This day welcomed the closing ceremony of the Cannes Film Festival, and it was also the day of the awards.
At the Cannes Festival Palace, countless media from various countries stood on both sides of the central red carpet, their cameras focused intently on the excellent filmmakers surging in from around the world.
At this moment, Wu Man and the others were in the hotel making final hair and makeup preparations.
Among countless styles of gowns, she ultimately still chose a backless design, willing to openly display the birthmark on her back to people all over the world.
Before, she had tried to use this rebellious method to prove her own existence.
But now, when she exposed that mark again, it was simply out of frankness. It was part of her. She didn’t mind hiding it or showing it.
Zhui Ye didn’t have much choice in his outfit, still a black velvet suit. However, this time, he seriously selected a bow tie.
Seeing this, Wu Man teased him to ease her own tension.
“The prince who never dressed properly is wearing clothes properly today?”
Whether it was the previous Cannes red carpet or the New Ring Line signing press conference, she had never seen him wear formal attire properly. The two buttons at his neck were always undone to the maximum, as if buttoning them would strangle him.
While selecting, Zhui Ye responded to her: “Because buttoning them really is uncomfortable. You know I don’t like being restrained.”
“Then you…”
Just as she was about to say “then how are you being contradictory,” he picked up a bow tie in a vibrant color and slapped it into Wu Man’s hand.
Zhui Ye tilted his head slightly and smiled. “Elder sister, help me tie it?”
“Deliberately making things difficult for me?” Wu Man was stunned, helplessly taking it. “You squat down!”
Zhui Ye mischievously only bent his knees slightly, so she had to work hard to stand on tiptoe to tie the bow tie for him.
“Mischievous spirit.”
Wu Man retracted her hand and patted his shoulder with satisfaction. The proper attire instantly made him look much more upright, no longer having that roguish air.
After Zhui Ye’s bow tie was fastened, he squatted down even more, looking at her at eye level.
He gazed at her eyes and said without warning: “Along with this bow tie, I’m willingly bound by you.”
Wu Man’s heartbeat, already accelerated from nervousness, lost control in that instant. Like a high-speed train thrown off its tracks, it issued a surrendering whistle.
Before he straightened up, she grabbed his bow tie and pulled him toward herself.
“Then I’ll stamp my seal.”
She unceremoniously delivered her mark, closed her eyes, and kissed his lips.
*
Leaving the hotel, Wu Man, Zhui Ye, and Wang Cheng got into the same car and headed toward the Festival Palace.
The distance was only a few hundred meters, arriving in an instant. But these short few hundred meters had taken a third of her life.
The car stopped to the side to wait, with the red carpet area right ahead.
The thin black car window couldn’t block the surging crowd outside. Wu Man could clearly hear the clicking of media shutters, the photo-taking sounds from tourists’ phones, and conversations mixed with various languages.
All of this made her brain extremely chaotic.
Until that familiar voice approached her ear, scattering and dispersing all the surrounding sounds, leaving only him.
“Elder sister, don’t be nervous. It’s okay.” He turned his head and had to comfort Wang Cheng, whose face had paled from tension. “Director Wang, you too, relax.”
In the entire car of low pressure, only he seemed like a tourist here to play, not a main creative team member of the main competition unit about to walk the red carpet.
Watching such a relaxed and composed Zhui Ye, Wu Man’s heart that had nearly jumped out finally fell back halfway, with the remaining half still hanging at her throat.
Finally, the previous crew finished, and it was time for the *Spring Night* crew to enter the red carpet.
As soon as the car door opened, her expression changed. Wu Man raised her chest, put on the smile she had trained for over ten years, and with feigned composure stepped out of the car with her long legs. Her ten-centimeter high heels stepped steadily onto the red carpet.
The next moment, Zhui Ye had already walked from the other side of the car to her side, extending his arm like a gentleman.
Wu Man smiled at him politely yet with feigned distance, lightly linked her arm through his, and the two walked side by side to Wang Cheng.
