Before they knew it, they were seniors, and the pressure of their studies and future prospects suddenly increased, keeping them extremely busy.
Guan Hongqi had to go on field trips with her supervisor, and Li Jing had to prepare for her teaching internship and graduation thesis. The frequency of their meetings changed from once a week to every two weeks or even longer.
But they were both certain that, whether they met or not, that person was there, and their relationship would not change because of a short separation.
Until Guan Hongqi's birthday.
Winter comes early in the north, and the wind is biting cold.
Li Jing, carrying a package carefully wrapped in a handkerchief, took a long bus ride to Beijing University of Technology.
Inside the package was a wool scarf that she had painstakingly worked on for several nights, unraveling and re-knitting it before finally finishing it. The stitches were crooked and uneven, but it was filled with her heartfelt sentiment.
She imagined what his expression would be when he received it.
They're both seniors now, and after all these years, isn't it time to make things clear?
After all, she wanted to get married right after graduation!
Filled with anticipation, she waited for him downstairs in the boys' dormitory.
As she waited, she suddenly witnessed a scene that caused her heart to ache.
Not far away, a lively female classmate wearing a fashionable red ski jacket and with her hair in a ponytail was smiling as she put a dark blue woolen hat on Guan Hongqi's head.
Guan Hongqi seemed a little surprised, but he did not refuse. Instead, he smiled and lowered his head to cooperate, letting the female classmate help him adjust the brim of his hat.
The winter sun shone on them, and the scene looked... strangely harmonious and dazzling.
Li Jing felt a chill instantly spread from the soles of her feet throughout her body, colder than the wind in December.
She instinctively clutched the soft package in her pocket; the crooked scarf felt like a red-hot iron, burning her palms.
Looking at the joyful smile on Guan Hongqi's face, all the courage she had just mustered vanished instantly.
She ultimately didn't take out the scarf, silently turned around, and wanted to leave quietly.
After taking only a few steps, Guan Hongqi's joyful shout came from behind, "Li Jing! Li Jing!"
Upon hearing his voice, Li Jing stopped in her tracks as if nailed to the spot.
Her feelings were very complicated. She seemed to be hoping that he would see her, but she was also a little afraid that he would see her.
She didn't know what was wrong with her!
How did things become so twisted!
While she was lost in thought, Guan Hongqi had already caught up with her.
But he was accompanied by a bright-smiling female classmate.
As he approached Li Jing, his face still radiant with excitement, he exclaimed, "Li Jing, what brings you here? You didn't even tell me!"
Before Li Jing could answer, he enthusiastically introduced her, "By the way, Li Jing, this is my class monitor, Comrade Zhao Xiaomei. Class monitor, this is Li Jing, whom I often mention to you."
Zhao Xiaomei immediately stepped forward and enthusiastically took Li Jing's arm, her voice clear and melodious, "So you're Li Jing! Hongqi has mentioned you quite a bit, saying you two studied together in the library for the college entrance exam! I heard you're at teachers' college and will be a teacher in the future, right? That's wonderful!"
Her smile was devoid of any gloom, and her words were frank and natural.
Li Jing felt her arm, which was being held by Zhao Xiaomei, stiffen slightly, but when she came to her senses, a completely natural smile immediately appeared on her face. "Yes, hello, Squad Leader Zhao."
Her voice was so calm that even she was surprised.
Guan Hongqi, seemingly oblivious to anything amiss, enthusiastically suggested, "Li Jing, you've come at the perfect time! It's my birthday tonight, and we're planning to go to Donglaishun for hot pot. Xiaomei and a few of my roommates are going too, you should come along!"
"No!" Li Jing refused almost immediately, her smile still on her face, her tone light. "I have a pretty important lecture at my school tonight, I have to rush back, I just stopped by to see you."
She didn't know what she was thinking, but looking at the hat on his head, she still mustered up her courage, took out the handkerchief bag from her pocket, and handed it to him, trying to sound casual, "Happy birthday, Guan Hongqi."
Guan Hongqi took it, squeezed it, and asked, "What's this?"
"It's a scarf, I just knitted it casually, it's not very well knitted, please don't mind it."
As Li Jing spoke, she turned to leave, saying, "Then I'll go first."
Guan Hongqi clearly hadn't expected her to leave so soon, and instinctively grabbed her arm, "Wait, then...then I'll take you to the station!"
"Really, it's not necessary. It's not far." Li Jing shook off his hand with a little force.
Her mind was in turmoil, and all she wanted was to escape as quickly as possible.
Guan Hongqi frowned. "That won't do, it's almost dark..."
"Hongqi!" Zhao Xiaomei suddenly spoke up, tugging at Guan Hongqi's sleeve and pointing towards the dormitory building. "You forgot? Teacher Wang just told us to send that report over right away, it's urgent!"
Guan Hongqi was taken aback, clearly remembering this incident, and a troubled expression appeared on his face.
In that brief moment of delay, Li Jing quickly turned around and merged into the sparse crowd on campus.
Guan Hongqi called out again from behind her, "Li Jing!"
Li Jing didn't turn around, but waved her hand with her back to him and quickened her pace.
Watching Li Jing's hurried figure, Guan Hongqi frowned, a sudden emptiness in his heart, and a vague feeling that something was not right!
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