Life

Xu Nian lay in bed, feeling like a thousand horses were running around in his head.

"Xu Hongqi, do you want to see what time it is? Aren't you tired after this day?"

Xu Hongqi pretended not to notice Xu Nian's devilish expression. He glanced at the watch on his wrist and said calmly, "It's okay. It's 8:46 now."

Seeing him like that, Xu Nian suddenly regretted her decision. She shouldn't have stayed here. What if she was laughed at by the villagers? What if she was bullied by her peers? What if she was just a beautiful loser? A poor student should have the awareness of being a poor student. Now, she, a poor student, fell into the hands of that top student. How could she have an easy life?

Fortunately, Xu Hongqi did not really lose his "humanity". He only asked her to memorize a page of mathematical formulas he had summarized and then let her go. Xu, who was exhausted both physically and mentally, did not have a dream the whole night and fell into a very sweet sleep.

Xu Nian was woken up by Xu Hongqi the next day. It wasn't too late for him to wake people up, but Xu Nian was dawdling, so after breakfast, he had to hurry on the way. Fortunately, he got into class before the bell rang.

Xu Hongqi looked at her back and thought that it was a good thing that he didn't start school until the day after tomorrow, otherwise he might not be able to make it in time. He silently made up his mind to call her twenty minutes earlier every day. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and got on his bike to go about his own business.

There is no happiness at all for senior high school students, except for those who find learning fun, of course. But Xu Nian is definitely not among these people. She recited poems aloud with everyone, and gradually found the feeling. Her impetuous heart also settled down, and she swam in the ocean of knowledge for the whole day.

Xu Nian could only say that this was worthy of being a school built by the military. Senior high school students only had one hour's break at noon, and the school had a cafeteria, so you didn't need to go out at all. Even day students had to go to school until eight o'clock in the evening.

Xu Hongqi agreed in the morning that he would pick her up after school in the evening. This place is actually quite close to home, and it is also near the military area, so the security is impeccable. Just having someone to pick her up doubles her happiness.

As the school bell rang, many students in the class went out in groups of three or four. Xu Nian also quickly packed her schoolbag and ran out of the school, which surprised the classmates around her. Is this still the same cold beauty? Why is she suddenly so impetuous today?

Xu Nianke didn't know that others described her like this. When she ran to the school gate breathlessly, her bright eyes started to grin when she saw Xu Hongqi. She ran up to him and the first thing she said was: "Brother Hongqi, I'm starving. Let's go home quickly!"

Xu Hongqi had been provided with food and lodging by the government for the past two years, but he had forgotten that at that time, most people were still struggling to make ends meet. It was okay for boarding students, but day students generally didn't get dinner. He stroked Xu Nian's soft hair soothingly and said, "Hurry up and get in the car. Let's go home for dinner."

Xu Nian nodded vigorously, then plopped down on the back of the bicycle, patted Xu Hongqi's shoulder naturally, and shouted in a frivolous tone: "Go!"

Xu Hongqi had just prepared dinner at home before coming to pick her up. If he didn't want to waste any more time, he would have taught her a lesson.

Xu Nian was swinging her legs leisurely in the back seat. It felt like she hadn't been there for long before they arrived home. She jumped out of the car, put her schoolbag back in her room, and ran to the kitchen. When she opened the lid of the pot, she saw thick millet porridge, which was golden and very pleasing to the eye.

At this time, Xu Hongqi had parked the car and washed his hands. He came to the kitchen, grabbed Xu Nian's neck, and said, "Go wash your hands."

Xu Nian saluted pretentiously: "Okay, sir!"

The two of them were busy with their own things that day, and they had dinner late, so the food was delicious and clean. After filling their stomachs, they naturally felt lazy. However, Xu Nian considered himself a very conscientious person, so he took the initiative to clean up the dishes and wash them.

