Today is the last day of the college entrance examination, so all the big and small restaurants in Ningcheng are full.
They only managed to book a small private room a few days in advance, which was sufficient for the seven of them. Nobody mentioned anything about the exam; they put all thoughts of the college entrance examination and scores aside for now! They ordered a table full of dishes, and they didn’t have to worry about wasting food because there were three boys with big appetites, and they could finish whatever was ordered.
The atmosphere was delightful. What does the end of the college entrance examination signify? It means they have completely stepped into the world of adulthood and are no longer seen as kids in the eyes of others.
In order to entice Zhou Ji, Zhao Zheng even called Zhou Ji’s number.
Zhou Ji picked up quickly on the other end. There was some background noise, and Zhou Ji seemed to have found a quieter corner. “What’s up?”
Zhao Zheng put it on speakerphone and said triumphantly, “Boss Zhou, you’ve finished your exam too, right?”
“Stop talking nonsense. If you’re done, then this Father is definitely done too,” Zhou Ji replied, “Are you all together now? You unfilial brat, how can you eat without your Father around?”
Yan Qing shouted to the phone, “We can eat, and we’re enjoying it! We ordered a table full of delicious food, and after eating, we’re going to sing. Oh, by the way, Zhiyu is here too!”
Ning Zhiyu helplessly covered her face.
After a few seconds of silence on the other end, Zhou Ji cursed in a low voice, “D*mn it, Zhao Zheng, you put me on speakerphone?”
Zhao Zheng burst into laughter and said, “Your intelligence is probably not even enough for the college entrance examination.”
Zhou Ji had to hold back his anger and cleared his throat. “What dishes did you eat?”
“I’ll show you later.” Zhao Zheng moved his phone towards Ning Zhiyu and said, “Top scorer, say a few words, or else Boss Zhou will flood our screens again tonight. Besides, in retaliation for me, he might steal all the crops I’ve painstakingly grown. Please, do me a favor.”
“…Sliced beef with green pepper.”
Ning Zhiyu spoke up, but to everyone’s surprise, she actually started listing the dishes, “Garlic-flavored spare ribs, chopped pepper fish head, crystal powder on an iron plate, cabbage in broth, eggplant with green beans, um… and chicken soup with garlic shrimp.”
Zhou Ji listened quietly, “Anything else?”
“Oh, there’s also brown sugar rice cakes and pan-fried dumplings.”
“What’s the filling in the dumplings?”
Ning Zhiyu didn’t feel like talking much anymore, “I haven’t tried them, so I don’t know.”
Guo Shichao shouted, “They are filled with cabbage and pork!”
Zhou Ji responded unhappily, “Xiao Guozi, don’t spoil the mood, okay?”
Ning Zhiyu moved the phone back again, and Zhao Zheng smirked, “Boss Zhou must have a richer schedule today than us. Okay, we won’t ask about your extravagant days in Yanjing…”
Zhou Ji didn’t even bother with Zhao Zheng’s speakerphone mode and teased, “Feeling itchy, huh? Enjoying the nightlife, aren’t you? Even a semiliterate person like you knows idioms, can you use them properly?”
Zhou Ji then shouted again, “Lao Duan, aren’t you going to manage him? Using the idiom wrongly, you’re losing face too!”
Duan Ye ignored him and focused on preparing chopsticks for Jiang Yumo.
Jiang Yumo was still considerate and asked, “Zhou Ji, are you still coming to Ningcheng?”
“Sister?” Zhou Ji smiled, “You still care about me. You hit the nail on the head with that question. I’ll arrive the day after tomorrow, as agreed. Early in the morning on the day after tomorrow, everyone has to come and pick me up, no exceptions!”
The day after tomorrow?
The day after tomorrow would be the tenth.
It’s Ning Zhiyu’s eighteenth birthday.
Oh!
Ning Zhiyu lowered her head, a smile forming at the corner of her lips. She had forgotten how long it had been since someone cared about her birthday like this. Her friends remembered, and they had already discussed how to celebrate her birthday. In this year, she tasted the long-lost flavor of happiness.
