Immediately after returning home, it was already 7 p.m. when Yi Feng encountered the middle-aged man who delivered the computer to him downstairs.
âUncle, thank you for your hard work,â Yi Feng said with a smile as he settled the delivery fee on the spot.
âHehe, thanks for your care. Need me to help you move it upstairs?â The middle-aged man, with a kind demeanor, offered his assistance, knowing that carrying two computers alone would be difficult.
Feeling some pain in his ankle, Yi Feng reluctantly said, âThat would be great. Please take this 50 yuan as a token of appreciation for your help.â
Yi Feng took out another 50 yuan from his wallet as a token for the manâs assistance.
The middle-aged man was pleasantly surprised and repeatedly thanked him.
Together, they moved the computers upstairs.
Upon opening the door, Yi Feng found that his parents were not at home; apparently, they were across the hall celebrating Gu Muxiâs birthday.
Both Gu Muxi and Yi Fengâs birthdays were celebrated together, making the occasion more lively.
After placing the computers in his room, Yi Feng washed his face to freshen up, despite feeling more pain in his ankle from carrying the computers upstairs.
After taking a sip of water, Yi Feng headed towards the neighboring apartment and knocked on the door, which was answered by Gu Muxi.
âYi Feng, you came back just in time. Itâs dinner time!â Gu Muxi smiled.
âMy stomach is growling. I want to eat two bowls of rice tonight!â Yi Feng grinned.
Entering the house, Yi Feng found his mother, Meng Xiaoyun, and Li Wan in the kitchen cooking, while in the living room, Gu Xingzhong and Yi Jianbing were chatting happily about something.
âSonâs back! Come, come, over here,â Yi Jianbing waved him over.
âDad, whatâs up?â Yi Feng approached, curious.
âHearing from Xixi that your recent test scores were good? Ranked top ten in your class?â Yi Jianbing asked, surprised.
âYeah, my performance was okay, but I still need to strengthen my studies in physics, chemistry, and Chinese,â Yi Feng chuckled.
Yi Jianbing continued, âAre you confident about passing the university entrance exam and getting into a second-tier university?â
âOnce I pass the second-tier exam, I can attend a slightly better school. Muxi has always had good grades. I think if you work a bit harder, you two can attend the same university and take care of each other,â Yi Jianbing said.
âYouâve been in the same class from elementary to high school, and you can still go to the same university. Weâre relieved,â Meng Xiaoyun added.
Yi Feng smirked; his dad lacked confidence in him, huh?
Second-tier?
What a joke!
But itâs true, his grades used to be average.
But now, heâs confident heâll score well beyond the threshold for a first-tier university!
âIâm confident about passing the second-tier. Iâve also told Gu Muxi that after the college entrance exam, we can choose the same university, preferably Guangxi University, which is closer to home,â Yi Feng replied.
Yi Jianbing nodded in satisfaction. âThatâs the spirit! Keep it up!â
Gu Xingzhong chuckled, âOld Yi, I think little Feng is quite confident. You should believe in him. Heâll definitely do well!â
âAh, my brother Gu, little Feng has better grades this time, but he hasnât had such results before. Weâre still a bit worried,â Yi Jianbing shook his head.
Gu Xingzhong looked at Yi Feng and smiled, âlittle Feng, then make sure to get good grades for your dad to see.â
âSure, Uncle Gu,â Yi Feng nodded.
While chatting, Li Wan and Meng Xiaoyun brought out the last two dishes.
âCome, come, everyone sit down and eat,â Li Wan invited.
There were six dishes and one soup on the table, very sumptuous, almost like a New Yearâs Eve dinner.
Gu Xingzhong specially opened a bottle of good wine to entertain Yi Jianbing. They were old drinking buddies, meeting up every now and then for a few drinks.
Gu Xingzhong had received quite a few good bottles of wine from others, and Yi Jianbing was enjoying a bit of good fortune.
The dinner was lively, with both families having known each other for over twenty years, more like relatives than mere friends.
After finishing the meal, Li Wan brought out the cake.
âDing, ding, ding, itâs time for cake!â Li Wan announced.
âCome on, daughter, light the candle yourself and make a wish,â Li Wan smiled.
Gu Muxi happily nodded, inserting only one candle into the cake and then lighting it.
âGu Muxi, what birthday wish do you want to make? This is your 18th birthday, a coming-of-age ceremony,â Yi Feng asked curiously.
âNone of your business. I wonât tell you,â Gu Muxi said haughtily, folding her hands together to make a wish.
Wish for parentsâ good health.
Wish⦠for Yi Feng to do well in the college entrance exam and progress in his career.
Humph, since Yi Feng gave me a computer for my birthday, Iâll make a wish for him too.
Gu Muxi thought to herself.
âGu Muxi, did you make a wish related to me?â Yi Feng suddenly leaned in, whispering with a smile.
Gu Muxiâs cheeks reddened. âNo, donât be presumptuous. Hmph.â
After saying that, she blew out the candle.
âHey hey hey, we havenât sung the birthday song yet!â Yi Feng was surprised.
âYi Feng, with your tone-deaf voice, Iâve listened to it for over ten years. Letâs skip it, shall we?â Gu Muxi rolled her eyes.
