Chapter 96
Some things have no beginning and no end.
After the wedding, before they left, Lin You invited a few people to dinner at a hotel on Yanjiang Old Street.
Jian Sheng left the organization and took a taxi directly to his destination.
On his phone, Chen Zhoujing sent him a message.
- I have a dinner party tonight, I'll try to finish early and come pick you up.
Jian Sheng replied with an "okay" and then put away his phone.
A light rain falls outside the glass window, covering it with tiny beads. When these beads gather to form a large jewel, they automatically create a slide, allowing the beads to fall down the slide, while the blurry neon lights outside the window come into view.
Jian Sheng stared at the beads as he walked, vaguely piecing together those hazy memories.
Arrive at your destination.
Lin You and the groom Cheng Mian were standing at the door to greet them.
Lin You was the first to see her and waved to her: "Jian Sheng, over here."
Jian turned around and saw that she had already walked up to her and hugged her tightly: "Long time no see, long time no see. I was too busy yesterday and didn't have a proper talk with her."
"Also, congratulations! I heard your work won an award."
"Thank you." Jian Sheng raised his hand and hugged her tightly. "Congratulations on your marriage."
"Oh!" Lin You let go, turned her head and waved to the boy behind her with a smile, "Cheng Mian."
Cheng Mian walked up and politely nodded to Jian Sheng.
"My best friend, we only exchanged a few words yesterday, I didn't have time to introduce her." Lin You put her arm around Jian Sheng's arm, preparing to introduce her to Jian Sheng.
She said in a simple voice, "I know, the boy who took the bus in the opposite direction and delivered breakfast to me for a year."
Lin You's eyes widened, and she subconsciously glanced at Cheng Mian.
Cheng Mian's smile faded: "Your house faces the opposite direction?"
"no......."
"He doesn't know yet?" Jian Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"You didn't tell me that," Cheng Mian's expression darkened. "You said you live next door to me, and your mom makes too much breakfast every day that you can't finish, so you asked me to help you..."
"Oh dear, oh dear, it's been so many years, let's talk about it when we get back." Lin You awkwardly looked away, took Jian Sheng's hand, and walked into the house. After walking a distance, she whispered, "Now that he knows, he'll be nagging about it for months."
"I'm sorry, I thought he knew."
"It doesn't matter whether he knows or not, the main thing is that he takes things a bit too seriously, hahaha." Lin You really didn't care. They've been together for so many years and are already married. She felt that the happiness she had now was already very good. "We plan to have a baby next year, so we'll enjoy some time alone together this year."
"I'm still a little emotional; I never imagined we'd actually get married..."
She talked about her and him the whole way, and Jian Sheng looked into her smiling eyes, his lips unconsciously curving upwards as well.
After going through all these rounds, she was the only one who got married first.
The one who spoke so much about idealism was the first in their circle to walk down the aisle with his beloved.
Jian Sheng also felt a bit emotional.
Following Lin You into the private room, seeing the classmates he had grown up with during his student days filled him with warmth.
"Congratulations, Jian Sheng, you're a great artist," someone inside said.
The arriving group noticed that the person was Jian Sheng, and cheers and applause broke out.
"Long time no see, long time no see." He Shang, who had just spoken, stood up and said, "Your hair has grown long."
"Yes, I stayed after graduation." She sat down next to Lin You and greeted several friends she hadn't seen for years.
Quite a few people came, mostly just a few from the class.
"Hey, why didn't Chen Zhoujing come?" Xu Xiao gestured with his chin toward Jian Sheng. "After all this time, you two are still together."
“He’s busy at work, he’ll be here later.” Jian Sheng smiled slightly. “Was it… that obvious before?”
As soon as she finished speaking, a lot of laughter erupted.
“It’s too obvious, Jian Sheng,” Gu Zhenyi said. “Just like Chen Zhoujing, he can’t wait to be by your side all day long.”
"It's beyond obvious; it's like a stubborn plaster that you can't get rid of," Xu Xiaxia chimed in.
