Heartbeat Warning

The air seemed to be sucked tight in an instant, becoming sticky and ambiguous, and even the blues music seemed to be turned down in volume.

The coffee machine hummed with steam, but it all seemed isolated in another space.

Jiang Yile's cheeks turned red quickly at a speed visible to the naked eye, like a ripe tomato, and even the tips of his ears were dyed crimson.

She hurriedly lowered her head, pretending to tidy up her paintbrushes, but her heart was beating wildly in her chest, almost breaking her ribs.

Oh my god, what did she say?

This sounded like...blatant flirting! Would he find her too flirtatious?

Too unrestrained?

Gu Nanxiao was also obviously stunned. He looked at her cheeks that turned red instantly and her panic-stricken movements, as if she wanted to find a hole to crawl into. A very faint but clear red color also appeared uncontrollably at the base of his ears.

He turned his face away somewhat awkwardly and coughed lightly, trying to hide the embarrassment of the moment and... the strange, sweet ripples that were quietly spreading in his heart.

The words "You are just beautiful" were like a stone thrown into the dead lake of his heart, causing ripples far beyond his expectations and disturbing the icy water.

An atmosphere mixed with shyness, sweetness and helplessness silently spread and fermented between the two of them, dispelling much of the previous unfamiliarity.

"That..." Jiang Yile took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and tried to break the heart-stopping yet inexplicably sweet silence.

She raised her wrist to check her watch, her voice still trembling slightly. "It's almost noon. I'll treat you to a meal, sort of... Thank you for being my model today. You've worked hard."

She didn't dare look at him, her eyes drifted out the window, pretending to be attracted by the street scene.

Gu Nanxiao's gaze fell back on her face. Looking at her still blushing cheeks and her eyes that flashed with embarrassment but were still bright, a corner of his heart became unusually soft, like snow melted by the sun.

He nodded, his voice returning to its usual clearness, but if you listened carefully, you could discern a hint of gentleness and... perhaps you could call it "submission": "Okay."

They finally found a quiet, clean and welcoming Japanese ramen restaurant near the cafe.

The store is not big, but it is elegantly decorated. The warm orange light and the steaming heat of the food effectively dispelled the awkwardness caused by the previous episode. The atmosphere became much more natural, like friends who had known each other for a long time.

While waiting for the food, the two chatted.

At first, the discussion revolved around safe topics such as art exhibitions and studies, but before we knew it, the topic began to spread like a stream overflowing its banks.

"Which university do you want to apply to in the future?" Jiang Yile asked while sipping hot barley tea.

The heat clouded her long eyelashes, making them look like they were covered with a layer of mist.

Gu Nanxiao unconsciously twirled the teacup with his slender fingers, pondering for a moment. This time, instead of perfunctorily saying "I haven't decided yet," he gave a relatively specific range: "I'm not completely sure yet. Maybe... I'll stay in this province."

What he didn't say was that his original plan was to follow his family's arrangements and go abroad to an unfamiliar environment, but recently, some ideas seemed to be changing quietly, and the source of this change was sitting opposite him, looking at him with those clear eyes.

"I want to apply to an art school." Jiang Yile's eyes lit up, as if they were filled with stars, and his tone was full of longing. "Although my family would prefer me to study a more... 'practical' major, such as teaching or design, which would be easier to find a job in the future, I still want to try pure art."

There was a subtle stubbornness and determination in her dream in her tone, as well as a hint of expectation for recognition.

"You are very talented." Gu Nanxiao looked at her with a firm tone and serious eyes, "You should persist."

He knows how hard it is to stick with what you love, especially when surrounded by voices of disapproval or "this is for your own good."

He could feel her love for painting, the light that came from her heart, something he once had but was forced to lose.

"Thank you." Jiang Yile felt sweet inside after receiving such direct recognition from him, sweeter than honey. The grievance he felt because of his family's lack of understanding seemed to dissipate a little. "What about you? Besides... well, besides painting, what else do you like? Like movies? Music?"

She tried to understand him better, to see more of what lay beneath the surface of his being.

"I don't watch many movies." Gu Nanxiao thought for a moment, seemingly searching his memory bank for these almost extravagant "hobbies" very seriously. "I prefer...some older films. 'Léon: The Professional', or...Wong Kar-wai's."

When he mentioned Wong Kar-wai, there was a subtle resonance in his tone, perhaps because the sense of alienation, melancholy for the passing of time and unspeakable loneliness in those films struck a part of his heart.

