At the moment he saw the task panel, Jiang Nian was a bit stunned.
Five thousand bucks?
That's right, this guy always looks at the rewards first; the task itself is not important.
Since he was on his way home at the time, and Xu Qianqian was talking to him, Jiang Nian only had time to glance at the rewards before quickly closing the panel.
Ever since having the system, Jiang Nian's mindset had changed.
In twenty years, he'd get a divorce.
Following the original life trajectory, he would have a terrible and painful twenty years. Cowardice, low self-esteem, depravity, achieving nothing, and a failed marriage.
If the future is destined to be a tragedy, then to hell with it.
Unknowingly, the two of them reached downstairs. Just as Jiang Nian was about to head up the dark stairway, he was suddenly stopped by Xu Qianqian, causing him to turn back and look at her.
"What's up?"
"The poem 'Homeward Bound', what's the line after 'Understanding that the past cannot be amended'?" she asked. In the darkness, only the vague outline of the girl was visible, her voice clear and bright.
Jiang Nian was taken aback. He'd memorized all the ancient poems for the college entrance exam, and instinctively recited,
"...Understanding that the future can be pursued, the lost path was not far, recognizing the present is right and the past was wrong."
Xu Qianqian took a step forward, her delicate face becoming clearer in the darkness. Her eyes mingled brightness and shadow like water, and she spoke seriously.
"It's not too late now; everything is still possible."
Jiang Nian understood that Xu Qianqian was referring to the college entrance exam, but at that moment, he couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
All the tasks in the system were related to Xu Qianqian. It would still be possible at the age of thirty-eight, so what about now at eighteen? Hadn't he been taking a detour from the beginning?
The person most suitable for him might be right by his side.
Just as this thought arose, he heard Xu Qianqian say something.
"I have an English test paper here..."
"Cough, cough, I got it." Jiang Nian quickly stopped Xu Qianqian as she was about to pull the papers out from her bag, "It's late, let's look at it tomorrow, okay?"
Xu Qianqian rolled her eyes at him, swung her neat ponytail, and went upstairs.
"Whatever."
Back home.
Jiang Nian threw down his backpack and was about to take a shower, planning to look at the task panel in detail while lying on the bed. But he was stopped by his mom, asking about the delivery.
"Oh, I bought some shoes for you and Old Jiang; they were on sale, quite a bargain."
"Why waste money like that? Just buy for yourself." Mom nagged, "It's not like I don't have shoes, don't always spend money so extravagantly."
Old Jiang, hearing this, also came over to say a few things. It was nothing more than mentioning how earning money was good, and he should keep it for himself because there'd be plenty of things needing money in the future and so on.
Covering his ears, Jiang Nian headed straight for the bathroom, impermeable to oil and salt, not listening.
The fact proved that parents are forever creatures whose actions betray their words.
After Jiang Nian finished his shower and came out, Old Jiang's new leather shoes were already polished and placed on the first shelf. Mom's shoes were no exception, with the laces tied neatly.
He smiled while drying his hair and returned to his room.
Jiang Nian expertly turned on the air conditioner and fan to dry his hair naturally. With one hand holding the water cup on the table, he opened the system task panel with the other.
"Huh? Love...rival?"
He glanced at the task description, pausing at the part about not having spoken from high school to college. What kind of ruthless person is this, an unrequited love story?
It's no surprise to Jiang Nian that someone would have a crush on Xu Qianqian. They've known each other since they were kids, and there's no longer any mystery.
In the eyes of outsiders, Xu Qianqian is a well-behaved girl with fair skin, a good figure, and excellent grades.
The Jiang Family's master bedroom.
Li Hongmei tossed and turned, unable to sleep, thinking about the shoes their son bought for them. In the dark, she couldn't help but nudge her husband.
Old Jiang shivered, pretending to sleep tightly.
"Stop pretending; you're awake," Li Hongmei said coldly.
"..... Huh? Hongmei?" Old Jiang turned around, looking as if he just woke up, "It's so late, neighbors are all asleep, what's wrong with you?"
One sentence, the buff was at full power.
Li Hongmei was speechless, "I'm talking about something serious. Don't you think we should interfere with Nian playing games? It's good to make money, but what about affecting his studies?"
"Why not talk to him tomorrow and stop him from playing?"
Old Jiang thought for a while and said, "I don't think it's a good idea."
"What's wrong with it? Don't you know how critical senior year is?" Li Hongmei was anxious, sat up, "Not admitted to a good university, you'll face walls everywhere in society."
"I know all that. Don't worry, listen to my analysis," Old Jiang, a patient slow-tempered person, said. "Who was the first person Nian thought of when he made money?"
"I estimated that Nian spent at least one thousand five or six. Maybe all the money he earned was spent on us, eaten, worn on the feet."
Hearing this, Li Hongmei relaxed her brows.
"Nian is a good kid, but a good kid can't find a job, what if he doesn't go to university?"
"Don't rush, let me finish." Old Jiang put his hand on his wife's shoulder, "Wait for next week's monthly exam at school. After the results, we can talk to Nian."
"I'm telling you to praise the kid more these days, don't always keep a straight face."
"Okay, okay, you talk too much." Li Hongmei rolled up the blanket, "Sleep, sleep, got work tomorrow. Nagging makes you seem impressive."
Old Jiang: "....."
The next day.
Jiang Nian went out to buy breakfast and specially brought a portion for Xu Qianqian, so the two just "happened" to go to school together again.
Xu Qianqian pouted, "No one shows you favor for no reason, either a traitor or a thief."
"How am I showing favor for no reason, didn't you agree to teach me math?" Jiang Nian walked quickly to catch up, and the two of them bypassed the narrow alley to reach the street outside.
"Oh." Xu Qianqian easily took a bite of the vegetable bun and sipped some soy milk with her eyes squinted, "Why do you always buy soy milk, I want strawberry-flavored yogurt drink."
"Stop it, soy milk is good for the brain," he said.
The street was clear with sunlight, lush green trees, and dappled sunlight falling on the uneven shop road along the street. Shops selling breakfast were packed with students, surrounded by steam.
"Hmm? I've never heard that soy milk can boost the brain?" Xu Qianqian walked ahead in her little white shoes, turned around, and asked curiously, "Isn't it walnut milk that's brain-boosting?"
Soy milk is rich in phytoestrogens, good for baby food services, naturally good for baby's brain.
Jiang Nian thought, it's not for your brain, "Who told you walnut boosts the brain, it's completely psychological."
"Really?"
Sunlight glistened in the girl's hair, and their conversation slowly faded.
Nearing the school entrance, Jiang Nian seemingly asked casually, "Hey, do you have a guy named Zhou Haifei in your class?"
Hearing this, Xu Qianqian stopped in her tracks.
"A guy?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
"There's indeed someone named Zhou Haifei in our class, but...." Xu Qianqian looked at Jiang Nian, her pink lips slightly parted, "she's a girl, should be Zhou Haifei."
Jiang Nian was stunned, "A girl?"
Damn it! What an aluminum copper?