Chapter 23: The Gossamer Golden Grandson

After watching the squirrels, the two spent some time by the lake watching the fish. It wasn't exactly an exhilarating experience, but it was certainly relaxing. Having breathed in the fresh air and taken in the lovely scenery, Chen Yuan even felt that this was a place worth visiting a second time. It then dawned on him that, in ten years at most, he would be the kind of person who goes to parks to photograph flowers and plants, posting them to his social media feeds with unflagging enthusiasm.

While waiting for his shoes to be polished, Song Jianian chatted with Uncle Zhang for a while. In his choice of words, Uncle Zhang truly treated Song Jianian like his own daughter, yet he maintained a sense of great restraint, strictly adhering to his duties as a driver. While Song Jianian was watching the fish, Uncle Zhang had gone to buy a small net, but they hadn't caught any fish—only a loach, which they kept in a mineral water bottle as the day's trophy.

Once the park visit concluded, Uncle Zhang drove them back to campus.

"Uncle Zhang, stop here for a moment," Chen Yuan said.

"Is there something you need?" Uncle Zhang asked casually, pulling the car to a stop.

"I’m going to the driving school to ask about signing up."

"You’re both adults now; it's a good idea to get your licenses while you have the time." As a driver, Uncle Zhang’s philosophy was simple: if you’re an adult, you should go get your license. Even if Song Jianian might never need to drive herself, he still supported her getting one. "Miss, why don't you sign up for a license, too?"

"Should I practice a bit before I sign up?" Song Jianian didn't have any objections to the idea, but she had a different perspective.

"Don't you dare practice beforehand. Driving instructors love students who know nothing. If you come in half-knowing what you're doing, they find it most annoying." Chen Yuan didn't quite understand the logic, but since Uncle Zhang was a seasoned driver, he assumed there must be a reason.

"Oh, I see. I'll sign up too."

Uncle Zhang instinctively reached for his seatbelt, intending to help her with the registration, but noticed Song Jianian seemed prepared to go with Chen Yuan. Uncle Zhang smiled and stayed put. Now that they had both turned eighteen, it was time for them to handle things on their own and adapt to the world.

Once they arrived at the driving school, Song Jianian’s demeanor changed from how it had been at the botanical garden. This was not her home turf, so she could only follow quietly behind Chen Yuan. Chen Yuan was here for the first time as well; after asking around upstairs, they finally found the registration office. After paying, the staff had them download an app containing mock exams for the written theory test. They were told to study at home, then pass a computer-based mock exam with a score of over 90 before they could register for the official test.

When they stepped back outside, Uncle Zhang was still waiting, and he drove them back to the school.

"Uncle Zhang, please help me look after the little loach when you get home," Song Jianian said before getting out of the car.

"Understood, Miss."

Back at school, they returned to their respective dorms. Sun Pengnan was lying in his boxers, struggling to wiggle around on his bed as part of his "rehabilitation" for his impending return to society.

"Boss, what were you up to last night? Don't tell me you were out spending the night with a girl."

"Your mouth is full of nothing but filth. When you have free time, try contemplating the meaning of life instead of wasting your college years."

***

Feeling bored in the dorm, Chen Yuan went to play basketball. He went to the cafeteria when it got dark, bringing back a portion for Sun Pengnan.

On his phone, there was a photo from Jiang Wanyi—it was her "spoils of war," and she had already collected three bags. One more session tomorrow, and she shouldn't have any more worries.

There were also a few messages from the class monitor, Zheng Wenkai. On the last day before the National Day holiday, the department was organizing a session for freshmen to learn about the school's history, with a special focus on the newly recruited academicians, and they would be required to write a reflection paper.

Chen Yuan didn't really know how to show off about that.

The class monitor was urging everyone in the group chat to submit their papers quickly. *Hurry, hurry, hurry—can’t we even live until the 8th?*

Aside from the monitor's messages, there was one from Li Yingying, the cultural committee member. After the holiday, the school would be holding a "Top Ten Campus Singers" competition, and she was encouraging everyone to sign up.

There was no important information there. Chen Yuan had no interest in joining such festivities; he preferred to just be a quiet, handsome guy.

After the lights went out that night, Chen Yuan chatted with Jiang Wanyi, the content mostly revolving around the baby.

*Buzz, buzz, buzz.*

It was a message from Song Jianian.

Song Jianian: "[Image.JPG]"

The image was a screenshot of her written test score: 92.

What kind of natural-born genius was this?

Chen Yuan: "It's only been a few hours, and you're already at 92?"

Song Jianian: "It’s unstable. Most of the time I get in the 80s; this was just the one time I hit 92."

Chen Yuan: "Slow down and wait for me. We'll conquer Zhongzhou together."

Song Jianian: "I definitely can't study as well as you. You should wait for me."

Song Jianian: "I feel like you're smarter than I am."

Chen Yuan: "Your feeling is correct."

He couldn't spend his time scrolling through suggestive content today; he had to get some actual work done and practice the driving theory questions.

More than ten minutes later, another message from Song Jianian arrived.

Song Jianian: "You went to the basketball court to play today."

Had she seen him when she passed by? Just as Chen Yuan was about to reply, a second message popped up.

Song Jianian: "And someone brought you water."

This... how was he supposed to answer that? *I was asleep, I didn't see...*

***

The next morning.

He picked up his phone to reply to Song Jianian.

"I fell asleep yesterday, I didn't see it," Chen Yuan typed.

After sending the message, he yawned, put on his clothes, and went to wash up.

"Boss, it's already ten o'clock. How are you still not awake? What did you do last night..." Sun Pengnan asked with a mischievous grin.

"I went off to defy the ages with an Imperial Weapon of the Supreme Dao."

"Damn, what kind of plot is that? Which novel is it from?"

"My 26-Year-Old Female Tenant."

Sun Pengnan excitedly opened his phone, eyeing Chen Yuan warily. "There aren't any 'colorful' scenes in it, right? I can't be getting into that stuff right now."

"Don't worry, there aren't."

"I'm going to go check it out."

He was headed to Jiang Wanyi’s place today, so after washing up, Chen Yuan went out and grabbed a quick bite at the cafeteria before heading over.

*Hm?*

There was a note posted on the door. Chen Yuan knocked and peeled the note off as he waited.

*Building Rules:*

*Due to the recent conception of a grandchild, to ensure the health of the fetus, the following building rules are established:*

*1. No use of Wi-Fi, induction cookers, or anything that emits electromagnetic waves.*

*2. No watching television after 9 PM. No use of mobile phones, to avoid radiation that may affect the baby’s development.*

*3. Prohibited...*

*...*

*4. Prohibition of all perfumes, cosmetics, and skincare products.*

*These rules are effective immediately. Everyone must comply, or face the consequences.*

*What kind of nonsense is this?*

At that moment, Jiang Wanyi opened the door. She was wearing a spaghetti-strap nightgown, revealing a hint of cleavage. Even that tiny bit of cleavage looked cute.

"What are you looking at?"

"Someone posted this on your door." Chen Yuan handed her the note.

After reading it, Jiang Wanyi frowned immediately. "Do they have no common sense at all? This is completely unreasonable."

"It's certainly ridiculous. Which one is your Wi-Fi?"

"You're not actually going to turn it off, are you?"

"I'm going to change the network name to 'Invincible Heart-Piercing Wi-Fi Releasing Uranium-235 Super-Radiation Veil Over the Golden Grandchild'."