Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1011 - 505

Running back from Jiangbin Park to Old Factory Street is about seven or eight kilometers.

For Fang Cheng now, this journey is nothing more than a somewhat lengthy walk.

He purposely slowed down, holding a heavy oil paper bag, yet still seemed to fly briskly,

inside the bag were freshly made fried buns.

Fang Cheng bought these on the way at a famous old shop, with thin skin and large filling, and a crispy bottom.

His mom used to love eating these, but later on, she became busy with making a living, so she didn’t eat them often.

It was already around 7:30, and Old Factory Street was fully awake.

The narrow street was mostly occupied by various breakfast stalls.

The fried dough sticks rolled and expanded in the hot oil pan, the white buns steamed in the basket, and there were freshly cooked sticky rice chicken and douhua too.

The steaming aroma intertwined, making people’s fingers twitch with hunger.

Aunties in pajamas bargained with vegetable baskets, students with backpacks ran while holding breakfast in their mouths.

Electric scooters and tricycles weaved through the gaps in the crowd with difficulty, and the whole street exuded vibrant vitality.

Fang Cheng passed through the noisy crowd and entered his slightly weathered tubular building.

Just as he stepped onto the second-floor stairs, he bumped into a girl rushing downstairs.

The girl wore a simple beige floral dress, with a pair of clean white shoes on her feet.

She carried a huge black guitar case on her back, looking somewhat strained.

The morning sunlight streamed in through the hallway windows, casting a faint golden edge on her smooth, dark hair.

Her untouched face was as pure as a blooming lily, with fair skin and a delicate nose.

Especially her eyes, bright and shiny like two black gems embedded in a jade plate.

"Xiumei."

Upon seeing the situation, Fang Cheng immediately called out.

The girl’s steps paused, and she suddenly lifted her head.

When she saw the familiar face in front of her, her originally anxious expression was instantly filled with immense delight.

"Brother Cheng?!"

Zhou Xiumei blurted out, her voice clear and pleasant, carrying a hint of barely concealed excitement.

"You... you’re back?"

Fang Cheng had "traveled" to Tian Nan Province for about half a month, and upon return, he was busy with setting up the Illuminati, with barely time to touch the ground.

Though they lived in the same building, they hadn’t happened to meet.

"Yes, I just got back a few days ago."

Fang Cheng nodded with a smile, his gaze sweeping over the guitar case on her back:

"Heading out so early? Going to a training class?"

"Yes..."

Zhou Xiumei bit her lip somewhat shyly, twisting the hem of her dress with her fingers:

"The audition is this weekend, and the teacher said my high notes are still a bit unstable. I wanted to go to the vocal classroom early and practice more."

When talking about the competition, a trace of nervousness slipped into her voice, as her eyes, like a startled fawn’s, blinked uneasily.

"What’s wrong, lacking confidence?"

Fang Cheng slightly raised his eyebrows, a teasing tone in his voice:

"Xiumei, your voice is very talented. As long as you perform normally, passing the audition is certainly no problem. Winning the championship in the future will be a piece of cake."

"Don’t forget, you are Old Factory Street’s lark."

Hearing this familiar teasing, Zhou Xiumei burst out laughing, her cheeks turning a rosy hue, dispelling much of her initial tension.

"Brother Cheng, you just like to make me happy..."

"I am serious."

Fang Cheng looked at her, as if suddenly recalling something: "Wait for me a moment."

With that, before Zhou Xiumei could react, he ran up to the ninth floor of their home with haste.

Returning home, he first placed the fried buns on the dining table.

Then dashed into the bedroom, pulling out an exquisite dark blue velvet jewelry box from his shoulder bag.

Without waiting for his mom to call, he ran back down the stairs, clattering all the way.

"Here."

Fang Cheng handed the jewelry box to Zhou Xiumei.

Zhou Xiumei froze, somewhat at a loss for what to do as she looked at the box:

"This... what is it?"

"Open and see."

Under Fang Cheng’s encouraging gaze, she gingerly took the jewelry box and gently lifted the lid.

A delicate platinum necklace lay inside, with a petite four-leaf clover pendant, inlaid with a crystal clear blue gemstone in the center.

In the somewhat dim corridor light, the hue of blue was serenely deep, much like the joy blooming in her eyes at that moment.

"So beautiful..."

Zhou Xiumei gasped, covering her mouth, then somewhat flusteredly looked at Fang Cheng:

"Brother Cheng, this gift is too precious, I can’t..."

"Take it."

Fang Cheng interrupted her refusal, speaking sincerely:

"I bought this while on a business trip to Tian Nan Province. When I saw this gemstone, I thought it was particularly clear and pure, fitting your temperament."

"Moreover, I heard that the four-leaf clover represents good luck, and I thought the meaning was nice, so I bought it for you, hoping it will bring good luck to your competition this weekend."

"Fitting... my temperament?"

Zhou Xiumei murmured, her heart skipping a beat.

Her cheeks turned red to the tips of her ears, with her neck now tinged with a pink shade as well.

She then tightly held the little box, feeling the heat in her palms.

"Alright, quickly go, don’t be late."

Fang Cheng made a cheering gesture with his fist at her:

"Good luck, I’ll celebrate for you when you make it to the finals."

"Yes!"

Zhou Xiumei nodded vigorously, carefully stowing the box as if it was a treasure into her small bag.

She took a deep breath, quickly turned around, and hurriedly ran down the stairs.

After walking a few steps, she couldn’t resist turning back, as if gathering all her courage, she shouted loudly to Fang Cheng: