Reborn: I'll Never Fail My Childhood Sweetheart Again-Chapter 61 - 42: Childhood Friends’ Feelings Are Truly Beautiful!
Fortunately, even though the son is quite careless, he is still quite filial and was able to get into college successfully, and that’s enough.
Su Jianjun was also moved, but he is a steady person and wouldn’t be as emotional as Zhao Lixia, just nodding slightly.
The family shared a drink, and Su Zelin raised his glass again.
"Uncle and Auntie, I have to thank you for taking care of me all these years!"
"Zelin, you’re being too polite. Our families have been neighbors for so long, we’re old friends!"
"That’s right, Zelin! You’ve also helped our Shiqing a lot; it’s all about mutual help!"
"..."
Both Qin Daqing and Liu Sufen gave a silent thumbs up as they raised their glasses.
Zelin really has a way with words, with high emotional intelligence and comprehensive approach to things. These traits might lead him to excel in business in the future.
Su Zelin set a good example, and Qin Shiqing followed suit.
"Dad, Mom, I also have to thank you. You gave me life and a warm home, allowing your daughter to grow up happily. You’ve been there for me, guiding and teaching me the principles of life, allowing me to grow up healthy and joyful. Today, I want to sincerely say thank you. Dad, Mom, you’ve worked hard!"
Qin Shiqing’s words also moved her dad and mom.
Liu Sufen wiped her tears: "Shiqing, my greatest pride in this life is having such a good daughter. As long as you’re well, everything is good!"
"Good, good!"
Qin Daqing remained succinct, being less expressive in words, but his love for his daughter was no less than Liu Sufen’s.
"And Uncle, Auntie, over the years I’ve been freeloading your meals so much, I feel a bit embarrassed!"
While thanking Su Jianjun and Zhao Lixia, Qin Shiqing playfully joked, making the two elders laugh.
"Shiqing, it’s us who should be embarrassed. You’re so sensible and hardworking, always coming over to do chores for us for no reason. Zelin’s room is always messy, and you’ve helped tidy it up countless times! Feel free to come over for meals, don’t be a stranger. It’s okay even if you freeload for a lifetime!"
Zhao Lixia’s words carried a slightly hinted message.
"Haha, well said. I wonder which family’s son will be lucky enough to have such a good daughter-in-law. It must be a blessing from several lifetimes!"
Su Jianjun didn’t hold back, speaking openly. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚
In a little over a month, Qin Shiqing would be going to college, and his own son was still slow.
The emperor is not worried, but the retired emperor and empress dowager are!
Qin Shiqing’s pretty face flushed slightly, but she said nothing.
And Qin Daqing and Liu Sufen pretended not to hear.
In the past, Granny Qin might have deliberately changed the topic, but this time she remained silent.
Liu Sufen was now cautious about underestimating Su Zelin.
The Su family’s child might be a potential stock, so adopting a wait-and-see attitude was a wise choice.
Zhao Lixia was delighted; she and her husband were only probing again just now.
Last time they tried probing, Qin Daqing didn’t say much, but Liu Sufen’s attitude wasn’t very encouraging.
But this time, Liu Sufen’s attitude was significantly different.
It seems the top scorer in English was indeed quite intimidating!
Su Jianjun said again, "Zelin, don’t you think you should also say a few words to Shiqing? She’s been tutoring you and tidying your room for so many years. Just last time when our washing machine broke, it was Shiqing who washed your clothes!"
"What’s there to say? We’re all so familiar with each other. When we were young, I was the one tutoring her!"
Su Zelin pursed his lips.
He wasn’t bragging with these words.
As a kid in elementary school, since the subjects weren’t deep, he scored full marks in every exam, and many times Qin Shiqing came to him with questions.
But when he got to middle school, things started to change. With more subjects and increased difficulty, his attitude towards learning couldn’t keep up, gradually being surpassed by Qin Shiqing. Nevertheless, he managed to get into a key high school and later into a second-tier university.
"You’re shameless!"
Zhao Lixia deliberately scolded her son, "You weren’t stupid as a child, why couldn’t you work a bit harder, maybe you could be in the top tier universities like Shiqing today!"
