As the others finished their meal and learned the group was at the arcade, they all rushed over. A large crowd played together inside for nearly half an hour.
Zhou Anran watched Chen Luobai play the basketball machine for a while, then he taught her to shoot a few baskets herself. As it approached 9 PM, the group finally left the arcade, ambling towards the nearby bus stop.
That night, the moon was bright but the stars were sparse. It looked like the next day would be clear as well.
Halfway there, Zhu Ran suddenly spoke up: “Should we go for a picnic tomorrow? The weather’s perfect, and we haven’t been out to play in ages.”
“Sure, count me in,” Huang Shujie eagerly volunteered.
Sheng Xiaowen chimed in: “If you’d suggested a picnic earlier, we could have bought some things at the supermarket on the other side of the arcade.”
“No need to worry about supplies,” Zhu Ran said, glancing at the two people at the back of the group. “Leave it to Chen Luobai. Our young master Chen can arrange for someone to take care of it. Besides, he really ought to treat us, given the situation.”
Tang Jianrui nodded in agreement: “Indeed, it wouldn’t be right not to treat us in this case, right, Brother Luo?”
Chen Luobai chuckled: “I should treat, indeed.”
After a pause, he turned his head to look at the girl beside him, who seemed to be blushing again: “Do you want to go tomorrow?”
Zhou Anran touched her ear.
They had just finished their midterms, so it was appropriate to relax a bit. Plus, she realized she hadn’t gone out to play with him before.
“Let’s go,” she said.
“Alright, we’ll discuss the specifics of where to go and what food to bring later in a group chat,” Zhu Ran said. His gaze fell on the large bag of stuffed animals in Chen Luobai’s hand, which seemed very out of character for him. He suddenly laughed uncontrollably, “By the way, Zhou Anran, did you know Chen Luobai learned his claw machine skills for a girl?”
Zhou Anran’s steps faltered slightly.
Rationally, she knew there was likely more to the story. Otherwise, Zhu Ran would have kept it a secret instead of telling her. But emotionally, she couldn’t help feeling a bit sour.
She wondered what the story could be that would make him learn to use a claw machine for a girl.
Chen Luobai gave Zhu Ran a cool glance, then turned his gaze back to the girl beside him: “Don’t mind him. That girl was only 5 years old, my niece.”
Zhou Anran: “…”
Yan Xingqian suddenly said: “What a coincidence! Anran also has a 5-year-old niece.”
Chen Luobai turned his head to look at Zhou Anran again: “Really? Such a coincidence?”
Zhou Anran nodded: “Mm-hmm.”
“Oh, right, Anran,” Yan Xingqian said, as if suddenly remembering something. “Next time you go to your cousin’s house, remember to check that supermarket for me to see if they still have that soda candy.”
Zhou Anran: “!”
She hadn’t dared to tell Yan Xingqian and the others about the soda candy incident before, and she hadn’t dared to be frank with him about it earlier. She didn’t expect Yan Xingqian to bring it up so suddenly. It was too late to stop her, and trying would be too obvious.
Sure enough, she caught a glimpse of the boy beside her pausing his steps, his gaze seeming to land on her for a moment.
Zhou Anran lowered her head.
“Soda candy?” Chen Luobai paused. “Is it a Japanese brand?”
Yan Xingqian responded with some surprise: “Yes, have you tried this candy too?”
Chen Luobai turned his head to look at the girl beside him, who had lowered her head even further. His fingers at his side tightened slightly: “I had the fortune of eating two pieces.”
Zhang Shuxian and Sheng Xiaowen chimed in curiously upon hearing this.
“What soda candy? Is it good?”
“Did Anran bring it for you? How come we haven’t tried it?”
“It’s super delicious, it tastes just like soda when you eat it, with little bubbles bursting in your mouth,” Yan Xingqian reminisced. “Anran only brought it for me once. It was around midterms last semester, I think. I finished it over the weekend and didn’t bring any to school. When she went back later, the supermarket had stopped selling it. We didn’t remember the brand, so we couldn’t order it online.”
Zhang Shuxian looked regretful: “Now I want to try it too. Anran, check again next time you go, okay?”
