Chapter 4 — Translating into the Male Lead's Practical Girlfriend

12
In the evening, after finishing my homework, I called Giang Yen An over when he was about to take a shower.
"I will pay you back for books, food, and room. I don't have any money right now, so I can write you a debt."
I gave him a piece of paper, detailing how much money I had spent. Giang Yen An received it. He corrected every wrong word I wrote, then smiled softly and praised:
“Thanh Thanh, your handwriting is very beautiful.”
It's hard to believe that an illiterate person like me can write so beautifully. I felt a bit embarrassed and coughed lightly:
"I did some research, the barbecue restaurant in the alley is recruiting people. Working for three hours in the evening is 60 yuan, plus meals are included. I have money and it doesn't affect my daytime studies."
But Giang Yen An immediately refused. I impatiently wanted to say more, but he interrupted:
“The grill is very hard, the next day I won't have the energy to study anymore.”
I was a bit disappointed, thinking this plan was ruined. I don't want that. That's so unfair to Giang Yen An—he has to go to school and make money to support me. I said I wanted to study, but whether or not I would get into university was still unknown. Before, I could freely accept his care, but now I don't want to do that anymore. But Giang Yen An's next words made me stunned.
"The bookstore down the street is also recruiting people. Work three hours, pay 50 yuan, no meals. But it's quiet there, not too tiring, I can take advantage of my free time to learn vocabulary."
I thought for a moment, considered it, then seriously nodded:
“Okay, I work at a bookstore.”
Even though I don't have rice and my salary is less, I don't eat much. 50 yuan a day is still enough for me to live.
13
Time passed very quickly, in the blink of an eye, Giang Yen An's third year of university had ended. As for me, I have also been studying the high school program for three months. Summer vacation came, I helped Giang Yen An pack her things. Once again I encountered To Nhu Yen. She was still as beautiful and arrogant as ever, her words were not polite at all:
“Lam Thoi Thanh, have you finished your 10th grade program yet?”
I don't want to pay attention to her, her tone clearly carries sarcasm.
"Are you the police of the Pacific? Why do you want to control everything?"
To Nhu Yen glared at me, then suddenly took out a bag from behind her back:
"Hey, my dad bought it for me before. He bought so much that I couldn't do it all. I gave it all to you."
Inside is a stack of exercise books. I glanced at it and immediately recognized it. I've seen them in bookstores—composed by famous teachers, beautifully printed. But it's very expensive, with my salary of 50 yuan a day I can't afford it. I really want to, but I'm shy
but didn't raise his hand to receive it, so they both just stood there, the atmosphere stagnant. To Nhu Yen looked annoyed and shoved directly into my arms:
"I don't see how tall you are, but you're good at holding back. But with your previous lazy attitude of not trying, everyone who sees it has to frown."
She still maintained her usual arrogance, but this time there was rarely a fierce confrontation between us.
“Study well. No matter what, it doesn't matter if you hate me or if I hate you, but there's one thing we all agree on—studying is always the right path.”
To Nhu Yen smiled and playfully winked at me:
“Next time, don't call me a lady living in luxury, I don't want to be a lamb.”
Before, I always wondered why in the original work, the female lead was as gentle and kind as To Nhu Yen. Treat me so harshly and disrespectfully again. Like I don't understand, it's obvious that the male lead treats his ex-girlfriend so well, so why is she still causing trouble and arguing with him all the time? Now I gradually understand. Behind the stubborn, hot-tempered appearance of his ex-girlfriend, lies low self-esteem and extreme insecurity. As for To Nhu Yen, even though she is arrogant and sarcastic towards others, her nature is
She is still a kind and simple person. That's why she looked down on me before and didn't like my way of life. But when I started to change, started making efforts to be better, she also changed her attitude and quietly helped me. I trusted the script too much, trusted the system's instructions too much. So I forgot that words on paper are so fragile, and this world is so real. Each has their own vibrancy and fullness. No one laughs at a poor person who has ambition
opponents, on the contrary, they still admire him. Like Giang Yen An, even though she came from a poor background, she still gradually became an ideal role model in school. If you want others to respect you, you must first respect yourself.
14
I took the adult university exam. On exam day, the weather was beautiful and sunny. Like the day I decided to retake the exam. A brilliant day, without a cloud. That day, Giang Yen An asked for a leave of absence and waited for me in front of the school gate early in the morning. I'm about to graduate, have started my internship, just
Once you get your degree, you can officially go to work. Normally he's always a calm person, but today he's surprisingly talkative:
“Don't worry too much, the university has loan support and scholarships, you don't need to worry about tuition fees.”
Before I entered the exam room, he carefully checked the pen and papers one more time. I looked at him helplessly: "From last night until now, this is the eighth time." Giang Yen An smiled awkwardly, a bit shy. That day there were many people taking the exam, I saw many faces beyond my imagination. One
The guy was in his forties, and right before entering the exam room, he still tried to review English vocabulary:
"Back then, my family was so poor, I didn't have money to go to school. Now that I've saved up a little, I want to try it."
A girl in her thirties, with bright red curly hair, was reading a book and calling angrily:
“It's so annoying, I said I'm taking the university exam today, you can decide what's going on at the store, don't ask anymore!”
She met my eyes and laughed:
"You're so young. I was the same age as you when I was still wandering the streets. Now that I'm old, I realize that it's better to be educated."
Before entering the exam room, I saw someone rushing over—To Nhu Yen. From afar, To Nhu Yen waved at me:
“Lam Thoi Thanh, don't be so tense!”
I smiled slightly and nodded to signal that I understood.
15
The exam is not too easy, but not too difficult either. The level of problem is normal. Before the exam, I repeated previous years' exam questions many times. After submitting the exam, step out of the exam room. I also estimated my own test-taking level. While eating, I asked Giang Yen An:
“What if I don't pass?”
If I fail, I'm still just a girl who dropped out of school and works in a factory. Putting my name next to Giang Yen An—a famous university student—is nothing more than a joke. Giang Yen An did not answer directly, but asked me again:
“Have you forgotten the vocabulary you learned?”
“Haven't forgotten.”
“Have you forgotten the essays you read now?”
“Of course not!”
Finally, Giang Yen An concluded:
"Then the knowledge I learned and the principles I understood have been deeply imprinted in my mind. So does it matter if I passed or passed or not?"
I pursed my lips: "But if you don't pass, you won't have a degree..." Giang Yen An said:
"The library has never set standards for reading books. A billionaire who owns a huge fortune can come in, a poor wanderer can also come in."
He looked at me and asked:
“Thanh Thanh, you like reading, so if you fail college, will you stop reading?”
I immediately objected: “Of course not!” Giang Yen An laughed, her tone was gentle:
“So why bother worrying about this?”
At this time, I gradually understood why Giang Yen An is the male protagonist in this book. It seems like all the main characters in the books I've read are like that. No matter their background, no matter what they have experienced, they all have a strong will. And now, I feel like Giang Yen An has given me that energy. I also want to be like a blade of grass
foolish. Even through heavy rain, heavy snow or any other harsh weather. As long as my roots have not rotted, as long as the ground continues to nourish me. Then I will never be knocked down, and will always be full of life.