A Young Woman's Heart

"Yes, haha, not only did I wash it, but I also used stickers to cover up some of the more rubbed areas, and I wiped the inside all over. Isn't it much cleaner now?"

"It is indeed much cleaner. What day is it today that made it so clean?"

"It wasn't a special day, I just went to get my vehicle inspected and then wanted to tidy it up properly. Haha, it was quite nice to have it cleaned up."

"Hey, isn't that the sticker they sell at Grandma Kim's convenience store?"

"Yes."

"Why use something so childish, pfft..."

"It's okay, it's okay. If anyone asks, I'll just say my daughter put it on."

Mo Xueyao widened her eyes and stomped her foot: "Hey, is your daughter three years old?!"

“I didn’t say which daughter,” the father retorted.

"You're kidding me! Wanyan would never do something like that!"

"So you mean you still do that kind of thing now?"

"When...when did I say that?" Mo Xueyao glanced to the side. "What's Mom eating today?"

"Stir-fried rice cakes."

"So ordinary."

"Cooking so many dishes every day is too much trouble. Stir-fried rice cakes are easier."

"But yesterday it was just fried noodles."

"We'll have fried rice tomorrow." Her mother rolled her eyes at her, annoyed.

"Tch—whatever, stir-fried rice cake it is, at least I can eat it faster. Is there any soup?"

"The seaweed and dried shrimp are in the refrigerator; I'll soak them myself."

"What a simple soup."

"Have you forgotten the days when you used to make soup with just a little salt and chopped green onions?"

Mo Xueyao blinked. In her memory, those were indeed very distant days, but upon closer reflection, it had only been a few years.

"Go sit at the table, you'll be able to eat soon."

"Okay—Wanyan! Would you like some seaweed soup?"

"Ah."

"Could you please make me a cup too? Thanks!"

Li Wanyan nodded helplessly, with an expression that said, "I knew this would happen."

……

(four)

Fruit shops are always busy during mealtimes.

So my mother usually ate first, and while the others sat down to eat, she would go to the shop. She would only come back occasionally when she had a free moment, carrying an empty bowl to pick up some food.

If it's dinner served individually, it's even more convenient. You can simply sit down at the counter with your own bowl, eat while serving your guests.

My father opened a bottle of beer; he's been drinking beer more often since the weather got warmer.

"Didn't win." He glanced at the bottle cap, tossed it on the ground, pinched the bottle neck, and gulped it down. "Ah—that's satisfying!"

It seems that people who drink alcohol tend to let out a long breath after taking their first sip, and a similar thing happens when drinking cola.

"Oh, Dad, there's fatty meat in my bowl."

"You're so lucky, fatty meat is a good thing."

"I don't want to eat it." Mo Xueyao pouted. "It tastes awful and it'll make you fat. Do you want some?"

"Alright, alright, give me all the fatty meat." The father brought the bowl closer, then suddenly seemed to remember something, reached into his pocket with his other hand, and pulled out two transparent bags of toys. "Oh right, these are little toys for you two, a freebie from a McDonald's Happy Meal."

"Kids' meal—what about the food?" Mo Xueyao was hoping for some fries or something; at times like this, she completely forgot about calories.

"You ate it."

"Huh? You ate?"

"Or else?"

"Wow, you went to McDonald's specifically to eat a Happy Meal, and you even ate two of them. You're something else."

"What's wrong? I took Lianlian out to eat."

"What? They didn't even take me!" Mo Xueyao said indignantly.

"Yaoyao, you're not allowed to eat." Her mother's voice drifted over.

"Why should I?"

"Didn't you want to lose weight? You said it yourself."

This left her speechless, completely choked up.

Li Wanyan smiled and took a piece of fatty meat from Mo Xueyao's bowl.

"Mom, why is all the meat this time fatty?"

"This meat is cheap, so it's mostly fat."

"Can't we buy something better?"

"You're going to earn the money to buy it?"

"Tch—" she puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, "It's always the same line, can't you come up with something new?"

"Then you can cook it yourself next time."

"—I'll eat out next time!"

