The Promise Made

We went to Shitouji, where a couple's necklace called "Heart to Heart" was all the rage. I thought there wasn't a girl who could resist such a gift. 

As we entered, Wen Xicheng muttered, "The crystals here are just glass—fake, just like SWAROVSKI." 

At the time, I hadn't heard of SWAROVSKI, so I turned to ask, "What? Do they also sell accessories?" 

He nodded seriously. "It's similar. Shitouji tricks ordinary people, while SWAROVSKI deceives the wealthy." 

I chuckled. "Got it—luxury goods that ordinary folks can't afford." 

Wen Xicheng frowned and glanced at me. "That's not what I meant." 

I didn't respond, simply smiling, finding his displeasure amusing.

The Heart to Heart couple's necklace was so popular that reservations were necessary, and we wouldn't be able to get it for a week. I felt disappointed but had no choice but to select a pretty bracelet instead. As I exited, I sighed while looking at the large poster. 

Wen Xicheng tilted his head beside me, studying the poster with confusion. "I just don't think it's that pretty. The design is too ordinary—a big heart with a smaller one in the middle. What a childish idea!" 

I shot him an annoyed glance and stepped out of the shop first.

Wen Xicheng chased after me and grabbed my arm. "Are you mad?" 

I replied, "No, you're right—the design is indeed ordinary, but I like the meaning behind it." 

"What meaning?

"The larger one represents the boy, and the smaller one represents the girl. A boy should have a heart that can embrace the girl, and only such a love can be considered perfect." 

Wen Xicheng turned to look at me, and after a long moment, he said quietly, "I have that." 

I looked at him in confusion. "What?" 

He buried his face in his scarf, smiling and shaking his head without saying anything. 

After taking a taxi to the school gate, Wen Xicheng said he needed to visit a friend, and we parted ways. A few steps later, I remembered to suggest he pick up some cold medicine at the campus clinic. When I turned back, he was already getting into a taxi. His friend's rental was just across the street, so he didn't really need to take a cab. 

Christmas is a time of madness for university students, and we had organized an event in class. That evening, it started to snow lightly, and everyone was in high spirits as we planned to head to the city center. The boys were clamoring to be the flower guardians, so before long, each girl had two boys by her side. He Zifei and Yanzi were off playing romantic games. Wen Xicheng and I walked together; he was bundled up like a dumpling, and all I could see were his shiny black eyes and a nose reddened from the cold. I laughed and said he looked like Santa Claus. 

He pulled at his scarf in frustration, but it kept slipping down within moments. He continued tugging, and I laughed so hard that I could barely straighten up. Eventually, he took my hand, pulled off my glove, and pressed it against his nose. 

My hand was small, but his nose was even smaller. Not only did I touch his cold nose, but I also brushed against his soft, warm lips. 

Feeling a wave of embarrassment, I tried to retract my hand, but his lips moved slightly, and he gave a gentle kiss on my palm. 

I quickly pulled my hand back, slipped my glove back on, and stuffed it into my pocket as I walked ahead, my heart racing wildly.

Wen Xicheng caught up with me, tugging at my sleeve and saying, "Merry Christmas!"

I looked down to evade his hand, responded lightly, and took a few quick steps to link arms with a girl from our class.

All the while, Wen Xicheng kept his head down, walking behind me, and we didn't exchange another word. He had lived abroad for a time; perhaps such a gesture was merely a friendly custom among friends at Christmas, but it felt like a breach of boundaries to me.

We went out for barbecue, reminiscent of our Mid-Autumn Festival gathering in our freshman year. Wen Xicheng sat across from me again. I mostly kept my head down, occasionally engaging in conversation with those beside me. When a guy offered me a drink, I looked up to see five empty bottles lined up on the table; Wen Xicheng silently drank his beer without glancing at me.

As I drank, the girls from my class began to crowd around Wen Xicheng.

I watched him down beer after beer, his face becoming paler compared to the other guys, whose faces were turning red. His gaze grew increasingly unfocused.

He didn't look at me at all. Eventually, he took off his jacket and tossed it on the chair, challenging one of our dorm mates to a drinking contest.

Old Six downed a glass; he finished a bottle!

When they were halfway through the fifth bottle, Old Six declared himself done and swayed off to the bathroom.