In another car, Zhong Yueqing and Ding Jiaqi also opened the door and got out. The two, in the same posture as theirs, walked to Wang Cheng’s empty side.
The five people stood in a row and walked onto the star-studded red carpet, with wave after wave of bright white magnesium flashes forming an impenetrable net.
*
At this moment, domestically, attention to this year’s Cannes Palme d’Or was extraordinarily high. Weibo hot searches and media portal websites all pushed it as headlines, with related topic reading volumes climbing.
Video platforms all created related special topics and broadcast this year’s Cannes Film Festival awards ceremony live.
The real-time viewership crushed all variety shows in the same time slot. At this moment, dense bullet comments continuously floated past.
These netizens weren’t just rushing for *Spring Night*—some were fans of actors and directors from various nominated films.
“Has *Flounder* walked yet? I’ve been waiting for my goddess forever!”
“Ahhhhh *Deep Night* is here!! Let us see what wig our Egg-ge chose today! Blazing fire blazing fire dazed and confused”
“It’s our *Spring Night*’s turn!!!”
“The styling is good, they’ve held the scene well.”
“Zhui Ye actually tied his bow tie properly, amazing…”
“Spring Night Couple charge for this old lady—”
Compared to the screen-licking sweet fools in the bullet comments, the anonymous forum opened with a completely different mocking style.
Thread title: “Litao, will *Spring Night* or the main creative team win awards?”
Rt.
1L: None.
2L: +1, Zhui Ye is most likely to win an award, but I don’t think his performance was particularly outstanding. The dramatic highlights aren’t on him.
3L: Anyone is possible except Wu Mai has no chance. Her walking the red carpet is basically embarrassing herself, okay? A award-buying fraud with aspirations higher than the sky, thinking she can win awards with restricted ratings? This is the Palme d’Or, not adult film awards
4L: That was too harsh… Although I don’t think Wu Man can win this time either, u1s1 her acting wasn’t bad, it’s just that the competing opponents this time are all too strong. I’m betting on Atalinia—her performance in *Flounder* was too stunning
5L: I also think Atala can win. She’s the Cannes jury’s favorite daughter, no joke
6L: *Spring Night* is just a garbage film that only knows marketing and hype. Being nominated is already hitting the jackpot.
*
The online commotion was like a light breeze blowing from the southern hemisphere, having no effect on them whatsoever.
Before Wu Man’s eyes was only this dozen-meter red carpet leading straight to the film hall. Looking further into the distance, the fence had prints of legendary stars from past Cannes Film Festivals throughout history: 1946…1978…1994…2002…
Black and white posters, immortal forever.
And now, she was standing here too.
Not crashing the red carpet to show her face, but truly with a work by her side.
She took deep breaths repeatedly, her body so straight you could see the taut blood vessels beneath her skin. On all sides were magnesium lights and cameras. Every pore was captured, and her birthmark even more so, drawing attention.
Someone in the crowd shouted, pointing at her back: “Cool!”
Wu Man felt most people simultaneously looking at her. Her fingers gripping Zhui Ye’s hand imperceptibly tightened.
Zhui Ye raised his hand to adjust his bow tie. When he brought it back, he covertly brushed against her fingers hanging on his arm.
The two didn’t make eye contact, didn’t even connect with peripheral vision, but just that one second of touch, and Wu Man felt like she had swallowed a tranquilizer.
The two people supported each other and moved forward without hesitation.
They walked up the steps and shook hands with the committee members one by one. Wu Man’s palms were so slippery with sweat they were no different from fish workers at a seafood market. Yet when the white-haired elder shook hands with her, he wasn’t surprised at all, only smiled at her warmly and patted her shoulder.
“Good luck.”
Wu Man said thank you with a tongue-tied stumble.
The red carpet ended about here. They walked to the entrance of the hall, turned around, and waved to the media and people below the steps for a final freeze frame.
The broadcast media had already cut to the next crew, so they followed Wang Cheng’s lead and prepared to walk into the magnificent awards hall.
