[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981":3,"chapter-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-62":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","That Year, the Flowers Bloomed in 1981",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2294480,4489,"Chapter 62: Wen Leyu, Please Don","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-62",62,"\u003Cp>Li Ye heard that there was a deity whom believers regarded with a hundred percent satisfaction rate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could repel darkness, dispel fear, and neutralize cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could render evil spirits that terrified crying children powerless and leave Zhenzi crawling out of the television with no bite to take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the great God of the Blanket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In winter at minus seventeen or eighteen degrees, snuggling into a warm blanket was truly the deity’s finest gift to us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when you had the whole little heated brick bed to yourself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had a little heated brick bed, tucked inside the back room of the Second Grain Storehouse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he started using it as his off-campus study spot, he spent five minutes every day lingering in its embrace.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But today, that five minutes of warmth had been ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bro, bro, the school announced everyone has to attend Lu Jingyao’s experience lecture—do you... go?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye flipped over irritably and grumbled, “Then what do you think I should do?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dayong said awkwardly, “I think... if you don’t go, they’ll say you’re scared of her, and people will start gossiping again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why’d you even ask? Let’s go!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye wasn’t afraid of Lu Jingyao at all. He got up, dressed, threw on his big coat, and stepped outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bro, hat, hat, gloves, gloves...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dayong shouted from behind, but Li Ye, still grumpy from waking up, had already left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside, Li Ye immediately regretted it—today’s weather was truly awful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air was freezing, the sky choked with dark clouds, the north wind howling—perfect for a performance of “The White-Haired Girl.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luckily, the Second Grain Storehouse wasn’t far from County No. 2 High—just a hundred meters or so, a few quick strides away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as soon as he entered the school gate, Li Ye froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【What the hell is wrong with them? Are they trying to give everyone frostbite?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On a day like this, the lecture was being held outdoors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the school’s playground, over a hundred benches had been set up, nearly packed with people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because it was so cold and the wind so fierce, everyone instinctively huddled closer together, like penguins in the Antarctic incubation season, seeking warmth from each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye asked Li Dayong, “Why so many people? Aren’t we on break?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dayong whispered, “The news spread fast—not just our school, but every student in town showed up, and even a lot from No. 1 High came.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye was speechless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was one hundred percent sure the school had been pushing this rumor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>County No. 2 High had always been overshadowed by No. 1 High in Qinghe County; every year at the education meeting, No. 1 High’s performance report made No. 2 High blush with shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao was one of the few shining stars County No. 2 High had.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind the prestige of Beijing Foreign Languages College—just the words “Beijing university” alone made every student in the county look up to her in awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s students revered provincial universities; most aimed only for city-level vocational schools, junior colleges, or normal schools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A Beijing university, in their eyes, was the real ivory tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So when Lu Jingyao returned, how could County No. 2 High not use her to boost its reputation?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Li Ye, over here!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fu Yingjie waved to Li Ye from the crowd, gesturing for him and Li Dayong to come over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The eight-person group had secured a decent spot, tucked deeper into the crowd, offering slight shelter from the wind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as “Li Ye” was called out, a large section of nearby students turned to stare at him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bad news travels far—in this high school circle, Li Ye was a local celebrity, the counterpart to Lu Jingyao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye ignored them, used his “Wild Charge” skill to shove through, drawing a chorus of complaints.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Move, move, don’t block the way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bear-like Li Dayong squeezed in behind him, and the grumbling quickly faded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s be honest—a two-hundred-pound frame came with a natural “intimidation” aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye squeezed beside his classmate; Wen Leyu shifted her little butt to make room for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since she became his desk partner, she had tacitly accepted the “thirty-centimeter distance” rule with Li Ye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man noticed Li Ye had his hands tucked inside his sleeves, shivering from the cold, and asked worriedly, “Li Ye, why aren’t you wearing a hat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye replied, “I didn’t know it was an outdoor lecture—I thought it’d be seventy or eighty people crammed into a classroom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man was about to speak again, but noticed Wen Leyu beside Li Ye had already taken off her scarf.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Man was stunned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Is she giving it to Li Ye? So bold?