◎There’s Sour, There’s Bitter, Naturally There’s Also Sweet◎

Chun Zao and Yuan Ye’s embraces could be counted on one hand. Thinking about it, there had only been two times—the first was on that doomsday escape-like night after they were discovered, the second was the helpless farewell at dawn. Back then, she was out of control and sad, with no time to fully experience it. But this time, she felt it—that strength, from surface to bone to heart, everything, absolutely everything, was penetrated without reserve by the boy. There was also his warm, light soap fragrance, his urgent breathing buried in her shoulder. All binding toward her, as if he would never let go until death.

Physical contact is silent language.

She was deeply needed and infinitely contained, so solid, so safe.

Chun Zao’s tears flooded uncontrollably.

Her arms, which had been stiff at his sides, moved gently. She also reached around to cross behind Yuan Ye’s back, clasping him with equal force.

Two geese separated by circumstance finally found each other on the southern migration island, making up for this indescribable time in their intertwined embrace.

Passing students all glanced at them—some curious, some understanding, some moved by the sight.

There were also strangers cheering a few times.

Tong Yue, who had consciously stepped back two paces, couldn’t help but wipe her tears, then took out her phone to capture this scene.

Hearing the girl’s continuous sobbing, Yuan Ye loosened his hold slightly, studying her up close: “Don’t cry.”

Chun Zao awkwardly looked away, then back. His eyes were also red, yet he had the nerve to tell her not to cry.

She mumbled back: “You’re crying too.”

“Am I crying?” The boy wiped away moisture from his eye corners while smiling beautifully: “No, I’m not.”

Chun Zao also curved her mouth: “Then I’m not either.”

“Ahem.” Long-ignored Tong Yue ran back, waving her phone, which was clearly on lock screen: “My mom called asking why I haven’t come out yet. I’ll take off first. You two take your time walking, talking, and doing whatever.”

After speaking, she turned and ran off quickly, before Chun Zao could call her back.

For a moment, only the two of them remained, gazing at each other amid the moving shadows.

She smiled, and he smiled too.

When her dimples deepened, his lip curve grew larger.

Mirror effect—like looking at another version of themselves; also like the lost other half of themselves had returned.

Finally complete, no longer missing pieces.

Yuan Ye held Chun Zao’s hand as they walked toward the school gate. Their damp faces had dried in the summer wind, but their interlocked hands continued warming, becoming increasingly moist, knuckles pressed together, pulses connected.

Even if others couldn’t see it.

She could sense the boy glancing over from time to time. Chun Zao shyly played with her hair: “Hey…”

The person beside her made an “Mm?” sound.

She pointed out without thinking: “Why do you keep stealing glances at me?”

Yuan Ye remained silent.

Then this guy let go of her hand, quick-stepped two paces in front of her, and began walking backward face-to-face, not caring whether he might bump into pedestrians. His bright black eyes locked firmly on her face, pretending to be serious: “This way it doesn’t count as stealing glances, right?”

Chun Zao’s cheeks and ears burned hot: “Are you sick?” She grabbed his wrist, commanding: “Come back!”

Yuan Ye let out a light laugh, returning to Chun Zao’s side, immediately taking her hand again: “What exactly do you want me to do?”

“Just like this.” She thought for a moment: “We’re about to reach the school gate, so don’t—”

She raised their two tightly joined hands like mortise and tenon joints: “Don’t hold hands anymore. My dad, mom, and sister will be waiting for me at the gate.”

“No.” He had to go against her wishes.

Chun Zao glared at him: “Why not?”

Yuan Ye didn’t give a direct answer: “No reason.” Then said: “Just because.”

With sweet emotions surging, Chun Zao could only take a deep breath, helpless: “Then if my parents rush over to give you trouble, I won’t be responsible.”

Yuan Ye nodded: “Mm.”

At this moment, he was more indifferent and fearless than ever before. Nine months—too long, too torturous. He would never let go again. Even if the sky collapsed and the earth split, even if a thousand-foot waves crashed down, nothing could separate him from her again.

The two walked out of the school gate. Sure enough, they could see Chun Zao’s anxiously waiting family from far away.

