Unable to figure it out, Meng Ting remained cautious as she turned off the lights and went to bed.
Her routine was always very regular, never staying up past 11 PM. However, the next day, which was a weekend, brought some bad news.
The bus to school had stopped running.
Shu’s father was also worried as he talked about this: “This is a new district. They say there’s road construction going on, and the buses might not resume operation for a month.”
Shu Yang was silent for a moment before saying, “We’ll just have to get up earlier and walk.”
Shu Lan wasn’t having it: “It takes 40 minutes to walk to school! We’ll be late.”
Meng Ting, who was helping Shu’s father wash vegetables, didn’t say anything when she heard this.
As time passed, she became clearer about these past small events. In her previous life, there was also this incident of the bus stopping. Then Shu’s father managed to borrow a bicycle and buy another one, making it easier for the three children to get to school.
However, a decent bicycle wasn’t cheap that year. Meng Ting knew about their difficult financial situation, and since it was only for a month, walking wasn’t a big deal.
Shu Lan was making a huge fuss, even saying things like, “If you make me walk, I won’t go tomorrow.”
Shu’s father exploded in anger, scolding her before leaving. But by evening, he was smiling as he waved the children over: “Come see our new members.”
Meng Ting put down her physics book and sighed softly to herself.
Shu Zhitong was a soft-hearted father. Though he had scolded Shu Lan during the day, he was afraid of making her unhappy. So in the evening, he borrowed a bicycle and bought a sky-blue one.
The borrowed bicycle was old and black, with paint peeling off the handlebars. Shu Lan cheered, lovingly touching the sky-blue bicycle: “Dad, is this for me?”
Shu Zhitong looked a bit troubled as he tried to reason with her: “The black bicycle is bigger. I thought Shu Yang could use it to give you a ride. You two can leave a bit later.”
Shu Lan’s expression changed, and she sneered: “So you bought it for Meng Ting?”
“What are you saying? Everyone can use them. You can ride it to school after a while if you want. Shu Lan, be sensible,” Shu Zhitong’s face turned ashen. He truly hadn’t intended to favor anyone, just trying to make the most reasonable arrangement. Shu Yang and Meng Ting weren’t close, but Shu Lan and Shu Yang were twin siblings, so it would be more comfortable for the brother to give his sister a ride.
However, in Shu Lan’s eyes, that bicycle was old and shabby. If she rode it and met someone she knew, how could she ever face them again?
Just as she was about to vent her dissatisfaction, Meng Ting said, “Give the new bike to Shu Yang.”
She walked over and smiled at Shu’s father. Shu Zhitong had spent the entire afternoon running around to buy and borrow bikes; he was already very tired.
Meng Ting helped him push the older bike and locked it outside the neighborhood’s bike shed.
She calmly took care of everything.
Shu Yang stood at the doorway watching her, then finally locked up the other bike as well.
The two siblings were under the shed when he suddenly spoke: “Didn’t you stop acknowledging Shu Lan? Why are you still giving in to her?”
Meng Ting looked up in surprise. Shu Yang had low emotional intelligence and a personality that seemed odd to others. Even though he was Shu Lan’s twin, he wasn’t particularly close to her either. He maintained a cool demeanor towards everyone.
She smiled gently: “Because it’s late, and Dad is very tired.”
He shouldn’t come home so exhausted only to hear his teenage children arguing.
In the hazy night, her voice was sweet and clear: “Be careful when riding tomorrow.”
Shu Yang didn’t look at her.
Since her eyesight had improved, she had become like the little fairy in his memories. Back then, both he and Shu Lan had looked up to her with inferiority. Even though Meng Ting was now gentle and quiet, and Shu Lan was flamboyant and proud, he was still that reticent boy who rarely expressed himself.
After she had walked away, Shu Yang slowly said, “You too.” But Meng Ting didn’t hear him.
Because she had to cycle to school, Meng Ting woke up earlier than usual.
She hadn’t ridden a bike in many years, so at first, the bicycle wobbled as she moved forward. Only after she regained her balance did it get better.
The morning was cold. She wore a khaki scarf that covered half her face, revealing only a pair of clear, bright eyes.
The old district was constantly being developed. When she passed the busiest street outside the school, most shops were still closed.
He Junming stretched as he came out of the internet cafe, just in time to see Meng Ting’s back as she cycled past. The morning was misty, and she was focused on the road, not noticing them.
He thought he was seeing things due to staying up all night gaming, so he tapped He Han: “Is that Meng Ting?”
He Han nodded: “Why is she cycling?”
To be frank, it was an ugly, ancient-looking bicycle. He held back a laugh: “That’s quite a flashy ride.”
He Junming burst out laughing and offered a cigarette to the internet cafe owner: “What’s been going on recently? Road construction?”
The owner knew these young men were rich kids. He took the cigarette and smiled: “Yes, they’re developing the new district, redoing the roads. The buses are out of service, and private cars have to take detours.”
He Junming pondered this thoughtfully, rubbing his hands in anticipation. When he got to school, he told Jiang Ren about it.
Jiang Ren responded lazily: “Mm.”
He Junming: “…” Was that it? Didn’t he have anything to say?
Wasn’t he going to drive over to pick up the school beauty?
