Tang Nannan had promised to treat him to a meal today, so Hu Jiasheng let her make the arrangements.
As usual, they rode shared bicycles.
Because she was short on cash, Tang Nannan shamelessly led him to a more secluded area.
"There's a street in Sucheng that's quite famous, with over a hundred years of history. I attended middle school there. Even though some of the food looks ordinary, it's truly delicious. Don't fuss about the formality with me; let's savor the simple flavors of life."
Hu Jiasheng knew she was short on money and thought to himself, if a pampered young lady from a wealthy family could accept this, why couldn't he?
Moreover, the scenery along the road was genuinely beautiful, so he didn't object.
He had seen news reports about this street before. As they rode along, he observed his surroundings and hadn't expected to find himself here one day.
Tang Nannan found a small noodle shop by the street and asked the proprietress to bring two bowls of wonton noodles.
The proprietress agreed. When she brought the finished dishes, she couldn't help but look at Tang Nannan repeatedly, then exclaimed in surprise.
"Is that you? The girl from the middle school nearby who used to eat here often when you were studying? Your surname is Tang, right?"
Tang Nannan smiled. "Yes, I'm surprised you still remember me."
"Oh, of course, I remember. Such a beautiful girl, fair-skinned and demure, and a good student. Everyone who ate here, boys and girls, adults and students, knew you."
Tang Nannan was surprised to hear she was so well-known during her school days. "Really?"
"Absolutely. My son is studying at that same middle school. The last time I went to pick him up, I saw your photo displayed at the school."
The proprietress looked at her as if she were a young girl.
"Which university did you get into? What are you doing now? Is this your boyfriend? He's very handsome, and you two make a perfect couple."
Tang Nannan smiled and made up a few casual responses. The proprietress wished them a good meal and went back to her work.
Hu Jiasheng tasted the noodles and found them quite good.
He particularly liked the environment.
It was quiet and clean, offering a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the large city, a feeling of tranquil remoteness akin to "leisurely enjoying the southern mountains."
Living here must be a true blessing.
"Is the school far from here?"
Tang Nannan pointed. "Just across the road and a few minutes walk."
"Could you take me to see it later?"
He was leaving Sucheng tomorrow, and walking around his former stomping grounds before departing would be a romantic memory.
After finishing their meal, they walked over.
The dense canopy of leaves significantly reduced the summer heat. A gentle breeze blew, making it feel as comfortable as autumn.
As they walked, Tang Nannan shared stories of the school's history.
When they reached the school entrance, it was just after dinner, and students were preparing for evening self-study. The campus was deserted, save for a security guard sitting by the entrance to cool off.
Seeing them approach, he instinctively looked over.
Upon seeing Tang Nannan, he recognized her too.
"Haven't seen you in years. Are you still studying or have you graduated? Why did you decide to visit the school today? Would you like to come in?"
Tang Nannan, pleasantly surprised, asked, "Can I go in?"
"Others certainly can't. But you, you've always been our school's pride, so of course, you can. Just don't stay too long."
The guard enthusiastically opened the gate for her.
From the compliments of passersby, Hu Jiasheng had already sensed her excellence during her school days. However, upon standing before the school's honor wall and seeing her middle school photos and the achievements she had garnered, he realized she was even more remarkable than he had imagined.
During her school years, she had a bob haircut, with delicate features and a radiant smile. Even her ID photo looked like a celestial being descended to earth.
Beneath her headshot were dense lines detailing all the awards she had won.
Physics competition awards, essay awards, chemistry competition awards, singing competition awards, photography awards, piano competition awards...
She had won almost every award imaginable.
Hu Jiasheng couldn't help but wonder.
"So why did you end up studying at the drama academy? Was it a particular passion?"
Tang Nannan said yes.
"My parents always told me that the most important thing in life is to be happy and healthy, and to do what you want to do."
"I had already experienced the joy that learning brought me in those earlier years, and it would be difficult to surpass it. So, I wanted to try my hand in other fields. I never expected it to turn into such a big joke."
Hu Jiasheng didn't think it was a joke.
Given her outstanding achievements from childhood, had her family not encountered misfortune and had she graduated smoothly, she would undoubtedly have made significant contributions to the film industry.
Since they were already discussing it, he decided to ask about her future plans.
Tang Nannan said, half-jokingly, "I don't know if it's because I've been working with you recently, but I find the electrical engineering industry quite interesting."
"If I were to apply to an electrical company, would they hire me?"
It wasn't that Hu Jiasheng wanted to discourage her, but the current employment situation was genuinely tough.
When he worked at a real estate company, he heard many people complain about how prestigious their alma maters were and how prominent they had been in school, only to face many rejections during interviews.
Even academic qualifications were no longer valuable, let alone her lack of a diploma?
She would likely not even get past the initial screening for an interview.
Seeing his silence, Tang Nannan thought she had made another gaffe and said,
"I was just kidding. The minimum requirement for most recruitment units is a bachelor's degree and relevant work experience. I have neither a diploma nor relevant experience, so I don't even qualify to submit a resume."
Hu Jiasheng, seeing her dejection, couldn't help but deliver a dry joke.
"This kind of screening mechanism is inherently flawed. An excessive pursuit of academic credentials can cause one to miss out on many talented individuals. Perhaps you could create a fake resume and try to get to the interview stage."
Tang Nannan's eyes lit up.
To be honest, that was exactly what she had been doing.
She knew that without a fabricated resume, she wouldn't even have the chance for an interview.
No matter what, she had to at least reach the interview stage and showcase herself.
Even if she were to be kicked out in the end, at least she would have tried, and her heart would be at peace.
Seeing her look at him with a delighted expression, as if she had taken his words seriously, Hu Jiasheng quickly turned serious again.
"I was just joking. You're not without your skills; why insist on this particular field?"
"The electrical engineering industry is mentally and physically demanding. Many people work for years and remain mere technicians; it's not worth pursuing."
"Why don't you try working as a piano teacher at an educational institution first? If you can't find a suitable position in Sucheng, give me a call. I believe there are people in Nancheng who need you."
So, his meaning was that even though he was returning to Nancheng, Tang Nannan could still call him, and he would help her if she had problems?
He didn't intend to become strangers; he was truly a very, very good person!
Looking at his clean profile bathed in the sunlight under the shade of the trees, Tang Nannan became even more resolute in her decision.