Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 193 - 191: My Brother Actually Came Back by Plane, That’s Amazing
"Auntie—"
"Auntie—"
Early in the morning, Xue Xing could be heard shouting at the top of his lungs from downstairs.
Zhong Hailan was still putting on her clothes as she went to open the door. "Ah, I’m coming! Xing Zai, you’re up so early."
"It’s because we’re going to pick up my brother! I hardly slept at all last night," Xue Xing said excitedly. "Auntie, is Uncle not up yet? I’ll go wake him." As he spoke, he peeked his head into the house, trying to spot Xue Yuanqing.
"He’s up. He’s looking for the car keys. Oh, him? He’s just nervous now that he knows your brother is coming home."
"I haven’t seen Brother Yang in half a year. I’m nervous too."
The early morning air in Hui City was still quite cold. Xue Xing stood outside, continuously rubbing his hands together.
"Xing Zai, hurry and come inside. The wind is strong out there."
"It’s okay, Auntie. I’m wearing a lot of clothes, so I’m not cold. Please just ask Uncle to hurry up."
"You silly boy, come inside first. It’s only a little past seven, and your brother won’t arrive at the airport until noon. There’s no need to be in such a rush."
"The airport? Auntie, aren’t we going to the train station?"
"We’re going to the train station first to pick up your brother Xiao Zhi, then we’ll go to the airport to get Brother Yang."
Hearing this, Xue Xing was instantly thrilled. "My brother is coming back by plane? That’s so cool! I’ve never been on a plane before."
Younger brothers have a natural sense of admiration for their older brothers. Xue Xing’s admiration for Xue Yang, however, had reached an almost fanatical level over the course of his life.
For example, back when they were little, Xue Yang’s grades were so bad that he was on the verge of being expelled, yet Xue Xing still worshipped him. To him, daring to defy one’s family and school by refusing to study was an incredibly admirable feat.
He, on the other hand, would never dare to neglect his studies. If he didn’t, he would be scolded by his parents and his entire family. His teachers would scold him, and his classmates would refuse to play with him. He was terrified of all that, but Xue Yang feared none of it.
When they reached junior high, Xue Yang’s grades shot up into the school’s top ten, and he became like a god in Xue Xing’s eyes.
How much intelligence and perseverance must it take to make up for six years of lost knowledge in such a short time, all without falling behind on new lessons?
Xue Xing knew he could never do it himself. He could only follow the notes his brother had left behind, inching his way forward to keep up with his studies and stabilize his grades. And stabilization was the best he could do; advancing any further was incredibly difficult.
In fact, the whole reason Xue Xing later managed to get into the city’s top high school was to witness Xue Yang’s legend for himself, and he certainly did. Xue Yang was the person he respected most in his entire life.
After a quick breakfast, Xue Yuanqing went to bring the car around, and the three of them set off for the train station.
"Doesn’t my uncle have a car too? Why isn’t he picking up Xiao Zhi himself?" Xue Xing couldn’t help but complain on the way.
"Maybe they thought it was on the way for us," Zhong Hailan replied.
"Even if it is, the times are so far apart! It’s a difference of more than two full hours."
It was clear that Xue Xing did not like Yang Xiaozhi. The reason was simple: after junior high, Yang Xiaozhi failed to get into high school and went to work in Guang City instead. This had caused quite a stir at the time because Yang Xiaozhi had always been a good student.
At the very least, he was leagues better than Xue Yang had been in elementary school. If Xue Yang was considered the worst student in the school back then—the problem child on every teacher’s lips—then Yang Xiaozhi was the top student, the model child in everyone’s eyes.
But life is so unpredictable. Later, Xue Yang got into the top high school and even the most prestigious university in the Dragon Country, Yanbei University. Meanwhile, Yang Xiaozhi’s education ended after junior high when he chose to join the workforce.
A person’s life is full of crossroads, with every path leading to a different destiny. You can’t say the path someone else chose is wrong, but sometimes, a tiny deviation can lead to a world of difference. One wrong turn, and you face a completely different life. And since the path was your own choice, there was no room for regret.
Around 9:10 AM, they arrived at the train station. It was the twenty-eighth of the final lunar month, so the station was already quite empty. Their van, parked right in front of the station, was quite conspicuous.
Finding it boring to wait in the car, Xue Xing got out to wander around. The couple, Xue Yuanqing and Zhong Hailan, were much more patient. They sat quietly, waiting as the minutes ticked by.
Finally, at ten o’clock, Xue Xing returned, a bead of sweat on the tip of his nose.
"Uncle, Auntie, is Xiao Zhi out yet?"
"Not yet."
"He’s so slow."
Just as he spoke, a familiar voice called out from nearby.
"Uncle, Auntie."
Xue Xing turned his head to see a young man in his early twenties, laden with bags of all sizes, walking toward them from the station exit. He was about 1.75 meters tall, which was considered part of the taller crowd in Hui City. The young man was quite handsome, and his appearance drew the gazes of passersby.
"Xiao Zhi," Xue Xing greeted him first.
"You are...?"
"I’m Xue Xing."
"Oh, it’s Xing Zai! You’ve gotten so big. When I first left for work, you only came up to here," Yang Xiaozhi said, gesturing to his shoulder. "I can’t believe how tall you are now."
He spoke as if it had been ages, but he had only left to work after the New Year. All in all, it had only been a year. And now, standing next to each other, Xue Xing was a good half-head taller than him.
Xue Yuanqing and Zhong Hailan got out of the car.
"Xiao Zhi, long time no see," Xue Yuanqing said, taking his luggage and arranging it neatly in the trunk.
Zhong Hailan looked at Yang Xiaozhi and said, "It’s only been a year, but you’ve grown up and become so much more mature. If you hadn’t called out to us just now, we might not have even recognized you."
"It’s good to see you, Auntie."
Seeing that Xue Yuanqing had stored the luggage, Yang Xiaozhi deftly pulled a pack of Huazi cigarettes from his pocket. He took out two, placing one between his own lips and offering the other to Xue Yuanqing.
"Uncle, have a smoke?"
Xue Yuanqing waved his hand. "I quit."
Even better, Yang Xiaozhi thought.
He carefully slid the cigarette back into the soft-pack. A pack of those wasn’t cheap. If it wasn’t for coming home for the New Year, he never would have splurged on them.
Yang Xiaozhi leaned against the side of the van. Today, they were driving a small, seven-seater Wuling—inexpensive and practical.
"Uncle, Auntie, I’m just going to lean here for a moment. After over three hours in a soft sleeper, my legs feel a bit like jelly. I have to say, the soft sleeper was really comfortable, but it wasn’t quite big enough for me to stretch out properly."
The three of them said nothing in response. What was so tiring about a three-hour ride in a soft sleeper? It wasn’t as if he’d been standing for three hours straight.
"Let’s get in the car," Xue Yuanqing finally said. "We still have to go to the airport to pick up Xiao Yang."
At these words, Yang Xiaozhi froze for a moment. "Xue Yang is coming back today too?"
"That’s right. His flight lands at twelve. If we head to the airport now and wait about half an hour, the timing should be just about right."
Yang Xiaozhi suddenly felt as though he’d thrown a punch into a bale of cotton. He had put all his effort into his little performance, yet the other side was completely unfazed.
