Meng Yan's Transformation

"Zhanyu, let's talk this out. We feel sorry for our daughter, that's all. Mengyan, if you don't have enough money to support yourself, tell your father and mother, and we'll help you find a way. We won't abandon you."

Yunqing spoke, patting Zhan Mengyan on the shoulder.

"Yes, I know, Dad, Mom, don't worry, I won't be a burden on the family. I know our financial situation. It's already a struggle for you both to support Zixun's high school education. I chose this path, and I'll keep going even if I have to crawl... After the start of this semester, I plan to talk to the school leaders to see if I can apply for accommodation at the school. My fifth cousin, Zhanyue, from my third uncle's family, wants to drop out of school, and the school will have a bed available. It would be much more convenient if I could live and eat at the school."

When Zhan Mengyan spoke, her eyes were full of hopeful anticipation for the future.

“We are very happy that you can understand your father and mother’s difficulties. Things will get better in the future. It’s just a pity about your fifth sister, Zhan Yue. It wasn’t easy for her to get into agricultural high school. And she just dropped out like that? I’ll go see your third aunt the other day. She must be feeling unwell again. Sigh… Every family has its difficulties.”

Zhan Mengyan rested at home for a few days. On March 1st, school started, and she went to school with Zhang Xincheng and Zhan Zixun.

In this beautiful season, when "clouds yearn for her garments and flowers for her face, and the spring breeze caresses the balustrade with heavy dew," students who had been apart for more than two months reunited on the beautiful campus, embarking on a brand new campus life.

The warmly decorated blackboard, with its carefully chosen words and drawings, reflects the teachers' dedication and is filled with best wishes for the new semester. The sense of ritual is a transmission of love; the classroom is clean, fresh, and fragrant, adorned with flowers, balloons, and small gifts… instantly creating a strong sense of ritual for the new semester.

Zhan Mengyan saw Dong Hanmei at the school gate. She seemed to have been waiting for a long time. The spring chill was still in the air, and the northwest wind made her hair a little messy. Her figure blended into the ice and snow, like a stubborn ice flower.

A cold wind whipped up the remaining snow, brushing past her thin clothes, but it couldn't dispel the determination in her eyes. Pale yellow petals trembled among the withered leaves, like the gleam in her eyes above her mask, silently announcing the arrival of spring…

"Dong Hanmei! It's so good to see you! Why didn't you go to the classroom and wait for me? 'The spring chill is biting and the snow is flying, the warmth is sudden and the ice is melting.' The 'late spring cold' in March is the coldest, be careful that this little northwest wind doesn't hurt your thin little body. Come on, let's go to the classroom!"

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she took Dong Hanmei's cold little hand, but Dong Hanmei subconsciously pulled her hand back.

Zhan Mengyan couldn't help but rub her hands awkwardly.

"My hands are too cold, they'll chill you."

When Dong Hanmei spoke, she exuded a sense of detachment.

Zhan Mengyan smiled.

"I'm not afraid of the cold! My hands are warm, so I'll warm them up for you."

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, she pulled Dong Hanmei's arm again.

Dong Hanmei stiffened for a moment, then withdrew her hand.

The two smiled at each other and walked side by side toward the classroom.

“I went to my second sister’s house to look for you a few days ago. She said you went back to your hometown and haven’t come back yet. You’ve lost a little weight, but you still look very energetic.”

As Zhan Mengyan spoke, her eyes shone with joy as she looked at Dong Hanmei.

“I heard from my second sister that you came looking for me, so I waited for you at the school gate. You used the wrong words. What do you mean by ‘spirited’? Is that a word to describe an old person? Am I that old?”

As Dong Hanmei spoke, she looked at Zhan Mengyan with a helpless expression.