Chapter 93: The Pickup Truck

(1)

At ten o’clock in the morning, the sunlight, carrying the warmth of spring, shone through the window into the room.

Yu Minghui had just finished tidying up the dishes on the table and was standing in front of the refrigerator, picking out a drink she wanted to have—finally taking out a small box of yogurt.

Anjing was already standing by the door with her backpack on, wearing the familiar blue-and-white school uniform she often wore even when not going to school.

“Aren’t you wearing a skirt today?”

“If I wore a skirt to meet my classmates—I’d be crazy.”

Anjing rolled her eyes dramatically.

“Oh, right, I forgot.”

Yu Minghui blinked, though it didn’t look like she really forgot.

“Are you sure you’ll be playing for several days before coming back?”

“Yeah… probably two or three days. I’m taking my friend’s uncle’s car there.”

“Then remember to call once in the morning and once at night to check in.”

“Okay, no problem!”

“Since you’re going out to play, have fun. But once you come back, you have to focus on studying, okay?”

“Mm—”

Anjing picked up her backpack, stretched out her arms, and took a deep stretch.

“This is the last spree before school starts again. I probably won’t have much time to play games for the next half year.”

“It’s the last semester of ninth grade. Don’t even think about playing games then.”

Yu Minghui opened the fridge again and stuffed the remaining boxes of yogurt into Anjing’s arms.

“Take these for the road.”

“Ah, there’s no way I can finish so many…”

“Share them with your friends.”

“What if there’s not enough to share?”

“Then just share them with your little girlfriend.”

“Yu Minghui, your ability to adapt on the spot really is something…”

Anjing muttered as she stuffed the yogurts into her backpack, slung it back over her shoulders, and slipped on a pair of freshly cleaned white sneakers.

“By the way, these shoes you bought get dirty so easily.”

“But light colors look better.”

Yu Minghui bent down to take a look.

“Next time I’ll buy you black ones?”

“Sure.”

Anjing and her cousin never bothered with formalities.

To her, Yu Minghui was as close as a sister, sometimes even like a second mother.

Being overly polite with family would only make things feel distant.

“Let’s go!”

Anjing waved her hand at the door, then dashed down the stairs, the metal steps clanging sharply with each quick step.

***

(2)

This time, the meeting place wasn’t the Greenhouse Market Street but right outside the school gate.

The choice was mainly because fewer people passed by, making parking easier.

Anjing had come early. When she arrived, only Wang Xinru was waiting.

“Woof woof!”

Anjing waved her hand energetically, glanced both ways down the quiet road, then strode quickly over to Wang Xinru.

The soft white clouds drifting across the sky were gently pushed by the breeze at that moment, causing a golden ray of sunlight to shift and fall softly upon the two of them.

“An’an.”

“Morning. I came half an hour early, and you’re even earlier than me.”

Anjing reached behind her and skillfully zipped open her backpack a little to pull out a half-drunk yogurt, then handed one to Wang Xinru.

“Here, uh… wait a sec, I’ll find a straw. It should be in here—”

“Strolled over slowly like a walk.”

Wang Xinru stepped forward suddenly, her long hair brushed by the breeze lightly touching Anjing’s cheek.

“Careful, your stuff in the backpack might fall out.”

“Huh?”

“The zipper’s open too wide… An’an.”

“Oh, oh.”

Anjing hurriedly moved her backpack to the front and finally found the straws stuck in the gap.

She gave one to Wang Xinru and shoved the rest into her jacket pocket.

“I think I brought a bit too much…”

“What did you bring?”

“Spare clothes, just in case. A jacket and pants to change into, a game console, phone charger, two novels, uh—this one was stuffed in by Yu Minghui.”

Anjing awkwardly pushed a pink bag marked with the words “Seven Degrees Space” firmly inside and zipped up quickly.

“Phew…”

“That’s not much, though.”

“What about you?”

“About the same as you.”

Wang Xinru patted her round, fully packed backpack.

“I was afraid it might suddenly get cold, so I brought an extra thick jacket.”

“It probably won’t get colder these days. Even if it rains, it won’t be that cold.”

Anjing opened a box of yogurt herself and stabbed the short, thick straw in with effort, then sucked the somewhat thick yogurt out with a slurp.

“The others should be coming later. Shall we sit somewhere?”

“No need. Standing’s fine. I’ve been sitting at home all the time…”

Anjing didn’t really hear Wang Xinru’s words, tilting her head as she scanned around quickly for a place to sit.

At that moment, the sound of a bicycle bell came from not far away.

The “ding ding dang dang” grew louder and was accompanied by a warm breeze.

Fang Qiang was riding a geared bicycle with the seat adjusted to the highest position, yet effortlessly rested one foot on the ground.

“Ah, I thought I’d be the first!”

“What kind of day is this, everyone wants to be first?”

Anjing glanced sideways at him.

“You rode your bike here. Where will you put it later?”

