Chapter 17

As Li Muxue gradually regained consciousness, her eyes were still closed when she heard Xu Chen and Liu Yuling talking beside her: "Yuling, I think she'll wake up soon. She probably doesn't want to see me, so I went back to school first. Don't tell her that I brought her to the hospital with the PE teacher, and don't tell her that I bought those things on the windowsill for her because I was afraid she wouldn't eat them. Just say you bought them, okay?"

"Okay, I'll remember that, Xu Chen. Sometimes I feel like Sister Xue has really gone too far with you, and I've seen everything you've done for her. To be honest, I think you're being incredibly foolish. I know you're trying to atone for your father's sins, but you can't..."

Xu Chen interrupted Liu Yuling, saying, "Don't say anymore, Yuling. I think it's normal that she hasn't forgiven me yet, because her family's current situation is all my dad's fault. Uncle Li served six years in prison and is now forced to repair cars, and Aunt Qiao has gone to another workshop to do heavy work. And what can I do? I won't say any more, I'm going back. Teacher Xue has already called the factory's gatehouse to inform Aunt Qiao, and I estimate she'll be there soon. If I don't leave now, I'm afraid Aunt Qiao will see me. You stay here and keep her company..."

The two people having the conversation were right beside her, and the content of their conversation was something she didn't want to face. So Li Muxue could only close her eyes tightly and pretend she hadn't woken up, but her heart felt like it had been stabbed by a knife.

Li Muxue was curious. Xu Chen said he bought the things on the windowsill, so what could they be? She quietly opened her eyes and saw the windowsill less than a meter away. The early autumn afternoon sun was no longer scorching, but rather languid. On the windowsill were two bottles of "Bawangsi" soda, orange-flavored, and a bag of "Bulaolin Sports Candy." Sunlight pierced through the glass bottles, and that orange beam, like a powerful, indescribable warmth, instantly enveloped Li Muxue, taking her thoughts back to her carefree elementary school days…

Deep within Li Muxue's memory lie many fragmented pieces, all remnants of her princess-like life during elementary school. The value of these memories lies in their ability to combat the harsh realities of life.

She remembered that year, when she had just started first grade, it was also an early autumn afternoon. School had just let out, and she and Xu Chen were walking in the bustling crowd. As they exited the school gate, the noisy flow of people gradually dispersed, and sunlight filtered through the poplar trees lining the road, casting dappled patterns on the ground. Xu Chen pointed to a clump of plants with small purple flowers by the roadside and exclaimed, "Look, look! It's this! Doesn't it look like a little trumpet?"

Li Muxue squatted down, carefully touched the petals, and whispered, "Hmm, it looks like it. Brother Chen, do you know what this flower is called?"

"I...I don't know." Xu Chen scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "But I think it's prettier than the cactus on our classroom windowsill."

Li Muxue chuckled, her eyes curving into crescents: "Cacti are covered in thorns, you know. The teacher said we can only look at them, not touch them, so of course it's different." Her smile was like a piece of candy, instantly sweetening Xu Chen's heart.

The two walked a little further, passing a small shop on the street corner with a wooden sign that read "Convenience Grocery Store." The glass counter displayed colorful candies and various cookies, the sunlight reflecting off the glass bottles with a sparkling light. Xu Chen involuntarily stopped, remembering the one yuan his mother had slipped into his pocket that morning.

"Xiaoxue, wait for me!" Xu Chen said, then darted into the grocery store like a little monkey.

Li Muxue stood at the shop entrance, peering inside curiously. She saw Xu Chen standing on tiptoe, leaning over the glass counter, pointing with his little finger at a row of glass bottles of soda, talking to the shop owner who wore reading glasses.

Not long after, Xu Chen came running out, clutching two bottles of orange-flavored "Bawangsi" soda, a smug look on his face that said, "I've accomplished something big." "Here, take this!" He handed one of the bottles to Li Muxue.

In the late 1980s, there was no Coca-Cola, Sprite, or Fanta in this city. There was only a type of soda called "Bawangsi" in glass bottles. The transparent bottles contained an orange-yellow liquid, like solidified sunlight, with tiny bubbles rising to the surface from time to time.

"Hachiwangji?" Li Muxue took the soda, somewhat surprised. "But... I don't have any money to give you."

"I don't need you to pay!" Xu Chen puffed out his little chest, like a little hero. "I'll treat you to a drink! My mom gave me money to buy some good food, but I think it's more fun to drink soda with you." He spoke confidently, but he was actually a little nervous, afraid that Li Muxue wouldn't accept.

Li Muxue's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head, looked at the glass bottle in her hand, and whispered, "Thank you, Brother Chen." Her voice carried a hint of joy, like a kitten's paw gently scratching Xu Chen's heart.

"Let's drink now! I just asked the old man to help me open it!"

There was a small cement step in front of the grocery store, and the two sat down side by side.

"Xiaoxue, you drink first!"

Li Muxue shook her head: "You drink first."

“Then… let’s drink together!” Xu Chen came up with a good idea. He raised his bottle and, like an adult clinking glasses, gently touched Li Muxue’s bottle. With a “clink,” the sound of the glass colliding was crisp and pleasant.

"Let's drink together!" Li Muxue smiled and raised her bottle with him.

Xu Chen shook the bottle, and the bubbles inside rose again. "You know what? I feel like drinking this soda makes me run faster! I just drank a bottle last time and had a race with Wang Lei, and I won!"

Li Muxue tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said seriously, "But Wang Lei is so fat, he can't run fast, right?"

"..." Xu Chen choked for a moment, then burst into laughter, "What you said seems to make sense!"

Li Muxue laughed along, the ribbon in her braid swaying with her laughter. The setting sun made her smile even more radiant…

(To be continued)