Full charm points, inherit game assets

Chapter 589 Repair
The subway station was brightly lit.

The empty station hall was filled only with the sound of scattered footsteps and the distant roar of trains entering the station.

After passing through the security checkpoint, we arrived at the turnstile.

Tang Song stopped, his right hand still holding her left hand.

The initial coolness of Zhang Yan's hands had long since been warmed by his touch, even becoming slightly hot, like holding a small heater.

He looked down at Zhang Yan.

Her face was flushed, her lips were tightly closed, her head was lowered, and her long eyelashes cast a small, quiet shadow under her eyes.

"We've arrived. I'm leaving now," Tang Song's voice broke the silence.

“Oh, oh…” Zhang Yan replied subconsciously.

Her gaze slowly moved upwards, lingering on that handsome face for less than half a second before quickly falling back down like a startled fawn.

Out of the corner of my eye, my gaze unconsciously fell on their clasped hands.

It took them more than ten minutes to walk from the intersection to here, a distance of only a few hundred meters.

With every step, every second, she felt as if a faint electric current was flowing from her palms and coursing through her entire body.

The unprecedented sense of realism left her mind completely blank.

Is this a dream?

But even in her most daring dreams, she had never dared to imagine such a scenario.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The subway station was sparsely populated, and the two of them stood quietly in front of the turnstiles, holding hands.

It took a while.

Tang Song finally slowly released his hand, and the sudden disappearance of that warm touch left Zhang Yan feeling empty.

"Get some rest. Tomorrow's Saturday, I'll come find you early to play."

"Mmm," Zhang Yan responded softly, not knowing what to say or daring to say more.

Tang Song smiled and waved at her, then took out his phone, swiped his card, and entered the station.

The turnstile door opened and closed with a "snap".

The hard-soled leather shoes tapped on the ground, making a crisp "tap-tap" sound.

Only then did Zhang Yan have the courage to fully raise her head and stare blankly at his departing figure.

And so, just like countless days and nights before, I watched his figure recede into the distance, quietly and from afar.

A reunion after more than two years.

His change was enormous and unfamiliar, yet at this moment, it felt familiar.

Just then, the figure that had already walked away suddenly stopped.

He turned around and looked at her from a distance.

Their gazes met in the air.

Zhang Yan looked like a student caught cheating on a test, and immediately lowered her head in a panic.

My hands were clenched tightly in front of me, and my heart was pounding.

Tang Song turned around and walked back to the turnstile, looking at her.

"I'll message you when I get to the hotel," he said, his voice clear and gentle. "And message me when you get home too."

"Ah."

Be careful on your way back, and watch where you're going.

"Ah."

"See you tomorrow."

Zhang Yan's eyes trembled violently, her lips moved, and she silently replied, "See you tomorrow."

Tang Song then turned around and walked deeper into the subway station.

Until his figure completely disappeared around the corner.

Zhang Yan remained standing in the same spot until the roar of the train entering the station and the sparse flow of people surging out again brought her back to her senses.

She followed the scattered people, her steps unsteady as she walked outside.

Walk through the dimly lit streets, through the damp night wind.

...

"Bang—Click—"

The old security door was slammed shut.

"Meow~ Meow~" Orange popped out from somewhere and rubbed its head affectionately against her ankle, seemingly wondering why its owner was standing at the door in a daze.

"tangerine…"

Zhang Yan muttered to herself, then suddenly raised her hand and pinched her arm hard.

A distinct pain was felt.

Not a dream!
This is not a dream!
Recalling the events of tonight, from him appearing downstairs with an orange in his arms, to the two of them reading comics side by side, and then... that passionate hand-holding at the intersection.

She pressed her burning cheeks to the ground, leaned weakly against the cold wall, and felt like she was about to faint.

"How could this happen... how could this happen... what's going on..."

She muttered to herself incredulously.

No matter how much she tried to escape it, she realized that Tang Song had indeed seen her message on QQ.

He learned all her secrets from all these years.

He even knew where she lived.

That's why I was able to find her accurately and quickly after seeing the WeChat message.

He actually came to Guangzhou.

How did he become like this?
Countless doubts, immense shame, and a deep-seated inferiority complex surged forth in an instant.

