A Young Woman's Heart

But on rainy days, there aren't many tricycles out selling things.

Mo Xueyao rolled her eyes, held up her umbrella, and walked to a small general store.

This little shop also sells some fried meat.

Fried meat is pork that has been coated in flour or breadcrumbs and then deep-fried.

You can buy a small bag for just one yuan, and sprinkle some cumin, chili powder, or something similar on top. The taste is simply divine.

"Boss, give me a one-yuan note," Mo Xueyao said, taking out the two-yuan note she had just received as change.

After taking a shower, you can also have some snacks.

This is one of the most satisfying and beautiful things in everyday life.

……

Chapter 112 Gathering of Enthusiasts

November 6th, Saturday.

Although the sun was mostly blocked by clouds, with only a few rays filtering through the gaps, it was still much more comfortable than yesterday's rainy weather.

As the start of winter approaches, the weather is getting colder and colder.

Mo Xueyao was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and black casual pants, shivering in the cool breeze.

She arrived at school early as was her habit, but she didn't expect that Zhou Yong and Duanmu Ji would also arrive early.

Just as she reached a point not far from the school gate, she heard Zhou Yong shout excitedly, "Hey—Mo Xueyao—over here—!"

"You're up so early too." Mo Xueyao took off her hat and greeted Duanmu Ji with a smile. His outfit was similar to hers, both wearing the same hooded sweatshirt and casual pants, and both in black. "Good morning, Duanmu Ji."

"Wow, why did you greet him first?" Zhou Yong looked jealous.

Mo Xueyao glanced at him sideways and said, "You're disgusting. I can't be bothered to greet you."

"My heart aches so much." Zhou Yong immediately clutched his chest.

Duanmu Ji and Mo Xueyao, standing to the side, subtly synchronized their movements, taking a step back to create distance between themselves and Zhou Yong.

"Alright, alright, let's go. Where is the gathering?" Mo Xueyao tugged at her clothes and asked.

“Take the bus to the suburbs.” Zhou Yong seemed to have regained his spirits and stood up straight when he saw Mo Xueyao talking to her. “There’s a big square in front of a newly built supermarket that hasn’t opened yet. We can borrow it for free.”

"Free...? Won't we get kicked out?"

“It’s alright, there’s no one around, and the supermarket isn’t open yet, so don’t worry, right, Duanmu Ji?” Zhou Yong raised an eyebrow at Duanmu Ji.

"Yes, don't worry." Duanmu Ji nodded.

"How long does the journey take?"

"About forty minutes," Zhou Yong said uncertainly.

"About forty-five minutes," Duanmu Ji gave a relatively accurate number, as if he had scouted the location beforehand.

The bus heading to the suburbs on Saturday was nearly empty, the carriages were deserted and felt rather desolate.

Duanmu Ji and Zhou Yong sat side by side, while Mo Xueyao sat behind them.

"I'm so free today," Zhou Yong said, trying to start a conversation.

"Isn't it great that it's empty?" Mo Xueyao leaned back comfortably in her chair. "It's spacious, comfortable, and quiet, just like having a private car."

"Yeah, it's pretty good." Zhou Yong said awkwardly, scratching his head, and then winked at Duanmu Ji.

However, the latter did not notice at all, or even if he did notice, he ignored him.

Seeing Duanmu Ji staring intently at the windshield, Zhou Yong was nearly driven mad with anger, but not wanting the atmosphere to remain awkward, he could only continue searching for new topics.

"The weather's nice today." As soon as he said that, he wanted to slap himself. What kind of opening line was that?!

That's so tacky and embarrassing!

It's almost like translating for a dubbed film.

"It's alright, it would be better if there weren't so many clouds," Mo Xueyao said with a smile. "Hey, Zhou Yong, wasn't this how you started chatting with me on the bus last time?"

"Huh? Really? Probably... Haha..." Zhou Yong scratched his head and chuckled dryly.

"There shouldn't be such a formality between friends, right?"

“That’s true.” Zhou Yong breathed a sigh of relief. “After all, it’s the first time he’s gone out alone with a girl.”

"Alone?" Mo Xueyao pointed at Duanmu Ji with a curious expression. "Isn't he a person?"

"Forgot, forgot. It's just that this kid never talks."

“That’s true.” Mo Xueyao patted Duanmu Ji’s shoulder casually and asked, “Duanmu Ji, why are you always so quiet?”

"There's nothing to say."

"How will we know what's worth saying if we don't tell you?"

"Silence is golden," he replied.

But Zhou Yong clearly saw that his eyes lowered, as if he was avoiding eye contact.

Another competitor has emerged?

