A Young Woman's Heart

This means that Ye Wen indeed did not mention it.

“What do you think—” Mo Zhuyou suggested the most likely guess, “Could it be that Awen forgot to notify us?”

“Didn’t we always get a notification in previous years?” Mo Xiaoxiao thought it was unlikely.

"That's not necessarily true. Haven't you noticed that Wen has become much busier since the start of senior year? She often forgets things, and many times the notices are only given close to the end of the semester."

"Now that you mention it...it does seem to be true?"

The scenery from the cable car was no longer the main focus; the girls had already started discussing how to ask Ye Wen about it after they got off the cable car.

However, we'll have to wait for the next train, since one cable car isn't enough to seat all the students from both classes.

"Come on, everyone, get off the bus quickly! Don't linger on the bus!" As soon as we arrived at the station, the staff started urging us on.

The car door opened with a 'whoosh,' and Mo Xueyao, who was the first to get on, was also the first to jump off.

He stepped on the rotating iron plate, took a few more steps forward, and then walked into the stable hall.

"Going up the mountain was so painful, but going down it was a little reluctant..." Mo Xueyao stood in the hall, gazing at the distant mountain peaks. If you only count the straight-line distance, it doesn't seem very far. The cable car ride down from the top only took about ten minutes.

"If I really climb down the mountain by myself, I'll be complaining endlessly again," Hua Yinyin muttered, sucking on a lollipop.

Mo Xueyao couldn't help but glance at her sideways: "Hey, that candy, don't you think it's bitter?"

"This is a pure chocolate lollipop, the kind without added sugar. It's actually quite delicious once you get used to it."

"Ugh, it feels like eating a candle that tastes like Chinese medicine..."

The students from other classes have only walked a short distance yet. In the snowy weather, they won't be able to descend the mountain very quickly. It will probably take them another hour to get down.

The students in Class 2 and Class 1, however, can now enjoy the benefits of being 'good students' and take a bus to a farmhouse for dinner.

As for the other classes, they took the bus home afterward.

After waiting a while longer, the next cable car finally arrived.

Mo Xueyao and her group acted like paparazzi waiting at the airport, rushing out just seconds after Ye Wen got out of the car.

"Awen!"

"Awen, Awen!"

"Awen~!"

"Alright, alright, what are you doing? It's like you haven't seen each other for decades." Ye Wen pressed her hand down helplessly. "What's wrong?"

"Awen, have you forgotten about the New Year's Day cultural performance?" Hua Yinyin used a lollipop covered in saliva as a microphone and handed it to her.

The latter did not answer, but her expression said it all.

"Phew..." She rubbed her stiff cheeks. "Uh... um... what's the date today?"

"I'm twenty-one!"

"Thank goodness, there are still ten days left." Ye Wen patted her chest to comfort herself and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Hey, Wen, rehearsals will take at least a month, and we also have classes. Is there enough time?"

"Ahem—!!" Ye Wen placed her hand on Mo Xueyao's shoulder. "If the class really can't prepare, this important task will be handed over to your Xue Music Team!"

"Is it another band on stage? I was hoping they'd put on a play this time."

"come on!"

"Awen, I'm the captain!" Hua Yinyin said, standing on tiptoe in dissatisfaction.

"Wanyan, it's up to you. You just need to put on one show for the senior year of high school. It doesn't have to be anything, like a crosstalk performance, a play, or a song, anything will do..."

"Ah Wen, Ah Wen, this doesn't sound like something a homeroom teacher should say," Wang Jiale blinked.

"Cough... There's so much to do in senior year of high school, I've forgotten too, hmm... Anyway, Wanyan, can you handle this?"

“Okay.” Li Wanyan nodded, showing no sign of refusal.

"A stage play!" Mo Xueyao completely ignored the problem of insufficient time.

"It's still the band playing, that's easy, we practice regularly."

—If that counts as practice.

After Hua Yinyin finished speaking, Mo Zhuyou muttered a remark to herself.

"How about a musical?"

"That one must be more difficult..."

……

Chapter 120 Snow and the Stove

(One)

The approaching winter solstice means that this land of China is about to usher in the longest night of the year.

Adding to the fact that the continuous heavy snowfall today has made it unusually early for it to get dark.

It was only a little before four o'clock, but the sky was already dark, and the sun had not set. The world suddenly darkened, and it was as if night had arrived.

The bus traveled through the twilight, and the students, who had been playing all day, were somewhat tired.

