A Young Woman's Heart

"Practice is a good thing, but be mindful of the time and head home early!" Teacher Su said to them with a smile.

"Ah, okay." Mo Xueyao quickly nodded.

After they finished speaking, the two left one after the other.

It seems like they just happened to be walking by.

"Hey, do you think the principal and Teacher Su's marriage was a forced family arrangement?" Wang Jiale asked in a low voice, as if afraid that the two people who had already walked away would hear her.

The principal and Teacher Su are heirs to two family businesses, a fact that everyone learned from Teacher Qiu.

“These are usually forced! There’s definitely no affection at the beginning, maybe it’s an engagement arranged since childhood!” Mo Zhuyou said with great certainty, “That’s how it’s written in the novels I’ve read.”

Hua Yinyin was very interested in the details: "So how exactly were you forced to... during your wedding night... hehe...!"

"Their relationship is so good, it definitely wasn't forced. They probably just happened to like each other and that's why they got together." Mo Xueyao pouted. "Alright, alright, let's practice!"

"That's not necessarily true. Feelings can be cultivated..." Before Hua Yinyin could finish speaking, Mo Xueyao pinched her cheek, "Ouch!"

"practise--!"

……

Chapter Forty-Eight: The School Playground at Night

"Dong... Dong... Dong..." The school clock tower struck eight times in a row, indicating that it was eight o'clock in the evening.

Coincidentally, there was also a knock on the classroom door.

"Please come in!" Hua Yinyin called out to the door, feigning elegance.

Li Wanyan entered after the door was pushed open.

She carried the food in both hands and quietly looked at everyone: "Aren't you hungry yet?"

"I don't feel it when I don't say it, but as soon as I do, I feel... so hungry!" Mo Zhuyou muttered, her stomach rumbling loudly.

"This is too much of a coincidence..." Wang Jiale couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Let's eat on the playground!" Hua Yinyin suggested loudly.

As Mo Xueyao put away the electronic keyboard, she asked, puzzled, "Why are we going to the playground?"

"You haven't seen the school playground at night yet, have you? Give it a try, it'll be a lot of fun!"

"Then let's eat on the playground," Mr. Xue said with a smile.

They looked at each other and finally agreed to Hua Yinyin's suggestion.

Having dinner on the school playground at night is actually quite interesting, firstly because it's novel, and secondly because it carries a touch of mystery.

It was as if the school during the day and the school at night were completely different.

There wasn't a single light on the school playground; it was completely dark on such a night.

Fortunately, Mr. Xue borrowed a flashlight from the security guard that could be used as a desk lamp; otherwise, everyone would probably have had to take their food back to the classroom to eat.

"Where should we sit?" Mo Zhuyou was holding a piece of curtain cloth that she had originally intended to use to cover the drum set. This piece was extra and could now be used as a tablecloth. It was quite spacious and could seat six people.

On the basketball court or the soccer field?

"Hey? The soccer field is all grass, it must be prickly to sit on." Wang Jiale shook his head. "Let's go to the basketball court instead?"

"Let's go to the basketball court!" Hua Yinyin walked in front again.

There are several basketball courts at Yukong High School, so everyone chose a smaller one and sat down right next to the fence.

"Phew, there's still a place to lean against, not bad." Mo Xueyao leisurely sat down cross-legged, taking up the best spot.

"Wow, Xiaoyao managed to snag such a great spot, she's so cunning!"

"Stop fooling around, stop fooling around, hurry up and take out the food, or it'll get cold." Mo Xueyao pressed down on her little face that was leaning closer and said helplessly.

Because today was a day for entertaining guests, a lot of dishes were prepared, and some of them were packed in aluminum lunchboxes and brought over by Li Wanyan.

There were six dishes and one soup in total. The aluminum lunchboxes weren't very big, but since everyone here except Mr. Xue was a girl and their appetites weren't too large, it was enough to make sure everyone was about 70% full.

"Oh, these are all new lunchboxes." Mo Xueyao picked up an aluminum lunchbox and touched the smooth lid, unlike the bumpy one she and Li Wanyan used to use during summer vacation.

"I just bought it from Grandma Jin," Li Wanyan replied, handing the lunchboxes to the others.

"Is it lively today?" Mo Xueyao stared at the large square flashlight placed in the middle as a desk lamp, watching its dim yellow light slowly spread outwards and then be swallowed by the darkness.

"Yes, there are a lot of people at the noodle shop."

"Inviting so many people to dinner all at once..." She slapped her forehead. "Uh... I think I was too impulsive."

"Well, if Yao Yao isn't impulsive, she wouldn't be Yao Yao!"

“But if I don’t do it, who knows what might happen? This way, the matter is resolved and they won’t be punished,” Mo Xueyao muttered. “I don’t think I did anything wrong.”

