The future is here (End of text)
While Jiang Yichun and his friends were enjoying a hearty meal at Grandma Tian's barbecue stall, He Yinxin was still interning at the company.
He wasn't having much luck today; because of a colleague's small mistake, he had to stay and work overtime.
For a year after leaving her parents, He Yinxin did not contact them at all, burying herself in the struggle of Huaxing City.
Part-time jobs, tutoring, research projects, online guidance, and occasional financial assistance from Jiang Yichun allowed him to barely make ends meet.
However, after he joined this large company as an intern, his time became increasingly limited.
This company offers good compensation and provides excellent employee care, so he feels quite comfortable working there.
He Yinxin wanted to get a permanent position after graduation. Once this obsessive-compulsive work ethic took hold, he worked overtime like crazy.
He stretched, took off his glasses, and rubbed his temples.
After working on it for a long time, we finally fixed this bug.
He Yinxin stood up, packed her things, walked out of the company, and casually took out her phone from her pocket.
The lock screen displays a photo of him and Jiang Yichun.
Xiaochun closed her eyes, her cheeks flushed, and gave herself a light peck on the cheek.
He instantly transformed into a lake of water, and she became the small pebble that fell into the water.
A sweet illusion gradually enveloped He Yinxin, causing him to unconsciously raise the corners of his mouth and finally grin foolishly.
Speaking of which, Xiaochun is also graduating and going to University A. Fortunately, University A is also in Huaxing City, so the two of them can meet by taking the subway.
Moreover, after I graduate, my company will be located near University A, which will give me more opportunities to work with Xiaochun...
"drop."
When her phone rang, He Yinxin quickly lowered her head.
Although they were sweet, the two had just had a little argument two days ago over some trivial matters, and since they were both busy with work, they hadn't been able to spend much time together.
He was even unable to personally record the moment when Xiaochun received her tassel at her graduation ceremony because of work.
Angry Xiaochun: [Old He!! Are you off work yet?!]
I've been drinking again!! Pick me up!
I'm at Grandma Tianfang's shop!
Jiang Yichun's news sent a shiver down He Yinxin's spine. He raised the corners of his mouth, sighed, quickened his pace, and tightened the heavy bag on his shoulder.
One step, two steps, and finally he decided to run.
Although he couldn't attend her graduation ceremony in person, he still prepared a gift for her.
He ran and ran, boarded the subway, and rushed towards her.
Jiang Yichun sat at the entrance of Tian Fang's barbecue restaurant, while her three roommates had already been called back by her.
Jiang Yichun didn't think he was too drunk, just a little dizzy.
The reason for sending that message was simply to urge the robot dog on and, incidentally, to have our first date since our last argument.
She gazed toward the end of the road, searching for that familiar figure.
The scene of the first time I came to this night market street with He Yinxin flashed before my eyes.
Back then, in order to find Grandma Tian's barbecue stall, he foolishly rushed over to look for her.
He was wearing a scarf at the time, and when he got nervous, he would bury his face in the scarf, like a timid mushroom.
The figure before my eyes gradually overlapped with the figure in my memory.
He Yinxin was running towards her, his slightly curly hair being ruffled by the summer night breeze.
Jiang Yichun stood up and ran towards him.
"Old He!"
"I'm here, Xiaochun!"
The two paused just as they were about to fall into each other's arms.
He Yinxin, holding a cup of brown sugar pearl milk tea and still radiating the lingering heat of summer, strode towards her: "Xiaochun, happy graduation."
"This is milk tea I bought on the way. I originally wanted to buy pig's trotters, but then I remembered you ate barbecue, so I bought milk tea instead."
"Sorry, I've been quite busy with work lately and haven't had time to cook."
"It's your favorite buffalo milk tea, oh, no tea, just milk."
"fool."
This robot dog, as always, has a peculiar way of thinking. While others give their girlfriends flowers, he brings them a cup of milk tea.
Jiang Yichun looked at the swaying milk tea and didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She raised her hand and gently pinched his cheek.
He Yinxin smiled and produced a bunch of mint from behind him, tied with a pink ribbon. Bright water droplets hung on the mint leaves, and in the middle was a crocheted rabbit that he had made ugly.
Jiang Yichun stood there, staring at the ugly little rabbit.
The ears, which should have been long, were knitted crookedly by He Yinxin, and if you didn't look closely, you might think he had made a little hamster.
He Yinxin's ears turned bright red as he kept pushing up his glasses, which kept slipping down: "This is my surprise, Xiaochun."
"This little bunny is a bit ugly. I knitted it by hand, but I really tried my best."
Jiang Yichun chuckled, took the "hamster rabbit" from her, hugged it to her chest, and shook her head: "Don't worry, I don't mind, after all, you made it."
Her gaze shifted to the emerald green in his hands: "By the way, Lao He, what are you doing with this bunch of green mint?"
He Yinxin smiled, took a deep breath, and held the mint flower even higher.
