43: You will definitely live to be a hundred!

Arriving at the bus stop not far from the Flower Shop, Lin You took the bus and, after twenty minutes, brought Wang Xiaoyi to the Martyrs' Cemetery in Ancheng.

Unexpectedly, upon alighting, there were quite a lot of people at the Martyrs' Cemetery today. Since Martyrs' Memorial Day on September 30th is not a holiday, some people took advantage of Sunday to come and pay respects to the martyrs in advance.

The Martyrs' Cemetery in Ancheng covers a large area, with a small hill, a memorial plaza, and a Martyrs' Monument within its grounds. Although there were many people, they were spread out across the vast Martyrs' Cemetery, making it seem somewhat sparse.

Lin You led Wang Xiaoyi directly to the Martyrs' Monument to offer flowers, bowed three times, and then observed two minutes of silence.

For the people of Ancheng, commemorating martyrs is a ritual passed down from childhood. Whether visiting independently or through school organizations, the procedures for major memorial days and festivals each year are deeply ingrained.

Every local family, going back a few generations, might have a martyr.

After the commemoration, Lin You led Wang Xiaoyi to the Guestbook set up in the park.

The mountains and rivers are safe, the country is prosperous, and the people are at peace.

This prosperous era is as you wished.

Lin You and Wang Xiaoyi each wrote down two sentences. Lin You suggested, "It's still early, and the weather is great. How about we take a stroll?"

Wang Xiaoyi hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

Next, along the way, to complete his task, Lin You began to chatter about his recent situation.

"...I just had my birthday in August; I'm eighteen now."

"During the summer vacation, I studied hard for two months at home, and my grades improved by over a hundred points. I was holding my breath, wanting to prove myself..."

"Before, everyone around me said I was impatient and didn't work hard... no one had faith in me..."

"It's grade 12 now. Although studying is a bit tiring, who isn't tired?... I want to get into a good university..."

Lin You spoke for a long time, his throat getting a little dry.

Ding!

A system notification sound came from his mind. Lin You stopped and quickly called up the panel in his mind.

"[Task: Go to the Cemetery and talk to Wang Xiaoyi about your recent news. Reward: You can choose a 1-hour memory to be permanently preserved. (Completed)]"

While looking at the panel, Lin You suddenly felt his vision darken, followed by a touch on the top of his head.

He quickly exited the panel view and saw Wang Xiaoyi, who was standing on tiptoes, her face flushed, her hand raised high, gently touching Lin You's head with her small hand.

"No, it's okay... I believe in you. You work so hard, you can definitely do it! You'll surely get into a great university!"

This scene, which would seem quite heartwarming to an outsider, made Lin You feel a little overwhelmed.

What? You, a one-meter-sixty little bean sprout, are patting my head too?

He glared, reaching out to pat her back hard, but accidentally met Wang Xiaoyi's eyes.

Those expressive eyes looked timid, but conveyed tenderness, worry, trust, and encouragement. Like fireflies in the dark night, no matter how tiny, they were willing to bravely emit a faint light for the person in front of them.

Lin You's "fiercely" extended right hand gently landed on Wang Xiaoyi's head, his palm touching Wang Xiaoyi's warm and soft long hair in the sunlight.

So... she wasn't secretly patting my head while I was spaced out? She was... encouraging me?

Lin You's heart pounded "thump-thump-thump." The one who enjoyed teasing met the sincere one and was utterly defeated.

Wang Xiaoyi slowly moved her hand away from Lin You's head. Lin You, who had always considered himself strong and resilient, felt as if he had lost something, and for a moment, he was reluctant for Wang Xiaoyi's head pat to end.

"You, why did you pat my head?"

Wang Xiaoyi's face was a little red. Because of the significant height difference, she had to get close and stand on her tiptoes to reach Lin You's head. At this moment, they were quite close, within half a meter—a complete intimate social distance.

Lin You felt a bit uncomfortable, and retorted, "Your little head feels quite comfortable to touch. I touched it because I wanted to."

Wang Xiaoyi had a bit of a punching bag personality; she was gradually getting used to Lin You's minor teasing, which wasn't really bullying. She puffed out her cheeks, frowned at Lin You at a 45-degree angle, but said nothing.

On the way back, Wang Xiaoyi and Lin You sat side by side in the back row of the bus.

"Thank you, Xiao Yi, for accompanying me to the Martyrs' Cemetery. I had a really great time today. See you at the exam tomorrow."

Lin You was about to turn and leave after speaking, but felt the back hem of his T-shirt being tugged. He turned his head and saw Wang Xiaoyi facing him sideways, her right hand pulling at his shirt corner, her head turned to the other side.

"Lin You, do you, do you want a head pat...?"

Hiss... Wang Xiaoyi!

What! Are! You! Trying! To! Do?!

So, was he being comforted by the clumsy Wang Xiaoyi again?

In a trance, Lin You seemed to see ten years later, two unremarkable 28-year-olds who had experienced the harshness of society, comforting and encouraging each other in a distant city corner... Lin You's heart instantly felt as if it was enveloped and flushed by a warm current, an indescribable feeling rushing to his mind. He gently raised his hand and patted Wang Xiaoyi's head, the first time he had ever been so gentle.

"Wang Xiaoyi, you will live a long and prosperous life!"

After Lin You turned and went home, Wang Xiaoyi watched him fade into the distance, not understanding what Lin You's sudden, nonsensical remark meant.

Only Lin You knew... The monthly exam started Monday. Not only did Lin You not go to school for self-study, but he also went home to take an "afternoon nap" to adjust his personal state to its peak.

Lin You had already learned through the system that although he could choose to permanently save one continuous hour of memory, this memory was not a superficial glance, but required serious memorization.

Lin You had already bought a complete high school English vocabulary book online, as well as a backup notebook for classical Chinese poetry and prose.

Before 7 PM, Lin You turned on his phone's airplane mode, told his parents in advance that he was simulating an exam and not to disturb him for two hours, then sat down at his desk.

At exactly seven o'clock, Lin You opened the vocabulary book and began to browse carefully. Although Lin You's English scores were only around 100 points, he wasn't entirely without a foundation. While his vocabulary wasn't strong, he had accumulated some knowledge. He flipped through quickly, only pausing longer for words he didn't recognize well.

Lin You had been preparing for this hour for a long time, even taking an "afternoon nap" specifically for it. His condition was excellent. Unconsciously, the vocabulary book grew thinner and thinner as he flipped through it. After finishing the vocabulary and grammar books, Lin You glanced at his phone beside him; the time showed: 19:51.

Lin You dared not waste a single second. He immediately picked up the Classical Chinese Poetry and Prose Notebook nearby and began to read several of the more difficult pieces.

After a while longer, the alarm rang, and his phone began to vibrate.

Lin You looked up from the Classical Chinese Poetry and Prose Notebook, letting out a sigh of relief. Although he had only read a small portion of the Classical Chinese Poetry and Prose Notebook, Lin You had already exceeded the minimum requirements, having finished all high school English vocabulary and grammar, and nearly a quarter of the classical Chinese poetry and prose for recitation.