Chapter 19: The Pinky Promise

After a whole morning of classes, it suddenly started raining heavily at noon. Ye Chen still remembered that earlier in the morning, Shen Yuhua had reminded him, "If it rains, just have some instant noodles at school and don't come back."

Instant noodles were quite popular among students at this time, but they were expensive—a pack cost one or two yuan, and the cup ones were three yuan, which wasn't cheap.

"Brother Ye Chen, can we still go home?" Gu Nianxi asked. The rain was heavy, the wind was blowing, and it was so cold.

Chilly.

Ye Chen smiled and patted her head, "We're not going back. Brother Ye Chen will take you to a restaurant outside. What do you want to eat?"

This made the little foodie very happy.

Instant noodles aren't healthy, better not eat them.

Hearing that they would eat out, the little girl's eyes lit up, but soon dimmed again. "Eating at a restaurant costs a lot of money. We don't have that much."

"Don't worry, I have it."

"Then… then I want cold noodles!" The little girl quickly became excited again.

"Sure."

"Ye Chen, you didn't go back either?" Zeng He walked over from a distance.

"Yeah, it's raining. I'm not going back," Ye Chen replied.

Zeng He grinned, "I didn't bring an umbrella. My mom gave me five yuan to eat instant noodles at school." As he spoke, he took out the five yuan, showing off a bit.

Ye Chen looked at his childish behavior and couldn't be bothered.

Zeng He continued to ask, "What are you having for lunch?"

Gu Nianxi smiled, revealing her little tiger teeth, "Brother Ye Chen said he'll take me outside to eat cold noodles."

"Cold noodles? Oh, I want to go too, but I don't have enough money." Cold noodles cost six yuan a portion, and he was one yuan short.

Ye Chen generously offered, "I'll treat you."

"Really? Awesome, awesome!" Zeng He jumped up excitedly, overjoyed.

Ye Chen looked at him with disdain but thought, well, he's just a kid; it's normal.

He took out two umbrellas from his school bag and gave one to Zeng He.

This guy didn't even think to bring one.

The three of them headed to the cold noodle shop together.

Ye Chen held the umbrella over Gu Nianxi as much as possible to keep her dry. His thoughtfulness and care made Zeng He feel a bit jealous on the side.

When they arrived at the cold noodle shop, they found a seat. Zeng He smiled and said, "You're so nice to your sister."

Ye Chen looked at him, "She's my future wife. If I'm not good to her, who else should I be good to?"

"Wife? What wife?" Zeng He scratched his head, confused as a child.

Ye Chen didn't respond further. Even if he explained, Zeng He wouldn't understand.

Gu Nianxi chuckled and said, "Brother Ye Chen and I have a childhood engagement. When I grow up, I'm going to marry him and be his wife, just like Mom and Dad, always together."

Zeng He finally understood. A wife means getting married, but isn't that something for grown-ups? They were just kids!

"Pfft!"

An adult eating at the next table laughed. Kids these days, knowing about such things.

So adorable.

The little girl was truly beautiful—fair-skinned and with a delicate, doll-like face that made people want to pinch her cheeks.

The boy wasn't bad either. They truly looked like a golden couple.

"Kids these days, so smart. They even talk about marriage! Haha…"

"Yeah, look at them. They're so close. Their families even arranged a childhood engagement. Interesting."

"A childhood engagement? Does that still happen? I thought it was abolished."

"Mind your own business. The two kids get along well, so it's not out of place."

"True."

Ye Chen ordered three portions of cold noodles and three tea eggs—one for each of them.

"Ye Chen, you're so rich," Zeng He said, full of envy.

Ye Chen's allowance was so much more than his.

He only got one or two yuan a day, and the New Year's money his parents said they were saving for his education hadn't changed his daily allowance.

He was really envious of Ye Chen's plentiful pocket money.

After calculating in his head, Zeng He figured, six yuan per portion for three portions is eighteen yuan, and tea eggs cost fifty cents each, so that's nineteen yuan and fifty cents.

Ye Chen remained calm, "It's alright."

Among this group of elementary school kids, Ye Chen's money was indeed a "fortune."

"Your parents are so good to you."

Gu Nianxi chimed in, "Uncle and Auntie are so kind. I like them."

Ye Chen gently patted her head and smiled warmly.

After finishing the cold noodles, the rain had lessened. The three of them walked back to school with their umbrellas.

Back in the classroom, Ye Chen's left arm was a bit wet. The little girl noticed and said, "Brother Ye Chen, your sleeve is wet. Let me wipe it for you."

She quickly took out some tissues she carried and wiped his arm.

"The clothes are thick. They'll dry soon. It's fine," Ye Chen said.

After wiping, the little girl propped her chin in her hands and said, "Brother Ye Chen, tomorrow is Saturday. I want to go out and play."

"Go out? Where?"

"Let's go hiking!"

Ye Chen chuckled, "Hiking? Why do you want to go hiking? It's tiring. Can your little arms and legs handle it?"

"I just want to! I heard hiking is good exercise."

Ye Chen thought for a moment and guessed her real intention. Was it really about hiking? Not at all.

At the foot of the mountain was a street full of snacks.

This little foodie.

But they probably couldn't go this Saturday since his grandparents were coming over. Sunday might work.

"Xixi, my grandparents are coming for dinner tomorrow. We might not be able to go. How about Sunday?"

"Sunday? Great, great! Then it's settled. Brother Ye Chen, you can't break your promise!" The little girl beamed.

She already planned to ask her mom for allowance so she could treat Ye Chen to something delicious. Just the thought made her happy.

Ye Chen smiled, "Okay."

"Then let's pinky swear."

They hooked their pinkies together.

"Pinky swear, hang it high, a hundred years, no change. Breaking it makes you a puppy."

Seeing this scene, Ye Chen felt a bit dazed. It was so familiar.

She was still the same.

The classroom was still the same.

In his past life, no matter what she wanted, as long as he promised, she would always insist on a pinky swear.

This silly girl.

"Alright, breaking it makes you a puppy."

In Gu Nianxi's mind, a pinky swear was a serious promise that couldn't be broken.

---

Soon, it was time for class.

The English teacher walked in with a lesson plan. It was time to begin.

The English teacher was a beautiful young woman, rumored to be a recent college graduate volunteering as a teacher. At that time, college graduates were rare and highly valued, often securing good jobs.

Unlike in the future, where college graduates were everywhere, many unemployed unless they pursued postgraduate studies or higher degrees for better opportunities.

Parents often thought being a teacher was a great career—steady income with a pension after retirement. Teachers like their English teacher were the envy of many.