Chapter 11 – 11

Her heart raced out of control. Lou Jia unconsciously clenched her hand, feeling a layer of moisture in her palm, though it had nothing to do with the stifling summer heat.

She saw the same nervousness and anticipation in Jiang Siwei’s eyes. Her fingertips twitched slightly, “I…”

“Teacher Jiang…”

A low voice suddenly broke the moment, like a gust of wind sweeping through the forest, instantly dispelling all the tension and ambiguity in the air.

Lou Jia and Jiang Siwei both pressed their lips together almost at the same time, sharing a silent smile and a sigh, both on the verge of saying something but stopping themselves.

In the end, it was Jiang Siwei who broke the moment first, turning his gaze toward the little boy standing a few steps away. “Xiao Jing? Why haven’t you gone home yet?”

The boy was dressed in a loose-fitting summer outfit, with frayed sleeves and hem, and he wore an old pair of sandals. They didn’t seem to fit well, with half of his foot hanging out, covered in dirt and dust.

“Teacher Jiang…” Xiao Jing stood there, nervously tugging at the hem of his shirt, even digging his toes into the ground. He glanced at Jiang Siwei, then lowered his head, speaking in clumsy Mandarin, “I’m sorry… for getting you hurt.”

Jiang Siwei walked over and crouched down in front of Xiao Jing. “It’s okay, my arm will be fine in a few days. You don’t need to worry about it.”

Xiao Jing looked at the arm hanging in a sling across Jiang Siwei’s chest, still looking dejected.

Seeing this, Lou Jia also walked over. “Xiao Jing, your Teacher Jiang’s arm is really fine. If you don’t believe it, you can ask him to—well, maybe show you some martial arts moves.”

Jiang Siwei, with no other choice, played along. He waved his good arm in a few exaggerated motions, making “huh-huh” sounds as he pretended to punch the air.

Xiao Jing bit his lip, trying not to laugh but feeling too shy to let it out.

“You see? Teacher is really fine,” Jiang Siwei said, patting his head gently. “But from now on, no more climbing trees to reach bird nests, okay? It’s very dangerous, you understand?”

“I wasn’t trying to take a bird’s nest…” Xiao Jing whispered. “I saw an egg on the ground, and I thought the mother bird would be worried, so I wanted to put it back. I wasn’t trying to take the nest.”

Jiang Siwei paused for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry, Xiao Jing. Teacher misunderstood you. But next time something like this happens, make sure you find an adult to help you. Don’t climb so high by yourself, okay?”

Xiao Jing nodded, and just then, his stomach let out a loud growl. He immediately covered his belly with his hands, and his face turning red.

“Are you hungry?” Lou Jia asked, noticing his nod. She smiled and said, “Come on, let’s go. Teacher will take you to get something to eat.”

Xiao Jing’s worries turned to joy, and he skipped ahead happily.

Jiang Siwei and Lou Jia walked side by side behind him. Neither of them mentioned the unfinished dance, but as they walked, their bodies unconsciously drifted toward each other, brushing against one another, only to quickly move apart again.

Over and over.

Everything was left unspoken.

As they approached a crowded area, Xiao Jing noticed a family of four holding hands not far away. Suddenly, he ran back and squeezed between Lou Jia and Jiang Siwei, grabbing each of their hands with his own.

He held on, trying to cover it up by explaining, “There are too many people, I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to keep up with me.”

Lou Jia and Jiang Siwei exchanged a glance, understanding what Xiao Jing was really thinking. Neither of them refused; instead, they tightened their grip on his hands.

Xiao Jing was an abandoned baby his grandfather had found years ago beside a well while selling vegetables in town. No one knew who his parents were or where he came from.

Xiao Jing’s grandfather was also a pitiful man. He lost his wife early on and later his son, living a lonely life. After finding Xiao Jing, he raised him as his own grandson.

“The two of them are very close, but it’s such a sad situation,” Aunt Sun, who was cooking, said as she handed the freshly heated food to Lou Jia. “His grandfather’s health has been failing these past two years, and well… who knows…” She sighed.

Mentioning life, death, and illness inevitably brought a touch of sorrow to the conversation.

Lou Jia placed the food on the table, and she and Jiang Siwei sat nearby, watching Xiao Jing shovel rice into his mouth. Their emotions were complicated.

Jiang Siwei noticed the worry in Lou Jia’s expression and fell silent as well.

After Xiao Jing finished eating, the three of them headed to the square for the bonfire party. Xiao Jing’s grandfather, being an elder of the village, had already been seated on the platform early on.

When Xiao Jing saw his grandfather, he waved excitedly and then quickly blended into the dancing crowd, his body joyfully twisting and jumping along with the music, cheering with delight.

Lou Jia, still weighed down by her thoughts, watched Xiao Jing’s happiness with a sense of indescribable sorrow. Lost in her reverie, she suddenly felt someone grasp her hand.

