trap
The café wasn't large, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a bustling street. Pushing open the door, a symphony of baked goods and sweet milk aromas wafted in. The wooden tables and chairs were somewhat worn, bearing the marks of time; a few potted plants clung to the corner, vibrant yet slightly casual. Behind the bar, the staff greeted regulars familiarly, the sounds of milk foam being whipped mingling with the blaring of loudspeakers outside, creating a lively backdrop.
Lin Yue was already inside. He wore a white shirt with the cuffs rolled up, and had an iced Americano in front of him. Upon seeing her, he smiled slightly and stood up to greet her.
The two sat down and exchanged brief pleasantries. Panqiu inquired about his internship.
"I work at a tech company," Lin Yue said with a smile. "It's quite busy, but I've gained a lot. I just heard that you've also returned to China, so I thought I should definitely get together with you."
"Where do you live in Shanghai?" Panqiu asked casually.
“The company provides dormitories in Pudong. It’s actually quite far.” He shrugged. “So I’ll have to trouble you today. Consider this my day of escaping the dormitory.”
Pan Qiu nodded, then added with a smile, "I'm much more relaxed now. I stay at home, read books, and occasionally see classmates and relatives."
Lin Yue looked up at her: "Sounds very relaxed."
“Hmm,” she paused, then added, “but it’s also a good time to calm down and think about things.”
He suddenly became serious: "I'd like to have lunch at a place you frequent, so you can show me what life is like for locals in Shanghai."
Pan Qiu paused for a moment, then subconsciously thought of the small restaurant she often frequented near her home. Most people who come to Shanghai head straight for the Bund, the former French Concession, and trendy restaurants; but Lin Yue—didn't seem to be in a hurry to check off the sights.
He added, "This afternoon we'll go see your high school or university. You can show me around the places you're familiar with."
Pan Qiu's heart skipped a beat. — This wasn't a typical tourist guide. She suddenly realized that he wasn't "touring Shanghai," but rather wanted to follow in her footsteps and see the scenery of her childhood.
The two chatted about their internships and summer vacation: from the company cafeteria to the recent weather, from the subway rush hour to which new milk tea shop had opened. The conversation drifted off and then settled lightly, without any important content, yet time quietly slipped away.
The coffee was slowly emptied, and the sunlight outside the window grew increasingly intense. It wasn't until Lin Yue heard his stomach rumble that he couldn't help but laugh: "Looks like it's lunchtime."
Pan Qiu smiled and nodded: "Let's go, I'll take you to our usual little restaurant."
The small, home-style restaurant was a welcoming place. Pushing open the wooden door, the familiar aroma of garlic and hot oil wafted out. Slightly yellowed handwritten menus hung on the walls, and the square tables were polished to a shine, while an old-fashioned electric fan whirred away.
The proprietress looked up, a hint of surprise in her eyes, and casually teased, "Oh, Panqiu, you brought your boyfriend back?"
Pan Qiu blushed instantly and quickly shook her head: "No, no."
Lin Yue didn't reply, but just stared at her and smiled, a hint of something hidden in his eyes.
The two sat down and ordered some of her most familiar dishes: stir-fried water spinach, braised pork, and steamed egg custard. Lin Yue took a bite, chewed it carefully, and then smiled, "This is the authentic Shanghai life, isn't it? Much more reliable than me searching for travel guides myself."
Pan Qiu was amused, but a subtle feeling stirred within him—he hadn't come to see the city's scenery, but rather to touch upon her life through her daily routine.
After lunch, they took the subway to their university, where they longed for autumn. The campus was lush and green on a summer afternoon, filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees. Students were still coming and going in twos and threes at the school gate, carrying milk tea and laptop bags, their expressions light and carefree.
The moment Pan Qiu stepped onto campus, a feeling of familiarity mixed with estrangement rose in her heart. Although she had graduated, it felt as if she hadn't gone far. And walking side by side with Lin Yue, the scene was unexpectedly natural—like two streams flowing from different directions merging into the same sea at this moment, without any sense of incongruity.
Lin Yue looked around and suddenly asked, "Which route do you usually take to class? Is it this tree-lined path?"
Pan Qiu nodded and pointed to the teaching building ahead: "Yeah, I pass by it almost every day. It was novel when I was a freshman, but I got used to it later."
Lin Yue laughed: "I'm used to you, but this is the first time for me. It feels quite interesting, like I can see what you were like back then by following this path."
These words sent a slight jolt through Pan Qiu. She keenly realized that this wasn't just tourist-like curiosity, but rather an action closer to psychological projection—he wasn't looking at the campus, but searching for her traces through these spaces. Psychologically, this was a classic "approach strategy," using "your past" as a pathway to build a stronger emotional connection.
