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Zhuang Zi’ang held his phone, staring at the contact labeled “Xiao Yudie,” while composing a message.
He typed, deleted, and retyped several times.
Finally, he settled on one sentence: “What do you want to eat tomorrow morning? I’ll bring it for you.”
After pondering for a bit longer, he mustered the courage to hit send.
He waited and waited, but no reply came from the girl.
Zhuang Zi’ang had no choice but to fill a basin with water and start cleaning.
In fact, when he rented the place, Mrs. Liu had already cleaned the room thoroughly.
But the waiting was too torturous; if he didn’t find something to occupy himself with, he felt he would explode with impatience.
Ten minutes later, Zhuang Zi’ang picked up his phone with anticipation but still hadn’t received a reply from Su Yudie.
What could she possibly be doing so late at night?
He stared at the screen for more than ten seconds, finally gritting his teeth and calling her.
“We’re sorry, but the number you dialed is currently unavailable. Please try again later.”
“Sorry! The subscriber you dialed cannot be connected at the moment; please redial later.”
Usually, when Zhuang Zi’ang heard this automated message, he would hang up immediately.
This time, however, he listened to the entire English announcement.
What year is it? Are there still places with no signal?
Do you live in the mountains like a caveman?
Zhuang Zi’ang opened the window, and a cool night breeze blew in his face.
A cold moon hung high in the sky.
He finally did what he had wanted to do ten years ago: he ran away from home.
He no longer had to watch people’s faces, no longer had to live in fear. He could do whatever he wanted, see whomever he wanted.
He was clearly dying, yet it felt like he had only just come alive.
Even if it was only three months, he could still live a vibrant life.
Gazing at the moon, Zhuang Zi’ang felt a sudden urge to celebrate, so he poured himself a glass of cola.
His reflection in the glass window showed a clear-eyed, spirited young man.
“Congratulations, Zhuang Zi’ang, cheers!”
Zhuang Zi’ang clinked his glass against his reflection, then drank it all in one gulp.
That night, in his humble rented room, he slept exceptionally soundly.
He dreamt that he had transformed into a butterfly, joyfully flapping its wings, flying over famous mountains and great rivers, witnessing the beauty of the world’s spring.
The next morning, the first rays of dawn shone obliquely through the window.
A “ding” sound startled Zhuang Zi’ang awake.
He reached under his pillow for his phone and saw Su Yudie’s reply; his sleepiness vanished instantly.
“I made green rice balls myself. Do you want some?”
Zhuang Zi’ang quickly typed a reply: “Sure! I’ll buy drinks, milk or soy milk?”
“Soy milk, please. Wait for me at the bus stop,” Su Yudie replied almost instantly.
Zhuang Zi’ang immediately rolled out of bed and went to take a hot shower.
He was accustomed to showering in the morning because it allowed him to wash his hair at the same time, which was more convenient.
He hadn’t worn that floral shirt since yesterday.
While shopping at the supermarket with Su Yudie, he had bought a few discounted spring outfits and chose a light blue thin jacket to wear, pairing it with black casual pants.
This attire matched his usual image as a good student.
Before leaving his apartment, he tore a page off the calendar.
It was as if his life had become tangible, each page being ripped away by his own hand.
Coming downstairs, Zhuang Zi’ang saw Mrs. Liu doing her morning exercises and greeted her, “Good morning, Mrs. Liu.”
Mrs. Liu smiled kindly. “Going to school, young Zhuang? That girl, she wasn’t staying with you yesterday, was she?”
“Grandma, don’t joke. She’s my friend.”
“Good, young people should have friends. Bring her back to visit more often.”
Su Yudie was pretty, well-behaved, and had an optimistic and cheerful personality.
Mrs. Liu had liked her from the moment she met her.
Seeing Zhuang Zi’ang and Su Yudie together, she couldn’t help but sigh, “Youth is so wonderful.”
She didn’t know, however, that such a young boy was already facing the end of his life.
Arriving at the breakfast shop, Zhuang Zi’ang ordered two cups of soy milk.
One red date flavor and one black sesame flavor.
He didn’t know which flavor Su Yudie liked, so he figured she could choose one, and he would drink the other.
At the bus stop, they waited nearly ten minutes before the number 19 bus finally arrived.
The doors opened, and students, beaming with youthful smiles, poured out.
Walking at the very back was a girl who was unbelievably beautiful.
She was still dressed the same way: a white shirt, a blue skirt, and white canvas shoes, with a peach blossom tucked behind her ear.
Zhuang Zi’ang found it a bit strange that she had been wearing this outfit for three days.
White clothing should get dirty easily, yet her shirt and shoes remained spotless.
“Xiao Yudie!” Zhuang Zi’ang called out.
“Zhuang Zi’ang, I’m sorry! Did you wait long?” Su Yudie blinked her big, watery eyes.
“No, I just arrived too. See? The soy milk is still hot,” Zhuang Zi’ang replied with a smile.
In fact, he had just come out of the breakfast shop, and the soy milk was still quite warm.
He had been holding the soy milk for ten minutes; now it was just the right temperature.
The two walked into the school together and came to the flower bed from yesterday.
The sweet alyssum and wisteria in the flower bed still held the morning dew.
Under the sunlight, they looked crystal clear.
Su Yudie was carrying a black shoulder bag today. She took out a paper bag from it, and a fragrant aroma wafted out immediately.
Inside were green food items—the green rice balls.
Green rice balls are a traditional snack with over a thousand years of history. Made with a mixture of mugwort juice and glutinous rice flour and filled with red bean paste or lotus seed paste, they have a bright green color and a light, refreshing fragrance.
One bite, and it felt like you were eating springtime itself.
Zhuang Zi’ang picked up a green rice ball, took a bite, and found it was filled with red bean paste—sweet but not cloying.
“Wow, they look and taste amazing! Did you really make these yourself?”
Su Yudie nodded. “Of course, I learned from my grandmother.”
“You’re so skillful! These green rice balls are beautiful,” Zhuang Zi’ang praised sincerely.
“Mugwort helps clear heat and dampness. Eat more, and you definitely won’t have nosebleeds anymore,” Su Yudie said, taking a sip of her red date soy milk.
“What? These were made especially for me?” Zhuang Zi’ang was surprised.
“Of course! It’s incredibly troublesome to make these. You have to pick tender mugwort, crush it, mix it with the dough, steam it, and then fill it. I woke up so early today,” Su Yudie said, covering her mouth and yawning.
Zhuang Zi’ang’s heart warmed.
He never expected anyone to put so much effort into something for him.
It’s a pity that these green rice balls couldn’t cure his nosebleeds.
“Xiao Yudie, I’m fine. Don’t go to so much trouble for me in the future.”
Su Yudie stubbornly shook her head. “No way! We’re friends, and friends should care for each other.”
Zhuang Zi’ang silently ate his green rice ball, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
Oh, God, are you playing with me?
Why, when I’m about to die, do you send someone like this to my side?
“By the way, Zhuang Zi’ang, I’m sorry. I couldn’t use my phone last night, so I only saw your message this morning.” Su Yudie suddenly remembered the message and quickly apologized.
“It’s okay. I knew you would reply as soon as you saw it,” Zhuang Zi’ang said softly.
“Time for class. Thank you for the soy milk. Goodbye!”
Su Yudie shook the cup in her hand and lightly stepped onto the stairs.
In three or four steps, she disappeared around the corner.
Zhuang Zi’ang remained by the flower bed, silently watching the direction in which she disappeared.
He had originally been standing in the shadow of the teaching building, but as the sun gradually rose, the shadow receded.
The warm sunlight poured down, illuminating him completely.