A reborn mother longs for her daughter's happiness.

Chapter 210 Dreams Collide: Classroom Chat

The sunlight, like a mischievous imp, pierced through the dappled leaves and squeezed in through the cracks in the window, casting golden shadows across the classroom. Liu Qicheng sat in his seat, deep in thought, pondering the math problem in front of him, muttering to himself, "Should I use the Pythagorean theorem or trigonometric functions for this problem?" His brows were so furrowed they could have trapped a fly.

Suddenly, a figure darted in front of him, startling him. Liu Qicheng looked up and saw it was Yang Xuexue. Yang Xuexue was a well-known lively girl in the class, always like a little sun, always going wherever there was excitement.

"Hey, Liu Qicheng!" Yang Xuexue shouted at the top of her lungs, her voice so loud it seemed to shake the entire classroom. "Still here studying? You're turning into a bookworm!"

Liu Qicheng rolled his eyes at her and said irritably, "What are you trying to do now? Can't you see I'm busy?" As he spoke, he waved the homework book in his hand.

Yang Xuexue plopped down on the table next to him, swinging her legs back and forth, and said with a grin, "Hey, stop studying, take a break! I'm here to talk to you about something serious."

Liu Qicheng looked at her suspiciously: "Serious business? What serious business could you possibly have? You're not trying to drag me into some weird club activity again, are you? That craft club last time almost ruined my hands."

Yang Xuexue patted his shoulder and said, "No way! I wanted to talk to you about your plans after graduation. Tell me, we're graduating soon, what do you want to do after that?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Qicheng put down his pen, leaned back in his chair, and said with bright eyes, "You've come to the right person! I've already decided that I want to play football, represent our school team, and participate in all kinds of competitions! Maybe I can even make it into the national team in the future!" As he spoke, he even made a shooting motion, just like he was actually on the football field.

Yang Xuexue's eyes widened in surprise: "Wow, I didn't realize you had such big ambitions! But playing soccer is tiring, you have to train every day, can you handle it?"

Liu Qicheng patted his chest and said confidently, "What's the big deal! My physical condition is top-notch! Besides, I'm not afraid of any hardship or fatigue for my football dream! Haven't you seen those documentaries about football stars? They train even harder than me!"

Yang Xuexue pouted and said, "Fine, keep bragging! But if you really make it into the national team, don't forget your old classmate. Get me some autographed photos or something."

Liu Qicheng laughed and said, "Of course! When I become a big star, I'll get you a room full of autographed photos! By the way, what about you? What are you planning to do after graduation? You're not thinking of becoming a scientist, are you?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Xuexue burst out laughing: "A scientist, my foot! I don't have that kind of brain. I want to do baking, to open my own cake shop!" As she spoke, a happy smile spread across her face, as if the cake shop had already opened.

Liu Qicheng looked at her with a puzzled expression: "Baking? Making cakes and all that stuff? Can you really do that? I've heard that making cakes is really troublesome, with whipping egg whites and mixing batter. Can you handle it?"

Yang Xuexue glared at him and said, "Don't underestimate me! I started learning a long time ago. I've been watching tutorials online for the past few months and have even tried making it myself several times! Although the first cake I made looked like a brick, it got better and better each time after that!"

Liu Qicheng couldn't help but laugh: "Hahaha, like a brick? You've made great progress! But opening a cake shop isn't just about making cakes, you also need to know how to run it. Do you understand these things?"

Yang Xuexue put her hands on her hips and said confidently, "Don't worry about that, I've already planned it out. I plan to work at a cake shop first to learn how they run it, and then open my own shop after I've gained some experience. Also, I plan to decorate my cake shop to be super cute, so that customers will feel like they've stepped into a fairy tale world as soon as they walk in!"

Liu Qicheng listened and couldn't help but nod: "Hmm, that sounds pretty reliable. But you'd better be prepared to work hard. Opening a shop is not easy, and you might have to get up early and go to bed late."

Yang Xuexue said nonchalantly, "It's no big deal! I've even learned all the complicated steps of making cakes, so what's a little hard work? Besides, I'm satisfied as long as I can make the cakes I like every day and see my customers enjoying them!"

Just then, classmates who had overheard their conversation came over. One classmate laughed and said, "Liu Qicheng, if you make it into the national soccer team, you've got to treat us to cake!"

Another classmate chimed in, "That's right, Yang Xuexue, when your cake shop opens, don't forget to give us a discount!"

Yang Xuexue smiled and said, "No problem, come find me then, I guarantee you'll get a discount!"

Liu Qicheng laughed and said, "Okay, once I join the national team, I'll split the prize money with you!"

Everyone chatted away, filling the classroom with laughter. After a while, the bell rang, and the students returned to their seats. Yang Xuexue said to Liu Qicheng, "Then it's settled, let's work hard together for our respective dreams!"

Liu Qicheng nodded and said firmly, "Okay, let's work hard together! When we're all successful, let's come back and have a good get-together!"

As the teacher entered the classroom, the room gradually quieted down, but Liu Qicheng and Yang Xuexue's hearts remained filled with excitement.

As the sun set, the sky was dyed orange-red, as if nature had spilled its palette. Yang Xuexue hummed a little tune and skipped home. Today at school, she had talked with Liu Qicheng about her plans after graduation, and her passion for baking burned even brighter.

"I'm home!" Yang Xuexue rushed into the house like a gust of wind, threw her schoolbag aside, and went straight into the living room.

