The group was still at the same outdoor food stall, eating crayfish and chatting, which made time feel much easier to pass.
They ate until nine in the evening. Liao Juan, who was treating them, paid the bill with the class monitor. Then, everyone prepared to disperse and wait for the results.
"I'm planning to stay up all night anyway. Whoever finds out their score first, report it in the group!" Tian Jiajia suggested with a smile.
Everyone nodded in agreement, indicating they had no objections.
"Aren't you afraid you'll have scored poorly and be too embarrassed to post it?" Zhang Peng teased her playfully.
"Get lost, you jinx!" Tian Jiajia glared at him, retorted dismissively, "Uncle Zhang, you should worry about yourself. When it comes to the chance of failing, none of us can match you, right? If you can't even get into college then, you'll have to go back to your hometown to raise pigs and farm."
Zhang Peng's smile froze on his face.
"Haha..."
Everyone burst into hearty laughter, gloating.
Qin Tian patted Zhang Peng's shoulder and said to the group with a chuckle, "It's okay. Our Uncle Zhang is getting old, maybe he just likes to go back home and raise pigs!"
"Hahaha..."
Hearing this, the girls laughed even more happily.
"Brother Tian, we're the only two guys here. We're a team, you can't be ganging up with her to insult me!" Zhang Peng said with a look of grievance.
"Who's teaming up with you? I'm not, don't talk nonsense." Qin Tian rolled his eyes.
"Alas... what kind of world is this? I should have just stayed home and played games in the internet cafe!" Zhang Peng sighed.
Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but burst into laughter again.
After this meal of chatting and laughing, the tension and pressure of waiting for their college entrance examination results had been greatly relieved.
Of course, Qin Tian was probably an exception; he felt no tension whatsoever.
After bidding farewell, everyone left, leaving only Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan, along with Zhang Peng, the unwelcome third wheel.
"Brother Tian, Xia Nuannuan, why don't we go to the internet cafe and play games while we wait for midnight? Waiting like this is a bit agonizing!" Zhang Peng invited them with a smile.
Qin Tian was indifferent and looked at Xia Nuannuan for her decision.
Xia Nuannuan showed a look of difficulty, "I can't. My mom told me to go home and check the scores with her."
"Then I won't go either. I'll walk you back!" Qin Tian said with a smile.
"Why don't I take a taxi home, and you and Zhang Peng go to the internet cafe?" Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly.
Zhang Peng looked at Qin Tian with sparkling eyes, his anticipation evident.
However, Qin Tian shook his head and refused without hesitation.
"Not interested. Let him go have a sweet duo queue with Xu Hao!"
"Pfft!"
Xia Nuannuan was immediately amused, covering her mouth with her hand as she burst into laughter.
"What are you talking about? Sweet duo queue? What the hell!!!"
Zhang Peng mumbled blankly, and when he realized what was said, his face turned completely dark. He shouted angrily, "I'm straight!"
"Who knows!" Qin Tian shrugged with a chuckle.
"Scram, Brother Tian, you're too disgusting. I'm out, I'm out, I won't disturb you two."
"You actually know you're disturbing us? Then hurry up and get lost!"
"Damn it, you're abandoning loyalty for beauty!" Zhang Peng sullenly gave him a middle finger.
Qin Tian made a move as if to kick him, but Zhang Peng was prepared and took off running.
"Hope you guys lose five games in a row tonight!"
"Nonsense, impossible. My strongest champion, Malphite, is super strong!"
"Heh!"
Qin Tian chuckled, then ignored Zhang Peng, who had already run far away, and looked at Xia Nuannuan, who was smiling radiantly beside him.
"Laughing so happily?"
"Can't I?" Xia Nuannuan playfully rolled her eyes.
"You can. Let's go, I'll walk you home!"
"Mhm!"
The two walked hand in hand, strolling slowly.
"Has Uncle Xia returned yet?" Qin Tian asked casually.
"No, he said he'll be back in a couple of days, and then we'll have to move."
"Then remember to call me to help when the time comes."
"Got it!"
"By the way, won't that mean I'll get to meet your grandparents?" Qin Tian suddenly remembered this and his expression turned serious.
Xia Nuannuan nodded with a smile, reassuring him, "It's okay, my grandparents are very nice people."
"What do the elderly couple like?"
"What are you going to do?"
"Prepare some gifts. Does Grandpa drink? Does he smoke?"
"Don't ask. I won't tell you. You're just going to help with the move, you don't need to prepare anything."
"Okay, okay. By the way, do Grandpa and Grandma know about us?"
"They don't know yet!"
...
...
For two people who like each other, even the time spent walking hand in hand seemed to pass quickly.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the entrance of Xia Nuannuan's apartment building.
"I'm going up now!"
"Mhm..." Xia Nuannuan nodded with a smile, her bright eyes filled with reluctance.
She hadn't seen Qin Tian for just a few days at home, and it felt like a long time. Perhaps this was what the ancients meant by "a day apart feels like three autumns."
"Oh, right, do you have anything planned for tomorrow? Want to go shopping together?" Qin Tian suddenly invited.
"Okay!" Xia Nuannuan happily agreed with a smile.
"Go up quickly!" Qin Tian pointed upstairs and said with a smile.
Xia Nuannuan pecked her forehead, and her phone suddenly rang from her pocket. She took it out, looked at the caller ID, and answered.
"Hello, Mom, I'm downstairs, yes, ah? Let him come up, I'll ask him."
Xia Nuannuan moved the phone away and looked expectantly at Qin Tian, inviting him, "My mom said for you to come up and sit for a while, and we'll check the scores together later."
Qin Tian was stunned for a moment and scratched his head, "Isn't it too late?"
Xia Nuannuan hurriedly shook her head and was about to say something when her mother's voice came from the phone.
"What's late about it? We're just waiting to check the scores anyway. Little Qin, come up and sit for a while!" The phone was on speaker, so Qin Tian could hear clearly.
"That's what she said." Xia Nuannuan smiled sweetly, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Alright, then I'll send my mom a message." Qin Tian agreed with a smile and followed her into the building.
After sending a message to his mother saying he was at Xia Nuannuan's to check scores together and she should rest, he received a reply from his mother as they got out of the elevator.
"How can I sleep? Once you get your score, call me first."
"Okay, my dear mother!" Qin Tian typed back quickly and exchanged a smiling glance with Xia Nuannuan, who was curiously peeking her head.
Xia Nuannuan took out her key to open the door, and her future mother-in-law immediately hurried over to welcome them.
"Little Qin, come in quickly. Let's watch TV together and chat to pass the time, otherwise, I'll get nervous too!" Su Xia said with a gentle smile.
Qin Tian nodded with a light smile and reassured her, "Don't worry, the heavens won't let down those who work hard. Nuannuan will definitely score very well!"
"I hope so. There are still over two hours left. Never mind you two, I'm already restless!"
"It's the same for everyone. My mom just messaged me, she can't sleep either!"
"Is that so?"
This night was not only sleepless for millions of examinees, but also for all the parents and teachers of the examinees, who were all anxiously and nervously waiting.