Chapter 26

Thanks to the efforts of Chén Zhāoyáng and the others, the business of the pancake stall was gradually picking up and customers were returning. Looking at the bustling stall, Chén Zhāoyáng knew that this crisis had been temporarily resolved, but he was well aware that more challenges lay ahead in the future. Meanwhile, the final exams were drawing closer, and he and Lín Xiǎotáng had no choice but to shift more of their energy back to their studies. Early that morning, sunlight filtered through the mottled leaves, spilling onto the campus path and forming patches of golden light. Chén Zhāoyáng and Lín Xiǎotáng walked into the campus together as they usually did. Along the way, they discussed difficult problems they had encountered during their review the previous night. The vague, tender ambiguity between them hovered in their conversation, making even the surrounding air seem sweet. Entering the classroom, most of the students were already at their desks, starting their morning reading. Just as Chén Zhāoyáng and Lín Xiǎotáng sat down, the morning reading bell rang. Following routine, everyone took out their textbooks and began reading the texts aloud. Chén Zhāoyáng looked at the Chinese textbook in his hands, but the familiar words were somewhat distracting him at the moment. His mind kept drifting back to the pancake stall business and the scenes of brainstorming for it alongside Lín Xiǎotáng.