A Young Woman's Heart

Sometimes, Mo Xueyao would feel fortunate to have been born in this era. If the world really developed as depicted in science fiction novels, with future generations having chips implanted in their brains that could read their thoughts, that would be absolutely terrifying.

If you even think about something that is not permitted by laws and regulations, you will be caught immediately.

People from that era, as transparent as glass, must have all been as pure as babies, right?

It was already afternoon when they got their swimsuits. After the last computer class, many boys who already had their backpacks with them rushed out immediately.

They don't need to go back to the classroom; they can rush straight to the school gate.

The sky was mostly dark today, with gray clouds obscuring everything and making it look like it was about to rain.

However, this has been the case since morning, and not a single drop of rain has fallen.

Mo Xueyao strolled back to the classroom and saw Li Wanyan supervising the students on duty to prevent them from leaving, while Ye Banxia checked everyone's cleaning progress and helped out herself.

"Haa—" Mo Xueyao lazily packed her schoolbag, then plopped down on the teacher's desk, gently swinging her legs. "Wan~yan~"

"Hmm?" Li Wanyan pushed up her black-rimmed glasses and looked at her.

"I've run out of pens, come with me to the stationery store later."

“Okay,” Li Wanyan replied briefly.

The system of having students on duty has become a habit, and most people no longer run away when it's their turn to clean.

Of course, after becoming a seasoned pro, I became increasingly perfunctory when it came to cleaning.

Each time, it takes several cleanings under the supervision of Li Wanyan and Ye Banxia to get it clean.

Mo Xueyao hasn't helped with cleaning much lately—unless it's her turn, she's been slacking off.

"Phew, all done, it's almost clean." Ye Banxia breathed a sigh of relief as she looked at the much cleaner classroom.

"Okay, everyone, please leave. I'll lock the door." Li Wanyan nodded and was the last to leave the classroom. After making sure all the windows were closed, she locked the door.

After saying goodbye to each other at the school gate, everyone walked in their own directions.

Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan then entered the stationery store near the school gate.

Although the general store near the school gate sells stationery, it is far less professional and comprehensive than the stationery store.

If you want to buy some good quality stationery, you still have to come to a stationery store like this.

Of course, the price is usually a bit higher.

When I was a child, I loved toys. When I was in school, I became fascinated with stationery. In essence, they were all similar; we were both curious about strange and unusual things.

Many stationery items are quite creative, and in some ways they are almost equivalent to toys.

A dazzling array of goods were displayed on shelf after shelf, making it difficult to choose.

Mo Xueyao stood in the ballpoint pen section, feeling that there were many pens she wanted to buy.

Li Wanyan was also helping her choose. She picked up a ballpoint pen with a cute little spring figure on the cap that could be turned on, and looked at Mo Xueyao: "Yaoyao, how about this one?"

"Hmm...? It's pink..."

"There are yellow and blue ones."

"Hmm... let's take another look." Mo Xueyao felt that she could find one she liked even more.

She saw a ballpoint pen. It was thick and cleverly made, with the barrel resembling a scroll from which a piece of paper could be pulled out.

If you let go, it will bounce back on its own.

Writing on it seems like a pretty good cheating tool.

However, Mo Xueyao had neither the need nor the reason to cheat, so she put it back.

Ballpoint pens come in the most diverse shapes; some resemble a key, some a carrot, and others a large crayon.

Some even come with their own lottery bucket; you can open the lid and draw a lot from inside.

Of course, all of these ballpoint pens are quite bulky.

Aside from being fun, it's completely ergonomic.

"What about this one?" Li Wanyan picked up another pen with star-shaped drawings. It had no extra decorations and looked dazzling yet simple.

"Hmm...um..." Mo Xueyao looked it over and finally nodded, "This one will do."

"Just buy the black one?"

"Yes, the red pen casing isn't broken, we just need to replace the refill." Mo Xueyao nodded. "Oh, and we should buy some more refills..."

"Is it really colorful?"

"Hmm, really colorful, I'll buy five of each, black and blue." Mo Xueyao grabbed a handful; she wasn't the type to frequently go to stores to snag things.

