The prelude to a summer night

The old clock was taken away by the old man with profuse thanks. The shop seemed to quiet down for a brief moment before being filled again by the ticking of other clocks. But in the air, there seemed to be a lingering warmth of the successful completion, and a restlessness of slowly transitioning to the warmer season.

The May winds have completely shed their chill, becoming warm and languid, rustling the newly sprouted, lush leaves outside the "Time" window. The sunlight is also becoming more generous, often warming most of the shop.

The plan for the summer starry sky was no longer just a verbal promise, but began to quietly permeate their daily lives.

Lin Zhiyi would occasionally take out her phone and enthusiastically show Lu Shixu several guesthouses at the foot of Lingshan Mountain that she had saved on a travel app. The photos showed clean wooden houses, spacious terraces, and deep, star-studded night skies.

“Look at this place, the reviews say you don’t have to go far at night, you can see the Milky Way very clearly from the terrace.” Her fingertips slid across the screen, her eyes sparkling, as if they too had fallen into the stars.

Lu Shixu would put down his tools and lean over to take a closer look. He wasn't just looking at the starry sky and the wooden house, but also paying attention to the quietness of the environment and whether the guesthouse provided a relatively independent and undisturbed space.

"Hmm, looks good." He would give a fair assessment or point out some details, "This one is a bit close to the main road, so it might be noisy. The one next door seems quieter."

His involvement was prudent and practical, reflecting his inherent pursuit of stability and controllability. Lin Zhiyi wasn't disappointed; on the contrary, she cherished this prudence. She knew it showed that he was taking this trip seriously and trying to find the best balance between expectations and reality.

Sometimes, Lin Zhiyi would buy some outdoor supplies—mosquito repellent, a light sun-protective shirt, or even a small portable first-aid kit, which, in addition to commonly used medicines, also carefully contained some specific medications that Lu Shixu might need.

"It's better to be prepared," she said with a smile as she tidied up, her tone relaxed and natural, as if this were just preparations for any ordinary trip, without giving him any extra psychological burden.

As Lu Shixu watched her busy figure, and saw her so casually adding those items representing his "special needs" to the preparation list, the shadow of "trouble" in his heart seemed to dissipate somewhat. Her attitude silently told him that all of this was natural, a part of him, and a part of their shared life.

He even began to consciously speed up his pace slightly during the more productive hours of the day, hoping to conserve more energy for potential trips. This proactive self-adjustment, directed towards a common goal, was a completely new experience for him, carrying a subtle yet positive tension.

That evening, as usual, they had a simple dinner at the shop. After dinner, instead of cleaning up immediately, they sat side by side on the doorstep, watching the twilight gradually turn the old street into a deep blue. The warm evening breeze caressed their cheeks, which was very pleasant.

“I’ve almost booked the guesthouse,” Lin Zhiyi suddenly said, her voice soft in the night. “I chose the one you thought was quieter. I booked a first-floor place with a private terrace, just in case… just in case you don’t want to move around, we can just sit on the terrace, that’s fine too.”

She always did this, leaving him all a way out.

Lu Shixu turned his head, looking at her clear profile in the hazy night. He could feel all the meticulous consideration she had made for this trip, and the way she carefully protected his feelings was more comforting than the warm breeze of a summer night.

“Okay,” he replied, his voice low and firm.

He reached out and gently took her hand, which was resting on her knee. Their palms touched, their warmth mingling.

In the distance, the faint hum of the city night can be heard. Closer by, the old street is quiet, with only the sound of the wind passing through the alleys.

They didn't discuss the details of their trip anymore, but simply sat quietly, savoring the tranquility and beauty of this early summer night. Their promise about the starry sky was no longer a distant dream, but a tangible, almost tangible expectation, like the first star quietly rising in the sky, faint yet shining firmly, heralding the slow unfolding of their summer night.

The clocks in the room ticked behind me, as if silently counting down to the upcoming, brief "time migration."