Wen Xicheng steadied himself with one hand on the table and, amidst the noise, finished the remaining half bottle, wiping his mouth before stumbling out of the booth.

I sat there, dazed, the surrounding sounds fading into the background.

Wen Xicheng was usually cheerful; he especially loved to laugh. He would laugh heartily and freely with friends, offer a polite smile to strangers, and coldly smirk at those he disliked, but he had never laughed so sadly as he did today.

A few minutes later, I stepped outside with his coat, scanning the area around the restaurant until I finally spotted him hunched against a wall in the corner, propped up by his hands, with half a bottle of mineral water at his feet. Under the moonlight, his figure was tall and slender.

As I approached, I caught a strong smell of alcohol. Just as I was about to speak, he grabbed my hand. Before I could pull away, he turned and leaned his forehead against my shoulder, breathing heavily.

His breath was warm, brushing against my neck and sending a tingling sensation through me. I wanted to push him away, placing my hand on his shoulder, but I froze.

I felt a sharp pang of heartache.

Wen Xicheng held my hand tightly, his forehead resting on my shoulder, while my hand gradually slid down from his shoulder to gently pat his back.

I couldn't explain my actions; it was instinctive, as if I felt that it might ease his pain, even though I wasn't entirely sure why I thought he was hurting.

After a while, Wen Xicheng let out a gentle sigh, straightened up, and put on the coat I had handed him. His face returned to the familiar smile I recognized. He picked up the mineral water bottle from the ground and took several big gulps. After spitting it out, he pinched my nose and said, "Not angry anymore?"

His tone was relaxed, and his expression calm. The messy thoughts swirling in my mind slowly faded away, and I smiled, shaking my head. "Are you feeling better?"

He tightened his coat, placing his hand on his stomach and rubbing it. "I drank a bit too hastily; my stomach is burning, but it's better now that I've thrown up."

Noticing that his face was still somewhat pale, I asked, "Still uncomfortable? How about we head back? They don't know when they'll finish."

He grinned and wrapped his scarf around his neck twice before grabbing my arm. "Okay! Let's sneak away!"

Once we left the restaurant, Wen Xicheng led me to the square where a large musical fountain was located. We found some steps to sit on when a little girl approached us with a bunch of roses, urging him to buy them. While I was declining and explaining, he had already pulled out his wallet, taken out a stack of hundred-yuan bills, and handed them to the little girl. After taking the flowers from her hand, he promptly handed them to me.

I refused them and turned my face away. "I don't want them."

He forcibly placed them in my arms and leaned back on his hands, looking up at the sky. Softly, he said, "Look how pitiful that little girl is; just think of it as doing a good deed and accept them."

I glanced at him, set the flowers aside, and hugged my legs, looking up at the sky alongside him.

After a moment, he asked, "What do you think Zifei and the others are doing right now?"

"I don't know." 

"I guess they must be doing something mischievous in the apartment!" 

I burst out laughing and playfully pushed him, causing him to tilt slightly. He laughed as well. 

After a moment, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked at me. "I want to give you a Christmas gift. Do you want it?" 

I looked at him with curiosity. "What is it?" 

"You first have to tell me if you want it or not." 

"If you don't tell me what it is, how can I answer?" 

He pursed his lips, lowered his head, and said, "Then forget it; I'm not giving it anymore. Let's go back to school!" He stood up as he spoke. 

I glanced up at him for a moment, unable to decipher his thoughts, and stood up while holding the roses. 

He chuckled, "I thought you would just throw them away here." 

I shot him a glare. "I'm worried about wasting them; they can last a few days in the dorm." 

He tilted his head and laughed. "Silly!" 

I stepped on his foot hard, and he burst out laughing, tousling my hair. Looking at his smile, I suddenly felt a comforting warmth wash over me.

A few days after New Year's, with school on break and the Lunar New Year approaching, I called many people to wish them a happy new year and received numerous blessings. However, I hadn't heard from Wen Xicheng.

Not long after midnight, I dialed Wen Xicheng's number, just to test the waters, as He Zifei had mentioned that he usually goes abroad for the winter and summer holidays.

When the call connected, Wen Xicheng's slightly surprised voice came through. 

