July 7th

  The relationship between girls is really subtle, especially during adolescence.

  Gu Xiang felt that she was mentally younger than a middle school student but much more mature, however this didn't mean she couldn't sensitively perceive other people's attitudes.

  Sometimes, girls don't drift apart because something happened, but more often it's just a small thing, and then everyone tacitly goes their separate ways, gradually drifting apart.

  Gu Xiang was also quite uncomfortable at first, but seeing Li Wei and Tang Lulu not making it clear that they were targeting her, relatively speaking, in the past, it was Tang Lulu, Gu Xiang, and Lin Jiahuan who were the closest, while Li Wei had a lot of thoughts and even when the four of them were together, she was always the one who spoke the least.

  It turns out that for so long, they have all been centered around Gu Xiang... So now she would feel uncomfortable in her heart. After figuring it out, Gu Xiang didn't dwell on it much, after all, making friends is everyone's own right, and who to be close with is also one's own choice, besides, at this age of fifteen or sixteen, it's originally the most carefree time.

  After all, it's already the third year of junior high school, so the focus is still on studying.

  Moreover, since entering the first semester of junior high school, Gu Xiang still habitually took the first place in grade, but the gap had been narrowed down to almost nothing.

  Especially Tang Lulu, although she has always been excellent, but there is no particularly outstanding subject. It can be said that before she was promoted to junior high school, she had almost never entered the top three.

  It's been a crucial year, and once others make their move, the difference in level is apparent.

  It was actually the class monitor Zhao Lei, who had always been in third or fourth place, but from the mid-term exam last semester, she had already been squeezed to eighth or ninth place, and it seemed that even the top ten were not guaranteed.

  Gu Xiang finally managed to muster up some fighting spirit.

  Moreover, although she tried her best to adjust her mindset, thinking that Tang Lulu might have distanced herself from her for one reason or another, she couldn't help but feel a little unwilling to give in and wanted to compete with her.

  The basic things Gu Xiang felt she had never let go of, what was left was to improve.

  She was also a bit careless before, thinking that as long as she performed normally, she would definitely be stable in the stock market, so she didn't put too much emphasis on expanding this area. At this time, her fighting spirit came up, and she called Dad Guo on the second day of school.

  Mr. Gu has also walked out of the low mood after his divorce and is now fully engaged in his work. He received a call from his daughter saying she wanted some reference materials, so Mr. Gu didn't hesitate and immediately put down what he was doing and drove to the bookstore.

  Mr. Gu didn't understand what was good or bad, so he found the bookstore staff and asked what were the popular review materials for third-year junior high school students now, and without choosing carefully, he bought five or six sets in one breath, totaling twenty or thirty books. After buying them, he had the staff help him carry them to his car, and that night he drove himself to deliver them to Gu Xiang.

  Gu Xiang didn't expect her dad would deliver it overnight, originally she was thinking of letting him buy and courier it over.

  This semester, Xiao Hei Pao moved back to school in order not to affect Gu Xiang. Gu's mother tried to persuade him many times but it was no use.

  Gu's mom is no longer cooking dinner at the store, she starts preparing to close up shop once she knows Gu Xiang will be finishing school, and as soon as her darling daughter finishes school, the two of them head home together.

  Anyway, now small shops are all doing business with students. After passing the peak of school dismissal, there is no more business.

  So when Mr. Gu brought the books home that day, Mrs. Gu had just finished cooking dinner and was serving it at the table.

  On a cold day, Mr. Gu drove over specially, and it would be impolite to let him leave on an empty stomach. Gu Xiang looked at her mom, and Auntie understood without needing to be told, saying as she set out the bowls and chopsticks: "If you don't think the food is bad, then just eat a little here."

  Although she was looking at the dinner table when speaking, it was clearly said for Father Gu to hear.

  Father Gu hastily said while sliding down: "Don't be polite, don't be polite, I'm just hungry anyway."

  Gu Xiang went to help his father serve rice.

  When was the last time they had a meal together as a family of three?

  Gu Xiang really doesn't remember anything at all.

  His parents hadn't divorced at that time, his father's business was very busy, often on a business trip, and it was good to see him two or three times a week.

  Besides, she was young at that time and wouldn't care about such details.

  At the dinner table, Gu's mother didn't have much to say to Gu's father and instead asked about some things that happened at Gu Xiang's school.

  Mr. Gu quietly ate his dinner, listening to Gu Xiang talking enthusiastically by herself. In fact, many of the things she said were unfamiliar to him, and he didn't know anything about the events she was describing. Yet, as he listened and ate the simplest home-cooked meal, Mr. Gu suddenly felt a bit tired, wanting to slow down his eating pace even more, so that he could take a break...

  After dinner, Mr. Gu didn't stay much longer either, after all he still had to drive back and it was indeed getting late.

  Gu Xiang sent her dad off at the door and then came back to rush washing dishes. While washing dishes, she subconsciously hummed a song.

  For so many years, Gu's mom didn't even want to talk to Gu's dad, and they only made a countable number of phone calls. Let alone eating at the same table.

  As long as she sees her daughter so happy, she feels it's all worth it.

  After getting the study materials, Gu Xiang did two sets of papers that night and tried to do all the questions she didn't know. She organized her thoughts on the papers and went to ask Jiang teacher during the early reading class break the next day.

  Teacher Jiang has always held high regards for Gu Xiang, but as a student, Gu Xiang is steady and composed in the face of events. However, she doesn't like to take the lead or be in the spotlight, whether it was when she was previously a class representative or later on when filling out university applications. Whenever Teacher Jiang had intentions of pushing her forward, she would herself retreat backwards. Speaking of which, he also finds it quite a pity.

  At this moment, Gu Xiang suddenly became active and asked questions with the volume that only the city would have, which made Jiang teacher feel relieved.

  After finishing the topic, he also happily gave Gu Xiang another set of scrolls.

  Gu Xiang knew at a glance that this was something Teacher Jiang had obtained internally and couldn't be spread outside, so he immediately expressed his intention to do this set first when he got back and thanked him.

  Teacher Jiang waved his hand: "What are you thanking me for, kid? If you do well on the exam in the future, I'll definitely have to eat a thank-you banquet from you."

  Gu Xiang also knew it was a joke and laughed along with him, her fighting spirit soaring.