When she met Tian Chi, there was a pretty girl with willow-leaf eyebrows by his side.

It was the finals of the inter-university martial arts club competition, where Chen Huaner won second place in the fighting category. The instructing teacher and club president were both extremely satisfied with this historic breakthrough. She didn’t think her technique was particularly good – she had been forced into it, but fighting match after match to reach the finals had built her confidence. Now, losing due to physical disadvantage left her partly unwilling to accept it and partly genuinely disappointed.

The finals were held at their school, with the stadium packed full. Her department brothers and sisters, rarely getting a chance to show their presence, cheered until their voices went hoarse. After the awards ceremony, Huaner held the medal in her hand. The sudden relaxation of long-tensed nerves left her physiologically dazed, and even after sitting in the spectator stands, her heartbeat hadn’t returned to its normal rhythm.

Huang Lu attended as a family, now pounding her shoulders and massaging her back, “I knew you could fight, but I didn’t know you could fight this well. Please forgive any past wrongs.”

Huaner burst out laughing, “I suggest you write a self-criticism report.”

Huang Lu played along, bowing her head, “This humble one knows her mistakes and will reform.”

“Good.” Huaner rubbed her head. Huang Lu let out a “hey,” saying “You’re treating me like a dog” while grabbing her wrist, then noticed something unusual, “Why is your heart still beating so fast?”

Huaner waved it off unconcerned, “I’m scared. My amygdala is cracked from fright.”

That’s when Tian Chi appeared in their field of vision, sitting in the row behind them and adding with a smile, “Being cracked is a good thing.”

Huang Lu called out “Senior,” then asked him, “How come you’re here after it’s over?”

“Delivering materials to Professor Sun, heard he came to watch the competition.” He waved the documents in his hand, “I’ve been standing over there for ages but couldn’t find him, saw you and thought I’d come ask.”

From the department to the student union, from classmates to teachers, Huang Lu’s social network was terrifyingly vast.

“Professor Sun…” Huang Lu stretched her neck like a scanner sweeping around, finally pointing to the left stands, “He was sitting over there, his bag is still there, probably stepped out temporarily.”

Tian Chi looked over, “Alright, I’ll wait for him to come back.”

“Oh Senior, this is Chen Huaner from our class, we’re roommates.” Huang Lu seized the opportunity to introduce them, “Huaner, this is Senior Tian Chi from Clinical Medicine and his girl…” She stuck out her tongue, leaving the sentence half-finished.

His companion, who had been quietly standing by, finally smiled, “We saw the awards ceremony at the entrance. Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” Huaner responded politely.

Huang Lu seemed to remember something and pulled at Huaner, “I hadn’t finished telling you earlier. I wanted to say don’t be nervous the great prophet here had already foreseen the result. Last night I dreamed of a train entering a tunnel, whoosh, just like your last kick, precise and clean, right on target.”

“Lu’er,” Huaner held back her laughter, “Has that Science and Tech University guy’s performance in that area been…”

Huang Lu’s little love claws had already extended to other universities.

“What area?” The person in question asked, confused.

Seeing there were others present, Huaner could only squeeze Huang Lu’s arm, “You should go read some Freud.”

“What?”

At this point, Tian Chi chimed in from behind, “Freud’s interpretation of dreams.”

Ah, a kindred spirit.

His companion asked in a soft voice, “What are you all talking about?”

“Nothing.” Tian Chi changed the subject with an ambiguous smile, “Why isn’t Professor Sun back yet?”

Only then did Huaner begin to study him – he wore glasses and had very fair skin, just like those rotating students under her mother’s supervision, refined and gentle without any hint of aggression.

Was this why he seemed familiar?

Huang Lu suddenly asked, “Senior, you’re from Tianhe too, right?”

“Too?”

“Fellow townspeople.” She pointed at Huaner, then continued, “Oh, didn’t you say there was only one amazing high school there, so could you two…”

“Tianzhong?” Huaner and Tian Chi looked at each other and spoke in unison, then both burst out laughing.

The second time they met was in the experimental building. Huaner said what a coincidence, but Tian Chi said I was specifically waiting for you, let’s exchange contact information, after all, we’re the only people from Tianhe in the department. She didn’t understand how these last two sentences formed a cause-and-effect relationship, but she still allowed one more person to be added to her contacts. Huaner’s note for him was – from Tian Chi, a fellow townsperson.

