"I know, I won’t mess around anymore in the future, and I will take care of Jiaojiao."

Lu Xian sighed deeply and nodded.

Even though he knew Ruan Jiaojiao didn’t come to see him off, he couldn’t help but glance around. Finally, under the reluctant eyes of the Lu Family, he embarked on his journey to study abroad. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Ruan Jiaojiao stood behind a large pillar, watching Lu Xian’s figure disappear from view, her eyes red and swollen. Toward Lu Xian, even though she knew that matters of the heart shouldn’t be forced, she couldn’t help but carry a sense of guilt.

Duan Xi held her small hand on the side. Ruan Jiaojiao turned to look at him, blinking shyly, and asked, "Brother Xi, we won’t ever separate in the future, right?"

Duan Xi nodded and answered with unusual solemnity, "Right."

But even as he said that, their challenges came surprisingly quickly.

In the latter half of 1996, Ruan Wei and Yuan Xiaodong took their college entrance exams. Ruan Wei had always struggled with his studies, so his score just barely met the requirements for a vocational college. However, since all his brothers and Ruan Jiaojiao were in Beidu, he chose a vocational school there too.

Yuan Xiaodong scored much better than him and was admitted to an average university, also in Beidu.

Before the school started, Yuan Xiaodong followed Ruan Wei to visit the Ruan Family. As always, he followed Duan Xi around like a little sidekick.

Seeing him reminded Ruan Jiaojiao of when she used to tease him into calling her ’aunt,’ and she couldn’t stop laughing. She tried to make him call her ’aunt’ again, but he turned the tables, teasing her back, saying that she had planned long ago to make Duan Xi her target, calling Duan Xi ’uncle.’

Lu Zishu immediately stirred things up, making Ruan Jiaojiao feel a bit embarrassed.

After Ruan Wei and Yuan Xiaodong arrived in Beidu, Ruan Wei would visit the Ruan Family during vacations, and Yuan Xiaodong would tag along to find Duan Xi. This led to Ruan Jiaojiao’s small group growing larger and more lively, with a chaotic crowd doing everything together.

Shen Ting, since their last encounter, hadn’t contacted Ruan Jiaojiao again. He observed her secretly while transferring to Qing University, not as a freshman but, like Duan Xi, completing all his courses as quickly as possible. The two often participated in competitions, competing against each other, eventually forming a mutual understanding of admiration and maintaining a decent relationship.

Of course, this ’decent relationship’ was in place only when he didn’t approach Ruan Jiaojiao.

In the first half of 1997, Duan Xi completed all his university courses and graduated smoothly, while Ruan Jiaojiao hadn’t finished her second year yet.

Duan Xi was even more outstanding than Ruan Hao had been, and no one was happier than Duan Qianyang.

When Duan Xi received his graduation certificate, Duan Qianyang invited him and Ruan Jiaojiao to a celebratory dinner.

At first, Ruan Jiaojiao thought it was just a regular celebration, but halfway through the meal, she heard Duan Qianyang ask Duan Xi, "Xiao Xi, are you interested in going abroad for further studies?"

Ruan Jiaojiao was caught off guard by the sudden question, and her small hand froze, dropping the sweet shrimp she was holding.

Duan Xi picked up the sweet shrimp she had dropped with his chopsticks and placed it in front of her bowl before answering, "No."

Even though Duan Qianyang had been expecting this answer, he still wanted to try, "Aren’t you going to consider it?"