Chapter 16: The Sentiment of Youth is Always Poetic

After being sent home by the police car, it was already nine o'clock in the evening. Wen Liang gave a brief and evasive account of what happened, positioning himself as a supporting role who assisted everyone in catching the thief. Even so, this still caused Ding Mei to shout and fuss, checking him all over to see if he was injured. On the other hand, Wen Haiming, who had previous experience, looked at Wen Liang with new eyes, feeling greatly comforted and proud, even exclaiming that a tiger father does not have a dog for a son.

The next day, under the direct intervention of the Municipal Publicity Department, various media outlets began a strong promotional campaign. First, the Qingzhou Daily, as the party newspaper, unprecedentedly published a detailed report on the front page. The article briefly narrated the background and process of the event, then used passionate and stirring words to highly praise Xu Yao and Wen Liang for their bravery and intelligence in fighting against the criminal. It called them role models for contemporary teenagers and young heroes nurtured by Qingzhou, and called on all the city's youth to learn from them. The article concluded by stating that this was a remarkable achievement in the spiritual civilization construction under the leadership of the Municipal Party Committee and Government, reflecting the good social atmosphere and humanistic morals of Qingzhou. The article was well-balanced and flawless, neither lacking in steady and objective professional qualities nor in the passionate and stirring ability to move people, truly a masterpiece. However, to protect the minors, the article only mentioned the names of Xu Yao and Wen Liang, stating that they had just graduated from junior high school, without detailing their family backgrounds or other personal information.

Wen Liang, who had just finished running, took the newspaper from his father's hand and read the article, feeling speechless: "This is too much of a stretch. I haven't even been interviewed, and I'm already being 'promoted'?"

Wen Haiming, of course, did not understand the profound meaning of the word "promoted." He patted Wen Liang's head hard and laughed, scolding him: "You were still lying last night. How can it say that you and another little girl caught the thief together? Good boy, that's what a man should be like!"

Wen Liang rubbed his head and made a shushing sound, like a thief, "Don't let Mom hear this. Don't let her see this newspaper, or she'll worry and nag non-stop."

"Your mom is out. As for this newspaper, ha, have you ever seen your mom touch anything related to paper from when you were little to now?"

Wen Liang laughed, pointing at Wen Haiming and teasing him, "Be careful if Mom hears this. Then you'll be in trouble... Ding Mei may not be well-educated, but she's very sensitive about this. If she really hears it, she won't let you off for two or three days." Wen Haiming realized he had misspoken and subconsciously looked around. He immediately felt he had lost his dignity in front of his son, straightened his face, and scolded, "How do you talk to your father? Are you itching for a beating?"

Wen Liang did not intend to challenge his father, who was now angry and embarrassed. He waved his hand and smiled, about to leave. Just as he reached the door, he suddenly heard his father say gently behind him, "Wen Liang, although I agree with what you did yesterday, if... if there's a next time, you should call the police first, understand?"

Wen Liang's heart warmed. For so many years, although he knew his father was always disappointed in him, scolding him more often than showing affection, hearing such words from his usually strict father still moved him deeply.

He did not turn back, just nodded heavily and left.

At noon, Qingzhou TV's noon news and Today's Focus programs all made related reports, interviewing Xu Yao, Tan Xue, and some of the participants. Wen Liang had his father politely decline the TV station's interview and slipped out alone. The TV station did not mind, focusing their promotion on Xu Yao. By the evening, after the Qingzhou Evening News, which had the largest circulation, and the widely listened-to Qingzhou Radio Station reported, Xu Yao had become a well-known little star, while Wen Liang became the unnamed young man who "assisted Xu Yao" in the reports. This actually suited his intentions. After all, in the eyes of a man who had lived two lives, such fame was too boring.

After a few days of excitement, the enthusiasm gradually subsided. One day, while Wen Liang was practicing boxing in the small playground, he suddenly saw Xu Yao, wearing the same white dress as when they first met, walking from a distance. Her long black hair flowed over her shoulders, her slender and beautiful legs were faintly visible in the sunlight, and her delicate face wore a gentle smile, making her look charmingly innocent and shy.

When she came closer, Xu Yao did not greet him but directed the two people following her to set up a sun umbrella by the sandbox. She then magically unfolded a foldable lounge chair and set up a small, delicate metal tripod beside it, placing a small box on the tripod.