His mind was a mess, with only the girl in front of him and the bunch of fresh mint in his hand: "This, this is the mint I grew... uh, yes, I grew it in the dorm."
"I... have always wanted to tell you the meaning of mint flowers."
"It is a reunion with you."
"We've been together for almost a year, Xiaochun."
He Yinxin's eyes sparkled as he lowered them to meet Jiang Yichun's gaze.
She blinked, her smile still on her face.
Then he felt a familiar warmth on his cheek, and she placed a light kiss on his cheek.
"A robot dog, that's pretty... romantic." Jiang Yichun took the mint flower from his hand and gently ran his fingertips along the back of his hand a few times.
"We've been reuniting all along. It's been a year already."
He Yinxin's throat was dry. He coughed a few times, then casually took Jiang Yichun's wrist and nodded silently.
His hand was suddenly grabbed by Jiang Yichun.
"Robot dog, I also have a surprise for you."
What is it?
"Come ride a bicycle with me first!"
Amidst their banter, Jiang Yichun had already pulled He Yinxin to two shared bicycles.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as she pointed to a road sign not far away: "Let's ride around here for a bit. I'd like to ride around the river."
"Anyway, it's still early, a little past seven. Lao He, do you have anything else to do now?"
He Yinxin shook her head and immediately took out her phone from her pocket: "Let's go, exercising after dinner will burn calories."
"Tsk, still so serious when you talk."
The two got on their bicycles and rode along the sycamore trees beside the sidewalk.
The tire tracks rolled over the concrete road, the sound drowned out by the honking of horns.
The bunch of mint flowers was placed in the bicycle basket, and the pink ribbon swayed in the air.
He Yinxin put the ugly crocheted bunny into his bag, and the fluffy pink bunny was still hanging on his bag strap.
Even after a year has passed, dust and time have not been able to taint it.
Jiang Yichun rode in front, while He Yinxin slowly pedaled behind her.
Neither of them said a word, simply letting the breeze pass through her long hair and brush against his palm.
The wind whistled in He Yinxin's ears, and he felt as if he could finally grasp that elusive freedom he had been pursuing for so long.
And I have always been able to stay by her side.
A river stretched out in front of the two, with skyscrapers on the opposite bank and behind them.
The bustling streets and the lights that never go out illuminate the entire city of Huaxing, while the river reflects this reality onto itself.
Jiang Yichun turned her bike around and rode along the river. She turned her head and looked at He Yinxin behind her: "Old He! Look! The night view is so beautiful tonight!"
He Yinxin pedaled and followed, his forehead glistening with sweat from the lingering heat of the summer night: "Yes, it's beautiful... but Xiaochun, you're even more beautiful."
"Tsk, how cheesy!" Jiang Yichun scolded playfully, but a smile remained on her lips.
She turned around, pulled the brakes, and the bicycle flew downhill.
The slight feeling of weightlessness made her feel relaxed all over. The tears and pain of the past dissipated into the night sky along with the fine sweat she was expelled from her body, leaving only temporary pleasure.
The giantess, once confined within high walls, stepped out of the walls and learned to enjoy the bright spring thanks to the gardener's daily planting and watering.
She didn't know what eternity was; she only knew that he gave her the present moment.
He Yinxin followed behind her, also pulling the brakes, and the bicycle plunged downwards.
He couldn't help but scream, and for the moment, he could forget all the burdens of life weighing on him and just enjoy the night to the fullest.
The white dove, once trapped in a cage, flew out of its cage and soared under the blue sky thanks to the little witch's bright spells.
He didn't know what freedom was; he only knew that she had given him a sense of belonging and a home.
A gentle breeze blows on a summer night, and the river reflects the colorful neon lights.
The young couple rode their bicycles at breakneck speed.
They rode their bicycles out of the shop window, smashed the glass in front of them, and rode side by side.
The glass was broken, but they were willing to rebuild a new home with their own hands.
Having nowhere to belong, they will build their own nests.
They didn't know what love was, yet they kept struggling to explore its meaning.
They are still stumbling along the road of love, they are fragments that are being worn down together, and the future may still be full of bumps and detours.
But ahead lay a wide road lit by streetlights, yet they continued walking side by side.
Love, perhaps, is still a mystery.
Freedom, perhaps, is something I vaguely perceive.
There may be unease about the future.
But at this moment, they are sharing the same gentle breeze.
"Old He."
Jiang Yichun looked up, and He Yinxin was also looking down at her.
She pulled the brakes, jumped off the bicycle, and left it aside.
"Old He, my gift is coming!"
Jiang Yichun slowly walked towards He Yinxin and took his hand.
Facing the city's dazzling lights, she tiptoed, pressed her ear against his, and placed a light kiss on his ear.
He Yinxin was taken aback, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.
The scents of rose and kapok intertwine once again.
After the kiss, Jiang Yichun gently cupped He Yinxin's cheek with one hand.
The dazzling neon lights were reflected in her eyes.
Let's have breakfast together tomorrow.
"My official boyfriend."
(End of article)
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