Jiang Huaixi’s ears turned red in an instant.
Jiang Huaixi’s reserved spot was quite good, by the window, and the table across the aisle was also vacant at this moment, quiet and natural.
As for ordering, Lu Zizheng confidently left it to Jiang Huaixi. After so many times dining out with Jiang Huaixi, Jiang Huaixi could always accurately grasp her taste. However, this time she noticed that Jiang Huaixi did not order dessert.
“Did you forget something?” Lu Zizheng subtly reminded Jiang Huaixi. Lu Zizheng had a sweet tooth and would never miss dessert when dining out if possible.
But Jiang Huaixi responded without even lifting her head: “Didn’t I just say, I am not planning to order cake.”
Lu Zizheng gritted her teeth, stopping the waiter who was about to leave: “I want a portion of…”
Before she could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Jiang Huaixi: “It’s fine, just these, it will do…” The waiter looked at them both with difficulty, Jiang Huaixi nodded to her, signaling again: “It’s fine now…” Only then did the waiter hesitantly move her steps and left.
Jiang Huaixi speaking so seriously about a mere joke, Lu Zizheng also did not expect.
Because her appetite was not satisfied, Lu Zizheng, before the dishes arrived, kept her head turned looking out the window and ignored Jiang Huaixi, pretending to be aloof.
In the reflection of the window glass, she vaguely saw Jiang Huaixi smilingly push a red box in front of her.
“If you don’t turn around, I’ll throw it into the trash can, after all, no one wants it anyway.” In Jiang Huaixi’s always cool voice, there was a bit of deliberately feigned grievance. Rarely hearing such a tone from Jiang Huaixi, Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but turn her head back, wanting to see her expression.
Unfortunately, Jiang Huaixi’s expression remained as calm as ever, and she thought Jiang Huaixi would rarely show a bit of cuteness.
Opening the red box, inside was a fashionable wristwatch with a wide strap. It wasn’t a big brand, but it was elegant and beautiful, just to Lu Zizheng’s liking.
Perhaps Jiang Huaixi was thoughtful; over the years, Jiang Huaixi had never given overly expensive gifts that Lu Zizheng couldn’t afford. To a certain extent, it could be said that Jiang Huaixi understood well how to interact with her, with excellent control of the limits, making it impossible for her to refuse even if she resisted initially.
From the moment Lu Zizheng opened the box, Jiang Huaixi had been carefully observing her expression, until she saw the unconscious smile on Lu Zizheng’s lips, she then felt relieved and somewhat happy.
Jiang Huaixi had given Lu Zizheng many watches, except for the first one which Lu Zizheng never wore, all the others were worn until Jiang Huaixi gave her a new one.
The first time she gave a watch, it was just because she thought the watch on Lu Zizheng’s wrist was somewhat old. Unfortunately, for a long time after giving the watch, she never saw Lu Zizheng wear it, not even once. Because of this, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
However, during an unintentional glimpse of the long scar on the inside of Lu Zizheng’s wrist, she instantly understood the reason for the watch’s neglect. Because the watch strap was very delicate and thin, it couldn’t cover Lu Zizheng’s past that she didn’t want others to know about.
She never asked Lu Zizheng about the story behind that scar but subsequently gave her one watch after another with wide straps, finally seeing the watches one by one appear on Lu Zizheng’s wrist.
But today seemed a bit different.
For the first time, Lu Zizheng took off her old watch in front of her and put on the new one. The scar on the inside of her wrist was clearly visible, and Lu Zizheng had no intention of hiding it. Instead, she calmly extended her hand to let Jiang Huaixi admire the watch and smiled as she asked her, “Does it look good?”
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Jiang Huaixi held her chin with one hand and smiled as she replied, “It looks good.” After a pause, she added, “The watch I picked, even if worn on your ugly hand, cannot hide its beauty. The key is my good taste.”
Lu Zizheng couldn’t help but sneer, “Saying something insincere won’t make you bite your tongue.”
Jiang Huaixi blinked, “Sorry, I have always loved telling the truth. My mother taught me from a young age that lying is not for good children.”
