Chapter 51 Defection Beyond Time
Chen Jizhou stood at the intersection and hugged her for about half a minute.
Jiang Meng nestled quietly in his arms, naturally drawing her arms together and placing her palms on his shoulder blades. The windproof sportswear fabric was smooth, and when she leaned her cheek against it, it felt cool and refreshing, calming her heart considerably.
After a moment of silence, someone's stomach rumbled.
Chen Jizhou gave a knowing smile and asked, "What was that sound?"
"..." Jiang Meng pushed him away in embarrassment: "Ugh, you're so annoying."
He was pushed back a small step, chuckled, and put his hands back in his pockets. He glanced at her embarrassed and disheveled face. "Haven't eaten yet?"
Jiang Meng said, "I forgot to eat."
"You were too busy to remember?"
"..."
Jiang Meng turned around, lowered her eyes, and kicked a pebble at her feet unhappily. "I just don't have much of an appetite. I'm so angry I'm full."
Chen Jizhou sized her up for a while, then walked over, grabbed Jiang Meng's arm, and pulled her forward, saying in a nonchalant tone, "What's the big deal? It's enough to make you lose your appetite."
Jiang Meng was pulled into the noodle shop by him.
She didn't say what she wanted, so Chen Jizhou ordered her a bowl of plain noodles without scallions and added a poached egg.
Jiang Meng found a seat and sat down, and he followed her.
"Where did you come from?" she asked.
"Just got off work."
Chen Jizhou pulled out a stool and sat down. He casually crossed his long legs, crossed his arms, and leaned back in the chair with a relaxed posture. Jiang Meng glanced at him up and down, and remembering the hug from earlier, she felt a little embarrassed to look him in the eye. His cool jacket had a light fragrance that still lingered on her nose.
Jiang Meng touched her nose, as if trying to hold onto something.
She didn't look into his eyes, but stared at his body. He was probably wearing a short-sleeved shirt underneath, and the zipper of his jacket wasn't fully zipped up, revealing his well-defined collarbone, straight and broad shoulders, and beautiful lines in his neck and jaw, as well as his attractive Adam's apple.
"You're working overtime too?" she asked. "Are you planning to go home?"
"right."
If Chen Jizhou doesn't arrange to play ball with anyone, he likes to spend his free time alone after work, reading, going to the gym, playing games, or practicing musical instruments. Jiang Meng says he's full of energy, but his life isn't as vibrant as she imagines. Chen Jizhou isn't actually that energetic; he just has an advantage that's hard for modern people to achieve: he doesn't like playing on his phone. For him, a phone is just a traditional communication tool, saving time for other things, which others see as a sign of abundant energy.
This noodle shop is located on the old street behind the school. It's frequented by college students, bustling and noisy. They are pioneering and energetic, indignant and idealistic. They are more intelligent than naive, and more passionate than worldly-wise.
Jiang Meng said, "You don't seem out of place sitting here at all."
Chen Jizhou: "What do you mean?"
"They say you're very boyish." Liang Shanshan and Yan Yuqing both said that.
He asked, puzzled, "Am I difficult to deal with? Am I?"
Jiang Meng wanted to laugh, but then answered seriously, "Well... to be honest, there is a little bit."
Then, she confidently added, "But for a pretty and cute girl like me, it's a piece of cake."
Chen Jizhou lowered his head and said, "That's not too difficult to deal with."
One phone call was all it took to entice them.
He shouldn't be too easy to get, okay?
Over the next few minutes, Jiang Meng couldn't help but rant to him about the bizarre students and parents she had encountered: "Why should everything be blamed on the teacher? Don't you think some parents are really unethical?"
Chen Jizhou listened attentively, thought for a moment, and said, "To some extent, they are probably dissatisfied with themselves or their children, which led to you being implicated. Of course, this shows that their values are problematic, and you don't need to be angry."
"But he insulted me, and I couldn't talk back."
Chen Jizhou offered her advice: "If you encounter someone being unreasonable again, just give me the phone number next time."
