The next morning, waking up naturally felt wonderful—the air, the scent of flowers, the morning dew; everything felt exceptionally fresh.
Liang Juejun rose just after six. Feeling refreshed, she headed downstairs and walked toward the main gate. From a distance, she spotted Xia Yinuo in the courtyard, sitting on a small stool. Dressed in a white T-shirt, pale yellow shorts, and flip-flops, with her hair tied up haphazardly, she looked the picture of lazy leisure amidst the dawn light. Moreover, she was wearing a pair of sunglasses while... peeling soybeans.
Liang Juejun was in high spirits. Just then, Chen Diandian walked over and greeted her. Following Liang Juejun’s gaze, Chen Diandian saw Xia Yinuo and hurried over in three steps, exclaiming in surprise, "Oh my god, Senior Xia! Why are you wearing sunglasses so early in the morning? That’s so cool!"
Xia Yinuo didn't move, saying languidly, "Oh, I have astigmatism. I'm sensitive to light..."
Chen Diandian was puzzled. "But you weren't sensitive to light before?"
Xia Yinuo looked up with a grin, revealing a row of pearly white teeth. "That’s because I was taking my medicine before. Today, I’ve abandoned all hope of a cure."
Chen Diandian’s face twitched slightly. "Senior Xia... if you’re sick, you really shouldn't stop your medication..."
"Do you have the cure?"
"No..."
"Oh, then forget it. You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Uncle Wei has everything ready. Go eat quickly, then come back and help me peel beans."
"Huh? Oh..." Chen Diandian left awkwardly, looking utterly confused.
Liang Juejun stifled a laugh and strolled over. "Morning, Xiaobao."
"Morning, Senior." Xia Yinuo set down her work. The corners of her mouth curved upward, but her expression remained hidden behind the lenses.
Liang Juejun asked, "Didn't sleep well last night? What time did you get up?"
"A bit after four," Xiaobao replied. "The morning in Dongzhuang is so beautiful, so I got up early to wander around. Aunt Wei took me to the fields to pick soybeans."
Liang Juejun glanced at the plate on the ground. There was already about half a pound of peeled beans inside. The bright green beans were nestled in their white inner skins, plump, fresh, and incredibly cute.
"Do you like eating soybeans that much?"
"They're alright."
"Then you like peeling them?"
"I hate it. It’s mechanical work, it makes my fingernails ache, and my hands get itchy."
"Then why are you doing it?"
"That’s why I just asked Diandian to help..."
"..."
As they spoke, Zhang Jikang and Mai Shining returned from outside, laden with camera gear. It was unclear where they had gone to capture the morning scenery. Seeing Xia Yinuo’s appearance, Mai Shining turned toward the empty space in the courtyard and began to recite with dramatic emotion: "I was silly, truly... I only knew that when it snowed, the wild beasts in the mountain gullies would come to the village because they had nothing to eat; I didn't know they would come in the spring too. I got up early and opened the door, filled a small basket with beans, and told our A-Mao—oh, no, I mean our Xiaobao—to sit on the threshold and peel them. She is very obedient; she listens to every word I say..."
Zhang Jikang was already doubled over with laughter. Liang Juejun didn't quite understand the reference, but she saw Xiaobao spring up from her stool like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Xiaobao lunged at Mai Shining with claws out, and Mai Shining quickly ducked behind Zhang Jikang. After the two squared off for a moment, Mai Shining reached out and snatched the sunglasses right off Xia Yinuo’s face.
Mai Shining gasped, "Whoa! Did you see something you weren't supposed to?!"
Xia Yinuo’s right upper eyelid was swollen into a small, red bun. She looked profoundly comical. The two of them burst into fits of laughter, while Liang Juejun merely smiled without a word.
Xia Yinuo felt a bit embarrassed. "Hey, stop gloating! I’m suffering here. A mosquito bit me, and it must have been toxic—it itches so much! I can't really put any ointment on this spot, so I just have to wait for it to go down on its own."
