Another 5 AM update today!!!

"Alright, then you can take it with you. Everyone else is eager to take things home, but you've given them all to the collective."

"It's so nice to listen to the news, songs, and even operas while eating. I can't this year because of political classes. I'll buy them when I go to school in the capital."

“Okay, let’s buy a new one. The Overseas Chinese Store has a wide variety of styles, so we can choose the one we like.”

Although Zhang Hongmei lacks emotional intelligence, she still possesses intellectual intelligence, and even the most oblivious person would have noticed Liu Jingze's various behaviors.

Zhang Hongmei fell silent. Essentially, she and Liu Jingze weren't a good match. Liu Jingze appeared to be a gentle and refined gentleman, but he was an arrogant and controlling person with a very strong desire for control. Living with someone like that would be exhausting.

Besides, I'm only thirteen years old, not thirty. Isn't that a bit too early?

But how do I refuse? How do I explain it clearly?

Even after Zhang Hongmei arrived at the cafeteria with the radio, she still couldn't figure out how to start the conversation.

Liu Jingze felt particularly irritated looking at Zhang Hongmei, who seemed distracted.

"Hongmei's back? Did she finish her exams? Is she going to university?"

"Auntie, yes, we're just waiting for the notification letter."

"Hongmei is really promising; she's already going to university at such a young age."

"Yes, we mustn't forget about everyone!"

"Hehe, don't worry, I definitely won't forget it. Besides, I'll come back every year."

The women chatted idly with Zhang Hongmei, each one of them talking at once.

Zhang Hongmei approached Wang Hongxi and said, "Uncle Village Chief, let's put the radio in the village so that everyone can know more about what's happening outside."

"Take it to school. It'll save you the trouble of buying it again."

"It's alright, I still have radio tickets. I'll buy them later. Let's save them for everyone first."

"Okay, then I'll thank you on behalf of everyone."

Breakfast wasn't eaten until 9:30, just sweet potato and pumpkin porridge made from crushed corn kernels and seeds.

Because of the drought, the pumpkins and sweet potatoes were especially sweet. Zhang Hongmei went to a boy named Xiaolong and poured him some porridge, keeping only a few pieces of sweet potato and pumpkin for herself. She didn't even bother to eat the eggs anymore.

Liu Jingze kept a close eye on Zhang Hongmei, and frowned when he saw that she had only eaten sweet potatoes.

Wang Hongxi turned the radio up to the maximum volume. In the canteen, only the announcer's sweet voice could be heard broadcasting the news. No one made a sound; everyone listened quietly.

After finishing her meal, Zhang Hongmei left the cafeteria with her bowl in hand, followed by Liu Jingze.

Ever since Zhang Hongmei guessed Liu Jingze's feelings, she had felt an instinctive aversion to him. She frowned, knowing this wouldn't work. Liu Jingze hadn't done anything wrong; the problem lay with her.

I can't do that. Liu Jingze is good to me, and I can talk to him about it, but I can't have any negative feelings towards him.

Liu Jingze silently followed behind Zhang Hongmei. When they got home, Liu Jingze took the bowl and chopsticks from Zhang Hongmei's hands, washed them, and put them aside.

"Brother Jingze, I want to talk to you."

"Okay, what do you want to talk about?"

The two people entered the room. "You get on the kang first, I'll go and make the fire burn brighter."

Zhang Hongmei felt quite uncomfortable. She wasn't the type to procrastinate. Liking someone is liking someone, and love is love; they shouldn't be confused.

Liu Jingze was on the outside, but his mind was in turmoil. Had he finally made Zhang Hongmei feel his efforts after all this time?

Seeing her troubled expression, did she not like him? Liu Jingze smiled confidently, determined not to let her go.

After washing his hands, he gave a self-deprecating laugh, realizing that he had been influenced by Zhang Hongmei to develop obsessive-compulsive disorder regarding cleanliness.

Zhang Hongmei was still on the kang (a heated brick bed), unsure of how to start the conversation, when Liu Jingze came in.

"Hongmei, what do you want to talk to me about?"

Zhang Hongmei closed her eyes and then opened them again. "Brother Jingze, do you have feelings for me?"

"yes."

Zhang Hongmei stopped herself. Why was she so direct? "Brother Jingze, I'm still young, and my requirement for a partner is that he loves me more than he loves himself." Actually, Zhang Hongmei didn't have that kind of thought at all; she just wanted to make Liu Jingze back down.

"Hehe, I love you more than myself. You'll gradually realize that in the future."

“Brother Jingze, I really only see you as an older brother, and I have no feelings for the opposite sex.”

"Just like you said, you're still young, you don't understand this kind of feeling yet, I will always be by your side."

"But I don't feel any attraction to you."

Have you ever felt attracted to someone? Have you ever felt it?

"No, but I feel the same way I do about Dashan and Jianguo."

"Like I said, you're still young. I'll wait until you grow up, until you fall in love, and until you only have feelings for me."

Zhang Hongmei was going crazy. Why couldn't she understand her reasoning?

"Brother Jingze, when I sensed that you were interested in me, my first reaction was disgust and dislike." Zhang Hongmei really didn't want to tell the truth because it was too hurtful, but since she couldn't reason with you, she had no choice but to tell the truth.

"Like I said, you're still young and haven't experienced this kind of relationship before, so of course you're averse to it. It's okay, you'll get used to it over time."

Zhang Hongmei was discouraged, but decided to go all out: "Brother Jingze, I like handsome boys."

"Hehe, am I not pretty enough? We'll be together all the time in the future, and you'll get used to it and like it."

Why doesn't this make sense? "Anyway, I don't think I'll ever have feelings for you."

"Love also needs to be cultivated slowly."

Zhang Hongmei collapsed onto the pile of quilts in despair, utterly speechless. How could this have happened?

"Hehe, Hongmei, it's okay. You're right, you're still too young. Even if I'm anxious, I won't do anything to you. But don't distance yourself from me. Give me a chance, even if you still can't accept me in the end." Liu Jingze didn't really think that way. He had finally found someone he liked, how could he let go?

“Brother Jingze, I really do consider you my older brother.”

"It's okay, we can still interact like this in the future." I can't push her too hard now, I'll just go along with her for now.

"Oh well."

Are you tired? If not, let's play chess.

"I'm tired, I need to rest for a while. Negotiating with you is exhausting."

"Hehe, is that so? You rest, I'll read a book for a while."

Liu Jingze didn't leave at all. Instead, he found a book and sat on the other side of the kang table, flipping through it.

Zhang Hongmei was speechless. She simply closed her eyes, her mind a mess, unsure of what to do.

She fell asleep without realizing it. Liu Jingze quietly stood up and walked over. Looking at the sleeping Zhang Hongmei, he felt both love and hate. This girl actually looked down on him and rejected him.

She was leaning against the pile of quilts, so there was no way to cover her with a blanket. But the room was still cold, so there was no way to get out of bed and bring her a coat to cover her with. Catching a cold is no joke, and she was in a special period right now, so there was no room for carelessness.