Under the stars, I walk with you.
Time flows quietly, like the river water of Qinan Mountain, rushing forward and washing away the impurities of life. Another late autumn has arrived on the campus of Nanjing University. The plane tree leaves are once again dyed a brilliant golden yellow, fluttering down to carpet the ground. The sunlight is no longer harsh, but warm and bright, casting dappled and dancing light and shadows on the bluestone path through the sparse branches.
The campus was quieter on Saturday than usual. Lin Wanxing and Jiang Chen walked side by side along the familiar tree-lined path. She was still wearing her elegant coat, with the warm Jupiter pendant around her neck, her steps composed. Jiang Chen walked beside her, his posture upright, the initial melancholy and dejection gone, replaced by a settled calm and determination in his eyes.
He did very well at that socially conscious tech company, focusing on the underlying architecture of educational software and incorporating the experience he gained in his practice at Qinan Mountain, finding a point of convergence between technology and humanistic care.
Every weekend, they would still meet up with Su Xiao and Lu Ziang and drive to Qinan Mountain, which had become another spiritual home for them, closely connected with the children's smiling faces and the sounds of the mountain breeze and river.
Life is stable, and the future is promising.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the famous wishing wall next to the School of Humanities. After a year of weathering the elements, the sticky notes on the wall had been replaced time and again, densely packed, carrying countless new wishes, secrets, and aspirations. The vibrant colors shone brightly in the autumn sunlight.
The two stopped in their tracks, their gazes falling on the wall, as if they had pierced through time and seen the gray figure standing here at this time last year, posting the absurd job advertisement with a heart ashen.
Lin Wanxing turned her head to look at Jiang Chen, her eyes filled with a gentle yet slightly mischievous smile: "Do you still remember this place?"
Jiang Chen's deep gaze shifted from the wall to her smiling face, the corners of his lips curving upwards into a clear yet gentle arc: "I remember." How could he forget? That was the starting point of his desperate gamble, the place where the gears of fate began to turn.
He took out a clean, light blue sticky note and a pen from his coat pocket. His movements were unhurried, carrying a sense of solemn ritual.
Lin Wanxing watched him quietly, noticing his slightly bowed head, his tall figure appearing exceptionally serene in the sunlight. His fingers held a pen, carefully writing a few lines on the small piece of paper, stroke by stroke. The handwriting was still strong and upright, but it held a touch more indescribable tenderness than the original "agreement."
He finished writing, but instead of sticking it on immediately, he handed the sticky note to Lin Wanxing.
Lin Wanxing took it and looked down. On the light blue paper were his handwritten words:
"The job has been filled."
Position: The only one in my life.
Duration: Forever.
Applicant: Jiang Chen
There are no fancy words, no passionate vows, only the simplest statements, yet it seems to have used all his strength and sincerity to carry the entire journey from despair to redemption, from confusion to certainty.
A warm current instantly surged through Lin Wanxing's heart, her nose tingled slightly, and her eyes welled up with a moist, happy light. She looked up and met his focused and affectionate gaze, in which her image was clearly reflected, nothing else.
She didn't say anything, but gently flipped the sticky note over, took the pen from Jiang Chen's hand, and solemnly and clearly signed her name below where he had signed—"Lin Wanxing".
Then, she took his hand, and the two walked together to the wishing wall. Among the many colorful wishes, they found a spot near the center, one that would be bathed in sunlight. Jiang Chen carefully peeled off the adhesive backing, and Lin Wanxing reached out, and together they carefully and neatly stuck the light blue sticky note on.
It sat quietly on the wall, bathed in the warm autumn sun, like a quietly settled star, simple yet radiating an undeniable glow of happiness. It heralded a recruitment process that began absurdly, but ultimately achieved its most perfect ending.
After sticking the sticky note on her hand, the two smiled at each other, as if they had completed a most important ritual. Jiang Chen extended his hand very naturally, and Lin Wanxing smiled as she placed her hand in his palm. His fingers were long and warm, completely enveloping her hand, and then, slowly and firmly, he intertwined his fingers with hers.
They stopped looking at the wall and didn't say much. They simply held hands, turned around, and slowly walked out along the tree-lined path they had come from.
Their fingers were intertwined, their steps perfectly synchronized. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dancing on them and casting long shadows across the leaf-strewn path. A gentle autumn breeze swept up a few golden sycamore leaves, swirling and fluttering around their feet, rustling softly as if accompanying their footsteps.
They walked past familiar teaching buildings, past the library, past the intersection where cars that had once broken down but were now repaired occasionally stopped. The campus still had students hurrying by with books, couples laughing and chatting side-by-side—everything was brimming with youthful energy and vibrancy. But they seemed to have detached themselves from this hustle and bustle, immersing themselves in a quiet and fulfilling little world that belonged only to each other.
Everything from the past—the absurdity and embarrassment of our first encounter, the protection in the rain, the establishment of our contract, the daily immersion, the struggle of our hearts fluttering, the desperate separation, the painful pursuit, the whispered conversations by the river, the vows under the starry sky, the enlightenment at the cemetery, the steadfast commitment at Qi Nan Mountain, the blessings of our dearest friends… all the bittersweet experiences, the twists and turns, have all coalesced in the tightly clasped fingers of this moment, transforming into the most solid strength on our journey forward.
The future may hold storms and unknown challenges, but they know that no matter where they go or what they do, they will always walk hand in hand, just like they do now.
As she approached the school gate, about to merge into the wider world outside, Lin Wanxing paused slightly, turned her head, and looked at the silent man beside her who had been her protector.
"Jiang Chen".
"Um?"
“It’s nothing,” she smiled sweetly, her eyes sparkling, “I just wanted to call out to you.”
Jiang Chen squeezed her hand and returned her a gentle, wordless smile.
The sun shone brightly, and the autumn breeze was gentle. Hand in hand, their figures gradually blended into the bustling crowds and traffic outside the school gate, their steps steady and firm as they walked towards their shared, star-studded future.
Under the stars, walking with you is enough for this lifetime.
(End of article)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
