A Young Woman's Heart

"Aren't you and Lele sleepy yet?"

"I'm alright, I'm just feeling a little unwell... thankfully I didn't have breakfast."

"Xiaoyao, the scores are out. Based on this, it seems like we really can go to Ginkgo Women's University."

"Really……"

"What about you?"

“Last time, Wen seemed to have told me that people like Wanyan could apply for direct admission, as long as they passed the entrance exam of the other school.”

"Hey, are you going to get a guaranteed admission?"

"Hmm... I don't know how to choose. If it's a guaranteed admission, there aren't that many options."

"We agreed to go to university together."

"Uh... Oh well... I'll make a decision in a few days."

"It seems like it won't be long. I need to finalize my college application in the next few days."

Mo Xueyao was a little worried: "My dad will definitely agree with my choice, but my mom might not... She probably thinks it would be best if I could be recommended for admission."

"How about we ask the class monitor to try and persuade your mother?"

"Wanyan? Hmm... her words carry more weight than mine."

"Pfft, Xiaoyao's status in the family isn't good."

"Ah... I feel so uncomfortable..." Hua Yinyin wanted to interject, but she was so carsick that she could only lean on the railing in front of her and gasp for breath.

At times like these, even thinking becomes difficult.

……

(two)

As usual, long lines of buses passed through the small town, rows of low buildings slowly receding, becoming even more hazy in the misty rain.

"Hey... Lele... could you... get the water from my bag?"

"oh oh."

"Thank you... please screw the lid on too."

"Here."

"Glug..." Hua Yinyin took a big gulp of water, barely suppressing the discomfort. "Ugh... Why does it feel even bumpier than the way here..."

"I think so too." Wang Jiale took a piece of chocolate out of her bag. She had bought it when she came to the small city last time, but forgot about it and hadn't eaten it yet. It would be perfect as a snack on the way home. "Yinyin, do you want some?"

"No...don't...feel uncomfortable..." Hua Yinyin handed the water glass to Wang Jiale, asking her to put it back, while she leaned on the railing in front of her once again.

The bus swayed and bumped like a ship sailing on water, partly due to the poor road conditions.

Small cities are underdeveloped, so naturally the roads aren't well-maintained.

Even the asphalt road was full of potholes due to lack of maintenance, and every time a bus drove by, it made a 'clattering' sound.

"Oh, right..."

"What's wrong?" Mo Xueyao looked out the window with some boredom. The rain showed no sign of stopping.

"We have a performance for Children's Day..."

"Hey, Yinyin, why didn't you say so sooner?"

"Hehe, I forgot... I forgot..." Hua Yinyin playfully stuck out her tongue, then covered her mouth in discomfort.

"I'm really impressed with you... Oh, is it the other performance you mentioned last time?"

"Yes, it was arranged by the school. It's a 'Rainy Sky Mayhem' competition, and many college students have been invited to participate."

"Huh? A college student?"

"Hmm, I've heard... they're even more popular in college than in high school."

"Mainly because there's more time to play during university."

"Xiaoyao, there's another chocolate. Do you want it?" Wang Jiale took out another chocolate and handed it to Mo Xueyao.

"Ah, no need. By the way, don't you get tired of eating two of them?"

"Mine is the crunchy kind of chocolate, not too sweet, and it has hazelnuts and peanuts inside," Wang Jiale said, peeling off the wrapper and taking a small bite.

"Only university students participate?"

“There were also some students from other high schools, but none of the key high schools participated.”

“That’s only natural,” Mo Xueyao nodded understandingly.

Students at key high schools are too busy with endless practice problems to play games. It is said that even the first-year students at key high schools are as busy as the senior students at Yukong High School these past two years.

"Well, we have to go tomorrow? Hey, I was hoping to sleep in tomorrow." Wang Jiale licked the chocolate off her lips. "What time?"

"Um... nine o'clock."

"Yinyin—when did you find out about this?"

"Eh...hehe...a week ago."

"Seriously, can't you be reliable just once in a while? Don't forget to tell the others later."

