Chapter 8, Stalemate

Everyone was dumbfounded; this time it had truly gone too far. Ying Chen, with a look of terror, pulled at Su Zhi, saying, "Don't say anymore"

Su Cuo inclined her body slightly, a hint of a grateful smile appearing on her face

Noticing the colorful flags fluttering in the school, Su Cuo did not realize that another spring had arrived, and the most bustling activity month in the university was upon them; Yang Xue was so busy that she even forgot about the basketball game, although she had asked Su Cuo to get her tickets before the match. Yang Xue encountered several issues during her internship, and her report was written in a chaotic manner, completely failing to meet the standards, so out of necessity, she took the initiative for the first time to enthusiastically go to study with Su Cuo.

Raising her eyebrows, Su Cuo tilted her head and chuckled nonchalantly, her tone as gentle as usual: "Where I go is of no concern to others, is it?"

Su Cuo took a step back and said to no one in particular, "Thank you."

When Yang Xue thought that Su Cuo would not respond to her, she heard her weary voice say this

His hand was indeed warm, and Su Cuo was momentarily lost in thought, the scent belonging to someone else pressing against her ear. It was as if she had just awakened from a dream, and she exerted more strength on her wrist, gradually pulling her hand back inch by inch. It felt like a prolonged struggle.

At the entrance, someone waved to her. Su Cuo lowered her head to adjust her expression, then stood up with a beaming smile, applying a little force to her feet as she glided towards the newcomer. The first to arrive were Mi Shi and Chen Zi Jia, and it seemed that Mi Shi's ice skating skills were not very high, as she kept holding onto Chen Zi Jia's arm.

After this reminder, Su Cuo realized that these books were indeed quite heavy in her hands. She gathered the books in her arms and went to the counter to check out, carrying two large, heavy bags of books downstairs. At the entrance of the bookstore, Su Cuo saw the little boy from earlier had also come out, his round, bright eyes fixed on the bags of books she was holding. So she crouched down and said to the little boy: "Little brother, do you like reading? You can choose any one of these books, and I will give it to you."

Yang Xue nodded repeatedly, wishing she could enjoy the spectacle; the thought of leaving vanished under the warm smiles of Su Zhi and Chen Zijia

For several years, Su Cuo has been studying alone, but now with Yang Xue's presence, it feels somewhat strange. However, Yang Xue finds it even stranger; she wonders how Su Cuo can sit still for hours on end without losing focus or dozing off. Could it be that she has learned meditation from a high monk?

Su Zhi's expression was awkward, but more than that, he was shocked. He furrowed his brows tightly, recalling that Chen Zijia had once asked him about Su Cuo's birthday, but at that time, he had thought for a long time and still couldn't remember. He sat there beginning to reminisce; over the years, from childhood to adulthood, in every memory related to birthdays, no one had ever celebrated Su Cuo's birthday, nor had he ever heard anyone mention it. Year after year, he gradually forgot. Yet every year, he would receive gifts from his younger sister, a pen or a diary, which, though not expensive, were always there, never once forgotten. He sat there beginning to reminisce; over the years, from childhood to adulthood, in every memory related to birthdays, no one had ever celebrated Su Cuo's birthday, nor had he ever heard anyone mention it. Year after year, he gradually forgot. Yet every year, he would receive gifts from his younger sister, a pen or a diary, which, though not expensive, were always there, never once forgotten.

Amidst the classical music playing in the ice rink, Su Cuo bent down to pick up the list and tucked it into her pocket, while everyone stared at her. She spoke softly: "I have my own money, so I didn't spend the money on the card"

Su Cuo let out a chuckle and pulled Ying Chen, who was about to go help, back, saying, "Let's not go over there. It's rare for someone to fall like this, so let's let them be held for a while longer."

I remember you quoted a line in an article, "Those who want to be good people knock on the door outside; those who love see the door open. I am the latter, unable to see that door

"I don't remember," Su Cuo said wearily, closing his eyes. "Senior brother, Mi Shi is waving at you from behind."

