Chapter 46 Old Photo Album He didn't look at the camera, but tilted his head slightly...
Zhou Xubai maintained a gentle smile, even with a hint of understanding and感慨: "So that's how it is, no wonder..." He paused meaningfully before taking a deep breath, gently putting his arm around Lin Yuwei's shoulder, and leading her outside: "It's dusty here, don't stay too long."
His movements were gentle, but his palms were slightly hot, as if he wanted to leave his mark through the fabric.
That evening, Zhou Xubai knocked on Lin Yuwei's door with a glass of warm milk. Lin Yuwei opened the door; she had changed into a light yellow nightgown, her hair loosely clipped back. Only a warm yellow bedside lamp was on in the room, the soft light making her appear exceptionally gentle and charming.
"Drink some milk, it'll help you sleep better. What are you doing?" Zhou Xubai handed her the cup, his gaze naturally falling on a thick, old photo album spread out on her bed. The album was turned to a certain page, which Lin Yuwei had obviously been looking at.
Seemingly sensing his gaze, Lin Yuwei subconsciously closed the photo album and placed it on the bedside table beside her, covering one corner slightly with a magazine. This small action did not escape Zhou Xubai's eyes.
"Thank you." Lin Yuwei took the milk, took a sip, and tried to change the subject: "By the way, my mother has already seen the doctor and the medicine is ready. There's nothing I can do for now. Is there anywhere you'd like to go tomorrow? I can't let you stay at home all the time since you drove so far. There's a nice wetland park near my house, or..."
Zhou Xubai sat down on the single sofa next to the bed, his smile gentle and considerate: "You can arrange it. But I've heard that the nearby Cangming Ancient Temple is very famous, with a lot of incense and accurate fortune-telling. Have you been there?"
"Cangming Ancient Temple?" Lin Yuwei's eyes flickered for a moment, then she smiled and said, "I've been there before. The last time was more than ten years ago. Back then, I even bought a silly peach wood sword pendant at the mountain gate, saying it could ward off evil spirits." Her tone became lighter as she recalled the past. "I think I kept it in some drawer. Let me show it to you. The workmanship is quite rough. It cost me half a month's allowance. I don't know why I bought it back then."
As she spoke, Lin Yuwei put down her milk glass and turned to walk towards the bookshelf against the wall: "I remember it was in the bottom drawer..."
While Lin Yuwei was bending down to rummage through the album, Zhou Xubai's gaze fell on it again. His inner struggle lasted only a moment before a strong sense of unease and curiosity finally prevailed.
He leaned over very quickly, carefully moved the magazine aside, and opened the photo album. He didn't look at it carefully from the beginning; after flipping through a few pages, he intuitively flipped directly to the second half of the album.
really!
The first few photos are mostly solo shots of Lin Yuwei or photos with her mother. The young Lin Yuwei is wearing a beautiful dress and looks like a little princess. In the second half, another child begins to appear, a handsome boy who seems out of place in this glamorous background, yet strangely blends in with it.
It was when he was seven or eight years old, during the Chinese New Year, that a little boy wearing a brand-new but obviously cheap cotton-padded jacket with slightly worn cuffs stood nervously next to Lin Yuwei, who was wearing an exquisite dress and smiling brightly. The background was the Lin family's luxurious living room. The little boy had delicate features, but his eyes carried a precocious timidity and a hint of stubbornness that was not easily detected. His little hands nervously clutched the hem of his clothes. You could vaguely tell that this was Gu Qingyan.
Next, in a park, Lin Yuwei rode a carousel with an air of dominance, pointing at the camera and giving orders. A little boy stood below, carefully holding her pink jacket and a cartoon water bottle, like a silent and loyal little guardian. His face showed a helpless indulgence that was beyond his years, but his eyes always followed her on the carousel.
Then came a selfie that looked like it was taken with an old phone. The resolution was low, and it had a blurry halo. The boy and girl in the photo seemed to have grown up a bit, around fourteen or fifteen years old. Lin Yuwei was laughing carefree at the camera, taking up most of the frame, while Gu Qingyan was half a step behind her. The camera only captured his profile. He wasn't looking at the camera, but rather tilting his head slightly, his gaze lowered, falling on the girl's flowing hair in front of him. His eyes were focused and gentle, with a depth that didn't match his age, as if the whole world only consisted of the person in front of him.
Another photo, seemingly taken on a corner of the school rooftop, is a selfie. Lin Yuwei, wearing a short-sleeved school uniform, flashes a playful V-sign at the camera with a bright smile. Gu Qingyan, wearing the same uniform, stands beside her, a head taller than her. He makes no gesture, simply leaning slightly to ensure he's also in the frame. His handsome, youthful face remains expressionless, even somewhat tense, but his eyes, looking at the camera, clearly reflect the girl beside him, a burning passion and nervousness hidden deep within. As a man, Zhou Xubai understands: it's a deep-seated, cautious, yet impossible-to-hide, burning crush.
In another picture, a girl named Lin Yuwei holds up her phone and forcibly approaches Gu Qingyan, a boy who is reading a book. He is obviously startled, with the book still open on his lap. His brows are slightly furrowed, and he seems somewhat helpless, but his body does not show any intention of dodging. His gaze shifts from the pages of the book, not looking at the camera, but rather landing on the girl's smug smile with an almost indulgent tenderness.
