They chatted loudly as they walked back. When Han Chao escorted her to the bottom of her dormitory, he kissed her forehead gently. It was soft and sweet. Her life, at that moment, felt completely different. It was as if everything had been leading up to this moment, to meet someone like him.

Qianye thought, “Heaven has finally granted my wish, placing him back by my side.” The deepest sorrow of the past years suddenly had no reason. It was like recovering from an illness—there was still a lingering pain, but it had already healed. When the first ray of light seeped through the cracks of the window, it felt like a new birth.

When she breathed, her heart was calm and fluid. It had been so long, so long that she had almost forgotten the peaceful, gentle, quiet moments of life that no longer held sorrow. Joy and aging coexisted in an instant, and everything seemed like a sigh of time, like the vast sea changing into mulberry fields.

How many people, in the name of love, torment themselves? In the name of love, sadness and tears become poignant. But now, she finally understood—these years, what she had been attached to was not just one person, but the dream inside her heart. It was those warm feelings of love, the enduring warmth of never leaving each other. That feeling had grown into something thrilling in her ordinary life, making the individual, so vast and alone, richer and fuller because of their mutual thoughts. As a result, the ordinary days, the trivial joys and sorrows, became vibrant and meaningful.

Han Chao was a very diligent and self-disciplined man. In Qianye’s eyes, he had a kind of almost perfect aura. But such a man, only in front of her, would show his childish side. Qianye often blamed him, saying, “If you like me, why didn’t you tell me? Why make me suffer so much?” Han Chao replied, “I was afraid that if I said something, and you weren’t interested, we might not even be able to stay friends.”

“That means you didn’t love me enough. You didn’t love me as much as I love you.” Qianye asked firmly.

“I’m sorry, I’ll love you more from now on,” Han Chao said, and then suggested they go watch a movie together. When the lights dimmed in the theater, they felt the long-lost sense of safety. Their breaths were close, and when the screen showed the main characters kissing tenderly, Han Chao couldn’t help but glance at Qianye. Her forehead, nose, chin, the elegant curve of her face, made his heart race. Qianye sensed the atmosphere of flirtation, and her ears turned red. Han Chao pulled her closer, kissing her lips with passion, as if kissing the first drop of morning dew. It was so sweet, so lingering. His lips still carried the scent of popcorn, with a faint hint of milk that made her addicted.

Their love came suddenly. Qianye felt as if it was all unreal. She often asked him, “Why do you like me?” Han Chao would always smile and call her silly.

This was where their love began, December 10th. Qianye thought, when they get married in the future, they should celebrate this day every year, until their hair turned white, their teeth fell out, and they would still reminisce about those years.

Couples in university were quite common, but Qianye was a traditional girl, so in public, they never showed any affectionate gestures. He also found that he was becoming more and more captivated by everything about her. Sometimes Han Chao couldn’t imagine that after four years of knowing each other, they were finally together.

During those three years of high school, Qianye would almost always walk home with them, until a girl named Si Ru appeared, and Qianye completely disappeared. During that time, Han Chao would pass by their class and could not help but look through the window, searching for Qianye’s shadow. But either she was sleeping or studying, and she never once looked up to meet his gaze.

He was clearly with Si Ru, but in his heart, Qianye’s shadow still slithered like a snake. He tried desperately to suppress this impulse with reason because the college entrance exams were just around the corner, and she was an excellent girl, while he also had his own ambitions. It was the worst possible timing.

But now, as they met in university, Han Chao believed this must be fate. Heaven had brought her back to him, but he was still passive, afraid of the uncertainty of time. Or perhaps, he was ultimately selfish. He cared about his future, about his dreams. In the face of love, he was never as brave as Qianye.