Aftershocks and Morning Light

Autumn deepened, as if even the air had been filtered of its last trace of warmth, leaving only a crisp, dry chill and a faint sense of desolation. Most of the sycamore leaves on campus had fallen, and the bare branches stretched intertwined toward the gray-blue sky, like an impressionistic painting outlined in burnt ink.

Su Xiao was depressed for three whole days.

During these three days, Lin Wanxing's daily routine remained unchanged; she continued attending classes, researching, and grading papers as usual. But only she knew that an invisible concern, like delicate vines, quietly entwined her daily life. She would unconsciously check her phone, worried that her always energetic friend would remain silent forever; she would also stop when passing by the milk tea shop Su Xiao frequented, but ultimately just walk away silently.

It was a somewhat overcast Friday afternoon. Lin Wanxing had just finished a class and returned to her office when she saw Su Xiao's name flashing on her phone screen. She answered immediately.

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the phone before a muffled voice with a distinctly nasal tone came through: "Wanxing... come out and walk with me, okay? I'm practically turning into mold at home."

The hurt and dejection in that voice made Lin Wanxing's heart clench slightly. "Okay," she agreed without hesitation, "Are you home? I'll be right there."

“You don’t need to pick me up,” Su Xiao sniffed, trying to sound a little more cheerful. “Let’s go to… let’s go to that little park next to the school, the one we always go to. I want to get some fresh air.”

When Lin Wanxing arrived at the park, Su Xiao was already sitting on the bench by the lake. She was wearing an oversized camel-colored sweater, curled up there, looking a size smaller than usual. Her usually meticulously styled curly hair was a little frizzy and loose, her face was bare of makeup, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes. Her gaze was blank as she stared at the shimmering, yet chilly, surface of the lake. An autumn breeze swept by, swirling a few remaining withered leaves around her feet.

Lin Wanxing walked over and sat down silently beside her. She didn't speak immediately, but simply handed her the still-warm red bean milk tea.

Su Xiao took it, cradling it in her hands, her fingertips turning slightly white from the pressure. She forced a smile, trying to produce her usual carefree grin, but it only resulted in an arc more painful than tears. "Am I particularly shameful?" she asked hoarsely, her eyes still fixed on the lake. "Chasing a man to the point of being described as 'inefficient' and 'meaningless'... Su Xiao, Su Xiao, you've finally met your match."

"He doesn't appreciate how good you are," Lin Wanxing said softly, her voice filled with heartache. "It's his loss."

“No, Wanxing.” Su Xiao slowly shook her head, her eyes showing a clarity born from past pain. “He was actually… quite right. Looking back now, everything I did—sending flowers, sending data, sending food, sending pillows…it all felt like I was trying to meet a KPI, desperately trying to prove something, trying to move him in my usual way. But those weren’t things he would care about at all.” She gave a bitter smile. “Someone like him probably hates my kind of flashy and shallow behavior the most.”

"Don't say that about yourself." Lin Wanxing put her arm around her shoulder and felt her body tremble slightly. "You are passionate, sincere, and would give your whole heart to the people you care about. These have never been flaws."

“But my sincerity, when expressed in the wrong way, became a burden and a nuisance in other people’s eyes.” Su Xiao rested her head on Lin Wanxing’s shoulder, her voice muffled, “Wanxing, am I… really too noisy, too annoying?”

This was the first time Lin Wanxing had heard such self-doubt and insecurity from Su Xiao. The girl who always radiated light and warmth like a little sun seemed now shrouded in a layer of gray dust, her brilliance dimmed. She squeezed Su Xiao's hand tightly, wanting to offer more comforting words, but felt that any words would seem inadequate at this moment.

Just then, a series of unhurried footsteps approached from afar. Lin Wanxing looked up and saw Jiang Chen walking towards her from a path not far away. He was carrying a small paper bag and wearing the same familiar old jacket, which looked somewhat thin in the rising autumn wind. He seemed surprised to see them here as well; his steps faltered slightly, and when his gaze fell on Su Xiao, who was leaning against Lin Wanxing's shoulder and appearing unusually quiet, a knowing glint flashed in his eyes.

