Chapter Fifty-Seven: Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Lover

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Zhou Jingchen truly detested Wen Xiu.

He knew that Wen Xiu didn't actually object to him being with Yu Qian, but that didn't mean he could tolerate Wen Xiu acting as a third wheel, or even treating him like a thief to be guarded against.

Having lived more than forty years through both past and present lives, he had finally met someone who moved his heart. All he wanted was to watch this young girl grow up, to keep her firmly within his own territory.

He had even considered building a gilded chamber to hide Yu Qian away.

But that idea was buried deep in his heart the moment he confirmed that Yu Qian was also someone reborn and had her own plans for life.

If Wen Xiu or anyone else kept obstructing his closeness to Yu Qian, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't eventually act on that idea—locking Yu Qian away completely.

Just as he was lost in the thought of whether to confine Yu Qian, the familiar chime of the penguin notification from his computer startled him.

It was Yu Qian’s reply: “I haven’t agreed yet. Is it really okay for you to make the decision by yourself?”

[Jing]: “It’s fine. You won’t object, will you?”

[Qian]: “I’m leaving at eight. If you’re late, I won’t wait for you.”

Yu Qian didn’t say directly that she wouldn’t oppose, but she gave him the time.

Zhou Jingchen smiled. Yu Qian’s closeness and indulgence helped him suppress his extreme impulses.

As long as Yu Qian remained by his side, he was willing to let her do whatever she wished.

Even in dreams, the only person at Yu Qian’s side should be him.

After a restful sleep, Zhou Jingchen washed up and headed to Yu Qian’s house, feeling refreshed.

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Chen Ying had grown accustomed to Zhou Jingchen coming over for meals in just a few days, so she prepared breakfast for him as well.

She watched as Yu Qian wandered downstairs, picked up a steamed bun, and went back upstairs. Her eyes were half-open, her face adorably blank, clearly not fully awake.

She didn’t even notice the young man sitting at the dining table.

Zhou Jingchen curled his lips, pressing his tongue against his palate.

So cute—he wanted to kiss her, hold her close.

Thinking that he’d have to wait another six years before they could truly be together, Zhou Jingchen felt time dragging unbearably slow.

After another half hour, just before eight, Yu Qian finally came downstairs with a bag in hand, having finished washing up.

“Morning, little cutie,” Zhou Jingchen greeted her with a smile.

“You’re here so early,” Yu Qian said, surprised to see him on the sofa.

He smiled without answering, stood up, and took the bag from her—inside were her pencil case and exam admission ticket. “Let’s go, it’s almost eight.”

“Oh.” Yu Qian went into the kitchen to let Aunt Chen know, then changed her shoes and left.

Zhou Jingchen kept smiling, his eyes deep and dark.

He couldn’t explain why, just from that single glance in the newspaper, he had become so taken with this young girl.

Perhaps it was true that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder; every gesture and expression Yu Qian made seemed impossibly cute to Zhou Jingchen. He wanted to do so many things to her.

Watching the girl ahead in her short skirt, exposing her slender, long, pale legs, Zhou Jingchen felt himself utterly tempted.

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Meanwhile, Yu Qian shivered, sensing as if someone was watching her.

She stopped and looked around, but saw nothing suspicious.

She turned to gaze at Zhou Jingchen.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Jingchen came back to himself, puzzled as she stared at him in silence.

“Nothing.” Thinking it couldn’t possibly be Zhou Jingchen, Yu Qian answered lightly and continued walking.

They spoke little along the way; after escorting her to the gate of No. 1 High School, Zhou Jingchen didn’t go home. Instead, he sat in the security office to wait for her.

There was nothing to do at home; he had already finished revising the high school curriculum, and there were others watching over the company.

Rather than sitting at home in a daze, he figured he might as well play on his phone here and wait for Yu Qian to come out so they could go home together.

...

Sitting in the examination room, Yu Qian looked at the paper before her and breathed a sigh of relief.

Most of the question types were ones she’d practiced recently, and she still remembered. She could do them.

After finishing and estimating her score, she figured it would be at least 140. With her scores in other subjects, entry into No. 1 High was assured.