Chapter 18 (Combined with Chapter 18)

When the Luo siblings arrived at the repair shop, Zhou Weifang was wiping down a customer's bicycle.

He was probably sitting on the ground with his legs spread wide apart for convenience, but when he saw someone come in, he straightened up and said, "You're here."

Luo Hong untied the fertilizer bag from the back seat: "Here you go."

He was in a hurry to get home and didn't plan to exchange any pleasantries, but unfortunately the weather wasn't cooperating, and a thunderous clap of lightning struck down.

Luo Yan was startled, clenched her fists, and looked towards the roadside: "The rain is getting heavier."

Zhou Weifang pulled out a stack of wooden stools: "Why don't you sit down? I reckon it'll just be a shower."

Luo Hong didn't care and turned to ask his sister for her opinion.

Luo Yan looked at her new leather shoes and nodded almost imperceptibly.

Luo Hong then said, "No need to make tea, you go about your business, we'll be leaving in a bit."

Zhou Weifang shook the thermos apologetically: "There's not even any hot water left."

His place is only suitable for living; it lacks all other amenities. He has to carry a thermos to the hospital boiler room, which is dozens of meters away, to buy water for drinking.

Luo Hong looked around and said, "You're practically destitute."

Indeed, there were only two stools.

Luo Yan was a little embarrassed to sit down, so she took off her raincoat and wiped the few strands of wet hair from her forehead.

But Luo Hong had no qualms and even pulled his sister along, gesturing for her to sit down as well.

Luo Yan sat down, glanced at the rain, hesitated with her hand on her backpack, but ultimately didn't move, listening to the two men chatting.

Luo Hong: "How's business today?"

Zhou Weifang: "It's alright. There are a lot of people getting their tires repaired, so I can make a few cents a day."

They're all small jobs, each costing a penny or 15 cents, but little by little they add up.

Luo Hong: "You chose a good location. There are hospitals and schools nearby, but it's too close to the community service center."

"Convenience service points" is a general term that provides services such as sewing clothes, barrel making, shoe repair, and car repair. There is basically one every two streets.

Zhou Weifang: "There was no other way. I searched high and low, and only Dr. Wu was willing to rent to me."

He thought to himself that with so many bicycles in the city, even if others were eating meat, he could at least have some soup. So he gritted his teeth and decided to go ahead with the purchase.

Speaking of this, Luo Hong said, "It's fortunate that he still remembers you."

Dr. Wu? Luo Yan's ears twitched; she felt he was someone she knew, and she frowned slightly as she pondered.

She rummaged through her belongings, searching for fragments from many years ago, and unconsciously let out a soft "oh".

Zhou Weifang noticed her sudden realization and knew she must have remembered.

Their eyes met, but they both looked away the next moment.

Luo Hong didn't notice the awkwardness of that moment and continued, "He used to sweep toilets in our alley and suffered a lot. It's quite a coincidence that he still remembers that you helped him."

Zhou Weifang's thoughts were pulled back: "What a coincidence."

“What do you call this?” Luo Hong slapped his thigh, “Good people get good rewards.”

This statement is two-way; Dr. Wu is a good person, and he has never charged these children for applying red medicine since they were little.

Zhou Weifang didn't respond to that question, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards Luo Yan.

She met his gaze openly, even hinting at a question: "What are you looking at?"

"It's always been like this since we were little," Zhou Weifang said with a faint smile.

Luo Yan interpreted it as sarcasm, thinking to herself that this person really did think about things based solely on impulse for the past ten years.

She breathed into the air and nudged her brother with her elbow.

Luo Hong glanced at his sister and said, "Let's go back."

Zhou Weifang didn't try to stop him: "Okay, take it easy."

After everyone left, he wiped the water stains off the ground, sat down to work, and pondered the matter over and over in his mind.

There is a convenient service point nearby, but the old man Cao who repairs cars is very fierce. After all, it's a state-owned enterprise where everyone gets the same salary no matter how much they work, so their work enthusiasm is naturally not as high as that of private companies.

