Back home, Wen Ying followed her routine and checked her email.
An unread message waited quietly. She took a deep breath before clicking it open.
“Dear Author, your manuscript has been accepted for publication. It will appear in the August issue, with payment sent this month. Please keep an eye out.”
It was from Aige’s editorial team—she’d made it!
The piece went through several revisions, guided by an editor named Xiao Ni, who saw talent in Wen Ying. Xiao Ni had been a huge help, and they’d even swapped QQ numbers for easier chats.
After the Super Girl audition, Wen Ying sent the final draft to Xiao Ni, who thought it looked solid, likely to hit the August issue if all went well. That’s why Wen Ying had bragged to Xie Qian about treating him to dinner with her earnings.
Published in August, she could treat him before he left Chengdu!
Just hours after saying it, here was the confirmation email.
Eager to share the news, Wen Ying dialed Xie Qian.
Beep, beep, beep.
His line was busy.
She sent a text instead: “If I’m treating, what do you wanna eat?”
No reply, like it vanished into the void.
Had Xie Qian fallen asleep?
Chen Li was out cold early, no one else was home, so Wen Ying had to bottle her excitement. The next day, heading to the Jiangs’ for tutoring, she arrived early, scanning the room, “Auntie Wang, where’s Xie Qian?”
Before Auntie Wang could answer, Jiang Youjia strolled in, pausing at Wen Ying, “Classmate Wen, it’s just you for tutoring now. Xie Qian’s gone back to Beijing.”
Xie Qian, back to Beijing?
So sudden!
Without even a goodbye.
That didn’t feel like Xie Qian. Wen Ying suspected something urgent had come up, she was worried.
Jiang Youjia read her expression differently, seeing a kid struggling to hide disappointment.
He raised an eyebrow, “What, you didn’t know? I thought you two were close!”
Was Xie Qian’s brother-in-law not a fan of hers?
Wen Ying, sharp as ever, caught the hint of dislike in Jiang Youjia’s tone.
She considered, then said, “Got it. If Xie Qian’s not coming back this summer, it’s not right for me to keep tutoring here alone. I’ll talk to the three teachers today. Thanks to you and your family for hosting me.”
Wen Ying moved decisively, catching Jiang Youjia off guard.
Shouldn’t she have pushed back a bit?
Her plan to switch tutoring spots made him hesitate.
Xie Qian might be gone, but Lin Lin was still around, and she clearly liked Wen Ying. Jiang Youjia wouldn’t dare shoo her off. He just worried Wen Ying had ulterior motives with Xie Qian, not that he couldn’t tolerate a girl tutoring here.
Auntie Wang was mopping at the stair corner, and Jiang Youjia suspected she was eavesdropping. He coughed, “Xie Qian’s done tutoring, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay.”
More words, more mistakes. He changed and left.
Once he was gone, Auntie Wang spilled, “Something’s up with Xie Qian’s family, not sure what, but last night he was packing in a rush, took the earliest flight back to Beijing.”
She added that Lin Lin drove him to the airport and hadn’t returned yet.
“About tutoring, maybe ask Teacher Lin when she’s back?”
“Thanks, Auntie Wang. I’m just worried, I can’t reach Xie Qian,” Wen Ying said.
Her disappointment was plain, even to Auntie Wang.
Auntie Wang went upstairs, returning with a phone, “Found this cleaning, tucked in the bedframe. Is it Xie Qian’s?”
It was his phone, a gift from Boss Wang after Wang Shuang’s rescue. Wen Ying knew it well.
She tried calling it, but it was dead, powered off.
Xie Qian had left in such a hurry he’d forgotten his phone, so unlike his usual careful self.
Something big had shaken him up.
What exactly, Wen Ying couldn’t guess, information out of reach.
She only knew Xie Qian’s family was well-off, but how much so, she hadn’t dug into. She wanted to be his friend, not cozy up to the Xie clan, so she never pried.
Still, someone like Zhao Dong, who seemed loaded, was scheming to gain from Xie Qian, so the Xie family had to be way above him.
What kind of trouble could rattle a family like that? Nothing Wen Ying could touch.
The sting of not knowing, of being powerless to help, left her adrift.
It hit her now, thinking back to her past life, why Xie Qian transferred to Chengdu mid-sophomore year. As far as she knew, he had no such plans now, despite Vice Principal Guo Xia’s nudging, which he’d sidestepped.
His sudden dash to Beijing—what happened? Would it tie to his eventual transfer?
Maybe not.
Xie Qian was in Chengdu for the summer to keep his grandma company while she recovered.
If she needed long-term care here, he might stay to support her.
School quality wasn’t a dealbreaker for a true ace like him, he’d bridge any gap between Chengdu and Beijing. Plus, Wen Ying’s high school was a provincial standout, not far off nationally, distinct from exam-mill places like Mao Tanchang. With Lin Lin teaching there, if Xie Qian studied in Chengdu, he’d pick their school.
It wasn’t until afternoon, post-tutoring, that Wen Ying saw a weary Lin Lin rush in.
Lin Lin, exhaustion etched on her face, stopped Wen Ying, “Teacher Liang called, said you want to switch tutoring spots. What’s your thinking?”
“Teacher Lin, Xie Qian’s not coming back this summer, right?” Wen Ying asked, dodging the question.
Lin Lin got it.
With Xie Qian gone, Wen Ying felt awkward imposing on the Jiangs.
Such a young girl, yet so considerate.
Lin Lin nodded, “Alright, you decide where to tutor. I’m swamped these days, and you might feel off coming here alone. As for Xie Qian, he probably won’t be back.”
Not this summer, at least.
When or if he’d return, how long he’d stay, Lin Lin couldn’t promise Wen Ying anything.
Their friendship, just budding, might fade under time and distance.
Still, Xie Qian had asked Lin Lin to look out for Wen Ying before leaving, and she would.
The friendship was brief, but it had brought Xie Qian real joy this month, and for that, Lin Lin was grateful to Wen Ying.