Qi Jing couldn't help but laugh: "You don't know, since you transferred here, Chen Zhoujing has talked more than twice as much. They all say in private that he's a rare gem."
"Hahahahaha." Xu Yanghe chimed in from the side, "We all noticed it back then, but he himself didn't know. He was always frowning and trying to figure out what you were thinking."
"That's hilarious, so many years have passed, everyone knows that now."
"The main problem is that he's a grown man, and he's always smiling at a young girl. His eyes are practically glued to Jian Sheng." Lin You shook his head.
“We’re all wondering how long it will take him to win you over,” Xu Xiao said.
Jian Sheng blushed with embarrassment.
"And do you guys remember Qiao Le? She was the animal queen of our class. She called Chen Zhoujing a dog, which cracked me up. It was so apt. When I visited her city two years ago, we even had dinner together. She actually owns a large pet store now. We talked a lot, and she even asked me how things are between you and Chen Zhoujing now. We both know the truth." Xu Xiao propped his flushed face with one hand, the alcohol taking effect.
"Didn't she say Jian Sheng was a hedgehog? It was hilarious. For a while, Chen Zhoujing actually went to the flower and bird market to see hedgehogs, dragging me there several times. I thought he was going to buy one, but then he said, 'Who said you look like a hedgehog? Hedgehogs aren't as cute as you. You're clearly like a rabbit.' He was seriously analyzing you while denying he liked you. I laughed so hard I couldn't stand up straight at the entrance of the flower and bird market... Sigh, that kid went abroad after graduation. I thought you two would go to the same university." Xu Yanghe clicked his tongue. "What a pity, but he's doing pretty well abroad now."
"You two were still together after he went abroad?"
Gossip started, and the group talked about Jian Sheng for a long time before she finally brought it back to Lin You.
When did you two get together?
Upon hearing her own name, Lin You turned her head to look at the stern-faced man beside her, her expression softening as she began to tell him her story.
The conversation at the table turned to relationships, and Jian Sheng learned about everyone's situation.
Lin You and Cheng Mian were junior high school classmates. They lost contact after graduating from junior high. In his senior year of high school, Cheng Mian searched for all his former classmates, asking around, and finally got He Man's contact information. He stayed with her until the end of the college entrance examination and confessed his feelings to her.
They both had feelings for each other. After university, Cheng Mian returned to Jiangzhou, and the two went from a normal relationship to engagement and marriage.
Qi Jing is quite quiet, just like she was in her student days. Now she works in operations at a new media company. She has never mentioned her past with Shen Xuzheng, but Jian Sheng heard that after the college entrance examination, Qi Jing applied to a school in the north out of spite, while Shen Xuzheng applied to a school in the south. The two were separated by the north and south. During their four years of college, Shen Xuzheng took hundreds of flights, traveling back and forth between the north and south. Qi Jing did not know this, and neither of them took the initiative to talk about it.
Currently, Shen Xuzheng is starting a business in the south, and the two have not made any progress so far.
Xu Xiaxia has a boyfriend whom she met in college. They've been dating for almost three years and are planning to get married next year.
He Shang has not been in a relationship yet. After graduating, he served in the army in Northwest China for two years and is now pursuing a master's degree in Beilu.
According to He Shang, Zhao Chengyang had previously pursued He Man and confessed his feelings, but was rejected. He Man and her childhood neighbor are planning to get married at the end of the year.
She also learned that Gu Zhenyi and Yu Chao got back together after graduation and are still together now.
Xu Yanghe, Xu Xiao, and Xu Xiu did not date.
There was also Zheng Nian. Lin You whispered in her ear that she had confessed her feelings to He Shang after graduation, but He Shang declined. Later, she waited for him for two years until his military service ended, and then tried to pursue him a few more times, but to no avail. After that, she went abroad to study, as arranged by her family.
Jian Sheng was somewhat surprised by the romantic experiences of everyone at the table. Those who once thought they had nothing in common had come together, while two couples who were just one step away from making their relationship public had gone their separate ways.
After discussing their feelings, the group talked about where they would work after graduation, each doing their own professional work in their respective fields.