"Little Yaoyao and Little Lele, please help me remember this."

“Little Lele… is quite cute, that’s why you call her that.” Wang Jiale mumbled, tilting her head. Hua Yinyin didn’t respond because she really didn’t have the strength to speak.

……

(three)

Once we got on the national highway, the ride became much less bumpy.

Most of the students on the bus were asleep.

Although Mo Xueyao still had her blue eyes open, she was in a state similar to being asleep, drowsy and only able to vaguely hear the electronic music coming from the game console.

That's Gao Yuan playing a game on his handheld console.

This time, we didn't stop at any service areas along the way, but drove straight to Hangzhou.

We were almost in the city, and the driver was yawning repeatedly, and the car was moving much slower than before.

Familiar streets appeared before Mo Xueyao's eyes, and she breathed a slight sigh of relief, knowing she was almost home.

I hadn't been back for a month. While I was there, I didn't really miss my parents. But as I got closer to my destination, the longing for them welled up in my heart. I couldn't wait to get off the train and rush to the fruit shop with my luggage.

"Hmm..." Li Wanyan opened her eyes wearily, slowly sat up, and said in a soft voice, as if she hadn't woken up yet, "Have we... arrived?"

"Almost there! How do you know we're almost there?"

"I'm a little tired from sleeping." Li Wanyan rubbed her temples and put her right hand on Mo Xueyao's shoulder. "I don't have much strength in my hand."

"Your right hand? Hmm, it's probably because of the rain?"

"Ah."

"I should feel better after sitting for a while. If it really doesn't work, I'll just drag two suitcases by myself."

"Um……"

……

(four)

The bus finally stopped at the school gate, and after the teachers counted the number of students, they announced that everyone should disperse.

It was already afternoon, but students from other grades had not yet been dismissed. Several classes were having physical education classes. The scattered students secretly ran to the canteen to buy things. When they came out, they saw a large group of senior high school students getting off the bus. Their eyes revealed undisguised envy.

"Hey-ha-ha—" Mo Xueyao pulled her suitcases out of the luggage compartment of the carriage, one in each hand.

"Phew, all done!"

"Let me take one."

"Not the right hand..."

"Take it with your left hand." Li Wanyan pursed her lips, as if in a smile. "Let's go."

"Okay! Let's go home, Lele, Yinyin, Youyou, let's go home. Oh right, Yinyin, don't forget to tell the others about this!"

Hua Yinyin didn't answer because she was currently vomiting next to the trash can.

Wang Jiale stood on tiptoe and called out to Mr. Xue, who was about to leave: "Xiao Xue! Don't go yet! I have something to say!"

Mo Xueyao didn't need to stay, since she knew she had to be at school by nine o'clock tomorrow.

Right now, all she can do is wait to go home.

The road I used to walk from school every day has become new. After a month of not walking it, it seems that there are new shops nearby, the trees are much more lush, and everything feels different.

This road, which usually seemed to take only a short time to reach the fruit shop, felt like it took Mo Xueyao a very long time today. Finally, the outline of the fruit shop came into view.

My father was standing under the eaves, smoking and watching the raindrops drip down, seemingly lost in thought.

"Dad—!!" Mo Xueyao dragged her suitcase and ran up, her face beaming with a smile, "Dad, Dad!"

"Oh, the girls are back!" This was the usual greeting, but today it sounded especially excited and thrilled.

"Godfather, I'm going to check on my mom." Li Wanyan followed and put her suitcase and backpack in the fruit shop.

"Go ahead, go ahead, your mom misses you so much, haha."

"Okay!" Li Wanyan nodded, turned around and ran towards the tailor shop down the slope. Grandma Jin's husky in the convenience store next door suddenly barked and wagged its tail excitedly, also heading towards Li Wanyan.

A light drizzle was falling, and her heels splashed through puddles, sending up a few clear droplets of water that landed on the smooth surface of her brown leather shoes...

……

Chapter 279 The New Host

(One)

As the first rays of dawn appeared on the horizon, Mo Xueyao turned over in bed and suddenly sat up.