Mother and sister each held a bouquet of colorful flowers, while dad held a sign that was big sister’s creative custom order: “Little sister, no matter how you did, big sister will carry the burden for you.”

Seeing the tall, handsome boy beside her, both Chun’s parents froze.

Chun Chang showed a knowing smile, half-teasing, half relieved.

Just as the family was about to approach, this pleasing, perfectly matched young couple was intercepted by quick-eyed media.

Hand in hand—what a youth scene worth recording and capturing.

A branded microphone was thrust in front of Chun Zao, the reporter smiling, about to ask—

Yuan Ye had already turned sideways, raising his arm to shield the panicking Chun Zao’s face: “Excuse us, thank you.”

Then he pulled her quickly away from the crowd and the approaching cameras.

Looking back, the Chun family had gathered around them. Facing mom’s stare and dad’s confusion, Chun Zao instinctively wanted to let go of his hand, but Yuan Ye held tight, even squeezing until it hurt slightly. She finally gave up struggling, also restraining the laughter threatening to burst from her lips.

Yuan Ye politely called “Auntie,” looking directly at her, neither humble nor arrogant.

Chun Chuzhen glanced at him, held back, and tried hard to appear oblivious to the two’s “improper behavior in broad daylight,” handing over her brilliant bouquet: “Daughter, you worked hard.”

Chun Zao took it with one hand, cradling it, her eyes again misting with warmth: “Mom, you too.”

Chun Chang, beside them, had been smiling like an aunt for ages, then frowned and looked at Yuan Ye: “You kid…”

She didn’t finish, just thrust her sunflower bouquet toward him: “Take this. This is for you.”

Yuan Ye was stunned.

“Isn’t it for Chun Zao?” he asked.

Chun Chang looked them up and down, snorting: “Do you see her having any hands free?”

Chun Zao tilted her head and laughed out loud.

“Just kidding…” Chun Chang shrugged with a smile: “It is for you. You worked hard, too.”

She lifted her chin: “Look at the card inside if you don’t believe me.”

Yuan Ye raised his eyebrows, somewhat flattered as he thanked her and accepted it with both hands.

Chun Chang said: “Wishing you… to seize the ‘sunflower’ in one move, and always face the sun.”

Yuan Ye smiled again: “Thank you, big sister.”

Chun Chang’s mind perked up, inexplicably feeling refreshed all over: “Aiyoyo~ Being called big sister by a handsome guy feels pretty great.”

This earned her a heavy slap on the shoulder from mom: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Though there had been conflicts before, and she felt uncomfortable, seeing Yuan Ye alone, after all, a child the same age as her daughter, Chun Chuzhen, couldn’t help but show concern: “Where are your family members? Didn’t they come to pick you up?”

Yuan Ye looked into the distance: “They should be coming too. I’ll go find them in a bit.”

“Go quickly.” Dad, who had been staying out of it, was greatly confused about why a pretty young boyfriend appeared beside his daughter the moment exams ended. Completely bewildered, he could only pretend to advise: “They’re probably getting anxious too, might be looking for you.”

“Mm.” Yuan Ye nodded, taking out his phone to glance at it.

He finally let go of Chun Zao’s hand, looking down at her: “I’ll go find my family first, then later…”

He paused: “Contact you.”

Chun Zao smiled gently: “Okay, go quickly.”

“Mm.” Yuan Ye raised his phone: “Remember to check.”

Chun Zao: “Okay.”

The flower-holding boy finally turned and left, looking back once along the way before disappearing into the crowd.

Having watched their entire lovey-dovey, reluctant parting that was almost too beautiful to be real, Chun Chang felt envious and resentful, then accused her mother: “Why didn’t I have a campus romance back then? It’s all your fault! All your fault!”

As the resentful words came aggressively, Chun Chuzhen treated them like wind past her ears, speaking to Chun Zao as if she hadn’t heard: “Let mom carry your bag.”

Chun Zao stood on tiptoes, letting her backpack bounce twice on her back, then refused: “No need, it’s not heavy at all.”

Yes, not heavy at all.

This was the lightest and clearest day of her entire high school years.

