Just as Zhao Meiling returned to Luocun, Chen Niannian and her younger brother happened to return to Beijing.
As usual, Yue Jiaoyang sat in the study room where he often ran into Chen Niannian, silently flipping through his books, but occasionally glancing out the window as if waiting for someone to appear.
Suddenly, he rubbed his eyes. What was she doing here?
Yue Jiaoyang quickly closed the book, put it in his backpack, picked it up, and hurried out to chase after it.
"Chen Niannian, what are you doing here?" Yue Jiaoyang ran out of the study room and suddenly stopped in front of Chen Niannian.
"Ugh!! You always show up without a sound, even in broad daylight, it's really scary!"
Chen Niannian patted her chest and complained. She had just returned to school in the morning and was focused on thinking about something on her way to the classroom when she was startled by Yue Jiaoyang, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"I'll be more careful next time." Yue Jiaoyang didn't expect Chen Niannian to react so strongly. He just hadn't seen her recently, and seeing her suddenly made him a little excited, which is why he lost his composure.
"I haven't seen you all week," Yue Jiaoyang added.
"You really know how to count! I had some things to take care of at home, so I took the day off," Chen Niannian explained.
"Have things been resolved at home? Is there anything I can help you with?"
"It's alright now," Chen Niannian said with a smile.
"By the way, while you were away from school, the broadcasting club notified us that new members need to prepare a poetry recitation this Friday."
"I'll be away this week and I don't know anything about these things. Is there anything I need to prepare?"
"This time, we recruited 12 new members for the radio broadcast, 6 men and 6 women, forming 6 teams. They can freely form teams, and I will choose you as my partner. Every week, a new team of members will participate in the daily radio broadcast. This is just a rehearsal," Yue Jiaoyang explained.
"Will we be able to broadcast soon?" Chen Niannian asked excitedly.
"Yes, when are you free? We need to rehearse. We have two more days."
"I have two required classes this morning, let's meet on the playground at 1 p.m.," Chen Niannian said after a moment's thought, and then arranged a time with Yue Jiaoyang.
"Okay, I'll wait for you. Oh, by the way, here's the manuscript. Take a look and see if it's okay. This is the one I picked out. I don't know if you like it." Yue Jiaoyang took a piece of paper out of his bag and handed it to Chen Niannian.
"Look how well you've prepared, carrying it with you at all times." Chen Niannian took the papers and began to read them.
Yue Jiaoyang silently answered in his heart, "That's because I'm always prepared to meet you."
This poem was originally written by a very famous lama on the plateau in ancient times. His biography and essays became popular throughout the country in the following decades, but not many people know about it now.
"Huh, Menba Gyatso?" Chen Niannian asked Yue Jiaoyang with surprise.
“I knew it, you must know him too.” Yue Jiaoyang looked at Chen Niannian, a feeling of mutual understanding welling up inside him.
“Yes, I really like him. I’ve memorized all his prose and poems. Okay, let’s recite his poems this time so that more people can know him and understand him,” Chen Niannian said excitedly.
A crisp bell rang out.
"Oh no, class is starting, I'm going to be late! I'll talk to you later, see you after class." As soon as Chen Niannian finished speaking, she ran forward.
As Yue Jiaoyang watched Chen Niannian's departing figure, he could no longer hide the smile on his lips. This could be considered a mini-date.
Yue Jiaoyang brought two bottles of water and came to the playground after lunch. He rested his head on his arm and looked up at the sky.
The autumn sky was a clear, deep blue, like a sapphire washed with water. Clusters of white clouds resembled fluffed wool, and flocks of geese flew south in pairs.
"What are you looking at?" His waiting, expectant voice rang out like heavenly music.
"Did you hear that? The cries of the geese in the sky are them saying goodbye to us," Yue Jiaoyang said softly.
"Since ancient times, autumn has been associated with sorrow and desolation, but I say that autumn days surpass even spring mornings." Chen Niannian slowly sat down as well. "Look, the grass is gently caressing us."
Do you like autumn?
"Well, I both liked it and didn't like it. In the past, we had to harvest wheat in the fall and work in the fields. The endless wheat fields were tough to harvest, and everyone was exhausted. But apart from that, autumn was beautiful. Standing in the wheat fields, the autumn wind would blow, and a vast expanse of golden rice would sway in the wind, wave after wave. Moreover, there were so many fruits in autumn: pears, apples, oranges. My neighbor's grandfather was so kind. I was often hungry, and I could only eat my fill in the fall. He was the one who gave me the fruit," Chen Niannian recalled.
The young man beside him looked at the girl who was always smiling. Although she was describing the beautiful scenery, the content of her words made his heart ache.
Yue Jiaoyang also sat up, and couldn't help but want to hug her, but as soon as he reached out, he pulled his hand back as if he had been electrocuted.
Chen Niannian didn't notice his odd behavior. "Let's begin."
To See or Not to See
Whether you see me or not
I was there
Neither sad nor happy
Whether you recite my name or not
Love is there.
Neither coming nor going
Whether you love me or not
Love is there
No increase or decrease
Whether you follow me or not
My hand is in yours.
Never give up
Come into my arms
or
Let me live in your heart
Silent Love
Quiet joy
As Yue Jiaoyang read on, a wave of sorrow washed over him; the poem so vividly captured his innermost feelings.
The fact that he recited it at this moment made it all the more touching, revealing his true feelings.
When Yue Jiaoyang and Chen Niannian looked at each other, their eyes were filled with helplessness and expectation.
Chen Niannian looked at the handsome boy sitting on the grass. His affectionate tone and focused gaze seemed to be a confession of love to her. Undeniably, she was moved.
"You recited it very well, I was moved." Chen Niannian snapped out of her reverie and hastily tried to cover it up.
“Because that’s what I really feel,” Yue Jiaoyang answered without any attempt to hide his feelings, successfully seeing Chen Niannian blush.
“Alright, let’s divide it into sections. I’ll read one part, and you’ll read the other. I’ve marked them all on the paper,” Yue Jiaoyang said to her, pointing to the markings on the paper.
And so, the feelings between the two young people who were interested in each other began to emerge and deepen with each recitation.
When the rehearsal was over and it was time to say goodbye, their hearts seemed to have grown even closer.
"I'm off then, see you Wednesday." Chen Niannian was filled with mixed feelings; she needed to hurry back and think things through.
"Okay, see you later." Yue Jiaoyang thought to himself that he must confess to her next time. He understood the hesitation and affection in her eyes.
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