A Young Woman's Heart

This makes the area very pedestrian-friendly; if you stand here on your way to school, you'll see many students crossing the road to walk to school.

Students who usually take this route generally live in relatively remote areas, because that direction leads to the suburbs.

There were some files scattered on the desktop, containing statistics on Yukong High School's exam results and last year's college entrance rate for senior high school students... as well as other miscellaneous information.

Mo Kong didn't bother to tidy up. Instead, he leisurely picked up his teacup, turned his chair towards the French windows, and leaned against the windowsill, gazing out the window.

This semester is already more than halfway over, and in about three months, high school seniors will be facing the college entrance examination.

Su Yuqing, who had been curled up on the sofa like a kitten, seemed to have woken up. She rubbed her eyes, stood up unsteadily, walked to the window, and leaned her head against Mo Kong.

His fuzzy hair scratched haphazardly against his rough, stubble-covered face.

"I heard the college entrance exam schedule is going to be changed...?" Her voice was soft and sweet, and a little lazy, as if she hadn't woken up yet.

"Yes, but we don't know when it will be implemented yet. It's said that it was supposed to be moved up a month to June." Mo Kong turned his head slightly to look at her, picked up his tea and was about to take a sip when Su Yuqing drank it first.

The latter licked the corner of his mouth, which was still stained with tea, and winked at him mischievously.

But the two of them were still talking about things at school.

If you only listen to their voices, you have no idea what little tricks they were up to.

"Are you thinking about the college entrance exam? Your results last year didn't seem very good?"

Mo Kong neither affirmed nor denied, but simply stated the facts: "The rate of admission to first-tier universities has decreased, the rate of admission to second-tier universities has not changed much, the rate of admission to third-tier universities has increased, the overall admission rate for undergraduate programs has increased, and including vocational colleges, the overall college entrance rate has also increased."

"Are there actually more people getting into university than in previous years?"

"Yes, that's right."

"But we're producing fewer elites."

“Not everyone can become an elite.” Mo Kong turned his head slightly, his stubble inadvertently brushing against her delicate face. “There’s no point in forcing someone to become an elite.”

"Hmm, so you're not worried about that? As a regular high school, a high college entrance rate is certainly a success, right?"

Mo Kong neither agreed nor disagreed, but took out a cigarette from his jacket pocket and put it in his mouth without lighting it.

The warm air seemed to carry the fresh scent of melons and fruits, like a watermelon that was about to ripen.

"By the way, can it be completed in the summer?" Su Yuqing suddenly asked again.

Mo Kong knew exactly what she was talking about and replied confidently, "No problem."

"I kind of miss the melon fields in the summer... back when I was at Sister Sisi's place..."

He gently stroked her head, as if comforting a cat that had suddenly become lonely.

……

Shen Kelin likes to come to school to do her homework—she also comes on weekends.

Perhaps it's because there's a better learning atmosphere here.

After all, whether it's the vegetable market where my parents run their business or the home, which, though not small, is very crowded because it's piled with things, it's hard to settle down.

Sometimes they don't come to do homework, but to make arrangements for the broadcast afterwards.

There will be a broadcast at noon when it rains, so making a last-minute plan would be too rushed, so it's good to have several plans in place in case of any unforeseen circumstances.

She pouted her upper lip and placed a pen there, as if imitating an elephant curling its trunk.

The classroom door was suddenly pushed open, and an ordinary-looking boy, who wasn't particularly handsome, looked at her with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.

Although he was of average appearance, he was very clean and had a good spirit, so he was not actually disliked.

"What, it's you again?" Shen Kelin rolled her eyes, picking up the pen from her upper lip with a look of disgust. "What are you doing here again? Is this never going to end?"

"Hey, don't say that. I just found out you might come to the classroom..."

"Ugh..." she covered her eyes, her head aching. "You're so annoying..."

"Hehe, I'm used to it. You used to say the same thing to me."

"So annoying." Shen Kelin muttered again, but she didn't seem to intend to kick him out; it was more of a complaint.

The main reason is that I can't bring myself to dislike him.

This guy is now her classmate, and the two of them had a romance in elementary school...

Although it was just childish play by elementary school students, it did express feelings like "I like you" at the time.

So they can be considered true childhood sweethearts.

These two audacious individuals even attempted to conceive a baby while showering together, but ultimately had to give up because they didn't know how to begin.

In fifth grade, this guy moved his whole family to another place, which meant he moved house and changed schools.

I didn't encounter them again during junior high and the first year of senior high.

But in the second year of high school, they became classmates again.

He once asked if he wanted to rekindle his romance from elementary school, but Shen Kelin refused.

But he didn't give up; instead, he became increasingly persistent.

