I'm in high school, is my dating system working correctly?

"My dad isn't from Jiangcheng; he's from the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region. After graduating from university, he was assigned to work in the finance department of a cotton mill."

Carrying the box of lemon mousse cake that Lu Yu had given her, Cheng Bailu walked along the slightly dilapidated path.

The cotton mill and its associated dormitories and collectively funded housing have long been demolished and are now a bustling construction site. Brand-new commercial housing is about to be topped out, casting huge shadows that completely obscure the old, dilapidated houses that have not yet been renovated.

"He worked very hard and was highly regarded by the factory manager. Later, he met my mother, who was a technician in the workshop. The two fell in love and got married."

Lu Yu glanced at the girl walking beside him from time to time; her ponytail gleamed gold in the afterglow.

"Back then, the factory's housing allocation was very competitive, and everyone wanted one. Logically, my dad should have been able to get one."

The alleyway was filled with the sounds of mahjong tiles, cooking fumes, news broadcasts, and children crying. Cheng Bailu felt out of place amidst these sounds.

"But to my surprise, one day when we were checking the accounts, we found that 20,000 yuan was missing."

Cheng Bailu paused and took a deep breath.

"Everyone says that my dad stole the money. My colleagues in the finance office, the uncles in the security office, the neighbors in the workshop and factory, even my mother's relatives, everyone says that my dad stole the money."

Lu Yu finally understood.

Why was the girl in front of me so stunned when Sun Di accused Cheng Bailu of stealing money that day?

At this moment, just as at that moment.

"There weren't many surveillance cameras back then. My mom said that a large group of people from the factory stormed into our house, ransacked all the cabinets they could, and tore up all the blankets they could, leaving the whole house in a mess. In the end, they only found three thousand yuan, which was my dad's salary that he had just received."

She walked on the moss-covered stone steps. The sky was dark, and even the last rays of sunlight were obscured by dark clouds.

"The money was taken away, my dad was fired, and my mom stayed at the factory until it went bankrupt. The house we live in now is also rented. After I was born, my dad set up a small stall at the entrance of the factory, repairing clocks, bicycles and the like. Actually, although we were poor back then, I really think those were the happiest days of my life."

Arriving at an old building with peeling paint and only a few lights on, Cheng Bailu looked up slightly and then went upstairs.

"Until a few years ago, after the cotton mill went bankrupt, a few people from the factory were chatting while playing mahjong, and one of the accountants let slip the secret."

hum-

Lu Yu's heart skipped a beat when Cheng Bailu paused in her speech.

"She said that she actually lost the money, but she didn't dare to say it at the time, fearing it would affect her purchase of a subsidized housing unit. She thought that since my dad was a college student, his family must have money, and as long as it was made up, it would be fine. Who knew it would cause such a big fuss? And later, the 20,000 yuan was found at her house. It turned out that her child had mischievously put it in the closet. Not long after my dad was fired, the debt was made up, and no one mentioned it."

Cheng Bailu climbed the old and mottled stairs.

"My dad has always thought that he lost it due to carelessness, and he's been nagging about it for a long time, but he never expected the truth to be so absurd."

"He took my mother and me to the other party's house to demand an explanation, but the other party just said casually... It's just 20,000 yuan, the factory has gone bankrupt, what's past is past."

"When I came back that day, my dad kept saying, 'We found the money, why didn't you tell me?' And then he got sick."

This was the first time Lu Yu had heard Cheng Bailu say so much. Her tone was calm, as if she had let go of the past, or perhaps she had simply accepted it.

Lu Yu actually understood.

Cheng Bailu's father lost more than just an enviable job or a chance to buy a subsidized housing unit; he lost his dignity.

Can lost dignity be regained?

For many people, no.

The suffering they endured during times of hardship, the feelings of inferiority and poverty they once had, the doubts, cold stares, and harsh words they received—these can haunt them for the rest of their lives. Even if they have a happy life, they may still be awakened by a scene from many years ago on some night.

For Cheng Bailu's father, that scene haunted him like a nightmare, becoming a prison that bound him for life, from which he could never escape.

She said she doesn't like seeing others suffer.

Probably because...

Her family had suffered immense injustices themselves, and she knew how bitter and difficult that was.

Stop walking.

Cheng Bailu took out her key, clicked it open, and unlocked the door.

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

The sound of stir-frying came from the somewhat cramped kitchen.

"Bai Lu is back. Oh, this must be Lu Yu. No need to change your shoes, just come in."

Cheng Bailu's mother, Qin Sangyu, peeked out and saw the tall boy behind her daughter, a smile curving her lips.

Hello, Auntie.

Lu Yu greeted him somewhat awkwardly.

Cheng Bailu had already informed her family of his upcoming arrival.

"These were just some random purchases; we'll all eat them together later."

