Thirty

The two of them played around the Chongwu Road area until nightfall. Having eaten lunch so late, neither of them was hungry for dinner and they only had a light meal. As they waited for the bus home, Huang Qi glanced at the bus routes. “There are direct buses from here both to my school and to your construction site. It’s actually quite convenient.”

But it wasn’t the same bus line. The thought that they would have to part ways now left both of them reluctant to say goodbye, and the lighthearted mood that had lasted all day suddenly grew somber.

Huang Qi asked, “How long will you be staying this time?”

“Three days. I’ll head back on Thursday afternoon.”

Three days, counting both ends, and not even during a holiday. She could probably find an excuse to take a day off, but Xiao Ying would undoubtedly have his schedule packed from morning to night. If she went to his worksite, she’d only be disturbing him. It seemed there would be no time for them to meet again.

“Well… I’ll come see you off at the train station when you leave, then. I’m free Thursday afternoon.”

Sha Zhouyin asked, “Aren’t you interning at the lab all the time? Is it okay for you to skip?”

“We’re not actually working. Even if we were, people request leave from work. Undergraduates aren’t strictly managed—it’s fine.”

A smile lit up his face just as a bus pulled in. “Your bus is here, you’d better get on. I’ll call you when I get back.”

A crowd of waiting passengers surged toward the arriving bus. Mid-sentence, they had to part ways. Huang Qi kept turning back to look at Xiao Ying as she boarded, her heart aching with reluctance. She deliberately slowed her pace, falling behind the crowd. Sha Zhouyin walked her to the door. Even after she set one foot on the bus, she couldn’t help but turn back, clutching his hand and calling, “Xiao Ying!”

He stood at the bus door, looking up at her. In his eyes, she saw the same longing and unwillingness to part. The bus driver, hand poised over the door control, asked impatiently, “Are you getting on or not? If not, I’m closing the doors.”

On impulse, Huang Qi turned as if to jump off the bus, but he was quicker. With a single stride, Sha Zhouyin boarded the bus just as the doors clanged shut behind him.

The bus started to move. It was packed with people, leaving them no choice but to stand by the door. He looked at her, then began to explain unnecessarily, “I just realized my bus, while direct, takes a really winding route. I might as well take yours and transfer—same direction, maybe even faster…”

Huang Qi lowered her head, hiding her amusement. As the bus lurched forward, he grabbed the overhead strap and told her, “Hold on tight. If you can’t reach, just hold on to me.”

Though she was tall enough to reach easily, Huang Qi took the opportunity to link her arm through his.

Beside them stood a couple: the boy holding the strap, the girl with her face buried in his chest, arms around his waist. They were pressed together, exuding an enviable intimacy. Huang Qi looked on with envy, jealousy, and frustration—when, she wondered, would she be able to do such things with Xiao Ying?

Seizing the moment as the bus swayed, she leaned her head lightly on Xiao Ying’s shoulder. But the bus wasn’t on her side—just as she brushed against him, a violent jolt bounced her away. Xiao Ying steadied her. “Careful!”

At the next stop, several people got off, freeing up seats. The couple next to them claimed the last two, but the girl offered her seat to Huang Qi. “You take it,” she said, settling onto her boyfriend’s lap instead.

Though the girl was kind, their display of affection was infuriatingly enviable! Did they have to flaunt their love so blatantly? Sitting down meant Huang Qi couldn’t use the sway of the bus as an excuse for more closeness.

Lord Huang was inwardly despairing.

They got off at the south gate of the school, and Sha Zhouyin followed her down. It was barely past eight o’clock, so she hadn’t expected him to leave right away. Still, she put on an act. “You’re transferring here? I have my bike parked just inside the gate—I can get home by myself.”

Sha Zhouyin replied, “It’s still early. I’ll walk you to your dorm. You should stay safe on campus too.”

As expected, Lord Huang pretended not to understand.

They retrieved her bike and strolled slowly toward the dormitory area. At this hour, couples were already gathering beneath the girls’ dorm, lingering over their goodbyes. The dorm supervisor, empathetic as always, had left only a single dim lamp burning at the entrance—just enough light for couples to share private moments without risking a chipped tooth on the door.