To put it dramatically, Zhou Weifang now feels that the money just disappears the moment he opens his eyes.

With expenses come pressure.

He hung a sign at the door that read "Open 24 hours, feel free to knock anytime," which was a clear advantage over Old Man Cao's punctuality and relentless get off work schedule.

There are also drawbacks. For example, the parts for bicycles vary slightly from brand to brand. He could only get a few of the parts produced by his childhood friend's factory through connections. He couldn't get the rest, so he sometimes had to turn away many customers.

Zhou Weifang felt uncomfortable after pushing the money away.

He figured he still had to find a way to solve the problem, but before he could come up with a solution, a pair of pliers pinched his finger, making him curse in pain.

He didn't feel any better after scolding him, so he examined his bones under the light to see if there was anything wrong.

But his eyes couldn't see through things, so he thought he'd observe for a while longer. Bored, he sat down and kept looking around.

Upon closer inspection, they discovered a hair clip on the ground.

Many people came to the store today, and Zhou Weifang couldn't tell whose it was, but the first person he thought of was Luo Yan, since she had just left not long ago.

He picked it up, thinking he'd ask Luo Hong when he came back.

As for Luo Yan, Zhou Weifang felt that judging from her expression when she left, the chances of seeing her again were slim.

There is something inexplicable between people, which Zhou Weifang simply calls the Eight Characters.

He had always believed that Luo Yan and he were incompatible according to their birth charts, especially after the incident with Dr. Wu.

Dr. Wu's family had some complicated overseas connections. The movement began to label him, and the organization assigned him to sweep toilets in Fengshou Hutong.

In that situation, even his own family members would avoid him like the plague, let alone strangers.

Self-preservation is a human instinct.

Zhou Weifang knew this, but he couldn't just ignore it, so he would help out from time to time.

It wasn't done discreetly. Luo Yan bumped into him once, but she walked past without looking at him. However, she went to his house that afternoon.

At that time, Luo Hong had already been sent to work in the countryside in northern Shaanxi. There was no connection between the two, and they would only nod to each other when they met in the alley.

Zhou Weifang was wondering what she wanted from him, and then he received four words in response: "Protect yourself wisely."

Given the circumstances back then, anything could have been a factor in getting involved.

Zhou Weifang understood her good intentions and simply said "I know," but found it difficult to add a thank you.

In the context of the times, many things cannot be simply categorized as right or wrong.

However, given Zhou Weifang's temperament, he couldn't help but feel that she was too cold-hearted. Later, when they met on the road, he simply didn't greet her, until he went to Xinjiang to work in the countryside.

It takes too long, so it can't really be considered a contradiction.

Zhou Weifang himself had almost forgotten about this matter. If it hadn't been brought up tonight, he probably wouldn't have remembered it for several years.

Luo Yan is the same.

She now only has reading on her mind, and has put everything unrelated to studying out of her mind. After getting home and eating, she still goes to her room to review her studies as usual.

Luo Hong had some doubts, and since it was rare for him to bother her, he asked, "Why did I feel like you were acting strangely with the three parties just now?"

Luo Yan closed the book temporarily.

The first half of her story was identical to what Zhou Weifang remembered, but the second half contained things she didn't want to mention, so she changed it to: "The only lesson I learned from this incident is that trying to do what's best for others is just wishful thinking."

Luo Hong slapped his sister on the back of the head after hearing her harsh words: "Speak properly."

Luo Yan was speaking very well.

She shrugged: "Everyone has a different definition of what's good, right?"

The rhetorical question in the last two words made Luo Hong feel that his hidden thoughts had nowhere to hide.

He chuckled softly, "Don't worry, I'm the same as you."

Luo Yan bit her lip, but ultimately didn't bring it up.

Luo Hong sighed helplessly, "Don't worry about things all day, go read a book."

The only thing Luo Yan can do to help her family right now is study, and she's been studying hard late into the night, fueled by this enthusiasm.

Her eyes were dark and swollen, but she forced herself to stay alert while sitting in the classroom.

