After class, Zhao Yanyan and I were once again held back by the old man. He went on and on about the benefits of participating in the competition—how it could improve one's personal qualities and, most importantly, how doing well in the finals would add points to our college entrance exams. I wasn't too bothered by it, but Zhao Yanyan seemed to have been thoroughly convinced by his endless persuasion, nodding in agreement.
"Today, no one's picking me up," Zhao Yanyan whispered as we walked downstairs.
The moment I heard that, a smile spread across my face. If I hadn't had memories from my past life, I might not have noticed the hidden meaning behind her words. But now, if I didn't understand this subtle hint, I'd be a complete fool.
"I'll walk you home," I said, trying to sound casual.
Zhao Yanyan's face flushed at my suggestion. She didn't speak, but she didn't object either.
We walked in silence, side by side, to the bus stop. Finally, I broke the silence. "Which bus do you take?"
"Line 6," she murmured softly.
It was probably her first time walking with a boy, and she seemed very nervous. To ease the tension, I said, "Let me tell you a joke."
I'd read online in my previous life that when two people are together and one doesn't speak, the other has to keep coming up with things to say. And the best way to break the ice and bring people closer is to tell a joke—once the atmosphere lightens, the relationship becomes more comfortable.
Zhao Yanyan nodded in agreement.
So, I went ahead and said, "A bear and a rabbit are pooping in the forest. The bear asks the rabbit, 'Doesn't it bother you when poop gets stuck in your fur?' The rabbit replies, 'No, it's fine.' So the bear wipes his butt with the rabbit."
Zhao Yanyan stifled a laugh, covering her mouth and turning red. She held it in for a while, trying to stop herself from laughing, her face becoming even more flushed. After a moment, she managed to speak. "Where did you hear that joke? It's so gross."
"Gross, and yet you're laughing your head off," I teased.
"I didn't laugh! I wasn't laughing at all," Zhao Yanyan insisted, trying to sound serious.
I reached out and gently tickled her under the arm. "Still denying it? Let's see if you can stop laughing now."
Zhao Yanyan quickly stepped to the side, but she was too slow. I caught her, and soon she burst into laughter, her body shaking uncontrollably.
Suddenly, Zhao Yanyan stopped laughing, her face a deep shade of red as she looked at me, biting her lip. She hesitated for a moment before softly saying, "Please, stop…"
"What?" I asked, confused. But then I immediately realized that my right hand had accidentally landed somewhere soft. What was that? Without thinking, I gave it a light squeeze.
"Hey! You're actually squeezing it!" Zhao Yanyan cried, flustered.
Only then did I realize what had happened. My right hand was resting on her chest, and she wasn't wearing a bra... I let out a nervous laugh and quickly pulled my hand away.
For a moment, neither of us said anything, the air thick with awkwardness. A Line 6 bus pulled up next to us and then drove off.
After a long silence, I finally spoke. "Are you mad at me?"
Zhao Yanyan shook her head.
"I'm sorry, I really didn't mean to," I said, genuinely apologetic.
Zhao Yanyan nodded and softly replied, "I know."
(Bystander A: He definitely did it on purpose. I can vouch for it!)
Bystander B: The guy doesn't seem that bad, but who knows what's really going on in his mind.)
It seemed like she wasn't really angry. A sense of relief washed over me. Now, the question was: should I press forward with my progress or take a more cautious approach? The two thoughts clashed fiercely in my mind.
Zhao Yanyan, however, had no idea of the inner battle I was going through. Seeing my expression shift from calm to uncertain, she probably thought I didn't trust her. Gently, she grabbed my hand and said, "Liu Lei, I really'm not mad, truly. If you don't believe me…" She started to guide my hand toward her chest.
I never expected Zhao Yanyan to make such a bold move. Was she really so concerned about me? But before I could react, I quickly pulled my hand away. As much as I wanted to continue, I knew that if I did, I would look like a total creep, especially with people around us.
Zhao Yanyan, realizing the situation, was mortified by her own behavior. It's all Liu Lei's fault for getting me worked up. Did he think I was being too casual with him?
I quickly said, "Yanyan, it's all my fault. How about I tell you another joke?"
Zhao Yanyan didn't seem to mind me calling her "Yanyan." She pouted and said, "I don't want to hear your disgusting jokes."
"Okay, then I'll tell you one that's not gross," I said.
"Fine, but only if it's really not gross," she replied.
