Chapter 34 - It’s from you. I’ll like it no matter what…

Xiao Wanqing had majored in Chinese Literature. Back in her sophomore year, when she studied foreign literature, she’d already developed quite an interest in Japanese works. Among the Japanese literary greats, Natsume Sōseki was one she was rather familiar with. Yet when she first came across that famous anecdote and his classic line of confession, she couldn’t make sense of it. She even thought it was a bit of a stretch—romanticized, even.

It wasn’t until much later—one particular night when she and Yan Jia were in a long-distance phase, chatting endlessly on the phone—that she finally understood. She was standing by the window, listening to her lover’s warm, melodic voice as she looked up at the sky and saw the full moon—round and glowing like a white jade plate. Her heart softened, overflowing with tender affection, and she murmured to her lover, “The moonlight is beautiful tonight, isn’t it?”

Only then did she truly understand. That was, indeed, a most delicate and moving confession—the kind of feeling that says: I want to share all the beautiful things in the world with you.

But right now, those words, once so poetic and full of meaning, exploded like thunder in Xiao Wanqing’s ears. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard—her mind a tangled mess. So shaken was she that her usual composure completely slipped away. She didn’t have time to mask her shock and disbelief; her expression crumbled in pure astonishment.

But soon, she pulled herself together. She tightened her grip on the ice cream in her hands, her upper teeth digging into her lower lip, eyes fixed on Lin Xian with a quiet intensity—waiting to see if the girl had anything more to say.

Maybe… Lin Xian didn’t know the deeper meaning of that phrase. After all, during their bike ride, she herself had thought how beautiful the moon looked tonight. Right. Lin Xian was still so young, so innocent and unknowing—how could she possibly understand…

Besides… besides…

Ha… Impossible.

Sure enough, the girl didn’t disappoint her expectations.

After speaking, Lin Xian went quiet for two seconds, then calmly withdrew the hand she had just extended toward Xiao Wanqing’s ice cream. Her gaze lowered to her own ice cream. After a moment, she scooped up a spoonful and popped it into her mouth. Then she looked up at the moon and said with a sudden, almost enlightened tone, “It’s the sixteenth on the lunar calendar today. I guess the moon really is rounder on the sixteenth than the fifteenth…”

She spoke through the ice cream, the words a little muffled, but to Xiao Wanqing, they rang out with perfect clarity.

As Lin Xian opened her mouth to speak, a faint cloud of mist curled out with her breath. Hidden behind that thin veil of fog, she blinked quickly, twice—masking the sting of moisture that had begun to gather in her eyes.

Xiao Wanqing looked… so scared.

Lin Xian turned away, her voice strained. She pointed to a nearby food stall selling oyster omelettes and raised her voice in a deliberately excited tone: “Aunt Xiao, let’s get that one!”

Without waiting for an answer, she darted off toward the crowded stall like she couldn't wait another second.

Xiao Wanqing, upon hearing Lin Xian casually remark on the “sixteenth moon,” finally allowed herself to breathe again. She studied the girl carefully—her face calm and unaware—and at last her brows smoothed out.

What was I even thinking?

She’s still just a child… I really…

Haha…

Watching Lin Xian’s small figure happily weaving into the crowd, Xiao Wanqing couldn’t help but smile as she picked up her pace to follow. Her eyes glowed with unmistakable ease, trust, and fond indulgence.

Lin Xian had run too quickly. Xiao Wanqing didn’t see her pause a few steps later to rub at her eyes—hard—before dashing forward again.

They wandered around Xiangnan Road for quite some time. Lin Xian, full of curiosity, insisted on trying all kinds of snacks until their stomachs were round and content. Nearing eleven o’clock, Xiao Wanqing gently reminded her it was getting late and that she still had school the next day. Only then did Lin Xian reluctantly agree to head back.

On the return trip, with the night deeper and the sea breeze chillier, Xiao Wanqing refused to let Lin Xian give her the helmet no matter what. Hugging it close, she softened her voice to negotiate: “You wear the helmet. I’ll stay behind you, and you can shield me from the wind. I won’t feel cold at all. That way, it’s a win-win, isn’t it?”

But Lin Xian stared at her with those big, round eyes, refusing to give in.