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye saw it too and quickly patted Wen Leyu’s arm, signaling she didn’t need to go through the trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then he reached out, snatched Li Dayong’s hat, and put it on himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mmm, dog-fur hat—still warm. Perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Dayong stared blankly at his older brother, his heart full of bitter resentment: “You care for her, but not me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey hey hey, quiet down!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lecture began; the school leadership’s opening remarks were brief and forceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“For years, our school has upheld the noble mission of teaching and nurturing, producing generations of graduates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, our outstanding alumna, Lu Jingyao, is grateful to our school... please welcome her to share her valuable study experience...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao stepped onto the stage; thunderous applause erupted below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, she was truly a star adored by all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hello everyone, I’m Lu Jingyao, a native of Qinghe County...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Seeing so many of you braving the cold to attend my lecture moves and comforts me deeply,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>because once, I too was a poor child who refused to be defeated by hardship—back then, I had no direction in life...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Only when I reached Beijing did I see how vast the world was. Every year, our school sends students abroad, to even broader horizons...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao spoke at a steady pace, her sentences logically connected—clearly she had rehearsed thoroughly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spoke of her past confusion, her excitement upon getting into university, her joy at leaving home and seeing the wide world beyond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Below, the high school students listened intently, as if missing a single word might cause them to miss their chance at a Beijing university.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao spoke for over half an hour, leaving the students spellbound—but Li Ye grew drowsy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d heard too many speeches in his past life; this 1981-style motivational talk held zero novelty for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But just as Lu Jingyao’s speech neared its end, Li Ye suddenly perked up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Here, I sincerely thank my alma mater, my teachers, and my classmates—they gave me support, gave me strength... Also...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao paused noticeably, then changed tone: “Also, I’d like to thank some... friends, for their help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sensing something off, Li Ye looked up and caught Lu Jingyao’s dark circles—and a fleeting, barely-there glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye pondered, tilted slightly, and asked Wen Leyu, “Is she talking about you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What did you say to her last night?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.........”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye watched Wen Leyu’s upturned nose, a pang of worry in his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Please don’t turn into one of those postmodern little fairy girls—ask her anything, she won’t answer, just makes you guess.】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey hey, thank you, Lu Jingyao, for your wonderful speech. Our school’s years of hard work have finally borne fruit—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>not only have we produced university students admitted to top schools, but also a nationally renowned young writer...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye, hunched over trying to keep warm, suddenly snapped his head up toward Principal Chang on stage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now please welcome our outstanding student, renowned young writer Li Ye, to the stage...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Am I pretty? Principal Chang, what are you doing?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Stirring up a romance?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Setting up a rivalry?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Jingyao just got off, and now you’re calling me up? You’re trying to force us together, aren’t you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if you want to use me to boost your reputation, couldn’t you have warned me first?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Look at me—I didn’t even change clothes or fix my hair. Are you using me as a prop?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No matter how annoyed Li Ye was, applause broke out below.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And it was loud—yet to Li Ye, it carried a faint tone of mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye let out a quiet hum and stood up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【You really think I’m a coward? You really think forty years of perspective can’t teach you how to behave?】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye shrugged off his big coat, revealing the green military uniform underneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the “authentic article” Li Kaijian had scrounged for him—in the 1980s, a high school student in a green military uniform was unquestionably the coolest kid in the crowd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he stepped out of the crowd, this time he didn’t use any “Wild Charge”—everyone made way for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His upright posture, agile steps, and precise gait turned mocking glances into ones of shame.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Ye had participated in several military trainings in his past life; now, with this godlike physique and face, plus the boost from “Infiltration,” crushing a bunch of narrow-minded bumpkins was a matter of moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the girls present, and most of the boys, developed a strange thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Lu Jingyao, what are you thinking?】\u003C\u002Fp>",1547,"2026-06-20T05:04:59.129Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a289f73f7941dc9615061cff62797355ec30187293eff27916fee6b0837b7748","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-63","that-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-chapter-61",884,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthat-year-the-flowers-bloomed-in-1981-cover.jpg"]