A Young Woman's Heart

"What's good?"

"It's nothing, it's just fine." Zhou Yong didn't know how to explain for a moment, so he just smiled awkwardly.

Tian Tingchan tilted her head and looked at him: "What about you? Do you have a girlfriend?"

The question came as a surprise, and Zhou Yong's mind didn't quite register it for a moment. He answered blankly, "Ah... not yet?"

"Tsk tsk, how pitiful."

"Damn it." Zhou Yong immediately felt ridiculed, but the tone was similar to Gao Yuan's usual teasing, which he was already used to.

"Consider it a favor, Tian Tingchan said, extending her hand. "Want to hold hands? Want to experience what it's like to have a girlfriend?"

"Hey—Chan-ge, do you think holding your brother's hand feels like being with a girlfriend?"

Tian Tingchan's expression flickered like a candle flame as she withdrew her hand.

Zhou Yong felt like he might have said something wrong: "Ah, well, I didn't mean you're like a man... no, no, I meant, we're like brothers, so we were like that again...?"

You think I'm really angry?

"Cough, haha, it really is Brother Chan!"

"Alright, I'm going to take that road now. Remember to come on Saturday, don't stand me up, or you're in big trouble."

"Don't worry!" Zhou Yong patted his chest. "I've never stood anyone up!"

……

Chapter Twelve: Shi Haiming with a Beard

In the living room, the old-fashioned landline phone is still in use.

The pitch-black night had enveloped the entire city. There weren't many lights in the residential area, making it seem like a deep pit that could swallow up light compared to the bustling commercial districts nearby.

The landline suddenly rang. It hadn't rung in a long time, so much so that Mo Xueyao was startled.

Just as Li Wanyan was about to stand up, she dashed into the living room, fumbled for the telephone in the dark, and answered it.

"Hey?"

Generally, people who call the home landline are their parents, godfather, and a few close friends.

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice came from the other end of the phone.

It is Shi Haiming.

His voice was lower and a little hoarse than before.

"Hey?"

"Hey?"

"Xiaoyao?"

"Hmm? What's up? Is there something you need?"

"Want to come to my shop and have some fun?"

"Your shop?"

"Yes, I opened a shop, which happens to be near your house. It just opened today."

"Why didn't you tell us you were opening?"

"Haha, I just remembered, I've been too busy."

"Where?"

"Right next to Tesco, there's a newsstand-like thing, that's where I live."

"Oh—" Mo Xueyao tilted her head and called out to Li Wanyan, "Wanyan! What time is it now?"

It's almost nine o'clock.

"Want to go out for a stroll? Uh—a close friend of mine just opened his business today."

Li Wanyan sighed helplessly: "Didn't you just say you were going to sleep?"

"It's very close anyway! An hour or so should be enough, and I can be in bed by 10:30 no problem at all!"

"Then I'll wait for you!"

"it is good--"

Mo Xueyao hung up the phone and coughed twice.

"Let's go." Li Wanyan was already standing at the door, her long, black hair draped over her shoulders, like part of the night.

The two had just returned and were about to take a shower; they were still wearing their school uniforms.

When she went out in the evening, Mo Xueyao didn't wear leather shoes, but instead wore a pair of semi-transparent sandals, which were cool and convenient, perfect for an autumn night like this.

Downstairs in the apartment complex, many people who had gone out for a walk after dinner had already returned. The adults always looked exhausted, while the children were always reluctant to go home.

"I'm going back!"

"Okay, let's go out and have fun again tomorrow!"

"it is good!"

The children parted ways at the entrance of the residential compound.

This reminded Mo Xueyao of her past self, who also had many friends like that, with whom she had a lot of fun as soon as she met them.

They often say, "Let's hang out together again next time," but in reality, they rarely run into each other again.

—Even though everyone lives around here.

Childhood sadness always fades quickly. Sometimes, you might even forget a friend you met just a few days ago, and not even recognize them when you meet them again.

