Chapter 15 (1/2)

He Luo said, “Your father is second only to the commander. You have seen so many big stages, such a small stage you also have the face to show me?”

“I’m not interested.”

“Didn’t you have a crush on that rebound king from high school?” A woman’s mind was truly fickle.

“So flippant! Whatever words coming from your mouth sounds twisted,” He Luo snickered.

“Why should I tell you?”

“So, have you?” Tian Xin continued to persuade.

“Tell the truth!”

“I don’t believe it!”

“Y-You two pieces of wood! I thought you’d at least have a hot kiss when you’re saying goodbye! At the time I regretted leaving earlier than you and missing the show.”

There was no chance to embrace at all.

Thinking about this, He Luo felt a little sorrowful. “Why don’t you catch that handsome guy first? It’s useless to check now. If I encourage you now but the guy doesn’t have feelings for you, how upset would you be?”

He Luo reluctantly agreed. “Alright, alright. What day is it?”

“Sat.u.r.day… Ah!” He Luo thought of something. “I can’t, I have a Department activity!”

“A ball with the School of Economics.”

“Go ahead. The last time I called, he told me he’s also having a ball. He even said he’s very excited for it.” He Luo laughed. “Your heart is so twisted, even your thoughts are crooked.”

Having said that, however, when it came to the ball, He Luo still found a corner to sit down.

“It’s just that we have fewer girls.” Ye Zhi pointed at the available girls; there were less than ten. “And they’re all attached.” She pointed at He Luo. “Hey, why are you hiding all the way there?”

“It’s just dancing, not asking you to jump!” Zhou Xing Yan held onto her. “What are you scared of?”

“Then I’ll lead you.” He Luo walked over to her and, in the manner of an instructor, held out her right arm.

“These potatoes here tonight is beneath her,” Zhou Xing Yan retorted, joining them. “Little Luo Luo has her handsome Yuan Yuan at home.”

“What a waste of resources!” Their cla.s.smate Shen Lie shouted. “We now have two fewer girls.” He walked over in front of the two girls and stretched his hand in front of He Luo. “You’re here to make trouble, aren’t you?”

“Did you hurt anything!?”

“Then take a break and later partner with me!” Shen Lie pulled a chair for her to rest on.

“Didn’t you say you were okay?” Shen Lie stooped to look at her.

“You’re exaggerating.” He Luo toyed with her sandals. “But good thing Jia Ying didn’t wear stilettos.”

Tango was too seductive, Beijing dance was too tacky; she only liked waltz.

Originally Zhang Yuan had planned to visit her on National Day. But at the end of the month, he called to apologise that the tickets had sold out. “I overestimated the railroad’s ability.” He said he went to the station at 8 in the morning and found the entire place packed with humans. Most of them had been queuing since midnight.

“When I asked you if you have any plans, you said that someone was coming!” Li Yun Wei said. “Why don’t you come camping with us?”

The three girls in her dorm shook their heads. Tong Jia Ying was going to Tianjin to visit a cla.s.smate, Ye Zhi who was usually lazy continued to be lazy. “I want to catch up on my sleep… I’ll watch the ceremony in my dream.”

A helpless He Luo had no choice but to apply bitterly on her own. The school bus was leaving at 3 in the morning. The first night meant she would be getting no sleep. So she lit a candle to read her diary and Zhang Yuan’s letters again in the dark. A sleepy Ye Zhi saw the projection of her shadow and nagged, “You keep on using the candle, one day you’ll burn the whole dorm down.”

On the school bus, it so happened Shen Lie was also there. A surprised He Luo asked, “Eh, aren’t you also from Beijing?” Zhou Xing Yan retorted, “All these Beijing kids, you all were dragged to go see the flag-raising ceremony from kindergarten age.”

He Luo smiled and clapped lightly. Monitor Zhang Yuan, are you also doing your responsibility dutifully, guiding your cla.s.s in touring the city? The more she thought about it, the more sorrowful she felt. There were three and a half more months to the end of the final exams. More than 100 days.

Before it even hit 4 in the morning, the entire square was packed. Shen Lie patted his chest and promised he knew a lesser-known place that will give them a good view of the flag-raising. “You can watch the national flag rise against a backdrop of the sunrise! The distance will be close, it’s the absolute best!” He was leading the crowd, never forgetting those following further behind.

“Ah? There wasn’t such a block when I last came here!”

“I don’t quite remember anymore. I just remember wearing a red scarf.” He raised his hands. “I remember waving excitedly and yelling, ‘Flag, flag, your corner is here!’”

“Okay, I’ll go and ask.” He Luo just wanted to go back and sleep. Ye Zhi indeed was wise.

“Not here!” Ye Zhi yelled.