Chapter 21
Gu Qi didn't desire to participate in any school sports meeting. Although she liked sports, it was obviously not the same thing.
But Gu Qi thought how this kind of sports meeting where one could bring their family which Imperial Capital No. 1 School specifically held for the third year students. It only happened once in the three years of high school. At that time, most students will be accompanied by their parents, while Mu Yuan may be alone.
Gu Qi had experienced that feeling. So at the thought of this scene, she couldn't help but frown.
It couldn’t do.
She glanced at Mu Yuan. The boy's face displayed a slight speechlessness for Jiang Lechuan's whimsical thoughts, but he didn't have too obvious emotions about the matter itself.
So Gu Qi turned to Jiang Lechuan, neither agreeing or refusing. She asked first: "Aren't you busy recently? Do you have the time?"
She was fine. As long as she didn't join the crew, her time was relatively free.
But Jiang Lechuan was different. He was howling as he practiced dancing every day until he was mentally affected. The sports meeting would last a whole day.
"It's fine." Jiang Lechuan showed a confident expression: "I learned those dances a long time ago. Missing one day isn't a big deal. The worst case is that I will go back and get scolded by Xu Yanyue. It's not a big deal."
After Jiang Lechuan finished speaking, he put the three’s hands together and shouted a slogan unilaterally: "Go, go, go! First place! We’re coming!
Mu Yuan: "..."
No one agreed to participate at all, okay? Jiang Lechuan was obviously talking to himself the whole time.
Mu Yuan wanted to express his refusal, but before he could organize the words, Gu Qi also grasped his hand.
She didn't smile, but instead seriously stared at him and repeated Jiang Lechuan's previous words: "We are one family. We can participate in this kind of activity together. "
Mu Yuan was stunned. Suddenly he recalled some family activities organized by the school.
He didn't remember how many grades he hadn't participated in. He would go to the library alone to kill time after the teacher called the roll. Then he went home with his schoolbag after school.
Although those activities were meaningless to Mu Yuan and he had no interest in them, he had to admit... At the beginning, he stood at the school gate with his classmates and expected to see his parents. But that was many years ago. The memory was so vague that it was almost forgotten.
Waiting again and again, and disappointed again and again, because his parents always had more important and meaningful things to do.
Mu Yuan occasionally thought of the time when he was very young and refused to drink the bitter Chinese medicine. His mother patiently coaxed him with candy, while his father took him running to exercise his body even though he end up getting a chill from the cold wind and fell ill again.
But later, he grew up.
His health improved, his grades improved, nothing bad happened again, and he didn't encounter any difficulties. Therefore, his parents no longer focused on him, but turned to people who needed more help.
Mu Yuan had thought about quarreling with his parents and telling them that he didn't like it.
But he had seen the parents of the children who were helped by his father come to thank him with fruits and the neighbors repeatedly sent local specialties or various gifts. Even the stray cats and dogs rescued by his parents and got new adoptive families no longer resisted contact with humans. With the enthusiastic help of his parents, it seemed that more and more people were living happily.
The dissatisfaction and grievance that he wanted to burst out couldn't find a vent in the end and could only be stifled in silence.
It seemed that compared with these people and matters that really need help, his loneliness seemed so insignificant and exaggerated.
Faced with such parents, he couldn't say any words of blame. Nor did he want to say anything anymore.
Mu Yuan had even sarcastically muttered in his heart: How come it wasn’t his parents’ turn to move by the top ten personnel in the country? With the exception of eating, sleeping, and working, it was clear that their lives were all about helping others. This was like the meaning of their existence.
He hated getting along with people more and more. Not to mention talking, even eye contact was unbearable.
Why should he be looked at?
No one would choose him. There would always be people and things more important than him. He wouldn’t be the first in anyone's heart.
He was excellent enough, so he didn't need anything. He could do everything by himself and could face everything alone.
So when Mu Yuan first heard that Gu Qi was going to take him to a variety show, he found it incomprehensible.
Obviously there were Jiang Lechuan and Wen Renjing. There were better choices and he shouldn’t be chosen.
