Chapter 2

Han Mei remained silent for a long time, then finally said dejectedly, "Zhang Wei, I will keep the beauty of this time in my heart, but it can only end here."

She paused, seemingly feeling that saying it this way was too cruel, and added comfortingly, "Don't slack off after you get to college; keep working hard... I plan to go straight through to my master's and doctorate. If you can get into Tsinghua University, we... will still have a chance to be together."

Zhang Wei looked stunned and said, "What chance to be together?"

Han Mei bit her lip and said with dissatisfaction, "What do you think?"

Zhang Wei blinked, then looked shocked: "Damn... Han Mei, I treat you like a bro, and you actually want to sleep with me?"

Han Mei's gaze stalled, and her pretty face turned black.

She knew Zhang Wei often spoke without thinking, but she never expected him to give such a god-tier response. It took a full few seconds before she was so angry her whole body trembled; she grabbed the milk tea on the table and smashed it over his head, then shoved the table hard and stormed out, slamming the door without a word.

The milk tea shop was quiet for a moment. Several pairs of student couples who had been whispering looked at the disheveled Zhang Wei in surprise, and then various gossip and speculation emerged.

"Hey? Hey? Pay the bill before you go!" he shouted at Han Mei's back, only to see Han Mei stumble outside the door, covering her face with both hands and walking even faster.

"Don't be so sad," Zhang Wei muttered to himself. A boy sitting nearby couldn't help but grumble internally: Sad, your sister? This is clearly because she's embarrassed, okay?

He really didn't have the money to pay the bill.

It hadn't been peaceful near the school lately, with small-time thugs often extorting pocket money from students. Zhang Wei's life was already tight, so he didn't dare bring money to school.

Of course, Han Mei paid every time they went to the milk tea shop. In this regard, Zhang Wei completely lacked the "how can I let a goddess pay" awareness that other boys had.

Fortunately, the young lady at the milk tea shop was familiar with the two of them, so she didn't say anything when she saw the situation, but instead asked a few concerned questions.

Zhang Wei casually wiped the liquid off his body, then left with a calm look, as if nothing had happened.

He no longer remembered when the two of them had developed to this point. It seemed to start with borrowing a notebook, those short messages on paper, from asking about difficult problems to discussing life, and then to self-analytical monologues...

From walking side by side in the night wind after every evening self-study, stepping on thick fallen leaves on the quiet avenue, the few inadvertent physical contacts, to two hands getting closer and closer but never holding...

It was just that, standing at the crossroads of life, saying goodbye to each other, seeing each other off with tears, and then making vows for the future...

This really wasn't Zhang Wei's style!

Whether from a physiological or psychological development perspective, males have always been less mature than females. But Zhang Wei, who lost his parents and became an orphan in a short time, crossed more than ten years of growth in just two years. The huge changes and excessive grief also caused his personality to become somewhat "eccentric," at least in that his speech was particularly unpleasant.

Since waking from his stupor, Zhang Wei had clearly realized that his life could only rely entirely on himself; there was no longer a harbor for him to dock in.

So he picked up the textbooks he had dropped and chased hard. Although Fu Yi High School had many recommendations, there wouldn't be one for him. Only by getting into a 985 university through the college entrance exam and obtaining a scholarship could he support himself through this arduous journey and have a better life in the future.

As for this youthful romance?

Since they were destined to drift apart, why pretend to be affectionate and hypocritically make unreliable promises?

"Childish, so childish."

Zhang Wei returned home and took out his keys, preparing to open the door, but saw a bun-like face resting on the window next to him, glaring at him angrily.

"Zhang Wei, who are you calling childish?"

"Not you... did you cook?" Zhang Wei dropped his schoolbag, walked straight to the kitchen, looked at the steaming rice cooker, nodded with satisfaction, and then rolled up his sleeves to start cooking.

"It's already been heated twice." The little girl leaned against the kitchen door, looking sad: "Zhang Wei, did you go on a date again?"

Zhang Wei busied himself with his work and said without looking back: "Bai Guagua, don't ask so much about adult matters. Have you finished your homework?"

"Hungry, tired, don't want to do it... You haven't even graduated from high school, what kind of adult are you?" Bai Guagua pouted.

"You haven't even graduated from elementary school, as long as I'm older than you... Come, fill your stomach first." Zhang Wei felt a bit apologetic, so he cut a piece of cucumber with a knife and stuffed it into the little girl's mouth. Seeing that round bun-face puffed up, looking silly and cute, he couldn't help but be amused.

Bai Guagua chewed with a crunch, her eyes squinting, and she said with some satisfaction: "I'm growing, and you just use vegetables to fool me. If I don't grow tall later, I'll blame you."

The two were originally neighbors, located in this Shanty Town area of Rongcheng. Compared to Zhang Wei, Bai Guagua was even more unfortunate. Her father died of illness years ago, and her mother couldn't handle the pressure of life and ran away, with no news since. Zhang Wei's mother couldn't bear it, so she raised her as half a daughter, but who knew she would pass away within two years...

Neither family had any reliable relatives, so a high school student and a girl in elementary school had been bumping along until now.

Their story had also been published in a corner of the newspaper, attracting help from some kind-hearted people. From time to time, firewood, rice, oil, and salt were sent, and the community would issue some subsidies, which supported their life so it didn't completely collapse.

Zhang Wei was fine; at 18, he was already considered an adult. But Bai Guagua was only 11. When an orphanage expressed willingness to adopt her, the little girl firmly refused with a vigilant look.

For this reason, Zhang Wei had once tried to persuade Bai Guagua earnestly, almost dragging her away by force—there was no way, he couldn't even take care of himself at that time, so how could he have the heart to manage an extra little one?

However, that day Bai Guagua cried until her chin disappeared, her mouth pursed into a line, and she spat out some shocking words about orphanages selling children, bullying them to death, etc., which finally made him grit his teeth and keep the little girl.

After dinner, Bai Guagua rubbed her visibly bulging little belly and said with satisfaction: "You don't have evening self-study today, right? Let's go for a stroll on the street."

Zhang Wei leaned lazily on the worn-out sofa, not wanting to move at all, clearly a bit overstuffed. Hearing this, he said faintly: "No, I have to study hard... Go wash the dishes."

Bai Guagua was unhappy and said angrily: "It's your turn this time, right?"

Zhang Wei said earnestly: "Guagua, we are children from a poor family, we can't be petty about these things."

Bai Guagua clearly didn't buy it: "I'm a minor, I'm not going!"

Zhang Wei taught her again: "Chairman Mao said that children from poor families take charge early, and the shoulders of minors can also hold up half the sky."

Bai Guagua thought Chairman Mao had really said that. The education from her textbooks made her quite in awe of this great man, but she didn't want to admit defeat, so she had to say sadly: "Exploiting child labor, Zhang Wei, you've changed. You've changed so much I don't even recognize you."

Zhang Wei sighed speechlessly. This child was hopeless, so he had to throw out the final bait: "After you finish washing, I'll take you to the street."

Bai Guagua was unmoved, her expression firm: "You're wrong, dead wrong. Guagua is not a little girl who can be bought."

Zhang Wei's face darkened. This child's appetite was getting bigger and bigger, so he had to increase the stakes: "What about sugar-roasted chestnuts?"

Bai Guagua stood up with a whoosh, puffed out her little belly, and smiled sweetly: "This is the Zhang Wei I know. In view of your sincerity, I will mercifully agree to you."

After speaking, she picked up the bowl and busied herself, leaving Zhang Wei on the sofa with a pained expression.

The older the child gets, the smaller the wallet becomes...