The moment Wu Man stepped into the hall, she froze unpromisingly for one second.
She involuntarily held her breath. The dark mass of people inside applauded to welcome the *Spring Night* crew’s arrival.
The seated guests were all internationally famous figures she was not unfamiliar with. In that instant, she thought of the little girl from twenty years ago, huddled in a cramped, smoky internet cafe, gazing longingly at the people on the screen.
She had never hoped that one day, these people would walk out of the screen, walk before her, and return her gaze.
Wu Man’s nose tingled. She raised her face. The dazzling ceiling lights connected into a ring of the Milky Way—a magnificent and vivid dream.
*
Anonymous section: “Opening a live awards thread, place your bets.”
The Best Actor and Actress awards are coming up soon, nervous!
1L: Moving my little stool in advance
2L: Is it finally coming? I’ve been watching until I’m sleepy…
3L: Selling snacks and treats here in the front row~
…
344L: Best Supporting Actress is done, congratulations Auntie Luo!
345L: Has the Best Actor result come out? I’m outside without data to watch
…
416L: Ahhhhhhh
417L: Did he get it???
418L: Holy crap, it’s actually such a young kid!
419L: Awesome, this age must set a historical record, right?
410L: Hahaha I said Zhui Ye had no chance this time
411L: No need to watch the rest, no suspense left.
*
Cannes Festival Palace scene.
When the Best Actor was announced on stage with someone else’s name, Wu Man’s heart sank sharply.
She couldn’t help but turn her head to look at Zhui Ye, separated by one seat. Their positions were separated by Wang Cheng; she had no way to touch and comfort him.
Actually, in the car coming to the venue, Zhui Ye had said very calmly: “My character in *Spring Night* wasn’t the most complex one to begin with. The brilliant character is Deng Lizhi, so I probably won’t win.”
She had asked him: “Then who do you think will win?”
He pointed at a little boy on the list: “Him, I guess. He’s very similar to me back then—too talented, yet even younger than I was.”
The facts were as he predicted. The award went to a German child actor, twelve years old this year, who tackled the role of a teenage murderer with split personality.
His performance in the film was so realistic it made people suspect he actually had mental illness.
Wu Man had nothing to say. She raised her head to watch the young actor’s speech on stage, her heart a mixture of feelings.
In circles that emphasized artistic talent, to earn a living, perhaps you could rely on effort plus a pretty face and barely manage. But to ascend to the highest podium, without that flash of stunning brilliance, you could only miss the crown by a hair, becoming a flower on the wall—no matter how unwilling, you could only serve as someone else’s foil.
She knew she had never had such strong talent. All these years she had been stuck in her ways, wrapping herself in a thick cocoon, working extremely hard just to get to today.
She wasn’t God’s favored child, so she didn’t know if she missed this chance, whether there would be another opportunity to return here.
When she saw the committee chairman preparing to announce the Best Actress winner, her hands unconsciously crossed, silently forming a prayer gesture.
In her palm, she still tightly gripped a small note—the wording she had been revolving in her mind ever since learning *Spring Night* was nominated. She had been unable to sleep all the previous night, turning these words over and over, carefully and cautiously writing them down.
Although she guessed this note probably wouldn’t be used, what if there was a miracle?
The sweat in her palm dampened the writing. She pressed her lips tightly, her eyes unblinking.
Zhui Ye was ten thousand times more nervous than when Best Actor was announced, turning his head frequently to look at her, until even Wang Cheng felt embarrassed and couldn’t help muttering: “I really should have asked the organizing committee to change my seat.”
“Best Actress goes to…” The chairman slowed down, surveying the surroundings, his gaze sweeping over Wu Man’s row.
Wu Man had stopped breathing. Her ten fingers pressed so hard they dug into the soft skin between her knuckles.
“Niglas Atalinia! She starred in the film *Flounder*.”
The instant she heard the result, her heart, which had been beating so fast, stopped like the moment of death.
