An Earlier Meeting - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

The sound of ambiguity always comes to an end, just like raindrops.

Raindrops are the children of clouds, and also the doctors of nature, gently pattering on everything, washing away the dust.

Friday.

Fridays are always pleasant. It’s the conclusion of the week, the past week is over, and two days of vacation are waving hello. Great.

It’s okay. Huang Xiaozhi’s vacation was a full four days long.

And she was happy every day. Even when she was unhappy, she would wring out her bad mood like a wet towel, never letting it taint a new day.

Because tomorrow would be a brand new day, unrelated to yesterday, only the beginning of today.

On Thursday night, Huang Xiaozhi slept soundly and comfortably. Her even breathing was especially clear in the quiet room.

Outside, the rain fell with a soft swish, gently pattering on the windowpane. She didn’t know if this natural white noise was comforting, or if she had just had too much fun playing games during the day. She must really love playing games.

…

In the morning, Huang Xiaozhi woke up naturally and stretched contentedly.

She slowly opened her eyes. The familiar ceiling came into view. Sunlight stubbornly squeezed through the cracks in the curtains, casting a golden stripe on the floor that was a bit dazzling.

She lazily raised her elbow to cover her eyes, blocking the light. I really don’t want to get up.

Despite her thoughts, Huang Xiaozhi fumbled for her phone on the bedside table, squinting at the screen. It was almost nine o’clock.

“Ugh…” She let out a small sigh and resignedly sat up.

She wondered if her mom, Wei Qingwen, was up yet.

The screen showed two missed calls from her uncle.

She grumbled to herself, dialing back while shuffling towards the living room in her slippers.

“Beep—beep—”

The call connected:

“Hello, Uncle? What’s up?”

“Sorry, Little One, today might not work. Something came up.”

“Okay,” Huang Xiaozhi noticed her uncle’s voice was a little hoarse. “Uncle, are you getting a cold?”

“No, I don’t think so? …Uh, maybe a little.”

“Take care of yourself, Uncle.”

“I will, I will. You too. I won’t… I’ll just hang up now, bye!”

The call ended crisply.

Huang Xiaozhi held her phone, blinking.

Her uncle… judging by his tone and the way he hung up so quickly, was he in some kind of trouble? Or was he… being harassed? The thought flashed through her mind.

You really couldn’t say for sure.

Well, her plan to mooch a meal was off.

Her shoulders slumped. She thought, Maybe I’ll just go back to sleep for a bit.

Just as she turned to go back to her room, she saw Wei Qingwen, with a head of messy long hair, floating out of her bedroom door as if sleepwalking.

Her eyes were half-closed. She seemed to still be deep in slumber as she “floated” with unsteady steps into the bathroom.

Huang Xiaozhi stood in the hallway, watching her mom like this. She pursed her lips tightly, trying to hold back her laughter. Her cheeks puffed out, and her shoulders trembled slightly. How could she be so funny? She was holding it in so hard it almost hurt.

She stood there for a while, and finally turned back to her own room.

The curtains in the room were still closed, the light was dim, with only a sliver of light coming through the door crack.

Huang Xiaozhi walked to her bed, plopped down, and let out another small sigh. The sigh was a little inexplicable, probably the disappointment from her plan falling through.

She reached for the curtains. With a swoosh, she yanked them all open.

A washed-clean, brand-new A City instantly came into view.

The air after the rain felt crisp and clean. The glass curtain walls of the tall buildings glittered in the sun, looking especially clear. There wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.

Huang Xiaozhi stood by the window, her hand on the frame, and watched for a while. The view didn’t seem particularly different, it was just… the sunlight was too glaring.

She frowned and, with another swoosh, closed the curtains.

The room was briefly bright before returning to its previous dim tranquility.

Huang Xiaozhi fell back onto the bed, spread-eagled, her hair scattered on the pillow. She picked up her phone and tapped the icon for the game, 1999: Reverser.

Let’s go! Time to get back to the fight!

As the game page loaded, the character Vertin with her white hair appeared on the screen.

Huang Xiaozhi stared at the beautiful white hair, thinking, I’ll have to dye my hair white sometime for fun.

“Knock, knock, knock.” A gentle knock on her door.

“Come in?” Huang Xiaozhi called out.

The door was carefully pushed open a crack. Wei Qingwen poked her head in, then tiptoed in and closed the door.

Then, she took a big step and flopped down onto the large empty space next to Huang Xiaozhi.

One was lying flat on her back, the other was lying flat on her stomach. Their posture was uncannily similar, a true mother-daughter resemblance.

