Chen Mengyao played on her mobile phone for an hour in the board game bar and got a little bored.

She had been attending art exam training classes in Dongzhou for the entire summer vacation. If her mother found out that she had only attended two days of classes, who knows how she would have ridiculed her for wasting money and not making progress, and now she was left sitting on the bench?

Zhou Yingxiang went to great lengths to reimburse her travel expenses and eagerly called her over, but he had replied half an hour ago that she would have to wait for five minutes. Was it his time that was inflated or was it him that was inflated that left her hanging like this?

Chen Mengyao picked up her bag and was about to leave, but the door of the private room was pushed open and a group of boys came in noisily.

"Hey, beautiful lady, long time no see? It's harder to see you than to see a star!" Wu Pengcheng was the first to greet.

Girls’ intuition is always accurate, especially when it comes to the question of “who likes me and who hates me”. They are particularly sensitive.

She could tell that Wu Pengcheng didn't get along with her, so she replied with a fake smile, "Of course."

Zhou Yingxiang tried to smooth things over, "Please sit down, boss. Can you serve us some food and drinks first?"

"no problem!"

Everyone sat down and naturally gave the main seat to the birthday person. Chen Mengyao sat next to Zhang Shu. They naturally looked at each other and greeted each other: "Ah Shu, today is your birthday. Happy birthday."

It was a pretty and sticky scene, and there should have been some noise from everyone. However, because of what Zhang Shu said on the road, no one started to make a noise, and the box fell silent for a moment.

Zhang Shu leaned back in his chair lazily, his expression indifferent: "Whether I'm happy or not depends mainly on how much money I can win tonight."

It has nothing to do with me.

Chen Mengyao felt a little embarrassed.

There are so many people here, but Zhang Shu seems a little cold today.

Her thoughts on Zhang Shu were complicated. She knew she liked him, but there was no way she could be with him.

Zhang Shu couldn't afford to support her, nor would he try his best to empty his pocket to support her.

She just wanted to keep Zhang Shu hanging, unable to swallow it, but also reluctant to throw it away. She would be furious if he fell in love with someone else.

On this point, she felt that she and Zhang Shu had reached a tacit understanding.

Zhang Shu also liked her, but he didn't want to be with her because he knew what she needed and he couldn't give it to her. He was such a proud person that once he got entangled in himself, he would be hot and cold.

I don’t know what sensitive spot was touched today.

She was too lazy to coax him. Men have bad tempers anyway. The more you coax them, the more they become arrogant. Just leave them alone and they will be fine.

Zhou Yingxiang is a negative example. After so many years of flattering Zhang Shu, did he ever take him seriously?

Chen Mengyao understood people like Zhou Yingxiang very well. Poor people need a sense of existence after they suddenly become rich. He just felt that it was more prestigious to be with Zhang Shu.

It's been like this since junior high school.

Some people are born to be liked by others. When a group of people are together, everyone is willing to listen to them. No one can explain this kind of natural leadership. Zhang Shu must have been a leader among children since he was young.

In junior high school, Zhang Shu was more flamboyant than he is now. Wherever he appeared, there were groups of people around him. He was good-looking and tall. Although he was dressed in ordinary clothes, he had a dignified manner and did not look like a town girl.

Chen Mengyao is often told by others that she is “not like someone from this town.” To a certain extent, they are very similar. They are the same kind of people: people who are destined not to be buried.

So even though they were not in the same class, Chen Mengyao knew Zhang Shu very early on, but they just had little interaction.

She was quite surprised to hear that Zhang Shu was admitted to the affiliated high school. He looked like he was just wasting his time and didn't look like a studious person at all.

One night during the military training in her first year of high school, she sang a folk song at a bonfire party with her guitar. Many eyes stared at her, including Zhang Shu. After the party, she met him under a tree in the playground.

She still remembers the first words he said.

"Chen Mengyao? Can you sing a nursery rhyme for me again?"

Is she a singer?

If it were someone else, she wouldn't even bother to give him a glance.

But since he called her name so naturally, he must have known her for a long time, right?

As if possessed by some strange force, she asked, "What are you singing?"

"Sing the same song again."

That old song is so old that not many people have heard it, but she likes it very much, so it's like a spiritual resonance.

He was very good at chatting people up.

How much smarter than those who just come up and ask for □□ number.

Zhang Shu's most obvious charm is his intelligence.

