On a certain November night in 2012, Luo Ying sat alone by the window.
Her left hand propped up her forehead while her right hand flipped open a novel.
The novel was titled "Fingersmith," depicting a love story between a young lady and her maid.
As she read the scene where the maid undressed the lady, she felt as if transported into the story, glimpsing through flickering candlelight the gradually converging souls of two young women.
Her fingers grew numb, the pages beneath her fingertips feeling like air. She heard the pitter-patter of falling rain, countless raindrops like pearls scattering across her heart, sliding slowly along unknown trajectories.
Just then, a message popped up on her phone screen: "Senior, I'm working on a quantum programming platform. Would you like to join our research team?"
Luo Ying replied absentmindedly: "Sure."
Lin Zhixia instantly responded: "Thank you, senior!"
Luo Ying asked her: "How have you been lately?"
"Pretty good," Lin Zhixia countered, "What about you?"
Luo Ying answered evasively: "I'm reading a novel."
Lin Zhixia naturally grew curious: "What kind of novel?"
Luo Ying vaguely and briefly described it: "A romance story."
Lin Zhixia told her: "What a coincidence, I watched a romance movie last night called 'Closer'."
Closer?
Whose heart was being stolen?
Luo Ying continued questioning: "What was the movie about?"
Lin Zhixia typed a long paragraph: "The male lead's wife is the female lead, the male lead falls in love with the second female lead, the second female lead marries the second male lead, the second male lead is interested in the female lead, and the male lead cheats on his wife with the second female lead. In the end, the second female lead reconciles with the second male lead. The female lead is pressured by the male lead about whether she slept with the second male lead, and finally realizes the male lead neither loves nor trusts her, so she dumps him. How about that? Isn't the ending interesting?"
Luo Ying only felt her tone was lively and vivid, the emotional entanglements in the movie softened by her narration.
Luo Ying said: "Wow, that sounds fascinating."
Whenever Luo Ying chatted with Lin Zhixia, the corners of her mouth would always lift slightly. She could set aside all her work, deriving immense joy from their brief conversations.
Lin Zhixia was intelligent and optimistic, lively and cheerful, knowledgeable and talented, a good listener... Luo Ying could easily list countless virtues, yet none could explain her current peculiar state of mind.
She asked Lin Zhixia: "Do you believe in love?"
Lin Zhixia quickly replied: "I believe humans have rich emotions."
Luo Ying thought for a moment before slowly typing: "You're still quite rational."
Lin Zhixia added: "Not entirely rational. To be honest, love isn't that important. It's not a stable, lasting state—it changes over time."
The tender feelings in Luo Ying's heart vanished in that instant. And she couldn't even tell whether Lin Zhixia had done this intentionally or unintentionally.
She picked up her teacup, took a sip of hot tea, and said: "Let's talk about your research team."
"Okay, senior!" Lin Zhixia cheerfully agreed.
From that day on, Luo Ying officially joined Lin Zhixia's team—the research team with the best atmosphere she had ever encountered. They respected each other, got along harmoniously, and could communicate calmly even when holding different opinions.Lin Zhixia was the team's technical leader, while Jiang Yubai handled coordination with various parties and expanded the team's scale. He was exceptionally considerate in his interactions with others, possessing both a pleasant temperament and good cultivation. He was probably Lin Zhixia's most capable partner.
Luo Ying was willing to join Lin Zhixia's company not only because she admired Lin Zhixia's abilities but also because she trusted the entire startup team.
After working back in China for a year, Luo Ying had grown increasingly accustomed to her office life and could derive pleasure and satisfaction from her work. The only drawback was that her parents frequently urged her to find a boyfriend.
She was almost thirty years old.
Her parents wanted to arrange blind dates for her.
Without consulting Luo Ying, Mom had forwarded her WeChat contact card to a young man from a wealthy family with handsome looks.
Mom said earnestly, "A-Ying, take a look. This is the young man I picked for you after careful consideration. He returned from studying in the United States, stands 185 cm tall, comes from a good family, is five years younger than you, matches you well, and you'll have common topics to discuss."
Upon hearing this, Luo Ying was taken aback.
Because Lin Zhixia was also five years younger than Luo Ying.
That night, the young man sent her a WeChat message: "Sister, you're still awake?"
Luo Ying maintained a polite attitude: "About to sleep, good night."
The young man then said: "The pinyin for 'good night' is 'wanan,' and the first letters of 'wo ai ni' (I love you) are also 'wanan,' hehe."
Luo Ying didn't reply.
The young man quickly asked: "What are you thinking about, sister?"
Luo Ying replied: "Thinking about women."
The young man: "Holy crap?"
Luo Ying retorted: "Do you understand now?"
The young man: "Hehe, I can wear women's clothes, sister."
Staring at the pitch-black ceiling, Luo Ying suddenly made up her mind. She was almost thirty years old. The ancients often said, "At thirty, one stands firm." She should take complete control of her life—no one could manipulate her will. Whatever the consequences, she would willingly bear them.
Having reached this realization, Luo Ying reiterated: "I really like girls."
The young man fell silent.
Luo Ying clarified her stance: "'Good night' is a polite expression, just like 'goodbye.'"—This message wasn't sent because the young man had already deleted her.
She was pleased and slept soundly that night.
The next morning, however, Luo Ying's household was in an uproar.
As it turned out, the young man had screenshotted their chat history and sent it to Luo Ying's mom.
Mom and Dad questioned Luo Ying as if facing a formidable enemy, demanding to know what she meant by "I really like girls."
Dressed neatly and sitting upright on the living room sofa, Luo Ying answered sincerely and seriously: "You might not be able to accept this. But you are my closest family. If even you can't accept me, where else can I find acceptance? I truly like girls, very much. I want to find a girlfriend."