"Xiàtiān?!" 

"It's me, Happy New Year!" 

There was a brief silence on the other end. "Thank you, Happy New Year!" 

"Are you abroad?" 

"No, I'm in City X." 

"Uh? Did your family return this year? Didn't Zifei say you went abroad for the New Year every year?" 

Wen Xicheng didn't respond to my question and fell silent. All I could hear was his uneven breathing.

After a long pause, he whispered softly, his voice trembling slightly, "Xiàtiān, can you call me at this time every year from now on? No matter where we are or what our relationship becomes, can you promise me?" 

I didn't understand why he was asking this and wasn't sure if I could keep such a promise, but in that moment, without much thought, I agreed. 

Upon hearing my response, Wen Xicheng remained silent for a full minute before saying, "Thank you!" 

I could hear the tremor in his voice!

I have never forgotten this promise, even during the three years we lost contact. Every New Year's Eve, I would dial a random number and say, "Happy New Year!"

During the latter half of our junior year, we faced the terrifying SARS outbreak, which significantly changed the dynamics among students during the school lockdown. Naturally, couples began to form, sprouting up like mushrooms after the rain. 

This included Jiang Yang, who finally pursued the stunning and lively beauty of the Humanities Department, Wang Zi, a cheerful individual who could easily get along with everyone.

Her only flaw was her tendency to flirt with boys. 

On an ordinary day... 

In the afternoon, I was sitting in class studying when I received a text from He Zifei. 

[Come to the lawn quickly, Jiang Yang and Xi Cheng are fighting!] 

I stared at the message for a moment before finally packing up my books and walking out of the classroom. 

When I arrived at the lawn in front of the library, I found a crowd gathered around a large tree; He Zifei, Jiang Yang, Jia Ningtao, and others were present, but I didn't see Wen Xicheng. 

He Zifei spotted me and waved, so I walked over and sat beside him. Everyone's expressions were somewhat grim, and I noticed the bruise on Jiang Yang's face, prompting me to quietly ask, "What happened?"

He Zifei, smoking a cigarette, exhaled a couple of rings of smoke before saying, "Xi Cheng was drinking with Wang Zi on the lawn. Someone from our major saw them and told Jiang Yang. By the time Jiang Yang got there, he said they were being intimate, and that's when the fight broke out."

I was completely stunned; it took me a moment to process the information, and my heart ached sharply, leaving me feeling suddenly hollow.

"Could it be a misunderstanding?" I asked.

He Zifei didn't reply. After Jiang Yang smashed a beer bottle, he said, "What misunderstanding? Their mouths were practically glued together! Am I supposed to be blind to be friends with someone like Wen Xicheng?"

I lowered my head and fell silent; the others were quiet too. After a while, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked up and saw Wen Xicheng coming over. His forehead was bandaged, stained with bright red blood, and his face was so pale it was almost ghostly. He halted for a moment when he saw me, and a flicker of embarrassment crossed his eyes.

My heart grew colder, and I turned away, taking a sip from a can of beer.

Wen Xicheng crouched down in front of Jiang Yang, opened two cans of beer, and offered one to him.

Jiang Yang didn't take it; he didn't withdraw his arm either, his eyes filled with gloom. Everyone was silent; some had their heads bowed, while others watched the scene unfold.

After a long pause, Jiang Yang cursed, "Damn!" before taking the beer and gulping it down. Wen Xicheng seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, sitting next to him and starting to drink as well.

The two of them consumed can after can, and gradually, the others began to denounce Wen Xicheng. The insults exchanged among the guys could be quite harsh. I sat there for a while before getting up to leave. I felt a gaze on my back, but I had no desire to turn around. I thought that Wen Xicheng and I ultimately came from two different worlds.

For a long time after that, I didn't attend their gatherings until Jiang Yang broke up with Wang Zi. That night, Jiang Yang was in a low mood. When I arrived at the underground bar at school, he was already drunk, leaning on Wen Xicheng's shoulder, seemingly on the verge of tears. After I sat down, I heard him say, "I'm sorry, bro, I'm sorry!" Wen Xicheng kept his head down, not even noticing my arrival.