Wu Man, like a controlled puppet, instinctively put on a fake smile and applauded. The note in her hand made rustling sounds as the paper rubbed together. When the applause faded, only this rustling sound was infinitely and mockingly amplified in her ears.
She watched without focus as the actress a few seats away from her stood up joyfully and walked to the stage.
Zhui Ye was also applauding, but his body leaned back slightly, looking past Wang Cheng, only focused on watching Wu Man. His eyes held no disappointment, nor any comfort.
What they held was only quiet joy.
As if silently yet firmly telling her: you’ve already done very well.
In the lively hall of thousands, among the applause for Best Actress, there was one portion that belonged only to her.
Wu Man sensed this burning heat. Her gaze finally had focus, landing on Zhui Ye’s eyes.
In his radiant pupils, she saw herself.
The self who was no longer timid, no longer pretending, no longer vain.
Even if she still wasn’t recognized by the whole world, it didn’t matter anymore.
Someone would stand by her side, giving her the greatest affirmation and tenderness.
Wu Man’s eyes shimmered. She smiled with relief and clapped even harder.
This time, this applause was for herself.
You couldn’t reach heaven in one step, but she had already arrived in the human world.
*
Anonymous section: “Opening a live awards thread, place your bets.”
…
672L: See, I said it would be Atalinia.
673L: Wu Mai fans give up, without Yu Xing she’s nothing
674L: Now they’re presenting Best Director
675L: The camera swept to Wang Cheng, the old man isn’t having it easy, feels like he’ll have a heart attack any second
676L: So pitiful, I won’t mock Director Wang. Honestly it’s quite difficult—being nominated consecutively for two films is already very impressive.
677L: Sigh, as expected he couldn’t get Best Director
678L: Alright then, just here as runner-ups this time
…
888L: Has everyone left? The final Palme d’Or is coming!
889L: I’m still here.
890L: I’m squatting, maybe we’ll witness history
891L: I’m squatting too, may the heavens preserve our Spring Night Couple’s name in Cannes 555555 this believer vows to eat balanced meals for the rest of her life
*
Cannes Festival Palace scene.
The final climactic moment arrived. The organizing committee was about to announce the biggest award of this Cannes International Film Festival—the Best Film Palme d’Or.
The people below almost all held their breath, while Wu Man’s row had actually become somewhat disheartened.
Sitting through the entire evening, they had continuously applauded for others, watching them embrace glory, while they themselves came away empty-handed.
Wang Cheng beside Wu Man lowered his head, his shoulders shaking several times.
She said with concern in a low voice: “Director Wang, are you alright?”
Wang Cheng raised his head again and sighed: “I really want to vomit right now.”
From his expensive suit pants, Zhui Ye pulled out a vomit bag and handed it to Wang Cheng: “Here, want it?”
Wu Man’s eyes widened: “?!”
Zhui Ye looked very innocent: “He said he wanted to vomit last time he came, so I remembered and prepared one for him. I’m thoughtful, right?”
Wang Cheng’s face darkened as he pushed it back: “Thank you very much.”
With Zhui Ye’s intervention, the previous tension was unconsciously broken.
The three continued to raise their heads and look toward the stage. The two award presenters said a lot, and finally paused very skillfully, keeping everyone in suspense.
The broadcast camera passed over one heavyweight face after another.
Finally, with the name the guest read out, it stopped on Wang Cheng and his two companions.
“Let us congratulate the film from Director Wang Cheng—*Spring Night*.”
The entire venue erupted in thunderous applause. The tremendous sound wave seemed about to lift the ceiling.
Wang Cheng sat frozen in his seat like a wooden chicken. The first person to jump up was Zhui Ye. He smiled brilliantly, yet purely like a child, pulling Wang Cheng up while muttering: “What did I say? The biggest award definitely belongs to *Spring Night*!”
And Wu Man could no longer hear the surrounding roar.