He approached, asked no questions, and simply handed the paper bag to Lin Wanxing, his voice low and steady: "I just passed by a cake shop and saw their new chestnut cake. I thought you might like it, so I bought it. I didn't expect to run into it here."

The paper bag exuded a warm, sweet fragrance. Lin Wanxing took it, her fingertips touching his slightly cool skin, and felt inexplicably at peace. He was always like this, appearing without disturbing her when she needed him, bringing just the right amount of warmth.

"Thank you," she said softly, looking up at him. His perfectly timed thoughtfulness warmed Lin Wanxing's heart.

Su Xiao straightened up, wiped her face haphazardly, and forced a smile at Jiang Chen, saying, "Oh, our thoughtful employee is here to bring warmth again? We at Wanxing really didn't hire you for nothing." She tried to use her usual teasing tone, but the forced smile and the redness in her eyes betrayed her.

Jiang Chen looked at her but didn't respond to her words. He simply said calmly, "Miss Su, it's getting windy by the lake. Would you like to find another place to sit?"

His suggestion was direct and pragmatic, devoid of any pity or deliberate consolation, which actually made Su Xiao feel a little more at ease. She nodded, stood up, and took a deep breath of the slightly chilly air: "Let's go, let's find a place to get something hot. It's on me, to thank you both for taking in a down-on-her-luck person like me."

The three of them went to their usual café near the back gate of the school. Soft jazz music played inside, and warm yellow lighting dispelled the gloom outside. Su Xiao ordered a hot cocoa, the thick layer of cream piled high like a small mountain. She picked at the cream with a small spoon, not chattering away as usual, only occasionally glancing up at the hurried passersby outside the window.

Lin Wanxing and Jiang Chen sat opposite her, each ordering a coffee. The atmosphere was somewhat silent, but not awkward. Lin Wanxing sipped her coffee, her gaze occasionally falling on Jiang Chen across from her. He was looking down at his phone screen, seemingly researching information, his profile appearing calm and focused under the light. He always seemed like this, like a silent mountain, reliably present in her sight, needing no words, his mere presence giving her a strange sense of security.

These past few days, because of Su Xiao's situation, she had unconsciously become more reliant on his presence. Whether it was helping her with trivial administrative procedures or offering her a glass of warm water when she was anxious and restless, he did it all so naturally, as if it were an integral part of his life. This dependence was quietly growing, like vines entwining a tree; she herself was unaware that the roots had already quietly penetrated deep into her heart.

"Hey," Su Xiao suddenly spoke, breaking the silence. She looked at Jiang Chen with a probing look in her eyes, "Jiang Chen, you're so familiar with Lu Ziang, did he... did he treat other girls who pursued him like this before? Using data analysis to reject them?"

Jiang Chen looked up, put down his phone, and hesitated for a moment before cautiously replying, "Zi'ang... has a rather direct way of thinking. He's used to using rationality and efficiency to measure most things, including interpersonal relationships." He paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, "He doesn't intentionally want to embarrass people, it's just... that's how he understands and handles problems."

"So, in his eyes, my actions were just pure irrationality and inefficient noise, right?" Su Xiao laughed self-deprecatingly, scooped up a large spoonful of cream and put it in her mouth. The sweet taste melted on her tongue, but it couldn't suppress the bitterness in her heart.

“He doesn’t understand you.” Jiang Chen repeated Lin Wanxing’s previous words, but his tone was more objective. “Your enthusiasm and straightforwardness are great advantages in the eyes of those who can appreciate them.”

Jiang Chen's words carried an undeniable sincerity. Su Xiao paused, looking into his calm, unwavering eyes, and suddenly felt a slight relief from the tightness in her chest. She forced a smile: "Fine, I'll let you have your way with words. However," her eyes dimmed, "I'm really ready to give up. Forcing things won't work, especially with someone as stubborn as a rock. To keep pushing would just be foolish."

As she spoke, her tone carried a feigned nonchalance, but the fleeting disappointment deep in her eyes did not escape Lin Wanxing's notice. Lin Wanxing knew that Su Xiao was truly heartbroken this time, not because of the rejection itself, but because of the way it was rejected—so utterly negating the "her" he had presented.

