Chapter 448: Do You Have Someone You Like in Your Heart?

Rarely do all the grown‑ups go to the Inner Courtyard to watch TV; Lu Cheng was enjoying himself and was about to stir something up with Sun Yan Hong, so Yang Yin's arrival is truly untimely.

Trying to pretend not to be at home doesn't work; I only heard Yang Yin walk all the way into the Inner Courtyard.

"Aunt Xianglan, has Lu Cheng come back?"

Chen Xianglan was knitting while watching TV: "It's Xiao Yang, come, come, come, come over to watch TV; Auntie still has a seat."

It was originally saved for her daughter Ying Ying, but during the National Day holidays the department store was very busy and still hasn't closed; there's still a bowl of spare ribs left in the pot.

Yang Yin thought the courtyard was really lively: "Auntie, I'm not watching TV; I'm here to look for Lu Cheng."

"Looking for Lu Cheng?" Chen Xianglan got up, glanced around, then looked at the unlit West Wing Room.

"Hey, where's Lu Cheng? He was just watching TV here a moment ago; this kid vanished in an instant. No problem, Xiao Yang, Auntie will help you look… San'er, San'er, where did you run off to…"

Hearing his mother shouting all over the courtyard, Lu Cheng had to put on his coat and get ready to leave; otherwise, if his mother caught him late at night at the Widow Gate, it would be another lecture.

Putting on his coat and shoes, he was about to step out when Sun Yan Hong quickly handed him an empty bowl: "Your family's bowl."

Watching Lu Cheng grab it casually, lift the door curtain, and rush out of the house, Sun Yan Hong perched at the dining table, staring absentmindedly at the bowl of spare ribs.

"Mom, Mom, I'm right here…"

Chen Xianglan had just stepped out of Chuihua Gate to look outside; seeing Lu Cheng's flustered state and a button sewn on the wrong side, she instantly grew suspicious.

"You're not watching TV; where did you go?"

Lu Cheng hurriedly explained: "Oh, I went to the bathroom; I have a bit of diarrhea. Mom, you go watch TV."

It would have been fine not to say that, but after saying it, Yang Yin couldn't help glancing at the bowl in his hand.

"Went to the bathroom? You're carrying a bowl… Is your family this troubled now?"

Lu Cheng looked at the bowl in his hand: "What a mess, it's already night, why did you come?"

Yang Yin put his hands behind his back, swayed his body and said: "I slipped out; I want to go to Tiananmen to have fun. I heard it's been lively these past few days."

Lu Cheng shook his head helplessly: "You're already a sophomore, yet you're still so wild! You can't go to Tiananmen during the day; at night, a girl like you isn't safe."

"That's why I came to find you. I've been waiting for you for several days and haven't gone yet. I heard they've hung many light bulbs, even colored ones, in front of Tiananmen; they're so beautiful."

Yang Yin spoke with a yearning look; Lu Cheng thought about this Educated Youth commotion and realized Yang Yin had also contributed a lot.

"Then wait for me a moment; I'll put the bowl in the kitchen, and then we'll ride bicycles over."

Yang Yin hurriedly nodded: "Mm‑mm."

As he pushed the bicycle out from the Car Shed, he told his mother he was going to Chang'an Street to play; Chen Xianglan waved her hand and kept watching TV.

A few Big Aunts nearby, who were patching shoe soles, saw Lu Cheng leave with the young girl and couldn't help asking.

"Hey Xianglan, whose family is that girl from? She's so good‑looking."

Chen Xianglan thought for a moment: "I think her father is some professor, teaching at a university; in short, a family of intellectuals."

"Oh, those conditions aren't bad; she'd be a good match for your Lu Cheng."

Chen Xianglan shook her head: "The conditions are fine, but it feels a bit out of his league; let nature take its course."

Because of the Lin Family's affairs, Chen Xianglan has now become more open‑minded; rather than seeking someone with good conditions, it's better to find an ordinary girl.

Outside, Lu Cheng had just turned a lane and happened to run into his sister returning from work.

Lu Cheng pretended not to see her, hurriedly mounted his bike and fled.

Lu Ying was still shouting nearby: "Lu Cheng, where are you going so late? Hey, I'm talking to you, didn't you hear…"

Yang Yin, curious on the back seat, asked: "Your sister is calling you."

"I heard."

"Then why didn't you respond to her?"

"I ate her spare ribs, afraid she'd hit me."

Yang Yin giggled: "So you were holding the bowl earlier because you ran to the bathroom to sneak a bite; no wonder she'd beat you!"

"By the way, your courtyard is quite lively today; I see everyone watching TV. Can I come to watch TV in the future too?"

"I recall your home seems to have a TV; it's better to watch at home. Coming here to watch isn't even crowded enough."

"That's different; with many people it's lively. When I'm at home, I watch with dad and mom, just the three of us, solemn like a politics class."

"If you want to come, just come."

Lu Cheng pedaled hard on his bike, and upon reaching Chang'an Street, walked straight along the broad road, with warm streetlights on both sides.

On the road ran buses and sparse small cars, mainly Shanghai‑brand and Red Flag‑brand.

The sidewalks on both sides were filled with a continuous stream of bicycles.

From far away one could see Tiananmen Tower and the Great Hall of the People outlined by lights; the illumination wasn't dazzling, yet it possessed a solemn, majestic brightness.

This is the nation's most coveted sacred place; it's already the crisp autumn season, and the square gathered many adults and children.

At that moment, Yang Yin suddenly asked.

"I heard Xiao Piqiu and the others say you used to flirt with young girls; have you ever brought them to Tiananmen?"

Lu Cheng laughed: "In such a solemn place, I wouldn't dare to flirt."

Yang Yin nodded: "At least you have some boundaries."

Finding an empty spot, Lu Cheng parked his bike, walked across the square with his hands in his pockets, while Yang Yin, hands behind his back, hopped along the stone slabs.

"Lu San'er, you're about to graduate; after that my chances of seeing you will be fewer."

"Then I consider myself liberated."

Yang Yin stamped his foot: "What do you mean?"

"No, no, I mean you can devote your time to studying from now on; after you graduate, isn't your dad still planning to send you abroad for study?"

Yang Yin's mood was a bit down: "I actually don't want to study abroad; I still prefer my own country, foreign places aren't that great."

Lu Cheng looked surprised; studying abroad now is something many people yearn for but can't achieve, yet Yang Yin clearly has that condition yet shows no interest.

Slowly, without noticing, they had already reached the square in front of Tiananmen.

At this moment Yang Yin suddenly stopped: "Lu San'er, can you answer me a question? Under Tiananmen you must answer truthfully, you cannot lie."

Hearing this, Lu Cheng felt that this little girl had brushed him off again, no wonder she suddenly came here.

In such a solemn place, saying even a single lie feels like committing a crime.

Lu Cheng said unwillingly: "Then you shouldn't ask."

"No… I must ask."

Lu Cheng helplessly said: "Ask, ask, just don't ask anything too excessive."

Yang Yin's eyes flickered: "Hmm? So… is there someone you like in your heart?"