Su Cuo leaned over the fence and waved to Yang Xue, who was sitting and snacking. Remembering how badly she had just fallen, she couldn't help but smile. Suddenly, a clear voice called out to her from a distance: "A Cuo, is that you? Great! We have been looking for you."

On such a hot summer day, Xu Yihao finally boarded the plane to a foreign country

No, I want to go back

Su Cuo's smile froze at the corners of her mouth, as if she were afraid of pain, and she slightly recoiled backward.

Yang Xue glanced at the envelope, the writing on it was crooked and the handwriting was juvenile. She only managed to clearly see that the return address was from a province in the west, while the subsequent part had slipped into Su's palm. She asked in confusion: "Is the letter written by a child? What does the letter say? It seems that you have received several such letters intermittently. I am truly surprised that there are still people writing letters in this day and age"

You—" Chen Zijia placed his hand on the table, "I want to know if what Su Zhi said is true?"

In the evening, Yang Xue arrived at the study room and called her to go for dinner

"Then this is related to you," Su Zhi said with a cold smile as he took a list out of his pocket and threw it down at Su Cuo's feet with a "bang".

Suddenly, a piercing scream came from behind them. The two turned around and clearly saw the situation; Mi Shi's foot slipped dramatically, and she tightly grasped Chen Zijia's sleeve as she quickly fell backward. Chen Zijia attempted to catch her, but the force was too great to be effective, resulting in both of them falling to the ground. Not only that, but they ended up in a very ambiguous and strange intimate pile. The people around them erupted in cheers and continuous screams. As a result, they both fell to the ground, and not only that, but they ended up in a very ambiguous and strange intimate pile. The people around them erupted in cheers and continuous screams.

No need, Senior Brother. I won't be returning to school for the time being, as I have other matters to attend to. Besides, I don't have the courage to ride in a car driven by someone who just obtained their driver's license; I still want to live a few more years

I cannot control the thoughts of others

Three weeks later, Su Cuo received an envelope sent back from the United States by Xu Yihai. Inside the envelope was a collection of neatly bound printed papers, each marked with a date, varying from new to old, arranged in chronological order. There was also a note included, which read: "I originally planned to return this to you at the airport. Now, I am sending it to you."

"Why not? Not everyone in the world has a computer or a phone like we do," Su Cuo tapped her head with a pen. "Quickly rewrite it, there are so many pages. Do you really want to be scolded by the teacher again tomorrow? This time she won't let you off so easily."

The little boy jumped up excitedly, unceremoniously picked a picture book version of "Journey to the West," and happily walked away

Yang Xue was taken aback, tilted her head to look at her, and said: "Su Cuo, sometimes you are truly difficult to fathom. No wonder the boys all say that you are an unsolvable mystery"

Wandering around the bookstore, Su Cuo arrived at the fifth floor. A thought crossed her mind as she opened a collection of ancient poems beside her. On the pages, printed in black on a white background, was a poem: "The green cypress on the mound, the stones in the stream. In the world of life and death, suddenly like a traveler far away." With just these four lines, she felt a blockage in her heart, as if her entire being had turned into a statue.

A gust of wind swept in, causing her to shiver involuntarily. The sky remained clear and cloudless, exceptionally fine, yet the temperature inevitably continued to drop. Su Cuo seemed to see the cold air coming from the north, sweeping across the North China Plain, taking away the few remaining dry leaves on the trees and the last remnants of warmth from the north

Chen Zijia's gaze tightened. Just as the two were about to brush past each other, he reached out and grasped her hand, speaking word by word: "Acuo, how did you know I just got my driver's license? You remember something that Su Zhi casually mentioned so well? When you rejected me, why didn't you look me in the eye? Your hand is very cold and still trembling"

Su Cuo suddenly realized. She squatted down to pick up the books one by one and smiled at the little boy, saying, "Thank you for your reminder, little brother"

Ying Chen suddenly felt a knot in her throat, "Can you not do this?"