I asked He Zifei, "What's going on?" He Zifei leaned back and tossed a peanut into his mouth, replying casually, "When Wang Zi broke up with him, she said that the time on the lawn was her way of pressuring Xi Cheng to drink the toast with her." I was a bit confused, "What did Wang Zi use to pressure him?" "She said if Xi Cheng didn't agree, she would put a green hat on Jiang Yang!" I scoffed, "Is that even a threat?" He Zifei glanced at me and said, "That guy is Xi Cheng's fellow townsman. Xi Cheng treated him like a brother, but in the end, that b**** Wang Zi still cheated. Jiang Yang is such an idiot!" I pressed my lips together and said nothing.

After Jiang Yang got drunk, He Zifei and another guy from our major helped him out first. Wen Xicheng stayed behind, continuing to drink silently.

I still couldn't agree with him flirting with his fellow townsman's girlfriend, and unsure of what to say, I stood up, ready to leave.

"Can you sit for a while?" Wen Xicheng looked up at me, his voice a bit hoarse. There was a hint of vulnerability in his eyes. I took a deep breath—I couldn't ignore it—so I sat back down. "Why have you been avoiding me during this time?" he asked quietly, lowering his head. "I haven't; it's almost exam time, so I'm busy studying." "Do you not have time to connect for a call or reply to a text?" I remained silent.

Wen Xicheng looked at me earnestly and said, "I didn't handle the situation with Wang Zi very well. I hope you can forgive me."

I shook my head and said, "Whether it's you and her or you with any girl, it doesn't require my forgiveness. We're just friends; I have no right to interfere." 

Wen Xicheng's gaze dimmed, gradually filling with pain. He kept swallowing, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he remained silent.

I couldn't bear to look into his eyes; I turned away and stood up, saying, "It's getting late; I'm going back to the dorm. You should head back early too."

He didn't respond. I turned to leave, and as I stepped out of the bar, I saw him hunched over at the table, his bowed back appearing lonely and helpless. 

The upcoming exams left me with little free time to contemplate the ambiguous feelings between Wen Xicheng and me. In fact, since that night, we had barely seen each other except in the exam hall. 

During the summer vacation of my junior year, I participated in environmental volunteer activities with my best friend Liu Ni. We spent the entire summer promoting environmental awareness and cleaning up trash in the forest reserves of nearby cities. We mostly stayed on the mountaintop, where the signal was poor. After my phone ran out of battery, I simply tossed it into the bottom of my suitcase.

When summer vacation ended and I returned to school, everyone remarked that I was so tanned I looked like an African refugee.

At the first gathering after the semester began, I noticed that Wen Xicheng had not returned yet.

On the way back to school after dinner, He Zifei asked me, "Why was your phone always off during the summer?"

"There was no signal on the mountain, so I just turned it off. Were you trying to reach me?"

"Xi Cheng looked for you several times; it seemed like there was something urgent. He almost asked me to go to your house."

I was taken aback and asked, "What urgent matter could it be?"

He Zifei shook his head. "I don't know; he didn't say."

I wanted to inquire, "Do you know why he hasn't returned to school yet?"

He paused for a moment and replied, "His grandfather is sick; it seems pretty serious." 

I nodded but remained silent.

After a while, He Zifei looked at me and asked, "Has Xi Cheng ever mentioned his family to you?" 

I shook my head. "I only know that his family lives abroad; you told me that. What's the matter?" 

After a hesitant moment, He Zifei said, "His parents died in a car accident when he was six. He has lived with his grandfather since then, but his grandfather hasn't treated him well. I met him once, and his grandfather looked at him like he was an enemy, yet Xi Cheng loves his grandfather very much. I think he must be very sad now that his grandfather is ill." 

I stared at him in shock, struggling to absorb this revelation. 

Wen Xicheng, that cheerful and lively boy, is truly orphaned!

After lighting a cigarette, He Zifei's gaze grew distant and contemplative. After a long pause, he said, "Xia Tian, I don't know what happened between you two, but it's obvious that after the incident with Wang Zi, you've become much colder towards him. I'm not saying this to make you feel pity for him; in fact, he despises pity and sympathy from others, which is why he always wears a smile."

