Huayu: Starting with binding the front desk

In the afternoon, at Anding Ancient Town.

When Xu Ying learned that her two children were going to see the iron flower performance, she immediately dragged her husband along as well.

So what was originally a trip for two turned into a lively "family of five".

Besides Xu Ying and her husband, there was also a six-year-old girl, who was Tian Xiwei's younger sister.

As soon as they entered the ancient town, Xu Ying picked up the little girl and held her in her arms. The little girl hugged her neck, her bright black eyes darting around, finding everything new and exciting.

Xu Yingchong, Wang Zhe, and Tian Xi waved their hands slightly: "You guys go explore on your own, we'll meet up again at mealtime."

"Thank you for your help, Aunt Xu." Tian Xi responded softly, then told her younger sister to be obedient before pulling on Wang Zhe's sleeve and disappearing into the crowd.

There was still some time before the evening's iron flower performance. On the ancient town's bluestone road, Tian Xiwei walked ahead, looking around, while Wang Zhe followed slowly behind her.

"Hurry up, hurry up... Wang Zhe, there's a place selling 'chongchong' cake up ahead!" Tian Xiwei called out to him, hopping and skipping ahead.

When they arrived at the stall, Tian Xiwei was about to take out her change when Wang Zhe saw the QR code for payment posted next to her and took out his phone: "I'll scan it."

He didn't expect that tourist attractions would have QR codes for payment these days.

As a reborn person who is used to mobile payments, he has no habit of carrying cash at all.

Yesterday, while strolling along Jiefang Road, it was all Tian Xiwei's treat.

Tian Xiwei put the change back into her pocket, her gaze inadvertently sweeping over his phone screen, when she suddenly remembered something.

"Wang Zhe, was the screen broken that morning?"

"Hmm? Why are you suddenly asking this?" After paying, Wang Zhe calmly put his phone away.

When Tian Xiwei saw his reaction, she knew what had happened; it must have been the accident that morning.

"Your phone got broken, why didn't you tell me?"

Wang Zhe didn't mention that she had run away after hitting someone that day; he just smiled and said, "It's still usable, it doesn't affect anything."

Tian Xiwei didn't believe it, so she reached out and took his phone to look through it.

The latest iPhone 6 Plus has a noticeable crack in the corner of the screen.

"How much will it cost to replace the screen? I'll bring it to you when I get home."

Wang Zhe shook his head: "Forget it, I was also responsible that morning, I wasn't watching where I was going."

"How much?" she insisted.

  

"A little over a thousand."

Tian Xi was slightly taken aback. She quickly calculated in her mind that she had already spent most of her New Year's money this year, and it seemed like she didn't have enough.

Seeing her conflicted expression, Wang Zhe couldn't help but smile and ask, "What's wrong? Can't afford to pay for it?"

Tian Xi chuckled awkwardly, "Haha... I don't have that much money right now, can I write you an IOU?"

Wang Zhe waved his hand: "Let's forget about it."

"no."

Tian Xiwei's smile faded, and after thinking for a moment, she said very seriously, "Let's keep things separate. I'll definitely buy you a new one when I make money in the future."

Seeing her serious expression, Wang Zhe didn't refuse anymore and nodded: "Okay, then I'll wait for my sister to compensate me for the new phone."

Just then, my phone vibrated; it was a message from my mom.

"Let's go eat first, my mom and the others are already waiting."

As the two entered the restaurant, Tian Xiwei immediately spotted her younger sister nestled in Xu Ying's arms, enjoying her meal with gusto. Her lips were smeared with oil, and she was eating with great relish.

"Aunt Xu, you're really going to so much trouble. Let me carry her." Tian Xiwei quickly stepped forward.

Xu Ying placed another chicken wing on the little girl's plate, then smiled and waved to Tian Xi, "It's alright, you two eat yours. I quite like this child."

Tian Xiwei and Wang Zhe didn't think much of it and sat down to start eating.

But Wang Yuejin, who was standing next to Xu Ying, had a sudden thought when he heard this.

My wife likes girls? Maybe I need to work harder.

He made a quick decision, raising his hand and calling out, "Waiter, another order of mud eel."

Wang Zhe looked at the table full of barely touched dishes, puzzled. "So much food, we can't possibly finish it all, can we?"