There are ten refills in total. In its current condition, it should last for a month without any problems, and it should last for about two months as well.

She paused slightly as she walked past the shelves, looking at the shelves filled with all kinds of notebooks: "You've got so many new notebooks again."

"Hmm, some of them are quite pretty." Li Wanyan seemed very interested in these notebooks. She stopped, looked around, and finally picked up a rubber notebook. The cover depicted a quiet path covered with flowers, like a flower-lined road.

"Wanyan wants to buy this?"

"Hmm... let me see." She flipped the notebook over to look at the price, hesitated for a full half minute, and finally looked up and nodded to Mo Xueyao, indicating that she wanted to buy the notebook.

The stationery store also has some cute little ornaments that can be hung on backpacks.

However, Mo Xueyao was completely uninterested.

However, she stopped in front of the small shelf selling pen caps.

This is a decorative item that can be attached to the pen barrel, and it can also be used as a special pen cap.

They are compatible with most standard-sized pens, allowing you to personalize your own pen.

Many people still like these little gadgets.

Mo Xueyao immediately took a liking to a Q-version Gundam pen cap, but it cost three yuan, which was more expensive than the pen she had bought.

"Hmm... um..." She hesitated for a long time before finally placing her hand on the pen cap on the other side.

That's a pen cap shaped like Pikachu, very cheap, only 50 cents.

She tried it on and found it matched her new pen. She breathed a slight sigh of relief and walked towards the counter with a touch of regret.

"I'll pay," Li Wanyan said to Mo Xueyao, taking out her own savings.

“Okay.” Mo Xueyao agreed readily, without being polite at all.

This is her personality, or the personality of her family.

Since we have a good relationship and are familiar with each other, you don't need to be polite with me, and vice versa.

Because people who are truly close don't need to be polite or petty about such trivial matters.

If you actually do that, it will seem awkward.

Buying things often makes people feel good—that's probably what it means to buy happiness with money.

Of course, if you spend a lot, it will still make you feel bad.

The most important thing is to make people feel that it's 'worth it'.

Mo Xueyao hummed a little tune as she returned to the fruit shop with Li Wanyan, only to find that her mother was unusually not chopping vegetables today, but instead sitting behind the cashier organizing something.

When she saw the two of them return, she waved to them.

"Come, come, I bought you two some little things, see if you like them."

"What is it?" Mo Xueyao leaned closer, but didn't see anything she liked.

Hmm... it should be something that most girls would like.

"You two can choose yourselves; the quantity can be divided equally," the mother said, unfolding a brand-new pair of stockings.

Unlike the plain white or black stockings I wore before, these stockings were unusually flashy.

If it weren't for the fact that its size was indeed for adults, Mo Xueyao would have suspected that it was meant for kindergarten girls.

Ok……

The stockings are decorated with a pattern of yellow stars, while the stockings themselves are black.

There are two white stripes at the top.

"What is this? Did you buy it for some relative's daughter?" Mo Xueyao teased.

"Of course it's for you two. Wearing black or white all the time is too monotonous, isn't it? Life should be more colorful!" The mother said something that sounded quite philosophical, which was rare for her.

"Wearing these out will make me look like a child!" Mo Xueyao, who was no longer so resistant to stockings, thought of another reason.

"What does it matter? You two are still kids, aren't you? Especially Yan Yan, she's always so dull. She should wear something like this to make herself look more lively."

"We're too lively! People will think we're only five years old!" Mo Xueyao muttered, picking up a hair clip.

This hair clip isn't the usual plain, single-color kind.

Instead, it is decorated with all sorts of things.

Some served hamburgers, others Coke; these were acceptable.

Mo Xueyao simply couldn't accept other things like fairytale-style little animals or strawberries.

Hair clips, stockings, hair ties...

They're all just some fancy little things.

……

Chapter 169 Cherry Blossoms in Full Bloom

Wednesday, November 2000, 3.

A violent thunderstorm struck at dawn, and Mo Xueyao woke up groggily at that time.

Looking out through the window of the small room in the fruit shop.

All I could see were the violently shaking branches and trash flying everywhere.