"Oh dear, my little darling, be gentle! You've almost knocked the door apart!" Mrs. Yang poked her head out of the kitchen, holding an egg beater in her hand, with a helpless yet doting smile on her face.

Yang Xuexue chuckled and peeked into the kitchen doorway: "Mom, what delicious food are you making? I can smell the aroma from outside!"

Mrs. Yang said mysteriously, "Guess what? There's a surprise today!"

Yang Xuexue's eyes darted around, and she deliberately said loudly, "Hmm... I guess it's braised pork! No, it's sweet and sour pork ribs!"

Mrs. Yang rolled her eyes at her: "All you ever think about is eating meat, you little glutton. Here's a hint, it's something you've been craving lately."

"Ah! Could it be cupcakes?" Yang Xuexue's eyes lit up immediately, and she jumped up excitedly.

"Ta-da! You guessed it!" Mrs. Yang smiled and brought out a tray full of cupcakes, placing it on the dining table. "I made them for you today because you're in such a good mood. Come and have a taste."

Yang Xuexue eagerly picked up a cupcake, took a bite, and the cream melted in her mouth, instantly filling the air with a sweet aroma. "Wow, Mom, your cooking is amazing! It's even better than what I buy outside!" Yang Xuexue mumbled between bites, a little cream still stuck to the corner of her mouth.

Seeing her daughter's greedy expression, Yang's mother couldn't help but laugh: "Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you. By the way, what good thing happened at school today? You seem so happy?"

Yang Xuexue swallowed the cake in her mouth, wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and said excitedly, "Mom, I talked to Liu Qicheng about his plans after graduation today. You know what? He said he wants to play soccer, represent the school in competitions, and maybe even make it into the national team someday!"

"Wow, this child has big ambitions! And what about you? Have you told him your thoughts?" Mrs. Yang asked while tidying up the kitchen.

"Of course I told him! I told him I wanted to do baking and open a cake shop. He even said I could definitely do it!" Yang Xuexue said proudly, picking up another cupcake.

Mrs. Yang came over, sat down next to her, and said gently, "Mom also thinks you can definitely do it! However, opening a cake shop is not easy. Are you really sure?"

Yang Xuexue nodded vigorously: "I've thought it through, Mom! I really love making cakes. Every time I see those beautiful and delicious cakes, I feel so happy. Besides, I'm planning to work at a cake shop first to gain experience."

Mrs. Yang patted her head: "Okay, as long as you like it, Mom will support you. But don't just think about making cakes, you can't neglect your studies either. After all, the more knowledge you learn now, the more useful it will be when you open your shop in the future."

Yang Xuexue smiled and said, "Mom, don't worry! I know what I'm doing. I also plan to look online at how successful bakeries operate and learn from their experience. By the way, Mom, your cakes are so delicious, you must teach me more in the future!"

Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "No problem, as long as you want to learn, I will definitely teach you everything I know. However, my little girl, you can't learn baking on a whim; you have to be patient and persistent. Just like when you do math problems, you can't give up easily when you encounter difficult problems; you have to find a way to solve them."

Yang Xuexue stuck out her tongue: "Okay, Mom. I promise I'll study hard! By the way, Mom, what do you think I should name my future cake shop?"

After thinking for a moment, Mrs. Yang said, "Hmm... how about 'Sweetheart Cottage'? It sounds cozy and cute, and you can tell it's a cake shop just by the name."

Yang Xuexue frowned and shook her head: "I don't really like it. It feels a bit too ordinary. Let me think about it again. How about 'Xuexue's Sweet Castle'? That way, it includes my name and also has that fairytale feel."

Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "This name is quite creative, but it's a bit long and not easy to remember. Think about it some more, maybe you can come up with a better one."

Yang Xuexue nodded, then fell into deep thought. After a while, her eyes suddenly lit up: "Mom, I've got it! How about 'Sweet Dream Factory'? It highlights the sweetness of the cake and gives a feeling of dreams coming true."

Mrs. Yang gave a thumbs up: "This is great, it's simple yet meaningful, this is the one!"

Yang Xuexue laughed happily, "That's great! When I open my cake shop in the future, I'll name it that. Mom, you have to come and help me out then!"

Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "Sure, I'll do my best to help you whenever you need me. But you'd better practice your skills first, or you might end up making cakes that no one will buy!"

Yang Xuexue said confidently, "Don't worry, Mom! I will definitely work hard to make my cake shop the most popular place in the whole city!"

The mother and daughter ate cupcakes and chatted about their future plans, their laughter echoing throughout the house. The setting sun shone through the window, bathing them in its golden light, as if gilding this heartwarming scene.

Before they knew it, it was getting dark. Yang Xuexue checked the time and said, "Oh dear, Mom, I have to go do my homework, or I'll get scolded by the teacher again tomorrow."

Mrs. Yang smiled and said, "Go on, go do your homework. If you still want cake after you're done, Mom will make it for you."

Yang Xuexue stood up and stretched: "Okay, Mom. Your cake is so delicious, I feel like I could eat ten of them!"

Mrs. Yang patted her shoulder with a smile: "You little glutton, don't eat too much, or you'll get fat."

As Yang Xuexue walked towards her room, she said, "Don't worry, I love exercising so much, I won't gain weight no matter how much I eat!"

Watching her daughter's retreating figure, Yang's mother beamed with happiness. She knew her daughter had a dream and was working hard towards it. As a mother, all she could do was silently support her and accompany her daughter in pursuing her dream.