"Then I won't give you pocket money next time."

Mo Xueyao was completely outmaneuvered, sullenly picking at the rice cakes in her bowl, while Li Wanyan gently placed the freshly prepared seaweed soup on the table beside her.

The setting sun outside the window became increasingly slanted, its hazy light casting long shadows of everything, as if trying to connect with the horizon.

On the steps covered with a few flower petals, Su Tang lazily yawned, rubbed its furry head against the very rough durian shell, and even showed an unusually comfortable expression.

"Meow—" It licked its chubby paws, then closed its eyes and fell asleep again.

Even when the tomato-colored sunlight shines directly on its face.

……

Chapter 198 Requires a Private Study Room

(One)

The band room at noon is like a paradise far from the world, or a haven where few people come.

The warm sunlight streamed through the window into the room, casting long, square patterns on the desk. Mr. Xue was fiddling with his mechanical spider, seemingly trying to make it overcome more obstacles through its programming algorithms, but it still seemed quite clumsy on the complex terrain.

Mo Xueyao took off her little leather shoes, stretched out her legs, and placed them on the small chair opposite the electronic keyboard.

She rarely wanted to practice, or rather, she just felt itchy and wanted to play a few tunes.

This feeling is different from when you're practicing.

It's much more casual.

Sometimes I'll improvise a few amazing pieces, but I almost forget them the moment I turn my head.

Occasionally, Hua Yinyin would remember a few fragments, saying that once enough were collected, they would be arranged into a complete piece of music.

Spring stockings are much thinner than winter stockings; sunlight can even shine through them to reveal the soft, pink skin underneath.

Mo Xueyao straightened her legs and had just placed her hands on the piano keys when the half-closed classroom door was gently pushed open.

Ye Banxia leaned forward slightly, blinked and looked around. Seeing that they were all familiar classmates, she seemed much more relaxed: "Xiao Yao? Can we come in to study?"

"Oh, is the classroom still as noisy as before?"

"It's so noisy..." Tang Sishi pushed up her thick glasses. "The classroom can't be quiet for a moment."

"It's a change of scenery. It's not so noisy, but the boys are chasing each other around, and they can even knock over your pen while you're doing your homework." Cha Li's voice came from behind the two of them, and Mo Xiaoxiao was with her.

"Is Wanyan in the classroom?" Mo Xueyao asked immediately.

“Wanyan isn’t here, otherwise it wouldn’t be so noisy.” Xuan Anyi leaned against the door and shook her head helplessly.

"Did she go to Awen's office again?" Mo Xueyao muttered softly, turning her head to look at Hua Yinyin and Wang Jiale.

Neither of them had any objections.

As for Mo Zhuyou, she was asleep on the drum set, drooling, completely unaware of what was happening.

"Hehe, welcome to the Snow Music Team's activity room! But it seems we don't have enough tables and chairs?" Hua Yinyin spread her arms wide. "But it's okay, this captain will help you solve all your problems! There are spare tables and chairs in the classroom next door that you can move over to use, they might be a bit dusty though?"

"If everyone squeezes in, one table should be able to seat two people, right? We can push them all together, but we still need one chair per person..." Wang Jiale held up his fingers and counted, "One, two, three, four, five..."

"Huh? So many people..." Yu Shu, who had just finished eating, was startled as she walked to the classroom door. She looked up at the door number in a panic to make sure she hadn't gone to the wrong classroom.

Mo Xueyao, who was sitting in front of the electronic keyboard, had just bent down to put on her shoes when she looked up and saw Yu Shu looking at her blankly. She raised her hand and waved to her, "Yu Shu! Come in, everyone is here to study."

"Hello, senior students..."

"Hello, it's nice to see you again." Cha Li nodded to her, and the latter nervously walked quickly behind Mr. Xue and picked up the teapot.

"Um...would everyone like some tea?"

……

(two)

The classroom, which was already a frequent venue for tea parties at noon, became even more lively.

Although it was Xi who came, with so many people gathered together, it was inevitable that they would chat for a bit.

The more you talk, the more you unconsciously forget the passage of time.