The originally joyful date turned heavy as Jing Tian learned about the dolphins’ tragic situation.

He felt gloomy, walking with his head down while Zheng Xunqian pulled him along.

The path out of the aquarium would pass through the souvenir shop. That day was a special day, indeed worth commemorating.

Zheng Xunqian stood in front of the shelves and asked him, “Do you want to buy something to take back?”

Jing Tian walked over to him and also looked at the shelves. There were some palm-sized plush toys hanging there, not too finely crafted but mostly designed to be cute.

Zheng Xunqian picked up a small dolphin and asked him, “How about this one?”

The face of the small dolphin was anthropomorphized, its eyes smiling into slits.

Jing Tian felt a bit psychologically scarred. “…But the dolphins here are clearly not happy.”

“It’s different,” Zheng Xunqian said. “Look, it says here, its name is ‘Happy Little Dolphin,’ in its setting, it’s happy.”

It sounded like rationalization, but it seemed to make sense.

Jing Tian reached out and took it. After looking at it a few more times, the smiling little dolphin became even more adorable.

“If you like it, buy it,” Zheng Xunqian said again.

Jing Tian still hesitated.

After a while, Zheng Xunqian asked, “Are you so conflicted?”

“It’s all because of you,” Jing Tian said. “Don’t you really feel awkward at all?”

Zheng Xunqian thought for a moment and replied, “A little, perhaps. But there are many established facts in this world that cannot be changed by just one person’s emotions. So, if you want to come here, I’ll accompany you.”

“…And then you specifically tell me at the performance venue,” Jing Tian said.

Zheng Xunqian shrugged, took the small dolphin from him, and put it back on the shelf. “Then let’s choose another one.”

With that, he took a few steps forward and stopped at another shelf. “How about this one?”

Jing Tian followed, and on the shelf hung bracelets made of shells. The small shells were painted in different colors, and each set of colors was unique, looking very special.

“Pick one?” Zheng Xunqian gestured.

Jing Tian bent down and looked carefully for a while, then chose a set in light blue.

“This one,” he said. “Do you like it? Can I give it to you?”

Zheng Xunqian took it. “…I wouldn’t mind.”

“Then you also give me one,” Jing Tian bent down again and looked for a while, “I want this one.”

Zheng Xunqian took it and then turned to walk towards the counter. Jing Tian followed him, subconsciously looking back at the shelf with the plush dolphins. When he turned back, he found Zheng Xunqian looking at him.

“If you like it, buy it,” Zheng Xunqian said again.

“It’s very cute,” Jing Tian said, “but I feel a bit sad when I see it. Let’s forget it.”

Zheng Xunqian nodded. After a while, when the two stood in front of the cashier together, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“Why?” Jing Tian asked.

“I was indeed a bit curious about how you would react after hearing about it,” Zheng Xunqian said.

Jing Tian thought to himself, I guessed it, he’s so bad.

Zheng Xunqian lowered his head, looking at the shell bracelet in his hand. “Now I regret it a bit.”

Not so bad after all.

Jing Tian silently moved half a step closer to him, leaning against him. “Next time just tell me earlier.”

After leaving the aquarium, Jing Tian seemed pensive and said, “Maybe whether we watch the show today or not doesn’t make a difference to them, but if everyone knows the truth and is unwilling to watch, these kinds of performances will decrease, and the dolphins will be free, right?”

“Most people don’t care,” Zheng Xunqian said.

“Not necessarily,” Jing Tian said. “Maybe some people are just like me, unaware.”

Zheng Xunqian nodded. “That’s true.”

Jing Tian sighed and said, “You obviously don’t like this, but you seem to not care at all.”

“There are too many unpleasant things in this world. Having emotions doesn’t mean having the passion and ability to change them,” Zheng Xunqian said. “Some people just want to take it easy, being spectators of this world.”

“Like you?”

Zheng Xunqian didn’t answer, just smiled.

In Jing Tian’s now blurry memory, Zheng Xunqian seemed to have always had an indifferent attitude towards everything.

He always seemed immersed in his own world, but during this time, Jing Tian had gotten so close to him without discovering anything he particularly cared about or was willing to invest time and effort into.

What was Zheng Xunqian thinking? As the past Jing Tian persisted in pondering this question, he quickly became completely immersed and unable to extricate himself.

Now it seems like Jing Tian understands a bit.

Zheng Xunqian seemed to just casually observe the world, perhaps having many thoughts in his heart but never deigning to express them. This world might not be very interesting to him and not worth taking seriously.

As a result, he appeared mysterious and became attractive.

At least, very attractive to Jing Tian.

The restaurants in the city center were far more expensive than those in the university town.

The two casually found a Chinese restaurant, and when they sat down and looked at the menu, Jing Tian secretly clicked his tongue. Fortunately, he could afford it.

Zheng Xunqian bought the tickets to the aquarium today, and the ice cream they had in the aquarium was also bought by Zheng Xunqian. Not out of insistence on reciprocity, Jing Tian just really hoped he could contribute something to this date.

They ordered a few dishes, and when the waiter asked if they wanted drinks, Jing Tian hesitated while looking at various freshly squeezed juices. Zheng Xunqian reached out and pointed at the menu, “Look at the next page?”

The next page was full of various alcoholic beverages.

Jing Tian raised his head speechlessly, and Zheng Xunqian was looking at him with a smile.

After lowering his head again, he thought of a sentence he had seen in that notebook a while ago.

When will Zheng Xunqian smile at me?