After dinner, they gathered in groups and went to a private karaoke room.
This was arranged by Duan Ye.
Tonight, not only the restaurants but also the karaoke places and cinemas were fully booked all over the city. Duan Ye knew one of the bosses in this karaoke place and had made a reservation for this private room in advance. Karaoke was practically the territory of Yan Qing and Guo Shichao. However, to prevent these two karaoke enthusiasts from being too arrogant, they had agreed in advance that each person would sing two songs in a queue. Jiang Yumo didn’t want to sing outside, so she gave her turns to Yan Qing.
These days, everyone sings love songs, heart-wrenching love songs.
These kinds of songs, when listened to, easily sway emotions and make people feel gloomy. But if you don’t listen to them… they become the best lullabies.
Jiang Yumo felt drowsy.
The air conditioning in the private room was comfortable, and the sofa’s cushions were just right in terms of softness and hardness.
Just when she was about to close her eyes and take a nap, suddenly a deep and powerful voice exploded throughout the room—
“We’re soldiers, what is the difference, it’s just that we all wear plain military uniforms1~”
Jiang Yumo was startled.
She widened her eyes and looked at Zhao Zheng on the screen… After a moment of silence in the private room, Yan Qing burst into laughter, and the atmosphere instantly heated up.
Jiang Yumo was no longer sleepy, after all, who could fall asleep under Zhao Zheng’s singing?
Reluctantly, after Zhao Zheng finished singing two military songs, he handed the microphone to Duan Ye. Now, nobody was sleepy anymore. In Jiang Yumo’s impression, Duan Ye hadn’t sung much before. His situation was different from hers; she couldn’t sing in tune, but it was not that she sang poorly.
“I’ll start the song, Sister Mo, you also sing, and sing a duet love song with Brother Duan!”
“Yes, yes, Yumo, go up and sing a duet with Brother Duan!”
Amidst the teasing of a few people, Jiang Yumo couldn’t escape. She found a microphone in her hand, not knowing when it was passed to her.
Duan Ye also had a microphone.
“I’ll start the song.” Guo Shichao began the song, and the next one was indeed a duet.
Jiang Yumo listened to the familiar intro.
Turning her head, she saw the song title displayed on the screen—[Hao Xin Fen Shou2]
Jiang Yumo couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Holding the microphone, her laughter echoed through every corner of the private room.
Duan Ye: “…”
He simply threw the microphone on the table and said in a deep voice, “Zhao Zheng, it’s your turn.”
Zhao Zheng had long been ready and eager, “Understood! Brother, here I come!”
Guo Shichao quickly begged for mercy, “Brother Duan, I really, I really didn’t mean it. Originally, I was planning to sing this song together with Yan Qing…”
Yan Qing : “?”
Zhao Zheng became even angrier, “You can’t sing with her anymore!”
Duan Ye and Zhao Zheng ignored Guo Shichao’s pleading and threw him out, occasionally hearing Guo Shichao’s screams.
The four girls sat on the sofa, laughing uncontrollably.
Jiang Yumo originally thought that they would probably stay until after eleven o’clock today, but unexpectedly, just as it struck ten o’clock, Duan Ye announced they were leaving early. No one objected, and they all went their separate ways. After all, they had the entire summer vacation ahead of them, and they could spend every day together.
After they dispersed, Jiang Yumo murmured, “So early.”
Duan Ye was walking with her on the side of the street and turned his head, coaxing her helplessly, “It’s not that early.”
He paused for a moment and honestly said, “I’m afraid Aunt will call me later.”
“She won’t until after twelve o’clock,” Jiang Yumo said, “So don’t worry, she won’t call.”
Duan Ye smiled, “It’s better if she doesn’t call, I’m a little scared.”
It’s possible that all boys are afraid of receiving a call from their girlfriend’s mom…
Perhaps the fear of one’s mother-in-law is an ancient tradition passed down through generations?
- the song is 咱当兵的人 (lit. meaning : We’re soldiers) sung by Liu Bin ↩︎
- lit. meaning : Break Up with Good Feelings. A song sung by Candy Lou. ↩︎