Chapter 48
Tomorrow, Chen Zhiyi will set off for Beijing to take the final exam. As agreed, Uncle Chen will accompany him, while Lin Ting will stay in Tianjin to wait for his return. They haven't seen each other for several days, so the two agreed to take a walk and chat in the West City Park today.
In fact, Chengxi Park held great significance for the two of them. It was during that deep conversation that they rediscovered each other and were willing to open their hearts and trust one another.
We agreed to meet at 3 p.m., a time when there are hardly any people in the park.
In the past, whenever the two of them made plans to go somewhere or do something, Chen Zhiyi would always arrive first. Even though Lin Ting was a punctual person, he just didn't want to see Lin Ting waiting for him.
Between them, Chen Zhiyi was always the one who ran towards Lin Ting with a bright smile.
When you want to see someone you like, you have to run there.
But this time, Lin Ting arrived an hour early. She didn't want to make him wait anymore, and she never would again.
Standing by the central lake, Lin Ting looked at the calm surface and felt that it reflected her own state of mind, without any ripples.
"Lin Ting!" A familiar voice called from behind.
I don't know when it started, but he stopped calling me "Teacher Lin" or "Sister" altogether.
She liked hearing him call her "Lin Ting," using her real name, which gave her the illusion that there was no real difference between them, and that they could have those fantasies about the future.
But illusions are just illusions; they can only fool yourself.
Why did you get here first?
Lin Ting smiled faintly, "It's nothing, so I came over first."
Chen Zhiyi looked down at him, a clear smile on his lips, "Oh, is that so? Since there's nothing else, why don't you come with me to Beijing tomorrow?"
Lin Ting feigned anger, "Didn't we already agree that now is not the time to make our relationship public? We must avoid suspicion in public and in private."
Chen Zhiyi raised his hands in surrender, "Okay, okay, you're right." Then he lowered them and sighed, "Sigh, why is everyone else's love so sweet and happy, while mine is like a journey to the West, full of hardships?"
Are you feeling tired?
Chen Zhiyi realized he had spoken without thinking and quickly stepped forward to hug Lin Ting, saying, "No, no, as long as I can be with you, I'm not afraid of any hardship."
Lin Ting didn't say anything, placed her hands on his back, hugged him quietly for a while, and felt the cool, youthful scent emanating from him.
After hugging, the two sat by the lake and chatted.
The scene seemed familiar. Lin Ting recalled a dream she had, in which she rejected Chen Zhiyi's first confession of love to her. She should have stayed at that moment. It turned out that back then, fate was reminding her that everything was preordained, and no amount of effort would help if it wasn't right.
She was just an ordinary person, without any special abilities to defy fate.
Lin Ting's gaze drifted into the distance, and she slowly said, "I had a dream before. In the dream, the two of us were sitting by this lake, talking about everything, and we had a very happy time."
This piqued Chen Zhiyi's interest, and he turned to ask her, "When? Before or after you've confirmed your feelings?"
Lin Ting: "Before."
Chen Zhiyi was quite pleased with himself. "This is what they call 'what you think about during the day, you dream about at night.' You clearly had feelings for me before, but you were still being stubborn. See, your dream has become reality."
Lin Ting smiled bitterly, "Was it really a dream that came true? But in the dream, many people appeared around us. They all pointed and gossiped, saying that I seduced you under the guise of being a teacher, which violated professional ethics and was shameless. In the end, your mother also appeared, and she was furious, accusing us harshly."
Upon hearing this, Chen Zhiyi's face turned ashen. He turned Lin Ting around and looked at her directly, only to find that her eyes were dark and bloodshot. Clearly, she hadn't been sleeping well these past two days. He knew that her insecurity had resurfaced. Her childhood experiences had made her hesitant to trust others, especially those close to her.
But he didn't mind the trouble. When she hesitated, he would give her affirmation; when she retreated, he would pull her out. When they were alone, he never hid his love. When she was unsure, he would give her affirmation again and again.
"I take back what I just said about bringing dreams into reality. What's so special about a dream that only happens once? I often have this dream where we're married, living in a villa with a garden. We go out together in the morning, cook together in the evening, and often lie on the lawn in the garden looking at the night sky while the children play and laugh around us. In the dream, I'm already a veteran actor with many years of experience, and you've become the owner of a clothing brand, running a studio. My works are all very well-received, and your designs are not only popular with the public, but many of our celebrity friends in the industry often commission custom-made clothes from you. We've walked the red carpets of many fashion and film events hand in hand, and every photo of us in the news the next day shows us looking at each other, overflowing with love. So in the eyes of outsiders, we're always the most well-matched and loving couple, and we're indispensable parts of each other's work and life."
"People say that dreams are the opposite of reality. Your dream is the reverse of my dream, so it means that we will definitely be together for a long time."
"If a dream becomes reality, then it must be my dream becoming reality, because it is the goal I strive for. It is not an ideal, a dream, or a fantasy, but a goal that I must achieve and something that I must do, even if it takes my whole life."