I just hope you can truly understand him. This isn't me speaking on his behalf; all the girls he has dated have pursued him, and he simply doesn't know how to reject them. But you are different. I noticed his feelings for you back in our sophomore year. I encouraged him to confess, but he said he couldn't. He said if he confessed, he wouldn't even be able to stay friends anymore, and it seems he was right."

A deep sense of discomfort settled in my heart, as if a stone were blocking my breath.

"Xia Tian, tell me honestly, do you like him?" At the bottom of our dormitory, He Zifei asked me seriously. 

My heart was in turmoil. I whispered, "I don't know, Zifei. Let me think about it. I've received too much information today; I can't answer you." 

He Zifei smiled understandingly, patted my shoulder, and said, "Go ahead. If you can, give him a call to comfort him. Very few people can get into his heart; we should feel honored." 

I nodded with a smile, my vision blurring for a moment, and I turned to go upstairs. 

Back in the dormitory, I walked to the balcony and dialed Wen Xicheng's number. The monotonous "beep beep" echoed in the receiver. I looked at the pitch-black night sky and, under the twinkling stars, redialed the number over and over again. Gradually, my heart settled, and the answer became clearer. 

I can't recall how many times I tried, but the call finally connected. 

"Xia Tian." Wen Xicheng's voice was low, and his tone was calm, betraying no emotion. 

I held the phone and smiled, "It's me, are you okay?" 

Wen Xicheng remained silent, and his breathing grew gradually heavier.

I gently called out, "Xicheng." 

It was the first time I addressed him like that. He responded softly, his voice trembling slightly. 

My vision blurred, the night sky turning hazy and beautiful. 

I said, "I like you!" 

As soon as I finished speaking, tears streamed down my face, and listening to his ragged breathing intensified my heartache.

Wen Xicheng remained silent for what felt like an eternity before he hoarsely said, "Xia Tian, I love you!" 

My tears flowed even more fiercely, and I covered my mouth, unable to respond. 

He paused for a moment before continuing, "During the summer vacation, my grandfather was on the brink of leaving me. I was really scared during that time. I missed you so much. My grandfather lay in the intensive care unit for seventy-two hours, and I dialed your number over and over again, but you were always turned off. I called Zifei, and he couldn't reach you either. At that moment, all I could think was that if my grandfather left, I would definitely fall apart!" 

His voice came out in gasps, heavy with emotion. 

After wiping my tears, I smiled and said, "That will never happen again." 

"I promise you, I will never turn off my phone again, no matter when. I guarantee you can always reach me!" 

This was another promise I made but did not keep. The day after Wen Xicheng personally confided in me that he was getting engaged to someone else, I changed my phone number. However, I never turned off my phone in the evenings and always kept a spare battery in my bag. 

7 

Oxygen-Deprived First Kiss 

Wen Xicheng returned to school two weeks after the semester began. On the evening of his return, everyone gathered for dinner. I arrived late due to some matters and entered the private room, finding only one empty seat left at the round table. 

He Zifei waved at me, grinning like a fox. 

I felt a slight flush and walked over amid everyone's laughter, sitting next to Wen Xicheng. 

He deftly arranged the napkin for me and then turned to look at me with a gentle smile, warmth evident in his gaze. 

He Zifei clapped his hands to gain everyone's attention, then raised his wine glass and turned to Wen Xicheng, "First, let's wish your grandfather a speedy recovery, and then congratulations to you!" 

The others quickly filled their glasses and echoed the sentiment.

I also raised my glass and turned to him, saying, "Wishing your grandfather a swift recovery." 

Wen Xicheng's gaze scanned everyone's faces before settling on mine as he softly replied, "Thank you." His beautiful eyes shimmered with unshed tears.

That night, everyone drank a lot, and Wen Xicheng was very happy, laughing continuously. Although a trace of sadness lingered in his smile, I could feel the warmth radiating through his tightly clasped hand, signaling that his heart was touched. He was surrounded by a group of genuinely caring friends—perhaps my presence contributed to that a little.

As we were about to wrap up, he poured half a glass of beer for me, filled his own glass, then stood up, put his arm around my shoulders, and leaned down, rubbing his cheek against my neck before straightening up with a slightly tipsy demeanor, declaring, "I proclaim that starting today, Xia Tian is no longer our brother!" 

