Chapter 135: Chapter 23 Romance on the Balcony_3
This double entendre made Wu Xiaoli blush.
"Mom, what are you talking about?"
Seeing her daughter’s shyness, Mother Wu chuckled. "Alright, I’ll stop, or else you two will find me annoying. Eat up, Da Sheng, have more. Just treat this as your own home; don’t be so formal."
Facing the food Mother Wu served him, Sun Dasheng politely extended his bowl to receive it.
"Auntie, you don’t have to be so formal either. If we’re all family, then let’s all relax a bit."
"You’re right!" Mother Wu didn’t insist on piling more food onto his plate. However, her eyes remained fixed on the "young couple" before her, her gaze filled with a gratified smile.
「After the meal.」
Mother Wu promptly made herself scarce, leaving the two of them alone.
The three-bedroom apartment had a nice, large balcony, upon which sat a large, two-person hammock. It was the perfect spot for a couple to snuggle up after dinner.
"Was this size chosen specially for me?" Sitting in the hammock with the beautiful woman in his arms as he gazed at the distant scenery, Sun Dasheng felt quite content.
"Yes. I was afraid a smaller one would be a squeeze for you, so I deliberately picked out the largest one," Wu Xiaoli nodded.
Opposite the hammock was a projector, allowing them to watch an open-air movie together at night. It was quite romantic.
They chose an old film, *A Chinese Odyssey*. Even though they had both seen it many times, watching it together again still felt very interesting.
"Hey, your name is pronounced the same as Great Saint?" Wu Xiaoli had a sudden realization.
"You’re only just realizing that now? I thought you knew ages ago," Sun Dasheng said with a smile.
Before university, not many people had called him ’Great Saint’. He only acquired the nickname after starting his studies. Of course, the nickname’s pronunciation was no different from his actual name. Coupled with the fact that his personality was a far cry from that of the havoc-wreaking Great Sage Equalling Heaven, people gradually stopped joking about his name.
"Did your parents name you that because of the Great Sage Equalling Heaven?" Wu Xiaoli asked curiously.
Sun Dasheng shook his head. "My parents used to enjoy watching war dramas and always hoped their forces would achieve a great victory, so they gave me that name."
"Oh, I see!" Wu Xiaoli nodded. She recalled that during her own childhood, war dramas were also the most frequently aired shows on television. The characters on screen were either fighting Japanese invaders or suppressing bandits.
The talk of television shows led to them reminiscing about amusing stories from their childhoods. She mentioned that when she was in junior high, a production crew came to her town to film. The director took a liking to her as she watched the excitement from the sidelines and wanted to cast her in a role. However, her parents turned him down, afraid it was a scam, as those were more chaotic times.
"Looks like you missed your chance to become a big star," Sun Dasheng chuckled, pinching her pretty cheek.
Based on looks alone, she’s the prettiest of them all, he thought. No wonder they say Sichuan and Chongqing are home to great beauties. She’s so radiant, without a single flaw on her face. She doesn’t have the sharp, angular features of northern women, nor the disharmony of a face that’s had plastic surgery—pretty at a glance, but ultimately uncoordinated. She has a gentle, oval-shaped face. Her individual features aren’t stunning on their own, but together, they are perfectly harmonious and beautiful. Breathtaking, even. It must be due to that indescribable aura she has.
Unfazed by his teasing, Wu Xiaoli said, "I have no desire to be a big star."
"Oh? Why not?" Sun Dasheng was surprised by her answer.
Nowadays, what good-looking girl doesn’t dream of becoming a big star? Becoming a star means making big money—didn’t you see how one celebrity earned 160 million for a single project? It also means standing glamorous in the spotlight, admired by countless fans. Just look at the insane devotion in fan circles; they practically worship their idols like gods. The fabulous lives of A-list stars were a constant bombardment on the trending topics list every day. He was genuinely surprised that Wu Xiaoli held no such ambition.
"Those stars look so glamorous on stage, but that’s because people only see their success," Wu Xiaoli said rationally. "Who sees what they had to give up to get there?" She knew that the more one gains, the more one stands to lose.
"That makes sense," Sun Dasheng agreed. "But aren’t those sacrifices worth it? After all, the rewards of success are far beyond the reach of ordinary people," he countered.
"That’s why so many people are clamoring to become big stars," Wu Xiaoli said.
"So why aren’t you tempted?" Sun Dasheng asked.
"Because I don’t like being in the spotlight," Wu Xiaoli said, seeming to drift off into a memory. "I come from a small village. I always had good grades, so I was the model child other parents always compared their own kids to."
Sun Dasheng didn’t know why she was starting her story from so far back, but he figured she had her reasons. He didn’t interrupt, listening quietly by her side.
"Living up to the praise and expectations of others felt good, but the pressure was also immense. You should be able to understand what I mean." As she spoke, she glanced at the man beside her.
Sun Dasheng nodded. He had also been one of those "model children" who excelled in school his whole life, so he understood exactly what she was saying.
"I endured that pressure and made it to university. But once I got there, everything from my past—all the praise and all the stress—it all just vanished."
"Isn’t that a good thing?" Sun Dasheng didn’t quite follow.
"Of course, it’s a good thing," Wu Xiaoli nodded. "It was the first time I’d ever experienced what it was like to be so relaxed and carefree. I loved that feeling. For the first time, I had the thought of living an easy life, just for myself."
"But you still have your mother and your younger brother," Sun Dasheng pointed out.
"Yes. My mother and brother are my responsibility, so the pressure is still there. I am the pillar of our family now, which is why I had to study desperately for another four years in university."