Chapter Seven, The First Story

Leaving the café, Chen Zhiyu drove Su Nan to the Yangtze River Bridge

"What wish do you have?" Chen Zhiyu interrupted, looking at her increasingly awkward and uneasy face, "Go ahead, I will yield to you."

The checkered pattern, a classic style, she is familiar with this brand, and the price is not cheap. The fabric is extremely soft, and when her fingers touch it, they can still feel the warmth of Chen Zhiyu's body.

Chen Zhiyu's eyes were filled with a faint smile, "Because most stories in this world have no beginning or end. After listening, you can do a reading comprehension; what does this story tell us?"

This is your birthday

This expensive scarf does not complement her outfit at all

The phone on the table flickered between bright and dim, dim and bright. He switched it to silent, and there was no sound. It was bombarded with text messages, calls, WeChat messages, and so on, all wishing him a happy birthday.

The narration of "visiting the ruins" was too heart-wrenching, causing Chen Zhiyu's heart to skip a beat.

Ah! Make a wish

Chen Zhiyu looked at her

She does not seem to be arguing with him—perhaps she does not have the courage to do so. "One may not be forced by others, but can one avoid being compelled by oneself?"

Su Nan pressed her lips together and quickly said, "Vanilla latte"

... is even more proficient than someone like her who has been in Dan City for nearly two years

There were two individuals who had known each other since childhood, engaging in a battle of wits for half a lifetime. Later, one of them faced adversity, and the other extended a helping hand, partly out of self-interest and partly out of genuine feelings, helping to overcome this difficult situation. The two shared a period of closeness, akin to a honeymoon, discussing how to clear old debts and how to reorganize the family. However, the one who offered assistance eventually reverted to the old path of interference, control, and conflict, withdrawing completely when their desires were unmet. The two shared a period of closeness, akin to a honeymoon, discussing how to clear old debts and how to reorganize the family. However, the one who offered assistance eventually reverted to the old path of interference, control, and conflict, withdrawing completely when their desires were unmet.

Nothing was wrong, except that in the second life, they were born with the wrong gender, both being male. Each had spent thirty years in the mundane world, and upon their chance encounter, after vaguely recognizing the appearance of their former lovers, they were left with nothing but endless awkwardness. One had established a family and career, while the other had children of his own.

What to drink

It is still cold, and there are some years when it snows. I do not particularly like winter... My sister was born in April, during the time when the grass grows and the orioles sing.

Su Nan stood there in a daze, catching it.

After a moment, she began to breathe again, her heart suddenly hanging in solitude, swaying unsteadily, unable to find solid ground

He inhaled the smoke and then exhaled it heavily. After a moment of silence, he smiled and said, "Are you trying to discuss philosophical questions with me?"

Raising my eyes, I met her puzzled gaze, then lowered my head to take a puff of smoke and half-truthfully explained: "When I was a child, every time my birthday came around, my parents would gather dozens of people in one room to toast and say auspicious words to me, treating me like a grandson. So, later on, I would avoid my birthday celebrations whenever I could."

It is indeed quite cold, and I wonder if the woolen coat she is wearing can provide any warmth

... let it be, this piece of inferior cake is not entirely without merit

At a certain moment, he stopped celebrating his birthday. In the morning, he received calls from two or three relatives at the hour, and for the rest of the time, he pretended to be too busy to glance at his phone, while in reality, he was as idle as a wandering soul, drifting aimlessly like a ghost that had waited for a thousand years by the stone of three lives.

Southern Jiangsu

What happened later

Su Nan slowly raised her eyes, looking at him, feeling a bit flustered and nervous

February 16

Sunan pondered seriously for a moment, "Only inquire about matters during one's lifetime, and do not discuss the people after one's death"

This child is actually not as foolish as he thinks

The tall figure stepped down the stairs, about to merge into the night.

Shall we go to the coffee shop in the lounge area

Have you heard of "Katyusha"

What happened later

Hmm. Six years older than me. " She lowered her gaze, as if she was not very interested.

