ambiguous
Although Zhu Shiyi was puzzled, he obediently stood still and waited.
A few seconds later, Pan Yue came out.
He carried a black sports bag in one hand and unzipped it with the other, taking out a pink towel.
Zhu Shiyi slapped her forehead, suddenly realizing what had happened. She chuckled ingratiatingly, "Thank you, Pan Yue! I completely forgot. You have such a good memory."
Pan Yue didn't speak, but the smile on his lips deepened.
He silently took out a toiletries bag and handed it to Zhu Shiyi, tilting his head slightly, raising his eyebrows, and looking at her with a hint of interest.
Zhu Shiyi felt that he was definitely seeking praise.
She played along perfectly, exclaiming in an exaggerated, drawn-out tone, "Wow! Pan Yue, you're so thoughtful! You're truly the most considerate person I've ever met!"
"cough."
Pan Yue turned around.
A smile involuntarily bloomed on Pan Yue's lips. He lowered his eyes to hide his expression and shoved the toiletry bag into Zhu Shiyi's hand: "You're quite the talker."
......
In the bathroom, Zhu Shiyi opened the toiletries bag and rummaged through it. Besides shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel, there was also facial cleanser, lip balm, and face cream.
They are all well-known brands, and they are all in small packages, so they are not heavy to carry and are convenient to put in your bag.
She was overjoyed, her lips curving into a wide smile.
While taking a shower, she smelled the refreshing tea scent of the shower gel and was in a great mood, humming a tune softly.
When I'm in a good mood, I take a long time to take a bath.
After taking a shower, I checked my phone and realized that more than half an hour had passed.
Zhu Shiyi was startled and hurriedly went to dry her hair. Afraid that Pan Yue would wait too long, she only dried it halfway before taking her things and leaving.
Pan Yue sat by the door, head down, looking at his old iPad again.
He changed into a white tracksuit, with half-closed glasses on his straight nose. The lenses reflected a faint blue light, making him look like a model, or rather, a futuristic, tech-themed one.
Zhu Shiyi admired the scene silently for two seconds before walking over and calling out to Pan Yue, "I'm ready."
Pan Yue looked up, stared for two seconds, then frowned: "Why isn't your hair dry?"
"It's okay, it will dry naturally in a while."
“It’s cold outside in winter, go dry yourself.” Pan Yue’s voice was slightly firm, leaving no room for argument.
Zhu Shiyi wasn't afraid: "It's alright, I don't want you to wait too long."
"It doesn't matter, I'm here to look after my work."
"That's also waiting."
Pan Yue sighed softly.
He stood up, pressed down on Zhu Shiyi's shoulders, and twisted her around slightly.
As the man's presence drew near, Zhu Shiyi couldn't help but feel nervous.
"If you take sick leave, your salary will be deducted."
Zhu Shiyi: ......
Who are you?
Do I know you?
What? Enchanting? There's no enchanting at all.
Listen to this! What a heartless capitalist!
What a vicious statement!
--
After having a meal together, Pan Yue escorted Zhu Shiyi home.
Just outside the restaurant is a large square.
The two walked side by side. Zhu Shiyi looked around. There was a fountain, a market, and an enclosed area for children to roller skate in the square.
“I also liked ice skating when I was a child,” Zhu Shiyi pointed to a child wearing ice skates. “My mother said that when I was three or four years old, I would go ice skating every day.”
"Three or four years old?" Pan Yue asked with a hint of surprise.
“Yeah, right,” Zhu Shiyi said smugly, “and I didn’t even learn it! I just learned it by myself.”
She's a genius!
“Kids who grow up in Yuecheng can do everything,” Pan Yue said, his eyes crinkling. “Do you rollerblade or ice skate?”
“Roller skating. I can also do real ice skating, and I think it’s similar to roller skating,” Zhu Shiyi replied. “Ice skating and swimming are some of the few sports I enjoy.”
Pan Yue nodded: "I like it, that's good."
"If only the gym had an ice skating rink, I wouldn't have to huff and puff climbing hills every day," Zhu Shiyi imagined to herself. "Do you know how to ice skate?"
"Won't."
"So what sports do you like?" Zhu Shiyi couldn't contain her curiosity.
Pan Yue put his hands in his pockets, frowned slightly, as if deep in thought: "..."
Zhu Shiyi pressed further, "Could it be weightlifting and climbing hills?"
Does anyone really enjoy such a boring sport?
“I wouldn’t say I like it,” Pan Yue tilted his head. “Adults don’t think about whether they like something or not. Fun sports require partners, and adults don’t have that many partners.”
Zhu Shiyi felt a sudden tightness in her chest, a strange feeling rising within her: "You still have Brother Chang."
And me too.
Aren't we exercise partners?
That was too blunt, so Zhu Shiyi didn't ask it aloud.
“Him?” Pan Yue shook his head helplessly. “I can only get him to come once every six months.”
"I need to maintain my current exercise routine, exercising at least three times a week."
“Only gym workouts don’t require a partner,” Pan Yue said, his gaze drifting into the distance. “I don’t have that many friends, nor do I have the time or energy to consider other people’s workout schedules, so I can’t really consider whether I like it or not.”
Zhu Shiyi slowed her breathing.
This wasn't the first time Pan Yue had opened up to her.
But this was the first time he had confided in anyone else.
“You can work out without a partner, but that doesn’t mean you don’t need a partner,” Zhu Shiyi turned to look at Pan Yue, her eyes filled with sincerity, “I am your workout partner.”
Pan Yue looked down at her and met her gaze.
He pursed his lips slightly: "...Not a partner?"