Xiao Wanqing held her gaze, thoughtful, then tried a different approach: “Xianxian, remember last time? If you get sick, I’ll have a hard time too. Don’t forget how worried I was—running around in the storm, even fell. You promised to take good care of yourself, didn’t you?”

Lin Xian remembered. She remembered how Xiao Wanqing stayed up all night, how she ran through the rain and slipped. Her brows furrowed slightly, her resolve weakening. But she still didn’t feel at ease and made Xiao Wanqing promise, “Then you have to really hide behind me, okay?”

Suddenly, she thought of something. Reaching back, she tugged on the hood of her own fluffy coat and said with a spark of discovery: “Aunt Xiao, take off my hood. You wear it. Hide behind me!”

Xiao Wanqing was stunned. She hung the helmet on the scooter’s rearview mirror, then took off the fluffy hood from behind Lin Xian. Lin Xian took it and, without hesitation, pulled it over Xiao Wanqing’s head. Without caring how she looked, she quickly tied the fuzzy strings under her chin.

Xiao Wanqing’s delicate, palm-sized face peeked out from under all that soft fur—somehow looking even more refined. She clearly felt a bit embarrassed and muttered in a small voice, tugging at the fluff, “Do I look… weird?”

It was such a rare sight—her shy, unsure expression. Lin Xian’s gaze turned deep and unreadable. Her heart swelled with a strange mixture of affection and aching. She lowered her eyes, hiding her emotions, and put on the air of a little grown-up. In a mock-serious tone, she scolded, “Not weird. Just listen.”

Xiao Wanqing looked at the girl’s stern little face and couldn’t help but laugh softly. She let go of the hood’s fluff, picked the helmet back up, and gently placed it on Lin Xian’s head. After adjusting it, she tapped the girl’s cheek and lowered the visor. “Okay,” she said with a helpless but affectionate smile, “whatever you say.”

Once they were both on the bike, Lin Xian once again pulled Xiao Wanqing’s arms around her waist and guided her hands into the pockets of her coat. She even bossily instructed, “Aunt Xiao, lean in closer. Rest your face behind my neck.”

Xiao Wanqing let out a quiet laugh. To ease the girl’s worry, she indulged her, following every instruction.

The night wind was indeed stronger and chillier than it had been on the way there, yet Lin Xian’s coat pockets were warm. With her eyes closed and head lowered, Xiao Wanqing nestled behind Lin Xian, the tip of her nose catching the faint, clean fragrance on the girl. To her surprise, it was the exact scent she liked best—cool, light, fresh like the early morning breeze. Surrounded by it, and feeling Lin Xian gently adjusting the pocket opening again as if worried it wasn’t snug enough, Xiao Wanqing sat a little straighter, a little taller. A steady warmth radiated from Lin Xian’s body, flowing into her, settling in her chest.

As they neared home, Xiao Wanqing finally remembered to ask, “Xianxian, your birthday’s this Friday, according to the new calendar. Got any plans? Going out with classmates or friends? Need me to help prepare anything?”

“I want to spend it with you.” Lin Xian hesitated slightly, then answered a little shyly.

Xiao Wanqing paused, then, buried against the nape of Lin Xian’s neck, her brows and eyes softened with a quiet delight.

Looking down at the darkened road ahead, Lin Xian made a promise: “Would it be okay if I invited my friends home to celebrate? I can get food from outside, and after everything’s done, I’ll clean up. I promise.” Her tone was filled with earnestness, like she was afraid of inconveniencing Xiao Wanqing.

From inside Lin Xian’s coat pocket, Xiao Wanqing’s fingers poked gently at her waist, scolding playfully, “What are you saying, silly girl? I’d be thrilled to have them over to celebrate with us.” She paused to think, then added with gentle decisiveness, “Ask them tomorrow if they have any food allergies. Once you’re back in the evening, we can plan the menu together. Sound good?”

Lin Xian just wanted to spend her coming-of-age birthday with Xiao Wanqing. She was afraid Xiao Wanqing might turn her down if she suggested going out to a party venue, so she offered a home celebration instead. But she also didn’t want to trouble her, so she tried to tone it down: “It doesn’t have to be so complicated. It’s just a get-together. We could order something like a family bucket, and that’d be enough.”

Xiao Wanqing teased her in mock disapproval: “They’re coming all the way to your home for your birthday, and you’re going to feed them with fast food?”