"Hahaha! Xia Xiaobao, you really are something else! Truly something else!" Mai Shining couldn't stop laughing.
"Hey!" Xia Yinuo gritted her teeth in frustration.
Liang Juejun stepped forward, took the sunglasses from Mai Shining, and placed them back on Xia Yinuo. She pursed her lips and shook her head, clicking her tongue in mock wonder. "Truly... a woman who is easily hurt."
Xia Yinuo adjusted her glasses, gave a couple of sheepish chuckles, and sat back down on her stool to resume peeling beans. Her long legs stretched out, a sight that was somewhat dazzling to behold.
Liang Juejun mentioned she was going to have breakfast and turned to head inside.
As soon as Liang Juejun was gone, Mai Shining leaned in close to Xia Yinuo and whispered, "My clothes grow loose, yet I do not regret it; for her, I am willing to waste away." Then, she linked arms with Zhang Jikang and slipped away.
The rest of the morning didn't amount to much. Ke Dinghao organized a card game. So, those who wanted to play cards played cards, those with children watched children, and those peeling beans peeled beans. Everyone else stifled laughs at Xia Yinuo’s inexplicable sunglasses, except for the young boy, who thought his big sister looked cool—that she was the best in the world.
After lunch, they bid farewell to Wei Ping and his wife. The couple had prepared fresh vegetables and fruits for everyone to take back. Aunt Wei, thinking Xia Yinuo loved soybeans, had packed a particularly large bag for her.
The drivers for the return trip were Qi Qian and Zhang Jikang. Mai Shining pulled the young boy, Chen Diandian, and Ke Dinghao into Zhang Jikang’s car. Naturally, Liang Juejun, Li Xiuheng, and Xia Yinuo joined Qi Qian. Xia Yinuo had originally intended to sit in the back with Liang Juejun, but Li Xiuheng had already stepped forward to open the front passenger door for Liang Juejun, gallantly inviting her in. Still hidden behind her shades, Xia Yinuo said nothing and obediently took a seat in the back.
Li Xiuheng had slept with the young boy the previous night and had likely been kept awake by his antics. As soon as he got into the car, he closed his eyes to rest. Qi Qian chatted idly with Liang Juejun the whole way, and Xia Yinuo couldn't find a way into the conversation. When you have nothing to talk about, Chinese people can ask if you've eaten, and foreigners can talk about the weather. Xia Yinuo felt that Qi Qian must have read that book, *The Art of the Devil's Pickup*. She wondered which corner of her bookshelf Mai Shining had stuffed those two books into.
Xia Yinuo hadn't slept well the night before, her mind filled with wandering thoughts. As the car drove out of Dongzhuang, she drifted off into a daze, her head drooping like a child who had done something wrong. Before long, Liang Juejun noticed the two siblings in the back seat were asleep, their heads leaning against each other. Qi Qian instinctively lowered his voice. "Why don't you get some rest too?"
"Alright," Liang Juejun replied.
When the car reached City C, everyone said their goodbyes and headed home.
Xia Yinuo was lean and slender; her daily exercise consisted of nothing more than walking or cycling to the lab. Of course, anyone fighting on the front lines of scientific research would tell you that the physical and mental toll of experiments was no small matter. It was no wonder Xiaobao was unwilling to spend more time on exercise; if she had free time, she’d rather read, watch movies, chat with LoVo, or visit the Xia and Li families to see the three generations of her kin.
Three days after returning from Dongzhuang, Xia Yinuo called Liang Juejun. She claimed she felt she lacked exercise and asked how Liang Juejun usually stayed fit. Liang Juejun said it was excellent that she’d had this realization—it was precisely because she didn't exercise that she was so prone to broken limbs and fevers. Xia Yinuo protested that she hadn't suffered any broken limbs or fevers. Liang Juejun laughed; since she wanted to move, they might as well go for a run together that evening.
