August 30th, sunny, the last day of summer vacation at Yu Zhou Fourth Middle School.
The sun shines brightly today. The dark clouds that wreaked havoc in the past days, the wind and rain that trampled everything, have all been restored by the care of light, and everything is full of vitality again.
Yesterday afternoon, Bai Yuxia and the twins said goodbye to the river dam and went home separately.
Before leaving, Jiang Ning gave each of them a watermelon, a specialty of Hu Qi Mountain. Of course, the twins counted as one person.
That evening, Chen Siyu tagged him in the class group, claiming how delicious the watermelon was, much to her family’s shock.
Bai Yuxia remarked, surprised that the watermelon wasn’t eaten on the way by them.
Chen Siyu twisted the truth, saying that her sister indeed had the intention but was sternly reprimanded by her.
Bai Yuxia didn’t express any thanks. Many times, she doesn’t prefer chatting online. She likes meeting face-to-face more, as it allows her to directly feel the other’s voice, expression, and even breath, with communication being more genuine.
During breakfast, Xue Yuantong was filled with regret. Chuchu was still at home cracking peanuts and hadn’t returned, missing their most wonderful fishing adventure, and also missing the heroic scene of her catching all the fish.
After breakfast, Xue Yuantong washed the dishes and pans. Jiang Ning went back to lie down. The sunlight filtered through the windows, falling on the blooming flowers and plants on the windowsill and spreading onto the sofa.
Surrounded by light, the room emitted a refreshing scent. He closed his eyes and let his hearing free.
Just a wall away, Xue Yuantong hummed an unnamed tune as she leisurely washed dishes.
Occasionally, she would open her eyes wide, as if her gaze could penetrate the wall and see the relaxed Jiang Ning.
She paused her tune and hummed, "Always ordering me around."
Jiang Ning, basking in the sunlight, took a half-hour nap before stepping outside.
Under the eaves of the door, Xue Yuantong sat on a small stool. Her hand extended from the shadow, placed on another stool lit by sunlight, rubbing as if washing clothes.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Ning asked her.
Xue Yuantong lifted her tender little face and said crisply, "I’m washing the sun~"
She then extended an invitation: "Do you want to join me?"
Jiang Ning: "Childish."
Xue Yuantong wrinkled her small nose: "Hmpf!"
The college student next door, Zhang Ruyun, came out of his house, only to see the two people, one big and one small, sitting on small stools, rubbing their hands under the sunlight.
Zhang Ruyun was puzzled, unable to understand what they were doing.
Zhang Ruyun glanced over, looking towards the distant blue sky and white clouds. He originally planned to go to An City yesterday, but embarrassingly, he bought the ticket incorrectly, buying one from An City to Yuzhou instead.
In desperation, he had to change it to today.
He was taking the afternoon train. Zhang Ruyun asked his early-arriving classmate to take his quilt outside to sun it.
Looking at the nostalgic scene, he turned to the tightly closed door of the neighbor’s house.
The girl he had long missed ultimately didn’t come back, so he naturally couldn’t see her one last time.
He felt very pained, but as a civil engineering college student, he once heard a teacher say, "Only by enduring loneliness can one preserve prosperity."
Enduring loneliness was one of his subjects.
Besides, is a life without regrets still called life?
Zhang Ruyun’s obsession turned into a sentence. He sighed, "Farewell, my hometown!"
There was another sentence he didn’t utter, ’The next time we meet, I will let you see me in my true form!’
Aunt Zhang came out from the next door and, hearing these words, found them particularly unpleasant. She muttered:
"You’ve been home for two months, and the room you sleep in is like a dog house. You don’t even tidy up."
Zhang Ruyun was full of ambition just a moment ago, but the next second, his old mother was complaining, especially in front of high school juniors and seniors, making him lose face.
Zhang Ruyun wasn’t a conventional college student; he was a student from a top university, quick-witted.
He immediately replied, "Mom, have you ever seen a dog tidy up a room?"
"Isn’t it the dog owners who tidy up?"
After replying, he quietly awaited his mom’s reaction.
Jiang Ning was still playing with the sun when he heard this and lightly flicked his fingers.
The Black Back Wolf Dog sunning at the door suddenly shook and then ran into Zhang Ruyun’s room, grabbing the trash bag and dragging it outside.
Zhang Ruyun was dumbfounded: "What the...?"
Xue Yuantong chuckled twice and continued to rub the sun. Her pair of fingers, like tender bamboo shoots, were warmed by the heat.
Jiang Ning saw her cheerful expression and couldn’t help but smile.
Just a few days ago, the house was lively, with the noisy twin sisters. Xue Yuantong could play with them, go fishing in the river, play cards, roll dice, and play games.
Even when she cooked, several guests watched.
Now they had all left, and after the bustle, the bungalow seemed much emptier.
He originally thought that with only Tongtong left, she might feel lonely, but who would have thought she’d still play carefree.
Jiang Ning suddenly recalled that in countless days past, she had also played , all by herself all day long.
Xue Yuantong suddenly turned her head and asked, "Did you just take a nap?"
Earlier, she had finished washing the dishes and planned to play with Jiang Ning. She deliberately slowed her steps, wanting to surprise him. But she saw him fast asleep when she reached the door.
Xue Yuantong stopped in her tracks and retreated outside.
She remembered that Jiang Ning’s sleep was very light. Many times, as soon as she approached him, he would immediately wake up.
This time, she didn’t want to disturb Jiang Ning, letting him sleep well for once.
’If only I could install a camera in his house,’ Xue Yuantong fantasized. That way, she’d be aware of Jiang Ning’s every move at all times.
Soon, she dismissed this idea.
Everyone has their own privacy, and one shouldn’t spy on others’ lives.
If it were Jiang Ning, given his character, he definitely wouldn’t install a camera in her house.
Xue Yuantong had a little reflection on her greed.