Returning - Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Old Times

The year she first met Ling Jianwei, Zhao Yu was nineteen, and Ling Jianwei was seventeen. At that time, she was still called Tang Xi.

She and Zhuang Ye had already been dating for over half a year. During the first month of that summer break, she stayed in Donghai under the pretext of social practice, but in truth, it was just to be with Zhuang Ye.

Their parents were unaware of what was between them.

Zhuang Ye had an apartment in University City, but they both lived in the student dorms and only went to the apartment for their private time on weekends. That summer, they stayed in the apartment the whole time.

Outside of regular classes, Tang Xi and Zhuang Ye often worked part-time at a bookstore in University City. Once summer break started, the bookstore had few customers, and the owner couldn't be bothered to mind the store himself. Knowing they would be staying in University City for an extra month, he left the bookstore in their care for that period.

The first time Ling Jianwei came to the bookstore was around noon. Zhuang Ye had gone out to buy juice for Tang Xi and happened to be away.

Tang Xi was sitting alone by the window, reading. The air conditioning was blowing a little too strong, making her feel chilly. When she got up to adjust the switch, she noticed someone standing outside the window, seemingly watching her.

White shirt, jeans, very tall, and exceptionally handsome. When he met her gaze, he even ducked his head in fright.

Seeing his reddening face, Tang Xi couldn't help thinking to herself that he must be a shy boy. And judging by his age, he probably just started senior high school.

"Hello, welcome." She offered a polite smile and asked gently, "Can I help you with anything?"

The bashful young man shook his head vigorously, turned around and walked away in a fluster. But after just two steps, he suddenly stopped, turned back, looked up to double-check the store's name, and spoke: "I'm looking for Zhuang Ye. Is he here?"

"He's out, but he'll be back soon. Come on in and have a seat first," Tang Xi said, leading him inside. She then gave him a curious look. "Are you... Ling Jianwei?"

Ling Jianwei stared back at her with equal surprise. He paused for a moment before reacting: "You... you... you're Zhuang Ye's girlfriend?"

Not only did he blush, he even stammered when talking to people.

Amused, Tang Xi looked at him and said, "Yes, I'm Tang Xi. I often hear Zhuang Ye mention you. Nice to finally meet you."

Back then, she not only frequently heard the name Ling Jianwei from Zhuang Ye's lips, but also often heard the name Ji Sui.

To quote Zhuang Ye, Ji Sui was far too boring. Even though he was only three years older, it felt like there was a ten-year generation gap between them. Since childhood, Zhuang Ye had never really enjoyed playing with Ji Sui, instead often hanging around with Ling Jianwei.

When Zhuang Ye was being proper, he was the quintessential model young man, a sunny big boy. But when he wasn't being proper, he carried a roguish, sly charm – a real rascal with a hidden streak of mischief. Tang Xi had always assumed that anyone who grew up running wild with him would share a similar personality.

But then Zhuang Ye also told her that Ling Jianwei, much like Ji Sui, was a man of few words, and often terribly dull.

Tang Xi had found it puzzling at the time. If that was the case, then why did he get along so well with Ling Jianwei specifically?

"Because he's practically a genius. He skipped two grades in elementary school, is two years younger than me, and still ended up in my class. I could never beat him on exams – it was a huge disgrace, you know? So I applied to be his desk mate. I wanted to closely study whether his brain was wired differently from mine."

When he said this, Zhuang Ye even made a funny face at Tang Xi, making her double over with laughter. She asked him, "And then?"

"And then..." Zhuang Ye let out a defeated sigh. "He proved to me, with sheer results, what natural talent really means. Some things are just innate. I studied like my life depended on it, but I still couldn't beat him. I was stuck as the second-best in the class, every single time. From elementary school to middle school, then to high school, I watched him study every day. I made sure I got up earlier than him and went to bed later than him, but damn it, I just couldn't beat him. Doesn't that piss you off?"

Based on Zhuang Ye's descriptions, the Ling Jianwei Tang Xi had imagined was probably a scrawny, old-looking bookworm wearing antique glasses. Meeting him in person, the reality was a stark contrast to her mental image.

She turned to get Ling Jianwei some water, then thought for a moment and decided to just call Zhuang Ye directly: "Are you still at the juice shop? Ling Jianwei is here. Bring him a cup too."

