Ripples in the Heart Lake

The morning sun filtered through the thin curtains, casting a soft glow across Zhou Jianxing's small bedroom. She drowsily opened her eyes and habitually reached for her phone beside her pillow.

The screen lit up, and an unread WeChat notification lay quietly at the top of the notification bar.

Sender: Shuiyue Gallery - Wen Lingyi.

Zhou Jianxing's heart felt like it had been gently bumped by something, instantly regaining consciousness. She held her breath and tremblingly clicked on the phone.

Shuiyue Gallery - Wen Lingyi: "Morning, Master Zhou. I forgot to tell you yesterday that you can come and help me take care of the garden every Saturday afternoon. Is that okay? The price remains the same as yesterday."

Zhou Jianxing stared at the screen for a long time. The tranquility of the early morning was broken by a complicated mood. An indescribable clamor came from the bottom of his heart, and his cheeks began to heat up and turn red uncontrollably, as if being exposed to the rising sun.

Every Saturday afternoon...

This standing invitation seemed to have pressed a switch in her body, sending a warm current of anticipation and inexplicable panic coursing through her body.

Lately, Wen Lingyi's gentle, charming face has been constantly intruding into her dreams. Sometimes, she's standing at the doorway, smiling at her, her eyes so gentle they make her heart skip a beat; sometimes, her beautiful hands brush against her skin with a cool touch, waking her up with a burning sensation all over her body...

She knew clearly that this was a dangerous sign. That was her employer, a woman, a married woman. She should stay away and nip those absurd thoughts in the bud.

But her body and mind seemed to have their own ideas, always involuntarily pulling her closer to the dangerous flame.

Every time he went to the villa, every time he saw Wen Lingyi, even if he only received a simple message from her, the secret, guilty expectation in his heart would grow uncontrollably.

Zhou Jianxing had to admit that she was looking forward to Saturday, looking forward to that garden, and looking forward to... seeing her again.

But she was afraid to see Wen Lingyi. Wen Lingyi was just interacting with her normally, but she had developed different feelings for this Mrs. Wen, feelings that had no future.

Her fingertips hovered over the keyboard, hesitant. She wanted to reply "OK," but deleted it as quickly as if she'd been burned. No, she couldn't see Wen Lingyi that often.

But when he left yesterday, it seemed like he had... vaguely agreed to Wen Lingyi's invitation to "come often"? Thinking of this, Zhou Jianxing felt a pang of regret.

In the end, she could only suppress the conflict in her heart and respond in a tone that was as businesslike and distanced as possible.

Xingxing: "Okay, Mrs. Wen. No problem. ^_^"

The smiling expression at the back was a thin coat she put on to cover up her restless mind.

That Mrs. Wen was not only addressing Wen Lingyi, but also reminding herself.

The message was sent, but it fell on deaf ears. Wen Lingyi did not reply.

Zhou Jianxing put down his phone and lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The aftermath of his racing heartbeat had not yet faded.

Maybe... she was really overthinking it? She tried to find an outlet for her chaotic thoughts. Having never been in a relationship, was it possible that she couldn't tell the difference between ordinary affection and... love?

This thought made her feel a little better, but was immediately replaced by deeper confusion.

As if possessed by some unknown force, she picked up her phone again and hesitantly typed in the search box:

"Is it strange that women like women?"

After pressing the search button, a variety of information popped up on the page. Popular science, supportive, questioning... The answers were so diverse that she was dazzled and her mind was in a mess.

She was unwilling to give up and typed in:

"What does it mean when a woman likes a woman?"

Descriptive sentences flashed before my eyes: my heartbeat quickened, I always wanted to see the other person, I cared about the other person's every move, I longed to be close...

Each one is like a mirror, clearly reflecting her abnormal condition during this period.

Zhou Jianxing's cheeks were getting hotter and hotter, and his heart felt heavy.

Then came the more pointed question, the one that left her with nowhere to hide:

"Why do you like married women?"

"What should I do if I fall in love with a married woman?"

The search results of these two questions, like the sharpest blade, pierced through the self-comfort Zhou Jianxing tried to construct.