But in the end, all the emotions were frozen on the scene of him holding her hand as they crossed the street.

Zhang Yan bit her lower lip hard, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against the seam of her pants.

A moment later, she seemed to remember something.

He frantically pulled his phone out of his pocket and opened Tang Song's chat window.

Her gaze first fell on the photo of the letter she had sent, and she whispered in shame, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," before daring to open the input box.

I carefully tapped the screen and left a message: "I'm home."

After sending the message, she seemed to have used up all her strength and slowly sat down on the ground along the wall, breathing heavily.

Then, a belated but immense joy finally freed her from the shackles of shame and inferiority, engulfing her completely like a rising tide.

She had fantasized countless times not only about reuniting with him, but also... about speaking to him in her own true name, just like now. Even if it was just a simple, ordinary greeting.

Not to mention, they even held hands.

She slowly raised her left hand, staring blankly at it, the warmth of that palm still seemingly lingering there.

Orange nestled close to her, curled up, and occasionally brushed her with its tail, seemingly sharing in its owner's joy.

"Ding-dong—" A WeChat notification sound rang out.

[Tang Song: "Received it, get some rest."]

Upon seeing this reply, especially the emoticon above, Zhang Yan rubbed her cheeks and smiled foolishly.

Then, she looked up at the rented room, which was filled with the mess left after the dinner party, and hurriedly stood up and began to take action.

Sweep and mop the floor, and pack up and throw away the trash left by your friends;
Wipe the tables and chairs, and straighten the crooked sofa cushions one by one;

Organize the bookshelves and desk, arranging each book neatly in order...

Like a tireless little bee, she meticulously cleaned every corner, striving to make the small house look more presentable.

After all… he said he would come again tomorrow.

Then, when her gaze fell upon the dilapidated bathroom and kitchen, the emotions that had just ignited instantly dimmed.

The bathroom and kitchen are where she uses the most water. Because there are no tiles on the walls or floors, the damp environment has caused mold to grow in the corners and vents, which is difficult to eradicate.

And those old refrigerators, range hoods, toilets…

This cannot be solved by simply cleaning.

Even the most skilled cleaning cannot make old and worn-out hardware look brand new.

A strong sense of inferiority overwhelmed her again, and tears dripped onto the old linoleum floor.

But she just silently wiped it off, put on gloves, and then picked up the 84 disinfectant and stubbornly cleaned the stains bit by bit with a brush.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

"Ding-dong—" The WeChat notification sound rang again.

She quickly took off her gloves and pulled out her phone.

Tang Song: "I've arrived at the hotel. You should be asleep by now. Goodnight, Zhang Yan, sweet dreams."

Looking at the "goodnight" and the familiar address, Zhang Yan bit her lip.

I wanted to reply, but I was also a little timid, afraid that he would know I was still awake and waiting for his message.

She put away her phone, tried to calm her racing heart, and continued working.

Because she usually pays great attention to hygiene, the house is actually not dirty or messy.

She worked until after 1 a.m. before she finally finished cleaning the entire house.

After washing up, Zhang Yan lay wearily on the bed and turned off the lights.

I closed my eyes, but couldn't help opening them again.

In the darkness, the blue light from the screen illuminated her blank face.

Opening the chat interface with Tang Song, it seems that only by looking at those few simple lines of conversation can one confirm that everything that happened tonight is real.

The room went dark again, and the screen lit up once more.

After repeating this several times.

She finally succumbed to sleepiness and fell into a deep sleep.

Today feels longer than the past month.

The conflict with the boss, buying the last two volumes of comic books, writing that letter, the miraculous reunion with him, chatting, reading comics, and that hand-holding...

Before I knew it, the sound of even breathing filled the quiet room.

She had a long, warm dream.

It was a middle school afternoon when the sunlight was filtered through the poplar trees outside the window, creating dappled patterns that lazily spilled onto the desks.

Jay Chou's "Rainbow" was playing from the classroom speakers; its slightly melancholic melody flowed through the air like the wind.

The windows were wide open, and a cool breeze, unique to the teaching building and carrying the scent of chalk dust and grass, swept through the corridor, gently rustling the math exam paper in front of her.

