Chapter 18

Feng Zihao finally sat behind Su Xiaoxiao. Excitedly, he poked her back with a finger: “Su Xiaoxiao, I’m behind you now!”
Su Xiaoxiao glanced back, responding coldly, “Oh.”
Feng Zihao was puzzled. Why was she so cold to him, but so nice to Jin Qishan? What was he lacking?
Su Xiaoxiao teased Jin Qishan: “We’re deskmates now. We have to help each other.”
Feng Zihao quickly said: “Xiaoxiao, I want to help others too!”
Su Xiaoxiao looked at him curiously: why was he so excited?
She hesitated: “Then we’ll all help each other. I’ll supervise your studying.”
“What can I help with?” Feng Zihao asked.
“Maintain discipline. No talking.” she decided.
Feng Zihao immediately covered his mouth: “Okay, starting now, no one may talk.”
Luo Zhi snickered.
“What are you laughing at?” Feng Zihao glared.
“Nothing, nothing,” Luo Zhi hid his face in his book, secretly laughing at Feng Zihao’s silliness.
Once Yao Yulian finished arranging seats, class began.
Worried Jin Qishan might distract Su Xiaoxiao, she mostly stood beside him, only going to the board when necessary.
Jin Qishan never had a chance to drift off, he had never been the center of such attention.
Every time Yao Yulian asked a question, his heart skipped a beat.
Because she either said: “Jin Qishan, answer this question,” or “Xiaoxiao, answer this question.”
Often, he couldn’t answer and stumbled through responses.
But Su Xiaoxiao always answered correctly, effortlessly.
Seeing her bright and confident, Jin Qishan resolved silently: he would study hard, just like her.
After school, Grandma Su came to pick up Su Xiaoxiao, seen by Yao Yulian waiting at the school gate.
“You must be Xiaoxiao’s grandmother,” Yao Yulian said with a smile.
“Yes, yes! Yao teacher, is something wrong? Did Xiaoxiao cause trouble at school?”
“No, she’s such a sensible child,” Yao Yulian laughed. “I just wanted to tell you, Xiaoxiao scored first in the grade: 100 in Chinese, 99.5 in math.”
Grandma Su was astonished: “Yao teacher, you mean Su Xiaoxiao? Not some other Xiaoxiao?”
“Yes, Su Xiaoxiao,” Yao Yulian assured.
Grandma Su was overjoyed. Normally, Xiaoxiao wasn’t especially studious. First place already? Amazing! Smart little girl, unlike her dad.
Yao Yulian frowned slightly: “One more thing. Today students chose desk mates themselves, and Xiaoxiao chose Jin Qishan. You might not know him, but,”
Grandma Su smiled: “Jin Qishan? I know him! He lives right across from us. He’s a good kid, a good friend for Xiaoxiao.”
Yao Yulian had much to say but had to swallow it and let Grandma Su praise Jin Qishan.
Su Xiaoxiao being first in the grade delighted Grandma Su; that evening, the whole neighborhood knew. She practically wanted a megaphone to broadcast it.
On the way home, Grandma Su stopped at the neighborhood shop: “Xiaoxiao, sit tight. Grandma’s going in to buy something.”
Shop lady: “Oh! Xiaoxiao’s grandma! What’ll it be?”
Grandma Su: “Just looking for now.”
After a while: “Xiaoxiao’s teacher told me she got first in the grade in this monthly exam.”
Shop lady: “Really? First place?”
Grandma Su stood proudly: “Of course! She’s never made me worry about her studies.”
Shop lady, envious: “How did you teach her so well?”
Grandma Su smiled: “I didn’t. I never managed her studying. If she wants to, she does; if not, then not. Honestly, it’s her own brains.”
“Brains?” the shop lady asked. “Then what does Xiaoxiao usually eat?”
Grandma Su waved her hand: “She doesn’t fancy treats. Just regular meals and fruit.”
The shop lady nodded seriously. Then she pushed the girl beside her, eating a sausage: “No more sausages, or I’ll sew your mouth shut. Your brain’s clogged from eating too many.”
The girl pouted: “It’s natural.”
Later, seeing Grandma Su empty-handed, Su Xiaoxiao asked: “Grandma, what did you buy?”
Grandma Su rubbed her hands, laughing: “Nothing this time. Next time.”
…
Soon, the weather turned colder, and Jin Yongzhong’s vacation was ending.
The day before returning to the army, he met Su Xiaoxiao again.
He called out: “Xiaoxiao.”
“Uncle Jin, what is it?”
“Nothing. I just want to thank you for taking care of Qishan,” he said, patting her head, “and thank you for helping me make a decision.”
“Huh?” Su Xiaoxiao asked.
He smiled: “You’re young; you wouldn’t understand. Anyway, thank you.”
Two months later, Su Xiaoxiao would learn what decision he meant.
Originally, he planned to tell everyone he would stay in the army this year. But Su Xiaoxiao’s appearance changed his mind.
Jin Yongzhong had been a soldier for twelve years. Whenever discharge time came, he hesitated.
Especially after starting a family with Qishan, he wanted to fulfill both his duty as a father and husband while holding onto his ideal of serving his country. The most hesitant period was when Dong Xiaohong supported his ideal, taking care of Qishan.
He thought with Dong Xiaohong’s support, there were no worries. But it was Su Xiaoxiao who made him realize that Jin Qishan’s growth couldn’t happen without him. He was Qishan’s father, the person closest to him.
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t even realize that her actions had truly altered Jin Qishan’s life trajectory.