Chapter 66, dedicated to your seventeenth birthday...
Finally, after careful consideration, Jiang Meng felt it wouldn't be right not to buy Xie Zhu a gift. Two days later, she ordered a set of knee pads, wristbands, and a headband for playing basketball online. Seeing him trying to look cool every day, she also decided to buy him a pair of sunglasses. However, after the items arrived, Chen Jizhou confiscated them all.
He said confidently, "It's not that I mind, it's just that Xie Zhuo doesn't need it. Good things shouldn't be left to gather dust, I'll help him digest them."
Jiang Meng stared at him, speechless.
Chen Jizhou, already in a good mood, removed his sunglasses, put them on leisurely, and looked at her: "Does it fit?"
"..."
Looking at his handsome and dashing appearance, even the most arrogant expression was forgiven by Jiang Meng in the face of such a beautiful face.
If you spoil your boyfriend, then you'll have to let down your best friend.
After returning from Pingjiang after the New Year, Chen Jizhou looked a bit haggard, but he had managed to obtain the crucial pass after much hardship. Chen Jizhou, who acted like a big shot in front of the whole world, only played the role of a refined and honest man in front of Teacher Ye, perfectly portraying the wealthy and perfect son-in-law.
Finally, Ye Zhaoxu confided in him: "Whether you love each other or not, whether you get married or not, it's ultimately a matter between the two of you. Don't take my opinion too seriously."
Chen Jizhou leaned against the doorway and smiled, then said to her with a humble expression, "That's true, but if you don't agree, my mother won't dare to go through with this marriage. No matter who says I'm good, once the door is closed, she'll still be glaring at me. Only if you give your approval will she think this is a good deal, that her son has finally made something of himself and can find a wife."
He subtly elevated Ye Zhaoxu's status, and Ye Zhaoxu, suppressing her joy, said, "I have so much say."
"This is a very big issue; it concerns the results of Secretary Wang's years of efforts in promoting quality education."
Seeing Ye Zhaoxu's cheerful smile, Chen Jizhou's carefree expression softened, and he said seriously, "Marriage is a matter between two people, but without you, there is nothing. Rather than asking for your opinion, I would like to tell you that we are very happy now."
Ye Zhaoxu said with a kind and gentle expression, "Then I can finally put my mind at ease."
After a moment of silence, Chen Jizhou sincerely thanked her: "Auntie, thank you for choosing to keep Jiang Meng back then. Without her, I would still be me, but perhaps not the Chen Jizhou I am today."
Under Ye Zhaoxu's slightly stunned and moved gaze, he said, "I find it hard to imagine a world without her."
In his view, love is about mutual fulfillment.
Even without Jiang Meng, he might still be just as carefree and relaxed.
Perhaps they are still observing the happiness of others, imagining what love is.
He will not be sad, but he will not be happy either.
With the arrival of spring, the snow on the beach melted, and as the weather warmed up in April and May, the number of visitors to Yunzhu surged again. The valley reopened to the public, attracting a constant stream of tourists, and the scenic area became very profitable.
After Jiang Meng got off work, someone was leisurely waiting for her at the door to spend the weekend together.
Chen Jizhou had sent a message in advance. When she went downstairs, she would usually look for her car first. She quickly scanned the parking lot and realized that he probably hadn't arrived yet. Just as she was about to look down at her phone, someone carrying flowers appeared from behind a large vehicle.
Chen Jizhou wore a dignified and elegant dark shirt, with a belt cinching his slender waist. His trousers accentuated his long, straight legs. He wore the sunglasses she had planned to give to Xie Zhuo last time, and held a bouquet of vibrant roses in his arms. The bright red roses matched the black of his clothes perfectly.
Now he can openly give her roses without having to ask anyone else, and he can also openly stand in that pink and purple luxury car and say to her, "Last time I saw you admiring other people's cars on the street, so I bought you a similar one. Try it out."
Jiang Meng was stunned for a moment, clearly not remembering when she had ever envied someone else's car, but she really liked this model. He had changed the color, it was her favorite color. She looked back and forth, speechless: "What does this mean? This car? Was it bought for me?"
He nodded generously: "I bought it for you, as a token of our love."
"Great! A luxury car and a beautiful woman, now I have it all."
Jiang Meng was overjoyed and ran to the back to look at the car logo. It was a Mercedes-Benz G-Class. "Who says life can't be too perfect?"