The carriage was much quieter than when we arrived, although the spot where Gao Yuan was sitting was still unusually noisy.

Those boys seemed to be playing a clapping game, acting as childishly as elementary school students.

The snow wasn't as soft as I imagined; it was blown by the wind and tapped against the car window, making a crisp sound like ice shards.

Like a piano piece played by a young lady in winter.

It is simple yet carries a touch of winter's unique loneliness.

Mo Xueyao tilted her head and looked out the window, her upper and lower eyelids drooping.

Wang Jiale, who was sitting next to her, had already leaned to one side and rested his head on her shoulder.

Hua Yinyin and Li Wanyan sat in the back, their heads close together, already asleep.

The bumpy ride on the bus made me feel like I was sitting in my childhood cradle.

The farmhouse I was going to wasn't near Beigaofeng, but in a more remote suburb.

The bus kept traveling along the winding mountain road, so it wasn't going very fast.

These mountains are quite unique; they are mostly covered with bamboo rather than trees.

Upon entering this area, one could clearly feel that the air had become much more humid.

This is County A, which is adjacent to Hangzhou. It is obvious that there has been almost no urban development. Apart from the well-maintained highway, everything is in a relatively primitive state.

The bus drove along the mountain road and finally stopped in a clearing overgrown with weeds.

……

(two)

The two buses seemed somewhat lonely relative to the spacious open space.

"Get off the bus!" Awen cleared her throat. She didn't shout very loudly, but the last word still cracked.

Qiu Yi couldn't help but chuckle, only to be punched on the back by Ye Wen: "You're still laughing!"

"Cough cough cough..." This caused him to choke on his saliva, making him cough uncomfortably.

But the smile on his face just wouldn't go away.

Fortunately, Li Hongran, with his loud voice, took over Ye Wen's job well, shouting to wake up the students who had fallen asleep and get them to line up in line next to the bus.

Surrounded by mountains, it is so lonely that it seems isolated from the world.

However, after spending too much time in the bustling city, coming to a place like this occasionally feels like your soul has been cleansed by the pure nature.

The heavy snow bent the bamboo, many of them bowed to the ground, and some even broke in two.

As soon as the students got off the bus, three large, pure white dogs rushed out from the log fence not far away.

They have pink noses, two ears that stand up high, and fluffy bodies, making them look much warmer than typical country dogs.

"Woof woof!" Three big dogs barked excitedly at the students, their tails wagging vigorously as if they had come out to greet them.

One of the bolder ones even darted into the crowd of students, circling around their feet and sniffing them intently.

Mo Xueyao curled her fingers, resisting the urge to touch them.

It's not that I'm scared, I just don't want to wash my hands in this cold weather later.

Wang Jiale was still half asleep, leaning half her body on Mo Xueyao, yawning incessantly, and tears welling up in her eyes, quickly turning icy cold.

"Hahoo..."

Yawning seems to be contagious; Wang Jiale yawned once, Mo Xueyao followed suit, and even Li Wanyan next to her couldn't help but yawn.

Hua Yinyin pursed her lips as if she didn't want to follow the crowd, but she couldn't help but open her mouth and squint her eyes.

"The air here feels especially fresh." Mo Xueyao opened her arms, took a deep breath, and the snowflakes that drifted past her melted in her warm breath.

"It's because of the snow, isn't it?" Li Wanyan glanced sideways and subtly moved to stand on the other side of Mo Xueyao.

"I don't think so." Mo Xueyao tucked her fingers, which were red from the cold. "Wanyan, are you cold?"

"It's alright." Li Wanyan gently took Mo Xueyao's hand; both of their small hands were as cold as if they had been taken out of a refrigerator.

"Put them in your pocket..." She naturally put Li Wanyan's hand and her own into her shirt pocket, and the two of them got a little closer together.

Hua Yinyin, who had just finished yawning, sneezed several more times. She used all the tissues in her pocket to blow her nose and was still looking around, trying to find a trash can to throw it in.

Ye Wen, standing at the front, pinched Qiu Yi's thigh hard, causing his face to scrunch up immediately. His voice seemed to rise an octave: "Ah, everyone, line up! Follow me inside, don't wander around..."

……

(three)

Hua Yinyin followed closely behind Mo Xueyao, stepping in her footprints.

Wang Jiale was now pestering Lu Chengyuan, while Lu Bolun, standing to the side, looked somewhat embarrassed, constantly touching his nose and glancing to the side as if searching for some treasure.