She was both moved and wary. This meant that he wanted more than just an ordinary colleague; he wanted to use her growth trajectory as an entry point into her world.
As they approached the library entrance, Lin Yue half-jokingly said, "Want to come in and sit for a bit? I can pretend I'm studying for final exams."
Pan Qiu smiled and shook her head: "No, there's no air conditioning inside, it'll be too hot for you."
The two chatted and laughed, the atmosphere so relaxed it felt like they were back in college—until a familiar voice interrupted her thoughts: "Panqiu?"
She looked up and saw her university counselor. The counselor looked pleasantly surprised and quickly came over to exchange pleasantries. Soon, her gaze fell on Lin Yue, and her eyes held a more scrutinizing and meaningful look.
"Are you bringing your boyfriend back to your alma mater for a visit?" the counselor asked with a smile.
Pan Qiu was taken aback and quickly waved her hands, "No, no." She realized this was the second time today she had awkwardly denied the same question. She gave Lin Yue a meaningful look—his expression was intriguing. She suddenly felt as if she had stepped into Lin Yue's "script": in interpersonal interactions, questions from third parties often carry strong implications. Once a "social figure" (teacher, elder) refers to him as "boyfriend," it triggers an assumption of identity. At this moment, she was unwittingly pulled into a "default relationship narrative," and Lin Yue did not rush to deny it, but simply smiled quietly to the side.
The counselor paused slightly, then turned to Lin Yue, as if to encourage him: "Young man, keep it up!"
She laughed again, "She's not easy to win over. In the old class, quite a few boys had a crush on her, but I never saw her get close to anyone."
Pan Qiu felt her face flush and her heart race slightly. She coughed lightly, trying to change the subject. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Lin Yue turn his head slightly to look at her, his eyes calm, yet as if he had received some kind of confirmation.
After saying goodbye, they walked towards the playground. The basketball court was bustling with activity under the sunlight. Suddenly, a ball flew by, interrupting their progress.
Lin Yue reached out and caught the ball, then was called over to join in by the crowd. In a few minutes, his movements were agile, his shots crisp, sweat glistening in the sunlight. The girls watching chuckled softly, their eyes following his every move. That scene truly resembled the most heart-fluttering moment in a youth novel.
Pan Qiu stood quietly at the sidelines, her gaze drifting further and further away. She knew such scenes were captivating, even moving for others; but when it came to herself, it only felt noisy, even childish. She smiled slightly—this was typical hormone-driven courtship: passionate, flamboyant, using momentary enthusiasm to please onlookers. She'd been invited to similar "handsome performances" in college, but hadn't been moved then, and certainly not now. To her, good looks were certainly worthy of appreciation, but to reach the heart required something else—understanding, resonance, and the strength to stand shoulder to shoulder with her in thought.
A moment later, Lin Yue returned to her side, casually wiping his sweat with a tissue, as if nothing had happened. The two walked side by side down the tree-lined path again. The afternoon campus gradually quieted down, dappled sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, and footsteps echoed on the stone path, the atmosphere returning to a relaxed and subtle rhythm.
When I left the campus, the sky was still bright. The summer days seemed to be stretched out infinitely, and the sun lingered. The number of pedestrians on the tree-lined path gradually decreased, but the cicadas' chirping grew increasingly noisy.
Pan Qiu checked the time; it was already past four. Just as she thought the trip was about to end, Lin Yue suddenly spoke up: "I've booked a cruise on the river tonight, two hours of self-service."
Pan Qiu paused for a moment, but still couldn't escape the "tourist itinerary". The last time she took a river cruise was when she was in junior high school, traveling with her parents and relatives - at that time she ate absentmindedly, only caring about enjoying the breeze on the deck.
Just then, Lin Yue smiled and added, "This arrangement is so that I can 'keep' you by my side for an extra two hours."
Pan Qiu paused for a moment, then quickly deciphered the meaning of the sentence in her mind—a typical "jokingly probing confession." Using humor as a buffer: if she didn't respond, she could take it back as teasing. In psychology, this kind of ambiguous humor is essentially a low-risk expression: it reveals her feelings while leaving herself an escape route.
She didn't deny that taking a boat trip on the river with the tall and handsome Lin Yue did have a certain romance to it. Although it wasn't her favorite activity, in the atmosphere of a summer night, she wanted to temporarily set aside her rationality and experience it for once. To some extent, she was also giving herself a little test: was she really completely unmoved? Or would she be touched by such a scene? Agreeing to go was also a way for her to confirm and explore with herself.
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