I turned my head in surprise, while some laughed mischievously and others wore expressions similar to mine. I leaned my forehead against his, smiling slightly, gently exhaling the scent of liquor. "Because she has the honor of being promoted to your sister-in-law!" 

He Zifei spewed out a mouthful of drink, coughing violently, and everyone burst into laughter. I felt so embarrassed that I wanted to dig a hole to hide in.

Meanwhile, Wen Xicheng finished the beer in his cup, took mine away, and after downing it all, he pulled me down into a chair, resting his head on my shoulder, grinning like a child. His eyes narrowed, with long eyelashes drooping—dark and curly, exceptionally beautiful. I couldn't help but reach out to touch him, and he suddenly opened his eyes, continuing to laugh, like a content and happy child!

After leaving the restaurant, our group staggered along, and Wen Xicheng drunkenly hooked his arm around my shoulders.

Just before reaching the school gate, he stopped me. Once everyone had walked far away, he leaned down and whispered in my ear, "Let's not go back to school, okay?"

I looked at him, confused. "Where else would we go this late?"

He fumbled in his pockets for a moment, then pulled out a set of keys and waved them in front of me with a grin. "To my apartment."

I paused for a moment, finally grasping what he meant, and shook my head. "No, let's go back to the dorm."

Wen Xicheng swayed a bit, frowned, then covered his mouth and moved to a nearby tree to start throwing up.

I went over and patted his back.

He gasped for air, throwing up until his stomach was empty, still retching, and eventually squatted down.

My heart ached as I softly said to him, "Are you really feeling unwell? Let's get back to the dorm quickly."

He shook his head. "I feel really dizzy. Can you get me a bottle of water?"

I agreed and rushed to buy water. When I returned, he was already sitting by the road, hugging his legs, his face buried in his knees, and noticeable sweat stains marked his thin back, which was wrapped in a white shirt. It made my heart ache.

I walked over and sat beside him. He looked up, took the bottle of mineral water from me, gulped down a few mouthfuls, and then pressed the bottle against his chest.

I noticed his face was much paler than before and asked with concern, "Do you feel any better?"

He nodded, took my hand in his, and tilted his head to look at me, softly saying, "Let's not go back to the dorm; let's go to the apartment, okay?" His eyes, filled with a pitiful look of grievance, made it hard for me to refuse. 

After a slight hesitation, I nodded. Instantly, his bright black eyes lit up with a smile, the corners of his mouth lifting into a proud arc.

In truth, when it came to Wen Xicheng, I hardly ever said no, whether he was acting spoiled or feigning innocence.

Even knowing he was trying to soften my heart, I still gave in time and again. He Zifei often scolded me for lacking ambition, but during those moments, I found joy in it—until three years later when I finally realized how uninspired it was!

I had long known that Wen Xicheng owned an apartment in this city because He Zifei and Jiang Yang often got keys from him when they wanted to go out, yet he rarely returned there, mostly staying in the dorm.

He Zifei said he didn't like being alone there.

When we arrived at his apartment, I understood why he disliked solitude; the space was large—over one hundred and eighty square meters—and even standing in the living room felt somewhat empty.

The place was luxuriously decorated but lacked warmth.

Wen Xicheng went straight into the bathroom after getting home, and I could hear the sound of water followed by him throwing up. I guessed he must have drunk more than he could handle. I remembered him mentioning last time that he felt a burning sensation in his stomach, so I pulled out the medicine box from under the coffee table.

Inside, besides various cold and fever medications, there were stomach medications, many of which I had never even heard of.

"What are you doing?" Wen Xicheng asked, having come out without me noticing, beads of water still on his face as he bent down to look at me.

I pointed to the medicine box. "Are all these yours? Do you often get sick?"

He nodded and walked toward the kitchen. When he returned, he was holding two cups, a cute pair of cartoon mugs.

I smiled as I took them, and he looked at me in confusion before frowning as he sat down on the sofa, rummaging through the medicine box and pouring out two pills, which he swallowed.

I sat beside him and softly asked, "Do you have a stomach problem?"

He leaned his head on my shoulder, holding my hand against his stomach, and said, "Sometimes it's uncomfortable. It's fine if I don't drink."

"Then don't drink anymore in the future," I instinctively replied.

