Busy with the company and the Nine Gates, Qin Xiansheng didn't neglect Gu Qin. They talked on the phone every day and visited Daishan once a month for a week.
In recent months, he had come less often because Gu Qin was busy preparing for the college entrance exam. She wasn't worried about failing but felt that it wasn't right to take special treatment while all her classmates were studying hard for the exam. She attended night classes and dared not ask for leave.
About ten days before the exam, Cheng Yinxiang would stay up late waiting for Gu Qin to return home and made various soups for her.
For parents, the college entrance exam is very important. Gu Qin drank a bowl of soup every evening, but fortunately, she continued her cultivation, so she didn't gain weight despite drinking so much soup. Her cultivation had progressed rapidly in the past year and a half, reaching the late stage of Qi Transformation and Spirit Formation. Advancing further was difficult, and she hadn't made much progress in the past six months.
The late stage of Qi Transformation and Spirit Formation meant that she was almost invulnerable to blades and guns.
Finally, the day of the exam arrived. Early in the morning, Cheng Yinxiang prepared breakfast and woke Gu Qin up to get ready. She didn't say much, just spoke reassuringly. After breakfast, Cheng Yinxiang took her to school. Seeing her mother's anxiety, Gu Qin smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry. You know my grades. I'm sure I can get into Beijing University."
Beijing University was the best university in Beijing, and Gu Qin felt quite confident.
Cheng Yinxiang was still worried, knowing that many students performed poorly during the actual exam despite good grades. She didn't want to say it directly, so she just nodded and said, "I know, my daughter will do well. What do you want to eat? I'll buy some ingredients later."
Gu Qin named a few dishes and hugged her mother before entering the examination room. Just as she walked a few steps, her phone received a text message. It was from Qin Xiansheng with only two words: "Good luck." Gu Qin sent a smiley face emoji back and then closed her phone with a smile.
After two days of exams, most students looked exhausted. They had fought hard for months, but the exam period was nerve-wracking, so looking tired was natural. Gu Qin looked better, smiling as soon as she exited the exam hall, relieved to finally have a break.
After the exam, Gu Qin didn't rush back but waited outside the school for her friends. In the past year and a half, she had made many friends, but only a few could be considered close friends.
Her closest friends were Lin Xinxin, Qian Shanshan, and Zhou Wanru. Lin Xinxin had good grades and moved to Class Seven. Qian Shanshan was in Class One and had become friends with Gu Qin after being saved once. Zhou Wanru was a struggling student in the last class. Despite transferring to Class One, they maintained their friendship.
Soon, the three came out. Lin Xinxin and Qian Shanshan were smiling, while Zhou Wanru looked gloomy.
Qian Shanshan and Gu Qin consistently ranked first and second in the grade, so they were sure to get into Beijing University. Lin Xinxin aimed for military school, which was also achievable. Only Zhou Wanru struggled, still in the last class and unlikely to do well in the exam.
Zhou Wanru said dejectedly, "It's over. I feel like I won't see you guys anymore. You're definitely going to Beijing."
Lin Xinxin rolled her eyes at her, "Who told you not to study hard?"
"I want to," Zhou Wanru said, near tears. "But you know, whenever I see books, I get a headache. Getting into No. 1 Middle School was through connections; it wasn't easy for me."
Gu Qin observed their faces and smiled, "Don't worry. Everyone has their own path. Xinxin and Shanshan's prospects look good. As for Wanru, things will be bumpy, but she'll be fine after graduation."
The four celebrated by playing for a day and even went to a bar.
Half a month later, the results came out. The total score for the Gaokao in Daishan was 650. Gu Qin scored 648, nearly shocking everyone at No. 1 Middle School. She lost only two points, while Qian Shanshan scored 639. Gu Qin performed exceptionally well, mainly due to her calm attitude toward the exam.
When filling out her application, she naturally chose Beijing University. Qian Shanshan also applied to Beijing University, and Lin Xinxin got into a military school in Beijing. They would meet again in Beijing. Zhou Wanru, however, couldn't get into Beijing and applied to a second-tier university in another city, making it harder to meet up.
