47: Chapter 47 Early Enrollment, Tearful Farewell to Parents!

Over the past few days, Zhang Wen settled his mind to Cultivate, occasionally going out to accept tasks for hunting Vicious Beasts in exchange for points. Although the points were meager, he enjoyed doing it tirelessly, finding this steady rhythm of accumulation to be very grounding.

One day, his phone suddenly rang.

"Hello, is this student Zhang Wen?" A gentle yet slightly urgent voice came from the other end of the line. "I am Director Qian from Qinglan University. After consultation, the school has unanimously decided to invite you to enroll early and give you priority access to the school's Cultivation equipment—these resources will be of great benefit to your improvement at this stage. What are your thoughts?"

Zhang Wen's heart skipped a beat. As a top domestic university, Qinglan University was well-known for its advanced Cultivation facilities. Zhang Wen thought for a moment and replied, "No problem!"

"That's great!" Director Qian's voice was filled with obvious excitement. "Then it's settled. I will send someone to pick you up tomorrow morning."

Zhang Wen hung up the phone, his fingertips lingering on the receiver for a moment before slowly pulling back. He turned and walked toward home, his pace unhurried, though his hand hanging by his side unconsciously clenched tighter.

When he pushed the door open, the aroma of food wafted out from the kitchen. Zhang Wen changed his shoes and walked into the living room, where he saw his mother, Wang Guihua, poking her head out from the kitchen wearing an apron. "You're back? Go wash your hands, dinner will be ready soon."

"Dad, Mom," he sat down at the dining table, looking at his father, Zhang Jianguo, who was setting out the bowls and chopsticks. He spoke in a calm tone, "Qinglan University is letting me enroll early; I'm leaving tomorrow."

The porcelain bowl in Zhang Jianguo's hand paused, then he placed it steadily on the table, looked up at him, and just let out an "Mm." Wang Guihua came out with the last dish, braised fish, and placed it in front of him. "Got it. Let's eat; these are all your favorites."

The table was laden with dishes: sweet and sour pork ribs glistening with oil, stir-fried vegetables with a crisp green color, and that braised fish, its eyes bright, clearly made from a freshly killed fish.

Zhang Wen picked up his chopsticks, picked up a piece of rib, and put it in his mouth. As the familiar sweet and sour taste spread, his nose suddenly felt a bit sore.

Halfway through the meal, Wang Guihua spoke first, picking up a piece of fish belly for his bowl. "When you get there, take care of yourself. There are a lot of people at school, so don't get into conflicts with others. No matter how urgent your Cultivation is, pay attention to moderation and don't push yourself too hard—"

"Why say all that?" Zhang Jianguo interrupted her, pouring a glass of fruit juice for Zhang Wen. "It's a good thing for a boy to go out and explore. Qinglan University has strict rules, and he knows what he's doing. It's you who shouldn't stay up at night worrying; he's not a child anymore."

"What's wrong with worrying about my son?" Wang Guihua glared at him. "Last time he went for training, didn't you toss and turn all night unable to sleep? Now you're lecturing me."

Zhang Jianguo put down the teapot and coughed lightly. "I was just checking the weather forecast."

"Hmph, does the weather forecast require you to get up three times in the middle of the night to check?" Wang Guihua pursed her lips, then turned to Zhang Wen, her voice softening. "Remember to call often. If you need anything, just tell us at home; don't be shy."

Zhang Wen shoveled rice into his mouth, vaguely responding "Got it." Out of the corner of his eye, he caught his father secretly adding another piece of rib to his bowl, the meat on the bone picked clean.

After the meal, he returned to his room to pack his luggage. The voices of his parents could still be faintly heard from the living room.

"Should I go send him off tomorrow?" It was his mother's voice.

"With your sense of direction, don't get yourself lost. I'll go."

"Me, bad with directions? Who was it that circled the vegetable market three times last time before finding the exit..."

Zhang Wen's hand, pulling the zipper of his suitcase, paused. A faint smile curled the corners of his mouth, but he immediately suppressed it, carefully tucking that warmth deep into his heart.

The next day.

"Dad, Mom, this is far enough." Zhang Wen stopped and pointed toward the alley entrance. "The people from the school should be here soon; you two should head back early."

As he spoke, he nudged his parents back. His fingertips touched the fabric of his mother's sleeve, which felt soft from being washed until it turned white.

Wang Guihua didn't move, just raised her hand to smooth out the wrinkles on his collar, her fingertips brushing against the fabric. "No rush, we'll wait a bit longer. There's nothing to do at home anyway, and I'll only be at ease once I see you get on the car." Her voice was soft, her eyes sweeping over Zhang Wen's face as if to carve his image at this moment into her heart.

Zhang Jianguo stood to the side, hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the alley entrance. Hearing this, he turned his head, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Your mother is right; these few minutes don't matter."

Just as they were speaking, the low rumble of a car engine came from the alley entrance. A black sedan slowly drove up and stopped not far away. The car window rolled down, and the driver poked his head out. "Is this student Zhang Wen? I am here to pick you up."

Zhang Wen responded and turned to pick up the suitcase at his feet. Wang Guihua suddenly stepped forward and stuffed a warm cloth bag into his hands. "Freshly made sugar cakes, have some on the road if you're hungry. When you get to school, remember to..." Halfway through, her voice suddenly choked up. She turned her face away and raised her hand to wipe the corner of her eye.

"Mom, I know." Zhang Wen took the cloth bag, his fingertips touching the dampness, and his heart gave a sudden pang.

"Take care of yourself out there, don't force yourself." Zhang Jianguo stepped forward and patted his shoulder, his strength a bit heavier than usual. As soon as he finished speaking, his own eyes turned red, and he quickly turned his head to look at the car tires, as if studying something important.

The driver had already gotten out to help with the luggage. Zhang Wen responded "I know," and bent down to put the suitcase into the trunk. When he turned around, he saw his mother repeatedly wiping her face with the back of her hand, and his father with his back to him, his shoulders slightly trembling.

"Then I'm leaving." Zhang Wen opened the car door and looked back one more time.

"Go, go, call home when you arrive!" Wang Guihua waved her hand, her voice trembling violently. Tears finally couldn't be held back, rolling down and landing on her clothes.

Zhang Jianguo also turned around, shouting with red-rimmed eyes, "Be safe on the road! If anything happens, call home, don't hide it!"

Zhang Wen nodded and sat in the car. In the rearview mirror, his parents' figures became smaller and smaller, yet they kept standing in the same spot, waving. His mother's action of wiping tears with her sleeve was especially clear, and his father, though his back was turned, could be seen raising his hand to press against the corner of his eye.

Until the sedan turned the corner and the two figures completely disappeared, Zhang Wen finally withdrew his gaze, gripping the cloth bag that still held the lingering warmth in his hands.

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