She turned her head and secretly glanced at her classmate who was reading a book next to her, and asked in a low voice, "How many points did you get on the test?"

"93, I got one easy question wrong."

"Oh." Her head drooped even lower, her gaze falling on the number "69" on her test paper. "How could I be so stupid? I've done all these kinds of questions before..."

With less than two months until the high school entrance exam, my math score just won't improve.

Tang Song was very smart. He was always among the top three in his class in every exam, which guaranteed him admission to the top high school.

She will most likely only be able to go to No. 2 Middle School.

For a small rural middle school, this is actually a very good result.

But she still wanted to go to No. 1 Middle School.

The classmate next to her tapped her desk with the pen, then tilted her head and said in a low voice with a grin, "Zhang Yan, didn't you hear? This time, the math teacher wrote the scores backwards. Rotate your test paper 180 degrees, that's your real score."

"Ah!" she exclaimed in surprise as she turned the test paper around.

Still 69.

"Hahaha." My deskmate's laughter was clean and clear, like an ice-cold soda on a summer day.

He nudged her arm with his and said a few witty remarks, making her cheeks flush.

Zhang Yan, without realizing it, also joined him in a shy, quiet laugh.

The heaviness weighing on my heart seemed to be blown away by the laughter.

Then her deskmate put away her books and looked at her earnestly, encouraging her, "It's okay, Zhang Yan. No. 2 Middle School is actually pretty good. If you study hard, you'll definitely get into a good university. Keep it up!"

"come on."

……

November 4, 2023, Saturday, cloudy, 21~31℃.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the yellowish walls.

Amidst a series of urgent meows, Zhang Yan slowly opened her eyes.

At first, he stared blankly at the ceiling, then glanced at the time on the wall clock.

It's almost 8 o'clock already.

Orange was clearly starving; it had jumped onto the bed at some point, reminding its owner that it was time to feed it.

Zhang Yan's body trembled, as if she had suddenly remembered something, and a look of panic instantly appeared on her face.

She sat up abruptly, grabbed her phone from beside her pillow, and unlocked the screen.

On my phone screen, the chat history with "Tang Song" from last night was lying there quietly.

My chest began to heave violently, and my heart, which had calmed down during my sleep, started pounding wildly again.

It really isn't a dream.

She looked down at the oranges beside her, and the dreamlike scenes from last night uncontrollably flooded her mind again.

Her cheeks, which had been tinged with sleepiness, were quickly enveloped in a blazing red glow.

Then, she hugged the orange tightly, rubbing her burning cheeks against it haphazardly, "I...this..."

"Meow~ Meow~" The starving orange let out an even louder protest.

At this moment.

"Ding-dong-"

A WeChat notification sound rang.

[Tang Song: "Good morning, Zhang Yan. I'll be at Lanxinyuan in about 30 minutes."]

Zhang Yan's heart skipped a beat. She threw the orange onto the bed and quickly replied, "Okay."

Then, I put on my slippers and ran outside.

Like a wind-up rabbit, she started tidying up in a flurry of activity.

Make the bed, quickly wash up, change clothes...

I was so tired last night that I slept so soundly that I forgot to set my alarm.

But her eyes were filled with an undisguised, sparkling joy.

This was probably the most beautiful yet most chaotic morning she had ever had in all these years. But when she stood in front of the mirror and looked at her somewhat bland reflection, she couldn't help but lower her head in self-consciousness.

She never wore makeup and rarely bought expensive clothes.

The outfit I'm wearing is the most presentable I can muster, but it's still just a slightly more expensive work outfit.

Compared to the Tang and Song dynasties, it is simply insignificant.

But it's too late to say anything now.

She could only quickly wash her bangs again, straighten them a bit with a hair straightener, and carefully apply some moisturizing lotion to her face.

After doing all this, she sat restlessly in the living room.

I stared at my phone screen and began to wait silently.

As the time drew closer, my heartbeat grew faster and faster.

She couldn't sit still any longer, so she quickly walked out the door and went downstairs to wait.

At this time of day, the sun is shining brightly, the air is slightly cool, and it's very comfortable.

