At the Educated Youth Dormitory for women, Shen Chenlu lay on the big bunk with a pale face. Her lips had no color, her once-pretty face looked drained, and her eyes were red with despair.
She didn't understand what she had done wrong or why Brother Yang Milan treated her so coldly.
He clearly didn't like that country woman, yet he not only married her, but even had a child with her.
When Shen Chenlu first learned that Yang Milan was married, she was desperate and filled with hate. But when she later discovered that Yang Milan and Li Mercy had not actually obtained a marriage certificate, a tiny glimmer of hope lit up her heart.
She thought: as long as Yang Milan returned to the capital, he and that woman would be unable to continue their relationship, and her chance would come.
Therefore, she refused her family's suggestion that she withdraw from work and retire due to illness. Instead, she stayed in Babaoliang Brigade with a firm resolve.
Just a few days ago, news came from the commune that Yang Milan's transfer order back to the city had been approved. As long as the team issued a certificate, he would be able to return to the capital.
After hearing this, Shen Chenlu was overjoyed and stayed happy for days. She believed that once Yang Milan left that country woman and returned to the capital, she would finally have the confidence to reconcile with him.
But today, she overheard several sisters-in-law from the Li family gossiping, saying that Yang Milan and that country woman had already obtained a marriage certificate.
After confirming the news was true, Shen Chenlu could no longer bear the blow. She fainted on the spot.
Now, beside her bunk, fellow educated youth Liang Yue poured a glass of water for her and said, "Lulu, Milan is just a heartless gigolo. He's not worth ruining your life for!"
Shen Chenlu acted as if she didn't hear, but tears kept flowing down her cheeks, making those who saw her ache with sympathy.
"Hey, just rest for a while. I'm going to work first," Liang Yue said, turning to leave the dormitory.
As soon as Liang Yue walked out, she happened to bump into Yang Milan hurrying back.
Looking at him—still handsome, elegant, and composed despite the hard years—Liang Yue couldn't help but feel jealous.
Everyone had been laboring here for years. Life had made most people look haggard and weathered. Among all, the female educated youth had changed the most.
The most obvious difference was the skin.
In the city, people weren't exposed to harsh wind or sun. No matter beautiful or plain, their skin stayed hydrated, smooth, and glowing.
But here in the countryside, working in the fields under sun and wind every day without money for skincare, their skin had become rough, dark, and no different from that of village women.
In contrast, although Yang Milan had joined the brigade two years earlier than most of them, his skin was still white and fair.
He was the team's scorekeeper and didn't need to do farm work. Instead of coarse work clothes, he wore a Dacron shirt and blue trousers, making him look more like a cadre from the commune than a farmer.
The most important thing was that he remained clean and tidy, unlike others who had to crawl in the dirt of the fields.
"What are you doing here?" Liang Yue asked harshly.
Yang Milan had never had a good impression of her.
She had arrived half a year later than him, and before Li Mercy appeared, Liang Yue had been pestering him constantly.
If that had been all, it might have been tolerable. But Yang Milan discovered that while she teased him, she was also flirting with several other male educated youth.
She even had relations with Chen Jianying's third son. In the words of later generations, she was a complete schemer!
Seeing Liang Yue's true face, Yang Milan had decisively distanced himself from her and, half a year later, married Li Mercy.
"I'm here to see Shen Chenlu. It has nothing to do with you," Yang Milan said coldly.
Pushing past Liang Yue, he went straight to Shen Chenlu's dormitory, pushed open the wooden door, but deliberately left it ajar to avoid suspicion.
"You… you… how could you do this? This is a girls' dormitory…" Liang Yue protested.
Ignoring her, Yang Milan pulled a few pieces of candy he had originally prepared for Maggie from his pocket and gently placed them into Shen Chenlu's mouth.
Facing her startled eyes, he said calmly, "I have something to tell you. I'll wait outside."
Shen Chenlu was stunned. For years, she had tried to speak to him, but Yang Milan either avoided her or remained silent. He had never spoken to her like this before.
The sweetness melting in her mouth must be sugar, she realized, and she remembered that he still had hypoglycemia.
Thinking of this, her heart suddenly softened.
Believing Yang Milan was still waiting for her outside, she endured her discomfort, climbed down from the bunk, and walked out the door.
In the courtyard of the youth dormitory, Yang Milan leaned against the stone mill, looking slightly absent-minded.
It was a pity between him and Shen Chenlu. If not for the accidents and disasters of the past, the possibility of them being together would have been very high.
But fate had played its trick. Their relationship was destined to be unfulfilled.
Although Yang Milan no longer bore resentment toward her, and his heart had already let go of the past, he knew there was no future between them.
Not to mention whether his parents would accept her, the truth was that he already had Li Mercy and little Maggie. His heart had no room left for Shen Chenlu.
Still, he wanted to make this matter clear.
Although Yang Milan would never marry her, he didn't want Shen Chenlu to waste her life again, like she had in her previous life.
Just as he was lost in thought, a soft and sticky voice suddenly rang out:
"Brother Milan!"
Looking at the weak girl before him, Yang Milan couldn't help but sigh.