The An Family treated Luo Yang extremely well and regarded him as a distinguished guest.
During a casual chat, Luo Yang heard Yuying mention that the village school didn't have an indoor sports field; whenever it rained, the students had nowhere to have their physical education classes. Generously, he said, "Once I've made some money, I'll build you an indoor sports field."
On hearing this, Yuying's cheeks quietly reddened, and in a tender voice, she said, "Then I'll remember that. You can't go back on your word in the future. I'll be waiting for good news from you, boss."
While they were talking, the ringtone of Luo Yang's cellphone sounded again.
"only you, can take me to retrieve the 'Journey to the West'…"
Seeing it was a call from an unknown number, Luo Yang suddenly associated it with the car accident. He answered the call. It turned out to be from the debt collector.
"Hello, may I ask who you're looking for?"
"Is this Luo Yang?"
This was a woman's voice tinged with vicissitudes and authority, clearly Zhu Li.
"Yes, it's me."
"You hit my car. I want you to come to my bar at eight tonight to discuss the compensation. Remember, don't make me wait too long."
After speaking, she hung up.
Listening to the "beep beep" noise that wouldn't stop, Luo Yang thought, "It finally happened!"
Thinking that Zhu Li might ask for a huge amount, that was trouble. He'd given her his number, so he might as well see what the situation was about.
Checking the time, it was already past seven-thirty. Riding a bicycle to Xiaoshulin Market would take more than ten minutes.
Luo Yang then bid farewell to Yuying and the others. Seeing Luo Yang's expression suddenly turn solemn, Yuying asked with concern, "Cowboy, what happened?"
He downplayed it, "Nothing much. I need to run to Xiaoshulin Market, and I'm on a tight schedule, so I have to go."
Telling her would not have been of any help.
Yuying hastily said, "I also want to buy some stuff, let's go together. Wait for me, I'll go change my clothes. Here, you start pushing the bike out."
As she spoke, she handed the keys to her scooter to Luo Yang and hurried upstairs.
Luo Yang pushed the scooter out to the front door, started it up, and waited for Yuying.
After a while, Yuying emerged, wearing a white dress that made her look purely beautiful, carrying a sleek black shoulder bag, and carefully walking in her high heels.
"Sister An, I've never seen you wear high heels before," Luo Yang laughed.
"It's my first time wearing them, and they're pretty hard to walk in," Yuying let her hair down, which fluttered lightly in the night breeze, graceful and flowing.
Once Yuying was seated sideways on the back seat, Luo Yang drove off.
After riding for a while, Yuying spoke softly, "Cowboy, I'm afraid I might fall off. Can I hold onto your waist?"
Luo Yang readily said, "Sure."
Before he could finish speaking, Yuying's right arm was already tightly wrapped around Luo Yang's waist. Soon after, her left hand joined in as well.
Their relationship was heating up.
At home, it was apparent that Luo Yang was troubled, but there wasn't time to ask in detail. Now, on the road, Yuying expressed her concern, "Cowboy, what happened? Can you tell me?"
Knowing telling Yuying would only worry her, Luo Yang made something up, "Nothing big, just meeting a friend. I'll get off at the entrance to Xiaoshulin Market."
Yuying said in a soft voice, "You're lying. Just tell me, maybe I can help."
"Really, it's nothing."
As they neared Xiaoshulin Market, Luo Yang said he would get off at the market entrance.
This behavior seemed strange, and Yuying thought, "Stinky Cowboy, not even willing to tell me, is he going to meet a girlfriend? All secretive."
Thinking this, she pouted her red lips, "Cowboy, what are you really up to?"
Luo Yang laughed and said, "A classmate invited me for late-night snacks."
As they were speaking, they had arrived at the entrance road of Xiaoshulin Market, and Luo Yang stopped the bike.
But Yuying didn't get off; she remained seated on the back, still hugging Luo Yang's waist, and said in a sweet voice, "Cowboy, can you invite me for some late-night snacks?"
Though this trip wasn't for snacks, Luo Yang found it hard to refuse and laughed, "Sure, I just need to take care of something first, then I'll treat you to some snacks. Sister An, why don't you look around and wait for me?"
As he spoke and tried to get off, but Yuying's arms were still wrapped around his waist, preventing him from moving.
The warm, ticklish breath Yuying exhaled on Luo Yang's neck was soothing and slightly intoxicating.
"You clearly don't want to treat me to late-night snacks, you stinge."
Her voice was soft and gentle, flowing like a gentle stream and seemed magical, penetrating the ears and softening every bone in the body.
Luo Yang couldn't help but shiver deeply.