What caught my eye were mostly harsh criticisms from a moral high ground, such as "third party", "immoral", "family destroyer", "self-deprecating", "deserving to be scorned"...

The cold, judgmental words pierced her heart like countless steel needles. She could almost feel the invisible gazes of the world converge on her, filled with contempt and scorn, enough to pierce her spine and leave her unable to lift her head.

A heavy, suffocating feeling gripped her. Zhou Jianxing abruptly turned off her phone and dropped it onto her pillow like a hot potato. She needed to breathe, to escape these suffocating thoughts.

I got up and walked to the small balcony in my slippers.

The morning air, with its hint of coolness, soothed her anxious heart. On the windowsill, her beloved plants—roses, hydrangeas, gardenias, succulents, pothos, jasmine—stretched their branches and leaves in the morning light, vibrant and full of life. She picked up the watering can and began to water them.

The cool water droplets sprinkled on the leaves, making a subtle sound. Looking at these green leaves full of vitality, Zhou Jianxing felt a little calmer.

She couldn't help but think of Wen Lingyi's garden again, the focused look in Wen Lingyi's eyes when she praised her good care of the flowers and plants, and the way Wen Lingyi sat quietly in the rattan chair in the sunshine yesterday, looking at her... The corners of her mouth unconsciously curved up again, and even her eyes became gentle.

"Hey, why are you smiling silly at the flowers and plants so early in the morning? Did you find some money?" Her mother's voice suddenly came from behind her, joking. Zhou Shufen was about to collect the clothes hanging out to dry when she saw her daughter standing on the balcony, smiling silly at the plants. She looked curious and asked, "You smile so sweetly, are you in love?"

The three words "fall in love" froze all the smiles on Zhou Jianxing's face.

Her expression froze, then quickly wilted like an eggplant hit by frost, becoming dejected again, even more dejected than before. "No! Mom, don't talk nonsense!" She denied irritably, her tone stiff.

Zhou Shufen looked at her suspiciously, but didn't ask any more questions. She put away the clothes and went back to the house.

Zhou Jianxing was alone on the balcony again. She looked at the small oasis she had carefully tended, and the sweetness of remembering Wen Lingyi in her heart was overwhelmed by bitterness and guilt. She silently took out her phone and, framing the balcony plants bathed in the morning light, carefully found the angle to snap a photo that best captured the vibrant life.

Then, she opened her Moments and posted this photo without any text.

She thought, maybe Wen Lingyi would read it.

·

At noon, Zhou Jianxing completed a home repair service, hurried home for lunch, and then returned to Schindler Repair Company. With no plans to go out that afternoon, she finished all the repair orders and slumped over the table, scrolling through her phone idly.

The fingertips seemed to have their own consciousness and clicked on the pinned name again: Shuiyue Gallery-Wen Lingyi.

She clicked on Wen Lingyi’s circle of friends.

It still looked like a meticulously edited commercial brochure, filled with opening information for various art exhibitions, media coverage, and work promotions, perfectly presented without a trace of mundane details.

Occasionally, there are also a few photos of Wen Lingyi at work - talking to people at an art exhibition, raising a paddle at an auction, examining works in a gallery... Wen Lingyi in the photos is wearing a neatly tailored professional suit, with exquisite makeup, a strong aura, and gentle eyes with a hidden sharpness, which is completely different from the way she looked in the villa wearing a long skirt and sitting lazily on a rattan chair.

She lacked the gentleness that Wen Lingyi showed her, or rather, the gentleness that Zhou Jianxing interpreted herself, and had more of the competence and aloofness of a business elite.

Zhou Jianxing clicked on the photos one by one, zooming in and zooming in again. He greedily took in every subtle expression on Wen Lingyi's face, her delicate profile, her fingers as white and tender as scallions, gripping the wine glass...

She tried to capture a trace of Wen Lingyi's private life from these public and commercial images - what does she like? What does she do in her spare time? How is her mood? ...

However, it was in vain.

She kept flipping forward until the screen prompted "Friends only show the Moments of the past six months", and finally it became blank with only a cold dividing line.

