Chapter 104
Let's fall in love.
Life seems no different from before, yet it also seems completely different.
From that day on, the two maintained their own lives most of the time, only meeting up for meals. These three daily meetings were enough to quickly dispel the awkwardness of not seeing each other for so long, allowing them to become familiar and tacit again.
Zhan Xinyue had read many random magazines, and every now and then a couple of lines she had read in some article would pop into her mind.
For example, there's a saying that goes like this: "The most important thing in judging whether two people are compatible is whether they can eat together."
Although I don't know if there's any scientific basis to this statement, she and Shi Ziqian are the type who can really get along when it comes to food.
She knew he couldn't handle spicy food and wouldn't choose overly spicy dishes. Aside from that, Shi Ziqian was happy to try all the foods she liked. Furthermore, Zhan Xinyue ate incredibly slowly; even among girls, few could eat slower than her. So, when eating with people she wasn't very familiar with, she often felt rushed. But with Shi Ziqian, she had no such worries. No matter how fast she ate, Shi Ziqian would always put down his chopsticks two seconds later, allowing her to eat in a relaxed and at ease.
Shi Ziqian was always considerate and gentlemanly, and she never felt uncomfortable in their company. She got used to seeing him every day and taking walks with him after meals, sharing the little things that happened that day.
Originally, she wanted to supervise him to eat properly out of concern for his physical and mental health, but after a few months, she found herself becoming more and more dependent on him. Being with Shi Ziqian was so comfortable; he understood all her unspoken meanings and gently and considerately tolerated everything about her. Many times, the two of them didn't need to talk; a single glance was enough for them to tacitly understand what the other wanted to say.
A semester passed in the blink of an eye, and it was already the end of February when they returned to school after the New Year. That noon, after lunch, the two walked together towards the teaching area. Zhan Xinyue smelled a sweet fragrance in the air and exclaimed in surprise, "Shi Ziqian, spring has arrived."
Shi Ziqian walked beside her, and upon hearing this, he looked up and met the buds of the forsythia by the roadside. He nodded and said, "Yes, spring has arrived."
The crescent moon raised its eyebrows amidst the soothing fragrance.
Shi Ziqian watched her relaxed expression, pursed his lips slightly, and after thinking for a moment, suddenly said softly, "Zhan Xinyue, I checked before. According to the World Health Organization's calculation method, a male who is 187cm tall and weighs 72kg is considered to be of standard weight."
Zhan Xinyue blinked and turned her head to look at him.
Shi Ziqian shifted his gaze, his voice even softer: "When I weighed myself this morning, I was already 72kg. So..."
Zhan Xinyue thought for a moment, but didn't reply. Instead, she asked, "Have you been sleeping better lately? Are you still having trouble sleeping?"
Shi Ziqian paused for a moment, then said slowly, "I don't have insomnia anymore."
"Oh..." Zhan Xinyue looked up at the tender green buds on the tree, her eyes curving into crescents. "Shi Ziqian, shall we go for a spring outing next week?"
The temperature wasn't very high yet; the morning was foggy, and the air was still quite chilly.
Zhan Xinyue stood in front of the mirror, changing her clothes several times, but still felt dissatisfied. She had many beautiful clothes in her wardrobe, but after trying them on, she felt they all seemed too deliberate.
We used to see each other every day.
"Going on a date?" Her roommates, seeing her hesitation, gathered around to watch the spectacle.
Zhan Xinyue felt embarrassed to change any further, so she finally put on her coat. After all, the spring chill hadn't completely dissipated, and it wasn't yet the season to wear those pretty dresses.
Before leaving, Yi Qing glanced at her up and down a few times, then casually pulled out a wooden hairpin from the side and half-tied up her long hair: "This is fine, it has a very classical beauty."
It must be admitted that Yiqing is indeed very skilled in this area; adding a simple accessory instantly creates a finishing touch.
Zhan Xinyue left the house satisfied, fifteen minutes earlier than agreed. Reaching the dormitory building, she passed the full-length mirror and carefully checked her outfit, then casually took a picture of herself in the mirror.
The woman in the mirror had half her long hair tied up and the other half draped over her shoulders. Underneath her white coat was a plain-colored skirt, and she had an obvious smile on her face.
She stared at the photo for a long time, hesitated for a moment, then clicked on Shi Ziqian's profile picture and sent the photo to him.
Seeing that the photo had been successfully transferred, she suddenly felt a little shy and added a note below: I'm going downstairs, see you at the school gate later.
Shi Ziqian replied quickly: Wait a moment, I might be a little late, I'll be there in 20 minutes.
Zhan Xinyue typed: It's okay, no rush.
The other party didn't say anything more, and it's unclear whether they even saw the photo.
Zhan Xinyue waited a while and then opened the photo again.