Su Cuo slowly turned his head towards the window

By that time, autumn had already begun, and the new semester had commenced. However, the hottest weather still lingered, unwilling to depart. The trees in the school, having endured the scorching summer sun, had leaves that were a faded green, listless, yet somewhat reluctant to fall, clinging to the branches in a feeble struggle, engaging in a final contest with the prolonged summer.

Two individuals descended to the lobby on the first floor in the presence of the attentive gaze of the company employees

In the midst of conversation, Xu Yihao had already pulled Chen Zijia and Mi Shi together. Mi Shi's face was flushed, as radiant as a rose in March. Chen Zijia's expression was calm, yet his brows were unusually furrowed. He leaned towards Mi Shi and said something, then glided away from the center of the venue. The crowd was puzzled, as although their fall had been awkward, it was not serious enough to warrant a break.

Thus, Su Cuo became Yang Xue's volunteer coach without charge. Su Cuo supported her and began to glide slowly along the rink's fence while providing guidance on the essentials. She felt that she was, in any case, a competent coach. However, after Yang Xue fell on her back like a hero twice, she resolutely refused to step onto the ice again.

Su Cuo shook his head, "That's not how it is."

Su Cuo raised her gaze to the distance, a bit lost in thought, and after a long while said: "There is nothing more to discuss"

"Your brother has this temperament," Yingchen said to Su Cuo while watching his figure. "Caring leads to confusion, so you should not pay him any mind. However, A Cuo, you—"

Su Zhi continued to sneer, "You have many classes and numerous matters in the laboratory, yet you toil every day for this little money, trying to appear noble and independent, as if you have no ties with us? Others may not know you, but can you deceive me? Would you really rather cling to your deceased uncle and aunt than accept my parents' money? They have raised you for over ten years in vain!"

Two people arrived at the resting area. Everyone was seated there, and Su Cuo called Yang Xue over as well, making a circle of seven people. No one spoke, and the atmosphere was unbearably dull. Yang Xue rarely met these people and felt awkward and strange, so she quietly kicked Su Cuo under the table, signaling that they should leave first. Su Cuo understood and bent down to take off her ice skates.

"What are you looking at?" Su Cuo touched her cheek, "Is my face blooming?"

I have practiced the Yan style for two years

I heard that you are no longer doing part-time work

In that case, I will be in a group with Su Zhi, Mi Shi and Chen Zi Jia will be in a group, and A Cuo will be with Xu Yi Hao

Yang Xue pouted and said, "The summer training course is really too depressing. If there is an opportunity to get out and have some fresh air, I will definitely go out to play. As for not being able to skate... isn't there you as the teacher?"

Physics is very interesting, so it is not difficult to learn well

Taking a letter out of the backpack, Su Cuo smiled and said, "I am replying to the letter."

At this moment, Ying Chen's appearance was nothing short of a lifeline for her. With the exam week approaching, Su Cuo certainly did not intend to waste her precious time. However, Ying Chen confidently asserted that she had already prepared well for the exams, urging Su Cuo not to worry about her at all.

It was still Chen Zijia who broke the deadlock: "I am sorry, Aco, we should not have checked your bank account"

Such a refreshing smile caused the other party to pause slightly. He adjusted his glasses and said thoughtfully: "No wonder."

Looking around, Yingchen finally saw Suocuo sitting on the steps, her face buried in her knees, her hair cascading behind her, faintly reflecting the light. She waved her hand and called out to her loudly. Upon hearing the voice, Suocuo stood up and slid over to the two of them.

Since it has come to this point, what good is it for Su Cuo to refuse again? She quietly asked Su Zhi: "Is this your intention?"

