Synchronized metronome
The first snowfall didn't last long, gradually stopping in the afternoon, leaving only a few damp traces on the shady rooftops and in the corners of the alleys. The sunlight pierced through the clouds again, not intense, but carrying the unique, clear warmth of winter, shining into the "Time" shop.
The gear-shaped jade ring, worn on Lin Zhiyi's ring finger, initially felt cool to the touch with its metal and jade, but this quickly warmed up with her body heat, becoming a comforting and tangible presence. It was unassuming, even somewhat plain, but whenever she raised her hand to do something, her gaze would drift over the warm, meaningful gear on her finger, and a gentle, persistent ripple would spread through her heart, as if she were being soothed by a warm spring.
Lu Shixu seemed unchanged. He still sat at his workbench, focused on the intricate world at his feet. However, Lin Zhiyi keenly noticed that he occasionally looked up at her more often than before. His gaze was no longer simply an affirmation of her presence, but held a deeper, more lingering quality, imbued with a sense of peaceful belonging. When his eyes lightly touched the ring on her finger, a faint yet undeniably genuine satisfaction would flicker in his clear eyes.
They didn't make a big fuss; their joy was understated, like a warm current flowing beneath a deep pool. The first to notice was Zhou Wanqing. One evening, she rushed into the store, initially there to complain about a difficult customer, but her gaze was instantly drawn to Lin Zhiyi's hands as she organized books, as if by a magnet.
"Wait!" Zhou Wanqing rushed over, grabbed Lin Zhiyi's hand, her eyes wide with surprise. "What...what is this?! Am I seeing things?!"
Lin Zhiyi blushed slightly, feeling a little embarrassed, but still nodded with a smile.
"My God! Lu Shixu! You're amazing!" Zhou Wanqing turned around abruptly and gave an exaggerated thumbs-up to the slender figure behind the workbench. "You're a silent hero, but when you do speak, you amaze everyone! This ring is so special! Is it a custom-made piece exclusively for our Brother Shixu?"
Lu Shixu's ears turned slightly red from her nagging. He glanced at Lin Zhiyi with a helpless look before nodding slightly to Zhou Wanqing, which was considered an admission.
"That's great! That's really great!" Zhou Wanqing excitedly hugged Lin Zhiyi and patted her back hard. "I knew it! You two are the perfect match! When are you getting married? I need to clear my schedule in advance!"
Compared to Zhou Wanqing's outgoing enthusiasm, Shen Bei learned the news in a more subtle way. She noticed the unusual ring the moment Lin Zhiyi handed her a coffee cup at a café. She paused slightly, then gave a knowing and warm smile.
"Congratulations," she said gently, placing the coffee in front of Lin Zhiyi. "It suits you very well." She didn't ask any further questions, but her knowing look and sincere blessing said it all.
Even Lin's mother, who occasionally brought some home-cooked food, noticed the new object in her daughter's fingers after a few visits, when her daughter handed her a peeled apple. The mother's gaze lingered on it for a few seconds, without saying anything, but gently patted the back of her daughter's hand, her eyes filled with complex emotions—gratification, blessings, and perhaps a hint of relief at finally letting go.
These messages of knowledge and blessings from close relatives and friends, like gentle streams, flow into the shared river of their lives, making this promise even richer and more real.
Life continued as usual. Lu Shixu repaired his clocks, Lin Zhiyi worked on her manuscripts, or read in the shop. They ate together, took evening walks together, and enjoyed the tranquility together amidst the chiming of the clocks.
But some things are indeed different now.
That ring was more than just a token; it was like a silent coordinate, anchoring their two hearts even more closely together. After the initial adjustment period, the trials of life, and the deepening integration, their rhythm finally reached a near-perfect synchronization.
Like two metronomes standing side by side, initially with slight differences, on a common base, after the vibration and adjustment over time, the pendulum swings eventually merge into one, producing a completely consistent, stable and long "tap, tap" sound.
He raised his hand, and she knew which tool he wanted.
He could tell she was having a problem just by looking at her furrowed brow.
A single glance is enough for them to understand each other's unspoken words.
A single emotional expression can elicit a silent response from the other person.
This synchronization is not a deliberate attempt to please, but a resonance that naturally forms between souls through long-term companionship. It makes getting along effortless and understanding as natural as breathing.
The afterglow of the setting sun cast their shadows on the ground, closely intertwined, inseparable.
The gear ring on my finger shimmered with a warm luster under the light.
The room was filled with the ticking of clocks, as if playing a constant and peaceful blessing for these two souls who had finally achieved perfect synchronization.
The future is still long, and time will continue to pass.
But they knew that from now on, they would walk together through every spring, summer, autumn and winter in this synchronized rhythm, until the end of time.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