Bai Ru was truly impressed and asked, "Aren't you sleepy?"

Luo Yan yawned: "I'm sleepy. I'm going to sleep for three days and three nights after the college entrance exam."

Bai Ru: "Your grades are so good, yet you're still so nervous. No wonder you did so well on the test."

Luo Yan suddenly said, "Actually, my grades weren't good in junior high school either."

Although there was a high school entrance exam at that time, everyone knew that grades were not used as a reference. All of a student's performance at school was judged by their enthusiasm for participating in activities and their moral character. Admission results were mainly based on teachers' evaluations and recommendations.

Luo Yan could recite almost all the quotes by heart, and even won a prize in a city-level competition.

After the college entrance examination was reinstated, she switched her focus to mathematics, physics, and chemistry. There was no need to tell Bai Ru the details.

But there's one thing she wants to say: "As long as we can pass the exam, our lives will be completely different. This is the only way to change our current situation."

Bai Ru understood the reasoning, otherwise she wouldn't have argued so fiercely with her parents to continue her studies.

She said, "I will try my best."

Her momentary passion only sustained her for half a month before she quickly reverted to her old ways.

Wang Qianyun and Luo Yan pulled and tugged at each other, helping her regain her energy from time to time.

Time passed by, and soon it was July 1, 1979.

It was the hottest time of the year in Beijing, and buying a fan became a common wish for all the people in the city.

The department store just received a new batch of goods, and people are lining up at the entrance before dawn every day to snap them up.

Luo Hong was one of them.

He was yawning and being pushed and shoved, but he managed to grab one with his long arms and legs. After paying, he hurried home.

As soon as you enter the courtyard, you'll attract the attention of many people.

Aunt Li, holding her granddaughter Li Hongyu, came over and asked, "Oh, did you buy something big?"

Luo Hong untied the rope binding the electric fan: "Right, Yanzi is taking the college entrance exam, and she can't afford to get heatstroke at the last minute."

This is the only college student taking the college entrance exam this year, and every family is taking good care of him. Ever since Luo Yan started his study break a couple of days ago, the children have not been allowed to shout or make a fuss in the courtyard.

Aunt Li: "She should have bought it; her room still faces west."

He clicked his tongue in astonishment: "It must have cost a lot of money, right?"

Luo Hong gestured with his hand to indicate a number: "The main problem is that the tickets are hard to get; it takes a lot of effort."

Otherwise I would have bought it last month.

Aunt Li casually mentioned the "supply shortage" and followed him into the house to see what the fan looked like.

Luo Yan was the only one at home. She was reading with the window open. She saw her brother early in the morning, but these last two days were the last hurrah for her. She wished she could hold her breath and not care if the King of Heaven himself came. She just kept reviewing her studies.

Luo Hong didn't bother her. After testing the fan and finding that it worked, he moved it to his sister's room, plugged it in, adjusted the direction, and quietly left.

Aunt Li witnessed the whole thing and said at lunchtime, "With the way Luo Bu took care of her sister, it would be unreasonable for Yanzi not to do well on the exam."

There were only three people at the table. Li Jianhong retorted, "What do you mean by 'serving'? They're all my own siblings."

Half a year had passed since the work incident, and Aunt Li was no longer submissive in front of her daughter, her voice rising: "You still know you're related by blood?"

Li Jianhong felt a surge of anger and spoke with even more barbs: "They are relatives, but we are not."

Aunt Li: "I fed you well and made you hate me."

Li Jianhong had been unable to find work and could only do odd jobs on the street, but she did not feel guilty, saying, "That's what Li Jianjun deserved."

Li Hongyu lived in Beijing for half a year and her Mandarin improved significantly. When she heard her aunt mention her father's name, she couldn't help but shrink back.

Li Jianhong, only for the sake of the child, put down the bowl and said, "Don't worry, you won't need it for a while."

After saying that, he went out, leaving behind an angry back view.

The slightest movement from sitting backwards was barely perceptible and was completely ignored by Luo Yan.