That night, Xia Yinuo appeared before Liang Juejun with her hair in a ponytail, dressed in a neon green T-shirt and shorts, paired with purple-red running shoes and orange laces. Liang Juejun mused that it was no wonder this person had worn that eye-catching orange jacket at Mount D during last year's Mid-Autumn Festival. It seemed that whenever there was an outdoor activity, she dressed as if she were ready to direct traffic at any second. Mai Shining was right; Xiaobao was truly a closet eccentric.
Liang Juejun pointed at the outfit. "It’s the middle of the night, and you’re certainly... glowing."
"Haha, does it look good? Xiao Yan loves it; we bought matching sibling outfits!" Xia Yinuo looked quite proud of herself.
*Two childish maniacs.*
"The color coordination is quite... bold."
"Hahaha."
"You could stand at an intersection and direct traffic."
"..."
"Better add a pair of sunglasses."
"..."
*Look who’s talking.*
Liang Juejun was wearing a sports tank top—sleeveless, form-fitting, and cinched at the waist, with the back cut away to reveal her entire shoulder blades. Her shorts were also the ultra-short variety. In short, she looked like a total fitness babe. Xia Yinuo felt that no matter where she looked, it felt inappropriate, as if she were desecrating her beloved. She gritted her teeth and muttered inwardly: *Dressing like this in the middle of the night... doesn't she know the crime rate is high in summer?*
Liang Juejun, naturally unaware of Xia Yinuo’s thoughts, began to lay out the plan for the night. "For an easily injured woman like you who almost never exercises, we’ll start with ten slow laps to stretch out."
"Oh."
Unfortunately, after only three laps, Student Xia began to pant heavily and requested a break.
Liang Juejun, whose breathing and heart rate hadn't even changed, continued running in place while teasing her. "Giving up so soon?"
Xia Yinuo gasped, "You know... people with such brilliant minds usually don't have very developed limbs."
"Oh! I see!"
Xia Yinuo could only glare at the smug woman beside her. *I say, Senior, do you have any idea that while you’re bouncing around, certain parts of you are rising and falling? There are so many people on the track, and you’re dressed like that... not everyone is a virtuous gentleman like me...*
By the end of the ten laps, Xia Yinuo was exhausted and wanted to sit down. Liang Juejun pulled her up. "Don't sit down immediately after running. Let's head over to the bleachers."
They climbed to the highest step of the bleachers, where they could finally sit for a while. The night breeze blew past, refreshing and pleasant; it was so comfortable one could almost fall asleep right there.
Liang Juejun handed over a bottle of water. Seeing Xia Yinuo sitting there looking utterly spent, she asked, "How are your legs?"
Xia Yinuo intentionally exaggerated her pain. "Aching, swollen, hurting!"
"Shall I massage them for you?" Liang Juejun made a move as if to grab Xiaobao’s pale legs.
"Hey, no need..." Xiaobao dodged.
"What are you shy for?"
"Senior, why do I feel like your 'belly-black' nature is becoming more and more apparent?"
"What does 'belly-black' mean?"
"Forget I said anything..."
"Do you realize the importance of exercise now?"
"I've always known. But I think this is very unfair. You even have a treadmill in your study, while I haven't run in eight hundred years. Yeah, it’s unfair."
"Then what sport are you good at?"
"I think I was okay at badminton... but that was in primary school..."
"Then how about we play badminton tomorrow night?"
"Anything is better than running."
"Not necessarily."
Sitting on the bleachers, they had a clear view of the entire stadium. It had been a very long time since they had sat like this, overlooking the track and feeling the night wind. You could take a deep breath and memorize the scent of C University, so that no matter where you went in the future, you would never forget that your blood once held the essence of this campus, and that your breathing and pulse once matched its rhythm.
Liang Juejun closed her eyes, quietly enjoying the breeze on her face, while Xia Yinuo remembered the kiss from her birthday.
"Senior, how are those two potted plants doing?"
"They're fine. Didn't you just ask a few days ago?"
