Chapter 275: Chapter 285: It’s Not Too Late, Retake the Gaokao

Mortimer Quincy was lying on the bed, playing a puzzle game on his phone. Only when he saw her putting on lipstick did he leisurely get up to find something to wear.

His wife was wearing a dark green, waist-cinching long dress, so he picked out a black short-sleeved shirt to go with jeans and white sneakers.

Since he wasn’t going to work, his hair sat fluffy on top of his head.

After he was ready, his wife was still sitting in front of the mirror, looking at her reflection.

He didn’t dare rush her. ’Try it once, and you’ll learn your lesson.’

For anyone who doesn’t understand the peril, just try getting married and you’ll find out.

He pulled out his phone. Someone had @’d him in their high school dorm group chat.

Zeke Zane: Mortimer Quincy, have you guys left yet?

Mortimer Quincy slowly typed out a single word: Soon.

Zeke Zane was currently waiting in Anna Willow’s living room. He glanced toward the bathroom where Anna still was: I’ve been waiting at Anna’s for over an hour. Can you ask your wife to check on her for me?

Mortimer Quincy raised an eyebrow. ’Does he think I’m an idiot?’

He replied with two words: No time.

Pantheon popped up: Where are you guys going?

Zeke Zane: Anna’s class reunion. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Pantheon: Oh, Mr. Webb’s baby is having its one-month celebration in a few days. Are you guys going?

Zeke Zane: Yep.

Paul Powell: I’m in.

We can use it as an excuse for us guys to get together. How about a LAN party?

Pantheon showed off his girlfriend: Cool, I’ll have my girlfriend destroy you all then.

Cynthia Owens was indeed amazing at games.

Paul Powell had seen Holly Winslow play before: Mortimer Quincy, get Holly to play! Her gaming skills are top-notch, I’m speechless.

Mortimer Quincy glanced at his wife, who was now finishing up her hair. ’She must be almost done.’ His fingers tapped the screen a few times: You don’t get to call her that for free.

Instantly, several people in the group replied with: ...

Boris Owens sent a "shocked" emoji: I’m leaving this group. Mortimer Quincy, you and Holly Winslow have been together for years. How are you not sick of each other yet? Logically, the novelty should’ve worn off by now.

Unless you two still haven’t... you know.

Mortimer Quincy raised an eyebrow. ’If he wanted to, they’d have a kid old enough to run errands by now.’ My wife is gorgeous.

Boris Owens: ...

Zeke Zane unscrupulously kicked him while he was down. Boris, why do you always ask for it? After all these years, Mortimer Quincy is still Mortimer Quincy, the unchallenged academic ace of the honors class.

Pantheon chimed in: Aside from Holly, no one can keep him in check. Just a PSA, everyone needs to get a clue.

Paul Powell: Message received, loud and clear.

Hearing the sound of a stool shifting, Mortimer Quincy turned off his screen and carefully studied his wife. The dark green dress had an asymmetrical lapel, giving it a somewhat retro design.

Dark green can be a difficult color to pull off, but her skin was so fair it made her look even paler. She hadn’t put on any foundation, just a bit of blush and lipstick for a clean look.

He praised her, "You look beautiful. I’ll take you out this afternoon to buy some more pretty clothes."

Holly Winslow lifted her chin slightly and blinked. "How could I not look beautiful? I have to be worthy of my husband."

She leaned in, a smile playing on her lips, and added, "Right?"

Staring at the dusty rose shade of her lipstick, Mortimer Quincy asked earnestly, "What flavor is that lipstick?"

Holly Winslow: "..."

She knew exactly what her husband was like. She gave him a light slap. "You’re dead if you dare to kiss me. I just finished putting it on."

She slung a square black bag over her shoulder and walked out of the bedroom. Mortimer Quincy followed behind, his eyes fixed on her slim waist, which was just the right size.

He suddenly remembered Holly Winslow’s old nickname: "Waist-Fairy."

Holly Winslow happened to turn her head and met his ogling gaze. "..."

"Quincy the Puppy, have you never seen a woman before?"

