airplane
"The one who has to get up early..." Before Wan Chongshan could finish speaking, the door in front of him was already opened.
Zhu Shiyi, who was steadily pulling her suitcase and wearing full makeup, stood in front of me and greeted me with a bright "Good morning," but her smile seemed a little unnatural.
"...Did the sun rise in the west?" Wan Chongshan asked, his eyes full of doubt. "Don't you usually sleep until the afternoon? You're so self-disciplined."
Zhu Shiyi walked out with a sigh, saying, "I'm catching a plane."
"You're putting on makeup to catch a flight?" Wan Chongshan clicked his tongue and took the suitcase from him. "Alright, I was worried you wouldn't be able to get up. We can still make it. Let's go downstairs and have breakfast."
“…Oh, right,” Zhu Shiyi paused, “that…”
"Speak your mind."
Zhu Shiyi forced a dry smile and gave an awkward chuckle: "My boyfriend is here to pick me up. He rented a car, so I won't bother you later."
Wan Chongshan's eyes widened in surprise: "Boyfriend? When did this happen?"
“Just yesterday.” As he walked down the stairs, Zhu Shiyi briefly summarized Pan Yue’s visit to Yaoliang.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Wan Chongshan complained. "If I had known, I wouldn't have gotten up."
"I've forgotten," Zhu Shiyi said, not bothered at all. She was in a very good mood. "Thank you, Brother Shan. I will never forget your great kindness!"
Turning the corner and stepping downstairs, Pan Yue immediately came into view. He was standing in the lobby, and it was unclear when he had arrived.
Zhu Shiyi was taken aback for a moment, then joy instantly spread across her face, causing her to unconsciously curve her eyebrows into two silkworm-like lines. She sweetly greeted him, "Good morning!"
"Good morning." The moment he saw her, Pan Yue walked towards her. He took her suitcase and the guitar from her back with one hand, put his arm around her with the other, nodded slightly to the towering mountains behind her, and said thank you.
Wan Chongshan raised an eyebrow slightly: "You're welcome."
Zhu Shiyi gave a brief introduction: "This is Pan Yue, my boyfriend; this is Wan Chongshan, my new good friend and also Sister Fan's college classmate. He's staying in Yaoliang and has been taking good care of me during this time."
Pan Yue's eyes flickered, revealing no emotion: "Hello."
Wan Chongshan extended his hand proactively: "It's an honor to meet you. I've heard Shi Yi mention you before."
Have you mentioned him?
Pan Yue's gaze softened slightly. He moved his hand away from the suitcase and shook hands with Wan Chongshan.
Wan Chongshan didn't make much breakfast, but luckily Zhu Shiyi bought sesame paste, and the three of them made do with a simple meal.
Several people chatted idly during the meal.
"Is Mr. Pan also in Jinrong?" Wan Chongshan asked casually.
"yes."
"Judging from Shi Yi's tone, you also know Yu Fan?"
Pan Yue raised his head slightly, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.
“Yes,” he nodded, “Ms. Yu participated in our company’s brand creation project.”
"...Are you the owner of MEETING?"
Pan Yue nodded slightly.
"It's an honor to meet you," Wan Chongshan said with a slight smile, his tone softening. "I know Yu Fan is a resident singer at a bar called MEETING. I never expected to see my old classmate's boss in Yaoliang."
"Sister Fan only needs to sing, she doesn't need to go to the company," Zhu Shiyi puffed out her cheeks, "Do you know the pain of making daily, weekly, and monthly reports? I'm definitely scared."
"Who do you think you are? It's not like I've never had a job before." Wan Chongshan's voice immediately returned to normal, sounding smug.
Pan Yue narrowed his eyes slightly, then suddenly smiled, feeling a little more at ease.
After the meal.
Wan Chongshan took out his cigarette case, pulled out one and held it between his fingers, then pulled out another and handed it to Pan Yue.
"Thank you, but my girlfriend won't allow it," Pan Yue replied.
Wan Chongshan chuckled, tilted his head, and teased Zhu Shiyi in a nonchalant manner: "You're so domineering."
