Chapter 5: Aunt Gu, Maybe We’re Meant to Be

Gu Wanzhou didn't know who had invented the term "little horse pulling a big cart," but she understood its meaning, even though her traditional values made it an awkward one.

Still, as Li Zhiyan kept bringing it up, certain images inevitably floated into her mind.

A small horse, a large cart...

Odd as it was, there was something strangely appealing about it.

Li Zhiyan made some good points, but there was no way they could be together.

First, the age gap was 23 years—there was no future in that.

Second, his appearance and height were average. Had she been younger, he would never have caught her eye, and he was only a kid. His confession was likely a product of youthful hormones and fleeting fantasies.

If she agreed to be with him, it would be incredibly irresponsible, both to him and herself.

Yet, her kind heart couldn't bear to hurt him.

Knowing he came from a single-parent family and lacked affection, her motherly instincts surged within her.

She didn't want to break this boy's spirit. It seemed she'd have to handle it like an adult—with a "cool-off" strategy.

She'd tell him she needed time to think, then delay things until he eventually lost interest. They'd probably never run into each other again anyway.

"Xiaoyan, why don't you give Auntie some time to think this over?"

"I'll give you an answer in a while."

Li Zhiyan understood that he'd pushed enough. Pressing further would be counterproductive.

For a mature woman of 41, especially one with life experience and rationality, her decisions would lean toward the logical.

So, there was no need to continue. He would be seeing her again tomorrow anyway.

"Alright, Aunt Gu."

"Let's add each other on QQ."

WeChat hadn't been launched yet, so QQ was still the go-to chat app nationwide, and students took pride in comparing their QQ levels, doing so tirelessly.

"Alright."

Although she had wanted to sever ties immediately, her sympathy for his situation led her to take out her smartphone and exchange QQ contacts with him.

Her QQ handle was poetic: Evening Song of the Fisherman.

But when she saw his handle—Forgetting Love—Li Zhiyan cringed inwardly. It was embarrassingly juvenile.

"Aunt Gu, don't ignore me if I message you, okay?"

"Mm…"

...

As they left the teahouse, Gu Wanzhou offered, "Li Zhiyan, would you like Auntie to take you home?"

Sitting in the passenger seat, the roses reminded her of his bold confession.

"No need, Auntie. I can make my way back; I don't live far from here."

"Besides, I was planning to go to an internet café."

"But I have a feeling, Aunt Gu, that we'll be seeing each other again soon."

Li Zhiyan knew that women born in the '60s generally believed in fate.

"Why do you say that?"

She was curious.

"Maybe it's destiny. Just a feeling... maybe it's all in my head."

Gu Wanzhou gave a gentle smile, confident that his feelings for her would quickly fade.

The boy was still young and even spent his time at internet cafés—so immature.

After watching her drive off, Li Zhiyan sent a QQ message to his friend Li Shiyu.

"Meet you at Fantasy Internet Café."

"On my way, bro."

He didn't go straight home since his mom was still at work, and using his phone to access the internet wasn't convenient. His VIVO flip phone had limited QQ functionality.

He wanted to see if he could find Su Mengchen's QQ ID. He wondered what the 18-year-old Su Mengchen was up to.

Since he'd been reborn, he was determined to protect her.

The tragedy that had befallen her and her mother, Shen Rongfei, in his previous life—he wouldn't let it happen again.

When he arrived at Fantasy Internet Café, he set up a temporary login. Internet cafés at that time were mainly frequented by underage users, so ID wasn't needed, making things convenient.

After losing a round at the slot machine, he logged onto a computer.

Shortly after he sat down, Li Shiyu arrived with two bottles of Coke.

"Here, one for each of us."

Li Zhiyan looked at his friend, feeling a warmth in his heart.

This guy was even more ordinary than he was—a real "invisible man" in a crowd.

What he remembered most about Li Shiyu was his intense gaming addiction.

He spent almost all his time online, funding his internet fees by skimping on food. No matter how hungry he was, he'd always have a bottle of Coke beside him.

After graduation, Li Shiyu's biggest dream was to have a family.

But poor and unremarkable as he was, that dream was out of reach.

In the end, unable to marry, he saved up, bought a Cadillac CT5, and led a life of carefree bachelorhood.

As for the internet rumors about being abandoned in a nursing home someday? He couldn't have cared less.

Every time the "star masseuse" performed, he'd always bring him along.

There was no truer friendship than this.

When he'd hit rock bottom, Li Shiyu had noticed without him saying a word. He sold his Cadillac and lent him 200,000 yuan without hesitation.

Getting another chance and seeing his carefree, gaming-obsessed friend was a relief.

"Li Zhiyan, you were a legend today! Confessing to Yu Sisi's mom in public—did you see Yu Sisi's face?"

"I heard she had messaged that dog Liu Zifeng, planning to reject you, but without telling you privately to spare you the embarrassment."

"But you totally flipped the script!"

"Absolute clutch, man!"

As he spoke, Li Shiyu seemed to remember something.

"By the way, did Aunt Gu say yes?"

"Get real, of course not."

"Here, take this and get some ammo for six months."

Li Zhiyan pulled out a hundred-yuan bill and handed it to Li Shiyu.

He was always talking about how satisfying it was to have rocket launchers in-game.

"Hold up, you didn't rob someone, did you?"

"You know that's illegal!"

"Quit talking. It's from my mom. Go load up on Q-Coins."

After some back-and-forth, Li Shiyu finally went to the counter and had the manager load 100 Q-Coins onto his account, buying six months' worth of ammo.

"Let's see who dares challenge me now!"

"Log in, let's go crush some players. You cover me; we'll back each other up."

Li Zhiyan laughed.

"You go ahead. I have something to do. I'll join later."

Li Shiyu, lost in the game, didn't question him.

"All right, let's go!"

…

Amid the smell of smoke in the dimly-lit internet café, Li Zhiyan logged into QQ.

With slightly trembling hands, he searched for Su Mengchen's QQ ID.

He remembered it was given to her by her mother, Shen Rongfei.

He wasn't sure if the current account owner would be Su Mengchen or Shen Rongfei.

Would meeting her this early trigger a butterfly effect?

When he clicked search, the familiar QQ ID popped up.

He clicked "Add Friend."

Feeling a touch of hesitation, he finally typed a simple message.

"Hello."

He sent the friend request.