Future Pet Shop

"Li, you’re getting on in years, and you’ve been working for so long today. You should take a break now." Seeing Li pick up her threads to start weaving again right after dinner, Shen Yibin quickly tried to stop her.

"That’s right. If you can’t finish, you can just come back tomorrow. We’re not in a huge rush, anyway," Xia Shixuan chimed in. With Li here, she no longer had to worry about not getting her pendant.

"Yeah, Grandma, you should listen to Shen and Xia. See, your eyes are a little red." This address from Lv Tiantian left Shen Yibin feeling utterly dejected. ’Why does she make me sound like I’m from her parents’ generation, but Xia Shixuan gets to be like a big sister? She’s even older than I am, for crying out loud!’

"There’s still plenty of work, so there’s no need to rush it in a day or two. Please don’t get up so early tomorrow. I’ll drive over and pick you up, and we can start working after breakfast, how about that? Let’s call it a day for today and just chat." Shen Yibin really didn’t want to wake up tomorrow and find Li waiting at his door again.

"How could I possibly let you do that? You’ve already done so much for me. I couldn’t dare trouble you to come pick me up!" Li quickly refused. However, after everyone’s persistent persuasion, she finally put down her work and started chatting with Shen Yibin and the others. The conversation naturally shifted to Li’s craftsmanship and her granddaughter.

"...This craft of mine was passed down through my family. My ancestors made these and sold them to wealthy families as toys for their children. Sigh, thanks to this skill, I can continue to support my granddaughter’s education." Li recounted the origin of her craft with a great deal of emotion. "Usually, I only make enough for food. I don’t even have money to buy new clothes for my granddaughter. It’s all thanks to Mr. Shen’s help. Otherwise, I’d still be worrying about next semester’s tuition."

"Grandma, don’t sigh. I’ll get into university next year. Once I’m in, you won’t have to worry anymore. I’ll earn money to support you, and you can just relax and enjoy your life," Lv Tiantian said, quickly changing the subject when she saw her grandmother seemed a little sad.

"Tiantian, are you studying liberal arts or sciences? What university are you thinking of? What major? Maybe we can offer some advice?" Shen Yibin followed her lead and fired off a series of questions.

"I think Yunzhong City is great, and I don’t want to go too far, so I’ll just apply to Yunzhong University. As for my major, I want to study fashion design. I hope to integrate the skills I’ve learned from Grandma into my designs," Lv Tiantian answered earnestly while working on her craft.

"Then you’ll be my junior!" Li Shiqing said, pleasantly surprised. "Oh, by the way, the boss is also a Yunzhong University graduate. He’s two years ahead of me. When you get in, you’ll have to call us your seniors!"

"Hello, seniors! Once I get in, I’ll be counting on your help." Lv Tiantian replied quickly, her voice as sweet as her name suggested.

’Hmm, being called ’Senior’ sounds much better than ’Uncle’,’ Shen Yibin mused. ’He figured that Lv Tiantian’s decision to apply to Yunzhong University wasn’t just because she liked Yunzhong City or because of her grades. The main reason was probably that she couldn’t bear to be too far away from her grandmother. Staying in Yunzhong City would allow her to visit and take care of her grandmother often. If she went far away and something were to happen, she wouldn’t be able to do anything. After all, Li was getting old and needed someone around.’

"I don’t understand these things. Can you tell me, is Yunzhong University a good fit or not? Tiantian’s grades are actually very good. She’s in the top one hundred of her year. If it weren’t for an old woman like me holding her back, her rank would probably be even higher," Li said with a sigh. Lv Tiantian helped her with work every day when she got home, which left her with much less time to study than other students. She had also realized some of Lv Tiantian’s reasons for wanting to go to Yunzhong University. "If she can get into a better school, she absolutely shouldn’t hold back because of an old woman like me! I’m still strong and healthy, no need to worry."

Shen Yibin and Li Shiqing exchanged a look. When Shen Yibin had gone to pick up Lv Tiantian earlier, he’d learned which high school she attended. It was one of the best and most prestigious schools in Yunzhong City. A student ranked in the top one hundred of their year there could, barring any mishaps in the college entrance exams, easily get into a top-tier national university. It really was a bit of a shame for Lv Tiantian to stay in Yunzhong City.

"Grandma, what’s so great about other cities? I can’t get used to the food elsewhere. If I got sick all alone, there’d be no one to take care of me. It’s better for me to stay in Yunzhong City. I can eat your cooking all the time, and if I get sick, you can give me my medicine. I’m not going anywhere else." ’Sigh, what a considerate girl. She was clearly worried about her grandmother, yet she pretended that she was the one who needed to be taken care of, leaving Li speechless.’

"Yunzhong University’s fashion design program is actually quite good. It has produced masters who’ve integrated Yunzhong’s unique traditional clothing into modern fashion design. They even serve as guest professors at the university now, so the faculty is top-notch," Xia Shixuan, who was very knowledgeable about the fashion world, explained. "I also know some people at studios and fashion editors in the industry. Once you have some work, I can help you with recommendations."

"Yes, that’s right. I can help too!" Sylvie was a regular on the covers of fashion magazines. As long as Lv Tiantian had real talent, Sylvie could introduce her to the European and American fashion scenes. "But, you have to study hard for now. If you don’t pass the exam, then none of this will matter."

"No problem, I’ll definitely get in!" Lv Tiantian replied, full of confidence. With her grades, getting into Yunzhong University would be a breeze.

"As long as the school is good, then I’m relieved. This child has been smart and sensible since she was little. I’ve never had to worry about her studies. I was just so afraid I would hold her back." Hearing what Shen Yibin and the others had to say, Li was finally able to relax.

"Alright, it’s getting late. Tiantian should get back to her studies. Let me drive you two home." Shen Yibin then drove the grandmother and granddaughter home. Before leaving, he didn’t forget to remind Li again and again that he would come to pick her up tomorrow morning, and that she absolutely, positively must not get up so early again.

"Tiantian, you have to help keep an eye on your grandma. It’s a long way, and she’s getting on in years. We can’t be careless about this," Shen Yibin added, reminding Lv Tiantian as well.

But despite his repeated warnings, when Shen Yibin got up the next morning, washed up, and opened the shop door, he still saw Li’s figure waiting there.

"I took the bus this morning. It wasn’t crowded, and I had a seat the whole way. I’m not tired at all," Li quickly explained, afraid that Shen Yibin would worry.