Lu Yu walked into the old but spotless living room.

This is a not-so-spacious old-fashioned two-bedroom apartment with terrazzo floors, a curved corner cabinet, an old TV, blue glass, a yellowish air conditioner, an electric fan that oscillates, a glass coffee table, and a family photo on the wooden TV cabinet.

That photo must have been taken before her father got sick. Cheng Bailu in the photo was probably in first or second grade of elementary school, with pigtails.

She's actually quite... cute.

"You're too kind, Bailu. Please take care of him first; the food will be ready soon."

Qin Sangyu recognized the familiar supermarket tote bag at a glance, but without saying anything, she went back to the kitchen to continue working.

"...Put the cake in the fridge first, I'll arrange these."

Lu Yu gave the cake to Cheng Bailu, unpacked the prepared foods from the supermarket, arranged them on the folding dining table, and glanced at the two rooms.

One of the rooms had its door tightly closed, and the other room was probably Cheng Bailu's bedroom. Lu Yu caught a glimpse of a desk and a simple bed, but didn't dare to continue peeking.

Soon, Qin Sangyu returned to the living room with the dishes.

Stir-fried green peppers with pork, stir-fried lotus root slices with vinegar, stir-fried cabbage—for a moment, Lu Yu thought Feng Jiahe was the one cooking.

"Give."

Cheng Bailu handed Lu Yu a bowl filled with steaming white rice and bamboo chopsticks.

"What are you looking at?"

Noticing Lu Yu staring at her, Cheng Bailu lowered her head, assuming her clothes were stained with oil.

"No, thank you."

Lu Yu took the bowl.

Twin tails, what a wonderful thing!

He admitted that for a moment just now he did imagine what Cheng Bailu would look like with pigtails.

"Yichuan, dinner's ready... Bailu, call your dad to dinner."

Qin Sangyu called out to her while she was busy, but when there was no response, she asked her daughter to go instead.

Cheng Bailu opened the tightly closed door.

"Dad, dinner's ready."

Lu Yu subconsciously looked over and, looking past Cheng Bailu's shoulder, saw a man wearing an old shirt and glasses sitting at a table, seriously repairing something. Hearing Cheng Bailu's words, he slowly put down what he was doing, got up, and walked out.

If I had to describe him by first impression, Cheng Bailu's father was a somewhat bookish, refined, and easy-going man.

It perfectly matches Lu Yu's imagination of college students in that era.

"This is me, um, classmate, Lu Yu, this is my dad."

Cheng Bailu carefully chose her words as she introduced the topic.

Hello, Uncle.

Lu Yu greeted him.

It turns out that Cheng Bailu's father was named Cheng Yichuan.

Thinking of the story behind the name, Lu Yu felt a pang of sadness.

"Lu Yu, the Sage of Tea, what a good name, what a good name."

Cheng Yichuan spoke in a very calm manner, like a researcher engaged in academic work.

"This is the first time our Bailu has brought a classmate home, and he's a handsome young man."

Qin Sangyu smiled.

This made Lu Yu hesitant to make any rash moves.

Are we going to start talking about the bride price soon?

"Stop teasing him, have a seat."

Cheng Yichuan reached out, paused, and seeing that Lu Yu did not dodge, patted him on the shoulder.

The four of them finally sat down.

This was probably the first time the Cheng family's dining table had been so lavish.

After some back and forth, Qin Sangyu finally accepted Lu Yu's explanation that he had only bought so much food because Cheng Bailu had persuaded him to.

"Xiao Lu, eat more, don't waste food."

As he spoke, he told Lu Yu to pick up the chicken leg of the roast chicken himself.

In contrast, Cheng Yichuan was very quiet and reserved, spending most of his time eating and only occasionally responding to Qin Sangyu's words.

Perhaps all mothers in the world are the same.

For some reason, Lu Yu seemed to see the shadow of his mother in Qin Sangyu.

Cheng Bailu ate quietly, probably inheriting her father's mannerisms. Only when there was one chicken wing left in her lunchbox did she glance at the boy next to her.

"Chicken wings, hmm, you can have some."

This style is exactly the same as Qin Sangyu's.

Lu Yu would never say anything like, "You are the kind of woman who could become my mother."

Never in this lifetime.

After the meal, Lu Yu offered to help clean up, but Qin Sangyu stopped him.

"Xiao Lu, come and prepare the cake."

She said with a smile.

Lu Yu had no choice but to agree, placing the lemon mousse cake on the spotlessly clean dining table and lighting the candles.

Because I asked the shop assistant to look it up, the candle had a "1" and a "7", which corresponded to Cheng Bailu's seventeenth birthday.

"We've never bought her a birthday cake before. Looking back now, it's really been tough on her."

