Chapter 2

Gu An Sheng and Ruan Su Mo still lived in the alley called Jing Shui Xiang, which had only a few dozen households. Every evening, the entertainment for each family was to gather at the alley entrance to listen to Gu An Sheng's pig-like howls, which almost always occurred at the same time, more punctual than Big Ben in London. Ruan Su Mo did not intend to deliberately tarnish Gu An Sheng's image as a handsome young man; it was just that at that time, he was, well, quite memorable. The adults would always whisper and discuss his latest heroic deeds, saying he was extremely mischievous, claiming that he lacked paternal guidance, which was why he was so unruly, "If a child is not taught, it is the father's fault." Regarding Gu An Sheng's family, the most widely circulated story was that his father went to the big city to make a fortune and forgot about his old family. They said that the day before yesterday, he burned down someone’s firewood, yesterday he stole someone’s white corn, and today he made another child bleed from the nose... This made Ruan Su Mo, who was obedient at home but secretly yearned for revolution, feel a deep admiration for him. They said that the day before yesterday, he burned down someone’s firewood, yesterday he stole someone’s white corn, and today he made another child bleed from the nose... This made Ruan Su Mo, who was obedient at home but secretly yearned for revolution, feel a deep admiration for him.

Later, Ruan Su Mo returned home, opened her palm, and discovered that it was covered with faint marks. However, as she looked at those marks, she suddenly smiled. Lin Xi, standing nearby, occasionally glanced over, looking at her as if she were insane.

The surrounding laughter began to grow louder, and Dong Xiangba's face turned red with anger as he charged forward, seemingly ready to fight to the death. Although Dong Xiangba had a certain advantage in size, Gu Ansheng was not someone to be underestimated. Under the "training" from his mother, he had become more agile than his peers. In the end, Gu Ansheng kicked Dong Xiangba, who was lying on the ground, and threatened, "If you dare to bully anyone again, I will set your hair on fire!" After scolding him, he turned to leave, but perhaps suddenly remembering the presence of Ruan Su Mo, he took a few steps back, returned, grabbed the girl's sleeve, and left without looking back, even rummaging through Dong Xiangba's pockets for his Big White Rabbit candy.

Ruan Su Mo had recounted this "legend" to many who appeared in her life; she did not know why she did so. By that time, Gu An Sheng's face had begun to blur in her memory, yet she remembered this segment clearly, even to the minutest expressions and actions he made. After hearing Ruan Su Mo's description, everyone asked the same question.

Due to her mother's strictness, Ruan Su Mo had never dared to join in the fun, and naturally only knew of Gu An Sheng by name, never having seen her in person. She always felt somewhat depressed and later occasionally wondered how it was that the two of them lived on the same street, in such a small area, yet had never encountered each other. Is it really true that two people without fate, no matter how small the city, may never meet in their lifetime? Therefore, in her encounter with Gu An Sheng, Ruan Su Mo truly wanted to thank someone, even though she felt he was really, really annoying. Is it really true that two people without fate, no matter how small the city, may never meet in their lifetime? Therefore, in her encounter with Gu An Sheng, Ruan Su Mo truly wanted to thank someone, even though she felt he was really, really annoying

Faced with the ridicule and mockery from Dong Xiangba, Ruan Su Mo wished to retaliate. She imagined herself as the heroine from television who does not yield to evil forces, believing that only then could she possibly encounter a quality prince charming and live a fairy-tale life filled with happiness. She even glanced around with her peripheral vision, hoping to find something that could serve as a favorable weapon for herself. Then, like a cliché from all stories, Gu An Sheng appeared, as if descending from the heavens, riding on a rainbow cloud, with a halo above his head. She even glanced around with her peripheral vision, hoping to find something that could serve as a favorable weapon for herself. Then, like a cliché from all stories, Gu An Sheng appeared, as if descending from the heavens, riding on a rainbow cloud, with a halo above his head

Then there was a burst of piercing laughter

Time returns to 1999

At this age, regardless of who it is, there often exists a certain rebellious sentiment deep within. Most express their dissatisfaction in various forms, while a very small number choose to swallow their grievances in silence. Ruan Su Mo happens to be one of this very small group. For the sake of trivial matters, when faced with cold words and harsh remarks, she can remain silent, not arguing or retorting, but under the shadow of her face, unseen by others, her brows will always furrow symbolically.

Jingshui Alley is merely a corner of the small town; stepping out of one's front door, one can only see trees and grass in all directions after a short distance.

Since that incident of "acting bravely for justice," the two individuals have had no further interactions, which has left Ruan Su Mo feeling even more perplexed

Isn't it always the case in television that a frail female protagonist falls into crisis, and the dashing male lead sacrifices himself to save her, leading them to eventually come together after enduring numerous trials and tribulations? Why, after all this time, is there still no sign of progress? Is it that in reality, the female protagonist needs to take the initiative? Thus, every time Ruan Su Mo went to the grocery store to buy something, she would deliberately take a long detour in front of his house, thinking that perhaps she might "accidentally" run into Gu An Sheng. She even planned out the first sentence she would say to him, yet they never crossed paths again. Therefore, every time Ruan Su Mo went to the grocery store to buy something, she would deliberately take a long detour in front of his house, thinking that perhaps she might "accidentally" run into Gu An Sheng. She even planned out the first sentence she would say to him, yet they never crossed paths again.

Hey, Ruan Su Mo, how did you achieve such a physique? It's impressive that you can still look so strong even after your father's passing

Gu An Sheng seemed still not to be appeased; he aggressively tugged at Ruan Su Mo's sleeve and climbed up the small dome-shaped hill opposite their home, without any consideration for the other person's gender. Ruan Su Mo hesitated at first, but the person in front showed no intention of turning back to offer assistance, so she could only grit her teeth, grasp the nearby branches, and laboriously make her way up.

