A Young Woman's Heart

"Pfft, isn't that great? Others want tutoring but can't get it." Cha Li swung her crossed legs slightly, picked up her freshly filled coffee, and blew on it to warm it up. "By the way, how about I come over to your place after the final exams?"

"Is Cha Li coming?" Mo Zhuyou blinked excitedly. "Tong Jue brought a kotatsu last time, it's so warm in there in winter!"

"Yeah, yeah, I want to go! We'll be on vacation after the final exams, right?"

"Wanyan said yes, and then we just need to get another report card."

"Anyway, my family is spending the Chinese New Year in Hangzhou this year, so I can go there to play anytime."

That's great!

"I don't even know if I'll be spending Chinese New Year in Hangzhou this year," Mo Xueyao muttered, resting her chin on her hand. "Otherwise, I could go and have some fun."

Mo Xueyao was uncertain because her family members rarely stayed in Hangzhou during the Spring Festival each year.

It's either my maternal grandmother's house or I'm traveling somewhere—as for going back to my hometown, except for this year, those are all memories from my childhood.

The number of times I actually stayed in Hangzhou for the Spring Festival was extremely limited.

"How was your meal today?" As we were chatting, the owner walked over with a stack of envelopes in his hand.

"Delicious!" After all, it was so much cheaper, so even if it wasn't delicious, we had to flatter it, let alone that it really was delicious.

"Here, these are the photos that were just developed."

"So fast?"

"Hurry up!" the owner said smugly. "Actually, I just printed a few photos randomly and haven't picked them out carefully yet. Would you mind leaving your home address? Once I've officially selected and printed the photos, I'll mail them to you—along with posters and coupons. Remember to come and eat there!"

“No problem!” Mo Xueyao agreed without hesitation.

"It might not be possible to get mail to my area..."

"Then you can mail Youyou's portion to me," Cha Li said, patting her gently swaying thigh.

Before we knew it, it was afternoon. After paying the bill, everyone decided to go home.

After all, I have to go to school tomorrow, so I still need to go to bed early tonight.

Compared to the exquisitely decorated coffee shop, Mo Xueyao's fruit shop suddenly seemed quite shabby.

She casually moved the cardboard box blocking the doorway and said with some disdain, "The shop is such a mess..."

"Then why don't you hurry up and tidy it up?" The mother's impatient voice came through immediately.

The father flicked his cigarette ash, chuckled, and asked, "Oh, you're back. How was your time?"

"I'm quite happy, and then... for the first time, I feel that being good-looking can really put food on the table."

"Whoa, what's wrong?"

"The boss gave us a discount because we're pretty!" Mo Xueyao stretched out a fair finger, pointed to her cheek, narrowed her eyes slightly, and swayed her head gently, looking quite smug.

……

Chapter Five: A Passionate Kiss

Nighttime in downtown Hangzhou.

Although it can't compare to the prosperity of neighboring Shanghai, this second-tier city's bustling atmosphere, with its touch of backwardness, still allows one to feel a sense of leisure as one wanders among the crowds.

It is said that some sparsely populated countries are most envious of such prosperity.

Because they feel very safe this way—there are people everywhere, and they don't feel lonely at all.

Yes, people don't necessarily need friends around to avoid feeling lonely. Even if you live alone, as long as you are surrounded by all sorts of people, you still won't feel lonely.

Interacting with people is not always necessary; being an observer in this glamorous world is actually quite nice.

Wearing a strawberry milk-colored patchwork dress, Sanhua Tongjue walked slowly with her hands behind her back, staring at her legs clad in pink tights.

She wore a pink and white rabbit fur coat over her skirt, making her look fluffy, especially the rabbit ears on her hat, which made people want to pinch them.

Pedestrians come and go, and the not-so-wide street in the city center is congested again—this is probably the only road in all of Hangzhou that gets congested.

Not far away, there is a section of road under construction that is fenced off. Although it is very narrow and crowded now, it will become very spacious after the road is completed.

Wearing a thick, pale yellow coat, Huang Yuxi followed closely beside her. Her crystal-clear yellow earrings swayed gently with her movements, seemingly reflecting the dim yellow light of the streetlights.

One was a handsome young man, and the other was a sweet young woman. When they walked together, it was as if you could smell the sweet aroma of exquisite pastries.

“Hey…” Sanhua Tongjue took a deep breath and gently nudged Huang Yuxi’s arm. “I’m leaving in a few days. After the final exams, I have to take a plane back to Japan. I won’t be coming this year….”

"Hmm..." Huang Yuxi lowered his head slightly. Unable to speak, he could use this 'reason' to remain silent.

Unlike other boys, he didn't feel the need to say anything at this moment.

