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

For several days in a row, Wang Jie and Zhou Yanruo met at the octagonal pavilion on Yangxi Road every morning as agreed, and then went to school together.

Every day, Zhou Yanruo was like a happy little bird, chirping endlessly around Wang Jie. Wang Jie remained a man of few words, but he was a very good listener, occasionally chiming in with a humorous remark. Whenever this happened, Zhou Yanruo would giggle incessantly.

If Wang Jie didn't have work in the afternoon, he would read in the school cafeteria, waiting for Zhou Yanruo's afternoon classes to end. Then he would ride his bike with Zhou Yanruo back to Yangxi Road. If they still had time, the two would sit in the octagonal pavilion and chat; one of them was talkative, and the other loved to listen.

Zhou Yanruo had always found it strange that Wang Jie rarely talked about his plans, and when he did, he would intentionally or unintentionally change the subject.

I was so busy with my own things lately that I didn't pay attention to him. I wonder if his family is also against him going abroad.

Zhou Yanruo asked, "Does your grandfather support you going abroad to study?"

“Grandpa has always supported my continued education,” Wang Jie said. “Why are you bringing this up?”

“Oh, I rarely hear you talk about your plans. I thought…” Zhou Yanruo interrupted, “These days you’ve only heard me ramble on about my own things, and you haven’t let me know anything about yours.”

She added as soon as she finished speaking, "Can't I ask?"

"Yes, you can ask. I already told you."

Wang Jie's idea was simple, but difficult to implement. He had already told Zhou Yanruo that he wanted to study abroad. Zhou Yanruo kept asking him the same question over and over. He wasn't just giving a perfunctory answer; it was because this was all he could plan for.

As for his desire to become someone like "Bart," it was a distant dream, something he didn't even dare to think about, and of course, he didn't dare to mention it to Zhou Yanruo.

"Wang Jie, you're going abroad to study, right? You'll come back someday, won't you?" Zhou Yanruo had started calling Wang Jie by his full name without her even realizing it.

Zhou Yanruo, who was sitting opposite Wang Jie, stood up and walked over to Wang Jie.

"If you weren't here, I wouldn't know who to talk to about things in the future," Zhou Yanruo said leisurely. "Aren't you going to abandon me? Didn't you support me?"

"Of course I support you, but what if you don't pass the exam?" Wang Jie looked at Zhou Yanruo standing in front of him and nervously rubbed his hands together.

"You're so annoying, why can't you say something nice?" Zhou Yanruo rushed over, punched Wang Jie, and then sat down next to him.

"Honestly, you also think I don't have that talent, right?" Zhou Yanru pouted. "Then I'll become a manager, I can create stars, right?"

“I have to go to Hancheng eventually; I want to get into that circle,” Zhou Yanruo said resolutely.

“That’s not it. I just think your personality might not be suitable for that circle,” Wang Jie said seriously. “I definitely support you, but my support alone won’t do any good.”

"Who's supporting whom? What good would it do if I supported them too?" Jian Zheng appeared out of nowhere, stepped over the bench in the pavilion, and stood in front of Wang Jie and Zhou Yanruo.

"Oh! You scared me!" Zhou Yanruo was startled by the person who suddenly appeared.

"Why are you here? Haven't you always been the 'tour guide'?" Wang Jie smiled at Jian Zheng and said.

Jian Zheng had a very fulfilling summer vacation. She saw off one group of relatives and then welcomed another, and it was the same routine of accompanying them for meals, games, and shopping.

After finally seeing everyone off in the morning, he ran over to look for Wang Jie, but she wasn't home. He happened to see Wang Jie and Zhou Yanruo at the octagonal pavilion on his way.

"What are you two doing here, pouring out your hearts to each other?" Jian Zheng said glibly. "I've come at the wrong time, sorry to bother you." Jian Zheng stood in the middle of the pavilion, imitating the manner of an ancient scholar, and bowed deeply to them with his fists clasped.

After saying that, Jian Zheng squeezed between the two of them and plopped down on the floor.

"Aren't you hot?" Wang Jie stood up and sat down on the bench opposite him.

"It's not hot at all. What's hot weather compared to this? I'm bursting with excitement!" Wang Jie said excitedly. "Let me tell you about my new plan."

"Are you reciting a tongue twister?" Zhou Yanruo rolled her eyes at Jian Zheng, then stood up, walked to the opposite side, and sat down next to Wang Jie.

"You two are always sticking together. I've only been gone for a little over a week, and you're already being so sweet." Jian Zheng's mouth almost reached his ears.

“I’m going to be all lovey-dovey with Wang Jie, just to annoy you,” Zhou Yanruo said.

"I'm not angry. I don't care whether you're happy or bitter." Jian Zheng said with a laugh. "Hey, what did you call him? You called him Wang Jie too."

“Wang Jie, she has no respect for elders. How did you raise your student?”

"Isn't the point of having a name to be called? Call me whatever you want, I'm fine with it," Wang Jie said with a smile.

Jian Zheng opened his mouth, speechless, and said, "Fine, you two are really something."

"Stop joking around, tell me quickly, what's your new plan?" Zhou Yanruo glanced smugly at Wang Jie, then turned to Jian Zheng and said.

"Tch, you two have ruined my mood."

"Are you going to tell me or not?" Wang Jie urged with a smile.

Are you aware of the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme in Hong Kong Island?

"I know, what's wrong?"

"You know? When did you find out? How come I didn't know you knew?"

"Here we go again. Are you going to talk about the plan, or do you want to find out how Wang Jie found out?" This time it was Zhou Yanruo's turn to pout.

Jian Zheng didn't respond, but continued, "My relatives came from Hong Kong Island. They said that the Hong Kong Island Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, which is held every year, has expanded its quota this year to commemorate the second anniversary of the handover, and the requirements have also been relaxed compared to previous years. In the past, it was open to recruiting talents from the elite of society, but this year it has added admissions from colleges. Graduates with excellent grades can be employed as recruited talents. My mother wants me to go there to study for an MBA."

"You're not a top student," Zhou Yanruo continued to mock.

Jian Zheng ignored Zhou Yanruo. He was serious and earnest when he talked about things. "Wang Jie, why don't we go together? The finance major in Hong Kong is quite reliable. It's much cheaper than in the United States, and it's closer to the mainland. You won't have to worry about not being able to take care of Grandpa."

Wang Jie knew that Jian Zheng was thinking of him, and couldn't bear to refuse directly: "I'll think about it."

“Hmm,” Jian Zheng adopted a serious expression and said to Zhou Yanruo, “What did you just say? Who’s not a talent? I can’t get into a graduate program in the US, and I can’t even get into the Talent MBA program at Hong Kong Island College. Who are you looking down on?”