Chapter 30: Silhouette of Romance

Over the weekend, Ruan Zhizhi spent two full days with out stopping to eat or sleep to put in writing her press launch at house.

The espresso on the pc desk was already her fifth cup, and Ruan Zhizhi was typing on the keyboard swiftly with each fingers, the considerably broken diary unfold out on the facet.

She couldn’t see mild or heat on this diary. The younger lady’s melancholy and despair hid the sky and lined the earth.

On the keyboard, Ruan Zhizhi typed the ultimate interval. Instantly after, she heard the ringtone of her mobile phone. To her shock, it turned out to be a name from Gu Nian.

Ruan Zhizhi kneaded the house between her eyebrows and answered the telephone, “Very long time no see, ah, Eldest Miss. How was your honeymoon?”

On the opposite finish of the telephone, Gu Nian’s voice was as lovable and charming as at all times: “Spectacularly good, Fengjin and I went to see the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Statue of Liberty in New York, and the sunny seashores in Bali. This month has handed the top of magnificence and perfection in my life.”

Listening to the happiness that might not be hid in her tone, Ruan Zhizhi instantly laughed: “It’s good that you just’re blissful. Pleased marriage.”

Wishing that you just reside collectively till the white hairs of previous age, at all times sure along with one thoughts.

“Aiya, I didn’t name you to speak about this.” Gu Nian appeared to appreciate that she had strayed from the subject and rapidly switched the topic. “Zhizhi, I heard that you just rejected Li Sichen’s confession, is that this true or false? Others don’t know, however I do know very properly. Again then, you preferred him a lot that you just hovered between life and dying. How come you’re really so ruthless in rejecting him now?”

Ruan Zhizhi was shocked. It took her a very long time to reply. “It’s not such as you don’t know. For the reason that day I returned to China, there wasn’t a risk of me being with Li Sichen on this life.”

Gu Nian sighed. “Anyway, it’s additionally okay to refuse. There’s an excessive amount of of a previous between you and Li Sichen, and even should you had been collectively, you wouldn’t essentially be blissful. Truly, what I instructed you earlier than, have you ever correctly thought-about it? In my eyes, Shi Yan actually is an ideal romantic accomplice. Firstly, he’s good-looking. Secondly, he’s wealthy. Lastly, I’ve labored with him for a few years. He’s at all times maintained the picture of being single with zero scandals, to not point out how clean-living and trustworthy he’s.” She paused right here, then continued tentatively, “Zhizhi, I do know that you just’re a bit timid along with your emotions now, and that you just’re afraid to get harm. However it’s precisely as a result of I do know you so properly that I really feel like an individual akin to Shi Yan, who’s above the widespread man, is most fitted for you.”

The environment was so quiet that solely the sound of the clock ticking by on the wall may very well be heard. One second, two seconds, three seconds.

“I do know he’s good to me. I simply suppose that if I solely care about my very own experiences, it isn’t truthful to him.”

She knew that Shi Yan preferred her very a lot. The best way he checked out her was like he wished to provide her your complete world. 

However she requested herself truthfully, Ruan Zhizhi, are you actually in a position to like Shi Yan like he likes you? For those who can’t…isn’t it higher to maintain being associates in the intervening time?

Gu Nian clearly didn’t suppose so: “I’m telling you Zhizhi, it’s only a relationship. There’s no have to suppose a lot. Folks, all of them have to reside within the second. For those who don’t give it a attempt, how will what the result is? Who is aware of, possibly after you get collectively, you’ll uncover that the 2 of you might be very suitable, and your feelings will grow to be deeper and deeper.”

……

Might or not it’s like that?

After the telephone name with Gu Nian, Ruan Zhizhi sank into an countless daze.

She recalled many, many issues.

The primary time they noticed one another on the café, he was forward of her and occurred to purchase the final macarons within the store. Later, on the bus throughout their journey to Yunnan, he generously gave her a sweet.

That evening on the bar in Lijiang, he casually gave her a paper rose. Since then, day by day and each evening, she at all times saved it within the pocket of her down jacket. As if the demons and gods had been at work, she hadn’t thrown it away.

