The first semester for the 1977 college class was only three months long and ended in the blink of an eye.

English is the last test.

Cheng Yaoyao glanced at the sky outside the window, with an unconscious sweet smile on the corner of his lips.

In the examination room, many students looked at her absent-mindedly, and some young teachers kept running from other examination rooms to watch her.

Cheng Yaoyao didn't care and lowered her head to write the test paper. English was her best subject, and a string of beautiful English words flowed out from her pen.

Cheng Yaoyao finished her paper and checked it again. When the bell rang, she handed in her paper impatiently and was the first to run out of the classroom.

Qin Yangyang and the others caught up with him from behind: "Yaoyao, Yaoyao, wait a minute! Why are you running so fast?"

Cheng Yaoyao suppressed his excitement and stopped to wait for them: "There's no rush."

Cheng Yaoyao was holding a book, and her roommates surrounded her, shielding her from the attention of most of her classmates.

At that time, "Tiao Tiao" was popular in Shanghai, and Cheng Yaoyao really attracted many admirers. Xie Zhao and she were in different departments, so there were always some classes that did not overlap. Every day, her roommate accompanied her to and from class until Xie Zhao personally took her home.

The school sympathized with Cheng Yaoyao's situation and allowed her to study on her own in the dormitory during the last two weeks.

During the two days of exams, Cheng Yaoyao finally came back into everyone's sight. Even so, during the exams, some young teachers came to the classroom to see her.

After returning to the dormitory, Qin Yangyang lay down heavily on the bed: "Ah! I am so tired. I haven't had a good sleep in the past two weeks of review!"

The responses came one after another.

Zhao Mu was tidying up the messy dormitory. No one had the energy to clean up these days, and books and study materials were piled up on the table. She asked, "Hey, what are your plans after the exam?"

Li Weihong said, "This semester is only three months long, and the ticket to go home is too expensive. I asked Jiang Ling about it and decided to work part-time in a private canning factory."

Wang Xier heard this and said, "Hey, is the salary at the canning factory high? I want to stay here too."

Jiang Ling snatched it away and said, "The wages are calculated by piecework. I heard that a skilled worker can earn dozens of yuan a month."

"Oh my god, it's higher than my dad's salary!" Wang Xier said excitedly.

Zhao Mu asked cautiously, "Is it reliable?"

"Why is it unreliable? There are so many private enterprises nowadays, and they often hire temporary workers."

Only Wang Xudan said, "But Xiaochuan's grandparents want to see their grandson, and my partner and I want to take him back to our hometown."

Qin Yangyang tried to persuade them, "Don't go back! I'll invite you to my house during the summer vacation! Hey, Yaoyao, stop dressing up and show your attitude!"

Cheng Yaoyao came back to his senses and said, "Me? I...I'm not going back. I heard that long-distance trains are very unsafe nowadays. There are many people who block the road, break windows, rob, kidnap children, and abduct women."

Xie Zhao went back to the countryside a while ago. When the train stopped at a small station, some locals broke windows and stole things. A father and daughter who lived next door to Xie Zhao were well-dressed, but they were robbed of everything. If Xie Zhao hadn't come to their rescue, the girl would have been pulled out of the window.

After hearing what Cheng Yaoyao said, the girls were shocked and said, "Then I won't go back! We'll just stay in the dormitory and have a companion!"

Zhao Mu said optimistically: "Yes, let's go and work for a summer vacation and earn enough living expenses for the next semester."

This group of young girls were very close to each other and were reluctant to separate. At this time, they were talking and laughing about finding summer jobs.

Cheng Yaoyao said, "Don't go to the canning factory. It's too tiring there. I'll help you find an easy job in a few days."

Everyone was even happier. Zhao Mu suggested, "The dorm keeper has gone home. Let's cook hot pot in the dormitory tonight? Let's go to the school gate to buy some vegetables and vermicelli?"

Qin Yangyang said, "What kind of hot pot are you cooking? Let's go to a restaurant, shall we?"

Since everyone had decided not to go home, they could save a lot of money on train tickets, and everyone agreed.

Only Cheng Yaoyao said, "I have an appointment with Xie Zhao today, let's do it another day."

Cheng Yaoyao looked at herself in the mirror. She had dressed up today, wearing a red dress with a unique cut and a pearl hairpin in her black hair. Cheng Yaoyao had black hair, fair skin, bright eyes and white teeth. She looked even more beautiful in this bright color, making people unable to take their eyes off her.

She turned around with a smile, which earned her roommates' praise.

Qin Yangyang said: "Yaoyao, you are usually with Xie Zhaoxiu every day, so you can't miss the dormitory party today!"

