Chapter 42

Ren Yeliang had a strained relationship with his family and didn’t plan to go back for the New Year, choosing instead to stay at the Fang family home, as he had done for the past few years. The Ren family pretended he didn’t exist and never sought him out, likely because Mother Ren had three sons and showed favoritism, thinking it didn’t matter.

Despite this, Ren Yeliang didn’t seem to care, treating Grandma Fang as his own grandmother. If it weren’t for the Ren family’s disapproval, he might have changed his surname to Fang or Zhou.

They didn’t stay in the village for long and returned to the county town in the afternoon. The festive atmosphere was strong, with red couplets on the doors of every household and remnants of firecrackers lining the streets. The air was thick with the smell of firecrackers.

“When are you leaving?” Wen Yue asked, her lips buried in her scarf, leaving only her clear, bright eyes visible. Her voice sounded muffled due to the scarf.

Zhou Yao, his high-collared sweater covering his chin, glanced at Wen Yue beside him and replied, “After the Lantern Festival.”

Once he left, they wouldn’t see each other until summer vacation, a good half-year away. Just thinking about it made Zhou Yao reluctant to go, but he had just started making progress in Shencheng, and not going wasn’t an option. Leaving after the Lantern Festival was his final act of defiance.Ideally, he should have left right after New Year’s.

“You won’t be back before my college entrance exams, will you?” Wen Yue guessed.

Zhou Yao lowered his gaze and confirmed with a hum.

“Alright, then wait for me in Shencheng. Don’t let me down,” Wen Yue said with a playful wink, her eyes curved in a smile.

“I won’t,” Zhou Yao replied, looking at her.

Wen Yue blinked and said, “I believe in you.”

Time passed quickly, and soon it was the Lantern Festival. Traditionally, people ate glutinous rice balls, but Wen Yue found the sesame-filled ones too rich, so she made plain, unfilled dumplings, which allowed her to eat a bit more.

“Do you have any plans today?” Wen Yue asked after breakfast.

“Let’s go to the city,” Zhou Yao suggested. “We can take Grandma Fang and Lulu since they’ve never been there.”

Wen Yue’s eyes lit up. “Great idea!”

After washing the dishes, Wen Yue, Zhou Yao, and the others took Grandma Fang and the obviously excited Lulu on a bus to the city.

The streets were bustling with people enjoying the holiday, and although the New Year had passed, the festive spirit lingered. Red lanterns hung in front of every shop, on streetlights, and in the ornamental trees lining the streets, creating a cheerful atmosphere.

When they arrived in the city, it was nearly eleven o’clock. They went to a restaurant for lunch and then headed to the cinema next to the department store to watch a movie.

The movie was a martial arts action film from Hong Kong, which was quite entertaining. Although the cinema was more rudimentary compared to the future, the experience felt different. Besides entering the cinema, Zhou Yao also spent money on sunflower seeds, which they enjoyed while watching the movie.

Wen Yue hadn’t seen this movie either, as it was a novel, and the entertainment industry differed from the world she knew. Grandma Fang wore a pair of reading glasses that Fang Shitao had just bought for her. Although things were still a bit blurry, it was much better than before.

They all watched the screen intently, captivated by the plot. The special effects were somewhat crude, but for those unfamiliar with such things, it was impressive.

Having finished her sunflower seeds, Wen Yue was about to lean back and focus on the movie when Zhou Yao grabbed her wrist. He spread her slender fingers and placed a handful of shelled sunflower seeds in her palm.

“Aren’t you eating?” Wen Yue asked, turning her head.

The dim lighting in the cinema left only the faint glow from the screen. Wen Yue met Zhou Yao’s deep, dark eyes, seeing her reflection in them.

Zhou Yao smiled, continuing to shell the remaining seeds in his hand, and replied softly, “I don’t like eating these.”

Wen Yue gestured for him to come closer.

Raising an eyebrow, Zhou Yao leaned in, and Wen Yue stuffed a small handful of shelled seeds into his mouth. His lips brushed her soft palm, and he paused for two seconds before opening his mouth.

Wen Yue smiled, ready to withdraw her hand.

Zhou Yao grabbed her wrist, stared into her eyes, and, under her puzzled gaze, lightly licked her palm.

Wen Yue: “…?”

Wen Yue: “!!”