“In the school, of course. I just tell the security guard.”

Fang Qiang said, hopping off the bike and patting Anjing’s shoulder hard with his rough hand, making her head tingle.

“Hey!! Take it easy!”

“Am I not manly enough? I didn’t even use much force!”

“You’re impossible!”

“Woof woof!”

Fang Qiang pressed down on Anjing’s head and laughed heartily, greeting Wang Xinru.

“How’s the new year treating you?”

“Everything’s good.”

Wang Xinru pursed her lips and nodded slightly.

“That guy Yang Lingfei asked me to help him get you out for a hangout.”

“Yang Lingfei?”

Anjing scratched her head.

“Why didn’t he come find us? Why did he ask Wang Wang?”

“You’re such a fool.”

Fang Qiang’s eyes went wide.

“Don’t you know that guy’s interested in Wang Wang?”

“Huh?”

“You really are slow.”

“He just broke up, and with ninth grade coming up, he still has time to care about that?”

“That’s hormones for you.”

“You, who haven’t even memorized the periodic table, still remember the word ‘hormones’?”

“You think I’m an idiot?”

“About half illiterate,” Anjing teased.

“You even asked me last time if the English alphabet had 26 or 24 letters.”

“Anyway, that guy likes Wang Wang, got it? Wang Wang, you understand?”

“Obviously.”

Wang Xinru responded gracefully, a slight smile playing at her lips.

“Damn, that’s not right. Are you really Wang Xinru?”

“Yeah.”

“No way. The usual Wang Xinru would be shy and make excuses. How come you’re so calm?”

“People grow up.”

“That’s growing up way too fast!”

Fang Qiang gave Anjing’s shoulder a hard slap, making her grit her teeth.

“Ah Qiang, you’re looking for trouble!!”

“Damn, is this real?”

“Your sister…”

“So, Wang Wang, what’s the plan? Accept or reject? Yang Lingfei, though he sometimes seems fake, is actually a decent guy, and he’s handsome, at least not the kind to bully women. His last breakup was his girlfriend leaving him—he’s way more reliable than Zhou Chao in this regard.”

“We’re still young. There’s plenty of time. Love can wait.”

“…Sigh.” Fang Qiang seemed to recall something himself, and his smile vanished completely.

He raised his hand and patted Anjing’s shoulder gently.

“Anjing, you and Zhu Ying better stick together.”

Anjing quickly dodged his big, hairy hand.

“If you have something to say, say it with words—no touching.”

“Geez, you’re getting as sensitive as a girl.”

“Shut up!”

***

(3)

Half an hour passed quickly in casual chat, and soon everyone was standing outside the school gate.

Sun Wei and Fang Qiang were wrestling, with the former unable to knock the latter down, while the latter easily threw Sun Wei to the ground with minimal effort—and with plenty of skill.

“Damn, the weight difference is too big!”

“You’re just too small!”

“Try doing it with one hand!”

“That’s the first time I’ve heard such a bold request. Fine, one hand for you!”

“Give me one foot too!”

“Then I might as well fall down myself!”

Zhu Ying and Wang Xinru were chatting about braiding hair, both apparently skilled in styles the other wasn’t, occasionally glancing at Anjing, making her feel a little uneasy.

Zhang Qiqi ran into Yang Lingfei on the road and just came along with him.

“Oh wow, quite a crowd!”

“Tsk, here comes dirty Jiji.”

“Everyone’s here, is the car almost here?”

Yang Lingfei asked with a bright smile, then naturally stepped forward, pulling several beautifully wrapped chocolates from his pocket.

He first handed one to Anjing, then to Zhu Ying.

The shameless Fang Qiang and Sun Wei quickly pushed forward and each took one. Zhang Qiqi didn’t get one—probably already received one earlier—and the last one was given to Wang Xinru. It was the only chocolate in pink wrapping.

“Thanks.”

Wang Xinru lifted her usual sour face, slightly smiled, and nodded.

“Haha, after the New Year, you look even prettier—girls all seem to have become prettier.”

Anjing twisted her mouth and stepped back half a pace.

“Xiaojing, when will Zhou Chao get here?”

“I’ll send a message to ask.”

Anjing took out her phone and was about to text when she saw a silver Dongfeng pickup truck pulling up nearby.

This kind of vehicle was rare in big cities but common in small towns.

People used it to carry all sorts of goods, running their small businesses…

“Hey—”

Zhou Chao stuck his head out from the passenger seat, waving energetically.

“I’m here, sorry for the wait—!”

“Zhou Chao!”

Everyone was excited and refreshed to see their old friend after the New Year.

“You’ve gotten even more handsome!”

“He even slicked his hair back, so full of himself.”

“That hairstyle this morning though!”

“Where are we sitting?”

Anjing stood by the passenger door, standing on tiptoe.

“On the truck bed! We put some stools there, just sit yourselves!”