She raised her head and gazed at the ceiling lights again. In her vision was sacred white light, so glaring it made her want to cry. The tangible sensation reminded Wu Man—this was no longer a vivid dream; it was truly, genuinely happening right here, right now.
The regret of missing Best Actress moments ago completely dissipated at this moment. What could compare to the film they had worked on together winning Cannes’s top prize?
From the sneaking around during initial filming, to the release certificate being blocked causing a one-year delay, to the last-minute actor scandal crisis before award submissions.
They had passed through every obstacle, narrowly escaping death.
Finally, they arrived at this day. All the hardships seemed to have been waiting for this moment of fulfillment.
Wang Cheng finally reacted, his hands trembling as he hugged them. When preparing to go on stage to receive the award, he separately tugged at Zhui Ye and Wu Man, having them come up together.
Wu Man was stunned. In the moment of hesitation, Zhui Ye grabbed her hand.
He looked at her and said with a smile: “Elder sister, let’s go. This is our spring night.”
*
Anonymous section: “Opening a live awards thread, place your bets.”
…
1000L: Holy crap, I’m dumbfounded
1001L: …OMG is this real
1002L: I was so excited I just spilled my 1982 Coke, damn!
1003L: Congratulations *Spring Night*!!!! *Spring Night* is the absolute best!! Chinese cinema charge for this old lady!!!!
1004L: It really wasn’t easy. It’s been over twenty years since the last Palme d’Or. I’m crying my eyes out
1005L: Wu Man and Zhui Ye are so sweet, they walked up hand in hand, and it was even fingers interlaced. This hand position, I’m dying from shipping it
1006L: Hurry up and release domestically, can’t wait to see it!!
*
At this moment, inside the Cannes Festival Palace, Wu Man was led by Zhui Ye onto the side of the stage, quietly waiting for Wang Cheng to give his speech first.
He sincerely thanked a circle of people, and finally said: “I want to thank my two lead actors. They brought to life the most vivid Deng Lizhi and Chen Nan. Now I’d like to invite them to say a few words.”
Wang Cheng stepped to the side, gesturing for the two to come over together.
They walked side by side to the podium. Wu Man looked at the dark mass of people below. All the prepared wording ran away from home. Zhui Ye, using the podium as cover, gently squeezed her hand below and was the first to lower his head to speak into the microphone.
“This is my second time standing here, but it’s far more exciting than the first time. Because this time it’s not my personal honor. I’m very fortunate to have met an excellent director.” He glanced at Wang Cheng. “And an excellent actor.” He looked at Wu Man. “So please let my elder sister speak.”
Wu Man’s tension was eased by his unhurried tone. She took a deep breath, aimed at the microphone, abandoned all prepared clichés, and improvised the most genuine feelings.
“I just want to tell everyone, this is a very excellent film. Everyone may at times find themselves in endless darkness, not knowing what to do, but don’t rush, and don’t give up. Listen to the voice of your heart, and that darkness won’t be pure darkness…” As she spoke, her hand hidden below the podium intertwined with Zhui Ye’s hand. “But rather the night when spring arrives.”
No one noticed.
They quickly withdrew their hands and concluded their speech as if nothing had happened.
Then, all the winners came on stage for a group photo. The *Spring Night* crew, as the top prize winners, were surrounded in the very center. Zhui Ye should have stood next to Wang Cheng, but instead insisted inappropriately on standing next to her, giving the best photo position to Zhong Yueqing instead. But Zhui Ye smiled with complete satisfaction.
Wu Man also quietly moved closer to him. Their arms touched, an unspoken understanding.
The applause from below was endless. Glory in hand, lover at her side.
Even many years later when remembering tonight, it would still make for brilliant dreams.
*
By the time the awards ceremony ended, it was very late. Wang Cheng hadn’t expected to actually win an award. Although he dreamed about it constantly, when it actually happened he was still somewhat dazed. Who wasn’t? Everyone needed to buffer this surprise. So they decided to rest in their rooms tonight and hold the celebration banquet tomorrow night.