He even said that he had never had a girlfriend other than her, and that he hoped to remain faithful to one person forever.

Whether this guy is just infatuated or can't find a girlfriend and can only look for her, nobody knows.

"What's wrong? You came to school alone to do your homework? You didn't seem to like doing homework before, did you? I always had to let you copy what I wrote." He sat down next to Shen Kelin, as if he were coaxing his angry girlfriend.

"It's noisy."

"Why are you so disgusted with me? Hey, didn't we used to be really close? And we've known each other for so many years, don't you know what kind of person I am? Don't be afraid, as long as you're with me, I'll definitely take full responsibility. Besides, what are you shy about? We've taken baths together several times when we were little, right?"

"It's so noisy..."

"Shen Kelin, Shen Kelin, I think I still prefer calling you Keke. Although you're not as cute as before, I still like you looking more mature!" This guy continued babbling on, seemingly not worried about Shen Kelin getting angry, or perhaps completely unafraid. "I won't hurt you. How many times did I take the blame for you when we were little? You were much more mischievous than other boys back then—you broke someone's window and I took the blame; you punctured someone's bicycle tire and I paid for it with my allowance; you suddenly decided to steal vegetables at night and I got beaten up by two families; you let your dog bite someone, and I said I told you to do it..."

"Ugh—this is so annoying."

"I washed your clothes because they were dirty, and you still beat me up all the time. I didn't complain about you, so why are you complaining about me?"

Shen Kelin was speechless, but she still glared at him and pretended to be angry, shouting, "You still remember things from when we were little? How petty! You're so noisy! Let me tell you, I don't like boys, I like girls! Is that okay now? Can you leave?"

"Huh? Really? Uh..." The boy looked her up and down, then suddenly felt there was some truth to it. "Hiss—you were like a little boy when you were little, could it be that you really...like girls? And you were the one playing the boy?"

"Yes!" Shen Kelin angrily tugged at her hem. "I've already told you! Are you satisfied now?!"

“But—I don’t believe it!” He puffed out his chest without any fear. “Unless you bring your ‘girlfriend’ to see me!”

"Fine, I'll look!" She was so angry she almost bit her tongue.

"When?"

"Next week! It's so noisy!!"

"Okay, but what if we don't have it?"

"It's impossible that it doesn't exist!"

"You wouldn't just grab any random girl to lie to me, would you?"

"You're so noisy!" Shen Kelin couldn't help but want to kick this guy's butt, but she held back in the end.

"Don't worry, even if you really like girls, I won't tell your uncle."

"Tch, I bet you wouldn't dare."

The boy chuckled twice and ran out of the classroom.

His footsteps faded into the distance until they could no longer be heard.

The classroom fell silent again, but Shen Kelin's emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

She gripped the pen angrily, as if she wanted to break it in half: "What's wrong with this guy? Seriously!"

……

In the band room, everyone was unusually focused for such a long time, but even tense minds need a break.

Hua Yinyin was the first to abandon her identity as a 'mentor,' collapsing into her chair as if she had completely collapsed: "Oh dear, I'm so tired, so tired."

"Let's rest for a bit... my hand hurts..." Wang Jiale put down his bass and collapsed onto Hua Yinyin's lap. "Our coordination is still a bit off... Youyou's rhythm is so inconsistent, it's hard to keep up..."

"I... I had no choice! I tried my best..." Mo Zhuyou said, feeling a little aggrieved. "I should have known better than to be a drummer... I'd rather play bass, at least I could get by."

"What the hell—Youyou, are you implying something about me—!" Wang Jiale puffed out her cheeks and shouted in dissatisfaction, lying on Hua Yinyin's lap and gesturing wildly.

"Hmph, then why don't you play the drums and I'll play the bass?"

"Tch—can you even play that? You can't even handle playing the drums properly!"

How would you know if you didn't try?

"Tch, let me do it, watch my perfect pitch!"

"Wow, Haruka is so arrogant!"

"That's right, just a mere little Yao!"

"Alright, alright, alright, hahaha..." Mr. Xue started to persuade him, but couldn't help but laugh himself.

……

Chapter Thirty-Four: Mr. Snow and the Child

The dazzling starry sky at night always captivates people.

However, most people cannot appreciate this beauty.

Even in Hangzhou, air and light pollution are gradually obscuring the night sky, and there are fewer and fewer nights filled with stars—or rather, there are fewer stars to see at night.

Near the suburbs of Hangzhou, there is a planetarium where the starry sky is pristine, seemingly as pure as it has been decades ago.

Ironically...

No one is allowed to enter the planetarium at night.

But what stars can you see during the day?

—If we include the sun as a star, then we might be able to see one.