Even though it was the place where she grew up, the neighborhood she knew so well, Mo Xueyao felt a sense of unfamiliarity at this moment.

Nothing here has changed. If I had to say anything, it would probably be myself who has changed.

Li Wanyan's gaze fell on her face, as if she was wondering why she was standing still.

"It's nothing, it's just that I suddenly feel that the neighborhood is quite novel today."

“Novel.” Li Wanyan pondered the word, somewhat puzzled.

In fact, Mo Xueyao herself couldn't explain it clearly. She shrugged and skipped the topic: "Let's go, let's hurry up and see what kind of shop Xiaoming opened!"

The two walked out of the residential area, and the narrow road outside, which seemed crowded even when cars passed by, was as lively as ever.

Especially the stall of the old man on the fifth floor, which is always packed with people—it's like that every day.

Mo Xueyao led Li Wanyan quickly through the park, across the bustling street, and across the road, finally arriving next to the Tesco supermarket.

"Mom, let me help you carry it!" A little boy's voice rang out from beside Mo Xueyao.

He was probably just starting elementary school. He was carrying a 20-pound bucket of oil in both hands, swaying as he walked forward. Every step made it seem like the oil bucket was about to hit his feet.

"Be careful, be careful, can you lift it?"

The young mother was smiling, but her eyes were red: "That's great, you're a little man now."

"Of course! With Dad not home, I'm the biggest man!" The little boy proudly raised his head, swayed to the zebra crossing, and finally could put down the oil bottle and breathe a sigh of relief.

Mo Xueyao looked around and quickly found the small parking lot specifically for bicycles, next to which was a newsstand.

The newsstand used to sell magazines, but it has now been moved to the main entrance of the supermarket, leaving this area unused.

It had been vacant for several months when Shi Haiming rented it out.

It was getting late, and there weren't many people going into the supermarket anymore. The few customers who were there were mostly people who had already bought their things and were coming out.

Mo Xueyao quickened her pace and finally arrived at the newsstand one after the other with Li Wanyan.

Even before they got close, they could smell a rich aroma of meat.

It's quite different from barbecue or deep-fry stalls.

The flavor wasn't greasy or overly salty, and it wasn't like braised food, which relies on a lot of spices.

"Glug glug—" There was a special stove set up at the entrance of the shop, with eight small stoves, each about the size of a bowl.

Half of the top was empty, while the other half had four old-fashioned enamel mugs with the words "Labor is the most glorious" written on them.

The shop had no signboard, and the facilities inside were very basic.

There was no trace of the former newsstand; everything had been moved away.

The room was empty except for a refrigerator and a few kitchen utensils.

Mo Xueyao blinked her blue eyes, almost not recognizing the person in front of her.

He was a man with a full beard, a rough face, and somewhat weathered eyes. He was a bit overweight, and his once delicate oval face had become a square face.

My hair is frizzy and doesn't lie flat at all. It's not a hairstyle at all; it's obvious that I didn't comb it when I got up this morning.

"Shi Haiming?" Mo Xueyao called out his full name. The boss, who was looking down at the fire, looked up and his eyes lit up immediately. "Oh! Xiaoyao! You're here."

"Holy crap..." Mo Xueyao felt that civilized words were no longer enough to express her feelings at this moment. "What the hell happened to you? How did you become like this? It's only been a short time! What have you been through, damn it..."

"Haha, I just went on a trip for a while."

Will travel turn out like this?

"It was fine at first, but then I ran out of money and almost couldn't get back from N province. I worked for a while before I was able to take the train back."

"It feels like it's only been a few months, but you seem to have gone through so much."

"Haha, more or less. Then I took out the savings I had with my mom and opened this shop."

"what for?"

"Hehe, stewed meat!"

"It smells delicious."

Upon hearing Mo Xueyao's words, Shi Haiming's eyes lit up immediately. He gave her a thumbs up and laughed loudly, "You have good taste!!"

"Hey, what did you use to stew it?"