It is simply unethical to have classes in such hot weather, said Su Cuo and Yang Xue. Only the two of them were left in the dormitory, relying on each other. They had just returned from the laboratory, where the temperature was at least more than 10 degrees cooler than in the dormitory. The two of them were feeling dizzy from the heat, so they bought a small fan to blow in the dormitory, but it was completely ineffective

Nevertheless, it is still very interesting. Su Cuo has a passion for hands-on internships. For safety reasons, all students wear old-fashioned blue-gray work uniforms, and the female students are required to tie their hair back and tuck it into their hats. The background features a vast factory building with gray walls and outdated machine tools, often giving a certain illusion: time seems to flow backward, and the years appear to reverse. When one closes their eyes and then opens them again, they find themselves transported back to the bygone 1980s

"Mi Shi?" Chen Zijia's gaze flickered, and he quickly turned his head. There was no Mi Shi there, only unfamiliar passersby. In that moment of distraction, he noticed Su Cuo had already reached the opposite street, waving at him from the carriage, her face seemingly adorned with a smile

"Does it matter whether we say goodbye or not?" Xu Yihao clenched his fist and leaned against the wall, speaking quietly. From his perspective, he could just see the light coming from the side of Su Cuo, her eyes resembling a clear pool of water

I will escort you" Chen Zijia stopped at the entrance of the hall, blocking her path and the sunlight

Xu Yihai stood in place for a moment, his gaze directed towards Su Cuo. It briefly lingered on her, like a dragonfly touching the water, before he looked away. With his hands in his pockets, he left the ice rink and went to the resting area

Seeing the situation was not good, Chen Zijia pulled him back and shouted sternly, "Will you die if you say a few less words?"

Mi Shi pointed to the entrance, "He took a little longer to change into his ice skates. Su Cuo, do you want to go over and find him?"

Looking around the classroom, Yang Xue began to sigh: "I also want to go watch the game and see the handsome guys, but this damn report is preventing me from going, it's really frustrating. However, you don't have to stay here with me, go watch the basketball game. With your brother there, you can enter the venue anytime you want."

The school has suddenly become empty, as most students have already left, except for the students of the Department of Engineering Physics. They are continuing their summer courses, which have just begun, lasting three to four weeks

The expressions of the two engaged in a contest left both Ying Chen and Chen Zijia greatly astonished. Ying Chen was so surprised that he stood there in a daze, momentarily forgetting to offer any advice; Chen Zijia, however, remained much calmer. Fearing that he might do something unimaginable, he stepped beside Su Zhi, pressing one hand firmly on his shoulder while gripping his arm with the other, simultaneously whispering, "Calm down, let's talk things over properly"

Su Cuo smiled faintly. Her smile was delightful, devoid of any dark imprint.

"For you, this is indeed very easy," Chen Zijia leaned forward, gazing deeply into her eyes, "However, speaking of which, I feel that you are mocking us. At this age, still relying on our elders for support."

As if she had not heard anyone calling her, Su Cuo remained in her reading posture, showing no signs of movement. It was only when Yang Xue approached that she noticed Su Cuo holding a large book with a black cover, somewhat worn, on which the words "Thesis" were faintly printed. The surface of the table in front of her was completely bare, lacking even a single pen, while her backpack precariously rested on another chair, as if it had never been opened.

The letter was brought to Su Cuo by Yang Xue. She knew it was sent by Xu Yihao, which piqued her curiosity, and she leaned over to take a look. "The 'Kingdom of the Blind' and Plato's Allegory of the Cave? Why can't I understand any of this? Ha, it turns out it's not a love letter."

I used to think that girls were naturally timid and afraid of falling, which is why they were not very good at ice skating. However, it turns out it was you. " Yingchen felt quite emotional. She originally had a foundation but had always struggled to grasp the essentials and could not skate well. After hearing Su Cuo's explanation, she finally understood the reason and found her skating to be much smoother and more fluid.

When turning, she almost fell again, and she glared angrily at her boyfriend who was holding her, "How did you teach me?"