Cheng Yaoyao's peach blossom eyes flickered, and he glanced at her: "Today is different. I have something important to do."

Qin Yangyang was stunned for a long time, covered her face and shouted: "Just talk, don't wink!"

Cheng Yaoyao picked up her handbag and ran to the door, saying, "I won't be back tonight!"

"Are you going home?" Zhao Mu asked worriedly, "You must be careful."

Everyone in the dormitory knew that Cheng Yaoyao's family was from Shanghai, and no one thought much about it.

"Yeah." Cheng Yaoyao nodded. The villa was her home.

Qin Yangyang asked: "What's the big deal today?"

"I'll tell you when I get back!" Cheng Yaoyao blew a kiss and ran away.

Cheng Yaoyao went downstairs to the Economics Department to wait for Xie Zhao. Students who had just finished their exams ran out arm in arm. This was a famous department for being a monk, and all kinds of surprised and passionate eyes were directed at Cheng Yaoyao. She turned her back and leaned against a pillar.

Most of the male students were interested, and those who were not interested also ran into trouble with Cheng Yaoyao and were asked to talk by Xie Zhao. At this time, apart from a few heated glances or whispers, no one came to bother Cheng Yaoyao.

Cheng Yaoyao was bored waiting, so she took out the small mirror from her handbag to check her makeup. She lowered her swan neck and looked at her flawless face, and there was another figure in the mirror.

"You..." Cheng Yaoyao felt something was wrong as soon as he said this. The aura of the person coming was completely different from Xie Zhao's. But he still couldn't help but finish: "Here he comes..."

An unfamiliar young man stood in front of Cheng Yaoyao, his eyes wild and strange: "Shen Jiqiu."

Cheng Yaoyao unconsciously took a step back and looked around.

She was the only one left in front of the Soviet-style red brick teaching building, which had been bustling with people just now.

The young man noticed her look and approached her eagerly, saying, "Don't be afraid. My name is Xu Hongxing, and I have no ill intentions! I just want to be friends with you and get to know you."

The fanatical eyes of the man in front of him reminded Cheng Yaoyao of what happened in the back mountain of Tianshui Village half a year ago.

A chill slowly rose up Cheng Yaoyao's back. His face was tense and he frowned as he looked at the obviously abnormal person in front of him.

Xu Hongxing kept talking about his love and obsession with "Shen Jiqiu". He spoke very fast and illogically, and his saliva almost sprayed on Cheng Yaoyao's face. Cheng Yaoyao suppressed his fear and said, "Thank you... Thank you for your love. It's getting late, I have to go first."

After Cheng Yaoyao finished speaking, he turned around and walked out.

"Wait!" Xu Hongxing ran to Cheng Yaoyao and stopped her, and said nervously: "Don't you believe me? I really like you very much! If you don't believe me, just look!"

Xu Hongxing took out a handful of tickets from his pocket and held them in front of Cheng Yaoyao: "Shen Jiqiu, I watched many performances of "Tiao Tiao", all for you. Look, here are 28 tickets. I watched every show in every cinema in Shanghai..."

The backs of his hands were covered with wounds, emitting a foul smell.

Cheng Yaoyao almost screamed, and stared at him with a pale face: "Sorry, I have an appointment, I have to leave now."

She was born with a rather cold and beautiful face, but to Xu Hongxing, this expression was arrogant and condescending.

Xu Hongxing's face suddenly turned red, and veins popped out: "Do you look down on me? I like you so much, I spent all my tuition money on movie tickets, Shen Jiqiu, you really disappoint me... Don't run away!"

Cheng Yaoyao took advantage of Xu Hongxing's distraction and ducked down the stairs. The cold rain soaked her clothes and made it difficult for her to walk.

Xu Hongxing chased after him, roaring, "Don't run! Shen Jiqiu!"

The light was hazy in the rain, and the familiar campus became strange and scary. Cheng Yaoyao's stomach tightened, and the filthy and lustful eyes of the men on the hill behind Tianshui Village and Cheng Nonuo's vicious smile all appeared before his eyes.

A hand grabbed her arm fiercely, and Xu Hongxing said with a crazy smile: "I got you."

Cheng Yaoyao felt a chill in his heart, and he closed his eyes tightly, calling out the person he wanted to see the most: "Xie Zhao..."

The sound of wind breaking through the rain curtain passed by his ears, Xu Hongxing screamed, and Cheng Yaoyao's arm was released.

The hot and strong embrace separated the rain and fear, and a magnetic voice fell on the top of my head: "Sister, it's okay."

Cheng Yaoyao buried herself tightly in Xie Zhao's arms. Her tense nerves miraculously relaxed, and she sobbed, "Xie Zhao..."

