Chapter Thirteen: Journey to the Shaolin Residence

Winter mornings were bitterly cold, the chill cutting through the air like knives. The Jinxiu residential complex was still shrouded in silence; everyone lay sound asleep in their warm beds. In winter, it was perfectly normal for people to linger under the covers—after all, no one relishes leaving the warmth to face the freezing air, especially on a Saturday. Most had no work, and after a week of exhaustion, they deserved a good rest. Yet there were always exceptions. Wang Yuqing was one of them, already awake and up early.

Inside her room, the small desk was scattered with test papers and reference books. A beautiful young figure sat diligently writing, her pen moving swiftly across the pages. Outside, the darkness still lingered as if even the sun feared the winter’s bite. Wang Yuqing, dressed in adorable cartoon pajamas and fluffy bunny slippers, with a small quilt draped around her shoulders, was immersed in study. Her delicate face was entirely focused, sometimes frowning in concentration, sometimes relaxing, her pen scratching out calculations on the paper.

Geniuses are rare in this world; most successful people are simply the most hardworking. Wang Yuqing woke up this early almost every day to study. She might not have been a genius in the eyes of others, but she certainly belonged to the most diligent group. Many envied her excellence, though few knew the effort she put in behind the scenes.

As time passed, the quiet of the neighborhood gradually gave way to the sounds of life—people rising for morning exercise, taking children to tutoring classes, or even heading off to work despite the weekend.

At this time, Wang Yuqing’s aunt also rose. She tiptoed to Yuqing’s room, gently pushed open the door, and saw her niece buried in her books. Not wanting to disturb her, she quietly closed the door again.

“This child, working so hard like this—what if she exhausts herself?” Her aunt shook her head and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. She decided to make some oatmeal porridge for Yuqing. Soon, the kitchen was filled with its fragrant aroma.

“Wow, that smells amazing! What delicious breakfast are you making today?” It was Wang Yuqing’s uncle, awakened by the scent and drawn to the kitchen.

“Hush, keep your voice down! Yuqing is still studying. You, with your nose—no sooner do I start cooking than you’re up. The smell of food works better than an alarm clock.”

Her uncle scratched his head sheepishly.

“Is she still studying? I’ll go call her for breakfast,” he said and walked to Yuqing’s room. He knocked on the door. “Yuqing, take a break and have some porridge.”

From inside, Wang Yuqing responded, then dressed and went to the bathroom to wash up.

By the time she finished, her aunt had already set the porridge on the table. Yuqing picked up a bowl and drank eagerly. “Auntie, your porridge is the best—it’s even better than my mom’s.”

Her aunt smiled indulgently, watching Yuqing devour the porridge. “If you like it, have some more.”

“Oh, right, Uncle. I’m going to a classmate’s house later to help him with his homework,” Wang Yuqing suddenly remembered and told her uncle.

“Oh? Is it far? Be careful!” he replied, setting down his bowl.

“It’s fine, he’s coming to pick me up,” Yuqing said, her face lighting up at the thought of Xiao Lin coming for her.

After breakfast, she called Xiao Lin, instructing him to be at the entrance of her residential complex by nine o’clock sharp. Before he could say anything, she hung up.

With the call made, Yuqing found it impossible to concentrate on her studies any longer. She sat in her room, watching the clock’s hands inch forward, occasionally getting up to look out the window toward the entrance. She had never felt time pass so slowly.

Finally, when the clock struck nine, she leapt from her chair and hurried to the window, only to find no sign of who she was looking for. Disappointment flickered across her delicate lips, which pouted unconsciously.

Just then, her phone rang—it was Xiao Lin. She immediately answered, hearing his breathless voice: “Yuqing, next time, please don’t hang up so quickly. You never told me which entrance to wait at. Your complex has so many gates—how was I supposed to know which one?”

Yuqing stuck out her tongue in embarrassment. “Hehe, sorry! I forgot. Where are you now?”

“I’m at your complex, but I don’t know which gate. Oh, there’s a big shampoo billboard here,” Xiao Lin replied.

“That’s the east gate, I know where that is. Just wait there, I’ll be right down.” Yuqing hung up, grabbed her already-packed school bag, and dashed out of her room.

“Uncle, I’m leaving!” Without waiting for a reply, she was out the door.

Two minutes later, Yuqing reached the billboard. She looked up and saw a boy in an oversized green army coat, a scarf wrapped tightly around his neck, half his face hidden, black sunglasses over his eyes, standing next to a bright red mountain bike, looking at her. She hesitated, the figure seemed familiar, and asked uncertainly, “Are you Xiao Lin?”

The boy pulled down his long scarf, revealing a handsome, fresh face, and said helplessly, “Who else could I be?”

Yuqing burst out laughing. “Xiao Lin, what are you wearing?”

Xiao Lin glanced at his outfit and shrugged. “My grandmother insisted the winter mornings are freezing. If I didn’t dress like this, she wouldn’t have let me out.”

Seeing Yuqing still laughing, he said, “Alright, enough laughter. Let’s go. You insisted I come pick you up, after all.”

Yuqing managed to compose herself. “Where should I sit?”

Xiao Lin patted the back seat of his bike. “I just added this last night—hop on!”

Behind the bike was an extra seat, covered with a fluffy pad. Giggling, Yuqing settled herself on it. Xiao Lin was about to ride off when he stopped, took off his army coat, and draped it over her shoulders. “It’s cold out. Don’t catch a cold. Hold onto my waist—I ride fast, and I don’t want you falling off,” he instructed.

Yuqing, wrapped in his coat, could still feel the warmth from his body. Her heart melted, and she gazed at Xiao Lin with eyes full of affection. “What about you?”

“I’m a boy, young and full of energy. Hold tight, we’re off!” With a shout, Xiao Lin pedaled away.

Startled, Yuqing quickly wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head gently against his back.

Feeling her leaning against him, Xiao Lin was surprised by the secret joy blooming in his heart, though he couldn’t quite explain why.

The ride was silent, except for the two hearts of a boy and girl, drawing ever closer together.