Chapter 32
The Gold Award application materials were submitted smoothly as expected, and the entire Institute of Building Research was immersed in a busy and hopeful atmosphere of anticipation. Xia Wan's life seemed to be infused with the breath of early spring, her steps brisk, her eyes filled with greater confidence and tranquility.
The warmth of tacit understanding between her and Jiang Yu continued to flow silently. He no longer deliberately created "chance encounters," but his precise care was always there. A PDF of the little-known document she needed, on the moisture-proofing techniques used in buildings in Jinzhou during the Republican era, would appear in her mailbox just in time. After working overtime, she would leave the office building and find the familiar black umbrella on the guardhouse windowsill, always arriving on rainy days.
Xia Wan was no longer just a passive receiver. She would simply reply, "I received the information. Very useful. Thank you," to the key information he provided. Or, when encountering issues that intersected with his expertise during project discussions, she would naturally message him for his insights. Her responses, like leaves quietly unfurling in spring, carried clear veins and the power of growth, conveying the message, "I receive your warmth. This land is warming."
When Lin Wei returned from a business trip, she immediately smelled a different scent.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Wanwan, you can't hide the spring in your eyes and eyebrows!" Lin Wei held the milk tea and leaned close to Xia Wan, smiling mischievously. "It seems that our General Manager Jiang's 'gentle breeze and rain' strategy is working well. Tell me quickly, was there any breakthrough on the day of the review? For example... holding hands? Hugging? Or... a passionate confession?"
Xia Wan blushed at her and pushed her away angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about! It's just... I went to the hospital normally, the checkup results were good, and then he sent me back. On the way... we talked about work and the weather." She omitted the cup of warm corn juice, omitted the sense of security flowing in the car, and omitted the increasingly clear throbbing in her heart.
"Tsk! I don't believe it!" Lin Wei rolled her eyes. "That's it? Can it make you look so radiant? There must be more! Tell me the truth, did he say anything to make your heart flutter?"
Xia Wan pursed her lips, her eyes flashing back to the hospital entrance in the sunlight as he saw the review form. The instantaneous relaxation in his eyes, the subtle curve of his lips, and the low, whispered, "Thank you for your hard work"—all these subtle touches moved her more than direct words. She shook her head, a hint of sweet resignation in her smile. "Really, not really. It's just... I feel different. I feel at ease."
Lin Wei looked at the genuine, warm smile on her face, put away her jokes, and looked serious: "Wanwan, it's great to see you like this. It really is." She held Xia Wan's hand, "It seems that spring has really come."
The weather in early spring is like a child's face. An unexpected cold snap brought the last snow of the winter to Jinzhou on a Friday evening.
Small snowflakes, as fine as salt, fell from the leaden sky. The temperature plummeted, and the chill wind blew the snow particles, hitting my face painfully.
Xia Wan had just finished a meeting and, wrapped tightly in her coat, stepped out of the design institute building. A cold wind, tinged with snow, lashed her face, and she instinctively shrank back. Just as she was about to head to the guardhouse for an umbrella, she caught sight of a familiar figure quietly standing under the eaves of the building's side corridor.
Jiang Island.
He wore a long, dark grey coat, stood tall and straight, without an umbrella. Fine snowflakes fell on his broad shoulders and dark hair, quickly melting into tiny droplets. He seemed to have been standing there for a while, his eyes gazing calmly at the snowy street, as if waiting for something.
Seeing Xia Wan coming out, he turned his gaze towards her. Across the falling snow, their eyes met in mid-air.
Xia Wan's heart skipped a beat. Why was he here? Was he waiting for her? Why hadn't he left his umbrella in the guardhouse like usual?
She walked over quickly, and the cold wind blew snowflakes into her collar, bringing a chill.
"Mr. Jiang? Why are you..." She walked under the eaves and looked at the snow marks on his shoulders in confusion.
"I just finished a project coordination meeting nearby." Jiang Yu's voice was particularly low and clear in the cold wind, and his eyes fell on the tip of her nose which was slightly red from the cold wind. "It's snowing, and I thought you might not have an umbrella." He paused and took out something from his coat pocket - not an umbrella, but a soft, dark gray cashmere scarf that still carried his body temperature.
He took a step forward, and gently and naturally wrapped the scarf around Xia Wan's neck, carefully tucking it in. The warm touch and his refreshing breath instantly enveloped her, isolating her from the wind, snow and cold outside.
"Let's go. I'll take you there." His movements were smooth, as if he had done it a thousand times, and then he naturally took the briefcase from her hand.
Xia Wan froze in place, the cool touch of his fingertips and the immense warmth of his scarf lingering on her neck. Her heart pounded uncontrollably in her chest. This wasn't the silent protection of an umbrella; it was a direct, warm approach, an unquestionable gesture of protection.
"I...actually I can go get an umbrella from the guardhouse..." Her voice was a little tense, trying to regain some rationality.
"The snow isn't heavy, so the roads are slippery. Keep your scarf warm." Jiang Yu said concisely, already starting to walk. "The car is in front."
Xia Wan could only keep up. The snow continued to fall, landing on his shoulders and the top of her scarf-wrapped head. They walked side by side on the cold street, their footsteps making a soft crunch in the snow. His tall figure shielded her from the cold wind, and the scarf around his neck provided a constant stream of warmth, comforting her heart.
There were no words, only the sound of wind and snow and each other's subtle breathing. A strange silence, filled with a great sense of security, enveloped them.
Walking to the car, Jiang Yu opened the passenger door. Xia Wan got in, feeling the warmth wash over her. He walked around to the driver's seat, started the car, and turned up the heater.
