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Chu Ning had just finished showering when Chen Yue called. She sat cross-legged on the bay window, pulling back the curtains to gaze at the night view. “Still not done talking, Ms. Chen?”
The other end was anxious: “Tell me the truth, what do Ying Jing’s parents do?”
“Retired veterans.”
“Veterans my foot.”
“What’s wrong now?”
“Is his father’s name Ying Yizhang?”
Chu Ning understood immediately what she meant and teased, “Oh, you even Googled him?”
Chen Yue muttered, “You brat, you’ve been hiding it from me all along.”
Chu Ning knew her mother’s thoughts perfectly well. She frankly said, “Look at your attitude; it’s too realistic.”
“Don’t I have the basic right to know?”
“Oh, if you had known earlier, you would have agreed, right?”
“What kind of person do you take me for?!”
“Alright, alright,” Chu Ning didn’t argue with her.
Chen Yue said a lot, essentially blaming her for not being honest, but in her words, there was no longer any mention of prejudice against Ying Jing. Chu Ning sighed, This mother, oh, what an ancestor, a true ancestor.
The call ended, and Ying Jing’s came through.
“Who were you talking to for so long?” As soon as she picked up, he complained, clearly displeased.
Chu Ning’s legs were numb, so she changed her position, lying on the bed with her chin resting on a soft pillow. “My mom likes to nag. Did you get to school?”
“Yeah, just arrived.”
“What about that guy surnamed Zhao?”
Ying Jing paused for a few seconds: “Oh! You mean Brother Zhao. He left. I asked him if he was going home, and he said he was going to his girlfriend’s place. Hey? Your brother has a girlfriend?”
Chu Ning scoffed, cursing under her breath: “Shameless.”
“Actually, your brother’s quite good. Before I got out of the car, he gave me something, guess what it was?”
“A torpedo?”
“A watch.” Ying Jing was quite emotional: “The Jaeger-LeCoultre you gave me, it was stolen, and he actually helped me find it.”
Chu Ning was silent, her thoughts racing, then returning to a sweet calm.
Alright, Comrade Zhao Mingchuan, I wish you and Zhao Xi a hundred years of happiness... if you can live to be a hundred.
Chu Ning mentally rehearsed a play—The Difficult Love of the Little Zhaos. As she thought about it, she couldn’t help but grin.
“Ning’er.”
“Hmm?”
“Is your mom’s impression of me not so good?” Ying Jing had suppressed it all evening and finally asked.
“Don’t overthink it, she’s like that with everyone. You’re so well-behaved, who wouldn’t like you?” Chu Ning rolled halfway wrapped in her comforter, smiling softly, “You even gave them gifts. That silk scarf for my mom wasn’t cheap. How much did it cost? Huh?”
“Less than ten thousand total.”
Chu Ning was startled. “You have too much money and nowhere to spend it, huh?”
“I have money,” Ying Jing said. “The prize money from these two competitions is quite a bit.”
“Your petty cash box is overflowing, huh?”
“Not just the petty cash box, the bullet box is full too.”
Chu Ning pursed her lips, whispering, “Are you coming over tonight? Or should I drive to pick you up?”
The implication was very clear.
Ying Jing chuckled: “You miss me?”
Chu Ning played with her hair, wrapping it around her fingertips again and again, tightening and loosening, repeating the action several times. Her heart felt like a water-soaked sponge, heavy, as she softly “hmm”-ed.
Ying Jing still laughed, and Chu Ning felt slightly annoyed, “Hey.”
“Not tonight.”
“...”
“There’s an awards ceremony at school tomorrow, and I still need to prepare my speech.”
Chu Ning sighed, “More and more people are getting to know you. I’m almost unable to keep you to myself.”
“You don’t need to keep me,” Ying Jing said. “I’m very self-aware. No matter how far I go or how many people I meet, I’ll always be yours.”
Chu Ning’s lips curved slightly. Holding her phone, she rolled over on the bed again, her hair trapped underneath, making her let out a soft “Ow.”