Just then, the coffee shop door opened, and the wind chimes tinkled. A familiar figure walked in—it was none other than Lu Ziang. He was wearing a simple dark coat and carrying a folder, seemingly having just finished work and stopping by to buy coffee. He went straight to the counter, not noticing them in the corner.

Su Xiao's back stiffened instantly. She subconsciously lowered her head, covering her face with her long hair, her fingers gripping the cup tightly until her knuckles turned white.

Lin Wanxing's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen had obviously seen Lu Ziang as well. His brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, his gaze falling on Su Xiao's slightly trembling back, before turning back to Lin Wanxing with a silent question in his eyes.

After ordering his coffee, Lu Ziang stood there waiting. His gaze casually swept across the shop, then settled on their table. He saw Jiang Chen, and he saw Lin Wanxing, but finally, his eyes fell on Su Xiao, who was deliberately turning her back to him and standing stiffly.

A fleeting look of surprise crossed his face, quickly replaced by his usual composure. He gave a slight nod in greeting to Jiang Chen and Lin Wanxing, his attitude polite yet distant, exactly the same as at the victory celebration, perhaps even more indifferent. His gaze lingered on Su Xiao's retreating figure for less than a second before quickly shifting away, as if she were merely an insignificant stranger, untouched by the entanglement and blunt rejection of the past few days.

He didn't come over, nor did he offer any pleasantries. After getting his coffee, he turned and left without hesitation, his figure quickly disappearing into the deepening twilight. The whole process was as quiet as a feather falling, without creating any ripples, yet it seemed to freeze the air in the corner.

Only after his figure disappeared completely did Su Xiao slowly raise her head. Her face was somewhat pale, her lips were tightly pressed together, and the nonchalance she had just feigned had completely vanished, leaving only an embarrassment and gloom as if frozen by reality once again.

“See?” she forced a smile that was more like a grimace, her voice barely a whisper, “Even our chance encounters felt as awkward as a one-woman show.” She picked up the slightly cooled hot cocoa, took a big gulp, and then choked, coughing and her eyes instantly reddening.

Lin Wanxing quickly handed her a tissue and gently patted her back, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She looked out the window; the direction Lu Ziang had left in was now deserted, with only the streetlights gradually lighting up, casting a dim and lonely glow on the damp ground.

Jiang Chen watched all this in silence. His hand, which was under the table, unconsciously clenched and then slowly relaxed. He looked at Lin Wanxing and saw the undisguised heartache in her eyes for her friend, as well as the slight dependence she felt because of his presence that unconsciously showed in her brows. In the depths of his dark brown eyes, something seemed to stir slightly.

Su Xiao coughed for a long time before finally catching her breath. She vigorously wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her hand, took a deep breath, and when she raised her head again, that familiar, slightly domineering, stubborn expression had returned to her face.

"Alright! That's enough!" she announced, her voice still a little hoarse but her tone resolute. "From today onwards, Su Xiao is reborn! What are men anyway? Focusing on my career is what matters! I've decided, I'll personally lead the team for that bidding project next week. If we don't win this project, I'll change my name!"

She waved her fist as if to encourage herself, and a flame reignited in her eyes, even though a trace of ash remained hidden deep within that flame.

Lin Wanxing looked at her, knowing she was using work to numb herself, but she was also relieved that at least she was willing to get back on her feet. She held Su Xiao's hand and smiled, "Okay, our Xiaoxiao is the best."

“That’s right!” Su Xiao raised her chin, then looked at Jiang Chen and Lin Wanxing, her eyes darting between them for a moment before she suddenly smiled mischievously. “But before I throw myself into this great cause, can I mooch a meal off you two? I feel like I could eat a whole cow right now! Consider it… a celebration of my escape from this sea of ​​suffering and my rebirth!”

The gloom in her eyes seemed to have dissipated somewhat, and she became bright again, although behind that brightness was still a touch of bitterness from growing up.

The sky outside the window had completely darkened, making the lights inside the café seem even warmer. Looking at her friend's forced smile and feeling Jiang Chen's silent yet steady presence beside her, Lin Wanxing felt a significant dissipation of the emptiness and chill she had felt inside.

The aftershocks have not yet subsided, but the morning light has already quietly seeped into this slightly cool autumn night, foreshadowing a new balance that is quietly being conceived in the cracks between the broken and the rebuilt.