Aunt Wang downstairs was watering the flowers. Seeing her, she immediately greeted her warmly, "Oh my, Yan Yan, you look so beautiful today! Have you eaten yet?"

Zhang Yan blushed and shook her head, replying softly, "Not yet."

Seeing her standing there motionless, Aunt Wang immediately approached with a smile, "Are you waiting for a friend?"

"Um...yes..."

Aunt Wang said excitedly, "My nephew, whom I told you about last time, is coming to my house today. Why don't you come over for lunch too?

Aunt Wang is known for her kind heart. Ever since she learned that Zhang Yan was single, she has been thinking about introducing her to her outstanding nephew.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yan was so frightened that she shook her head vigorously, her face flushed, and waved her hands, saying, "No need, Aunt Wang, really no need..."

"Oh, don't be shy!" Aunt Wang grabbed her hand and began to praise her endlessly: "Ah Guang is about your age, he's a very handsome young man, and his job is very stable..."

Zhang Yan's lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she was too embarrassed to interrupt her elder's enthusiasm.

Just then, a gentle, smiling voice called out from not far away.

"Zhang Yan!"

Zhang Yan's body trembled suddenly. She quickly raised her head and looked at him, her gaze somewhat dazed.

Aunt Wang followed her gaze curiously and immediately saw the young man walking towards them. Her eyes widened instantly.

Tang Song was dressed in a low-key casual outfit, but his outstanding appearance and temperament still made him stand out.

Standing in the morning sunlight, it's as if I'm being coated with a layer of light.

Tang Song stopped beside her. "This outfit suits you very well today."

Zhang Yan was momentarily at a loss, blushing and lowering her head.

Look at Zhang Yan's appearance, and then look at the boy in front of her.

Aunt Wang looked embarrassed.

She's an experienced woman, and having been a matchmaker for so many years, she can see right through this girl's thoughts.

Of course, the main reason is that the boy in front of me is just too outstanding.

Her nephew was far inferior to others.

Noticing her gaze, Tang Song politely greeted Aunt Wang beside him.

His gaze returned to Zhang Yan, and he asked softly, "Have you had breakfast?"

Zhang Yan gently shook her head. "No."

"That's perfect, take me to try some of the local delicacies."

“Okay…” Zhang Yan looked up at him and nodded gently.

The two walked towards the gate of the residential area one after the other, with Zhang Yan always lagging behind him, following closely.

Tang Song glanced at her, his steps pausing almost imperceptibly. When Zhang Yan, still clinging to him, walked beside him, he extended his hand again.

At this moment, Zhang Yan, who was fully conscious, could feel it very clearly.

Tang Song's long, strong hand with distinct joints gradually grasped hers.

"Boom, boom, boom—"

My heart was pounding like a heavy drum, and my cheeks were so red they looked like they were steaming.

Tang Song felt the soft, delicate skin in his hand, turned his head to look at Zhang Yan, and for the first time in the sunlight, he looked at her so carefully.

My junior high school deskmate, perhaps because her mother was from the south, had fair and smooth skin, and her features were as delicate as a light ink landscape painting.

Her eyes are classic almond-shaped, with slightly drooping corners, and her long eyelashes always give her an innocent and gentle look.

At this moment, her almond-shaped eyes seemed to be filled with misty water because of nervousness and shyness.

Zhang Yan finally noticed his gaze, and like a startled deer, she quickly turned her head away, leaving him with only her bright red earlobe.

Tang Song chuckled, took her hand, and started walking, asking casually, "Where should we eat?"

Zhang Yan still didn't dare to look at him. Pointing in the direction of the street corner, she stammered, "There's a rice noodle roll shop next door...it's very...very unique."

"Okay, then you lead the way, but don't go the wrong way."

"oh oh……"

Zhang Yan quickened her pace and walked a little ahead.

Every turn, every time he had to give way to a pedestrian, inevitably tugged at his hand.

This intense, throbbing sensation made her heart pound wildly.

After turning left and right, the two entered a small, long-established rice noodle roll shop.

After ordering breakfast, we sat down facing each other.

Zhang Yan immediately sat up straight, her hands awkwardly placed on her knees, her head lowered, her gaze fixed on the old texture of the table, not daring to meet his eyes.