Zhou Anran nodded stiffly: “Okay.”
As they talked, the group arrived at the bus stop.
Everyone stepped onto the platform. Zhou Anran was about to follow when she felt her backpack being tugged.
She turned around, immediately puffing up her cheeks: “Why are you pulling on my rabbit again?”
Chen Luobai let go of her rabbit charm and stepped closer, asking in a low voice with no expression: “Is there anything else you’re hiding from me?”
Zhou Anran: “…”
A hint of guilt crept up.
“No, there isn’t.”
Chen Luobai: “Really nothing else?”
Zhou Anran shook her head: “Really nothing else.”
After saying this, she glanced up to see his jaw tightening again.
Just as she was wondering how to appease him, the boy suddenly raised his large hand and ruffled her hair heavily.
Zhou Anran wrinkled her nose: “You’re messing up my hair again.”
Chen Luobai looked at her, his eyes darker than usual, making them appear even more profound: “Right now, I want to do more than just mess up your hair.”
Zhou Anran blinked: “What else do you want to do?”
Chen Luobai saw her wary expression and couldn’t help but curve his lips slightly, speaking softly: “You’d better not ask.”
Zhou Anran: “…?”
It was probably something improper again.
“Anran,” Yan Xingqian suddenly called out to her, “The bus is here. Are you two done talking?”
Zhou Anran turned around to see the No. 16 bus that passed by her house slowly approaching.
She looked up at him again, seeing that his mood seemed to have improved a bit. Feeling slightly relieved, she said softly: “I’m going home now. I’ll talk to you online later.”
Chen Luobai responded with an “Mm.”
Zhou Anran got on the bus behind Yan Xingqian.
The bus was surprisingly empty, with only two passengers visible at a glance. Just as Zhou Anran was about to walk further in, a familiar, fresh scent suddenly enveloped her from behind.
Zhou Anran quickly turned around to see Chen Luobai had also boarded the bus.
She was both surprised and delighted: “Why did you get on too?”
Chen Luobai: “Why are you suddenly so silly? Of course, it’s to see you home.”
Yan Xingqian heard this and turned back to look, speaking in a slightly disdainful tone: “Why are you so clingy?”
Thinking it might be because of the basketball game incident from last semester that she had revealed tonight, she pouted: “Fine, I’ll let you have Anran tonight. I’ll sit in front, you two go sit in the back.”
Zhou Anran ended up sitting with him in the first row of double seats at the back.
The bus quickly started moving.
Zhou Anran sat by the window. She turned her head to look outside, seeing the neon lights on the street rapidly receding, seeing the handsome profile of the boy reflected in the bus window, and seeing herself sitting side by side with him.
And she saw him looking at her.
*
The next day, the weather was indeed beautiful.
The sky was clear and bright, without a single cloud.
A certain young master surnamed Chen had arranged for a tour bus. The driver set out early, following the address given to him in advance, circling half the city to pick up ten people, then driving them all together to a resort hotel in the suburbs.
They would stay here for one night. At noon, they could have a picnic by the waterfall halfway up the mountain, and in the evening, they could stargaze together in the glass house.
Because the journey was not short, it was already 10 AM when they arrived at the hotel.
It was rare for everyone to come out to play, so spirits were high. After putting down their luggage and resting briefly, they decided to go straight to the mountainside for the picnic.
The hotel had already prepared the necessary utensils and ingredients for the picnic. The boys didn’t let the staff deliver them; each picked up a box and rode the sightseeing car down together.
Mid-November was not the peak tourist season.
The quiet mountainside suddenly became lively again that morning.
“Rui Rui, you bastard, you’re already stealing food before the tablecloth is even laid out,” Huang Shujie suddenly shouted.
Tang Jianrui retorted: “Fuck, I learned this from you. You just stole a piece of meat, you think no one saw?”
“Where are the ice cubes? Where are the ice cubes?” Zhang Shuxian yelled, “I’ll mix a drink for you all.”
Zhou Anran pushed the ice cube box over: “Here they are.”