I grinned. "Alright, here goes. Once upon a time, there was a fool. Whenever anyone asked him anything, he would say, 'No.' They asked, 'Did you eat?' He said, 'No.' They asked, 'Did you sleep?' He said, 'No.'"
I paused for dramatic effect before asking, "By the way, have you heard this one?"
"No," Zhao Yanyan shook her head and replied casually. Then she suddenly seemed to remember something and began to punch my arm playfully. "Liu Lei, you're so bad! Calling someone a fool!"
At that moment, in a nearby red-flagged car, a middle-aged man in his thirties anxiously pulled out a Motorola GC87C phone. This was the first generation of GSM digital phones in China, and only a few people could afford it. In 1994, having such a phone was a symbol of status.
The man dialed a number. "Zhao, I'm at the Youth Palace."
A voice on the other end of the line, identified as "Zhao," asked, "Old Gao, have you seen Yanyan?"
Old Gao replied, "I saw her, but she's with a boy."
Zhao asked, "Wait, didn't you say Yanyan doesn't usually talk to boys at school? It's not a big deal, they're probably just chatting."
But Old Gao was insistent. "No, no, Zhao. This time it's different. They look... close!"
Zhao was surprised. "Close? What do you mean?"
Old Gao hesitated before blurting, "I saw her—she made that boy put his hand on—on—"
Zhao quickly interrupted, "What? Come on, tell me!"
After a long pause, Old Gao finally said, "She made him put his hand on her... chest."
Zhao was stunned. "What? Yanyan let that boy touch her chest??"
Old Gao hastily replied, "Yes, I saw it with my own eyes."
Zhao was silent for a long time before finally saying, "Forget it. Don't disturb them. Just follow them and report back to me."
At this moment, neither Zhao Yanyan nor I realized that we were being watched.
On the Line 6 bus, Zhao Yanyan and I sat side by side in the last row.
"How about we go see a movie later?" I suggested.
"No, I'll be home late and Grandpa will scold me," Zhao Yanyan whispered.
"You can just tell him you're going to participate in the national competition and that the teacher kept you behind for extra tutoring," I offered.
"But… I can't lie to Grandpa!" Zhao Yanyan hesitated.
I noticed her hesitation and immediately realized there was a chance. Pretending to be disappointed, I said, "Oh, so you don't like being with me?"
Sure enough, Zhao Yanyan fell for it, her face flushing as she said, "Fine, we'll go watch a movie."
We got off at the Children's Cinema station. From a distance, we could already see the large poster of Andy Lau at the entrance. The movie currently playing was Heaven and Earth, a classic starring Andy Lau, and its theme song, Forget Me Not, had become incredibly popular across the country.
It was a film I also liked, so I walked up to the ticket counter and pulled out the only five yuan I had, handing it to the ticket seller. "Two student tickets, please."
The ticket seller pointed to the counter and said, "All the regular tickets are sold out. There are only couple seats left, twenty yuan for a set. Do you want them?"
Twenty yuan? Highway robbery! I cursed in my mind. The price was ridiculous, and my five yuan wouldn't even cover one ticket.
Zhao Yanyan seemed to notice my awkwardness. She quickly pulled out her wallet from her bag and handed over a fifty yuan note.
I glanced at her wallet. There was at least a hundred yuan bill inside. I couldn't help but feel a little surprised—this girl was certainly not from a poor family. Who goes out with over a hundred yuan in their wallet? Didn't she fear being robbed? But I'd overlooked one thing: Zhao Yanyan was used to being chauffeured everywhere, and today was an exception.
After getting the change, Zhao Yanyan put it back in her wallet and handed me the tickets. Together, we entered the cinema.
The couple seats were on the second floor—basically small compartments with partitions on both sides. Our seats were at the very end, meaning no one would walk by us. This was perfect for a private escape. I couldn't help but let my imagination wander.
Zhao Yanyan sat neatly on her side. The movie hadn't started yet, and trailers were being shown. It seemed we arrived just in time.
I intentionally sat very close to her. She tried to shift away, only to find that the other side was blocked by the wall. I casually nudged her now and then, making sure our bodies brushed against each other. Although I couldn't see her expression, I could tell her breathing was noticeably quicker.
The movie began, and we both focused on the screen. Zhao Yanyan was genuinely engrossed, while I was just pretending to watch. I'd seen this movie many times in my previous life, and besides, with a beautiful girl sitting next to me, I wasn't really in the mood for watching.
