“Miaoran, do you think my life will just be like this?”
On the steps by the sports field, He Lindi gazed at the sky and suddenly asked Ding Miaoran this question.
It had only been two days since the college entrance exams ended. They didn’t feel like going anywhere specific yet and had simply returned to school to hang out. At least the weather today was nice, not stiflingly hot.
Ding Miaoran turned to look at her. “No,” she said. “That sounds a bit emo.”
He Lindi didn’t get angry at the “criticism,” instead growing even sadder. “But I feel like it will be.” Her eyelashes lowered. “Really, I’m not joking.”
On the field, boys were playing soccer, their cheers echoing intermittently after scoring goals.
Ding Miaoran yawned, leaned back against the steps, stretching comfortably. “Didi, you’re only eighteen, and so am I. I don’t think we can define our futures at this age. We just graduated high school, haven’t even started university yet. Don’t rush to label your future. At least wait until after university graduation, or maybe until you have more experience. It’s too early to say these things now.”
“Your life will be brighter and better. You’ll be with the girl you love in the future. Even if you face obstacles, you’ll be steadfast and brave.”
“Trust me.”
He Lindi copied her posture, her tone uncertain. “Really?”
“Yes.”
He Lindi’s eyes curved. “If it really turns out like that, that would be wonderful.”
Ding Miaoran chuckled. “For now, just focus on which university to apply to.”
He Lindi sat up straight again, picked up the DSLR beside her, and took a picture of a tree in the distance. “I’ve decided. I’ll choose the Communication University in Lucheng. It’s far from home, but not too far.”
Ding Miaoran wrinkled her nose. “The chances of running into classmates there don’t seem high. I looked at the distribution of top universities our graduates go to before. Not many go to the Communication University you like or the other Lucheng University. Maybe just a few per grade.”
The shutter clicked again, crisp and clear. He Lindi’s lips curved upwards. “Isn’t that better? More suitable for starting a new life.”
Ding Miaoran glanced at her. “Do you really want to be a photographer in the future?”
“Yes.”
“Then remember to help me take wedding photos when I get married.”
“Sure.”
He Lindi looked at the DSLR in front of her, her eyes bright. “I remember everything you just told me. I hope it turns out just like you said.” She declared, “So I’ve decided, when I find a girl I like, I’ll buy a photo album and fill it with pictures of her, one by one.”
“Sneaking pictures?”
“Of course not!” He Lindi explained eagerly. “If possible, I’ll give it to her, tell her it’s a gift I prepared for her. It’s not very precious, but I hope she’ll like it.”
“No, she must like it.”
Ding Miaoran rubbed her arm, feeling goosebumps. “So cheesy.” She asked tentatively, “What if she doesn’t like it?”
He Lindi frowned. “Who would dare not like it?”
Two years later, He Lindi felt she had been too naive back then. Looking at Chi Shuo singing quietly on stage, she was speechless.
As Ding Miaoran had said, not many people from their school applied to the two decent universities in Lucheng. Therefore, when she learned Chi Shuo was at the university across the street, He Lindi was very surprised.
She had thought Chi Shuo would apply to a university in Yun Cheng, never expecting her to come to Lucheng too. But then again, it was just “what she thought,” because she didn’t know Chi Shuo at all.
Chi Shuo was in the same class as Ding Miaoran. He Lindi had noticed her before, or rather, seen her when she went to find Ding Miaoran. She had casually asked who that girl was, and Ding Miaoran replied, “Chi Shuo.” She added, “The ‘shuo’ from ‘buyi yuehu’ [Is it not a pleasure?].” (Referring to the character 說/说, pronounced shuō or yuè)
And so He Lindi remembered the name. Afterward, every time she went looking for Ding Miaoran, she saw the girl sitting by the window.
And every time He Lindi saw her, she felt Chi Shuo was incredibly diligent, always writing something with her head down, never once glancing her way.
He Lindi had even joked to Ding Miaoran, “I kind of want to get to know her.”
“Go ahead.”
He Lindi shook her head again. “Never mind.”
She had never initiated anything before, and didn’t want her first time to be with Chi Shuo.
But now, her face stung with regret.
After returning to the dormitory, He Lindi leaned against the wall on her bed, looking at the photos of Chi Shuo in her camera.
Her roommates’ chatter never stopped, but she didn’t seem to hear a word, until the roommate who had skipped class with her to go to the university across the street asked, “Didi, did you get any pictures of that Chi Shuo?”
They had gone together, but separated later because He Lindi was pretending to be a photographer.
He Lindi looked up at her and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I think she’s so pretty, but the photos posted on Weibo aren’t very good.”
“So I wanted to ask you.”
He Lindi pursed her lips. “Want to see her?”
“Yeah.”
“She sings so well too. I wonder if I can become friends with her.”
This roommate loved making friends and was always proactive, seemingly able to strike up a conversation with anyone from any school or department.
He Lindi returned her gaze to her camera, looking at the pictures she had taken of Chi Shuo. After considering it, she said, “Take a look.”
She handed the camera to her roommate, then picked up her phone and opened Taobao.
She browsed for a long time before finally ordering a photo album she liked.
Her roommate returned the camera, praising her, “Didi’s photos are just different.”
He Lindi’s lips curved upwards.
“Looking at the photos makes me want to get to know her even more.”
The curve on He Lindi’s lips froze. She thought of the always cool Chi Shuo she saw, and felt… Chi Shuo probably wouldn’t become friends with her roommate.
Or rather, she didn’t want Chi Shuo to become friends with her roommate.
Because Chi Shuo still hadn’t given her a single glance.
She and Chi Shuo had joined the same hometown group chat. They had already returned to Lucheng together four times, and once they even sat next to each other. But Chi Shuo’s attitude towards her was somewhat cold. One second she could be smiling at others, but facing He Lindi, Chi Shuo’s smile vanished like magic.
He Lindi didn’t know the specific reason, could only attribute it to Chi Shuo not liking her.
But what could she do?
Tonight, seeing Chi Shuo, her brain kept telling her how much she liked her.
He Lindi blinked her slightly moist eyes.
She felt so wronged.
