Yan Xi asked, “Is there anything you want to do together with me?”

“Why do you ask?”

Yan Xi smiled, removing her light makeup. She turned slightly and pinched the child’s chin with her slender fingers, frowning, “You seem to have lost some weight.”

Behind him was a smooth mirror, and in it, their two figures were very close, as if leaning on each other.

The lingering sweetness of fruit candy still in her mouth, Ah Heng thought for a moment before lowering her head and asking softly, “Can you watch a movie with me this summer vacation?”

The young man wiped away the last trace from the corner of his lips while looking in the mirror, raising an eyebrow: “Is that what you want to do with me? Something that has to be me?”

The child looked up at the sky: “Not really, I just haven’t watched a movie in a long time. It doesn’t have to be you, anyone would do, it’s just that you’re the one with free time.”

Yan Xi twitched: “I thought my time could be calculated in US dollars.”

Ah Heng smiled sweetly: “That was before tonight. Before tonight you were DJ Yan covered in gold leaf, after tonight you’re just another face in the crowd, though you might someday be called ‘beautiful youth’ by some girls while standing on a bus wearing glasses.”

Yan Xi: “Thank you for such high praise, thank you, thank you.”

Ah Heng: “Haha, you’re welcome.”

He looked at her, his gaze containing a kind of intoxicating charm, peach blossoms falling in profusion, almost smiling but not quite: “Really no other things you want to do with me?”

Ah Heng said: “Yes, we could go gold mining in South Africa or perform street art in India, then earn lots and lots of money, donate half to the Government, and keep half to buy a new set of stainless steel kitchenware and a Persian carpet you can walk on barefoot in winter.”

Yan Xi rested his arm on the swivel chair, laughing heartily: “I can buy you stainless steel kitchenware and Persian carpets right now.”

“But, didn’t you say… things to accomplish… together?”

Ah Heng pressed her thin lips together, her fair face turning slightly red.

He looked at her, his gaze tender, gently pulling her into his embrace, as if speaking to a child, softly stroking her eyebrows: “Silly, do you still like Yan Xi so much, like two years ago?”

Ah Heng was dumbfounded.

She didn’t remember ever saying she liked this person, feeling guilty, she played dumb: “Yan Xi, has anyone at your school been quarantined recently? Let me tell you, our school might start vacation early and the exams will be open-book.”

Yan Xi stroked her black hair, wearing a helpless expression: “Hey, Wen Heng, let’s date.”

Although she did like this person, to the point of addiction in some ways, they had already held hands, kissed, hugged, slept together, and done everything.

So, was there any need to validate the ticket after boarding the train?

Well, she meant, that after a few more years, when they were older and mom and grandfather’s attitudes had softened, the two of them could just make do, without having to explain everything clearly, just get a marriage certificate and be done with it…

That person lost face, smiling awkwardly: “True, we’re already so familiar with each other…”

Ah Heng tugged at his clothes, her gaze gentle, spanning from the infinite sky above to the endless depths of the earth, yet purposely avoiding his eyes, her small face turning quite red: “Well, let’s try it.”

“Hmm?”

“That dating thing you mentioned. Anyway, even if we’re not compatible, we… can’t separate, right?”

Yan Xi and Wen Heng had always been two extremes, yet like they had committed sins in their previous life, in this life, they were born to torment each other.

That man’s eyes were very gentle, very gentle as if filled with spring water from the deepest mountains, almost overflowing but not quite.

He said: “But, perhaps dating will make us hostile and critical of each other. I won’t be as indulgent and doting as I usually am with my baby, and you won’t be as tolerant and gentle as you are with your Mr. Yan.”

Ah Heng lowered her head, chuckling softly: “I’ve also heard that three-quarters of a person’s life is usually given to a beautiful stranger, a fleeting romance that won’t fade with time, yet nothing is more difficult than spending the remaining quarter of life with someone who grows increasingly ugly with age. Tell me, do you want to be the three-quarters or the quarter?”

Yan Xi said: “You only have the potential for a quarter, I’ll reluctantly be the three-quarters, between us, that makes just enough for a lifetime.”

Ah Heng remained silent, feeling something wasn’t quite right about this calculation, but couldn’t quite figure out what exactly was wrong.

He said let’s date, and then across two cities, they would ask each other: Have you eaten? Have you slept? How are you feeling?

She would say the food in our school cafeteria is getting worse, and he would say our school is having a debate competition and I’m in the audience; she would say someone else in our department recently started dating and then broke up, he would agree and mention by the way, I just realized there are many beautiful girls in our department; she would say watch out that’s against the rules we’re dating now according to others I should get angry with you, he would say, oh, I see.

Then both would fall silent.

She said: “The weather is nice today.”

He looked up at the sky: “It just had a heavy rain here.”

She seized the topic: “Ah, then wear more clothes.”

He made a sound of agreement while looking at the sky, the sound of rain echoing vaguely in his ears.

“Then, shall we… hang up?”

“Okay.”

Little Five hit her with a pillow: “You call this dating? How is this any different from before?”