Lu Zizheng looked at Jiang Huaixi, feeling a bit helpless, as if she had never received a genuinely nice word from her. Was it that difficult to praise her once?!
However, looking down at the watch on her hand, with the wide strap carefully covering the scar, Lu Zizheng’s heart softened. From the first thin watch strap to every subsequent wide strap, Jiang Huaixi’s silent tenderness and thoughtfulness, she gradually understood.
In life, it is rare to have someone treat you with such tenderness.
She gazed at Jiang Huaixi, with an indescribable seriousness and gentleness in her eyes. “Huaixi, thank you, truly.”
Then, she saw Jiang Huaixi’s ears turn red in an instant, nervously lowering her left hand that was supporting her chin, and accidentally knocking over a cup, wetting her own sleeve.
Such a flustered Jiang Huaixi was rare to see. Lu Zizheng just smiled appreciatively, watching Jiang Huaixi awkwardly wipe her sleeve with a tissue, her ears getting redder and redder.
Fortunately, the waiter promptly served the dishes, rescuing Jiang Huaixi from her embarrassment. In an instant, Jiang Huaixi regained her composure and returned to her usual, unflappable self.
Lu Zizheng’s tenderness was too captivating, and Jiang Huaixi was instantly intoxicated. Fine wine is rare and occasionally tasted; upon entering the mouth, it immediately intoxicates.
Jiang Huaixi and Lu Zizheng were not talkative people, but they were well-acquainted. Even though there was much silence during the meal, they did not feel awkward, both feeling the atmosphere was quite good, relaxed, and at ease.
However, this comfortable dining atmosphere was ruthlessly disrupted when the owner of the empty seat at the next table arrived.
Lian Xuan entered the restaurant followed by an imposing man in a suit. The man considerately pulled out a chair for Lian Xuan, attending to her meticulously.
Lu Zizheng had her back to the entrance of the restaurant, so she did not notice Lian Xuan when she came in.
Lu Zizheng saw that someone had arrived at the next table. Out of habit, she glanced sideways. After the man pulled out the chair and walked to the opposite side of the table, Lian Xuan’s unfamiliar yet familiar profile appeared before Lu Zizheng.
Lian Xuan unintentionally raised her head. With one glance, she saw Lu Zizheng looking at her.
When their eyes met, both of them were momentarily stunned.
Jiang Huaixi noticed that Lu Zizheng had suddenly stopped all her movements while turning her head sideways. Somewhat puzzled, she followed Lu Zizheng’s gaze and, upon seeing Lian Xuan at the next table, the faint and indistinguishable smile on her lips also disappeared.
Lian Xuan’s distraction lasted only a moment. She naturally also saw Jiang Huaixi sitting opposite Lu Zizheng. When Jiang Huaixi looked at her, she displayed a gentle and polite smile and nodded lightly as a greeting.
Jiang Huaixi also slightly nodded in return with a polite smile, and then, as if nothing had happened, turned her head back to focus on the food in front of her.
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Lu Zizheng also lowered her head and continued her actions.
Everything maintained its original state; Lian Xuan was merely a familiar stranger encountered midway through the meal.
However, Lian Xuan did not intend to let them off so easily.
Not long after, during a brief moment when the man left his seat, she held a wine glass, stood beside Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi’s table with a gentle smile, and said in a warm and pleasant voice, “What a coincidence to meet Miss Jiang and Zizheng here, it must be fate.” She extended her hand, slightly tilted her wine glass, and made a toasting gesture: “Merry Christmas to you.” Her eyes, however, were fixed on Lu Zizheng without blinking.
Jiang Huaixi calmly raised her wine glass and clinked it with hers, saying indifferently, “Also wishing President Lian and Young Master Zhou a Merry Christmas and an enjoyable meal.”
Lu Zizheng followed Jiang Huaixi in raising her glass, lightly clinking it with Jiang Huaixi’s, without saying a word.
