Chapter 22: After the Storm Comes the Rainbow

(1/3)

Once again, it was Friday. The setting sun blazed brilliantly, casting its fiery glow over the small town of Luohe. As soon as the bell rang to signal the end of the school day at Victory Middle School, children poured out of the campus, shouldering their backpacks—especially those from the countryside, who lugged along all manner of bags, ready to make the journey home.

Huang Juan was among the throng, but her spirits were low. The prospect of going home was usually thrilling, yet the thought that Yang Tian would not be coming along filled her with unease. In the past, she’d looked forward to returning home, but she gradually realized that it was the company of Yang Tian that made it special. When she went back by herself, the excitement just wasn’t the same.

“Juan!” As Huang Juan, moving slowly, backpack on her shoulders, stepped out the school gate, she suddenly heard Yang Tian calling her. Startled, she looked up to find Yang Tian standing before her, a large bundle on his back—and, to her astonishment, astride a brand-new bicycle.

It was a black, sturdy bike, quite impressive. Yang Tian was perched atop it at an angle, only able to touch the ground with one foot.

“What’s this?” Huang Juan’s eyes widened as she hurried over.

“Going home!” Yang Tian replied with a carefree smile.

“Going home? That’s great! Let’s get going then, or we’ll miss the bus!” At the news that Yang Tian would be heading home as well, Huang Juan’s spirits soared. She completely forgot her tendency to get carsick—finally, she could go home with Yang Tian. What joy!

“No need to rush for the bus anymore. From now on, I’ll take you home on my bike every weekend!” Yang Tian patted the back seat of his bicycle, his smile dazzling.

“You’ll take me home on the bike? Is this yours?” Huang Juan was dumbfounded.

Yang Tian nodded.

(2/3)

“This is a Phoenix brand bike, isn’t it? It cost more than three hundred yuan! Where did you get the money?” Huang Juan knew Yang Tian never lied. She stepped closer, reached out, and gently touched the bicycle as if admiring a work of art. In Daliushu Village, a bike was a rare treasure. She’d seen one before, but never touched, let alone ridden on one herself.

“I’ll tell you later. Come on, let’s go home!” Yang Tian wasn’t eager to reveal the details about his tutoring job. He’d toiled away as a tutor, saving every penny just to buy this bicycle, so that every weekend he could spare Huang Juan from the misery of car sickness. But he had no desire for her gratitude, so he felt no need to mention it.

He’d spent over a month tutoring, two hours a day for ten yuan each session, saving up more than three hundred yuan—just enough for a Phoenix bicycle. Of course, there were cheaper bikes for just over a hundred yuan, but Yang Tian worried about their quality. After all, he would be carrying Huang Juan over mountain roads; the bike needed to be sturdy.

Zhang Xinyu’s mother, Fang Li, had wanted to give him an extra fifty yuan as a reward, but he refused. Yang Tian was eager to earn money, but he believed in earning through his own efforts, not accepting unearned gifts.

After weathering hardship for more than a month, he finally saw the rainbow after the storm—he’d bought the bike.

“Wait, Tian, are you sure you haven’t done something wrong?” Though still young, Huang Juan was clever and had high expectations for Yang Tian. Seeing him suddenly acquire such an expensive, new bike made her anxious, her face flushing red.

“No, Juan, he’s been tutoring students from Victory Primary School these past weeks—two hours a day, ten yuan each time. After more than a month, that’s enough to buy a bike!” Not wanting her to misunderstand, Yang Tian decided to tell the truth.

“So all this busy running around was just so you could buy a bicycle?” Huang Juan was astonished, and after a brief pause, delight shone through her surprise.

“Yes! Now I can take you home every weekend, and you’ll never get carsick again! Oh, by the way, do you get bikesick?” Seeing Huang Juan moved beyond words, Yang Tian quickly joked.

“Oh, stop it! Who gets bikesick? Let’s go home!” Huang Juan laughed out loud, lightly punching Yang Tian’s back in mock annoyance. She quickly climbed onto the bike, adjusting herself several times before finding her balance. It was her first time riding a bicycle, and though she felt awkward, excitement prevailed.

Ignoring the envious and curious looks from classmates around them, she embraced Yang Tian’s waist and lowered her head, letting her hair fall over her eyes. Though her laughter rang out, tears streamed down her cheeks.

She was deeply moved. She’d thought Yang Tian had been neglecting her lately, maybe off playing somewhere or burying himself in his studies. Never did she imagine he’d been secretly tutoring to earn money for a bicycle, just to take her home and spare her further misery from car rides.

Earning over three hundred yuan was no small feat for a teenager. Huang Juan could only imagine the hardships Yang Tian had endured over the past month, the sweat and effort he’d poured in—all for her.

(3/3)

Her heart was not filled with complicated feelings—simply, she felt utterly secure with Yang Tian by her side.

With Huang Juan seated behind him, Yang Tian set off. He was still rather small, barely able to reach the pedals from the saddle of the big bike, but he’d practiced beforehand and found a solution: riding while standing up. Not only did this compensate for his height, it also gave him more power.

“Tian, when did you learn to ride?” Once out of town, they turned onto a country lane, flanked by flaming red maples glowing in the evening light—a stunning scene.

“Just recently!” Yang Tian replied cheerfully, his heart lighter than ever seeing Huang Juan so happy. Reborn, he had fulfilled yet another dream, and it felt wonderful.

“Wow, you only just learned, and you dare take me? Aren’t you afraid you’ll throw me off?” Huang Juan teased.

“Not at all. If we fall, we’ll fall together!” Yang Tian blurted out his true feelings.

He meant nothing special by it, but the words touched Huang Juan yet again. This time, though, she didn’t cry; instead, she gently hugged Yang Tian from behind—not because the road was rough, but just because she wanted to.

It was his first time taking her on the bike, so Yang Tian dared not go fast. It took almost an hour before they reached Daliushu Village.

As they neared the village entrance, both Yang Tian and Huang Juan grew even more excited and began to shout. Though they’d laughed and hollered all along the way, arriving at their doorstep by bike made it impossible to hide their joy.

Huang Juan, full of girlish exuberance, was delighted—her first time going home by bicycle, no carsickness, and a renewed recognition of her wonderful companion, Yang Tian. It was a day of happiness upon happiness.

Yang Tian, for his part, rejoiced in fulfilling another dream: buying the bicycle and successfully taking Huang Juan home. Though drenched in sweat and exhausted, his heart brimmed with the satisfaction of a dream realized.