He curved his lips into a smile. "Okay."

After sitting on the sofa for a while, he pulled me up. "Let's go take a shower."

I shook my head. "No, I didn't bring any pajamas."

He bent down, his face just inches from mine, laughing mischievously. "I have some!" With that, he turned and walked into the bedroom, returning with a pink nightgown in hand.

My face flushed with embarrassment, and I glared at him. "You planned this!"

Wen Xicheng wrapped his arms around my shoulders, gazing into my eyes with playful mirth as he teasingly bit my nose. "I did. What's wrong with that?"

His shameless teasing made my resolve waver. I lowered my head and mumbled, "I want to go back."

Wen Xicheng chuckled softly twice before turning my shoulders. "Hurry up, all the toiletries in there are new."

After a few moments of hesitation, I awkwardly made my way toward the bathroom.

Everything felt so familiar, as if it were all meant to be, making every action feel effortless. When we lay on the bed under a single quilt, with him holding me tightly in his arms, the only feeling I had was a profound sense of unrealness, yet it felt so right!

As his soft, warm lips cautiously brushed against mine, it felt like a jolt of electricity coursed through me, leaving my entire body tingling and my thoughts completely scattered!

I felt his tongue tentatively licking my lips, then gradually sliding in. I wanted to dodge and escape, but his tongue seemed to have a will of its own, capturing me entirely. Gradually, I began to feel a tingling sensation at the base of my tongue.

This sensation was unlike anything I had ever experienced.

I couldn't compare it to anything else and didn't know if his kissing skills were good, but under his alternating tight and loose, fast and slow movements of sucking and entwining, I felt my body growing hotter, my consciousness slipping away, accompanied by a racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, and finally, I began to break into a sweat.

Then, I felt a brief lapse in awareness. As I finally gasped for fresh air and opened my eyes, I was met by a pair of anxious eyes staring back at me. I swallowed hard and looked at him blankly, asking, "What's wrong? You're drenched in sweat?"

Wen Xicheng gazed at me intently for a while, let out a slight sigh, and pressed my head against his chest. In no time, I felt the vibrations of his chest as muffled laughter escaped him.

I froze for a moment, then found myself caught in an awkward state.

A few days later, while playing Truth or Dare, when I was asked about my feelings during my first kiss, Wen Xicheng burst out laughing and answered for me, "Oxygen deprivation and fainting!"

That night, we fell asleep in each other's arms, but I had simply lost my first kiss; Wen Xicheng made no demands. However, around midnight, I found his hand straying, pressing against me through my pajamas and giving a gentle squeeze. I took his hand and gradually placed it aside, but as soon as I released it, he returned it to its previous position, burying his face in my neck and letting out a disgruntled grunt, as if that spot were his territory.

I stared at his relaxed sleeping face for a while, gently smoothing his soft black hair before covering him with the blanket, conceding to the moment.

During the first two years apart, on sleepless nights, I often thought, if I hadn't been so indulgent with him back then, if I had learned to say no then, would he have left me so easily? Would he have gotten engaged to someone else?

In this world, there are no "ifs," and I would never know the answer!

In my senior year, classes were scarce; job hunting and gatherings became the main focus. I wanted to leave the north and explore the water towns of the south, but several cities that piqued my interest did not attend our university's job fair, so I began paying attention to online job advertisements.

He Zifei aimed to go to Shenzhen, while Jiang Yang planned to take the graduate entrance exam.

Wen Xicheng never shared his plans with us. When I asked him twice, he playfully buried his face in my neck and said, "Wherever you go, I will go."

He was like a clingy puppy.

When winter arrived, Wen Xicheng's apartment became the preferred gathering spot for everyone. On afternoons with no classes, we would go to the supermarket to buy ingredients and cook at his place; naturally, they were mostly there to eat while I took on the cooking.

However, every time, Wen Xicheng would seem quite unhappy. He always directed others to help me, then took my hand and said, "Look, look, the ones soaked in water aren't tender anymore. We're not mothers in summer; I can't bear to use them. Cooking for you little brats is killing me."

I felt my cheeks flush amidst the collective groans, but inside, I was overjoyed.