Some are for art, while others are for love

Chen Zhiyu pondered over this story

"Wrong," Chen Zhiyu took a step forward, and the scent of tobacco with a hint of coolness immediately filled his nostrils. "Tell us, do not make promises lightly."

Casually, the gaze shifted downward, fixating on the last remaining piece of tiramisu in the display case

Su Nan cast his gaze upon the vast, dark river surface, where only a few small fishing boats and a solitary light could be seen

Chen Zhiyu chuckled, and through the sound of the wind, there was a somewhat unclear and ambiguous meaning: "Thank you. It has been several years since someone has said this to me in person."

Except for not choosing my course next semester, any wish is acceptable

The bridge has quite a history, with two levels for both railway and road use. He parked his car at the bridgehead and followed her along the sidewalks on both sides for about 500 meters. When he turned back to look, she was clutching his scarf, her cheeks flushed from the wind.

The foolish student is still urging him, "Just make a random wish, good health, promotion and salary increase..."

Jian Mei's "April Rips the Silk"

Su Nan tightened his scarf and hurried to catch up.

She herself probably did not notice—there was a layer of mist in her eyes, hazy and about to fall but not yet fallen

In the café, a sweet aroma fills the air, while the heat and light imbue the small establishment with the essence of a refuge in a polar wasteland—who else but the "desperate" would venture up the mountain at such a late hour

I noticed a hint of a smile at the corner of her mouth, her eyes sparkling, and she said: "Yes, even your Teacher Chen has had such embarrassing moments."

After a pause, I want to express every word clearly: "That feeling is as if you are forever trapped in the past... unable to reach the future"

He noticed Su Nan take a step closer to him, and the features that were blurred by the night seemed to become a bit clearer.

Then let's stay here

Chen

Still nostalgic, but only relived in dreams

Su Nan smiled, as if he were celebrating his own birthday

"Would you like to take a walk?" Chen Zhiyu's eyes held a hint of a not-so-serious smile, appearing rather at ease. "This bridge is 5 kilometers long; walking will take at least over an hour, right?"

He lowered his head to look at her

Everything feels more promising and full of potential

He remained silent for several seconds, ultimately refraining from uttering the phrase, "I do not have a hobby of going up the mountain at midnight to eat cake." It felt somewhat like completing a task as he took the plate in front of Su Nan.

Then let me tell you a story

After sitting for a while, I still felt somewhat troubled, "... ... Teacher Chen, I am going to the restroom."

The wind swept through her hair, swirling around, and almost rudely passed through his fingers

With a sharp tongue and quick wit, it seems as if she is deliberately opposing him. One cannot help but wonder how long she has been gathering this bit of courage—or perhaps it is simply because it is his birthday, teasing him intentionally to bring him joy

Su Nan was taken aback for a moment, feeling a bit blank in his mind, "Can... can it be kept?"

Is it true that this story is not about people

With a cigarette nearly finished in hand, Chen Zhiyu pressed it against the bluestone step, stood up, and shook off the cold dew clinging to his coat. "Later, the two of them resembled strangers, as if this encounter had never taken place."

Chen Zhiyu looked at her and inexplicably felt a desire to smoke. Upon careful consideration, it seemed that he had smoked a bit too much that evening. Since they were indoors, he decided to hold back. Through the dim yellow light, he gazed at the foolish student across from him and asked, "When is your birthday?"

Alright, my birthday wish is to help you fulfill a wish

He somewhat begrudgingly extinguished the candle and, with a fork in hand, deigned to take a bite of the tiramisu, the freshness of which was uncertain, having been left for an unknown duration

When I am unable to comfort you, or when you can no longer care for me, please remember that in our fleeting years, there were twelve white egrets that flew over the autumn lake

Do you have an older sister

Chen Zhiyu returned to his original position in an instant, with his hand inserted into his clothing pocket, as if he were feeling for a cigarette case. After a moment, he stopped again, saying, "Let's go, back to the car, I'll take you back to school."

The story is about a pair of lovers who committed suicide together, agreeing to live and die as one. They each drank from a bowl of poison to depart from this world, and on the Naihe Bridge, they shared the same bowl of Meng Po soup, waiting for their fated rebirth.

