34 Going on a Date

The girl held him tightly, terrified that something might have happened to Zhang Heyu, her nose filled with the crisp, clean scent of green tea that clung to him.

Zhang Heyu looked down at Jiang Ci in his arms, a soft, feather-light sensation brushing against his heart, making it itch with an inexplicable feeling.

Could she actually have a bit of a crush on him?

His Adam’s apple bobbed twice, and his voice was hoarse as he murmured, "Jiang Ci, I'm fine."

Hearing this, Jiang Ci lifted her face. Her eyes, filled with tears and rimmed with red, looked up at Zhang Heyu as she said softly, "You scared me to death!"

"Jiang Ci, were you worried about me?"

She nodded in admission. "...Yes, I didn't want anything to happen to you."

For the first time, Zhang Heyu saw her looking worried on his behalf. He raised his hand, wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes, and laughed helplessly, "It’s rare to see you worried about me."

In the bustling space, an indescribable and unspoken emotion seemed to be spreading.

Jiang Ci’s heart fluttered uncontrollably, and as her senses cleared, she belatedly realized she was still in his arms. She pulled away, extending her small hand to help Zhang Heyu up.

The parent first thanked Zhang Heyu before leading their child home. As the crowd gradually dissipated, Jiang Ci picked up the pilot puppy doll that had fallen to the side.

Zhang Heyu stood under the streetlamp, his expression not quite right. Perhaps due to the recent incident, his gaze into the distance appeared somewhat unfocused.

Jiang Ci glanced at him, her eyes dropping to see the severe abrasions on his hands. Her heart sank. She walked to his side, clutching the doll, and said gently, "Zhang Heyu, could you wait for me here?"

Hearing this, Zhang Heyu snapped out of his trance and tilted his head to look at her. "Where are you going? I’ll go with you."

Jiang Ci shook her head. "No need, just wait for me here."

Seeing this, Zhang Heyu didn't insist. He nodded in agreement and watched Jiang Ci leave. As her figure faded from sight, a sudden chill touched his cheek. Zhang Heyu looked up, surprised to find snowflakes drifting in the air.

The first snow of Nancheng.

A while later, Jiang Ci walked out of the pharmacy and only then noticed the snow falling. Zhang Heyu was still waiting in the same spot. As Jiang Ci approached and reappeared before him, she carried a bag of supplies.

Seeming to sense the girl’s approach, Zhang Heyu turned his head to look at her. "Jiang Ci, it’s snowing."

His voice was tender, causing Jiang Ci’s heart to beat wildly and uncontrollably.

"It’s snowing, Zhang Heyu," Jiang Ci paused. "Let me treat the wounds on your hands."

With the light snow falling outside, Jiang Ci led Zhang Heyu to sit on a bench beneath their apartment building.

"Grandma is a light sleeper; I’m afraid bringing you home would wake her," Jiang Ci explained. "If she saw your injuries, she would be very worried too."

Zhang Heyu smiled. "I understand. Thank you for taking care of my wounds."

Jiang Ci took the iodine, hemostatic powder, and gauze from the bag. She first carefully disinfected his hands before applying the medicine and bandaging them. She was meticulous throughout the process, terrified of causing him any pain.

Zhang Heyu said nothing the whole time, merely staring at Jiang Ci. Watching her look of concentration was particularly heart-stirring.

Finishing with a bow, Jiang Ci began cleaning up, saying softly, "Don’t let them touch water when you get home. Be careful."

The draft was quite strong, blowing Jiang Ci’s long hair into a mess. Zhang Heyu raised his hand and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. As his fingertips brushed against her cheek, it felt as if an electric current surged through her entire body.

Jiang Ci looked up instinctively, her eyelashes trembling. It was hard not to feel moved while staring into Zhang Heyu’s dark, fathomless eyes.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Ci, whose hands had been clenching her skirt at her sides, asked in a soft whisper, "What’s wrong?"

Zhang Heyu looked at the young girl, his dark eyes exceptionally gentle. "Jiang Ci, is there still a possibility with that person you had a secret crush on?"

Jiang Ci was slightly startled, a flicker of surprise flashing in her eyes. She replied, "I... I don't know."

"If there’s no possibility, could you consider me? I’m not any worse than your crush."

The wind whistled past.