In this atmosphere, Lord Huang’s thoughts inevitably ran wild. She parked her bike and pulled out from the basket the box she’d brought for him—a gift. “Take it now, so I don’t accidentally take it home again.”

Sha Zhouyin set down his travel bag, not looking in any hurry to leave. He took the box and examined it. “You haven’t told me what it is yet. If it’s too expensive, I can’t accept it.”

“Don’t worry, it’s just something ordinary. The whole set isn’t worth as much as that pair of glasses.” Seeing him about to open it, she quickly stopped him. “Don’t! I wrapped it so carefully—it’ll be hard to carry if you unwrap it now. Open it when you get home.”

“Birthday gifts are meant to be opened in front of the giver. What if you’re playing a trick on me?” He raised the box above his head, out of her reach, and before she could stop him, he unwrapped it in a few swift motions.

First out was a set of hat, scarf, and gloves—far too warm for the current season. They were blue and white plaid, matching the color of his cotton shirt. Still, he happily donned all three, gloves included, looking slightly ridiculous in all that fluff.

Embarrassed, Lord Huang said, “I actually wanted to knit you a scarf myself, but it turned out so badly I couldn’t give it to you. I had to buy a set instead—don’t look down on it…”

“Thank you, Xiao Qi, thank you.” He stroked the soft fuzz of the scarf, clearly delighted but unsure how to express it beyond repeating his thanks. “I’d like anything you gave me, even if it were just a handful of sand picked up from the roadside.”

Huang Qi feigned indignation. “What do you mean, you’d like even a handful of sand? Are you saying my gift is as random as sand on the road?”

“No, no, that’s not what I meant. It’s just a saying we have on the construction site…” Blushing, he hurried to explain. “I just mean I like it very much, Xiao Qi, I really do.”

His words tumbled out in a rush, almost as if he were saying “I really like Xiao Qi.” Lord Huang blushed too, but thankfully the dim light hid it. “Alright, take it off now. Aren’t you hot? There are so many people around—you look so silly.”

Sha Zhouyin touched the scarf a couple more times before taking off the hat and scarf. “Xiao Qi, this is… the first birthday present I’ve gotten since I grew up. Thank you.”

She understood what that pause meant. His last birthday present had probably come from Boss Sha or Teacher Zhou, both of whom had been gone for five or six years now. She helped him fold the scarf. “What’s so special about that? If you like, I’ll give you a present every year. Don’t complain if they’re not good enough.”

He was sharp this time, ignoring the distractions and catching the key point. “Xiao Qi, you mean… you’ll be with me for every birthday from now on?”

Where was his comprehension? The important part was the gift! She put on a show of mock anger. “Give me the box so I can put the scarf away! I told you not to unwrap it—now how am I supposed to carry it?”

As Sha Zhouyin picked up the box, he noticed there was something else inside. “There’s more? What is it?”

It was too late to stop him. He pulled it out and, in the faint light, saw it was a box of chocolates—heart-shaped, wrapped in a dreamy, romantic packaging, the kind meant for Valentine’s Day confessions. She’d hidden it under the scarf, hoping he’d discover it as a surprise later. Now that he’d found it, any subtlety was lost; it felt embarrassingly blatant.

His expression shifted from touched to something more ambiguous. “Xiao Qi, do you know what it means when a girl gives a boy chocolate?”

She tried to play it cool. “What does it mean? It means it’s for eating. These chocolates are expensive—I can’t even bear to buy them for myself. There aren’t many inside, so don’t you dare share them with anyone else.”

He kept looking at her with that teasing glint in his eyes. Lord Huang, finding herself at a disadvantage, couldn’t keep up her bravado. “I—I’m going back to my dorm! You should head home too—no need to see me off! Bye!” She spun around and ran for the building.

“Xiao Qi!” Sha Zhouyin caught her in one swift move, pulling her back so abruptly she crashed into his arms. Dizzy, she found his hands tightening around her, holding her close, unwilling to let go.

With her face pressed to his chest, her heart pounded so hard she dared not move. She could feel he was just as stiff with nerves, his hands trembling slightly on her back.

“I know, Xiao Qi…” His voice was hoarse and low, right by her ear. “Loquats can be shared, but chocolate can’t…”

She pressed her face against his shoulder, giggling in secret. Just as she’d wished on the bus earlier, she slowly slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him.

