Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”No thanks. I can’t afford the popsicles you treat.” Ning Chenyang rolled his eyes at her.

”Look at your petty attitude. Last time, I only knocked over your popsicle, is it really necessary?” Luo Tong softened her tone and laughed at Ning Chenyang’s proud demeanor.

”It’s very necessary. You’re such a fierce person, I never want to see you again in my life. Since there’s nothing else, hurry up and leave! I need to pee, no time to chat.” Ning Chenyang covered his crotch and ran into the boys’ restroom.

.................

Wang Xiaohu was getting impatient, anxiously stamping his feet.

Not far away, that familiar figure finally wobbled over, and when he saw the expression on the girl’s face, he instantly brightened up: ”Luo Tong, hurry up! Why are you so slow on duty?”

”Don’t worry, I’m here, aren’t I?” Luo Tong jogged over, wiped the sweat off her forehead, ”Let’s go, if we’re quick, you can play a bit longer.”

”Wait a moment. There’s another person.” Bean Sprout spoke loudly, afraid of leaving Ning Chenyang behind.

”Who?” Luo Tong frowned in discontent, ”Don’t bring too many people over, it’ll mess up my house.”

”Just one more person. He’s our ’Commander,’ today’s his first day at school, super smart, super nice, you’ll definitely like him.” Sheng Xiaoguang interjected to explain.

”Really? Who is this person? How much longer to wait?” Luo Tong asked.

”Well... Here he comes!” Wang Xiaohu spotted Ning Chenyang jogging over with his backpack and quickly waved to him, ”Hurry up! Don’t waste time!”

Upon hearing the person they were waiting for had arrived, Luo Tong suddenly turned around, just in time to see Ning Chenyang stop behind her: ”It’s you?”

Suddenly, she understood.

The person they were waiting for must be Ning Chenyang.

”What do you mean by ’you and me’? Why are you here?” Ning Chenyang glanced at Luo Tong, then at the kids from the courtyard beside her, a look of understanding flashed in his eyes, ”The person they’re waiting for isn’t you, is it?”

”How do you know each other?” Wang Xiaohu asked.

”It’s more than just knowing.”

On the way, Wang Xiaohu and the others listened to Ning Chenyang telling the story of how he met Luo Tong, all feeling a bit incredulous; it was quite a coincidence.

Since they knew each other and were all going to Luo Tong’s house, Wang Xiaohu tried to persuade Ning Chenyang not to be angry with Luo Tong anymore, after all, it was just a popsicle, not worth it.

Ning Chenyang also wanted to see what they were going to do at Luo Tong’s house, so he decided to come along. Otherwise, given Ning Chenyang’s temperament, he definitely wouldn’t bother with Luo Tong.

They took a bus, then transferred to another, finally arriving at Luo Tong’s home. She lived in a neighborhood of a failed factory, the surrounding environment wasn’t great, and not many families lived there.

In this rundown building, there were only a few households.

Ning Chenyang was puzzled as to what could attract Wang Xiaohu and the others to a place like this.

The four boys followed a girl upstairs, Luo Tong opened the door with a key, and as Ning Chenyang stepped inside, the scene completely overturned his previous impression of Luo Tong’s family.

He always thought a family that couldn’t afford a child’s medical bills must be poor, with nothing but bare walls, pockets jingling with coins, yet he didn’t expect the furniture and furnishings in the house to exceed his imagination.