National Day Holiday

On the afternoon before the National Day holiday, Yu Heng waited for a carpool at the school gate.

The sun wasn't as strong at the end of September, but it was still a bit dry after being in the sun for a while.

"Yu Heng!" Ning Yutong ran over, dragging a small suitcase, her JK skirt swaying. "Have you been waiting long?"

"Just arrived." Yu Heng glanced at her pink suitcase. "Is that all you have?"

"It's only seven days anyway." Ning Yutong stood next to him. "What about Yue Ling?"

She said ten minutes.

As a result, those ten minutes turned into almost twenty minutes before Shen Yueling slowly walked out of the school gate, carrying a backpack.

"You're really slow." Yu Heng glanced at his phone.

Shen Yueling didn't reply, but glanced at Ning Yutong's suitcase: "Let's go, the car's here."

A black SUV was parked on the side of the road, and a young man wearing glasses was already sitting in the passenger seat.

The driver rolled down his window: "Are you sharing a ride? Going to Ancheng?"

"Yes!" Yu Heng first stuffed Ning Yutong's suitcase into the trunk.

When I got back, I found that Shen Yueling was already sitting in the window seat on the left.

Ning Yutong hesitated for a moment as she stood at the car door.

"You can sit on the right," Yu Heng pointed.

These two were really close in high school, inseparable, but now they're acting so awkwardly!

Ning Yutong nodded, bent down, and crawled inside.

Yu Heng sat down in the middle, and the moment he closed the door, he felt people on both sides of his arms.

"Fasten your seatbelts," the driver reminded him, and started the car.

Yu Heng sensed that the atmosphere was a bit awkward.

On the left, Shen Yueling's body faintly smelled of laundry detergent; on the right, Ning Yutong's elbow occasionally brushed against hers...

Damn, this position is fucking uncomfortable.

The car drove out of Tangcheng city and onto the highway.

"Yu Heng, what are your plans for the holiday?" Ning Yutong tilted her head and asked him, her hair brushing against his arm.

"Sleep, play games." He moved forward slightly, trying to create some distance.

Shen Yueling glanced at him: "Why are you squeezing in?"

"Then I'll move over here..." Yu Heng leaned to the right.

"Ouch!" Ning Yutong exclaimed softly, "You're stepping on my hair..."

Yu Heng quickly sat up straight: "I'm sorry."

Tsk, shouldn't we take the initiative a bit? Otherwise, we're always at a disadvantage in front of these two girls!

Ning Yutong took out her earphones from her bag: "Want to listen to some music? I'll give you one."

"No need, I get carsick." Yu Heng was indeed a little dizzy, and the car seats weren't comfortable either.

Shen Yueling suddenly spoke up: "Your mom called my mom yesterday and said you should come to my house for dinner tomorrow."

Yu Heng was taken aback: "Huh? Why?"

"My parents miss you," Shen Yueling said in a flat tone. "They said they haven't seen you in a long time."

The boy in the passenger seat glanced back at them, then turned back.

Shen Yueling continued to say to Yu Heng, "Come early tomorrow at noon."

"Alright then." Yu Heng scratched his head.

Shen Yueling closed her eyes and rested her head against the car window.

Ning Yutong pursed her lips, lowered her head to play on her phone, and remained silent.

Yu Heng felt even hotter.

Is the air conditioner in this car broken?

He took out his phone and saw that Bai Xinran had sent a message ten minutes earlier.

Bai Xinran: I've thought it over, we can try cooperating.

Yu Heng raised an eyebrow. Had he figured it out so quickly?

He replied: We'll discuss the detailed plan after the holiday.

Bai Xinran replied instantly: OK, have a great holiday.

Yu Heng put down his phone and felt a weight on his right shoulder.

Ning Yutong had fallen asleep at some point, her head resting on his shoulder.

He froze for a moment, then subconsciously glanced at Shen Yueling on his left.

She was watching Ning Yutong leaning on his shoulder.

"She's asleep," Yu Heng said softly, feeling inexplicably guilty.

"I see it." Shen Yueling withdrew her gaze and continued looking out the window.

Ning Yutong's breath gently brushed against his neck, and Yu Heng couldn't make any big movements.

He felt a little numb after holding this position for a long time, but he couldn't easily push it away.

The driver suddenly braked, and Ning Yutong woke up with a start, finding herself leaning against Yu Heng. Her face flushed instantly: "I'm sorry!"

"It's nothing." Yu Heng stretched his shoulders.

Shen Yueling suddenly chuckled softly, but Yu Heng heard it.

"What are you laughing at?" he asked, turning his head.

"It's nothing," Shen Yueling said, a smile still playing on her lips. "I just found it quite interesting."

???

Yu Heng felt the air inside the car was even more stuffy.

After a long and arduous journey, they finally arrived in Ancheng, where the driver dropped them off in the city center.

Ning Yutong's home is the closest, so she got off the bus first.

"Bye-bye, keep in touch during the holidays." She waved to Yu Heng, then glanced at Shen Yueling, "See you later, Yueling."

"Mm." Shen Yueling nodded.

The car restarted, and now only the two of them were left in the back seat.

Yu Heng moved to the right window, finally able to stretch his legs.

"What were you laughing at just now?" he asked again.

Shen Yueling looked at the familiar street outside the window: "I'm laughing at how helpless you look."

"What do you mean?"

"No?" She turned back, a hint of mockery in her eyes. "When Ning Yutong leaned in, your back stiffened."

Yu Heng grinned: "You'd freeze too if you were in his shoes."

"Don't worry, she won't lean on me," Shen Yueling said calmly.

"That's not necessarily true..." Yu Heng chuckled mischievously.

Who knows, maybe that day will come? Right?

The car pulled up at the entrance of Shen Yueling's residential complex. She got out, picked up her bag, and turned back before leaving, saying, "Don't forget tomorrow at noon."

"Know."

Yu Heng breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Shen Yueling walk into the residential area.

The driver glanced at him in the rearview mirror: "Young man, girlfriend?"

"No." Yu Heng rubbed his temples. "Childhood friend."

"Oh—" the driver drawled, clearly not believing.

"Young man, where are you going?" the driver asked.

"The Biyuan residential area ahead."

When the car arrived at the entrance of the residential area, Yu Heng paid the fare and got out.

I pushed open the door and saw my mom busy in the kitchen.

"You're back? Are you hungry? Dinner will be ready soon," Liu Jianfen asked.

"Not bad." Yu Heng kicked off his shoes and slumped onto the sofa.

It was so hot that he simply took off his short-sleeved shirt and went shirtless.

Liu Jianfen came out of the kitchen carrying dishes and, seeing his appearance, said, "Tsk, your sister-in-law will be home from get off work soon, hurry up and put it on!"

Yu Heng was taken aback upon hearing this. Oh, right.

His brother is in trouble now.

His sister-in-law, Zhou Wanyi, lives with her child and mother; the child should be about seven or eight months old right now.

Yu Heng put on a short-sleeved shirt and tiptoed into the inner room to take a look.

Sure enough, Yu Hui, who was only seven or eight months old, was sleeping soundly in his stroller.

Looking at his little nephew, Yu Heng felt a mix of emotions.

He was very close to this child in his past life.

Just as I was lost in thought, the front door opened.

Yu Heng looked up and saw that Zhou Wanyi had returned.

"Sister-in-law is back," Yu Heng greeted her.

Zhou Wanyi was clearly surprised to see Yu Heng at home. She paused for a moment, then gave a tired smile: "Xiao Heng is on vacation?"