This neighborhood is considered to be one of the oldest in S City, and it’s quite large, occupied by a few sprawling courtyards.
At the head of the street stands the Jin Family’s white, standalone western-style house.
The Jin Family’s several goldsmith stores, which they inherited from their ancestors, have now become one of the top ten jewelry brands in S City.
They could be counted as one of the city’s most influential local tycoons.
Xia Yanxin had lived with her mother in the Jin Family’s servant quarters since she was young, while at the other end of the street, the newly built apartment building was the home of Chu Sihao.
It used to house retired cadres before being demolished and rebuilt into beautiful apartments.
The Jin and Chu families lived very close to each other and often visited one another, so Xia Yanxin and Chu Sihao essentially grew up together.
However, after he was accepted into the Naval Engineering Academy, their meetings became increasingly rare.
Carefully counting, it had been almost three years since they last saw each other.
Three years ago, she was only sixteen, and her girlish dreams were filled with longing and fantasies of him.
Around her neck hung a necklace made with a red string, and its pendant was a heart-shaped bullet casing that he had crafted by hand.
She still remembered the last time she saw him, which was right under this magnolia tree.
It was his first visit home since enrolling in the military academy.
She was in her first year of high school and, eager to see him, skipped class for the first time in her life.
It was a midsummer night, and he, in all his dashing military glory, radiated with brilliant sunlight and integrity as he personally hung the necklace around her neck.
“Yanyan, you must wait for me.
After I graduate and start working, I will take you to meet my parents.
I want to have your name written in my family’s household register,” he said, his eyes burning with passion, his tender love-filled words still vivid in her memory.
Although they hadn’t seen each other for three years, they would still call each other occasionally.
But after she said those hurtful words to him a month ago, she hadn’t heard anything from him for an entire month, until today.
If it weren’t for Shen Xiaoman’s phone call, she wouldn’t have known he had returned.
She stood under the magnolia tree, peering up for a while, but the surrounding wall was too high to see any figures inside…
Feeling extremely nervous and conflicted inside, she hesitated yet didn’t dare to go in.
Turning around, she pulled out a small mirror and quietly applied some lipstick…
“Yanyan…”
A familiar and clear voice came from behind her. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Startled, she turned around, and a tall figure approached her.
It was him, Chu Sihao!
Her eyes lit up.
He had grown taller than he was three years ago, his skin had tanned to a sexy wheat color, and his originally gentle and delicate features were now marked with a soldier’s ruggedness and wildness.
The white navy uniform, under the sunlight, seemed to cast a faint, white halo around him, as if all the sunlight had concentrated on him, making him look both handsome and dashing…
She watched him with excitement, mouth agape, forgetting to speak.
All the words she had been brewing in her heart were forgotten, and her eyes could see only the tenderness in his gaze.
After a while, she realized she was still holding her lipstick and mirror, and quickly tucked them into her bag.
“Yanyan, it’s me.
Don’t you recognize me?”
He finally stopped in front of her, steadying her shoulders with his hands, his amber eyes shining with gentle light, his voice as tender as ever, like a spring flowing into her heart.
It was her Brother Sihao; how could she not recognize him!
“Brother Sihao, I thought you wouldn’t forgive me.
I thought you would never see me again!” Her voice was weak, lacking confidence.
“Silly Yanyan, how could that be!
How could I be mad at you over just one sentence!” he said gently.
“But you didn’t even tell me when you came back…” A tiny voice carried a faint whiff of grievance.
“Heh, that’s because the decision from the organization was also very sudden.
I actually just got home yesterday, and then I’ve been busy and had no time to tell you.
Plus, I won’t be staying home for long; I’ll soon have to return to the unit.”
“Ah!” She quickly stepped back, her disappointment causing her to let go of her hands, “Why?
Don’t you have leave to visit family?”
“Yeah, let’s find another place to talk, it’s not convenient here!”
After all, it was still a street, and he was a soldier; he always had to consider the gazes of passersby.
She hung her head, shyly nodded, “Let’s go to Peach Blossom Garden!”
Peach Blossom Garden, it was a man-made park behind the neighborhood, with a vast peach grove inside.
When the peach blossoms were in full bloom, presenting a beautiful array of colors, it was also the place where they used to play frequently in the past.
Under the shade of the trees, he and she sat side by side.
She couldn’t help but steal another careful look at him.
Chu Sihao was clean and handsome, previously full of a scholarly aura. Visit g.com for the full chapter.
After being tempered in the military, his whole person took on an imposing and upright air.
His straight posture made him seem even more like a graceful figure against the wind…
He took off his military cap and held it in his hand, turned his face to look at her, their eyes met, and her face flushed, her heart raced, and she couldn’t help but avoid his burning gaze.
In the past, she often fantasized about the occasion of their meeting, having a multitude of things she wanted to say to him.
But now she couldn’t remember where to start.
“You…”
“You…”
Both of them spoke at the same time, and Chu Sihao smiled.
His smile was extremely charming, like a burst of flowers blooming in an instant…
“You go first!”
“Heh, Brother Sihao, I was just spouting nonsense that day.
I was actually afraid your mom wouldn’t agree to us being together.
I’m the one who lacked the courage to go to your house, that’s why I told you to find someone from a matching family background…”
“Silly Yanyan, how many times have I told you, my mom isn’t that kind of person who despises the poor and loves the rich, really!”
“But people always lack confidence!
But now it’s okay, I have an official job.
I’m no longer on probation, I’m now a reporter for Midian Media, look…” She excitedly pulled out her press ID and handed it to him.
All these years, she had been striving tirelessly.
That’s because he was the sole belief in her heart.
She wanted to stand in front of him with her head held high, wanting him to look at her with approval.
He carefully looked at the photo on the ID and smiled, “I didn’t expect it, my Yanyan has finally grown up.
But it doesn’t matter what job you do, what’s important is that you’re happy.”
“Psh, always saying nice things…
Has Brother Sihao already found a girl he likes in the military?” Xia Yanxin crossed her arms and fidgeted.
Although the two of them had always maintained a relationship beyond friendship, they had never broken through that final barrier…
Last time on the phone, he inadvertently mentioned that someone from his family had suggested he go on a blind date; in reality, he just wanted to hint at her.
Unexpectedly, the hasty her blurted out: “Let your mom find you someone suitable, and don’t ever call me again,” and then she hung up the phone.
Afterward, filled with regret, she always wanted to make amends, but…
her skin was too thin.