Chapter 005

Meng Li had practiced in front of the mirror for two days, always when no one was home.

Two days later, Meng Li felt that she had successfully mimicked about seventy percent of the original’s tough, rebellious demeanor. She decided it was time to step outside for some fresh air.

Whether or not she would meet up with her brothers didn’t matter; she couldn’t keep holding herself back like this. She was starting to feel suffocated.

After adjusting her deep blue coat in front of the mirror, Meng Li grabbed the sheepskin hat from the camphor wood chest and put it on. She then spent a few more moments tidying up her appearance. Just as she was about to step through the door curtain, she ran into the little one, Tang Yuan’er.

Tang Yuan’er was dressed in a round, puffy outfit, looking like a ball, with a slight, earthy red tint to her cheeks.

The winter wind was dry and biting, and it was all because of the cold air.

When she bumped into Meng Li, Tang Yuan’er instinctively took a step back, just managing to avoid stepping down the stone steps at the door.

She stood firm with her feet together, tilting her head upward as she spoke to Meng Li, “A few people are looking for you outside. They’re all wearing military uniforms.”

There was no need to think twice—those must be the original’s good buddies, knowing that she had woken up and come to find her to go out and cause some trouble.

It was just the right moment, as she had been planning to head out herself. It seemed like a case of the brothers being in tune with each other.

Meng Li stepped down the stone steps with a few swift strides, casually ruffling Tang Yuan’er’s head as she passed, then jogged toward the main gate of the courtyard. Once outside, she turned to the west and, sure enough, saw a few young men standing together, waiting for her.

These young men were all tall, with long arms and legs. They wore military uniforms of varying colors and styles, topped with woolen military hats. Three of them were riding two “28” manganese steel bikes, one foot on the ground while the other rested on the pedal, occasionally shifting it with a stylish flair.

Two of the boys weren’t on the bikes, instead standing around with a laid-back posture, giving off a rebellious vibe. They had cigarettes in their mouths, and when the smoke rose, they squinted their eyes slightly.

As soon as these people stood in the alley, they were exceptionally eye-catching and conspicuous.

Meng Li thought for a moment. The “Yongji” brand “28” manganese steel bikes were rare in this era—only a few people could afford them. Military uniforms were also the most fashionable attire at the time. So, the level of attention these boys were drawing could easily be imagined.

As soon as Meng Li stepped out of the courtyard gate, the young men raised their arms and waved at her.

The moment she saw them, Meng Li’s breath involuntarily caught in her throat, and her heart rate quickened slightly.

Before she crossed over, she had been the epitome of a well-behaved girl, with most of her friends being other girls. She had never had any contact with such rebellious, rough characters, so she was genuinely nervous.

As she turned to walk toward the group of boys, Meng Li focused on suppressing her racing heartbeat. She reminded herself to forget the obedient girl she had been before crossing over, and to remind herself that she was now Meng Li. She also worked hard to regulate her breathing, telling herself not to show any signs of weakness.

As the leader of these people, how could she possibly show fear?!

She had to be tough!

She had to be cool!

By the time Meng Li reached them, she had already adjusted herself enough. Mimicking the original’s posture and tone, she looked at the group of boys and said, “If I fall, you guys will be finished too. Don’t even know how to come check on me?”

Zhuo Xi, sitting on his bike, adjusted his green military trousers and coat, smiling as he replied, “We knew Third Master must be feeling suffocated at home, so we came over. Hurry up, get on, and let’s go have some fun.”

Although the alley was quiet with few people around, their presence still stood out, making them hard to miss.

Meng Li didn’t hesitate. She walked straight to the back of Zhuo Xi’s bike and jumped onto the rear seat. The group rode off, leaving the alley behind.

The alley was empty and quiet, with the three bikes riding side by side ahead.

Zhuo Xi turned his head slightly and asked Meng Li, “Third Master, why didn’t you put on your military uniform?”

Meng Li had purposely not worn her military uniform. She was dressed in old, plain clothes—nothing flashy. She had a basic understanding of this world and knew that wearing a military uniform would attract attention and stir up trouble, possibly even leading to a fight.

She didn’t want any trouble or fights. She just wanted to get some fresh air.

Being inconspicuous was the best option—if no one noticed her, no one would be watching.

It was hard to say the truth, as it would damage her reputation as Third Master Meng. So, Meng Li replied to Zhuo Xi, “The uniform’s been washed. It hasn’t dried yet since there’s been no sun the past few days.”

On the left, Wei Dong spoke up, “Third Master, should we get you a new set?”

Meng Li quickly looked at him, “No need. I don’t want to wear a uniform today.”

On the right, Zhou Nan and Jin Bei, both riding bikes, understood and each said, “It’s a good thing Third Master is strong and made it through this ordeal. Today, let’s not stand out, just focus on letting Third Master get some fresh air and relax.”

If this were said at another time, it would surely invite eye-rolls and sarcastic remarks from others. But now, with Meng Li just recovering from an injury, no one found fault with it. Wei Dong and Zhuo Xi didn’t argue, just wanting to have a good time with Meng Li.

They rode around the city for nearly half a day, giving Meng Li the chance to see Beijing as it was during this time. While she had some memories of the city, they were based on the version stored in the original’s mind, and seeing it with her own eyes was a different experience altogether.

After spending a few hours riding, with the sun beginning to set in the west, Zhuo Xi and the others took Meng Li to the Shichahai Ice Rink. This was the usual place where they would come to hang out, both for fun and to show off.

The rink was filled with girls in military uniforms, red scarves, and braided hair, and when young men and women gathered together, it was only natural for them to engage in flirtation.