The girl in the photo was still smiling faintly at her, and she suddenly became uncertain: perhaps, this coat is a little too plain?
After a while of lost in thought, she saw Shi Ziqian 20 minutes later.
He was wearing a black overcoat, with dark hair and eyes, which made him look elegant and upright, with an outstanding temperament.
"Sorry I'm late." Shi Ziqian stopped in front of her. "I was almost there, but I suddenly wanted to go back and change my clothes, so I was a little late."
Zhan Xinyue's eyes swept over his coat, and she heard his voice again: "Zhan Xinyue, you look beautiful today."
Spring is the season of life. In the third month of spring, all things are full of vitality and waiting to be unleashed. The air is filled with the fragrance of spring flowers.
Zhan Xinyue and Shi Ziqian came for a spring outing and arrived at a low hill on the outskirts of the city. The warm sunlight shone on them, and everything in the world was peaceful and beautiful. Her mood unconsciously lifted, and she suddenly felt that her current state of mind was similar to that of her high school spring and autumn field trips.
She glanced at Shi Ziqian secretly. His facial features were more defined than in high school, and with the change in his clothing, he looked much more mature.
Zhan Xinyue looked down at her long skirt beneath her coat; the hem swayed with each step, like a lotus flower. She couldn't help but smile: She had matured quite a bit.
Both of them were already adults, so this sudden discovery was strange, yet... quite wonderful.
As they climbed the stone steps at the foot of the mountain, Zhan Xinyue chatted with him incessantly, and Shi Ziqian responded gently and earnestly to every question. Feeling particularly relaxed, she spoke without much thought, and unconsciously asked a question she had wanted to ask for a long time but had never dared to: "Shi Ziqian, does your application to A University have anything to do with me?"
As soon as she said it, she felt embarrassed. It was a bit strange to say it like that, since with Shi Ziqian's grades, coming to A University would have been almost a given if he hadn't chosen to study abroad.
Fortunately, she didn't hesitate for long before Shi Ziqian answered without any hesitation, "Of course."
His answer was so matter-of-fact that Zhan Xinyue's slight embarrassment vanished, leaving only a faint sweetness.
“You know, this is my obsession.” Shi Ziqian’s voice was tinged with bitterness as he said this. “If it weren’t for this thought supporting me, I don’t know what I would be like now.”
Zhan Xinyue suddenly recalled what Wu Chuni had mentioned about his high school days, and a pang of sadness welled up in her heart. She let out a soft breath, deliberately lightening her tone: "But how did you know I got into A University?"
“There are only so many people in the city who pass the cutoff each year, that’s not hard to know,” Shi Ziqian said. “Besides, I’ve seen the honor roll for your grade.”
Zhan Xinyue was surprised: "You already knew which school I transferred to?"
Shi Ziqian nodded, and after a moment of silence, he suddenly said softly, "Zhan Xinyue, actually I saw you once during my senior year of high school. It was a very cold day, and it had just snowed. I don't know how I ended up at your school... and then I saw you."
"I never thought I'd actually see you. I just wanted to go outside your school and take a look, but I actually ran into you. Through the fence, I saw you sitting on the edge of the playground wrapped in a scarf, your nose was red from the cold, but you were still diligently reciting your lessons."
Zhan Xinyue had no recollection of any of what he was saying, nor could she remember memorizing texts by the playground. She guessed it might have been during PE class or something. She turned to look at him and asked softly, "And then?"
"That's all. Later, I went back to school." Shi Ziqian looked ahead. "At that time, I thought, you are working very hard to move forward, and I should be like you."
As they spoke, the two had already walked quite a distance along the stone steps. Zhan Xinyue looked up at the mountaintop and said softly, "We're almost at the top. A beautiful view awaits us up there."
The hill wasn't very high, and the two quickly reached the top. Before them stood a small, elegant, and serene temple. Visitors occasionally came and went, and the faint scent of incense lingered in the air.
The two stopped in front of the temple and looked up at it.
The young couple, both dressed in well-fitting coats, with striking features, black hair and eyes, and an air of elegance reminiscent of an ink painting, stood out on the stone steps, attracting the attention of many passersby who glanced at them.
Shi Ziqian was clearly used to being scrutinized like this, his expression remaining unchanged. Zhan Xinyue, however, felt a little embarrassed by the stares and pointed to the temple in front of her: "Would you like to go in and have a look?"
Shi Ziqian nodded: "Okay."
Perhaps it's because everyone is more willing to go out in spring, but this little-known temple was bustling with visitors, some to tour it, others to offer incense and pray, filling the small space to the brim.
The two strolled around the temple casually when Zhan Xinyue suddenly noticed something interesting. In the courtyard stood a small bronze pagoda, two or three people tall, its purpose unclear—whether for decoration or incense burning—exquisitely crafted, with openwork door-and-window shaped details near the top. The pagoda was surrounded by red ropes, preventing anyone from approaching.