Now he has the Emperor card again. The card is very bad and he was suppressed at the beginning. He is not in a hurry and just waits for the opportunity to kill everyone later.

I have to say that in this situation, Zhang Shu's eyes, which seem lazy but are actually cunning and sharp, are really charming.

He didn't smoke, but was just biting a lollipop, but he had a stronger sense of home and superiority than those people who were puffing away.

Sometimes Chen Mengyao really wanted to have a talk with him regardless of everything.

"Ah Shu, I see you've received a lot of gifts this year. Tell us what you have given us so we can make you jealous?" Hou Junqi teased during a break in playing cards.

Zhang Shu threw away the deck of cards and answered casually, "I haven't looked at it yet."

Zhou Yingxiang asked: "Really? How much?"

Hou Junqi said: "There are several in the morning, afternoon and evening. We have been harvesting for two days. How can we have more than ten? There are more this year, Ah Shu?"

Zhang Shu shrugged, also feeling puzzled. There had been two or three like this in previous years, but nothing as exaggerated as this year.

After all, thanks to the lady next to him, his character is a pervert who pursues a campus beauty.

Wu Pengcheng said: "It's because you got the first place in the joint entrance examination. Now, let alone our school, which school's senior girls don't know you? Even vocational high schools have your fans."

"Is this true?" Liu Hui'an joked with a smile, "Will the exam be so attractive?"

"Then we have to ask the girls," Zhou Yingxiang invited the people himself, so he had to take care of them, "Mengyao, what do you think?"

Chen Mengyao held up the cards and said slowly: "If you can take the test, your charm can only be +110. If you are a handsome guy who can take the test, you can get +10010. If you are a handsome guy who can not only take the test, you can get +10086."

“Hahahahahahahahahahahaha”

“Awesome!”

"You girls are quite calculating."

The room was filled with laughter and the atmosphere gradually became harmonious.

Even Zhang Shu, who had always had no expression, pulled the corner of his mouth while biting his lollipop.

Chen Mengyao never lost her temper in any occasion. She knew how to take the initiative and attract everyone's attention.

After a while, the cards had been shuffled several times, and the topic had passed, Wu Pengcheng popped up again and asked, "What about you, beautiful lady? What did you give? Did you come here empty-handed?"

Chen Mengyao almost kicked his stool, but she didn't look angry. She held her chin and said slowly, "Isn't it enough that I'm here? If I say goodbye, isn't that forcing the emperor to abdicate?"

She had no intention of sending him off. How could she be the same as those girls who had a crush on him? She wasn't that eager.

After saying this, she observed Zhang Shu inconspicuously.

He concentrated on looking at the cards, his teeth crushed the lollipop with a "crunch", and mumbled "Charge!" before throwing away all the cards in his hand. He freed his hand to pull out the lollipop stem, leaned back in his chair, and threw it with his long arm, accurately into the trash can in the distance.

The series of movements were completed in one go without looking sideways.

He won again.

The loser's wails drowned out Chen Mengyao's words in an instant.

"No more playing," Zhang Shu stood up and took out the chips from the table to count, "Let's stop here today."

Zhou Yingxiang hurriedly stopped him: "Shu, come on, it's only been two hours, it's still early."

Zhang Shu pointed his palm towards Zhou Yingxiang, signaling him to stop arguing, while continuing to count the chips by himself. After counting, he threw them on the table, "43 chips, calculate them yourself, and transfer the amount you deserve to me to Alipay."

"That's easy. Let's play for a while longer." Han Xiao was still not satisfied.

"Yeah, it's so hard to get together."

Zhang Shu said: "No more calls. My sister sent me a text message saying she's waiting for me at home."

When Hou Junqi heard this, it seemed that Ah Shu and his sister had broken the ice, so he quickly agreed: "Then you should go back quickly, this matter is urgent."

Zhou Yingxiang didn't insist on keeping the guests anymore and called the boss to push up the prepared cake.

Although Zhang Shu has a sharp tongue, he rarely actually refutes others. Since he is already here, he doesn't mind taking a moment to do so.

Zhou Yingxiang is very good at creating an atmosphere. As soon as the candles were lit and extinguished, he pushed Chen Mengyao forward and said, "Let's start, big star."

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you..."

Chen Mengyao is bright-looking, has a voice like Sister Yu when she speaks, and has a smoky voice when she sings, which is very sad and suitable for folk songs.

