Chapter 8

Recalling the springs of past years in City L, the rain of the water town has become blurred in her not very clear memory, yet she vaguely feels that it was always gentle. The raindrops resemble countless embroidered needles, falling diagonally and densely, landing on the surface of the lake, creating ripples in circles, full of poetic charm.

Wen Shaoyuan, a junior in university, has to balance both school and his newly started career. He is almost too busy to return home, but due to Wen Jing's request, he only stays for a day after sending her home every Saturday.

It is already the end of April, a time when the temperatures of spring fluctuate. Just before school was about to end in the afternoon, a heavy rain fell, and Wen Ge was caught off guard, getting drenched. The first thing he did upon returning home was to take a hot shower

At this moment, he was looking at her with a smile that was neither fully a smile nor a frown, clearly having waited for her for a while. Seeing her searching around without saying anything, it seemed as if he was waiting for her to discover it on her own

Under the sunlight, the tiles laid on the ground reflect light, creating a slight dazzle

Thus, a subtle inquiry was made regarding Wen Ge's character, and there was a proactive expression of willingness to cooperate in maintaining the psychological health of youth

Upon hearing the song, he immediately regained his composure and looked ahead

Wen Ge quickly went back to change his shoes and ran out

The final memory, having occurred so long ago, has gradually become somewhat unclear to her, leaving her uncertain about what exactly transpired. Was it her past, or merely a dream, a dream so vague that it seems on the verge of fading away

Upon seeing her come down, without waiting for her to ask, he pointed to the door and said, "Shaoyuan has gone out; if you are looking for him, you should go to the front door"

She took a few steps outside, turned her head, and then saw Wen Shaoyuan under the trellis not far away

Since neither of them managed to inquire about the songs, the class teacher simply took the initiative to make a friendly phone call to promptly understand the students' situation

Aunt Xin is knitting a small vest for Wen Ge. Wen Yan pauses her actions, thinks for a moment, and replies: "I understand you."

The voice was soft, carrying a charming innocence that even Wen Ge herself was unaware of

The inexplicable skipping of Wen Ge, only became clear when Wen Shaoyuan returned, revealing what her enthusiastic homeroom teacher had done...

The delicate sound, reminiscent of a gentle cooing, rises to a high pitch, reaching its peak, and then gracefully descends.

He is always able to notice her earnestness each time and treasures it dearly

The old gentleman received a phone call from the class teacher. After highly affirming Wen Ge's hard work, progress, and the teacher's appreciation and expectations for him, several "buts" were raised, one of which was—lack of social integration

Today is only Thursday

She was still lost in thought when she heard his deep and stern voice beside her: "What are you looking at?"

As she drew closer, she suddenly realized that in such a short time, he had already broken into a sweat. Remembering how he had firmly supported her earlier, his knuckles turning pale from the exertion, Wen Ge was momentarily taken aback, staring at him in a daze

The old man fell silent again, closed his eyes, and let out a gentle sigh

Wen Shaoyuan paused slightly

The old gentleman only learned at the end that after the midterm exams, the school organized a parent meeting. It is required for students' parents to attend the meeting at the school, and even if they cannot attend, they are requested to call to inquire about their child's situation at school

The old gentleman smiled but did not say a word

Soon, I think of my grandmother again. In my mind, there is always a scene of her sitting in the room, weaving a white straw hat. She had just returned from playing outside, mischievously reaching out her dirty hands to touch the straw hat. Then, my grandmother would look at the black handprints and always call her name with a mix of helplessness and amusement

"Crying?" he asked

She has some reservations about bicycles

Upon landing, due to this unguarded self-inflicted pain, a tingling sensation surged through the soles of her feet. That tingling penetrated to the bone, transforming into a piercing pain. Unable to help herself, she leaned on the steering wheel, and when she looked up, she saw him standing right in front of her. She twitched her lips and, with a pale face, asked, "Uncle, when did you let go?"

Ah? Wen Ge stared at the brand new bicycle in front of him for a while, and only then did he slowly... climb onto it

The older generation always holds a special reverence and affection for the heritage left by their ancestors

It is unclear when he let go of his hand, as Wen Ge stepped forward with the wind swirling at his feet. Turning his head slightly, he saw him standing in the same shaded spot as before, looking at him. Suddenly, a jolt ran through him, and he immediately slammed on the brakes and jumped down

He is sitting on a brand new bicycle seat, arms crossed, one foot resting on the pedal while the other foot is on the ground supporting himself and the bicycle. His legs are long and straight, and in the sunlight, the lines are particularly attractive

"I bought a bicycle for Wenge." Aunt Xin paused for a moment and casually said, "A couple of days ago, she indirectly asked me if it would be inconvenient for you."

... ...

He did not notice her unusual behavior, gripping the steering wheel, he signaled her to come over: "That's enough for now, let's take a break, we will continue after having a meal"

The old gentleman squinted his eyes in delight and gently tapped his fingers resting on his knee

As Wen Ge organized her emotions and went downstairs, she did not see Wen Shaoyuan's figure. The old man was leaning against the back of the armchair, holding a radio and listening to opera, which was his habit

He curved his finger and naturally brushed it against the tip of her nose, saying: "You're welcome"

Wen Shaoyuan had already supported himself against the back seat of the car. Seeing that she was hesitating to get in, he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you afraid?"