Chen Jizhou smiled faintly, the wind lifting his short hair from his forehead, his glasses unable to conceal the spirited look in his eyes: "More than that, I'll live a long time."
She finally got a clue: "Are you talking about that painted tank from last time? To be honest, the price difference is quite significant."
Jiang Meng suddenly frowned, chin in hand, and questioned, "You're not going to just pay the down payment and expect me to pay the mortgage every month, are you?"
Mr. Chen said generously, "Of course I'll pay in full. I never borrow money."
He stood a short distance away, raised his chin, and tossed the car keys over, saying, "It's your car, you drive it."
Jiang Meng held the keys, overjoyed: "Thank you, boss!"
He casually sat in the passenger seat: "Today you're the boss, I'll follow you."
"Where are we going, boss?" Jiang Meng quickly got into the car.
Chen Jizhou had already comfortably reclined and taken off his sunglasses: "Do as you please, I'll follow your orders."
Seeing him leaning lazily against the passenger seat, looking like a young master waiting to be served, Jiang Meng suddenly felt something was wrong—she even delayed realizing it for a moment, what kind of boss drives for others?
Oh well, the car is hers anyway.
The carriage was quite large, and Jiang Meng was slightly worried about whether she could drive it. But after sitting down, she saw the pumpkin carriage she had given him hanging in front of her, gently swaying.
The old pendant momentarily distracted her.
It's been so long, he actually kept it...
It was Chen Jizhou who posted it.
She used to wear it on her body for many years.
He wore it for many years afterward.
Chen Jizhou generally doesn't go back on his path.
He will never regret that there will never be such a beautiful view again.
Because there will be even better, different scenery to come.
Unless this road leads to Jiang Meng's side.
At that time, Jiang Meng saw his message in the book and softly asked him, "Since you miss me, why don't you come to see me?"
Given Chen Jizhou's personality—he was too lazy to talk about his romantic past—he could easily brush it off with a casual remark. So he didn't tell her that when he missed her terribly, he actually went to see her a few times.
At that moment, Jiang Meng stared at her pumpkin carriage, her expression darkening, and asked him, "Chen Jizhou, you went to my graduation ceremony, didn't you?"
The people around him remained unmoved and continued to sit quietly.
You might call her stupid, but she also has a good eye for talent.
Unfortunately, her keen insight was always late, but she was always able to accurately notice the subtle clues of their missed opportunities years later.
She said, "I found a balloon."
On the day Jiang Meng graduated with her master's degree, the graduation ceremony was held in the main playground. Each graduate was assigned a bench, neatly arranged and orderly, resembling small squares, each one bathed in the rising sun. Dressed in their master's gowns and caps, they sat under the blazing sun, waiting for the tassel-turning ceremony to begin.
Finally, one day, he went to see her. It was no longer a rainy day, but a sunny one. Chen Jizhou, carrying his schoolbag, stood in a corner of the playground stands. His youthful and energetic figure attracted the attention of the middle-aged people next to him. It was as if he should be sitting below, becoming a part of the rushing to the sea and soaring high, rather than standing among the parents, paying attention to the solemn ceremony or raising his phone to record it, detached from the beautiful youth.
Chen Jizhou's thoughts raced. Did she have a boyfriend? Did she have a crush on anyone? But since he was already here, he decided to meet her. One last time, as a friend.
Meeting them once is not a luxury.
So many years have passed, any grudges or grievances are not worth mentioning.
With this in mind, Chen Jizhou bought her a pink balloon.
He drew a very simple smiley face on the balloon.
Chen Jizhou stood there holding the balloon, watching Jiang Meng go on stage from afar.
She waited in line until it was finally her turn. She skipped forward with joy and gently bent down in front of the kind female director, letting the director turn her tassel.
She smiled brightly and confidently, chatting and laughing among the crowd.
He didn't know any of her new friends.
Her smile was like—
On their first day of kindergarten, Chen Jizhou clung to his mother and refused to go inside. The little girl, unfazed, put on her backpack and pointed at his tearful face: "Silly boy, are you afraid of going to school?"
At that time, Wang Qi pinched his face and warned, "Study hard so that you can graduate with your sister. Otherwise, if you don't do well and have to repeat a grade, your brother will become your younger brother."
