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As they left the house, Zhuang Jianguo spoke to Zhuang Zi’ang with a heavy heart, “Zi’ang, Grandpa didn’t take good care of you, and you’ve suffered too many grievances.”
Zhuang Zi’ang shook his head. “Grandpa, I’m fine. Now that I’ve moved out and live alone, I’m quite free and happy.”
He looked at the elderly man with white hair, feeling a pang of sadness in his heart.
His grandparents worked the land in the countryside, living frugally to support his education.
This deep-seated kindness was something he felt he would never be able to repay.
Suddenly, Zhuang Jianguo smiled and said, “Zi’ang, is that girl who was eating with you in the video really your girlfriend?”
Zhuang Ziang’s face turned red. “No, she’s just a good friend of mine named Xiao Yudie.”
“Xiao Yudie? What a cute name.” Zhuang Jianguo noted the expression on Zhuang Ziang’s face and guessed the boy’s feelings.
In the eyes of the older generation, they were more open-minded about young people dating.
After all, in their rural upbringing, it was common for people to marry at the age of seventeen or eighteen.
Zhuang Ziang was already an adult, and it was natural to have feelings for a girl at his age.
Zhuang Jianguo put aside the earlier unpleasantness and completely shifted the topic.
“If you like her, you should invite her out more often.”
“When I was young, I wanted to date your grandma, but I was chased all over the village by her father with a stick.”
“With my thick skin, I eventually got to marry the beauty.”
…
Zhuang Zi’ang listened quietly, but his heart ached.
With only three months left to live, he felt he had no right to pursue the girl he cared about.
As they passed by a mobile phone store, Zhuang Zi’ang pulled Zhuang Jianguo along. “Grandpa, let me buy you a phone. It will make it easier for us to stay in touch.”
Zhuang Jianguo thought for a moment and then nodded. “Alright.”
They had suggested getting a phone for him several times before, but the old man had been reluctant to pay the monthly fees, claiming that the fixed landline at home was sufficient.
After this recent incident, he finally understood.
Being able to contact Zhuang Zi’ang anytime would ease his worries.
Entering the store, they selected the cheapest model of a senior-friendly phone based on the staff’s recommendations.
It had a large screen, big buttons, and loud sounds.
In total, including the SIM card, it cost just over two hundred yuan.
Zhuang Jianguo insisted on paying for it, but Zhuang Zi’ang refused, quickly scanning the payment code to pay instead.
Although most of his money came from his grandfather, he realized that the opportunities to fulfill his filial duties were limited in the time he had left.
Sitting on a bench outside the phone store, Zhuang Zi’ang taught his grandfather how to use the phone.
He saved his own number in the contact list, showing him how to press the menu button at the top right to bring it up.
Then, he demonstrated pressing the green call button to make a call.
It was just two simple steps, easy to remember.
Before, you taught me how to use chopsticks and tie my shoes; now that you’re older, I’m teaching you how to use a mobile phone.
Zhuang Jianguo, worried about delaying Zhuang Zi’ang’s studies, suggested heading back to the countryside.
Zhuang Zi’ang accompanied him to the bus station to wait for the bus.
“Zi’ang, in three months, you’ll be on summer break, right?” Zhuang Jianguo asked with a smile.
“Three months!” Zhuang Zi’ang felt a shock.
He was very sensitive to this timeframe now.
Zhuang Jianguo had no idea of his thoughts and continued, “Your grandma has been feeding a lot of chickens, saying that when you come home for summer break, they’ll be grown, and she’ll make chicken soup for you.”
Hearing this, Zhuang Zi’ang’s eyes filled with tears again.
If only his grandparents knew…
“If you really like that Xiao Yudie, you boys should be a bit more proactive.”
“When summer break comes, bring her to the countryside to play and make your grandma happy.”
“I’m just an old man, and I still hope to see you get married and hold my great-grandchildren!”
…
Every gentle word from the old man felt like a sharp blade piercing Zhuang Zi’ang’s heart.
He covered his mouth, desperately suppressing his cries.
Seeing this, Zhuang Jianguo thought he was just reluctant to part ways and offered comforting words.
“This child, it’s not like we won’t see each other again.”
Finally, the bus arrived.
With tears streaming down his face, Zhuang Zi’ang said, “Grandpa, you and Grandma must take care of yourselves.”
Zhuang Jianguo smiled lovingly, “Alright, when summer break comes, make sure to come back early!”
After the bus drove away, Zhuang Zi’ang sat at the bus stop for a long time.
His mind was filled with imagined scenes of his grandparents learning the terrible news, crying heartbreakingly.
That would be too cruel.
I’m sorry, truly sorry.
Zhuang Ziang walked toward the school in a daze. Passing by the security office, he suddenly remembered something.
He leaned in toward the security guard on duty and said, “Uncle, when my grandpa came in this morning, you could find my class through my name, right?”
The guard nodded, “Yes, the computer system has information on every student.”
“Then can you help me find someone? Her name is Su Yudie,” Zhuang Zi’ang requested.
The guard nodded and turned to operate the computer.
After a while, the screen displayed four large characters.
No such person found!
Zhuang Zi’ang’s eyes widened in disbelief.
How could this be?
After thanking the security guard, Zhuang Zi’ang left the office and headed toward the classroom.
His mind was filled with questions, and he eventually forced himself to come up with a reasonable explanation.
She must have two names.
Just like Li Huang Xuan, who said he was called Li Chao when he was young but later thought it was too common and changed it when he was over ten years old.
So much so that the older folks at home still called him “Chao Chao.”
Su Yudie must have had a childhood name that she changed.
Yes, that must be it.
Otherwise, what other reasonable explanation could there be?
When Zhuang Zi’ang returned to the classroom, the first period of the afternoon class had already begun.
Zhang Zhiyuan had informed the teachers in advance, mentioning that Zhuang Zi’ang was dealing with family issues, so the subject teachers didn’t ask many questions and simply let him take his seat.
“Hey, where did you run off to again?” Li Huang Xuan whispered.
“My grandpa came from the countryside,” Zhuang Ziang replied briefly.
“Your Xiao Yudie came looking for you, but you weren’t here. The boys in our class are practically envious of you.”
Not only the other boys but even Li Huang Xuan, who was speaking, felt a pang of jealousy.
Having such a beautiful girl think of you was indeed a lucky thing.
Zhuang Zi’ang took out his phone and typed under the desk: “What did you want? Why didn’t you call?”
Soon, his phone vibrated with a new message from Xiao Yudie.
“It’s nothing special, just wanted to see you.”
Zhuang Zi’ang replied instantly, “Let’s meet by the flowerbed after class?”
Xiao Yudie: “Okay.”
As soon as the bell rang for class to end, Zhuang Zi’ang bolted out of the classroom.
The teacher was taken aback, as he hadn’t announced the end of class yet and was planning to stretch it for a couple more minutes!
By the flowerbed filled with hyacinths and wisteria sat the girl who always seemed untouched by the world.
The peach blossoms at her temples looked like pink clouds.
When Su Yudie saw Zhuang Zi’ang, she immediately stood up and handed him an ice cream.
Zhuang Zi’ang became even more puzzled.
Class 9 was on the second floor, while Su Yudie said her class was on the fifth floor.
She had come out as soon as the bell rang—where did she find the time to buy ice cream?
“Hurry up and eat it, big fool! It’ll melt soon!” she urged.
“Xiao Yudie, is there something you can’t say to me?” Zhuang Zi’ang asked, sensing her unusual demeanor.