Knowing his parents' personalities to always help others if they can and the other party was Gu Qi, he was too lazy to refuse. It was more troublesome to go back and be nagged.
However, when he was attacked during the game, Gu Qi chose him again between him and Jiang Lechuan.
At that moment, Mu Yuan was a little confused.
He suddenly realized that he didn't seem to need to be the first person all the time. He could feel satisfied and even happy if he was chosen occasionally.
As for Jiang Lechuan.
In Mu Yuan's view, he was like his parents, very kind to everyone, as if they had a lot of energy waiting to save the world at any time.
But he just...
He didn't like this kind of person the most.
In the end.
Mu Yuan nodded and agreed, "Okay."
He pulled his hand back and continued to eat the food in front of him as if nothing had happened.
Gu Qi and Jiang Lechuan looked at each other. Both of them widened their eyes at the same time. They didn't expect to convince Mu Yuan so easily. They thought it would take some twists and turns.
So Jiang Lechuan patted his chest and winked at Gu Qi. The meaning was clear: Leave everything up to me.
He didn't even bother to eat and opened Taobao. He chanted that he had to choose the ‘battle suit’ to wear together at that time, otherwise it would be too late if the order wasn’t placed in time.
Gu Qi clipped up some food for Mu Yuan and seemed to be used to it: "Don't worry about him."
The meal was over.
Gu Qi said she would drive them back, but Mu Yuan didn't go home, but instead suggested going to a bookstore near home.
Because of his parents' enthusiasm, there were often guests at home. Sometimes Mu Yuan found it noisy and would go out to find a bookstore or study room by himself.
Gu Qi sent Mu Yuan to the bookstore. When he got out of the car, she couldn't help but say: "Go back early, don't let Paternal Aunt worry. Send a message if something happens."
Mu Yuan stopped.
He turned around, smiled faintly at Gu Qi, and responded, "Understood, goodbye, Elder Sister...Elder Brother."
He reluctantly added Jiang Lechuan.
When Mu Yuan walked away, the two people in the car were still in a petrified state.
Jiang Lechuan even slapped himself in the face in doubt: "Did I see it wrong? Did Mu Yuan just smile at us?"
Gu Qi rubbed her eyes, but answered calmly: "You didn't see it wrong. And he called you Elder Brother."
One must know, Mu Yuan only called her Elder Sister occasionally over the year. While he rarely called Jiang Lechuan and Wen Renjing Elder Brother.
It seemed that Jiang Lechuan's visit to Mu Yuan's school had changed their brotherly relationship.
Jiang Lechuan: “!!!”
Agitated, he stood up at once. The next second, his head tragically hit the top of the car. He sat down with his hands covering his head and wailed in pain. Simply delight turned into sorrow.
On the other side.
Mu Yuan entered the bookstore, but he didn't study on the first floor seating area, but went to the second floor.
The second floor was slightly different. There were not only books, but many stationery and educational toys. These ones were similar to the ones that Gu Qi and Jiang Lechuan liked to play.
Mu Yuan stopped and began to choose carefully.
He wanted to understand the gameplay and fun of these toys, so that he could get closer to Elder Sister's hobbies and life.
What Jiang Lechuan could do with her, he could do, and he could do better.
＊
Gu Qi regretted it.
When Jiang Lechuan created a small group for the three people and sent a picture of three big red robes to the group, she fell silent.
[Jiang Lechuan]: I did research. This is the red robe that only the top scholar in ancient times wore! We will definitely win first place if we wear it! We will definitely win first place!
[Gu Qi]: It’s not convenient to participate in that in the competition, right? Just wear ordinary clothes.
[Jiang Lechuan]: That’s right. It’s okay, I have alternatives.
Next.
Jiang Lechuan showed a variety of ‘battle robes’.
There were sportswear customized with the image of his male god from GG bond, and various clothes representing auspicious meanings. Each of which was enough to make them the focus of the crowd.
Gu Qi didn’t know what Mu Yuan thought. Anyway, she couldn’t accept wearing this to participate in the competition for a second. What was the difference between this and being naked? !
