"It’s just... you don't seem like the Ning Songyi I used to know."
Zhao Yu's words piqued Ning Songyun's curiosity. "What was my brother like back then? He almost never talks about the past."
"He used to be..." Zhao Yu recalled the times they had spent together. "He was more prone to laughter, his personality was much more approachable, and sometimes, he even liked to play tricks on people."
Ning Songyun listened with great interest to these anecdotes about Ning Songyi's childhood. When it was time to rest that night, she refused to return to her own bed, squeezing into the same bedding as Zhao Yu instead.
"Ahhh—"
Early the next morning, both Ning Songyun and Zhao Yu walked toward the cafeteria with dark circles under their eyes, yawning incessantly.
"I am definitely not staying up late with you again today."
Zhao Yu felt as though her body had made it to the cafeteria, but her soul was still back in bed.
"I won't either," Ning Songyun replied listlessly. "Even if there are more dark secrets from my brother's childhood, I’m not listening."
"A-Yu!"
Zhao Yu and Ning Songyun turned to see Lu Jing hurrying toward them.
"Is something the matter?" Zhao Yu asked, her face expressionless.
"A-Yu," Lu Jing said as he reached her. "I have something I want to ask you."
As he spoke, he glanced obliquely at Ning Songyun, signaling for her to leave. Seeing this, Ning Songyun immediately grabbed Zhao Yu’s arm, clearly expressing the sentiment: *You want me to leave? In your dreams!*
Lu Jing noticed Ning Songyun wasn't leaving, so he stopped talking and simply blocked their path.
"Songyun, you go on in first and order some breakfast for me," Zhao Yu sighed, handing her money and coupons. "I’ll be there in a moment."
"Alright." Ning Songyun took the money and walked toward the cafeteria, looking back every few steps.
Lu Jing and Zhao Yu walked over to a large tree in the corner. Zhao Yu grew impatient and spoke first, "What do you want to ask?"
"Lin Shu said you were the one who taught her how to... how to treat me. I know that can't be true, right?"
"I did teach her," Zhao Yu answered, surprisingly calm.
"Impossible!" Lu Jing looked as if he’d been shocked; he gripped Zhao Yu’s arms tightly. "You're lying, aren't you!"
"Why would I lie?" Zhao Yu struggled to break free. "Isn't it easier for you to take care of Lin Shu this way?"
"I promised you that my feelings for her were only out of gratitude. The one I like is you! Why would you do something like this?" Lu Jing's expression looked deeply wounded.
"Only gratitude?"
Zhao Yu was so angry she laughed. She pushed Lu Jing, questioning him point by point.
"Then let me ask you: if we get married later, and Lin Shu demands that I step down from the Cultural and Art Troupe to make room for her so she can stay, what will you do? If Lin Shu says she has no money and can't go on living, will you give her money? If she says the Cultural and Art Troupe is going on tour and she can't cope, will you help her raise her child?"
Lu Jing was forced to take a step back with each question. When faced with them, he didn't dare to give a definitive "no."
"See? Even you know you can't say no."
Zhao Yu was already very familiar with this habit of his—remaining silent and treating everything with indifference.
"Then what makes you think I would still be with you?"
"A-Yu, you weren't such a materialistic and petty person before." Lu Jing looked like a wronged victim. "Why have you become like this?"
"Of course it's because she suddenly regained her sight."
A third voice came from behind the tree. Zhao Yu and Lu Jing looked toward the source and saw Ning Songyi stepping out.
Lu Jing eyed him with extreme vigilance. "Why is it you again?"
"Why can't it be me? What? Don't want others to know that you're about to get married yet are still pestering another woman?" Ning Songyi stepped forward twice, as if inadvertently shielding Zhao Yu behind him.
Lu Jing’s gaze shifted back and forth between Zhao Yu and Ning Songyi in disbelief. "A-Yu, you... you two..."
"What about us?" Zhao Yu knew exactly what kind of filth was running through Lu Jing's mind. "Don't project your own sleazy thoughts onto others!"
Lu Jing seemed not to hear her. "I was wondering why you suddenly changed. So it really is just like Lin Shu said—it's because you met someone with a better background and more money!"
"Ha."
Ning Songyi was amused by his words. "The way you say that, it’s as if I’m the one who broke you two up. When I first met her, you didn't even know which mud pit you were playing in. I really didn't expect our military district to have a talent like you. You're a piece of filth, yet you're so good at packaging yourself."
As soon as Ning Songyi finished speaking, he turned and pulled Zhao Yu away, leaving Lu Jing with only one sentence: "If you dare to bother her again, it won't be as simple as a suspension."
As Zhao Yu was being pulled away, her other hand inadvertently brushed her pocket.
"Wait," Zhao Yu stopped. "Here, take this."
Ning Songyi looked down and saw a brand-new fountain pen in Zhao Yu's hand.
"You helped me get back the hair clip my mother gave me. This is a token of my gratitude."
Seeing that Ning Songyi didn't take it, Zhao Yu grabbed his hand and firmly placed the pen into it, adding a worried reminder. "Also, don't ever do something like that again. It won't be good for your reputation."
"What does a grown man need such a good reputation for?" Ning Songyi stared at the hand Zhao Yu was holding. "I promised your mother a long time ago that I would look after you."
"Then are you going to look after me for the rest of my life?" Zhao Yu asked, half-joking.
"Why not?"
Zhao Yu blinked, thinking she had misheard. "What?"
"I said," Ning Songyi half-crouched to meet Zhao Yu's eyes, "even if it means looking after you for the rest of my life, why wouldn't I?"
"Stop talking nonsense. If someone hears you, see how you'll find a wife later."
The nervous, heart-pounding feeling from yesterday returned. Zhao Yu lowered her head and pushed Ning Songyi away. "I'm leaving."
Zhao Yu hurried toward the cafeteria, not even noticing Ye Heng, who was walking past her carrying several steamed buns and biting on a cup of soy milk.
Ye Heng walked up to Ning Songyi, confused. "What did you say to Comrade Zhao? Look how you scared her."
"Nothing much. Just expressed my intentions." Ning Songyi took a bun from Ye Heng. "Why are you so slow?"
"Big Brother! Brother! Do you have any idea that the bun shop you wanted is the hardest place to buy from in the entire cafeteria!" Ye Heng pleaded his case. "I have to survive over fifty hours on a train ticket in the standing section, and you're still working me like this!"
"Oh? Then it seems you don't need this sleeper ticket for the soft berth. I might as well go return it." Ning Songyi shook the sleeper ticket in his hand, making a move toward the trash can.
"Don't! Godfather! From now on, you are my godfather!" Ye Heng chased after him. "Forget about asking me to buy buns, I'll even make them for you by hand if you want!"