Chapter Fifteen: The End

After tucking the notebook full of her scribbled notes into her backpack, smoothing out the wrinkles on the quilt, and opening the window to air out the room, Lin Yanan looked around at the bedroom she had called home for a month and silently bade it farewell in her heart.

Lin Yanan went downstairs to find Hong Xue packing a suitcase, filling it with clothes and books she had bought for her. Watching her struggle to flatten the suitcase and zip it up, Lin Yanan felt a sudden sting in her nose.

Just then, Zhou Miao tapped her on the shoulder from behind. “What are you daydreaming about? Have you finished packing?”

Startled, Lin Yanan quickly composed herself and smiled, “It’s all done.”

Zhou Miao pulled out a brand new, unopened phone. “Here, take this. A relative gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago, but I’ve never used it. It’s a waste to just let it sit around.”

Lin Yanan hurriedly waved her hands. “I really can’t accept this, it’s too valuable…”

Zhou Miao didn’t bother arguing and slipped it straight into her backpack. “Just take it. It’s not even a new model—worth nothing now.”

Hong Xue added with a laugh, “Go on, keep it. You’re about to start your senior year—it’s time you had a phone. This way, we can keep in touch.”

Hearing this, Lin Yanan finally accepted, a little embarrassed. “I’ve caused you both so much trouble these past weeks. When I get back, I’ll send you some local specialties.”

Hong Xue ruffled her hair. “No need for such formality with us. Just make sure you study hard when you get back, aim for a good university. Once the entrance exams are over, come visit again—I’ll take you out for a proper tour, alright?”

Lin Yanan nodded earnestly at her words.

After seeing Lin Yanan off, Zhou Miao watched the crew packing up their gear and suddenly felt a sense of urgency. He sought out the filming manager. “We’ve wrapped up everything now, right? When’s it going to air?”

“Very soon. We’ve been editing as we go. I checked yesterday and the first few episodes are already done. It should be out in another half month or so.”

Zhou Miao slapped his forehead. Oh no, why so soon…

He collapsed onto the sofa, utterly dejected. Hong Xue walked over and gave him a kick. “Go tidy the table. Xueqin will be here soon.”

“What’s the point of studying now? Your son is about to become the school joke.”

At that moment, a woman with long hair and a sun umbrella walked in—it was Zhou Miao’s homeroom teacher, Li Xueqin.

She took off her sunglasses and asked with curiosity, “What’s wrong with our big shot here? Missing the pretty girl already?”

Hong Xue burst into laughter. “Transformation Project’s about to air. He’s in a panic.”

Zhou Miao rolled his eyes. “If I become the laughingstock of the school, you’re all partly to blame!”

Li Xueqin grabbed his ear. “Enough nonsense—go get yesterday’s test paper. Those simple math questions you butchered are the real joke.”

After this summer, Zhou Miao would be entering his senior year and facing the first major hurdle of his life—the college entrance examination.

Unlike Zhou Miao, who was rather laid-back, his classmates had already started attending all sorts of prep classes, posting motivational slogans on their social media every day.

Though Zhou Miao had long set his goals and wasn’t under much pressure grade-wise, his parents dared not let their guard down. Ever since he returned from the Transformation Project, they’d had Li Xueqin keep him on a tight study schedule.

And so, several more days slipped by. The long summer vacation finally came to an end.

Early in the morning, Zhou Miao reluctantly bid farewell to his beloved puppy, then cycled to school. The classes had already been reshuffled in the second year, and he was assigned to Class Two.

There weren’t many students in the classroom yet. Zhou Miao chose a “prime spot” at the back row, ready to settle in for the year.

Soon, his classmates began filtering in. As Zhou Miao stared blankly ahead, a pink backpack landed on the desk beside him. He turned to see a petite girl with a bob haircut sitting down next to him, flashing a bright, toothy grin.

Hu San—his desk mate for almost three years. Her name sounded like a boy’s, but she was actually a cute girl barely over one and a half meters tall.

Hu San, holding a bag of pancakes, asked, “Want some? I’ll split it with you. I added two packs of spicy sticks.”

Zhou Miao didn’t stand on ceremony and tore off half. His mother rarely made breakfast because she couldn’t get up early, and he was too lazy to buy food, so he often shared Hu San’s breakfast.

“What did you do all summer? I texted you and you never replied,” Hu San said, her mouth full of oily pancake.

“…Nothing much, just busy,” Zhou Miao replied, not wanting to elaborate.

“I wanted to invite you to see Godzilla, but the movie was out of theaters before you got back to me. I didn’t want to go alone, so I ended up watching a pirated version. The experience was terrible.” Hu San grumbled, still annoyed.

“Next time, I promise,” Zhou Miao replied nonchalantly.

Hearing this, Hu San felt much better. She was straightforward and never dwelled on things like other girls might.

Just then, Li Xueqin entered the classroom to inform the students that they were to attend a senior year assembly at the auditorium at two o’clock. Groans filled the room—these assemblies always dragged on, with the principal speaking, then the teachers, then the student representatives. Two or three hours at least.

Zhou Miao’s phone vibrated. In a group chat called “Transformation Project Forever,” someone tagged him. Zhou Miao checked—Wang Jiang was posting photos in the group.

He’d taken pictures all over Buffalo Village, even close-ups of the local mutts, and ended with a group photo of Wang Jiang, Li Feifei, and Lin Yanan.

Wang Jiang wrote: Didn’t expect Grandpa’s granddaughter to be so pretty. Zhou, what do you think?

Zhou Miao replied with a laugh: Who do you think is prettier, her or Li Feifei?

Li Feifei: ?

Wang Jiang went silent. After Zhou Miao left, he’d suffered at Li Feifei’s hands and didn’t dare say much.

Li Feifei: @Zhou Miao, what do you think?

Zhou Miao could only reply: I’m face-blind, can’t tell who’s pretty or not.

Far away in the northeast, a faint smile flickered at the corner of Li Feifei’s lips as she put away her phone and opened her textbook to review.

After returning from the Transformation Project, she’d had a long talk with her parents. Just two days ago, they’d filed for divorce.

Surprisingly, things between her parents became more relaxed after the divorce—they could at least joke and laugh together. Li Feifei, too, was finally able to refocus on her studies.

She didn’t choose to stay with her father or her mother. She felt that if either of them brought a daughter into a new family in the future, it would only bring inconvenience.

For now, she still lived at home, but she had already decided to work a summer job after the college entrance exams to earn her tuition and become as independent as possible. Once she started university, she would move into the dorms.

Li Feifei’s changes left many people guessing what had happened, but whenever anyone asked, she only smiled and replied, “You’ll find out in time.”