She was focused solely on her studies, and her family brought her food and water. The whole family was on edge until the day before the college entrance examination.

Luo Yan rarely puts down her book; she gets up early and strolls around the yard.

When Liu Yinfeng returned from grocery shopping and saw her daughter, she exclaimed in surprise, "Why are you out here?"

Luo Yan joked, "I'm not in jail, so why can't I come out?"

Liu Yinfeng: "I think it's no different for you than being in jail."

Hearing this, Luo Yan craned her neck to look at the basket her mother was carrying: "We're having meat again today."

Normally, we don't eat meat this often at home, since we only have a limited amount of meat ration coupons each month. But with our child's college entrance exam coming up, it's the most important thing, and the whole family has been scrambling to find people to help us get meat.

Liu Yinfeng: I'll make you braised pork for lunch.

Luo Yan licked her lips: "I haven't been craving the food I've been given these past few days."

Liu Yinfeng: "Don't worry, once the exam is over, our family will go back to normal, and you'll have your turn to crave it."

Luo Yan: "Then I'll eat more at noon."

Liu Yinfeng: "They're all yours, no one's going to take them from you."

Luo Yan chuckled, not feeling embarrassed by such extraordinary treatment, after all, she herself took the college entrance examination very seriously.

No matter how much you value it, you need to get some rest today.

She didn't read much all day, and surprisingly went to bed at 10 p.m., seemingly planning to take it easy.

But she was able to let it go; her family was even more worried than she was.

Liu Yinfeng tossed and turned after lying down, then suddenly had a thought: "Do you think our whole family will oversleep tomorrow?"

Luo Xinmin, who was also awake, unusually scolded, "Don't talk nonsense."

Yes, yes, yes, those were just the words of a devout woman.

Liu Yinfeng faced the void, put her hands together in prayer, and said, "May the Bodhisattva protect me, may the Bodhisattva protect me."

The words were changed, but the couple's hearts were still in suspense. They kept having all sorts of nightmares while sleeping, and they looked dazed when they woke up.

Luo Yan, on the other hand, was full of energy.

She hadn't slept this long in a long time, and even her eyes looked bigger when she looked in the mirror. She carefully braided her hair into two pigtails and pinned them with red hair clips.

She was wearing a red plaid shirt, and if you didn't know better, you'd think it was Chinese New Year.

Luo Hong was dazzled by his younger sister, but refrained from making jokes because of the special occasion. Instead, he solemnly gave her a red envelope.

Luo Yan beams with joy whenever she sees money; her round face, which she's developed recently, looks like a crisp, red apple.

Luo Hong pinched his sister's cheek: "Study hard on the exam, and after you finish, I'll take you to a restaurant in Beijing."

The Beijing Hotel is currently the tallest building in the city. It was originally only open to foreign guests, but it has only been open to the public for the past two months.

But most people can't afford it, since a meal there costs at least twenty yuan.

Luo Yan: "I thought you were going to beat me up after the exam."

This really reminded Luo Hong, who said, "I had forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it."

Luo Yan, having brought trouble upon herself, covered her mouth and glared with wide eyes. Knowing she was very likable, her cheeks puffed up with a smile.

Luo Hong instinctively reached out to tap her forehead, then withdrew his hand: "Just you wait."

The brother and sister were speaking in riddles, but their parents always understood.

Liu Yinfeng didn't press for details, but simply put breakfast on the table: "Yanzi, breakfast is ready."

Luo Hong: "Mom, aren't you standing right here? Can't you see me?"

Liu Yinfeng replied dismissively, "Okay, okay, you eat too."

Luo Hong: "If I had any more backbone, I would have slammed the door and left right now."

Liu Yinfeng: "What kind of backbone is it to go against food? Only a fool would do that."

He then added insult to injury: "I don't think you're very smart."

Luo Hong: "I deliberately stored my intelligence in your belly, to be used by Luo Yan."

The whole family laughed. Luo Yan picked up the bowl and blew on it, saying, "Thank you so much."