Everyone dispersed in the hotel lobby. Wu Man and Zhui Ye exchanged a distant glance.
Half an hour later, he knocked on her door, wearing a simple white T-shirt, his entire body emanating the freshness of having just bathed.
By then Wu Man had also removed her gown. After washing up, she had changed into a moon-white camisole, very short, only reaching her thighs.
When he knocked, she was smoking on the dark balcony, unable to sleep at all. The hotel had booked a high-floor ocean-view suite. She sat barefoot on the balcony, overlooking the nighttime sea in a daze.
She didn’t want to sleep, afraid that if she slept she would wake up instead.
Zhui Ye saw several cigarette butts at her feet and frowned slightly, saying: “You smoked this many in such a short time?”
Wu Man blew a smoke ring at his face: “You smoke too, yet you lecture me.”
He sat down beside her in the darkness, one hand propping against the cold marble, leaning over to take the cigarette from her lips, slightly squinting as he silently looked at her.
The flickering red glow of the cigarette was like the signal tower at the distant shore, flashing on and off, while they were two silent ships, spinning in the undercurrents, waiting for that imminent signal.
Yet before this signal arrived it was so quiet that subtle sounds became especially important—like the slight movement of blinds, the crackling sound of tobacco burning, even the sound of the wind blowing past causing the camisole strap to slip from her arm.
May’s spring night carried a humid sultriness. The sea breeze brought a salty smell—the scent of desire.
This balcony became a racecourse. They kept to the starting line, waiting for the starting gun in who knows whose hand to sound.
Finally, Wu Man decided to seize the starting gun for herself.
She looked directly at Zhui Ye and gently moved her toes, teasing open his pant leg.
He didn’t dodge, didn’t move. Like a dull deaf person. This made Wu Man somewhat self-conscious, unsure whether to continue.
So she carefully stared at him for a while, then suddenly smiled.
She extended her hand. Under the pretense of taking back the cigarette, she gradually touched his lips. From top to bottom, wandering until she touched the cigarette butt, naturally lifting the lip and reaching inside.
Except, before she could reach in, Zhui Ye captured her hand.
His other hand encircled her waist, lifting her entire person with one hand, away from the ground, pressing her against the cold wall. The movement was rough, yet his palm remained against her back, blocking that impact.
Wu Man let out a short, quiet exclamation. Her bare leg flesh pressed against the cold wall—it should have been very cold, yet her body felt like it was on fire. Zhui Ye raised his head, still holding the cigarette in his mouth, looking completely at ease. However, from his nose a stream of blood flowed imperceptibly.
Wu Man burst out laughing.
“Laugh.” Zhui Ye embarrassedly wiped it away, staring at her with dangerous eyes. “Because elder sister will have to cry in a bit.”
Wu Man’s laughter instantly caught in her throat.
“…You’ve learned bad things!?”
Zhui Ye put her down and pressed her to his chest, saying heavily: “I’ll try to restrain myself.”
The humid smell in the wind grew heavier, as if it was about to rain.
There were no longer any figures on the balcony. You could only vaguely see a thin silhouette pressed against the floor-to-ceiling window. The dark red hair had been dyed pure black. On the beautiful butterfly bones, the ugly birthmark was so vivid. Both shoulder straps had slipped down. The moon-white camisole dress bunched at the waist into several fish-scale-like folds, the satin silk gleaming coldly in the dark night.
On the floor lay a crumpled white T-shirt. Everything in the world became unimportant at this moment. Her legs wrapped around his waist. Two ships finally met at the center of the vortex, entangling, together experiencing the turbulence of the waves. Vocabulary, pretense, concealment, testing—all ceased to exist. Only the most primitive versions of each other remained. His sweat, his inexperience, his intensity, his fine hair, his low gasps, rising and falling in this secret spring night.
The white gauze curtains swayed and swayed. He was an antidote, swallowed by her, merging together on the tip of the tongue.
