Chen Chuxiao had emphasized repeatedly that Xia Yinuo must stay exactly where she was, as she had sent a car to pick them up. Time was already tight; the wedding was tomorrow, and the bridesmaid had only arrived at noon today, with a dress fitting still on the agenda.
As soon as they reached the exit, a voice rang out: "Nuo Nuo!"
Xia Yinuo felt a sudden headache. She had completely forgotten about this person.
The newcomer was named Huang Qi—named after the medicinal herb, astragalus. He had been in the same class as Xia Yinuo during university and had pursued her, only to be firmly rejected. Huang Qi was one of those rare Beijingers who went to another province for university, but he had returned to the capital after graduation and was quite close to Chen Chuxiao and her fiancé. Xia Yinuo sighed inwardly; she should have expected to run into him.
Huang Qi waved enthusiastically. "Nuo Nuo, over here!"
Left with no choice, Xia Yinuo led Liang Juejun over to greet him. "Huang Qi, long time no see."
Huang Qi looked delighted. "It really has been a long time! What happened to your arm?!"
"Shijie, I think we’ve encountered a rather talkative driver," Xia Yinuo whispered into Liang Juejun’s ear.
"Nuo Nuo, your arm? And, who is this?" Huang Qi finally noticed the woman standing beside Xia Yinuo.
Xia Yinuo replied, "I injured it accidentally, it’s nothing serious. Let me introduce you—this is my friend, Liang Juejun. This is Huang Qi, an old university classmate."
"Hello," Liang Juejun said.
"Hello, hello! Nuo Nuo’s friends are all beauties, huh? Hehe!"
Liang Juejun smiled but didn't respond. If looks could kill, Xia Yinuo would have directed a sharp blade of a glare at Huang Qi.
Huang Qi took the bag from Liang Juejun’s hand and said attentively to Xia Yinuo, "Chuxiao told me you were coming for the wedding, so I thought I’d come pick you up. This is great; you have to let me play the host properly this time and take care of you."
Throughout the drive, Huang Qi talked incessantly—from university anecdotes to his current job, from the customs of C-City to the famous sights of Beijing. Xia Yinuo responded politely, all the while worrying that Liang Juejun felt left out, occasionally offering her brief explanations. Liang Juejun listened quietly, offering her own thoughts whenever something interesting came up.
About half an hour later, the three arrived at a bridal shop. Before they even stepped out of the car, Xia Yinuo saw Chen Chuxiao waiting at the door. It had been nearly four years since graduation, and the two shared a massive bear hug.
Xia Yinuo introduced her: "Lao Da, this is my Shijie, Liang Juejun. I told you about her—she’s accompanying me to the wedding."
"Hello, hello! Welcome, welcome! I’m Xiao Bao’s college roommate, Chen Chuxiao." The strength and frequency of her handshake made Xia Yinuo wonder if she was trying to crush the woman's hand. *The people of the capital are certainly passionate,* Xia Yinuo thought.
"Hello. I hope my uninvited presence isn't a bother. Happy wedding!" Liang Juejun said.
"Nonsense! I couldn't be happier. Any friend of Xiao Bao is a friend of mine!"
Lao Da truly had the aura of a leader. Xia Yinuo stood to the side, smiling.
Chen Chuxiao pulled Xia Yinuo’s hand toward her. "You brat, let me see how bad this injury really is."
"It’s fine, really."
"What are all these messy drawings on your cast?"
Xia Yinuo quickly shielded the cast. "Just some fun."
"When can the cast come off?" It was the doctor in her speaking.
"I have a follow-up at the hospital in two weeks. My mom is supervising me, so don't worry!"
"A broken bone takes a hundred days to heal. Be careful during this time!"
"I know, I know!"
Seeing Xia Yinuo’s perfunctory attitude, Chen Chuxiao pinched her cheek. "You... after all these years, you’re still the same. Are you the Child Carefree of Tianshan or something?"
Xia Yinuo leaned back, her voice sounding strange through her distorted face. "No, no, no... I wouldn't dare compare myself to you, Lao Da. May your celestial blessings be eternal, and your life be as long as the heavens!"
"Backtalking me? Is your skin itching for a beating?"
"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare."
Laughing and joking, they entered the bridal shop. The dresses and shoes had been selected long ago; they were just waiting for a fitting to see if the sizes were right or if alterations were needed. Chen Chuxiao chattered away, her words summarizing into a few points: Lin Shuwan, the "Third Sister," had arrived in Beijing yesterday and was currently wandering around somewhere; the groom was busy this afternoon and would only be free in the evening, so they would all have a casual dinner together then; a room had been booked for them at the same hotel where the wedding would be held; they had to wake up at 4:00 AM tomorrow for makeup, and the photographers would arrive then too, so they needed an early night; Huang Qi was one of the best men, and the other was a colleague of the groom...