The third time he sent a message inviting her to eat, Tian Chi said a new Cantonese restaurant has opened near the school, let’s invite Huang Lu too, there are some student union matters I need to discuss with her. Huaner wondered why he didn’t contact Huang Lu directly, or according to his explanation, why she needed to be present at all. But she still replied “Okay,” as Lu’er had many rumored boyfriends, and she guessed Tian Chi wanted to avoid suspicion.

The fourth time was during the campus film festival. He sent a list of screenings and asked, do your dormmates want to come watch together? Which show do you want to see? I’ll reserve seats in advance. Huang Lu told Huaner that Tian Chi was the director of external relations for the student union, and although he was a valuable asset for raising funds, there were limits to the benefits he could offer – he was saving them all for her.

Actually, by then Huaner had already sensed it.

Then came the fifth time, sixth time, seventh time… After countless meetings, Tian Chi said a friend was premiering a play, I happen to have extra tickets, would you like to come?

He began extending formal invitations specifically to her.

His female companion never appeared again. By now everyone could see it – Tian Chi was pursuing Chen Huaner.

Slowly, gradually unfolding a courtship.

Huaner fell into hesitation. An excellent senior student, former schoolmates with much in common, considerate and gentle, always putting her first – after more conversations and meetings, it would be a lie to say she wasn’t moved.

But having no experience, she held too many beautiful fantasies about love. She wanted to have one romance that would last until old age.

A love where she would share joy and sorrow with only one person in this life.

Chen Huaner admitted she was timid; she didn’t dare act rashly.

So her reply to Tian Chi was – Let me check my schedule and get back to you.

Two things happened on the day of the play’s premiere.

First, near noon, Jing Qichi called after a long absence, “Are you free later? If not, let’s have lunch together.”

Before Huaner could answer, he continued, “Uncle Song is here.”

“Uncle Song?” Huaner was completely confused, she hadn’t heard her mother mention Song Cong’s father was coming.

“My mom didn’t say either. These people are planning a surprise inspection.”

“Did Uncle Song contact you?”

“Yeah. He said he just arrived, he’s over by the Traditional Chinese Medicine University.”

Jing Qichi asked, “Want to come?”

“Of course!” Huaner agreed immediately.

The other end chuckled, “Where are you?”

“Library.”

“Come down in twenty minutes, I’ll come find you and we’ll go together.”

Huaner hurried to stop him, saying “It’s too far, don’t come over,” but the sentence wasn’t sent – the call had already ended.

They met Uncle Song at a small restaurant near the Traditional Chinese Medicine University. It wasn’t exactly a long-awaited reunion, after all, the three families’ gatherings during holidays were a fixed tradition. Uncle Song was here for training and exchange, staying at the Traditional Chinese Medicine University for ten days.

Hearing this, Huaner quickly asked, “Then Aunt Hao…”

Since Song’s mom returned to work, Song’s father and son had built ramps from the doorway to the building entrance and even along the necessary route to the hospital. At home, daily necessities were all placed within her easy reach at lower heights, and the bathroom was equipped with special support handles. Theoretically, Song’s mom could take care of herself.

But theory is like fish bones – life is always full of thorns called special circumstances.

“Song Cong will come back on weekends.” Uncle Song said with a smile, “Your two moms have already claimed the weekdays, before I even left they couldn’t wait to move their luggage over, the three sisters arranged everything clear as day behind my back.”

When blood relatives aren’t around, long-time neighbors naturally become family.

Huaner and Jing Qichi giggled hearing this.

“Her condition is getting better and better.” Uncle Song gestured at himself, “The left side still has no voluntary movement, but the rehabilitation therapist said last week, that if she keeps persisting, walking with a single crutch is completely possible.”

Even today, Song’s mom is still doing rehabilitation therapy, practicing by herself on weekdays, and going to the rehabilitation center rain or shine on weekends. This moment’s good news was the best reward for all her hard work.

“Aunt Hao must have taken an immortality pill.” Jing Qichi’s face showed a rarely seen playfulness, “Thinking back to my rehabilitation training makes my head numb. Uncle Song, quick, look – aren’t my hands shaking now?”

“Shaking hands, is it?” Uncle Song took out two brand new packaged phones from his bag, “Then I’ll have to let Huaner take them instead.”

“Wow!” Huaner’s eyes lit up, quickly gathered both phones to her side, “Are these for us?”