The aroma of Lanzhou beef noodles wafted from the shop next door, while the Foshan pork offal noodle shop next door seemed to be fiercely competing with it.

"Um... I... want to go to Japan with me? I'll have my dad get you a visa."

Huang Yuxi blinked and stared blankly for a moment, then gently shook her head.

"Xiao Xi... um, never mind... what do you want to eat tonight?"

Huang Yuxi lowered her head and wrote three words on the whiteboard: "Anything is fine".

"Let's go then." Sanhua Tongjue hummed a song to hide the complicated feelings in her heart, grabbed his wrist and walked forward.

When Huang Yuxi came to her senses, she was already sitting in a luxuriously decorated restaurant.

This is a very high-end hot pot restaurant, with an average cost of over 300 yuan per person.

Having grown up with his older brother, he had never eaten such a luxurious dinner before.

Moreover, there is no main hall here; only private rooms are available for use.

Even though it was just the two of them, they still occupied a fairly large private room.

The waiter stood at the door, ready to give any instructions to the guests inside.

If you wish, you can also ask the waiter to serve the food and pick up dishes from your plate...

In short, here you can enjoy the kind of service that lords of the old society received.

The hot pot soon started bubbling and steaming, filling the room and quickly warming up the cold body.

"Do you need help adding the ingredients?"

After taking the order, the waiter asked again respectfully.

"No need, we can go by ourselves." Sanhua Tongjue naturally wanted a relatively private space. Today, she came out with Huang Yuxi and had made up her mind to express her feelings.

But he hasn't said it yet.

Perhaps it's because I like it so much that I'm now hesitant and full of doubts.

"Is the New Year celebrations over in Japan already?"

"Hmm—by the time I get back, most people will probably be back at work, and students will have an extra holiday." Mika Hitomi picked up a potato chip and popped it into her mouth, eating it in small bites with a crunchy sound. "How about we go to Japan for New Year's next time? The New Year's there is different from here."

"Let's talk about it when there's an opportunity."

“It’s always like this, what does it matter? I can take better care of you than your brother!” Sanhua Tongjue shouted urgently. Once she started to get anxious, her words became a little hard to understand.

Just then, the waiter opened the door again and brought out all the hot pot side dishes we had ordered.

There were dozens of kinds at a glance—but each kind was only available in small quantities.

"Oh, right, another bottle of wine, please." Sanhua Tongjue called out to the waiter who was turning to leave the private room.

Huang Yuxi blinked in confusion, and the latter pointed to her collarbone and said, "I drank it myself."

"What kind of wine would you like? It's on the menu."

"Shaoxing rice wine will do," Sanhua Tongjue muttered as she tapped the table.

"Is it Shaoxing rice wine aged for ten years?"

"Yes, this is it."

The two remained silent until the rice wine was served.

The two were so engrossed in their hot pot that the private room became so quiet it was almost oppressive.

After the Shaoxing wine was served, it was accompanied by two small and exquisite ceramic Shaoxing wine cups. Sanhua Tongjue poured three cups in a row, one sip at a time.

Her face was slightly flushed, and in the warmth that filled the room, her bright eyes seemed to be about to overflow with tears.

"Xiaoxi, eat this! And this too, it tastes even better with this sauce!"

"Mmm..."

Sanhua Tongjue enthusiastically served him food, and the yellow wine gradually decreased as the dishes were finished, until it was completely empty.

"Hiccup..." She let out a big hiccup, and the smell of alcohol alone made Huang Yuxi feel slightly tipsy.

"Stop drinking, you're getting drunk."

"What... um...? What did you write? I can't see it!" she complained, putting her arm around Xiaoxi's shoulder. "Xiaoxi, Huang! Yu! Xi!"

"Uh-huh?"

"You...baka!" The effects of the alcohol on her body made her brain a little foggy, and she spoke with a lot of Japanese mixed in, "Do you know? You must...know, right!"

"Huh?"

"I...I've already made it so obvious, why do you still want me to say it!"

Huang Yuxi nodded blankly, then wrote on the whiteboard: "You mean you like me?"

"Yes...yes! You knew all along!" Sanhua Tongjue blushed and pressed their foreheads together.

Huang Yuxi could feel her burning hot skin, as if it were scorching her soul.

“Anata…Anata…! You like me? Why didn’t you tell me?!”

Huang Yuxi swallowed hard, her face flushed, and shrank back slightly. "I...I think we...are already..."

"Eh!?" Mika Hitomi's eyes widened in surprise. "You've never... confessed to me before!"

"Because..." Huang Yuxi's small hands trembled slightly, "it's somewhat possible..."

He scribbled on the whiteboard, unsure how to express his thoughts.