âIâ¦,â Yi Feng helplessly smiled. He didnât have a natural talent for singing before, but after attending university, he chose music as an elective. After graduating, he even enrolled in a training class. Now, he was definitely capable.
Well, it seems Gu Muxi wonât have a chance to hear my melodious voice.
After cutting the cake, Gu Muxi served the elders first, then gave Yi Feng a large piece, keeping only a small portion for herself.
âWhy are you eating so little?â Yi Feng asked curiously.
âThe cake has too much cream. Iâm afraid of getting fat. You eat more,â Gu Muxi casually replied.
âWith your figure so standard, do you need to lose weight?â Yi Feng shook his head and smiled.
Although Gu Muxi was half a head shorter than him, she was already 1.7 meters tall, considered tall among southern girls. Moreover, she was not only tall but also very proportionate, as the saying goes, âa little more plump, a little less thin,â just perfect.
With such a figure, she made the girls at school envious.
âHumph, I like it this way. Itâs none of your business. Letâs go, letâs eat in the room,â Gu Muxi said, noticing Gu Xingzhong and Yi Jianbing starting to smoke in the living room. Her sense of smell was sensitive, and she didnât want to smell the smoke.
The two of them went into the room and sat at the desk to eat the cake.
âYi Feng, did you bring back our computers?â Gu Muxi had been thinking about her birthday gift.
âI brought them back. Theyâre in my room. Iâll help you install them after school tomorrow,â Yi Feng replied.
âYou donât know, I and the delivery uncle carried them back and forth twice. It was exhausting,â Yi Feng shook his head and chuckled.
Gu Muxi felt a little moved and was about to speak.
Yi Feng smirked mischievously, âHehe, kiss me as a reward?â
Gu Muxiâs cheeks flushed, and she glared at him.
âGet out of here.â
âAre you taking advantage of this to boast?â
âIâll treat you to breakfast tomorrow morning. Pig offal soup with pig offal!â
Yi Feng chuckled, suddenly shifted his foot, and felt a sharp pain, causing him to grit his teeth and suck in a breath of cold air.
Gu Muxi noticed his change in complexion and asked in confusion, âWhatâs wrong with your foot?â
âIt seems like I twisted it. Today, I kicked that guy and sprained myself,â Yi Feng grimaced in pain, taking off his shoe and sock to inspect the injury.
Upon inspection, it was even more swollen, like a bun.
âMy goodness, Yi Feng, your twist seems quite serious! Why didnât you tell me earlier?!â Gu Muxi, seeing the injury, furrowed her brows.
âIt wasnât that painful at first, but it got worse later, especially after carrying the computer upstairs,â Yi Feng explained helplessly.
Gu Muxi was taken aback.
She didnât expect him to help her carry the computer upstairs with a sprained foot, feeling a bit guilty in her heart.
What a fool!
âSit here and wait for me. Iâll go get some medicinal liquor for you. My dadâs medicinal liquor works wonders,â Gu Muxiâs eyes flashed with a hint of tenderness, quickly getting up.
âThatâs fine. I really need to use the medicinal liquor,â Yi Feng nodded.
Gu Muxi left and returned after a while with a small bottle of medicinal liquor. Upon opening it, a pungent smell filled the room.
âGive it to me. Iâll apply it myself,â Yi Feng reached out to take it.
âCan you apply it properly yourself? Let me help you. Iâll ask my mom to cook an egg for you later. After applying the medicinal liquor, we can use the egg to compress it, and youâll recover quickly,â Gu Muxi said.
âPut your foot on the chair and straighten it out.â
Sitting beside Yi Feng, Gu Muxi poured some medicinal liquor onto her hand and carefully applied it to the swollen area of Yi Fengâs ankle.
Yi Feng was taken aback. When he was injured or beaten before, Gu Muxi wouldnât help him apply the medicine. She always said that a man should take care of himself.
But today, she took the initiative.
Seeing Gu Muxiâs serious expression as she applied the medicine, Yi Feng felt warm inside.
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck.
âAh, it hurts!â Yi Feng cried out in pain.
âGu Muxi, what are you doing?!â
Gu Muxi looked up, glaring at him, âIâm helping you apply the medicinal liquor properly. If you donât use enough force, how will the liquor penetrate?â
âIf you want the pain to go away faster, endure it a bit for me.â
âBig man, you can handle this little pain.â
Yi Feng: ââ¦â
âYouâre speaking so lightly. When I helped you apply medicine before, didnât you scream and howl?â
Gu Muxi raised her head and glared at him again, asking, âDid I? Did I scream before? Youâre slandering me!â
âHumph, of course you did. I still remember the time when you were in junior high, you fell down the stairs. Haha!â Yi Feng remembered the scene vividly, Gu Muxi rolling down the stairs, looking like a pitiful mess. It was so funny.
A memory to last a lifetime!
Gu Muxiâs cheeks reddened, and there was a hint of embarrassment in her eyes as she snorted, continuing to exert force on Yi Fengâs ankle.
Yi Fengâs complexion changed drastically!
âAh~!â
A miserable cry echoed through the building.
In the living room outside, Gu Xingzhong, Yi Jianbing, Li Wan, and Meng Xiaoyun all looked at the direction of the room in surprise.
Li Wan exclaimed, âWhat are these kids doing in the room?â
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