Lin Xian laughed out loud, none of her usual gentle politeness in sight. “As long as there’s good food and drinks, who’s gonna complain?”

“You little tyrant…” Xiao Wanqing sighed in helpless amusement.

But no matter how Lin Xian downplayed it, Xiao Wanqing was firm in her decision—Lin Xian’s once-in-a-lifetime coming-of-age birthday should be special, and her friends deserved thoughtful hosting too.

On Friday morning, after breakfast, as Lin Xian was about to leave, Xiao Wanqing straightened the collar of her clothes and whispered with a hint of mystery, “There’ll be a surprise today.”

Lin Xian was instantly curious and tried hard to pry out the secret, but Xiao Wanqing sealed her lips with a mischievous smile. Lin Xian nearly made herself late trying to coax it out of her. The suspense gnawed at her all day, leaving her distracted in every class, wondering what the mysterious gift could be.

That Friday afternoon, Lin Xian only had classes for the first two periods. Originally, she and Shi Man had agreed to go with Xia Zhijin, Chen Zhi, and Tang Mo to the supermarket after class to stock up on snacks and drinks for the party. Xia Zhijin had even volunteered to help prep some of the dinner before Xiao Wanqing got off work—if they didn’t mind.

But on Thursday morning, the college announced a last-minute notice: all freshmen without classes on Friday afternoon were required to attend a talk about academic and life planning, starting at 3:40 p.m., no unexcused absences allowed. Any special cases had to be cleared with the counselor.

So Lin Xian had no choice but to scrap her plans, grumbling to herself as she followed the crowd to the lecture hall on the first floor, full of resentment.

She hadn’t paid much attention to the details of the announcement—just vaguely heard that an alumnus, now a successful donor, was returning for the university’s centennial and had donated ten thousand books to the library. He’d also been invited to give the talk.

Though the semester was still new, Lin Xian’s year had already endured quite a few lectures. Some were genuinely insightful, but more often than not, they felt like a waste of time.

Annoyed that her plans had been disrupted, Lin Xian mentally categorized this upcoming talk into the “utterly useless” pile. She had no interest in listening.

When she entered, the speaker hadn’t arrived yet. The hall buzzed with noise. It was clear no one was thrilled about a surprise lecture on the cusp of the weekend. Complaints floated in the air. Lin Xian and Shi Man sat together near the center, heads down in sync, quietly pulling out their phones to play a game.

Who knew how much time passed, but gradually, the room grew oddly quiet. Lin Xian noticed the change but stayed focused on her game. A moment later, Shi Man nudged her, visibly excited, whispering with restrained glee, “Lin Xian! Look!”

Caught off guard, Lin Xian’s finger slipped—her game character tumbled into a pit of lava. Game over. She mashed the keys in frustration, grumbling, “What is it now?” as she looked up with a touch of impatience.

And then—she couldn’t look away.

At the center of the stage, where the guest speaker was to stand, was a tall, graceful woman connecting a USB drive. Her posture was poised, her silhouette elegant. She wore a color-blocked pleated midi dress with a fitted waist, topped with a sleek black blazer. Her shoulder-length, ash-blonde curls were styled perfectly, and her refined makeup made her porcelain skin glow. Her presence was commanding—an elegant mix of authority and style, like a woman born to dazzle.

—It was none other than Xiao Wanqing, who had been joking with her just that morning…

Whispers rippled through the crowd:

“Whoa, the guest speaker is gorgeous.”

“Holy crap, she's way too beautiful and young! Wasn't it supposed to be some senior male student?”

“The speaker said she's an alumna from our department, right? So she's a former student from our department? Was she, like, the 'beauty' of the department back in the day?”

Shi Man leaned in, murmuring to the still-stunned Lin Xian, “What’s going on? Auntie Xiao never mentioned this to you?”

Lin Xian didn’t respond. She couldn’t. She just stared at the woman on stage—radiant, glowing, captivating—who had already begun her speech.

No. Xiao Wanqing hadn’t said a word.

Wait—this… was the surprise she had mentioned this morning?

Lin Xian’s gaze was intense, unwaveringly fixed on the woman on stage. She refused to miss even the slightest movement or glance from her.