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With Gu Qin moving to Beijing, Cheng Yinxiang and Gu Qin became busy. Cheng Yinxiang planned to sell the shop in Daishan and explore business opportunities in Beijing. Gu Qin supported her, as the shop in Daishan brought in a steady income of around 100,000 yuan a month.
Gu Qin kept her feng shui shop open, and Lu Jia continued to work there. She hadn't decided whether to open a shop in Beijing yet.
By mid-August, everything was settled. Gu Qin's acceptance letter had arrived, and they packed their belongings and moved to Beijing. The next day, they arrived in Beijing.
The whole family was happy to be together, and after dinner, Lu Qingrong didn't rush to work and accompanied Cheng Yinxiang to explore the city.
Cheng Yinxiang shared her ideas with Lu Qingrong, "Qingrong, Gu Qin will study in Beijing, and I plan to sell the shop in Daishan. I might not be idle in Beijing, so I'm thinking of doing something."
Lu Qingrong supported her idea and suggested, "I agree. Perhaps something related to your original line of work would be suitable. How about opening a beauty salon?"
He referred to a high-end beauty salon where wealthy women in Beijing could relax and enjoy beauty treatments. Such places were popular in Beijing, with plenty of customers. Given the abundance of wealthy women in Beijing and their increasing interest in leisure and appearance, such beauty salons rarely failed to make money unless they had a terrible reputation or deceived consumers.
After explaining his idea to Cheng Yinxiang, she hesitated, "Qingrong, this investment might be significant. I'm worried..."
Lu Qingrong smiled, "Don't worry. You can discuss it with Gu Qin. She might have unique insights."
Cheng Yinxiang was tempted and discussed it with Gu Qin when she returned. Gu Qin was excited, "Mom, I think it's a good idea. Although the initial investment is large, it will be profitable."
Gu Qin believed in this venture. The surrounding mountains in Beijing were rich in spiritual energy, with many herbs and honey. She knew about Chinese medicinal baths and could apply that knowledge in the beauty salon. She could also set up a spirit-gathering array, which would enhance the mood and health of the customers. With her help, there would be no shortage of customers.
Moreover, she had discussed many ideas with Brother Qin and was ready to live a carefree life. She planned to open a feng shui shop in Beijing to take on small jobs. University life would be much more relaxed than high school.
However, starting a business required preparation, research, and planning.
Cheng Yinxiang agreed with the idea and started working on it immediately. Gu Qin had nothing else to do and helped her mother.
These preparations took considerable time. By the time school started, Cheng Yinxiang was still busy, and Gu Qin focused on settling in at school. Class and dormitory assignments were made. Even if students didn't live on campus, they were assigned four-person dorms with private bathrooms, hot water, air conditioning, and other amenities.
Today, Lu Qingrong and Cheng Yinxiang drove Gu Qin to school. Beijing University covered 470 hectares, making it the largest university in China. Its campus was beautiful, with architecture, gardens, environmental art, greenery, lakes, and even a vast ginkgo forest. This was one of the most distinctive features of Beijing University, especially in autumn when the entire area was golden.
Because of this scenery, countless visitors came to Beijing University to see the ginkgo trees in autumn.
Lu Qingrong parked the car inside the campus, finding a spot after some effort. They went to check the dorm assignment and helped Gu Qin carry her belongings to the dorm.
Inside the dorm, two students were already there. A girl with long curly hair was playing with her phone while her parents helped arrange her bed. Seeing Gu Qin and her parents, the parents stood up and greeted them warmly, "Hello, hello. This is our daughter, Yang Ting. From now on, you'll be sharing a dorm with her. Please take care of each other."
Yang Ting's father was plump and tall, appearing kind. Her mother was also well-dressed and looked wealthy, similar to her father in appearance.
Lu Qingrong shook hands with Yang Ting's father, "Hello, this is my daughter, Gu Qin. She'll be sharing a dorm with your daughter. I hope the children get along."