In fact, her words somewhat subtly complimented Su Zelin’s intelligence.
Zhao Lixia actually believed that if her son took his studies a bit more seriously, not just a top-tier university, even the top ones would be no problem.
After all, he barely managed to get from elementary school to Jianglan’s best middle school, then to a key high school, where he slacked again, but still managed to become a single subject topper in his university entrance exams.
If he weren’t slacking, the result would have been unimaginable, and the picture beautiful.
Who knows, maybe he’d be the top scholar today!
"Lixia, Zelin has done well enough, at least he’s a topper!"
Qin Daqing mediated, "Besides, he’s not wrong; when they were young, Zelin often tutored Shiqing. Without Zelin, our Shiqing might not have reached where she is today. I think Shiqing should be the one thanking Zelin!"
Uncle Qin said this partly out of sincerity and humility, but also to gauge his daughter’s reaction.
This gathering has prompted everyone to express their heartfelt thoughts, even Su Zelin showed rare filial piety, touching Zhao Lixia dearly.
So, his daughter’s conversation with Su Zelin might reveal her sentiments towards the neighbor’s child.
Just childhood playmates, or something more?
Su Zelin casually said, "Uncle Qin, although I did contribute a lot, really there’s no need to thank... Ouch!"
Before he finished speaking, the empress dowager’s thump landed on his head, and he got a stern glare from Zhao Lixia.
This kid, really doesn’t know the meaning of humility!
Besides, she also wanted to hear what Qin Shiqing would say to her son.
Under everyone’s attention, Qin Shiqing slowly spoke.
"In the blink of an eye, Zelin and I are already seventeen, and so much has happened in these seventeen years!"
"I still remember when we just started kindergarten, I couldn’t get used to the new life and missed home terribly. Every time I reached the school gate, I would cry uncontrollably, and every time Zelin would be there with me, comforting me. Actually, at that time, he was just like me, a three-year-old child..."
"When we got to first grade, my grades were terrible; I couldn’t even understand simple arithmetic, but Zelin was very patient, teaching me every night..."
"In the first semester of second grade, on the way home, a mad dog chased after me, and it was Zelin who stood up to fight the dog. He ended up getting bitten and needed dozens of stitches..."
"One day in third grade, we forgot our umbrellas and were trapped by evening rain in the school. Uncle and Aunt were out of town, and my parents were working overtime urgently at the factory. Just as night approached, Zelin braved the rain to get two umbrellas for us, and he came down with a fever that night..."
"In fourth grade, a boy from another class constantly picked on me. Zelin found out and beat him up solidly. The boy never dared again, although Zelin got reported and your uncle and aunt were called to the school..."
"At the beginning of fifth grade, I accidentally sprained my ankle, it was swollen terribly, and the doctor said I couldn’t walk to school for at least a week. Zelin insisted on carrying me back and forth to school every day..."
"In sixth grade..."
"In seventh grade..."
"In eighth grade..."
"..."
Qin Shiqing recounted these memories as if listing treasures, even if they were events from kindergarten, she hadn’t forgotten even after more than a decade.
"Two days before the college entrance exam, I caught a cold, and Zelin borrowed a thermos to boil ginger soup for me in the kitchen of the cafeteria..."
"On the eve of the college entrance exam, I was a little better from the cold but not fully recovered, and it suddenly started raining heavily at night. Everyone else had gone, and I was the only one stranded at the foot of the teaching building. Zelin brought an umbrella for me, without which my cold might have gotten worse, and I wouldn’t have been able to do so well in the exams."
At this point, Qin Shiqing finally stopped.
The girl’s almond eyes shimmered like water, gazing at her childhood friend, and she slowly said, "Zelin, on the night of the farewell party, you once told me, ’I’m grateful for having you these seventeen years on the journey of life,’ those are the words I want to say to you now."
The room fell silent, and the four adults were moved.
The love of childhood sweethearts is truly beautiful!
You care for me, I help you, we accompany each other, grow together, laugh together, face difficulties and challenges together, and even when faced with setbacks, someone is always there to offer encouragement.
This kind of simple and sincere affection cannot be replaced by anyone.
...