At this moment, a number of people gathered outside the red rope, holding coins in their hands and throwing them into the hollow opening at the top of the tower, all while muttering incantations.
Zhan Xinyue looked at it for a while and then understood. It's just like how people often throw coins into a pool to make a wish. Everyone considers it a good omen to be able to throw a coin into the tower, believing that it will bring good luck.
Shi Ziqian asked from beside him, "Want to try it too?"
Zhan Xinyue said enthusiastically, "Great! Let's see how our fortune is today."
Shi Ziqian exchanged some coins and handed them to her. Zhan Xinyue tried to share half with him, but he shook his head and said, "You can toss them for me too."
"Okay, then watch me."
Zhan Xinyue carefully found the right spot along the red rope, gestured for a long time, and then tossed the coin out with utmost reverence.
I didn't win.
Another one, with an even more devout expression.
I didn't win again.
The coins in my hand gradually dwindled until only one round coin remained, still clutched in my palm.
Zhan Xinyue smiled helplessly: "I missed. Looks like I'm having a bad day."
Shi Ziqian gently comforted her, "It's probably because you didn't make a wish."
Zhan Xinyue looked around and saw that it seemed to be true; everyone held the coin up to their eyes and whispered a few words before tossing it. But what should she wish for? In her haste, Zhan Xinyue couldn't think of anything, so she imitated those around her, holding up the coin and closing her eyes: "Then I wish for... happiness!"
The coin is tossed again.
The coin traced a long parabola through the air before flying steadily toward the opening at the top of the tower.
Their eyes followed it intently.
As the coin approached the top of the tower, it struck the edge of the opening with a crisp sound before bounced off with a relentless thud.
Zhan Xinyue tilted her head to avoid the coin that was thrown back at her, and said in a lower tone, "It was returned after all."
Although she hadn't taken it seriously at first and was just doing it for fun, it was impossible not to feel disappointed after flipping so many coins and failing to get the desired result on the first try. Fortunately, Zhan Xinyue quickly adjusted her mood, smiled with relief, and turned to Shi Ziqian: "Never mind, let's go look around somewhere else."
Shi Ziqian did not move.
He had been standing to her left, and now he was staring blankly at his hand with his eyes slightly lowered.
"What's wrong?" Zhan Xinyue asked.
Shi Ziqian looked up at her. A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the stray hairs on his forehead and revealing his dark eyes, which were like ink dots, with a strange glint in them.
“Zhan Xinyue, you said…” He slowly opened his hand, staring intently at her, “Is this a divine instruction?”
A round coin was lying in his palm.
Zhan Xinyue was also stunned.
Just a moment ago, she wished for happiness.
And at this moment, the happiness she longed for settled firmly in his palm.
The chanting in the temple, the murmurs of people making wishes... all the sounds gradually faded away in that instant, and it seemed that only the two people gazing at each other quietly remained in this world.
Do gods really exist in this world?
Zhan Xinyue couldn't explain it clearly. Her first half of life was bathed in love, happy and smooth. At that time, she thought that if there really was a God, then He was really good to her. Until an accident shattered everything, the support of her life collapsed and decayed in an instant, and she realized that the happiness she firmly believed in was nothing but an illusion.
If God exists, why would He play such a cruel and absurd joke on her?
Zhan Xinyue smiled gently: "I don't believe in God."
Looking at her confident smile, Shi Ziqian slowly curled his palm and gripped the coin again: "It really was just a coincidence. Shall we toss it again?"
Zhan Xinyue shook her head and continued, "I don't believe in any divine guidance; I only believe in my own heart. So..."
"Shi Ziqian, do you want to ask me what my heart truly thinks?"
Zhan Xinyue's gaze followed his clenched hand upwards, landing on his face. Shi Ziqian looked at her with his eyes slightly lowered; beneath his long eyelashes, the small mole on his nose was faint, just as before.
"What do you think?" The voice, so familiar yet tinged with an almost imperceptible tension.
The young man in front of her was tall and upright, his figure always as straight as a pine tree. Only when he spoke to her would he subconsciously lower his head slightly, a trait that had remained unchanged for so many years.
Time can change many things, but that's why those things that don't easily change with time and that remain through time are all the more precious.
Zhan Xinyue looked at him, her mind racing with a thousand thoughts. There were so many things she wanted to say to him, but in the end, they all boiled down to one sentence: "I'm thinking, Shi Ziqian, let's date."
She doesn't believe in the existence of God.
I even doubted at one point whether true love really exists in this world.
To this day, she still doesn't have a definite answer.
But if the object of her affections was Shi Ziqian, she was willing to be brave again. Even if love itself wasn't something to be believed in, Shi Ziqian was, she was certain of it.
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