Age of Legends

Chapter 271 Buried on the spot
Unlike later generations where high school students could receive their final exam results online via public WeChat accounts or even directly via WeChat from their homeroom teachers, in Fuzhou at present, students typically return to school five to seven days after the end of the semester to collect their report cards.

For key high schools like Yude High School, the marking process is quite strict, usually taking seven days.

This period is a holiday.

"Want to go hiking tomorrow?" Zhang Chen saw that Shen Nuoyi was online on QQ, probably playing Dou Dizhu (a card game) again, so he sent her a message.

Sure enough, after one game, Shen Nuoyi replied, "Where to?"

"Why not go to Fangshan? It's convenient to get to. You've all been there before, right? There are temples and Taoist monasteries there. If you get tired, you can have tea and vegetarian meals."

Fangshan is one of the places where people in Fuzhou usually burn incense and worship temples. The road to the mountain is always blocked on the first day of the Lunar New Year. In a more distant time, the children of the three departments and four hospitals also made an appointment to go there to play. Zhang Chen also went there. There were a lot of boys and girls. Basically, the girls played with the girls and the boys played with the boys. But a group of little boys also tried to attract Shen Nuoyi's attention by acting silly.

Xiao Zhangchen would occasionally steal glances at Shen Nuoyi from the crowd. Her beautiful face and lively personality were irresistible to any boy at that stage. It was just a pity that her stage was limited, and not everyone could squeeze to the front.

Now... can't I at least satisfy my old desire to have Shen Qingmei all to myself?
Zhang Chen does have some hidden thoughts.

Shen Nuoyi certainly knew Fangshan. His whole family had been there a few times. There was a cat temple there where many stray cats lived. He and Qin Tangxi had played with the cats there and jumped over the houses. They had also been there once when their junior high school class organized an outing.

But the one thing she never did was go hiking alone with a boy.

A lone man and woman, alone on a mountain—what if something happened? Shen Nuoyi's mind was already racing. Well, climbing a mountain is tiring and boring; it seemed like no romance story would choose to take place there. Besides, she didn't understand why Zhang Chen suddenly thought of going mountain climbing. Of course, she didn't know it originated from Zhang Chen's little scheme.

It's true that although she and Zhang Chen would meet at the bookstore alone on weekends, it was usually under the guise of helping each other, with the real purpose of improving their grades. Even if someone saw them, it wouldn't matter. But now, she felt that Zhang Chen had some ulterior motives for going hiking with her.

However, this situation will definitely become the norm in the future. Zhang Chen is already her boyfriend. She has been single for eighteen years, and today is the first time she has escaped being single since birth. She has to start to slowly accept this situation, and the two of them will also do many things together.

Normally, going to the bookstore wasn't considered a proper date, so this was a real, proper date with Zhang Chen.

Thinking about it this way, Shen Nuoyi felt it didn't make sense. Since the two of them confirmed their relationship, they hadn't actually gone on a date alone together.

On one hand, it's definitely the fault of senior year students. After all, the academic pressure is so great, their classes are packed during the week, and there's basically nowhere to go on weekends. Being able to find time to date is already a luxury.

On the other hand, Zheng Xue was always by his side during lunch break after school, and Wang Shuowei was always there to protect Zhang Chen. Sometimes they could only meet up at an internet cafe, where that damned card game was still enticing him. So all of this was Zheng Xue and Wang Shuowei's fault.

Now, the two of them can climb mountains together on their own, which seems pretty good, and there's even a hint of anticipation in their hearts.

Shen Nuoyi replied on QQ: "Okay."

……

Zheng Xue watched Shen Nuo for a while without starting a game, then sent a QQ message: "Are you going to continue chatting with Zhang Chen, or should I start a game myself? What are you guys talking about?"

Zheng Xue's ears perked up on the other end of the computer.

Upon hearing Zheng Xue urging him to play cards, Shen Nuoyi became itchy again. After all, he was quite self-disciplined during the school year, and it was a rare opportunity to relax and play cards. So he said, "Wait a minute, I'm going to talk to Zhang Chen about going mountain climbing tomorrow."

Shen Nuoyi regretted sending the message as soon as it was sent. Sure enough, Zheng Xue replied excitedly a while later: "Wow, mountain climbing! It's been so long since I've climbed a mountain. I want to go too! I want to go too!"

Shen Nuoyi: "..."

……

While Zhang Chen was still planning to find a secluded paradise for himself and Shen Nuoyi to enjoy some alone time, Wang Shuowei called: "Still lying around at home! How about we go to Brother Zhao's internet cafe for the whole day tomorrow? We'll have the whole place to ourselves and play CS all day!"

"Shen Nuoyi and I are going hiking tomorrow," Zhang Chen said.

"Climbing mountains? Where?" Wang Shuowei asked.

"Fangshan." Zhang Chen was completely unguarded, thinking that Wang Shuowei, who was used to a life of ease, would get a headache just thinking about climbing mountains, so it wouldn't hurt to tell him. He was a homebody, but Zhang Chen wasn't anymore; he was now pursuing a healthy, positive, and happy life.

"Great! Let's go! It's nice to get some fresh air outdoors once in a while!"