Jiang Meng asked curiously, "What, do you have a way to cure him?"
"I'll help you get treatment."
Are you going to yell back?
He nodded, his tone lazy and arrogant: "I can't curse him to death."
Jiang Meng couldn't help but give him a thumbs up, her smile revealing her rosy lips and white teeth: "I believe in your words, you're absolutely qualified to fight for me."
Chen Jizhou looked at her and smiled slightly.
Sitting among the students, he would also feel sentimental.
In their early twenties, their paths diverged.
Now that we've met again after all this time, it's impossible to wholeheartedly blend in anymore.
He wouldn't say she looked weary or worn out, but when her disappointed eyes drooped with her hair, he felt the most regret. Yes, Chen Jizhou also regretted that he should have stayed by her side all along.
Jiang Meng didn't dress up much today, wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans. Her hair wasn't tied up, but hung loosely and naturally.
When she saw him once, she was dressed exquisitely, her skirt fluttering. She said, as if with regret, "Because you've never seen me when I'm particularly beautiful."
Chen Jizhou thought to himself, he had already seen her before. He had seen her at her most beautiful.
There is beauty in being pretty, and there is beauty in being natural.
Even exhaustion and tears are vividly portrayed.
It's like the moon's reflection shattering in the ripples.
Jiang Meng called his name softly: "Chen Jizhou, I'm quite happy that you came today."
The boss brought the noodles over.
Chen Jizhou smiled and said, "I saw that you couldn't eat or drink anything, so if I didn't come and help you clear your head, your little head would keep getting all worked up."
"If you can eat, good food is more effective." He pushed the noodles towards her. "Eat up, you'll have the energy for your date."
He spoke in a nonchalant tone.
The soup warmed her face, and because she was stimulated by the word "date," Jiang Meng quickly broke her chopsticks apart.
Chen Jizhou asked her if she liked her current job.
Jiang Meng said warily, "It's better than being your secretary. Don't always try to poach me. I can't become the boss if I go to you. But it's different for me now. I have a carrot dangling in front of me."
She was lost in thought, a proud smile on her face: "When I get promoted, I want to be just like that Director Yin—you, come here, let me look at your fingernails. Hmm, not bad, watch out next time."
"Being a leader is incredibly prestigious, isn't it?"
Hearing her say that, Chen Jizhou smiled and said, "Okay, Director Jiang, I won't bother you anymore. Just focus on getting promoted. Maybe you can give me a promotion someday. I don't want to work hard anymore. Let me avoid taking a few detours."
Jiang Meng slurped up a mouthful of noodles, and upon hearing his words, couldn't help but giggle.
After a long silence, Chen Jizhou finally asked seriously, "Why were you crying just now?"
Jiang Meng suppressed her smile, her teeth chattering for a moment. She swallowed a mouthful of noodles, stirred the soup, and mumbled in a dreamlike voice, "Maybe... it's because I like you too much."
The person on the other end fell silent.
In a place she couldn't see, an iceberg suddenly cracked open.
Warm waters flowed down, nourishing his cracked and parched mudflats.
For her uncertain "I like you," he could let go of all his youthful regrets.
Jiang Meng looked up and saw that he indeed had deep-set eyes.
She said, "I'm the kind of person who talks a lot, has a very strong desire to express myself, and really needs a response. If you can understand me and give me a response, I'll be very touched, you understand?"
Jiang Meng looked at him seriously and asked, "Do you understand?"
Chen Jizhou said, "Of course I understand."
Once in the car, Jiang Meng didn't ask him where he planned to go.
Chen Jizhou drove onto the road and stopped at a long red light intersection. He opened both windows, and the evening breeze, mixed with the humid and hot air of late summer, blew in. He took a gift box from the center console.
Jiang Meng had seen it earlier, but assumed it was something he had bought for someone else, so she didn't ask any further questions. Chen Jizhou opened the box, wrapped a silk ribbon around his finger, and spread his palm. The ribbon moved lightly and gracefully in the crosswinds on both sides of the window.