Lin Ting looked up at Chen Zhiyi, her eyes as deep as the night sky, glistening with tears like twinkling stars. She tried to trace the features of the person before her, wanting to etch every part of that face into her heart.
She raised her hand, her thumb gently tracing the beauty mark under his right eye. "The first time I saw you, I was attracted to this beauty mark. Even though you were speaking to me in a harsh tone and didn't have a friendly expression, I knew that when I saw the beauty mark under your eye, I felt that you must have a very gentle and affectionate side. Because the book says that a beauty mark is a mark left by your lover in your past life when she died, and she can find you by this mark and continue your relationship."
Chen Zhiyi quickly replied, "Yes, you must be my lover from a past life. Otherwise, how could you have been attracted to my beauty mark at first sight?"
Actually, when she saw the beauty mark under her eye, she thought of Qin Qiang, but unfortunately, he had a beauty mark under his left eye, while Chen Zhiyi had one under his right eye.
It is said that a beauty mark at the corner of the left eye indicates promiscuity, while a beauty mark at the corner of the right eye indicates fidelity.
Real-world testing has confirmed that all of these conditions are met.
Fate has been really unkind to me, for I've encountered both of these types of people: the promiscuous type is not mine, nor is the devoted type.
Lin Ting muttered, "I guess so."
Chen Zhiyi then noticed that she was in low spirits and clearly had something on her mind. "You're acting strange today. Are you hiding something from me?"
Lin Ting nodded. "I do have something to tell you." Then she said calmly, "I'm going to be leaving Jinshi for a while."
"..." Chen Zhiyi didn't speak, but his expression remained calm.
"Let me explain first. A while ago, the department issued a notice that we needed to organize a field trip to explore ethnic costumes. We would go with our teachers to Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou to learn about the differences in the costumes of various ethnic groups and to accumulate content for compiling a history of the evolution of ethnic costumes. As you know, I have always been very interested in handicrafts such as embroidery, weaving, and dyeing. Ethnic minority costumes are very exquisite in terms of handicrafts, and I would like to go and learn from them."
"How long will it take?" Chen Zhiyi pressed.
"I'll be back around mid-June, just in time for you to finish your college entrance exam."
"Then why are you only telling me now?" Chen Zhiyi's tone was aggressive.
“The list hadn’t been finalized before, and there were so many applicants that I didn’t think I would be selected. But when the list came out yesterday, I found my name on it.”
Chen Zhiyi lowered his head and remained silent, his expression turning completely cold. Actually, whether she went or not was irrelevant to him; he would support whatever she did. Everyone has their own preferences and dreams. What bothered him was that she didn't tell him about such a big thing, as if he were never part of her life plan.
Lin could tell he was angry from his silence, so she cupped his face in her hands and coaxed him, "Don't be angry. It's only two months. You still need to study hard, eat and sleep well during this time. You must adjust your mindset and prepare for the exam seriously. Although the college entrance exam is not the end of life, it is definitely a very important turning point that you absolutely cannot ignore."
Chen Zhiyi placed his hands on Lin Tingdu's hands and said, "I know what you're saying. I'm just angry. Why don't you tell me anything? I want you to tell me everything, good or bad, right away."
"Okay!" Lin Ting answered readily, which greatly reduced Chen Zhiyi's displeasure.
"Then promise me that you'll reply to my messages and answer my calls every moment for the next two months, so I can always know where you are?"
Lin didn't say anything; if they kept in touch, he would definitely be exposed.
"Are you still hesitating?" Chen Zhiyi asked anxiously.
Lin Ting said helplessly, "I'm out collecting folk songs. You have to go to school during the day, how can I go all the time? It's only at night."
Chen Zhiyi laughed, "That's more like it."
Lin Ting took out a good luck charm. "I embroidered this myself. It's from the same temple as the one I was carrying before. It's an old temple in my hometown. This temple is very popular and it's said that prayers are very effective. I prayed to the Buddha to bless you with everything going smoothly and that all your wishes will come true. Keep it with you, and it will definitely help you pass the art exam smoothly, get into your favorite university, and become an excellent actor in the future."
A round, red amulet, embroidered with a ruyi (a traditional Chinese ornament symbolizing good fortune), with Chen Zhiyi's name in the center, a yellow tassel below, and a Chinese knot on top. It was exquisite and small, and Chen Zhiyi liked it very much.
He first held it in his hand and looked at it repeatedly, then held it tightly in his hand, reluctant to let go, and showed that bright smile, "I will definitely carry it with me every day."
“Your birthday is in April, and I don’t think I can come back. What kind of gift do you want? I’ll prepare it for you and send it back then.”
Chen Zhiyi frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, looked at her, and slowly said, "I want a promise?"
"What agreement?"
“If I pass the final exam and get into the Beijing Film Academy, I’m sure I’ll have no problem. When you graduate, you should also apply to Beijing Film Academy. I want us to be in the same place in the future.”
