Chapter 13, Chapter 13: He patted her head.

Chapter Thirteen: He patted her head.

There were five pieces of Sachima in total. Li Yue ate two pieces, while Ling Jianwei didn't eat any, saying it was too sweet and sticky, and that he would just drink tea instead.

As she was leaving, Ling Jianwei asked the waiter for a paper bag, put the remaining three pieces in it, and handed it to her.

"Take it back and enjoy it slowly," he said.

Li Yue happily took the paper bag: "This stuff is quite expensive, but it's really delicious."

He said, "My great-uncle has a friend who is good at making pastries; his cakes are absolutely amazing."

Li Yue was frustrated: "How can I compare to your great-uncle's chef friend in every way? Compared to that, I'm eating garbage every day."

Ling Jianwei smiled helplessly: "What I meant was, if you like to eat, I can take you to try his cooking."

"Then why don't you just finish saying it all at once?"

"You interrupted me."

"snort."

"Hmph," even if he wanted to take her, she probably wouldn't go. Ling Jianwei pushed her back and said, "Get in the car quickly."

Sitting in the car, Ling Jianwei leaned back in her seat, looking at the street in front of her with a relaxed posture.

Li Yue asked, "Why aren't you driving?"

He glanced at her: "Are you hungry now?"

"I'm not hungry, I ate two pieces of Sachima."

"Then sit for a while."

Li Yue: "Oh."

She held the small paper bag in her hand the whole time. When she opened the bag, a fragrance wafted out, and she couldn't help but say, "It smells so good!"

Ling Jianwei smiled slightly, as if she were disdainful.

Li Yue: "Don't be dismissive. I can't eat these good things all the time."

Snacks she once looked down upon now feel like a blessing, even just a bite. Sometimes she laments that she couldn't have brought a spatial dimension or something to store a bunch of supplies when she transmigrated.

Ling Jianwei did not respond, as if she was preoccupied with something.

Li Yue glanced at it: "I'm asking you."

Ling Jianwei tilted his head slightly and raised his eyelids slightly.

"So, how did things go with your blind date? Did it work out?"

He countered, "You want us to succeed?"

Li Yue replied, "I have no hope of whether it will work out or not. It depends on you. If you like them and are satisfied with them, then of course I hope you can get together."

What if I don't like it?

Li Yue thought for a moment and said, "Then you should discuss it with your parents."

Ling Jianwei: "If we could discuss it, would I have been tricked into coming here for a blind date?"

Li Yue said, "That depends on the situation. Sometimes you might feel resistant in your heart, but after meeting the other person, you might feel that they are not so bad."

The man sneered: "Wow, you have two different standards for your blind dates than for mine."

Li Yue: "Well, everyone's situation is different."

Actually, she doesn't like to interfere in other people's relationships, but perhaps, when it comes to Ling Jianwei, she still hopes he can be happy.

Ling Jianwei sat up straight and started the car: "Let's go."

During the meal, he took good care of him, just like before.

After we finished eating, he said, "You forgot your leather shoes last time; they're at home. Do you want to go get them now?"

Li Yue said, "But those shoes, I..."

"You don't want it?"

"The main problem is that I really don't have many opportunities to wear it."

"Then keep it as a souvenir. If you don't like it, just throw it away." He was a little angry, his face tense, and he drove away.

Oh no, Li Yue opened her eyes wide, as if she had really touched a nerve.

The car was moving along the wide road. Seeing that it wasn't heading home, Li Yue asked, "Where are we going?"

"Go back to the compound and get your shoes."

"oh."

She felt that if she refused again, things would get out of hand. It would be good to go to the compound and take a look. She had never been there before, and most people would be questioned by the guards if they went in.

The car drove straight through one of the gates of the compound, along a tree-lined avenue, and finally turned into the residential area.

Looking at the row of houses ahead, Li Yue said, "I want to get off up ahead and wander around the yard by myself."

"What are you afraid of? No one's home today. I'll show you around later."

Li Yue: "..."

We stopped in front of a detached house with a yard. This area is full of these small villas, and it goes without saying that they are inhabited by high-ranking officials.

After getting out of the car, Li Yue said, "Want to come in and sit for a while?"

She shook her head: "I'll wait here."

He seemed to hold back for a moment, then went into the courtyard by himself.

Li Yue stood beside the car and looked around. She felt that the courtyard was very similar to what she had imagined. Everything was in good order and neat. Even the flowers, plants and trees looked very orderly.

A middle-aged woman in military uniform passed by, scrutinizing her. Perhaps seeing that she was a stranger, the woman's eyes shone with a sharp, piercing gaze, as if they were the discerning eyes of someone who had been through many trials.

Faced with the woman's sharp gaze, Li Yue stepped back towards the car. The middle-aged woman recognized the car and asked, "Are you a relative of Chief Ling?"

Li Yue stood up straight and shook her head, saying, "They're not relatives, they're friends of Deputy Battalion Commander Ling."

The middle-aged woman smiled and softened her expression: "What's your name?"