Luo Hong opened the ledger that was floating in the air: "Tell me, I'll write it all down for you now."

Luo Yan thought to herself, "Then I should be even more arrogant now." She made a face, her eyes full of provocation.

Luo Hongzhen barely managed to restrain his restless hands, and kept spouting harsh words.

However, after finishing his meal, he still took his sister to the exam venue.

The brother and sister rode their bikes side by side. Luo Yan said, "I can go by myself."

She was assigned to take the exam at No. 22 Middle School, which was six or seven kilometers away from her home.

The distance wasn't exactly far, and Luo Hong was worried that something might happen to her at the door: "I'll go to work after I drop you off, I'll make it in time."

Since he said that, Luo Yan didn't insist anymore. Before entering the examination room, she urged, "Hurry up, hurry up, we're going to be late."

Luo Hong: "That's enough to cross the river and then destroy the bridge."

He originally had a lot to say, but at the last minute he condensed it into: "Do your best on the exam."

An army is raised for a thousand days, but used for only one.

Luo Yan said confidently, "Morning politics is my forte."

Luo Hong suspected that there was no subject she was bad at. After three days of exams, she was all smiles every day, so he thought she might have performed well.

Liu Yinfeng and her husband thought so too, and only dared to ask, "How did you feel?" after the last subject, English, was finished.

Luo Yan said frankly, "I've written down everything I know how to do. I'll wait for the score."

She seemed so calm and collected, showing no signs of being in the lead-up to the exam, which made Liu Yinfeng feel incredibly anxious.

Luo Hong, however, knew that his sister never spoke without reason, and said, "It all depends on which school she gets into in the end."

This is the third year since the resumption of the college entrance examination, and the admission scores for each school are still unclear. There is no clear conclusion yet on which scores are higher or lower.

When Luo Yan filled out her college application in June, she listed all the top-ranked schools in the city, only avoiding medicine, which she knew she could never study. The rest were all good schools, regardless of their reputation.

From this perspective, she is actually a person without ideals.

Luo Hong sometimes felt that his younger sister was amazing; her thoughts and actions were always different from others.

Luo Yan considered herself an ordinary person, and as soon as the exam was over, all her suppressed thoughts erupted like a volcano.

After dinner, she found a pile of books in her brother's room.

Luo Hong had originally intended to let her do whatever she wanted, but then he suddenly remembered that two of the books were unsuitable for children, and he was so frightened that he quickly snatched them away.

The movement was so forceful that the books Luo Yan was holding fell to the ground.

She remained blankly in the position of her palms facing upwards in front of her chest, and asked in a daze, "Didn't you hide your money under the bed? Did you change the location?"

Luo Hong thought to himself that it was just a pittance of his, and let her take it if she wanted. He tidied up the books and said, "These won't do, I need to return them tomorrow."

Luo Yan: "I can finish watching it tonight."

Before the exam, I would stay up all night studying; after the exam, I would stay up all night reading leisure books.

Luo Hongdu suspected his sister was possessed by something and said, "Didn't you want to sleep for three days and three nights?"

Luo Yan: "Anyway, there are plenty of holidays, so I can sleep any day."

She could, but Luo Hong couldn't. He said in a good older brother tone, "Just tonight, get some rest."

This statement received unanimous support from both parents.

Luo Yan was no match for them and was forced to bed early, with even her flashlight taken away.

But perhaps because she suddenly had nothing to worry about, she stared at the beam for a long time before falling asleep.

He slept until the sun was high in the sky the next day.

When Luo Yan woke up, she blinked blankly, took out her watch from under her pillow, and wondered if she had seen it wrong. She rubbed her eyes and looked again, and was so frightened that she threw off the covers and got up.

Liu Yinfeng was sewing shoe soles in the living room when she saw her daughter looking shaken. She asked, "What's going on in the house now?"

Luo Yan: "I forgot that I had finished the exam. I thought I was late. It gave me a fright."

It was hot in the summer, so she slept in thin clothes, her chest heaving up and down.

