A Young Woman's Heart

Having no skills whatsoever, even his outward glamour has faded.

The reflection in the glass was just a young man who looked somewhat overweight from overwork.

His unshaven stubble made him look somewhat unkempt.

I still get paid, so I can indulge myself for a while.

But what about after some time has passed?

What should we do next?

Shi Haiming scratched his head. He once thought he had had an epiphany and understood some life principles, but now it seemed that all of that was bullshit and did not help his life in the slightest.

He sat on the bench outside the McDonald's, where the lights were already off, with his arm around the Ronald McDonald statue beside him.

He was always smiling, bringing joy to others—even though others saw him as just a clown.

Shi Haiming ruffled his hair into a mess and buried his head deep in his hair.

At school, everyone said he was an optimist, and he also felt that he always had a positive and optimistic attitude.

But now he feels so fragile, like an inflated balloon that will burst with a 'bang' if even the slightest sharp object pokes it.

It becomes a tiny pile of trash.

In the dark mist, a figure walked along the road.

Shi Haiming glanced at the passerby, and the passerby also glanced at him.

The two are about the same age, but Shi Haiming looks much more weathered.

After their eyes met, he lowered his head again and gently tapped his knee.

If he can still run into someone his own age at this time of day, does that mean he doesn't need to go to school tomorrow?

Or perhaps they went out for a walk to clear their heads due to other pressures?

Shi Haiming's thought vanished in an instant.

He watched the skirts of his peers flutter gently as they walked by, their long, straight legs and slender fingers—

Finally, as if he had set a new goal for his life, he stepped forward—or perhaps he just wanted to make his already chaotic mind even more chaotic.

Or perhaps, they feel their lives need new stimulation.

"Hey—" He was prepared to be rejected, something unimaginable for him in the past.

He just wanted to vent all the frustration in his heart: "Hey, you girl over there!"

The other person slowly stopped walking, turned their head slightly to look at him, but their eyes began to dart away, unlike the calm look they had when they were staring at each other earlier.

It probably frightened her.

Shi Haiming patted the empty seat next to him: "Haha, don't be scared, I'm not some hoodlum. Uh, why are you out so late, a girl all alone? Is something bothering you? Want to talk? I'm feeling pretty down about life too."

She hesitated, then moved her feet slightly and slowly sat down next to Shi Haiming.

Everything was progressing so smoothly that even Shi Haiming was somewhat surprised.

He felt that his confidence seemed to have returned a little.

"Hi, little sister, what's your name? Are you in high school this year? Senior or junior?"

She nodded silently, without answering the next question.

Shi Haiming didn't mind. He tossed his hair, as if he were still as handsome as before: "Just call me Xiaoming. Hey, why are you out alone so late at night? Or can't you sleep at night? Or do you want to get up early to go to school?"

His response was still silence.

The girl clutched her skirt, looking somewhat nervous.

But he didn't mind, because at that moment all he needed was someone to listen to him.

"Ah, living is so tiring. I feel so exhausted. Why is it so difficult to get along with others? Why are there always so many things to do? Why can't life be simpler and easier? I'm so tired, so tired. I'm sorry, can you let me talk for a little longer? I just want to talk to someone."

She nodded.

Shi Haiming was delighted and whistled, "Thank you!"

Then he continued rambling on.

At least his tone became cheerful, and he no longer felt uncomfortable when joking about himself.

"If I had the chance, I wouldn't want to work in the service industry anymore. Being bossed around like that is really unpleasant. But thinking about it, what industries aren't in the service sector? Even in big companies, when you're running a business and dealing with big clients, don't you still have to be subservient and bow and scrape? Those sitting in offices still have to fawn over their bosses and superiors. It seems like there's no way to avoid all of this in life. Is it because there are always people who want to be superior that everyone has to live like this, kneeling before those above and lording it over those below..."

Shi Haiming suddenly stopped finding it funny. He took a deep breath: "So it feels like life is meaningless, without hope, without a future, without an end. Everything is a cycle. My parents were like this when they were young, and I am like this now. If I have children, they will be like this too..."

The girl didn't speak, but listened attentively.

Only when they were so close did Shi Haiming realize how tall she was, almost as tall as him. In a country where people are generally short, she would be considered to have a model's figure.

"You might think I'm too pessimistic, haha... or that I'm not hardworking or ambitious, that as long as I work hard, I can change my fate, but I think it's really too sad to change your fate through these means, um... too sad, too—sad."

Sigh, inhale.

Then he tilted his head to look at the girl.