Jiang Meng asked in surprise, "Is it for me?"
He said, "Even if it's just for one day, there should still be some sense of ritual."
Seeing her slightly shocked expression, Chen Jizhou smiled and said, "I've caught the last bit of summer for you."
Jiang Meng lifted her trembling eyelashes and saw his bright, smiling eyes.
He leaned closer, looking at her dazed expression, as if pondering her shyness and joy at that moment, and feeling good about it, a charming smile curving his lips.
The distance, neither too close nor too far, made her hold her breath.
She felt from the bottom of her heart that Chen Jizhou's smile was his winning weapon, making it particularly easy for his opponent to crumble.
It is spacious and clean, open and passionate.
No one can resist such a laugh.
He leaned so close to look at her, his eyes wide, like a small universe that could infinitely encompass her.
It's too captivating.
The hairband swayed in the wind in his hands.
She admitted that she was very tempted.
Jiang Meng's mind was filled with a bunch of improper thoughts.
I want to kiss him so much...
This headband reminded her of a psychology class in elementary school where the teacher gave them a test question: how to provide psychological counseling to prisoners in a closed prison? Some people said to keep plants in the room, some said to draw on the wall, and some said to replace the wall with transparent glass. Chen Jizhou's answer was: I would hang a ribbon in the ventilated window. Where there is wind, there is hope.
The hopeful "little tail" was placed in her hands.
Do you like it?
"……Um."
Chen Jizhou bought the headband on his way here. Because this relationship came about somewhat unexpectedly, he didn't have time to carefully select it. He parked his car at the entrance of the mall and went into a familiar brand store.
In his eyes, Jiangmeng should be green, full of vitality, like a spring bud that is always breaking through the soil.
So he chose green.
"Tie it up."
Chen Jizhou looked at her flowing hair, a slight smile playing on his lips. He stepped on the gas and sped through the green light intersection. "I'm taking you away today."
"..."
Jiang Meng lowered her burning face and meticulously tied her hair up.
He was driving quite fast, and seeing that the road was veering off course and heading towards the countryside, Jiang Meng couldn't help but ask, "Where are we going?"
Chen Jizhou asked her, "Do you still remember our paradise?"
Jiang Meng nodded quickly: "Of course."
He said, "How about revisiting this place?"
"Okay, but..."
"But what?"
"You can't see fireflies at this hour, they've all closed for the holidays."
The bridge to Yunzhu has opened. After passing through a dark alley, the car merges back into the light and drives onto the wide and sturdy bridge.
Chen Jizhou smiled slightly, propped his forehead up, and said with feigned distress, "Yes, then I need to think of a solution."
Jiang Meng glanced at the time. "I'm starting to regret it. It's too late. The day is almost over."
"What time is it?"
It's 10:30.
He laughed dismissively: "There's plenty of time."
After a moment of silence, Chen Jizhou looked at Jiang Meng, who was in a daze.
He reached out and gently stroked the bridge of her nose, reminding her, "But you have to promise me that you'll let go of all your worries and from now on, just keep me in your heart."
Lively and enchanting rock music was playing in the car. Jiang Meng smiled and looked back at him: "Just like before."
The cityscape on the opposite bank of the river recedes into the misty distance, disappearing into the fog of the past.
Yunzhu is a small town with a thriving tourism industry. Especially after the road was built, the city's promotion has been very effective in recent years. Even late at night, backpackers come to camp, watch the sea, climb mountains, or wait for the sunrise.
Chen Jizhou parked the car in a commercial area and took her inside for a stroll.
It's getting late; some famous tourist attractions, like the Whale Cafe, have already closed.
However, the neighborhood was still very lively. People were singing with guitars by the lake, and internet celebrities were live streaming on their phones.
After browsing around, Jiang Meng got carried away with her shopping and bought quite a few small gifts.
