In her past life, Shen Qingyou had been timid and weak, always feeling inferior because she came from the countryside. She never had a single friend.
In this life, she had gained her first true friend, Li Hongmei—someone she could confide in.
That morning, as soon as she arrived at school, Shen Qingyou told Li Hongmei about her troubles.
“I have my third uncle pick me up and drop me off every day. He’s so busy, and I feel bad about it.”
She rested her head on the desk, looking worried.
Li Hongmei blinked. “Then walk to school.”
“It’s a half-hour walk. The sky isn’t fully light yet in the morning, and I’m a little scared.”
Li Hongmei thought for a moment, then suddenly slapped the table.
“Doesn’t your family have a bicycle? Ask your third uncle to teach you how to ride!”
Shen Qingyou was taken aback.
A bicycle?
There were indeed two in the yard—one Flying Pigeon and one Forever, both new.
“But…” she hesitated. “Isn’t it really hard to learn?”
“Not at all!” Li Hongmei spoke from experience. “When my brother taught me, I learned it in two days. You’re so smart—if your third uncle teaches you, you’ll pick it up really fast.”
Shen Qingyou didn’t respond, but her heart stirred.
If she learned to ride a bicycle, she wouldn’t have to trouble her third uncle with pick-ups and drop-offs every day.
She could ride back and forth on her own. How wonderful would that be?
She had always envied those who knew how to ride.
But at the thought of asking her third uncle to teach her, she felt a little nervous.
With his temperament, would he find her too slow?
…
On the way home from school, Shen Qingyou thought about it the entire time.
When she reached the yard gate, she stopped, took a few deep breaths, and then pushed the door open.
Yan Tingxu was in the yard, crouched beside the small car with a wrench in his hand, tinkering with something.
Shen Qingyou walked over and stood beside him without saying a word.
Yan Tingxu tightened a bolt, then looked up.
“Why are you standing there?”
Shen Qingyou bit her lip and mustered her courage. “Third Uncle, I… I want to ask you something.”
Yan Tingxu studied her.
The girl stood in the twilight, wrapped in a red scarf, the tip of her nose reddened by the wind. Her eyes were moist and full of nervousness.
“Go on,” he said, softening his tone as much as he could, afraid of frightening her further.
“Well…” Shen Qingyou pointed at the bicycle propped against the wall. “Could you teach me how to ride?”
Yan Tingxu followed her finger for a glance, then looked back at her.
“What brought this on all of a sudden?”
“I…” Shen Qingyou chose her words carefully. “Having you take me back and forth every day is too much trouble for you. If I learn to ride, I can go to school on my own, and you won’t have to make the trip every day.”
Yan Tingxu was silent for two seconds.
“Who told you it’s a problem?”
Shen Qingyou froze. “N-No one. I just thought so myself.”
Yan Tingxu looked at her with a calm gaze.
“Taking you isn’t a problem.”
Shen Qingyou’s heart warmed, but she still insisted.
“But I want to learn. In the future, when you’re busy with matters, I’ll be able to go on my own too.”
Yan Tingxu lowered his head and continued turning the wrench.
“You have the day off from school tomorrow, don’t you? Wake up early.”
Shen Qingyou was stunned for a moment, then her eyes immediately curved into crescents.
“Thank you, Third Uncle!”
She turned and ran toward the kitchen, her steps light as a little sparrow, her maroon cotton jacket swaying in the twilight.
Yan Tingxu looked up and watched her until she disappeared through the kitchen door.
He turned back and kept working on the wrench.
Then, unexpectedly, he smiled.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Shen Qingyou got up.
The moment she opened the door, the cold air hit her face, but she didn’t feel cold at all. Instead, she was a little excited.
In the yard, Yan Tingxu had already wheeled out the Forever bicycle.
He stood beside it, saw her come out, and nodded.
“Come here.”
Shen Qingyou trotted over and stood next to the bicycle.
It was taller than she had imagined—the seat came up to her waist.
“Sit on it,” Yan Tingxu said.
Shen Qingyou grabbed the handlebars, lifted her leg, and swung it over.
But her legs were too short. Both feet dangled in the air, swaying, unable to reach the ground.
Shen Qingyou panicked a little. Her body wobbled, and she nearly tipped over.
A hand pressed down on the back of the seat. The bike steadied.
“Don’t panic,” Yan Tingxu’s voice came from behind her. “Hold the handlebars. Look ahead.”
Shen Qingyou took a deep breath, gripped the handlebars, and stared straight ahead.
“Pedal with your feet. I’m holding the bike.”
Shen Qingyou placed her feet on the pedals and tried pushing down. The bike moved, wobbling forward two steps.
She was terrified but didn’t dare say so, biting her lip hard.
Yan Tingxu came around to the front, crouched down, and loosened the screw under the seat. The seat sank down a few inches.
“Try again.”
Shen Qingyou sat back on the bike. This time, her feet could touch the ground.
She let out a breath of relief and looked up at Yan Tingxu.
He stood beside her, one hand on the back of the seat, his face expressionless.
“Move forward. Keep your eyes ahead. Don’t look down.”
Shen Qingyou nodded, took a deep breath, and pressed down on the pedal.
The bike moved.
She rode forward unsteadily, the handlebars swinging left and right. Her hands trembled with nervousness.
“Steady,” Yan Tingxu said, following behind her. “Don’t sway.”
Shen Qingyou tried to steady the handlebars, but the more nervous she got, the more they wobbled. Suddenly, the front wheel tilted, and the whole bike started to fall to one side—
“Ah!”
Before she could react, an arm caught her around the waist.
Yan Tingxu held the bike and straightened her up again.
“Stand firm.”
Shen Qingyou stood upright, feeling very embarrassed.
Was she being too clumsy?
“Th-Thank you, Third Uncle.”
Yan Tingxu let go, his face still wearing that cool, indifferent expression.
“Continue.”
Shen Qingyou climbed back onto the bike, took a few deep breaths, and kept riding.
This time it was a little better. The handlebars didn’t wobble as much, and she could ride for several yards.
“Yes, like that,” Yan Tingxu said, following behind. “Eyes ahead. Don’t look down.”
Shen Qingyou stared straight ahead and rode forward little by little.
Just as she was riding, a voice suddenly came from the side.
“Oh, Third Uncle teaching someone to ride?”
Shen Qingyou’s hands jerked. The handlebars wobbled, and she quickly stopped and put her feet down.
She turned her head and saw Yan Hao standing by the roadside, smiling at them.
“Qingyou, learning to ride?” Yan Hao walked over, his face full of enthusiasm. “I can teach you! I’m a great rider!”
Yan Tingxu glanced at him.
Just one glance.
Yan Hao’s words got stuck in his throat, and his smile froze slightly.
“Third Uncle, I just didn’t want her to take up your time, so I came to help.”
Yan Tingxu didn’t say a word. He just looked at him.