As my eyes followed the plot, my mind was calculating the twists and turns of the story. Zhao Yanyan seemed to calm down too, no longer as tense as before, and allowed our bodies to stay close.
I waited for the right moment. Slowly, I reached out and gently took her hand. The instant our hands touched, Zhao Yanyan's body tensed and she turned to look at me. Seeing that I was still casually watching the movie, as if nothing had happened, she frowned slightly and gave a soft struggle. After a moment's hesitation, she sighed and let me hold her hand.
Maybe he didn't mean to, Zhao Yanyan thought, comforting herself.
At that moment, the movie reached a particularly intense scene where Andy Lau was fighting a drug lord. The tension was palpable. When Andy Lau's character was knocked to the ground, seemingly about to die, there was a collective gasp from the audience. Zhao Yanyan instinctively tightened her grip on my hand.
A barely perceptible, mischievous smile crossed my face. I timed that perfectly.
Zhao Yanyan and I held hands through the rest of the movie, even until the final moments. The gunshots rang out, Andy Lau's character fell, and Forget Me Not played over the credits. The movie ended, and Zhao Yanyan, like many other girls, was in tears.
I took the opportunity to pull her gently into my arms, softly stroking her hair and back. The soft warmth of her chest pressed against me through the thin fabric of her clothes. It was pure temptation, and I was genuinely afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself...
Suddenly, Zhao Yanyan lifted her head and looked at me with tear-filled eyes. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Liu Lei, I'm really scared. Do you think life is really that fragile?"
I didn't quite understand the depth of her words, so I nodded slowly.
Zhao Yanyan bit her lip, as if making an important decision, and whispered, her voice quivering, "Liu Lei, I like you! Please don't leave me, okay?"
I was stunned, caught off guard. I hadn't expected Zhao Yanyan, of all people, to be the first to say those words. Although, deep down, I already knew she had feelings for me.
I held her tightly and whispered in her ear, "I like you too."
Once those words left my mouth, all the barriers between us seemed to disappear. Zhao Yanyan relaxed in my arms, a content smile spreading across her face.
A moment later, Zhao Yanyan looked up at me again. "You haven't promised me yet."
"Promised you what?" I asked, confused.
"That no matter what, you'll never leave me. After watching that movie, I feel so unsettled. Life really is so fragile, and I keep thinking that one day, you'll leave me. I can't shake the feeling, Liu Lei. It's been so strong since just now... I'm really scared! Please promise me you won't leave?" As she spoke, more tears welled up in her eyes.
I couldn't help but admire how strong a woman's sixth sense could be. She was right. If things had played out the same way as before, I would have tragically passed away at the age of thirty-one, at her wedding. But not this time. This time was different. I had been reborn, and my fate was in my own hands. Besides, I figured that a few little ghosts must know I had an "underworld big brother" backing me up. They probably wouldn't dare mess with me. Speaking of which, I hadn't checked in with my underworld big brother in a while. I should give him a call soon... though only mentally. I certainly didn't want to meet him face-to-face too soon.
I gently wiped the tears from Zhao Yanyan's face and, with a firm tone, said to her, "I promise you! I won't leave you!"
Hand in hand, Zhao Yanyan and I walked out of the cinema, just like any other couple, leaning on each other.
"Liu Lei." Zhao Yanyan called my name softly.
"Hm?" I replied.
"Do you think I'm being too forward?" Zhao Yanyan suddenly stopped and looked me in the eyes.
"No!" I said firmly. Of course I didn't think that. After all, in my previous life, I had silently watched her grow up. How could I not know what kind of person she was?
Zhao Yanyan studied my gaze, which held no trace of insincerity. Finally, she felt at ease and spoke softly, "You know, Liu Lei, today is the first time I've ever let a boy walk me home, the first time I've lied to my family for a boy, the first time I've snuck out to watch a movie with a boy, the first time I've held a boy's hand, the first time I've let a boy touch me... the first time I've cared about someone who isn't my family. It's the first time—I never even imagined I'd ever say 'I like you' to a boy I've only known for a week. You've taken so many of my firsts, Liu Lei. I don't know why, but I just like you."
Even though I had already known everything Zhao Yanyan just said, hearing it from her lips still moved me in a way I couldn't explain.
Back at Zhao Yanyan's home, her father, Zhao Junsheng, had heard that his secretary couldn't pick up his daughter today, so he'd asked his driver, Lao Gao, to do it. But for some reason, another boy, who seemed close to his daughter, had appeared.
