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The noise in the living room was like the rising tide, wave after wave. Fatty, having just lost a game of truth or dare, was being pinned down on the sofa by Hulu and Little Y, performing their "big dare"—reciting a sentimental line in an oddly eccentric voice. His winking and oddly tonguing had everyone roaring with laughter, and even the usually composed Ji Feng couldn't help but curl his lips.
Shen Qingyu and Yu Wang sat on the single sofa near the balcony door. The seat was not spacious, so Yu Wang naturally gave up most of his seat to allow Shen Qingyu to sit comfortably, with half of his body almost hanging in the air. No one noticed their quiet departure and return, and even if they did, their attention was now completely absorbed by the fat man's antics.
Except for one person.
Qu Shengsheng held an unopened candy in his hand, and his eyes seemed to pass over the cuddling figures unintentionally.
Shen Qingyu tilted her head slightly, moving closer to Yu Wang, as if listening to what he was whispering. Meanwhile, Yu Wang lowered his eyelashes, his entire attention focused on the girl beside him, his eyes gentle and focused.
Qu Shengsheng's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately understood what had happened. She was happy for Shen Qingyu, genuinely happy.
At this moment, Xiao Y noticed that she was “alone” and immediately shouted, “Sister Shengsheng! Don’t even think about running away! It’s your turn! Truth or Dare?”
Everyone's eyes instantly focused on him. Qu Shengsheng raised his chin and said, "It's a big dare! Let's have fun. Am I afraid of you?"
The fat guy had just been "released from prison" and immediately jumped up to take revenge on society, winking and posing a question: "Do you see that pot of green ivy over there? Go over and say to it affectionately, 'You are my little star!'"
Another round of laughter erupted. Qu Shengsheng spat and scoffed, "That's all you can do!" But he still walked over confidently and, facing the pot of thriving pot of green ivy, he actually recited in an exaggerated, theatrical voice, "Oh, my dear little star~"
The more exaggerated her performance, the better it was. Even the cleaning lady at the base peeked out of the kitchen, grinning from ear to ear. No one noticed that, on the outskirts of the crowd, Chen Chenchen leaned against a shelf, an unopened can of Coke in his hand. His gaze rested quietly on the bright figure "expressing her feelings" towards the green ivy. Deep in his eyes, a faint smile flashed, along with a deeper, more complex emotion.
When Qu Shengsheng completed his great adventure and won applause and whistles, he calmly looked away, raised his head and took a sip of Coke. The cold liquid slid down his throat, but failed to completely suppress the inexplicable heat in his heart.
-
The game session finally came to a close amidst laughter and exhaustion. Snack wrappers were scattered across the floor, empty drink bottles were toppled over, and everyone began scrambling to clean up the mess.
Shen Qingyu stood up and wanted to help clear the coffee table, but Yu Wang gently held her wrist.
"I'll do it." His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable tone. "You sit down and rest for a while."
The warmth of his fingertips penetrated her slightly cool skin, conveying a reassuring strength. Shen Qingyu didn't insist, but sat back obediently, watching him roll up his sleeves and neatly gather the empty bottles and trash. He performed these trivial tasks with a kind of concentration, and the lines of his profile appeared particularly clear and soft under the warm light of the living room.
It turned out that she had never truly forgotten him. The emotions that had been frozen by misunderstandings and grievances quickly melted and revived the moment the truth was revealed, even surging more violently than three years ago.
"What are you looking at?" Yu Wang noticed her gaze, raised his head, and raised the corners of his lips slightly.
"Look at you." Shen Qingyu answered frankly, her voice soft, "I found that you are a little different from before."
"What's the difference?"
"More..." Shen Qingyu thought for a moment and found a word, "More determined."
Yu Wang put down what he was holding, walked in front of her, squatted down, and made his eyes level with hers.
"Because I know what I want." He looked at her with deep eyes, "And I can't lose it again."
All around them was the noisy sound of teammates packing up their things and joking with each other, but between them, there seemed to be an invisible barrier, and it was so quiet that only each other's heartbeats and breathing could be heard.