"There is nothing to do when we go back, so we might as well play a little longer," Chen Zijia said with a smile

Summer has arrived swiftly, and the weather has become hot accordingly. The air is always filled with a sweet, sultry warmth. With the change of the season, another group of students is about to leave school

You should have a conversation with Xu Yihao. Ying Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

Su Cuo skates very well

Not only do they work in the 1980s, but their mindset has also largely reverted to that era. The sports events at school are in full swing, and this year's inter-school basketball competition has once again commenced. All of these matters are completely unrelated to them

Yang Xue stared at her with a peculiar gaze

Su Cuo smiled noncommittally

This statement had an immediate effect, as everyone watched in astonishment as Su Cuo's complexion suddenly drained of color, turning pale as if it had been bleached white. She still wore a calm smile on her face, but those who knew her well could see at a glance the chilling coldness in her eyes, dark and deep, filled with extreme sarcasm and helplessness

A few days after the ice skating rink, Chen Zijia brought Su Zhi to find her. School had not yet started, and there were not many people in the school. The three of them sat facing each other in a quiet corner of the cafeteria, and Su Cuo felt as if time had returned to two years ago, during the period when she first reported to school. Chen Zijia was wearing a white T-shirt and black long pants, with a backpack slung over her shoulder. Since the two had just ridden their bikes over from Xida, they were slightly out of breath. Su Zhi remained silent, not saying a word. Chen Zijia was wearing a white T-shirt and black long pants, with a backpack slung over her shoulder. Since the two had just ridden their bikes over from Xida, they were slightly out of breath. Su Zhi remained silent, not saying a word.

"Sister, be careful," Su Cuo said as she guided her while sliding, "Your footwork is incorrect. Simply increasing the push-off on the ice will not enhance your speed. When your foot lands, your body should lean forward; relying on a shift in your center of gravity makes it easier. Ha, you don't need to move too quickly; just maintain your stability..."

Su Zhi's temper is no less than anyone else's; his face turned ashen, "Where do you think you are going again?"

Mishi, who had been watching foolishly from the side, finally came to her senses. She noticed that even the people nearby, including those still skating, were drawn over by the commotion of the argument to watch the excitement. She frowned and gently said: "Sucao, you should leave first. We will persuade your brother again."

Ying Chen's words were abruptly interrupted by Su Cuo, getting stuck in her throat. Su Cuo's voice was so decisive and straightforward that everyone was taken aback, first looking at her, then at Xu Yihao. Xu Yihao's face turned ashen, anger evident in his brows, yet he restrained himself from exploding.

Su Cuo took it over and placed it beside her elbow without even looking through it. Regardless of the circumstances, she would not go against Qian. She blinked and then handed over a beautifully wrapped gift box, saying: "Senior Brother, your birthday is coming soon. Wishing you a happy birthday"

As Su Cuo herself mentioned, she ultimately did not go to the airport to see him off. That day, she sat in the sweltering classroom, looking at the book she had borrowed from the library. Gradually, beads of sweat began to form on her forehead, yet her palms felt completely devoid of warmth.

Chen Zijia felt a warmth in his heart, unaware that she remembered his birthday so clearly

Su Cuo closed the office door from the outside, and Chen Zijia was sitting on the chair outside waiting for her. As he reached his senior year, he became more relaxed and inexplicably had a lot of time to appear by her side. Although she had never asked him, Su Cuo knew that he would also be going abroad for graduate studies next year. Their major had a high opportunity for studying abroad; it was said that last year, about 30 to 40 percent of the students crossed the ocean to a distant continent. Moreover, with Chen Zijia's excellent grades, fluent English as if it were his mother tongue, and his impeccable family background, he could easily be anywhere he wished.

"It doesn't matter who investigated this," Su Cuo supported his head and said slowly, "No one is at fault, except for me; everyone else is innocent."

