The school beauty is aloof? Whatever, she has a younger sister.

Chapter 118 Immersion

After morning self-study.

Wang Shishi stood up eagerly and patted Zhang Muchen's arm with a smile.

"Let's go, buddy, treat me to dinner."

Zhang Muchen put down his pen and looked up at the time.

How did time fly by after studying so diligently?

He stretched.

Compared to slacking off by reading novels during morning self-study, this kind of focused learning is definitely more fulfilling.

"Let's go."

Zhang Muchen tossed her pen onto the table and stood up. Just as she was about to leave her seat, several girls walked over, their eyes lingering on the two of them.

"Shishi, let's go eat?"

“Oh, you guys go ahead, I’ll go with my buddies,” Wang Shishi replied.

The girls exchanged knowing glances, their eyes meeting in a knowing way, before glancing at Wang Shishi with smiles on their faces.

"Then we won't disturb you two any longer~"

They left hand in hand, whispering to each other. As they walked out of the classroom, they would occasionally turn back to steal glances at Zhang Muchen and Wang Shishi, their lips pursed in secret smiles.

That's how gossip spreads among girls.

Zhang Muchen was helpless.

They had only taken two steps when they bumped into the advisor and several boys.

"Come on, Brother Chen, let's go eat," the advisor called out.

Before Zhang Muchen could speak, the boy next to her chuckled and said, "Never mind, she has someone to eat with."

Upon hearing this, Wang Shishi chuckled and said, "Hehe, you guys can have dinner with my buddy next time. I've conscripted him today."

The boys gave the two of them a meaningful look, then walked out of the classroom as a group.

In the corridor, several people were whispering.

"Hey, what's the relationship between Brother Chen and Wang Shishi?"

"Didn't we always say we were buddies? Now it feels like something's really off."

"Do you even know what it means to say 'Hey bro, do you smell good?' (sniffs)"

"Damn it, just talk to me, why are you smelling my arm?"

"Oh no, if word gets out, the advisor is a pervert."

"Pass it down: the advisor is a pervert."

"."

Several boys started running while yelling.

Zhang Muchen watched from afar.

Sure enough, when boys get together, their IQ drops to the level of cavemen.

If you don't believe me, try making a monkey noise in a room full of boys.

Then you will know what it means to have the sound of monkeys crying on both banks of the river.

hospital.

Chu Jiuli held a bowl of millet porridge and sipped it slowly.

Zhang Beifang's porridge tastes pretty good; it's smooth and warm.

She took two sips and said softly, "Uncle, the porridge you made is delicious."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Beifang chuckled and was about to say something when Mei Yinglan interrupted, "If it tastes good, have your uncle bring it to you every day. By the way, Beifang, didn't I ask you to make steamed egg custard? Get it for Jiuli."

"Oh, yes, yes."

Zhang Beifang opened another lunchbox on the table.

"Here, have some of this. It's easy to digest." He pushed the lunchbox in front of Chu Jiuli.

"Thank you uncle."

Chu Jiuli thanked her softly and reached out to take the lunchbox.

At that moment, she suddenly noticed a raised scar on Zhang Beifang's wrist, its color slightly darker, like an old wound from years ago.

Chu Jiuli paused for a moment, then looked away without asking any further questions.

She gently scooped a spoonful of soft, tender steamed egg custard. The golden-yellow custard swayed slightly in the spoon, emitting a warm, fragrant aroma.

"Wife, you eat too."

Zhang Beifang bent down, scooped up a spoonful of steamed egg custard, and held it to Mei Yinglan's lips. Mei Yinglan wanted to say she didn't want it, but her husband's slightly stubborn gaze made her reluctantly open her mouth and gently eat it.

Seeing this, Chu Jiuli's fingers paused.

Her gaze fell on the actions between the two, and her pupils flickered slightly.

The ward was transformed at this moment.

The memories in my mind began to overlap.

Time rewinds, reality and memories intertwine.

She stared blankly—

The ward was no longer occupied by Zhang Beifang and Mei Yinglan, but by their former father and mother.

The frail mother sat leaning against the hospital bed, while the father patiently scooped up egg custard and fed her spoonful by spoonful.

The mother's lips parted slightly, and the father's eyes were tender.

I sat to the side, hugging my knees, watching my parents interact intently.
until--

The light of reality refocuses, and fragments of memory break apart and recombine.

Chu Jiuli's eyelashes trembled slightly as she came back to her senses.

She lowered her head and quietly put the spoon into the lunchbox, looking somewhat lost in thought.

The voices of Zhang Beifang and Mei Yinglan could still be heard in my ears, and the room was filled with the warm aroma of steamed egg custard.

But her fingertips tightened slightly.

……

"North, North"

Mei Yinglan gently tugged at Zhang Beifang's arm and whispered, "What's wrong with Jiu Li?"

Zhang Beifang turned his head and saw the girl with her eyes downcast, holding the lunchbox and not saying a word.

"Is my cooking really that bad?" Zhang Beifang stroked his chin, looking slightly puzzled.

"Jiuli, Jiuli?" Mei Yinglan called softly, "Is it not to your liking?"

Chu Jiuli snapped out of her daze, her eyes flickering slightly as she lowered them even further.
"Auntie, the steamed egg custard is delicious." She softened her voice and spoke more slowly than usual, "It's just... I might not be feeling well and can't eat it."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Beifang silently stepped forward and took the lunchbox from Chu Jiuli's hand.

"I'll put the lid back on for you; it'll still be warm in a little while. You can have a few bites when you want to eat it."

Chu Jiuli looked up at Zhang Beifang's actions, and her lips twitched slightly: "Thank you, Uncle. Auntie is so happy to have such a gentle companion like you."

"what?"

Zhang Beifang paused for a moment, then turned his head with a hint of pride in his eyes: "Wife, did you see that? She's praising me for being gentle."

Mei Yinglan glanced at him indifferently: "Fine, you're gentle, you're the most kind."

Zhang Beifang was taken aback, his mouth slightly open.

"Honey, you actually know what 'gentlemanly' means?"

"I learned it from the comments section of a novel I've been reading lately."

"Tsk tsk tsk, still reading novels at this age?" Zhang Beifang's interest was piqued. "What kind of novels?"

"The Scoundrel and the School Beauty"

"..."

Zhang Beifang paused, then silently took two steps back.

"Auntie, you read this novel too?" Chu Jiuli looked slightly surprised.

Mei Yinglan smiled and nodded: "What? Jiu Li, you're watching too?"

"No." Chu Jiuli shook her head. "A classmate of mine reads it and often talks to me about its contents."

"Oh, what a coincidence." Mei Yinglan chuckled. "I don't usually read online novels; I just stumbled upon this one by chance. As I read on, I discovered that the historical setting in the book was exactly the same as when I was a child."

"In your young people's terms, it's about being able to relate to it."

Zhang Beifang remained silent.

immersion.
Honey, you're just being too empathetic.
You are the prototype of the character in the novel.
Mei Yinglan continued, "But I still prefer the childhood sweethearts in novels. Although it's a little embarrassing to talk about this at my age, I'm quite similar to her."

"."

Zhang Beifang didn't dare to say a word.

Honey, you're a loser in the book...

……

(End of this chapter)