Zhang Shuxian put a bunch of things into a large glass bowl, then called out again: “Where’s the Yakult? Can someone pass it to me?”
Sheng Xiaowen handed over the Yakult.
Bao Kun looked skeptical: “Are you sure this is drinkable?”
“Of course,” Zhang Shuxian said confidently. “It’ll be delicious, just wait.”
With the drinks prepared, everyone filled a glass.
Sheng Xiaowen suggested: “Let’s have a toast, to all of us getting into our dream universities.”
“Alright.”
“Sounds good.”
Ten glasses clinked together, making a crisp sound.
The voices of the young people rang out in unison, clear and pleasant: “To all of us getting into our dream universities!”
After the toast, the dream universities would have to wait for now. Everyone lowered their heads and started looking for their favorite foods to eat.
Tang Jianrui grabbed a chicken leg, ate about half of it, and then suddenly said: “Isn’t it a bit dull just eating like this? Should we have some background music?”
“Why don’t one of you sing a song?” Huang Shujie suggested.
Bao Kun shook his head vigorously: “Forget it, with your singing skills, we’d better not.”
“Who says that? Doesn’t Brother Luo sing very well?” Huang Shujie protested.
Tang Jianrui replied, “That’s if he’s willing to sing. Begging him might not even work.”
Zhu Ran raised his chin: “Usually your begging might not work, but isn’t Zhou Anran here today?”
Zhou Anran: “…?”
Chen Luobai casually grabbed a bag of chips and tossed it at him, laughing as he scolded: “What are you making a fuss about? Don’t you know she’s shy?”
“Whether she’s shy or not,” Zhu Ran caught the chips, grinning, “you’re the one who knows, right?”
Shao Zilin: “Tsk tsk tsk, Brother Luo is so protective, not even letting us tease her.”
“Exactly,” Tang Jianrui chimed in. “If you sing a song, we’ll stop bothering you.”
“Yeah, sis-” Huang Shujie coughed lightly, “Zhou Anran hasn’t even heard you sing yet.”
Chen Luobai turned his head to look at the slightly blushing girl beside him: “Do you want to hear?”
Zhou Anran indeed hadn’t heard him sing before. She nodded: “I’d like to.”
“What do you want to hear?” Chen Luobai asked her.
Zhou Anran didn’t know what he could sing: “Anything is fine.”
Chen Luobai took out his phone and scrolled through it for a bit.
Soon, a gentle accompaniment started playing, followed by the boy’s deep, pleasant voice. It was a Cantonese song.
Zhou Anran couldn’t understand the lyrics, but sitting next to Chen Luobai, she could see the lyrics on his phone screen.
“Why do you still not speak? Just say what’s bothering you
If things didn’t meet your expectations, please don’t be afraid
I will still listen calmly
Still stay close by your side, moving forward and backward in harmony with you”
The song didn’t have much variation in pitch. Sung softly like this, it had a captivating, narrative quality.
The previously noisy mountainside grew quiet again.
“I still say I’m grateful”
As he finished this line, Zhou Anran saw the boy, who had been looking down at the lyrics, suddenly turn his head to look at her.
Chen Luobai’s lips seemed to curve slightly.
As their eyes met, Zhou Anran heard him sing the next line—
“You are always better than others.”
The song ended.
Zhou Anran’s heart was beating much faster.
Tang Jianrui reached for another chicken leg: “I was wrong. This isn’t singing, this is a scene of killing dogs with sweetness.”
“Exactly,” Huang Shujie raised his hand. “I strongly request that Brother Luo not be allowed to sing anymore.”
Chen Luobai put away his phone: “What’s wrong with you guys? Weren’t you the ones begging me to sing?”
“You wanted to sing for Zhou Anran yourself, don’t use us as an excuse,” Zhu Ran exposed him.
Zhou Anran: “…?”
Yan Xingqian, unable to bear them constantly teasing her friend, intervened: “How about we all stop singing and I’ll play some music as background instead?”
The boys didn’t object.
“That works.”
“The focus is on eating anyway.”
Yan Xingqian opened the music player app.
The first line of the song quickly rang out in everyone’s ears.
