At dinner, Xiao Guo scooped at the rice in her bowl, picking up vermicelli with her chopsticks and shoving it into her mouth.
Gu Mingyuan put down his wineglass and cleared his throat. His voice was eight degrees gentler than it was in meetings.
“Xiao Guo, you’re in high school now. Dad knows you love skateboarding, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Young people should have something they’re passionate about.”
He paused and put a lobster in his daughter’s bowl. “But you have to keep up with your studies, too. Your grades are just so-so right now. If you want to get into a good university someday, you need to think about that.”
Lin Wanqing scooped up a spoonful of wonton soup and chimed in:
“Exactly. Your dad and I aren’t saying you can’t have fun. You go to class during the day, help the family deliver wontons after school, and practice skateboarding on weekends. You can fit it all in, but you can’t neglect your studies. Otherwise...”
“Otherwise, I’ll deliver wontons for Mom!”
Xiao Guo answered through a mouthful of lobster, barely understandable, and winked at her mother.
“I’m fast on my skateboard. I’ll be the fastest delivery person in the whole neighborhood!”
Lin Wanqing lightly tapped her spoon against the edge of her bowl and pretended she was about to bop her on the head.
“You little rascal. Are you asking for a smack?”
Despite her words, she couldn’t hide her smile. “Mom just wants you to have more choices. Then, whether you want to become a professional skateboarder or do something else, you won’t have to worry about your future.”
Gu Mingyuan backed her up:
“Your mom’s right. There’s a designer at my company who used to be a skateboarding champion. He studied design at university, and now he works skateboarding elements into his designs. They’re really popular. See? Your hobbies and your studies don’t have to conflict.”
Xiao Guo scraped up the last grain of rice from the bottom of her bowl, then suddenly looked up,
A very youthful and energetic book, great