114. And then, "Happy Qixi."

“Then you asked me if I could have dinner with you that night. You were worried that I might be having a gathering with my roommates, so I asked you in return if you could have dinner with me.”

“That was the first time you took my hand and led me toward the cafeteria. I remember it was your first time holding my hand willingly.”

—

“After the first day of military training, my roommates noticed a campus beauty standing by my side. They asked who you were and which department you belonged to. I said you were my girlfriend, a little fairy who played the flute. They all looked at me with admiration, and I was so proud.”

—

“After military training, we decided to explore the city where we would live for the next four years.”

“I remember that day you had your black hair down, wearing a pristine white dress. It was the first time I saw you in a dress. Wherever we went, people stared at you, and I was unhappy. In that moment, I suddenly felt how vast the world was and began to worry.”

“On the way back that night, you said you would never wear a dress again, and I apologized to you.”

“I remember you smiled and shook your head.”

“Then I stole a kiss from you and ran away.”

“That was my first kiss with you.”

“You weren’t angry; that night I was so excited I couldn’t sleep.”

—

“Our first day of college classes began. Since you were in the orchestral department and I was in the piano department, we had classes in different classrooms. So I skipped my first class.”

“I remember that day I answered a question for Sun Yuman. To thank me, she treated us to a big meal at the school gate. She assured me that no one would bully you in the dorm anymore, and I said I’d pay for the meal.”

“But when I excused myself to go to the restroom, the owner said the long-haired girl had already paid.”

“You know, I never had pocket money in high school, and you never let me give you gifts.”

—

“We began our peaceful college life, practicing piano together, attending classes together, sneaking lunches in the practice rooms, and after practice at night, buying two skewers of fried rice cakes at the school gate—one sweet for you, one spicy for me.”

“Then we’d go to the neighboring school’s playground to watch the stars.”

“You didn’t really like rice cakes, I knew that. But they were cheap and filling. Two big skewers lasted us a long time.”

“We quickly became the model couple on campus. Those jealous of me lined up from the boys’ dorm to the cafeteria.”

“But you always took care of my mood and never participated in meaningless social gatherings.”

—

“In the second semester of our freshman year, I began to realize I had to find a way to earn money. I didn’t want you to eat in the cafeteria with me every day. I also wanted to surprise you on special occasions.”

“Although this meant less time together, when I told you my plan, you got angry. You said you didn’t want gifts; you wanted me to focus on practicing piano.”

“That was our first argument, and I won.”

“We argued, but never went beyond a day without making up. Neither of us could endure the cold war.”

“Sometimes I apologized first; sometimes you did.”

—

“In the second year, during a performance, I accompanied you on piano, but I played poorly. After the show, you comforted me. From that day on, I practiced even harder, vowing to make your next stage perfect.”

—

“Before the end of our third year, I finally got my chance. I remember clearly that day you had an important concert, but you turned down all the piano accompaniment offers recommended by your teachers and saved the opportunity for me.”

“At that time, you were already the best flutist in the undergraduate program, while I couldn’t even get a chance to attend a master class.”

“But that night, our collaborative stage was the best of the evening. Your rendition of Bach moved every audience member.”

“I remember during the final bow, you once again took my hand and led me to the front of the stage, and we bowed together.”

“After the concert, we went out to celebrate and stayed out so late that we couldn’t get back into the dorm.”

—

“And then...”

“And then...”

“And then...”

Li An couldn’t go on.

He looked up and saw tears streaming down Chen Xuan’s cheeks, gathering at her chin.

“And then?” Chen Xuan sobbed.

Li An stubbed out his cigarette, smiled, and took a tissue from his pocket to wipe the corners of her eyes.

He chuckled, “Then, Sun Yuman suddenly dashed out of the girls’ dorm and took you back inside.”

—

“You don’t know how desperate I felt then.”

Hearing this, Chen Xuan wiped her tears and smiled, teasing, “No wonder you could fool so many girls before. Tell me, did you make up stories like this for every girl?”

Li An: ...

Unfair.

Li An felt a bit wronged. Wasn’t it just to indulge you and fulfill the romantic fantasy you never had?

Though he admitted he put a lot of emotion into it.

“Why were you desperate?”

“Not done playing yet?”

Li An sighed softly. This time, looking into Chen Xuan’s eyes, he said with a hint of sadness, “Actually, that night I deliberately waited until very late, because after midnight it would be November 9th.”

At the mention of November 9th, Chen Xuan froze.

“I wanted to give you the gift right at the very first moment of your 22nd birthday.”

Chen Xuan suddenly exhaled. She was already very happy with the story so far. Though she wanted to hear more, she couldn’t bear to continue.

No matter how many people Li An had told similar stories to, she was willing to believe this one belonged only to her.

She felt they had shared the romance she had always dreamed of.

Blowing her nose, Chen Xuan’s expression returned to normal.

“I still have one last question.”

“What gift did you prepare that night?”

Li An’s hand quietly reached behind his back and produced a lipstick.

He held the prepared Qixi Festival gift before Chen Xuan.

“Happy Qixi Festival.”