It was Mu Yuan who spoke up.
[Mu Yuan]: I think these clothes aren’t suitable.
[Jiang Lechuan]: Why? ? ?
[Mu Yuan]: ... I can’t tell that we are one family.
[Jiang Lechuan]: Makes sense!!!
He actually forgot the most important point!
So Jiang Lechuan asked for advice very humbly.
[Jiang Lechuan]: What to do? ? ?
Mu Yuan posted a picture to the group.
A pure white T-shirt with the words ‘Sister’ written on it in black font.
It was very simple and low-key.
Gu Qi's acceptance of these clothes was quite good. At least it was much more normal than the ones Jiang Lechuan chose.
[Jiang Lechuan]: Good idea!
＊
On the day of the sports meeting.
Jiang Lechuan brought over his customized T-shirts.
Seeing that there were two T-shirts with ‘Brother’ written on them, Mu Yuan didn't know which one belonged to him for a moment and had to rely on Jiang Lechuan to distinguish.
Gu Qi asked curiously beside him: "Why don't you add ‘elder’ or ‘younger’ in front?"
Jiang Lechuan answered very seriously: "No need to go through such trouble. Look carefully, there are differences between these two clothes."
Gu Qi could only comply and examine it carefully. She indeed found the difference.
Jiang Lechuan's T-shirt said: Brother.
Mu Yuan's T-shirt said: brother.
The difference was in the first letter, uppercase and lowercase. Uppercase represented elder brother, lowercase represented younger brother.
Gu Qi: "..."
Alright then. Anyway, it wasn't important.
The two could only follow Mu Yuan and change their clothes and enter the school from the back door.
At this moment, there was still half an hour before the normal class, which was the time for the third year’s sports meeting. There weren’t many people in the school and it was very quiet.
The three of them soon came to Mu Yuan's class.
The seating arrangement of the third year students today changed. After school the night before, the homeroom teacher organized the students to separate each table by a certain distance. All the chairs were replaced with long benches, which could accommodate students and two parents to sit at the same time when resting.
Gu Qi took out an autographed photo from her bag, handed it to Mu Yuan, and asked, "Give it to your friend in person?"
That person wasn't a friend.
The reason why Mu Yuan took the initiative to ask for Elder Sister's autographed photo was because he wanted to find a reason to see Elder Sister more.
So Mu Yuan shook his head, took Gu Qi's autographed photo, and put it on the boy's desk based on his memory.
Soon, classmates and their parents arrived one after another. Although they were very curious and they couldn't resist glancing at Mu Yuan's position with excitement on their faces, no one came forward to disturb them this time.
All this was thanks to Jiang Lechuan's good buddy -
Mu Yuan's homeroom teacher!
The 40-year-old man gave a speech for half an hour before school was over yesterday, brainwashing all the students with ‘collective responsibility’ and telling them that Mu Yuan's siblings would come tomorrow. Yes, the two they anticipated.
As classmates, Mu Yuan's elder siblings were their elder siblings. They couldn't be too excited and affect others' normal family activity experience. They have to help stop other students from other classes when they come over.
As long as they perform well, they could register to get autographed photos of Gu Qi or the entire Jiang Lechuan group after the sports meeting!
Of course, this idea came from Jiang Lechuan's clever brain.
At this moment. The slightly chubby boy walked to his seat. The moment he saw the autographed photo on the table, he knew it was from Mu Yuan. He tried his best to suppress his trembling hands and took out his phone to send a message to Mu Yuan.
[Mu Yuan! From now on, you will be my best friend! ]
Mu Yuan's phone vibrated.
After seeing this message, he of course chose to pretend that he didn't see it and deliberately ignored the boy's expression when he repeatedly looked back at him.
This kept going until Gu Qi poked Mu Yuan with her finger and said, "Your good friend seems to have something to say to you."
Mu Yuan: "..."
No, they weren’t familiar with each other at all.
But it wasn’t convenient for Mu Yuan to explain it in detail to Gu Qi, so he could only say, "He’s probably looking at you."