She also knew that her mother loved her; otherwise, she would not have gone to such great lengths to use connections to enroll her in the best public elementary school in town at that time. Although it was called a public school, it was essentially founded by several leading figures in the town, and admission still required passing an exam in basic arithmetic. Fortunately, Ruan Su Mo never caused Lin Xi any worries regarding her studies, and she was naturally selected with great distinction. Lin Xi was so pleased that she generously rewarded Ruan Su Mo with a pocket full of White Rabbit candies, boasting to everyone about how wonderful her daughter was. Ruan Su Mo enjoyed seeing the rare expression of pride on her mother's face, as if it made her walk with even more confidence. From then on, she became exceptionally diligent in her studies, knowing that it was the best way to earn her mother's sweet words and candies.

The two shared those milk-flavored candies with a sense of gravity, as if they were solemnly sharing the joys and sorrows of their respective fates. The two 13-year-old children, however, were more mature than their peers. Gu Ansheng, while stuffing a White Rabbit candy into her mouth, spoke to Ruan Sumo, almost as if she were speaking to herself, defiantly rejecting her fate.

Although we are not a perfect family with both parents present, we are free from illness and disaster, and we are physically healthy! In the future, I will earn a living to support the family, and you can find a suitable husband to marry! We will be great and live well!

At that time, there was a child tyrant in Jing Shui Alley, surnamed Dong, with a round face and big ears. When bored, he would come up with even more boring ways to bully others. Gu Ansheng gave him the nickname "Dong Xiangba." At that moment, Dong Xiangba was staring with his small slit-like eyes, leading his group of local bullies to verbally torment Ruan Sumo. He was fixated on the girl, who was in her developmental stage and becoming increasingly plump, grinning lewdly.

Perhaps at that moment, Dong Xiangba's words struck a nerve in the boy's heart that he least wanted to touch. He stood in front of Ruan Su Mo, coldly watching those uninvited guests. At that time, Gu An Sheng was still youthful, with features that had yet to fully take shape. He pointed at the leading Dong Xiangba, fiercely cursing, "Your father is dead! Your whole family is dead!"

Perhaps Ruan Su Mo was born with a tendency for infatuation. She narcissistically believed that Gu An Sheng's words "Don't be sad" were meant to comfort her, so in a moment of impulsiveness, Ruan Su Mo gave Gu An Sheng an excited bear hug, tears streaming down her face, crying and saying, "I am not sad, I am just overwhelmed with joy, sob sob..."

Memory regression, mundane episodes, lacking the dramatic ups and downs of legendary tales. The death of the father caused the pillar of the family to collapse, leading to the oppression of life and the absence of emotional dependence, which in turn resulted in the mother's melancholy, evolving into irritability and unfounded scorn, tears, sorrow, and repression. Ruan Su Mo had long mastered the skill of turning a deaf ear to her mother Lin Xi's frequent tirades. She did not blame her; what was there to blame? After all these years, she had gradually grown up, just like all the girls her age, with her own worries and troubles. Life was not too bad; it was just that occasionally helping out with more housework could be tiring. In terms of material aspects, Ruan Su Mo had long since learned not to covet any particular enjoyment, having never been exposed to it. The most gratifying thing was receiving certificates at school, and being able to earn a few of her beloved White Rabbit candies, which melted in the mouth, soft and sticky.

But in her heart, there resided a person from then on, and his name was Gu Ansheng

So, do not be sad

Later, Ruan Su Mo mentioned this past to Li Xia, who merely tilted her head and listened with some distraction, unexpectedly not mocking such a low-quality performance, but instead asking further questions

Gu Ansheng was taken aback by her sudden attack, standing there in a daze. So much so that later, when Ruan Su Mo learned about first love and first kiss, she felt so gratified to have experienced Gu Ansheng's first embrace.

Having finished speaking, he stood up, elegantly digesting the last piece of White Rabbit candy in his hand. Then he sat back down, his voice as soft as a whisper

Then, Gu Ansheng's father suddenly returned home after being away for 9 years, bringing glory back to his hometown, shattering the rumors that only heard the laughter of newcomers and not the tears of the old. Then, their family, under the envious gazes of the crowd, got into his father's sedan and left this obscure town. Then, Ruan Sumo thought, it indeed confirmed his words, he would be great, he would live better, how happy he was

What next

However, for Ruan Su Mo, Sun Wukong was just Sun Wukong. After all, at that moment, Gu An Sheng was truly like a piece of driftwood floating in a lonely sea to her. She could only hold onto him tightly, desperately, to avoid being submerged and devoured by the waves and winds attacking from all sides

As the sun sets in the west, the birds return home. In the corners that dusk inadvertently visits, the boy's company is present, while the girl lowers her head, softly weeping. This should have been such a beautiful scene, yet it is completely ruined by Ruan Su Mo's lack of "reserve"

It was Ruan Su Mo's first time sneaking out to see the "excitement" behind her mother's back. There were still so many people, and although she dared not push forward while standing outside the door, just imagining it made her feel as if she could see Gu An Sheng's mother waving a broom, while Gu An Sheng was jumping around from being hit. She felt a bit guilty, thinking that she had pushed him into a difficult situation, but she was also very happy because it was the first time he had been punished because of her.

Are you referring to Sun Wukong

However, that night, Dong Xiangba's mother dragged the bruised and battered Dong Xiangba to the Gu family's door, and Gu Ansheng, as expected, was beaten up by his mother.