Jiang Ci’s heart hammered against her ribs, and even her breathing became shallow. She felt like she was beginning to guess what Zhang Heyu was about to do.

Zhang Heyu looked at her, his expression turning serious, each word spoken with deliberate intent. "I’m saying, I like you."

This was the first time Zhang Heyu had confessed to a girl, offering his sincere heart to the girl he loved.

"Jiang Ci, will you be my girlfriend?"

As the words fell, in an instant, the clouds parted to reveal the moon.

Without complex or polished words, without brilliant fireworks, the young girl’s secret crush bloomed suddenly at the bottom of a youthful lake, sending ripple after ripple outward.

Jiang Ci clearly saw her own reflection in his eyes.

That Zhang Heyu liked Jiang Ci was no longer a secret.

Jiang Ci looked into those pitch-black eyes, her eye sockets suddenly reddening, and she sniffled.

Seeing the girl’s eyes turn red again, Zhang Heyu knew he had been too impatient. He should have taken it slower.

He sighed softly, took a tissue from his pocket, and with deep, tender eyes, wiped the corners of her eyes with his warm fingertips.

"Don't cry. I can't stand seeing you cry; it makes my heart ache."

This was the first time Jiang Ci had seen Zhang Heyu coaxing her with such patience.

The girl blinked. She didn't know when, but snowflakes had also landed on her shoulders. She said softly, "Zhang Heyu, can you say it again?"

Zhang Heyu’s hand, which was wiping away her tears, paused. He spoke again in a low, serious voice, "Jiang Ci, will you be my girlfriend?"

This time, Jiang Ci did not hesitate.

She wanted to. She wanted to be with Zhang Heyu.

To Jiang Ci, Zhang Heyu was like the wind chime hanging by the window; it only took a trivial breeze to cause her love, hidden deep in her heart, to ring out.

She responded softly, "Yes."

Zhang Heyu’s prominent Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. Upon hearing Jiang Ci’s answer, it felt as if fireworks had exploded in his heart; he was incredibly happy.

Feeling a bit unsure, he asked cautiously, "Girlfriend?"

Jiang Ci nodded, blushing as she said softly, "Merry Christmas Eve, boyfriend."

After saying this, Jiang Ci handed him the greeting card she had been keeping in her pocket. "I promised you this before; now it’s time to give it to you."

Zhang Heyu took the exquisite card from her hand and opened it, the girl’s elegant handwriting coming into view.

"May you always be as you are—safe, happy, and at peace."

***

Jiang Ci returned home, tiptoeing back to her room. She turned on the warm yellow light and pulled open the curtains.

She leaned out and peered down; a figure stood beneath the large banyan tree downstairs.

Jiang Ci knew it was Zhang Heyu. She curved her lips into a smile, pulled her phone from her pocket, and tapped out a message.

[Jiang Ci: Zhang Heyu, you should go home now.]

As soon as the message was sent, Jiang Ci looked down from the window and saw Zhang Heyu pick up his phone to read it.

Seeming to sense something, Zhang Heyu looked up, his gaze stopping accurately at the window glowing with warm, yellow light. Naturally, he caught sight of the young girl standing there.

Jiang Ci’s heart raced wildly. She clearly saw Zhang Heyu’s lips move as he said, word by word, "Goodnight, my girlfriend."

The next morning, for the first time, Jiang Ci slept in. She had been so excited by Zhang Heyu’s confession the night before that she could hardly sleep.

After waking up and checking her phone, she discovered her WeChat had been bombarded. Two minutes ago, Yu Xijin had sent her a message.

[Yu Xijin: !! Breaking news!! Look at Zhang Heyu’s Moments!!]

Zhang Heyu??

Jiang Ci looked at the message, hesitated for a few seconds, then switched pages to click on the Moments of the account with the Alaskan puppy avatar.

There was only one post, made in the early hours of the morning.

"Merry Christmas, A-Ci."

The attached photo was of the greeting card she had given him, with the doll placed specially beside it.

The comments from mutual friends below were all asking in unison, "Who is A-Ci?"

[Huo Chensi: No way? Brother Yu, are you serious??]

[Fan Mian: Congratulations, wishing you forever!!]

[Cheng Yaoyao: Oh my god, oh my god, is this real???!]

