The Youthful You Who Is So Beautiful (CH.24 UPDATED) 少年的你，如此美丽

Chapter 7

Chen Nian startled awake from her dream, her heartbeat throbbing loudly in the silence of the night.

Last night, just as Wei Cai flung herself towards Chen Nian, Chen Nian managed to find her keys amidst the flurry, hurling herself into the house before locking the door shut.

Lightning flashed across the dark night sky. Wei Cai kicked Chen Nian's door ferociously, the loud echoes reverberating throughout the entire house. Chen Nian leaned her entire body against the door, scraps of paint falling from the walls every single time Wei Cai kicked the door. Some paint fell into Chen Nian's eyes, causing her eyes to sting with pain.

After some time, Wei Cai left. Chen Nian could vividly recall Wei Cai's haunting words before she left, "Chen Nian, you have a death wish."

Even though the rain had stopped, the air was still terribly warm and stuffy. Chen Nian turned over and looked at her mobile phone. It was only 5 in the morning.

Chen Nian wiped the sweat off her neck and switched the electric fan on before returning to her bed and falling into a daze. The sky gradually grew lighter with each passing moment. When 6:45AM finally arrived, Chen Nian picked up the phone and called her mother who was currently faraway in Zhu Hai.

"Hello? Is this Nian Nian? You're not in school yet?" The slightly raspy voice of her mum rang out. Chen Nian could hear sounds of communal showering from the other end.

Chen Nian lowered her head and rubbed her eyes, "Mummy."

"Eh? There's no more toothpaste! Big sister, could you lend me some toothpaste?" Her mum appeared to be very busy, and only managed to continue the conversation after getting some toothpaste, "Nian Nian, is there something wrong? Why aren't you heading to school yet?"

"Mummy, could you......come home......to take care......care of me? At least, until.....until after......examinations, end?"

Chen Nian's mum rinsed her mouth before responding, "I can't even take a single day of leave now, as it's currently the peak production period for the factory. If I tried to take two month's worth of leave, I'd definitely be fired. Nian Nian, be good and persevere for two more months – you can do that, can't you?"

Chen Nian fell into silence.

Having received no response from Chen Nian, Chen Nian's mum gradually quietened down and went to a more secluded corner, "Nian Nian, are you missing mummy?"

Chen Nian nodded her head, before responding in a low and quiet voice, "Yes."

Chen Nian's mum coaxed her gently, "Our Nian Nian is going to enter University soon, so mummy needs to earn sufficient money required to pay for University. If mummy stops working, who else would be able to provide for Nian Nian? We can't possibly beg, could we?"

Chen Nian wiped the sweat from her face, and asked in a muffled voice, "Are there......electric.......fans at your.....dormitory?"

"It's not hot over here." Chen Nian's mum replied, "Don't worry about me. Nian Nian, focus on your studies. Mummy would only be able to enjoy life when you start University."

Chen Nian's feelings gradually returned to some degree of normalcy and calm.

Even if her mum returned, she could do little else except comfort Chen Nian. Furthermore, her wish was rather extravagant in nature, and was in actuality a luxury that her family was unable to afford.

When Chen Nian opened the door and stepped out, she was greeted with a huge expanse of the azure blue sky. Chen Nian could already feel the heat from the glare of the morning sun.