It had slid to the bottom. There was nothing left. She knew almost nothing about Wen Lingyi, except for her work. Their only interactions seemed to be limited to Zhou Jianxing's visits to Wen Lingyi for repairs.

A huge sense of loss and powerlessness came over her, and she felt like a pervert who was hiding in the dark and secretly watching other people's lives.

This realization sent a wave of shame and panic through her. She slammed the screen shut, as if the bright light burned her eyes. She buried her face in her arms, forcing herself to shut out the thought.

Work! Yes, work! Only by focusing on the cold instruments and logically clear circuit diagrams could her chaotic brain find a moment of peace.

Without any assignments, she found some small appliances that needed repair and set to work. Screwdriver, multimeter, solder wire... the familiar tools and procedures eased her frayed nerves. Yet, between tasks, her gaze would inevitably drift to her silent phone. Deep down, a faint voice wondered: Will she call me? Will she suddenly need something repaired?

Then, her rationality jumped out and mocked her mercilessly: Zhou Jianxing, you are so stupid! How could things in a normal person's home break down so frequently? Do you think Mrs. Wen is creating repair opportunities just for you?

She blushed with embarrassment at her own absurd thoughts and shook her head vigorously, trying to get rid of those unrealistic fantasies.

Just then, his cell phone rang. Zhou Jianxing's heart skipped a beat and he quickly grabbed the phone—it wasn't Wen Lingyi, but his colleague Xu Gong.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou, I'm sorry to bother you. I have a job on hand. This circuit board is burned out. I've been checking for a long time but can't find the short circuit. You are experienced, can you help me take a look?" Mr. Xu's voice was a little embarrassed.

Zhou Jianxing breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a bit lost. He immediately cheered up: "Oh, Mr. Xu, it's okay, it's okay. Send me the photos and the details on WeChat so I can take a look."

Their attention was drawn back to their professional field, and the two began to communicate on WeChat.

Zhou Jianxing carefully analyzed the high-definition photos of the circuit board and the fault description sent by Engineer Xu, clearly identifying the possible fault points and explaining the troubleshooting steps and precautions. Her tone had returned to her usual calm and focused tone, her logic clear and her technical terminology effortless.

At this moment, she is the skilled and trustworthy maintenance master Zhou Gong, not the Zhou Jianxing who is worried about her employer.

After discussing the issue for a while, Engineer Xu on the other end of the phone thanked him profusely: "Thank you so much, Jianxing! You've been so helpful! Are you free tonight? I'll treat you to dinner as a thank you!"

Zhou Jianxing subconsciously wanted to refuse: "Ah? No need, Mr. Xu, it's just a small matter. It's only natural for colleagues to help each other."

"Don't mention it, don't mention it!" Mr. Xu insisted. "Just a simple meal. I know a good new Sichuan restaurant."

Zhou Jianxing was a bit embarrassed. She wasn't familiar with Engineer Xu, and wasn't used to being alone with someone of the opposite sex she didn't know well. It always felt awkward. "Really, Engineer Xu, I'll be here tonight..."

"Oh, don't refuse!" Xu Gong seemed to have guessed her concerns and quickly added, "How about this, I call Ajie too? It'll be more lively with the three of us together! I also want to thank him for his help last time."

Zhou Jianxing's frayed nerves relaxed a bit when she heard that Ajie was going, too. Ajie had been her friend since childhood, and they were still colleagues. With his cheerful personality, she felt much more at ease with him around. "Well... okay," she finally agreed.

·

After get off work, the three of them met at the newly opened Sichuan restaurant.

Mr. Xu was very enthusiastic and ordered many of the signature dishes. Ajie was lively and the atmosphere at the table was quite relaxed. Zhou Jianxing, however, was absorbed in his food, trying to make his presence felt as little as possible.

Halfway through the meal, Mr. Xu suddenly cleared his throat, his smile becoming tense and serious. He looked at Zhou Jianxing with eager eyes: "Jianxing... Actually, I've been wanting to find a chance to tell you."

Zhou Jianxing's heart skipped a beat, and he had a bad feeling.