Wang Yuejin glanced at his son, his face clearly saying, "You don't understand." He continued, "I ate it myself. You're too young to understand."

Wang Zhe thought his father was acting strangely today and was too lazy to ask him any further questions.

Xu Ying didn't notice the commotion between the father and son, and turned to look at Tian Xiwei with a smile.

"Xiaotian, you'll be going to university next year, right? Which school are you planning to apply to?"

Tian Xiwei smiled sweetly at her and replied gracefully, "I plan to apply to art colleges, and I'm going to Beijing this year to participate in art exam training."

"Really? Which school are you planning to apply to? Maybe I can be Xiao Zhe's senior in the future."

The more Xu Ying got to know the girl, the more likable she became, especially since she was also quite familiar with her mother.

Tian Xi shook her head slightly and smiled frankly: "It's not decided yet. I'll go to whichever one I get into."

She turned to look at Wang Zhe, who was engrossed in eating beside her, and asked, "What about you?"

Wang Zhe swallowed the food in his mouth and casually replied, "Beijing Film Academy or Shanghai Theatre Academy. Beijing Film Academy is more suitable, while Shanghai Theatre Academy is closer to home."

He said that, but in his heart he actually favored the Beijing Film Academy.

The reason is simple: barring any unforeseen circumstances, Zhang Jingyi will still be admitted to the Beijing Film Academy, just like in her previous life.

Besides, Beijing Film Academy has a past girlfriend from a previous life.

As for the Central Academy of Drama's rule that freshmen and sophomores are not allowed to film, he wouldn't even consider it.

Tian Xi blinked, puzzled, and asked, "Aren't you from Changsha? How come the Shanghai Theatre Academy is so close to home?"

Wang Yuejin, who was sitting opposite, said, "Girl, I'm from Shanghai, and Xiao Zhe's household registration is also in Shanghai. You can say he's from Changsha or Shanghai, it doesn't matter."

Xu Ying added with a smile, "Your uncle settled in Changsha for my sake, since I work in Changsha."

Upon hearing this, Tian Xiwei's eyes lit up immediately, and she exclaimed sincerely, "Is that so... then Uncle must love Aunt Xu very much."

Everyone at the table burst into laughter.

Wang Yuejin was unusually a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and took a sip of tea, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his face.

Xu Ying glanced at her husband, something flashing in her eyes, before turning back to play with the little girl in her arms as if nothing had happened.

Only Wang Zhe, amidst the warm atmosphere around the table, caught a whiff of familiar "second-child plan" scent from the extra plate of eels in front of his father.

……

Molten iron splashed across the sky like a reversed galaxy, shattering into millions of golden meteors that bloomed and fell in the night sky.

A gasp rippled through the crowd. The little girl, nestled in Xu Ying's arms, kicked her legs anxiously and cried out in her childish voice, "Auntie, I can't see, I can't see!"

Without saying a word, Wang Zhe took her from his mother's arms and steadily hoisted the little girl onto his neck.

The little guy sat on his "private viewing platform," his two little hands tugging at Wang Zhe's hair, his mouth wide open in a "wow" shape, and his eyes shining so brightly they could reflect a sky full of sparks.

Tian Xiwei stood to the side, but her gaze unconsciously shifted from the shower of iron sparks to the tall, thin boy next to her.

He held the little girl's leg with one hand and braced her back with the other to prevent her from leaning back, while teasing her, "Am I tall? Now you can see?"

The little girl giggled, "I saw it, I saw it..."

Tian Xiwei watched this scene and smiled sweetly.

This younger brother of mine may have a foul mouth, but when it comes to getting things done, he's truly impeccable.

It was late at night when the performance ended.

On the way back, the little girl nestled in Tian Xiwei's arms and slept soundly, her little face buried in the crook of Tian Xiwei's neck, her breathing even and peaceful.

Wang Zhe sat by the window, quietly watching the streetlights recede into the distance, lost in thought.

Tian Xi turned her head slightly and looked at him for a while.

They're leaving tomorrow.

When will we meet again?

Beijing Film Academy, or Shanghai Theatre Academy?

She silently memorized the two schools, as if she had quietly planted a seed in her heart.