Wen Liang ignored her and continued his practice, spinning and delivering a back kick that split a wooden board hanging in the air.

"Great skills! This kick would definitely sweep through Qingzhou's kindergartens, well done!"

The sweet voice rang in his ear, and Wen Liang felt increasingly uncomfortable. You're just sitting there coolly and making sarcastic comments, how unfair is that? He turned to look at the girl in the white dress lying leisurely on the chair and smiled, "Classmate, does belittling me make you so happy?"

"Not really," Xu Yao smiled and stood up, "But if belittling you makes you feel less happy, I'm very happy."

"Damaging others without benefiting yourself—just for the sake of feeling good, what a character!" Wen Liang stretched out his thumb, walked to Xu Yao's side, and opened the box. Inside were twenty ice creams that were still cold. This little girl went to such lengths just to treat him to some ice cream.

Ha, truly worthy of Xu Yao, even the way she expresses kindness is so infuriating!

Wen Liang smiled bitterly and shook his head, took an ice cream, and started eating it. He then kicked Xu Yao's white, tender calf under her skirt, "Move over, let me sit and rest."

Xu Yao's eyebrows arched, and her bright eyes seemed to spark with anger. Suddenly, she remembered the back of him standing in front of her that day, and her heart softened. She pouted and obediently gave up the chair. Wen Liang, just a perverted uncle, had only intended to tease the beautiful girl, but he didn't expect it to actually work, making him feel hesitant. Could it be a trick?

Seeing his hesitant face, Xu Yao was almost fuming with anger. Her eyes widened, and she shouted, "Are you going to sit or not?"

"Sit, of course, I'll sit, and I'll sit big and bold!" Wen Liang flopped onto the chair, faster than when he had dived to save someone, and made a smug and hateful face, as hateful as possible.

Xu Yao, who used to hate the shameless behavior of boys, now found it amusing. She laughed and kicked Wen Liang's feet off the front of the chair, took an ice cream, and sat down to eat it.

A gentle breeze blew, and the sun umbrella blocked the sunlight, isolating them from the mundane world. A sweaty, ordinary boy and a girl as pure as a fairy, in the sweltering summer, in this quiet corner of the world, listened to the cicadas, watched the clouds, and occasionally turned to exchange a smile, full of warmth.

For the next three days, Xu Yao would bring this setup to the small playground of Building No. 7 every afternoon. Sometimes she would cheer for Wen Liang, and other times she would lie on the chair and say sarcastic things. When Wen Liang couldn't take it anymore and glared at her, Xu Yao would laugh and close her mouth, showing her disdain for arguing with him. Then they would lie and sit on the chairs, eating ice cream and chatting about all sorts of strange topics. Both of them were not easy to get along with, and they often almost came to blows, making the scenes hilariously funny.

Wen Liang had also invited Xu Yao to spar again, but she refused. The poor uncle didn't understand the mind of a little girl. Before, when they weren't familiar, it didn't matter if they fought and looked disheveled. Now, if they were to fight again, it would be foolish!

The happy times always passed quickly, like the RMB in your pocket. On the fourth morning, Wen Liang was notified to attend the Qingzhou Top Ten Outstanding Communist Youth League Members Commendation Conference in the city. Wen Haiming specially put on a set of branded suits. These days, his colleagues in the city had always praised Wen Liang, which made the recently marginalized old Wen feel quite proud. Although the public reports did not mention the family backgrounds of Xu Yao and Wen Liang, in a small place like Qingzhou, how could anything be hidden from the eyes of insiders? Wen Haiming even knew that the real intention of those people was not to praise Wen Liang. All of this, including Wen Liang being selected as one of the top ten, was just a reflection of the little girl's influence.

Although Wen Haiming was not a man of many words, he was not a fool. He had found out everything clearly the day after the incident and learned about Xu Yao's identity. However, he did not tell Wen Liang, and he pretended to be unaware of the two children's daily sparring in the playground on the west side of the yard.

Children playing together is friendship, and others can't say much about it. But if he went out of his way to get close, it would be almost despicable. Wen Haiming would not do it and was not willing to do it. Moreover, since he was now considered part of Xu Fuyan's circle, he had to maintain some distance in private, or it would be too embarrassing if it got out.

Wen Liang looked at his father, who was beaming, in confusion, "What's going on? The top ten Communist Youth League members were already decided, right? How did I get selected?"

Wen Haiming smiled but did not speak. What was decided could still be changed!