The older brother immediately strutted confidently through the school gate, tightened the straps of his schoolbag, took his younger sister's hand, and walked into the school with his head held high.
Today, she has completely become the same as she was at the beginning.
Those rugged and awkward nights are now a thing of the past, and dazzling light shines upon her.
She no longer needs care or attention.
Looking at Jiang Meng, Chen Jizhou felt a complete sense of relief for the first time.
After graduating from high school, he was worried about her and went to her father before she left to talk about her, acting as if he were the father.
She got drunk at university, and he was even more worried. He said he didn't want to see her again, but he was also very reluctant to part with her.
As the graduation ceremony ended, she happily joined the bustling crowd, carrying the graduation gift box distributed by the school.
He could finally say to himself: Fool, I've finally accompanied you to the end of this journey.
Chen Jizhou thought, "You are already a mature adult, and you are already your own pride."
And I am so glad that your wounds have healed, your world is sunny every day, and you no longer dwell on your broken youth.
In the end, I have nothing left to give you.
—It wasn't until this moment that he truly understood happiness.
Seeing her smile, Chen Jizhou smiled with relief as well.
She no longer depended on him, and he wasn't sad at all.
A fleeting connection can nurture a towering tree; to have been there for it is a great blessing.
It seems there's no need to see each other again.
So, one last time, he let go of the balloon with a carefree air, letting it drift away, and then strode out of the crowd.
"There was a smiley face drawn on that balloon, and it was leaking air, so it fell down. I think that's typical of you."
In the quiet car, they reminisced about each other.
After a while, he broke the silence and said jokingly, "I got scammed again. Ten yuan, and it's leaking air."
Jiang Meng burst out laughing.
She felt that fate was a wonderful thing; what was meant for her would always come back to her.
It's a kite from my childhood.
It's a paper airplane for a coming-of-age ceremony.
These are balloons from graduation.
Everything arose naturally and fell into her palm.
It's destiny, and it can't be changed.
“It’s destined, it can’t be changed—do you still remember your poem?” Jiang Meng’s mind raced as she thought of something, tilted her head and smiled, gazing intently at Chen Jizhou.
His hazy consciousness paused, he lowered his gaze, and quietly looked at her: "You saw it?"
"Yes, I found it from Su Yu."
Chen Jizhou remained silent for a moment, then said with a heart full of despair, "Fine, even she betrayed me."
The 162nd issue of "Oasis" finally ended up in her hands, thanks to the good student Su Yu, who never missed a single issue of the magazine.
Back then, Jiang Meng wrote an essay that was published on the title page by her teacher, titled "When I Met You at Seven Years Old".
Chen Jizhou quoted the title of her previous issue.
What were you like at seven years old?
Easygoing, innocent, possessing love, and having the right to be spoiled.
I saw her again.
She said to me, "Please help me find me."
It is often said that unrequited love is like a heavy rain.
But in my heart, you are not rain, but more like the morning dew that holds me before dawn.
You are not the abrupt tremor that causes my heart rate to fluctuate, but the pulse that sustains my life.
You are not the untouchable moon, you are the vine growing beside me.
I watched you grow inch by inch, life after life.
Even with broken branches, it remains resilient.
You are never the kind of person who is exhausted, gloomy, rainy, or snowy.
You are part of all the beautiful things in the world.
I will see the sun for you, I will throb with energy for you, I will remain evergreen for you through all four seasons.
Because you exist, that is who I am.
Your beauty stretches infinitely, covering my soul.
The sun rises and sets, the stars shift and the constellations move.
It's destiny, and it can't be changed.
When I met you at seven years old, she asked me to tell you: Don't be sad, don't be confused, don't be disappointed, you don't have to grow up.
It's okay if you hate this world.
I will be your universe.
Come hide here.
Easygoing, innocent, possessing love, and having the right to be spoiled—
This is what I want to dedicate to your seventeenth year.
It was I who found you for you.
Wherever you are, please have a good dream.
In this way, my heart will have a place to rest.
Outside the window, the night sky was high and vast. I promised her that I would stay by her side.
If one day you choose to forget your sorrows and return to your own world, you will surely smile and wave goodbye to her.
I'm behind you, always wishing you fulfillment.
I still remember the long road I walked to pick up the tickets that day at noon.
I was riding my bike; the wind was pleasant, and the clouds were beautiful.