After saying that, she smiled at Ling Jianwei again and asked, "What would you like to drink?"

Ling Jianwei stared at her fixedly. He froze for a second before answering hastily: "Just... watermelon juice is fine."

Seeing how he blushed and stammered as soon as he spoke to her, Tang Xi couldn't help but think it was truly a curious thing that someone with Zhuang Ye's personality could be friends with a person like this for so many years.

But after Zhuang Ye returned, Tang Xi realized she had been mistaken. When Ling Jianwei spoke to Zhuang Ye, he never blushed or stammered.

When Zhuang Ye teased him and told him to call Tang Xi "sister-in-law," Ling Jianwei could even stretch out his leg to kick him. That mode of interaction was completely different from how he acted in front of her. So she came to the conclusion that Ling Jianwei probably hadn't interacted much with girls; the moment he spoke to one, he got nervous.

The three of them sat together, chatting and drinking juice. Tang Xi drank watermelon juice too. While talking, a little bit dribbled from her mouth by accident. Zhuang Ye noticed it, leaned right over, sucked the juice off her lips, and took the opportunity to kiss her fiercely twice before pulling away. He even added, without a shred of seriousness: "So sweet."

The two of them were used to being playful and intimate, and minding the bookstore together was basically just a change of scenery to continue their canoodling. For a moment they didn't realize there was anything wrong with such public intimacy. It wasn't until Tang Xi caught Ling Jianwei's blank, staring look that she remembered someone else was there. Feeling her face burn, she smacked Zhuang Ye hard with her hand.

Zhuang Ye burst out laughing, caught her hand, and gestured towards Ling Jianwei: "His brain only has room for studying. Just treat him like a wooden post."

Tang Xi naturally couldn't actually treat Ling Jianwei as a wooden post. But at that time, he was young, and looked even younger. To her, he was like a minor, a little brother. When interacting with him, no other thoughts could possibly cross her mind.

The first gift she ever gave Ling Jianwei—if it could even be called a gift—was during that summer break.

At that time, Ling Jianwei was studying a foundation course in the UK. Naturally, coming back home for summer break was just like any other holiday, often spent hanging around with Zhuang Ye. It was just that this time, Zhuang Ye had a girlfriend by his side.

There was a DIY pottery shop near the bookstore, often frequented by kids during the summer. One day, Tang Xi was feeling playful and dragged Zhuang Ye along, and ended up bringing Ling Jianwei with them.

Aside from her and Zhuang Ye, all the customers in the shop were minors. But the two adults were still having the time of their lives, even laughing louder than the kids.

Amid the fun, hearing a conversation between some children, Zhuang Ye suddenly had a realization and looked at Ling Jianwei: "I just remembered, isn't today your birthday?"

Tang Xi also quickly leaned in when she heard this: "Really? Your seventeenth birthday?"

Ling Jianwei smiled sheepishly, nodded, and said, "Seems like it."

"What do you mean 'seems like it'?" Tang Xi gave him an amused look, then poked Zhuang Ye with her clay-covered finger. "How did you only just remember? It's so late, and we didn't prepare anything."

"Can't we just treat him to a big dinner tonight?" Zhuang Ye seized the moment, lifted the huge lump of clay in his hands, and offered it to Ling Jianwei. "How about I give you this?"

As expected, Tang Xi shot him a fierce glare. But since the joke was already made, she seriously shaped the half-finished piece in her hands. She had originally intended to make a vase, but instead molded the clay into a perfectly square gift box and handed it to Ling Jianwei. "Here, a birthday gift. Much better than Zhuang Ye's lump, right?"

Ling Jianwei smiled, carefully took it over, and nodded. "Mm."

Zhuang Ye was laughing his head off on the side: "What the hell is that? A gift?"

He reached out to pinch it, and Ling Jianwei hurriedly pulled the object back to protect it. Unfortunately, the move backfired, and he ended up pulling off one corner of the clay gift box.

As for what happened to that joke of a gift afterwards, Tang Xi never paid it any attention.

She and Zhuang Ye deliberately avoided Ling Jianwei to discuss giving him a birthday surprise that evening. They left early to prepare, and no one ever cared about the things left behind in the pottery shop again.

Looking at the design draft on the computer screen, praised by so many people, Zhao Yu felt an overwhelming sense of disorientation.

It had clearly only been seven years, yet now, recalling it felt like several centuries had passed.

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