If there are many boys who like Mo Xueyao, then Zhou Yong doesn't even seem to qualify as a competitor.

Thinking about this, he suddenly felt inexplicably discouraged.

Mo Xueyao finally understood what had happened, but Zhou Yong didn't continue with the awkward topic, which made her feel a little more at ease.

The scenery outside the car window rushed past, and gradually, we entered a new district filled with high-rise buildings.

There are quite a few new houses here, but they don't look like anyone lives in them.

The shops lining the street were all empty; not a single one was open.

However, some of them seem to be under renovation, and they may officially open soon.

After the bus stopped, the three walked a short distance forward and arrived at a building.

There is a very spacious square here, which is probably the liveliest place in the area.

Generally speaking, the people who gather in the bustling square are mostly middle-aged, and the square usually sells cheap and affordable daily necessities or food.

Although there are no longer market days in the city like in the countryside, large-scale events like this still happen occasionally.

It is quite rare to see a bustling square filled with young people, as it is now.

In the vast square, everyone was basically gathered in the middle. Although it looked crowded, there were actually only about a hundred people, not as many as one might imagine.

Even with only a hundred or so people, it was enough to give people the illusion that there were a lot of people.

"Wow, so many people!" Zhou Yong exclaimed excitedly. "We actually have so many like-minded people!"

“Of course, and that’s not all.” Duanmu Ji said this with a hint of pride.

This was a spontaneously organized gathering, and it all looked very informal.

Some people set up stalls directly on the street, while others brought tables.

The only somewhat formal place was the small stage in the center, where someone seemed to be singing with a wired microphone.

For Mo Xueyao, it was like stepping into a dragon's treasure vault. Although nothing here was gold or silver, it made her feel as if they were sparkling.

"Wow! So many Ultraman models here!" Mo Xueyao exclaimed in surprise, squatting down in front of the small stall where a piece of cloth had been laid out on the ground. "How much are these...?"

"Not for sale." The stall owner, who looked like a college student, proudly combed his hair, which had been treated with hair oil, and said, "But you can look at it or touch it, but you can't damage it, or you'll have to pay for it."

"Huh...? Is it just for showing to others?"

"Yes."

"It's practically like showing off..." Mo Xueyao muttered, her eyelids drooping.

“This is showing off.” Duanmu Ji squatted down beside him. “After all, there’s no one to show off to normally, so he can only share it with fellow enthusiasts here.”

"Yes, these authentic Ultraman models and transformation devices are just toys for kids in the eyes of parents. But what do they understand? Only the people here can understand me!" The stall owner nodded vigorously. "Little girl, do you like Ultraman?"

Although she was a little bothered by how the other person addressed her, Mo Xueyao still nodded slightly and said, "I like it. Your collection is so complete."

"Haha, of course! Which one do you like the most?"

"I still like the first one the most. He looks... the most beautiful."

"Oh, you like the original series too!" The other person excitedly extended their hand. "That's rare! It's already rare to find a girl who likes tokusatsu, but it's even rarer to like the original series!"

"So what do girls usually like?" Mo Xueyao asked curiously.

"Haha, I don't know either. After all, you're the first girl I've ever met who likes tokusatsu and Ultraman!"

Mo Xueyao wiped the sweat from her forehead and glanced at the majority of the people gathered together.

It seems that there are indeed more boys than girls. Although there are some girls, they are few and far between, and they are mostly gathered in front of the Sailor Moon booth.

"Mo Xueyao, Duanmu Ji, come over here! There are Gundams for sale!!" Zhou Yong, who had disappeared somewhere, suddenly shouted from the crowd.

"Really? You sell them?" Mo Xueyao ignored the stall owner who was showing off his Ultraman model and quickly squeezed into the crowd.

Although she probably can't afford it, it's still a bit more hopeful than being able to look and touch things at this stall but not buy them.

What if the seller is offering a used item that she can afford?

Although Duanmu Ji didn't say anything, he showed his excitement through his actions, following Mo Xueyao as they squeezed through the crowd and finally arrived at the stall.

—Although he was basically the one leading the way, and Mo Xueyao was squeezing in from behind.

On a small table, there was a large pile of boxes, some brand new and some old.

"The box costs five yuan, the assembled box costs five hundred yuan, and the loose parts cost twenty yuan per board!"

"Five yuan for a box... what does that mean?" Mo Xueyao looked at the assembled Gundam models, feeling itchy, but the high price dampened her enthusiasm.

"It's just the outer box, five yuan," Duanmu Ji, who was standing at the front, explained.

"Seriously? Who would just buy the box? What's the use of just having a box?"