“Yes.” Uncle Song smiled, “Your Uncle Zhou – oh, you remember Qichi’s chief surgeon, right? Their whole family, including Uncle Zhou Yu, went to America to play. We discussed bringing something back for you three kids, Zhou Yu recommended these.”

“Amazing! Uncle Song, you’re amazing!” Huaner held one phone in each hand, looking left and right while actively dodging Jing Qichi’s “grabbing” attempts from across the table.

“Chen Huaner, that’s enough!”

“Your hands are shaking, you can’t use it.”

“Even if I can’t use it, I can look at it! That’s my business!” Unable to reach across the dining table, Jing Qichi simply came around behind her, and the two engaged in a tug-of-war defense.

Uncle Song on the side was grinning from ear to ear, “How old are you two now, still fooling around? Sit down quickly.”

The dispute ended, and Jing Qichi finally got his new phone. Standing behind Huaner, he complained to Uncle Song while showing his neck, “Uncle Song, see if it’s red? This girl hit me.”

“Let me see.” Huaner, still sitting, pulled him down to her level and moved his hand away. His elbow must have gotten knocked during the scuffle – the side of his neck was indeed quite red.

Just like when she had accidentally hurt him before, Huaner symbolically rubbed his neck a couple of times and patted it soothingly, “Alright, I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Sit, Qichi.” Uncle Song called to him, “Let’s eat.”

They began talking about other things, like how Song Cong’s last social media post showed some girl’s back view, but when asked who she was, the guy kept his mouth shut tight and wouldn’t reveal anything; like how they hadn’t given advance notice of the visit because it was Chen’s mom’s idea – she said in case either of them made excuses, Uncle Song could go straight to the school to investigate; and like how Uncle Zhou’s main reason for going to America this time was to help Zhou Yu make his move – the father was more anxious than the son, and the results were promising with good news coming soon. Huaner chatted animatedly with Uncle Song, but Jing Qichi seemed rather distracted. It wasn’t until they parted with Uncle Song, on their way back to school, that he told Huaner, “Be more careful in the future, don’t be so hands-on all the time.”

It sounded casual, but he had rehearsed it several times in his mind, revising the wording before coming up with this line.

“So delicate.” Huaner teased him, “Did I hurt you?”

“That’s not what I meant.” Jing Qichi was exasperated, roughly messing up her hair, “Don’t go around touching people, especially guys, you dummy.”

Huaner finally understood his implication and burst out laughing, “But you’re not other people.”

Not other people, so also not a member of the opposite sex or a man to be considered.

It was a frank, casual, even thoughtless response that came out naturally.

And precisely because of this, Jing Qichi suddenly felt a sense of defeat-

It seemed like he and Chen Huaner had come full circle, now returning to the starting point.

But he didn’t want to return to the starting point anymore.

That night when he received the protective gear and sought Qiu Yang’s advice, Qiu Yang said, I don’t understand why you list gratitude, dependence, need, and all these emotions as subsets of liking – liking can completely be their superset. Jing Qichi, unless your brain is waterlogged, I don’t believe you don’t know how you feel.

Qiu Yang had only said these few words, but they immediately enlightened him.

It was like cleaning up a computer desktop, selecting all those old documents that would never be used again, and throwing them into the recycle bin together without any attachment – with a “whoosh,” everything became clear.

He knew how he felt, had always known. It was just that there was always another voice in his body questioning the accuracy of those thoughts, and over time, even he became less certain.

Unfortunately, that night he hadn’t been able to say all of this.

Jing Qichi knew Huaner hadn’t gone to bed early – he had already arrived at the girls’ dormitory, and the reason he told her to come down ten minutes later was because he had so much to say that he felt a bit flustered. After sending the message, he saw Huaner appear on the balcony; she just hadn’t replied to his message.

That day, when he returned to the dormitory it was already closed. Qiu Yang was inside and he was outside; it took the strength of nine bulls and two tigers for the two of them to work from both sides to persuade the dorm manager to open the door. In the quiet corridor, Jing Qichi told Qiu Yang she didn’t come down, and Qiu Yang said take it slow, you need to give her some time too.

He was indeed doing that.

There are ten thousand ways to go from distance to closeness, but they were already close – Jing Qichi couldn’t think of a way to bring them even closer.

Except waiting, except letting Chen Huaner realize he had always been by her side.

But reality proved that this approach might not work.