Lian Xuan’s eyes, which held hidden meaning, remained fixed on Lu Zizheng. She raised her wine glass and took a light sip, as if wanting to say something more. However, Jiang Huaixi intercepted her words, speaking calmly, “I heard that President Lian and Young Master Zhou will be getting engaged soon. Let me first extend my wishes for a long and happy marriage.” She lifted her wine glass slightly, gave Lian Xuan a faint smile, and drank all the wine in her glass in one go.
Lian Xuan saw the momentary panic in Lu Zizheng’s eyes, her smile slightly restrained, and her face turned somewhat unpleasant. Yet she did not lose her manners, forcing a smile and responding, “Thank you for your kind words, Miss Jiang.”
Young Master Zhou, whom Jiang Huaixi mentioned, returned. After indicating she needed to excuse herself, Lian Xuan did not linger further and returned to her seat.
Lu Zizheng turned her head to look outside the window, slightly lost in thought.
The atmosphere at the dining table dropped to freezing point. The silence at this moment no longer carried the tacit understanding of the past but rather gave rise to a subtle awkwardness.
In the lonely night sky, splendid fireworks suddenly bloomed, one after another, dazzling the eyes. Looking down from the window, the dark ground was illuminated by the glimmer of snow, and the dark night sky was dotted with the flashes of fireworks. This lively scene, however, only made the loneliness feel even more pronounced.
Although separated by just an aisle, between them lay a river called time, which could no longer be crossed. It was so wide, so wide, as if it had no end.
On Christmas Eve of their first year in high school, she and Lian Xuan were both quietly studying in the classroom during evening self-study. Suddenly, fireworks burst outside the window, startling Lu Zizheng, who had been focusing on her homework.
She turned her head and stared blankly at the blooming fireworks, one blooming, one fading, then another blooming. Even though they were fleeting, each one bloomed in its most splendid form…
A note was passed from the other side of the aisle. Lian Xuan smiled and motioned to her with the corners of her mouth.
Lu Zizheng unfolded the note and saw that Lian Xuan was teasing her: “You’re not focusing on your homework, on such a special day, are you daydreaming?”
She blushed slightly and lowered her head, carefully responding word by word: “I just think the fireworks are very beautiful, but unfortunately, I can’t watch a full display.”
Lian Xuan received the note but did not respond for a long time. It seemed she had started focusing on her homework again, with no time to pay attention to her.
When the evening self-study session was about to end, suddenly, a large piece of paper was passed over the narrow aisle.
On the paper was a drawing: in a vast expanse of snow, two long-haired girls lay side by side, snowflakes drifting down and landing on their intertwined black hair. Bright fireworks bloomed one after another in the misty night sky.
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At that moment, the fireworks in the sky had long since faded, and there was complete silence. Lu Zizheng could only hear the sound of her heart blooming with joy.
Ji Yao stood by Lian Xuan’s desk, looking impatient, but Lian Xuan just slowly and leisurely shouldered her backpack, tilting her head slightly towards Lu Zizheng, with a gentle and cute expression: “Fireworks fade quickly, so I don’t particularly like them. But if you want to watch them, next Christmas, let’s find a good place, and I’ll set off a display for you. It seems like it wouldn’t be bad.”
When she smiled, her eyes curved, and dimples faintly appeared on her cheeks—a sweetness that would make Lu Zizheng smile even in her dreams at night.
However, Lian Xuan indeed had foresight, and her words were not empty. Fireworks cool quickly, and people separate easily. The fireworks between them had not yet bloomed before they vanished without a trace. Before the next Christmas arrived, they had already been scattered to the ends of the earth.
That sweet smile quickly turned into the bitterness that Lu Zizheng once dreamed of every night, wetting her pillow with tears.
In this world, where is not a place where peace harbors crisis, where the happiness of one second hides the pain of the next? The sweeter the past, the more bitter the future, and expectations will always fall short and turn into hurt. If the heart does not move, it does not hurt. Do not place expectations on others; thus, one can avoid harm.
This was the precious lesson Lian Xuan taught Lu Zizheng, one that she would find hard to forget in this lifetime.
LP: Re-translated on July 29, 2024