Her face turned crimson, and she tried to pull her wrist away, but Zhou Yao held on tighter.

“Zhou Yao!” She couldn’t speak too loudly with people around, so she glared at him, whispering through gritted teeth, “There are so many people here. Stop being a rogue…”

Zhou Yao pondered, “So it’s fine when there’s no one around?”

Wen Yue: “…I’m not talking to you. I want to watch the movie.”

She turned her head away from Zhou Yao, focusing on the screen as if the movie was truly captivating her.

Zhou Yao, in a good mood, didn’t let go of her hand, even interlacing their fingers. He crossed his legs, leaned back in his seat, and smiled as he watched the screen.

The movie lasted nearly two hours. When it ended, Wen Yue and the others stood up and queued orderly to leave. Ren Yeliang and Fang Shitao were still discussing the plot, looking quite excited.

By the time they left the cinema, it was already three in the afternoon.

They took Grandma Fang and Lulu to the department store and the amusement park.

The amusement park had opened just the previous year, filled with young couples and children, bustling with activity. Fang Lulu, like a freed bird, ran around, wanting to try everything. Ren Yeliang followed her, taking her on various rides, while Fang Shitao stayed with Grandma Fang.

To Wen Yue, the amusement park seemed somewhat rudimentary. She reminded Ren Yeliang not to take Lulu on any dangerous rides. However, there weren’t many dangerous rides at that time, with roller coasters only available in a few large cities.

“Want to go on a ride?” Zhou Yao asked.

Wen Yue shook her head. “No, let’s just walk around.”

Zhou Yao nodded. “Alright.”

He naturally took her slightly cold hand, commented on its chill, and didn’t let go.

“What time are the tickets for tomorrow?” Wen Yue asked.

Zhou Yao looked down. “Around five or six in the afternoon.”

Wen Yue felt a pang of reluctance. This time, they would be apart for half a year, until the college entrance exams in June. But she didn’t show her reluctance, smiling at Zhou Yao instead. “Work hard. After my exams, you’ll have to show me around Shencheng.”

Raising an eyebrow, Zhou Yao thought there wasn’t much to see in Shencheng. “Shencheng isn’t far from Hong Kong. I’ll take you there.”

Wen Yue’s eyes lit up. “That sounds great.”

She was quite interested in Hong Kong in the nineties.

Zhou Yao and Wen Yue, dressed in matching coats, made a striking pair—him tall and handsome, her petite and graceful. Their outstanding appearance and demeanor drew many looks.

Wen Yue noticed several girls glancing at Zhou Yao.

In his black coat and with his slightly long bangs covering his sharp, dark brows, he did look quite handsome.

By the time they left the amusement park, it was already dark outside, as winter days turned to night quickly. They had dinner in the city, and since they had to return for the train the next day, they stayed overnight at a city hotel.

The streets of the city were brightly lit at night, but there were still far fewer people than during the day.

After a short walk outside, Wen Yue and the others returned to the hotel to rest. The next morning, they took Grandma Fang and Lulu shopping at the department store again. By around two in the afternoon, Zhou Yao sent Wen Yue back to the county with Grandma Fang and Lulu.

Wen Yue wanted to see them off at the train station, but their train was at six-thirty in the evening, when it would already be dark. Zhou Yao didn’t feel comfortable with her traveling alone with Grandma Fang and Lulu at that time.

So, Wen Yue had to take Grandma Fang and Lulu back to the county.

“Call me if you need anything,” Zhou Yao said, standing by the bus window, looking up at Wen Yue. “I’ll get a landline when I get back so you can call me anytime.”

Wen Yue nodded. “Alright. Take care of yourself and rest when you need to. Don’t overwork.”

Zhou Yao hummed in agreement. “I will.”

He gazed into Wen Yue’s eyes, his deep, dark pupils seemingly holding many unspoken words. His lips moved slightly, but he said nothing in the end.

As the bus started to move, Zhou Yao followed it for a few steps and finally said, “Remember to think of me.”

The low voice was quickly drowned out by the sound of the bus.

Wen Yue didn’t hear him but still leaned out of the window, waving at the tall figure standing there, watching the bus leave.

Once the bus disappeared from sight, Zhou Yao lowered his gaze, shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat, and slowly turned to walk away.