Zhu Shiyi snorted: "What's so great about smoking? Wouldn't it be better to live a few more years?"
"You can't just curse people like that."
Pan Yue pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed it to Wan Chongshan: "There are only a few left, Mr. Wan, please don't mind."
"Wow, this is really good stuff," Wan Chongshan said, his eyes lighting up as he took it. "Didn't you quit? Why do you still have cigarettes?"
"I just quit yesterday."
Wan Chongshan glanced at Zhu Shiyi again, making Zhu Shiyi's face burn with embarrassment, and she just wanted to laugh.
"Alright!" Zhu Shiyi stood up. "We should go now, Shan-ge, take care!"
Wan Chongshan took a deep breath: "Take care, Xiaoshiyi."
The way the address was addressed was so jarring that Pan Yue frowned.
"Mr. Wan, see you later." He casually put his arm around Zhu Shiyi.
......
Walking towards the parking lot, I stepped onto this cobblestone alley once again.
Along the way, Zhu Shiyi encountered many familiar faces.
Aunt Xia, carrying a vegetable basket, said with great warmth, "Little girl, is this your brother? He's so handsome!"
elder brother......
My lover can count too.
Zhu Shiyi chuckled to herself: "He's my boyfriend."
"You were single yesterday!" Xia teased with a laugh. "What, young lovers had a fight and made up?"
“…Well, I guess so.” Zhu Shiyi smiled but didn’t explain further.
Mr. Chai, carrying a vegetable basket, said, "Young lady, are you leaving already? Today is the Lantern Festival. Why don't you stay and watch the dragon dance before you go?"
Zhu Shiyi said regretfully, "But I've already booked my plane ticket."
Pan Yue lowered his head and whispered to her, "If you want to stay, that's fine too. I'll help you change your ticket."
Zhu Shiyi's heart skipped a beat.
"Forget it." She still refused; changing the ticket was too much trouble and money.
More importantly, she doesn't want to be separated from him now.
Boss Chai didn't press the issue: "Young lady, come visit again sometime!"
......
Zhu Shiyi got into the passenger seat and rolled down the window.
Outside the car window, the morning mist was thick, reflecting the light of dawn.
As the car started moving, the mountain breeze greeted us, gently kissing our faces.
Zhu Shiyi picked up her phone and took a picture of the view outside the window.
"Don't stick your hand out, it's dangerous." In the driver's seat, Pan Yue turned his head slightly, his expression gentle and concerned.
In the distance, the green mountains stretch endlessly, and the Yao River originates in the valley, flowing into her heart with warmth and sweetness.
"I know." Turning to the person he was thinking of, Zhu Shiyi unconsciously spoke softly.
She posted a picture on her WeChat Moments, which was just a casual, blurry photo she had taken earlier.
Nothing else matters.
She just wanted to record this moment.
No matter where they go, their love must remain passionate and pure, just like the ancient town of Yaoliang, which has endured for thousands of years.
--
Sitting comfortably in the spacious and stable SUV, Zhu Shiyi was in high spirits. The return journey was far more comfortable than the bus ride there.
"Do you like watching dragon dances?" Pan Yue suddenly asked.
Zhu Shiyi thought for a moment: "I guess I like it. Yuecheng has a short history and not many traditional customs. I've never seen any of the dragon and lion dances, temple fairs, or lantern festivals that people post online."
She gazed at the mountain road, which twisted and turned.
Yao Liang's event was just around the corner, and she missed it, but she didn't feel regretful.
In the depths of her being, she vaguely sensed that this was her first time in Yaoliang, but it wouldn't be her last.
Suddenly, a warm sensation covered the back of my hand.
"I'll take you to see Jinrong's lanterns." Pan Yue held her hand, his eyes fixed straight ahead.
Filled with satisfaction and contentment, Zhu Shiyi let his smile roam freely: "Drive carefully!"
The phone on her lap suddenly lit up. Zhu Shiyi saw that it was her mother calling.
She couldn't quite describe her feelings. The conflict with her parents over her future choices was too heavy a burden, so heavy that in this joyful moment, she wanted to escape, unwilling to confront it and shatter this balance.