Gu Qi: "!"
Was that so?
After all, he was Mu Yuan's friend. The relationship was so good that Mu Yuan specially asked for her autographed photo for him. Thinking of this, when the boy looked over again, Gu Qi waved at him and showed the smile that she had practiced eight hundred times in front of the mirror in the past two days. She even watched some videos of Shen Anran at home and learned the secret of having a natural smile.
First, must keep the facial muscles absolutely relaxed, otherwise it would be easy to have a fake smile.
Second, you must make your eyes curved as well. Even if it curved exaggeratedly, it was fine.
Otherwise, if the upward arc of the lips curved more exaggerated than the eyes, it would look like a fake smile out of politeness. If dressed more coolly, it would even have a sense of ‘scheming’.
Oh right.
Also should pay attention to the styling. Compared with light colors, dark clothes give people a sense of distance. Long straight black hair with big waves had a mature vibe, so she deliberately tied a bun today and used a light-colored hairpin.
When the boy waved to her excitedly in response, Gu Qi felt that her practice was affirmed.
Even Jiang Lechuan looked over curiously and asked, "What good thing happened that makes you beam so happily so early in the morning?"
Very good. Jiang Lechuan's reaction this time was correct. It made Gu Qi feel that her ‘efforts’ were like a high-scoring test paper.
So Gu Qi turned her still present smile to Jiang Lechuan and answered half-jokingly, "Of course it’s because of accompanying Mu Yuan to participate in school activities."
Gu Qi's words made Mu Yuan stunned. He lowered his head slightly and didn't raise his eyes. Unconsciously, his lips pursed.
Jiang Lechuan felt this reason was very reasonable: "Yes!"
This was his first time accompanying Younger Brother to participate in school activities! And Elder Sister was here! It was indeed a very special and meaningful day!
So the next second, Jiang Lechuan's mouth grinned to the back of his ears, looking happier than Gu Qi.
He declared, "Then I have to smile happier than you to prove that I am more willing to accompany Mu Yuan to participate in activities."
Gu Qi: "..."
Was he that bored?
Although she thought so, Gu Qi tried to raise the corner of her lips.
She didn't want to play such a childish game with Jiang Lechuan. She was just... just exercising her facial muscles.
Mu Yuan: "..."
He glanced to Gu Qi on his left, and then at Jiang Lechuan on his right. Both of them had very exaggerated smiles on their faces.
At this moment, he felt that he seemed a little out of place sitting in the middle.
Classmates in the front row constantly kept peeking back. Their expressions changed from surprise to slight doubt.
They couldn't understand why Jiang Lechuan and Gu Qi were so perked up-
Or they couldn't understand why Mu Yuan was frowning.
Mu Yuan wasn't frowning. Really!
Like normal, he just had no expression. But in contrast to the exceptionally bright smiles of Gu Qi and Jiang Lechuan, he seemed disgruntled.
Most of the classmates were calm, but some middle-aged parents who saw the stars for the first time naturally couldn't control their desire to take pictures. So this photo still end up being taken and uploaded to Weibo.
＃Gu Qi & Jiang Lechuan at Capital No. 1 School＃
＃Gu Qi & Jiang Lechuan accompanying Mu Yuan in school sport activities#
Both entries quickly became hot searches.
Netizens were all delighted when they saw this photo.
[I have never seen Gu Qi smile so happily in my life]
[But I never expected that Jiang Lechuan next to her looked even happier]
[So what are they happy about? Tell us what's so funny. Let us all hear it! ]
[Rather than why they are so happy, I want to know why Mu Yuan looks so cold]
[@Mu Yuan, tell us what you were unhappy about! ]
[…Am I the only one who thinks this is Mu Yuan’s normal expression]
[Two fools and one grumpy? ]
[How insolent! Who dares to say our elder sister is a fool! ]
[So Gu Qi and Jiang Lechuan are here to accompany Mu Yuan to the school sports meet? They have such a good relationship]
[Look carefully. Their clothes are specially customized, hahaha]
[Wow, I am so envious. Elder siblings are all big stars with high pay and they can come to accompany him to participate in such school activities]
[Because this has nothing to do with whether they are stars or not. They come here as Mu Yuan’s family]
[Siblingly love! Let me nibble on it all!]