Shen Qingyu looked into his eyes, which were so close to her, and her reflection was clearly reflected in them. She reached out and gently brushed away a strand of unruly hair from his forehead.
This subtle movement made Yu Wang's body stiffen almost imperceptibly. Then, he held her hand that was about to be withdrawn, passed his fingertips through her fingers, and slowly clasped them tightly.
The moment their fingers intertwined, they both felt an electric shock, shuddering from their tightly pressed palms and rapidly spreading throughout their limbs. It was a confirmation, three years late, of what had been lost and now found.
"Ahem!" Fatty walked by with a pile of garbage in his arms, coughing loudly on purpose. "Be careful of the impact, you two! Dog abuse is prohibited in this base!"
Hulu followed behind with a sly grin: "That's right, please consider the feelings of us singles!"
Chen Qingyu's cheeks flushed, and she subconsciously tried to pull her hand back, but Yu Wang held it tighter. Without even turning his head, he spoke in a calm tone that carried a natural intimidation: "Can't garbage shut you up?"
Fatty and Hulu immediately fell silent, winked at each other, and slipped into the kitchen.
Yu Wang then turned back, looked at Shen Qingyu's blushing cheeks, chuckled softly, and finally let go of her hand, but instead gently pinched her fingertips: "I won't bother you anymore. Are you tired? Do you want to rest early?"
Chen Qingyu shook her head: "Not bad." She was actually a little reluctant to end this night, reluctant to break this precious intimacy that had just been rebuilt.
"Then..." Yu Wang hesitated for a moment, "Come for a walk with me? The night view of the small garden behind the base is quite nice."
-
Just as Yu Wang and Shen Qingyu quietly left the living room, Qu Shengsheng also used the excuse of getting some fresh air to come to the slightly quieter terrace again.
The night deepened, yet the neon lights in the distance continued to flicker tirelessly. The evening breeze, carrying the fresh scent of plants, blew away the smell of snacks and drinks that stained her body, and gradually cooled her nerves, which had been a little excited by the game.
She leaned against the railing, closed her eyes, and let the wind blow her long hair.
Chen Chenchen.
The name, along with the words he had said on the terrace tonight, were etched in her mind like a brand.
"Did you come to Shanghai on my birthday that year?"
"I tried to add you on WeChat, but I was blocked."
"But now, do we still have a chance? For example... let's start by being friends..."
His voice was filled with regret, with tentativeness, and also with a kind of almost clumsy sincerity that she had never seen in him before.
She thought she'd let it go. She deleted all contact information, unlinked her in-game friends, and locked everything about him deep in her memory. Then she told herself it was just an online romance that ended in vain, just an unrealistic dream from her youth. She was still the same carefree, wind-like Qu Sheng.
But when he actually stood before her, looking at her with those eyes, and recounting the misunderstandings of the past, she realized that the dam in her heart was far less solid than she had imagined. The repressed grievances, confusion, and even a lingering throbbing that she herself was unwilling to acknowledge, all surfaced quietly in that instant.
"It's too noisy in there, come out and hide." A familiar voice sounded behind her, interrupting her thoughts.
Qu Shengsheng suddenly opened his eyes without looking back.
Chen Chenchen walked over to her and handed her an unopened bottle of mineral water, just like before. This time, Qu Shengsheng didn't take it immediately. She turned and looked at him. His expression was calm, but his eyes were like the night sky at that moment, deep and filled with many unexplained emotions.
"Why did you come out too?" she asked, her tone calm.
"The celebration is almost over." Chen Chenchen shook the water bottle in his hand. "Since you're out, I brought you a bottle of water."
Qu Shengsheng finally took the water. The coldness of the bottle made her fingertips shrink slightly. "Thank you."
Another silence fell. But this time, unlike the previous silence filled with estrangement and temptation, it seemed to contain something more... something indescribable and fluid.
"They..." Chen Chenchen looked towards the living room with a hint of meaning.
"Yeah." Qu Shengsheng understood who he was referring to and responded softly, "It seems that they have talked it out."
"That's good." Chen Chenchen paused, his voice lowering a bit. "It's a blessing that the misunderstanding can be resolved."