After everything was done, Xu Nian lay on the bed and let out a long sigh, thinking that this was definitely the happiest moment of the day. If her eyes had not glanced at her schoolbag and thought of the pile of homework, she would definitely not have been able to get up.

It was already dark, and it was probably past nine o'clock. Xu Nian stretched out on the bed, and reluctantly lay down on the desk. He was rummaging through his schoolbag when he heard a knock on the door. Xu Nian said lazily, "Come in", and there was an extra person in the room in an instant.

Xu Hongqi had obviously just finished taking a shower, his hair was still wet, and he walked straight to Xu Nian with a book in his hand. He put the things in his hand on the table, and took the opportunity to wink at her and point at her schoolbag.

Xu Nian looked puzzled, but still obediently took the bag off the stool and asked in confusion: "Why don't you take a rest?"

Xu Hongqi said, "I don't have a desk in my room. I'll study here with you and help you with your homework."

Xu Nian exclaimed "Ah" and felt as if he was suddenly back in the summer of 1974. From now on, he would have to study under his supervision. How could he even breathe?

She objected vehemently, "I'm a girl, there are differences between men and women. It's inappropriate for you to do this. Besides, if I go to bed early, you'll disturb me."

Xu Hongqi chuckled: "Who said she will be my wife from now on?"

After saying that, he straightened his expression and said, "You don't think that as a senior high school student, you can study and rest as you please this year, right?"

Xu Nian wanted to say yes, but seeing Xu Hongqi's eyes, he immediately retorted: "Of course not. I have dreams. Otherwise, what's the difference between me and salted fish?"

Xu Hongqi immediately nodded in agreement. "Indeed, you are very aware. I believe you will definitely turn things around this time."

Xu Nian: “…”

After Xu Nian raised several suggestions and they were strongly rejected, he finally accepted this reality. This also marked the beginning of his senior year of high school. After a few days of getting along, the two finally found a harmonious way to coexist.

It rains a lot in autumn. Xu Nian listened to the sound of rain hitting the glass and concentrated on writing the first monthly exam of her senior year. The exam lasted until 5:30 in the afternoon, when the campus bell rang on time. Xu Nian breathed a sigh of relief and handed in the paper. Xu Hongqi got out of school early these two days and couldn't pick her up. Xu Nian and her deskmate left the school gate holding an umbrella, but then separated halfway and went home alone.

She walked along the high ground, trying to avoid the running water. Today was the last day of the exam. She felt that she had done quite well in this monthly exam and was in a good mood. She walked slowly all the way home. When she opened the door, she found that the yard had been flooded with rain for several days and was now like a cement mixing site. There was nowhere to step.

She walked carefully in the best places, and even had to jump occasionally. When she reached the door, Xu Nian was about to put away her umbrella, but she didn't take a good step and suddenly slipped. In a panic, in order to maintain her balance, she pushed the ground with her left foot, and suddenly she felt pain. Her legs were so weak that she almost sat on the ground.

After a while, she dared to move, but her left foot hurt as soon as she walked, and the umbrella had fallen to the ground. At this time, she admired herself for being able to reach the umbrella and put it away.

He walked into the room with his hands on the wall, and then used his right foot to rub the ground and sit down at the desk.

After taking a breath, she bent down to check her left foot. It was swollen, but it didn't look serious. It was probably just a sprain. She pressed it with her hand and felt numb and painful. She stood up and sat up straight, only then did she realize how damp her body was. Afraid of catching a cold, she rubbed her feet and changed into clean clothes.

After packing up, I simply lay down on the bed, watching the raindrops outside, sometimes heavy and sometimes light. I thought that Xu Hongqi was riding a bike, which would probably make it even harder for him to walk. I hoped he would be careful.

The worried Xu Hongqi was rushing home wearing a raincoat. The raincoat was issued by the school, but not everyone had one. As college students and college students who were cared for and cultivated, they were mainly evaluated by their academic performance and research results. In this regard, Xu Hongqi was an excellent student among excellent students, so it was normal for him to have a raincoat.