Wen Xicheng loves hot pot. Although he always suffers from bloating for a long time afterward, he can't get enough. Sometimes, he would eat it for three consecutive days without tiring of it, though the others couldn't keep up.

I take the initiative when it comes to grocery shopping. When I head to the supermarket, I always ask what everyone wants to eat.

He Zifei will say, "Pork rib soup! Your rib soup in summer is amazing!"

Jiang Yang will suggest, "Steamed bass! So tender and fresh, I'm drooling!"

Jia Ningtao will chime in, "Spicy boiled meat slices! The spice is just perfect!"

Finally, I turn to Wen Xicheng and ask, "How about you?"

"Hot pot!" The teenager's face stays calm, his gaze soft and smiling.

With everyone watching eagerly, I smile and walk toward the hot pot area. Then a wave of protests erupts, with He Zifei shouting the loudest. He always says, "In the summer, you can't indulge him like this; he'll become increasingly unruly!" I turn to look at the smug smile of the boy beside me and choose not to refute him. I always want to lessen the sadness in his smile a little more, so I feel that no amount of indulgence is ever enough—truly never enough!

A week before Christmas, I suggested returning to the dormitory due to exams. Wen Xicheng walked me to the dorm entrance, his reluctance so obvious, holding my hand tightly and refusing to let go. I tried to coax him for a while, but it was useless. As I watched the door about to close, I realized I had truly spoiled him. I straightened my expression and said, "Let go, or I won't let you eat hot pot for two weeks." I rarely get stern with him, so this occasional threat still carries weight. He pouted, burying his face in his scarf and looking at me with a pitiful expression. After a moment, he slowly released my hand. I adjusted his scarf and hat a bit, hugged him briefly, and ran toward the corridor; I was afraid that staying any longer would make me weak-hearted.

Back in the dormitory, I first went to the balcony. The boy downstairs was slightly tilting his head back; seeing me, he immediately smiled. I waved at him, but he reluctantly turned away, his hands stuffed in his pockets, his silhouette looking somewhat forlorn. I returned to the room, glancing at the yarn and knitting needles on the bed. I bit my lip, thinking that if I stayed up all night, I could probably finish it in three days. Yes, I had uncreatively decided to knit a scarf for Wen Xicheng as a Christmas gift.

On Christmas Eve, He Zifei brought a Christmas tree, and the ten or so of us worked hard all day. When night fell, the bulbs on the branches lit up, twinkling beautifully.

Wen Xicheng ordered a feast from a hotel, complete with some imported wine. He Zifei quietly remarked to me, "Your boyfriend is so extravagant; this one dinner is worth my living expenses for an entire year." 

I glanced at the boy hanging gifts on a ladder, laughing like a child, and whispered, "I'll talk to him later." 

He Zifei scoffed and turned away. 

Alright, I admit I won't say anything, but... what's the relationship? As long as he's happy, that's all that matters! 

The Christmas tree is adorned with presents. A turkey dinner, very Western, very romantic. The room is illuminated by candles, their tiny flames reflecting smiles on everyone's faces. The atmosphere is at an unprecedented high; four bottles of foreign wine quickly vanish, and everyone feels a bit tipsy. 

When it's time to open presents, each gift bears the recipient's name. Everyone receives an abundance of gifts. I take a box from the top of the Christmas tree, my name inscribed in a deliberately w

I touched the cool heart-shaped pendant against my collarbone and turned to look at him. "It must be quite expensive, right?" He embraced me, burying his face deep in the scarf, and laughed softly, "Not expensive; anything that can be bought with money isn't truly expensive. I really like this gift for the summer. Thank you!"

I smiled and, noticing that no one was paying attention, kissed him gently on the cheek. He burst into laughter and then took my hand, placing it around his neck. I felt a thin chain, followed it down, and discovered a pendant. As I took it out, I saw a hollow heart. He lifted the pendant from my chain and placed it inside the hollow, fitting perfectly without a single gap. He hugged me tightly, looked down into my eyes, and softly said, "Perfect Love!" Tears began to fill my eyes, and I nodded repeatedly, unable to speak.

That night was so beautiful, etched deeply in my heart, impossible to forget. So much so that every Christmas Eve for the three years we lost contact, I spent working overtime. I didn't dare to recall it, fearing I wouldn't be able to move on!