Huang Xiaozhi turned her head and glanced at Wei Qingwen.

Mom looked like she had washed up, her face was a little fresher, but she was still in her pajamas.

Huang Xiaozhi turned back, put her phone with the loading game aside, closed her eyes, and said, “We can’t go today. Uncle has something to do.”

“Right. I was just about to come tell you. You already know.” Wei Qingwen buried her face in the blanket. Her muffled voice came through, her eyelashes lowered, looking like she was about to fall asleep any second.

“Ohh,” Huang Xiaozhi drew out the sound. “So what should we do today? Or do you want to rest?”

Wei Qingwen’s eyes were still closed, her voice heavy with fatigue. “I’ll rest. You can figure things out for yourself. Your old mom is about to fall apart.”

“Okay. Then you can go back to your room and keep sleeping,” Huang Xiaozhi said bluntly.

…

Wei Qingwen slowly got up and floated out of the room.

The door closed, blocking the light from the hallway.

Huang Xiaozhi rolled over in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her plan was ruined. She was a little bored. Her eyes darted around, and she decided to make a “surprise visit” to Yu Wen, to ask her if she wanted to go shopping in the afternoon.

She got up briskly, put on a light jacket, and casually ran her fingers through her messy hair in the mirror before heading out, straight for Yu Wen’s apartment upstairs.

Standing in front of Yu Wen’s door, looking at the plain, unadorned door, Huang Xiaozhi mumbled to herself. How did Yu Wen ever get used to looking at this?

She raised her hand and knocked on the door.

It was silent inside.

Huang Xiaozhi didn’t give up. She raised her hand again, ready to knock harder.

Click. The lock softly turned, and the door was pulled open from the inside. Yu Wen’s figure appeared behind the door. She leaned against the door frame, a smile on her lips. “What’s up, seatmate?”

Huang Xiaozhi’s hand was still suspended in mid-air. She was caught and felt a little awkward, her face flushing slightly.

“Well…” Her mind raced, trying to find the right words. “I wanted to ask if you have time this afternoon. How about we go on a date?” As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt the phrasing was a bit too direct.

Yu Wen didn’t answer immediately. Her deep eyes watched Huang Xiaozhi quietly, her gaze seeming to carry a hint of scrutiny, making Huang Xiaozhi even more flustered.

A few seconds passed before Yu Wen spoke slowly. “Sure. A date. That sounds nice.” She moved aside, her tone casual with a subtle, unnoticeable invitation. “Want to come in and sit?”

Huang Xiaozhi waved her hands in a hurry. “No, no. I’ll go back and change and get ready first. Then I’ll come find you, and we can go out together. How does that sound?” She widened her eyes, looking at Yu Wen with a hint of anticipation, hoping she would agree quickly.

“Okay.” Yu Wen nodded, agreeing readily.

Getting the answer she wanted, Huang Xiaozhi immediately broke into a smile. She turned and walked toward the elevator, waving over her shoulder as she went. “See you later! My date—” The words “my date” slipped out, and Huang Xiaozhi froze, her face turning even redder.

Tsk, why am I so careless with my words! She hurried into the elevator, slapping her mouth in frustration all the way down.

…

In contrast, Yu Wen, who was still standing in the doorway, didn’t close the door immediately.

She remained leaning against the door frame, her smile deepening. Her eyes seemed to follow the retreating figure.

After a while, she shook her head with a helpless smile. This seatmate of hers, her mouth is faster than her brain.

The door was intentionally left ajar, as if waiting.

…

Back home, Huang Xiaozhi rushed into her room and opened her closet to search for an outfit.

What should I wear?

A dark green camisole slip dress paired with light blue denim flare pants? Her eyes lit up. Hmm, that’s a good combination! Gentle but with a little bit of personality.

After changing, Huang Xiaozhi stood in front of the full-length mirror, admiring her look. Although she was on the thin side, her lines were firm and smooth, showing signs of exercise.

She then braided her hair. Her nimble fingers wove through her hair, and she quickly braided two loose side ponytails, which fell over her chest.

The person in the mirror looked exceptionally fresh and cute.

A jacket? With such a carefully chosen camisole, of course, she wouldn’t wear one!

She grabbed a small shoulder bag and, in a cheerful mood, left the house again, heading upstairs to find Yu Wen.

Since they were going out to have fun this afternoon, she would stay home tomorrow and catch up on her lessons. She should be able to make up for the missed work in two days.

Yes, it’s a deal! I’ll have a great time this afternoon, and start focusing on my studies tomorrow!