Tang Song looked around and chatted with her in a relaxed tone about the scenery, landmarks, and food culture of Guangzhou.

Zhang Yan had lived here for more than two years, so she knew a lot about these things.

Gradually, she relaxed a lot and started chatting with him quietly, her face flushed.

Seeing her transformation, Tang Song's smile grew even brighter.

He actually knew very well what was going on.

For the two of them now, the title "the most familiar stranger" is perhaps the most fitting description.

So many years have passed, and there has been so much time and space in between. Even if there was a bond from our youth, it would still be a little awkward to be alone with each other.

Especially for Zhang Yan, who is introverted and sensitive, it was a shock to learn that he had seen her secret thoughts on QQ.

That awkwardness and unease takes time to gradually adapt to and process.

Therefore, he simply wanted to start with the most ordinary details, like reconnecting with an old friend after a long separation, and get to know her again.

Slowly rediscover that natural intimacy lost to time.

Soon, the steaming hot rice noodle rolls were served.

The rice paper is white, tender, and chewy, almost transparent, and you can vaguely see the tender beef and bright green scallions inside.

Drizzle with a special, salty-sweet soy sauce, then sprinkle with a layer of fragrant cooked oil and sesame seeds.

The enticing aroma, a blend of rice, meat, and soy sauce, instantly whetted Tang Song's appetite.

I ate three servings in one go.

A smile gradually appeared on Zhang Yan's face.

After breakfast, the two went to the nearby farmers' market for a stroll before returning to Zhang Yan's rented apartment.

"Meow~" Orange popped out from under the sofa like a little cannonball.

Tang Song smiled, bent down, and scooped the heavy, plump orange into his arms, scratching its chin and teasing it for a while.

Then, in a natural and casual tone, he said, "The weather is really nice today, let's go to the balcony and read comics together."

Zhang Yan subconsciously looked at the mottled wall on the balcony and the rusty old windows, and an embarrassed expression appeared on her face again.

"The wall isn't clean, don't get your clothes dirty."

Because they are just ordinary white walls, and are exposed to sun and rain all year round, the walls of the balcony are not much better than those of the bathroom and kitchen.

Tang Song looked at the wall, then at her, his smile growing even gentler.

"It's okay, we can sit closer together so we don't touch the wall."

Then, he took out the first volume of "Dragon Ball" from the bookshelf and skillfully moved two small wooden stools to the small balcony.

Zhang Yan pursed her lips, looked at the two stools that were almost touching, and walked over with a blush on her face.

She sat down stiffly beside him, their arms almost touching.

"Last time we saw... Bulma had Goku dress up as a little girl to lure Oolong, but he was exposed because he was standing up to pee..."

As Tang Song spoke, he turned to that page in the comic book and naturally placed it between the two of them.

At the tip of her nose, there was Zhang Yan's unique, clean scent, a blend of sunshine and soap.

He turned his head to look at her delicate features and felt the warmth of the girl beside him.

My heartbeat gradually started to quicken.

……

Before we knew it, the first volume of Dragon Ball had finally turned to its last page.

The story ended there, and a brief silence fell on the balcony.

Zhang Yan secretly and quickly raised her eyes to look at Tang Song beside her, her gaze carrying a hint of questioning and unease that was barely perceptible.

Now that he's finished reading the book, shouldn't he leave too?

Tang Song gently closed the comic book, turned his head, met her tense gaze, and gave her a relaxed and natural smile.

"I have to go out for a bit, I'll be right back."

Zhang Yan really wanted to ask him where he was going and what he was doing.

But the words caught in his throat, his deep-seated fear preventing him from speaking.

In the end, all he could manage was a soft "hmm".

Tang Songchao waved to Ju Zi and walked out the door with light steps.

Zhang Yan stood there stunned for a moment, then, as if driven by something, she ran back to the balcony and stared intently downstairs through the old window.

She counted silently in her mind, and when she reached "13", that familiar figure finally appeared on the road in the neighborhood.

He walked along the path bathed in the afternoon sun, his steps light, almost jogging.

He exuded a youthful and unrestrained vitality.