Finally, the weekend arrived, and Su Cuo and Yang Xue decided to indulge in ice skating. However, upon arriving at the ice rink, she discovered that she was the only one there. The ice rink was luxurious and comfortable, with a very high hourly rate; however, due to a series of recent promotions, the price had been reduced by half, attracting a considerable number of visitors. Fortunately, it was incredibly spacious, ensuring that it was not crowded at all

Everyone perked up a bit and looked up at Ying Chen. Su Cuo shook her head, "You all go ahead and skate, don't count me in. I am going back to school with Yang Xue."

Su Cuo suddenly realized, "No wonder your electronics skills are so good. Wait, your boyfriend is also from the School of Information, right? Could it be that the two of you are together for convenience?" Seeing Yang Xue blush, she added with a smile, "Just kidding. As long as you like it, even if you want to major in Chinese, that's fine."

With the help of Ying Chen, Su Cuo's English proficiency test went extremely well; for the first time, she felt that her English could pass. Following this was exam week, which also ended in a rush.

He nodded slightly and said, "You have done a good job with your work"

The schedule is tight, and there is no time to be busy with other matters. Moreover, the compensation provided by your uncle is very generous. Although Su Cuo was speaking, her footsteps did not pause as she hurried across the street, her expression anxious as she frequently checked her watch

The last month of her sophomore year arrived slowly, and the exams were upon her. In fact, other subjects were manageable, but the one that troubled Su Cuo the most was English, especially the upcoming English proficiency exam. She drifted like a ghost between the study room and the library, feeling that this was the most dismal month she had experienced since starting university. While studying English in the study room, she felt a deep-seated resentment towards her academic weaknesses for the first time in her life; if only she could spare a few points from her other subjects for English, she would not have fallen to such a low point.

To ease the atmosphere, Shen proposed: "How about we have a pairs figure skating competition? What does everyone think?"

Is it just for this reason?" Su Zhi's eyes sparkled, as if he were looking at Su Cuo with a lie detector.

Su Cuo displayed a look of surprise, "What?"

Have you had enough of your antics! Su Zhi is probably the only person in the room whose expression is worse than Xu Yihao's. He slammed the table, stood up with a "huh", and pushed his chair far away as if it were a punching bag. His tone was stern: "Su Cuo, what do you mean by this? Do you have to make things so absolute?"

"If you were me, would you not be angry?" Su Zhi stared at her

"How did you acquire your money?" Su Zhi asked sternly.

Next was Su Zhi, who, contrary to his usual demeanor, wore a cold expression and did not greet Su Cuo. Ying Chen tugged at him, and seeing that he did not respond, she awkwardly smiled and directed her gaze for help towards Chen Zijia. Chen Zijia came to his senses, also ignored Su Zhi, and directly said to Su Cuo: "Xu Yihao is leaving too, everyone agreed to get together. We have been looking for you everywhere, but fortunately, you happen to be here. It truly is a case of searching high and low without finding it."

"No," Su Zhi smiled and denied, "It was she who thought of helping you with your studies this year, and she took the initiative to bring it up. I definitely did not mention it to her beforehand." Ying Chen's English was indeed impressive, especially her standard British accent, which left Su Cuo in admiration, gazing at Ying Chen as if she were a fan looking up at a star. Ying Chen was also surprised by Su Cuo's understanding of English, and with a mix of laughter and sighs, she said to Su Zhi: "It's rare to see A Cuo struggling with her studies; thinking about it really brings a sense of psychological balance."

Su Cuo stood to one side, while everyone else stood on the other side of the table. She noticed this isolated arrangement, remained silent, stood up, and gave a slight nod to Yang Xue, as if preparing to walk out.