The car slowly drove away, leaving two clear tracks on the snow-covered street.
The warmth inside the train car was like spring, a stark contrast to the chill outside. Soothing music played softly. Xia Wan leaned back in her chair, her fingertips unconsciously caressing the soft cashmere scarf around her neck. It still seemed to linger with his fresh breath and... the subtle scent of tobacco.
She turned her head to look at Jiang Yu, who was driving. His profile was particularly clear against the snowy glare outside the car window, his jawline taut and his expression focused. Fine snowflakes clung to the car window, quickly melting into tiny droplets that meandered down.
"Jiang Yu." Xia Wan spoke softly, breaking the silence in the car. This was the first time she had called his name so naturally outside of work.
Jiang Yu's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly. He tilted his head, looking at her with deep, questioning eyes.
Xia Wan looked at him, her eyes clear and earnest, with a subtle hint of nervousness and immense courage. "Thank you... for your continued help. And... for this scarf." She paused, took a deep breath, as if making up her mind. Her voice was soft, but every word was clear. "It's not just because of the umbrella, not just because of the information... It's because you make me feel... that feeling of being 'seen'... is great."
She finally said it.
It's not an answer, but it's honesty that is more important than an answer.
She acknowledged and appreciated his "seeing", and acknowledged the warmth and strength this "seeing" brought her.
Jiang Yu's gaze suddenly became profound! It was like a huge rock being thrown into the deep sea, instantly surging into a turbulent wave! It was filled with huge shock, incredible ecstasy, and a deep tenderness that almost broke through the ice!
The car slowly stopped at the red light.
In the small space, time seemed to stand still. The only sounds were the subtle whirring of the heater and the audible heartbeats of the two people.
Jiang Yu turned his head, his gaze fixed on Xia Wan's as though it were real. His eyes, no longer concealed, were filled with emotions that had been pent up for so long, threatening to burst forth—the cherishment of having lost something and then found it again, the ecstasy of finally waiting for the spring news after a long, cold winter, the immense gratitude for her honesty, and even more, a deep, almost devout love.
"Xia Wan." His voice was husky, carrying a huge storm of suppressed emotions. Every word seemed to be ground out from the depths of his soul, heavy and scorching. "That class reunion was the beginning of chaos. For a long time after that, I thought I had lost the ability to 'see' and the qualification to be 'seen'."
He paused, his eyes burning as if to brand her into his heart:
"It's you. It's you who made me start learning to 'see' again—to see the details I'd overlooked, to see the truth obscured by vanity, to see... the light emanating from the depths of a soul, enough to illuminate the ruins."
His voice was deep and powerful, with a sincerity that was almost confessional:
"Seeing you is the most important and fortunate restart of the past ten years... no, the past half of my life." He stared at her, his eyes as focused as if he was gazing at a rare treasure lost and then found again. Every word he spoke was clear and incomparable:
"Xia Wan, I love you. It's not about responsibility, it's not about guilt, it's not about the alcohol-fueled impulse. It's the most authentic heartbeat that I've rediscovered amidst the ruins, with every sober sunrise and sunset. Will you... give me a chance to spend the rest of my life learning how to 'see' you, protect you, and love you?"
Confession.
A heavy confession that had been brewing for ten years, through countless chaos and cold winters, in a warm carriage on a snowy evening in spring.
There are no fancy words and no romantic preparation.
There are only the simplest narration, the most frank confession, and the most solemn request.
Xia Wan stared at him blankly, watching the undisguised, deep love surging in his eyes. His deep, powerful confession echoed in her ears, each word like a hammer, striking the softest part of her heart.
Ten years of secret love is like a seed buried deep in the ground, silently absorbing the nutrients of longing in the darkness where no one knows.
The chaos of the class reunion that night was like freezing rain in the cold winter, which almost completely killed the budding hope.
The subsequent alienation, temptation, protection, loss of control, restraint, and closeness... were like a long winter full of changes.
And at this moment, in this spring snowy evening, in the warm carriage, amidst the man's quiet yet passionate confession...
Xia Wan clearly heard deep in her heart that the seed that had been buried for ten years, after a long and difficult dormancy, finally penetrated the thick soil layer and pushed away the last piece of rubble. With the power accumulated for ten years, it faced the wind and snow, and towards the direction of the sunshine, it struggled and stretched out, and bloomed the first tender leaf of its life.
Crystal clear tears burst out without warning, slid down her fair cheeks, and dripped onto the soft cashmere scarf around her neck that carried his body temperature.
Not sadness, not grievance.
It’s a huge relief.
It's a trance of a dream come true.
It is the feeling of finally seeing the dawn after trudging through a long dark night.
She looked at him, his outline crystal clear through her tear-filled eyes. She opened her mouth, her throat choking with sobs, and for a moment, no sound came out. A thousand words clung to her chest, ultimately translating into a clear, tear-filled, almost trembling nod.
No hesitation, no delay.
There is only one thing that was ten years late but finally settled - willingly.
Jiang Yu watched her nod vigorously, watched the tears roll down her eyes, filled with the answer that needed no words! A huge, overwhelming ecstasy instantly swept over him! He suddenly reached out, with a sense of cherishment and uncontrollable excitement, and tightly grasped her slightly cold hand on her knee.
His palm was large, warm, and lightly calloused, yet incredibly firm and powerful. He completely enveloped her hand, conveying scorching warmth and unquestionable commitment.
Outside the window, the snow is still falling.
Inside the car, fingers clasped together.
Spring arrived steadily in the wind and snow.
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