These photos are like cruel keys, instantly unlocking Zhou Xubai's past that he had never been able to see, leaving his heart cold. They silently tell a story that transcends class and status, filled with the innocent ignorance of a young girl and the long, restrained unrequited love of a young boy.
Zhou Xubai saw it all too clearly: the following gaze, the physical closeness, and the undisguised emotional expression under the camera. They were not ordinary playmates; they were a boy who had spent his entire adolescence silently watching over and protecting a girl. Their bond was far deeper, more private, and more... unshakable than he had imagined.
Just then, Lin Yuwei's voice came: "Huh, where did it go? It doesn't seem to be here."
Zhou Xubai immediately closed the photo album as if nothing had happened, restoring it to its original state, and leaned back on the sofa as if he had never moved. His heart was beating a little fast, but his face still wore an impeccable gentle smile.
"If we can't find it, then so be it," he said gently. "Tomorrow we'll go to the ancient temple to pray for your mother's well-being. Will you be my tour guide again?"
Lin Yuwei closed the drawer, turned around, and nodded with a slightly confused look on her face: "Okay."
Looking at her oblivious face, Zhou Xubai felt a surge of crisis. The man named Gu Qingyan not only existed in Lin Yuwei's present and heart, but also occupied almost her entire past. This battle was far more difficult than he had anticipated. He had to speed things up. Perhaps the crisis before him was his only chance, and missing it would be a regret for the rest of his life.
The next day, the weather was fine. Zhou Xubai drove Lin Yuwei to the famous Cangming Ancient Temple on the outskirts of the city. The car wound its way up the mountain road. Outside the window were lush green mountain views and the air was fresh and pleasant, but it couldn't dispel the faint stuffiness inside the car.
The ancient temple has a long history and is very popular. Stepping into the temple gate, a simple and tranquil atmosphere immediately comes into view. The low chanting of Buddhist scriptures and the swirling incense and candles temporarily wash away the hustle and bustle of the city, but they cannot completely dispel the worries and pressure in Lin Yuwei's heart.
They followed the crowd to the main hall. Zhou Xubai appeared exceptionally devout, offering incense and making donations with meticulous care, as if fulfilling a solemn promise. Lin Yuwei quietly followed beside him, gazing at the dignified and compassionate Buddha statue, her mind a jumble of thoughts. Should she pray for her mother's miraculous recovery? Or should she pray to find the answer within herself? She found herself utterly lost and helpless.
“I read in the travel guides that the fortune sticks here are very accurate. Shall we ask for one?” Zhou Xubai suggested gently, pointing to a secluded fortune-telling area on the side of the hall, his tone subtly guiding.
Lin Yuwei nodded indifferently, and the two each drew a fortune stick. Zhou Xubai shook the stick first, and a bamboo stick fell down. He picked it up and looked at it; the inscription read: "A perfect match is made today, like a phoenix soaring with a resounding cry. Though the future may be obscured by light clouds, the bright moon will eventually shine across ten thousand miles." The old monk who interpreted the fortune stick smiled slightly and said, "Very auspicious. The matter you inquired about is a match made in heaven. Although there may be minor setbacks, the foundation is solid, and by going with the flow, it will surely be fulfilled."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xubai's face revealed a heartfelt, almost relieved joy. He carefully folded the thin slip of paper, as if putting away a precious certificate, and placed it in his pocket.
When it was Lin Yuwei's turn, she shook the divination tube absentmindedly. A divination slip fell, and she picked it up to read: "Old nests and familiar swallows fly around the beams, new branches are not yet stable, do not lean lightly. The clouds are deep, and I know not where you are, but watch the gentle breeze send the moon home." The monk interpreting the divination slip pondered for a moment and said: "This is a moderately auspicious divination. You have something on your mind, old ties are not yet severed, and new beginnings are not yet established. Do not rush to make decisions, but wait patiently for the right time. A gentle breeze will guide you, and the bright moon will illuminate your original intentions."
The divination slip was like a mirror, instantly reflecting all the hesitation and worries in her heart, leaving her stunned and her mind even more confused.
Zhou Xubai naturally heard her fortune slip. His eyes darkened almost imperceptibly for a moment, but he quickly recovered. He took the fortune slip from Lin Yuwei's hand, which seemed to be burning hot, and put it away with his own. His tone was gentle but carried an undeniable sense of reassurance: "Drawing a fortune slip is just for good luck. What the future holds is ultimately up to us."
The two strolled to a quiet viewing platform behind the temple. In the distance, the mountains were verdant and the breeze was gentle, completely isolating them from the hustle and bustle of the world. Zhou Xubai stopped and turned to face Lin Yuwei. His gaze was gentle and focused, as if it contained a thousand words and a do-or-die determination.
“Yuwei,” he began, his voice lower and softer than usual, with a hint of hoarseness, “yesterday, seeing your mother’s appearance, and… Gu Qingyan’s room, I felt very bad.”
Lin Yuwei looked up at him, her eyelashes trembling slightly like startled butterfly wings, waiting for him to continue.
“I know you have a lot on your mind, both past and present,” he continued, his tone sincere and full of tenderness. “Seeing you trying so hard to hold on, I really want to do something for you, but I always feel like there’s a barrier between us, that I can’t truly reach you or share your burden.” These words subtly touched a fragile chord in Lin Yuwei’s heart.
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