Section 3

I will go take a look, please lock the door

After Lu Chen repeated a year, the two of them were always able to meet at school

He went to touch the door latch again, and after confirming that it would not be kicked open, he turned to rummage through the table for cigarettes. The textbooks and papers were in disarray, and he wanted to find something but could not. Thus, he casually grabbed an English test paper and threw it into the corner with both hands.

He got up, brushed off the dirt from his body, walked to the corner of the wall, picked up Gui Xiao's bicycle with one hand, and tossed it into the trunk of the only silver car in the yard: "Let's go, I'll take you home"

As they talked, the two of them kissed

After that night, Lu Chen began attending classes

Ah? Xiao Cai is completely out of the loop, "Lu Dui, you say, you say."

Lu Chen was so amused that he laughed, and the unextinguished cigarette butt flicked towards Hai Dong's calf: "What are you talking about?"

The ivy has climbed the brick wall, swaying its tail in the night breeze

About ten minutes had passed, and there was no sound outside

Gui Xiao took a cloth to wipe the car

That night, Gui Xiao lay on the bed he had slept in for three years, his feet resting on the heater, holding a handheld game console playing Tetris. Amid the continuous sounds of rewards from clearing lines, his mind was filled with Lu Chen. He was already at a high level, but with just one moment of distraction, various shapes of blocks fell down like a screen, sealing the top—GAME OVER

After consuming time until after 8 o'clock, I received a phone call from Huang Ting

Lu Chen lowered his head and smiled

Gui Xiao truly felt her face flush; it was the first time she experienced the sensation of blushing, with warmth radiating from her cheekbones to her ears. It was a hot and burning feeling

That child performed exceptionally well when he first entered the first year of junior high school, but he has been negatively influenced since then

The cold is so intense that it makes one's nose sting even when breathing

The alley is narrow, and the walls of the courtyards of the residents on both sides are high, blocking the sunlight from entering.

Lu Chen

Last time, Uncle Er used such crude words to escape a disaster. He was in a hurry and didn't think much, but he also understood that these words were truly mixed up

Are you alright? Gui Xiao half-squatted beside him and asked softly, Is there anywhere else that feels uncomfortable? I can accompany you to the hospital? She had seen the injury on his arm and was worried that there might be more injuries on his body.

"I really feel unwell?" Gui Xiao was intimidated by his gaze

As his hand rested on the car door, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the small restaurant ten meters away, illuminated by strings of little light bulbs wrapped around its signboard. Lu Yancheng pushed the door open and stepped out without wearing a coat, his shirt being lifted by the wind, revealing a small section of his waist

Gui Xiao always felt that he liked her, but Lu Chen did not express anything, so she could only hold back her feelings

"It's really a favor," Lu Yancheng did not seem to be joking, "I want to take that child to Beijing for school, can you help me find a better school?"

The vehicle belonging to Lu Chen has a motor vehicle access permit, which was specifically arranged for him by Huang Ting's mother to facilitate his visits at any time

He rested his arm on the car window, but called out another name, "Xiao Cai"

Huang Ting herself is also entangled in a dramatic love life and is generally uninterested in the gossip of others. However, she couldn't help but hint at the two of them: "I said you hate hospitals the most and would definitely not come. My brother just said that as long as it is him who asks you to come, you will definitely come."

Through a car window, she seemed to hear the sound of his boots crunching on the snow

It is said that Zhao Minshan, the most beautiful girl in Haidong and Guixiao's grade, was confused, which led to a falling out with the straightforward Meng Xiaoshan. The two had been good friends since they started school, having known each other for more than three years. Haidong was certain that Meng Xiaoshan would not be so heartless, so he pleaded with Guixiao to act as a mediator. Guixiao agreed and rode his bike to the small alley at the back wall of their alma mater.

He reached into the pocket of his school uniform trousers, finding it empty, and paused momentarily

The car passed through the gate without being stopped

It was as if the heavens were mocking her innocence; the increasingly fierce wind suddenly overturned the bicycle. Lu Chen squinted to look at the lonely little bicycle lying in the northwesterly wind: "Is that the one?"

By early May, Hai Dong and Meng Xiaoshan had a breakup

Forget it, let's go after all

He rested his hand on the edge of the car window, steering with his right hand as he drove into the residential area.

Hai Dong narrowly avoided being scalded, jumping aside while softly persuading Meng Xiaoshan, defending himself.

Lu Chen looked over and asked: "Do you want me to repeat it?"