"Léon: The Professional!" Jiang Yile exclaimed in surprise, as if he had found a long-lost confidant, his voice rising slightly. "I love it too! Leon and Matilda... and that plant! It's like two lonely souls warming each other. And Wong Kar-wai, the shots and colors in Chungking Express—every frame is worthy of a painting! That feeling of rootlessness and confusion about one's own identity in Days of Being Wild..."

She spoke excitedly, her eyes sparkling as if she had discovered a treasure.

"Yeah." Gu Nanxiao's mouth seemed to lift up a tiny, almost invisible arc, but the frost in his eyes seemed to melt a little, a little warmer. "As for music... I listen to more rock music. Nirvana, or some domestic independent bands."

He added, as if sharing a secret.

"Really? I thought you'd like quieter music, like classical music." Jiang Yile was even more surprised. This was completely different from the calm feeling he gave off. "I like rock music too! Although I need quiet time when I paint, sometimes I feel that the direct, vital, and even angry power of rock music is particularly touching. It seems that all emotions, whether suppressed or unrestrained, can find an outlet in music..."

As she spoke, she smiled a little embarrassedly, thinking that she might have said too much.

In this way, they talked about movies, music, music, favorite books, and even some simple views on social news.

Jiang Yile was surprised to find that Gu Nanxiao was not really cold and taciturn, he was just not good at taking the initiative to start a conversation, or in other words, he was used to burying his emotions and thoughts deep down, like a silent mine.

When he relaxes and is willing to express himself, his insights are often unique and profound, with a calm insight that transcends his years.

The faint smile he occasionally showed, though brief, was like the first ray of sunshine breaking through the thick clouds, carrying a heart-shaking, fragile and real power that made her a little dazed and her heartbeat unstable.

She became more and more convinced that beneath the shell of this indifferent transfer student, there was a rich and delicate, sensitive and profound soul, but it was blocked by something.

After finishing his noodles, Gu Nanxiao naturally stood up to pay the bill.

Jiang Yile wanted to stop him: "I agreed to treat you."

She remembered her promise.

"next time."

His words were concise, but his tone brooked no argument, and he handed the bill to the cashier with a quick and decisive movement.

Jiang Yile watched his tall back as he walked towards the cashier counter, and the strange feeling of warmth mixed with being cared for and a hint of embarrassment surged in his heart again.

He always showed a kind of calm and chauvinistic consideration in these details, which made her unable to refuse.

On the way to take her home, we had to cross a small, old street park.

The park looks a bit bleak in winter, with bare trees and yellow grass, but the rare sunshine attracts many elderly people who come out to exercise and bask in the sun, as well as parents who take their children to play.

Several children were flying kites, running and laughing in the open space, adding a bit of vitality and energy to the quiet afternoon.

A brightly colored, swallow-shaped kite swayed and suddenly fell headfirst, hanging squarely on the branch of a tall, bare sycamore tree next to it, stuck in the middle.

The little girl holding the string looked at the kite stuck between the branches, unable to move. She stamped her feet anxiously, her eyes instantly red, and cried out in a sobbing voice: "My kite! My kite! I can't get it down!"

Gu Nanxiao stopped.

He looked at the tree, then at the little girl who was so anxious that she was about to cry, said "wait a minute" to Jiang Yile, and without hesitation, he took a few steps and climbed up the thick trunk with nimble movements.

His movements were agile and smooth, with the lightness and explosiveness unique to young people. They were completely different from the calm and even somewhat distant appearance he usually displayed. He was like an agile leopard.

In a few seconds, he climbed to a high enough height, carefully untied the kite string entangled in the branches, and then gave it a gentle shake. The swallow kite floated down swayingly and was caught by the little girl who burst into laughter under the tree.

"Thank you, brother!"

The little girl's clear voice was full of gratitude and joy, with tears on her face.

He looked down at the little girl's bright smile, then jumped down from the tree neatly, bending his knees slightly when landing, easily absorbing the force, and his posture was calm.

He patted his hands that were covered with dust and bark chips. His movements were casual and natural. There were even fine beads of sweat on his forehead because of the exercise just now, shining in the sunlight.

Jiang Yile stood not far away, watching the scene quietly.

Looking at his short black hair slightly messed up by the wind, looking at his cheeks slightly flushed from exercise, looking at his eyebrows that were rarely relaxed, even with a hint of youthful spirit, looking at the unpolished calmness and strength in his steps as he walked towards her... He was completely different from the usual silent, cold, and seemingly indifferent person.