Zhang Chen: "..."

……

So the next day, at the ticket hall for the Fangshan shuttle bus, Zhang Chen looked at Zheng Xue next to Shen Nuoyi, and Shen Nuoyi looked at Wang Shuowei, who was wearing a vest and full of energy, next to Zhang Chen. They were both silent for a while. "He (she) insisted on coming along." Wang Shuowei and Zheng Xue went to buy tickets, and Zhang Chen and Shen Nuoyi walked behind them, saying in unison.

The two nodded almost imperceptibly, both knowing full well that they couldn't let go of these two sticky nuts.

However, things are much better now. Shen Nuoyi wore a gray sweatshirt and indigo blue athletic pants underneath, with a matching sweatshirt on top. The clothes accentuated her slender and toned figure. Her high ponytail and athletic attire highlighted her narrow, bright phoenix eyes, with eyebrows that resembled crescent moons, their curves carrying a sharp edge. These eyebrows, combined with her oval face, created a serene yet subtly alluring beauty.

In many memories, Shen Nuoyi, seen through the crowd, had a face that was so striking that it was hard to look directly at him, and one would even look away if their eyes met.

The current Zhang Chen is different; his greedy eyes only make Shen Nuoyi feel embarrassed.

Zheng Xue, in a dress and with long, straight black hair, is quite beautiful when she dresses up and doesn't speak.

Zhang Chen and Wang Shuowei were dressed casually; Zhang Chen wore a white shirt and sweatpants, while Wang Shuowei was dressed in Nike gear and new white shoes. They strolled around, bought tickets, and returned. The four of them got on the bus and, after a little over an hour's drive, arrived at the foot of Fangshan.

From the foot of Fangshan, there are two ways to go up the mountain: one is to take the hiking route, winding up the road, and the other is to take the cable car. Since the group is here to hike, the cable car is unnecessary. Moreover, the Fangshan route is not tiring, the mountain is not high, and you can walk and stop along the way, making it a light hiking route.

Zhang Chen carried Wang Shuowei's Sony digital camera, and Shen Nuoyi also brought a camera. The two of them took photos along the way. When they arrived at the rest platform ahead, they could overlook the city and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Wang Shuowei exclaimed "Wow!" and pointed over there, "Zhang Chen, aren't you going to take a picture of this beautiful scenery?!"

Zheng Xue rushed to the platform railing and said she wanted to get some fresh air.

Zhang Chen opened his camera and snapped a few pictures. Wang Shuowei leaned over to look, stunned. "What are you taking pictures of?!"

"Then why don't you go and film it!"

"Let me take a picture and show you what taking a picture is all about!" Wang Shuowei took the camera and then went over to take the picture seriously.

A moment later, she excitedly ran over to show Zhang Chen the finished product.

"It's not bad... Zheng Xue, stand there and don't move. This angle is good. Let Wang Shuowei take the picture for you; he's good at it!"

"Really? Wang Shuowei, make sure you take good pictures, or I'll kill you!" Zheng Xue lifted her skirt over there.

"Leave it to me!" Wang Shuowei scurried over, all smiles.

Then the two of them just kept taking pictures.

Zhang Chen finally had some alone time with Shen Nuoyi. He pointed to the temple wall next to them and said, "Let's go over there, I'll take a picture for you."

As they passed each other, Shen Nuo smiled slightly, "You did that on purpose, you cunning one."

What can we do? These two are like chewing gum.

There are two lions, one on the left and one on the right, on the steps of the temple gate. They have been there for a hundred years. Zhang Chen and Shen Nuoyi have both taken photos here individually and together. When we were in elementary school, the whole group from the three departments and four colleges came here and took a group photo. Shen Nuoyi was in that photo. I wonder how many people who took the photo will cherish it.

These two lions have witnessed the journey of countless people from youth to old age. In another time and space, Zhang Chen's only thought of Shen Nuoyi was that childhood photo they took together.

At that time, Shen Nuoyi was at the very top next to the lion, surrounded by about a dozen boys and girls. Even in the faded old photo, you could still see that her eyes were as bright as lacquer, and her beautiful face seemed like it came from another world.

This time, Zhang Chen only wanted to take a photo with Shen Nuoyi alone next to this lion. It was purely a small obsession from back then. The girl he grew up with in his youth, being able to meet and reunite with her at the best age, that is the meaning of rebirth.

Zhang Chen handed the camera to a tourist. The old man looked at the two of them with deep emotion and instructed them, "Stand next to the lion, get closer, and smile!"

Shen Nuoyi seemed to have some feelings about it as well. She tilted her head slightly, facing the camera, and slowly moved closer to Zhang Chen.

Just as they were about to take a picture, Wang Shuowei and Zheng Xue suddenly appeared from the left and right sides, shouting, "Hey, we all took pictures of this lion when we were kids! Why didn't you invite us to join the photo shoot? Come on, come on!"

Then the two squeezed through, and an elderly passerby snapped a picture.

The two gluttons in the scene are overjoyed, while Zhang Chen and Shen Nuoyi are staring at each other, both of them having the urge to beat the other to death and bury him on the spot.

(End of this chapter)