Chapter 19: The Spirited Young Girl of the Seventies (19)

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Liu Suisui wanted to leave. Although she knew it was somewhat impolite to do so, she felt that his behavior was even more offensive to her.

“Hey, hey, Liu Zhiqing, I haven’t finished reciting my poem yet. What do you think of it? Isn’t it quite romantic? I just wanted to—”

Yang Zhiqing tried to pull her back, but she dodged him.

“Yang Zhiqing, men and women should maintain proper boundaries. Please watch your words and actions,” Liu Suisui said coldly, her tone no longer soft and gentle as usual.

Yang Zhiqing clearly sensed her indifference, which was not what he had expected. Moreover, she no longer gave off the impression she once had.

“Liu Zhiqing, I—”

“If there’s nothing else, please don’t bother me again.”

Liu Suisui disliked entanglement with strangers. When something could be resolved quickly, she never dragged it out.

He gave her a very bad feeling. Though their interactions were few, her intuition never failed.

“Wait, can you let me finish speaking?” He grew frustrated and a little angry, raising his voice.

Seeing her cold expression, he softened his tone a bit.

“I want to say, from the moment I first saw you, I felt your soul was unique. I understand some things are hard to express, so I can grasp your meaning. I know in these matters, men should be a bit more proactive, so I came.”

“I want to say, I want to elevate our revolutionary friendship.”

“...”

Yang Zhiqing waited a long time for a response.

He lifted his head slightly, then lowered it again, noticing her expression growing increasingly displeased.

“I don’t like you.”

Liu Suisui rejected him bluntly.

But she didn’t realize this wasn’t a request.

“That’s impossible! You obviously like me but are just too shy to admit it. So I took the initiative. I was this forward—why won’t you acknowledge it?” For a moment, his face twisted, but he soon composed himself.

They were both educated youth from the countryside, well-educated and, in his view, kindred spirits.

He couldn’t believe she wasn’t even a little moved.

“I don’t like you,” Liu Suisui patiently repeated, continuing to deny.

“I don’t believe you.”

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“Idiot.”

She couldn’t take it anymore and cursed outright.

His eyes widened in surprise.

She turned to leave but was stopped again.

“You like me. You just won’t admit it, right? If you didn’t like me, why would you keep looking at me? I know you might not want a relationship right now, so we can keep it secret; we can sneak around.”

He poured out his thoughts in a continuous flow, his earnest expression seeming to reveal the truth.

But was this really the truth?

Liu Suisui felt her past life’s understanding was still too shallow. She knew men generally had more confidence than women, but she never expected some to have this much.

When did she ever look at him? How could she not know?

Could it have been a careless glance, mistaken by him as appraisal?

“If you keep harassing me, I won’t hesitate to report this to the police. I don’t think you’d like prison food, right?”

“You clearly like me! Why won’t you admit it?” He stubbornly refused to accept the truth from her lips.

Some people seem incapable of understanding plain speech, and such people are infuriating.

Could he be what they call a “love-crazed fool”?

This is a syndrome where one mistakenly believes everyone around likes them, and this illusion causes distress.

“Liu Zhiqing, I know you’re young and inexperienced, but I’ve been brave enough to say it out loud, so you don’t need to be shy. We’re all educated youth; returning to the city is impossible now. We can help each other. I’ve already thought it through—”

He babbled on endlessly.

Liu Suisui’s mind drifted elsewhere. It wasn’t that she wanted to hit him; she was just curious where such confidence came from.

Just as she was at her wit’s end and feeling troubled, someone approached.

“Liu Zhiqing, didn’t you say you’d come find me? Why have you taken so long?”

Li Xinxin came over with a bright smile, awkward yet familiar, linking arms with her.

“Isn’t that Yang Zhiqing? What are you two doing? I remember you seemed pretty close to my cousin before. Why haven’t you visited her lately? She misses you a lot.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. When was I ever close to your cousin?” Yang Zhiqing’s face stiffened as he reflexively denied.

Afraid Liu Suisui would misunderstand, he hurried to explain, “I have no relationship with your cousin. She kept pestering me to help her study, so I taught her a bit. You know how village folks love gossip; soon stories get all twisted.”

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“Really? Then why does my cousin always bring you eggs and help you with chores? Isn’t that unusual for a student?”

In the past, apprentices helping their masters was normal.

But in these times, it was inappropriate.

Li Xinxin didn’t like her cousin or this man. Together, they made quite the pair.

“My cousin has mentioned you before and might look for you again. To avoid unnecessary misunderstandings, please keep your distance from Liu Zhiqing. I have something to discuss with her. I’ll leave now.”

Yang Zhiqing wanted to stay but lacked the ability or words to do so.

He had indeed spent some time with Li Xinxin’s cousin, and they had mutual feelings.

Later, he grew distant after realizing she couldn’t help him.

Until Liu Suisui appeared, giving him hope.

Liu Zhiqing seemed like someone from a different world. She carried an innate nobility, unlike an ordinary person.

Though he didn’t understand why someone like her had to be sent to the countryside, his intuition told him she could offer what he desired.

Men marry wives to find a capable partner, after all.

Thus, he planned this confession.

But the outcome was far from what he hoped.

“Thank you, Comrade Li.”

After a long walk, once Yang Zhiqing could no longer see them, she finally let go of his hand.

Liu Suisui immediately expressed her gratitude.

Li Xinxin waved her hand. “I overheard a bit as I passed by. Please don’t mind.”

“That’s okay; it’s no big deal.”

“Well... what I said is true. He and my cousin do have some involvement. Liu Zhiqing, don’t be fooled by his outward appearance.”

Moreover...