Another girl with long hair, down to her waist, greeted everyone cheerfully, "Uncle, Aunt, Yang Ting, Gu Qin, hello. We'll be living together now. Please take care of each other." She glanced at the parents and sighed, "I envy you. My parents are too busy, and I came to school alone."
Yang Ting's mother comforted her.
Cheng Yinxiang greeted them warmly and prepared to help Gu Qin set up her bed. Gu Qin stopped her, "Mom, it's okay. I can do it myself." She quickly unpacked and arranged everything within a short time.
Seeing how efficient Gu Qin was, Yang Ting's parents praised her, "Your daughter is so sensible. Look at our daughter, Yang Ting. She's spoiled. Without us, who knows if she'd even eat properly."
Yang Ting finally looked up and complained, "Parents, stop. I'm not a child. I won't starve. It's almost lunchtime. Let's go eat first. After eating, you can go back home. I'll be fine by myself."
Just then, the dorm door opened, and a girl with shoulder-length hair walked in. Gu Qin couldn't help laughing, "Shanshan, you're here too."
The newcomer was none other than Gu Qin's friend Qian Shanshan, who had also been admitted to Beijing University. They were even placed in the same dorm.
Qian Shanshan was delighted, "Qin Qin, it's you. That's great."
Neither set of parents had expected such a coincidence. They knew their daughters had a friend but rarely met. Thus, they had never met each other.
Now that they had met, they decided to have lunch together. Once the girls finished their tasks, the parents went out to a restaurant.
All three sets of parents were easy to get along with, and the dinner conversation flowed smoothly. The girls, being of similar age, had many topics to discuss. Before long, they were chatting and laughing freely.
The parents also chatted about lighter topics. After dinner, the parents reluctantly left, and the four girls returned to the dorm. They still needed to report to their classes in the afternoon. All four were in the same class. They held a brief class meeting in the afternoon, and the next day was the opening ceremony.
That evening, the four girls went out for dinner again. Fresh from university life, they weren't eager to return to school. Beijing University's surroundings were bustling with various snacks, clothing stores, and entertainment venues. They enjoyed shopping and returned to the dorm just before curfew.
Beijing University's curfew was at 11 PM. Upon returning to the dorm, Qian Shanshan and Zhang Xiaowen bought many items—shower supplies, clothes, etc., while Gu Qin bought a jade pendant, a bluish-green stone-like pendant.
Yang Ting didn't buy anything but ate non-stop, never stopping.
Gu Qin and the others tried to persuade her to stop eating, but Yang Ting ignored them. Looking pitifully at the three, she said, "At home, my parents were strict, and I never got to eat street food. I just want to indulge once."
Unable to persuade her, they let her continue. When passing a pharmacy, Zhang Xiaowen bought some stomach medicine and diarrhea medication.
Back in the dorm, within half an hour, Yang Ting started vomiting and having diarrhea. Gu Qin rummaged through her bag and found a box of pills, handing one to Yang Ting, "Take this home-made pill. It will help."
Zhang Xiaowen also came with a cup of warm water and the medications she had bought. Concerned, she asked, "Qin Qin, where did these pills come from? Maybe we should use these instead."
Yang Ting, pale-faced, looked at the pills and finally took Zhang Xiaowen's tablet, swallowing it with the warm water. Then, looking at Gu Qin, she said apologetically, "Qin Qin, I think Western medicine works faster, but thank you anyway."
The pill in Gu Qin's hand emitted a faint herbal scent, clearly made from traditional Chinese medicine.
Gu Qin paid no mind, putting the pill away. Qian Shanshan opened her mouth but remained silent, sighing inwardly. Few outsiders knew about Gu Qin's abilities, but her friends knew how skilled she was in feng shui and traditional Chinese medicine. She was a professor of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Daishan Hospital and treated patients weekly. Many people sought her medical advice, and she knew her pills were far more effective than those from the pharmacy.