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s sore.”
“Hmph, I expressed my true feelings, and you still dislike me.”
“Then express them again, I want to hear?”
“Alright, listen closely, cough, cough.” He even cleared his throat, then suddenly raised his voice: “—Chu Ning, I want to make love to you.”
It was a serious, loud declaration.
Chu Ning’s heart raced. She spat, “Any louder, and the dorm people won’t hear, right?”
Ying Jing said indifferently, “They already know anyway.”
“You told them about this too?!”
“What’s there to hide? We’re all adults, but I only told Qi Yu.”
“What did you talk about?”
“Length of time, exchanging experiences.”
Chu Ning was going crazy. “Hey, hey, hey!”
Ying Jing laughed, “Just kidding. I’d never tell anyone else about you. At that time, you belonged only to me.”
________________________________________
Subtle sweet talk can melt hearts, but direct expression often empowers more.
Chu Ning suddenly felt a profound sense of security.
“Ying Jing.”
“Hmm?”
“Ying Jing.”
“I’m here, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just wanted to call your name.”
Chu Ning’s face was half-buried in the pillow, her hair fanned out like soft feathers. In the quiet night, in the brightly lit room, the hands of the wall clock moved softly.
Chu Ning said softly, “Ying Jing, I really like you. Really, really like you.”
No need to pick apart why it wasn’t “love.”
Having experienced so much together, liking and loving had long merged into one.
“Be good, come to school to see me tomorrow?” Ying Jing’s voice was low, as if coaxing someone. “See how likable your boyfriend is.”
Chu Ning raised an eyebrow, “Confess honestly, have you received any love letters from girls?”
“Love letters aren’t popular anymore. Now it’s direct WeChat adds, and confessions aren’t popular either; it’s direct transfers of 520 yuan.”
“Nonsense, spoken so seriously,” Chu Ning scoffed disdainfully.
After cuddling for a while, the call ended.
The air carried the mixed scent of bergamot and lemon essential oils. Chu Ning held her phone, crossed over her chest, lying on her back, looking at the ceiling, her toes wiggling, extremely restless.
Fifteen minutes later.
Ying Jing was packing his clothes, getting ready to shower, when his WeChat chimed—
“Wifey” transferred 520 yuan.
Then, his phone chimed incessantly, a long string of new messages. When it finally stopped, Ying Jing counted ten of them, all 520 yuan.
Chu Ning sent a final emoji of someone holding a cigarette.
Qi Yu, who was reading, turned his head and glanced at him. “Damn, are you reading erotic novels? You’re smiling so lecherously.”
Ying Jing covered his phone like a treasure. “I’m flirting with my wife, mind your own business.”
The three roommates in unison: “Tsk!!”
Ying Jing, puffed up with pride, pointed at the three of them, stamping his words: “Jealousy! Makes people! Ugly!”
Then he quickly darted into the bathroom. As soon as the door closed, thud! A slipper angrily smashed against the door.
“Single people have no human rights!!!”
The slipper nobly fell, lying askew on the floor. Qi Yu’s laughter was hearty as he comforted his roommates one by one. In the bathroom, the sound of water trickling carried a cheerful note.
Youthful exuberance, beautiful times.
________________________________________
The awards ceremony at C Aviation was scheduled for 2 PM the next day.
Chu Ning had nothing on in the morning. Feng Ziyang invited her out for lunch. Chu Ning had slept in late and skipped breakfast, so her stomach was growling. She stated beforehand: “I’m not going to any of those flashy, impractical places.”
“Why would you say that? Wouldn’t all my discount coupons go to waste?”
“You’re terribly stingy.”
“Alright, alright, tell me, where do you want to eat?”
“Laoxiangzhang Hunan Cuisine restaurant.”
“Got it, let’s go.”
This restaurant was incredibly ordinary, squeezed into an alley, a ten-square-meter storefront with five or six simple wooden tables. Feng Ziyang found it rather unappealing, “Where did you find this place?”