Su Cuo was taken aback, Xu Yihao was also present

At that moment, he realized that he did not care for his sister as much as he had imagined. If he could not even remember something as trivial as her birthday, what reason did he have to interfere in her matters

A new piece of music began to play, the melody was exceptionally beautiful, and soon everyone started to glide. Su Cuo sat on the steps, observing everything in the skating rink clearly. Mi Shi and Ying Chen were not very skilled at skating, nearly falling several times, while Su Zhi and Chen Zi Jia were patiently teaching them, their laughter clearly audible; Xu Yi Hao skated alone along the edge, making circles, with his hands in his pockets, showing no movement or expression, at a pace that was neither fast nor slow, appearing very carefree, as if unburdened. Mi Shi and Ying Chen were not very skilled at skating, nearly falling several times, while Su Zhi and Chen Zi Jia were patiently teaching them, their laughter clearly audible; Xu Yi Hao skated alone along the edge, making circles, with his hands in his pockets, showing no movement or expression, at a pace that was neither fast nor slow, appearing very carefree, as if unburdened.

"Since this is a pairs skating, what does it look like when you leave?" Su Zhi glanced at Su Cuo. Although his tone was unkind, it was indeed the first time he spoke to Su Cuo today, and his firm tone made it impossible for her not to listen. After speaking, Su Zhi turned to Yang Xue, his smile warm and inviting, as if he had quickly changed his face like a citizen of two different countries. "Yang Xue, you are not in a hurry to leave, are you?"

The classroom is sparsely populated, as most of the students have gone to watch the basketball game, so there is no need to speak quietly. Yang Xue is resting her head on the desk, her expression somewhat pained, "I envy how you can learn everything so well. Even such profound and complex physics, you solve all those complicated problems in just a few attempts. I have heard the teachers praise you many times."

When Xu Yihao saw Su Cuo like this, he was taken aback, anxiety rising to his face, and he involuntarily stood up, "Su Cuo—"

Faintly, she heard Chen Zijia calling her to stop from behind, but she could no longer afford to pay attention. The temperature outside the skating rink was as high as a furnace, so hot that even the heat seemed unable to move, and it made Su Cuo feel like a fossil, her legs felt as if they were filled with lead, making each step incredibly laborious. She heard Yang Xue's footsteps, paused for a moment, and then, braving the afternoon sun, slowly walked to the bus stop to catch a ride back to school. The bus had air conditioning, and there were very few people, allowing the two of them to sit side by side.

The courses in the third year are quite demanding, with many classes during the week and no respite on the weekends. It was only after the midterm exams that Su Cuo finally managed to find a free weekend to visit the part-time job at that company. It was a tall and luxurious office building, with walls made entirely of brown-tinted glass, located in the most expensive area of the city

Su Zhi stared at Su Cuo with an expression of indifference, his gaze growing increasingly sharp

Su Cuo tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled slightly, "Writing programs is quite lucrative, and I also have a scholarship"

Su Zhi snorted: "Then you should go find Su Cuo to teach you, if you can manage to invite him."

This voice was as loud as his. Su Cuo suddenly realized that his previous statement was more ruthless than anything else, and at the same time, a vague thought began to rise in his heart: could it be that the words he had spoken in a fit of anger were, in fact, the truth? Upon thinking of this, his anger surged even more. He saw Xu Yihai standing silently beside him, and suddenly felt both furious and anxious, which only fueled his outburst further.

Su Cuo gazed at the boy's departing figure and smiled gently

What he received in return was still Su Zhi's cold face devoid of a smile. As if in a fit of pique, Su Zhi skated alone, moving in sync with the rhythm of the music, extending his arms, gliding, turning, and spinning, his movements flowing seamlessly together, as if he were an eagle soaring in the sky, capturing the attention of most people present

"It's just school rumors, how many can be taken seriously?" Yingchen said, "You know, before I started dating Su Zhi, the rumors were all saying that I was pursuing Chen Zijia." Speaking of past amusing events, she wore a smile on her face

Su Cuo forwarded the revised report and data to Yang Xue

If Su Zhi had erupted earlier as usual, he would now be unable to act due to the external constraints imposed by Chen Zijia; he took a few deep breaths, and his cold smile remained undiminished, "Since you started university, not a single cent has been deducted from the money in your bank card! Not even your tuition has been spent. Are you unwilling to use our family's money or what? Are my parents not good enough to you?"

