The second semester of high school went by faster than ever.
Since Jiang Suichu came back from Beicheng and read the book her grandmother gave her, she gradually became clear about what she wanted to do in the future.
She wants to become a diplomatic translator.
The motherland that her father defended with his life, she wanted to continue to protect for her father in her own way.
She was a little embarrassed to tell Lu Zhinian at first, always feeling that this dream was a bit too far away. But Lu Zhinian said something to her.
"YOU Will beCOme Why yOU are beCOming."
(You will eventually become who you are becoming.)
Encouraged by Lu Zhinian, Jiang Suchu participated in various English competitions organized by the school and achieved good results in all of them.
The spring flowers in the school bloom and fall. After a few spring rains, the locust trees on the campus begin to sprout fine white flowers.
Another summer is here as expected.
In May, Jiang Suichu represented the school in the English speech contest organized by the Provincial Education Bureau. This competition is open to the whole province and all middle and high school students can participate.
The competition system is very cruel, and Jiang Suchu also went through two rounds of selection before reaching the finals.
The final venue is in the province and you need to go there one day in advance. The day of the competition happened to be the weekend. Shu Yuan was not worried about Jiang Suchu being alone so she asked Lu Zhinian and Pei Shuo to accompany her.
At the station, Jiang Suchu looked at Tang Mi, Tang Zi and Jiang Minghao and felt a little funny.
"I'm just going to compete, why do you guys come here to see me off?" Jiang Suichu was really dumbfounded.
Tang Mi hugged Jiang Suichu's arm: "Of course I'm here to see you off! You're here to bring glory to our school."
The hat was worn too high for her. Jiang Suchu felt a little ashamed and said with a smile: "Don't say that, I can't bear it."
Tang Zi: "Why can't you bear it? You are now the pacesetter in English learning in our school."
Jiang Suichu's English has been completely improved with Lu Zhinian's help. Now that she has found her own direction, she is even more motivated to learn.
Jiang Suichu felt a little embarrassed by the two brothers and sisters' praise. She smiled and her eyes met Jiang Minghao's unintentionally. She was stunned for a moment, always feeling that something was on Jiang Minghao's mind, and he was always a little depressed during this period.
Although he was originally a cold-faced person, he didn't show much expression whether he was happy or not. But Jiang Suchu knew him well. When he had something on his mind, his eyelids would be lowered and he didn't like to look at people.
She frowned and asked him what happened?
Jiang Minghao just lightly touched the corner of his mouth and raised his eyebrows at her to indicate that he was fine.
Jiang Suichu didn't believe it, but she couldn't ask him directly since everyone was here. She planned to send him a message to ask after getting in the car later.
The station announcement is already prompting for ticket checking.
Pei Shuo had Jiang Suichu's little blue schoolbag on his shoulder. He glanced at the three people's tickets: "It's our car."
Lu Zhinian pushed a small suitcase in his hand and said to Jiang Suchu: "Let's go, it's time to check in."
Tang Mi stepped forward and hugged her again, encouraging her: "Come on every year, I believe you can do it!"
Jiang Suchu hugged back: "Well, I'll do my best!"
The two let go of their hands, and Jiang Suchu waved to Jiang Minghao and Tang Zi: "Then let's go first, bye."
Jiang Minghao raised his chin: "Yeah."
With Lu Zhinian and Pei Shuo here, he had nothing to tell her.
Tang Zi made a cheering gesture to her: "Fighting!"
There were many people at the station, and Jiang Suichu looked back while queuing to check in. Across the crowd, she saw Jiang Minghao standing there expressionless. For some reason, she felt a little sour in her heart.
Lu Zhinian saw that she was looking back, so he took her arm and pulled her in front of him to prevent her from being squeezed.
"What are you looking at?" When he turned around, Tang Mi and the other three had already left, and he only saw their backs.
Jiang Suchu shook his head: "It's nothing."
Outside the station, Tang Zi looked at the two people and took a deep breath.
Jiang Minghao just proposed to take Tang Mi to play.
He looked at Tang Mi and said helplessly: "Don't play too late."
Since Tang Mi knew that Tang Zi knew about her and Jiang Minghao's relationship, she no longer hid in front of him.
She held Jiang Minghao's hand and smiled harmlessly at Tang Zi: "Thank you, brother."
Tang Zi twitched the corner of his mouth. Growing up, he would only call him brother when he wanted something from him.
He looked at Jiang Minghao, opened his mouth and finally said nothing. He believed that Jiang Minghao was measured and knew what to do.
He waved his hand: "Come on, you two, I'll go to the Internet cafe to play games for a while. Call me when you get home."
The two of them came out together. If they don't go back together, their parents will definitely want to get to the bottom of it.
Tang Zi didn't look back, hailed a taxi on the side of the road and left.
Tang Mi looked up at Jiang Minghao and asked him, "Jiang Minghao, where are we going?"
