On the ninth day of the New Year, at half past eight in the morning, winter sunlight flooded River Dam.
Zhang Ruyun was once again wiping down his motorcycle by the doorway. He dipped a rag in warm water and wiped it bit by bit with great care, but whenever he thought of his girlfriend growing farther and farther away, the sorrow on his face could not be hidden.
Tongtong, the little padded jacket, secretly whispered to Jiang Ning, "He looks like he's about to cry."
Holding a porcelain bowl filled with honey date rice porridge, Jiang Ning took a small sip and said, "Men don't cry unless their hearts are truly broken."
Zhang Ruyun's mouth twitched. He shot him a look, then looked away.
He was displeased inside. At least I have a girlfriend to hold hands with every day. What do you have, Jiang Ning? You just cling to Xue Yuantong all day. What can a little girl like her do for you?
Yes, Zhang Ruyun had a girlfriend.
Chuchu, dressed in a plain-colored down jacket, walked out of the house carrying two large homemade steamed buns. The buns were very white, but compared to Xue Chuchu's fair, rosy hands, they seemed dull instead.
"Have some buns. Don't just drink porridge," Xue Chuchu said.
Jiang Ning said, "The porridge you made really is delicious. There's plenty of rice soup, so it's refreshing."
Xue Chuchu merely smiled faintly. Jiang Ning was always like this. Although he rarely did any work, he always praised and complimented her. Chuchu saw through it perfectly well, yet every time she heard it, joy still welled up from the bottom of her heart.
Perhaps the environment she had grown up in had left her lacking a sense of recognition.
Jiang Ning took a bite