Chu Ning, smelling the delicious aroma of meat in the air, drooled as she pointed out dishes: “This is braised pork hock. Hmm, this smells like stir-fried pork with chili. Ah! This is their signature dish, steamed pork with rice flour!”
A busy waiter, carrying a tray, called out, “Make way, make way!”
Chu Ning stretched her neck to peek. “I guessed right!”
Feng Ziyang shook his head helplessly. “You got me.”
The two, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, both exquisitely dressed, were quite eye-catching. Chu Ning took off her coat, casually tied up her hair, and rolled up the sleeves of her cashmere sweater twice. On her slender wrist was a Dior watch she particularly liked.
Feng Ziyang watched her for a while, then smiled: “Ning’er, have you noticed?”
“Hmm?”
“You’re becoming more grounded.”
Chu Ning smiled faintly, “Am I?”
Feng Ziyang imitated her, also taking off his expensive overcoat and draping it over a greasy stool nearby. He picked up a piece of fatty pork belly and put it in his mouth. The juices flowed, melting instantly. He nodded in satisfaction, “Delicious, delicious.”
Chu Ning handed him a tissue. “Wipe your mouth.” Then she pointed to the corner of his right lip.
Feng Ziyang ate three pieces in a row, then put down his chopsticks and asked, “That injury you got last time, is it fully healed?”
“It’s healed.”
“Your boyfriend won an award, he must be busy?”
“He’s alright, I’m busy too.”
Feng Ziyang smiled, picking up a piece of green vegetable.
“The Guan family’s matter has been classified as a major economic crime. It’s already been filed and sent for review. The amount is terrifying, the hole is too big to fill. Alas, Uncle Guan usually seemed like a gentle person. There were rumors about him in the circle, but I never expected his ambition to be so huge.”
Chu Ning was expressionless, her head down, eating her meal.
“Speaking of which, the Guan family is just an empty shell. They seem to be thriving with many people, but when trouble strikes, there really aren’t many who can help.”
“It’s a blessing they didn’t harm anyone,” Chu Ning interjected.
Feng Ziyang took a bite of rice, then looked up at her, “The incident with Little Yu’s dad has implicated a lot of people. Her maternal cousin was also investigated. My second uncle is in the municipal bureau; he said that guy also has a lot of criminal offenses, speculation, and customs smuggling.”
As this topic began, Chu Ning guessed Feng Ziyang’s intention and understood that he knew some inside information.
She asked, “Ying Jing didn’t have any grudge with him, why would he try to harm him?”
“Guan’s maternal cousin himself isn’t upright; he knows many shady companies registered abroad, all just front companies, but actually involved in disgraceful deeds. Some company or organization asked him to trip Ying Jing up, preferably to prevent him from participating in the competition.”
Feng Ziyang stopped there, took a sip of tea, puffed out his cheeks, swallowed, and looked at Chu Ning: “You just need to know the general idea. It involves too much and is still under investigation, so it’s sensitive.”
Chu Ning lost her appetite, poking a chili pepper with her chopsticks, holding the posture for a long time.
“A big tree catches the wind. He performed so outstandingly, it’s hard not to draw attention. In the future, you should also guide him more. No matter what circle you’re in, there will always be dirty, dark sides. Moreover, the industry he’s in, high-precision technology, invigorating the nation through science and technology—it’s a different level. Ning’er, do you understand?”
Chu Ning nodded, four words: “Bearing the load and moving forward.”
Feng Ziyang ladled a bowl of soup for her, blew on it, and placed it by her hand. “Let it cool before you drink.”
A period of silence.
Warm steam swirled, slowly dissipating into the air.
It was dinnertime, and guests came and went, with shouts, the clatter of bowls and chopsticks, and the loud wails of children. Feng Ziyang watched a child crying loudly and chuckled, “You little chubby.”
“What about Xiao Yu?” Chu Ning suddenly asked.
The noise was too loud, and Feng Ziyang didn’t hear clearly: “What?”