Liu Yinfeng bit off the needle and thread and said, "Mom has to make you a new vest."

Luo Yan looked down, went inside to put on her clothes, and came out, touching her belly, asking, "Mom, have you made lunch?"

Liu Yinfeng: "There is mung bean soup in the kitchen and steamed buns on the table."

The lunch wasn't bad, but it paled in comparison to the meals of the past few days.

Luo Yan: "It really is like going back to square one."

Liu Yinfeng: "It'll be even worse tonight. Your dad and your brother won't be back. I'm planning to cook sweet potato porridge with pickled vegetables."

The food expenses had recently exceeded the budget significantly, and Luo Yan knew her mother would definitely try to find ways to make up for it. She had no objections, only asking, "Isn't my dad coming back either?"

The husband is a stay-at-home dad; even if it's raining knives, it won't stop him from coming home for dinner.

Liu Yinfeng: "They said a leader was coming to inspect, so I had to be on duty."

Luo Yan nodded knowingly, showing no concern whatsoever about where her brother was going.

Liu Yinfeng explained to her again, "Hongyang is opening a small restaurant, and he's going to help him out. My brother said if you want to go, you can wait for him at the entrance at five o'clock."

Eating out and eating sweet potato porridge easily tip the scales in their favor.

Luo Yan, who had been oblivious to everything around her lately, asked in surprise, "When did Brother Hongyang come back?"

Liu Yinfeng: "I mentioned what happened last month, but I guess you didn't take it to heart."

Luo Yanzhen had no recollection of him and inquired, "Can he cook?"

Liu Yinfeng: "You probably don't know, but Grandpa Hongyang ran a restaurant before the founding of the People's Republic of China. He was very skilled."

Based on that sentence alone, Luo Yan said, "Then I'm going."

First, confirm: "Is the old man in charge of the kitchen, and is he in charge of serving the dishes?"

Liu Yinfeng: "Yes, it's also a way to make a living."

That's good. Luo Yan doesn't care about what's happening around her, but she's very knowledgeable about national policies.

She said, "Now we encourage unemployed educated youth to find jobs themselves, and licenses are easy to obtain."

Liu Yinfeng: "Yes, you know, things change pretty fast. Back during the Spring Festival, the three parties were dealing with the license application, and it was quite a hassle."

Luo Yan didn't like discussing Zhou Weifang's affairs, so she didn't respond. Instead, she went to the kitchen to ladle out mung bean soup and added a large spoonful of sugar.

Liu Yinfeng assumed her daughter was hungry and said, "There are still some biscuits in the cupboard, do you want some?"

Luo Yan: "I won't eat it. I'll save room for dinner."

It's only a few minutes, Liu Yinfeng said: "Enough for you to digest."

Luo Yan twisted and turned: "Then I want to keep it too."

My daughter was really energetic after finishing her exams.

Liu Yinfeng felt relieved and said, "Go out and have fun with your classmates during the holidays, don't stay at home every day."

Luo Yan looked at the blazing sun outside and said, "It's too hot, I'm not going."

"You still complain about the heat?" Liu Yinfeng said, "It's a good thing you were born in the city. How could you stand it farming in the countryside?"

When the topic turned to the countryside, Luo Yan said, "Mom, let me go with you to my mother-in-law's house."

Liu Yinfeng was tempted, but said, "It's too far, it's too much trouble, let's talk about it later."

Luo Yan: "It's such a long way, and since I don't have to do anything this summer, we should definitely go back."

My daughter has only met her maternal grandmother once in all her life, and their relationship is so thin it's practically nonexistent.

Liu Yinfeng knew in her heart: "The young lady is the most considerate."

Luo Yan smiled and said, "My mother-in-law's house is close to Huangshan, and I want to go and see it."

Even though it's close, it takes three or four hours by train.

Liu Yinfeng thought to herself, "I think it's a good idea. Once you get your admission notice, we'll go to your father-in-law's grave to offer incense."

The only time Luo Yan saw her maternal grandfather, he was already lying under the yellow earth.