Go straight, then turn right

My mind was blank, and I mechanically blinked my eyes. After a moment, I felt that my entire body was stiff, not knowing if it was because of the cold

Chen Zhiyu was taken aback for a moment, and it was not until Su Nan, sitting opposite him, somewhat awkwardly said "Happy Birthday" that he came to his senses

Su Nan was taken aback and said, "... this is the most incoherent story I have ever heard"

I walked across the Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, which is over 1,600 meters long and was built with aid from the former Soviet Union. The railings of the bridge are engraved with patterns of sunflowers. Not far away, I soon completed the walk, as if visiting the remnants of a bygone era

He could not help but recall that night when Cheng Wan spoke in a tone that was neither too heavy nor too light, stating the facts as if she were saying: "This is how my life will be."

You people who say it doesn't matter, hand over the choice to others, yet always nitpick at their decisions. He spoke in a joking tone, as if he had transformed back into the careless dandy he was earlier at the bar.

This is my first time here

A mighty wind swept across the river, momentarily enveloping her face

As footsteps passed by her side, "Let's go, you look like you're freezing. Let's get you something to drink and I'll see you down the mountain."

Not long after sitting by the window, two cups of coffee were served.

Upon regaining his senses and looking up, he saw that this foolish student, who had joined them halfway, was carefully approaching with a piece of something that had a candle inserted into it, not knowing what it was.

The beginning of spring has passed

Sickening, a cloying sweetness of inferior fragrance rushed straight to the throat

Why is it not enclosed

On the windward side

Chen Zhiyu had vaguely heard from Lin Han that Su Nan's family was of average financial condition. Since starting his graduate studies, he had not asked his family for money, and at times he even had to send his earnings from work-study back home. It was not something that could be easily inquired about, so he was not well-informed about the details.

This is the benefit of growing up, he raised an eyebrow slightly, no one forces you to do things you do not love, no one criticizes your picky eating, and no one cares what time you go to sleep or wake up

I have nothing to say, I cannot argue with you

For a moment, she smiled quickly, looked up at Chen Zhiyu, and said, "This story is not good, it lacks the depth of yours, and it doesn't lend itself to any reading comprehension. Let's go... it's really cold here!"

Su Nan took a sip—indeed, the beverage purchased at the café in the foreign land seems to have the suspicion of monopolistic price gouging; the flavor is too weak, as if they are reluctant to use an entire packet of instant mix at once.

The horn of an electric bike sounded behind him as he lightly supported her arm and stepped aside, allowing the electric bike to whiz past him.

Reluctantly swallowed, immediately pushed the plate away, "Thank you"

"What’s the matter? Aren't you complaining about the cold?" Chen Zhiyu glanced at her.

"It's not cold, but I'm shaking like a sieve. The flour that has been sifted is enough to make dumplings for three years." He raised his hand, removed the scarf that he had casually draped around his neck, and threw it into Su Nan's arms.

I have no wishes

The corner of the velvet skirt, which she revealed from her woolen coat, was lifted by the wind

It is really not cold

What should I make for her? She can't possibly wear it

He does not have a penchant for rashly offering assistance, considering himself to be eccentric, yet he still adheres to certain social taboos

The candlelight flickered, reflecting in her clear eyes

I always feel that in this desolate wilderness, the true Chen Zhiyu is the real Chen Zhiyu

In youth, one enjoyed the fervor of life, seizing the occasion of a birthday to celebrate through the night, yet still feeling unsatisfied— as if one's own birth truly warranted the attention and celebration of so many. However, living a lifetime merely transforms one into a footnote added by later students in their papers, existing in a neatly absurd manner within the "References" section.

Later... Su Nan's eyelashes fluttered slightly, "Later, this person died... Another person reminisced about him, but understood that sometimes, it is better to just let things go.

Su Nan paused for a moment, and then the tall figure took a step forward, the scarf in his hand was pulled away, wrapped around her neck twice, and his fingers, as if out of habit, tucked it into the scarf.

What about oneself

Teacher Chen, "Su Nan paused for a moment, "Let me tell you a story as well."

Stories heard in a comfortable environment are generally not memorable