Praying for Blessings at the Confucius Temple (Part 1)

Chapter 91

Gu Ran ultimately didn't get to experience a massage from his sister.

Locked outside the door, the dragon-slaying youth had finally become the villain.

He pounded on the door, dumbfounded. "Ye Zhenzhen, I took off my clothes, and this is what you give me?!"

"Pfft, what are you talking about!"

Inside, the aloof girl blushed, glaring in embarrassment and annoyance, as if her glare could pierce right through the door to the person outside.

She was completely speechless at this shameless guy.

She had just been getting ready to give him a massage, but this guy had just lain bare-chested on her bed, muttering about massaging his feet first?!

Was he really going to rub his sister's dignity into the dirt?

"I said... you mangy dog!"

"Pfft, you're the mangy dog!"

Gu Ran's voice came from outside the door, and Ye Zhenzhen spat back with a red face.

She furrowed her brows, not feeling the slightest bit of shame.

Even if the older sister was actually being a sore loser, was it the place of a stinky little brother to point fingers?

Absolutely not!

"If I'm not getting a massage, then what about my reward?"

Gu Ran sucked his teeth, a bit annoyed at himself for blurting that out in a moment of stupidity.

What was all that about massaging feet first? He wasn't going to take the blame for those short videos!

"There isn't one!"

At the mention of a reward, the aloof girl frowned, gaining a whole new understanding of just how perverted this guy was.

If she ever agreed to another request from this guy, she'd be a dog!

"Ye Zhenzhen!"

Outside, Gu Ran looked indignant, condemning this lack of contractual spirit.

They had clearly agreed that if his grades improved, she would give him a reward. How could she go back on her word?

A sister's word is a bond, didn't she know that?

"Your grandpa is right here!"

Hearing Gu Ran call her name in exasperation, the girl inside covered her mouth and laughed, sweetly mimicking his previous response.

Gu Ran: "..."

This girl... she had learned bad habits.

Who on earth did she learn them from?!

The matter of the reward ultimately came to nothing, and Gu Ran returned to his bedroom feeling an itch in his heart.

Turning off the lights and lying in bed, the moment he closed his eyes, he pictured Ye Zhenzhen's soft hands, unable to stop his imagination from running wild.

Finally, he got up, turning his grief and indignation into motivation, and opened the iOS developer platform.

Temple Run had been completed, and the listing process had started half a month ago.

But the process was just too slow.

There were many things to sort out when publishing from a domestic market to an international one.

The most outrageous part, however, was that he had spent over six hundred more to set up an account, plus a ninety-nine dollar certificate application fee.

Compared to the Android platform, iOS publishing was indeed cumbersome.

Of course, he followed every procedure to the letter. After all, he was aiming for something big and strong, not some trash software that could be banned at any moment.

Now, the review for Temple Run was nearing its end, and he had also broken the traditional pay-to-play model for games.

In this era where games cost a few dollars to buy, a free version of Temple Run would unsurprisingly hold an advantage in app market downloads.

Gu Ran wasn't afraid of not making money. As the saying goes, what's free is actually the most expensive.

Only when a lot of people downloaded it would they understand what "traffic is king" meant.

And since he was going to challenge a certain giant company, he had to learn the corporate philosophy of creating games with heart.

You want character skins?

You want to change the background?

Sure, please pay to unlock them in-game...

...

The next evening, the family of four, the Gus and the Yes, were eating at the dinner table. Lao Gu, who hadn't been seen for days, finally made an appearance.

He had been exceptionally busy lately because he was about to drop the "vice" from his job title.

Even so, he still cared about his son's studies.

Halfway through the meal, while the atmosphere at the table was harmonious, Lao Gu picked up some food and asked seemingly casually, out of the blue, "I heard you guys finished the second mock exam. How were your scores?"

The question was naturally directed at Gu Ran, because there was no need to worry about Ye Zhenzhen's grades.

If anyone were to ask, it would only be to see if she had crossed the 700-point mark.

After all, her test-taking abilities were truly freakish...

As an all-rounder, Ye Zhenzhen's total score was firmly in the 680 to 690 range. Her only goal to sprint toward was breaking 700.

Hearing his question, Ye Shulian, whose face had been full of smiles, froze for a second.

Recovering slightly, she reached a hand under the table and stealthily pinched Lao Gu's thigh.

This man...

She had told him so many times, why did he have to bring this up during such a happy time like dinner!

If he really wanted to know, he could go to the kids' rooms at night when no one was around and ask slowly.

Why ask here!

It would be fine if Gu Ran had improved, but what if he hadn't?

Really, he didn't consider the child's pride at all!

Gu Ran, the main subject, took another bite of rice upon hearing this, and then said slowly, "Not high, just 570."

The girl sitting next to him, who was quietly eating with her head down, couldn't help but roll her eyes at his words.

Show-off!

Lao Gu heard it very clearly this time, but he still subconsciously looked at the girl sitting across from him.

Noticing his gaze, Ye Zhenzhen quickly corroborated, rattling off his subject scores like family treasures.

"Exactly 570. Comprehensive Science 198, Math 112, English 147, and Chinese 113."

Lao Gu blinked, turning to exchange a look with Ye Shulian to confirm he wasn't dreaming.

Not quite believing it, he pinched his own thigh and couldn't stop himself from laughing out loud.

"Good, good, good!"

Saying "good" three times in a row, he cheerfully got up, walked to the wine cabinet to take out his private collection, and happily poured himself a glass.

He had been very busy lately, and now that there was something to celebrate, he had to do it properly.

Seeing him drinking by himself, Ye Shulian also rolled her eyes at him.

Finding another excuse to sneak a drink!

She had told him countless times to drink less, but he just wouldn't listen.

However, in front of the kids, she didn't say anything right now, but she had already silently planned his punishment.

Don't even think about getting into bed so easily tonight!

Ignorant of the impending crisis tonight, Lao Gu was still smiling as he sipped his wine, glancing at Gu Ran from time to time.

Getting goosebumps from his stare, Gu Ran pursed his lips and asked tentatively, "What's up, Dad?"

"Nothing, nothing."

Lao Gu waved his hand repeatedly; he had an exceptional number of smiles tonight.

After speaking, he turned to look at the quietly eating girl, gently observing her.

Ye Zhenzhen also became hesitant. Holding her bowl, she didn't know whether to put it down or keep holding it.

"Uncle, wh-what's wrong?"

She touched the back of her hand to her face, thinking there was something on it.

"Nothing, nothing."

Lao Gu continued to wave his hand, still wearing that same smile.

Gu Ran: "..."

Good grief... was he drinking fake alcohol? Did it hit him that fast?

"Hmm... do you guys have any thoughts about your future college?"

Lao Gu pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.

Gu Ran's continuous improvement in grades had given him hope once again, making him bold enough to talk about college with Ye Zhenzhen.

In his eyes, he still hoped the children would apply to a political science and law university.

"Zhenzhen, are you interested in a University of Political Science and Law?"

Saying this, he turned to look at Gu Ran. He opened his mouth to speak, but remembering that his son's scores hadn't even broken the six hundred mark yet, he quickly changed his question: "Xiao Ran, do you like police academies?"

At his words, Ye Zhenzhen hesitated, momentarily unsure of how to respond.

Noticing her expression, Gu Ran took the initiative to reply, "Dad, let's wait until after the college entrance exams and see my scores before we talk about it."

Hearing this, Lao Gu nodded. Clearly unwilling to let the matter drop, he continued, "Then this weekend, I'll take you both to the Confucian Temple to pray for good luck."

Gu Ran: "???"

Taking the lead in promoting superstition?

Is it really appropriate for you to do that?!