Qiu Yun explained to Liang He with the utmost seriousness that there was truly nothing between her and Sima Feng. She was merely curious about him, as he was the boyfriend Wang Chen had been pining over for an entire year.
Liang He remained skeptical.
Qiu Yun added that her actions toward Sima Feng over the past few days were entirely from the perspective of Wang Chen’s best friend—she was observing and testing him in secret, with absolutely no other intentions. Furthermore, after her rigorous and careful scrutiny, Sima Feng had officially passed her test.
Liang He hesitated for a long while, weighing various possibilities, but it seemed only Qiu Yun’s explanation could make sense of everything.
"Alright, then," Qiu Yun said, tugging at his sleeve. "Let's call it even."
"Even for what?" Liang He’s gaze dropped to her hand.
"Well..." Qiu Yun thought to herself how annoying he was for making her spell it out. But then she reconsidered; Liang He had been stewing in jealousy for days, and that sourness wouldn't dissipate instantly. She said, "You’re the one who attracted Lu Xialan. So, we’re even now."
At the mention of that name, Liang He said irritably, "If there were ever going to be anything between us, it would have started long ago. There wouldn't have been any room left for a Qiu Xiaoyun."
"You..." He really had a way of blunt honesty that could be infuriating. Just as Qiu Yun was about to retort to regain her ground, Liang He beckoned her: "Come here."
"What for?" Though her voice was reluctant, her body was honest, and she walked over.
Liang He pulled her down onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her from behind and resting his chin in the crook of her shoulder.
"What are you doing..." Qiu Yun felt the suddenness of it, her body stiffening slightly.
"Just let me lean on you for a moment," Liang He said.
There was a trace of exhaustion in his voice that silenced whatever Qiu Yun had been about to say.
There must be some regret, she thought. Regardless of gender or whether there were romantic feelings involved, it was only natural to feel a sense of loss when a childhood friend had to be kept at a distance—perhaps never to cross paths again for the rest of their lives.
It was human nature. If Liang He felt no regret at all, he would be far too cold-blooded. That kind of man only existed in over-the-top CEO novels, where the male lead viewed every woman except the heroine as "trashy vixens." Though she comforted herself with this thought, Qiu Yun still felt a twinge of jealousy toward Lu Xialan. After all, she had been his companion during his beautiful childhood and had even saved his life.
"Liang He," she couldn't help but ask, "if... if those things hadn't happened between your families, and you had grown up together... would you... would you have ended up together?"
"I’ve never thought about that question," Liang He replied. "If not for our families' affairs, we wouldn't have met; our acquaintance was entirely due to our fathers' relationship. It’s a paradox. Besides," he said quietly, "there was a whole group of us kids growing up in the compound. I never looked at Lu Xialan any differently. It just so happened that she and I were the only ones left in City A."
"Did you say those words to her?" Qiu Yun asked.
"She came to find me tonight, and I told her the truth."
"For a girl, that’s a bit cruel." A quick cut might resolve the mess, but the truth still stung.
"Why are you speaking up for her now?" Liang He chuckled low. "What should I do then? Is it too late to go back and find her now?"
"Don't you dare." Qiu Yun turned around.
Liang He was looking at her, a teasing glint in the corners of his eyes.
As Qiu Yun made a move to get up and leave, Liang He tightened his arms and said, "We’re leaving tomorrow."
Qiu Yun froze for a moment. "Oh, right. You bought the tickets for tomorrow?"
"Yes."
They were leaving tomorrow. They were leaving this place.
A sense of reluctance bloomed in Qiu Yun’s heart. She gazed out at the moonlight beyond the window, feeling as though she were about to wake from a beautiful dream and return to reality.
"Let me grant you a wish," Liang He said.
"What wish?"
Liang He checked the time; the swimmers should have mostly cleared out by now. "I’ll take you to Shili River to cool off."
Qiu Yun jumped up in excitement. "Oh yeah!"
***
Liang He led Qiu Yun to a shallow bank by the river. Over the years, the swirling currents had carved out a natural pool here. The water wasn't deep—at its deepest, it only reached Qiu Yun’s collarbone—and the flow was very slow. At night, Shili River regained its tranquility; aside from Liang He and Qiu Yun, there was no one else in this area.
There were many mosquitoes by the river, so Qiu Yun hurriedly did a few warm-up exercises on the bank before impatiently shedding her cropped trousers, eager to dive into the cool water.
