273 Senior Year [five]
“Student An, do you decide which universities you want to apply to?” The headteacher asked. He called her to his office to have a talk with her. Every student had filled in the choices but only she was left in her class.
“I haven’t decided, ” An Xiulan said in a soft voice.
“What do you want to study in college?” The teacher asked.
“I don’t know, ” An Xiulan said truthfully.
“Do you mind if I give you a suggestion?” The headteacher asked her and she school her head. She didn’t mind suggestions at this juncture after all her confusion was eating her away, “Teacher Wang, your English teacher came to me today. He saw that you have yet to fill in the choices in the form. He suggested that I persuade you to sign up for an English major in college.”
“English major?” An Xiulan furrowed her brows.
“Yes, your English is excellent,” The teacher replied. “You can continue being a celebrity if you take English as a major. These days many students are going for foreign language studies. There is nothing wrong with it. If you don’t want to go for professional courses, you can go for general courses like English honours.”
An Xiulan blinked her eyes. “It doesn’t sound bad.”
She could imagine herself studying the major at University.
“Do you want to fill your choices now?” The teacher asked her.
An Xiulan nodded her head. “Teacher, we can fill in ten options, right? Why don’t you fill English Honours in the first box and the other 9 of your choice that you think I can study in University.”
“If that’s what you want, ” The headteacher smiled at her. “All the best for your monthly exams.”
“Where were you?” Han Zixin asked when An Xiulan returned to her class.
“Headteacher called me, ” An Xiulan replied. “I chose my major.”
“Really?” Han Zixin’s eyes shone.
She nodded her head. “I chose English Honours and asked him to fill another nine slots for himself.”
“You are so careless, ” Han Zixin grunted.
“I’m just confused. I don’t even know what I wanna study, ” An Xiulan pouted. “If someone selected anything for me, it would be easier.” She took. a pause and added, “Now I’m scared after selecting my major. I wish I could go back to a confused state.”
“Why?” Han Zixin questioned.
“I will be eighteen next month and the Miss China contest starts just before my final major tests, ” An Xiulan cried. “The dates came yesterday and you know teacher how strict he is.”
“Can’t you participate next year?” Han Zixin questioned her. “Senior year is more important.”
“I know but it’s not possible, ” An Xiulan said. “I am afraid if I took a step back, I might not be able to be courageous again. You know that contest is my key to attending a good university. I don’t trust my grades to get into a good university but that contest can be the stepping stone for me.”
Han Zixin sighed. “Just don’t overwork yourself.”
____
“Hi, Yoona, ” An Qinyan smiled at the young girl.
“Hello, Mrs Gu, ” Yoona politely greeted her.
“I have no idea that President An knows my niece, “Bai Zhan smiled greedily as he looked at the woman.
“She is friends with my daughter, “An Qinyan replied.
“My younger brother never mentioned that his daughter is acquainted with President An’s family, ” Bai Zhan said as he looked at his brother and wife.
“Brother Zhan, you have enough connections and we never knew you had business with the Orchid groups as you have signed several projects with the Ji family, ” Mrs Bai, Yoona’s mother replied with a smirk. Who didn’t know that Ji’s family was blatantly sabotaging against Orchid groups of hotels. “Now if you will excuse me, I have something to discuss with my friends.”
Yoona followed her mother and An Qinyan to the table leaving her angry uncle and cousins behind.
“How is your father-in-law?” An Qinyan asked her friend.
Mrs Bai sighed. “Father is still alive and these greedy sons of his are fighting over property. They want us to return to London. If it wasn’t for the father’s wish to spend his last days peacefully with his sons, we would have long returned home.”
An Qinyan could only sympathise with them.
“Mrs Gu, is it true that you used to live abroad like us?” Yoona asked.
An Qinyan smiled. “Yes, Xiulan and I stayed in the USA for more than fifteen years. It’s been two years since we returned and now this is home.”
“Doesn’t Xiulan miss that life in the USA?” Yoona ended up asking.
“You know her, she has a high capacity for adjusting and adapting, ” An Qinyan replied. “She used to be happy in the USA and here, she is happy too. She loved her family. As long as they are with her, she can live anywhere. Just a few months ago, An Xiulan said she wanted to go abroad to study, but her brothers got upset. Lu Xuan and Gu Shangyan couldn’t spend a single day without seeing her. I’m pretty sure they all would go to college in the same city if not university.”
Mrs Bai smiled. “That’s how brothers should be. They must protect and vote on their sisters.”
An Qinyan chuckled. “My sons are good children. They are not spoiled, grateful and respectful to all. I just hope they always love and care for their sister. Life is quite unpredictable and it used to scare me that if something happened to me, who would look after my Xiulan? But now I know Lu Xuan and Gu Shangyan will never leave her alone. If worse comes to worse in the future, my three children will be with each other in the future and be each other’s support.”
Yoona lowered her head and stared at the snacks on her plate. She was feeling guilty for suggesting to Gu Shangyan to come to the UK for her. But was she expecting too much from him?