Jian Sheng listened quietly as the people at the table talked about their careers, occasionally interjecting with a comment.
It had been a long time since she had been able to chat so comfortably and openly with her friends. This party that night brought back memories of the times she and her friends would have dinner together during high school.
But unlike in the past, people have entered society now, and their mindset is different. When they talk about their experiences, everyone has all sorts of questions.
These problems have similarities in everyone.
The clinking of glasses marked the climax of the dinner party.
He Shang put down his cup and stood up: "I need to use the restroom."
He left for a short while after he finished speaking, and Xu Yanghe and Xu Xiao followed him out.
A moment later, Lin You raised his glass again: "Let's all have a toast."
Just as Jian Sheng put down his cup, the door opened.
She happened to be sitting directly opposite the door.
He Shang was the first to push open the door and enter.
"Cough cough cough."
He coughed softly, and Xu Yanghe shouted from behind the door, "Look who's here!"
Before Jian Sheng could react to what was happening, Chen Zhoujing's face appeared before her eyes.
Chen Zhoujing walked in, and while she was still in a daze, he handed her a large bouquet of roses.
A fragrant rose scent wafted through the air.
Screams and applause erupted from the private room.
Jian Sheng accepted the flowers and looked in surprise as Chen Zhoujing knelt on one knee and slowly took out a square box from behind his back.
Amidst the commotion, she saw him slowly open the box and hand it to her.
Inside is a diamond ring.
A crowd flowing in through the entrance, and classmates beaming with delight before my eyes.
He proposed to her in front of all those who had witnessed his love.
The moment she reached out her hand, Chen Zhou was so startled that he almost missed her finger.
It took him a while to put the ring on. He looked at Jian Sheng, who was holding his hand and making him stand up.
He gently pulled her into his arms.
Someone nearby shouted, "Give me a kiss!" Amidst the cheers, she responded to the voices of those around her and, in a moment of joy, accepted his kiss.
When she got back, she learned that the dinner party was actually planned by Chen Zhoujing. She was almost late because of traffic, but luckily she made it in time.
Everyone kept it a secret from her and helped Chen Zhoujing surprise her.
She was indeed pleasantly surprised.
She is not someone who likes this kind of scene, but when happiness comes, she suddenly becomes more accepting of this meaningful scene.
At Lin You's wedding, she had already begun to look forward to her next plans with Chen Zhoujing.
Chen Zhoujing took her back to Linglong Community. While he was taking a shower, Jian Sheng went back to Building 9 to get something, and then went back to his house.
She was a little nervous going upstairs, but when she saw him standing in front of her with wet hair, wearing a black shirt and trousers, and with red eyes, a soft feeling welled up in her heart.
She tucked her things behind her back and went inside through the door.
Where did you go?
Jian Sheng was slightly taken aback: "I just went back to get some things."
She stepped forward and showed him the bag in her hand.
Chen Zhoujing suddenly hugged her, nuzzling his neck against hers.
His warm breath tickled her neck.
Jian Sheng nudged him: "What's wrong with you?"
Chen Zhoujing didn't respond, but hugged her even tighter.
Jian Sheng didn't dare to move, but her neck was incredibly itchy. After a while, she felt her neck go limp.
Something wet is moving on it.
Her pupils contracted slightly, and she swallowed involuntarily, yet felt incredibly dry.
Chen Zhoujing's lips moved a few times on her neck, down to her chin, and then back to her soft lips.
Jian Sheng was led astray, her mind completely blank.
“Um… Chen…” He cut her off every word she tried to say.
In the end, Jian Sheng gave up and let him pry open her teeth at will.
He released her only when he was satisfied.
She looked up and saw that Chen Zhoujing's eyes had returned to their usual pale color, and the redness had subtly shifted to the corners of her eyes.
Chen Zhou's Adam's apple bobbed a few times as he looked away.
His voice was low and hoarse: "What?"
Realizing she was referring to what she was holding, Jian Sheng blinked in a panic: "Household...household registration booklet."
Chen Zhou's pupils widened in shock. His face remained calm, but his hands trembled uncontrollably.