Liang He cleared his throat and hurriedly turned his head away. "You... wait a second."
Qiu Yun: "?"
Liang He fished a rope about the thickness of a thumb out of his bag and handed it to her with his head still turned. "Tie this around your waist."
Qiu Yun: "??"
Liang He: "I won't be going in; I didn't bring a change of clothes. Tie this around your waist, and I'll hold onto you from the shore..."
Qiu Yun’s eyes widened as she looked at Liang He like he was a madman. After a long silence, she suddenly kicked him directly into the river.
"What are you being so shy for..." Qiu Yun laughed loudly and jumped into the river herself with a splash.
The river water was cool and flowed gently, washing away the sweltering heat of midsummer.
Caught off guard by the kick, Liang He emerged from the water, wiping the droplets from his face. He was about to lecture the girl when he saw a beaming face before him. The water shimmered, making it hard to tell if the sparkling light came from the river or the laughter in her eyes.
His irritation vanished instantly.
While Liang He was dazed, water splashed as Qiu Yun leaned back, floating directly on the surface.
"Look—" Qiu Yun gazed at the sky. "There are so many stars today."
Liang He also leaned back, floating beside her. The night was clear, and the sky was thick with stars; one could even faintly make out the luminous band of the Milky Way.
"This is the first time I've seen the Milky Way with my own eyes," Qiu Yun said. In the 21st century, with heavy atmospheric pollution, one could rarely see more than a few stars in the city at night, let alone the Milky Way. "So the Milky Way looks like milky clouds, drifting freely... it’s so beautiful."
"Yeah, it is beautiful," Liang He said. He thought that among those shining stars, one must be his father, sensing his happiness and smiling down at them.
"The water feels so good, so cool. The wind is cool too." Qiu Yun sighed contentedly. "It’s all your fault, waiting until we’re about to leave to bring me here to enjoy this."
Liang He’s lips curled into a pleasant smile. "Usually, this place is full of burly men horsing around. It’s only this quiet at this hour."
At the mention of "burly men," Qiu Yun tilted her head slightly to look at Liang He, then turned back, her lips curving up involuntarily.
"Do you know what I just thought of?" Qiu Yun asked.
"What?"
"Do you know what sea otters are?"
"I do."
"I’ve seen two otters with their eyes squinted, holding hands while lying on their backs, floating slowly and steadily on the water, letting the current take them wherever it wants. Just like this." Qiu Yun took Liang He’s hand. "Just like this. Not having to think about anything. Just feeling... just being."
Liang He suppressed the smile at the corner of his mouth and cooperatively squeezed her hand back, his eyes drifting shut.
The summer night was beautiful.
The water was cool.
The wind was gentle.
"It would be nice if we could just keep floating like this forever," Qiu Yun said.
"Where do you want to float to?" Liang He asked.
"Anywhere. Anywhere is fine." Qiu Yun squinted at the sky. Anywhere was fine, as long as... as long as she didn't float back.
Yes, at this moment, an untimely yet powerful thought took root: she didn't want to go back—not back to school, but back to the 21st century.
All those messy troubles, that gloomy and depressed version of herself—they had all been crushed in the space-time tunnel, turned to dust, and scattered in the wind.
She only wanted to stay in the present, holding tightly to the hand of the person beside her.
Even if they were just floating aimlessly like this, even if they drifted until the end of time and the edge of the universe, she was willing.
She felt a pang of regret for drinking the well water Qiu Zhenghong had given her.
"What are you thinking about?" Liang He asked when she fell silent.
"I was thinking..." Qiu Yun shook her head. "I wasn't thinking about anything." To this day, she hadn't experienced any physical abnormalities. Qiu Zhenghong had said the onset of the well water's effects was unpredictable—it might happen tomorrow, or... or perhaps never in her entire life.
Could she be that lucky exception for a lifetime?
Regardless, she shouldn't think about such depressing things.
*Drink while there is wine today; do not let a beautiful moment go to waste.*
"I was thinking..." Qiu Yun flipped over, shaking off the gloom in her heart. She took the opportunity to splash a handful of water into Liang He’s face. "Want to race?"
"A race?"
Before Liang He could finish his question, Qiu Yun struck out, her long legs kicking as she surged forward.
Fearing she might get a cramp from swimming too hard right after entering the water, Liang He quickly gave chase with a freestyle stroke.