“Flirtation” was the term in Meng Li’s mind. In her own understanding, it was like the Beijing slang for teasing girls.

As a genuine younger sister, Meng Li had no interest in flirting with anyone. She wasn’t looking to attract attention or cause trouble at the ice rink. She just wanted to skate and relax her mind.

After putting on her skates and joining Zhuo Xi and the others on the ice, she quietly asked them to go mingle with their friends while she found a quiet corner to herself, seeking a little peace.

Meng Li’s skating skills could only be considered average, but Meng Li, the original, was an expert. Thanks to muscle memory, her body had retained the skill, and now skating felt effortless.

She stayed away from the crowd and skated alone for a while, releasing the pent-up frustration she had been carrying after days of being cooped up. Everyone else was busy socializing, teasing each other, and flirting, and no one paid any special attention to her, the one drifting on the outskirts.

The group was scattered in different directions, each caught up in their own activities.

From a distance, Meng Li watched as Jin Bei cornered a girl wearing a red scarf, endlessly joking around with her. She only found it amusing for the moment.

The loudspeakers on the ice rink began playing the Russian folk song “Hawthorn Tree,” which, like the fashion of the clustered boys and girls, had a distinct sense of nostalgia. Meng Li hummed along lightly as she skated, finding the atmosphere rather romantic.

Then, as she hummed and glided, lost in the moment…

In her line of sight, a tall, long-legged youth in a military officer’s uniform suddenly appeared, his face as bright and cool as the winter sun. He was skating straight toward her, cutting through the icy air with effortless grace.

At first, Meng Li didn’t pay much attention, idly evaluating the young man’s appearance in her mind. He was the most handsome one she had seen among the boys since her crossing, and his aura stood out more than the others.

But as she continued her mental evaluation, it suddenly hit her—this face was far too familiar. It was the face of Ji Chen, the original’s nemesis! The moment the thought popped into her head, Meng Li panicked. Her legs went weak, and she quickly stopped her skates, spinning around to pretend she hadn’t seen him, gliding off in the opposite direction.

Enemies meeting each other was bound to be intense!

If she didn’t run, they would probably end up fighting!

As she skated, she focused on calming her breathing and suppressing her racing heart, but she couldn’t resist glancing over her shoulder.

She immediately saw that Ji Chen was coming straight toward her, so she tensed up and desperately increased her speed.

However, after only skating a few meters, Ji Chen made a sharp turn and blocked her path with ease.

Meng Li didn’t react in time, unable to stop herself, and with a thud, she collided right into Ji Chen’s arms.

Ji Chen looked down at her with an expression that seemed like he was going to crush her, sneering as he said, “Running?”

Meng Li thought to herself, the original had dared to kill with a knife, but now she was running from him?

The original’s height was considered tall among girls, but compared to Ji Chen and his tall, long-legged stature, she appeared quite small. Meng Li slowly lifted her head to meet Ji Chen’s gaze, but as soon as their eyes met, she quickly turned and tried to run away.

But no matter how much muscle memory she had, when it came to skating, she was no match for a seasoned expert like Ji Chen.

He effortlessly caught up to her, grabbing the collar of her coat with a firm hand.

Meng Li couldn’t help but think to herself how unlucky she was. It was her first time going out after crossing over, and out of all the places in Beijing, she had to run into Ji Chen at Shichahai. With the deep enmity between them, how could this meeting possibly lead to anything good?

She didn’t want to fight!

And besides, she didn’t even know how to fight!

Was she supposed to cry in front of him?

Meng Li pressed down her racing heart, turned to face Ji Chen, and steadied her breath. “Whatever it is, we can talk about it another day. I’m not in the mood to play with you today. I just wanted to get some fresh air. Let’s keep our distance and go our separate ways.”

Ji Chen sneered again, thinking to himself, Who the hell wants to keep their distance with you?

Had he been lying in the hospital for so many days for nothing?

He tightened his grip on Meng Li’s coat collar, his tone mocking, “Even Third Master Meng has a cowardly side?”

Meng Li stared into his eyes, hesitating for a moment before responding, “What, is that a problem… or what?”

She spoke the most defiant words with the most cowardly tone.

Ji Chen: “…”

Is this really Meng Li?

Meng Li noticed that Ji Chen had been momentarily stunned. Seizing the opportunity, she quickly pushed him, intending to escape. However, her forceful push ended up sending both her and Ji Chen tumbling onto the ice.

Caught off guard, Ji Chen didn’t let go of Meng Li’s coat collar. As a result, he pulled her down with him, both crashing to the ground together.

Unfortunately for him, Meng Li ended up landing on top of him.

Meng Li, now lying on him, felt his chin knock against her teeth, causing her to instinctively cover her mouth with her hand.

Ji Chen also winced in pain, hissing through gritted teeth, “Damn…”

But, as always, Ji Chen was Ji Chen. For him, this was just a minor inconvenience.

The pain from his chin hadn’t faded when Ji Chen grabbed Meng Li’s shoulder and, with a swift motion, flipped her beneath him.

He wasn’t pinning her down for anything other than to gain the upper hand and make it easier to hit her while ensuring she couldn’t fight back.

Meng Li, of course, knew this. She was quick to react, and just as Ji Chen’s fist was raised and about to fall, she panicked and blurted out, “Chen gege…”

Ji Chen’s raised fist froze in mid-air, and in that brief moment, his face turned red.

He looked down at Meng Li, feeling as though she had suddenly become a completely different person. And that voice… soft, delicate, and unmistakably feminine.

What the hell…

He suddenly felt disoriented in the cold wind.