A Young Woman's Heart

The most terrifying thing is not being in the deepest trough, but being once standing on the clouds and then falling to the bottom.

That feeling of despair would occasionally surface from the bottom of my heart, even after life had become peaceful.

"Let's go for a walk," she muttered to herself, slinging her backpack over her shoulder and dragging her suitcase as she left.

Although putting the suitcase in the van wouldn't be a problem, she didn't want anything to happen, so even though it was a bit of a hassle, she decided to keep it with her.

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and not a single shop on the street is open; they are all closed.

There weren't many people on the road, and when cars occasionally drove by, they seemed to be in a hurry.

Even supermarkets are closed and will not open until the afternoon.

It was like a ghost town about to be abandoned.

The wheels of the suitcase rolled on the ground, making a scraping sound.

Loneliness and desolation surrounded her, as if trying to drag her into a twisted vortex.

As Zhuang Lianlian walked down the street, she had this illusion and felt a wave of dizziness.

His right leg, which was wearing a prosthesis, was too weak to support his weight, so he could only hold onto his suitcase to maintain his balance.

Suddenly I feel so tired, suddenly my heart hurts so much.

Suddenly I feel a little dizzy, and suddenly I feel like crying.

Sometimes, emotions come on so suddenly, but not without reason.

It simply collapsed after reaching its limit.

The last straw that broke the camel's back is also strange; it might simply be the sorrow evoked by the desolate street that triggered a host of other emotions.

"Want some tissues?" A pack of unused tissues was handed to her. Zhuang Lianlian raised her head slightly and saw Chen Cheng, who was much taller than her, looking down at her with a carefree smile on his face and a cigarette in his mouth.

"Thanks……"

Zhuang Lianlian took the napkin, but after struggling for a long time, she couldn't tear open the packaging. Frustrated, she cried even harder, tears streaming down her face like broken pearls.

"Uh, let me do it." Chen Cheng reached out and took the napkin from Zhuang Lianlian's hand, tore it open, pulled out a sheet, and handed it to her.

"Why are you still out there all alone? Haven't you found a job yet?"

"Found it." Zhuang Lianlian tried her best to suppress her sobs and speak calmly.

"Don't you include accommodation during the Chinese New Year?"

"..." She didn't know how to explain her feelings about choosing to spend the New Year in a van.

"If you don't have a place to stay, why don't you stay at my place?" Chen Cheng took a drag of his cigarette, blew the smoke rings away, and stomped the cigarette butt out on the ground. "I can sleep on the sofa."

“Hmm…” Zhuang Lianlian stared at Chen Cheng and nodded as if possessed.

Chen Cheng was somewhat surprised that the other party agreed so quickly.

"Why don't you come to my place and drop off your luggage first?"

"it is good……"

"Come on, get in," Chen Cheng said, patting the large electric scooter that looked like a motorcycle next to him.

Zhuang Lianlian carefully climbed onto the back seat of the car, while Chen Cheng helped place her luggage on the footrest in front of the electric scooter.

Although it's a bit crowded, you can still ride it if you make do.

"Are you seated?" Chen Cheng took out a cigarette from his jacket pocket, put it in his mouth, and lit it with a lighter as he asked.

"Um……"

"Hold on tight." Chen Cheng flicked off his cigarette ash, gripped the handlebars with both hands, accelerated, and sped off into the distance.

There were almost no cars on the street; electric bikes could even drive onto the car lanes.

As for traffic lights, they could be completely ignored. Just drive at maximum speed without even pressing the brake, and you'll arrive at Chen Cheng's building in one go.

This is an ordinary residential area. The streets are fairly clean. There are not many people or cars in the area, suggesting that many people did not stay here during the Chinese New Year.

"Let's go." Chen Cheng casually tossed aside the cigarette butts he had finished smoking along the way, picked up his suitcase, and said to Zhuang Lianlian.

The latter followed her cautiously, her face slightly flushed, whether from the wind or from being shy because she had been too close to Chen Cheng earlier, it was hard to tell.

Chen Cheng's home is a standard one-bedroom apartment, but the living room is quite large, with plenty of room even after accommodating a full set of sofas and chairs.

"Alright, put your backpack and luggage here. Want to go for a ride? I just rode my electric scooter out to visit West Lake," Chen Cheng asked. Although his tone was calm, it seemed to exude a domineering, chauvinistic air.

Some people might find it offensive, but Zhuang Lianlian feels very safe with it.

Perhaps what she needs most, someone who makes choices for her, is someone who goes with the flow.

