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Being with someone you love makes time fly, even when you’re not doing anything; it feels like moments together are far too short.
In the blink of an eye, it was almost noon. They were still chatting casually in the room. Wen Jialuo didn’t bring up leaving, and Xu Shiqi noticed her hesitation and understood, so she let her stay. However, when she saw it was about time, she suggested they go out for lunch. She could wait, but Wen Jialuo’s stomach couldn’t.
Just as Xu Shiqi was about to get up, they heard a door close outside, followed by Wang Yuan’s surprised voice, “Shiqi, you’re back?”
Seeing the nervous look on Xu Shiqi’s face, Wen Jialuo grabbed her hand. As soon as she let go, there was a knock on the door: “Shiqi, are you in there?”
“Mom, I’m here!” Xu Shiqi hurriedly replied as she walked to open the door.
Wang Yuan stood outside with a beaming smile and quickly spotted the girl walking out from behind her daughter. “Oh, Jialuo is here too!”
“Hello, Auntie.”
“I thought the car downstairs looked familiar,” Wang Yuan said, noticing the bag by her daughter’s bed. “So you’re not staying over there anymore?”
“Yes, thank you, Auntie.”
Wang Yuan looked at Wen Jialuo in surprise. In her impression, this girl had always seemed cold and a bit proud. Although her relationship with her daughter seemed to have warmed up, Wang Yuan couldn’t forget the family background behind her. Seeing her being so polite and even thanking her, it seemed her daughter was well-liked in her home, which was no small feat.
“What are you thanking me for?” Wang Yuan rubbed her hands together, glancing at her watch. “It’s already this time. Why don’t you sit for a bit? I’ve got some dishes at home; let’s eat lunch before you leave.”
“Mom, why are you cooking for yourself?” Xu Shiqi finally spoke up. “Let’s just go out to eat.”
“The food outside can’t compare to home-cooked meals,” Wang Yuan said, looking a bit embarrassed as she glanced at Wen Jialuo. Although their family owned a restaurant, eating out all the time was just not the same. “I was just going home to grab a few things; it’s not like I came home just to eat alone. So it’s settled.”
Wang Yuan turned to leave, and Xu Shiqi followed for a couple of steps but ultimately didn’t say anything.
Soon, they heard sounds coming from the kitchen, and Wang Yuan seemed to be in a particularly good mood, even humming a tune.
Half an hour later, Wang Yuan called them for lunch. On the not-so-big dining table, there were three dishes and a soup: hand-torn cabbage, stir-fried eggs with chili, stir-fried yam, and a seaweed soup.
“Sorry, we didn’t buy any meat at home, so it’s all leftover vegetarian dishes,” Wang Yuan said as she seated them on either side of her. “Jialuo, don’t mind it.”
Wen Jialuo shook her head, calmly pointing to the stir-fried eggs with chili. “Isn’t this egg a meat dish?” After saying this, she glanced at Xu Shiqi and, seeing a smile she couldn’t suppress at the corner of her lips, finally relaxed.
They had been quiet in the room earlier. Even though Xu Shiqi had shifted her feelings, Wen Jialuo could tell that some things weren’t absolute just because a choice had been made. She didn’t doubt her feelings, but the existing issues wouldn’t just disappear.
Xu Mama’s warmth made Wen Jialuo realize she needed to hold onto Xu Shiqi’s hand even tighter to keep her heart from straying.
The simple dishes were quickly devoured. Wang Yuan was pleased with the outcome but felt a bit awkward asking if her daughter’s guest wasn’t known for being picky about food.
After lunch, Xu Shiqi said she wanted to go back to the restaurant with her mom, suggesting that Wen Jialuo join them. Wen Jialuo indicated she was heading home but offered to drop them off first. Seeing Xu Shiqi about to speak, she turned to Wang Yuan, saying it would be convenient to thank her for the lunch hospitality.
Wang Yuan was naturally happy and agreed.
Once in the car, Wang Yuan sat in the back, while Xu Shiqi quietly occupied the front passenger seat. She felt a bit anxious; Wen Jialuo liked to hold her hand at times like this, as if to physically feel her presence. However, with no visual barrier in the car, any movement would be visible to her mom in the backseat, so Xu Shiqi kept sending warning glances to Wen Jialuo. Surprisingly, Wen Jialuo ignored her and focused intently on driving.
Wen Jialuo didn’t like talking while driving, and Xu Shiqi feared that too much silence felt strange, so she turned around to chat with her mom.
Before long, they arrived at the restaurant. The three of them got out, and Wen Jialuo lingered for a while before leaving, still being urged to stay by Wang Yuan.
