"You're on break, aren't you? I heard from your mom a while ago that your last exam was on the 20th. Why didn't you reply to my texts?"
Xu Yanmei continued to change the subject: "How did the exams go? I looked on the internet for a very long time before finding those quotes. All so literary, I nearly hurled when I found them."
Don't be worried when you face the exam paper. As long as you do your best, what you receive are good results! Let your dreams raise their sails and set sail in the exam hall! Let your life float in the ocean of knowledge! Little grasshopper, do your best on the exams!
Xie Yu wasn't sure why he was able to recite this unoriginal message verbatim. It was cliché, the aphorisms were recognizable at a glance, and it didn't fit the texting aesthetic of today's youth at all.
The bus entered a tunnel, which blocked the burning sun. His surroundings went dark.
Xie Yu was wearing all black and now he was completely immersed in darkness. He leaned back in the seat and stretched his long legs, which were curled up in the tight space, and casually smiled. "But you still sent them? You know what my grades are like. What did you want me to reply? Thanks for the encouragement and I'll do my best not to be dead last?"
Having rested for less than two minutes, the eldest sister of Black Water Street, Comrade Xu Yanmei, suddenly heard someone complaining behind her: "Is this a black market shop or a wholesale market? The prices are so high. This is sabotage."
"... What did you say?" Having been disturbed, Xu Yanmei didn't hear Xie Yu's reply properly. "It's too damn noisy. A bunch of idiots came and tried to break things in the shop. Tomorrow, I'll go buy a big loudspeaker. I don't believe I can't keep this bunch of grandchildren in line."
Xie Yu's fingers tightened slightly on his phone. The words he wanted to say hung on his lips for a while, but in the end they didn't make it any further. "It's nothing."
"I saw the text. I was busy with revision and forgot to answer."
"Good, good, good. Although your grades are a little bit bad, don't be discouraged. You can't give up until the end. Who's afraid of who, right?"
As Xu Yamnei spoke, her voice got louder again. She held the receiver away from her and yelled at the customers who were still talking about making trouble: "What the hell are you doing! If someone's in trouble, it's you goddamn bastards. Are you buying or not? If not, quit dawdling!"
The bus emerged from the mouth of the tunnel. Large patches of sunlight began shining into the bus again, starting from the front of the bus and leading into the back.
Xie Yu narrowed his eyes slightly. Seeing the familiar scenery outside the window, he knew his stop was coming up.
Today was Monday, the third day of summer vacation and a workday. There weren't many people on the bus.
Several students sat in the front row. The girls had their hair in braids and still carried their satchels properly and obediently, even though they were going out to have fun. Their clothes were white and clean.
Although Black Water Street was in the shopping district, the prices were down-to-earth and not expensive, and it couldn't be termed 'extravagant'. The buildings in the suburbs were all of low quality and the houses were run-down. But the cheap costs attracted many visitors who didn't have a lot of disposable income, especially first-years in high school.
Xie Yu eyed a glass ornament in a girl's hair tie, clear with a hint of pink. It glimmered in the light.
"We're here, we're here. Get ready to get off." The girl tossed her braid and held the railing as she got up. "I ate the fried nian gao here. I'll take you there."