"I... I've liked you for a long time, Mr. Zhou." Mr. Xu finally mustered up the courage to speak out, his face slightly flushed. "Ever since you first came to the company, I've thought you were really great. Dedicated, serious, skilled, and with a nice personality... I've always had my eye on you and wanted to be closer to you... Can you... be my girlfriend?"

Zhou Jianxing's jaw dropped! She forgot to chew the food in her mouth and stared at Mr. Xu in amazement. She had never thought of this! Mr. Xu? Liked her? And for a long time? Her mind was blank, and she felt absurd and at a loss.

Zhou Jianxing waved his hands in panic, speaking incoherently: "Mr. Xu! You...you must be kidding! I...I didn't think about that! I'm sorry! I really can't!"

Her rejection came so quickly and urgently that the light on Xu Gong's face dimmed in an instant, and his eyes were filled with loss and embarrassment.

Seeing this, Ajie quickly tried to smooth things over: "Hey, Lao Xu, look at you, you scared Mr. Zhou! Come on, let's go first!" He stood up and dragged the still dazed Zhou Jianxing out. "Lao Xu, this meal is on me, I'll give it to you later!"

The two of them walked out of the restaurant quickly, leaving the awkward atmosphere and the lost Mr. Xu behind.

When the cool night breeze blew on his face, Zhou Jianxing felt alive again, his heart still pounding.

"Oh my god, I was scared to death!" Ajie patted his chest and took an exaggerated breath. Then he turned to look at Zhou Jianxing, his face full of inquiry and confusion. "But Xingxing, Lao Xu is actually a really good guy. He's tall and handsome, his skills are decent, and his character and personality are well-received in the company. He has nothing to say about you. Why... did you reject him so bluntly?"

Zhou Jianxing lowered his head, kicked the stones on the side of the road, and said nothing.

Ajie leaned closer, lowered his voice, and said with a mischievous smile: "Besides, from childhood to adulthood, I have never seen you like anyone. No matter how handsome or outstanding the boys who confessed to you were, you seemed to reject them all. I say..." He paused, his tone becoming serious, "You can't be... not like men, but like women?"

Zhou Jianxing's body froze, as if struck by lightning. She subconsciously wanted to deny it, "What nonsense are you talking about! I..."

However, just when the words of denial were about to come out of her mouth, Wen Lingyi's gentle and charming face, with her lazy smile, soft eyes, fingers brushing against her, and close body... broke into her mind extremely clearly and domineeringly.

All the words of denial were instantly stuck in my throat.

She opened her mouth, but no words came out. The color drained from her face, leaving only paleness and panic. Finally, she pursed her lips tightly, choosing silence. This silence, on the night street, was deafening.

Ajie looked at her suddenly changing expression and the final deathly silence, and seemed to understand something. The joking look on his face disappeared, and became gentle and understanding.

He patted Zhou Jianxing's shoulder gently, and his voice softened: "It's okay, Xingxing. It doesn't matter whether you like men or women, or neither. What matters is that you are happy. Just follow your heart and don't worry about what others think."

The understanding and comfort of his friends were like a warm current, bringing a little warmth. Zhou Jianxing looked up and saw Ajie's sincere eyes. He felt uncomfortable and an urge to talk but didn't know where to start came over him.

She licked her dry lips, her voice low and hoarse, revealing deep confusion and self-doubt: "I... I don't seem to like men very much. But..." She paused, the thought burning on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't dare to say it out loud. "I don't like women either, right? I don't know... I, I just like... I like to repair things."

Even she herself felt that this answer was pale and powerless.

Ajie was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing and patted Zhou Jianxing's shoulder vigorously. "Okay! I see you're a complete workaholic! Okay, okay, it's good that you like to fix things! Make a living by your own skills, tough!"

Zhou Jianxing forced a smile, but his heart was in turmoil.

Workaholic? Maybe.

Only Zhou Jianxing himself knew that deep in the heart that once contained only circuit boards and screwdrivers, there was a corner that had been occupied domineeringly and irresistibly by a figure that should not have existed.