Cheng Chen was left speechless, yet she could not refute her. Over the years, Zhu Yanyi’s martial skills had improved significantly. She had once challenged her, only to find herself no match for her. Because of this, Cheng Chen had even gone out of her way to learn martial arts, but the results were far from satisfactory. Although she was still uneasy about Zhu Yanyi, this unease stemmed solely from a brother’s protective affection for her sister. In reality, she was quite reassured.
"Enough, I won’t say more. Go, go. If you don’t leave, I feel I’ll be discouraged again."
Hearing this, Zhu Yanyi laughed but said nothing else. She waved goodbye once more, slung her schoolbag over her shoulder, and walked away.
After leaving the school gate, Zhu Yanyi took a bus to the City No. 1 High School. For years, this had been her routine. She would lean against a tree near the entrance of the high school and wait. People passed by, glancing at her, but no one disturbed her. This scene had become familiar over the past three years, even to the school guards. On rainy days, the guards would often invite Zhu Yanyi to wait inside the guardroom for Zhu Yanli.
About five or six minutes later, Zhu Yanli emerged. Seeing Zhu Yanyi, she waved. "You’re here early again. You’ve been waiting for a while, haven’t you?"
"Only about five minutes. I thought your graduation class meeting might take longer," Zhu Yanyi said with a smile.
"As if you’re not in the graduating class yourself," Zhu Yanli teased with a laugh.
Zhu Yanyi blinked. "Let’s go, let’s go home."
Zhu Yanli nodded, and the two sisters walked home together.
The April weather was gradually warming up. The spring breeze blowing against their faces felt soothing, almost hypnotic.
"Ani, Anni, you’re back." As they reached the village entrance, they met Hu Hao.
Zhu Yanyi and Zhu Yanli greeted her. Zhu Yanli asked, "Is Hu Hao brother off work today too?"
Hu Hao had entered a secondary vocational school. At that time, vocational schools offered better prospects than regular high schools, and only children of non-agricultural households could attend. Farmers’ children did not have this privilege. Hu Hao’s father, Hu Sen, had formerly worked at a military factory and later at a grain station. The whole family held non-agricultural household registration. After junior high, Hu Hao entered the vocational school, which lasted four years. Upon graduation, he was assigned a job. Currently, he worked as a technician at an optical instrument factory.
"Yes, it’s Sunday, so I’m off," Hu Hao said with a smile. "Yuanyuan is back too. Ani, Anni, you can come play if you have time."
Hu Yuanyuan was also in a vocational school. She had been studying there for three years and would graduate and be assigned a job in another year. Zhu Yanyi nodded with a smile. "Okay, I’ll come find Yuanyuan to play tomorrow."
Hu Hao nodded with a smile, cast a deep glance at Zhu Yanli, and said, "It’s a date then."
Noticing Hu Hao’s gaze, Zhu Yanyi raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at her sister. Zhu Yanli had become even more beautiful. Standing at 1.69 meters tall, her hair was black and shiny. Although she wore a simple ponytail, it added a youthful charm to her. She was wearing clothes made by Xie Xinlian and her sisters, so whenever she went out, five out of ten young men would glance at her.
The two sisters, Zhu Yanli and Zhu Yanyi, each had their own unique charm. Zhu Yanli possessed a stunning elegance that seemed to emanate from her scholarly grace, while Zhu Yanyi had a gentle, ethereal beauty that was calm and peaceful. Despite their differences, both sisters left a striking impression on everyone who saw them.