Ah Heng giggled, face red, burying herself in the covers: “It is different, Sister Five, it is different.”

Although their daily calls didn’t exceed five minutes, when she said “Yan Xi is mine,” everyone around would roll their eyes and say “Well, Michael Jackson is mine too”; now when she said “Yan Xi is mine,” at least one person can’t deny it.

So, Jesus, Buddha, I’m ready now, please don’t be stingy, throw happiness my way.

Yan Xi’s vacation started a few days earlier than Ah Heng’s, but it was already July and very hot. Not wanting Ah Heng to endure crowded travel, he arranged to drive her home.

After Ah Heng finished her last anatomy exam, the professor selected several students to clean the laboratory, and Ah Heng was unfortunately chosen.

Among those working together was Du Qing. Du Qing and she hadn’t spoken for a long time, not intentionally, it seemed there just hadn’t been an opportunity.

It was said that Du Qing and Gu Feibai were already engaged, the banquet had invited all the southern elite, it was exceptionally grand, everyone praised them as a perfect match, a wonderful couple, and the entire department had received wedding candy.

Their dormitory had a whole box, but everyone felt awkward eating it in front of her. Ah Heng could only smile, writing the characters for “congratulations” in an elegant hand on gold-dusted red paper, signing it Wen Heng, and asking classmates to deliver it to the new couple to express her good wishes.

Naturally, some people wanted to see her make a fool of herself, but how could past events matter? After two years of deep feelings and constant companionship, what did it matter if others scrutinized?

Only Du Qing still seemed uncomfortable around her. As several classmates wiped down the lab benches with dry cloths, she deliberately stood at the bench farthest from Ah Heng.

Outside the window, the sunset was falling, the heat had dissipated somewhat, and a gentle breeze carried the faint sound of cicadas.

She smiled at the verdant view through the window, calculating that Yan Xi should arrive soon, and quickened her movements.

Footsteps sounded in the corridor outside the laboratory, followed by a knock at the door. It was Gu Feibai and a beautiful, sharp-featured girl.

Du Qing was delighted and went over to greet them.

Ah Heng thought the person beside Gu Feibai looked familiar, then remembered, oh, she was the daughter of Gu Feibai’s father’s old friend, they’d met once but she hadn’t left much of an impression, only knew her surname was Zhang.

Gu Feibai frowned, asking how much longer it would take. Du Qing smiled and said: “Almost done, sorry to keep you waiting, right?”

Miss Zhang said: “We’re just waiting for you, Miss Du, for tonight’s party. You’re so slow, couldn’t you just find someone to help you? Why does the young lady have to work so hard?”

She and Du Qing appeared to be very close, and the two joked around for a while.

On the last lab bench was a bottle of hydrochloric acid, someone had forgotten to cap it after their experiment, and it had evaporated significantly. Ah Heng looked around for a while but couldn’t find the stopper.

“There are spare stoppers in the storage cabinet at the back.” Gu Feibai spoke from far away, his tone flat.

Ah Heng smiled and nodded in thanks, finding the original stopper in the corner, and washing it before putting it back on.

However, Du Qing’s expression had become somewhat unpleasant.

The final step was complete.

Ah Heng said goodbye to her other classmates at the door, and seeing those three people, she hesitated briefly before smiling, nodding, and wishing them a happy holiday.

Du Qing said “Thank you,” while Gu Feibai remained silent, just watching her with an indescribably uncomfortable gaze.

That Miss Zhang, however, gave a cold laugh, raising her willow eyebrows with a sharp tongue: “Oh, Miss Wen, right? We’ve met before.” Then she linked arms with Du Qing, saying, “I’m Du Qing’s best friend, please do guide me in the future.”

Ah Heng said “Hello, goodbye,” not particularly bothered, and bounded down the stairs, thinking only about meeting Yan Xi and finding everyone rather adorable.

She dragged her suitcase to the school gate and saw Yan Xi’s burgundy Ferrari. Through the dark glass, however, there was no one in the sports car.

Ah Heng crouched somewhat dejectedly beside the sports car, watching private cars drive away one by one, picking up a small twig to count ants.

She used to do this often as a child, playing with ants alongside Zai Zai, watering ant nests and catching them, then bringing them to class to play with. They were so young then, that a few small ants in a plastic bottle could keep them happy all day.

Then, a shadow appeared over her head, and a pair of cool hands touched her cheeks.

Ah Heng looked up, and he burst out laughing. He patted her face: “Oh my, oh my, baby, you’re amazing, you’ve even trained the ants to walk a tightrope.”

Ah Heng shook the ants off the twig, saying: “Where did you go? I’ve been waiting for you for ages.”

He wore a light coffee-colored wide-necked T-shirt and blue jeans, simple and fresh yet carrying a subtle air of nobility. After several years in the entertainment industry, his style of dress had developed its character.

Yan Xi swung the bag in his left hand, saying: “You haven’t eaten yet, and we’ll be getting on the highway soon, so I bought you something to eat.”

