A Young Woman's Heart

"Everyone gets nervous about the college entrance exam, which is a once-in-a-lifetime event!"

"They should be taking an English exam right now."

"Shu'er seems to know quite a lot about this?"

"Huh? Hmm... It's alright... Tomorrow is the last day, and Haruka and the others will finish their geography and history exams."

"Phew—just thinking about the three-day exam is agonizing." Wu Shanshan took a deep breath and dived into the water, followed by Jiang Yuruo.

However, Wu Shanshan could only hold her breath for a dozen seconds before she couldn't hold it in anymore, while Jiang Yuruo's lung capacity was clearly much greater than hers.

"I've heard that in a few years, the college entrance exam might even last four days."

"Four days? I hope the reform doesn't apply to us..." Wu Shanshan clasped her hands together. "I don't want to take the exam for four days, that's too torture..."

"In the earliest days, two days of testing would have been enough, right?"

"It seems so?"

"Splash—!" Jiang Yuruo raised her head from the water again. "It's so refreshing!"

"Oh right, about the seniors' graduation ceremony," Wu Shanshan gently nudged Yu Shu's arm, "aren't we supposed to send flowers up there?"

"Um……"

"Shu'er probably hopes that the flowers will be sent to one of the few people she knows well, right?"

"Eh? Um..." she said shyly, "But our class might not be sending flowers to Class 2 of Senior Three..."

"That's right, it should be a class number correspondence, class one to class one, class two to class two, like that."

"Next semester!" Jiang Yu suddenly seemed to remember something and changed the subject, "Let's spend the night at school together!"

"what?"

"Huh?"

"Let's create wonderful memories in our final year!"

……

(three)

At five o'clock in the afternoon, the sky was bright.

Mo Xueyao walked out of the examination room, and a hot summer breeze blew in her face.

The air in front of me seemed to be distorted.

Her vision blurred inexplicably at this moment, as if she had returned to the day the high school entrance exam ended.

If it were the high school entrance exam, all the exams would have been finished today...

Under the lush leaves and on the sturdy branches, several sparrows perched, resting in the shade. They tilted their heads, curiously observing the groups of students leaving the teaching building.

When the middle school entrance exam ended that year, it was this same flock of sparrows that greeted her.

Perhaps they will still be there tomorrow?

She took a deep breath, feeling one step closer to a relaxed life, and couldn't help but quicken her pace, following the crowd downstairs.

Everyone went home, unless they were very close friends, in which case they would wait for each other.

"Xiaoyao! Wait for me!" Ye Banxia ran towards her quickly, carrying her schoolbag.

"Hmm?" She turned around and looked at her.

"Phew, only the last two doors left tomorrow."

"Yes."

"I didn't hear the English listening section clearly, sigh..."

"It's a little blurry, and the loudspeaker system here doesn't seem as good as the one in our Rainy Sky." Mo Xueyao nodded gently. The exam had just ended, and she still had a strong impression of the questions. "It wasn't too difficult."

"Hmm...it's a little difficult. Xiaoyao walked so fast yesterday, I couldn't find you. I was hoping to go back together."

"Ha... I left right after the exam." Mo Xueyao scratched her cheek. "I rode a bicycle. What about you?"

"Me too!"

Which way are you going?

"I live nearby, it's just across the street."

You live here?

"No, my dad booked a hotel for three days so I could sleep in a bit more these next few days."

"That's so extravagant."

“I think so too…” Ye Banxia lowered her head and chuckled softly, her tone carrying a hint of pride, “My dad spoils me a lot.”

"Haha, I'm different. It takes me about an hour to ride my bike."

"Isn't it too far?"

"There's nothing I can do about it." Mo Xueyao shrugged. "Next time, I'll have my dad and your dad learn from each other."

"Pfft, there won't be a next time."

"Hmm, there probably won't be a next time."

"By the way, how did Xiaoyao write her composition yesterday?"

"Yesterday...?" Mo Xueyao felt that yesterday's memory was somewhat distant, but she quickly remembered, "Oh, that mountaineer?"

"Yes, a choice of the heart, I... I wrote that sometimes the choice of the heart is to escape, and like that mountaineer, if it were me, I wouldn't save him..." Ye Banxia nervously slung her backpack over her shoulder and held it with both hands, "Am I going off-topic?"

"...If it's well-written, it should be okay?"

"How did Xiaoyao write it?"

"I'll just write about this kind of choice in my heart, like choosing to trust others and treat them with kindness and sincerity in those situations, something like that."

"Sigh... another one of those old-fashioned essays."

"Well, it's alright." The two talked as they walked, and they had already reached the school gate. Mo Xueyao pointed to the left, "My bicycle is parked over there."

"I'm going this way."

"Looks like we're not going the same way."

"Okay, see you tomorrow!"

"Okay, bye-bye." Mo Xueyao took out her keys from her bag, strung them on her fingers and twirled them, humming a cheerful tune softly.

"Exams are over tomorrow~ Exams are over tomorrow~ La la la la~"

……

(four)

When Mo Xueyao arrived home, Li Wanyan had already returned.

She was taking a shower in the bathroom. The door was closed, and Mo Xueyao hadn't opened it yet. Just by walking past, she could feel the cold air blowing in from the crack in the door.

"The air conditioner is already on! I really want to finish my shower and enjoy the air conditioning..."

"Yaoyao is back?" Li Wanyan's voice came from the bathroom. The sound of water stopped, and she seemed to be drying herself off.

"Hmm! How did Wanyan do on her exam today?"

"No problem."

"You're very confident, Wanyan!"

"To tell the truth."

"Tomorrow are the last two exams, ugh, why aren't we taking them at the same test center, really..."

"Aren't you used to being alone?"

"A little bit?" Mo Xueyao pouted. "It was fine when we went there, but on the way back... I've gotten used to having you by my side on the journey home."

"Hang in there." Li Wanyan walked out wrapped in a bath towel, her lips curving upwards and her brows relaxed. "Tomorrow is the last day."

"Hmm, last day! By the way, what's for dinner tonight? Noodles like yesterday?"

"It's too hot, I'll make you some cold noodles later."

"Ah, liangpi (cold skin noodles), liangpi is so good, refreshing and cool. I was sweating so much from eating noodles yesterday, it felt like I hadn't taken a proper shower."

"Okay, Yaoyao, go take a shower."

"Ouch." Mo Xueyao walked into the bathroom and vigorously waved away the steam that filled the room. "In this sweltering heat, Wanyan still wants to wash with hot water?"

"..."

"You should wash with cold water like this! Pour cold water over your head, that's what feels really refreshing!"

Li Wanyan gently shook her head: "I've started my period."

"Ah, cough, never mind!" Mo Xueyao coughed awkwardly twice, gently closed the door, and half a minute later, the sound of running water coming from inside could be heard, a sound that made one feel incredibly refreshed.

……

(Fives)

Taking a shower in the summer is always faster than in the winter. By the time Mo Xueyao came out, Li Wanyan had already made the cold noodles.

The cold noodles are ready-made; you just need to mix them with a dressing.

So the portion she made for herself was spicy, while Mo Xueyao's portion had tomato sauce, making it sweet and savory.

"So good—"

"Dinner's ready."

"Let's eat in the room today! There's air conditioning! We can even study while we eat!"

"Ah."

"Oh right... I remember I made a big glass of orange juice and put it in the fridge yesterday..."

"On the right."

"Hmm? On the right, found it, iced orange juice!"