Chu Ning, however, said no more.
She lowered her head, shuffling grains of rice around.
After so many years of revolutionary friendship, Feng Ziyang immediately guessed her thoughts and said calmly, “Xiao Yu’er is going abroad.”
“Her father’s matter is set in stone, with no room for maneuver. He’s arranged for her and her mother to go to New Zealand. There’s also a house there, beautiful mountains and clear waters, a place for the two of them.” Feng Ziyang checked his watch, “One o’clock flight.”
It was now eleven fifty.
Chu Ning ate in silence, putting piece after piece of meat into her mouth.
Feng Ziyang didn’t force her, taking a piece of fatty meat from her chopsticks. “This piece is too greasy; I’ll eat it.”
He swallowed it, frowned slightly, then quickly returned to normal and asked, “I heard your boyfriend met your parents?”
“Mm.”
“Were they difficult?”
“It was alright.”
“Heh, didn’t your mother say anything?”
“Let her say what she wants; she’s not the one looking for a boyfriend.”
“That’s magnanimous.” He then asked, “How are things going between you two?”
Chu Ning was dispirited, her mind wandering, not really listening carefully.
Feng Ziyang fell silent, put down his chopsticks, and said, “There’s still time.”
Chu Ning looked up.
“Let’s go, it’s a forty-minute drive from here.” Feng Ziyang had already gotten up to pay the bill. Across the table, he tossed her the car keys in a sharp arc—
“Go get the car, quickly.”
Chu Ning was first bewildered, then resistant, and finally, hardening her heart, she silently walked towards the door.
Her steps were hesitant, first slow, then fast, finally breaking into an uncontrollable run.
________________________________________
Feng Ziyang drove recklessly, ignoring everything on the road, running red lights several times, almost causing accidents. Unfortunately, there was a rear-end collision at Wen Yu Bridge, causing a massive traffic jam. This severely delayed them.
At the airport, Chu Ning pushed the door open and got out.
Feng Ziyang had to park, shouting anxiously from behind, “Don’t go to the wrong terminal!”
Her figure ran quickly.
Chu Ning stared at the electronic screen, quickly scanning the flight information. It was a bit messy. She grabbed a flight attendant and asked, “Which gate is flight CZ3165?”
Feng Ziyang caught up, pulling her hand to the right: “I know, this way!”
There wasn’t enough time. Both of them were panting, looking at the security check channel, which was packed with people. Their vision was blurred, quite disoriented.
Suddenly, Feng Ziyang shouted, “Guan Yu!”
Many travelers turned their heads.
Feng Ziyang shouted again, “Xiao Yu’er!”
Guan Yu, who had just passed security and was picking up her luggage, thought she was hallucinating.
Guan Yu instinctively looked out and met Chu Ning’s gaze.
Feng Ziyang waved frantically: “Here, here!”
Guan Yu was stunned, unable to believe they would come.
They hadn’t seen each other for over a week, but it was no longer as it had been.
Guan Yu stared blankly, through the surging crowd, and Chu Ning remained silent.
The boarding announcement played over and over again on the loudspeaker, its voice gentle and pleasant. Chu Ning took two steps forward, blinking once.
Guan Yu’s tears couldn’t be stopped; they burst forth like a broken dam.
She dropped her luggage and leaned on the glass barrier, tears streaming down her face.
Her eyes were swollen into mere slits from crying, but the emotions within were intense: guilt, reluctance, embarrassment, remorse, regret, a lament for past friendship, and hatred for her own insincerity.
Chu Ning, on the other hand, was much calmer. She just watched, her gaze neither avoiding nor making any further move.
Feng Ziyang put an arm around Chu Ning’s shoulder, a silent comfort.
Then, with a smile, he waved at Guan Yu—
His hand turned outwards, fingers slightly moving.
Take care on your journey.
Guan Yu haphazardly wiped her tears, her nose red, her makeup smeared, her heart filled with guilt, and regret for the people she had wronged.