[Yu Xijin: Ah?? Could it really be my Ci-Ci??!]

[Cui Jingxing: Holy crap, the rumors are true!!]

"..."

Jiang Ci stared at the post for a long time before finally clicking 'like.'

It would have been better if she hadn't liked it; the moment she did, Yu Xijin sent her several more messages.

[Yu Xijin: Aaaaah!! You two are the sweetest!! Congratulations, Ci-Ci, your secret crush has come true, and your wish has been fulfilled.]

Jiang Ci pursed her lips and smiled involuntarily. Not long after she replied to Yu Xijin, a message from Zhang Heyu popped up.

Jiang Ci hurriedly switched screens, her hands feeling a bit weak as she held the phone.

[Zhang Heyu: Awake?]

[Jiang Ci: I'm awake.]

After replying, Jiang Ci looked at the chat—there were only two messages.

[Zhang Heyu: Are you free this afternoon?]

Jiang Ci thought about it; she didn't seem to have anything to do, so she replied slowly.

[Jiang Ci: Yes.]

Zhang Heyu replied quickly, as if he had been holding his phone waiting for her message.

[Zhang Heyu: Then let's go on a date, girlfriend.]

Looking at this message, Jiang Ci rolled on her bed in excitement. She took a ten-second deep breath before typing her reply.

[Jiang Ci: Okay.]

Suppressing her inner excitement, Jiang Ci picked up the strawberry bear Zhang Heyu had won for her and swung it through the air as if they were dancing together.

Jiang Ci looked at the bear in her arms, smiled, and said to herself, "Zhang Heyu, I’m going on a date with you! Are you as happy as I am?"

She poked the strawberry bear’s cheek. "If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes!"

It felt so unreal—she was actually with Zhang Heyu!!

Jiang Ci got up to wash and, upon leaving her room, saw her grandmother sitting in a chair watching a drama.

"A-Ci is awake?" Grandma noticed Jiang Ci and remembered something. "It snowed yesterday; is it cold in your room?"

Jiang Ci smiled brightly and replied obediently, "It’s not cold, Grandma. If you feel cold, I’ll bring you another blanket later."

"Silly girl, I’m not cold." Grandma took Jiang Ci’s hand and patted it. "What are you planning to do this afternoon?"

Jiang Ci said, "I have a date with a friend."

Grandma nodded. Her granddaughter finally wasn't as withdrawn and quiet as she used to be; at least she had made a friend.

Jiang Ci made a simple lunch, and after eating with her grandmother, she returned to her room to change clothes, ready to head out.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw a beaming face, soft eyes, and lips naturally curling upward, revealing dimples on her cheeks. Jiang Ci rarely saw herself like this.

The phone on the table vibrated with a buzz. Jiang Ci snapped back to reality and walked over to pick it up.

It was a message from Zhang Heyu.

[A. Zhang Heyu: Girlfriend, I'm downstairs. Take your time, no need to rush.]

Jiang Ci hadn't expected Zhang Heyu to arrive so soon. She quickly put down her phone and tidied herself up in a hurry. Suddenly remembering something, she took a lipstick from her drawer.

It was a gift from Yu Xijin, who said it suited Jiang Ci perfectly, though she hadn't used it much.

She applied some lipstick and pressed her lips together.

After leaving the house, Jiang Ci ran straight toward the entrance of the residential complex. Sure enough, as soon as she stepped out, she saw Zhang Heyu standing by the streetlamp.

The young girl’s hair was loose and disheveled from the wind, and the tip of her nose was red from the cold, but none of it mattered; as she appeared before Zhang Heyu, she was still adorable as could be.

"Zhang Heyu." Jiang Ci was out of breath from running and took a while to recover.

Zhang Heyu put his phone away and reached out to smooth her wind-blown hair, his voice low. "Silly, didn't I say take your time? Why did you run down here?"

A faint smile appeared on Jiang Ci’s face. "I didn't want to keep you waiting too long."

"I’m happy to wait for you." Zhang Heyu looked down and noticed the tip of Jiang Ci’s nose was red. "Are you cold?"

"A little."

Jiang Ci had just finished speaking when she saw Zhang Heyu open his palm toward her. He lifted his chin and said, "Girlfriend, does my girlfriend want her boyfriend to warm her up?"