"I'm sorry, I'm late and scared my sister." Xie Zhao stroked her black hair with his big hands.

A group of boys also rushed out. Seeing this scene, they all angrily denounced the hooligans. Xie Zhao's roommates surrounded them and asked with concern: "Is sister-in-law okay? I'm sorry, I was delayed by Xie brother just now to help me with something."

"Is your sister-in-law not scared?"

Cheng Yaoyao's eyes turned red. She raised her head from Xie Zhao's arms, but saw Xie Zhao's roommates surrounding her, looking at her with concern.

Cheng Yaoyao hid his face back in Xie Zhaohuai with a wronged look, looking as if he was frightened out of his wits.

The passionate young people were furious. Xie Zhao, this delicate and beautiful girl, was the goddess in the hearts of all the boys in their school. How could she be bullied by a hooligan today?

Xu Hongxing was hit hard by Xie Zhao, and rolled in the mud with blood coming out of his mouth and nose. He struggled to get up, and saw the person who was as beautiful as the moon in the sky in his mind, buried in Xie Zhao's arms, being so intimate as if no one was around.

Xu Hongxing's eyes were red: "Shen Jiqiu! You...how can you be so shameless!"

One of Xie Zhao's roommates from Northeast China kicked him to the ground and said, "Are you looking for death? How dare you talk to our sister-in-law like that?"

"Bah! I'm Cheng Yaoyao, not Shen Jiqiu. Can you please differentiate between reality and movies?" Cheng Yaoyao trembled and complained to Xie Zhao: "That psychopath just scared me to death, and he even chased me..."

Xie Zhao hugged her tightly: "Yeah, you scared your sister."

Xie Zhao and his roommates surrounded Xu Hongxing and said to him, "Xie Zhao, take your sister-in-law back. We will take care of this kid."

Xie Zhao said in a deep voice: "Don't do anything, I'll do it."

Xie Zhao took off his shirt and covered her head with it, saying in a gentle voice, "Sister, go over there and take shelter from the rain."

"Don't... don't kill anyone." Cheng Yaoyao said in a low voice.

Xie Zhao's chest vibrated, and he smiled: "Don't worry. Don't look back."

Cheng Yaoyao obediently turned his back.

Xie Zhao was only wearing a white vest that was wet from the rain, outlining the lines of his strong and muscular back.

He walked towards Xu Hongxing step by step. The rain wet his narrow eyebrows and eyes, showing a coldness and sinisterness that was completely different from usual.

Xu Hongxing, who had been so ferocious just now, sat in the mud and kept moving backwards when facing Xie Zhao, who was stronger and taller than him: "You...what are you going to do?"

There was a heavy storm with rumbling thunder in the sky, even the occasional screams and the sounds of fists and feet hitting each other were drowned out by the wind and rain.

The crowd watched silently. In this era when hooliganism is punishable by shooting, no one would sympathize with such a scum who bullies women.

It was not until Xu Hongxing was almost beaten that the school security department came to report: "I heard that there are hooligans here!"

Accompanied by Xie Zhao, Cheng Yaoyao went to the Public Security Bureau to provide a confession.

As soon as the police saw Xu Hongxing, they said, "It's you, kid!"

It turned out that Xu Hongxing was a worker-peasant-soldier student at Shanghai University. He was a normal person except for being introverted and lonely. Until a while ago, money was lost in their dormitory several times and Xu Hongxing was absent from classes. After a roommate's stolen watch was found in his pocket, he was expelled from the school.

During the interrogation, Xu Hongxing refused to tell the reason for the theft, but now the truth has come to light.

There was no such thing as star-chasing in those days, and everyone was shocked to see Xu Hongxing going crazy for a movie role.

A middle-aged police officer sighed and said, "Is it that serious? No matter how much you like the characters in the movies, you can't confuse them with reality."

Before he finished speaking, several young police officers pushed each other and asked Cheng Yaoyao shyly, "Excuse me...can you give us an autograph?"

Middle-aged police officer: “…”

Cheng Yaoyao tucked her wet hair behind her ears. Her rain-stained face was incredibly beautiful: "Okay."

Seven or eight leather notebooks were immediately delivered to Cheng Yaoyao, and the middle-aged policeman quickly stuffed his notebook in.

Cheng Yaoyao signed his name one by one.

Xie Zhao suddenly stood up: "What time is it?!"

Everyone subconsciously looked at the clock on the wall: "Oh, it's five twenty."

Cheng Yaoyao also screamed, "Oh no!"

Xie Zhao grabbed Cheng Yaoyao's hand and they ran away. The police were so scared that they chased after them: "What happened? What happened?"

Xie Zhao said, "We are going to get our marriage certificate!"