*
The next day the crew reserved a restaurant by the Cannes coast for celebration, drinking on the second-floor terrace from evening until late at night.
But because they drank red wine with low alcohol content—considering Old Wang Cheng’s health after all—by the end Wu Man felt only half-drunk, though her urge to relieve herself was very strong.
She quietly got up and silently went down to the first-floor restroom. After washing her hands, she casually unbuttoned the topmost button to check. There were several deep marks on her skin that showed no signs of fading even after a day.
A child tasting forbidden fruit for the first time simply couldn’t control himself, getting overexcited and leaving his marks without knowing his own strength.
Wu Man gritted her teeth and muttered hatefully: “Beast.”
“Am I?”
Zhui Ye’s voice unexpectedly sounded behind her. He leaned against the doorway, smiling with satisfaction.
“Tonight…”
“Dream on!”
Wu Man walked over and patted his head. He wrapped his arms around her waist and suddenly buried his head in her neck, taking a deep breath.
The waitstaff had all gone upstairs to standby. The first floor had no one and no occupied seats, with only a rotating rose light illuminating a small empty space. The rose light shone down, and on the checkered square tiles there appeared a lying rose.
Jazz music from upstairs faintly drifted down. Zhui Ye pulled her, and the two danced lazily in perfect synchronization in a slightly tipsy posture on the empty space, accidentally crushing the rose on the ground. It then fell brokenly on their faces—the rose head on her eye area, the leaves by his lips. Intimately connecting them.
Wu Man leaned on his shoulder and suddenly said: “After you fell asleep last night, I woke up again.” She raised her eyes to look at him. “Then I took out my phone and repeatedly looked at that childhood sweethearts photoshopped image, and finally remembered—you as a child.”
Zhui Ye stopped in his tracks, stunned.
Wu Man buried herself in his chest and laughed in a muffled voice: “My god, when I think about how that little kid from back then is now on top of me in bed, I’m dying of embarrassment.”
He asked nervously: “Elder sister, you really remembered me?”
Wu Man raised her head and grabbed his arm: “Come with me.”
She pulled him out of the shop. Outside the store, an electric scooter was parked.
“Little kid, want a ride? Elder sister will take you for a spin.”
She straddled the bike, lifted her chin, and smiled radiantly.
Zhui Ye’s drunkenness seemed to spread from his face to his eyes. His eye sockets unknowingly reddened.
He awkwardly became that child from back then, clumsily sitting on her back seat.
However… before he was fully seated, the entire electric scooter’s center of gravity was off.
The little kid from back then was already a man now.
Hiss, this didn’t seem quite right.
Wu Man, afraid that starting it would flip the bike, sheepishly got off the front seat, her failed attempt at showing off: “You take me instead. Respect the young and care for the old—before I cared for the young, now it’s your turn to respect the old.”
Zhui Ye looked at her with smiling eyes, using that ant-tickling voice to say: as you command.
Wu Man switched to the back seat, hugging the young man’s lean waist, her face pressed against his broad back. The scooter started, the night wind roaring, but it all went around her.
They sped along that smooth azure coastline of Cannes. The long leaves of the palms rustled and swayed. The lights from houses on the hills glowed with old-century light. The bike turned a corner and entered a dark alley. The road surface was bare and uneven, the roads on both sides very narrow, the walls ancient and yellowed.
At this moment, they both thought of the dilapidated small county town from fourteen years ago.
Two children with nothing to their names hugged each other, fleeing from death, poverty, and pain with both despair and hope.
Would they have thought back then? Fourteen years later, having been separated, they would reunite at the other end of the earth, in some ancient small city, embracing each other tightly once more—no longer insignificant children, with the eyes of the whole world stopping for them.
They no longer needed to flee. Behind them were no pursuers; ahead was starlight.
On the terrace where they had kissed last night, at this moment it was empty. The dim room imprisoned only the light curtains, and below, the moon-rippled sea surface.
And the lovers? They had long embraced and departed, falling into this late spring night—
—End of Main Story—