On Saturday morning, Lu Heng came over early. Today, the nanny had a day off, and Grandma had already gone out for her morning exercise. Xiang Yu, still drowsy, opened the door and saw Lu Heng. She thought she had overslept and quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll get up right away." Lu Heng shook his head with a smile, "No rush, we have plenty of time. I just wanted to come early to see you." Xiang Yu couldn't go back to sleep, so she let Lu Heng wait outside, closed the door, and changed into a beige turtleneck sweater and a pair of khaki corduroy pants. She came out and asked Lu Heng if she looked good. Lu Heng couldn't stop nodding as he stared at her. Xiang Yu went to wash up and put on some light makeup. She had become quite adept at applying makeup; with her natural beauty, a bit of eyebrow pencil and lipstick made her look even more radiant and spirited. She hadn't planned on having breakfast, but Lu Heng insisted, making her eat a boiled egg, a slice of bread, and a carton of milk before he was satisfied. Xiang Yu then put on a beige duffle coat, a red beret, and a red scarf before they left together. Xiang Yu preferred neutral colors, but the red lipstick and scarf brightened her gentle features, making her look lively and charming. When they got downstairs, Lu Heng took her hand, and they walked side by side, looking every bit the perfect couple, drawing some admiring glances.
The soccer team reunion was at a local restaurant known for its traditional dishes. Because there were many people, they had reserved a large private room with two tables. This restaurant was always busy because of its great food, and it was near their old high school, so it was a place filled with memories for Xiang Yu. When they entered, half of the group was already there. Xiang Yu recognized many faces but couldn't remember most of their names, except for Hua Guo and Kong Keling, who had been in her class. People stood up to greet Lu Heng and Xiang Yu, some hugging Lu Heng and others greeting Xiang Yu. As everyone hadn't arrived yet, they gathered around and started chatting.
Hua Guo said, "Have you heard about Luo Hua?" Some people nodded with somber expressions, while others urged, "Isn't he the one who was a few years ahead of us and got into the city team? He was one of the few from our school who made it big." Hua Guo nodded sadly and said, "He got into trouble." "What happened?" Several people asked quickly. Luo Hua had been a well-known figure who had once played on their school team and won the Youth Group Championship in the Hu Cup. Hua Guo sighed, "He killed his girlfriend and was sentenced to death." "What?" Lu Heng and Xiang Yu exclaimed in disbelief, and everyone looked at Hua Guo in shock. Someone who already knew about it confirmed, "It was in the evening news, it's true." "But why?" everyone asked, not wanting to believe it. Hua Guo, who knew more from the city team training camp, explained, "He had been stuck in the second team and couldn't move up. His parents spent a lot of money to get him an opportunity in Japan, but his girlfriend didn't want him to go. He gave up the chance for her, which angered his parents, and they stopped supporting him. He stayed in the second team, hoping to become an assistant coach after retiring. But the second team didn't have many opportunities, so his income wasn't good. His girlfriend got tired of him and wanted to break up. They argued several times, and eventually, he brought a knife to talk to her. When they couldn't resolve things, he stabbed her to death. The court considered it premeditated since he brought a knife, so they sentenced him to death." The room fell silent, and Lu Heng squeezed Xiang Yu's hand tightly. Kong Keling patted Lu Heng's shoulder and said, "Lu Heng, you're the luckiest. Look at you and Xiang Yu, childhood sweethearts, both got into university, and now you're together. We all envy you so much. You must cherish it." His words were sincere, and Lu Heng looked at Xiang Yu, then nodded solemnly.