She opened her mouth, uttering each word carefully to Chu Ning: “I’m... so... sorry.”
To behave like this at this moment, though her emotions were genuine, she also hated herself for being so weak. What was this? She was afraid Chu Ning would find it disgusting. So, she picked up her luggage, turned around, and without looking back, became one of the countless travelers.
Ten years of friendship, was it resilient?
They indeed had days of pure companionship, sharing everything and supporting each other.
But life is such that everyone has their own hardships and difficulties.
Time stopped at this moment.
Then let it stop at this moment.
People who can’t go back, cracks that can’t be repaired, a moment’s impulse and mistake.
Chu Ning stared in that direction for a very long time.
Feng Ziyang nudged her shoulder. “Ning’er?”
“It’s fine.” Chu Ning composed herself, took a deep breath, “Let’s go. Take me to C Aviation.”
“Hey? C Aviation? No way. Being a chauffeur and a laborer, just to take you to flirt? No thank you.” Feng Ziyang looked deeply aggrieved, clutching his car keys tightly.
Chu Ning couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. She raised her foot and kicked him. “Hurry up! There’s an awards ceremony at two o’clock!”
________________________________________
Despite it being winter, the day was sunny and warm. Evergreen trees stood tall on campus, and sunlight filtered through the leaves onto the ground, like scattered star-fragments.
In the school auditorium, the national flag hung in the center, flanked by the school flag and aviation flags.
The auditorium was packed, filled with laughter and chatter.
“What are you looking at?” Qi Yu clapped Ying Jing’s shoulder from behind, then craned his neck forward. “Looking for Sister Ning?”
“Yeah, it’s this late already, why isn’t she here?” Ying Jing checked his watch for the tenth time.
“They’re here, they’re here! Look.” Qi Yu pointed to the right.
Chu Ning and Feng Ziyang entered one after the other, searching for seats. Once found, they sat side by side.
Ying Jing frowned, “Qi Yu, do you have any more bullets?”
“What for?”
“I want to shoot that person dead.”
Qi Yu punched him. “Nonsense, hurry up and get ready.”
At two o’clock, the awards ceremony officially began.
Leaders from the school, college, and departments were all present, along with invited enterprises and relevant government departments. The first two rows were for guests, and behind them were the students of C Aviation University.
The host warmed up the stage, the school leader gave a speech, and edited videos from the competition rolled on the screen.
Time flowed backward, returning to the day of the competition:
Ying Jing was absent, everyone anxious.
Opening ceremony, entrance parade, national flags fluttering in the wind.
Ying Jing, bearing injuries, returned to the competition, serving as the flag bearer, his back straight, leading the formation.
Wherever he passed, cheers, applause, and camera flashes rose and fell.
The skillful demonstration of virtual simulation technology, lines of code operating in an orderly fashion, parts assembling, forming, and finally producing the finished product, like building a technological kingdom.
In practical operation, the model aircraft buzzed into the sky, overcoming one difficulty after another, finally crossing the sensor line and pointing straight to the blue sky.
Finally, the screen went black.
A few seconds of silence.
Two lines of text appeared on the screen—
Accumulate small steps to reach a thousand li journey.
If the youth are strong, the nation is strong.
Spontaneous thunderous applause erupted from the audience, lasting endlessly.
________________________________________
Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Ying Jing, but he turned his head, searching for Chu Ning.
Their gazes met softly.
A moment of silence.
The image on the screen had frozen, but for them, the story had just begun.
Like a slow-motion film, in the unspoken understanding as their eyes met, frame by frame, it went backward:
Chu Ning’s first encounter with Ying Jing, the youthful figure on a mountain bike, swift as the wind. That day, the sun shone brightly, and the spring breeze gently stirred.
The project bid failed, Ying Jing heatedly questioned the reason. No one dared to speak, only Chu Ning stepped forward, asking calmly, “Why should they choose you?”
Malaysia Airlines flight went missing, Chu Ning miraculously escaped death, as if guided by destiny, a predestined fate.