It was a lot of information. Xia Yinuo agreed to everything, then cast a worried glance at Liang Juejun. Understanding the look, Liang Juejun patted Xia Yinuo’s hand reassuringly. "I’m fine. I’ll follow your arrangements."
When it came time to try on the dress, Liang Juejun was about to ask if Xia Yinuo needed help, but Chen Chuxiao pushed Yinuo toward the fitting room, saying, "With you like this, I’ll help you change. Besides, I want to see how you’ve developed over the last few years!"
Xia Yinuo didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She met Liang Juejun’s eyes, and the older woman gave her a faint smile. As the two college friends entered the dressing room, Liang Juejun sat on the sofa to wait.
Huang Qi began to strike up a conversation enthusiastically. "Miss Liang, have some water." He handed her a bottle of mineral water with the cap already loosened.
Liang Juejun took the bottle with both hands. "Thank you."
"Miss Liang, are you Nuo Nuo’s Shijie? I heard her calling you that."
"In a sense. You can just call me by my name."
"Ah, Nuo Nuo’s Shijie is my Shijie too, of course."
"Alright, as you wish."
"Is Shijie Liang in Beijing for a vacation?"
"Something like that."
"Then Shijie must be very close to Nuo Nuo?"
"Yes."
Suddenly, Huang Qi scratched his head and asked sheepishly, "Actually, I wanted to ask... does Nuo Nuo have a boyfriend right now?"
Liang Juejun was slightly surprised. "Why not ask her yourself?"
"Well, it’s... a bit awkward to ask directly," Huang Qi said, rubbing his hands nervously. "To be honest, I pursued her back in university, but I was rejected, so..."
"I see."
"So, does she have a boyfriend or not?"
"As far as I know, no." In her memory, aside from denying a relationship with Zhang Jikang, Xia Yinuo had never mentioned anything regarding her romantic life.
"Oh! Thank you, Shijie!" Huang Qi said nothing more.
The fitting room door opened, and Xia Yinuo emerged in her dress, standing before the mirror. The bridesmaid dress was a pale lavender, simple in design and free of clutter. On Xia Yinuo, it looked elegant and clean—understated but not immature. It was the first time Liang Juejun had seen Xia Yinuo in a dress, and she admired her silently with approval. The lights in the fitting room were a bit bright, making the sight almost dazzling for a moment. Beside her, Huang Qi was completely mesmerized.
"The waist is a bit loose, isn't it?" Chen Chuxiao said as she adjusted the fabric. The shop assistant immediately chimed in, "No problem, we can alter that right away."
"My arm hanging here looks so strange, it’s hilarious," Xia Yinuo laughed at her reflection.
Suddenly, a pair of hands reached out from behind to gather her hair. The hair that had been draped over her back was brought forward over her shoulders. Through the mirror, Xia Yinuo saw Liang Juejun and her gentle hands.
"Does this look a bit better?" Liang Juejun asked, looking at Xia Yinuo in the mirror.
"Yes." Xia Yinuo smiled, her eyes bright and teeth white.
"Don't bother with a complicated hairstyle during makeup tomorrow morning. This looks great," the bride declared, settling the matter.
Next, they arrived at the hotel to drop off their luggage. There was still some time before the evening gathering. The bride had many things to attend to, so she told Xia Yinuo and Liang Juejun to rest and that they would meet in the hotel restaurant once everyone arrived. Huang Qi left reluctantly. Since neither of them was tired, Xia Yinuo and Liang Juejun decided to head out for a few hours.
Liang Juejun had never been to Beijing, the political, economic, and cultural heart of the country. Countless young people came here with dreams, hoping to take root and start new chapters of their lives. Before she went abroad as a child, her parents used to tell her: *Be good, and when you grow up, we’ll take you to Beijing to see Tiananmen.* Unfortunately, before that simple childhood dream could be realized, her mother passed away, and she never had the chance to visit after moving overseas. To Liang Juejun, Beijing wasn't just the capital seen on the news; it was a form of childhood reverence. Yet, that very reverence had made her subconsciously avoid it. Even after returning to the country, during her month-long break before starting work, she had visited several central cities and famous mountains and rivers, but she had avoided Beijing. Some things, perhaps, are best kept hidden in memory. This trip wasn't planned, but it felt right—perhaps it was destiny.
When Xia Yinuo asked where she wanted to go, Liang Juejun said without hesitation, "Tiananmen."
