If only she were already eighteen, an adult who could stand alone, act freely, go wherever she desired, with wings or direction. But she was fifteen—only three years away from eighteen—so why couldn't she?
People around her came and went, drifting aimlessly. Perhaps it was fate: the train was delayed for three hours, as shown on the electronic screen. Miao Jing sat for a long, long time before mechanically rising at the last moment, heading to the refund window, and then walking out of the station.
By the flower bed in front of the station, someone stood waiting—tall with straight legs, broad shoulders, and a buzz cut. Leaning against a lamppost in an intimidating posture, he arrogantly blew smoke rings. Through the thin, pungent haze, his sharp eyes and cold expression were visible, fixed intently on the girl dragging a thick ponytail, wearing a faded T-shirt, quiet and fragile.
"Where are you going?" he called out loudly.
Miao Jing turned, a flicker of panic in her eyes, but she forced composure as she walked toward him, pressing her lips together. "Looking for a job."
"What kind of job?"
"The electronics factory is hiring for summer jobs, or I could wash dishes at a restaurant. They provide food and lodging." She clutched a few recruitment flyers in her hand.
He shook his head and laughed.
"You can support yourself, and so can I," Miao Jing said firmly, staring at him. "I'll go on my own. I won't look for you or trouble you again."
"Miao Jing, I didn't realize you had such ambition," he sneered exaggeratedly. "Then go ahead."
She nodded solemnly and turned to leave, walking along the street shops toward the city's busiest, dirtiest areas. The lowest strata of society possessed the strongest vitality; in this era, as long as one had hands and a mind, and the climate was perpetually summer without winter, no one would starve or freeze to death. She could do many jobs and endure hardship.
Crossing the pedestrian lane, a vehicle sped past her, screeching to a halt. An arm wrapped around her waist, and before she could cry out, Miao Jing was flung onto the motorcycle, her heart pounding as she stumbled against his arm, enveloped in that familiar, pleasant masculine scent.
"Chen Yi—"
Miao Jing screamed. The bike maintained its speed, jolting and swerving. Afraid of falling in her unstable position, she clung tightly to him.
"You're quite stubborn. Who taught you that?" Chen Yi laughed heartily. "You've been like this since childhood—pretty annoying."
"Where are you taking me?" she shouted.
"To celebrate."
The motorcycle weaved left and right, cutting through traffic until it reached the suburban mountains. He shifted gears, accelerating beyond the speed limit. The fierce wind filled their clothes, whistling in their ears as their bodies felt weightless and adrift. Overwhelmed by the thrill, Miao Jing's mind went blank, her mouth dry. She watched him lift the front wheel, making a rapid leap that sent them soaring into the air. She shut her eyes, clinging desperately to his back.
"Chen Yi, Chen Yi, I'm scared! Stop, stop..."
He zigzagged recklessly along the mountain path, showing off with dangerous stunts, skimming the edge of cliffs. Miao Jing couldn't bear it any longer—her scalp tingled, her limbs went weak, and she eventually broke down in tears. Whether from lack of oxygen or sheer terror, she cried bitterly and unrestrainedly, sobbing into his back until her helmet was soaked and his shirt damp, both quickly dried by the hot wind.Finally, the motorcycle stopped on a gentle slope at the mountain top. Chen Yi grinned, asking her if it was thrilling, then executed a particularly cool dismount. Propping himself up with his arms, he sat on the ground enjoying the cool breeze. Miao Jing weakly climbed off the vehicle, losing her balance and tumbling directly onto the grass.
Her face was flushed red from crying, with tears and mucus streaming down. The fine hairs at her temples were all stuck to her cheeks and neck - a truly pathetic sight. Her shoulders still shook with occasional sobs, hiccupping through her tears.
The mountain wind whispered past, the air sweet, sunlight blazing yet clear. The grass was lush and soft, with birds singing and orioles trilling. Paying no mind to the person crying bitterly beside him, Chen Yi closed his eyes and fell asleep with a blade of grass between his teeth. When he woke later, he found Miao Jing had also cried herself to sleep. Her slender limbs were curled on the grass, disheveled hair clinging to her pale cheeks, tear tracks still visible at the corners of her eyes, her small nose and lips tightly scrunched.
He patted her awake: "Miao Jing."
She opened her eyes groggily. After the catharsis of tears, her heart felt particularly calm, her emotions remarkably tranquil, as if troubles were distant and past memories not worth dwelling on.
"Get up." He hauled her to her feet. "Time to go home."
Her expression froze in surprise.
Chen Yi had already put on his helmet: "I'll consider it doing a good deed. You can leave after high school graduation. That crappy township middle school in your hometown - what worthless nonsense. Better not to study there at all."
"Get on." He sounded impatient. "Hurry up, go home and cook. I'm hungry."
Miao Jing tremblingly climbed onto the motorcycle, fear evident in her movements: "Can we go slower? If I fall off, I'll die."
He burst into loud laughter.
The tuition at Provincial Key High School wasn't excessively high - 1,200 for tuition and miscellaneous fees, 700 for accommodation, 500 for uniforms and military training expenses. Though additional costs for supplementary classes and various fees might exceed expectations. During the two summer months, Miao Jing had found work - doing some handicrafts at home during the day, working at an internet cafe at night. Chen Yi and his friends often hung out at internet cafes too, so the work environment was relatively safe and relaxed.
Chen Yi tossed her a mobile phone, telling her to get a SIM card and save his number: "Call me if anything happens."
Chapter 20: Chen Yi Never Worried About Money Again
Two days before high school started, Miao Jing quit her internet cafe job and went home with her wages and Chen Yi - this job had only been possible because Chen Yi guaranteed her employment. At just fifteen, she was too young, and the internet cafe owner didn't dare employ such young child labor, only letting her do odd jobs in the night shift server room. Chen Yi could earn money by accompanying customers playing games. Miao Jing stayed up late with him eating instant noodles and breathing secondhand smoke, deeply feeling that internet cafes were places that brought both joy and sorrow - the excitement and happiness of youth, alongside the corruption and pain.
Both with money in their pockets, they were in fairly good spirits, walking leisurely on their own. At nine in the morning, housewives returning from grocery shopping still filled the streets. Miao Jing stopped by the market along the way, with Chen Yi following her. Passing a small clothing store, he called out to stop her - with school starting soon for both of them, they needed to buy some new clothes.
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