"Okay...okay." The thought of living with Chen Cheng that night made Zhuang Lianlian's pretty face flush, and she suddenly regretted her 'bold' move.

She had always been a well-behaved girl since childhood, a pampered heiress who was always cherished and protected. She had never had such close contact with a boy before.

But Chen Cheng acted very naturally, as if the two of them were old friends who had known each other for a long time.

Once again, she sat on the electric scooter, the wind whistling past her face, and rows of trees and shops along the roadside seemed to be falling backward.

Before long, we arrived at West Lake.

This place is usually packed with people, and it's only during the period of Lunar New Year's Eve and Lunar New Year's Day that it becomes so deserted.

In fact, locals don't really like to come here to play. After all, they've lived in Hangzhou for a long time and don't find West Lake anything special.

However, that also depends on when you come and who you come with.

The tranquil West Lake is still very beautiful.

"It's a pity there's no snow today, otherwise we could see the snow-covered bridge," Chen Cheng said with some regret. "Let's go inside, how about we take a picture here at this big golden ox?"

"Did you... bring a camera?"

"I don't have a camera, but you can rent one." Chen Cheng smiled and snapped his fingers. Even on the first day of the Lunar New Year, the shops in the scenic area were still open, and some people offered camera rental services for ten yuan an hour, with photo printing to be charged separately.

"Hmm..." Zhuang Lianlian was a little undecided.

"Let's take the pictures then," Chen Cheng said, deciding for her. "Boss, rent a camera."

"Okay, please pay the deposit first..."

After a series of complicated procedures, Chen Cheng paid a deposit and also left his ID card as collateral.

He is a little older than other students his age, and he is already eighteen years old this year, but it will still be more than half a year before he officially becomes an adult after his birthday.

He got his ID card when he was sixteen because living alone without one was a real hassle.

"Come on, stand next to Taurus, I'll take a few pictures for you." Although Chen Cheng hadn't studied cameras much, he still knew how to take pictures. As long as the image was clear, he could just press the shutter.

"Hmm, is that so?"

"Ah."

The two walked and took photos, capturing the beauty of the scenic area in their pictures.

Not far away, there was a small stall set up by the lake, with several mobile clothes racks filled with all kinds of ancient costumes.

"Do you want to film that?" Chen Cheng asked.

"Hmm—" Zhuang Lianlian hesitated again, as was her habit.

“Then let’s take the photos.” He made the decision for her once again. “Boss, take the photos. Hmm, I want to wear a dragon robe.”

"No problem, then your little girlfriend can wear the queen's dress. Do you want to take the photos yourself or should we take them for you?"

"I can take the photos myself."

"The price for wearing it for half an hour is..."

This is a rare quiet day for West Lake throughout the year.

Chen Cheng also took Zhuang Lianlian boating. The two rowed all the way to the middle of West Lake, feeling as if they were surrounded by boundless water.

After a day of sightseeing, most of the gloom in Zhuang Lianlian's heart was swept away.

"How were you feeling today?"

"Hmm, I'm quite happy, thank you." Zhuang Lianlian lowered her head and said shyly in a low voice. Usually timid, she unexpectedly took Chen Cheng's hand boldly and conveyed her warmth to him.

"Huh?" Chen Cheng was stunned.

"Um, um..." Zhuang Lianlian quickly withdrew her small hand and repeated what she had just said, "Um, thank you..."

"It's nothing, so let's go home now?"

"it is good……"

Getting back on the electric scooter, my feelings on the way back were quite different from when I came.

As Chen Cheng rode his bicycle, he lit a cigarette with one hand and put it in his mouth. Suddenly, he asked, "Zhuang Lianlian... do you believe in love at first sight?"

"Eh... eh?"

Sometimes, love comes so quickly, as if for no reason at all.

Many things in reality are even less illogical than those in novels.

However, it is quite common for people to hit it off immediately and fall in love with each other.

Everything unfolded so naturally, and Zhuang Lianlian gently rested her head on Chen Cheng's back: "I...believe."

……

Chapter Fifty-Seven Ice Fishing

Russia is a country that spans across Eurasia and has a vast territory.

Furthermore, many areas are perpetually cold, and even those regions with four seasons are much colder in winter than most countries in the world.

Having grown up in the south, this was the first time in her life that Mo Xueyao had ever seen such a thick layer of ice.

When I used to visit my maternal grandmother's house, I would occasionally see the river frozen over, but it was only a thin layer on the surface, and it would definitely crack if someone stepped on it.

However, the frozen glacier near the town is perfectly safe to drive on.