Reborn in 1977, starting with severing ties with family.

Jiang Sen hesitated for a moment and then said, "Where do you live? I'll take you home."

“Then let’s go that way!” Shao Jiajia pointed to Houhai. “Just go around Houhai and you’ll get there.”

Kyoto Normal University is located northwest of where Jiang Sen lives, and it's quite a distance from Houhai. It's not something you can get there by going around Houhai. This is just an excuse from Shao Jiajia.

“Okay!” Jiang Sen agreed. It wasn’t that he couldn’t see Shao Jiajia’s thoughts, but he wanted to take this opportunity to make things clear and let her give up completely.

"Jiang Sen!"

Just as the two were about to leave, Jiang Sen was called back by someone.

Xu Lanlan and Xu Fangfang walked over.

Xu Lanlan smiled and nodded at him. Xu Fangfang said, "Brother Jiang, could you please invite me to dinner sometime to thank you..."

Jiang Sen quickly spoke up, stopping her from saying anything more about how she saved his life.

Even the title has been changed.

"Um, really, there's no need for that. Just ask your sister; she knows me well. I'm quite shy, so please don't worry about it! Xu Lanlan, see you at the next gathering!"

Jiang Sen specifically greeted Xu Lanlan, implying that she should quickly control her sister and stop her from bothering him.

However, Xu Lanlan didn't seem to understand, and instead smiled and spoke up for Xu Fangfang.

"Comrade Jiang Sen, I'm really not being polite. Putting aside the fact that you saved my sister, we went to the Great Northern Wilderness together, and now that we're both back in the city, it's only right that I treat you to a meal."

Jiang Sen: "...Alright then, shall we make another appointment sometime?"

Xu Lanlan nodded, and Jiang Sen breathed a sigh of relief, quickly gesturing for Shao Jiajia to leave.

Xu Fangfang hadn't gotten Jiang Sen's contact information yet and was about to call him when Xu Lanlan stopped her.

"He won't like you."

"That's because the time was too short. If we had more time, I guarantee he would like me."

"Give me a break!" Xu Lanlan said impatiently. "Can't you focus on your studies? All you think about is finding a rich and powerful partner. Do you think everyone else is blind?"

Xu Fangfang abruptly shook off her hand, "Isn't it all because of you? If it weren't for you, I would have married him long ago!"

Xu Lanlan looked at her younger sister with a complicated expression, her words failing her.

She originally had a job, but her family sent her to the countryside.

But Xu Fangfang said that she was dating a young man from the meat processing plant, and if she went to the countryside, it would definitely fall through.

Xu Lanlan didn't think much of it and simply said that she would go to the countryside in place of her sister.

If my sister gets married, it will improve the family's financial situation.

It wasn't until she was about to leave that she suddenly realized that the young man Xu Lanlan had mentioned was actually her boyfriend.

She didn't think the problem lay with her sister, but rather with the man's infidelity and two-timing. Without a second thought, she exposed the man's true colors in front of everyone.

As a result, she thought she was doing it for her sister's good, and went to the countryside full of ambition.

When she returned, she realized that she was the clown.

Her sister and her boyfriend had been having an affair for a long time.

He even foolishly advised his sister to be more careful and not to easily believe what men say.

She hadn't planned to bring Xu Fangfang to this gathering of former educated youth.

It was Xu Fangfang who overheard him talking to Sun Guohong and mentioned Jiang Sen's name.

Although they hadn't introduced themselves to each other on Fragrant Hills, Xu Fangfang heard Jiang Sen's name from Luo Jianshe and the two women.

If it weren't for them, she might have already hooked up with that rich young man.

But there's no more steamed rice cake, just cold steamed buns.

Seeing Jiang Sen arrive in a jeep, carrying several cases of wine, it was clear he was powerful, rich, and handsome.

Her mind became more active.

Now, when educated youth return to the city, they either find good jobs or get into university.

Many people come from wealthy families. If she happens to meet one, wouldn't she rise to a high social status?

That way, we can get out of that tiny 20-square-meter apartment where our family is crammed together sooner.

She wanted to make something of herself and find a rich husband.

So, she told her mother behind her back that she also wanted to go to the party with her sister and help her sister find a suitable partner.

The mother was always bothered that Xu Lanlan was still single at her age, so she agreed to the marriage without thinking and forced Xu Lanlan to bring her younger sister to the party.

As a result, Xu Lanlan deeply regretted it.

As soon as Xu Fangfang arrived, several male educated youths surrounded her.

Once she realized that the other person's family and job were not particularly good, she quickly changed her attitude and a group of people started fawning over her.

She couldn't understand why her obedient and well-behaved younger sister, who had always been obedient since childhood, had turned into such a snob.

She had seen everything Xu Fangfang did today, and couldn't help but remind her.

But this only earned him Xu Fangfang's complaints.

Xu Lanlan was heartbroken; this was her own sister!

Her heart turned completely cold. She left with a curt "Whatever!" and strode toward the bus stop.

On the shore of Houhai Lake.

Jiang Sen and Shao Jiajia walked slowly.

Shao Jiajia kept looking up at him, but seeing that he remained silent, she couldn't help herself anymore.

"Jiang Sen, did you receive the letter I wrote to you?"

"received!"

Shao Jiajia lowered her head shyly, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.

"So, what are your thoughts?"

Jiang Sen sighed inwardly and said, "Burn it!"

"Burned?" Shao Jiajia looked up in surprise. "Why? Don't you have any feelings for me at all?"

Jiang Sen stopped and turned around to face her.

"Shao Jiajia, you are very good, but I can't give you any response."

"Why?" Shao Jiajia's eyes were a little red, and she bit her lip, waiting for Jiang Sen's answer.

"I..." Jiang Sen felt a pang of guilt, but he couldn't help but say, "I'm already married."

"What?" Shao Jiajia was devastated. "You got married? When? How come I didn't know?"

“It happened after you left. She was an Oroqen girl, beautiful, kind, and hated evil. She only had eyes for me, and I…” He looked at Shao Jiajia, “and only had eyes for her! I’m sorry! You are really good, you deserve better.”

Shao Jiajia stood there, stunned.

When Jiang Sen talked about that woman, the sweetness and happiness in his eyes were something he couldn't fake.

He told the truth.

He really is married, to an Oroqen woman from the Greater Khingan Mountains.

After a long while, Shao Jiajia turned her head, and a single tear drifted down with the wind.

She took a breath. "Okay, I understand! You can go back now!"

"I'll take you back to school."

"No need! I want to walk alone!"

Jiang Sen felt that his words might hurt Shao Jiajia, and he wanted to say a few words to comfort her.

But every time he opened his mouth, he felt that any words he uttered would be pale and powerless.

so be it!

“Okay!” Jiang Sen said, “No matter what, we’re good friends. If you ever need any help in the future, remember to come to me.”

"Fine!" Shao Jiajia's voice trembled with tears. "You can go now!"

Jiang Sen waited two more seconds before turning and leaving.

Shao Jiajia suddenly turned around, looked at Jiang Sen, and silently said in her heart: As long as you turn around, I will know that you liked me. Even if we can't be together, I will be satisfied.

But what brought tears to her eyes was that Jiang Sen didn't turn back. He walked along the road by Houhai Lake, onto the bridge, until he disappeared from sight.