"Li Yue," she answered obediently.

The middle-aged woman frowned again: "Surname Li?"

“Yes.” Li Yue nodded. “Li as in dawn.”

Is this your first time here?

"Yes."

Just then, Ling Jianwei took out a shoebox and called out as she walked, "Aunt Yu, what are you questioning me about?"

Aunt Yu looked at Ling Jianwei and scolded, "Why did you bring the girl to the compound without inviting her in for a seat?"

Ling Jianwei said, "Isn't it because she likes to stay outside?"

Aunt Yu looked Li Yue up and down again and said, "She's a pretty girl. Alright, you guys go about your business."

After saying that, he left.

“Aunt Yu works for the compound management committee,” Ling Jian smiled and handed her the shoebox. “Should we put it in the car first?”

Li Yue took the shoebox: "Didn't your family ask about these shoes?"

"I just left it in the room, and nobody asked about it."

"Oh, that's good."

"What's good about it?"

Li Yue did not reply.

He said, "The compound is very big. Shall I take you for a ride around?"

"good."

He drove to the office area first, but didn't go in; he just passed by.

Li Yue asked, "Does your dad work here?"

"Yes, but he went to a meeting today, otherwise I wouldn't have had the chance to use his car. I'll pick him up after I drop you off at home."

Li Yue nodded and looked at the office buildings.

Between the office area and the living area is a military service center, which has shops such as a small store and a tailor shop. He said there are also shops selling steamed buns, and the steamed buns are huge.

Li Yue arrived at the steamed bun shop and, seeing the bamboo steamers stacked high like a mountain, hesitated for a moment. He asked, "Want to buy some?"

Li Yue nodded: "I've come all this way to the compound, I should at least bring back some local specialties."

Ling Jianwei couldn't help but laugh: "How ambitious! How many do you want? Plenty."

So she bought several large steamed buns, put them in an oil-paper bag, and Li Yue happily took them into the car as well.

The residential area consisted of several Soviet-style buildings housing military dependents, and also included facilities such as a kindergarten, school, bathhouse, basketball court, auditorium, and cinema.

Li Yue said, "It's like a small society."

"Of course, you can live a good life without leaving the compound."

As I passed by the school, it was during recess, and the campus was filled with noise.

Did you attend junior high and high school here?

“No, although there are junior and senior high schools here, the teaching quality is not as good as the schools outside. Those with some ambition go to study outside,” he said. “I started school early and was specially recruited to study at a military academy when I was fifteen.”

Ling Jianwei was exceptionally capable, and with a vacant position, his promotion was very smooth; he was promoted to deputy battalion commander ahead of schedule.

He drove to the basketball court area, stopped the car, and the two of them got out and left.

Li Yue listened to him talk about his childhood, saying that most of the children in the compound were lawless, while he was considered one of the more well-behaved ones.

“I attended military school in another city when I was very young. The kids I grew up with in the academy went to school and worked normally. Gradually, I became more and more distant from them. When I met them again, we would just nod to each other. Looking at it this way, I feel quite lonely,” he said casually.

Li Yue blurted out, "Loneliness is a normal part of life."

He sighed, “Yes, that’s normal in life. But my family doesn’t think that way. They think there’s something wrong with me. They say I don’t interact with them or talk to girls.”

Li Yue looked at him: "Am I not a girl?"

He smiled and said, "Of course you're a girl, but you're an exception. I've never gotten this close to any other girl before."

The way she said it was a bit ambiguous, and she murmured in response, "Oh."

Then, turning our gaze forward, we saw a group of young people walking towards us in the distance, chatting and laughing together.

He added, "All the childhood friends you've known since you were little grew up together. Even though your childhood sweetheart was taken away by your childhood sweetheart, I think it's fine."

Li Yue was speechless: "What's so good about it?"

“That childhood friend is not good enough for you. You deserve better.” He looked at her and said bluntly.

Looking at that confident and handsome face, Li Yue could see that the light in his eyes was clear and pure. She pursed her lips and closed her eyes.

She deserves better, but what does "better" mean? Who knows? She didn't have time to think about it.

There are still nine years until the college entrance examination is reinstated, ten years until the reform and opening up, and only a little over a month until she is sent to the countryside. Let's wait until she comes back alive from the place she was sent to before we talk about it.

Having transmigrated into this historical novel, she didn't even know who the male and female protagonists were. She only subconsciously knew that this was the world within the book.

Maybe she's just a nameless nobody, but that's fine too. She's carefree and has to rely on herself for the rest of her life.

Seeing the light in her eyes gradually dim, Ling Jianwei gazed at her, and finally couldn't help but raise her hand to smooth a few strands of bangs that had been ruffled by the autumn wind, while also patting her head and smiling gently at her.

Looking at this handsome and gentle man, Li Yue's heart skipped a beat. She froze on the spot, not knowing how to respond for a moment. She could only feel his large hand moving from the top of her head, down her hair, and gently holding her braid before finally letting go and smiling slightly: "Silly girl."

Li Yue's cheeks warmed up.

...