Chapter 075

On Sunday noon, He Ye and Lu Jin chose to go to the mall for lunch.

While waiting in line for their number to be called, He Ye checked her phone.

Lu Jin glanced over and saw his girlfriend browsing a video related to the college entrance examination.

“Has anyone forgotten their admission ticket at home again?”

He Ye turned off the video she had already watched, looked at her boyfriend, and whispered, “I just can’t understand how someone could forget something so important.”

He Ye had a deep impression of the days she prepared for the college entrance examination.

The day before the exam, she didn’t know how many times she had sorted out her documents and stationery. She checked them several times before leaving the next day, checked again on the way, and checked again when she arrived at the exam room.

He Ye is worried, especially with her father’s various instructions.

Lu Jin says, “Unexpected things happen, and not all students take the college entrance examination seriously.”

The restaurant called out more numbers. He Ye pushed away the note in her boyfriend’s hand and realized she still had to wait for five more numbers.

Lu Jin noticed her little movements. 

It was hot outside, so He Ye tied her hair up before going out. She used to do this in high school, but now her bangs are thinner and trimmed.

At eighteen, she was simple and pure, while at twenty-four, she cared more about her looks.

“Are you coming back to school next weekend?” Lu Jin asked.

He Ye looked up in surprise.

Lu Jin said seriously, “I haven’t been there in a long time.”

He Ye thought it was fine to go, but felt worried: “Can I just go in?”

Lu Jin replied, “You can change into your school uniform. I still have mine.”

He Ye kept hers too, but felt awkward pretending to be young: “I won’t look like a student, right?”

Lu Jin looked at her fair face and said, “I don’t think I’ve aged much.”

He Ye found his confidence amusing.

Lu Jin raised his eyebrows and asked, “Do I look older to you?”

He Ye didn’t answer, just glanced at him.

She couldn’t tell if he was older, but Lu Jin was definitely more handsome now. He had grown out of his teenage awkwardness and looked more confident.

Once their school trip was confirmed, Lu Jin drove He Ye back to his hometown in the suburbs after lunch.

He Ye’s old clothes, test papers, and other high school things were kept at home.

The school uniform from No. 2 Middle School is mostly white with dark green, and the summer style is very refreshing.

He Ye took extra care of her school uniform. After the college entrance examination, she washed it and put it in a vacuum bag. Now, it looked like new, even though it was six years old.

Lu Jin watched her and suggested, “Why not try it on?”

He Ye felt he had a hidden meaning in his suggestion, so she packed her clothes again and said, “Let’s wash it first.”

Even if she wanted to try it on, she thought it would be embarrassing if it didn’t fit or looked childish and he laughed at her.

Since they had to work the next day and have dinner with their grandparents, they went back that day.

They were heading back to Wangchao Mansion that night.

When Lu Jin moved in, he had brought two sets of high school uniforms with him.

He Ye placed her school uniform on the cabinet and asked, “Where’s yours? Did you wash it?”

Lu Jin replied, “In the dressing room. I’m going to shower first.”

He Ye ignored him and went to the cloakroom.

The cloakroom had a lot of black clothing, and Lu Jin’s clothes were neatly organized, looking very stylish.

Knowing her boyfriend was in the shower next door, He Ye felt less anxious being alone in the dark space. She turned on the light and looked through the closets.

Eventually, she found his uniform in a closet, also in a vacuum bag.

As she was about to close the door, she spotted a small hook with a black panda keychain hanging on it.

This was a birthday present she gave to Lu Jin when he was eighteen.

It had only cost about twenty dollars.

He had kept it all this time.

He Ye held his uniform in one hand and pinched the keychain with the other. It still showed signs of use.

She remembered that Zhou Xiangming had teased Lu Jin for actually using the keychain.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

He Ye turned and saw Lu Jin, freshly showered, with wet hair and wearing a black T-shirt.

His gaze paused on the panda keychain before looking at He Ye.

She looked down and asked teasingly, “Did you buy it yourself? I didn’t know you liked this.”

Lu Jin leaned casually against the door, one hand in his pocket, and said, “My ex-girlfriend gave it to me. Will you be jealous?”

He Ye replied, “Your ex-girlfriend didn’t even want to send you off. You invited her rafting, and she had to pay because of etiquette.”

Lu Jin smirked, “I guessed she wouldn’t go, and I just wanted her to spend money.”

He Ye said, “…confiscated.”

She took off the panda keychain and put it in her pocket.

Lu Jin glanced at her pocket and said, “Take it out.”

He Ye wasn’t intimidated and didn’t take it out. Instead, she closed the closet door, walked out with his uniform, and headed to the laundry room to wash them both.

As she reached the door, Lu Jin suddenly walked in, closed the door, and looked at her intently: “Your valuables have been stolen. You can only leave after a search.”

He Ye blushed, took out the keychain angrily, and slapped it into his hand.

Lu Jin turned the keychain and attached it to his T-shirt collar.

It was a strange combination, but it looked fitting with his face and figure.

He Ye glanced at it and continued walking out.

Just as she touched the door handle, Lu Jin grabbed her hand and pushed her against the black marble island cabinet. 

She finally understood why he had hung the keychain there.

The chubby panda doll seemed to sway back and forth, almost mocking her for falling into his trap.

On Friday night, He Ye and Lu Jin returned to Xiaofeng’s place, each going back to their own homes.

Before going to bed, they chatted.

He Ye: [How will I get to school tomorrow, by bus?]

Team leader: [Ride a bike.]

He Ye: [I sold my bike for scrap a long time ago. Is yours still usable?]

Team leader: [It’s been maintained regularly for my first love.]

He Ye: [I don’t believe that.]

My boyfriend sent me a photo. 

It was of his bicycle, placed next to the bedroom wall. The bicycle looked polished and shiny.

He Ye: [Your bicycle won’t always be in the bedroom, right?]

Team leader: [Yes.]

He Ye: [How inconvenient.]

Team leader: [I only go home for a few days during winter vacation and Chinese New Year.] 

He Ye understood this since she and her roommates were in a similar situation. Except for going home during their freshman summer vacation, they stayed at school to study or work part-time.

He Ye: [But if you keep the bicycle in the bedroom, your parents will know something is wrong right away, right?]

It’s just a normal bicycle; who would value it so much? It’s not his fancy car (Panamera).

Team leader: [You don’t need to look at the bicycle; you can tell there’s a problem just by looking at me.]

He Ye: [Is it really that obvious?]

Team leader: [My mother says so. I don’t notice it myself.]

He Ye: [Then you have to explain clearly to your mom. It’s not that I rejected you for six years; it’s that you never came to me to get back together.]

Team leader: [This topic is better for you to discuss with them.]

He Ye: […..]

Team leader: [Want to come to my house for lunch tomorrow?]

He Ye: [Isn’t that too fast?]

Team leader: [My dad ran into Uncle Zhou not long ago. Uncle Zhou asked about us and said he had seen you before. Just think about how my dad felt.]

He Ye: [Zhou Xiangming really talks too much.]

Team leader: [Let’s set it for tomorrow at noon? I’ll ask them to buy more food.]