Back to the 70s: My Childhood Sweetheart Spoils Me Rotten-Chapter 875 - 877: Following You

Chu Ling always knew that Gong Ruini had a huge study room, but she never expected it to be so big.

The entire East Wing was her study room, which made Chu Ling feel quite envious.

"You’re here," Gong Ruini walked into her study and saw Chu Ling’s envious eyes.

Chu Ling nodded, "I just came by to take a stroll, especially since your family is hosting guests today."

"Well, can I borrow some books from your study?" Chu Ling looked at Gong Ruini expectantly.

Borrowing books, Gong Ruini really felt a bit reluctant. It’s not that these books were rare, it’s just that many of them were her favorites, the results of her frequent online shopping wins in the Northeast and Beijing.

Later, when Zhao Gang and the others often traveled for work, Gong Ruini asked them to buy books, so the collection in her study room slowly grew.

Once they’re borrowed, Gong Ruini worried whether they’d be returned or whether any pages would be missing.

Gong Ruini admitted she was a bit stingy, but she really didn’t want to see the books becoming incomplete.

But since Chu Ling brought it up, should she agree or not?

"Can I come by often to read?" Chu Ling knew she was being a bit forward; many people don’t lend out good books, including many in her own collection, which even her grandfather’s friends can’t borrow.

"Sure, sure," Gong Ruini was indeed fine with people coming to read, "If you like, you can copy them."

"There are paper and pens here." With beautiful books, people might want to copy them, so Gong Ruini had prepared these things early on.

Oh, there’re even tools for that? It seemed many people had borrowed books? Chu Ling recalled her past understanding of Gong Ruini; she didn’t seem like someone with many friends.

Gong Ruini pointed to Cao Na, "It was all Nana’s idea."

Oh, it was Cao Na, wasn’t it? She hadn’t expected this girl to be such a book lover, but it wasn’t surprising.

If she didn’t love reading and learning, she wouldn’t have been so close to Gong Ruini. "Reading more books is good."

Cao Na was truly a little flattered. Though Chu Ling was close with Gong Ruini and she facilitated some of their connections, her relationship with Chu Ling was only average, not to mention receiving such praise.

"Yeah, reading more books is good, better than wandering about outside." Although reading can be lonely, when she saw some childhood friends loitering outside all day, it felt like a waste.

"Besides, you can practice calligraphy and painting with Ni Zi."

"Although my skills aren’t great, it still feels fulfilling." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Cao Na had thought about building a good relationship with Chu Ling, but she wasn’t someone who would chase after people. However, when given the opportunity, she wouldn’t let it pass.

Calligraphy and painting? Chu Ling remembered Gong Ruini seemed to sell Spring Festival couplets at a stall before; they said her writing was quite good. Yet, she hadn’t showcased it in recent years, "May I appreciate them?"

Only now did Chu Ling realize why she thought the large desk in the study was for; it was meant for practicing calligraphy and painting.

Looking at the size of the desk, it was likely used for drawing medium-sized paintings; Chu Ling couldn’t help but be curious, suspecting Gong Ruini’s skills wouldn’t be poor.

"I also learned brush calligraphy and painting from my grandfather, but my skills aren’t great," Chu Ling self-deprecatingly remarked about her skills.

"I’m just practicing for fun," Gong Ruini modestly replied.

Gong Ruini wasn’t aware of Chu Ling’s true abilities; she was really modest, fearing if she bragged, she’d really be embarrassed.

For fun? Cao Na said nothing as she took out a few scrolls of paintings from a large jar holding the artworks and slowly unfolded them.

As Cao Na opened the scrolls, Chu Ling was stunned, "Wow, this is just practicing for fun."

Chu Ling felt like crying; fortunately, she had been modest earlier, otherwise, she’d be embarrassed.

"Looks like I can really learn from you in the future," Chu Ling truly wanted to know how Gong Ruini’s mind worked.

"You’re excellent academically, great at calligraphy and painting; don’t you know people would be incredibly jealous?" Just having excellent grades already left people in awe, but adding such skills would really drive people mad?

Jealousy? Gong Ruini wasn’t really afraid, as she swung her hips playfully, "Am I someone who fears jealousy?"

"You know, when I was in a coma, quite a few clapped with joy."

"Had it not been for jealousy and fear of me, they wouldn’t have acted like that."

"My recent excellent exam scores probably have people drawing circles out of jealousy," Gong Ruini hadn’t checked her report card and didn’t know her classmates’ reactions.

But as she went out each day, she’d always run into one or two classmates; Gong Ruini greeted them warmly each time, yet they wouldn’t respond, some coldly snorting, or turning their heads as if not seeing her.

Such attitudes clearly showed they didn’t want to see her. Gong Ruini felt regretful, wishing they could chat about studies, discuss the recent final exam papers.

And then casually talk about how the exam content this time was so straightforward.

Cao Na understood some of Gong Ruini’s personality, but asking if it’s okay to provoke people like this again, "Ni Zi, even though you’re thinking of transferring schools, is provoking people really okay?"

Transfer? Gong Ruini planned to transfer? Cao Na’s words stunned Chu Ling, who then looked at Gong Ruini in surprise — with such good grades, why transfer schools?

Moreover, it’s said that certain leaders held Gong Ruini in high esteem, already freely booking her as the top scorer for the college entrance exams two years later.

While some might feel unconvinced, given how often top students fail those exams, Gong Ruini woke up from a prolonged coma, barely attended classes before acing the final exams, leaving many shocked and alert.

"You’re transferring schools?" Oh my, Chu Ling suddenly remembered she applied to the same school where Gong Ruini studied, hoping to be in the same grade.

Now she knew she would only become Gong Ruini’s junior, which she didn’t mind, for it made asking questions easier.

But why transfer schools? "Where are you transferring to?" Chu Ling resolved to follow Gong Ruini’s lead.

"Fourth Middle School." Gong Ruini didn’t want to say, knowing once revealed, the secret wouldn’t be kept,

seeing as no formal transfer procedures were taken yet, even though the leaders at Fourth Middle School knew, they hadn’t announced it widely.

However, Cao Na had outright mentioned it, leaving Gong Ruini to confess honestly, as what else could she do?

"Okay, Fourth Middle School, alright." Chu Ling knew about the school too; transferring there wouldn’t be a challenge.

But truly no rumors had been heard, was it because no notices were given or?

"We plan to deal with this before the new term starts." Gong Ruini neither felt it’d be difficult for Chu Ling to transfer to Fourth Middle School before enrolling.

For someone local like Chu Ling, transferring was easier than for a nouveau riche to find connections for such a move.

"Hope you take care of me," Chu Ling felt really happy thinking she could frequently see Gong Ruini, chat with her.