"Yes!Yes!"Tu Xiaolong screamed with much joy after reading an email on his computer. He jumped and squealed with so much joy that he caught the attention of his grandmother Mai Wenjun who stormed into his room curious to know what the noise was all about.
"Why are you shouting like a girl that just got proposed to? Did your father send you more upkeep?"
"That's not it. I got accepted into University of Science and Technology Beijing. I'm going to Beijing."
"So you lied to me that you applied to Xi'an Jiao Tong University?"
"Grandma come on,I can't stay in Xi'an forever,"Tu Xiaolong spoke in a persuasive tone.
Tu Xiaolong had lived with his grandmother since he was five years . And now that he had secured a spot at one of the universities in Beijing he was bound to leave.
"Does your father know about this?"Mai Wenjun asked suspiciously.
"Yes he does. He's the one who suggested I should go to a big town."
"Can he afford to pay the tuition?"
"He said he will pay whatever amount of tuition that was required as long as I got accepted into the university,"Tu Xiaolong spoke confidently.
"Isn't Beijing far from here? That means you won't be coming to Xi'an often,"Mai Wenjun said with a melancholic tone casting her eyes downwards.
"Grandma don't be sad. Whenever you miss me you can call me and I will visit you. Also remember I'm just one video call away,"Tu Xiaolong spoke reassuringly.
"Who said I'm sad? At least there won't be anyone stealing my dumplings. Also your cousin sister is coming to Xi'an to stay with me."
"Which cousin sister? Tu Xiaolin?"
"Yes."
"That's good you won't feel lonely,"Tu Xiaolong's thin delicate lips curved into a slight smile.
"Why are you happy about it? Aren't you jealous someone else will be receiving my attention?"
"Well ,we're all your grandchildren it's only fair if you pay attention to all of us."
"I see."
Mai Wenjun walked out of the room looking disappointed. For the thirteen years she had lived with Tu Xiaolong,she had gotten attached to him and he was now suddenly leaving. Even if Tu Xiaolin came to live with her,she wouldn't be able to fill up the gap left by Tu Xiaolong. Mai Wenjun and Tu Xiaolong lived like a couple in a far way land who only depended on each other and not on others.
Tu Xiaolong was highly anticipating Tu Xiaolin's arrival in Xi'an. He had promised to leave only when Tu Xiaolin arrived. If she arrived sooner then he would leave as soon as possible.
A fourteen year old girl dragged a suitcase along the street road. She kept looking up at the buildings like someone trying to locate something.
"How will I know where to go? Isn't the Tu family so cruel? Leaving a fourteen year old frail girl like me to travel alone?I don't even have Tu Xiaolong's number. What should I do?"Tu Xiaolin whined to herself.
"Tu Xiaolin !"a soft male voice called out from behind.
Tu Xiaolin turned around and saw a cute teenage boy jogging towards her. She rubbed her eyes to have a clear view of him. She found herself daydreaming just by looking at the boy's face.
'How does he know me? Could it be Tu Xiaolong ? But he wasn't this good-looking when he was little,'Tu Xiaolin wondered.
"I went to find you at the bus stop but you had already left so I had to follow you."
"Are you really Tu Xiaolong ?"
"Yes who else would it be?"
"You are really cute. I almost couldn't recognize you."
Tu Xiaolong ignored the little chitchat and took her suitcase dragging it while walking beside her. Tu Xiaolin suddenly started acting shyly. She felt nervous walking beside a good-looking guy despite the fact that he was her cousin. She kept stealing glances at him.
"I heard you're going to join high school soon,"Tu Xiaolong started a conversation after a while to lessen the tension between them.
"Yeah just a few weeks from now I will be a freshman at some high school."
"I'm also going to be freshman."
"I envy you so much. You're going to Beijing. Oh by the way now that you're going to Beijing what's your plan?"
"I want to rule Beijing,"Tu Xiaolong uttered confidently.
"Rule Beijing?"
"I am going to be the best video gamer in Beijing."
"I like how ambitious you are."
When they arrived at home,Mai Wenjun had already prepared lunch. They sat down to eat and then Tu Xiaolin settled down in her new room. She slept for the whole afternoon and only woke up in the evening,took a shower and joined the others for dinner. She took a few bites and went back to her room again leaving the others still eating.
"What kind of girl is this? Wasting food like this?Mai Wenjun grumbled.
"It's normal that she doesn't have appetite because she's in a new environment. You were also a girl some time back I think you should understand her the most."
"You do have a point."
After clearing the table,Tu Xiaolong went to check up on Tu Xiaolin in her room. He understood how hard it was to blend in with the new surrounding.
"I heard grandma complaining about me."
"Don't worry she's always like that. She likes scolding people. If you don't want her to scold you I can give you a few tips."
"What tips?"
Never waste food.
Don't eat too much junk food.
Don't invite over friends with bad manners.
Never touch that old framed picture of her and grandpa.
Never drink cold water in front of her.
Never wake up later than seven.
Do your homework on time.
Always look her in the eye when addressing her .
"And if you want to break any of those rules you have to please her."
"How do I please her?"Tu Xiaolin asked showing interest.
"Grandma loves doing dance challenges on Douyin so you can do a few with her. Also when watching a K-drama,you have to support the male character that she likes even if it's just pretending to support him."
"I wonder if I will survive here for long,"Tu Xiaolin sighed.