Chapter 29: I Believe in You

 Chapter 29: I Believe in You

"Do you want to scold me a little?" 

A cool and gentle voice suddenly resounded.

Gu Zhao was startled, his hand trembled, and he almost couldn't even hold the steering wheel steady.

Damn it.

She pretended to be asleep.

"Do you want to scold me?" Gu Qingning opened his eyes, his gaze clear and devoid of any sleepiness.

Gu Zhao wanted to die, "..."

His hearing was really sharp.

He forced a dry laugh and said, "No, no, Second Brother was just joking. He's always like that, never serious. Please don't take it seriously."

Gu Qingning didn't respond and turned to look out the window.

The atmosphere turned even colder and more awkward than before.

Gu Zhao felt exhausted, feeling like he had traveled back to the time before liberation overnight.

His second brother's mouth really caused a lot of trouble.

At the bank, Gu Qingning refused Gu Zhao's company and went in alone.

Fortunately, there weren't many customers conducting business, so she quickly finished with her card.

When she came out and saw that Gu Zhao's car was still there, she knocked on the car window.

Meeting Gu Zhao's gaze, she asked, "Why haven't you left yet?"

Gu Zhao smiled and said, "Get in the car. Where else do you want to go? I'll take you."

In order to be a good brother, he was willing to do anything, even being a driver.

Gu Qingning looked up and saw a mobile phone store across the street. She said, "No need, you have something to do, go ahead and don't wait for me. I still need to buy a phone."

Buy a phone?

Gu Zhao's eyes lit up, and he quickly got out of the car.

He hurriedly caught up with Gu Qingning and walked into the store together.

As soon as they entered the store, a salesperson greeted them.

"Welcome."

Gu Zhao nodded and said, "We'll just look around."

The saleswoman smiled and nodded, then stepped aside.

As they browsed the counter, Gu Zhao couldn't help but make suggestions.

"Qingning, this one is pretty good. Why don't you take a look?"

Gu Qingning didn't say anything, her gaze fixed on the counter opposite.

She walked over and looked at the salesperson. "Please get me the white one in the middle."

"Sure, please wait a moment."

The salesperson took the phone out of the display cabinet and handed it to her, gently introducing, "You have a good eye. This phone is a newly released model with great cost performance and excellent camera pixels. You can give it a try."

Gu Qingning glanced at the phone and said calmly, "No need to try. This one is fine. Also, help me get a SIM card."

Her straightforwardness surprised the saleswoman.

"Okay, please wait."

During that time, Gu Qingning turned around and went to the counter to pay.

"Credit card."

Two voices said in unison.

Gu Zhao handed his bank card to the saleswoman and said, "Use this one."

"Wait a moment." Gu Qingning reached out and took his card, then handed over her own bank card.

"Just use this one."

The saleswoman smiled and nodded, "Please wait."

Gu Qingning turned to look at the man beside her and handed the card back to him.

Gu Zhao helplessly took back the card and sighed softly, "Can't you accept it when your brother wants to buy you something?"

Gu Qingning's voice was warm and mellow, "Using both hard and soft tactics won't work on me."

"..."

Oh, Second Brother,

 you really caused me a lot of trouble.

After finishing the payment, Gu Qingning received her phone and casually put it in her pocket without even looking at it.

Before leaving, Gu Zhao specifically asked the saleswoman for Gu Qingning's phone number.

Sitting in the car, Gu Zhao fastened his seatbelt and asked, "Qingning, why don't you memorize Third Brother's phone number? Call him if you need anything."

Gu Qingning lowered her head to look at her phone and refused straightforwardly, "No need."

Once again, those two words. Gu Zhao's lip twitched.

Fortunately, he had cleverly asked for her phone number earlier.

On the way back to school, Gu Zhao couldn't help but start talking.

"Qingning, the advanced-level exam is not something to rush. If you don't do well this time, it's okay. Don't take it too seriously."

The person in the back seat remained silent.