"Oh, right."
"And how is LoVo lately?"
"Doing well."
After finishing their night run and returning home, Liang Juejun sat in her study and stared at the windowsill for a long time. The barrel cactus was like Xia Yinuo—accustomed to protecting itself in front of most people, a quiet and polite little hedgehog. The Bear's Paw succulent was also like Xia Yinuo—cute, kind, and non-aggressive. Perhaps everyone has these two sides, only revealing them fully and openly before someone they trust.
The next morning, Xia Yinuo felt sore all over. Even a simple stretch resulted in the audible creaking of her bones. As agreed, she appeared punctually at the entrance of the badminton hall that evening. Liang Juejun saw her in a simple black-and-white sports outfit and nodded, saying she looked very nice today.
With the new semester approaching, the badminton hall was crowded and noisy. After a brief warm-up, they began to play.
Badminton was one of the few sports Xia Yinuo actually liked. Before her parents divorced, Xia Yan would bring her to this very hall to play. It could be said that this aging venue held many of her childhood memories. The beauty of badminton lay in the net between you; there was no physical contact with your opponent. You only needed to stand there with your racket and focus entirely on the shuttlecock.
Xia Yinuo felt a bit lacking in strength, likely because she truly hadn't exercised in a long time, combined with the overexertion from the previous night's run. Singles, in particular, required covering the whole court, which was exhausting. She hadn't expected Liang Juejun to be so good at badminton—not just good, but outstanding for an amateur. In less than half an hour, Xia Yinuo called for a water break, sweat soaking the hair on her forehead.
"Xiaobao, don't push yourself. Tell me if you can't handle it."
"Hahahahaha!"
"Why are you laughing so happily?"
"Hahahahahaha!"
"..."
"Hahahahahahaha!"
"...!"
They resumed playing. Liang Juejun remained in top form, her breathing and heart rate well-controlled. Xia Yinuo was frequently picking up the shuttlecock, her steps growing heavier. The ceiling of the hall was high and the lights were bright; Xia Yinuo found them a bit dazzling. Gradually, the sounds of the game—the striking of shuttlecocks, the cheers, the squeak of sneakers on the floor—became surreal. The only thing filling her ears was the sound of her own labored breathing.
A drop shot grazed the net. Xia Yinuo, standing in the backcourt, rushed forward but failed to save it. She bent over in exhaustion, her heart racing and her breath coming in sharp gasps. She didn't pick up the shuttlecock immediately, but instead rested her hands on her knees to catch her breath.
Liang Juejun also lowered her racket during this interval, wiping the sweat from her forehead and adjusting her breathing.
After a long moment, Xia Yinuo secretly curled the corners of her mouth. She slowly straightened her body, walked to the net, and called out across it:
"Liang Juejun."
"Yes?"
"I like you."
*You look at me with a smile, without saying a word, and I know that for this moment, I have waited a very long time.*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
放弃了治疗 | Abandoned all hope of a cure | Internet slang (弃疗); implies someone is acting crazy or beyond help.
我真傻，真的 | I was silly, truly | Opening line of Lu Xun's "The New Year's Sacrifice," often parodied for dramatic lamentation.
祥林嫂 | Xianglin Sao | The tragic character from Lu Xun's story who repeats her woes.
衣带渐宽终不悔，为伊消得人憔悴 | My clothes grow loose, yet I do not regret it; for her, I am willing to waste away | Famous line from a poem by Liu Yong (Song Dynasty) about devotion.
黑超 | Black shades / Oversized sunglasses | Slang for large, dark sunglasses.
魔鬼搭讪学 | The Art of the Devil's Pickup | Likely a reference to a PUA or "how to talk to girls" book.
腹黑 | Belly-black / Scheming | Slang for someone who looks innocent but is actually mischievous or calculating.
仙人球 | Barrel Cactus | A common round cactus.
熊童子 | Bear's Paw | Cotyledon tomentosa; a succulent with leaves resembling bear paws.
