Chapter 67 The boy's back view was as free as the wind.

With the hotel opening, Yunqi's work in China was coming to an end, and Shengyu finally found time for a date.

On Friday night, the two snuggled up on the sofa to watch a movie.

Sheng Yu played with a strand of Tang Ci's hair and asked, "Where do you want to go this weekend?"

Tang Ci was always busy with work and had no idea where to go for sightseeing in Nanling. She thought for a moment, then picked up her phone from the coffee table: "Let me search."

"Otherwise, just stay home and play." Sheng Yu smiled.

Tang Ci hummed in response, then looked up at him and asked, "What can we play at home?"

“Play with those handcuffs,” Sheng Yu’s smile deepened, “like last time, handcuff me and let the baby move by himself.”

Tang Ci's cheeks flushed instantly, and she moved to the edge of the sofa, about two meters away from him, clutching her phone: "Don't think about it anymore, I've already thrown that away..."

Sheng Yu smiled and pulled her back, saying, "Then I'll listen to you."

Tang Ci's phone vibrated; it was a post from the cemetery's official WeChat account. She glanced at it, her eyes widening slightly, and said, "I want to go see my mother."

Sheng Yu put away his frivolous manner and said seriously, "I'll go with you."

Tang Ci pursed her lips, looked into his eyes, and asked softly, "I'd also like to visit Auntie, is that alright?"

Sheng Yu paused for a moment, then raised an eyebrow: "Why not?"

He agreed easily, but his expression turned serious, his eyes fixed on the screen, his pupils deep.

Tang Ci pulled his arm and moved closer to him.

The next morning, after they finished eating, they went to the cemetery.

Their mothers' gravestones were not in the same area, so Tang Ci first took Sheng Yu to his mother's grave.

Sheng Yu put down the flowers, looked at the photo on the tombstone, and then smiled: "You look a lot like your mother."

“People often said that when I was little.” Tang Ci nodded, squatted down in front of the monument, and chatted with her mother for a while about her recent work and life, as usual.

Finally, she took Sheng Yu's hand, looked at the photo on the tombstone, and said, "Mom, this is the classmate I mentioned to you before. We're together now. He takes good care of me, so don't worry about me."

As she left, Sheng Yu held her hand tightly: "How did you introduce me to your aunt before?"

Tang Ci lowered her eyes and said, "Just say we were high school classmates, and that I tutored you about those things."

She paused, then added, "I've talked about things from when I was little too."

Sheng Yu chuckled: "Won't your aunt find it strange that a classmate who was tutoring you has suddenly become your boyfriend?"

Tang Ci sensed the teasing in his tone and her face flushed slightly: "No, it won't happen." She had already told her mother all the secrets about Sheng Yu.

As they talked, they arrived at Rong Wei's grave.

Sheng Yu was a little quieter than before. After putting down the bouquet, she began to clean up the fallen leaves that had been scattered in front of the monument the night before.

Tang Ci helped him pick them up, and suddenly heard him sigh.

"What's wrong?" Tang Ci suppressed her anxiety and asked softly.

Sheng Yu's thick eyelashes drooped slightly: "It wasn't as scary as I imagined."

Tang Ci's throat tightened, and she squeezed his fingers: "I'm here with you."

Sheng Yu looked up at her and said, "Thank you for bringing me here."

Tang Ci gently brushed the dust off the photo and looked at Rong Wei's eyes, which were eight-tenths similar to Sheng Yu's: "Your mother will be very happy to see you here."

"She might be happier to see you."

"Why?"

“Before I was born, my mother always wanted a daughter.” Sheng Yu’s brow relaxed. “Now her wish has come true.”

/

It was already noon when they came out of the cemetery. They had eaten breakfast late, so they weren't in a hurry to eat.

Holding hands, they strolled along and unknowingly entered a familiar street. Tang Ci looked at the billiard hall in the alley and was momentarily lost in thought.

"Let's go take a look." Sheng Yu raised an eyebrow at the sign for the billiard hall.

"Okay." Tang Ci nodded, then smelled the roasted chestnuts from the roadside stall and couldn't help but sniff them, saying, "They smell so good."

Sheng Yu then asked the owner for a serving and said to her, "You go in first."

Tang Ci wrinkled her nose, which was red from the wind: "Let's wait together."

Sheng Yu turned to the side to block the wind: "I'm thirsty, go get me a glass of water."

Tang Ci then agreed and jogged into the billiards hall.

Even after all these years, the billiard hall business is still booming. Before Tang Ci even arrived at the store, he saw that every table was full of customers.

A few years ago, Xi Jing sold the shop and moved her family to the capital. She also met with Tang Ci, who was then a college student, a few times.

So when Tang Ci came to the billiard hall this time, she didn't expect to run into acquaintances. She just wanted to take a look. But to her surprise, as soon as she pushed open the door, she ran into Miao Miao, who was scolding someone.

