Back to the prime of life

Chapter 47 Do you like me?

The Zhao family gatehouse is hidden in a small alley in the old city, and the entrance is next to a narrow two-way two-lane road.

Old Zhao took the time to stand outside and smoke a cigarette given to him by Lu Changge. The red circle on the cigarette butt flickered, as if recording the passage of time bit by bit.

He was an ordinary person, but he was the first 'old friend from the previous life' that Lu Changge met in Jiangzhou.

They chatted briefly for a while, and Lu Changge asked him, "Is your son in middle school now?"

"Oh, yes, sophomores now." Old Zhao's voice was soft, and he kept smiling as he spoke. "I see you guys aren't that old either, you're all college students, right? You're out having fun on New Year's Day."

"Yeah, we're from Jiang University of Science and Technology."

"That's great! If my son could get into Jiangnan University of Science and Technology, I'd wake up smiling in my dreams."

Lu Changge joked with him, "He's not just a Jiang Ligong guy. You need him to set higher goals."

Anyway, it was a nice thing to say, so Lao Zhao politely accepted it.

In fact, his son seems to have gone abroad later, returning only occasionally. The old couple are quite good at living. They open the store when they want to, and close it when they want to rest and go out to play. They are very chic.

After returning and paying, Lu Changge said to him, "Boss Zhao, the food is delicious. I'll give you my phone number so I can make a reservation with you next time I come."

"No problem, you can order ahead of time and you don't have to wait here."

"That's better."

Lao Zhao nodded at him one last time and said, "Sorry, I'll take your money."

"Where it should be."

Old Zhao's words were usually spoken in the countryside or among acquaintances, and were heard less and less in later years.

It happened that Qin Jun also came out at this time. This kid cared about him the most. Seeing that he had been out for a while, he came out to take a look.

After seeing this scene, he asked: "Why did you buy all the orders?"

"Let me first say that what happens next has nothing to do with me. It would be nice if you don't have to worry about it."

Qin Jun knew he was joking, so he didn't take it seriously and just asked, "How much?"

"Eight hundred and six."

"Hiss. It's really expensive."

It was okay, after all, it was 2006, and there were fourteen of us. Ten or so years later, a trip with five or six people would cost over two thousand. If you included the alcohol, it would be even more outrageous.

"This is a good deal. I'll go back and tell Old Cheng to stop talking nonsense."

Lu Changge didn't bother to care. After all, Cheng Yongyi's words sometimes sounded a bit annoying.

When Lao Qin came back to the table and told him about it, Cheng Yongyi slapped his thigh and said, "Lao Lu, what you did was wrong. We all thought you went to the bathroom. Why did you pay the bill secretly? No, no, I'll give you the money."

Li Ming pressed down his hand that was about to reach into his pocket and said, "Tonight is not just about eating. You'll have a chance to show off later."

"That's right, drink, drink. We are out here to have fun, the main thing is to have fun, don't always think about money." Qin Jun also poked him secretly.

Cheng Yongyi felt uncomfortable because he didn't get the money, so he said in defense: "It's not that I'm worried about it, the key is that I chose this place. You said this..."

Lu Changge said, "It's a simple matter. If you really want to show your appreciation, why don't we come back next time?"

After he said this, others echoed him, and Cheng Yongyi agreed, emphasizing that no one was allowed to be absent, and he said it sincerely.

Lu Changge knew that he was serious and was not the kind of person who would say "next time, next time" but was just bragging.

After all, they have been together for almost a semester. Cheng Yongyi is indeed generous, and everyone can feel it. The only problem is that he likes to show off.

Anyway, the matter just passed.

But Yin Anyan also came over and asked secretly: "Is it very expensive?"

"It's okay." Lu Changge waved at her from under the table. She asked this question, and everyone present probably thought the same thing. After all, with Cheng Yongyi's exaggeration, anyone would think this meal was not cheap.

They ate for almost two hours, and when they came out it was dark.

It's a good time to go and release lanterns, which costs money, 15 yuan per person.

This time, everyone still didn't give Cheng Yongyi a chance and bought their own.

Jiangzhou is a water town in the south of the Yangtze River, with small rivers running through the city everywhere. In the past, there were steps on the stone piers in front of every household, which could lead directly down to the river. Today, the water lanterns are released here.

They arrived late, and many people had already released the lanterns. Dozens of lanterns were floating on the small river. The lanterns were connected into a line, and the reflection on the water surface formed another line. The combination of the lanterns created a quiet and romantic beauty.

Couples naturally set off fireworks in groups. Lu Changge bought two lotus-shaped ones at a time, with a short cylindrical candle in the middle and a paper boat underneath. They were actually quite beautiful.

"We need to pray before releasing it." He said to Yin Anyan.

She nodded after hearing this. "Okay. It's a bit crowded here. Let's go to the steps on the side."

Lu Changge turned around and saw that the spot next to him wasn't much more spacious. Fortunately, he wasn't a fool. Secretary Yin must have a reason for saying that. Maybe he just felt that the other 12 people were getting in the way.

So without saying anything, he took her and squeezed over there.

After arriving, I still have to say, "There are fewer people here."

This is intentional.

Yin Anyan glared at him, pursed her lips, and said nothing more. She simply squatted down, holding the lantern in her hand. The golden light penetrated the water, reflecting her beautiful face.

Lu Changge followed her example, squatting beside her and quietly explaining, "In some places, releasing lanterns on water is actually a festival. The meaning behind it is similar, generally praying for the release of troubles and sins, symbolizing a farewell to the past and a welcome to new hope."

Today is New Year's Eve. Let's put down this lamp. After tonight, tomorrow will be 2007. Secretary Yin, how about we welcome the new hope of 2007 together?

"Well, let's put it together?"

"it is good."

She said yes, and Lu Changge placed his palm against the back of her hand.

Yin Anyan's heart was pounding, obviously he had never expected such skin contact.

"Let's put it down together and then pray." This bastard Lu Changge acted as if nothing had happened.

"……it is good."

I don’t know if there is any special custom to this, but after they put the lanterns on the water, they close their eyes and start praying.

During the process, Lu Changge secretly glanced at Yin Anyan out of the corner of his eye and found that she was very serious.

Later, he was attracted by that profile and had forgotten to pray. He looked at her at such a close distance, seeing her skin as clean as a baby's, her eyelashes fluttering lightly, and her nose as round as white jade.

People often use all kinds of beautiful words to describe the tenderness and beauty of a girl, but at this moment Lu Changge only felt that those words were too pale and could not even describe his deep feelings.

Until one moment, Yin Anyan suddenly opened his eyes, then turned his head and glanced at her. This close eye contact was like a gunshot, and she was so frightened that she turned her head away.

Lu Changge smiled gently, his voice flowing like water. "There's a line in 'Camel Xiangzi' that says when a girl lowers her head and loses focus, her flustered heart and blushing face are the most stunning sight in the world. I didn't understand it before, but now that I've seen it, I think it's true."

Of course Yin Anyan understood. She bit her lip, perhaps because she was thinking a lot, or perhaps because she was hesitating. Anyway, she asked a question softly.

"Lu Changge, do you like me?"

This question was so soul-shaking that Lu Changge's eyes twitched unnaturally, and the noisy streets around him seemed to quiet down, without a sound at all.

"Yes."

He replied.

(End of this chapter)