A cold wind blew through the streets, rustling the trees along the roadside, but the two of them felt no cold at all. They walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying this rare moment of companionship in the quiet night. Passing by a street food stall, the aroma of food filled the air, and Ah Yu's stomach rumbled at just the right moment. He scratched his head a little embarrassedly.

Zhong Hua smiled, pulled Ah Yu to the food stall, bought two servings of hot roasted sweet potatoes, handed one to Ah Yu, and said, "Are you hungry? Have something to tide you over." Ah Yu took the roasted sweet potato, and the scalding heat made him keep switching hands while blowing on it. He took a bite, and the soft, sweet flavor spread in his mouth. He squinted his eyes in satisfaction and mumbled, "So delicious."

Chapter Five: Ripples of Memories

The two continued walking home while eating roasted sweet potatoes. As they walked, Ah Yu suddenly remembered all the little things she and Zhong Hua had experienced together.

It was shortly after they met. Once, the school organized a field trip, and Ah Yu, just like today, was engrossed in taking pictures of the scenery and didn't notice the time. As a result, she missed the bus back to school. Everyone else had already left, and Ah Yu stood alone in that remote suburb, feeling anxious and scared.

Just as he was at a loss, Zhong Hua appeared on a bicycle. It turned out that Zhong Hua had discovered that A Yu was missing, so he borrowed a bicycle from the teacher to come and find him. Zhong Hua let A Yu sit on the back seat, and then rode the bicycle with great effort to get to school. Along the way, A Yu looked at Zhong Hua's back, which was soaked with sweat, and was filled with gratitude. From that moment on, the two became closer and closer.

Another time, Ah Yu participated in a photography competition. In order to take a satisfactory photo, he waited in the rain for several hours, and as a result, he caught a cold and had a fever when he came back. When Zhong Hua found out, he immediately rushed to Ah Yu's dormitory, bought medicine, boiled water, and stayed by his bedside to take care of him all night until his fever subsided.

These memories flashed through Ah Yu's mind like movie clips. He turned to look at Zhong Hua beside him and said softly, "You know, we've known each other for so long, and it seems like you've always been there for me whenever I'm in trouble."

Zhong Hua smiled and said, "Of course, I can't leave you alone. You always get so engrossed in photography that you forget everything else. I have to be there to keep an eye on you so nothing goes wrong." Ah Yu felt a warmth in his heart. He knew that Zhong Hua's silent protection had long become an indispensable part of his life.

Chapter Six: The First Signs of Affection

After returning home, Ah Yu transferred the photos from her camera to her computer and called Zhong Hua over to look at them. The two sat in front of the computer, and Ah Yu showed the photos one by one, explaining her thoughts and feelings while taking them.

Zhong Hua looked at the photos with admiration in his eyes, praising Ah Yu from time to time for her excellent photography skills, wonderful angles, and unique compositions. Ah Yu was a little embarrassed by the praise and said with a smile, "It's not as good as you say. I just took pictures randomly. I still have a lot to learn."

Looking at Ah Yu's earnest yet humble demeanor, Zhong Hua felt a stirring in his heart. He suddenly realized that this person not only possessed a deep passion for photography, but also a passion for life and a pure heart that deeply attracted him. He hesitated for a moment, then mustered his courage and gently grasped Ah Yu's hand, which was resting on the mouse.

Ah Yu was startled and turned to look at Zhong Hua. Their eyes met, and an electric current seemed to pass through the air. Both of their faces flushed slightly. Zhong Hua opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but felt that the atmosphere was too beautiful, and any words would be superfluous. He simply held Ah Yu's hand tightly, conveying the feelings he had kept hidden in his heart for so long with his eyes.

Ah Yu looked into Zhong Hua's eyes, which were full of sincerity and deep affection. He seemed to understand something, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. He did not pull his hand away, and just stared at Zhong Hua quietly. It was as if time had stopped at this moment, and the whole world was only filled with the sound of their heartbeats and their slightly rapid breathing.

Chapter Seven: Twists and Turns and Misunderstandings

However, good times are always easily shattered by unexpected events. The next day, Zhong Hua needed to go on a business trip for a while due to an urgent work project. He hurriedly packed his luggage, gave Ah Yu a few brief instructions, and left.

Although Ah Yu was reluctant to part with him, she knew that work was important, so she told Zhong Hua to be careful and come back soon. But she didn't expect that this business trip would be much more troublesome than expected. Zhong Hua was busy and overwhelmed every day, and sometimes he didn't even have time to send Ah Yu a message all day.

Ah Yu initially understood, but as time went on, he inevitably felt a sense of loss and worry. Coupled with the subtle feelings that had just begun to blossom between the two, Ah Yu felt even more insecure. He started to overthink, wondering if Zhong Hua had regretted his decision or if he had encountered someone else at work, which was why he was being so cold towards him.

Meanwhile, Zhong Hua finally managed to make some progress on the project and wanted to call Ah Yu, but he was always interrupted by various things. When he finally managed to contact her properly, he found that Ah Yu's attitude had become somewhat cold. He was very puzzled, but he didn't know how to explain it, so he could only worry anxiously.

The two were caught in an awkward and somewhat stalemate. The warm atmosphere seemed to be suddenly shrouded in gloom. Neither of them felt good, but neither of them was willing to take the initiative to break the deadlock.

Chapter 8: The Untied Knot

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