But she was happy to fulfill her mother's wish, saying, "I reckon it will be around August."

Liu Yinfeng: "No rush, I'll discuss it with your dad tonight."

This wasn't something that could be decided in just a few words. Luo Yan hummed in agreement and took a bite of the cold vegetable bun. She ate quickly and hurriedly, then pounded her chest after finishing and pulled out a martial arts novel that she had found in her brother's room the night before.

This was a handwritten copy, and it has been passed through the hands of several people. Now the writing is blurred and illegible.

Luo Yan was captivated by the music, but it was also quite tiring. She thought to herself, "No wonder they say that 'decadent music' has the greatest influence on people's minds. If she had started watching it before the college entrance exam, she might not have even been able to get into a junior college."

Liu Yinfeng didn't know what her daughter was looking at; she assumed that anything with words on it was related to studying.

She said, "Stop looking, let's go outside and have some fun."

What's fun outside? Luo Yan thought for a moment and said, "I'll go to Yingying's house."

Liu Yinfeng urged, "Go, go, go."

Luo Yan was busy with the college entrance examination and hadn't seen Chen Yingying for several months. When they met again, they had countless things to say.

Chen Yingying was no exception; once the door opened, she didn't stop talking.

The two girls huddled together in the room, chattering away until their throats were dry.

Suddenly, Chen Yingying changed the subject: "I have something to tell you."

Luo Yan: "What's wrong?"

Chen Yingying blushed before she could speak, and stammered, "Our class monitor, I mentioned him to you, do you remember?"

Luo Yan guessed it: "It's a man?"

Chen Yingying nodded, but hesitated to say the rest.

Luo Yan asked bluntly, "Are you two dating?"

Chen Yingying waved her hand hastily: "Not yet, we just agreed to go to the movies together."

What's the difference between a lone man and woman going to the movies and dating?

Luo Yan: "What's he like? Are his grades good?"

Chen Yingying: "He's better than me, and he's good-looking too. He wears glasses and always wears a white shirt. As for his personality, he's very gentle. He blushes whenever I talk to him."

Based on this description alone, Luo Yan felt that this man was really unremarkable.

She asked, "So what do you like about him?"

Girls these days are always shy when it comes to the word "like".

Chen Yingying bit her lip: "I don't know, I just feel happy whenever I see him."

"How charming must he be?" Luo Yan wondered, her curiosity piqued. "Is he even more handsome than Tang Guoqiang?"

There was a poster of Tang Guoqiang on the wall of Chen Yingying's room. After glancing at it and comparing it to the poster, she said rationally, "Not yet."

Luo Yan: "That's because beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

"What lover or not," Chen Yingying nudged her, "not yet."

Luo Yan teased, "It's probably true, otherwise why would you tell me?"

Chen Yingying didn't deny it, but instead asked, "What about you? Are there any special boys in your class?"

Luo Yan: "Even if it were there, I wouldn't be able to see it; I was too busy reading."

Chen Yingying: "That proves it doesn't exist, otherwise we would definitely be able to see it."

That makes perfect sense. Luo Yan pondered for a moment, rubbing her chin, and said, "There's one in the class next door."

Chen Yingying became interested: "What kind?"

Luo Yan: "She has good grades, and looks like Da Shichang. She's a great writer, and her articles have been published in magazines. She also speaks English, and her pronunciation is exceptionally accurate."

Everything sounds like it's related to studying. Chen Yingying: "What about personality?"

Luo Yan: "It's hard to say, we're not very familiar with each other."

Chen Yingying, speaking with the air of someone who's been there, said: "Personality is the most important thing."

Luo Yan joked, "So, it seems your class monitor's personality is particularly to your liking."

Chen Yingying blushed with embarrassment, and feigned anger: "If you say that again, I won't talk to you anymore."

Luo Yan raised a finger to shush her: "I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore."

Chen Yingying hugged her arm: "But I think there must be a lot of people who like you."

Luo Yan: "There should be, but no one has told me."

