Cheng You received five hundred yuan and suddenly became a rich woman. She was overjoyed.
She pulled Cheng Wenyu into the house and placed the money on the bed, dividing it in half.
"This is yours, but I'll keep it for you for now. I'll give it to you when you're an adult."
Cheng Wenyu pushed the money back. "I don't want it, it's all yours."
Cheng You tucked the money away. "That won't do."
She didn't want to take advantage, even though this was her younger brother.
Cheng Tianhua was unreliable. She could only hope he still had some fatherly affection for Cheng Wenyu. If not, this sum of over two hundred yuan could be Cheng Wenyu's fallback.
"I'll go to the bank and open an account for it later."
"Do as you please, Sis. What do you think if I joined the army?"
Ever since returning from San Leng's place, he had been thinking about this.
Cheng You looked at him strangely. "Why the sudden urge to join the army?"
Cheng Wenyu lowered his head, feeling a bit lost.
"I want to be someone who can protect you too."
He didn't know what he was capable of. When he used to hang out with those people, he felt different.
But gradually, he began to doubt himself.
Would drifting along like this lead anywhere?
"Wenyu, don't change your life's trajectory just for me. If you want to join the army, that's fine, but that shouldn't be the reason. Be honest, if it weren't for me, would you still want to join the army?"
Cheng Wenyu blinked, looking at her blankly.
"Probably not."
San Leng said the army was very strict and required self-discipline. Every action would be limited by the identity of a "soldier."
He didn't want to.
But other than this, he couldn't think of anything else to do.
"Wenyu, we have money now, why don't you go back to school?"
"School?" Cheng Wenyu was surprised.
Studying at this time was considered the most futile path, as there were no university entrance exams and no state-assigned jobs.
There were worker-peasant-soldier universities, but he wouldn't get a chance.
"Sis, why do you want me to go back to school?"
Cheng You didn't know how to explain. In her dreams, the most memorable thing she recalled was the college entrance examination.
In another two years, the college entrance examination would be reinstated.
But she couldn't possibly tell Cheng Wenyu that; he would likely think she was crazy.
"Just trust me, I won't harm you. Not only do I want you to go back, but I want to go back myself."
However, she couldn't give up the work from Uncle Li. After much thought, she decided to borrow books first.
Cheng Wenyu remained silent, his head bowed.
After a while, he finally spoke, "I'll consider it."
After all, the brothers from the commune couldn't be cut off just like that.
Cheng You patted his shoulder. "You go back to your room first, I have to go out."
Cheng Wenyu narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her. "It's so late, where are you going? Don't tell me you're meeting some scoundrel?"
"What scoundrel? Don't talk nonsense!"
That was your future brother-in-law!
Cheng Wenyu reluctantly stood up and turned to leave.
He suddenly turned back. "After Zhao Yunlin's lesson, you should be more cautious. Men are all the same."
Cheng You stared. "What about you?"
"I'm different. I might not be good to other women, but I'm your brother!"
He even felt he was more reliable than Cheng Tianhua.
Cheng You waved her hand, her attitude somewhat perfunctory. "I know, you can go."
Qi Chengyan was not that kind of person.
Seeing everyone else go back inside, she secretly slipped out.
She hadn't arranged to meet Qi Chengyan, but she desperately wanted to see him!
Cheng You walked very fast. As she walked, she heard a sound from behind her.
It sounded like someone was following her.
Cheng You suddenly felt a chill down her spine and turned around abruptly. She saw a dark figure and instinctively wanted to scream.
As she opened her mouth, her voice was muffled by the approaching person.
The smell!
Qi Chengyan!
Cheng You pushed his hand away and pouted. "Why are you sneaking up on me like that? You scared me to death!"
"I've been by your door the whole time."
He had arrived much earlier.
But he couldn't meet Cheng You openly at this moment, or everything she had done earlier would be in vain.
Cheng You felt a little guilty. He had been there the whole time...
Did that mean he saw her beat Cheng Tao like a shrew?
She covered her face, as if her unsightly side had been seen by the person she liked.
A moment later, a large hand gently rested on her head and patted it twice.
It was only for a moment. By the time Cheng You looked up, the hand had already withdrawn.
Qi Chengyan maintained his usual indifferent demeanor, showing no emotion.
"Qi Chengyan, I'm not usually like that. I was just furious."
Qi Chengyan hummed, his low voice saying, "Very cute."
Cheng You froze, her bright eyes widening.
"What?"
He didn't repeat himself and took out an ointment from his pocket, handing it to her.
"I asked a friend to mail this from Yancheng. It can remove scars."
He had come today to check on her and to give her the ointment.
"Let's go, I'll take you back."
Cheng You held the ointment in her hand, her heart warming.
Since her mother passed away, she had almost never experienced the feeling of being cared for.
"Did you come all this way just to give me ointment?"
She turned to look at Qi Chengyan.
Qi Chengyan remained silent, perhaps not hearing her question.
Cheng You reached out and held one of his fingers, swaying it gently. "I'm asking you, why aren't you talking to me?"
Qi Chengyan, as if scalded, quickly pulled his hand away.
Just as he was about to scold her, Cheng You pouted and interrupted. "I know, I should be reserved! But if you don't talk to me, I'll act like this! Qi Chengyan, you came here specifically to give me ointment, right?"
Qi Chengyan sighed helplessly and nodded.
Cheng You, like a triumphant little fox, covered her mouth and giggled.
She tiptoed and leaned close to his ear, whispering, "I knew it, you like me too!"
Her faint breath tickled his ear, making him feel tingly.
Qi Chengyan, feeling uncomfortable, tried to step back. Suddenly, Cheng You grabbed his ears with both hands and said fiercely, "No retreating! I forbid you to retreat!"
Qi Chengyan's movements froze. The girl leaning against him was so soft and petite.
"Qi Chengyan, I've done everything a woman can do. We can't proceed like this if you don't respond. Next time, it's your turn to say you like me!"
With that, Cheng You smiled brilliantly, planted a kiss on his cheek, grabbed the ointment, and ran off.
Her entire retreating figure exuded joy.
Qi Chengyan stood there, as if under a spell, staring ahead blankly.
He had never been in a relationship, but he knew what that touch was.
It was a light kiss on his cheek, or perhaps a feather landing on his heart, gently stirring his emotions.