Chapter 41 Part 2

That day, Ding Xian placed the compiled incorrect problems on Zhou Siyue's desk for him to check when he returned, then she hurried back to pack her things, shower, and get ready for bed.

She had just taken off her clothes, happily humming a little tune as she tossed them onto the bed, and was picking up her nightgown to put on.

"Click."

The door opened, accompanied by Zhou Siyue's impatient voice: "I just explained this to you, how could you get it wrong again? Were you even listening seriously—"

His voice abruptly stopped, clearly stunned by the scene before him—

The person in the room was also terrified, letting out a scream, instinctively reaching up to cover her face. When she reacted again, 'Why am I covering my face? This isn't a bathhouse.' She then abruptly squatted to the ground, using the bed to block herself, and threw a pillow at him.

"Get out!"

Only then did Zhou Siyue react. He quickly averted his gaze, feeling a bit flustered: "I—"

Another pillow.

Zhou Siyue, quick-witted, slammed the door shut with a "bang."

The pillow hit the ground with a thud.

Zhou Siyue returned to his own room, pulled out a chair and plopped down. He leaned back, pressing his hand against his forehead, and let out a low, frustrated "Ugh" with an extremely annoyed expression.

He had truly been anxious just now. The incorrect problems he had explained two or three times were still wrong when brought to him again. Seeing them just made him furious, and he even forgot the most basic courtesy before entering the room.

Leaning back in the chair, he tried to think calmly for three seconds, but his mind was still a mess, the image still—sensual, and he couldn't calm down anymore.

He opened his eyes, lowered his head and rubbed the back of his neck, feeling extremely agitated. He then abruptly raked his hair upwards from the back of his head, his ears turning red, and cursed softly, "F*ck."

...

In the depths of winter, with ice and snow everywhere, snowflakes like goose feathers filled the air. Frost covered the windows, and the cold wind, like an ice blade, scraped at people's bones again and again.

In such weather, Jiang Chen decided to join the army.

When one is young, who doesn't have some ambition? But no one expected Jiang Chen to decide to join the army at this crucial moment. That evening, the Jiang Residence was turned upside down. When Zhou Siyue rushed over, Jiang Zhixiong smashed a cup on the ground, his voice booming as he roared, "What future is there in being a soldier?! Can't you just study hard and get into a good university? Do you have to cause such a fuss?!"

Jiang Chen had no interest in studying since he was little and knew he wouldn't get into a good university. He snorted disdainfully, but in the end, didn't dare to talk back.

Mother Jiang saw Zhou Siyue enter and quickly interjected to mediate, "Old Jiang, Siyue is here."

Jiang Zhixiong glanced at the door, his expression softening, and said to Zhou Siyue, "You've come at the right time. You two have a good relationship. Please properly explain the implications to him. Nowadays, what boy goes to join the army? Which family's child isn't striving for a future through studying?"

Jiang Chen couldn't hold back anymore and retorted, "Why don't you just adopt Zhou Siyue as your son? He got guaranteed admission to Tsinghua University."

Jiang Zhixiong immediately glared, his eyes wide, and was about to rush over to hit him, but Mother Jiang stopped him. She quickly gave Zhou Siyue a look. Since childhood, Zhou Siyue had held sway among this group of children, helping to mediate the atmosphere. "Uncle, I'll talk to him alone."

Jiang Zhixiong snorted and walked away with his hands behind his back.

The two went out. Before they even stepped past the doorframe, Jiang Chen said with a reckless tone, "You don't need to persuade me, I've already made up my mind."

The two had grown up together, practically wearing the same split pants as children. How could they not know what the other was thinking? And when had their firm decisions ever wavered? Zhou Siyue was also very clear that Jiang Chen joining the army was not a momentary impulse. Since childhood, the two had sat in piles of grass, discussing their dreams for growing up.

Jiang Chen said he wanted to be a soldier.

Zhou Siyue bent his leg, rested his arm on his knee, put his arm on Jiang Chen's shoulder, and said with a smile, "Alright, you join the army, and I'll research weapons for you."

'Research what weapons.'

'Atomic bombs?'

Jiang Chen thought at that time Zhou Siyue's dream was to be a nuclear weapons expert. During that period, the Afghanistan war was frequent, with refugees fleeing in panic everywhere, scrambling amidst gunfire and cannon fire, their eyes innocent, desperate, yet striving hard to survive in this world, evoking deep compassion.

Why? Because this was a world where the weak were prey to the strong. If the youth were strong, the nation would be strong.

'Who says soldiers have no future? Who says there's no war in peacetime?'

'What I'm going to protect in the future is every inch of this land beneath our feet. If gods block the way, kill the gods; if Buddhas block the way, kill the Buddhas!'

In late December, conscription ended. Jiang Chen deferred his enrollment and enlisted to serve in the Nanjing Armed Police Corps.

