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墨書 Inktalez
Winter Solstice has arrived as scheduled.
After a heavy snowfall in Beijing City, the long-awaited sunshine finally revealed its rosy face and dazzling light.
Under the swing set on campus, Shen Xiaomeng sat on the swing, swaying leisurely. Hao Chuanze held onto a metal rope of the swing set with one hand while holding an English vocabulary book with the other.
He would call out a word and give the swing a push, prompting Shen Xiaomeng to spell out that word.
Hao Chuanze wanted to study abroad, so Shen Xiaomeng accompanied him in memorizing vocabulary.
"I have a classmate in the Netherlands, working while studying, earning several thousand euros a week," Hao Chuanze said to Shen Xiaomeng.
Shen Xiaomeng giggled lightly, not paying much attention to the implication of Hao Chuanze's words, still swinging back and forth, completely immersed in the beautiful love before her.
"Hao Chuanze, push me a little harder," Shen Xiaomeng said with a smile, turning her head towards him.
Like he had received an order, Hao Chuanze hurriedly placed the book on the ground, pulled the swing's ropes back as far as he could, and then suddenly let go. Shen Xiaomeng soared into the wind. In mid-air, her voice sharply cut through the sky as her long hair flew in the breeze.
After she landed, Hao Chuanze pushed her back with all his strength again. Her screams rang out once more in the cold air, warming the surrounding atmosphere.
Standing behind her, Hao Chuanze watched her fly back and forth with a warm smile.
"Hao Chuanze, is that girl you know in the Netherlands very pretty?" Shen Xiaomeng asked, her breath forming a faint white mist in the cold air.
Shen Xiaomeng was not considered beautiful, so whenever Hao Chuanze mentioned girls he knew, she would always ask this question.
"Yes, she is very pretty," Hao Chuanze replied seriously.
That girl was indeed very beautiful, much more so than Shen Xiaomeng, so Hao Chuanze answered truthfully. In front of Shen Xiaomeng, he never needed to be tactful; he always answered her naturally and honestly but chose a tone that was gentle and unobtrusive, ensuring he would never hurt her feelings.
"Oh, do you like that girl?" Shen Xiaomeng asked again.
The sunlight was bright, shining on Shen Xiaomeng, and after entering winter, her skin appeared even fairer. Dressed in a pink down jacket, she looked as vibrant as a peach blossom just budding.
"I don't like her," Hao Chuanze replied calmly, his sincerity unquestionable. "That girl is very superficial."
"Oh, then she must really like you?" Shen Xiaomeng asked next.
At that moment, Hao Chuanze stopped pushing her, and she ceased to swing high.
"Well, she has said she likes me, but that's because she likes my family's background. She often asks about my parents more than she cares about me," Hao Chuanze said with a slight smile, revealing a hint of disdain.
He never liked to look down on or belittle others; everyone has their own worldview and values. As long as they do not infringe upon the interests of others, he was unwilling to attack them. Yet sometimes he did feel that way, and it would show in his expressions when he was not paying attention.
"Then... what about that classmate of yours?" Shen Xiaomeng finally asked.
Ever since their last encounter with Yao Mengni, Shen Xiaomeng had felt that this girl held different feelings for Hao Chuanze. Later, Hao Chuanze had shared stories about his relationship with Mengni, and when he spoke of her, it was different from how he talked about any other girl.
Yao Mengni was a unique girl in his heart.
Thus, Shen Xiaomeng was reluctant to bring her up in front of him, fearing to see the different emotions in his eyes and avoiding the question altogether.
"Mengni represents a different kind of feeling."
Hao Chuanze knew that Shen Xiaomeng was referring to Yao Mengni, so he did not pretend to be confused or evasive. He answered straightforwardly and sincerely. It was this genuine honesty that made it feel less hurtful.
"Oh, you must really like her," Shen Xiaomeng said as she jumped down from the swing set and stood in front of Hao Chuanze.
"When we were kids," Shen Xiaomeng suddenly felt that her previous statement might not have been appropriate and added a time frame.
"Yeah," Hao Chuanze nodded. "When we were kids, I was timid; it was Mengni who protected me. She acted like a boy."
Shen Xiaomeng's gaze began to drift. "Then such feelings must be very profound," she said.
Hao Chuanze smiled broadly, lowered his head to look into Shen Xiaomeng's eyes, and asked affectionately, "What's wrong? Are you jealous?"
Shen Xiaomeng nodded, her eyes starting to glisten with tears. "Then you must really like her."
She was still struggling with this question.
Hao Chuanze stepped closer and gently stroked Shen Xiaomeng's head. "Silly girl, I liked her a lot when I was younger, but that was just childhood feelings."
But Shen Xiaomeng couldn't help but shed tears, quietly leaning against Hao Chuanze's chest, tugging at his collar as she said, "If one day you break up with me, I will definitely cry my heart out."
Hao Chuanze hugged her tightly. "That won't happen. I won't leave you; I can't bear to see you cry like that."
Such love was beautiful and intoxicating for Shen Xiaomeng.
That day, under the swing set, Hao Chuanze promised Shen Xiaomeng that during the summer vacation he would take her back to his small town to meet his parents and attend his high school reunion.
Finally, Shen Xiaomeng broke into a smile in Hao Chuanze's embrace.
The gray winter sky of the north instantly transformed in Shen Xiaomeng's eyes into the pure blue sky of spring in the south, and the sunlight became brighter and warmer. It was as if the sun hanging in the sky shone down solely for the love between her and Hao Chuanze.
After the Winter Solstice, Christmas and New Year's Day quickly approached. In Jian Ming and Reiko's university campus, on Christmas night, their classmates who had partied all night wanted to go to karaoke together. For Jian Ming and Reiko, soon-to-be graduates, there was a strong need to gather together and celebrate loudly after the festivities. Graduates were often afraid of parting ways. So in the karaoke room, everyone was loud and hoarse. The boys ordered several cases of beer, with opened bottles bubbling over and spilling onto the floor.
Reiko also went along with her roommates because she saw Li Xueshou among the crowd heading to karaoke. She was curious about what someone like him—who expected girls to be more refined while being quiet himself—would be like in a karaoke room.
Jian Ming initially didn't plan to go. Although he loved singing and was the best singer among them, he had never liked places like karaoke bars. Moreover, he felt stable now, focused solely on waiting for graduation.
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