"Why hasn't Lao Gao called me yet?" Zhao Junsheng muttered to himself. Grabbing the phone, he was about to dial when his mobile rang.
"Hello, Mr. Zhao, it's Lao Gao!"
"Lao Gao! How's it going over there? I was just about to call you."
"Mr. Zhao, I saw your daughter and that boy holding hands as they came out of the cinema."
"Are you sure?" Zhao Junsheng asked after a brief pause.
"Yeah, I'm following them in the car now."
"Where are they headed?"
"They seem to be going toward your father's house. Should I send a few people to warn that boy?" Lao Gao asked.
"Not yet, just keep an eye on them. And in the meantime, look into that boy's background—his family, everything," Zhao Junsheng ordered.
"Understood! But that boy doesn't seem wealthy. He's sending your daughter home by bus, and she paid for the movie!" Lao Gao muttered.
Neither Zhao Yanyan nor I mentioned the ride; we just kept walking toward her grandfather's house.
As we neared a villa, Zhao Yanyan stopped and said, "I'll go back now. If we walk any further, people will recognize me."
I nodded but didn't let go of her hand.
"Liu Lei, I really have to go. Grandpa's going to scold me if I'm too late!" Zhao Yanyan looked at me with longing in her eyes.
I still didn't release her hand.
"Ugh—" Zhao Yanyan sighed, bit her lip, and pulled her hand away, running ahead.
She hadn't gone far when she stopped and turned around, her face wet with tears. "Liu Lei, I miss you again. Could you hold me one more time?" she said, rushing into my arms.
We stood there for a long time, wrapped in each other's embrace. Finally, Zhao Yanyan glanced at her watch and exclaimed, "Oh no!" She turned and hurried back toward the villa.
I watched her retreating figure, knowing that this was the day history had truly changed. My life's trajectory had shifted.
What kind of house was this? It looked so luxurious, and there were even guards at the entrance! Deep down, I felt like something was off, but I didn't dare approach, afraid of being noticed.
I wandered around the area for a while before finally catching a bus home.
When I got back, my parents were worried and kept asking why I was so late. My dad, especially, looked stern and immediately questioned, "Where did you go after school? Were you at the arcade again?"
I used to sneak off to the arcade after school during my middle school years, which led to my dad losing trust in me. Sigh! I had really messed up back then.
Of course, I had already prepared an excuse. Just like Zhao Yanyan, I mentioned how my computer teacher thought I had a talent for the subject and wanted me to represent the Youth Center in the national competition. My dad's face immediately lit up, and he told my mom to warm up the food while he fetched a can of beer to celebrate.
"See! I told you my son is no ordinary person!" My dad took a sip of beer. "He'll definitely be as skilled as I am, a tech expert!"
"What do you mean 'your son'? I gave birth to him—what's your role in this?" My mom retorted.
"Of course it's related to me! Without me, would you have been able to give birth to him?" My dad said without thinking.
My mom quickly pinched his arm. "The kid's here, don't say such things!"
My dad chuckled awkwardly, raised his glass, and kept drinking.
They still treated me like I was an innocent child, unaware that I understood more than both of them combined. Sure, I was still a beginner—both mentally and physically.
"Son, don't listen to your dad. Don't end up like him, stuck in some dead-end job, earning only a few pennies. What's the point of that?" my mom advised.
"What's wrong with me? Aren't you the same?" my dad countered.
"Humph! Because I work in a factory too, I regret marrying you. If I'd accepted Xiao Zhao's proposal back then, I would've escaped this misery by now!" My mom shot back at him. I'd heard this line more than once—whenever my dad messed up, she'd throw it in his face. But deep down, I knew my mom still loved my dad.
"What does Xiao Zhao have that's so special? Back then, he was just a soldier who was transitioning into civilian life! He was just helping out at the factory!" my dad scoffed.
"What does it matter if he was a soldier? I read in the newspaper that he was named one of the city's top ten outstanding private entrepreneurs!" my mom countered.
"Well, I have a great son! He'll bring me glory in the future!" My dad grinned, proud.
"Humph! I'm only putting up with you for the sake of our son. Otherwise, I would've divorced you a long time ago!" My mom smiled when she heard my dad mention me.
In my past life, I did bring my parents pride. My dad straightened his back and boasted to anyone who'd listen, "My son studies at Huaxia University!" But in the end, he passed away without reaping any of the benefits of my success.
This time, I was determined that I wouldn't let that happen again.