Before getting in her car, she noticed someone standing by her vehicle, looking at her. After a quick glance, she recognized the person.
“Ah, it’s Miss Wen!” the man approached, his eyes squinting in a smile. He looked up at the restaurant sign and asked, “You… eat here?”
“Hello.” Wen Jialuo nodded, acknowledging him. The man was a deputy director from a certain bureau in the city. She had seen him in her dad’s office once before. Back then, during summer, he had praised her as if she were an extraordinary talent, completely disregarding her father’s displeasure. It was quite embarrassing.
He seemed to be lingering there, possibly because of what he had said back then. Wen Jialuo mocked him inwardly, but her face remained serious as she nodded meaningfully, “Yes, I come here often; I like this restaurant’s dishes.”
After she finished speaking, she smiled, got into her car, and drove away.
The deputy director stroked his thick chin, gazing at the unassuming little restaurant. He had eaten at the opposite restaurant that day and had coincidentally spotted this car upon exiting. He had done some homework, and the car’s license plate was unforgettable after just one glance. Never expecting such a fortunate coincidence, he intended to seize the opportunity. Thinking of what Miss Wen had said, he called over someone waiting at a distance. “Tonight, let’s eat at this restaurant—no, from now on, let’s set this as our regular spot.”
“Huh?” The person he called looked confused. Today, they were hosted by the boss of the restaurant across the street, who wanted to boost business. How could it be that one girl’s few words had secured a deal here? Who was this girl?
“What are you waiting for?” the deputy director snapped, glaring at him. “Go back and continue the meeting.”
Naturally, Xu Shiqi was unaware that Wen Jialuo’s simple statement had inexplicably started to improve their family business. Several units soon began to dine regularly at their small restaurant. Although they always settled the bills with signed tabs, they never encountered any objections at checkout.
Later, Xu Shiqi learned that whenever Wen Jialuo stood near her family’s restaurant, anyone with any awareness would come over to flatter her. The Wen family was typically low-key, and Wen Jialuo was even more so, rarely making an appearance. The fact that this supposedly picky girl, rumored to have suffered from anorexia, often dined at this restaurant—even if the food didn’t suit her taste—hinted at an extraordinary relationship.
But that was another story. From the moment Xu Shiqi arrived at the restaurant, she received a text from Wen Jialuo almost every hour. The messages were short but repetitive.
“I heard it’s very cold on the mountain; you should wear something warm.”
“There’s a home theater with a projector in the villa. If there’s a movie you want to watch, let me know, and I’ll download it.”
“Bring a swimsuit if you have one; the hot springs there are quite nice.”
“I just bought two sets of hats and gloves; they’re really pretty and identical.”
“It seems the weather forecast predicts snow; let’s go make a snowman on the mountain.”
“Don’t wear high heels.”
“I’ve got the keys to the villa now.”
“My sister asked where we’re going tomorrow, but I didn’t tell her.”
“My grandma suddenly asked about you; she forgot you left.”
“I miss you.”
Night fell quickly, but it felt slow in passing—why was it still not dawn?
As Xu Shiqi lay in bed, she flipped through the messages one by one, finally gazing out at the night sky, silently counting the minutes like the girl had done.
If she had known, she should have suggested going up the mountain this afternoon. After all, why wait until tomorrow?
But in the agony of waiting, like boiling sweet sugar cane juice, the anticipation thickened into a rich aroma that made her even more intoxicated by the unbearable wait…
Winter mornings were the hardest for Xu Shiqi. The warm blanket felt like a separate world, making her reluctant to even stick out a single finger.
But at seven o’clock, her phone rang. Last night, Xu Shiqi had kept checking her phone until it was very late and had simply left it by her pillow. Struggling to reach for it, she answered the call with a sleepy voice, “Jialuo…”
“…” There was no sound on the other end. After a moment, the voice requested softly, “I didn’t hear you. Say it again.”
Xu Shiqi opened her eyes, instantly wide awake, heat rushing to her cheeks. Unfortunately, the other person couldn’t see her reproachful expression. “What are you saying… Why so early?”
“Is it still early?” The voice on the other end was completely alert, accompanied by a slow, teasing insistence, “Last night, I felt like taking the moon down and hanging it up with the sun.”
Xu Shiqi chuckled, brushing her hair back. “Where are you?”
“I’m downstairs at your house.” Wen Jialuo sighed. “We should have gone up the mountain yesterday afternoon.”
“What? You’re here already?” Xu Shiqi sat up, realizing she had been so eager for today to arrive that she had forgotten their agreed time and place to meet. She listened closely and heard her parents talking outside.
