Love Me in Another Universe

Chapter 11. Soupy's Lunar New Year Holiday

February 14, 1994, Monday. It's the fifth day of the Chinese New Year. As per customs, Guan Xuchen accompanied his parents to pay visits to their relatives. He had used to enjoy such visits, because he could receive "lucky money" in red packets. This year, however, he somehow found it boring to visit relatives who he only met once a year. While he was very happy to get the lucky money, he had to hand over the red packets to his mother right away. And after the pleasantries, the adults would engage in conversation, leaving him alone quietly in a corner, where he enjoyed candies and watched TV. Sometimes the adults would chat with him, but the topics were always the same:

"What grade are you in now, Xuchen?"

"I'm in Junior One."

"What's the name of your school?"

"Xiaoda Middle School."

"Oh, that's a prestigious school. How did you do in the final exams?"

"I ranked fifth in the class and 24th in the grade."

"Oh, that's impressive. Good boy!"

"..."

Whenever these moments arose, Guan Xuchen would think, "If only there was an intelligent robot that could automatically answer such boring questions for me."

Now, coming out of a relative's place, Mrs. Guan let out a sigh of relief and said, "We've visited all the relatives for New Year's greetings, so we can take a break tomorrow."

Guan Xuchen suddenly asked, "Mom, can we visit Gao Xinglang's place for New Year's greetings?

Mrs. Guan looked at Guan Xuchen and smiled, asking, "Why should we do that? He's not even our relative."

"But classmates can also visit each other during the Chinese New Year, right?" Guan Xuchen muttered.

"Xuchen, I hate to lecture you even during the New Year--" Mrs. Guan began as they stood on the street. "I've told you to make friends with better students. But you always hang out with Gao Xinglang. If I hadn't attended the parent-teacher meeting, I wouldn't have known that Gao Xinglang's grades are so poor..."

Hearing this, Guan Xuchen defended with an unconvinced face, "How are Gao Xinglang's grades poor? He has improved by dozens of places in the whole grade in the final exams. Evan Miss Wang praised him in class ......"

"Ah, you've actually learned to talk back." Mrs. Guan was a little angry and said to Mr. Guan, "Look at your son. He's hanging out with bad students and picking up bad habits!"

"Gao Xinglang is not a bad student!" His face flushed, Guan Xuchen argued loudly in defense.

"Enough, Xuchen. Don't talk to Mom like that." Noticing his wife's rising anger, Mr. Guan scolded his son briefly, then turned to his wife with a smile, "Come on, dearie, let's not argue on the street during the New Year. Harmony at home brings prosperity. Look, there is a big department store ahead. How about we do some shopping there and I buy you something? Then we'll go to a restaurant for dinner. So you can take a break from cooking today."

Hearing her husband's words, Mother Guan's anger subsided considerably. She then remarked with a hint of reproach, "Shopping and dining out? Where are we going to get all that money?"

"Like I told you, I've earned 80 yuan from some freelance work.. After shopping and dining, I'll give you the rest." Mr. Guan continued with a conciliatory smile.

"That's your promise." Mrs. Guan finally revealed a smile before asking, "You don't have any other pin money, do you?"

"Of course not, Your Highness." Mr. Guan smiled cheekily and then said to Guan Xuchen, "Come on, Xuchen, let's go shopping and then dining."