Chen Ying had been eating at the school cafeteria for a week straight, causing quite a stir. After all, she was the campus belle, and there was never a shortage of people eager to treat her to a al.
But ever since running into Xue Yang on that first day, she hadn’t seen him again. It was as if he had truly vanished from her world. They were in the sa school, their classrooms separated by a single corridor, yet they never crossed paths again.
Xue Yang, you really did it. You actually disappeared from my world. I’d like to see how long you can keep this up. This ti, I definitely won’t forgive you so easily.
A weight settled on her shoulder. Chen Ying looked up to see Wu Xiaoya beside her.
"Ying Ying, are you going to Phoenix Mountain to see the moon for the Mid-Autumn Festival?" Wu Xiaoya asked. "They say this year’s moon will be the biggest and roundest in a century. Legend has it that if you watch it with the one you love, you’ll receive the Moon Goddess’s blessing and be together forever."
Though Chen Ying seed to have many friends, Wu Xiaoya was the only one she was truly close to. Because of her connection to Chen Ying, Wu Xiaoya wasn’t deeply familiar with Xue Yang, but she knew enough about him. She genuinely thought he was a nice boy and soone worthy of her friend’s heart.
"I think I’ll sit this one out," Chen Ying replied, pretending to be absorbed in her phone.
In reality, her chat window was open to the last ssage from Xue Yang.
"Senior, will you be in your dorm on the night of September 30th? My military training will be over, and I have a big surprise for you."
That day, she knew perfectly well that Xue Yang was planning to confess his feelings for her, yet she had still replied with a simple, "I will be."
What she hadn’t expected was for Xue Yang’s gesture to be so grand. It had caught her completely off guard; she hadn’t even put on any makeup. To others, it was romantic, but to her, it was utterly mortifying. She hated showing an imperfect version of herself to outsiders, which is why she had said those harsh words.
Was I wrong? No. I can’t be wrong. The one at fault could only be Xue Yang. If he had just hinted at his plans from the start, I would have definitely dressed up for the occasion.
But she conveniently forgot: when had Xue Yang ever approached her without it being a confession of so sort?
She scrolled up through their ssage history.
"Senior, I hope you’ll go with to Phoenix Mountain to see the moon this Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Senior, I bought that milk tea you love. Please co down and get it. Please? I really want to see you."
"Senior, don’t be mad. I’ll definitely confess to you again next ti."
"Senior..."
"..."
Every single ssage was an attempt to win her over. She could imagine the smile on Xue Yang’s face as he typed each one. And even though she could count her replies on one hand, every ssage from him radiated a bright, beautiful optimism.
He must have been hopelessly in love with back then. Only soone so deeply in love would be so endlessly tolerant. Only soone so deeply in love would pursue a person for six years.
But she had forgotten that hearts are made of flesh and blood. Constant giving without reciprocation is exhausting. No matter how deep the affection, one will eventually grow tired; no matter how strong the love, the heart will one day grow cold.
He loves so much; he’ll definitely contact soon. If he asks to et for the Mid-Autumn Festival, I suppose I’ll go. And if he confesses to again, maybe... maybe I won’t reject him so quickly this ti. I could give him a little hope, just to see how far he’ll go. Isn’t that what they say online? When soone is pursuing you, and you don’t want to accept or refuse them, you give them a taste of sweetness to give them the courage to continue.
Chen Ying firmly believed that Xue Yang would ask her out for the Mid-Autumn Festival. He wouldn’t let such a perfect opportunity for a confession slip by.
***
The two of them walked down the street. Lin Xi hopped ahead while Xue Yang strolled behind. Occasionally, their shadows would overlap, looking like a couple sharing a passionate kiss.
Looking up, he realized for the first ti how brilliantly blue the night sky could be. It was like a bolt of transparent blue satin, scattered with countless stars that glittered like gemstones and pearls. The moon on the fourteenth day of the lunar month, while not as full as it would be on the fifteenth, was nearly a perfect circle—a giant jade plate set amongst the constellations, making it appear all the more luminous.
This was the first ti he had truly admired the night sky since eting Chen Ying. Before, his ti was either spent studying or pursuing her, leaving almost no ti for himself.
Xue Yang let out a silent laugh, unsure if it was at his own expense or soone else’s.
"Xue Yang, look! The moon is so round! It looks like an egg yolk. Ah, I’m craving mooncakes now."
Back ho, she would have already been enjoying all sorts of delicious mooncakes by this ti.
"I don’t have any mooncakes, but I can draw one for you. Want it?"
Lin Xi pouted. "Can’t you say sothing nice for once?"
Xue Yang looked down at her. The myriad stars in the sky seed to dim in comparison to the light sparkling in her eyes. He rembered the first ti he saw her, hiding from the rain under a large tree, looking just like a little holess kitten.
Looking at her now, her long hair was tied up in a bun. She was petite, wearing the cheap matching outfit he had bought. Though the clothes were inexpensive, on her they looked like they were several grades more luxurious, radiating a natural air of nobility. The frightened look in her eyes was gone, replaced by a vibrant energy.
A sense of pride swelled within Xue Yang.
Look at that. See how well I’ve raised the Xiao Naimao I picked up!
The girl before him seed to have an endless supply of energy. A simple evening stroll down the street wasn’t boring to her. She would even squat down to watch ants moving house by the roadside, trying to help guide them ho.
"Ants can find their own way ho," he said. "They don’t need your help. In fact, if you interfere, you might just make them get lost."
"Why?"
"Because ants rely on scents to navigate. That’s what keeps them from getting lost."
Lin Xi’s eyes sparkled. "Then what do they use to sll the scents?"
"They use their antennae. See how the first segnt is enlarged and bent like a knee? It’s very flexible. It allows them to determine not only the strength of a scent but also the direction and distance of its source. Hmm, it’s all stuff you learn from books."
Xue Yang looked at Lin Xi.
She guiltily turned her head away. "Really? How co I didn’t know that?"
Xue Yang smiled softly without calling her out. His smile seed to outshine the stars, turning them into re background decorations.
Squatting on the ground, Lin Xi gazed up at him. For the first ti, she thought that a boy could have such a beautiful smile—and be even more handso.
Wait a minute... Lin Xi, what are you thinking? This is just a temporary shelter you found after running away from ho. You absolutely cannot fall for him.
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