He took the things from her hands and led her to the sofa.
A large document bag contained all her documents and some notes.
Jian Sheng was in a hurry when she went back to find something and didn't tell Chen Zhoujing.
She had left the things there during her freshman year of college, and it took her a while to find them.
So he found it, grabbed the things, and ran back.
I completely forgot there were some notes inside.
But it's too late to take it now.
Jian Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and she covered his hand: "That..."
"I want to see." Chen Zhou looked up in surprise.
His long, thick eyelashes fluttered twice, and his deep pupils gazed at her, causing her to inexplicably let go of his hand.
The note had a lot of his handwriting on it.
From the first time he wrote to her, even the note hidden at the bottom of the necklace box when he was about to confess his feelings to her after the college entrance exam was still there.
She kept them all.
Chen Zhou's eyes welled up with tears.
He had forgotten some of these notes, and even why he had written them.
However, each one had a response that she added later.
Just like her personality, her responses were brief.
Most of them are good, um.
"I didn't originally intend to..." Never mind, Jian Sheng lowered her eyes, "You..."
"sorry."
He choked up.
Jian Sheng's nose tingled with emotion.
"Don't cry!" she said.
Chen Zhou shook his head in surprise and hugged her tightly.
"The apartment you rented in Xiqi has many items in duplicate, the entire second bedroom is decorated, there's a whole closet full of black clothes, and there are white shoes by the door that match yours—were all prepared for me?" He asked this question that had been bothering him.
Jian Sheng admitted, "Yes."
She didn't dare to gamble on whether he would come back, but she would prepare everything for him.
Be ready to receive at any time.
Fortunately, she did receive him.
"Is that husky-patterned pillow on your bed also because of me?"
"Um."
Tears streamed down Chen Zhou's face.
He had actually considered staying abroad and never coming back.
When Li Jing showed him the photo of her sitting on the grass of the playground with a boy standing next to her.
At that time, he thought that she had a new life and had met new people, and that her happiness was enough.
It turns out he really was a coward.
He dared not.
He was hesitant and indecisive.
She has made her unwavering choice to him.
But he was still thinking about retreating.
He was acting like an idiot, overthinking everything.
She had been steadfastly on his side from beginning to end.
“Let’s get our marriage certificate tomorrow, Chen Zhoujing,” Jian said in a low voice.
Chen Zhoujing choked on his breath, tears streaming down his face. After a long pause, he said in a heavy voice, "Okay."
"Jiansheng, let's get our marriage certificate tomorrow."
"Jian Sheng, let's never be apart again, okay?"
"good."
"We will be together forever."
"good."
"I like you, Jian Sheng."
"I like you too, Chen Zhoujing."
He carefully put away his documents and placed them together with his.
While making the bed, Jian Sheng had already finished showering and entered the room.
He stood by the bed and rubbed the back of his neck.
Jian Sheng stood at the door, paused for a moment, and then closed the door.
She glanced at his anxious movements, which seemed to be making eighteen movements in a second, turned off the side light, and walked to his side in the dark.
She put her arms around his waist.
Chen Zhoujing's body was burning hot.
She pressed herself against his chest, feeling his rapidly beating heart.
Are you nervous?
In the silence, she spoke.
Chen Zhou felt his blood rushing to his head, and his mind went blank.
He squeezed her arm: "Nervous."
What's there to be nervous about?
"I'm nervous about tomorrow..."
Before Jian Sheng could finish speaking, he silenced her with a kiss.
He kissed her for a long time and then led her to the bed.
In the darkness, he hooked his arm around her slender waist and kissed her from her lips down to her neck.
He let out a heavy breath from the suprasternal notch.
Jian Sheng reached his hands inside his shirt and ran them over his back.
I accurately felt a raised part.
Chen Zhoujing wanted to kiss him again, but Jian Sheng dodged her.
He only kissed her cheek.
"You said you didn't get it." Jian Sheng's voice turned cold.
In the darkness, Chen Zhou could not see her expression.
But I knew he was finished.
He panicked slightly: "I..."
"It's all in the past."