…

When Huang Xiaozhi arrived at Yu Wen’s door again, she was a little surprised—the door was still ajar.

Even so, she politely raised her hand and gently tapped the open door to announce her arrival.

This wasn’t her first time at Yu Wen’s place, but she felt like the furniture inside had undergone subtle changes, though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was different.

At that moment, the door to the inner room opened, and Yu Wen walked out, clearly having changed her clothes as well.

Huang Xiaozhi’s gaze was instantly drawn to her.

Yu Wen’s long black hair was casually loose. She wore a simple black bandeau top with a matching short-sleeved jacket loosely over it. On her bottom half were a pair of cool black cargo pants, which made her look tall and sharp.

One word: Cool.

Two words: So cool.

Three words: Cool as hell!

Huang Xiaozhi stared at the full-of-aura Yu Wen in front of her, her eyes wide. She blurted out without thinking, “Seatmate Yu, you look pretty cool.”

Yu Wen looked at her dazed expression, her gaze lingering on her own body. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly. “Thanks. You look gentle and cute, too.” Her tone was natural, as if she were simply stating a fact.

Huang Xiaozhi put her bag on the entryway cabinet, a little embarrassed. She pursed her lips and smiled. “Thanks for the compliment.” She felt happy inside. She was complimented even though she just put on whatever?

Yu Wen stood to the side, watching Huang Xiaozhi. “Shall we leave now? Or…” She noticed Huang Xiaozhi putting down her bag and wasn’t sure what she intended to do.

“We can go now,” Huang Xiaozhi said, reaching up to touch her braids. “But I need to go to the bathroom to fix my hair first. It feels a little loose.” As she spoke, she headed toward the bathroom. The layout was the same as her own apartment.

Her wrist suddenly tightened.

Yu Wen had grabbed her, and with a gentle pull, drew her closer.

Huang Xiaozhi stopped in her tracks, looking at Yu Wen in surprise.

“I’ll help you,” Yu Wen’s voice came from above, with a gentle certainty. “I can see it.” She lowered her head slightly, her gaze fixed on the top of Huang Xiaozhi’s head, like a caring older sister.

Huang Xiaozhi was about to ask, “Why can’t I go to the bathroom?” but before she could, she felt Yu Wen’s warm fingers gently touch her hair, carefully fixing the loose braids and the stray hairs on her forehead.

She immediately fell silent, standing still, not daring to move.

Looking up at Yu Wen from this extremely close angle was a different feeling entirely.

Yu Wen’s thick, long eyelashes were clearly visible. Her expression was focused, and her movements were gentle. Huang Xiaozhi looked at her serious profile, and a bold thought suddenly popped into her head: I really want to kiss her…

She was startled by her own impulse and quickly lowered her gaze. Her long eyelashes fluttered like little fans, hiding the panic in her eyes.

Her heart was thudding in her chest. The sound was so loud she wondered if Yu Wen could hear it.

So this is what it feels like to like someone and be close to them. Nervous and sweet.

Yu Wen carefully fixed her braids, smoothed her stray hair, and finally patted the top of her head gently. “Okay, I fixed it for you.” Her hand then dropped away. She looked at the crimson-faced Huang Xiaozhi, whose ear tips were also flushed, like a fresh, steaming sweet potato.

The “little sweet potato” in front of her quickly turned her face away, trying to force a smile. Her eyes darted around, and her voice was a small whisper. “Thank you.” The thank you seemed to make her blush even more.

Yu Wen looked at her cute expression, the smile in her eyes deepening. There was no mockery, only pure delight.

“Let’s go. We’ll head to the mall,” Yu Wen’s voice was full of laughter.

“Okay!” Huang Xiaozhi seemed to have received a pardon. She immediately turned and ran out, shouting in the hallway, “I’ll wait for you outside! I’ll go press the elevator first!” Her voice still carried a hint of un-faded bashfulness.

A runaway sweet potato? She was gone in a flash.

Yu Wen looked at the hurried back, and the curve of her lips wouldn’t go away.

Hmm, she’s a really cute sweet potato.

…

The weather was most pleasant at the turn of late summer to early autumn.

The sun was warm, the breeze was gentle, and the air still had the special freshness of a recent rain. It was the perfect time to go out.

And also the perfect time to be with the person you liked.

The mall wasn’t too crowded on a Friday afternoon.

It would only get truly busy in the evening when the student crowds got out.

After arriving, they decided to get lunch first.

After eating their fill, they’d go see a movie!

After some browsing, they walked into a cozy barbecue restaurant.

There weren’t too many people, and they even got a good table by the window.