The group skipped the next class and spent half the day playing basketball. The young men had worked up a sweat even in the cold winter. Too lazy to return to the classroom, they sat on the school’s highest rooftop smoking. The wind was howling, and He Junming, feeling hot, enjoyed the cool breeze.
He took out a pack of cigarettes: “Ren Ge.”
Jiang Ren had his hand on the balcony railing. From this highest point, he could see not only all of Licai Vocational High but also the direction of Meng Ting’s school building. He said flatly: “I don’t smoke.”
He Junming took a few puffs himself. Jiang Ren seemed to remember something: “All of you, smoke farther away from me.”
He Junming was bewildered. Damn, why the sudden aversion? Where was this attitude before?
Jiang Ren took out a piece of gum to chew.
The craving for a cigarette was hard to bear, like a little bug gnawing gently at his heart. Standing on the rooftop, he gazed at the small red building where Meng Ting’s class was, thinking how damn messed up his life had become.
Jiang Ren waved his hand: “I’m leaving first.”
He Han said: “Guess where Ren Ge is going?”
He Junming: “How would I know?”
Jiang Ren climbed over the wall into No. 7 Middle School. That year, No. 7 was poor; the wall was like flat ground to him, and there weren’t even any security cameras.
He jumped down, hands in his pockets.
He wandered idly through No. 7’s campus.
The studying atmosphere in this school was truly good. He could hear the students’ clear recitations carrying far. Jiang Ren clicked his tongue.
It was different.
As he passed by the teaching building, several people in the classrooms were startled.
“Is that Jiang Ren?”
“It is him! Why is he at our school?”
“…” The students curiously looked out, and the teacher rapped on the podium: “What are you all looking at? Look at the blackboard!”
Jiang Ren passed through the bottom of the teaching building and found the shabby bike He Junming had described in the bicycle shed next to the security office. At this time, classes were in session, and the security guard was watching TV.
He chewed his gum, suddenly smiling.
Meng Ting had lunch at school. When school let out in the evening, she went to get her bicycle. After unlocking it and pushing it a couple of steps, she realized something was wrong.
She crouched down to look at it and found that the chain was broken. Meng Ting was momentarily stunned—hadn’t it been fine this morning?
She started to worry. How would she get home if it was broken? The chain had come off, making it hard even to push.
Moreover, this was borrowed from her dad. Breaking someone else’s thing on the first day would be hard to explain.
Meng Ting rolled up her sleeves. Her arms were fair and slender. With her long lashes lowered, she tried to put the chain back on herself.
But the bike was very old, and there was no lubricant on the chain. She tried several times, dirtying her soft, white fingers, but couldn’t get it back on.
By then, the campus was very quiet. She stood there with her backpack; all the other students had left. Only she remained, foolishly struggling with the broken bike.
She wasn’t the only one who had cycled to school. Students passing by all turned to look.
They all knew her name was Meng Ting.
She was too beautiful. Boys walked several steps past her, then casually turned back to look.
The winter dusk had no sunset.
The hem of Meng Ting’s school uniform hung to the ground, her features unbelievably beautiful. Several people wanted to strike up a conversation but didn’t dare.
That year, No. 7 Middle School was strict about puppy love, and the students were at an age of budding romance. Due to shyness and reserve, although some might write love letters, few would confess directly.
They slowly passed by her, blushing, and walked away quickly when she looked up.
When Jiang Ren sauntered over, this was the scene he saw.
She was crouching there alone, her hands dirty by the chain. With her head tilted, her large tea-colored eyes were seriously studying how to properly reattach the chain.
So obedient, so adorable.
He knelt on one knee, not saying a word, and pulled her up.
Only then did Meng Ting see him. Her hair had fallen onto her cheeks, and she hurriedly brushed it away with her elbow, a bit embarrassed: “Jiang Ren, why are you here?”
“I had something to do.” He smiled. “Bike broken?”
Meng Ting nodded. Her hands were all dirty, and she uncomfortably hid them behind her back. She was planning to give up on fixing it and just push it back for Shu’s father to look at.
His eyes held a hint of amusement: “What are you hiding?” He pulled her hands out, not minding using his gloves to wipe them clean.
His eyes lowered, wiping very carefully. Meng Ting’s face reddened: “It’s very dirty.”
“It’s not dirty.” He finished cleaning her soft little hands, then rolled up his sleeves to fix her bike.
His movements were very skilled. Wearing a pair of black gloves, he quickly found the position of the master link on the chain, then removed it and inserted the pin.
Meng Ting stood to the side watching.
The young man’s profile was sharp and unruly, with a kind of bad-boy wildness. But he fixed it very quickly.
“Done, try it out.”
She pushed it a few steps, then turned back with a gentle smile: “Mm, thank you.”
He couldn’t help but smile. How could she be so silly?
But damn, there was something even harder to bear than the craving for a cigarette, making him completely defenseless, his heart melting into a puddle.
Jiang Ren said: “There’s no lubricant. The chain will come off again after you ride a short distance.”
Meng Ting froze: “Ah?”
Jiang Ren walked over, pushed the old bike to him, swung his long leg over it, and then turned back to her: “Come on, I’ll take you home.”