His words, seemingly unintentional yet intentional, gently struck Qu Shengsheng's heart. She clenched the mineral water bottle, and the plastic shell made a slight "creaking" sound.
"Chen Chenchen." She suddenly called him by his full name.
"Hmm?" He turned his head and looked at her intently.
"Your sister..." Qu Shengsheng hesitated for a moment, then asked, "She didn't say anything... later, right? About seeing me that day..."
This was a subtle knot in her heart. Did the girl she had never met have any bad guesses about her appearance and embarrassing departure?
Chen Chenchen seemed caught off guard by her question. He paused for a moment, then shook his head, saying firmly, "No. She later asked me if I'd angered any girl, saying that the girl squatting downstairs that day looked very sad." He paused, a hint of apology in his voice. "At the time... I didn't think anything of yours. I was too slow."
So that's how it is. The last bit of resentment in Qu Shengsheng's heart vanished with these words. It wasn't a mockery, it wasn't a misunderstanding, it was just a kind inquiry from a girl who also cared about her brother.
She lowered her head and looked at the tip of her shoes for a long time before she said "hmm" softly.
A gentle evening breeze brushed across the terrace, bringing with it the faint sound of traffic in the distance. The shadows of the trees in the small garden behind the site swayed, though the shadows were indistinct, yet somehow imbued the space with a sense of tranquility.
At that moment, the lights in the living room dimmed, leaving only a few night lamps emitting a hazy glow. The celebration officially ended, and the team members dispersed to prepare for rest.
"It seems like it's time to go back." Qu Shengsheng stood up and stretched his stiff shoulders.
"Yeah." Chen Chenchen nodded.
The two walked into the living room one after the other. Ji Feng was the only one left in the living room, still checking to see if all the equipment was turned off. Seeing them come in, he nodded without saying anything more.
Qu Shengsheng walked towards her temporary guest room. At the door, she stopped and looked back.
Chen Chenchen was still standing in the middle of the living room, watching her go. When she turned around, he raised his hand and waved gently.
Qu Shengsheng did not respond, but turned around quickly, pushed the door open, entered the room, closed the door, and leaned his back against the door panel.
My heart, belatedly, began to beat violently, again and again, clearly and powerfully.
She pulled out her phone, the screen dimly glowing in the darkness. Almost uncontrollably, her fingers clicked on WeChat. Under the new friends list, the friend request with the name "Chen Chenchen" and a simple note still lay quietly.
Her fingertips hovered over the green "Verified" button for a few seconds.
Outside the window, there is the dark night and distant lights.
Inside the window, one could hear her disordered breathing and slightly sweaty palms.
Finally, her fingertips dropped and tapped lightly.
Almost the next second after the call was connected, the top of the conversation interface changed to "The other party is typing..." A few seconds later, a message popped up.
Chen Chenchen: "The next home game is next Friday, against KING. Can I save the ticket for you?"
Looking at the words, Qu Shengsheng could almost imagine his seemingly calm yet nervous expression as he sent the message. She pursed her lips and quickly typed a reply.
Qu Shengsheng: "Okay. I want the seat with the best view."
Qu Shengsheng: "Also, don't forget the cake."
After sending the message, she pressed the phone to her chest and let out a long, deep sigh. The corners of her mouth, without her even noticing, had quietly curved into a soft, genuine arc.
-
The small garden behind the base was small, planted with common shrubs and flowers, and a cobblestone path meandered through it. A night light hidden in the grass cast a dim and soft glow, stretching the two people's shadows and interweaving them.
Yu Wang and Shen Qingyu walked slowly side by side, neither of them speaking first. But the atmosphere was not awkward, instead, there was a quiet and warm tacit understanding.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of soil and plants, and occasionally the chirping of unknown insects could be heard.
"Is it cold?" Yu Wang asked, tilting his head. The evening wind was indeed chilly.
"Not cold." Shen Qingyu shook her head. The coat he put on her was still on her. It carried the clean scent of cedar on his body, wrapping her up like a small fortress.
After walking for a while, Yu Wang stopped beside a bunch of roses in full bloom.
"Qing Yu." He called her name, his voice sounding particularly low and gentle in the night.
"Hmm?" Shen Qingyu looked up at him.