Xia Yinuo laughed. "I didn't realize you were so patriotic. Should I get you a red scarf to wear?"
Liang Juejun shrugged. "Fine, just think of it as an ignorant girl’s blind worship of a landmark from her textbooks."
"No, no, I understand! It’s a tradition, a virtue of the Chinese people. After being away for so many years, it’s commendable that you still have this sentiment!" Xia Yinuo explained quickly.
"Your roommate was right—you really are getting more and more talkative. I didn't see this side of you before."
"Is that so? Then let me take you on the world-famous Beijing Subway!"
Traveling light this time, they only carried the bag on Liang Juejun’s shoulder. Xia Yinuo was worried the crowded subway might hurt her arm, but the passionate people of Beijing proved her wrong. As soon as she stepped in, someone offered her a seat, making her feel quite embarrassed. On the train, Xia Yinuo handed her phone to Liang Juejun. On the screen was a passage:
*"Life is like Beijing Subway Line 1—In the morning, when you set off from Bawangfen, you are full of anticipation for your destination; as you enter Guomao, you marvel at its prosperity and clamor; by the time you reach Fuxingmen, you might find yourself only capable of working desperately for money; at Gongzhufen, you might still long for the natural world of the Western Hills; and if you still hope to achieve something by the time you reach Yuquan Road, you realize you’re only one stop away from Babaoshan! Perhaps, while you are young, you try to find a shortcut at Jianguomen or Fuxingmen, only to find yourself trapped on Line 2, going in a giant circle. We are born to live; there is sunshine and flowers, achievement and pride. Regrettably, we are also accompanied by the twin siblings of joy—pain, hardship, failure, and setbacks. Facing all of this in life, the important thing is: do not let setbacks make you lose heart and stop."*
After reading it, Liang Juejun nodded to Xia Yinuo, and the two shared a knowing smile.
They arrived at Tiananmen Square around 3:00 PM. Regardless of the season or the time of day, the tourists were always numerous. Fortunately, it wasn't a sensitive period, so there were no long security lines.
"What do you think? Is it different from what you imagined?" Xia Yinuo asked.
"Well, it’s about the same. *People mountain people sea*," Liang Juejun replied.
"Ha, exactly!" A perfect example of putting new knowledge to use.
"When I was little, my mother always said she’d bring me here. It’s a pity she passed away early, and then I went abroad, so I never had the chance."
"I see."
"So, I have to thank Xia Xiao Bao for bringing me here."
Xia Yinuo pursed her lips, smiling without a word.
The faint sunlight hung on the horizon as tourists bustled in front of Tiananmen. A cold, dry northern wind swept through, bracing the spirit. There was a song called *Winter in Beijing* that went like this:
*Winter in Beijing*
*When lips begin to chap*
*Someone starts to worry*
*Missing friends from the past*
*The day the north wind blew in*
*The migratory birds had already flown far*
*Our love*
*Has become an endless wait*
*On a freezing morning*
*Lonely sunlight lingers on the road*
*Among the crowded people*
*Is the girl who breaks my heart*
*Walking by in a hurry*
*I cannot find your face*
*Right there on the road*
*I imagine our reunion*
The two took a simple walk around the gate tower and the square. During their walk, a young girl approached and asked Liang Juejun to help her take a photo, which Liang Juejun happily did. Afterward, the helpful girl asked, "How about I take one for the two of you?"
Xia Yinuo looked at Liang Juejun, who unhesitatingly pulled out her phone and handed it to the girl, then pulled Xia Yinuo close to stand together.
The girl called out: "One, two, three—eggplant!"
This was their first photo together. In the picture were two lovely women. On the left, Liang Juejun was smiling more radiantly than usual, her hair tied in a ponytail, a backpack on her shoulders, her left hand gently hooked into Xia Yinuo’s right arm. On the right, Xia Yinuo wore a gray knit beanie, her cast in a sling, standing straight with her lips curved into her signature beautiful arc. Behind them was the Tiananmen gate tower with its fluttering red flags. The sky was high and blue, without a single cloud for ten thousand miles.
Perhaps because they both looked kind, tourists kept asking them to help take photos. Xia Yinuo stood quietly to the side, watching Liang Juejun take pictures for strangers. Seeing Liang Juejun’s hair ruffled by the wind, she suddenly felt a strong urge to step forward and take her hand. She also suddenly remembered a passage Huang Lei had written in *Time's Like Water*:
*In Beijing's winter, the leaves all fall. There is a poet named Neruda who said: 'When the beautiful leaves have all fallen, the veins of life become clearly visible.' Will the love of each of us be like the branches of a northern winter—becoming clear, brave, and strong after the leaves have all withered away?*
***