The warmth and dryness of the hand enveloped her.

Lou Jia looked up at Jiang Siwei. He was holding her hand, and the firelight reflecting in his eyes. “Everyone’s life is limited.”

“I know.” Lou Jia understood that truth.

“Maybe Xiao Jing understands it better than we do,” Jiang Siwei said, “but he’s still trying his best to remember as many happy moments as he can.”

“Instead of pitying his hardships, it’s better to share in his joy.” As Jiang Siwei spoke, he caught Xiao Jing, who had come running toward them. “You’re amazing, Xiao Jing!”

Lou Jia looked at Xiao Jing, his forehead covered in sweat, his eyes bright with excitement, and she held his hot hand. “Xiao Jing, how are you so good at dancing?”

“My grandpa taught me!” Xiao Jing pointed toward the platform. “Look, that’s my grandpa. He used to be an amazing dancer.”

Lou Jia glanced over at the platform and smiled. “Can you dance all kinds of dances?”

“Of course! I can sing too!” Xiao Jing shouted proudly and let out a loud note. Though he was young, it was clear he had some talent.

Lou Jia half-heartedly waved her arms and legs in rhythm with Xiao Jing. “Well, you’ll have to teach Teacher Jiang sometime. His singing is terrible.”

Jiang Siwei: “…”

Xiao Jing was surprised. “Really?”

Lou Jia nodded. “Absolutely.”

Jiang Siwei shot back, “Then perhaps Teacher Xiao Jing can also teach your Teacher Lou how to dance.”

He looked at Lou Jia. “Someone still owes me a dance, I believe.”

Lou Jia smiled slightly. “I haven’t agreed to dance with you yet.”

Jiang Siwei feigned disappointment. “Then I’ll keep trying. Xiao Jing, will you help me out?”

Xiao Jing, excited, eagerly replied, “Of course, of course!”

Lou Jia looked at Jiang Siwei, with the firelight dancing in both of their eyes. Their faces were flushed, and their gazes intertwined in a way that was neither clear nor definite, making her heartbeat quicken.

She was the first to look away, her movements becoming as uncoordinated as her heartbeat.

But at this moment, the quality of the dance didn’t matter—what mattered most was the joy they shared.

The singing, accompanied by the sound of drums, grew more and more joyful.

The bonfire blazed, and everyone joined hands, casting away all worries, pains, and sorrows. They sang their hearts out, danced without restraint.

The moon rose higher, and the fire burned even brighter.

A night of cheers passed, and the sun rose as usual. The rooster crowed, dogs barked, and life goes on as usual, with unexpected surprises, quiet moments, and passionate bursts.

Goodbyes and more goodbyes.

…

One day in August, Principal Luo’s office received a phone call. The previously injured Zheng Tong, who had gone home to recover, was healing well and was expected to return to work by the end of the month.

At lunchtime, Ying Xi casually mentioned it to the group. Everyone was happy for a few seconds, but then their eyes shifted to Jiang Siwei, and the joy faded away.

“What’s wrong? It’s not like I’m leaving for good,” Jiang Siwei said with a smile. “I’ll come back to visit you whenever I can.”

Despite the inevitability of parting, the meal felt bittersweet for everyone. Even after finishing, they lingered longer than usual, chatting about everything and nothing, until the lunch break was almost over before they finally left the table.

In the afternoon, Jiang Siwei and Lou Jia had no classes, so they stuck to their original plan of going to Xiao Jing’s house to help repair the roof.

“Have you bought your ticket to go back yet?” Lou Jia asked as they walked.

“Not yet,” Jiang Siwei replied. “I’ll wait until Teacher Zheng arrives before buying it.”

“Okay.” There was a rare moment of silence before Lou Jia spoke again. “You mentioned before that you’re continuing directly to a PhD at your current university, right?”

“Yes.”

“So after you finish your PhD, do you have any plans?” Lou Jia asked.

“Maybe I’ll continue with research,” Jiang Siwei said with a smile. “Honestly, I’m not very good at interacting with people. I even used to think I could spend my whole life living in a lab.”

“That’s a bit extreme,” Lou Jia said, imagining the scene and almost laughing.

“It’s true,” Jiang Siwei replied. “But I don’t feel that way anymore.”

Lou Jia glanced at him as he continued, “Getting out and getting some fresh air every now and then is actually pretty nice.”

Jiang Siwei turned his head and met Lou Jia’s gaze. “What about you? What are your plans for next year?”

This time, Lou Jia didn’t give a vague answer. “I’ll stay here.”

Jiang Siwei’s expression remained unchanged, calm as if he had already expected her answer. “Then Xiao Jing won’t be as sad, I suppose.”

“Maybe,” Lou Jia said, a bit begrudgingly. “He likes you more.”

