After a male student transmigrated into the body of a widow,

Chapter 120 No Barriers

Upon hearing the words "banned book," Gu Lin felt a chill run down his spine. He quickly looked up and explained, "This isn't a banned book. I bought it from a legitimate bookstore, and it has an ISBN."

After Gu Lin explained this, Zheng Hao looked down at the storybook in his hand and found that it did indeed have a book number.

However, he remained vigilant and asked, "Uncle Gu, which bookstore did you buy this storybook from?"

Gu Lin was speechless.

Seeing that Uncle Gu remained silent, she assumed that he had been frightened.

Zheng Hao lowered his eyes slightly and softened his tone, saying, "Uncle Gu, I don't mean anything by it. I just want to know if the bookstore where you sell storybooks is legitimate and if there's any possibility of them deceiving their customers."

Looking up, Gu Lin saw that Zheng Hao's expression was indifferent, and he did not have the violent reaction he had imagined. Gu Lin felt that he had overreacted.

Seeing that Uncle Gu's expression softened slightly, Zheng Hao lowered his eyes and said in an even gentler tone, "Since this book has an ISBN, it is not a banned book. Uncle Gu can buy it and read it without any problem."

As he spoke, he handed the book back to the other person. Seeing his actions, Gu Lin was a little stunned, and then quickly took the book back.

Zheng Hao's brows furrowed, but his eyes flickered slightly: "Most bookstores sell banned books in secret. Uncle Gu often goes to that bookstore to buy books so that I know which one it is. Once I know, I won't worry that Uncle Gu will be deceived."

Listening to Zheng Hao's words, Gu Lin understood that the other party had no other intentions and was just concerned about him. He felt a little guilty and embarrassed.

He was just reading a storybook, but it even caused concern among the younger generation.

Gu Lin said, "I will not do anything that violates the law, nor will I be deceived by anyone."

Zheng Hao looked at him with a calm expression and his dark eyes. Gu Lin looked into the other man's eyes, which were filled with deep concern, and felt a sense of helplessness.

Finally, he told the truth: "I bought all the storybooks from Qingyu Bookstore. The person who sold them to me was the shopkeeper's husband."

When Zheng Hao first thought that a man was selling erotic novels to Uncle Gu, he had the urge to devour the man's flesh and blood. Now, hearing Uncle Gu say that the man who sold him the novels was a young man, Zheng Hao, though still somewhat uncomfortable, was able to suppress the surging violence in his heart.

The other person stood silently in front of him for a long time, and Gu Lin's fingers twitched slightly under his sleeve.

Fortunately, Zhao's wife called them to dinner from outside, and Gu Lin almost burst into tears of joy.

He looked up at Zheng Hao and said, "Let's talk about it later. Let's go out for dinner first."

After saying that, he immediately grabbed the storybook and ran out of the study. The autumn wind blew on Gu Lin's face, but he didn't feel the chill. He hurriedly took the storybook back to his bedroom and then ran to the main hall.

Zheng Hao had already arrived in the lobby and was helping Sister Zhao prepare the food.

Gu Lin stood there, not sitting down in his usual seat. He hesitated, feeling a little embarrassed to sit next to Zheng Hao as usual after what had just happened.

Just as Gu Lin made up his mind and stepped towards the empty seat next to Zhao's wife, Zheng Hao, who seemed to have been watching them closely, said with his thin lips slightly parted, "Uncle Gu, the food is all set out. Come and eat quickly."

Feeling the other person's gaze on him, Gu Lin was caught in a dilemma. Zhao's wife looked at him standing there blankly and asked with a strange expression, "What's wrong? Usually, you're the first one to run when I say it's time to eat. Why are you dawdling today?"

Gu Lin opened his mouth slightly, wanting to explain, but didn't know where to begin.

At this moment, Zheng Hao spoke up: "Uncle Gu ate some pastries in the study just now, so he shouldn't be hungry yet."

Unexpectedly, the other party would explain for him. Gu Lin raised his head slightly, and his eyes met the other party's dark, inky eyes.

For a moment, Gu Lin's first feeling was not embarrassment or helplessness, but rather that he was inadvertently attracted by Zheng Hao's eyes, which were as black as obsidian. The whites of his eyes were as clean as snow, and his pupils were as black as ink. Gu Lin couldn't help but think that Zheng Hao's eyes were quite beautiful.

After hearing Zheng Hao's words, Zhao's wife looked at Gu Lin and complained, "You're already so thin, and you love to eat snacks. Once you start eating, you lose control and end up not being able to eat a proper meal. Other people can gain weight over the winter, but you've lost a lot of weight."

Then, Zhao's sister-in-law turned to Zheng Hao and said, "Brother Lin doesn't know his place, and you're not keeping an eye on things either."

Suddenly realizing that her tone was a bit harsh, Zhao Saozi saw that Zheng Hao still looked calm and not angry, so she softened her tone and said, "You know how greedy Lin-ge is, so you can't continue to indulge him in the future."

From childhood to adulthood, Zheng Hao was seen as a mature person beyond his years. He not only did not need others to worry about him, but he could also take care of the elders around him. He was sensible and filial, and was never scolded by his elders for personal matters.