While she was trying on earrings at a small stall, Chen Jizhou took a phone call not far away.
Jiang Meng took the earrings, put her things away, and checked the remaining time for the 20th time.
Chen Jizhou didn't tell her about the next steps, whether she should stay there overnight or go back.
She turned around just as he hung up the phone.
Jiang Meng walked over and said, "Tomorrow is Saturday, you shouldn't be at work, right?"
Chen Jizhou gave a leisurely "hmm": "Not going to work? Why?"
"..."
He glanced at the shop behind her, then at the gift box she was carrying: "Have you bought the earrings?"
“I bought them,” Jiang Meng said, lifting the small bag to show him. “I bought two pairs.”
Chen Jizhou chuckled: "It's my first time being someone's boyfriend, and you're not even giving me a chance to show off."
Jiang Meng grinned: "It's very cheap, only thirty yuan."
Although she was smiling, Jiang Meng was thinking to herself, "So eager? You might as well kiss me instead of spending money on me!"
Fool, fool, fool!
Unable to hear her inner thoughts, he remained unmoved: "Want to continue shopping?"
Jiang Meng shook her head.
"Let's go then."
It's almost midnight, and their brief "Valentine's Day" is probably coming to an end here.
Although she felt a little unsatisfied, Jiang Meng was still very satisfied.
One night is enough.
When she sat in the passenger seat, her eyelids were drooping. Someone touched her face, which made her a little more awake. Chen Jizhou asked her gently, "Are you sleepy?"
Jiang Meng closed her eyes and nodded.
"Then take a nap. I'll close the window if you get cold."
She said, "Don't turn it off."
She wanted the wind to blow in, so that the headband could occasionally tap against the back of her neck, giving her a sense of flowing pleasure and peace.
"Chen Jizhou, thank you."
Whether she was talking in her sleep or truly confiding in him, Chen Jizhou made a quick assessment, noticing her eyes twitching slightly beneath her closed eyelids.
He asked, "What are you thanking me for?"
"When I'm with you, nothing else matters. I feel happy, genuinely happy. All my worries disappear, and every breeze that touches me feels fresh."
She spoke softly and slowly: "You promised me here before that no matter how far you went, you would come back immediately if I needed you. I thought you were lying to me. To be honest, I have complained about you over the years, but I slowly realized that I complained about you only because I couldn't bear to let you go, and maybe because... because I like you. I have never had such complicated feelings for anyone before. Anyway, I am sure now that you did not lie to me, and you will still come back."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Jiang Meng's throat tightened slightly: "I'm so happy that you brought me back."
“I’ve thought about revisiting these places before, but there are some places that I would never go back to in my life if it weren’t for you.”
A few seconds later, she felt cool finger bones brush against her face.
She took his hand and said, "Drive carefully."
However, the car stopped very quickly.
Jiang Meng looked around and noticed something strange about the parking lot...
It's not like the apartment downstairs from hers.
It feels like being in the mountains.
They should still be in Yunzhu.
Chen Jizhou sat in the car for a while. He had something to say, but after glancing at the time, he said to her, "Close your eyes. I'm taking you somewhere."
Jiang Meng smiled slightly and obediently closed her eyes: "Okay."
He opened the passenger door, his long, slender fingers threading through her palm to hold her firmly.
Jiang Meng pursed her lips, trying to keep the light out of her eyes, and lowered her head slightly, afraid that he would see through the embarrassment in her expression.
She was certain she was in the mountains because the mountain wind was much cooler than down below, and it felt a bit cold on her neck.
He promptly draped his coat over her shoulders.
She didn't ask where he was taking her; she just followed him.
The ground was quite flat, and the surroundings were quiet, with the sounds of some birds.
Then, she touched a railing, and Jiang Meng instinctively held onto it.
Chen Jizhou stood behind her, his long arms encircling her, and he also leaned on the railing, standing shoulder to shoulder with her.
"Are you scared?" His voice was very close.
"What are you afraid of?"
