Xia Xiaolan’s departure didn’t mean today’s meeting was over.

The whole family would certainly have comments to make about her.

Gu Zhengqing naturally would only say good things. He and Principal Sun back in Anqing surely shared the same mindset – in educators’ eyes, good grades meant everything was good! With poor grades, no matter how beautiful you were, how prestigious your family was, or how sweet your words were, you were just a useless ornament, never gaining recognition from their type!

Grandmother Zhou was most pleased. She had sincerely come to meet her future granddaughter-in-law and had prepared a substantial gift – an old jade bracelet set in gold.

As for the other elders summoned by Grandmother Zhou to watch the drama, they all prepared red envelopes for Xia Xiaolan. The amount didn’t matter – they would have been embarrassed to let her leave empty-handed.

Guan Hui’e had initially planned to just give a perfunctory red envelope – however much she disliked Xia Xiaolan, she wouldn’t neglect this basic courtesy.

But Xia Xiaolan was different from what she had imagined, so Guan Hui’e had gone upstairs midway through and exchanged the red envelope for a pair of diamond earrings. Diamonds weren’t popular in China then; jewelry was mainly gold, silver, jade, and colored gems. The diamond earrings were bought abroad – though Guan Hui’e liked them, they seemed too eye-catching to wear out, so they had stayed stored in her cabinet.

Young girls might like such sparkly things, so they seemed quite suitable for Xia Xiaolan.

After Xia Xiaolan left, the discussion about her was just beginning.

Zhou Cheng’s aunt spoke coolly: “This girl is pretty, no wonder Zhou Cheng likes her.”

No matter how excellent she was, she belonged to another family, not surnamed Zhou – why keep comparing her to their Zhou Yi?

Zhou’s aunt naturally supported her husband, speaking dramatically: “Sister-in-law, Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend isn’t just pretty, is she? Look at her, she’s a perfect example of education changing destiny. This girl would be outstanding anywhere – our nephew isn’t shallow enough to only look at appearances!”

Well, unable to remain invisible, she had to speak up for Xia Xiaolan – her husband Gu Zhengqing had shown such excitement, completely different from their previously agreed attitude. Zhou Cheng’s aunt also saw that the Zhou elders were quite satisfied. Why should she go against the elderly? Only someone like her sister-in-law would be so awkwardly uncomfortable.

Old Master Zhou made the final judgment:

“Beauty and intelligence are innate – you haven’t seen her true nature.”

Her essence was that this girl had great resilience and clear goals, knowing what she wanted before age 20. She hadn’t relied on her pretty face to avoid hard work, but set goals and strived toward them – university, architecture studies, and plans for afterward, step by step. Dating Zhou Cheng might influence which university she chose, but wouldn’t shake her overall plans… To put it bluntly, Old Master Zhou thought Zhou Cheng hadn’t completely won this girl over. They were boyfriend and girlfriend, but just that – in Xia Xiaolan’s life priorities, Zhou Cheng’s weight was still too light.

The girl was indeed excellent, but whether she suited Zhou Cheng needed further observation.

What if in a few years, career still dominated Xia Xiaolan’s life?

Zhou Cheng’s profession meant the woman would definitely need to make some sacrifices – the girl might not be willing. They should watch how Xia Xiaolan would choose, whether, in a couple of years, she would desire marriage and family like most women!

Old Master Zhou still greatly admired Xia Xiaolan’s resilience and clear-mindedness.

Among the Zhou family’s younger generation, only Zhou Cheng had such character – leaving home at 15 was his own choice! Look at Zhou Yi, still wasting time at 24. Old Master Zhou got a headache just thinking about it – yet he couldn’t say anything, or it would be “evidence” of gender discrimination. The eldest’s child wasn’t as promising as the second’s, making all three particularly sensitive!

Gu Zhengqing was still pondering those 4 points Xia Xiaolan had lost, concluding it must be related to her injury:

“If she hadn’t been hit by that car, she would have been this year’s national top scorer!”

Zhou’s aunt glared fiercely at her husband – was he never going to let this go?

In the video, Xia Xiaolan’s right hand was in a cast, and the reporter had specifically asked about it. Xia Xiaolan had said she’d had a collision and fallen before the exam. Zhou’s aunt had noticed Zhou Cheng’s expression darken at that moment, but while Zhou Cheng hadn’t questioned it, Gu Zhengqing wouldn’t let it go.

Zhou Cheng drove Xia Xiaolan back to the guesthouse. Today was Xiaolan’s birthday, but as a junior, she hadn’t wanted to make a fuss asking the Zhou family she was meeting for the first time to celebrate. Before going to the Zhou house, they’d agreed not to mention it.

Leaving the Zhou house, Xia Xiaolan carried the family’s gifts – tonight’s results seemed not bad. Regardless of whether their acceptance was merely surface politeness, Xia Xiaolan had witnessed the Zhou family’s good breeding.

She didn’t care about Zhou Yi’s reaction – that cousin couldn’t control her anyway.

The real authority in Zhou Cheng’s family should be his grandfather. Though elderly, the old master wasn’t confused, and Xia Xiaolan hadn’t been perfunctory with him – even if he wasn’t satisfied with her, he wouldn’t dislike her.

Zhou Cheng’s father was fine, quite friendly even.

His mother had been cold at first but seemed to change later.

His grandmother needed no mention – she’d been the most enthusiastic throughout.

The only variable was the unexpected appearance of “super fan” Uncle Gu Zhengqing, whose performance had helped resolve the Zhou family’s doubts. The uncle had zealously validated her, getting so excited he even sent for the interview video!

This was the only thing Xia Xiaolan hadn’t anticipated!

All her efforts to hide her injured wrist from Zhou Cheng had been wasted – she hadn’t wanted to wear long sleeves and a long dress in the hot weather.

Zhou Cheng’s expression had changed then, though he hadn’t asked in front of his family.

While Xia Xiaolan was considering whether to confess honestly to Zhou Cheng, he showed remarkable restraint, not asking the entire way.

At the guesthouse, Xia Xiaolan felt guilty and awkwardly explained:

“I didn’t want you to worry. The injury wasn’t serious – see, my cast is already off…”

“Does it still hurt?”

Zhou Cheng took her right hand – these were the hands she’d used to take the exam while injured, still achieving top scores in Yunan Province. Zhou Cheng felt both proud and pained for her – why did she have to push herself so hard? Probably because she felt she had no fallback!

Couldn’t she rely on him?

Zhou Cheng didn’t know what he’d done wrong.

Xiaolan was too rigid – what kind of environment had forced her to become like this, forced her to handle everything alone?

Zhou Cheng had noticed something was off early on – after the meeting, Xiaolan always unconsciously avoided letting him touch her right hand. Seeing the video, Zhou Cheng understood everything. What nonsense about the injury healing and cast being removed – she’d removed it temporarily just to meet him!

She dared not let him grip tightly, dared not lift heavy things, because her wrist still hurt…