Later, they returned to Metropolis A. On New Yr’s Eve, on account of an sudden flip of occasions, they met by likelihood on the road. In an effort to specific her because of him for taking good care of her in the course of the journey, she invited him to a very shabby dinner. The 2 of them occurred to benefit from the fireworks that spanned the entire sky collectively.

The opposite day, there was a heavy downpour of rain. He insisted on giving her the umbrella in his hand. Alone, he walked into the curtain of rain, his again quiet and desolate.

Within the hospital, her complexion was as pale as paper. When she was dizzy, he woke her up, handed her a cup of brown sugar water, and even bandaged her wound correctly.

Two days in the past on the interview scene, amongst the gang, he reached out and held her for the primary time. His chilly voice fell into her ears, time and again, like a demon of temptation. She couldn’t overlook it.

……

There have been nonetheless many, many extra situations. Solely by recollecting them one after the other, might she understand that the person with an detached temperament and sombre look had already invested all his sincerity to keep up a correspondence together with her, little by little.

Ruan Zhizhi, who initially thought her coronary heart was nonetheless like water, appeared to listen to a thawing sound for a cut up second. 

She thought, possibly she actually ought to give herself an opportunity. An opportunity to have happiness.

Ruan Zhizhi sat like this on the carpet, reflecting on life. After making a call, she lastly felt mild from head to toe. The sentiments of constraint and helplessness throughout this time period immediately vanished like smoke.

She stood up from the carpet and moved her limbs, feeling a bit empty in her abdomen. She didn’t really feel like sporting a jacket, so she straight wore a sweater gown, grabbed her pockets, and went downstairs to search for meals.

The whole approach, she hummed a music and walked down the steps in a great temper. Ruan Zhizhi deliberate it in her coronary heart. The following time she noticed Shi Yan, she would inform him that she had already considered it, and wished to be along with him. 

That night, the moonlight was excellent, as tranquil and mild as water. The celebs filling your complete sky twinkled as in the event that they had been speaking to her. Ruan Zhizhi walked on the highway at a relaxed tempo. As a result of she hadn’t worn a coat when popping out, she felt a slight chill, so she determined to not go far and simply discover one thing to eat close to the neighbourhood.

It was virtually 9 o’clock already. Presently, there weren’t many individuals popping out to have a meal, and the snack distributors on both facet of the road had been practically closing. Ruan Zhizhi looked for some time and eventually noticed a sticky rice ball store that was nonetheless open.

There weren’t many individuals popping out to eat right now, and the meals stalls on each side of the road had been virtually closed. Ruan Zhizhi looked for some time, and eventually noticed a glutinous rice ball store that was nonetheless open. With enjoyment of her coronary heart, she quickened her tempo and walked in. 

Inside, the store proprietor was busy placing on gloves on the eating desk. There have been two different folks standing in a queue except for her. It appeared that she had made it in time. Ruan Zhizhi made up her thoughts and determined to face on the finish of the road. 

When she joined the road, the boss glanced up at her and confirmed a candid smile: “Little lady, you got here on the proper time, there’s sufficient glutinous rice left for one final rice ball.”

“Evidently I’m fairly fortunate.” Ruan Zhizhi additionally smiled, and habitually requested the boss to place meat floss and sausage in it. When it was lastly achieved, the opposite celebration kindly wrapped a duck egg yolk within the rice ball totally free.

After Ruan Zhizhi paid the cash and left the store with a pleasant, heat rice ball in hand, she felt that right this moment was really a very stunning day.

She walked out and returned to the neighbourhood alongside her authentic path. At this second, the variety of folks on the highway had been step by step changing into sparse. There have been just some workplace employees strolling their canines house, younger {couples} who had gone out for a date, and infrequently, she might additionally see the aged going for a stroll whereas leaning on their canes.

A big hearth truck with flashing crimson lights hurtled down the center of the road as quick as lightning, whirling up mud. Ruan Zhizhi stood to the facet of the pedestrian walkway, then felt a bit chilly and pulled down the cuffs of her sweater gown.

The evening surroundings grew to become peaceable once more. Solely the quiet sound of footsteps remained. Ruan Zhizhi carried the rice ball in her embrace and reached an intersection. The sunshine simply occurred to show from inexperienced to crimson. She wasn’t in a rush, so she adopted the gang to cease and wait patiently.

