While Little Sprout went to Han Zixi, Zhong Chufeng took off his coat and gave it to Meng Kefei. “Why don’t you use mine?”
“No need.” She shook her head. “The ground is not dirty anyway. It’s no big deal.”
After all, she did come from a poor family. When she used to work as a child, her own body had once been dirtier than the ground, so this did not bother her.
“Girls have to be spoiled. Why are you being unreasonable?” He spread the coat out on the ground then pressed her down on it. “You’re wearing light-colored clothes. If you don’t sit on my coat, aren’t you worried about staining your clothes later?”
She was rendered speechless.
I should just sit down.
“Thank you.”
At first, the sky was still gray and misty. But as dawn broke, the sun slowly rose in the sky.
They had the best view from where they were sitting on the mountain since they could see the entirety of the sun rising. The neighboring clouds were dyed with a red tinge and looked exceptionally dazzling.
Once again, Meng Kefei was awe-struck by such a view.
All this time, she had never witnessed something like that before. She knew that the sun rose and it set, but the sun rising just meant that it was the start of another day for her. It meant that her mother had to go out and do manual labor again.
Who would have thought that the sunrise could be this beautiful?
“Are you out of it?” Zhong Chufeng waved his hand in front of her eyes. “I was the same when I came here for the first time. People who know how to experience life are really different.”
Know how to experience life?
Meng Kefei did not respond to him. She just focused on the view of the rising sun, not wanting to miss one bit of it.
She feared that it would be hard to see a view like that again.
On the other side, Tang Yuanyuan was leaning next to Yuchi Yishu. She was still a bit sleepy until she saw the sun rise, then all traces of sleepiness left her body.
“The sunrise is so pretty, Yishu.”
She cradled her cheeks and felt a surge of bliss.
“Yeah.” He lowered his head to look at her. Her face was filled with longing and her big, clear eyes did not show any hint of trouble.
“Yishu, will you still accompany me to watch the sunrise when I get older?”
“I will.”
“Will we still come back here to watch the sunrise? I don’t know if anywhere else has as good of a view! Yuchi, if we get the chance to, should we go watch the sunrise in other provinces?”
“Other provinces?”
“Yes!” She nodded firmly. “Although it’s the same sun, in a different province and a different place, the angle at which we see it should all be different!”
He was not expecting that many thoughts to go through her head and felt quite fascinated as he listened.
“You’re not wrong. The angle at which we watch the sunrise in different places will be different. How we feel in the moment is also a factor.”
“Then will you take me there next time?”
“Yes, we’ll go.” He sighed and put a big hand over her head. Why am I spoiling her so much?
“Thanks, Yishu!”
In her young and innocent heart, she had taken that as a promise without realizing it.
…
When school started, Meng Kefei became very hardworking and even more silent than before. In the past, she used to follow Tang Yuanyuan every time Tang Yuanyuan dragged her out to eat. Since they came back from watching the sunrise, however, she spent less time with her. Most of the time, she was either in the library or on her way to the library.
Tang Yuanyuan had gotten so bored while Meng Kefei was busy studying. This created an opportunity for Zhang Xiaolu and Yuan Yuehan to approach her.
Initially, Tang Yuanyuan did not want to hang out with them. Because of the fight that broke out during the military training last time, Zhang Xiaolu had to apologize to her countless times and send her snacks for a while before Tang Yuanyuan forgave her.
Moreover, because of that, Zhang Xiaolu even talked bad about her behind her back.
“She really does have the temper of a young lady. She expected me to coax her for so long. Good thing she’s over it now; otherwise, I don’t think I’ll be able to go on any longer.”
Yuan Yuehan teased, “Don’t be bothered by that. What if something actually develops between you and her brother in the future? Won’t you have to spoil her like her brother does?”
She scoffed. “Why should I spoil this little brat? If I end up with her brother, I will snatch him away completely. What would she have left?”
They made eye contact and laughed because they had the same thoughts.
“Yuehan, I have to make this clear. We’re competing fair and square. Regardless of who actually gets to be with him, we won’t have any resentment toward each other.”
“Of course.”
…
One day after class, Tang Yuanyuan said to Meng Kefei, “Fei, let’s go eat at the cafeteria today. I heard they have roasted beef!”
Meng Kefei looked embarrassed. “Sorry, Yuanyuan. I’m not done with these questions yet. Why don’t you go by yourself for now and I’ll accompany you in a few days?”
Tang Yuanyuan became bitter. “Fei, our semester just started. Why are you working so hard?”
“I don’t have a choice. I want to get into a better university and I want to get a scholarship too.”
Meng Kefei could only force a smile. What can I do about it? If I had as good of a life as Yuanyuan, I wouldn’t have to work this hard either.
Tang Yuanyuan decided not to drag her anywhere anymore and just wished her luck.
“Work hard, then. You can hang out with me after you’re done with the semester.”
“Sorry, Yuanyuan. It’s my fault.”
“No, no. You’re studying hard. Should I pack lunch for you? What do you want to eat?”
“It’s fine. I’ll eat some instant noodles or biscuits if I get hungry.”
Despite that, Tang Yuanyuan decided to buy more meat for her later. She was working very hard in her studies lately and had lost weight.
“Yuanyuan, she wants to focus on studying. Don’t bother her. Let’s go and eat.”
Zhang Xiaolu pulled Tang Yuanyuan up, then threw a glance at Meng Kefei. I think she’s scared of me, so that’s why she’s distancing herself from Yuanyuan. She’s quite tactful.
As the three of them made their way to the cafeteria, a few tall and big girls suddenly blocked their path. The clothes they were wearing did not look like it was from their school.
Zhang Xiaolu narrowed her eyes at them.
“Who are you?”
The girl’s leader chuckled, then looked at Tang Yuanyuan.
“Are you Yishu’s little sister?”
Tang Yuanyuan blinked a few times but did not reply.
“Very cute.”
Wen Jingrou took a few strides and stopped in front of Tang Yuanyuan as a cloud of perfume wafted over. “I’m Yishu’s girlfriend. I want to invite you to my birthday party.”
“Y-Yishu’s girlfriend?”
Before that, Tang Yuanyuan never imagined that Yuchi Yishu would get a girlfriend because he never talked about those things. But now, after hearing that Wen Jingrou was his girlfriend, she became slightly dumbfounded.
“That’s right.”
Zhang Xiaolu and Yuan Yuehan both looked equally bewildered because the lady standing in front of them was extremely attractive. One look at her was enough to ascertain that. Her beauty was even threatening.
“Yishu will be there too, so you should come with him.”