It's okay if the red light is slow, because I still love you today.
The signature is A.
She closed the magazine and saw the boy riding his bike through the streets and alleys to get her a ticket, far away yet vibrant and full of life.
He should be happy, energetic, and full of vitality, never miserable.
She could also imagine him putting pen to paper, a man who should have been unrestrained on the basketball court, but instead chose to lock his heart at a small table, staying up all night to write a bright, cheerful, and slightly clumsy little poem for his beloved.
He put down his pen, stretched with a sense of accomplishment, and imagined her opening this page and smiling when she saw the lovely words. He also rested his chin on his hand and smiled dreamily.
He recounted his waiting.
Telling stories of love.
Pure, silent, enduring, steadfast, and great love.
The drifting, unrestrained traces of the boat remain in a chaotic world.
Anning and romantic Chen Jizhou walked alone with a lamp for her.
Jiang Meng said, "But you know what? I don't want you to wish me a perfect life. Without you, the happier I am, the emptier I feel; the more perfect my life is, the more regretful I feel."
She told him, "I just want to thank fate for bringing you back to my side once again."
She said, "You are the final stroke of the character 'full'."
-
Jiang Meng parked her car at a dock.
"The fireflies are flying again this year. Let's go find that tree hole."
Chen Jizhou got out of the car, sensed something was wrong, put his hands in his pockets, and refused to walk any further.
He adopted a haughty and aloof demeanor, glancing at her uncertainly: "Ms. Jiang, I'm dressed so smartly today, and you're just going to let me ride in this shabby little boat?"
The boatmen at the dock have already put their oars on the ground, waiting to welcome passengers. They shout over here, "Are you coming or not?"
Seeing that the person looked difficult to please, Jiang Meng turned her face away and said, "Then don't sit down, swim over there."
He held his palm across his forehead and gazed into the distance for a moment: "It's not impossible, we'll get there in two hours."
Are you sure you can get there in two hours?
Looking at the vast expanse of water, Chen Jizhou judged, "It will float up in two hours."
Jiang Meng was overjoyed. After laughing, she turned around and hit him, saying, "Don't talk nonsense."
She grabbed Chen Jizhou's hand, touched the wooden stake beside them, and then she was done.
Sitting on the boat, as night fell, the water and sky stretched out in a vast expanse, and the air was filled with wisps of mist.
Do you know about the Promised Land?
On the boat, Jiang Meng asked him.
Chen Jizhou, who had been a little uncomfortable when he first sat down, was now enjoying the scenery with ease. Hearing this, he glanced at Jiang Meng and said, "In ancient times it was called Canaan, and in modern times it is Palestine? Are you studying religion or politics?"
Jiang Meng slowly shook her head: "Do you know why I stayed in Yunzhou?"
He understood something and smiled slightly: "Don't tell me you've been missing me all this time."
Jiang Meng fell silent.
They reached the other side.
Jiang Meng pulled Chen Jizhou along and found the ancient banyan tree. A sign hanging on the tree read: "Tell your secrets to the tree hollow."
It was the same wooden sign from ten years ago, the words faded. Jiang Meng treated it with extra care, even wiping away the accumulated dust with a wet wipe.
Summer hadn't truly arrived yet, and the fireflies were sparse, leaving visitors somewhat disappointed.
Chen Jizhou gazed at the entire wetland park, as if drawing upon a memory from it, until a call came from behind him. She asked him if he wanted to share his secrets.
He kept a distance: "What can I say to a tree?"
Jiang Meng understood that he was keeping this distance to give her the opportunity to confide in him.
Chen Jizhou was unaware that the tiny, secret tears shed in the tree hollow ten years ago were for him.
She no longer cries, no longer hears the echoes of her youthful heart, but it doesn't matter. Jiang Meng says softly and quietly, "I have an all-powerful lover, and I want to be with him for the rest of my life."
Fireflies, which had been dormant all winter, took flight at this moment, more numerous than before. She looked up at the sky again, where boundless blue light filled the night sky, and the entire valley resembled a starry river reflected in the mortal world.
The man's figure stood tall and serene, but when she looked at him again, time and space had shifted, and the world had changed.
Chen Jizhou turned around, looking past the glittering insects, and met her satisfied eyes. He couldn't help but think of the blessing he had held in his heart ten years ago, which was now being answered.
