A Young Woman's Heart

"Oh……"

"Then figure out a way to settle down somewhere."

"Okay, Hangzhou is fine then. You can come visit me anytime, okay?" Zhou Yong let out a burp, and once he started, he couldn't stop. "Burp...you, at the banquet, burp...did you see anyone you liked? Haha burp...what if you just hit it off with a rich guy...burp..."

"I'm not interested, and there's absolutely no possibility between us."

"Why?" Zhou Yong asked, puzzled. "Don't be so insecure."

Tian Tingchan smiled but did not explain. She looked gently at Zhou Yong, who was a little taller than her, and said, "I don't plan to get married in this life."

"Huh, are you going to stay single forever? It must be tough getting old."

"Let's talk about it when we're older."

"You won't have a chance to regret it when you get old."

"Well, perhaps I would already be dead by then."

"Hey, don't be so pessimistic... Brother Chan, do you have a terminal illness?"

"of course not."

"That settles it then. The longer you live, the more interesting life becomes." Zhou Yong scratched his head. "Yeah, that's just my personal opinion."

"Phew." Tian Tingchan didn't respond to him and stopped at the next stop. "I'm tired of walking, let's take a bus."

"Okay, oh... it seems we're not going the same way." Zhou Yong was a little reluctant, looking at the bus stop sign several times, and indeed there were no buses going the same way. "Looks like we'll have to part ways here?"

"We'll have another chance to meet next time," Tian Tingchan said with a smile.

You've been very happy all day.

"Is that so?"

"He was always smiling."

"Maybe."

"Oh, my car's here. I'll be going now?"

"it is good."

Tian Tingchan smiled lightly as she said goodbye to Zhou Yong, watching him jump onto the bus and then stand in front of the exit door. Before the back door closed, he waved vigorously at her again.

"Goodbye," Tian Tingchan said in a voice only she could hear.

She waited for more than 20 minutes before the bus she was waiting for finally arrived at the station.

After another bumpy ride, we finally arrived home.

It was already past ten o'clock when I got home.

“Summer is here again…” She took off her shoes and sat quietly on the floor without spreading out the bedding. “It’s time to rent a place with a bathroom.”

"Phew..." She gave a wry smile and answered the phone the instant it rang, "Hello, Sister Ziya."

"Little Cicada~ Are you home yet?"

"arrive."

"Oh, that's good. Speaking of which, you don't actually like that high school student, do you?"

"No."

"Well, it's just a bit too young, isn't it too childish? And, can I accept you?"

“…I don’t like him.” Tian Tingchan stared blankly out the window.

"Oh~ so you're just ordinary friends?"

"Ah."

There aren't many people that Tian Tingchan considers friends. Getting along with others is a difficult thing for some people. They can't get along with most people and can only get along with a few people they can talk to.

However, Zhou Yong is probably the kind of person who can get along with most people.

Have you taken a shower?

"No."

"I forgot you don't have a bathroom. Didn't I tell you? Can't I rent you a place near your school? It won't cost much, and it's definitely better than this pigeonhole, right?"

"..."

“You’ll really starve to death if you refuse food offered with contempt. I’m not trying to hurt you. Honestly, Xiao Chan, why are you always so stubborn?”

"Yes, thank you."

"So, you agreed?"

"Um..." Tian Tingchan lowered her voice somewhat embarrassedly, "Don't make it too loud."

"I know, I know, otherwise you'll feel like you can never repay this kindness in your lifetime, right? Really, it's just a little bit of money, it's nothing to me, it's not a kindness at all, it's just help between friends."

"Thank you, I'll pay you back later."

"No need for that. Okay, I'm going to take a bath now. You should go to bed early. I'll take you to see the house tomorrow."

"it is good……"

Tian Tingchan hung up the phone and slowly lay down on the ground. She looked at the moonlight outside the window and picked up the small knife that was on the cabinet.

She held the blade against her wrist for a long, long time, and finally just made a light cut, letting thin streams of blood slowly seep from the wound...

……

Chapter 293 Nora's Journey

2000 years.

In one interpretation, it marks the beginning of the 21st century.

However, precisely because it was the beginning, it did not escape the influence of the old century.

Cities remain a place many people yearn for, bustling and vibrant.

The pace of life has quickened slightly, but not by much.

In this era, letters are slow, journeys are long, and everything is unhurried, giving people ample time to think and reflect.

Russia's harsh winter is long gone, and it is now preparing to welcome the height of summer.

The roadside is covered with lush green grass, and the trees are equally verdant.

Nora walked to the post office and put the stamped letter into the mailbox.

A gentle breeze stirred her long red hair, unraveling her thoughts.

A white cloud, seemingly composed of many layers, floated in the azure sky. Birds flew through the clouds, leaving faint trails behind them.

She sincerely hopes the country will be better, but the distant future remains largely unknown.

"Nora, are we getting ready to leave now?"

"Yes, the graduation exams are over. I'll call you later and send you your diploma. I won't be attending the graduation ceremony." Nora tossed her long red hair, turned to look at her father behind her, and smiled slightly. "Dad, I'm going out now. Don't miss me."

"Hehe! It's better that you're not here. I'm happy to have some peace and quiet!"

"Then don't keep calling me, long-distance calls are expensive."

Nora's father touched his bald head and laughed twice: "What date are you planning to leave?"

"Let's set off tomorrow." Nora turned her head and smiled slightly, the wind constantly blowing through her long hair. "Let's go with the letters."

"Oh?"

“I plan to take the slowest postal train and enjoy the scenery along the way as I arrive in China.” Nora took a deep breath. “Once I’m out there, I might not have as much time to slowly enjoy this leisurely pace.”

Have you decided what kind of job you want?

"Well, I guess I'll go to China to take a look. I've been learning Chinese, and I think I'll get better at it there. Before I learn it properly, I can at least communicate in English. Hmm... But I guess I'll just relax there this summer."

"Are your visa and passport ready?"

"No problem."

"You can't stay that long, can you?"

"Yes, it's only three months. I'll apply for a Japanese visa and go to Japan when the deadline is approaching."

"Whatever you want, it's fine with me."

"...Don't worry, I'll come back."

"Ha, just remember you have a father. This will always be your home." Nora's father, as strong as a brown bear, gently patted her shoulder. "Enough with the sentimental talk, come drink with me tonight!"

"Alright, let's see if I can drink you under the table this time!" Nora laughed loudly.

"Haha, great! Sons and daughters are the same, they both have to drink with me!"

“Speaking of which, I went for a check-up,” Nora smiled. “My physical condition has fully recovered, and the parts that should have developed have developed.”

"So, you can get pregnant now? When are you going to bring a little chubby baby home? Hmm, let's have a grandson this time, I want to hold my grandson."

“We’ll see,” Nora smiled. “Your ‘son’ isn’t ready yet.”

"Hey, forget it, I won't force you. After all, you've been a man for so many years, it's really difficult to like men again."

Nora gave a wry smile but did not answer.

"Come on, let's go back and have a drink!" The father put his arm around Nora's shoulder and laughed heartily.

Everyone has their own life choices, and every fledgling bird eventually leaves home.

Planning out a child's entire life in the name of "for their own good" actually restricts their mind.

Everyone is living in this world for the first time, and we should not always repeat the lives of those who came before us, but should do what we truly love.

At the very least, one shouldn't have their edges smoothed out while still young—even if those edges are eventually smoothed out and one lives a down-to-earth life, that should only be done after one has seen and experienced enough.

Go pursue your ideals. The future may not be bright, but don't be afraid, because only those who are not afraid will find a way forward.