At that moment, her heart felt as if it had been hit hard by something, and as if it had been gently brushed by the softest feather. A mixture of intense throbbing, deep appreciation, and indescribable tenderness, like a spring bud breaking through the ground urged by the spring breeze, instantly occupied her entire heart, and could no longer be ignored or suppressed.

She knew that something was different.

Completely, completely different.

Her feelings towards him were no longer just the initial curiosity and sympathy, nor was it just the responsible care as a class monitor.

The secret, hazy heartbeat that grew quietly in the light and shadow of the studio, in the ambiguity and frankness of the cafe, at this moment when he jumped off the tree trunk and walked towards her with the breath of sunshine and vigorous vitality, became clear and firm, like tempered steel.

She fell in love with Gu Nanxiao.

This realization made her heart beat like a drum and her cheeks began to feel hot again, but this time, she did not avoid him. Instead, she walked towards Gu Nanxiao, whose gaze seemed much softer than usual. The corners of her mouth unconsciously rose, revealing a smile that she herself had not even noticed, one that was full of complete certainty, sweetness, and shyness.

The setting sun dyed the sky a warm orange-pink color, and also stretched the shadows of the two people behind them very long, intertwining together.

They walked side by side on the way back to her community. Their shoulders would occasionally touch each other accidentally due to inconsistent strides, and then quickly separate, bringing a subtle shudder and deeper ripples in their hearts like an electric shock.

No one spoke, but the silence was no longer awkward. Instead, it was filled with a silent, sweet tension that quietly fermented and spread in the streets filled with the cool winter air, enveloping them.

It was as if something had quietly taken root and sprouted between the two of them, tacitly and quietly, and had grown tender leaves.

She walked to the familiar big banyan tree at the entrance of her community. It was not raining this time. Only the afterglow of the setting sun shone through the bare branches, casting mottled, jumping spots of light.

"I have arrived."

Jiang Yile stopped and turned to face him.

Her heartbeat was still a little fast, but there was more of a warmth filling her heart and a calmness and softness after confirming her feelings.

"Um."

Gu Nanxiao looked at her. The setting sun cast a fine light in his deep eyes, softening his usually cold and hard lines, as if they were coated with a layer of warm gold.

His eyes fell on her face, with a kind of almost focused and deep gaze that she had never seen before, as if he wanted to carve her at this moment into his mind.

"Thank you so much today." Jiang Yile raised her head and bravely met his gaze with a faint, sincere smile on her face. Her eyes were like crescent moons, filled with starlight. "Thank you not only for being my model, but also for... eating with me and chatting with me."

Thank you for letting me see a more real and different you.

She added silently in her heart.

Gu Nanxiao gazed at her smiling face, which was gilded by the setting sun. Her eyes, which were always bent and full of smiles, were now sparkling, clearly reflecting his figure.

His Adam's apple moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded. His voice was much softer than usual, like the evening breeze: "You're welcome."

"Then...see you on Monday."

"See you Monday."

Jiang Yile waved to him, turned and walked into the community gate.

After walking a few steps, she couldn't help but look back and found that Gu Nanxiao was still standing there, his eyes still following her direction.

Seeing her turn around, he seemed stunned for a moment, then he also raised his hand and waved it slightly and stiffly.

Jiang Yile's face felt hot again. He quickly turned back and quickened his pace, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but rise up, forming a sweet, unstoppable arc. The joy in his heart almost overflowed, as if countless colorful bubbles were flying.

Gu Nanxiao watched her figure disappear around the corner of the corridor before slowly letting go of his hand.

He stood alone on the street in the twilight, feeling the heart in his chest that had not been so lively and beating so uncontrollably for a long time, and the smile on his lips that he had not even noticed, very faint but real, like the first melting of ice and snow.

He looked up at the last ray of brilliant sunset in the sky, then turned around and walked into the deepening night.

This winter weekend, because of a scheduled portrait, an unexpected help in climbing a tree, a quiet companionship and conversation, and the girl's smile as bright as the sun that went straight into his heart, a beam of light that was too bright and too warm was cast into his gray and silent world like a wasteland, which made him feel a little overwhelmed and even panicked.

And this beam of light, with a power that he could not resist and did not want to resist anymore, was gradually melting the ice in his heart that had not melted for years. It also made him feel more clearly the contradictory wave that was about to surge under the ice, a mixture of great sweetness and deep fear.