During the time leading up to the college entrance exams, Wen Yi seemed like a completely different person. She lost her usual youthful energy, became withdrawn, and hardly spoke.  

Her results in the final mock exam were less than ideal; if memory served him right, she dropped over ten places in rank.  

Wen Yi’s house wasn’t far from their high school, forming a triangle with his house and the school, with a large park in between. On evenings or weekends, when he couldn’t solve a problem and went running, he’d often see the alleyway at the edge of the park.  

The night the results were released, Qin Nanshan saw Wen Yi in the park for the first time. She was sitting on a stone bench, wearing her school uniform and carrying a backpack. Her head was bowed, and her hands were tightly clenched on her knees.  

He stopped, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly approached. As he got closer, she looked up. Her usually confident and determined eyes were red.  

Qin Nanshan was startled and stood rooted to the spot.  

Wen Yi sniffled, clearly upset but forcing a smile. “What are you doing here?”  

He pointed behind him and replied softly, “I live in the teacher’s apartments over there.”  

“Oh right, I forgot about that.” After speaking, she lowered her head again. It was three or four minutes before she looked up at him again. “Why haven’t you left yet?”  

Qin Nanshan didn’t know what to say. He nodded and jogged forward a few steps, but he couldn’t shake the feeling of an invisible thread pulling him back. He stopped, turned around, and sat down beside her.  

They weren’t particularly close. Aside from being “friends” for the first week of freshman year, their interactions were limited to the usual exchanges between a class monitor and a regular classmate.  

As he sat down, he had no idea what to do next. Socializing wasn’t his strength, and he had no clue how to comfort a sad girl. So, they just sat there in silence for over ten minutes.  

The park was lively with people strolling and dancing, full of noise and bustle, yet none of it broke the quiet atmosphere between them.  

At some point, Wen Yi broke the silence. “Are you hungry?”  

He wasn’t, but he said, “A little.”  

“There’s a really good barbecue place nearby. My treat, if you’ll come with me.”  

“Okay.”  

The girl stood up, the cool summer breeze lifting the hem of her uniform skirt. She pressed it down with her hand, and Qin Nanshan quickly followed.  

The barbecue stall was bustling, smoke wafting up from the grills and filling the air with a rich, savory aroma. Wen Yi seemed to be in better spirits. After ordering, she smiled faintly at him. “I come here a lot with Qiao En and the others. The food’s great—you should try it.”  

“Okay.”  

They didn’t have much to talk about. Normally chatty, Wen Yi didn’t try to start a conversation either, focusing instead on eating. After finishing a few skewers, the smile on her face grew more frequent, her eyes curving like a crescent moon. “See? I wasn’t lying. It’s really good, right?”  

“It is.”  

“Qin Nanshan, you don’t talk much, huh? Can you only say one word?”  

Qin Nanshan was taken aback. “No…”  

After thinking for a moment, he awkwardly tried to comfort her. “Mock exam results don’t determine college entrance exam results. Don’t feel bad.”  

Wen Yi smiled again but didn’t respond. After finishing the last skewer of vegetables, she seemed completely re-energized. “Wow, that was so satisfying. Thanks for keeping me company! I’m heading back now. Be careful on your way home!”  

She went to pay, then turned back and waved enthusiastically at him before running off with her backpack.  

Qin Nanshan stayed at the outdoor barbecue table for a few more minutes, a slow smile spreading across his face.  

………

Qin Nanshan did have plans to go out. Two junior colleagues from Zhongshan Road had invited him to a gathering.  

His doctoral advisor, Professor Chen, was a renowned mathematics professor at A University, respected nationwide. Chen was selective in taking on students, and after Qin Nanshan, he only accepted the two juniors—one now pursuing a doctorate and the other recently starting a faculty position. The three shared a closer-than-usual bond.  

Though Qin Nanshan wasn’t fond of socializing, he understood the role he played in his professional circle. Many, like Professor Wu and Zhuang Yue, sought his help with projects. To avoid wasting time on refusals, he would assist whenever possible. This made him, while not particularly likable, someone others didn’t dislike.  

As for sincerity, that was another matter, though he didn’t need their genuine feelings. His two juniors, overly admiring of him and with no conflicts of interest, showed a bit more genuine affection.  

Zhongshan Road wasn’t far. When Qin Nanshan arrived, he noticed there was a girl at the table. One of the juniors, Cheng Yuyu, introduced her: “This is my girlfriend.”  

Next to him, Liu Tao joked, “Senior, we had no choice but to call you. I’m too bright a third wheel.”  

Qin Nanshan nodded and took a seat in an empty spot.  

Liu Tao asked, “Why didn’t your wife come along?”  

“It’s late. She’s getting ready for bed. I’ll just sit for a bit and then head back.”  

Just then, a message from Wen Yi came through. Qin Nanshan called the waiter to place an order. When he finished, the three exchanged knowing looks. Cheng Yuyu exclaimed, “You’re not here to see us—you’re clearly here to get your wife a midnight snack!”  

Qin Nanshan gave a faint smile but said nothing.  

Liu Tao sighed. “Getting married and having a family is really different. Unlike me, a bachelor with no one to care about or worry over me.”  

The girl teased, “It’s not hard to find someone to care about you—just get a girlfriend already.”  

“Haha, no thanks.” Liu Tao picked up his cup like a microphone. “Senior, let me interview you. How does it feel to be married? Share some wisdom with us single folks.”  

Qin Nanshan couldn’t answer immediately. After a moment of silence, he summarized in one phrase: “Life-altering.”  

It was the second time he’d gone out late at night for her. Before this, he never would have come to such a place.  

Now, waking up to find someone beside him, her toiletries filling the bathroom, the sweet fruity scent lingering in the air, the unapologetically bold lingerie on the balcony, the half-eaten soggy chips in the living room… there were so many changes.  

Previously, he’d spend his days off in the guest room, often not leaving all day. Now, he went out seven or eight times a day. This Spring Festival, he hadn’t managed to read through a single research paper from start to finish.