Xiao Wanqing was introducing the event, explaining that the president of their magazine was an alumnus from the class of '98 at Jingnan School of Finance. Over the years, he had often reminisced about his time at the university, grateful for the dedicated teachers and the abundance of resources and opportunities the school had offered him. He wanted to give back, in whatever small way he could. She said the president had originally intended to come in person, but he was currently away on a business trip and unable to make it, so he had entrusted her to come on his behalf.

At this point, Xiao Wanqing smiled playfully and added, “I heard our president was quite the campus heartthrob back in the day—everyone’s favorite. It’s a shame you can’t see him in person today. All you get is my boring old face instead. Sorry about that.”

The comment was half-joking, half-serious. It was true that Xiao Wanqing had been asked to attend the donation ceremony as the president's representative. During earlier arrangements, when the school learned that she, too, was a graduate of Jingnan, they warmly invited her to give a guest lecture. Initially, she had hesitated—after all, her background wasn't in finance, and she worried her talk wouldn’t be relevant. But then she realized the date of the ceremony coincided perfectly with Lin Xian’s birthday. After some thought, she accepted the invitation, privately motivated by her own intentions.

The audience immediately erupted into laughter and teasing whistles at her self-deprecating humor. One bold male student even shouted out, “We’re not disappointed at all—you’re way better looking!”

Another round of laughter followed.

Lin Xian scanned the crowd but couldn’t spot the guy who had spoken. As she listened to Xiao Wanqing’s soft, warm voice and her classmates whispering praises about her, pride mixed with a twinge of bitterness rose in her chest. She wanted so badly to stand up and announce to everyone: She came here for me! You all better keep your distance!

On stage, Xiao Wanqing held herself with a poised, charismatic air. She was eloquent, charming, and masterful at engaging the crowd. The students, usually inattentive during lectures, were now enthusiastically participating. Lin Xian sat completely still, eyes locked onto the stage, willing Xiao Wanqing to notice her.

She stared unblinking, hoping for even the briefest moment of connection. And for just a split second—it happened. Lin Xian was sure their eyes met. But before she could rejoice, Xiao Wanqing’s gaze smoothly shifted away as she continued interacting with students in the front row.

Did she not see me?
Maybe… she didn’t come for me after all?
Was I just being delusional?

A wave of disappointment crashed over Lin Xian. She lowered her head, her lips pressed into a thin line, feeling an overwhelming sense of dejection.

Then, Shi Man nudged her again and whispered into her ear, “Lin Xian, I think Auntie Xiao is looking at you.”

Startled, Lin Xian snapped her head up, staring intently at the stage. This time, her eyes met Xiao Wanqing’s deep, tender gaze directly. And then—Xiao Wanqing blinked, ever so gently, and gave her a subtle, knowing smile.

All of Lin Xian’s gloom evaporated in an instant. She straightened up, her brows relaxing as a soft, content smile appeared on her lips. Whether or not Xiao Wanqing was still looking her way, she smiled brightly, all for her.

Shi Man, watching the whole emotional transformation unfold beside her, raised an eyebrow in disbelief. “Are you a monkey or something? Your face changed in two seconds flat…”

Lin Xian couldn’t be bothered to respond. Shi Man was interrupting her precious focus. She brushed her off with a quick, “Pay attention to the lecture.”

Shi Man: “…”

The one-hour lecture flew by, thanks to Xiao Wanqing’s wit and charm. As it neared the end, students still seemed eager for more. The final slide—“Thank you for listening”—had been on display for a while before Xiao Wanqing finally removed her USB drive from the laptop and wrapped up gracefully: “That’s all from me. Thank you again for your time.”

Thunderous applause filled the auditorium. A teacher from the school came forward to formally thank Xiao Wanqing and the magazine president, prompting another round of clapping from the students.

Xiao Wanqing waited quietly until the applause died down. Then she stepped forward again, this time with a bright, uncharacteristically warm smile—one that was very different from the polite one she wore before.

“There’s one more thing,” she said, a little bashfully, leaning into the mic. “Before everyone leaves, I’d like to take this chance to give a personal birthday greeting…”

Her eyes swept the crowd until they landed softly and squarely on Lin Xian.

Lin Xian met her gaze, biting her lip, her brows curving involuntarily into a smile. Amid the murmuring crowd, she could hear nothing but the thunderous beating of her own heart.

