Era: Rise from the Wilderness

"As we agreed at the beginning,"

Li Yunjing spoke, his voice a little hoarse but exceptionally clear, "I'll return your principal to you first."

He counted out the corresponding amount of money and pushed it in front of Lü Ruoxi.

Then he counted out 1,800 yuan and pushed it over, saying, "This is your share."

Lu Ruoxi looked at the large stack of money that belonged to her in front of her, her fingers twitched, but she didn't immediately take it.

"Yun Jing... this... this is too much."

She looked up at Li Yunjing, her eyes slightly red: "I didn't actually do anything... You came up with all the solutions."

"What's agreed upon is agreed upon."

Li Yunjing interrupted her, his tone leaving no room for argument, "Besides, without your initial investment, even if I had the grandest ideas, I couldn't pull this off!"

"You deserve it."

He paused, looked into the girl's clear eyes, and softened his tone: "Ruoxi, take this money."

"Going to college is expensive, so having more money in your pocket will make your life easier."

Lü Ruoxi nodded vigorously, no longer declining.

Under the dim light, Lü Ruoxi carefully smoothed out each bill of the thick wad of money, neatly stacked them, and then put them into the locked storage jar under her bed.

The tin can made a soft "click" sound as it closed, as if locking away the thrills, sweat, and gains of the past twenty days deep into the depths of memory.

"Cloudscape..."

She spoke softly, her voice trembling slightly, "I...I'm going to Bincheng to report for duty tomorrow."

The room suddenly fell silent.

The chirping of summer insects outside the window seemed exceptionally clear.

Li Yunjing paused slightly as he leaned against the wall.

Of course he knew about it.

Bincheng University of Technology starts its semester at the end of August, and students need to participate in military training, so naturally, their semester starts earlier than his.

For the past twenty days, they have been so busy running around in the countryside, shuttling between banknotes and treasury bonds, that they have almost deliberately ignored the approaching separation.

At this moment, Lü Ruoxi brought up the topic with a reluctant voice, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

Lü Ruoxi turned her head and looked at Li Yunjing.

The girl's eyes appeared exceptionally bright under the light, yet they were also filled with complex emotions.

There was a sense of reluctance to part with the twenty days of "fighting" side by side, a mix of anticipation and unease about the upcoming university life, and an inexplicable sense of dependence and excitement towards the boy in front of me who seemed to have become both strange and familiar overnight.

"I……"

Lu Ruoxi opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say next.

My heart feels heavy, bittersweet, and empty.

Looking at the misty tears in her eyes and the undisguised affection, Li Yunjing felt a gentle touch on the softest part of his heart.

How could he bear to part with it?

This summer is not just about making money, but also an important step for him to reconnect with the world and this era.

Lu Ruoxi was the only companion who walked alongside him and shared all his secrets and joys on this adventurous and rewarding journey.

Her trust, her support, her intelligence and meticulousness were all indispensable strengths for him.

He straightened up, walked up to Lü Ruoxi, and looked her in the eye.

"Ruoxi,"

He spoke softly but firmly, "Bincheng isn't far. It only takes a few hours by car."

Lu Ruoxi felt a lump in her throat and quickly lowered her head, not wanting him to see her reddened eyes.

Li Yunjing reached out his hand, hesitated for a moment, and finally gently grasped her fair little hand.

The girl's hands were slightly cold, and her fingertips trembled a little.

"Don't do that,"

He softened his tone, "Going to university is a good thing; many people envy that."

"Study hard over there and broaden your horizons."

"I'm here..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "I have a lot on my plate too. I need to support the convenience store, and I also have to deal with my studies for repeating a grade... But I promise I'll come see you as soon as I have time."

Lü Ruoxi looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, filled with a hint of anticipation: "Really?"

"real."

Li Yunjing nodded vigorously, his eyes sincere. "I keep my word. We're familiar with Bincheng. I'll come to your school to find you and treat you to something delicious."

Hearing "eat something delicious," Lü Ruoxi couldn't help but burst into laughter through her tears. She gave him a reproachful look, but her mood had indeed improved considerably.

"besides,"

Li Yunjing thought for a moment and added, "We can write letters."

"Once you arrive at school and settle in, send me your address."

"I'll write to you whenever I have time, and you can write to me too, telling me about the interesting things that happen at university."

"That way, even if we don't see each other often, we'll still know about each other's situation."

"write a letter……"

Lu Ruoxi murmured to herself, a romantic anticipation, slow-paced yet full of ritual, rising in her heart—a kind of anticipation belonging to this era.

Letters carried by wild geese seem to convey heartfelt thoughts even better than those conveyed by telephone.

"Yes, write a letter."

Looking at her flushed cheeks and moist eyes so close to his own, Li Yunjing felt a surge of intense emotion.

Without further hesitation, he opened his arms and gently embraced Lü Ruoxi.

Lu Ruoxi's body stiffened slightly, then softened and obediently leaned against his chest.

The boy's chest was not broad, but it was exceptionally firm and warm, carrying the scent of youthful sunshine and a reassuring power.

She closed her eyes, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat. She felt all the hard work and anxiety of the past twenty days vanish in this embrace, leaving only a deep sense of reluctance and bittersweetness.

Li Yunjing gently embraced her, resting his chin on the top of her soft hair, inhaling its fragrance.

"Take good care of yourself, Ruoxi."

He whispered in her ear, "When you get to university, don't forget the days we 'fought' together. The road ahead is long."

"Um."

Lü Ruoxi nodded vigorously in his arms, her voice muffled and nasal, "You are also... Yun Jing, don't push yourself too hard, and... remember to write to me."

The two embraced quietly for a long time before slowly separating.

"You don't need to see me off. My parents are here too, so don't let them see me. I'll write to you after my military training is over, and then you can come see me!"

Lu Ruoxi spoke softly.

The sunlight outside the window cast the two figures, nestled together, onto the mottled wall, elongating, overlapping, and then slowly separating.

The air was filled with the scent of parting, yet it was also tightly enveloped by a budding, unspoken, but already intensely strong emotion.

Li Yunjing's arm still retained the warmth and trembling of the girl's body, and he could almost smell the faint fragrance of sunshine and soap in her hair.

He looked at Lü Ruoxi's slightly flushed cheeks, her clear eyes shimmering with tears, reflecting his own image, and filled with unspoken longing.