He had originally asked for a red one specifically for Xu Nian, but Xu Nian said that she didn't ride a bike and it would be more convenient to hold an umbrella, so he put it on. Unexpectedly, it made it more convenient for him to bring things back.

The director of political education went on a business trip to Beijing for study and brought a few roast ducks with him. Xu Hongqi was given one-third of the duck, which was just right for a dinner. He put the roast duck inside his raincoat. It was difficult to cook because of the rain, so he could eat it directly when he got home. He thought that Xu Nian, the greedy cat, would be very happy.

When he got home, he parked the car in the aisle, turned the handlebar bell, and then took off his raincoat and got in the car.

If it were usual, Xu Nian would have spoken up long ago, but now there was no sound. Xu Hongqi frowned, wondering if he hadn't returned yet at this hour. After putting the roast duck in the inner room, Xu Hongqi walked along the eaves to Xu Nian's room.

Seeing that the door was not closed, the floor in the house was slightly wet with rain, but the temperature was just right and comfortable. Xu Nian's bed was diagonally facing the door, and he was lying on the bed and asleep.

Xu Hongqi breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't call her again. Instead, he set up a simple earthen stove in the corridor of the living room and baked three big steamed buns. After baking them, he thought for a while and took out the roast duck from the inner room and put it on the stove to roast.

The roast duck in Jing City is a must-try. As soon as the duck is heated, the aroma instantly fills the air. Xu Nian was sleeping soundly, but she felt like drooling and her stomach was rumbling in protest. She opened her eyes and got up immediately. With a "hiss", her mind came back to her and she remembered that she had sprained her left foot.

Xu Nian instinctively shouted, "Brother Hongqi, come here, I sprained my ankle."

Xu Hongqi didn't hear her the first time she called out. He only heard her call when Xu Nian said it the second time. Feeling anxious, he took the roast duck and went straight into Xu Nian's room.

"Where's the injury?"

Xu Nian hurriedly said, "My feet hurt so much."

When Xu Hongqi arrived, she seemed to have forgotten about it. She took a breath and said something stupid: "This is roast duck, it smells so good!"

Xu Hongqi took a look at her feet. They were a little swollen, but it shouldn't be serious, otherwise she would have to go to the hospital. He was a little annoyed that he didn't notice Xu Nian's abnormality. Usually, she was the most patient. She went to bed so early today, he should have noticed it earlier.

His tone unconsciously carried a mixture of heartache and tenderness: "Are you hungry?" Then he handed the roast duck to Xu Nian, "Eat it, I'll get some medicinal wine for you to rub against bruises." After saying that, he turned around and went to look for the medicinal wine.

Xu Nian held up the roast duck skewered with long wooden chopsticks, leaned in to take a sip, and whispered to himself, "Oh my god, this smells so good!"

She carefully tore off a piece of meat and put it into her mouth, savoring it carefully before swallowing it. Then, without feeling tired, she held the roast duck and thought that the two of them would definitely have a good meal today, as compensation for her injured little foot.

Xu Hongqi came in and saw her holding the roast duck and grinning, and asked puzzledly: "What are you thinking about? Eat it quickly, I'll rub it for you."

Xu Nian saw that he had already started to pour the medicinal wine and rub his hands together, and said shyly, "I haven't washed my feet yet, please be gentle."

Xu Hongqi said "hmm", not noticing the girl's rare shyness, and started rubbing her directly. Xu Nian had a small frame, and so did her feet. They looked thin at ordinary times, but when he rubbed them, he found that they were actually soft and felt very good.

Xu Hongqi didn't say anything, and Xu Nian felt a little embarrassed, so she started to talk about how she sprained her ankle, how she returned to the room despite her disability, and how she fell asleep in the end due to exhaustion and pain. As she spoke, she even moved herself.

She concluded: "I'm so strong, aren't I!"