Chapter Three, Seventeen Years Old

Anran turned her head to look at the door, prompting a low exclamation from Teacher Tony: "Fortunately, I was a bit slow with my hands; otherwise, I would have cut your ear. There's no need to be so anxious just because you see your boyfriend."

After finishing her morning wash, Anran glanced at the children's cream by Yumeijing and a set of lotion and toner placed side by side on the sink. She casually picked up the former and completed her morning skincare routine within a minute

Is he trying to ask you out? If so, you don't need to worry about me, just go ahead.

Just like her now, she does not need any expensive skincare products, nor does she need to wear makeup; her face is full of collagen, which makes it glow naturally.

She completely did not understand what had happened; she originally thought that Ma Haochuan should also like her. At that time, Cui Yanan often took on the role of an objective observer to help her analyze the situation, saying that Ma Haochuan definitely liked her, but was just waiting for her to speak first. She even asserted that she had heard it from Ma Haochuan's good friend, urging her to remain reserved and absolutely not to fall for his tricks, otherwise, it would turn into a situation where she would be the one pursuing him.

Anran should know that her mother said: "Don't just talk; it needs to sink in. Have you been reading these days?"

"Don't waste money." The mother clearly did not fully believe her words, yet still took out some money for her.

Anran looked at Cui Yanan in the mirror and asked, "Is it Ouyang?"

Anran did not respond, but raised the Yumeijing in her hand and turned to leave. As she reached the door, she heard Anna twisting the cap of the cream bottle, seemingly truly concerned about her. Throughout her adolescence, she and Anna would often argue about whether she had secretly used her cream again, yet Anna's skincare products had never been taken back to her own room. She found it strange that her younger self had never considered this as a small kindness left by her sister.

Isn't it a bit too coincidental?" Cui Yanan suddenly stood up, her face filled with unexpected joy as she looked outside. "Guess who I saw.

Yes, ask me where I am

Anna, who had just returned from her night shift, suddenly appeared at the bathroom door and looked at Anran, who was lost in her own reflection in the mirror, and said, "Have you used my face cream again without permission"

She thought that high school would be the beginning of their story, but unexpectedly, it turned out to be the end. After entering high school, Ma Haochuan's attitude towards her suddenly took a complete turn of 180 degrees. The smile that once greeted her was replaced by an expression of indifference; perhaps it would be more accurate to say that there was simply no recognition of her in his eyes. The most exaggerated instance occurred shortly after the school year began, when she encountered him in the hallway. She approached him with a smile, but he tilted his head and pretended to talk to a classmate, walking past her as if she were invisible.

What are you doing

Ouyang was Cui Yanan's high school classmate. When Anran first heard his name, she mistakenly thought it was the double surname Ouyang, but later learned that it was the surname Ouyang with the given name Yang. Throughout the three years of high school, Cui Yanan often talked to her about her relationship with Ouyang. Anran can no longer recall the specific details, but it seems that the two were in a state of ambiguity until their graduation from high school. They officially got together for a brief summer vacation after their senior year, but naturally broke up due to the distance once they entered university.

"It is not mine, it is yours." Cui Yanan smiled at Anran, "I saw Ma Hao and Tian Li."

Anran regained her composure and smiled at Cui Yanan in the mirror, saying, "Am I really that concerned?"

Anran smiled faintly and did not respond. Like all women, over the years she had gone through various changes with her hair—growing it long, cutting it short, perming it, dyeing it—only to ultimately realize that short hair suited her best

"Have you seen Ouyang? What a coincidence!" An Ran, constrained by Teacher Tony, could not turn her head and only glanced outside through the mirror, seeing no one.

An Ran merely turned her head instinctively, but upon being addressed by Teacher Tony, she felt somewhat embarrassed. This fleeting expression was noticed by Cui Yanan, who immediately understood and had an idea. Without saying much, she ran out directly. By the time An Ran reacted and wanted to call her back, it was already too late.

Unable to withstand her mother's urging, An Ran reluctantly got out of bed. Her mother is a teacher, which means she has winter and summer vacations. The advantage is that someone cooks during the holidays, while the downside is the loss of some freedom to sleep in.