Cheng Yichuan sat by the window, staring at the lit candle, his expression somewhat dazed.

"Dad, I'm not that particular."

Cheng Bailu returned to the living room and was slightly taken aback when she saw the candle.

"May I take a picture?"

She subconsciously glanced at Lu Yu beside her.

"This is your birthday cake. You can throw it in my face if you want, uh, I was just saying. Don't actually throw it, cake is better eaten."

Lu Yu said with a teasing laugh.

This is probably the first time this girl has ever celebrated her birthday with such a sense of ceremony.

Cheng Bailu took out her old phone, which she had used for many years, and took several photos. She also solemnly recorded a video.

Just like...

As if there would never be another chance to do something like this again, I carefully preserve everything I have at this moment.

Her life has been very difficult since childhood, and she has experienced less happiness than her peers.

Things like today are even rarer.

So she wanted to make the impression more lasting and slow down time.

Because this is her treasure.

Qin Sangyu turned off the living room lights, and the three of them sang a rather off-key birthday song.

In the darkness, Cheng Bailu closed her eyes and made a wish.

Then, blow out the candle.

Lu Yu had never thought that such a childish wish would have any effect.

But at this moment, he was willing to believe just once.

Believe that your wish can come true.

I believe a miracle will eventually happen.

Believe that what you keep in mind will eventually come back to you.

*

"I'll take care of things here. You go and see Xiao Lu off."

After eating the cake, which had become even tastier, Lu Yu expressed his intention to go home, and Qin Sangyu got up.

Cheng Bailu and Lu Yu exchanged a glance.

"Next time you come, I'll make you some tea."

After Cheng Yichuan finished speaking, he waved his hand, went back to his room, and started fiddling with the things on the table again.

"Then I'll take you."

Cheng Bailu took the keys and her phone.

The two went downstairs in silence.

In the wind, [Elementary Listening] accidentally brought the sounds from her home.

"I...I didn't let my daughter down, did I?"

"No, you're fine. You're the best father. I'll get you your medicine."

"Xiao Lu is a good kid, very sincere and thoughtful. My daughter has good taste."

"I like him too, but with our family situation... we shouldn't hold him back."

"The people in the community told me they could help me find some simple work, which would lighten your burden a bit. I'm feeling much better now, and my attacks have been less frequent lately..."

"Neither Bailu nor I care about these things, you should take your medicine first."

Lu Yu did not listen any further.

Some people do everything they can, just to live an ordinary life.

The streetlights were dim, and the two shadows were blurred and ambiguous, intertwining under the light.

"What did you wish for?"

"It's no big deal, and besides, making this kind of wish probably won't do any good."

"It will come true. This is your first birthday cake, and you get special privileges for making your first wish."

"Really?"

"It's true, it was said by the ancient Greek god of cake."

"He must be very busy, with so many people celebrating their birthdays every day."

Cheng Bailu muttered something, then thought of the food again.

"By the way, I'll pay you back the money I spent today, slowly later."

Regardless, Lu Yu had really gone to great lengths today. Cheng Bailu was willing to accept the birthday cake as a gift, but she felt she had to repay him for everything else.

"Whatever you want."

Lu Yu couldn't persuade her otherwise.

"Well, let's add each other as friends."

Cheng Bailu took out her phone.

QQ or WeChat?

"Add them all."

The night was gentle, and her voice was resolute.

Alright, alright, you're the birthday person, I'll do whatever you want.

Cheng Bailu's WeChat and QQ names are very simple, just "Bailu", and her profile picture is a reed.

Is it true that the reeds are green and the dew is white as frost?

The woman he longed for was walking beside Lu Yu.

When they reached the alley entrance, they saw a brightly lit world outside and stopped.

"Alright, that's enough for now."

"Thank you so much for today. I should, no, I definitely won't forget today."

Cheng Bailu had lost count of how many times she had thanked Lu Yu in the past few days.

She knew that this was just the boy's personality; he might treat everyone around him, including Zhou Qianyun, the same way he treated her. She was nothing special.

But for her, ever since she met Lu Yu, her world seems to have brightened up a little.

Therefore, the girl entrusted the greatest prophecy to the other party.

"See you tomorrow."

In the gentle evening breeze.

Cheng Bailu's smile.

Just like that.

That faded family photo showed such happiness.

Congratulations on completing the task!

In Lu Yu's view, the indifferent and cold words marked the final footnote to tonight.

For Cheng Bailu, happiness is like a few grains of sugar mixed in with shards of glass during painful years. Just a little bit is enough to keep her going. Now, the memories you gave her have become someone's reason to move towards tomorrow.

[Task Completion Status: Perfect]

[Increased Rewards: Daily Check-in Task Rewards Increased]

"Tonight, I care not about humanity."

*

Thank you everyone for your monthly tickets and recommendation votes!