The Silent World And Him - Chapter 13

The final exam scores were released, and some families were happy while others were worried. Zhao Shu ranked second to last in the class. From the moment she saw her score until now, she had been gloating. Finally, she could enjoy the Spring Festival this year. Whistling, she passed by Qin Yu at the window and toned down her smile a bit, comforting him, “It’s okay. Being second to last in one exam doesn’t mean you’ll always be second to last. Look at me, now I’m second to last.”

Qin Yu responded, “Thank you.”

He gave her a heads-up: “Enjoy your second to last place during the break at home. But during the next semester’s monthly exams, you’ll probably reclaim the first place.”

“Can’t you say something auspicious?” Zhao Shu almost lost her breath. She scored more than thirty points higher than Qin Yu in the final exam. Could she surpass him just like that? It’s ridiculous. She didn’t bother with someone who didn’t do well in the exam, so she took newspapers and rags to clean up.

Qin Yu’s phone vibrated, he took it out and saw his father’s call. Without any hesitation, he hung up and replied: [At school.]

His father responded: [Understood.]

Textbooks for the next semester were distributed in advance, and the main subject teachers handed out several stacks of test papers. These were the assignments for the winter vacation. Pu Chen saw so many assignments for the winter vacation, furrowing her eyebrows slightly. She still had to help Qin Yu with one more. How would she spend this winter vacation?

Qin Yu tapped her arm with his hand warmer and said, “Just help me with two English papers for the winter vacation assignments. I’ll do the rest myself.”

Pu Chen assured him, “[I promised to help you with the winter vacation assignments, so I’ll definitely help. It’s okay, it’s not too much.]”

Qin Yu said, “I won’t be polite with you. I’ve decided to study hard. It starts with diligently doing the winter vacation assignments, right?”

Pu Chen nodded. Qin Yu took out two English papers for her: “Take a look.”

Then he changed the subject, “You don’t have to do the winter vacation assignments for me, nor is there anything else to trouble you.”

Pu Chen, who was always easygoing with him, replied, “[It’s not troublesome. Whatever you need, just let me know.]”

Qin Yu looked at her, feeling that a winter vacation without seeing her seemed a bit long. He had to find an excuse to visit her, “If I encounter any questions while doing the winter vacation assignments, I’ll come to ask you for help, at your shop.”

Pu Chen agreed, “No problem. If you’re too busy to come to the shop during the break, you can ask me through your phone.” But it would be better if he came to the shop.

Qin Yu said, “I’m not busy with anything during the winter vacation except studying.”

Pu Chen didn’t know how to respond for a moment. But there was one thing that had been bothering her, so she asked him, “[How did you manage to get exactly 80 points? In all four subjects.]”

Qin Yu casually picked up a stack of test papers from her desk and started organizing them for her. He said, “It’s just based on my abilities, maybe a bit of luck too.”

Pu Chen felt embarrassed to let him organize, “[I’ll do it myself.]”

Qin Yu nodded towards his own test papers, “Help me organize. People have inertia. In the future, let’s help each other and push ourselves to be more serious.”

Pu Chen actually found his words quite reasonable. If she were organizing the papers for herself, she wouldn’t be as careful and thorough as she was now. After organizing the papers, Pu Chen packed her bag and prepared to clean up the classroom.

However, there was one thing she was always upset about, asking him, “How come you scored exactly eighty points? In all four subjects.”

Qin Yu casually picked up a stack of test papers from her desk to organize them for her, saying, “It’s based on ability, maybe luck too.”

Pu Chen felt embarrassed to let him organize them, saying, “I’ll do it myself.”

Qin Yu pointed to his own test papers with his chin, “You help me organize. People have inertia. In the future, let’s help each other and force ourselves to be more serious.”

Pu Chen actually found his words very reasonable. If it were her organizing her own test papers, she would never be as careful and serious as she was now.

After organizing the papers, Pu Chen packed her bag and prepared to clean up. Since they changed seats, she and Qin Yu were on the same duty roster.

Qin Yu instructed her, “I’ll mop the floor, you move the chairs. Wherever I mop, you move the chairs for that table.”

Pu Chen nodded obediently. Qin Yu took on the task of mopping the floor, and Pu Chen followed him closely, moving chairs until the entire classroom floor was clean.

“Pu Chen, I’m leaving first.” Qin Yu grabbed his backpack and left through the back door of the classroom, checking his phone messages with one hand.

Pu Chen noticed his hurried steps; he must be in a rush to meet someone.

Zhao Shu was responsible for finishing the cleaning duty, and she had to wait for a few friends from other classes.

