My Youth Began With Him - Chapter 90

Chapter 90

"Yes, I've definitely never seen a pretty girl who would only cover her face when she's naked," Qin Chu smirked and answered slowly .

"Hey…" Huo Mian walked right into his trap . She was so embarrassed that she wished the ground would just swallow her up .

"I'm leaving the car if you don't quit it," Huo Mian said as she tried to open the door .

"Settle down . " Qin Chu gripped her arm .

Huo Mian felt the warmth of his palm underneath her clothes . She couldn't stop her heart from beginning to race .

Qin Chu loosened his grip and returned his hand onto the steering wheel . None of them spoke another word throughout the drive .
 
- Thirty-minutes later -

The car parked by a street filled with food behind Second High School .

Memories rushed towards Huo Mian as the sight of her old high school filled her eyes .

"I heard this land had been bought . "

"Oh yeah? When?" Qin Chu asked, unconcerned .

"Probably sometime this year? There were lots of demolishment signs here last year, and I heard the school will be moved to the suburbs . "

"I heard differently . I heard that no one will be touching this land anymore . "

"Really?" Huo Mian asked in disbelief and looked at Qin Chu .

"Yeah, apparently there's no business value, so no one wanted it," said Qin Chu as he turned and walked into a noodle house .

- Ah-Xin's Ramen -

The noodle house was called Ah-Xin's Ramen . The owner of the place was from Taiwan, and he was roughly forty years old . His name was, of course, Ah-Xin .  

His wife was a local of the city, so he followed her and moved here twenty years ago . They had a son and a daughter and were very content with their lives .

Qin Chu and Huo Mian used to come here a lot back when they were in high school .

Huo Mian came here because this place was tasty and cheap .  

A large bowl of ramen only cost two yuan . It was delicious, even though it only had green onions in it .

Initially, Qin Chu was very reluctant to try street food, but he couldn't resist Huo Mian's invitations and began eating it as well .

Habits can sometimes be very frightening . It can be difficult to change something once you are used to it .

Huo Mian stared at the noodle house . Everything looked the same as it did seven years ago . For a moment, she felt like she had been transported back in time .

Huo Mian never came back here after she and Qin Chu broke up . She was afraid that the place would tug at her heartstrings and bring up old memories .

She would have never thought that Qin Chu would take her here today .

"Sir, two bowls of ramen," said Qin Chu .

"No problem!" The noodle shop's owner replied enthusiastically as he began boiling some noodles .

"Why are you still standing there? Come here," said Qin Chu as he noticed that Huo Mian was spacing out by the front door .

As if pulled back into reality from a long dream, Huo Mian slowly sat down .

"Sir, how much is a bowl of ramen now?" asked Huo Mian curiously .

It should be at least ten yuan now, given how inflation had been going .

But, the owner only chuckled and said, "The same as it used to be . "

"Two yuan?" Huo Mian asked, astonished .  

"Yup . "

"Aren't you losing money with today's high costs?" Huo Mian doubted .

"I wouldn't say I am losing money per se, but I am definitely earning very little now . " The boss wiped a bead of sweat off his forehead and chuckled .

"So why don't you raise the price? It's not like anyone will object . "

"Because I wouldn't want to destroy people's memories . A lot of the high school kids would come back every year to reminiscence . Sometimes, I feel like I'm not just selling ramen noodles, I'm selling the memories of those that were once here . "

"Sir, you shouldn't be selling ramen, you should go and be a writer . You are a carbon copy of Yu Qiuyu," Huo Mian chuckled .

"Nah, I don't have much education, so I don't understand no literature . But my wife did say that happiness cannot be bought with money . I find meaning when you kids eat here and tell me that it makes you guys happy . So, I try not to think about money . As long as I have enough, it's fine . Sometimes having too much money can be burdensome . "

"Not many think like that; it's rare for people to hold your perspective," Qin Chu glanced at Ah-Xin and said .

The owner only chuckled and said nothing more .

After a couple of moments, two bowls of steaming hot ramen noodles were served .

With much anticipation, Huo Mian took a bite . It was just like seven years ago .

"It's so delicious," Huo Mian said .

"Eat more if you like it . " Qin Chu's heart skipped a beat as he watched Huo Mian's face fill with content .

"Sir, bill please!" Huo Mian took the initiative and waved her hand after they finished .

"Don't worry about it, Qin Chu prepaid quite a lot of money . " The boss chuckled .

"You prepaid? When?" Huo Mian asked, slightly surprised .

"Seven years ago . "

"How much did you pay…?" Huo Mian glanced at Qin Chu in disbelief, as if she were looking at an alien .