The moonlight and the light from the street lamps intertwined and fell on his well-defined face. His eyes were focused and deep.
"There's something I didn't have time to say three years ago, or rather, I didn't have the courage to say it." He spoke slowly, each word sounding like it had been carefully considered. "Now, I want to make up for it."
Shen Qingyu's heartbeat involuntarily quickened, and she seemed to have a premonition of what he was going to say.
Yu Wang took a deep breath, locked his gaze firmly into hers, and said clearly and solemnly: "Chen Qingyu, I love you."
It's not like, it's love.
Chen Qingyu's breath suddenly hitched. A sudden warmth welled up in her eyes. Three years ago, they had been together for quite some time, but the word they'd spoken most often was "like." The feelings of youth were pure and a bit naive, as if the word "love" was too heavy to be spoken easily. She had never imagined that, three years later, on such a quiet night, she would hear him say those three words to her in such a serious tone.
"Maybe it was already like that three years ago, but I just couldn't tell the difference, or I didn't have the courage to say it out loud." Yu Wang continued, his tone carrying a hint of self-mockery but more of honesty. "But I've been very clear about these past three years. It's not because I learned to cherish those hypocritical words after losing you, but because, in the days without you, all my efforts, all my persistence, even those seemingly meaningless waits, were only because there was always someone in my heart, and that never changed. That person is you."
His words, like a warm tide, completely enveloped Shen Qingyu. All the grievances and sadness seemed insignificant at this moment. She looked at him, tears finally unable to hold back, silently sliding down.
"Don't cry..." Yu Wang was a little flustered when he saw her crying. He subconsciously reached out and gently wiped away the tears on her cheek with his fingertips. His movements were a little clumsy, but full of cherishment.
Shen Qingyu grabbed his hand that was wiping her tears and held it tightly. She raised her tearful eyes and looked at him, her voice choked with sobs but very clearly saying:
"Yu Wang, I love you too." She paused and added, "I loved you three years ago, and I love you now."
The moment she finished speaking, she saw Yu Wang's eyes filled with huge, almost overflowing surprise and excitement. He suddenly hugged her in his arms, holding them tightly.
Shen Qingyu's cheek rested against his firm, warm chest. She could hear his heartbeat, as pounding as her own. The scent of cedarwood mingled with the cool night breeze, enveloping her completely. She closed her eyes, reached out, and hugged his slender waist.
This hug was three years late. It spanned misunderstandings, separation, time, and growth. At this moment, they embraced each other tightly, as if to make up for all the lost time in this embrace.
The garden was silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind and the blending of breaths and heartbeats.
After a long time, Yu Wang finally let go of her, but his arm was still around her waist. He lowered his head and gently rested his forehead against hers, their noses almost touching.
"Qing Yu," his voice was hoarse and magnetic, "This time, I won't let go."
"Yeah." Shen Qingyu responded softly, feeling his breath close to her, her heart filled with a huge, stable happiness.
He tilted his head slightly, and his warm lips, filled with great cherishment and temptation, gently fell on her forehead.
That kiss, like a butterfly perched on a flower petal, was incredibly gentle, yet carried a scorching heat that instantly spread throughout Shen Qingyu's body. She trembled slightly, closed her eyes, and felt this belated kiss that represented commitment and love.
The touch on their foreheads disappeared instantly. Yu Wang looked down at her blushing cheeks and slightly trembling eyelashes. His Adam's apple rolled, and he restrained the urge to go further. He just hugged her again in his arms, his chin gently resting on the top of her head.
"Let's go back?" he whispered in her ear. "It's a bit cold."
"Okay." Shen Qingyu nodded in his arms.
Holding hands, they slowly walked back along the cobblestone path they had come from. Their clasped palms were warm and dry, as if foreshadowing that from now on, they would walk hand in hand, without any more gloom.
When we returned to the base, the living room was empty, lit only by a few nightlights casting a dim glow. The hallway was also quiet; the team members had all returned to their rooms.
Yu Wang stopped at the door of Shen Qingyu's guest room.
"Good night." He looked at her with gentle eyes.
"Good night." Shen Qingyu responded softly.
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