Shi Haiming's eyes flickered: "Thank you for listening to me. It's getting dark. Are you alright walking alone on the street?"

She shook her head.

"Alright, even though you don't like to talk, I'm still grateful that you listened to all this nonsense. It's just the rant of a useless kid. A useless kid who complains but still refuses to work hard. Haha, I'll just keep complaining like this until I die."

Her peaceful eyes looked at Shi Haiming's face, and then she gently shook her head.

"But life goes on, so before that, how about we become friends? Haha, not girlfriend, just ordinary friends, because I think we might get along well. Tsk, after all, it's kind of fate that we're sitting together and talking in the early hours of the morning. How should I put it? Maybe it's something destined? So we can't just miss this opportunity."

The girl looked up at him, her eyes becoming evasive again, a hint of unease and embarrassment showing on her delicate face.

"Okay, okay, then at least let's exchange names? Do you... have a phone number?" Shi Haiming felt that he hadn't 'picked up girls' in a long time, and his skills were a bit rusty. Of course, he didn't think he wanted to pick up girls at this moment, but rather—"If there's another chance in the future, can you be someone I can confide in? Hmm, just listening is fine."

"I'm sorry," she suddenly spoke, but in a slightly low, boyish voice, "I... am a man."

Shi Haiming's expression immediately turned strange.

He looked the girl up and down, and seemed to finally see some flaws, including the traces of makeup on her face.

He hurriedly stood up, pressed down on his skirt, and turned to run away.

But Shi Haiming quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist: "Hey, wait, why are you so scared?"

"I'm sorry, but..."

“I don’t think you’re a pervert.” Shi Haiming grabbed his wrist and pulled him closer. “I’m not asking you to be my girlfriend. What does it matter whether you’re a man or a woman or not, or whether you’re my friend?”

The slight frivolity on Shi Haiming's face faded, replaced by a rare seriousness: "It must feel terrible to be misunderstood by the world, but at least I can try to understand you. Look, I just poured my heart out to you, and now it's your turn, isn't it?"

He seemed quite surprised.

"you……"

"Sit down, sit down. Uh, would you like me to call you brother, or...?"

“...My name is An Ruosu.”

"Okay, okay, Susu, how about this name? It's more neutral?"

"can."

"Sit down. Uh, I mean, why are you dressed like that, out at three or four in the morning? Taking a walk, shopping? To relax?"

"Relax."

Shi Haiming stroked his chin and chuckled, teasingly asking, "Oh—you're not playing some weird game, are you?"

"A strange game?"

"Heh, haha, so why do this?"

An Ruosu lowered her head and hesitated for a long time before finally telling this stranger about her troubles.

Shi Haiming commented on what he said and agreed with his ideas. Suddenly, he felt that the person sitting next to him was as familiar as an old friend he had known for many years.

There is someone to confide in, and a place to vent.

Only then can those tense nerves relax.

"Oh—I see, but..."

"Ok?"

“But there’s no need to cater to other people’s preferences. Next time we meet, remember to wear your usual men’s clothes, bro!” Shi Haiming patted him on the shoulder. “I think you don’t actually like being a girl, do you?”

……

Chapter 205 Three consecutive English lessons

(One)

Wednesday, November 2002, 3.

Although English classes are relatively easy, three consecutive classes can still give you a headache.

Yes, today's schedule includes three consecutive English classes in the afternoon. The only saving grace is that the last class is physical education, which allows us to relax a bit.

Under intense study conditions, it is actually very difficult for a person to maintain absolute concentration.

Two consecutive classes are basically the limit; if it's three, then it will last for more than two hours.

Even high-achieving students find it difficult to persevere.

In the third class last week, only Mr. Xue and Li Wanyan were able to concentrate towards the end.

Even Mo Xueyao started to drift off, looking at the scenery outside the window or guessing what they would eat that night.

As lunch break ended, students emerged from the classrooms in twos and threes, some heading to the restrooms, while others simply leaned on the railings, leisurely enjoying the cool breeze.

The rain today came in bursts, lasting a few minutes, then stopping for a while, then raining for a few more minutes.

The swaying flowers in the flowerbeds make you want to escape the school, go deep into the mountains, and immerse yourself in the leisurely spring breeze.

Unfortunately, for senior high school students, such leisure is an absolute luxury.

Wang Qianyu arrived at the classroom early, placed the thick textbooks on the podium, and gently tapped the blackboard: "Who erased the blackboard today? Why are the things from this morning still on it?"