It was raining heavily outside, and a tall and handsome young man was running wildly in the rain with a beautiful girl on his arm. The clerk who was dozing off in the store saw the shadow flash by and thought he was dreaming.

The heavy rain in summer makes people drowsy. Seeing the heavy rain outside, the old lady who works at the Civil Affairs Bureau packed up her things and prepared to go home.

The door was slammed open. The wind and rain rushed into the house. A tall and handsome young man carrying a beautiful girl came in, shouting at the top of his voice: "We want to get the marriage certificate!"

The two were soaked to the skin, and after standing in front of the counter for a while, a puddle of water formed on the floor tiles.

But the young man's stern face was full of smiles. He wiped his hands vigorously on his vest before carefully taking the stamped marriage certificate.

The eldest lady put away the seal and ink pad and said with a sullen smile, "If it weren't for the fact that you two are so pretty, I wouldn't have unlocked the door for you."

Xie Zhao could only smile and took out a handful of candies with water in them: "Thank you, thank you."

The eldest mother smiled and said, "Alright, I've never seen you so anxious, running in the rain to get the marriage certificate! Hurry home, don't freeze the little girl."

Xie Zhao looked down and saw that Cheng Yaoyao's face was indeed pale from the cold. He quickly picked Cheng Yaoyao up and said, "Let's go home."

The mother shouted from behind: "Even if you are married, you can't be a cuddler! Hey, young people nowadays!"

Xie Zhao carried the child out of the house and hailed a rickshaw on the street. The driver, who was paid two yuan, ran hard and soon sent the two to the villa area.

The villa had been renovated and looked brand new. The brand new carpet left a trail of wet footprints that led straight to the second floor.

When he pushed open the bedroom door, Xie Zhao paused.

Seeing him standing at the door, Cheng Yaoyao reached out to turn on the light and looked up, "What's wrong?"

As the lights came on, Cheng Yaoyao was stunned.

Countless bright red rose petals filled the room, and unlit candles were placed on the dressing table, the desk, the bedside, and even on the floor.

The large western-style bed was covered with snow-white sheets and sprinkled with countless bright red rose petals, arranged in the shape of a heart.

Cheng Yaoyao slowly turned his head and looked into Xie Zhao's eyes, "When did you prepare this?"

"...The candles are not lit." Xie Zhao was obviously not good at this kind of thing. He looked away with narrow eyes and his ears blushed. "You...you mentioned before that there should be roses at the wedding."

Cheng Yaoyao had long forgotten when she had said this, but Xie Zhao had kept it firmly in mind and silently fulfilled it for her.

She stared at Xie Zhao's slightly red earlobe and kissed him joyfully: "Xie Zhao, you big fool."

Xie Zhao shuddered suddenly, and all the muscles in his body tensed up in an instant. Not even his wet clothes could block the scorching heat.

Those narrow eyes also looked over, becoming deep and hot.

Cheng Yaoyao sneezed. It was a small sneeze, like a cat. She covered her nose and said, "I'm so cold."

Xie Zhao came back to his senses and resisted the urge to run: "There is hot water in the bathroom. Let's take a shower first."

Cheng Yaoyao was placed on the sink, watching Xie Zhao bend over to fill the bathtub with hot water.

This house was built to the utmost in luxury. The bathtub was big enough to accommodate two or three people. Beside it were a bunch of toiletries printed with foreign words, as well as essential oils, all of which were Cheng Yaoyao's favorites. No one knew when Xie Zhao had prepared them.

Xie Zhao skillfully added a few drops of rose essential oil into the water, reached out to test the water temperature, and an ambiguous and intoxicating fragrance filled the bathroom.

Xie Zhao stood up and said, "The water is ready, wash quickly."

He turned his back to Cheng Yaoyao and was about to leave when he felt a soft kick on his lower back: "Carry me down."

Xie Zhao suddenly turned around, and in the light, a wet Cheng Yaoyao was sitting on the sink, with her black hair draped over her shoulders, her skirt clinging to her slender curves, and her pair of slender, straight legs swaying, like an enchanting enchantress from a romance novel.

The lively and charming little fairy suddenly stretched out her feet, waving her snow-white toes in front of him, and said in a coquettish voice, "My feet hurt."

The feet were so thin that the bones were not visible, and they were as white and smooth as jade, with water droplets rolling on them, like the flesh of a freshly peeled lychee, which would release sweet juice if touched lightly.

Xie Zhao's ears were buzzing, and all the blood in his body rushed to his head. He was in a trance, and he was in the mountains. A tender voice cried to him, "I was bitten by a snake. Please help me suck out the venom."

That innocent and charming scene had replayed itself in his dreams thousands of times.