The passionate, pure, and radiant "boy" in my memory has finally broken free from the dullness and repression.

The Tang and Song dynasties she met this time were far better than she had hoped for or imagined.

A layer of glistening tears gradually welled up in Zhang Yan's eyes.

It's so good that he's doing so well.

She was genuinely happy for him.

She watched quietly, motionless, until his figure disappeared around the corner of the residential area.

I don’t know how much time has passed.

That familiar figure reappeared in sight.

This time, he was carrying many things in his hands, but it was impossible to tell what they were.

Zhang Yan quickly snapped out of her daze, hurried back to the living room, and stood nervously by the door.

She gently opened the door after hearing clear footsteps in the hallway.

Soon, Tang Song walked in.

"I'm back," he said, slamming the things he was holding onto the ground with a thud.

“This is…” Zhang Yan stared at the thing on the ground, then froze in shock.

One large bucket was labeled "High-efficiency anti-seepage, waterproof, and anti-alkali-rebound primer," while another bucket was labeled "Odorless, environmentally friendly, and waterproof latex paint." There was also a shopping bag with the hardware store's logo on it.

Noticing her surprised look, Tang Song smiled and explained, "I remember telling you before that my dad used to do renovations. I happen to be free today, so I'll help you repair the wall. I know a bit about this."

"Ah!" Zhang Yan gasped, shaking her head and waving her hands violently, stammering, "No, no! I... I can find someone to fix it myself... I can't let you..."

Tang Song smiled and gently interrupted her: "It's okay, it's no trouble at all. Besides, I haven't done this kind of work in a long time, and I'd really like to try it. It's a lot of fun."

He paused, then winked at her playfully, "Want to come help me out? Teamwork makes the work easier."

Zhang Yan stammered for a while, but looking into his sincere and smiling eyes, she ultimately didn't dare to refute him anymore.

She picked up the plastic bag containing the tools next to her and followed him into the bathroom that made her feel most embarrassed.

The walls were not tiled, but only coated with a layer of waterproof paint that had already turned yellow.

Due to years of dampness and poor ventilation, large areas of the wall plaster have peeled off, revealing the mottled and ugly cement underneath.

It was really awful; every time Tang Song said he needed to go to the toilet, she would get nervous and anxious.

Tang Song seemed oblivious to her unease and naturally helped her move the odds and ends from the bathroom to the bedroom.

Next, she took out a blue coat from the shopping bag and put it on, then took out a roller, brush and putty knife, and began to clean the wall with skillful movements.

"Look, for this kind of old wall, you have to scrape off all the peeling and loose parts first, otherwise the new paint won't last long."

"Before painting, this waterproof primer is crucial, especially in damp places like bathrooms and kitchens. It prevents the walls from getting damp and moldy, and also helps the topcoat adhere more firmly..."

While he worked, he casually explained some home renovation knowledge to her.

The bathroom is very small, only about 4 square meters, and the walls that need to be painted are only about 10 square meters.

With Tang and Song's current physical strength and coordination, doing this kind of thing would be exceptionally simple and efficient.

The mottled wall plaster was scraped off bit by bit in his hands, revealing the gray cement base.

Tang and Song stirred the primer evenly and then carefully applied it with a roller.

Zhang Yan was initially nervous and timid as she followed him, unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.

But gradually, I was infected by his ease and focus.

Sometimes, she would hand him his tools; sometimes, she would help him hold onto that rather shaky little stool.

More often than not, she simply stood quietly to the side, staring blankly at the figure stained with sweat and white latex paint.

The roller rubbed against the wall repeatedly, making a low "shush" sound.

The dilapidated bathroom is being gradually covered and repaired with a clean, brand-new white layer.

She watched and listened.

For some reason, I couldn't help but call out his name, "Tang Song—"

This was the first time in many years that she had called his name alone.

Tang Song stopped what he was doing, turned around, his face still smeared with a few specks of white paint, and smiled brightly and cleanly, "I'm here, what's up?"

"N-nothing, thank you." She lowered her head in a fluster.

In a daze, I felt a similarly mottled and damp corner in my heart.

He is repairing it little by little in the gentlest and most subtle way.

(End of this chapter)