She asked Pu Chen and the other two students on duty to go home first, leaving the remaining tasks to her. Pu Chen didn’t hesitate and left the classroom through the front door with her backpack.

Qin Yu had just walked down the west stairs, and she hurried down the east stairs. Everyone on campus wore the same school uniform, but Pu Chen could easily spot Qin Yu in the crowd.

He was looking at his phone with his head down and then answered a call. She couldn’t hear what he was saying from a distance.

Until they reached the school gate, he didn’t look back, and she didn’t try to catch up with him.

Today, the school gate was crowded with cars picking up students, and the traffic was gridlocked.

Pu Chen watched as Qin Yu walked towards one of the cars; it was a luxury car with a Shanghai license plate, probably picking him up to go home.

She looked away and crossed the zebra crossing into the alley. With the New Year approaching, her dad was busy every day.

There were three or four cars waiting outside the door to have their batteries replaced. Pu Chen took out a certificate of progress and waved it in front of her dad.

Her dad, Pu Wanli, gave her a thumbs up.

The little girl from the neighboring shop had also officially started her winter vacation.

She thought Pu Chen was holding an award certificate and ran back to her own shop to get a piece of candy to give to Pu Chen, saying, “Sister, you’re amazing, this is for you as a reward.”

Pu Chen pinched her round little cheek, and the little girl ran off laughing.

She went back inside, and there were two toy bears on the stool, fluffy and irresistible.

On the wall next to them was a message from her dad: “Happy Winter Vacation.”

Turns out it was a gift from her dad.

She had previously given two bears to the girl next door, but her dad said he would catch two more for her.

She said she didn’t need them, but her dad still cared.

Pu Chen hugged the bear and went outside, squatting in front of her dad.

She and her dad were used to communicating in sign language.

“Dad, thank you for the gift, I really like it.”

Pu Wanli replied, “As long as you like it.”

His regret was, “They’re not the same as the ones you had before. I looked for similar ones for a long time but couldn’t find any.”

He could tell how much his daughter loved those dolls that day, but she still generously gave them to the neighbor’s little sister.

Pu Chen asked, “Dad, did you go to catch dolls?

He could tell how much his daughter loved those dolls that day, yet he still generously gave them to the neighbor’s little sister. Puchun asked, “Dad, did you go to catch dolls?” Pumilli just smiled and didn’t say anything, burying himself in work.

He couldn’t find the arcade in the mall, so he went to the nearby supermarket instead. There were many claw machines in the supermarket, and he had to exchange sixty coins before he could catch two small bears. Puchun rubbed her forehead against her father’s arm and went back to her room to do her homework. She used to be not very enthusiastic about doing holiday homework, even with a sense of rejection, she could procrastinate, but now she had motivation.

She opened the folding table, spread out the test papers, and began to do her favorite English test paper. Aunt sent her a message saying she could only come home on the twenty-ninth day of the lunar new year. Puchun looked at the calendar, there were still eight days until New Year’s Eve.

At this moment, on the roadside two hundred meters away. “What did you say? Not going back for Chinese New Year? Qin, you’re getting more and more audacious.”

He Junshuo loosened his tie, not sure if it was too tight, making it difficult to breathe. Qin remained silent, sinking into the seat. He Junshuo’s face turned stern: “I came all the way from Shanghai today to pick you up, and this is your attitude? We’ll return to Beijing on the evening flight.” A tone that brooked no dissent.

Qin repeated, “I’m not going back, just refund the plane ticket.”

“Qin Yu!” He Junshuo shouted his name sharply, already at his limit of patience. He Junshuo was not one to joke around in front of others, and few of those who worked under him were not afraid of him, but Qin wasn’t afraid of him, even enjoyed provoking him.

Qin Yu lightly retorted, “If I go back with you for the New Year, will it bother you? Don’t you need to accompany your girlfriend for a date?”

Before He Junshuo could reply, the driver quietly opened the door and got out, pretending to go to the convenience store to buy cigarettes.

He Junshuo, forty-two this year, kept himself in good shape, and no one would doubt he was in his late thirties. Whether in appearance or ability, he was outstanding, coupled with the aura brought by the He family, admirers were always plentiful. Qin Yu used to wonder in the past few years why his parents, clearly a talented and beautiful couple in the eyes of others, from matching backgrounds, had to divorce, why couldn’t they just live together well? Later, he stopped thinking about it.

Emotions and sense of responsibility are not something you can reason with. He Junshuo has been married three times, and Qin Yu is his only child. The other two marriages didn’t last long, and at that time he had no intention of having children. Since Qin Yu’s birth until now, he had hardly spent a few days with him, lacking experience in dealing with children.