Feelings gradually grew. Ying Jing hid them in his heart, brewing and fermenting into a mellow wine, only dared to taste it alone deep in the night.
When they were together, they understood what reliance and understanding truly meant.
Chu Ning taught him the most valuable qualities in growth.
Ying Jing let her experience the purest joy in love.
A match made in heaven, certainly perfect.
Complementing each other is what real life is about.
Chu Ning’s eyes slowly reddened.
Until Feng Ziyang handed her a tissue, whispering, “Hold it in, don’t make your boyfriend lose face.”
“...Without accumulating small steps, one cannot reach a thousand li; without accumulating small streams, one cannot form rivers and seas. Good things are worth learning from, accumulating from them, and making progress. Next, let’s invite student Ying Jing to give his speech.”
Applause erupted.
Ying Jing walked with a confident stride, grandly stepping onto the stage.
He adjusted the microphone, tested it twice, then smiled and said, “The sound engineering is good; does my voice sound better?”
A light, friendly chuckle, and everyone focused.
Ying Jing was very natural, his gaze fearless, his pronunciation clear and resonant, with a hint of magnetism.
“I won’t say any pompous words. All the people I need to thank are in my heart, and all the good deeds I need to remember are in my mind. Everyone present is a witness to our team’s development—thank you.”
Applause erupted again. Just two sentences had mobilized everyone’s enthusiasm, that sense of proud participation, quietly empowering.
“Actually, the process of forming our team was a bit different from the usual. Others first have an organization, then take on projects. But for us, we first had the project, then formed the team. Ah, speaking of which, perhaps the ‘patron’ was even more courageous.”
Speculation buzzed. What patron?
Meanwhile, Qi Yu, Zhou Yuan, and the others enthusiastically shouted towards Chu Ning’s direction, “Sister Ning!”
One call led to another, creating a ripple effect, and Chu Ning instantly became the center of attention.
Qi Yu: “Sister Ning!”
Someone chimed in: “Oh!”
Louder voices: “Sister Ning!!”
More cheers: “Oh oh oh!!”
Chu Ning pretended to be calm, crossing her legs, her hands elegantly resting by her sides. Her posture was perfect, flawless.
Feng Ziyang held back a laugh. “My God, the Mona Ning-sa smile.”
Chu Ning squeezed two words through her teeth: “Buzz off.”
But, it must be said, a woman’s little vanity... being the center of attention in the entire audience was quite exciting.
________________________________________
Back to the main topic, Ying Jing redirected his attention.
“My mentor once told me something that left a particularly deep impression. He said that the aviation industry is tested out. Countless experiments, and not just the usual money-burning. Simply put, it’s even faster than us directly burning money with fire. Test stands operate continuously for twenty-four hours, flight object crash simulation tests—one crashes, one is scrapped, and they can’t be mass-produced.”
What Ying Jing said were all objective challenges.
Everyone fell silent for a moment.
“The aero-engine industry is indeed very complex, but our country has already done very well. It’s no longer a ‘leapfrog’ development mentality, no longer pursuing the traditional model of rapid results and GDP. The nation has a broader vision, a long-term perspective. We are shortening the distance with world-class aviation technology nations. It’s difficult, and precisely because it’s difficult, there are no shortcuts to take.”
“The Industrial Revolution over a hundred years ago was built up step by step by other countries. Every craftsmanship, every technological upgrade, was a bloody lesson learned through countless failures. Money is important, but some things are more precious than money. For example—”
Ying Jing’s gaze swept across the entire audience, firm and powerful: “Belief, attempt, perseverance, dream.”
“We do not lack dreamers who envision grand blueprints; what we lack are skilled craftsmen with solid techniques. We do not lack grand aspirations; what needs perfecting are superior, effective competition and reward mechanisms. We do not lack policy support, nor external attention; what we lack is the resilience of working hard like a farmer, and the steadfast belief in every solid step.