When she sang this happy birthday song, it was less lighthearted and lively, but more romantic and charming, with a sense of immersive story.

So no one joined in singing to ruin the atmosphere; everyone just clapped quietly and watched her sing.

In the flickering candlelight, Zhang Shu's gaze gradually became focused and deep, just like that night during the military training.

Chen Mengyao almost didn't want to end this song.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU..."

When the song ended, she wished the boy again: "Happy birthday, Ah Shu."

"Make a wish, make a wish!" Hou Junqi reminded.

Zhang Shu did not clasp his hands together, close his eyes, or hide his wish. He said casually, "I hope this year will pass quickly and I will become an adult soon," and then leaned over to blow out the candle.

"Happy Birthday!" Everyone cheered and applauded.

The lights were turned on and everyone shared the sweet cake.

Zhang Shu only ate two bites for show, picked up his schoolbag and hung it on his shoulder, "Thank you for tonight, let's go back."

Zhou Yingxiang said hurriedly: "Let's make an appointment next time."

"Besides," Zhang Shu said without comment, and turned to ask Chen Mengyao, "How did you get here?"

Chen Mengyao spread her hands and said, "Zhou Yingxiang picked me up."

Zhang Shuchong ordered Zhou Yingxiang: "Send back the people you invited."

"Of course, we guarantee that it will be delivered safely to your home." Zhou Yingxiang replied.

Zhang Shu said, "Let's go, let's go."

"Happy birthday, Ah Shu!"

"Happy Birthday!" Several people shouted at Zhang Shu's back.

Zhang Shu didn't look back, but waved his hand.

The light stretched the seventeen-year-old boy's shadow very long.

When Zhang Shu came out, he remembered that he had parked his car in the parking shed of the teaching building. He was too lazy to go back to get it, so he walked home slowly.

Zhang Sujin rented the house in Wenboyuan. The housing in this school district is incredibly expensive, and she couldn't afford it even if she sold her food for a lifetime.

Even the rent is not cheap.

His sister worked really hard for him to go to school.

The light was on in the room, and Zhang Shu called out, "Sister!"

Zhang Sujin came out of the kitchen holding a small cake. They hadn't seen each other for a while since their quarrel, so they both felt a little awkward.

"Don't you know how to smile on your birthday?" Zhang Sujin put the cake on the tea table and patted Zhang Shu's butt.

Zhang Shu rubbed his buttocks: "You are so old and still spanking! I think you don't want to get married, but you can't get married!"

This was said in a joking tone, indicating that Zhang Shu had compromised.

Zhang Sujin understood and sighed, "Yes! You are right, it is because I cannot get married. When did I say I did not want to get married?"

"Since no one wants you, I will hold on and take care of you for another year," Zhang Shu said sarcastically, "I am seventeen today, which means I will be eighteen in my virtual age. I will be an adult tomorrow. If you still can't get married, I won't want you anymore."

He will be an adult next year and will no longer be a burden to anyone.

She can get married now without any worries.

Zhang Sujin stared at Zhang Shu and smiled, with a pair of kind eyes that didn't match her age on her still young face. "Okay, I'll get married when you're eighteen."

Zhang Shu: "Then you can fall in love now."

Zhang Sujin said, "Okay."

Zhang Shu said: "Those who regret are little dogs!"

Zhang Sujin nodded: "It's a puppy!"

"Sister, can you sing Happy Birthday for me?"

Zhang Sujin's smile faded and he refused, "I won't sing."

"But you sent me a text message asking me to come back. Just one sentence?" Zhang Shu put his hands together and bowed like a puppy begging for food. "One sentence!"

Zhang Sujin insisted: "No!"

Zhang Shu gave up.

Over the years, he had only heard Zhang Sujin singing in videos, with a guitar hanging on her chest and a microphone held between her slender fingers. Her voice was lingering and she was full of charm when she looked up.

That is the real Zhang Sujin, and that is the life that the great beauty Zhang Sujin should have.

He ate up the cake and asked, "What are we having for lunch tomorrow? Are there any cola chicken wings?"

Zhang Sujin packed up the cake box, wiped the tea table, smiled from an angle where Zhang Shu couldn't see, and spoke in a cold tone: "No choice, eat whatever is available."

Zhang Shu: “Haha.”

I don’t know who I’m waiting for when I make his favorite cola chicken wings every day. If he doesn’t go, others will vomit from eating them and the after-school care center will be closed.