But Zhu Shiyi accepted it anyway.
"Goodness," Liu Lu said gently, "Looking at your photos on WeChat Moments, you've left?"
"Um."
Did you have fun?
"Well enough."
Who is that guy playing guitar in your WeChat Moments post?
Zhu Shiyi glanced at Pan Yue subconsciously: "A new friend of mine, he's staying there temporarily."
Pan Yue's gaze happened to drift over, and Zhu Shiyi felt inexplicably guilty.
...Well, after all, she did post that video on purpose.
She didn't turn on speakerphone, so she didn't know if Pan Yue could hear her.
"Making friends is good, as long as you don't get scammed," Liu Lu paused, then sighed deeply, "and listen to you play the piano and sing."
After a moment's hesitation, she slowly said, "...Mom and Dad think it's really good."
Zhu Shiyi's heart skipped a beat, and suddenly he couldn't utter a sound.
“You’ve always been a very sensible and independent child. Your parents don’t have much time to take care of you, but you study on your own and even help tutor your younger brother. I feel… sorry for you.” Liu Lu choked up.
“Your father and I have never interfered with your decision, but since it involves your future, we have to be careful,” Liu Lu’s voice suddenly became lighter. “But this time, if you’ve made up your mind, then go for it. Do whatever you want. As long as you pass the exam, your parents can still afford the tuition.”
......
Pan Yue cut off the audio and pulled out a tissue.
Zhu Shiyi realized her nose was sore. She gently wiped her eyes, took a deep breath, turned to face Pan Yue, and gave him a bright smile: "Next semester, I'll be preparing for my exams."
"I have to work hard. If I fail the exam, it will be hard to find a job," she encouraged herself.
Pan Yue gave a soft "hmm," glanced at her briefly, then continued to focus on driving, but reached out and ruffled her hair.
“If you can’t keep going and want to give up, come to MEETING,” he said with a slight smile, “and continue to be my partner.”
“…Mmm.” A warm current reached his chest, and the faint scent of grass wafted into his nostrils, making Zhu Shiyi feel extremely at ease.
“But there’s one thing you’re wrong about,” she said, tilting her head closer to Pan Yue, “It’s not ‘continue to be your partner,’ I don’t want to be a partner like you.”
Pan Yue raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"
"I want to be your partner in life, to cherish and tolerate you like you do to me, instead of being the one you tolerated at the beginning." Her eyes sparkled with shyness, but her tone was extremely serious.
With a slight curve at the corners of his eyes and a relaxed brow, Pan Yue smiled gently, letting out a soft sigh that was tinged with magnetism and captivated the heart.
Zhu Shiyi's face inexplicably flushed, and she raised her voice without thinking: "You're laughing at me!"
"No."
"You are!" Zhu Shiyi pouted angrily, looking quite serious. "I'm doing this for your own good. Who wants to be your work partner? I hate work, and you're my boss. If this continues, I'll hate you too!"
She said she hated it, but it sounded like she was being coquettish, which made Pan Yue completely lose his temper.
He shook his head helplessly, and of all the words he wanted to say, he could only manage one: "Thank you."
Zhu Shiyi proudly raised her head, striking a queenly pose, and bared her teeth at Pan Yue, looking fierce and menacing.
Pan Yue narrowed his eyes.
"Then I have a question," he said quietly.
"Ask! I grant your permission!" Zhu Shiyi said, bracing himself on his back, fearless of anything.
"You like the Ten Thousand Mountains?"
Zhu Shiyi almost lost his composure; his arrogant demeanor instantly diminished by half, and he felt inexplicably guilty.
She immediately mustered her courage and, deliberately using a sarcastic and indirect tone, asked, "What the hell?"
"Post him on your WeChat Moments."
Zhu Shiyi retorted, "Isn't the focus of the video me? Don't I sing well?"
“You praised him for being handsome.” Pan Yue didn’t even turn his head, his voice flat, killing him with a single blow.
"I... I didn't..." Her voice trailed off, eventually fading into silence. Zhu Shiyi remembered the video she had filmed and shared with Yu Fan.