Under his jacket, Xiao Ying wore only a cotton shirt, the coat unbuttoned and wrapped around her. Through that soft fabric, she could feel the shape of his body with her cheek and arms, bringing to mind the first time she’d visited him in summer. Back then, it was always scorching, both of them sweaty, never standing this close. Now, pressed together, her senses were filled with his scent—who knew a man could smell so nice? She nearly felt a nosebleed coming on.

With their faces hidden from each other and their thoughts running wild, Lord Huang grew bolder. Recalling her earlier resolve, she plucked up the courage to ask, “Xiao Ying, are we… together now? As in, are we dating?”

He replied matter-of-factly, “What else do you think we’ve been doing these past months?”

“So I can tell people you’re my boyfriend?”

“Everyone at the construction site already thinks you’re my wife. You’re only now giving me an official title?”

Lord Huang protested, lifting her face. “Who’s your wife? You’re my wife! You always played the captive husband when we were kids!”

“Alright, alright, whatever you say.”

“That’s right—Lady Lord!” she declared triumphantly.

They stood face to face, Sha Zhouyin’s hands on her shoulders, gazing into each other’s eyes. They’d confessed, made things official—in this romantic setting, wasn’t it time for something more?

Lord Huang snuck a glance at her “wife’s” lips. Though tanned, they were still a soft pink and beautifully shaped.

Her “wife” swallowed nervously and licked his lips.

Perfect—they were of one mind.

So what are you waiting for? Do you expect me to make the first move? I’m too short to reach unless I stand on tiptoe!

From her experience watching Korean dramas, Lord Huang knew the heroine should tilt her face up, close her eyes, and pucker her lips, waiting for the hero to lean down and kiss her.

But that looked so silly! She couldn’t imagine herself, bold and fearless as she was, waiting there expectantly.

Noticing her “wife” seemed to be inching closer, she made a show of lowering her eyes and bowing her head.

And so, the gentle kiss landed softly on the scar at her hairline, light as a feather.

Lord Huang nearly died of regret.

Why act shy? What was the point? Now he’d kissed her on the forehead—so pure! Was she supposed to tilt her face and close her eyes now? That would be even more awkward!

And as for her “wife”—if she was short and lowered her head, couldn’t he have lifted her up? Cradling her chin for a kiss would have been so much more romantic! Why kiss her on the forehead—was he a man or not?

Lord Huang was nearly sick with frustration. She’d come so close to stealing Xiao Ying’s first kiss! It must have been his first, right? Well, “wife,” remember to save it for me. When I regain my courage, I’ll come claim it!

Before she started dating, Huang Qi had always wondered why couples downstairs lingered so long. Once, she’d seen a pair embracing before her evening class, and when she returned two periods later, they were still there, in the same spot, the same pose!

Now, in love herself, she realized how quickly time slipped away when cuddling—hardly a word spoken, nothing really done (which was, frankly, a tragedy), just holding each other, and suddenly, an hour had vanished.

“What time is the last bus on your route?”

Sha Zhouyin, still a bit dazed, replied, “Nine-thirty? Maybe ten?”

“There are only ten minutes left! If you hurry, you can make it—quick!”

He grabbed his bags and followed, finally snapping back to reality. “Don’t worry, the bus will take another ten minutes to get here from the first stop.”

“Then we’d never make it walking. I’ll take you to the bus station—you can ride with me, and I’ll bike back myself. Don’t worry, it’s safe on campus; the roads are all well-lit.”

He considered this. “Alright.” In truth, he hadn’t been worried about safety at all—at eight o’clock, campus was still bustling with classes.

Switching places, Sha Zhouyin took her bike. Just then, a boy rode past with his girlfriend sitting on the crossbar, nestled sweetly in his arms. Huang Qi couldn’t help but watch them, even turning to admire their backs as they cycled away.

When she looked back, Xiao Ying was smiling at her. “Envious? Do you want to ride like that?”

Huang Qi grinned. “I did, the very first time you took me on your bike!”

He patted the crossbar. “Come on, as long as you don’t mind the bumps.”

Huang Qi joyfully climbed on. Her father had carried her like this as a child, but this—this was entirely different. This bike had been worth every penny!