Chapter 5

“Ding-ding-ding~”

With the bell signaling the end of class, the previously quiet County No.1 Middle School suddenly erupted into chaos.

Today was Saturday; except for graduating and retake students, every child—whether boarding or day student—rushed home for dinner and family time.

Lu Zixue slung his military-green shoulder bag over his shoulder, left the classroom, crossed the playground, and headed for the school’s bicycle shed.

Last night’s rain had soaked the playground, leaving puddles; Lu Zixue carefully dodged them, keeping the mud from staining his Li Hui sneakers.

He cherished these shoes—white sneakers with stains looked terrible.

“Come on, Zixue, let’s go together! My mom said she’s making dumplings tonight—come eat at my place!”

A classmate caught up to Lu Zixue, warmly inviting him home.

They had been junior high classmates, both admitted to County No.1 from Liuqiao Township, and their families lived close by, always getting along well.

But Lu Zixue refused: “No thanks. My dad said the rear rack of my bike is too light—it can’t handle heavy loads, or it’ll break… You should ask your dad to buy you a bicycle, a Qianlima brand would be fine.”

“……”

The rear rack of a 26-inch Phoenix bike was indeed less sturdy than a 28-inch one, but this classmate was thin and small—even lighter than most girls—how could that be “too heavy”?

The enthusiastic classmate stood frozen for a long while, then lowered his head and walked away awkwardly.

Lu Zixue didn’t care.

County No.1 was the best school in the county, naturally drawing many hardworking, smart kids from township junior highs; they studied and joked together daily, yet an invisible divide always separated them into cliques.

Lu Zixue had a military bag, Li Hui sneakers, and a bicycle—no kid from the county town, not even a teacher from County No.1 High, could match his “style.”

So he felt he shouldn’t mix anymore with those country kids in coarse cloth clothes, thick-soled cloth shoes, and hand-sewn cloth bags.

The city kids, dressed sharply and radiating confidence, were the "kindred spirits" that Lu Zixue recognized.

After crossing the playground, Lu Zixue entered the bicycle shed and pulled out his standout 26-inch Phoenix bicycle.

Because he’d quietly wiped it clean with last night’s rainwater, the brand-new Phoenix bike unsurprisingly drew envious glances from classmates.

Lu Zixue pushed the bike slowly toward the school gate, his eyes scanning the crowd.

Then his gaze lit up—he quickened his steps toward a group of girls.

“Gao Xiaoyan, I’ll give you a ride home! My mom added a cushion to the rear rack—it’s fast and steady.”

Gao Xiaoyan was a lively, pretty girl who also owned Li Hui sneakers and a military bag, just no bicycle.

She looked at Lu Zixue, who had summoned the courage to invite her, surprised.

Lu Zixue’s home was in Liuqiao Township, southwest of the county; hers was in the Meat Processing Plant dormitory, northwest—hardly on the same route.

Still, Gao Xiaoyan was polite and smiled: “We’re going to the movies—we’re not heading home yet!”

Lu Zixue felt awkward: “You’re going to the movies…?”

One of Gao Xiaoyan’s friends, playful by nature, teased Lu Zixue: “Hey, wanna come with us and Xiaoyan?”

“……”

“I… can’t. My family’s waiting for me to eat!”

Lu Zixue forced a smile, lowered his head, and pushed his bike away.

As he walked, he suddenly realized something—he looked up and caught sight of his country classmate watching him, smirking.

A look of contemptuous mockery.

Instantly, Lu Zixue’s heart ignited with bitter rage.

He resented that his pockets held only a few fen—barely enough for a movie ticket.

He hated his stubborn sister—why had she rushed to break off her engagement with the Li family? Couldn’t she have waited a year until he got into university?

Think back then—when that fool Li Ye made eight trips a month to Liuqiao Township, his pockets always full of spare change, his clothes replaced season after season—how different from his current poverty and humiliation.

【What an idiot. Why didn’t you come beg me? Why didn’t you ask me to speak well of you to Father? Don’t you know I call the shots at home?】

Lu Zixue cursed inwardly—then heard cheers ahead.

“The candy seller’s here! I knew he’d come today!”

“Candy?”

Hearing this, Lu Zixue immediately pushed his bike forward through the crowd.

He had five fen left—he’d buy two taels, eat it all himself, and watch that mocking country classmate choke on envy.

But after pushing forward only a few meters, Lu Zixue froze.

The very Li Ye he’d just been muttering about stood right ahead, staring at him.

Lu Zixue’s mind churned with conflict.

【He must be here to flatter me—bringing me money? Or gifts? Probably money…】

【My sister said we must never accept another favor from the Li family—she’ll repay every debt slowly… but now I’m being humiliated…】

【Father said if this guy gets into university… then I won’t oppose them getting back together—that’ll be a huge favor to Li Ye. I call the shots at home.】

In less than two seconds, Lu Zixue devised a perfect plan: he’d accept Li Ye’s benefit without owing him anything.

………………

Li Ye stood at the entrance of County No.1 Middle School, drawing the same attention from the crowd.

Tall, long-legged, strikingly handsome, with a calm, unassuming aura—even the shyest girls stole glances at him.

Fortunately, girls in this era were still reserved—if he’d lived in the future, he’d truly need to be told: “Boys, protect yourself when you go out.”

“Brother, you’re out.”

“Yeah, I saw.”

Even without Li Dayong’s reminder, Li Ye had spotted Lu Zixue from afar.

Bicycles were rare among the crowd after school; a 26-inch Phoenix was impossible to miss.

Li Ye saw Lu Zixue—after a brief moment of surprise, Lu Zixue pushed his bike over, stopped before Li Ye, and tilted his chin up coldly to meet his gaze.

Li Ye was baffled—because in that instant, he saw the same intern supervisor from his past life whom he’d despised.

A complete idiot who understood nothing, yet always put on airs in front of interns.

Everyone secretly cursed his ancestors, yet he felt superior, convinced everyone had to flatter and serve him.

Lu Zixue was now performing that same “putting-on-airs” act.

The acting was crude—but he performed it earnestly.

【He’s waiting for me to speak first.】

Li Ye had no interest in playing games with this half-grown boy—he reached out and grabbed the handlebars of the 26-inch Phoenix, intending to yank it away.

Lu Zixue was caught off guard—he saw his beloved Phoenix slipping from his grasp and instinctively grabbed the rear rack.

Then cold sweat soaked his back.

【Is he here to give me money? … Or to steal my bike?】