And she had finally awaited and welcomed this day.

The Chun family of four held an internal family celebration dinner at a Haidilao hotpot restaurant in a nearby mall.

Along the way, Chun Chang got out to pick up a beautiful, delicate four-inch cake. Half a month ago, she had custom ordered it for this day. The design was naturally her sister’s favorite—ocean waves and stars and moon created with cream and sugar frosting.

Unexpectedly yet expectedly, the entire restaurant was packed. Several nearby tables also had youthful faces that were peers, all filled with the satisfaction and leisure of having shed their burdens.

As soon as they sat down, Chun Chuzhen, across from her, took something from her bag and gave it to Chun Zao.

Chun Zao took it and discovered it was her phone. For a moment, she was speechless.

“I charged it fully for you,” Chun Chuzhen said flatly, with a flat expression: “I never opened it. When you have time, get yourself a phone card too. Always using other people’s doesn’t look good.”

She added, “Your dad says he wants to buy you a new phone. In a while, let him go to the store with you to choose.”

Dad blinked rapidly twice—he hadn’t given advance notice or promised this, but still agreed readily: “Good, good. Dad will arrange it quickly.”

Chun Zao’s emotions were complex. She made an “mm” sound, turned on the phone, and when she saw the familiar signal bars appear, past scenes returned, her heart slightly moist.

Chun Chang sipped barley tea, looking around: “So nice, I feel like I’m back to that summer ten years ago.”

Dense shade, heat waves, azure sky, wind blowing through camphor leaves, fluttering book pages.

It was a well-worn song, a symphony and echo from the depths of the soul that most people in this country possessed; there’s sour, there’s bitter, naturally, there’s also sweet.

Chun Zao opened QQ, her fingertip instantly freezing on the screen.

In the friend list’s top section, there were number notifications. Clicking them revealed multiple one-way messages, not missing any moment they hadn’t shared or celebrated:

January 1st

Yuan Ye: Chun Zao, Happy New Year. You are the best.

January 5th

Yuan Ye: Chun Zao, Happy Birthday. You are the best.

February 12th

Yuan Ye: Chun Zao, Happy Spring Festival. You are the best.

April 30th

Yuan Ye: Chun Zao, it’s just the second mock exam. You are the best.

The last one, June 6th.

Only two words.

Yuan Ye: Wait for me.

Her thoughts began to sink, her vision began to blur. Afraid her family would notice, Chun Zao quickly lowered her head.

Water drops fell rapidly on the screen, blurring the words. She wiped them away with her thumb, urgently typing three words to give a belated response: So are you.

The typing status at the top of the screen appeared almost instantly.

Yuan Ye: Got your phone back?

Chun Zao bit her lower lip: Mm.

Yuan Ye asked: Home yet?

Chun Zao controlled her tears, silently taking a photo of the nearby table surface: No, eating hotpot with family at Haidilao. What about you?

Yuan Ye sent back a photo of a street with early evening lights and traffic lights against the twilight sky.

Chun Zao’s cheeks puffed slightly: Why are you still outside? Alone?

Yuan Ye said: Mm. Don’t worry, my dad came to pick me up. I said I had something to do and let them go back first.

Seeing him alone, Chun Zao felt both heartache and confusion: What thing?

Yuan Ye: Looking for a place. I plan to move out and live alone during the break.

Chun Zao was slightly stunned: Do you need to do it so quickly?

She wanted to say, You just finished the big exam, at least rest for a few days.

Yuan Ye didn’t reply, only asked without reason: Could you send me your home location?

Chun Zao found her residential complex’s location and sent it over.

Yuan Ye: OK.

Yuan Ye: With this as the center, within 500 meters. Thanks.

That night, many Yi Middle School students’ social media statuses were flooded by a photo submitted to the campus wall.

Everyone liked, shared, and wished them well, with some classmates actively claiming to know the male and female protagonists.

The summer evening sky was like shimmering golden waves, a young boy and a girl embracing in the crowd, like the most moving page in a youth illustration.

The anonymous submitter had only two concise words about this:

Who understands?

Author’s Note:

Who understands?