While putting on ice skates, Su Cuo realized that Yang Xue could not skate at all. Helping her into the skates, Su Cuo incredulously asked, "You are from Northeast China, yet you can't skate?"

Your handwriting is truly beautiful, both large and elegant, resembling a work of art. I estimate that submitting this draft directly would score higher than mine. " Yang Xue said with a hint of jealousy, "You must have practiced your writing, right?"

Ying Chen laughed so hard that she almost lost her balance and fell. After laughing, she shook her head and said: "However, Su Cuo, you are mistaken. Mi Shi is not Chen Zi Jia's girlfriend; they have already clarified this long ago. They were never in a romantic relationship."

"It must be interesting for you," Yang Xue said with a bitter smile, "In any case, I definitely will not study physics anymore; I am preparing to apply for graduate school in the School of Information."

Xu Yihao is about to go abroad, " Su Zhi gritted his teeth, " you didn't even say goodbye to him. I want to know, do you still have a heart?

She met Chen Zijia's uncle, a very serious man. He sat behind a large desk and raised his eyes to look at Su Cuo. The beauty of this girl and the aura that flowed from her surprised him. Before meeting Su Cuo, he had never imagined that the programmer highly recommended by Chen Zijia would actually be a girl, and that she had completed a rather complex task so smoothly and quickly

Su Cuo looked at Su Zhi and asked with a smile, "I am going to take away my senior sister, do you agree, brother?"

Ah, since I have already reached adulthood, I should have the ability to support myself

After a moment of silence, Ying Chen finally spoke: "But it is her brother's person, not mine, it is you. If I were you, I would try to understand her, rather than meeting her with a cold face."

During those days, Su Cuo studied with them in the study room at Xida. Xida clearly treats its students better; the study room is air-conditioned, whereas Huada does not offer this benefit during study sessions, leaving Su Cuo speechless with jealousy. Most of the time, Chen Zijia would also come to study together, and the four of them occupied a corner of the study room, becoming the most watched spot in the entire building

"What about you?" Yang Xue asked her, "Oh, but you must have secured a recommendation for graduate studies. If I manage to pass the exam, it would be great if we are still at the same school then"

In late April, the Department of Physics commenced its metalworking internship. This was not like attending classes, where one could skip if unwilling; it was mandatory for everyone, or else credits could not be obtained. Moreover, similar to a job, one had to arrive by 8:00 AM and could not leave until 5:30 PM. The crowd lamented their plight, as each day involved operating large machine tools to learn various processes, fabricating metal parts according to blueprints. The enormous noise generated by the machines echoed in their ears, resembling the roar of wild beasts, leaving everyone feeling dizzy and disoriented.

Recalling the teacher's stern face, Yang Xue shuddered and began to transcribe the report with great speed

If she is willing to let others know, that would be very good

Such an expression stirred a myriad of emotions within Chen Zijia; she was still the same, unilaterally driving people away from her world, leaving no one able to intrude. He took out a stack of documents from his backpack and said: "My uncle's company is in need of part-time programmers; here is the relevant information"

The little boy looked at the pile of books and said, "Sister, how did you buy so many books? Aren't they heavy to hold?"

Su Cuowai leaned against the sofa, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her expression consistently calm. Yang Xue looked at her profile, her nose suddenly feeling a sharp sting. After a long while, she softly said: "I just found out that your parents passed away long ago, and Su Zhi is only your cousin. You never told us before."

"Su Cuo, when is your birthday?" Chen Zijia spoke while glancing at Su Zhi out of the corner of his eye.

The carriage jolted slightly, and Su Cuo leaned against the window. The window was sealed, and the curtain was loosely drawn, allowing a glimpse of part of the scenery along the road and the sky outside, which was gradually darkening.

Until a boy of about ten years old tugged at her clothes and pointed to the ground, saying: "Sister, your book has fallen."