Chapter 049: Youth, Without Regrets

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The day before the high school entrance exam, the weather was sweltering.

Students from Victory Middle School, a rural school, had to take their exams in the city. The school had rented two minibuses to transport the examinees downtown, where they would stay overnight in a hotel and prepare for the big day.

Everyone was excited about going to the city to take their exams, except Huang Juan, who stood off to the side with a dejected look. The reason was simple: she suffered from severe motion sickness, and even the smell of gasoline made her dizzy.

For three years, thanks to Yang Tian’s bicycle, she had managed to get by. But Binhai City was too far to reach by bike, and taking the minibus would certainly leave her sick for days. She’d likely be so ill that she couldn’t even sit the exam.

“Huang Juan, what’s wrong?” Noticing her worried expression, An Qi and Chen Ming approached.

“I get motion sickness. If I take the bus to the city, I won’t be able to take the exam tomorrow,” Huang Juan sighed deeply.

“What should we do? Oh, right, where’s Yang Tian?” An Qi and Chen Ming grew anxious. By now, their first thought whenever there was trouble was always Yang Tian.

Strangely, Yang Tian was nowhere to be seen that morning. No one knew where he had gone.

“He’s probably hiding somewhere reading,” guessed the students from Class Five. None of them knew where Yang Tian was.

“What’s the matter?” Their homeroom teacher, Bao Yuehong, walked over in surprise.

“Huang Juan gets motion sickness. If she takes the bus, she won’t be able to take the exam tomorrow,” An Qi said, full of concern.

“What to do? The entrance exam is a major milestone in life. We can’t let motion sickness ruin it.”

“That’s right. If she gets sick, how can she take the exam?”

The students chimed in, their voices anxious. The atmosphere grew tense; everyone was worried for Huang Juan, who herself was nearly in tears. Her parents had high hopes for her, and she demanded much of herself. She couldn’t let motion sickness ruin her future.

“How about you ride in the principal’s car?” Bao Yuehong suggested.

“No, cars make me even sicker,” Huang Juan replied with a bitter smile.

“Yes, if the bus makes her sick, the car will be worse.”

“Motion sickness is such a headache!”

“If only there was a motorcycle — she wouldn’t get sick riding one.”

The students began discussing alternatives, but Bao Yuehong couldn’t think of a better solution. Some teachers had motorcycles, but none taught the third-year classes and likely wouldn’t be willing to escort a student to the city for the exam.

Chen Ming and An Qi looked helpless, and Huang Juan shed silent tears. But she was determined: even if it killed her, she would reach the city. She wouldn’t let the entrance exam go to waste. She was resolved to be admitted to No. 1 High School, not to disappoint her parents or Yang Tian.

Just then, the group heard the sound of a motorcycle engine approaching from afar, growing louder and closer. When everyone turned to look, they were astonished to see Yang Tian riding a motorcycle.

It was a stylish Suzuki. Even with the helmet on, his classmates recognized him. When he took off his helmet, a wave of excitement swept through the crowd. Chen Ming and the others exclaimed, applause erupted all around.

The motorcycle had arrived, and the problem was solved!

Huang Juan was ecstatic. Whenever she faced despair, Yang Tian brought her hope, surprising her and helping her overcome every obstacle.

“Sorry, I just went to pick up my license and registration,” Yang Tian said, walking over with his helmet. He had anticipated Huang Juan’s problem with motion sickness. Cycling to the city was impractical, so he’d thought of a motorcycle.

The motorcycle had cost him dearly. All the money he’d earned tutoring at Zhang Xinyu’s home went into buying the vehicle, getting his license, and registering it.

He was, after all, a minor and normally wouldn’t be able to get a license. Fortunately, Zhang Qiang had connections, so Yang Tian managed to obtain one. But the official who gave it to him sternly warned him to be careful, not to cause trouble, and not to show off in big cities. If anyone higher up discovered it, both he and Yang Tian would be in trouble.

“You got your license? Yang Tian, are you sure you can carry a passenger? This isn’t a game,” Bao Yuehong said anxiously, though inwardly she admired Yang Tian. At his age, he looked quite dashing on a motorcycle.

“Would you dare ride with me?” Yang Tian smiled at Bao Yuehong, then turned to ask Huang Juan.

“Of course!” Huang Juan was overjoyed; there was no hesitation. She trusted Yang Tian completely.

Chen Ming and the others cheered again. An Qi, the little girl, was moved to tears, while Bao Yuehong smiled and shook her head. She truly felt at ease with Yang Tian — he was different from other children.

“Xiao Tian, is this motorcycle yours?” Huang Juan asked softly, sidling up to him.

“Yes,” Yang Tian replied with a sincere smile.

“I’ve seen this kind at my aunt’s house. I heard it costs several thousand yuan. Where did you get so much money?” Huang Juan widened her eyes.

“Don’t you remember? I’ve been tutoring at Zhang Xinyu’s for three years now,” Yang Tian said, gently tapping her nose when no one was looking.

“You spent all your money on the motorcycle?” Huang Juan whispered, deeply moved. Tears welled up and spilled over.

She realized Yang Tian must have foreseen this day, saving up for three years just to buy the motorcycle so he could take her to the city for the exam.

Aside from her parents, there was probably no one else in the world who would do this for her.

“You’re almost a grown lady, still crying? Aren’t you afraid the bad uncle who catches crying children will take you away?” Yang Tian teased her as he wiped her tears. In their village, adults often told children this tale to stop them from crying.

“You’re awful!” Huang Juan burst into laughter, lightly hitting Yang Tian.

When the school leaders learned what was happening, they initially objected. But with Yang Tian and Huang Juan insisting, and Bao Yuehong’s persuasion, they finally relented. After all, missing the exam because of motion sickness wasn’t a minor issue.

The Victory Middle School exam group set out: two minibuses leading the way, with Yang Tian and Huang Juan following on the motorcycle.

To help Huang Juan acclimate, Yang Tian rode slowly at first. Soon, he opened the throttle and sped ahead, overtaking the minibuses to become the “leader.”

Before long, the students on the buses were envying them. It was hot inside, while Yang Tian and Huang Juan enjoyed the cool breeze as they rode.

Chen Ming and An Qi stuck their heads out the windows, shouting encouragement to Yang Tian and Huang Juan. The rest of Class Five joined in, and the journey was filled with laughter and singing.

In high spirits, Huang Juan began to sing Lao Lang’s “The Deskmate”: “Will you remember tomorrow, the diary you wrote yesterday? Will you still think about it tomorrow, the one who used to cry the most? The teachers have long forgotten, can't guess your answers, I only recall your face when I flip through old photos…”

Soon, all the students in the minibuses joined in, their voices blending beautifully. Even Bao Yuehong and the other teachers sang along. The singing continued all the way to Binhai City, and everyone’s spirits remained high.