44. No Success Without Effort

“Don’t be mad at me anymore,” Zhang Heyu said. “I’m yours completely; what’s wrong with my Ah Ci touching you?”

Jiang Ci felt a flush of heat all over. “I won’t talk to you anymore!”

Seeing the young girl somewhat annoyed and shy, Zhang Heyu wisely decided to back off and behaved obediently.

Jiang Ci was about to sit down when she suddenly remembered she hadn’t tied Zhang Heyu’s apron yet. She turned back to him.

“Um, Zhang Heyu, I—I’ll help you tie it,” Jiang Ci said softly.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Heyu lifted his brow slightly, a lazy smile curling on his lips. His expression was relaxed as he opened his arms, inviting her to tie it for him.

The faint scent of osmanthus in her hair brushed against his chin, grazing his heart.

It tickled.

“All set,” Jiang Ci said, stepping out of his embrace before finally sitting down.

The half of her face that Zhang Heyu had kissed seemed to bear an imprint, burning warmly.

Jiang Ci realized that Zhang Heyu had a habit of stealing kisses.

From the initial selection of designs to the entire creation process, every so often, Zhang Heyu would sneak a kiss.

Jiang Ci was at a loss with him and pretended to be angry. “Stop kissing me!”

“I can’t hear you; I just want to kiss you,” Zhang Heyu chuckled in response.

“Did you used to… with the others?” Jiang Ci hesitated, unwilling to continue.

Zhang Heyu caught her meaning; the way she looked at him suggested a misunderstanding.

He sighed, pinching her cheek softly. His voice softened as he explained, “You fool, my first kiss was with you.”

First, first kiss?!

Jiang Ci was clearly very surprised.

“My body and heart are clean. I was just foolish before, always dating around,” Zhang Heyu confessed, full of regret. “But now, I want to give everything to you.”

“I belong only to you, Ah Ci,” Zhang Heyu said. “Please don’t ever reject me.”

Jiang Ci turned her head to look at him, her heart pounding uncontrollably, her nose tinged with a bittersweet ache.

She whispered softly, “I wouldn’t.”

She simply could not help but like Zhang Heyu.

Hearing her answer, Zhang Heyu swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing restrainedly. “If my hands weren’t dirty right now, after hearing you say that, I’d have already pulled you in for a kiss.”

“Pervert…” Jiang Ci teased shyly, ignoring him and lowering her head to continue shaping the clay.

Jiang Ci was making a cup with a strawberry bear design, and Zhang Heyu’s was similar, except the strawberry bear was painted blue, turning it into a blueberry bear.

He said they were making matching couple items.

Jiang Ci smiled, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart.

They stayed in the pottery shop for over two hours.

Jiang Ci was quiet by nature and enjoyed focusing on a single task, while Zhang Heyu was steady and deliberate, remarkably earnest.

This was, in fact, their first couple item.

After packing their cups, they left the shop.

Checking the time, it was nearly five in the afternoon.

Zhang Heyu first took Jiang Ci to a nearby food street for a bite, then led her to their next destination.

The sky darkened as they stepped out of the car. Jiang Ci looked around at the surroundings, which were much like her memory, and suddenly the scene of their first meeting surfaced in her mind.

This was the small street near her middle school.

And the spot where they now stood was where she first met Zhang Heyu that summer.

Zhang Heyu walked ahead; Jiang Ci raised her eyes to his back, instantly overlapping the image with the teenage boy she once knew.

Noticing the girl daydreaming, Zhang Heyu pulled a faint smile and glanced back. “Spacing out again, silly girl.”

Jiang Ci snapped out of it and hurried to catch up. “Why did you suddenly bring me here?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Zhang Heyu took her hand and led her to a tattoo parlor’s entrance.

She watched him open the door; it was pitch dark inside.

The sudden brightness made Jiang Ci blink, adjusting her eyes. Then a chorus of voices rang out.

“Happy birthday, Jiang Ci!!”

Blinking in surprise, Jiang Ci saw Huo Chensi and Yu Xijin among others and froze.

Besides a few she recognized, the others were unfamiliar.

But she figured they must be Zhang Heyu’s friends.

“Ci Ci, we came to celebrate your birthday!” Yu Xijin approached with a small crown, placed it on Jiang Ci’s head, and pulled her inside.

The tattoo parlor’s lounge was decorated for a birthday party, with “Happy Birthday” banners adorning the walls.

On the table sat a large customized cake.

Seeing this, Jiang Ci was stunned and instinctively looked at Zhang Heyu standing behind her.

The boy smiled lazily, radiating a gentle charm.

She knew Zhang Heyu had arranged this for her.

Before, on her birthdays, Jiang Ci barely dared to buy a cake and only had a slightly better meal at home with her grandmother.

“Happy Birthday!”

“Make a wish,” Zhang Heyu reminded her.

She closed her eyes and silently made a wish.

After a moment, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles.

Applause and cheers erupted. Yu Xijin and some familiar friends presented gifts.

“Thank you all…” she choked up, her voice trembling slightly.

Huo Chensi waved it off. “You’re still so polite even though we’re close now, Ci.”

“Yeah, don’t be so formal. We’re all friends,” Fan Mian chimed in. “Besides, you’re our Yu Ge’s little treasure!”

Hearing this, Jiang Ci glanced at Zhang Heyu, cheeks flushing.

He tugged at his lips and looked at her with gentle affection, softly ruffling her hair.

After the cake, Yu Xijin chatted with Jiang Ci.

“Gotta say, the top student Zhang really treats you well. He decorated this room himself. No wonder he knows you love strawberry bears—he even customized the cake that way.”

Yu Xijin shook her head in admiration. “So lucky, my Ci Ci.”

