The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Wang Jie and Jian Zheng rode their bikes to the West Gate before parting ways. Jian Zheng headed home towards the riverside, while Wang Jie turned onto Yangxi Road.

When Wang Jie reached the entrance of Yangxi Road alley, it was already evening.

As the sun gradually set in the west, its rays were no longer as intense as at midday; however, the heat did not diminish. Although the sunlight was no longer direct, the air remained unbearably hot, and the weather was still unbearably sweltering.

The trees swayed in the breeze along the roadside, and a gentle breeze occasionally blew through the alleyway, bringing a touch of coolness that was barely perceptible. Neighbors had already brought out tables and chairs and found their own spots to cool off.

This made the already narrow alleyway entrance even more crowded. Adults chatted while fanning themselves, and since it was summer vacation, the children, who had been herding sheep, chased and played on the stone-paved alleyway, undeterred by the heat.

With so many people around, it was inconvenient to ride the bike into the alley, so Wang Jie got off the bike at the entrance of the alley and prepared to push it into the alley.

He only noticed a black Audi parked at the entrance of the alley after he got out of the car.

Such luxury cars are not common, but I saw them twice today. The first time was at school at noon, when the school leaders and Professor Zhou were riding in an Audi. The second time was with this car parked at the entrance of the alley.

Wang Jie pushed the cart into the alley and saw Zhou Yanruo walking out.

She had changed out of the dress she wore that morning and into denim shorts and a dusty pink t-shirt. She was walking out with her head down, looking preoccupied.

"Zhou Yanruo," Wang Jie greeted Zhou Yanruo.

Zhou Yanruo glanced at him but didn't say anything.

Seeing that she ignored him, Wang Jie recalled what had happened that morning and thought to himself, "Is the girl still being petulant?" He continued walking forward somewhat awkwardly.

Zhou Yanruo had already walked over, but then turned back to Wang Jie and asked, "Teacher Wang, have you had dinner yet?"

Wang Jie stopped and turned around, saying, "I just got back and haven't eaten yet."

"I'll treat Teacher Wang to a bowl of wontons, okay?" Zhou Yanruo said softly.

"Oh, then I'll treat you to a meal," Wang Jie said after a second's hesitation.

“Okay, let’s go then.” Zhou Yanruo responded immediately without hesitation.

Wang Jie turned the bike around and pushed it ahead, with Zhou Yanruo following behind him. "You're coming out of your house, aren't you?"

As Zhou Yanruo walked out of the alley, Wang Jie guessed that she had just come out of her home.

"Hmm," Zhou Yanruo responded, clearly not in a good mood.

"We didn't cook at home, but I was still craving something sweet." Wang Jie acted like a caring older brother.

The two didn't speak to each other the whole way. Wang Jie held the handlebars with one hand and pushed the bicycle in front, while Zhou Yanruo followed closely behind.

The old brand "Kangxingji" on Yangxi Road is not far from the entrance of their alley. Just walk north along Yangxi Road for five minutes and turn the corner.

Wang Jie parked his bicycle against the wall in front of the shop.

Zhou Yanruo went into the restaurant first, bought two bowls of wontons at the counter, and the waiter gave her two bamboo slips. After a while, when the wontons were cooked, she could use the bamboo slips to collect them.

Perhaps because it was past dinner time, there weren't many diners in the restaurant.

Zhou Yanruo found a spot where she could sit in the breeze from the electric fan. A little while later, Wang Jie parked his bicycle and came into the restaurant, sitting down next to Zhou Yanruo.

"You've bought it."

"Hmm, two small bowls of wontons, would you like some with dried shrimp?"

"Thank you. Would you like a few more xiaolongbao?"

“I don’t want to,” Zhou Yanruo thought for a moment, realizing that big guy Wang Jie probably wouldn’t be full from just one bowl of wontons, and immediately said, “I’ll go buy you some xiaolongbao.”

"No need, I want to eat it. I'll go buy some myself later. Let's try eating it like this for now."

Zhou Yanruo hummed in agreement, toying with two small bamboo pieces in her hands.

"The wontons are ready!" the auntie at the food counter called out.

Wang Jie took the small bamboo strip from Zhou Yanruo's hand and walked to the food pick-up area to get the wontons.

He carried a tray with both hands, on which were two bowls of steaming wontons. He placed the tray on the table, put one bowl of wontons in front of Zhou Yanruo, and then took two spoons from a bamboo tube on the table, placing one spoon in each bowl. He also took a bowl of wontons from the tray, and then removed the tray.

The steaming wontons, their aroma filling the air, instantly whetted the appetite of even those who didn't feel like eating on a hot day.

"Eat."

Wang Jie was really hungry, and after saying that, he started eating in silence.

He had almost finished his bowl of wontons when he looked up at Zhou Yanruo.

Zhou Yanruo was staring blankly at the wontons in front of her when she saw Wang Jie look up at her, and then she saw that he had almost finished eating the wontons in his bowl.

"I haven't touched this bowl. I can't eat all of this. Let me share some with you."

As he spoke, he used a spoon to scoop up the wontons and put them into Wang Jie's bowl.

"Alright, alright, stop giving me any, your bowl is empty. Didn't you not eat? Hurry up and eat," Wang Jie said, waving his hand.

After finishing his meal, Wang Jie wiped his mouth with a napkin, then sat up straight with his arms crossed.

Watching Zhou Yanruo drink the wonton soup spoonful by spoonful.

Wang Jie said, "Speak, what's wrong?"

"My parents are here."

"You said yesterday that they are here on a business trip today."

Yes, they are at home now.

"So you ran away and refused to see them."

"I've seen them; they'll be back this afternoon."

"Isn't it nice that your parents come to visit you?"

"They want me to go back to Beijing to prepare for high school and take the college entrance exam again next year."

"you are not willing."

"Um,"

"Can't we communicate properly?"

"No. The adults don't want to hear it."

“You’re not a child anymore. You should learn to communicate and express your attitude instead of hiding away. That won’t help and will only make you seem more childish.”

“If you take me back, my classes here will be disrupted. I’ll go back after they leave and then talk to them slowly.”

"If they don't leave, you won't go home?" Wang Jie glared at Zhou Yanruo, his tone like that of a real teacher.

“They’re leaving tonight. I’ll go home after they leave.” Zhou Yanruo put down her spoon, stood up and said, “Have you finished eating? Let’s go.”

“Didn’t you say…” Wang Jie also stood up along with Zhou Yanruo.

"We can't get any information from here. Let's go to the octagonal pavilion; we can see the alley entrance from there."

"It's a bit far from there, how could you possibly see the people at the alley entrance?"

"Who said we were looking at people? We were looking at cars."

"Looking at the car, what does that mean?"

"Didn't you see a black sedan parked at the entrance of the alley just now?"

"I see it, an Audi."

"Yes, that's the car. Once it leaves, it means they've left, and I can go home."

The two walked out of the restaurant, turned the corner, crossed the street, and arrived at the Octagonal Pavilion.

Sure enough, standing in the octagonal pavilion, looking across at the alleyway entrance, you can clearly see the Audi parked there.