The rain was still drizzling. At the entrance of the Confucius Temple Scenic Area pedestrian street, in the Yanbo Fishing Port, Jiang Shuyue checked the time. It was already past 10 o'clock. She nervously clutched her phone, hesitating whether she should ask the person she had arranged to meet at the agreed time.
At this moment, a tall, slender man with a cold and aloof face glanced inside through the glass window. He noticed a fashionable woman sitting not far away in the lobby who looked somewhat familiar, and slowly walked over. When the man approached, Jiang Shuyue hesitated for a moment, then stood up, calmed her nervous thoughts, and smiled, "Long time no see."
Lin Moxiao raised her eyes and said, "It's been five years, and you've really changed a lot!"
Jiang Shuyue smiled slightly and nodded in agreement. She used to have short hair and dressed like a tomboy. She was the youngest of three sisters in her family, and her parents cut her hair short and dressed her like a boy from a young age. In addition, she was lively and active and was the leader of the children from a young age. Later, she got used to it and did not grow her hair long seriously until she graduated from high school.
Now that the person I love is sitting in front of me, I recently had a stylist do a more ladylike hairstyle for me, paired with an elegant and sophisticated sky-blue silk dress.
This outfit is quite different from her usual casual style.
She guessed he might like it this way, and now he looked quite casual in his outfit: khaki casual pants, a white T-shirt, a light-colored denim shirt, and a black backpack slung over one shoulder.
After each taking a sip of tea, Lin Moxiao smiled and got up, apologetically saying that she was going to the restroom.
Jiang Shuyue nodded with a smile. Seeing him walk over, she closed her eyes, patted her head in frustration, and regretted how useless she was. She had prepared a lot of things to say, but when it came to the present moment, she couldn't say a single word.
I almost didn't recognize him when I saw him just now. He was thinner and taller than before. His once youthful and sunny face had lost its boyishness and gained a more resolute and sharp look. The only thing that hadn't changed was that he still had that angular face. Such a handsome face had captivated her for so long, so long that she had forgotten herself.
At that moment, Lin Moxiao's anxious yet magnetic voice rang out from the restroom: "Liangzi, do me a favor, come to Sanshan Street in 30 minutes."
Wang Ziliang, on the other end of the phone, was completely bewildered by his nonsensical words and hurriedly asked, "Dude, what happened?"
Seeing that Lin Moxiao didn't give a reason, he said, "It's not important, I'm busy right now."
Lin Moxiao urged again, "I'll give you 30 minutes to take a taxi to No. 111 Sanshan Street. I'll pay you your wages for today... double, ... triple..."
Seeing that the person on the other end of the phone was silent, he asked, "Three times?" A moment later, the voice on the other end replied, "Deal. You'll reimburse the taxi fare."
Jiang Shuyue clenched her fists, calmly easing the tension in her heart.
Seeing Lin Moxiao sit back down opposite her, she said with a light smile, "Shuya has something to do today, and there's no one to take care of the kids at home, so she can't come."
Jiang Shuyue raised her voice slightly when she talked about the child. Seeing that Lin Moxiao did not respond, she picked up her water glass and pursed her lips.
Lin Moxiao showed no surprise, nodded slightly, picked up the menu in front of her and handed it over: "What would you like to eat? Ladies first. I think it's still a while before lunchtime, so why don't you order something to drink first!"
As they spoke, she glanced at her wristwatch. The two chatted back and forth, asking about their work and lives; Jiang Shuyue was particularly interested in inquiring about the other person's personal life.
But as if choked by something, they were too embarrassed to speak.
She didn't want to be seen as having a clear goal, so she didn't rashly ask about his private life when they met for the first time in five years. The only thing that puzzled her was that he didn't show any expression when she mentioned that Shuya hadn't come. Could it be that he had let go? Jiang Shuyue wondered.
One of them secretly wished time would slow down, while the other wanted it to pass quickly. Lin Moxiao kept glancing at the time on her wrist. Their cautious conversation was broken by a loud voice; it was Wang Ziliang.
Wang Ziliang's smiling voice rang out, and he leaned forward and pointed: "Jiang Shuyue, it's you, our class's heroine, our class's Jiang Shuyue." Jiang Shuyue hesitated for a moment, then opened her eyes wide and revealed her long-lost hearty laughter: "Wang Ziliang, you're also in Jinling City."
Wang Ziliang reached out and shook Jiang Shuyue's hand, his admiring gaze just as it had been back then, without any waning.
Lin Moxiao ignored the two's pleasantries, picked up the menu, called a waiter, ordered several signature dishes, and asked the waiter to give the menu to Jiang Shuyue. She didn't say anything more. Seeing Jiang Shuyue looking down at the menu, Wang Ziliang turned and asked, "Is it just the three of us today? No one else?"
"Who else would you like? Should I call them over?"
Lin Moxiao said irritably.
Wang Ziliang smiled obsequiously: "Back then, among the few of us who played basketball, you were the only one who was recommended to Peking University's University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. After graduation, you were assigned to Lukou Airport as a pilot. I envy you, brother! You can fly all over the world carrying your childhood dreams."
He then sighed, "The others are probably working hard like me right now."
Jiang Shuyue composed herself slightly. Had Lin Moxiao invited Wang Ziliang here intentionally, or was it simply a casual reunion? Judging from their expressions, they seemed to have kept in touch. So, she asked without hesitation, "Ziliang, which company do you work for now, and which district do you live in?"
Wang Ziliang seemed unfazed by the sudden question: "I live in Hexi and work for a logistics company in the Olympic Sports Center warehouse."
Then he chuckled sheepishly and said, "I didn't get into university back then, and my family was struggling financially, so I didn't choose to go to a junior college or retake the exam. I figured I'd have to enter society sooner or later, so I might as well ease the burden on my family and come to Nanjing with my older brother."
Jiang Shuyue knew some of Wang Ziliang's situation. He had a younger brother and sister who were both in college. His father had passed away early, and his family had been struggling financially during his high school years.
His mother remarried early on and then completely ignored them. Even after he was admitted to university, no one paid for his first year's tuition. So, in his senior year of high school, he gave up and stopped studying. He just wanted to graduate from high school and get a diploma, which was also the age when he could start working.
Unlike Jiang Shuyue, who had the support of two older sisters and parents, he could apply to his desired university without any worries. Of course, this was not a valid reason, as it was related to the lack of supervision and encouragement. He was young and naive, but not mature enough.
Jiang Shuyue felt inexplicably helpless. Wang Ziliang was her deskmate and the student who caused the most headaches for the teachers back then. Now, he was also bowing down for the sake of daily meals, and he had long lost the carefree and sharpness he once had.
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