Seeing Anna's enigmatic smile deepened her mother's worries, Anran hurriedly vowed, "Rest assured, I promise I will not date during high school. The college entrance examination happens only once in a lifetime, and I will seize the opportunity."

Anran recalled the unpleasantness of her last night with Fang Zhe, wondering if she had truly overreacted. Hadn't she herself been influenced for many years by that 'first love' with Ma Haochuan, which had ended before it even began? Didn't she still feel a faint sense of regret when she thought of Ma Haochuan? If that were the case, why should she be so harsh on Fang Zhe?

However, there was a voice in her heart telling her: it is different. Ma Haochuan was merely a regret from her youthful infatuation; she chose not to mention it simply because she felt it was unnecessary. If Fang Zhe were to inquire, she would not hold back. But the person in Fang Zhe's heart was different; he would distance himself from her for that person, plunging her into a silence that she could never reach.

Understood. Anran accepted the money and smiled at her mother

She felt that Cui Yanan's analysis was not without reason, but it was only until her senior year in high school when Ma Haochuan started dating a girl from the same class that she realized how foolish she had been. She had thought it was a pure first love, where love was difficult to express, but in the end, she discovered it was merely her own one-sided fantasy.

Although Anran's words may seem perfunctory, they are indeed sincere. Since childhood, her academic performance has always been good, but starting from her second year of high school, her grades rapidly declined for various reasons. She did not gain admission to University A's journalism program and barely managed to enroll in a second-tier university, which prevented her from pursuing her ideal career in journalism. Instead, she ended up in a public institution, submerged in a sea of tedious paperwork and meetings. Anran has thought more than once that if she had been able to enroll in University A's journalism program back then, perhaps her life would have been completely different. Now, fate has given her another opportunity, and she is determined to seize it firmly.

It was not until she met Fang Zhe that she truly freed herself from the shadow of Ma Haochuan

Anran, still in a daze, was pulled out of bed by her mother. She initially intended to linger in bed a little longer, but upon hearing that she was going to be late, she suddenly sat up. Glancing at the alarm clock on the bedside table, it was 11:05. She tilted her head and lay back down.

Anran has not slept in for many years, even though her job at the public institution does not require clocking in, and no one really cares if she is occasionally late. However, her biological clock has already adjusted, and even on weekends, she wakes up by no later than eight o'clock.

Her true first love began in her sophomore year. The two-year campus romance could not withstand the natural law of breakup upon graduation. After starting her career, she had two more brief relationships. Upon serious reflection, it turns out that all three of her boyfriends had more or less similarities with Ma Haochuan

Ma Hao's full name is Ma Haochuan. She was a middle school classmate of Cui Yanan, and Ma Haochuan sat behind her in class. The two lived in neighborhoods on the same street and often walked home together after school. At the age of budding romance, it was inevitable that they would develop feelings for each other.

Cui Yanan did not understand the meaning of Anran's smile and jokingly said: "Are you going to cut off Ma Hao's three thousand worries?"

"You seem quite experienced, how many have you talked to?" The one interjecting was Master Tony, who was currently giving Anran a haircut.

Before Anran could refute, her mother clicked her tongue and said, "What nonsense are you talking about"

You haven't grown it out yet, so how do you know long hair doesn't suit you

Do not just focus on sleeping, the school year is about to start, you should also read some books... Do not think that since the classes are divided into arts and sciences, it will be easier for you; there are several subjects that will have exams next semester... I tell you, this year and more will pass in the blink of an eye, and before you know it, you will be in your third year of high school, so what can you do if you harden your heart! Do not just think about those singing, dancing, and talent shows; once you get to university, you can play, sleep, and chase stars as much as you want...

Am I someone who values romance over friendship?" Cui Yanan replied while looking down at her messages, "Besides, I'm not that easy to arrange a meeting with. If he wants to meet me, he has to give me a heads-up, at least two days in advance. It's just too insincere.

Anran set down the dishes and said: "I know, I made an appointment with Yanan to get a haircut today. After that, I want to go to the bookstore to buy a few reference books to read. Could you give me some money?"