However, every time Zhao's wife lectured him, it was related to Gu Lin.

However, Zheng Hao didn't care, because every word Zhao's sister-in-law said to him made Zheng Hao feel that he and Uncle Gu were very close.

As far as Zheng Hao was concerned, taking care of Uncle Gu was his responsibility. He hadn't taken good care of Uncle Gu, so it was only right that he was scolded by Sister Zhao.

Zheng Hao thought to himself.

To avoid embarrassing Uncle Gu as he ran back to his room, Zheng Hao didn't say anything more.

Zhao's sister-in-law turned to look at Gu Lin and urged, "Sit down quickly. Even if you can't eat, at least drink some soup to warm your stomach."

Gu Lin hesitated, but seeing that Zheng Hao was eating with his head slightly lowered and not looking at him anymore, while Zhao's wife looked at him eagerly, he lifted his leg and walked over to sit down.

Out of the corner of his eye, Gu Lin saw that Zheng Hao still hadn't reacted, so he slowly relaxed his tense nerves and started drinking the soup in front of him.

After that, apart from Sister Zhao speaking and Gu Lin responding a few times, Zheng Hao did not say a word.

After a moment, Zheng Hao put down his chopsticks and stood up, saying to Gu Lin and Zhao's wife, "Uncle Gu, Auntie, Uncle Zhao, please continue eating. I'll go back to my room first."

Gu Lin nodded vaguely in agreement.

Zheng Hao turned and left the hall.

After the other person left, Zhao's wife hesitated for a moment, then asked Gu Lin in a low voice, "Did you and Zheng have a fight?"

It sounds absurd, but in other families, it would be impossible for elders and juniors to have conflicts. However, it is not surprising that this happened between Gu Lin and Zheng Hao.

It's not that the two of them often quarrel or have conflicts, but that Gu Lin is in poor health. In the past, when he took medicine, he would always secretly pour it out, or eat ice and build snowmen on snowy days. These were all things that Zheng Hao had explicitly forbidden, but Gu Lin repeatedly violated them.

Zheng Hao was obedient and docile in front of Gu Lin, and it was impossible for him to argue with him. He would remain silent. Zhao's wife had seen them having a cold war before. In less than an hour, Zheng Hao was coaxed back to normal by Gu Lin.

Unexpectedly, Sister-in-law Zhao was so perceptive. Gu Lin remained nonchalant: "It's nothing, it'll be fine tomorrow."

"Wow!" Zhao's sister-in-law thought in surprise. "This time, the commotion is so bad that we'll have to stay up all night!"

Having already filled his stomach with pastries, Gu Lin lost his appetite even more when he thought about the storybook and Zheng Hao.

He got up, said something to Zhao's wife and her husband, and then turned and went back to his room.

The next day, Gu Lin got up and finally mustered up the courage to go out for breakfast, but he didn't see Zheng Hao anywhere.

He asked Sister Zhao, "Sister-in-law, where did Xiao Hao go?"

Sister Zhao took a sip of porridge and said, "I saw Zheng get up early this morning and go out without even having breakfast. He must have gone to see his classmates and friends."

Upon hearing this, Gu Lin thought about it and realized it made sense.

After the provincial examination, Zheng Hao stayed at home and did not go out. It is understandable that he went out to meet with his classmates and friends.

However, it was not lunchtime yet. Gu Lin, who was sitting in the lobby drinking hot milk tea, saw Zheng Hao walk in from outside.

After a morning of mental preparation, Gu Lin smiled slightly when he saw Zheng Hao walking towards him and said, "You're back."

As he spoke, Gu Lin lowered his gaze slightly, landing on the books the other person was holding in their arms.

Then, he couldn't help but exclaim that the other person was indeed a genius, even when going out with friends, he would buy a bunch of books.

Thinking of this, Gu Lin couldn't help but drift off into thought. When others invited friends out for a trip, they would either go to teahouses or restaurants, or enjoy the scenery and compose poetry in the suburbs. Zheng Hao wouldn't stay in the bookstore with his friends all the time, would he?

"Uncle Gu."

Zheng Hao stood not far in front of Gu Lin and called out to him.

Gu Lin snapped out of his daze, looked at Zheng Hao, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zheng Hao took a few steps forward, and Gu Lin subconsciously leaned back slightly. He saw the boy in front of him put the books he was holding on the table and then step back.

Standing up straight, Zheng Hao looked up at Gu Lin and said, "I went to Qingyu Bookstore this morning to check it out. All the novels they sell are legal."

Zheng Hao's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the books beside Gu Lin. He paused for a moment before continuing, "The books beside Uncle Gu are new storybooks that just arrived at Qingyu Bookstore yesterday. I bought them all. Uncle Gu can read these to pass the time."

"Ok?"

Hearing that Zheng Hao had actually gone to Qingyu Bookstore to investigate, Gu Lin was surprised and felt a little uncomfortable being controlled.

However, Gu Lin was quite surprised when he heard that Zheng Hao had bought back all the new storybooks from Qingyu Bookstore.