“Lin Xian,” said Xiao Wanqing, voice tender, lilting, “Happy Birthday.”

She added, “Your gift—come collect it from me after the event, okay?”

Her tone was light and sweet, her eyes shimmering like moonlit water. Lin Xian stared across the room, blushing furiously, dizzy with the feeling that she might drown in that gaze.

The lecture was technically over, but no one got up to leave. Instead, heads swiveled as everyone began looking around for Lin Xian. Her classmates—those who knew her well—were already exclaiming in surprise. Shi Man gleefully pointed her out and shouted, “Lin Xian, I’m gonna piggyback on this moment—happy birthday!”

Now the whole auditorium had a target. All eyes turned toward Lin Xian.

Usually shameless, and often teased by Zhou Qin for being as thick-skinned as a city wall, Lin Xian was now thoroughly flustered. Her pale face turned a pretty shade of pink, and her ears were so red they looked like they might start bleeding. Embarrassed, she ducked her head and softly scolded Shi Man, “Man Man, stop it…”

She looked like she wanted to hide behind her hands—adorably shy and bashful.

Shi Man had never seen her like this before and wasn’t about to let her off the hook. Narrowing her peach blossom eyes mischievously, she smirked and began chanting, “Ooooh… someone’s blushing…”

Lin Xian, flustered beyond belief, suddenly jumped to her feet and said, half-angry, half-playful, “I’m not talking to you anymore. I’m going to find Auntie Xiao.” Then, with everyone still watching, she rushed down the aisle—thump thump thump—straight to Xiao Wanqing, who had stepped off the stage and was now speaking with one of the faculty members.

Without a care for the audience, Lin Xian threw herself into Xiao Wanqing’s arms, her face burning with shyness and joy.

While gently patting the girl’s head, Xiao Wanqing smiled at the teacher and said, “Miss Wang, I’ll be heading off now—I have something to take care of.” The teacher glanced at the head snuggled into her shoulder, gave a knowing nod, and after a few polite words, walked away.

Only then did Lin Xian step back from the embrace. Looking up, eyes sparkling, she asked, “Auntie Xiao, why are you here?”

Xiao Wanqing winked playfully. “I’m an outstanding alumna too. Why wouldn’t I be here?”

Lin Xian pouted. “You know that’s not what I meant.”

Xiao Wanqing tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then gently scraped Lin Xian’s nose with her fingertip. With a smile, she said, “I’m here to give you a present.”

As she spoke, she opened her bag and pulled out a neatly wrapped square-shaped gift box, handing it to Lin Xian. “Open it. See if you like it.”

The crowd of curious onlookers hadn’t fully dispersed yet. Strangely enough, they seemed even more excited than the gift's actual recipient, eyes locked onto the package in Lin Xian’s hands with eager anticipation. But Lin Xian didn’t react the way they had expected.

She simply accepted the gift and held it tightly in her arms. Then, lifting her gaze, she looked at Xiao Wanqing with eyes full of light, lips curved in a soft smile, and replied gently, “I like it. I like it very much.”

She lowered her head, eyes glowing with a tender affection no one could quite decipher—a girl’s first taste of longing, subtle and sweet.

Xiao Wanqing chuckled. “But you haven’t even seen what’s inside yet.”

Lin Xian’s fingers caressed the wrapping paper softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper. “It’s from you. I’ll like it no matter what…”

Her voice was so soft that those standing just a little farther away—including Shi Man—couldn’t make out what she had said.

All they saw was the stunningly beautiful girl up ahead, flashing a dazzling, radiant smile as she reached out her hand toward the graceful and elegant woman standing a few steps away, her voice as honeyed as it was charming: “Aunt Xiao, let’s go home.”

The woman looked at the girl with gentle affection, reaching out to entwine her fingers with the slender, jade-like hand extended toward her. Her voice was warm and lilting as she replied, “Okay.”

Their clasped hands gleamed like polished jade. As they turned and walked away, dark hair fluttered, skirt hem swayed…

The scene was as breathtaking as a cinematic close-up.

Shi Man stared wordlessly at her best friend’s glowing face—so bright with joy, tinged with the blush of shyness. Her gaze slowly lowered to their intertwined fingers, a thoughtful look flickering across her eyes…

And then, in the foxlike glint of her eyes, a hint of playful mischief bloomed.

Oho…