Really

The windshield wipers mechanically swept away the snow, but due to the ice, the windshield became even more obscured

Can sit on it, and then thought about whether he is an adult yet? ... He probably doesn't have a driver's license yet ...

He turned his head

The little finger is threaded, the ring finger is as well, hmm, the rest are all scoops, how fascinating, hmm—

Gui Xiao pretended to be foolish, responding with vague affirmations, then hung up the phone and went out

Lu Chen was looking at her quite seriously, as if he were organizing a very long sentence, but when he spoke, it was far simpler than she had imagined: "Do you like me?" he asked in a low voice

The northwesterly wind has become considerably stronger since the evening; last night, the weather forecast indicated a northwesterly wind of force six to seven, along with a sandstorm

However, at that time, Guixiao was still young, only fifteen years old. While there was indeed a sense of compassion, without having experienced it personally, one could not truly understand the depth of the feeling.

The hospital in the courtyard is small, with only a few inpatient rooms. She wandered around a few times before finding Lu Chen. He was sitting by the innermost bed, lowering his head to send a text message. The Huang Ting who was on the phone had long since disappeared, leaving only Huang Ting's mother adjusting the speed of the IV drip

Lu Yancheng's pitch-black eyes finally turned to look at her, who was so close: "Gui Xiao?"

No wonder... Last summer was so hot, the billiard hall was stuffy, and he was still wearing a long-sleeved sports shirt

The remaining teachers have many years of experience with students, and there are indeed some who speak up for Lu Chen. After all, having a father like that, showing up at school with bruises every few days, is not easy. Just being able to continue studying is already commendable. Moreover, the middle school graduation rate is extremely low; out of more than 400 students in each cohort, only about 30 can advance to high school. It is already quite impressive that he is among them.

The hospital in the courtyard is primarily for treating fevers and colds, and handling some emergencies, so it does not have the atmosphere of a large hospital. It is small yet clean, and stepping outside, it feels more like entering a secluded little courtyard.

"Reported this morning, classes will be held tomorrow"

It was as if he did not attend the college entrance examination that day, simply because he had concealed from his father that he had enrolled in a military academy. A few days before the exam, he was beaten up and locked in a car factory for a full two days and three nights. It was not until the first subject was over that his mother secretly let him out, but ultimately, he still missed it.

Guixiao was choked: "... ... No matter how small, it is still a vehicle."

motionless

... ...

He had been gone for more than ten minutes without returning, and Gui Xiao felt uneasy, quietly opening the door. There was indeed no one left in the factory, only scattered parts of dismantled vehicles or those that had been repaired. She navigated around the puddles on the cement floor and discovered that Lu Chen was sitting on the ground by the dark green iron gate.

Gui Xiao rolled down the car window, and a gust of wind rushed in, making it hard for her to breathe: "Is there anything else, Captain Lu?"

Two underage children are trying their best to appear calm

Not long after, Chang, who frequently went to the office to submit assignments, heard the teachers talking about him. Because he was promoted directly from the junior high school, and there was only one class in each grade of the high school, the number of students was small. With the addition of a repeat student, the junior high school teachers quickly learned about it.

These matters are not disclosed to her by Lu Chen; she always hears about them from friends and teachers, which gives a sense of being in a film or drama. It was only later that she understood that such a life truly exists

Before Lu Chen could respond, Meng Xiaoshan, who was blocked at her doorstep, had already rushed out. Hai Dong chased after her and pinned her against the wall: "You know that woman well enough; not only does she love to flirt, but she also spreads rumors everywhere. Last year, she even pursued Lu Chen..."

I asked his homeroom teacher; the child performed well in several mock exams last year and put in a lot of effort in studying. I thought he would smoothly enroll in the early admission program, but unexpectedly, he did not come to take the exam

Lu Chen straddled his mountain bike, with one foot resting on the edge of the low brick wall.

Not at all. Gui Xiaosong clenched his fist, pretending that nothing had happened

Gui Xiao was surprised: "You are here too?" She glanced at the large iron gate of Meng Xiaoshan's house, "Aren't you going in?"

Gui Xiao was squeezed into the corner of the sofa, her heart racing chaotically as she lowered her head to look at her hands

The spark of the firework flickered beside him, sometimes dim, sometimes bright

All is silent.

Gui Xiao was rendered speechless when asked. ... She was indeed curious and wanted to see how it was ... . ... dear.

Lu Yanchen seemed to have heard a joke, responding with indifference: "I used to be a soldier, what money could I possibly have"

Hmm?