"Nope, I’ve only ever seen my wife." The man showed not a hint of embarrassment at being caught.

Holly Winslow: "..."

...

The high school classmates she hadn’t seen in years had changed quite a bit. The girls had learned how to dress up and had become prettier. The boys were a mixed bag of two extremes: either neat and tidy or sloppy and unkempt.

If she didn’t know any better, she would have thought a few of them were already in their thirties.

When Holly Winslow and Mortimer Quincy entered the private room, everyone let out a collective "Whoa."

The couple who had been stunning back in their school days were still just as stunning now.

Anna Willow quickly waved them over. "Holly, over here!"

Once Holly Winslow sat down, Anna leaned in and whispered some gossip, "Holly, do you remember our Jessica Finch? Her kid is already two years old—that’s the child at the next table."

Holly Winslow glanced over, not at all surprised. She already knew this from her past life. Very few people from their class had gotten into good universities; a dozen or so hadn’t even made it into a vocational college.

Most of those dozen people were already married and working.

The biggest change in them was the world-weariness that came from experiencing life in the real world.

The group exchanged greetings. At this kind of reunion, a bit of comparison was inevitable.

The classmates who hadn’t been good students back then sighed one after another. One of the guys said while dipping food in the hot pot, "Old Calder wasn’t kidding. If you don’t study hard, you won’t even get a job doing manual labor."

"I regret it so much now. If I’d known, I would have studied hard in high school. Now I don’t have a degree, and I don’t have the strength for physical work."

"Sigh, I make three or four thousand a month and still have to deal with my boss’s moods. For someone like me, the boss isn’t afraid of me leaving. People like me are a dime a dozen to him."

Another guy chimed in, agreeing, "It’s about the same for me. Why didn’t Old Calder just twist my ear and force me to study back then? I regret it so much now."

People only realize the importance of certain things after they’ve gone through them. But you’re meant to do certain things at certain stages of life. Once you miss that window, it’s very difficult to make up for it.

Beau Sullivan’s flippant personality hadn’t changed a bit. He laughed, "Serves you right for playing games in class. Now you know the consequences, huh? You should learn from our man Jennings, first prize in the city sports competition."

"Jennings is amazing."

There was a hint of envy in the guy’s voice. After speaking, he turned to Holly Winslow. "Holly Winslow is amazing too, a student at B University! If I were a B University student, my boss would probably put me on a pedestal."

It was an exaggeration, but the principle was sound. If he were a B University student, his boss definitely wouldn’t have that "take it or leave it" attitude.

Instantly, all eyes were on Holly Winslow. She smiled and said earnestly, "It’s not too late to have regrets. You can retake the college entrance exam."

People who aren’t in high school can still take the exam. It just depends on whether you have the time, money, and perseverance.

Retaking the exam requires a much greater commitment than taking it as a high school senior.

Speaking of retaking the exam, a boy with glasses said, "I actually went back to do it. I spent some money and enrolled as a second-year at Jarton Second High. I’m hoping I can get into a good university."

"Holy shit, no way! Ian Lee, you went back to being a high school sophomore?" someone exclaimed in shock.

Retaking the exam was easy to talk about, but almost no one could actually go through with it.

After all, they were at an age where people were getting married.

Ian Lee pushed up his glasses and nodded. "What else can I do if I don’t study? You need a degree everywhere. My cousin’s daughter’s school even tested the parents. If the parents don’t pass, the kid can’t enroll."

"That’s true. Does your family support you?" the first guy who had spoken asked.

Ian Lee nodded. "My parents said they’d support me through a few more years of school. If I don’t make something of myself this time, they’re done with me."

"Hearing you talk about it makes me want to go back and retake the exam too," another guy said. "Doing manual labor is just too tiring."

Listening to all this, Holly Winslow felt a deep resonance. She had been through it before and understood the feeling completely.

When you’re young and reckless, you’re afraid of nothing. But once you enter the real world, all that recklessness gets worn down.

Things as simple as a meager salary, exorbitant rent, delayed paychecks, getting sick, being laid off...