Finding a partner is low-cost. It doesn't require shared values or in-depth communication; all you need is a common interest, the ability to get together, and the chance to alleviate the "loneliness" of today's restless world.
Pan Yue thought he was just another partner.
“Yes,” Zhu Shiyi tilted her head slightly and blinked, “no, not exactly.”
They must be partners.
But more importantly, they are partners.
A partner is profound. They touch the core of you, even if only for a moment; they understand you, support you, shape you, they are a part of your soul, yet they are not you.
“I should say,” Zhu Shiyi suddenly felt ashamed, “that you are my fitness partner.”
He's more than just a workout buddy.
He also helped her a lot.
Pan Yue chuckled softly: "What's the difference?"
Of course.
She may not be a part of his soul yet.
He has always been able to accept her.
Zhu Shiyi also wanted to become Pan Yue's partner.
It's not just about fitness.
“It’s different,” Zhu Shiyi said solemnly. “I’m only working out during my internship month, and you can spend the whole month with me; but after that month, I won’t be able to continue spending time with you.”
“Yes,” Pan Yue turned his head away, his tone becoming calmer, “we just met by chance.”
“But we always meet by chance,” Zhu Shiyi emphasized, his unspoken emotions barely concealed. “How many people in the world can meet you? Let alone meet so many times.”
Pan Yue's pace slowed down involuntarily.
“I also want to be your partner,” Zhu Shiyi raised her head, “even if it’s just for a month.”
Pan Yue stopped in his tracks.
He didn't look at her, his eyelids blinking rapidly a few times.
Zhu Shiyi quickly looked away and stopped walking.
Her heart was pounding.
Is it... too ambiguous?
“…What I mean is,” Zhu Shiyi quickly tried to cover up, her lips twitching slightly, feeling like her mouth wasn’t even her own, “we’re friends in private.”
She forced a lighthearted smile: "You can think of me as Brother Chang! Isn't Brother Chang your partner?"
Unnoticed by Zhu Shiyi, Pan Yue quietly exhaled. He pursed his lips, turned his head, and took a step.
“Yes,” Pan Yue’s lips curved into a slight smile, “partner.”
......
Not far away, a group of young people gathered together. The girl in the middle was carrying a guitar and singing "City of Stars" with the accompaniment of her friends.
The moon is beautiful tonight.
On early winter nights, people are not yet used to wearing thick clothes, and the biting winter wind is merciless, making pedestrians around them wrap themselves up tightly in their coats.
Yet people still linger, forming small circles in twos and threes, listening silently, singing along, or taking photos.
"It's so lively over there! Can I listen for a while?" Zhu Shiyi pointed excitedly ahead.
Pan Yue smiled and said, "Yes."
Zhu Shiyi grinned and happily skipped over, joining the audience in listening and singing along.
Pan Yue stood behind her.
The audience, like the colorful lights hanging on a Christmas tree at the entrance of a shopping mall, warmly surrounds the street performers.
Zhu Shiyi is also a colorful lantern.
Her long, flowing hair danced in the wind;
Like her voice, light and free.
She is a singing fairy lantern—
unique.
......
After the song ended, the lead singer changed to another song, a well-known one—Jay Chou's "Carnival".
The continuous alternation of strumming and muting creates a harmonious blend of the deep tones of the wooden instruments and the crisp clarity of the strings, along with the playful laughter of children skating.
Zhu Shiyi was in a great mood.
On the way to the car, she kept humming softly.
Pan Yue did not disturb her interest and did not interrupt her at all.
Once in the car, Zhu Shiyi was still not done talking, but he was too embarrassed to leave the person next to him standing there.
She consciously connected to Bluetooth and played music, remarking, "When I was little, my dream was to be a singer, a very, very famous one."
"And then?" Pan Yue's voice was soft and gentle, as lustrous as jade.
"Later," Zhu Shiyi lowered her eyelids unconsciously, "in high school, I was in the choir, performing with senior students who majored in music. I immediately felt the difference between amateur and professional."
She said lightly, "I didn't think about it that much."
Pan Yue glanced over.
She didn't look sad at all.
“It’s fine to treat it as a hobby,” Pan Yue comforted him. “If you want to improve, just learn more.”
“It’s not that simple, you also need talent,” Zhu Shiyi puffed out her cheeks. “My voice is just average.”
Pan Yue: ......
"Aren't you showing off?"
Zhu Shiyi: ?
Seeing Pan Yue's serious expression, she was immediately amused.
Zhu Shiyi blinked lightly and said playfully, "I know my voice is nice."
“There are plenty of people who sing well. They can sing bel canto, folk songs, high notes, and low notes. Compared to them, I’m really just average,” she said seriously as she moved forward a little. “I’m not saying that my voice is bad or that I sing off-key. It’s just that my timbre is not very versatile and is rather thin, so the styles I can sing are also very limited.”
Pan Yue nodded slightly: "There's no need to compare yourself to others."
A strange sense of peace welled up in Zhu Shiyi's heart.
The car was driven to the community parking lot.
The car stereo started playing "The Carnival," the song that had been playing on the street earlier.
Zhu Shiyi instantly perked up, her earlier enthusiasm returning. She continued singing, her head bobbing and swaying like a rattle-drum, even her toes unconsciously tapping out the rhythm.
“You really like this song.” Pan Yue smiled.
"Of course!" Zhu Shiyi tilted his head back mischievously. "Can you sing?"
Pan Yue: ......
He chuckled softly, a slight twitch between his brows: "No."
Zhu Shiyi persisted: "Then I'll teach you!"
“…You, teach me?” Pan Yue asked slowly and deliberately, sounding somewhat dazed.
Zhu Shiyi inexplicably felt that Pan Yue was very well-behaved.
She just really wanted to tease him.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com