“When I’m different from the world, then let me be different.”
This song had been played countless times on every street and alley, in school broadcasts in the mornings or afternoons. Almost everyone knew how to sing it. When it reached the chorus, someone started humming along, and it somehow turned into a group sing-along.
“Me and my proud stubbornness
I sing loudly in the wind
This time, I’m crazy for myself
Just this once, me and my stubbornness”
In the end, this picnic lasted from 11 AM until 1:30 PM.
The group wasn’t in a hurry to return to the hotel.
Some gathered to play Fight the Landlord with the leftover food, sticking notes on the faces of those who lost; some went to take photos together; some went to play in the stream…
And two people lay down on the long mat spread on the grass to sunbathe.
The afternoon sunlight was slightly less scorching than in the morning.
After basking for a while, Zhou Anran felt her face getting a bit hot. She wanted to raise her hand to block the sun but felt too lazy to move.
As if by some telepathic connection, a large hand suddenly reached over to shield her face, casting a small shadow over it.
Chen Luobai’s voice sounded very close to her: “Why did you secretly slip two candies into my desk?”
Zhou Anran looked at the fine lines on his palm and replied softly: “Because you looked so unhappy that day.”
“Just because of that?” Chen Luobai asked.
Zhou Anran: “Mm-hmm.”
Chen Luobai was quiet for a second: “Are you silly?”
Zhou Anran: “…?”
The boy’s hand suddenly withdrew, the shadow before her eyes disappearing, only to be replaced by an even larger shadow. Zhou Anran stared blankly at the boy who was suddenly half-suspended over her: “What are you doing?”
Chen Luobai: “Open your mouth.”
Zhou Anran: “…?”
“What are you trying to do?”
“Just open your mouth first.” Chen Luobai paused, then suddenly curved his lips into a smile. “It’s not like I’m going to kiss you. Didn’t I say I promised Old Gao not to officially date you before graduation?”
Zhou Anran: “!”
Her face instantly turned red, and she couldn’t help but glare at him.
Chen Luobai’s shoulders shook with laughter.
Every time he teased her, his mood seemed to improve significantly.
“If you don’t open your mouth, I’m going to kiss you.”
Zhou Anran: “…!”
She hurriedly opened her mouth slightly.
Something was placed in her mouth.
A slightly sour lemon flavor, with tiny bubbles bursting in her mouth.
It seemed to be…
That lemon soda candy.
But she couldn’t focus on savoring it because when the boy put the candy in her mouth, his fingertip seemed to have accidentally brushed her lips lightly.
Zhou Anran’s face felt even hotter, and it felt like a bunch of little bubbles were bursting in her heart too.
Chen Luobai suddenly lowered his head and leaned in closer at this moment.
Zhou Anran’s breath hitched.
The distance grew smaller and smaller, close enough that Chen Luobai could almost see the fine down on the girl’s flushed face. His fingertips curled slightly, seeming to still hold the lingering soft sensation from earlier.
The space between them was reduced to an inch.
Two inches.
One inch.
Chen Luobai stopped his Adam’s apple bobbing.
His fingertips tightened.
In the end, he suddenly pulled back, lying flat on the mat again.
The sky was very high.
A soft white cloud drifted by lazily.
Zhou Anran steadied her breath and heartbeat, then heard the boy’s voice sound again from very close by. It was like that morning at the sports meet, carrying a hint of frustration and something suppressed.
“Graduate quickly.”
Zhou Anran’s barely steadied heartbeat quickened again.
The cloud continued to drift slowly across the sky.
The sunlight was dazzling yet warm.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Until Zhu Ran’s voice sounded from not far away: “Chen Luobai, are you two done talking? Come over to the stream to play.”
Yan Xingqian also called out: “Anran, come quickly! The water here is so clear, and there are so many fish.”
Chen Luobai turned his head: “Shall we go?”
Zhou Anran nodded: “Let’s go.”
After standing up from the grass, Chen Luobai suddenly turned back and reached out his hand to her.
Zhou Anran placed her hand in his, and he grasped her wrist.
Together, facing the sunlight, they ran towards the stream.