5 seconds, 4 seconds, three seconds—

Ruan Zhizhi yawned and lifted her head, casually glancing throughout the road. Within the subsequent second, her line of sight couldn’t assist however freeze.

Shi Yan’s determine…she wasn’t having blurred imaginative and prescient and seeing flawed, proper?

At this second, the moon was brilliant and the celebrities had been sparse. The person throughout the road from her was sporting a pure white letterman jacket. Tall and slender, his again carried a faint sense of alienation as he quietly walked alone.

Below the dim yellow streetlights, the define of his facet profile was as lonely as a flower on a cliff, harmful but infatuating.

It appeared like he was about to go far. Ruan Zhizhi immediately felt a bit impetuous in her coronary heart. Earlier than the indicator mild turned inexperienced, she couldn’t assist taking a step.

Strolling by the tide of those who pressed her like a present, each step appeared extremely troublesome. However for some purpose, the need to see him grew to become all of the extra stronger.

Finally, crowded all the way in which to the alternative facet of the highway, Ruan Zhizhi immediately didn’t dare to lookup right now, for concern that the acquainted again had already disappeared from the huge crowd.

Simply when she was at a loss, with out warning, a slender and swish hand stretched out in entrance of her, quietly positioned earlier than her eyes. As quickly as her coronary heart moved, Ruan Zhizhi held the hand subconsciously with out elevating her head. 

The fingertips had been ice-cold, and it solely received a bit heat when it unfold to the hole of the palm.

Then she lifted her head a bit bit, and the person’s extraordinarily chilly brows and eyes got here into view: “You at all times panic when crossing the highway.”

He was not shocked in any respect when he checked out her, as if within the fleeting prosperity of town, they ought to fulfill.

Ruan Zhizhi stared at him with out blinking. Simply when she was about to say one thing, the tip of her nostril immediately itched, and within the subsequent second she sneezed uncontrollably. 

Shi Yan frowned. He pulled her to the internal fringe of the sidewalk. Then, with out the slightest hesitation, he took off his letterman jacket and draped it over her. As if he felt that merely protecting her was nonetheless not sufficient, he took the sleeves of the jacket and started to cowl her arms in them. 

A bit of confused, Ruan Zhizhi placed on his jacket in accordance together with his actions. Bowing her head, she noticed Shi Yan bend his waist, align the zipper, and pull all of it the way in which up till her chin was tightly wrapped.

The 2 occurred to be standing at a milk tea store. Shi Yan turned his head and glanced at it. With out saying something, he went over fairly naturally and ordered a cup of heat milk for her.

Ruan Zhizhi stood there and checked out him from a shoulder away. Happiness surged by her like a tidal wave in that second. 

Shi Yan grasped a cup of scorching milk in his hand and circled. The new steam from the milk smothered his options, vague as if taking a look at flowers within the fog. Solely a pair of darkish, shining eyes remained. They resembled flames, burning her rationality to nothing.

She felt that tonight’s Shi Yan was particularly charming. Or maybe it was as a result of she had lastly let down her guard.

“Shi Yan, proper now I’m going to say some issues, you simply reply me, okay?” She pursed her lips, seeming to talk with dedication.

Shi Yan positioned the cup of scorching milk in her fingers to maintain her heat and hummed with out emotion. 

Ruan Zhizhi took a deep breath and mentioned very solemnly, “Proper now, say that you just like me.”

The opposite celebration didn’t blink and replied with out hesitation: “I such as you.”

“Say that it needs to be me.”

“In all my life it might probably solely be you.”

“Say that you really want me to be your girlfriend.”

In the mean time when Ruan Zhizhi’s voice fell, there was a stunning silence between heaven and earth. Her eyes had been mounted on Shi Yan. Her voice had trembled barely when she spoke, however she stubbornly refused to again down.

Crowds of individuals surged round them, town was ablaze with lights, and but he didn’t understand it. His pupils appeared significantly brilliant underneath the sunshine, and he virtually drowned her together with his ardency:

“Ruan Zhizhi, give me the possibility. Let me be your boyfriend.”

She heard this and smiled softly like a butterfly, then replied very merely: “Okay, I promise you.”