Ah Heng said “Oh,” then: “Help me up, my feet are numb from crouching so long.”

Yan Xi bent slightly and pinched her nose: “Getting better at acting spoiled, like a child, and you call yourself a good wife and mother.” With a smile on his lips, he extended his right hand, using his strength to pull her up.

Ah Heng maintained her composure despite her reddened face: “Who’s acting spoiled? Hmph.”

Yan Xi smiled, pressed the car key to open the sports car, and let Ah Heng get in.

Not far away, three people were laughing and chatting. Ah Heng turned to see it was Gu Feibai, Du Qing, and Miss Zhang.

“What a coincidence, meeting again, Miss Wen.” Miss Zhang looked down her nose, sizing up Yan Xi and the Ferrari, taunting Ah Heng, “Are you going home, or planning to find another fiancé to support you?”

Miss Zhang had always looked down on Ah Heng, having heard from her parents early on that Ah Heng was forced onto Gu Feibai by her father, who relied on his good relationship with Gu Feibai’s uncle. After her father died, fearing Gu Feibai wouldn’t want her, she had desperately run to a stranger’s home, utterly shameless.

Yan Xi gave a derisive laugh, holding Ah Heng’s hand, raising an eyebrow: “Miss, are you our Ah Heng’s classmate?”

Gu Feibai stood to the side of Yan Xi, examining him, seeing Ah Heng beside him with her gentle, lively demeanor of a young girl, he understood who this was, but his expression involuntarily darkened, watching them expressionlessly.

Miss Zhang sneered: “I wouldn’t have such a presumptuous classmate. Not attending the engagement party is one thing, but sending over a few scribbled characters? Who are you trying to slight? You’re nothing special, yet you think you’re something!”

Yan Xi opened the car door, saying: “Ah Heng, get in.”

Ah Heng: “What are you doing? You can’t hit women.”

Yan Xi twitched, his big eyes widening to half his face, saying: “Do I look like that kind of person?”

The child answered honestly, sniffling, nodding: “Yes.”

Yan Xi was speechless.

Turning around, he sighed, took out a blank check, and handed it to Gu Feibai, speaking calmly: “Fill in whatever amount you see fit. Grandfather Wen said, that for his granddaughter’s two years of food, clothing, and shelter, whatever amount was spent by the Gu family would be repaid in full. Though the Wen family’s standing may be modest, we do not accept charity.”

Miss Zhang saw the check and became somewhat nervous, but still maintained her bravado: “Which Wen family?”

Yan Xi smiled faintly: “At least one that you’ll never be able to enter in this lifetime. Gu Feibai, do you remember what Uncle Gu said when you and Ah Heng were engaged?”

Gu Feibai clenched his fists, his face ice-cold, gritting his teeth: “We never meant to marry above our station, but how could we refuse a dear friend’s sincere wishes!”

Miss Zhang, and even Du Qing, hearing Gu Feibai’s words, their faces turned somewhat pale.

The Gu clan’s prestige in Jiangnan relied largely on Uncle Gu’s military authority. Now that Uncle Gu had used the words “marry above our station,” what kind of background must Wen Heng’s family have?

Yan Xi stared at Du Qing and Miss Zhang, speaking plainly: “Ah Heng has always been the pearl in her family’s palm. Some friendly advice: in the future, don’t do things that might affect your parents’ and siblings’ prospects.”

Then his expression softened slightly, nodding politely to Gu Feibai before turning to open the car door, getting in, stepping on the gas, turning the wheel, and disappearing in a cloud of dust.

Ah Heng bit into her butter bread, saying: “You’re such a smooth talker, when was I ever the pearl in anyone’s palm at home?”

Yan Xi glanced at her: “How are you not the pearl in the palm? At my home, I practically want to put you on a pedestal, aren’t you the pearl in the palm? How are other families’ daughters who have nothing and have to watch their parents and siblings’ faces supposed to live?”

Ah Heng bit her bread, nodding, thinking that although she wasn’t welcome in the Wen family, at least she held financial power in the Yan family.

If the mountain doesn’t turn, the water will; there’s always a place for people to live.

On the highway, Ah Heng became somewhat drowsy but worried that Yan Xi would be more likely to get sleepy driving alone, so she forced herself to stay awake and talk with him. But after taking exams all day, she was truly exhausted to the limit, and finally couldn’t hold on, slumping in her seat.

Yan Xi smiled, closed the car roof, took out his jacket from behind and covered her with it, then turned on the radio.

A sweet-voiced female DJ was taking song requests, outside the window the night was deepening, and the lights embedded in the highway passed by like flowing water.

The female DJ said: “The friend with phone number ending in 6238 wants to request a song for Cinderella and her stepmother. He says that Auntie and Meat Strips both hope Cinderella’s stepmother will be braver, become a prince, and then, elope with Cinderella!”

Yan Xi gazed into the distance, his eyes misting over.

That girl, unconsciously, just like many years ago, had gently slumped against the car window, sleeping peacefully.

He reached out his finger, gently stroking her hair, tender and trembling.

All around, everything was quiet.