Tang Ci listened for a while and learned that Miao Miao was now the owner of this shop.

After Miao Miao finished reprimanding her employees, she turned around and saw Tang Ci standing by the door. She was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed and hugged her: "Xiao Ci, when did you come back to Nanling?!"

Tang Ci smiled and hugged her back: "I haven't been back for long."

Miao Miao grabbed her arm and looked her up and down: "You've gained some weight. Looks like you're doing well."

Tang Ci pursed her lips and nodded: "You're very capable too, you're even a boss now."

“Don’t even mention it. Anyone who’s run a small business knows what it’s like,” Miao Miao said, running her fingers through her hair. “Now I finally understand why Sister Jing used to get so angry.”

Seeing Miao Miao's agitated expression, Tang Ci felt as if she had returned to her old days when she was working, and skillfully comforted her.

"Sister Miao, who is this?" A figure suddenly emerged from behind the counter, speaking to Miao Miao, but looking at Tang Ci.

“My friend Xiao Ci,” Miao Miao pulled the man over by his sleeve and introduced him to Tang Ci, “this is my partner, Fang Lin.”

Fang Lin bowed slightly, stared into Tang Ci's eyes, and extended his hand: "Hello, let's get acquainted."

Tang Cicai raised her hand to shake Fang Lin's hand in return, but her shoulder was suddenly pressed down. Sheng Yu had come over at some point, half-hugging her and shaking Fang Lin's hand in return, and then introduced himself as "her boyfriend."

Fang Lin awkwardly withdrew his arm, and after chatting for a few more words, he was called away by an employee.

Miao Miao looked at the two of them intimately with a teasing look: "When did you two start doing this?"

Tang Ci smiled slightly: "It was not long ago..."

Seeing that Miao Miao was about to tease her again, Tang Ci changed the subject: "Is there hot water here?"

“The water dispenser on the first floor is broken,” Miao Miao went to the counter and got her two paper cups: “Go get them from the second floor.”

After Tang Ci's figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs, Miao Miao crossed her arms and looked at Sheng Yu: "I guessed back then that you two would definitely end up together."

Sheng Yu raised an eyebrow noncommittally: "So you just dumped her on the street in the middle of the night."

Miao Miao pouted: "Why hold a grudge? I was just trying to help her pursue you."

Sheng Yu's eyes flickered slightly: "Chase me?"

"No way," Miao Miao paused, her eyes widening dramatically, "You didn't know she liked you back then?"

"She told you herself?" Sheng Yu said, pressing the tip of her tongue against her cheek.

“Of course,” Miao Miao cleared her throat and described with great enthusiasm, “Back then, as soon as you came to the billiard hall, she was like she’d lost her soul. Everyone could see what she was thinking. I pressed her for answers and she confessed.”

"She even said she wanted to save you. At first, I didn't understand what she meant, but then she begged me to take her to Beishan to watch the game, and that's when I realized what she meant—"

"Tang Ci insisted on going to make a bet with you because I told her that people always get injured in the Beishan competition, and that she would save you from that dangerous world."

Tang Ci carried the warm water she had patiently prepared downstairs and handed the cup to Sheng Yu. He only took two sips before putting it down, his deep eyes fixed on her.

"What's wrong with you?" Tang Ci squeezed his palm.

Sheng Yu leaned down at her, his flippant tone drawn out in a low, slow voice: "I just heard that someone has had a crush on me since high school."

Tang Ci's ears turned bright red. She mumbled a vague reply and awkwardly changed the subject, inviting Miao Miao to have dinner together.

Miaomiao and Fang Lin had to go to buy goods, so they had to postpone their meal plans.

Tang Ci took Sheng Yu to eat rice noodles, a dish she used to enjoy. After the meal, the two prepared to watch a newly released movie.

While walking to the mall, Tang Ci's eyes were drawn to the scene inside the city's swimming pool.

A school competition is underway inside the stadium, with loud whistles frequently emanating from within.

"Does it look good?" Sheng Yu looked down at the boys in swimsuits in the pool and asked her.

Tang Ci didn't notice the sourness in his tone and murmured, "You've participated in these competitions before too."

"You know?" Sheng Yu asked meaningfully.

Tang Ci scratched her ear and stammered, "All the girls at school know... I heard it from them."

Sheng Yu slowly and deliberately gave an "oh".

Tang Ci pinched his fingertips: "Aren't you less afraid of water now?"

Sheng Yu nodded. He had undergone long-term psychological treatment during his university years and is now basically immune to water.

Tang Ci glanced into the building again.

Seeing her eager expression, Sheng Yu took her hand and led her towards the swimming pool entrance: "Let's go take a look."

Tang Ci quickened her pace to catch up: "Okay."