Before the college entrance examination even arrived, they experienced their first farewell.

The train whistle blew a long blast, echoing through the sky. The young man carried his luggage, waved without looking back, and was swallowed by the teeming crowd.

"Bro, I'll wait for you here!" Song Ziqi shouted into the vast sea of people. "Don't worry, we'll help you look after Old Jiang!"

A group of young lads in their teens, at that moment, were full of excitement, speaking of grand ambitions and heroic declarations, unaware of what the future held for them.

The train started moving, its wheels clanking and rumbling, and from one of the windows, Jiang Chen's lonely figure was undoubtedly seated.

Zhou Siyue was the first to turn and leave.

Ding Xian knew he was sadder than anyone else. Before the others could catch up, she was the first to follow him, reaching out and gently taking his wrist, which was tucked into his pocket. The boy paused, then slowly pulled his hand out and held hers instead.

The crowd dispersed, and people from behind caught up. Kong Shadi shouted from the back, "Xianxian, wait for me!"

As if touching a taboo, his hand let go again.

Looking at his empty palm, Zhou Siyue gave a self-deprecating smile, and slowly put his hand back into his pocket.

It was not long after Jiang Chen left.

It just so happened that early pilot recruitment began then, and Song Ziqi decided to apply to be a pilot. Perhaps touched by Jiang Chen, he decided to follow his heart.

"When I was a kid, I thought flying a plane was super cool, really. If I could fly a plane in the future, I'd be happy to die right now."

Kong Shadi, imitating Song Ziqi's radiant demeanor when he spoke, relayed to Ding Xian, "You don't know how cocky he was, as if they'd actually accept him."

"So what about you two?"

"Break up, what else can we do? Should I ask him to give up his dream? Is that possible? I can't do it. Let him spend his whole life with planes. I'll go to Chengdu and marry a tall, rich, and handsome guy, hmph."

When Kong Shadi said this, her eyes were unfocused. Only Ding Xian knew that her words were mostly spoken out of spite, yet she understood her deeply. She couldn't bear for him to give up his dream, and she couldn't bear to give him up, so she would let herself give up.

"Graduation means breakup"—this saying truly wasn't false.

Song Ziqi smoothly passed the pilot recruitment interview and physical examination.

Kong Shadi's mood grew more depressed day by day. Consequently, Ding Xian, looking at her own report card, also couldn't lift her spirits.

In January, the bitter winter approached. Outside Beijing City, ice and snow covered the land, and snowflakes danced in the air.

The night before Ding Xian returned to her hometown for the New Year, the two were doing homework in their room. She had no mind for her test papers, idly lying on the desk, staring blankly out the window. Zhou Siyue had just finished a programming book and was leaning against the headboard playing a game, one long leg casually bent, his hand resting on his knee, too lazy to even lift his eyelids.

Half an hour later, Zhou Siyue put down his game console, came over to pick up her test paper to check, and then saw an impeccably clean and neat math paper.

"What's wrong with you lately?" He was anxious.

Ding Xian lowered her head, ashamed.

It was true that being in love affected studies. As her relationship with Zhou Siyue progressed step by step, the more she thought about things every day. The more she thought and worried, 'What if I can't get into Tsinghua University? What if he meets someone better at Tsinghua?'

This thought made her even more anxious. The more anxious she got, the worse she studied. Zhou Siyue was even more anxious than she was, his tone becoming fierce, as if he wanted to take the exam for her. Sometimes, when he was flustered, he would blurt out things like "stupid and clumsy," though it was in a joking tone, it made Ding Xian extremely uncomfortable.

Even though they were close, she also needed care, right? Why was he humble and gentle with other girls, but lost his temper with her?

Zhou Siyue frowned, knowing this girl was amenable to gentle persuasion but resistant to force. He didn't lose his temper though. He leaned against the edge of the desk, looking down at her, and asked in a clear voice, "Are you still going to try for Tsinghua University?"

Ding Xian's little temper also flared up. She threw her test paper down and said spitefully, "I'm not going to take it anymore. I'm going to an ordinary university in Hangzhou."

Zhou Siyue had originally thought that if it really didn't work out, she could just attend an ordinary university in Beijing. It wasn't absolutely necessary for her to get into Tsinghua University.

"Is there something in Hangzhou that's captivated your soul?"

Zhou Siyue sat in the chair, looking at her with extreme calm, truly very calm, and asked, "Xu Ke?"

Ding Xian suddenly remembered that Xu Ke was at Zhejiang University, and had even sent her a letter before the New Year, which Zhou Siyue had seen.

However, she was quite straightforward. Fearing Zhou Siyue might be suspicious, she specifically showed him the letter. But he was disdainful, making a 'tsk' sound, saying "boring," and then went back to doing problems.

There's no guy who doesn't get jealous; there are only wingmen who don't try hard enough.