Chapter 159 - 157: Teasing Wifey Is So Fun

Chapter 159: Chapter 157: Teasing Wifey Is So Fun

Later that evening, Jiang Xia drew over a dozen unique design sketches and sent them to his girlfriend, earning himself a blown-kiss emoji in return.

Among the designs, besides the Shark-Riding-Horse, there was also a Shark-Bee, an Ox-Horse, a Turtle-Bestie, a (Five-Headed) Shark-Killer, a Bull-Sprout, and a whole bunch of other wonderfully bizarre and ugly things.

’Come to think of it,’ he mused, ’once these things are made into products and listed in the online store, they’ll probably attract a ton of attention. If for no other reason than the meme potential and a good laugh, people would be willing to pay up.’

◇

「Two days later, at noon.」

Jiang Xia had just finished lunch and was about to head back to his room to grind out some storyboards when a mail carrier from China Post showed up at the door.

"A delivery for Jiang Xia."

Xia Shanshan took the package from the carrier, looking puzzled. It was a rectangular black mailer, and while it didn’t feel thick, it had a strange sense of weight to it.

"Did you buy something online?" she asked, looking at her son.

"Nope."

Jiang Xia’s gaze fell on the package, and he suddenly guessed what it was. ’Calculating the time, it should be about now,’ he thought.

"Mom, why don’t you open it and see? It might be something good," he said with a smile.

"It’s so thin. What good could it be?"

Xia Shanshan muttered, tearing open the black outer packaging with her hands. The first thing she saw was a group of students in academic gowns, with a white archway in the background.

Her heart skipped a beat. She looked up at her son, who was beaming with a self-assured expression.

"Is the acceptance letter here?"

Jiang Xia shrugged. "Could be."

Xia Shanshan ripped the package open with more force, revealing its full contents.

The top-left corner of the mailer had the EMS logo for the Express Mail Service. In the top-right was the Tsinghua University emblem—three decorative, concentric circles containing the university’s name, its motto, "Self-Discipline and Social Commitment," and a five-pointed star. In the bottom-left was the red character for "double happiness," and in the bottom-right was the white archway, Tsinghua University’s iconic East Gate No. 2.

"Oh my gosh! It really is!"

Xia Shanshan was absolutely ecstatic. ’Tsinghua and Peking University, the two most prestigious institutions in the country, the dream of countless students.’

She had been a teacher her whole life and had imagined this scene countless times. Her son had finally made her proud!

’No, no, this won’t do. I have to call your father first. Today is a great day, why should he even be at work?’

Xia Shanshan handed the mailer to Jiang Xia and excitedly pulled out her phone to make the call.

For an ordinary family, getting into Tsinghua was the modern-day equivalent of passing the imperial examinations—a joyous occasion on par with one’s wedding night. It absolutely had to be celebrated properly.

Jiang Xia chuckled. Although he was mentally prepared for this, the moment he held the acceptance letter, it still felt a little surreal. His hands trembled slightly as he opened the package.

In his previous life, he had gotten into the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. Although it was also one of the eight major Schools of Fine Arts, it was a far cry from Qingmei.

He opened the mailer and found a pile of documents inside:

1. Tsinghua University New Student Financial Aid Survey for the Class of 2009.

2. Tsinghua University Student Dormitory Application.

3. Tsinghua University 2009 New Student Enrollment Guide.

4. Introduction to Financial Aid Policies for Higher Education Students.

5. A bank card.

6. Luggage tags.

7. Tsinghua University Acceptance Letter.

8. Commemorative Enrollment Card.

Jiang Xia took a few deep breaths. Staring at the acceptance letter in his hands, his heart was still pounding with excitement.

Tsinghua University

Acceptance Letter

Dear student Jiang Xia,

You have been admitted to our university’s Animation program. Please report to the university with this letter. For specific times and locations, please refer to the "New Student Enrollment Guide."

Jiang Xia quietly read every word, and then his phone suddenly rang.

He took out his phone, saw the caller ID, and answered with a smile.

"Did you get your acceptance letter?!" Lin Yanwan’s voice sounded a little excited.

Jiang Xia took a deep breath, composed himself, and decided to tease his girlfriend.

"Nope. What acceptance letter?" he asked, feigning confusion.

"The one from Tsinghua University! You didn’t get it?" Lin Yanwan was stunned, a sudden knot of nervousness forming in her stomach.

"No, I didn’t. Did you?"

"Yeah, I called you as soon as I got it."

She bit her lip and tried to comfort him. "It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t panic yet. Maybe the mail carrier is still on the way. I mean, if I got in, with your general exam scores plus your art exam scores, you’re a shoo-in."

Jiang Xia barely suppressed a laugh. It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself.

His proud, flustered Lin Cucu, always getting so worked up at the first sign of trouble.

"What does the Tsinghua University acceptance letter look like? I’ve never seen one before."

"It’s pretty plain, just a simple card. Weren’t there supposed to be 3D models of the East Gate No. 2? I thought I saw that online."

"You’re thinking of more than ten years in the future, babe. It’s 2009 right now."

"Oh, right."

As they chatted casually, Jiang Xia suddenly asked, "Babe, what if I don’t get an acceptance letter from Tsinghua?"

"You will! There’s no way you won’t!"

"What if? I’m just saying, what if."

"There is no ’what if’! Don’t even think about it!"

Lin Yanwan said loudly. They had applied to the same university. If Jiang Xia didn’t get in, it meant they would have to spend their college years apart.

’If I can’t be with him, then what’s the point!’

"Babe, I see the mail carrier coming upstairs!" Jiang Xia said suddenly.

"Go get it, go get it! Don’t hang up the phone. See if it’s the acceptance letter from Tsinghua University. You have to tell me right away!"

"Okay, okay!"

He ran downstairs with a THUMP THUMP THUMP, pretending to talk to the mail carrier while on the phone. On the other end, Lin Yanwan listened nervously.

"Well? Well? Is it from Tsinghua University?" After she asked, five full seconds of silence passed. The line was completely quiet.

"Jiang Xia? Are you there? Which school is the letter from? Hurry up and say something!"

Hearing the anxiety in his girlfriend’s voice, Jiang Xia felt a cruel laugh bubbling up, but he forced it down, careful not to make a sound.

After a few more seconds of silence, Jiang Xia said in a muffled voice, "It’s not from Tsinghua."

It was like a bolt from the blue. Lin Yanwan froze. ’How could it not be from Tsinghua? This... this shouldn’t be happening. His general exam scores were so high, wasn’t getting into Qingmei supposed to be a sure thing?’

"Look again. Are you sure you didn’t misread it?"

"There’s no East Gate No. 2. The letter is from the Central Academy of Fine Arts," Jiang Xia said, his voice hoarse. "Babe, what are we going to do now?"

Lin Yanwan was at a loss for words. Her mind was a complete mess. They had agonized for so long over which college to apply to, and in the end, fate had still separated them.

"It’s okay, it’s okay. They’re both in the Imperial Capital anyway. They’re not that far from each other. At worst, I’ll just come visit you often," Lin Yanwan said in a low voice.

"You’ll really come visit me?"

"I swear it! If I’m lying, I’m a puppy!"

"Waaah, babe, you’re the best. It’s so annoying that we won’t be at the same school!"

"It’s fine, it’s fine. I... I’m not going to abandon you!"

Jiang Xia cleared his throat, deciding it was time to drop the act.

A slow smile spread across his lips. "My dear, what if I told you... the letter is from Tsinghua?"