"Let's go to the forest together."
Zhu Shiyi vehemently denied it.
Was it dark that night?
“A little bit,” Zhu Shiyi said, eager to share, “I was terrified that day, but thankfully I had my phone flashlight.”
Pan Yue narrowed his eyes and raised his chin: "You held his hand too?"
"How could that be!" Zhu Shiyi exclaimed in surprise. "Why would I hold his hand?"
“You and him met while traveling.” Pan Yue’s voice was muffled and emotionless, but Zhu Shiyi detected a hint of bitterness in it.
What does "also" mean?
Oh. She and Pan Yue also met while traveling.
Does he still care about this?
This thought process is truly something else.
Zhu Shiyi felt like laughing for some reason and regained control: "Are you jealous?"
Pan Yue remained silent for a few seconds, then hummed in agreement.
Arrogant and haughty.
Zhu Shiyi almost laughed: "Do you think my heart is a five-pointed star?"
"The same scene can potentially replicate emotions."
Zhu Shiyi was completely bewildered and could only remain silent.
Judging from Pan Yue's expression, he seemed to genuinely care about this line of thought.
In business thinking, once an item is created, it must be mass-produced, processed, and sold on a large scale, even in industries related to emotional culture.
From this perspective, things containing "emotions" seem to be replicable.
"There are indeed reasons for liking someone and being attracted to them: body shape, appearance, personality, aura, or, as you said, the place where you met. These are all reasons. But everyone is an independent individual, and no one is exactly the same."
Pan Yue responded, his slightly furrowed brows still not relaxed.
Zhu Shiyi turned her head and poked him: "Even if technology is advanced in the future and someone can replicate your figure, appearance, personality, and temperament one-to-one, would I fall in love with you? If someone lost my doll and gave me an exact replica, I wouldn't be happy, let alone a person."
Pan Yue was slightly moved.
"If people's hearts could be controlled, would it still be called people's hearts?"
--
This was the first time Zhu Shiyi had traveled by plane with Pan Yue.
The engine roared, and the cabin heaters were warm, making one drowsy. Familiar scene, familiar people—Zhu Shiyi took Pan Yue's hand and leaned against his shoulder.
During a boring flight, a savior flight attendant came to distribute disaster relief supplies.
Zhu Shiyi sat up straight instantly, her eyes shining, carefully considering her choice of drink. When the flight attendant approached, she leaned against Pan Yue as if deceiving herself, and closed her eyes.
"Sir/Madam, what would you like to drink? Coffee, cola, mineral water, apple juice?"
"Mineral water." A magnetic and refreshing voice sounded from above.
"Yes, sir."
Zhu Shiyi then opened her eyes as if waking from a dream and said elegantly, "I'd like apple juice, thank you."
A soft laugh reached my ears, causing my cheek to tremble against my chest.
Zhu Shiyi glared at Pan Yue, then smiled at the flight attendant and steadily accepted the apple juice.
"Watch out or I'll splash you!" Zhu Shiyi threatened in a low voice, raising her juice glass in a pretentious manner and glancing at his thigh.
Pan Yue looked completely innocent: "I didn't do anything."
“You laughed at me,” Zhu Shiyi suddenly recalled their first meeting. She pointed at Pan Yue and questioned him fiercely, “Did you laugh at me when you first met me?”
"I don't."
"You did!" Zhu Shiyi suddenly remembered everything. "I heard it all. I accidentally said 'coffee juice' instead of 'apple juice,' and you were the one laughing at me!"
Pan Yue chuckled to himself.
“I’m not laughing at you,” he said, tapping her forehead with his fingertip, on the spot where his lips had kissed the night before. “I’m thinking of myself.”
"What?"
"Thinking back to the first time I flew on an airplane."
When I was younger, I would struggle with choosing a drink, and when flight attendants served food, I would pretend to be indifferent and deceive myself.
These are all peculiar and awkward behaviors that occur during adolescence.
He, too, was once young, lively, and energetic, just like her;
He has changed; he has become dull and increasingly taciturn.
But he had her—young, lively, and energetic.
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