Chapter 130: Asking for Leave

The First High School scheduled its exams half an hour earlier than the national college entrance examination. This was to help students acclimate to the timing and prevent any potential tardiness during the actual entrance exam.

Most students arrived at their classrooms around eight o'clock. Due to her poor academic performance, Shen Qing was assigned to the last classroom, located on the first floor.

As she neared the classroom, her phone vibrated in her pocket. She pulled it out and checked the caller ID—it was Old Qi.

"What is it?" Shen Qing stepped into a corner under the staircase to answer.

"I’ve run into a troublesome situation and need you to come over," Old Qi said, letting out a sigh of relief upon hearing her voice.

Shen Qing frowned. "I have an exam here. I’ll come over in a couple of days."

"No, no! This is urgent! The machine in the top-floor laboratory is broken, and our people can't fix it."

"Oh," Shen Qing replied with utter indifference.

"Miss Shen, the experts from Country R are arriving for an exchange the day after tomorrow. If this machine is broken, how are we supposed to conduct the exchange?"

"Make whoever broke it pay for it. Why are you coming to me?"

There was a silence on the other end for several seconds before the voice spoke up again. "It was Zhong Yi who broke it."

"..." Shen Qing paused and rubbed her temples. "He is not my biological brother, I don't know him well, and besides, I already sold him to you."

"Huh?" Old Qi hadn't expected her to put it that way. "Zhong Yi is injured, won't you come take a look?"

Shen Qing narrowed her eyes. "You have so many doctors there; can't they treat him if he's injured?"

Her voice was low and carried a hint of irritation, which startled Old Qi.

"Miss Shen, I really can't wait. The plane from Country R arrives the day after tomorrow. You don't expect me to get into a shouting match with them, do you?"

Shen Qing paused, remaining silent.

"Shen Qing, after all these years of being medicine-buddies, can’t you show a little mercy? Sigh... poor me, an old man with no one to care for or love him, and when I'm nearly dying of anxiety, no one is here to help me..."

"Fine. Book me a plane ticket."

Old Qi was overjoyed. "I’ve already booked it. I’ll send you the flight details right now."

"Oh." Shen Qing hung up the phone expressionlessly. She soon received the flight information: a 12:00 PM flight.

She tucked her phone into her pocket, glanced toward the exam area, and turned to leave.

"Shen Qing, where are you going so late? The exam starts in ten minutes," Xie Mingming said, just as he and another proctor were descending the stairs. His sharp eyes caught sight of her immediately.

"Old Xie, I need to ask for leave."

Xie Mingming was stunned. Asking for leave right before the exam?

"Is something wrong?" Xie Mingming gestured for the other teacher to go ahead and asked with genuine concern.

"I have an elder at home who is about to..." Die of anxiety.

Shen Qing only said half the sentence, but to Xie Mingming’s ears, it sounded completely different.

"I see. This is quite urgent. Go quickly; perhaps you can still make it to say a final goodbye." Xie Mingming put on a solemn expression and patted her shoulder in sympathy.

"Oh. Is three days' leave enough?"

"I’d like to request twenty days."

"What? That long?" Xie Mingming froze instantly. Twenty days? Was she going to observe a mourning period?

"Teacher, I’m leaving now." Shen Qing didn't wait for his response and turned to leave immediately.

"Hey? This child... running off in such a hurry. Sigh." Thinking of Shen Qing’s family situation, Xie Mingming couldn't help but sigh again.

He watched her retreating figure for a few seconds before heading to the classroom. Halfway there, a thought suddenly struck him.

Shen Qing didn't seem to have anyone at home. If she meant family, it would have to be the Yu family, but weren't they on terrible terms?

An elder at home? Could it be that the old lady of the Yu family was at death's door?

**

Shen Qing went straight back to Tianyuan, gathered her passport and other documents, and stuffed them into a black tactical messenger bag. She glanced at Er'niu and filled its bowl with three days' worth of dog food. "I'll have a beauty come pick you up tonight."

"Awoo~" Sensing its owner was leaving, Er'niu let out a howl.

Shen Qing smiled, patted Er'niu's head, and felt like something was missing. "Be good."

"Awooo."

Shen Qing stood up and headed out. She sent a message to Nie Huan, asking her to take Er'niu back after her exam that afternoon.

Once that was settled, she hailed a taxi and headed straight for the airport.

"Shen Qing!" the driver exclaimed, clearly thrilled to see her in person.