He hesitated and asked, "You don't object to me reading these storybooks?"

Originally, Gu Lin thought that a scholar like Zheng Hao would strongly oppose him reading such romantic and erotic novels, but the other party seemed not to care at all.

The handsome young man looked at him and asked earnestly, "Uncle Gu, are you reading a forbidden book?"

“No,” Gu Lin said.

Zheng Hao continued, "Did Uncle Gu do anything illegal or against regulations?"

Gu Lin shook his head: "No."

Zheng Hao's cold expression softened slightly as he said, "Uncle Gu didn't do anything illegal. He was just reading a few storybooks to pass the time. What's wrong with that?"

Zheng Hao lowered his eyes and looked at Gu Lin, saying earnestly, "Yesterday I thought Uncle Gu was being deceived and was reading forbidden books. In my haste, I lost my composure and tone. Please forgive me, Uncle Gu."

Zheng Hao bowed and apologized.

Gu Lin was speechless for a moment, astonished by the dramatic change in Zheng Hao's attitude compared to yesterday.

After a long pause, he pursed his lips and said, "It's nothing."

Zheng Hao did not want this matter to cause any rift between him and Uncle Gu.

Zheng Hao said, "Not only the storybooks from Qingyu Bookstore, but I also bought all the new storybooks from several nearby bookstores. If Uncle Gu feels bored at home, he can use these storybooks to pass the time."

After carefully observing Zheng Hao's expression, Gu Lin breathed a slight sigh of relief upon seeing that the other party genuinely didn't mind him reading the storybook.

Given his easygoing nature, he quickly moved on from the matter and resumed his previous relationship with Zheng Hao.

However, he really didn't dare to continue reading erotic novels in the study.

Fortunately, Zheng Hao bought him a wide variety of books, including storybooks, plays, travelogues, and landscape records.

These were all books that Gu Lin was interested in, and he had been reading them with great interest these past few days, lounging in the study's recliner.

When Gu Lin encountered something he didn't understand recorded in the travelogue, he would discuss it with Zheng Hao. If Zheng Hao knew the answer, he would explain it to Gu Lin. If he had some impression of something but couldn't remember it, he would look up books he had read before to answer Gu Lin's questions.

Looking at Uncle Gu, who was all smiles and becoming increasingly affectionate towards him, Zheng Hao thought to himself that he was glad he hadn't done anything wrong.

When he discovered that the storybook Uncle Gu was reading contained explicit depictions of romantic love between men and women, he felt a surge of anger and wanted to kill the person who sold the storybook to Uncle Gu.

However, after Uncle Gu reminded him, Zheng Hao realized that the seemingly explicit storybook was actually quite tasteful and not the banned book he had thought it was. Only then did he gradually calm down.

Then, during the meal, seeing Uncle Gu hesitating in front of him, Zheng Hao kept reminding himself that he must not act impulsively, otherwise he would push Uncle Gu further and further away.

That night, Zheng Hao sat at his desk for a long time, and he put in just as much effort as he did for the provincial examination.

He knew that if he didn't handle this matter well, his relationship with Uncle Gu might never be the same again.

Zheng Hao thought about it all night and finally decided to support Uncle Gu in reading storybooks, but the storybooks Uncle Gu reads must be selected by him.

Furthermore, he will have Niu Qiang investigate the bookstore where Uncle Gu frequently buys his books.

Niu Qiang was very efficient; he found out all the details about Qingyu Bookstore in just one morning.

After learning that Qingyu Bookstore was a legitimate bookstore, in order to apologize to Uncle Gu and win his favor, Zheng Hao bought all the newly arrived novelties from Qingyu Bookstore and other bookstores of all sizes in the surrounding area.

Fortunately, he and Uncle Gu reconciled without any lingering resentment.

Early September.

In a private room on the second floor, a young man was pacing back and forth while fanning himself.

He turned to look at the three men sitting calmly at the table, and asked incredulously, "The results are about to be released, aren't you guys nervous at all?"

Zhen Yuan glanced at him and said, "The exam is over, it's a done deal, what's there to be nervous about?"

Regardless of Zhen Yuan's infuriating words, Peng Zhizhi turned his eyes to Zheng Hao and Zhen Cheng, only to find that the two remained as calm and composed as ever.

He sat down on the stool, somewhat dejected: "It's understandable that you are all so talented and would participate in the provincial examination. But my parents, knowing that you would be taking the provincial examination this year, kept a close eye on me and wanted me to take it too."

"How could I possibly go with you? But with my parents here, I have no choice but to bite the bullet and go. For the past year or so, I've been living a life worse than death because of this provincial examination. I don't even need to be on the official list; at least my name should appear on the supplementary list, so I can give my parents some peace of mind."

Seeing Peng Zhizhi's spineless performance, Zhen Yuan sneered: "You didn't want to live in the dormitory with us before, but now you're living in fear."

Peng Zhizhi retorted: "Although I did not live in the school dormitory with you, I also got up at dawn and studied diligently on my way to and from the prefectural school and home."

Just as Zhen Yuan was about to say something, a tremendous noise came from outside the window.

"The results are out! The results are out!"