NOVPUBWu Lingyu didn’t have the nerve to say outright that she was living at Lin Jing’s house and nervously bowed her head.
"Auntie, you should tell Li Auntie that transferring schools will affect academic performance, the staff and teaching environment at Experimental Primary School are excellent, and it’s also tuition-free. Once you go to Hong Kong, you won’t find schools this good!" Xu Qingfan chimed in.
"Is it because you, young man, don’t want Yu’er to transfer schools and have talked her into saying this?" Yao Jiping regarded her own son with suspicion.
"Auntie, it’s not like that. I don’t want to transfer schools myself; it has nothing to do with Brother Fan!" As soon as the conversation turned to Xu Qingfan, Wu Lingyu quickly explained despite her nervousness.
"Alright, Auntie understands. I also don’t want Yu’er to transfer schools." Yao Jiping smiled and pulled Wu Lingyu to sit on her lap, "But have you thought it through, Yu’er? If you stay, you won’t be able to see your parents anymore."
"I... I will catch the bus home on weekends..." Wu Lingyu gave an answer that was not really an answer.
"Really don’t want to transfer?"
Wu Lingyu shook her head resolutely, "Don’t want to!"
"Jingjing, will transferring truly affect your academic performance? Maybe you could talk to Meijuan about it?" After more than a year of being together, Yao Jiping had long come to think of Wu Lingyu as her own daughter and was equally reluctant for her to leave.
"It would affect her to some degree, the more emotionally sensitive a person is, the bigger the impact. And as Xiao Fan just mentioned, it would be difficult to transfer to a school as good as Experimental Primary School."
"Then how about we don’t transfer and you continue living at Auntie’s place, letting that stinky rascal Xu Qingfan sleep on the streets!" Yao Jiping said, placing her hand over Wu Lingyu’s.
Xu Qingfan: ...
"Auntie, please, don’t let Brother Fan sleep on the streets. I won’t transfer schools!" Wu Lingyu said in panic.
"Haha~ Auntie is just joking with you. Our Yu is so well-behaved. I’ll talk to your mother later and say we’re not transferring!"
"Yu will live at Auntie’s and attend primary school with Xiao Xiao and Xiao Fan!" Lin Jing, too, was quite fond of the courteous and understanding Wu Lingyu. Besides, having an extra person at home was nice, and it wouldn’t feel so empty.
"Mm..."
...
Lin Jing stepped in, and two was as good as one.
In China, parents always prioritize their children’s education, to the point where even when ill, they only dare to take leave during less important classes, and in the hospital, they still diligently complete homework while receiving an IV drip, almost a unique and beautiful sight in the world.
Once Li Meijuan learned how transferring schools could greatly impact her child’s academic performance, she didn’t hesitate to shelf the transfer plans.
With Wu Lingyu staying at Lin Jing’s place, Li Meijuan naturally wanted to pay, and of course, Lin Jing wouldn’t accept it.
After a bout of the typical Chinese-style polite refusals, the storm over Wu Lingyu’s school transfer finally settled...
...
"I’ll still go to school with everyone next term!"
"Yay!!!"
"Let’s all sing together..."
[Happy Little Fairies]
[Wind, Thunder, Rain, Snow, Lightning]
[Happy Little Youth]
[Singing, the Dream Flies]
[Happy Little Fairies]
[Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter Practice]
In 2004, a TV show called "Happy Planet" became hugely popular across China, with many kids dreaming of being like Lele, chosen by the Duomianti, owning a necklace that could take them to Happy Planet in search of the Duomianti, Lianrong Bags, Ice Lemon, and the playful Grandpa...
At the story’s end, Lele waved goodbye to Happy Planet, leaving only the pendant key as a memorial.
The story in the TV show may have ended, but the real-life friendship among the little group continued.
Several springs, summers, autumns, and winters quietly passed, and they went through them together, side by side.
This year, 2008.
This year, they are in sixth grade.
The promise remains, so stay tuned...
