Chapter 13: Can (You) Stay?

“Give me the movie ticket stub—I want to keep it as a souvenir.”

After they got home, Lin Ximeng made her request.

Li Huangxuan didn’t think much of it and pulled the slightly crumpled ticket stub from his pocket.

Girls often liked to keep things like that.

It was already past eleven, and Li Huangxuan felt the familiar laziness creeping in. He didn’t really feel like writing.

But he also felt guilty toward that one loyal reader.

After some internal struggle, he finally decided to write a chapter.

Lin Ximeng came out of the shower and gently knocked on his door.
“Don’t stay up too late. We’re going for a run tomorrow morning.”

Through the door, Li Huangxuan replied, “Okay, good night.”

After just one week, he had already been “tamed.”
He didn’t even feel the slightest urge to resist.

They say it only takes twenty-one days to form a habit.

Are you an angel sent by God to help me become a better person?

The next day was Saturday—Li Huangxuan and Lin Ximeng were about to spend their second weekend together.

After finishing their run, they stopped by a steamed bun shop for breakfast.
While they ate, Lin Ximeng handed him her phone.

“Let’s go to Luweng Mountain this weekend.”

Li Huangxuan had heard of Luweng Mountain. It was 50 kilometers from Jiangcheng and famous for its maple leaves in autumn.

When fall arrived, the mountain would be ablaze with red leaves—a breathtaking sight.

And now, in October, it was the best time to see them.

On her phone screen was a promotional photo of Luweng Mountain’s scenic view.

“Mengmeng, going to Luweng Mountain usually takes two days,” Li Huangxuan said cautiously.

The implication being: they’d have to spend the night out.

A man and a woman, alone together—anyone would think of that.

“Yeah, we’ll go this morning and come back tomorrow afternoon.”
Lin Ximeng blinked her large, innocent eyes, as if she hadn’t caught his implied meaning.

“…Okay, sure then!” Li Huangxuan agreed.

If she, a girl, isn’t afraid, why should I, a guy, worry about anything?

They went home, packed a few things, and headed to the bus station.

Fifty kilometers wasn’t far—it only took about an hour.

As they got on the bus, Lin Ximeng said, “Let me sit by the window. I want to soak up the sun.”

Naturally, Li Huangxuan agreed and sat in the aisle seat.

Maybe because he’d stayed up too late the night before, he started dozing off as soon as they got on.

Before he knew it, his head had tilted to one side.

The rocking of the bus was like a cradle from childhood.

When Li Huangxuan opened his eyes again, he found his head resting firmly on Lin Ximeng’s shoulder.

She had even leaned toward him on purpose, just to make him more comfortable.

“Ah, I’m sorry! I didn’t drool on you, did I?” he asked in a panic.

“It’s okay. I’m already really happy that you came with me.”
Lin Ximeng beamed at him.

Li Huangxuan realized—when she put away her usual assertiveness and showed her gentle side—

It was absolutely devastating.

After they got off the bus, they strolled around the ancient town at the foot of the mountain.

But these old towns were all starting to feel the same—pretty much like a wholesale market. It was hard to find anything unique.

Lin Ximeng was in a great mood, skipping as she walked.

Whenever she saw a toy, she would pick it up curiously, play with it for a while, then put it back.

The sunlight fell on her like a flower blooming in the autumn.

Li Huangxuan followed behind her with a smile tugging at his lips the entire time.

He was absolutely certain—any guy would fall for a girl like this.

They had lunch in the town and got seriously overcharged. In the afternoon, they started their hike.

Luweng Mountain had a front side and a back side.

The front was full of Buddhist temples and Taoist monasteries—more cultural and historical.

The back side, though, was mostly undeveloped and famous for its natural beauty, especially the fiery red maple trees.

Since they had come to see the leaves, they started from the back side.

The stone steps paved with slabs of bluestone had been worn smooth by countless feet.

The winding path stretched on endlessly.

It was impossible not to think of that well-known poem:

“Up the cold mountain, the stone path slants,
Where white clouds rise, there lies a home.
I stop the carriage, enchanted by the maple forest in dusk,
Frosted leaves are redder than February’s flowers.”

The mountain air was crisp and refreshing. Lin Ximeng was in high spirits, taking pictures as they walked, capturing clusters of blazing red leaves in her lens.

Li Huangxuan didn’t like taking photos. He thought it was enough to admire the beauty with his own eyes.

But when Lin Ximeng asked to take a photo together, he didn’t hesitate for even a second.

Beneath a towering maple tree, a young man and woman smiled brightly.

The ground was carpeted with crimson leaves.

A breeze danced through the mountain air, stirring the beauty’s long hair.

Lin Ximeng suggested, “Let’s each pick the prettiest maple leaf and give it to the other as a gift.”

Li Huangxuan agreed. “Sure! I bet my taste is better than yours.”

As he spoke, his heart thumped wildly.

This was clearly one of those sweet, flirty things that only couples did.

The distance between them was shrinking, little by little.

After wandering among the maple trees for a while, Li Huangxuan finally picked a leaf he was satisfied with.

It was nearly perfect—like it belonged on the Canadian flag.

Lin Ximeng had chosen hers too. The leaf in her hand was so red it looked like it was on fire.

She handed him a pen. “Let’s each write a sentence for the other on the leaf.”

Li Huangxuan was fully absorbed in this little game.

It was like the air around them was saturated with the scent of love.

He held the pen and thought for a long time before finally working up the courage to write:

“Can you stay?”

Lin Ximeng had finished too. She flipped her leaf over and handed it to him.

“No peeking! I’d be embarrassed if you read it now. Look at it tonight.”

Li Huangxuan had no choice but to agree and let her put the maple leaf into his backpack.

He did the same—placing his into her bag.

The mystery would have to wait.

After that, Li Huangxuan couldn’t stop feeling anxious.

It felt like he had just sent a love confession via text and was now waiting for his crush to reply.

That gnawing impatience, that helpless fidgeting—it was unbearable.

He couldn’t help but wonder: What did Mengmeng write for me?

They continued climbing. In the end, Lin Ximeng’s stamina couldn’t keep up. After all, she was a girl.

Her cheeks were flushed, and she was panting heavily.

Li Huangxuan reached out his hand. “Mengmeng, I’ll pull you up to that pavilion up ahead. Let’s take a break.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, she naturally took his hand.

Maybe yesterday at the cinema had been a sort of rehearsal for this moment.

Mengmeng’s hand was soft and smooth, delicate as if boneless.

If he could, Li Huangxuan never wanted to let go.

Along the way, a few other tourists noticed them and cast envious glances.

Maybe this really was what love looked like at its best.

They sat down at the pavilion. Li Huangxuan sipped some bottled water and looked out over the maple forest.

“Your voice is so beautiful—can you sing ‘Maple’ for me?”

Lin Ximeng found the key and started singing softly.

Her clear, melodic voice echoed through the maple-covered mountains.

Falling maple leaves drift down like longing.
I light a candle to warm the autumn at year’s end.
Auroras streak the edge of the sky,
The northern wind brushes past your face in my mind.
I burn love into fallen leaves,
But it can’t bring back the face I knew…

Halfway through the song, a single tear slid down from the corner of Lin Ximeng’s eye.

And it was as if something cracked open inside Li Huangxuan too.

His vision blurred with tears—for no apparent reason.

He didn’t know what she was sad about.

And he didn’t know what he was sad about either.