Short hair still suits me better, An Ran said

Teacher Tony smiled and repeatedly said yes, then turned to a young girl at the front desk and teased her: "Did you hear that? You should learn from others, don't let them dismiss you every time. Show me once how you can dismiss them instead."

The young girl giggled and retorted, teasing Teacher Tony with a few remarks

"Do you really believe she went to buy books?" Anna interjected, "Today is Valentine's Day; she might be asking you for money for something else."

Did you not make an appointment with Yanan to get a haircut this afternoon? If you don't hurry, you will be late!

The three women, a mother and her two daughters, had lunch together, and the conversation revolved around Anna's work and Anran's studies

"In a romantic relationship, it is not about quantity, but quality," said Cui Yanan

Compared to her, Fang Zhe seems to have always been a high school student, able to sleep until noon on days he doesn't work. She calls him a lazy pig, and he sleepily teases her that she is getting old and needs less sleep. She often retorts that what she practices is self-discipline, a good living habit. Now she has to admit that Fang Zhe's words seem quite reasonable; at seventeen, no matter how long she sleeps, it never feels enough. Just yesterday, her mother went out for something, and since no one called her, she slept until one in the afternoon. Being young is truly wonderful. Now she has to admit that Fang Zhe's words seem quite reasonable; at seventeen, no matter how long she sleeps, it never feels enough. Just yesterday, her mother went out for something, and since no one called her, she slept until one in the afternoon. Being young is truly wonderful

In 2005, the old cinema had not yet been rebuilt into a cultural center; the three old buildings of the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, which should have been transformed into a central park, still stood in a place that had long faded from the memories of the past; the old shopping mall, which by 2019 had been overshadowed by the newly emerged shopping center, was still the most prosperous location in the vicinity; the Spring Beauty and Hairdressing Center on Yuxing Street remained the trendsetter for hair salons in the hearts of the local youth.

Get up and don't lie down, hurry up!

It is already twelve o'clock, are we not having breakfast or lunch?

It was probably due to the unfulfilled desires of her adolescence that later, when she started working and earning money, she began to replace various skincare products in different ways. Her mother also did not cease her nagging, and it was only after marrying Fang Zhe and establishing her own small family that she finally found some peace.

"Aren't I just worried that you might think too much about it?" As Cui Yanan was speaking, her phone suddenly rang, and she seemed to lose interest in the topic raised by Ma Haochuan. She got up and sat on the sofa behind, seriously replying to the message.

In high school, Cui Yanan was admitted to the Second High School, and both she and Ma Haochuan went to the First High School. She recalled visiting the school during the summer vacation after the third year of junior high to see the teachers, and learned that the two of them had entered the same high school. Ma Haochuan, unable to hide his joy, ruffled her hair and said that she could not escape from his "magic grasp," causing her heart to flutter.

At thirty-one years old, An Ran looked at her seventeen-year-old self in the mirror and finally understood the meaning of her mother's words. In the past, whenever she scrolled through various video recommendations and saw girls around eighteen or nineteen, or in their early twenties, referring to themselves as "old aunties" while recommending some miraculous anti-wrinkle skincare products, she couldn't help but scoff: At nineteen, even if you just smeared tap water on your face, the effect would be the same.

It is still before the Lantern Festival, and there are not many customers in the store. Cui Yanan sat in the chair next to Anran and curiously confirmed once again: "You really are willing to cut it after staying for a whole semester."

Yes, she is seventeen, and the skincare products that belong to her are still children's creams. She used to complain about this to her mother, who would say, "Why do you, a little child, need to apply so many chemical products?" She would retort, "My sister is only two years older than me, why is she different?" Her mother would always respond, "Your sister earns money; she can buy whatever she likes. When you start earning, you can apply gold to your face, and I won't care."

Anran was taken aback; she had not heard the name Ma Hao in many years

What are you thinking?" Seeing Anran lost in thought, Cui Yanan exclaimed, "Don't tell me you really are doing this for him.

Cui Yanan put down her phone and, with the demeanor of someone who has been through it all, "advised" Anran: "When it comes to men, you must not be too eager; otherwise, he won't take you seriously. You need to keep him on his toes, occasionally give him a taste of sweetness, so that he becomes addicted to you"