“…I can wait for you in the car.”
Xu Shiqi paused for a moment before saying, “You can come up.” She hung up quickly, dressed hurriedly, and dashed out of her room, only to find her dad sitting outside reading the newspaper.
“Oh, my good daughter, why are you up so early today?”
“Dad, I’m going out to play these days. My friend is here to pick me up.” As Xu Shiqi spoke, she heard a knock at the door.
Wang Yuan popped her head out from the kitchen where she was making soy milk. “What’s up? Why are you in such a hurry?”
“Your daughter has a play date with someone. She probably lost track of time while sleeping, and now the person is here to get her,” Xu Zhongda said humorously, just as the door opened. He stood up when he saw Wen Jialuo, “Ah, it’s early in the morning, where are you two headed?”
“Hello, Uncle.” Wen Jialuo greeted him, changing her shoes as she entered. “We’re going to the mountains to soak in some hot springs today.”
“Hot springs in this weather are indeed very comfortable,” Wang Yuan said as she brought out the soy milk. “Just right, have breakfast before you go. You don’t need to save this soy milk for my lazy kids today.”
“Mom…” Xu Shiqi stood in the middle, glancing at her parents and then at Wen Jialuo, feeling slightly dazed. This was her balancing act.
Wen Jialuo timely patted her on the shoulder. “Go prepare.”
Seeing Wen Jialuo relaxed in front of her parents and able to respond with ease, Xu Shiqi hurried back to her room.
Wen Jialuo watched Xu Shiqi rush away and didn’t linger, obediently sitting at the dining table. “Thank you, Auntie, but I’ve already eaten before coming out.”
“Wow, your family really eats early,” Wang Yuan smiled and then suddenly lowered her voice to ask, “Besides you two, who else is going with you?”
“Uh…” Wen Jialuo hesitated, quickly realizing what she meant. Although she wanted to say it was just the two of them, that didn’t seem appropriate at the moment, so she had to respond vaguely, “There are a few other people…”
“Oh, oh,” Wang Yuan was satisfied with this answer and pushed a cup of soy milk in front of her. Young people should go out and play, meet new friends. It was always better to let things happen naturally than to force a blind date. “Have fun, but be careful.”
“Got it.” Wen Jialuo lowered her head to drink the soy milk, which should have tasted good, but she didn’t feel much in her mouth.
In life, people inevitably tell a few lies, some malicious and some benevolent. Yet behind every lie, there’s more or less a burden on a person’s heart. Those who can speak without any burden can be compared to saints.
When she initially decided to bury her secrets, even if it damaged her body, she still had a strong will. Lies are like clothing, harder than iron. But now, in front of the parents of the person she loved, she said those words with incredible guilt, practically sitting on pins and needles.
Xu Shiqi always had an acute insight into Wen Jialuo’s actions. After wrapping herself up tightly and coming out, she immediately discerned the subtle disappointment on the girl’s face. She glanced at her mom, who couldn’t hide her joyful and satisfied expression, and guessed a bit of what was going on. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she quickly got ready and finally slipped on the hand-painted canvas shoes that Wen Jialuo had given her.
Because the messages had basically left her with nothing to prepare, she truly appeared empty-handed, except for the bag slung over her shoulder.
As she was leaving, Wen Jialuo watched her hands, feeling a bit disappointed when she confirmed that Xu Shiqi hadn’t brought any extra bags.
“What are you looking at?” Xu Shiqi patted her bag. “The swimsuit is in here. If there’s no water in the hot spring, you can just boil some for me.”
“Haha.” Wen Jialuo laughed, taking her hand and squinting, “I wasn’t looking at any swimsuit.”
Xu Shiqi squeezed her hand, glanced at the empty staircase, shot her a glare, and then released her grip, heading downstairs first. “Let’s go.” She yawned as she spoke. Hmm, she was a bit too excited last night and hadn’t slept well.
“Sleep in the car. It actually snowed a little today, so I’ll drive slowly.”
This year seemed to truly be the warm winter that experts had spoken of; the snow came particularly late. In novels and on TV, the first snow was always portrayed as something akin to first love. Who would have thought they’d indulge in a bit of romance themselves? At least in the future, when recalling this, their first official date, after both had set their hearts on each other, would be as pure and perfect as snow.
Wen Jialuo followed Xu Shiqi down the stairs, her hands behind her back, smiling. She watched the woman in front of her wearing the shoes she had given her, stepping lightly, while the voice calling for her to hurry up sounded like gradually falling snowflakes, silently melting in her heart into a refreshing and soothing spring.