Nodding her head to the music, puffing up her cheeks, she silently encouraged herself, and then with a surge of determination, she stepped onto the pedal and began to push forward.

Aunt Xin happened to push the door open and, seeing Wenge about to leave, smiled. After watching Wenge walk out, she then sat down beside the old gentleman, poured him some ginseng tea, and said lightly: "Shaoyuan indeed has some feelings for Wenge."

Wen Ge focused intently on the road ahead, striving to maintain balance in direction. Just as he found a slight sense of control, the strength in his hand relaxed. In a moment of distraction, Wen Ge's gaze faltered, and he could no longer grip the steering wheel firmly.

On such rainy days, thinking of these things makes one feel particularly fragile

She let out a soft "oh" as she endured the lingering numbness in the soles of her feet, glanced at him again, hesitated for a moment, and then raised her hand to rest it on his arm as she stepped over the car body

He has already gotten out of the car and is currently adjusting the brakes. When he saw her approaching, he briefly said: "Get in and give it a try, I will support you from behind"

In this moment of tension and relaxation, Wen Ge was already sweating profusely. As the cold wind of late February passed, a slight chill could be felt at the tip of his nose

Only after the role of the flower dan in the opera concluded did he lazily ask Aunt Xin: "Do you think I am too stubborn and unapproachable?"

Only the tone of my grandmother's voice remains, clear and right by my ear, soft and also fragmented

Wen Ge was holding a book, somewhat lost in thought, with a flurry of ideas swirling in his mind. He was wondering whether the precious flower seeds that his great-grandfather had placed in the back garden had already been moved indoors.

Wen Ge stared wide-eyed in suspicion

Wen Shaoyuan parked the car in a shaded area, and only upon turning around did he realize that Wen Ge had not followed him. He halted his steps and looked at her.

After finishing the meal, he sat on the bed, somewhat listlessly, wrapped in a blanket while reviewing his textbook

The girl's features under the sunlight seem to be enveloped in a layer of soft light, and her squinting eyes resemble a crescent moon, gently curved.

"What are you in such a hurry for?" His deep voice carried a hint of amusement, and the hand that had originally been withdrawn suddenly changed its mind and settled back on her arm, holding her firmly.

Startled by the song, I lowered my gaze to look.

As noon approaches, the sunlight becomes increasingly intense, with the scorching rays causing a slight warmth to the skin.

In the blink of an eye, the semester is already halfway through

Noticing his gaze, Wen Ge then jogged to catch up with him. Just as they were about to enter, she tugged at the corner of his shirt with force. Seeing him stop and turn to look, she raised her face and smiled with her eyes squinted: "Thank you, Uncle."

After hanging up the phone, the old gentleman thought for a moment and called Wen Shaoyuan, urgently summoning him back home

This can be considered a tacit acceptance of the default.

Wen Ge has fully adapted to school life, but of course, this is a one-sided perspective of Wen Ge

Wen Ge hurriedly touched his face and lowered his head to open the door

On the first day of learning, I lost control of the steering wheel and crashed into the small river at the entrance of ...

The old man half-opened his eyes and glanced at her, letting out an "Oh" and asking with great interest, "What has that boy done this time?"

She raised her head in shock, her vision somewhat blurred. She blinked, just confirming it was him. Then she saw him reach out, gently pinching her chin, slightly lifting it, and then leaning down to take a serious look.

It is quite evident that her sense of balance is rather poor. After driving just a few steps, the steering wheel turned sharply, and it seemed as though the vehicle was about to tip over. A hand reached out from behind, firmly resting on the back of her hand, also gripping the steering wheel.

Those hands are fair, slender, and distinctly knuckled, warm yet dry. The palms exude strength, and when they grip her fingers, it causes a slight pain, yet it brings an extraordinary sense of reassurance.

Since Wen Ge started school, it has always been her grandmother who picked her up and dropped her off. Later, as her grandmother grew older, her legs became weak. Wen Ge could not bear to see her grandmother toil so hard for the pick-ups and drop-offs, so she borrowed a bicycle from her neighbor, Sui Anran, who lived nearby, to learn how to ride a bike

Wen Shaoyuan lowered his head and looked at her deeply, slightly raising the corners of his lips, and said softly: "It has been a while since you let go."

On a quiet night, the sound of the torrential rain outside becomes particularly loud. The sound of raindrops hitting the ground and splashing seems to be distinctly audible

Due to the drooping eyes, what is seen within the limited field of vision is a pair of men's slippers... still belonging to Wen Shaoyuan

Without changing her shoes, she poked her head out to look. The iron gate in the distance was tightly shut, not resembling a situation where someone was about to leave. Where did that person go

Fortunately, Sui Anran was not at ease with her and kept watching from the side. As soon as something happened, he hurried to find someone to pull her up... As a result... When Wen Ge fell, she did not know where she had bumped into, and her leg was bruised for more than half a month

She came to her senses and realized that she had been crying without knowing when, her eyes felt warm and her face was damp with warmth. Before she could vent her emotions any further, a rhythmic knocking sound came from outside the door. Perhaps not hearing a response, it knocked a few more times.

Old Master Wen was somewhat surprised, as Wen Ge had never mentioned it before. However, he suppressed his inner doubts for the moment, attributing the oversight to his own forgetfulness, and expressed that he would visit the school in the near future