It turns out, anytime will do. Zheng Xunqian now smiled at him a hundred times a day.

This made him feel a bit bewildered, even slightly tempted to take Zheng Xunqian’s suggestion and choose an alcoholic beverage.

Fortunately, he retained some rationality in the end.

“This place is far from the school,” he said, “I’m afraid I’ll go crazy on the way.”

“…We can go back tomorrow,” Zheng Xunqian hinted.

Jing Tian thought, Of course, I already thought of that. But even if we don’t go back to school, we can’t stay in the city center. The dining prices are so high, and I’m sure the accommodations won’t be much better.

They were still students, they had to be frugal. With Zheng Xunqian around, he didn’t care if the environment was romantic.

Seeing him firmly pointing his finger at the plum juice, Zheng Xunqian sighed with regret. But soon, when the waiter left with the menu, he immediately felt relieved.

“That’s fine too,” he said, “it would be worse if you forgot again.”

Jing Tian thought, as if that would happen.

He soon regretted it.

As they neared the hotel, his steps became slower, his whole body stiffened. After some hesitation, he chose to buy a bottle of sparkling wine at the convenience store next to the hotel.

Just now, Zheng Xunqian who was encouraging him to drink now showed obvious opposition: “I was joking with you just now, your stomach is better now, don’t touch these.”

Jing Tian lowered his head, raised a finger to him: “I’ll just take a sip.”

After hesitating for a moment, Zheng Xunqian sighed.

Jing Tian twisted the bottle cap without saying a word.

“…You were very proactive and enthusiastic before.” Zheng Xunqian said.

Jing Tian took a step forward and took a big gulp. The sweet liquid with bubbles, just taken out of the fridge, was refreshing and stimulating as it flowed down his throat, making him shiver involuntarily.

“Just one sip,” Zheng Xunqian reminded him.

Jing Tian put down the bottle, let out a long sigh, and then said, “I’ll be very enthusiastic later.”

Zheng Xunqian was surprised for a moment and hesitated for a few seconds before saying, “Are you getting drunk so quickly?”

Of course not.

He only needed one sip. The alcohol at this moment was more like a placebo for removing protective barriers, a psychological suggestion. When the cold liquid entered his body along his esophagus, his long-awaited excitement could naturally turn into fervor.

Seeing Zheng Xunqian startled by his previous statement, Jing Tian secretly felt pleased, his emotions becoming even more heightened. It felt similar to when he was dancing joyously in the nightclub, untouched by alcohol.

He could say some bolder and braver things than usual, do things that might be shameful afterwards.

And he would be happy because of it.

Zheng Xunqian took the bottle from his hand and held his hand.

“It’s a bit cold,” Zheng Xunqian said.

Because he had just taken the cold glass bottle.

It’s okay, Jing Tian thought, I’ll soon feel very warm.

……

The hotel bed was particularly soft, like a marshmallow, so even kisses became sweet.

Falling from the clouds back to reality after their intimacy, Jing Tian still felt his body was light. Some of the sweat on his skin was absorbed by the blanket, while the rest merged with that of his beloved.

Body heat was a wonderful thing, bringing a sense of security and heavy drowsiness.

Jing Tian closed his eyes, his consciousness blurred.

But Zheng Xunqian was still awake.

“Little trickster,” he said, “you were obviously not very enthusiastic.”

Jing Tian opened his mouth but didn’t speak. He didn’t want to admit it, but he couldn’t refute it either, so he pretended to be asleep.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Zheng Xunqian asked.

Jing Tian shook his head slightly.

It’s not the first time. He thought, by tomorrow, he should be fine, not as painful as when he woke up with amnesia.

Thinking this, the Jing Tian of the past was really rude.

“I knew you were pretending to sleep,” Zheng Xunqian said.

Jing Tian felt helpless, murmured, and snuggled into his arms, “I’m tired.”

Zheng Xunqian remained quiet for a moment and said, “I’m afraid you’ll fall asleep like this, and when you wake up tomorrow, you’ll forget everything.”

Jing Tian opened his eyes.

“It won’t happen,” he said.

Zheng Xunqian kissed his forehead and said, “You promise.”

Jing Tian chuckled.

“I promise it won’t happen,” Jing Tian said, “do I need to write a guarantee?”

“Written promises aren’t very reliable,” Zheng Xunqian said, “how about we make a video? Just say that everything is voluntary on your part, you were very proactive, although not very enthusiastic yet, everything happened very naturally, and you won’t abandon it halfway.”

Jing Tian laughed and cried, “What a mess.”

“Go ahead,” Zheng Xunqian said.

Jing Tian hesitated, then said, “You seem to have become…”

“Yeah?”

“…much more talkative,” Jing Tian said.

And a little childish.

Even though he was so focused and quiet just now.

After thinking for a moment, Zheng Xunqian replied, “Hmm, it seems so.”

Jing Tian chuckled softly.

“Aren’t you supposed to be a spectator of this world?” he whispered, “Then you should act more aloof and indifferent.”

Instead of being like now, like a happy little kid who just got candy.

Zheng Xunqian remained silent for a long time, then shook his head. “I’m not.”

“You said differently before.”

“Some people want to be spectators, think they can, but in reality, they can’t,” Zheng Xunqian said, “Like me, I’m not at that level.”

“Why do you say that?” Jing Tian asked.

“Since I started caring about you, I’m not anymore,” Zheng Xunqian said, gently brushing his soft, light-colored hair with his fingers, “You’re too lively, I don’t want to just watch.”