…
Then someone else broke the news, saying that he ran into Mu Yuan in a bookstore two nights ago.
A photo of Mu Yuan standing at the cashier counter, paying for two boxes of children's toys with his phone.
Netizens: "???"
[No way, Mu Yuan, you don't like this kind of thing, do you?]
[It's normal for Jiang Lechuan to like toys. I'm a little surprised that Gu Qi likes toys. When it come to Mu Yuan, I’m completely silent]
[I thought that a genius like Mu Yuan would never touch this kind of children's toys after the age of three (an exaggeration)]
[I don't understand, but I’m shocked]
[As expected of ‘Family’]
…
There was laughter and joy on Weibo. Most people forgot that there seemed to be another person in this family.
Wen Renjing leaned back in a chair. The makeup artist was doing up his makeup, while he held the phone and swiped his fingertips on the screen a few times.
As if he foresaw what was going to happen next, he had the urge to turn off his phone in annoyance. However, he stopped it and put the phone aside.
Sure enough.
Soon the phone rang. It was his mother calling.
The second the call was connected, a woman's anxious voice sounded: "I heard from your paternal aunt that Gu Qi and Jiang Lechuan are accompanying Mu Yuan to school today. Did you go with them?"
"Of course not." Wen Renjing replied indifferently, picked up an eyebrow pencil on the table with his other hand, and played with it. He lazily drawled: "They didn't call me."
Mother directly scolded: "Is there a need for them to call you? Can't you take the initiative? You are all siblings and should interact more often. Your dad has passed away and I will leave in the future. You young people should take care of each other. This way, you can have help when you encounter any problems in the future."
"En, okay, I know." Wen Renjing continued to perfunctorily answer his mother's questions. His mother on the other side of the phone abruptly broke down, sobbing: "It's not that I want to tell you these things to annoy you, but it's all because your dad died early. It can’t do to not have a man in the family. In recent years, anyone can climb over our heads..."
Wen Renjing interrupted slowly: "Mom, what are you talking about? Am I your daughter?"
The makeup artist's lips twitched violently, wanting to laugh but not daring to laugh.
She could only work harder and keep hypnotizing herself: Can't hear it, can't hear it, she can't hear anything.
Wen Renjing's mother was silent for a few seconds. Then she directly stated: "Mom has figured it out. They aren’t excluding you, but looking down on our family. Think about back then when they weren’t rich, they had borrowed money from our family to build a house..."
Bringing up these old accounts again.
Wen Renjing knew that his mother had not been able to accept the fact that his father had died due to bankruptcy and that his family had changed from being the ‘superior’ to the ‘inferior’ in terms of economic strength. It just so happened that Jiang Lechuan's family became prosperous only after his father's death and their family's status had changed from ‘helping poor relatives’ to ‘becoming poor relatives’.
While accepting the help from the Jiang Family, they felt that their help was just charity. In truth, they were looking down on them.
Wen Renjing grew up listening to these things. Once they weren’t invited to a family gathering, his mother would feel that they were being excluded.
Even though he later became an award-winning actor and made a lot of money, he still couldn't give his mother a sense of security.
Actually, Wen Renjing was a bit impatient. So he could only lie and perfunctorily say, "I just casually responded. They asked me yesterday. I have work and really don't have time to go. It's not as complicated as you think."
Hearing Wen Renjing’s answer, his mother's mood eased down. She reminded him, "Then invite them all to your home for a meal in two days, got it?"
"Let's talk about it later."
Wen Renjing gave this response and then perfunctorily said a few more words before hanging up the phone.
The phone screen returned to the Weibo page.
Wen Renjing took another look at the hot searches and the slightly amusing picture.
Although he didn't feel excluded and hysterical like his mother because of this photo, he was indeed a little disappointed when he saw this photo.
Their relationship had actually improved.
How meaningless.
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