Chapter 29: The Preciousness of Ordinary Days
The Earth rotates at a speed of 460 meters per second. No wonder Kuafu could never catch up to the sunrise. Just like the students of Chuanhai No. 1 High School, they might never guess who Lu Li’s true love was. An Baili had returned to her normal routine and was finally able to attend school on time. The busy Class Monitor also gradually became more relaxed. Gossips, games, and cosmetics were rarely discussed anymore. All signs indicated that the semester was finally coming to an end.
*Kuafu: a giant in Chinese mythology who wished to capture the Sun.*
In late January, the final exams ended, and amidst cheers and sighs of relief, the first semester after Lu Li’s rebirth was over. Silly Goose bid farewell to Lu Li and An Baili reluctantly. Her usual eloquence was nowhere to be found. She could only shyly advise Lu Li not to slack off on his studies during the break, stammering for a long time, and finally ended with a pitiful “Goodbye.”
The people from the broadcasting club never found any evidence, and the challenge letter incident eventually died down due to internal opposition. No one knew what methods Lu Li used. They only knew that Du Tao quit the broadcasting club afterwards, focused on his studies, and eventually became a well-known young talent in their circle.
Of course, that was all in the future.
Lu Li set up a small hot pot in his tiny room in the low-rent district. An Baili was humming happily as she arranged the vegetables on a plate, while Sister Yameng was lying in bed, crying her heart out. Don’t misunderstand, Zou Yameng wasn’t crying because of Lu Li. Just yesterday, she had a farewell dinner with her teammates. This morning, she woke up to dozens of messages from them, all wishing her a bright future and smooth sailing. Zou Yameng burst into tears on the spot.
For the past three years, these girls had trained together, competed together, been beaten black and blue by strong opponents together, and stood proudly on the podium together. They had shared the most youthful and precious years of their lives. Just like Lu Li, they were all precious fragments of youth.
Lu Li lit the stove and saw his sister still holding her phone and sobbing. He couldn’t help but chuckle. “Sis, come eat hot pot.”
“Little Li, I’m going to miss them so much…” His sister’s childish demeanor was incredibly cute. Her alluring figure and pitiful expression made Lu Li unable to look away. It wasn’t just his sister who would miss her teammates. Lu Li would miss Sister Yameng too. In about twenty days, she would be leaving Chuanhai for the capital. He didn’t know when they would see each other again.
An Baili hummed and sniffed the hot pot, the hot steam burning her nose, and she let out a soft cry. Lu Li had to put down what he was doing and attend to An Baili. Turning back, his sister started crying again. He suddenly felt overwhelmed. Just two girls were already keeping him busy. If there were one or two more, wouldn’t he be worked to death like an ox?
He was a man who yearned for freedom. When did he become entangled in these red strings of fate? He wondered.
“Silly girl, don’t get so close, you’ll burn your nose.” Lu Li blew on An Baili’s nose. She closed her eyes in contentment, enjoying the feeling of being cared for by Lu Li. It was warm and fuzzy. She giggled and said, “I wanted to see what kind of hot pot it is.”
“Tom Yum soup base, don’t even think about eating spicy.”
“But, but hot pot without spice has no soul.”
“How good is your stomach? If you eat anything spicier, you might wake up dead one day, and who am I going to cry to?”
Zou Yameng, hearing their conversation, paused her crying for a moment, then started sobbing even louder. “Zhou Wen, I miss you so much! Waaah!” Lu Li felt his head pounding. He had to leave An Baili and go comfort his sister. As soon as he approached, Zou Yameng’s crying subsided, as if she had been waiting for him to speak.
An Baili snorted and muttered, “Homewrecker.”
The three of them fussed for a while until the hot pot soup was almost boiled dry, and they finally sat down around the small table. Lu Li saw Sister Yameng wipe her eyes, her tears stopping abruptly. She was now smiling and waiting for dinner. He realized that he might have been played by his sister, right? And An Baili, who was just wailing and covering her nose, was now perfectly fine?
The Tom Yum hot pot was sweet and sour, more to the girls’ liking. Lu Li didn’t really like it. He picked up a piece of Chinese cabbage and swished it around in the pot a few times. Married men always had a habit of starting with the cheapest dishes. He didn’t know how he developed this habit.
“Little Li, it’s only January, more than ten days until Chinese New Year. We’re having hot pot so early, what are we going to eat on New Year’s Eve?” Sister Yameng was a thrifty person. She was already thinking about how to celebrate the New Year, whether to be extravagant or frugal.
“Can I come over on New Year’s Eve?” An Baili asked, looking at Lu Li with wide, pleading eyes.
“We’re going to the Chu family’s this year.” Lu Li said. “They’ve invited us several times. Baili, you should come with us too.”
“The Chu family? The family of your Class Monitor?” Zou Yameng’s eyes dimmed slightly. She glanced at An Baili. “Why go to someone else’s house for New Year’s Eve? We’re siblings, well, maybe add that freeloading little neighbor. The three of us can have a simple celebration. It might not be lively, but it’ll be cozy.”
“Exactly, exactly.” An Baili nodded repeatedly.
Not related? Lu Li felt like the Chu family already considered him their son-in-law. And that Silly Goose kept asking him where he was going to spend the New Year, worried that he would be lonely. She would ask seven or eight times a day. It was obvious to everyone that she had a crush on him. “They’ve helped us many times, and it was thanks to them that I was able to return from the locked-down Mulan City.”
“Fine.” Zou Yameng could only agree. She suddenly noticed the scarf hanging on the windowsill and felt a pang of jealousy. She glared at An Baili, who was confused.
An Baili took a sip of the soup and smacked her lips. “Is Wen Hupo going?”
“Why would she go?”
“Who’s Wen Hupo?” Zou Yameng stopped drinking her soup and put down her bowl.
“A classmate.”
“What kind of classmate?”
“Just… an ordinary classmate.”
Zou Yameng fidgeted in her seat. “Little Li, you can’t be flirting with other girls… We already… Anyway, you need to prioritize your studies, okay?”
An Baili snorted. “Lu Li can flirt with whoever he wants, it’s none of the homewrecker’s business.” She meant that only she had the right to interfere.
Zou Yameng’s eyes widened as she looked at An Baili. “What are you talking about… Can you take responsibility for my Little Li’s future?”
“He’s not your Little Li, he’s mine.”
The two girls started bickering again after just two sentences. Lu Li shook his head, picked up his bowl, and took a sip of the hot soup with satisfaction. Listening to the girls’ chatter, watching the fish balls bobbing in the hot pot, he suddenly felt a sense of warmth and contentment.
“Happy New Year…” he murmured.
In these ordinary and noisy days, Lu Li finally welcomed the Spring Festival.
February 15th. The entire city was decorated in red, even the poor people in the low-rent district dressed up for the occasion. Cars, either rented or belonging to visiting relatives, drove into the low-rent district, a rare sight. Amidst the sound of New Year greetings, a huge banner was hung at the entrance of the low-rent district, with a poem written on it:
The fragrance of plum blossoms fills the air, candles flicker on the festive table.
Together we celebrate the old and new year, bidding farewell to the passing night.
Suddenly, he realized, oh, it’s New Year.
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