Lin Ting didn't want to respond to the promise because it was impossible to make one. She dodged the question, saying, "What if I don't pass the exam? Then I'll go, but you won't be able to go. Don't make promises so easily."
"No, I have confidence in myself and in our future." He gripped Lin Ting's shoulders, his eyes deep and firm, revealing an unwavering determination and conviction.
But this world cannot be controlled by faith alone; otherwise, why would there be so many unresolved grievances?
Lin Ting still joked, "Housing prices in northern Beijing are so expensive. When you first arrive, you'll probably be renting a basement, which is dark and gloomy. Are you willing to spend that much?"
Chen Zhiyi took out a bunch of keys from his pocket, removed one of them, and placed it in Lin Ting's hand. "This is for you."
Lin Ting looked puzzled. "Where does this key come from?"
“My maternal grandfather’s family also owns some businesses in Beijing. This is the key to an apartment in Chaoyang District. When I was a child, I would stay there when I went to Beijing for summer vacation or participated in summer camp activities. It’s very convenient to commute to get off work because it’s close to the subway, and the surrounding facilities are complete, so you don’t have to worry about housing.”
Lin Ting immediately stuffed the key back into Chen Zhiyi's pocket. "I can't accept this. If I really go to Beijing, I can find a place to live on my own. I'd be perfectly comfortable even if I lived in a basement."
Chen Zhiyi squeezed Lin Ting's hand tightly, making her hold the key firmly. He knew what she was concerned about, and he could explain it to her slowly. "First of all, the property certificate for this house only has my name on it, so it belongs to me personally. I'm willing to share everything with you. Besides, I'm just letting you move in; I'm not transferring ownership to you. There's nothing you're worried about about me taking advantage of you. Secondly, this is just a transitional period. With our efforts, we will definitely be able to buy a house in Beijing in the future with our own money, a home that belongs entirely to the two of us."
"I'm carefully planning our future, and you'll be with me at every step. You absolutely cannot be absent. If you accept this key, it means you agree with my plan."
"Okay!" Lin Ting accepted it anyway, though it didn't really matter whether she accepted it or not, since she had already backed out beforehand.
All she did was fulfill her promise to Chen Tiansheng and grant him her wish.
Seeing Lin Ting put away the key, Chen Zhiyi was satisfied. "I will wait for you in Jinshi. I will listen to you, eat well, sleep well, and study hard. When you come back, we will check the scores and fill in the college applications together. We will also submit our resumes and go to interviews together. We will definitely be together forever."
Lin Ting didn't say anything, but simply reached out and hugged him.
Yes, she couldn't give a reply. Let's end our last meeting with a hug.
May everything be well for us in the future.
The next day, Chen Zhiyi set off for Beijing to take the final exam, while Lin Ting submitted her graduation project and thesis, and completed the procedures for extending her graduation, applying to participate in the thesis defense the following year.
Lin Ting first went back to Lizhen because her old house was going to be demolished and she needed to take care of some urgent matters. She first signed a demolition agreement and received a housing compensation payment. Then she rented an apartment in Nancheng and moved in with her mother.
After settling her mother in, Lin Ting did not go to Xiangxi to find Professor Huang. Instead, she tore up the letter of introduction, knowing that she would never have peace of mind if she went.
Just then, Suzhou embroidery master Yang Lijuan was recruiting short-term apprentices for one year, and Lin Ting signed up. She likes Suzhou embroidery and hopes to make it a skill, which is her advantage as a fashion designer. In the past, she had just followed Lin Qin and figured things out on her own, and had never studied it systematically. This was a rare opportunity.
In mid-April, on the eve of Chen Zhiyi's twentieth birthday, he received the qualification certificate for the art exam of Jingbei Film Academy, which means that he has successfully passed the art exam. As long as his college entrance examination score is above the passing line, he will become a prospective college student of Jingbei Film Academy.
Lin Ting was genuinely happy for him; he had already gone halfway on the road to realizing his dream.
The two maintained normal contact. Every night before going to bed, Lin Ting would receive messages such as "I'm waiting for you to come back" and "Countdown to our official relationship." However, she would no longer reply to confirm; she would simply end the conversation with a smiling emoji.
On June 6th, the first day of the college entrance examination, Lin Ting sent Chen Zhiyi a text message: "Good luck on the college entrance examination!"
At 5:00 PM on June 8th, the bell rang to signal the end of the college entrance examination.
Lin Ting sent him another text message right on time: "I'm sorry, don't wait for me, I can't come back."
Immediately afterwards, all other contact information was deleted, even the SIM card was thrown into the trash, and the key was sent back anonymously.
From that point on, the two lost contact and had no further dealings with each other.
In July, Lin Ting received her graduation certificate from Tianjin University, proving that Chen Tiansheng had not lied to her.
In September, Lin saw Chen Zhiyi in a photo of the new class of acting students uploaded to the official website of Beijing Film Academy. He was completely relieved and felt that he had fulfilled his promise to him.
Young man, from now on, you'll have to rely on yourself to pursue your dreams. Keep going! I'll be watching over you from a corner you can't see.
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