"That depends on whether those boys are grateful to you or not~" Hua Yinyin chuckled. "But, the boys probably won't appreciate it, or rather, most of them probably won't think the credit belongs to you, right?"

"Hey, don't think so badly of boys!" Mo Xueyao complained, and suddenly opened the box with her right hand.

Mr. Xue, who was affected by the widespread verbal abuse, did not defend the boy. He simply distributed disposable chopsticks to everyone in silence.

As the deputy class monitor, he was already used to working with Li Wanyan.

"Were the vegetables bought fresh?" Mo Xueyao asked, opening the chopsticks.

"Yes, we went in a minivan."

“My dad went with you, so he must have bought a lot.”

"Correct."

"Oh dear, the family is going to have to spend a lot of money on entertaining guests again..." Mo Xueyao felt a little sorry for the money spent tonight, but if she had to do it all over again, she would still choose to resolve the matter in this way, which would be the best of both worlds.

Perhaps deep down, she still sees herself as a member of the boys' group. When the boys in her class get into fights, she always thinks of helping them if they are in the right; otherwise, she would be too cowardly.

This kind of male chauvinistic thinking has been deeply ingrained over more than a decade and cannot be erased overnight.

The food containers were opened one by one. Except for the soup container, which was a little larger, the others were the same size as regular fast food containers.

It's clear that tonight's dinner was quite plentiful.

"Ah, sweet and sour pork again..." Wang Jiale muttered softly.

"Lele, don't you like it?" Mo Xueyao picked one up and put it in her own bowl. "I think it's delicious."

"No, it's just that when you invite someone to dinner in Hangzhou, it seems like you always have to include sweet and sour pork."

"Hmm... I think so."

Hua Yinyin picked up a piece of cauliflower: "After all, it's a specialty dish, and it makes the meat look like there's more meat on it—because it's coated with a layer of flour."

These five dishes were delicious, but upon closer inspection, they were indeed relatively inexpensive. It was quite cost-effective to serve such dishes when entertaining so many people.

It seems that Mo Xueyao still doesn't understand her father enough. Although he always spends money extravagantly, he is actually quite thrifty.

"Did Mom say anything?" Suddenly, she remembered something and asked nervously.

"Yes, I gave him a lecture."

"Ah, I knew it. When I get back, I'll definitely be accused of being nosy."

"No." Li Wanyan picked up a small mouthful of rice with her chopsticks and put it in her mouth. After chewing it carefully, she continued, "Godfather said that you went there because you were surrounded by thugs."

"Huh? Dad lied?"

"Ah."

"That's good, that's good... I won't have to be nagged for ages when I get back."

"But your godmother is still very worried about you and hopes you can go back soon."

"Okay, I'll go back after dinner." Mo Xueyao nodded helplessly.

"Oh, I was hoping to start the ghost story segment for tonight!" Hua Yinyin said regretfully.

"Still telling ghost stories? Aren't you going home? ...You didn't come home yesterday either."

"Hey...right, oh dear, I forgot, all the phone stores should be closed now, right?"

"what happened?"

"My phone bill is overdue."

"Oh—you brought your phone with you? Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I can't make calls because I'm out of credit."

"...Then you'd better go home sooner, otherwise your parents will worry."

"Oh dear, Yaoyao, don't follow Wanyan's example, or you'll become a cold-blooded preaching machine!"

Li Wanyan glanced at her sideways, which made the latter chuckle foolishly, trying to get away with it.

Perhaps it was because the area around the school consisted of bungalows or farmland, and the place was pitch black, that made the starry sky above seem even more dazzling. Although it couldn't compare to the starry sky in the countryside, it was still much more beautiful than the starry sky Mo Xueyao saw at home.

"How beautiful!" Wang Jiale exclaimed. "The campus at night."

"It's pretty, but it's still not as nice as where my sister and I live," Mo Zhuyou boasted. "You can see the starry sky from your bed, and you just watch them twinkle every day before you fall asleep."

“Youyou is indeed a nice place, but it’s a bit too far away…” Wang Jiale nodded, “But if it’s not far enough from the city, the scenery won’t be that good.”

"There are pros and cons~" It seems that Mo Zhuyou is quite satisfied with her residence.

Mr. Xue, who was eating, glanced at Mo Xueyao and suddenly stopped: "Xiaoyao, there's food on your chin."

"Huh? Where?"

“Here,” Mr. Xue pointed to his chin.

"Ah, thanks."

"Little Yaoyao is still a child after all; she even spills rice while eating!"

"It's too dark to see!" she said, her face slightly flushed, trying to defend herself.

The night wind gently caressed everyone's faces, stirring the dark shadows of the trees behind them, creating an atmosphere that was both mysterious and slightly eerie.

Wang Jiale felt a chill run down her spine. If everyone hadn't been there, she probably would have run back to the classroom in fright.