Huo Chensi added, “Yeah, Ah Yu’s totally smitten.”

Despite their talk, Jiang Ci remained composed, her heart and eyes only on Zhang Heyu, not hearing a word else.

Zhang Heyu picked a piece of cake, scooped a strawberry from the top, and offered it to Jiang Ci. “Ah Ci, want to try the strawberry?”

Jiang Ci smiled and nodded, leaning in for a bite.

“You two are really something, that’s enough!” Huo Chensi and the others watched the couple’s sweet display, green with envy.

Jiang Ci blushed further while chewing the strawberry.

After a while, she felt a bit uncomfortable and stood to go to the restroom, but suddenly a hand grabbed her wrist.

She looked down along her arm to see Zhang Heyu’s lifted brow. “I’ll go with you.”

Unfamiliar with the place, Jiang Ci accepted his company.

They stood at the bathroom door. Zhang Heyu nodded toward the inside. “Go ahead. Call me if you need anything. I’ll wait outside.”

Jiang Ci nodded and replied softly.

The familiar sinking pain in her stomach reminded her of her period.

Seeing the crimson stain, she was glad she’d prepared a sanitary pad. Otherwise, with Jinjin not around, she’d feel awkward asking Zhang Heyu for help.

After taking care of herself, Jiang Ci washed her hands and was about to leave when she heard voices outside.

Her hand on the doorknob paused.

“Don’t soak your tattoo for too long these few days. When it scabs, it’ll itch. Just be careful, okay?”

Zhang Heyu fiddled with a lighter. “Got it. If my tattoo has problems, that means your skills aren’t good enough.”

Hearing this, Pei Muze clicked his tongue disdainfully. “If you talk to your brother like that, next time you’re not coming.”

“You’re only a few years older than me. Why the act?” Zhang Heyu teased.

“You do realize I’m older, right? You really are something!” Pei Muze snatched the lighter back, lit a cigarette, and asked, “So, young lady, are you serious?”

Zhang Heyu knew he meant Jiang Ci and answered without hesitation, “Yeah, I’m serious. It has to be her.”

“Hmph,” Pei Muze laughed. “Just like Huo Chensi said, you’re totally hooked?”

Zhang Heyu took back his lighter and replied coolly, “I soften up whenever I see her. I like Jiang Ci. I can’t help but fall.”

He only wanted Jiang Ci.

Pei Muze took a deep drag, exhaling white smoke, and quietly said, “If she’s your destined one, I hope you don’t let her down. If she’s a karmic tie, then the girl is your debt and your trial.”

Zhang Heyu pursed his lips, silent.

Afterwards, Pei Muze stubbed out his cigarette on the ground and tossed it in the bin.

Glancing at Zhang Heyu with a smile, he said, “That’s all in the future. For now, just enjoy being together.”

“Mm,” Zhang Heyu acknowledged. Pei Muze didn’t continue and turned back inside.

When the voices ceased, Jiang Ci dared to come out.

Zhang Heyu noticed the movement, turned, and saw Jiang Ci standing behind him with a faint smile.

“Going back now?” he asked, pinching her cheek softly.

Jiang Ci checked the time. It was getting late. After thinking, she said, “I’ll go home to get my things and tell Jinjin and the others before coming back.”

“All right.”

They returned to the room. Jiang Ci thanked Yu Xijin, greeted the others, packed her things, and left the tattoo parlor.

Leaving the shop, Jiang Ci’s mind lingered on what she had overheard about tattoos during Zhang Heyu’s chat with his friends.

After the Spring Festival, the temperature in Nancheng had warmed a bit. Snow on the streets and trees melted, and the snow on the Chinese knots hanging from street lamps was gone.

Suddenly, Zhang Heyu called her name, “Ah Ci.”

He immediately released her hand. She turned to him. “What’s up?”

Zhang Heyu bent down to meet her eyes, his voice low and coaxing, “Baby, close your eyes.”

Jiang Ci frowned in confusion but smiled when she saw Chen Yanzhou’s grin. “Ah Yu, don’t scare me!”

“Not scaring you.” Zhang Heyu put his hands in his pockets. Watching her close her eyes, he took from his pocket the birthday gift he had prepared.

Jiang Ci didn’t know what he was up to. Just then, a cool sensation touched her neck, and her hair was gently brushed aside.

The foreign touch on her delicate skin sent a tickling sensation.

“Baby, open your eyes.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ci opened her eyes and looked down to see Zhang Heyu placing a silver necklace with a pink diamond around her neck.

She was surprised. “This…”

Zhang Heyu chuckled lowly, his Adam’s apple moving. “Like it?”

Jiang Ci touched the pink diamond, nodding with eyes shining. “Thank you, Zhang Heyu.”

“You’re welcome. As long as you’re happy,” he said, gazing tenderly and deeply into her eyes. “Baby, happy birthday. I wish you eternal happiness, safety, and smooth sailing.”

“Just like your Christmas Eve blessing to me—may not only I be safe and doing well, but also my Ah Ci.”

After speaking, he carefully adjusted the necklace so the diamond rested perfectly on her chest.

Jiang Ci looked down at the sparkling pink gem, her heart filled with joy.

She lifted her head and gave Zhang Heyu a sweet smile. “It’s really beautiful.”

Zhang Heyu smiled too, his gaze fixed on her. “Baby, your boyfriend still has one more gift for you.”

“What gift?” Jiang Ci blinked.

Thinking that they were still on the road, Zhang Heyu grinned, teasing, “I’ll take you home first.”

Jiang Ci’s curiosity was piqued. “Can’t you tell me now?”

“Nope.” Zhang Heyu squeezed her hand. “We’re outside. Your boyfriend has to keep a little dignity.”

Jiang Ci suppressed a laugh and decided to let him take her home first.