Coupled with working almost overnight for several days in a row, his temper was already short, and Qin’s provocations only fueled it. He was about to explode, “Qin Yu, what do you want to do? Not studying seriously, messing around in exams, who are you showing your attitude to?” Qin Yu retorted, “If you don’t come, you won’t see my attitude, right?”

He Junshuo loosened his tie and threw it onto the center armrest in the backseat with a snap. “Stop acting out all the time!” He didn’t dare to say anything too heavy, after all, his son had undergone major surgery not long ago and hadn’t fully recovered yet. He took a sip of tea from the cup, suppressing his anger, “When we get back to Beijing, I’ll take you to your grandfather’s house, have a lively New Year with the whole family.”

From Qin Yu’s childhood, he had grown up at his grandfather’s house, treating it as his own home. However, as he grew older, he became less fond of the hustle and bustle. During the holidays, several uncles and aunts’ families would all go to his grandfather’s house, leaving him alone. After his mother remarried, she spent the New Year in her own new home.

A few years later, due to irreconcilable differences, she divorced her second husband. That year, during the New Year holiday after the divorce, he had hoped for a long time to spend the Spring Festival with his mother, only to find out she went abroad for vacation. The second year after the divorce, his mother started dating Chen Zhilun. They were deeply in love, and during that year’s Spring Festival holiday, they went on a honeymoon in advance.

Over the years, he had spent the Spring Festival alone at his grandma’s house. Qin Yu insisted, “I’m not going back.” He Junshuo tried to keep his voice calm, “Your mother is busy during the Spring Festival, with a project abroad. What’s the matter with you spending the New Year alone in Sucheng?”

Qin Yu said, “I’ve been spending the New Year alone for these years, it’s fine, I’ve gotten used to it.”

He Junshuo was taken aback. He understood what his son meant by spending the New Year alone, but he didn’t want to admit his failure as a father over these years. Whether it was him or Qin Mingyi, after remarrying, they completely handed their children over to the Qin family. Subconsciously, they always felt that whether it was the grandparents or the uncles and aunts, they treated Qin Yu well. Rather than bringing Qin Yu to their new home, they preferred to let him stay at his grandparents’ house. Over time, both he and Qin Mingyi gradually forgot their roles as parents.

“Aren’t you here to see me? You’ve seen enough now. You’ve fulfilled your duty as a father. I’ve already talked to Grandma and Grandpa. I want to spend the New Year quietly in Sucheng. No one wants to see anyone. They agreed that I could stay here for the New Year. You don’t have to worry about the Qin Yu family saying you’re neglecting your child. I wish you an early happy Chinese New Year and smooth sailing.” Qin Yu pushed open the car door and got out.

He Junshuo sat in the car for a long time, feeling stifled in his chest. Regardless of being in the car, he lit a cigarette directly. He opened the car window, and the cold wind carried the smoke everywhere. After finishing the cigarette, He Junshuo found the number and called Lu Baisheng. He told Lu Baisheng about the disagreement with Qin Yu and asked him to take care of Qin Yu while Mingyi was abroad on a business trip during the New Year. He pleaded with Lu Baisheng, “Aren’t you staying in Sucheng this year? Mingyi will be away on a business trip during the New Year. Can you take care of Qin Yu a bit more? If he misbehaves, you can discipline him.”

What else could Lu Baisheng say? He could only agree. After hanging up the phone, he hesitated for a moment before calling Qin Yu, “Your dad told me. Since you’re not going back to Beijing for the New Year, I’ll take care of you during this winter break.”

Qin Yu was curious, “Are you staying in Sucheng too?”

Lu Baisheng replied, “Yeah.”

When Qin Yu heard that Lu Baisheng would be staying in Sucheng during this winter break, it would be convenient for him to visit Pu Chen. After all, using the excuse of seeking her advice on studying too often would seem suspicious.

Lu Baisheng loved visiting the auto repair shop for home visits the most. At that time, Qin Yu could follow him and not worry about being discovered by Pu Wanli. Qin Yu probed, “You won’t have to visit the auto repair shop during your holiday, right?”

Lu Baisheng could only dryly respond, “Home visits are part of my job. Besides, Pu Chen’s situation is special.”

Qin Yu said, “Okay, I understand.”

Although he had some selfish motives, he sincerely hoped that Lu Baisheng would visit the auto repair shop more. “Whenever you have time, go there more. Your home visits are not just home visits for Pu Chen. She will feel that besides her family, there are still people who care about her and won’t feel like a burden.”