“My winning the championship was not an accident; it was an inevitability. Not my personal inevitability, but the inevitability of this industry’s progress. I also thought about giving up, and I was once lost, but each time I told myself, grit your teeth, just hold on a little longer. And then—”
Ying Jing paused slightly, smiling as he left the silence for the audience.
A student below shouted, “And then you won the championship!”
Laughter rippled through.
Ying Jing slightly raised his chin, his expression composed, his features unmoved by external factors, his back straight, saying, “And then, the aerospace industry will fly higher, technological innovation will go further, and our blue skies will be bluer.
My speech is concluded. Thank you.”
A brief pause.
The entire venue erupted in enthusiastic applause, the roar threatening to lift the roof.
So many people were moved, congratulated him, felt a kinship, but only Chu Ning, out of place with the lively atmosphere, covered her face with her hands, bending slightly at the waist, her elbows propped on her knees.
Silently, tears streamed down her face.
Finally, the President of C Aviation University awarded Ying Jing’s team the Medal of Honor.
It marked their place on the C Aviation Roll of Honor and made him the school’s image ambassador, participating in relevant social activities for the next year.
The curtain fell, the event concluded.
Ying Jing ran to Chu Ning’s side, his eyes bright. “Did I do well?” Then, looking closer, “Uh, did you cry?”
Feng Ziyang nodded. “Cried terribly. Anyone would think her boyfriend cheated.”
Chu Ning and Ying Jing exclaimed in unison, “Get lost!”
Feng Ziyang closed his eyes, slightly bent his fingers, and made a gesture of digging out his own eyes.
Single dogs have no right to speak, apparently.
Chu Ning’s eyes were slightly moist. Looking at Ying Jing, she said, “You’ve grown up.”
Ying Jing hummed, “I grew up when I met you.”
Chu Ning smiled, and as she smiled, tears welled up again.
Ying Jing knelt on one knee, silently holding her hand, and asked, “Feeling stifled?”
“Hmm?” Chu Ning was puzzled.
“I’ll take you out for some fresh air.” Ying Jing’s eyes deepened, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
“Ah? Ah!!”
Chu Ning was instantly pulled up by him. Hand in hand, they quickened their pace, running out towards the auditorium’s main entrance.
Ying Jing was fast, his posture bold, pulling Chu Ning from the main entrance towards the west.
Students hadn’t dispersed yet. Seeing them, they spontaneously screamed and applauded: “Wow!!”
Ying Jing’s steps didn’t falter; he ran with increasing vigor. The warm winter sun and the wind, carrying the breath of early spring, kissed their brows, noses, lips, and caressed their young, passionate hearts.
Running too fast, Chu Ning was scared: “I’m going to fall!”
Ying Jing turned his head, a bright spring smile on his face: “Trust me, I won’t let you fall!”
They ran all the way west, down the tree-lined avenue, past the dormitories, and the basketball court.
Pedestrians pulled out their phones to take photos and videos. Everyone they passed cheered good-naturedly: “Oh! Oh! Oh!”
Ying Jing, holding the hand of the girl he loved, full of high spirits, experiencing the happiest moment of his life.
He turned his head, raised his left hand high, clenching his fist in a victory pose.
He responded even louder to the passersby: “Oh! Oh! Oh!”
Chu Ning was no longer afraid; she was fully immersed, screaming with excitement.
They ran past the administrative building, past the experimental building, past the fountain, past the library.
Their hands, fingers intertwined, held tightly.
Finally, they returned to the starting point.
Chu Ning was panting, exhausted. Ying Jing looked unfazed. He turned sideways, his shoulder close to hers. Chu Ning tilted her head, resting her full weight on his left shoulder.
Ying Jing put his arm around her waist, their foreheads touching. He whispered, “Can’t breathe? Hmm?”
Chu Ning nodded, looking up at him, smiling.
The next second, Ying Jing’s moist lips and tongue descended.
Many people were watching, cheering with envy, and supporting good-naturedly, allowing this story to end at its climax.
Goodbye, my young gentleman.
Hello, my gentleman!
---THE END---
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