“Does he? I think so too.”

“…” Lou Jia shot him a sideways glance.

Jiang Siwei chuckled. From a distance, he saw Xiao Jing waving at them. He raised his hand to wave back and then said, “Lou Jia, don’t overthink things.”

“What?” Lou Jia didn’t quite catch on immediately.

“Think about me, don’t overthink everything else,” Jiang Siwei said. “Don’t let the distance, or the uncertainty of the future, factor into the answer you give me.”

“Just focus on the present. Just look at the Jiang Siwei who’s right here.”

Lou Jia looked at Jiang Siwei standing in front of her. She always prided herself on not weighing pros and cons when it came to relationships, yet when facing him, she couldn’t help but do exactly that.

It wasn’t about weighing the pros and cons for herself; it was about not wanting to give a careless answer, only to have things fall apart because of future uncertainties.

If it really came to that, wouldn’t it be another kind of hurt for Jiang Siwei?

She didn’t want that, and she couldn’t bear it.

Lou Jia stayed silent, her chest pounding like a muffled drum. After a long pause, she finally spoke: “Okay.”

Time flew by in an instant.

Zheng Tong arrived in Wutong Village on the last weekend of August, while Jiang Siwei booked his return trip for Monday. On Sunday evening, Principal Luo arranged a banquet.

It was both a welcome and a farewell.

The sorrow of parting and the joy of reunion intertwined, causing everyone’s emotions to fluctuate. Plenty of drinks were shared—Principal Luo’s homemade wine, which wasn’t strong at first but had a slow, potent aftereffect.

By the end of the evening, the younger crowd was feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

Jiang Siwei was relatively sober, able to stand and walk on his own, albeit a bit unsteadily. As he swayed his way to the entrance of the dining hall, he noticed a boy crouched under the shade of a tree.

“Xiao Jing,” he called out.

Xiao Jing lifted his head and slowly walked over to Jiang Siwei. He had overheard from teachers and classmates that Jiang Siwei was leaving soon. He had cried a few times in private, but when he stood in front of Jiang Siwei now, he smiled and said goodbye.

Saying farewell was the first life lesson he had learned.

“Teacher Jiang, I wish you were my dad,” Xiao Jing said, giving him a quick hug. Before Jiang Siwei could respond, Xiao Jing ran off in a hurry.

Jiang Siwei felt a pang of sadness at Xiao Jing’s words. Lou Jia walked over to him and handed him a tissue. He stubbornly said, “I’m fine, I didn’t cry.”

“Of course, you didn’t.” Lou Jia silently placed the tissue over his eyes. “It’s just some sand that accidentally got in.”

Jiang Siwei chuckled, though his nose still stung a little from the emotion.

After a while, Lou Jia removed the tissue and noticed his red eyes. “Shall we walk?”

“Sure,” Jiang Siwei replied.

As autumn set in, the temperature in the mountains dropped sharply at night. Jiang Siwei draped his jacket over Lou Jia’s shoulders. She glanced at him but didn’t refuse.

The night breeze didn’t disturb the quiet between them.

Jiang Siwei, having had some alcohol, wasn’t fully alert and didn’t notice anything unusual about the path Lou Jia was leading him down.

It wasn’t until he saw specks of green light in front of him that he suddenly stopped.

At this time of year, fireflies were scarce, yet what Jiang Siwei saw before him was more brilliant than fireflies, starlight, or the moon.

Lou Jia pressed her lips together and said softly, “Siwei, I’m sorry…”

Hearing those words, a chill ran down Jiang Siwei’s back. His previously foggy mind instantly cleared, and though he tried to speak, no words came out.

“I’m sorry for giving you an answer so late,” Lou Jia said with a hint of a smile in her eyes. “You were right—I was overthinking things before, because I never imagined you’d like me.”

“I didn’t want to be careless with you, and I didn’t want to make a promise lightly. I was afraid this relationship wouldn’t end well, and that I couldn’t give you what you wanted.”

Jiang Siwei wasn’t sure if he should say something in return. His chest felt tight, his fingers trembling as if he were in the final sprint of a marathon, and his entire body tense and hard to control.

Lou Jia moved closer and closer to him, so near that it seemed he could almost hear her heartbeat. The night breeze lifted her long hair, brushing it softly against his face.

Jiang Siwei closed his eyes, as if trying to hold on to the moment, as though it were a beautiful dream.

Under the silver moonlight, their hearts drew closer, and their breaths intertwined. Lou Jia’s voice was filled with temptation, “That dance, are you still willing to dance it with me?”

Jiang Siwei opened his eyes. The beautiful dream continued.

“Of course.”

—The End—

---

Author’s Note:

It’s done! There will be a sweet little extra tomorrow ^w^

Sending out a red envelope! Thank you all for your support!

---