As she swam, Qiu Yun realized her head-start advantage was gone; Liang He caught up to her quickly. She regretted that she only knew the breaststroke; Liang He was a man and was using freestyle, so of course he was faster. Seeing that he was about to overtake her with another stroke, she grabbed onto his shirt.
Liang He stopped.
"I say," Qiu Yun said with a giggle, "why are you still wearing a shirt while swimming? Doesn't it affect your performance?"
Of course it did. In the water, the fabric clung to his body, which was indeed uncomfortable. But Qiu Yun had been swimming so fast just now that Liang He hadn't given it a second thought.
"Take it off." Qiu Yun brushed the short sleeve clinging to his shoulder.
"Now?" Liang He was stunned for a moment.
"Why not?" Qiu Yun teased him. "I’m a girl and didn't bring a swimsuit, so I have to stay like this. You’re a guy, why are you still wearing a shirt? Don't look at me like that—I didn't tell you to take off your pants. Besides, even if you did, we’re in the water; I can't see anything anyway."
At those words, Liang He couldn't help but laugh. Since he was already soaked, he might as well enjoy the swim. Without further hesitation, he pulled the shirt over his head and tossed it onto the bank. When he turned back, he saw that Qiu Yun had used the opportunity to swim another ten meters ahead. she turned back to wave at him from a distance, looking utterly triumphant. "Come and catch me! Let's see if you can!"
Liang He’s eyebrows arched slightly. He lunged forward, swimming toward Qiu Yun with all his might.
Qiu Yun swam and swam, and after a while, she suddenly heard a great splashing behind her. She turned around and saw Liang He thrashing in the water, bobbing up and down. Crying out in alarm, she swam over as fast as she could and grabbed him.
"What’s wrong?" Qiu Yun asked urgently. "Is it a cramp?"
Liang He choked on a couple of mouthfuls of water and nodded.
"Where is it?"
Liang He pointed to his leg.
Qiu Yun reached down toward where he pointed. She felt a wave of self-reproach; Liang He hadn't planned on getting in the water, so he hadn't warmed up. "It’s my fault for being in such a rush..."
Before she could finish, Liang He’s arm suddenly hooked around her, and he grinned mischievously. "Caught you."
"You..." It took Qiu Yun a second to process it. "You tricked me! You didn't have a cramp at all!"
"What, you’re the only one allowed to use schemes and I’m not?" Liang He showed no remorse, even mimicking the triumphant look Qiu Yun had worn earlier.
"You... let go of me..." Qiu Yun tried to break free.
Liang He laughed, remaining motionless, even tightening his grip slightly.
Qiu Yun splashed around for a moment and then went still.
Because she realized she was too close to Liang He.
Two young, beautiful bodies were far too close.
His young, bare, wheat-colored skin shimmered with a healthy, enticing luster under the reflection of the moon and the water. Her short-sleeved shirt clung tightly to her chest, making her curves faintly visible. As Liang He held her waist and their bodies pressed together, every movement she made caused her chest to brush against his skin, intentionally or not.
...The atmosphere heated up rapidly, and even the cool river water seemed to turn warm.
She couldn't help but look away, a lock of wet hair falling across her face.
Liang He gently tucked the hair behind her ear and asked in a low voice, "I caught you. Is there a reward?"
"What reward do you want?" Qiu Yun reached out a hand...
Liang He caught her fingers and said, "Will this do?"
A soft kiss fell upon her smooth forehead.
Then her cheek, the tip of her nose.
Then her lips.
...A lingering, hesitant exploration.
Deep affection stirred.
She held him; behind him was the vast, magnificent starry sky, and in his eyes were the most beautiful, brightest stars in the world.
This moment was neither a second too early nor a second too late; everything was just right.
She gazed at his face and suddenly wondered for no reason: if she were to leave this world tomorrow without saying goodbye, would this be the last time she looked at him? The gloom she had just chased away came rushing back. If she wasn't that lucky exception, would Liang He remember her? Would he remember her for a long time?
In a moment that should have been pure sweetness and happiness, a sudden, massive wave of pain flooded her heart.
She tilted her head back and kissed his lips, asking, "Do you want to?"
Shili River flowed slowly around them, the sound of the water soft, like an ancient, unchanging lullaby.
"I love you, Xiao Yun. But what you’ve given me now is already enough."
***
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
十里河 | Shili River | Literal: Ten-Mile River.
邱晓云 | Qiu Xiaoyun | Qiu Yun's full name.
邱正宏 | Qiu Zhenghong | A character from Qiu Yun's past/original timeline.