How can you accompany me? You don't know how to drive

Oh. Guixiao observed his swift movements and guessed that she had been overthinking it.

Many years later, sandstorms became rare in Beijing. She could still recall the time when sand would whip against her face, and upon returning home, the basin would have a thin layer of fine sand on the water's surface.

"Are you still repeating?" Gui Xiao asked, voicing the words that had weighed on her heart all night.

Gui Xiao examined the translucent scene on the front windshield of the car, then turned on the wipers again in an attempt to remove the ice: "Captain Lu's family has always been quite well-off; matters like this can actually be resolved with money, so there is no need to specifically come to us for help"

Gui Xiao did not react immediately and was still watching. Meng Xiaoshan smiled and took off Hai Dong's coat, saying, "The child is watching." Then she covered the heads and faces of the two and continued.

Are you serious?" Lu Chen lowered his head and smiled, using a somewhat unserious tone to cover up that absurd statement

However, his question indeed raises a point; I truly do not know how he would manage to sit up given his height

Lu Chen saw her, pushed back his chair, and stood up: "Auntie, I am going home now"

"Going to Beijing, which child to bring?" Xiao Cai has become a parrot, "This one, I suppose, Gui Xiao has connections."

The northwest wind swirled in the open bicycle shed, creating a wind tunnel. Gui Xiao was chilled to the bone, yet something hot surged within her, quietly engulfing her like a rising tide

Lu Chen smiled and glanced at her: "Why are you so curious?"

I will take you on a bike ride

That's not right, how does he know where I live

Suddenly, he brought his left hand behind his back, palm facing up, and with his fingers slightly curled, he gestured as if to say: give me your hand

He made a sound of "hm" and applied the brakes, raising his chin to point at the family building ahead. Gui Xiao realized they had arrived, and it was too late; she did not dare to say much. After Lu Chen helped her take down the bicycle, she simply watched him leave.

"Hurry back, I told you to leave early." Huang Ting's mother had her back to the door and did not notice the secret between the two of them

The cuffs of his school uniform were rolled up high, revealing bare forearms marked with bruises, resting on his knees. He lowered his head, using his palm to support his forehead, blocking out all sources of light that could disturb him

Gui Xiao stood in a daze for a while: Is this it?

Later, how the two of them held hands became vague in detail. However, she still remembered that his hands were rougher than her own, and his body temperature was higher. In the moment they touched, she had the illusion of being burned by a cigarette butt, and it was only when he held her tightly that she felt it was real

"Is there anyone who asks like you?" she retorted softly

Lu Chen tucked his hands into the pockets of his shorts. Upon reaching the door of the ward, he glanced at a small door at the end of the corridor, which was the back door of the inpatient department on the first floor. Gui Xiao followed in his footsteps, and the two of them stepped out through the small door one after the other

Lu Chen smiled, turned his back, and continued walking forward

"In the courtyard?" she asked

Lu Chen was filled with thoughts and completely unaware that it was boring to return home without anyone to talk to, looking around everywhere. It was then that she noticed the MOTO flip phone he had left in the storage box. In that era, there were very few adults using mobile phones, and there were only one or two models available, so she could recognize it. When her aunt's birthday came, her uncle also gifted her this phone, and her mother privately scolded him: spending fifteen thousand on a mobile phone, what a waste of money. So, it turns out that running a repair shop is so profitable?

He laughed again: "Don't take it to heart. My dad gets foolish when he drinks; last time he even hit Hai Dong. I'm afraid he might really come in and cause trouble"

The temperature inside the car is rising, and she feels a wave of heat followed by a wave of coolness

Gui Xiaoguang stood in the spacious factory and felt particles striking his face and nose bridge

My grandmother has been receiving intravenous saline in the hospital these past few days. My brother and I are accompanying her right now. Are you coming? He asked me to call you.

He stood outside the car door, his dark eyes fixed on her

The warm breeze was blowing all the way, the windows were open, and the wind was rushing in through the car window.

He took out a cigarette. For the past few nights, he has been here, and it takes no more than a ten-minute walk from the staff building where she lives to the window where she resides. Occasionally, he strolls over and can still see her half-open window.

Gui Xiao seemed to be seen through in her thoughts, after struggling for a while, she still nodded her head

The vehicle is driven into the garage and locked

Have you been hit again? That child rarely wears short sleeves in summer, and when it gets hot during physical education class, rolling up the sleeves only reveals more injuries

Guixiao peered out to look.