Love will surely flow back in another way and fill the void in your life.
Chen Jizhou walked over and said, "I have no secrets, let me tell you."
Jiang Meng couldn't help but laugh. She nodded indulgently, "Okay, then I'll reluctantly listen."
She closed her eyes after she finished speaking, but the next second, her hand was grabbed and a cool ring was pushed into her finger.
As she opened her eyes in surprise, Chen Jizhou calmly continued, "You always say that I'm important to you, but I rarely mention how important you are to me."
"Jiang Meng, to me, you are a unique existence. I am at a loss for words to describe this uniqueness. In short, you taught me about love and made me grow the flesh and blood of love. Without you, I dare not imagine how my emotions would be lacking. It is because of you that I know how to love others, or rather, how to love you."
"Because you exist, I am who I am. This is truly destiny, and it will not change."
"Marriage is not a necessity, but I love you, so this is my promise to you. It doesn't mean the end of a certain period of time, just like the midnight bell, the pumpkin carriage comes from the past and goes into the future. There is no beginning, and there is no end. Our relationship has no midnight, and you don't have to feel bound by it. With you by my side, the fairy tale has no ending."
"In the future, if you want to study how big the Earth is, we'll set off. I'll accompany you to every place you want to go. If you want to go diving, we'll go to an island; if you want to watch the sunset, we'll go to Santorini; if you want to see whales, we'll go to Northern Europe; if you want to stargaze, we'll go to the desert. When you hate being bored, I'll always be ready to play with you, to share the beauty with you, to dance, to run, to go all out, without hesitation. If you just want a peaceful life, we can also take walks on the beach, watch the sunset together, and play with Little Gold. I'll prepare three meals a day for you."
"With me by your side, you can live the life of any age you want, even if it means going back to your childhood."
"However, there's something I want to take back: in the next life, I won't be your father, I still want to be your lover. I want to go back to our childhood with you and do the things we wanted to do. The things we didn't finish when we were seven, the things we didn't finish when we were seventeen. It's not too late; we can still make up for our regrets one by one now."
"Of course, more romantic than dancing, running, or traveling the world is waiting with you for our daily meals to grow old together. If you feel the same way—"
Jiang Meng had made ample preparations and was determined not to cry today, but she still couldn't help but burst into tears at his calm confession.
But amidst the tears, there was also a faint sound of him making her laugh.
"Jiang Meng, I love you. Marry me."
She recalled that when they arrived on the boat, they had been here when they were seventeen and were almost ripped off by a boatman who was asking for an exorbitant price.
Fortunately, there was Chen Jizhou.
She often lamented that there was a Chen Jizhou in her life.
In every moment of her stumbling, running, and losing herself.
As the sun rises and sets, as the stars shift and the constellations turn, he is always there, no matter when I open my eyes or turn around.
Later, when he lived a more pleasant and relaxed life, he felt as if he had completed a mission and easily escaped her clutches.
But during those years, the happier I was, the emptier I felt; the more fulfilled I felt, the more regretful I became.
She found the promised land, and she turned back.
They revealed unspeakable secrets and made an unwavering choice.
Jiang Meng does often reminisce about her youth; she cherishes the period before she becomes an adult.
Seventeen is a little better than eighteen. You don't have to be lost at the crossroads of fate, wondering where the way out is. You don't have to take the college entrance exam, say goodbye, or travel far away. You can still be a naive child for a while without any distractions. All your self-initiated escapes will be called rebellion instead of courage, but because of the title of being an innocent minor, you can be forgiven. Not getting good grades is a huge mistake, but even the biggest mistake is not getting good grades. You don't have many ways to deal with pain, but you can still cry out loud. You are trapped under a small roof, but you are also protected in a high ivory tower.
And a face that turns red at the slightest touch, and a heart that burns with the slightest touch.
To be loved, to be lifted up, to be given concessions, to be accepted.
Unbridled, conspicuous and flamboyant. Passionate and vibrant, yet growing slowly.
On the river where smoke rises, reeds sway and drift, and the wind blows the mountains into an endless expanse of green, quietly awaiting a brand new summer.
In a vision where reality and illusion were indistinguishable, she saw the gift he had given her ten years ago, which brought back a dream of her seventeen-year-old self.
One day, she brought a belated answer.
She said I did.
I will always love you.
—End of text—
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