In reality, there was no energy left for anything more. After arriving at the hotel and checking in, they both quickly showered and fell asleep.
Lu Cheng was where they’d spent four years of university, though most of that time was within the school itself. Chi Shuo hadn’t participated in many activities, so she wasn’t particularly familiar with the city. There was a sense of familiarity, but not much.
They had fallen asleep after two, and now, at noon, they finally woke up. After getting ready, they slung their bags over their shoulders and left.
It was Saturday, and office workers and students were free from their usual constraints, making the streets bustling and lively.
They ate first, then went to their first destination: the aquarium.
Chi Shuo had suggested it. Lu Cheng boasted the largest aquarium in the country, yet in four years of university, she had never been.
He Lindi smiled. “I’ve been twice. Counting this time with you, it’ll be my third.”
Chi Shuo raised an eyebrow. “Is that something to brag about?”
“No.” He Lindi held her hand. “No visit is more important than this one with you.”
They bought tickets at the counter and joined the flow of people inside.
The weather was nice today. Perhaps because they arrived later, the usual Lu Cheng winter chill was replaced by a comfortable warmth; the sun wasn’t too intense, just right.
Chi Shuo took on the role of photographer, constantly snapping photos, not just of He Lindi, but also the scenery and animals. After two exhibits, she had already taken over a hundred pictures.
The crowds were tiring. They bought drinks at a small supermarket and sat down under a shaded canopy.
Chi Shuo’s lips felt dry. After drinking some water, she felt better. Watching the excited passersby, she asked He Lindi, “Were there this many people when you came before?”
“No.”
“I came during the week.”
Chi Shuo touched her forehead. “We should have come during the week too.”
He Lindi chuckled at her words. “After starting work, time isn’t that free, is it?” She added, “You think you’re me?”
Chi Shuo: “…”
Chi Shuo playfully slapped the back of He Lindi’s hand. “Don’t get cocky just because you have a flexible schedule.”
“Being flexible is something to be cocky about.” He Lindi lifted her chin, then took Chi Shuo’s hand, holding it and gently squeezing.
Chi Shuo flipped through the photos on her camera. He Lindi didn’t sit across from her, instead moving behind her, resting her chin on Chi Shuo’s shoulder as they looked at the pictures together.
He Lindi’s professional instincts kicked in. “You could change this angle. The lighting in this one would have been much better if you’d waited a bit longer. And this one is blurry, Shuo Shuo Jie Jie.”
Chi Shuo listened and learned, but also felt a bit annoyed. “You haven’t even praised me once.”
He Lindi raised an eyebrow. “How haven’t I praised you?”
She took out her phone, aimed the camera at Chi Shuo’s camera screen, and took a few pictures of the photos Chi Shuo had taken.
He Lindi licked her lips. “My main account hasn’t posted anything original in ages. I’m going to post these.” She looked conflicted. “Can I just say my girlfriend took these?”
Chi Shuo’s eyelid twitched at her words. She raised her hand to cover He Lindi’s phone screen, shaking her head. “Don’t, that would…”
Before she could finish, He Lindi interrupted. “Didn’t you say we needed a counterattack? Then I need to tell the whole world; that way, the effect is even better.”
She reassured Chi Shuo with a look. “Don’t worry.”
Chi Shuo swallowed, withdrew her hand, and didn’t object further. “Okay.”
He Lindi didn’t hesitate any longer. Her earlier words had also been a pep talk for herself. After editing the Weibo caption, she posted it.
【Went to the aquarium with my girlfriend.】
The nature of affection between girls is subtle. Sometimes, even if it’s not romantic love, they can call each other “wife” or “baby” without causing misunderstandings.
He Lindi’s Weibo post could be interpreted that way too, except… the picture she attached proved it wasn’t just friendship—their faces weren’t visible, but their hands were clasped, fingers intertwined.
Plus, given He Lindi’s aloof image on Weibo, many people didn’t think she was joking.
As a result, the comments on her Weibo exploded.
But neither Chi Shuo nor He Lindi paid any attention. They switched their phones to airplane mode, blocking out the outside world. After resting a bit, they entered the next exhibit.
If someone asked, “What’s it like having a photographer girlfriend?”, Chi Shuo felt highly qualified to answer, because He Lindi had taken so many pictures of her at the aquarium that they could be compiled into a photo album. Every single one was, in Chi Shuo’s eyes, absolutely perfect.
He Lindi had been into photography since she was young. Both her theoretical knowledge and practical skills were exceptional. She could capture stunning photos in any environment.