"The things you're worried about will happen." Chen Jizhou said with a smile. It turned out he had noticed that she had checked the time more than twenty times tonight.
Zero o'clock signifies many things.
An end or a new beginning.
The carriage turned back into a pumpkin, the princess back into Cinderella, the one-day lover became ineffective at this moment, and everything returned to the unchanging mediocrity.
He gently placed his palm on the top of her head and stroked it tenderly: "Open your eyes."
The wind blowing from the mountaintop swept away the stray hairs from her face, scattering them behind her.
With an unobstructed, clear view, Jiang Meng leaned on the railing, gazing out at the valley.
Chen Jizhou whispered in her ear, "It won't end until midnight."
He spoke with a smile, each word deliberate and clear, like the tolling of a verdict bell. He lowered his handsome brows and looked at her, his voice and gaze filled with tenderness.
"The fairy tale has just begun."
Before the words were finished, the sound of an orchestra playing filled my ears.
A mix of several instruments, including the cello, violin, accordion, and piano.
Por una Cabeza.
The famous tango from "Scent of a Woman".
Jiang Meng turned around in surprise.
There really are living people playing music for her here.
This is a proper theater, built on the edge of a cliff. Jiang Meng is holding onto the theater railing. Below is a gentle hillside, and further away, the town lights twinkle in the distance.
Chen Jizhou raised his face and saw Jiang Jiaming playing the piano on the stage in the distance.
Although this person isn't a very good singer, he's still somewhat reliable when you ask him for favors; he can quickly put together a small band for you.
Chen Jizhou clapped his hands, smiled, and gave him a thumbs-up to express his gratitude.
This is an environmental theater. Not long ago, university performing arts students gave a performance here. Environmental theater means using the natural environment of the city as a stage, so the theater is built in the woods.
He leaned against the railing, his posture exuding a carefree and relaxed air. Chen Jizhou smiled and looked at Jiang Meng: "The weather is bad today, there are no stars. It's not bad to look at the lights here. This whole pond is full of stars."
Are you satisfied?
The stage lights illuminated them, with the orchestra's performance teachers behind them.
Jiang Meng: "So today I'm... Cinderella?"
Chen Jizhou flicked her forehead: "You're not Cinderella. You're my girlfriend, Chen Jizhou's girlfriend. You're entitled to princess treatment, okay?"
Jiang Meng pretended to be in pain, let out a "whoosh," and laughed as she covered her forehead, only to see him gentlemanly extend his hand.
"May I have this dance, Your Highness?"
The princess said jokingly, "But you used to step on my feet all the time."
"Not anymore, I'm all grown up now." Chen Jizhou said confidently, raising an eyebrow and smiling. "Still dare to try?"
As usual, she would subconsciously feel regret because she wasn't dressed nicely today—she should at least have a dress.
She wasn't wearing a dress, only sneakers and jeans; her outfit was too plain from head to toe, lacking any real flair.
But Jiang Meng felt inexplicably relaxed at this moment, becoming completely unconcerned. She smiled and said, "I dare."
His bowed head and smiling gesture made her feel as if time and space had not yet deepened.
They defected beyond the reach of time.
The seventeen-year-old boy reached out his hand to her.
Jiang Meng gave herself away.
The starry sky hanging low to the ground, the distant flowing water and moonlight made her fair face appear even more radiant.
She is the moon's reflection shattered in the ripples, only to be restored to wholeness in the stillness of the night, returning to a night of perfect beauty and full moon.
In the last breeze of summer night, the lights of thousands of homes become stars in the mortal world, dancing an elegant tango here.
The dream will not end.
The fairy tale has just begun.
He broke the midnight curse for her.
Even on a cloudy day, the stars are beautiful.
But in her heart she thought, none of the stars could compare to the brightness of his eyes.
In front of the right person, she doesn't need heavy makeup; he will naturally make her the most beautiful version of herself.
The green hair ribbon, along with her formless skirt, fluttered in the evening breeze.
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