Jiang Minghao lowered his eyes to look at her and smiled lightly: "Let's go on a date."
"A date?" Tang Mi's eyes were full of surprise. There are very few opportunities for the two of them to go out alone together, and it seems that they have never had a serious date.
"Yeah." Jiang Minghao nodded and asked her, "Is there anything in particular you want to go somewhere or do you want to do?"
Tang Mi looked at him and shook her head with a smile: "As long as I'm with you, I won't feel bored even if I go to an Internet cafe for a day."
Jiang Minghao twitched the corner of his mouth. It was really boring to be with him. In order to support his education, he works part-time most of the time. The two have been together for so long, and they have never taken her out to have fun.
He looked at her with obscure eyes: "If you don't go to the Internet cafe today, I will take you out to play."
"Okay!" Tang Mi nodded with a smile and followed him without asking where he wanted to take her.
Jiang Minghao pulled her towards the road. When he raised his hand to take a taxi, his hand was held by Tang Mi.
He turned his head and looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Tang Mi: "Jiang Minghao, let's take the bus."
She saw Jiang Minghao's brows gradually frowning and said quickly: "I see other people sitting in the back of the bus together when they are in love. I think it's quite romantic."
Jiang Minghao lowered his eyes and looked at her for a long time before he said, "Okay."
……….
After getting in the car, the three of them found their seats. Their tickets were bought together, and the three seats were next to each other.
Pei Shuo: "Sui Sui, you can sit in the back."
"Yeah." Jiang Suichu nodded and sat in the innermost seat by the window.
Lu Zhinian put the suitcase on the luggage rack above. Pei Shuo consciously gave him the middle seat and sat on the aisle seat.
"A Nian, are you going to compete in the province soon?" Pei Shuo carried his schoolbag forward, took out his mobile phone from his pocket, and asked him while plugging headphones into his ears.
He knew that Lu Zhinian had been studying AI technology and had participated in many competitions over the years. And he has a small team of his own, all of whom he met during competitions, and they developed many small programs together.
Lu Zhinian sat down and said, "Well, a small competition."
Pei Shuo couldn't understand his messy code, so he just asked casually.
It takes an hour and a half by high-speed rail from Yunshi to the province, so he logged into the mobile game to kill time.
"A Nian, want one?" Pei Shuo hit Lu Zhinian with his arm.
Lu Zhinian was looking at Jiang Suichu. She had been messaging with her cell phone without knowing who she was messaging with since she sat down.
He did not disturb her, but took out her thermos cup from the side pocket of the schoolbag on Pei Shuo's leg and put it on the small table, reminding her: "There is water in the cup."
"Oh, okay." Jiang Suichu heard his voice, quickly raised his eyes to look at him, and then lowered his head to look at his phone.
Pei Shuo poked him again: "Ah Nian, hurry up, Tang Zi is also in the third row."
"Yeah." Lu Zhinian reluctantly took out his phone and logged in to his game account.
Jiang Suchu kept looking at her phone. It had been several minutes since the message was sent, but Jiang Minghao hadn't replied to her yet. Just when she was about to call him, a new message suddenly popped up on the chat interface.
Jiang Minghao: [It’s okay, don’t think too much. You play well. 】
Jiang Suichu didn't believe what he said. If it was really okay, he wouldn't have said 'don't think too much' to her at all.
Jiang Suchu: [There must be something wrong with you! 】
Jiang Suichu: [Jiang Minghao, didn’t we say that no matter what happened, we would face it together? 】
Jiang Minghao: [It’s really nothing. 】
The more he said this, the more anxious Jiang Suichu became.
She typed faster: [Brother, am I not your sister? 】
In the back row of the bus, Jiang Minghao's eyes were a little astringent while looking at his mobile phone. He placed his fingertips on the screen and paused for a long time before slowly typing out a few words.
Jiang Minghao: [Jiang Suichu, I’m going to be a soldier. 】
Jiang Suchu: [Be a soldier? 】
He never told her about it.
Jiang Minghao: [Yeah. 】
Jiang Suchu: [When? 】
Jiang Minghao: [I will enlist in the army on the 8th of next month. 】
Number eight? It is already the end of the month, which means Jiang Minghao will leave in less than ten days.
Jiang Suichu frowned slightly and typed to ask him: [Does Tangtang know? 】
Jiang Minghao glanced at Tang Mi beside him. She was leaning on his shoulder with her eyes closed and facing the car window blowing in the wind.
He looked away: [I will tell her. 】
Jiang Suchu felt a little choked in her heart. She wanted to ask him if he wanted to break up with Tang Mi. But she couldn't ask, and she didn't want to ask.
She knew Jiang Minghao was suffering more than she was.
She thought for a long time before replying to him: [Tell Tangtang properly and she will understand. 】
Jiang Minghao: [Yeah. 】
Putting down his cell phone, Jiang Suchu looked out the car window.
