Zhang Mengmeng watched Wang Yue's retreating back.
Her eyes were moist, and her heart felt equally so.
"How could there be such a..."
"What would I do without you, Mengmeng!"
Liu Shanyi roared as he chased after her.
...
On the way back.
Wang Yue was driving, with Pan Qiudong in the passenger seat.
"Cousin, you were so cool today, how can you fight so well?"
Pan Qiudong exclaimed excitedly.
Pan Hanlin and Pan Hongbin in the back also showered him with praise.
"Cousin, you truly impressed us today. Those guys were so arrogant before you arrived, and their cowardly demeanor at the end made us laugh so hard."
"Hahaha, we really have to thank cousin today, otherwise Qiudong would have been ruined."
Wang Yue rolled his eyes and said, "Stop flattering me. Pan Qiudong, I'm telling you, study hard from now on. Don't spend all your time thinking about relationships and joining gangs; there's no future in that."
Pan Qiudong didn't argue with Wang Yue this time. He was completely in awe of him now.
"Cousin, can you teach me a few moves? That way, I won't get bullied at school."
Pan Qiudong said hesitantly.
"Do you want to fight that badly?"
Wang Yue asked with a half-smile.
"It's not that I want to fight, I just want to be able to protect myself."
Pan Qiudong said, "There are too many delinquents at our school. If I don't have any skills, it'll be easy for me to get bullied."
"Study hard, and don't think about anything else."
Wang Yue said, "If anyone dares to bully you, just tell me. I guarantee no one at your school will dare to lay a hand on you again. So stop bringing this up."
Pan Qiudong felt a bit dejected.
He had originally hoped to become a kingpin at school after learning some moves.
However, he couldn't do anything if Wang Yue refused to teach him.
"Cousin, shall we four go out for some fun?"
Pan Qiudong suggested again.
"Where to?"
Wang Yue asked.
"A bar to drink!"
Pan Qiudong quickly said.
"Are you crazy?"
Wang Yue gave Pan Qiudong a shove. "You're always thinking about drinking and picking up girls? What did I tell you?"
"Then let's go play games."
Pan Qiudong said sheepishly.
"Now that's a good idea."
Wang Yue nodded.
The four of them then found an arcade.
When they arrived at the arcade, there were quite a few people there today.
Wang Yue remembered that he used to come to this arcade often, just to play the so-called Xbox.
"Want to play games, sirs?"
The arcade owner greeted them warmly.
"Yes, we want to play games."
Wang Yue replied.
The four of them then sat down, found a four-player game, and started playing.
Soon, two hours passed.
Wang Yue glanced at the time and realized it was getting late, so he decided to stop.
"Alright, it's about time to go back."
Wang Yue said.
"Huh? It's only eight o'clock?"
Pan Qiudong said, "The nightlife has just begun."
"Go back and write a couple more copies of 'Five Mock Exams, Three Years of College Entrance Examination',"
Wang Yue said, patting Pan Qiudong on the shoulder.
Afterward, Wang Yue drove the three of them home.
After dropping everyone off, Wang Yue drove back.
He had originally planned to go straight home, but after driving for a while, Wang Yue looked at the familiar scenery before him and decided not to go back yet.
"By the time I go to university, I probably won't be back for a long time."
With that thought, Wang Yue decided to wander around the city more.
Sometimes, inspiration strikes, and he acts on it spontaneously.
Wang Yue drove aimlessly around the city, enjoying the many sights he had somewhat forgotten, which now held a unique charm.
He wandered until ten o'clock at night before returning home.
For the next period, Wang Yue entered a phase of leisure, spending his days wandering around and occasionally planning his business empire.
Wang Yue's meetings with Qiao Zixuan became increasingly frequent, with only a thin veil separating them.
Wang Yue didn't say anything, and Qiao Zixuan didn't ask, maintaining their peculiar relationship.
Time flew by, and it was soon time for university to start.
Wang Yue planned to fly to Yanjing from Chengdu. As for luggage, a single suitcase would suffice.
The night before his departure.
Qiao Zixuan asked Wang Yue to meet.
They agreed to meet at Binjiang Road.
The Binjiang Road in August was still sweltering, but the evening breeze blowing from the river was gentle.
They walked under the dim streetlights, their shadows stretching long.
Qiao Zixuan was wearing a white t-shirt, a light blue denim skirt, and small black leather shoes, carrying a black handbag. She looked full of youthful energy.
"Da Yue Yue, be careful on your journey, don't get kidnapped."
Qiao Zixuan said with a smile.
"How would I get kidnapped?"
Wang Yue looked at Qiao Zixuan and said, "You, on the other hand, are so beautiful; you need to be careful."
"I'm not beautiful."
Qiao Zixuan rolled her eyes and said, "If I were beautiful, I'd probably have many suitors, right? But I haven't noticed any."
"Why haven't you noticed? I remember when we were in school, guys would give you love letters almost every day. I wanted to give you one too."
Wang Yue said with a smile.
"Is that so?"
Qiao Zixuan looked at Wang Yue playfully and said, "Then why didn't you ever give me a love letter?"
"Ahem."
Wang Yue coughed twice and said, "Wasn't it because there were too many competitors?"
"That doesn't sound like you."
Qiao Zixuan looked out at the river and said, "Actually, when I used to feel down, I liked coming to the riverside to feel the evening breeze, especially when the sky was about to turn dark, at dusk. The scenery at that time was beautiful."
"Then why do you like dusk?"
Wang Yue asked.
"Have you heard a poem?"
Qiao Zixuan asked.
"What poem?"
Wang Yue said.
"'The setting sun is infinitely beautiful, but it is near dusk.'"
Qiao Zixuan said with a smile, "The first time I read this poem, I felt it was a divine verse, and it involuntarily conjured such an image in my mind."