Huang Xiaozhi loved window seats the most. She could eat and watch the people coming and going outside at the same time.

Sitting face to face, as long as they put their phones down, their gazes could easily meet.

Yu Wen pulled out her vintage camera from her canvas bag.

She raised the lens and naturally aimed it at Huang Xiaozhi, who was looking down at the menu.

After ordering, Huang Xiaozhi habitually picked up her phone to shield her face, as if to block some of the view. But the phone screen wasn’t big enough to cover everything.

She felt the movement from across the table and instinctively tilted her head, looking towards Yu Wen.

The moment she tilted her head and her hand shielded her mouth, Yu Wen quickly pressed the shutter button.

Click. The crisp sound of the shutter.

Huang Xiaozhi realized Yu Wen was taking a candid shot of her again. She immediately put down her phone, feigning dissatisfaction as she looked at Yu Wen, her hand propping up her chin.

“Hey, why do you always take my ugly candid photos? When I pose seriously, please take a picture of me looking like a beautiful lady, okay?” She deliberately put on a stern face, her tone a little petulant.

Yu Wen put down her camera and looked at her seriously, her gaze honest. “They’re not ugly photos. You can be more casual. Your natural state is beautiful.” She paused, then added, “Besides, you’re already beautiful.” Her tone was sincere, as if she were just stating a fact.

“Fine, fine. I’ll believe you this time,” Huang Xiaozhi couldn’t keep her straight face and smiled, her eyes curving. “Can we ask the waiter to take a proper photo of us later?” In reality, she knew Yu Wen took great pictures. Every frame was full of life.

But being photographed like this by the person she liked still made her a little shy.

Yu Wen nodded and raised her camera again, her elbow resting on the table. She looked for an angle, the lens steady on Huang Xiaozhi.

“Just relax, be natural,” she said softly through the viewfinder. “Trust my skills.”

Okay. Natural. Relax.

Huang Xiaozhi simply lowered her head, pretending to study the spice bottles on the table, no longer looking at the camera. In the quiet moment when she lowered her head and her gaze fell, and a stray strand of hair fell by her cheek—

Click.

A frozen moment, like a pure, white moonlight, was captured.

The person in the photo would eventually become the eternal “white moonlight” in the heart of the one who took it.

To an outsider, the scene was as beautiful as a painting: one girl sitting quietly by the window, the other girl across the table, focused on capturing the moment for her.

Even the owner of the barbecue restaurant was drawn in by the cozy scene and couldn’t help but quietly take a picture with her phone from the counter.

What the owner captured was Yu Wen holding her camera, squinting one eye slightly, her expression incredibly serious as she took a picture of the girl across from her.

And the girl, Huang Xiaozhi, happened to have her head lowered. Her two braids hung obediently, one in front and one behind. The stray hair on her forehead softened her facial features. The sunlight bathed her in a soft light, making her look serene and gentle.

An indescribable harmony filled with a sense of destiny. Beautiful people and scenes always attract attention.

Yu Wen was carefully capturing every beautiful, un-posed moment of Huang Xiaozhi, while the owner was unintentionally capturing the unique warmth between them.

The two were still quietly discussing the photos.

Just then, the owner walked over, a big smile on her face.

“Hello,” the auntie’s voice was gentle, with a hint of apology and admiration. “I’m sorry, I was at the counter and couldn’t help but take a couple of photos of you. You two just look so good sitting here, like a painting. Do you want to see?” she said candidly, handing her phone to Yu Wen.

Yu Wen took the phone. The photos on the screen had an amazing vibe. The light and composition had a casual beauty to them.

She looked up, her eyes bright as she looked at the owner. “Thank you for taking these for us. They’re so good. Would you mind sending them to me?” She loved them and wanted to keep them.

“Of course!” the auntie agreed readily.

Huang Xiaozhi, sitting across from her, also leaned over. Although she hadn’t seen the photos yet, she could tell they were good from Yu Wen’s expression.

She quickly said, “Auntie, could you send me a copy too?” Her tone was full of anticipation.

The owner’s smile grew even wider. She nodded repeatedly. “No problem!” She hesitated for a moment, then cautiously spoke again. “Um… would you two mind if I printed this photo out and put it on the check-in wall in the shop? It’s okay if you don’t feel comfortable with it!” She pointed to a wall in the shop covered with cozy photos.

They looked at each other and smiled, shaking their heads.

Huang Xiaozhi said, “It’s our honor to be photographed so beautifully and put on your wall! Thank you, Auntie!” She was secretly happy. It would be great to have her picture with Yu Wen there.