Although Jiang Minghao didn't say why he suddenly wanted to join the army, Jiang Suchu understood. Poor people like them, who live at the bottom of the class, don’t have many options except studying.
Jiang Guodong's path to study had long been ruined, and he had no choice. Tang Mi's family background is not something that a vocational high school student like him can match. What he has to do is not only to work hard to improve himself, but also to change his social status.
For a poor man with no money and no background, becoming a soldier is the only way he can take at present.
At least, he has to earn some respect on his own!
"Woohoo~Yes!" After finishing the game, Pei Shuo stood up and put his schoolbag on the chair, "I'm going to use the toilet."
"Yeah." Lu Zhinian quit the game.
Lu Zhinian put his mobile phone on the small table and saw Jiang Suchu looking out the car window, feeling a little depressed.
He moved closer to look into her eyes and said softly: "What's wrong?"
Jiang Suichu looked sideways at him, and his eyes felt sour the moment he saw him. She called him very softly, her voice trembling slightly, "...Lu Zhinian."
Lu Zhinian was stunned for a moment, then took her hand on his lap and pinched it in his heart: "Well, what's wrong?"
She leaned her head on the back of the chair and looked at him with red eyes: "Jiang Minghao said he is going to join the army."
Lu Zhinian's eyes paused and he squeezed her hand, "Yes."
There was not much surprise in his eyes, as if he had known about this for a long time.
She sat up and looked at him: "You know?"
Lu Zhinian looked at her and nodded, "Well, Jiang Minghao told me."
Jiang Suchu frowned: "When? Why didn't you tell me?"
Lu Zhinian's fingers rubbed the back of her hand, soothing her emotions, "Just now at the station."
Jiang Suchu was stunned for a moment, thinking that while waiting for the train at the station, Lu Zhinian went to the water boiler to get hot water for himself. At that time, Jiang Minghao seemed to have followed him, saying he was going to the toilet.
She held his hand tightly: "Did he tell you why he suddenly joined the army?"
Lu Zhinian shook his head, but he probably knew the reason. Tang Zi and Tang Mi were planning to go abroad when they were in their first year of high school. Tang Zi has been preparing various materials for studying abroad in the past six months, but Tang Mi has made no movement.
He guessed at that time that Tang Mi should give up studying abroad for Jiang Minghao.
He thought for a moment and then said to Jiang Suichu, "Tang Mi originally wanted to study abroad."
Jiang Suichu's eyelashes trembled and he opened his mouth: "Didn't Tangtang say he was going to take the exam..."
She stopped mid-sentence.
She leaned back in her chair weakly, with a bitter taste in her throat that she couldn't swallow. Tang Mi gave up studying abroad for Jiang Minghao, and Jiang Minghao joined the army to keep Tang Mi from giving up on his future.
What two silly people.
But they are two very brave people.
Lu Zhinian squeezed her hand and said, "We have to believe them."
Although he didn't know how Jiang Minghao would resolve this matter with Tang Mi, he could see that Jiang Minghao was not a person who gave up easily.
He should be able to handle it.
Jiang Suichu looked sideways at him, with a lump in his throat: "Lu Zhinian, if...we also face such a problem, what choice would you...?"
If we hadn't known each other since childhood; if Uncle Lu and Dad weren't colleagues; if Aunt Yuan didn't like her, then the problems they faced were actually the same as Jiang Minghao.
The huge gap was like an unfathomable chasm between the two.
Can they make it through?
Lu Zhinian reached out and tucked her hair behind her ears. He looked at her with his deep eyes and said seriously: "Jiang Suichu, there is no if."
"Um?"
She saw him chuckle and said in a casual and arrogant tone: "Jiang Suichu is destined to be with Lu Zhinian!"
So, there is no if.
Even if they really face the same problem, he will unswervingly choose her.
In fact, as soon as Lu Zhinian knew that Tang Mi liked Jiang Minghao, he was worried about her. Tang Mi had grown up with him since childhood, and he knew her character somewhat.
Sincere, passionate and direct.
It was only a matter of time that such a character would attack Jiang Minghao, but she didn't think deeply about the problems between the two.
Jiang Suchu asked him, if the two of them also faced such a problem, what would he choose?
He wanted to say that he was different from Tang Mi.
When he loves someone, he will not force anyone to go to someone else's way. In relationships, the most taboo thing is the sacrifice of one party's self-motivation.
Because the sense of sacrifice is often accompanied by the need for others to respond in return. Human nature is unstable, and self-sacrifice that seems reckless now will definitely explode in the trivial daily life in the future.
The best love must be achieved by each other.
As he said before, his view on relationships has always been: mutual nourishment and mutual growth.
He won't pour all his passion on the other person before the two of them stand on the same starting line.
He will lead the other person to grow slowly, and when both of them grow into better versions of themselves, he believes that loving each other can overcome all difficulties.
