in confusion, “Huh?”
“My mom said Auntie Ye is worried that the new classmate might be bullied, so she asked us to take care of him.”
Auntie Ye was Zhou Nianyuan’s aunt, a close friend of Gu’s and Xu’s mothers. Recently, she brought Zhou Nianyuan back to personally guide him. She liked Zhou Nianyuan a lot and was afraid he might be bullied at school, so she entrusted Gu’s and Xu’s mothers to let their children communicate more with him.
Gu Jingchen recalled that besides the teacher’s reminder, his mom did seem to mention making friends with the new classmate.
But he had a setback on the first day and then forgot about it.
He liked Auntie Ye a lot; she was warm and always bought him toys.
“Sure, let’s be friends with the new classmate.” However, he felt a bit troubled, “But the new classmate doesn’t seem very friendly.”
Xu Zhou smiled, “No worries, we’ll just be more friendly.”
Gu Jingchen nodded, “Okay.”
So, they walked towards the new classmate’s seat together.
Zhou Nianyuan was reading a book. Sensing someone nearby, he looked up at them but didn’t say anything.
Xu Zhou smiled at him, “You can play with us, or else I’ll complain to Auntie Ye.”
Gu Jingchen: “…”
Is this Xu Zhou’s idea of being friendly?
Alright…
Zhou Nianyuan closed his book, “I can also complain, say you guys bullied me.”
Gu Jingchen: “…”
The new classmate is as formidable as Xu Zhou!
His eyes rolled between Xu Zhou and the new classmate, and his intuition told him that he shouldn’t speak or he would be in trouble.
So, he stood quietly, not saying a word.
Xu Zhou smiled and extended his hand to the new classmate, “So, are we friends now?”
Zhou Nianyuan looked at him for a few seconds, then also extended his hand, shaking hands, “Hmm.”
Gu Jingchen: “…”
Who am I, where am I, and what am I doing?
He couldn’t figure out how Xu Zhou and the new classmate became friends.
Just a moment ago, he thought they were about to fight.
Seeing him looking confused, Xu Zhou smiled, grabbed his hand, and said, “Jingchen, from now on, we’re friends with the new classmate. Are you happy?”
Gu Jingchen: “…Happy.”
Xu Zhou immediately smiled with a twinkle in his eyes.
He also smiled and extended his hand to Zhou Nianyuan, “Hello.”
Zhou Nianyuan’s gaze fell on him, and after a few seconds, he shook hands with him.
So, the three became friends.
During the elementary school graduation exam, Xu Zhou and Zhou Nianyuan topped the list and entered the junior high school section.
As a mediocre student, Gu Jingchen passed both subjects, making Grandpa Gu very pleased.
He was pleased with himself too and had a wild time during the summer vacation.
His uncle even took him abroad for a month, and he had a blast.
However, when he returned and saw Xu Zhou and the new classmate inseparable, he couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.
Both the Xu and Zhou families focused on business, and Xu Zhou and Zhou Nianyuan were the only sons who learned about management from a young age.
Both were very smart, occasionally exchanging insights and gradually became good friends.
As for Gu Jingchen, despite being the eldest grandson of the Gu family, he was a bit clueless. Grandpa Gu hoped for his happiness and didn’t burden him with family matters.
Although Gu’s parents wished their son to get involved in the family business early, they couldn’t resist the elderly’s love for their grandson.
So, Gu Jingchen lived carefreely.
However, as he didn’t need to learn about the family business, the common ground with Xu Zhou became less and less.
Especially after summer vacation, the things Xu Zhou and Zhou Nianyuan talked about were incomprehensible to him. He felt like the world had changed!
And it didn’t stop there; as they entered junior high school, the situation became more challenging.
Every time he was with the two of them, listening to their discussions about economic situations, he was utterly bewildered.
Unable to hold back his words, he finally grabbed Xu Zhou’s hand one day and poured out his grievances, “Zhou Zhou, I feel like you and A’Yuan are getting closer, and you don’t play with me anymore! But we’re the ones who grew up together! We even shared the bond of wearing diapers!”
Xu Zhou: “…”
…The bond of wearing diapers? Thinking carefully, they did see each other when they were just naked babies, and he didn’t say it wrong.
Seeing his pouting mouth, Xu Zhou gently spoke, “A’Yuan and I have plans. I’m going to study abroad for college, and A’Yuan wants to attend Haicheng University… We both have goals. What about you?”
Gu Jingchen: “…”
He understood; Zhou Zhou was implying that he lacked ambition.
Xu Zhou looked at him meaningfully, “Jingchen, don’t you want to study abroad with me?”
After some thought, Gu Jingchen spent an enjoyable month abroad with his uncle during the summer. Moreover, he didn’t want to be separated from Xu Zhou, so he nodded, “I want to.”
Xu Zhou smiled, revealing his deep dimples, and softly said, “I want to study business at an Ivy League school. Will you come with me?”
Gu Jingchen frowned, “It’s too difficult.”
Xu Zhou held his hand, “It’s okay, A’Yuan and I will help you.”
Gu Jingchen hesitated.
Xu Zhou whispered, “If you don’t want to, then I’ll only play with A’Yuan in the future.”
Gu Jingchen replied, “…I’ll study.”
Although studying was painful, he cared more about being with Zhou Zhou.
In the following three years of junior high school, under the rigorous training of Xu Zhou and Zhou Nianyuan, Gu Jingchen transformed from a poor student to a top student and smoothly entered high school.
Upon learning that her son’s improvement was encouraged by Xu Zhou and Zhou Nianyuan, Gu’s mother was extremely grateful to the two little friends.
As a result, Gu’s family provided many conveniences to Xu’s and Zhou’s families. Due to the influence of Grandpa Gu and the rapid promotion of Gu’s father, the Gu family not only had a say in Haicheng but also carried considerable weight.
Only Grandpa Gu, after hearing Gu Jingchen’s story of striving for improvement, seemed to be deep in thought.
That grandson of the Xu family definitely had some issues…
Fortunately, Grandpa Gu was always open-minded. He knew that his grandson was quite clueless in matters of love, and that kid from the Xu family might have to face some difficulties.
Anyway, if his grandson was willing, he wouldn’t oppose it.
Grandpa Gu’s intuition was spot on.
After entering high school, Gu Jingchen received numerous love letters from girls. He was tall, handsome, kind, sunny, excelled in basketball, and was a good student—a perfect prince charming in the eyes of many girls.
Some girls would directly approach him on the way home, confessing their feelings, while others discreetly slipped love letters into his desk.
However, Gu Jingchen felt nothing. Those love letters were collected by Xu Zhou, and he never read a single one.