The inter-school competition was open to the public, and the gate was filled with junior and senior high school students. They followed the crowd into the gate and walked towards the corridor leading to the venue.

In the middle of the corridor, a notice board was posted with promotional pages for important competitions over the years. Sheng Yu caught a glimpse of green out of the corner of his eye, his brow twitched, and his gaze immediately swept toward the promotional page in the middle.

It was a league poster from ten years ago, with his photo printed in the center.

Sheng Yu was certain that he had seen this promotional leaflet, which he hadn't paid attention to during junior high school, at Tang Ci's house during high school.

On that rainy night when she stayed at her house, Tang Ci saw him appear at the door and hurriedly hid the paper in her hand.

He only vaguely saw the figure on the paper at the time, and only now does he realize who that figure is.

Suddenly, the hand she was holding wouldn't move. Tang Ci turned her head in confusion: "Why aren't you walking anymore?"

The warm winter sun streamed in through the French windows. Sheng Yu squinted, took half a step toward her, and gently brushed a stray hair behind her ear with his fingertips: "Baby, did you come to see me back in junior high?"

/

Tang Ci stood in front of the swimming pool, reminding herself that this was the last time she would come to see Sheng Yu.

With the high school entrance exam approaching, she must do everything in her power to get into the top high school so that she can breathe the same air as Sheng Yu.

Even if Sheng Yu doesn't remember her from when she was a child, she doesn't recognize her now.

But she didn't care.

Unrequited love is a game she plays alone; even without anyone to play with, she can still entertain herself.

Lost in thought, Tang Ci clutched her backpack strap and followed the crowd into the museum.

The audience was packed with people. Tang Ci arrived late and could only find a seat in the second-to-last row.

This spot was far from the pool, separated by layers of people, so she couldn't even see the faces of the swimmers clearly. She only knew from the cheers of the girls in the front row that Sheng Yu had won first place again.

As soon as the competition ended, the contestants went into the lounge, and the audience left one after another. Tang Ci walked out dejectedly, when suddenly someone patted her on the shoulder.

“Excuse me,” a boy called out anxiously, “Could you please go upstairs to the lounge to deliver the badge? I’m in a real hurry and don’t have time to deliver it.”

Hearing that they were going to the lounge, Tang Ci's heart started pounding. She had just opened her mouth to say "okay" when the boy shoved a bag of badges into her hand: "The lounge is on the left after you go up to the second floor. Thank you!"

The boy dashed out the door, and Tang Ci, clutching the bag of badges, remained silent for a moment before nervously going upstairs.

As soon as Tang Ci entered the corridor, she saw the half-open door of the lounge and could faintly hear the laughter of the boys inside.

Her fingers tightened around the cloth bag, and she hesitated, rooted to the spot. She was afraid of pushing open the door and seeing Sheng Yu, yet also afraid of not seeing him at all.

Tang Ci stood against the wall, muttering to herself. A passing coach noticed her and asked, "Little girl, what are you doing here?"

"I'll give you the badge." Tang Ci looked up and showed her the cloth bag in her arms.

"Thank you for bringing it up." The coach smiled and held out his hand: "Just give it to me."

Tang Ci said "Oh," and quickly put the cloth bag in her hand, taking a step back: "Then I'll go first."

The coach nodded, and she felt as if she had been granted a pardon. She turned and ran, running up and down the stairs until she was out of breath, then descended the stairs one step at a time.

A steady footstep sounded behind me at some unknown time.

Her quiet footsteps overlapped with his, one light and one heavy, echoing in the stairwell.

Tang Ci turned her head and, without warning, met Sheng Yu's dark pupils.

This was the first time she had been so close to him since she was a child.

So close that you could see the shadow cast by his thick eyelashes under his eyelids.

The spacious stairwell suddenly collapsed, and the air became thin.

Seeing her stunned expression, Sheng Yu curled his lips and raised an eyebrow: "You know me?"

Tang Ci suddenly woke up, clenched her fingers and shook her head, then turned around and continued walking downhill. This time, her steps were faster, and her straight back showed a hint of embarrassment.

She was focused on rushing out the door, ignoring the buckets of water placed at the bottom of the steps. As she stepped down, her backpack strap was suddenly lifted up.

Tang Ci let out a soft "ah," her body stiffening as she was held in the hand of the person behind her. This time, she didn't even have the courage to turn around.

Sheng Yu kicked the bucket away a little before putting her down.

"Watch where you're going."

After he finished speaking, he brushed past her shoulder, stepped down the stairs, and left without looking back.

The water in the bucket spilled out due to the shaking, seeping into the cement floor and becoming a damp patch.

Just like her heart right now.

She looked anxiously towards the door.

As the sun sets against the pale blue sky, a boy runs towards his friend in the distance, his silhouette as free as the wind.

At that time, Tang Ci thought it was a place she could never reach.