"Qingning, why don't you seriously consider the exam? Actually, it wouldn't be bad to stay in the second year of high school. I can talk to the principal and have you transferred. How about that?"

When it came to skipping a grade, he was experienced. With her performance in the entrance exam, there was no way she would pass the exam at that level.

Moreover, the advanced-level exam was public. If she failed, the entire school would know, and it might hurt her self-esteem.

"No, thanks." Gu Qingning's voice was calm. "There's no need for that."

Her tone was firm, without a trace of hesitation.

Gu Zhao choked, his lips moved, but in the end, he didn't say anything.

Upon arriving at the school, there was still some time before the exam, about half an hour.

As soon as they got out of the car, someone came to find Gu Zhao.

"Qingning, I'll go over there for a bit. I'll come find you later," Gu Zhao instructed, then followed the vice principal and left.

The warm sunlight bathed her surroundings as Gu Qingning leisurely walked out of the parking lot.

She reached into her pocket and felt her phone and a few coins. In an instant, an overly handsome face appeared in her mind.

Lost in thought for a moment, she took out her phone and swiftly dialed a number.

It didn't take long for someone to answer the call.

"Who is this?"

A calm and low, yet magnetic voice, entered her ears.

Gu Qingning's eyes narrowed slightly. "It's me, Gu Qingning."

The person on the other end fell silent for a moment, and soon, a low, slightly aggrieved laughter reached her ears. "I thought a certain little friend had forgotten about me."

Upon careful consideration, there was a hint of grievance in that tone.

Gu Qingning pursed her lips. "I didn't forget."

Just three words instantly made Fu Juncheng overjoyed.

The little lion has become obedient.

But, he was still thinking too much. The next words from Gu Qingning crushed his hopes.

"I still owe you two hundred yuan."

"..."

Fu Juncheng felt a chill run down his spine.

He was worth less than two hundred yuan?

He closed the file and casually tossed it on the table. "Is this your phone number?"

Gu Qingning replied with an affirmative sound, "When are you free? I'll return the money to you, or I can transfer it to you?"

Her distant and polite tone made the person on the other end furrow his brows. Fu Juncheng lightly tapped on the table with his fingertip. "Don't bother returning the money, just treat me to a meal."

Gu Qingning hesitated for a moment but eventually relented. "Alright, you can choose the time and place."

His deep voice contained a hint of urgency. "How about noon?"

"I have an exam later, I won't be able to make it for lunch."

"An exam?" Fu Juncheng was slightly surprised and seized the opportunity to ask, "Which school are you attending?"

Gu Qingning replied honestly, "Yi Zhong High School."

Whether she said it or not, he had a way to find out.

Yi Zhong High School?

Fu Juncheng's eyebrows raised slightly, and he changed his approach. "In that case, if you score full marks on the exam, you don't have to repay the money, and I'll treat you to a meal."

A meaningful smile tugged at the corner of Gu Qingning's lips. "Are you sure? You still have a chance to change your mind."

Hearing the challenge in her words, Fu Juncheng couldn't help but chuckle, his voice gentle and infused with a unique magnetism. "If it's you, I believe. After all, the fierce little lion doesn't do things without confidence."

After contemplating for a moment, Gu Qingning realized that the advanced-level exam might not have rankings. She explained, "There are no rankings in this exam."

Fu Juncheng was slightly taken aback. "No rankings?"

How could an exam have no rankings?

"I want to enter the third year, so I have to take the advanced-level exam," Gu Qingning explained in a calm voice.

Fu Juncheng suddenly understood.

A profound coldness flickered in his deep eyes, and he spoke in a low voice, tinged with a smile. "Study well, get a perfect score, and I'll celebrate for you."

Used to the doubts from Gu Zhao and the others, his sudden trust left her a bit stunned.

Gu Qingning was lost in thought for a moment and asked slowly, "Do you think I can pass?"

"As long as it's you, I believe." Fu Juncheng's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of laughter shimmered in the depths of his eyes.

He teased, "After all, the fierce little lion wouldn't do something uncertain."