Yu Wen also smiled and nodded in agreement. “Yes, we really appreciate it.”

The owner was thrilled. Just then, a waiter brought over the barbecue they had ordered.

The auntie simply stood by their table and skillfully began grilling the meat for them. Huang Xiaozhi got up to go to the restroom.

For a moment, only Yu Wen and the owner were at the table.

The auntie, while flipping the meat on the grill, looked towards the restroom, then at the quietly sitting Yu Wen. She lowered her voice, with the knowing look of an experienced person, and asked softly:

“Little girl, do you… have a crush on the girl across from you?” The question was very direct.

Yu Wen’s heart skipped a beat. Her fingers, holding her water cup, tightened slightly. Was it that obvious?

“Is it… that obvious?” Her voice was a little dry, tinged with uncertainty.

The owner nodded hard, giving her an “I get it” look.

Yu Wen lowered her eyes, looking at the water shimmering in her cup. For the first time, she felt a trace of insecurity about her feelings. Her voice was a little lower. “I… I do like her. I’ve liked her since the first time I saw her.” Her voice had a slight tremble she hadn’t noticed herself.

“It’s a good thing to like someone!” the owner’s voice was warm and firm. “Liking a good, sensible girl is much better than liking those young boys! Auntie’s a good judge of character. You two, standing together, you’re a perfect match!” She said earnestly. “If you really like her, be bold. Don’t hide it. Don’t leave yourself with any regrets.”

Yu Wen looked up and met the auntie’s sincerely encouraging gaze. A wave of warmth washed over her. “I know, Auntie. It’s just… maybe now isn’t the best time.” she answered softly.

The owner’s eyes curved into crescent moons with her smile. It was clear she genuinely liked these two lively girls.

Soon, Huang Xiaozhi returned. The grilled meat was already in her bowl.

Yu Wen picked up her camera and handed it to the owner. “Auntie, would you mind taking a photo of us now?” Compared to the candid shots, they still didn’t have a proper, official photo together.

The owner was a little surprised by Yu Wen’s request but was mostly happy. “Of course! Yes!” She enthusiastically took the camera. When Huang Xiaozhi went to the restroom earlier, Yu Wen had planned to teach the auntie how to use the camera, but it turned out the auntie was also a photography enthusiast and didn’t need any instructions.

Huang Xiaozhi immediately understood and gave a sweet smile to the camera. She purposely turned her body slightly, her two braids obediently hanging over her chest. She held up a playful “V” sign with her right hand.

Yu Wen sat up straighter, just giving the camera a shallow, relaxed smile.

The owner took a step back, bent her knees a little, and found a perfect angle.

Click.

Click.

Click.

Several consecutive shutter clicks captured their first truly official, carefully posed photo together.

In the photos, one person was sweet and lively, the other was cool and reserved, but their smiles were equally warm, looking incredibly harmonious.

After taking the photos, the owner walked over to look at the camera screen.

Huang Xiaozhi leaned in to look, her eyes sparkling. She suddenly suggested, “Auntie, can the three of us take a photo together too?”

It was that same look of anticipation that made it impossible to refuse.

The owner was both surprised and happy. “Yes, yes! Of course!”

Yu Wen naturally had no objections.

She waved a passing waiter over and whispered a few words to him.

The three of them stood in front of the grill. The background was the sizzling barbecue and the cozy restaurant. The owner stood in the middle, affectionately putting her arms around the two girls’ shoulders.

Huang Xiaozhi’s smile was brilliant. Yu Wen also had a rare, clear smile on her face, and the owner couldn’t stop grinning. The scene was warm and happy.

Click. The waiter pressed the shutter.

The beautiful moment was frozen.

Just as the waiter was about to take a second photo, Huang Xiaozhi suddenly turned her head. Her gaze was no longer on the camera but was instead focused, almost greedily, on Yu Wen next to her.

The sunlight coming through the window fell on the side of Yu Wen’s face, outlining her clear features and the slight curve of her lips. In Huang Xiaozhi’s eyes, there was only Yu Wen’s figure, nothing else.

The waiter understood and pressed the shutter.

Yu Wen had no idea of this small “conspiracy.” She thought it was just another ordinary photo.

Little did she know, in the moment Huang Xiaozhi quietly asked the waiter to take another photo for her, she could finally, boldly, and without reservation, fix her passionate gaze on the Yu Wen who belonged only to her.

Her Yu Wen. She could finally stare at her without inhibition.

In this photo, she was no longer a cautious secret admirer, but a brave pursuer of light.

Please, let this happiness last.

Where her gaze fell, where her heart pointed, there was only her.