This made Chi Shuo both happy and frustrated—happy that He Lindi’s photos of her were flawless, frustrated that her own photos of He Lindi still needed some work.
“Still needs some work” were He Lindi’s words. Chi Shuo knew the real meaning was “not great.”
But happiness still dominated. Being able to happily date He Lindi like this already made her overjoyed.
After all, in the past month, they hadn’t even spoken a single word, let alone engaged in such sweet interactions.
After thoroughly enjoying the aquarium, it was already 5 PM, time for dinner.
On the way, He Lindi gave the taxi driver the address of her university, which was essentially the same as Chi Shuo’s; their schools were just across from each other.
He Lindi attended the well-known Communication University, while Chi Shuo’s grades weren’t as good. Her college entrance exam performance had been a stroke of luck, but her score was only enough for Lu Cheng University.
Lu Cheng University wasn’t bad, just not as prestigious as the Communication University across the street.
Now taxi fares could be paid by scanning a QR code, but neither wanted to switch off airplane mode, so they paid in cash.
There was a famous snack street near their universities. The street was long, always attracting people from other areas. Even graduates like them still came back.
They didn’t necessarily enter the schools themselves, but they’d definitely grab something to eat on this street, even if it was just a grilled sausage.
Arriving at dinnertime, it was already the weekend, and many students had gone home or out to play. But this didn’t affect the restaurants’ business at all; waves of people still arrived.
The sounds of stir-frying, ordering, and chatter mingled, creating a symphony of prosperity.
Chi Shuo and He Lindi entered a skewer shop and sat down at a table by the wall.
He Lindi wiped the table. “Have you eaten here before?”
Chi Shuo looked around and shook her head. “Don’t think so.”
He Lindi sounded puzzled. “You haven’t?!”
“I had to save money back then. I usually ate in the cafeteria.”
“The food at our school was cheap and pretty good.”
He Lindi nodded. “I’ve eaten there before, it’s alright.”
The faces around them were young, likely all students from the two universities. Chi Shuo unscrewed her drink, took a sip, and remarked, “Do you know why I never came back before?”
“Why?”
“Because every time I come back, I feel old.”
“…”
While eating, He Lindi finally switched off airplane mode. Her phone immediately buzzed with notifications—WeChat messages, Moments updates, and missed calls.
Chi Shuo saw the flashing notifications, stunned for a few seconds. “Why so many messages?”
He Lindi glanced at her phone. “You probably have quite a few too. Why don’t you check?”
Chi Shuo felt a bit nervous, hesitated, but still unlocked her phone and switched back to data mode. But there weren’t as many messages as He Lindi’s. Most were from Xia Zhou and Zeng Guai.
But thinking about it, it made sense. Few people knew they had come to Lu Cheng, and He Lindi’s Weibo post didn’t mention Chi Shuo by name.
Her colleagues didn’t seem particularly interested in who the “girlfriend” was, more surprised by the fact that He Lindi was gay.
Xia Zhou: 【Mom, my CP is official!!!】
Zeng Guai: 【Waiting so long, finally today~】
They had sent many messages in the group chat, which Chi Shuo hadn’t replied to. Now, after scrolling through the chat history, she just sent a message: 【Have you guys eaten?】
As soon as she sent it, their food arrived. He Lindi was frowning at her phone.
Chi Shuo’s good mood instantly deflated. She gripped her chopsticks a bit tighter, nervously asking, “Did… did your family say anything?”
He Lindi shook her head. “No, I’m looking at Weibo.”
She flipped the phone screen to show Chi Shuo.
Chi Shuo looked closely and saw people commenting on a trending topic, calling them disgusting.
He Lindi put away her phone, and Chi Shuo comforted her, “It’s okay, those people are just stupid…”
He Lindi looked at her. “Which one are you looking at?”
“Huh?”
“I’m angry because my fans only looked at the last picture, the one where our hands are clasped, and said I was horny.”
“I mean… come on.”
“How did they even see that? That’s some next-level horny detection; I’m so mad.”
Chi Shuo: “…”
Chi Shuo held back her laughter, picked up some food, and placed it in He Lindi’s bowl. “Let’s eat.”
He Lindi didn’t immediately start eating. She looked at Chi Shuo. “Shuo Shuo Jie Jie, are you scared?”
“Scared of what?”
“Scared of facing all this with me?”
Chi Shuo nodded, then shook her head. “I am scared, but I’m not scared too.”
She curved her lips. “I’m afraid of losing you, not afraid of anything else.”
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