During the stalemate, Jian Sheng turned her head and met his gaze in the dim light.
Their eyes met, and she hooked her arms around his neck, pulling him down: "Chen Zhoujing, kiss me."
Chen Zhoujing's mind was in turmoil. He leaned down and kissed her fiercely and wantonly.
His hand slid down her nightgown and touched her skin.
Explore little by little.
After getting their marriage certificate, Chen Zhoujing listened to Jian Sheng's words and did not prepare a big wedding for her.
The couple took wedding photos and invited a few friends to celebrate.
During this period, Jian Qingyao brought Yang Shao back to stay for a while.
Li Jing brought Qin Shan back and stayed for a while.
The six people got together because of the couple's wedding and got to know each other.
In addition, Jian Sheng did not invite any other relatives, and Chen Zhoujing, apart from Xu Mai, did not invite Li Xiangzhe, with whom he had severed ties, or Xu Weining, with whom he had no contact except for repaying money after going abroad.
There are also some friends from high school and college.
Afterwards, the two prepared to go on a trip.
When Jian Sheng was buying tickets on his phone, he saw Jian Sheng's ticket purchase records for flights to Jiangzhou over the past few years.
She watched his back as he excitedly packed his things.
My eyes involuntarily reddened.
She walked over and put her arms around his waist.
"What's wrong?" Chen Zhoujing held her hand, his voice gentle.
Jian Sheng didn't say anything, she just hugged him.
He didn't understand why, but sensing her low spirits, he immediately comforted her with heartache.
Then, when he returned from his next outing, he handed her a bouquet of flowers and, as if by magic, produced a beautiful gift box for her.
Later, she discovered that he had hidden a note she had written to him in a small wooden box.
One time during a break, he said her name sounded nice and wrote several of her names on a piece of paper. Then he realized what he meant and said he was going to throw it away, but he ended up putting the paper in his pocket.
She couldn't help but tear up again.
Chen Zhoujing tried every trick in the book to coax her, buying her the latest gifts.
Later, she and he had a minor argument because Zhou Xiang pursued her inexplicably, and she gave him a bank card that she had been saving money for since graduating from high school, which he refused to accept. During this time, she heard from Li Jing that he had not only come back to see her many times, but he also prepared birthday gifts for her every year and posted birthday wishes on his WeChat Moments every year.
It was during this time that she learned about Chen Zhoujing's depression.
She suddenly realized what was happening.
Why can a normal student in school frequently ask for leave?
And whenever I see him, I always feel that his condition is strange.
But he never showed her any displeasure; he always greeted her with a smile.
Even though he was feeling terrible himself, he still tried to comfort her, spouting a bunch of platitudes and telling her to believe that there's always tomorrow.
There is always hope.
She will succeed as long as she wants to.
She remembered his words, but he was caught up in his emotions and couldn't escape.
She had always thought he was a very sunny person, that he had pulled her out of the darkness, and that he would definitely be even better.
But unexpectedly, he had already reached a point where he could no longer control himself.
That's why he became even more silent when he returned.
He was so silent that Jian Sheng felt he wasn't like himself, but rather like her former self.
So, in the days to come, she did the same thing he had done to her, step by step, to pull him out of the mire.
They are like a mirror, reflecting the same predicament through their shared struggles. As they gradually move closer to each other, they break through their own limited perspectives by looking at each other's viewpoints to see how the other copes with the same predicament in different ways.
Therefore, they are bound to end up together.
She liked his sunny and optimistic personality, his ability to spout profound truths, and his ability to chat with her endlessly without batting an eye.
I like his gentle and persuasive way of telling her to face tomorrow bravely.
He liked her delicate and sensitive heart, her slow reaction but still doing things, her adherence to rules but also her courage to break through them.
He liked the way she would seriously refute him, and the upturned corners of her mouth when she turned away.
I admire her careful maintenance of the relationship and her courage to boldly approach him.
The thoughts of youth are like a damp rainy season, with drizzling rain passing by in the wind, gliding over a cold heart.
They encountered the rainbow after the rainy season of their lives at the best age.
—End of main text
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