Chen Yingying: "Someone as dedicated to their studies as you, who would dare to hold you back? Do you still remember xxx?"

They were talking about a boy in her junior high class. Luo Yan vaguely remembered him: "I remember, what's wrong?"

Chen Yingying: "He always had feelings for you. Every time we went on training exercises, he would offer to help you carry your things."

The training exercise was about making a good impression; we had to show the teachers our indomitable will and strong physique.

Luo Yan only remembered that she had gritted her teeth and made it through every time. After thinking for a moment, she slapped her thigh and said, "Yes, that's true. He even brought me a piece of candy once."

Chen Yingying: "I think you only remember the candy."

Luo Yan: "I remember it a little more clearly than a face; it tasted like preserved plum."

Chen Yingying felt sorry for that male classmate: "He was a good person, it's a pity he didn't go to high school."

Luo Yan: "Actually, I think the education level is fine. Who doesn't want to go to university? Many people really have no choice."

Fate often doesn't offer choices, but manipulates and plays tricks on people.

"That's true," Chen Yingying said. "Isn't that my older brother?"

The eldest son of the Chen family started working after graduating from high school. He had a very good academic foundation and should have had a great advantage in the college entrance examination.

However, he married early and had three children, so he had to support his family and had no choice but to give up the opportunity.

Luo Yan: "He was doing well at the bus company. It's not that easy to be determined to take the college entrance exam and start over."

Chen Yingying: "My parents said the same thing, as did my sister-in-law."

Luo Yan: "When you get married and have children, you have worries and concerns."

Chen Yingying laughed: "The tone you used when you said that sounds just like my mom."

Luo Yan tickled her: "I'd dare to respond if you called out."

Chen Yingying was not one to back down from taking advantage of anyone.

The two of them played and fought until the sun set.

Luo Yan glanced at her watch: "I'm going to freeload dinner tonight, I'm leaving now!"

Chen Yingying had just heard her mention it and said, "Tell me if it's delicious, and I'll ask my second brother to take me next time."

Luo Yan: "Definitely."

She never liked being late, and seeing that it was already time for her brother to get off work, she rode her bicycle very fast.

As we turned into an alley, another car came out from the sloping side.

Luo Yan slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. With a loud crash, she veered to the right and barely managed to regain her balance.

Zhou Weifang, who was on the other end, also regained his composure and asked, "Luo Yan, are you alright?"

Luo Yan thought to herself that it was someone she knew, and apologized first: "I'm sorry, I was riding too fast."

Zhou Weifang: "It was a lucky coincidence, I'm not slow either."

He then said, "Let me see if your car is damaged."

He was a professional, so Luo Yan gave up her seat and cautiously craned her neck to watch from behind.

Zhou Weifang squatted down to look at it for a while: "It's dented a little. I'll have Luo Bu take a hammer and tap it later."

Luo Yan: "Okay, I'll talk to him later."

Meeting at this time and place, Zhou Weifang asked, "You're also eating at Hongyang's place?"

Luo Yan nodded, then asked knowingly, "Are you going too?"

Zhou Weifang: "Okay, let's go together."

The two walked only a few dozen meters together before arriving at their destination, and Luo Yan inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.

She parked her car in front of the restaurant and greeted them politely: "Brother Hongyang, I wish you a grand opening and booming business."

Zhang Hongyang said, "Your childhood friend's sister is no different from my own sister. It's an honor to have you here, Wenquxing!"

He walked past her again: "San'er's here."

Zhou Weifang's use of "Congratulations on your grand opening" would be a rehash of what others had said, and since he couldn't think of anything new for the moment, he could only manage to say, "Congratulations."

Zhang Hongyang: "Don't mention it, please come in and have a seat. I'll be there in a bit."

There were already several guests inside, and Luo Yan greeted them one by one, calling them either "sister" or "brother."

As Zhou Weifang listened, she keenly realized one thing—that Luo Yan had never called her brother.

Well, he doesn't even care.

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Author's note: The romance storyline won't develop that quickly.