Mom was too shocked to speak, while Dad held his forehead with both hands, remaining calm for a long time.
Luo Ying remained unflustered: "You're always pushing me to go on blind dates, wasting both your time and those boys' time."
Holding onto a last shred of hope, Dad asked her: "Did you make up an excuse because you don't want to go on blind dates? Mom and Dad won't force you..."
"Dad," Luo Ying interrupted him, "Do I look like I'm lying? I'm being serious. You can sense that, can't you?"
Dad was left speechless.Mom patted Dad on the back. With her other hand, she grasped Luo Ying's wrist. Though Mom didn't say a word, Luo Ying saw understanding and support in her eyes—in that moment, Luo Ying's eyes grew slightly moist. She felt deeply grateful for Mom's consideration. However, Mom's efforts for her went far beyond this.
A few days later, Mom messaged Luo Ying on WeChat: "I've been looking for a girlfriend for you recently."
Luo Ying: "?"
Mom: "You need a companion, even if it's a female one. I approve."
Luo Ying: "Let it happen naturally. I'm not in a hurry."
"That won't do," Mom insisted. "If you wait too long, all the good ones will be taken. How lonely you'll be later."
Luo Ying copied and pasted the words Lin Zhixia had previously sent her: "Love isn't that important. It's not a stable or lasting state—it changes over time."
After a long pause, Mom replied: "Alright, do as you wish then."
Luo Ying lay on her bed and casually posted a WeChat moment containing just two words: "Let fate decide"—she hardly ever posted on social media, and this was her first update in six months.
Within moments, Meng Liansi messaged her with a question: "Is becoming lovers considered good karma?"
Luo Ying sat up, leaning halfway against the headboard.
She remembered Meng Liansi quite well.
Meng Liansi was a young associate professor and also Lin Zhixia's colleague. Six months ago, she had added Luo Ying on WeChat and had frequently initiated conversations since, though their discussions had always been strictly work-related.
Now, with Meng Liansi suddenly posing such a question, Luo Ying could only play along: "Yes."
Meng Liansi pressed further: "Do you wish to cultivate good karma?"
After several roundabout hints, what she really meant was: "Do you want to be in a relationship?"
Luo Ying responded discreetly: "A little."
Meng Liansi asked to meet her on Saturday.
Saturday was tomorrow.
Luo Ying agreed.
Then, refreshing her WeChat moments, Luo Ying saw that Meng Liansi had posted a series of selfies. In the photos, Meng Liansi had jet-black hair and snow-white skin, with red lips and bright teeth, her eyes staring directly at the viewer. Luo Ying's finger paused involuntarily.
Meng Liansi had captioned the photos: "Just asked out my crush."
Luo Ying slowly hugged her pillow tighter.
The next morning, Luo Ying got up at eight to do her makeup. Freshly dressed, she arrived ten minutes early at their meeting spot, only to find Meng Liansi already there.
Meng Liansi approached her slowly and handed her a bouquet of vibrant roses. The deep crimson petals bloomed magnificently, much like the smile blossoming on Meng Liansi's lips.
Luo Ying accepted the flowers and said softly, "Such beautiful roses, and so fragrant. Thank you."
Meng Liansi smiled gracefully. She lifted a hand to tuck her dark hair behind her ear, and Luo Ying noticed her earrings—a pair of delicate pink cherry blossom accessories.
Luo Ying's gaze lingered for two or three seconds before Meng Liansi let her hair fall back down. They entered a corner café and settled at a dimly lit table.
Opening the menu, Luo Ying asked gently, "Professor Meng, what would you like to eat? Order anything—it's my treat."
But Meng Liansi said, "Only my students call me Professor Meng. You're not my student."
Luo Ying placed the roses on her lap. "What should I call you then?"
Meng Liansi lowered her head without answering. Luo Ying ventured a guess: "Sisi?"Luo Ying's tone was melodious and pleasing, with an upward lilt at the end and a hint of laughter. She only called out "Sisi" once, making Meng Liansi take a sip of iced lemon water to quell the blazing fire within her heart.
Luo Ying stopped using her nickname.
Meng Liansi excused herself to go to the restroom, grabbing her phone as she headed to the bathroom. She secretly sent a message to Lin Zhixia: "Teacher Lin, is your senior going to attend your company's team-building event next week?"
Lin Zhixia retorted, "I have many seniors. Which one are you referring to?"
"The one you know," Meng Liansi vaguely replied.
Lin Zhixia enthusiastically encouraged her: "Teacher Meng! Just ask Senior Luo Ying directly! Don't be timid! March forward boldly! I believe in you! You're an important member of our four-school research group! I warmly welcome you and your senior to join our company's team-building event!"
This was the first time Meng Liansi had seen Lin Zhixia use so many exclamation marks.
She suspected Lin Zhixia had already figured everything out.
She decided to take Lin Zhixia's advice.
After washing her hands, spraying on perfume, and checking her reflection in the mirror, she finally returned to Luo Ying's side.
Luo Ying was stirring a cup of coffee. Holding a small silver spoon, her fingertips paused slightly: "Do you enjoy life in big cities? Like Beijing or New York, for example."
Meng Liansi was somewhat surprised. Looking at Luo Ying, she suddenly said, "I went to New York University with my advisor to give a presentation. You were doing your PhD in New York at that time."
"Is that so," Luo Ying remarked thoughtfully, "I've always felt like I saw you years ago."
Meng Liansi changed the subject: "Are you attending the company team-building next week?"
"Is Teacher Meng busy with work next week?" Luo Ying answered evasively.
Meng Liansi took Luo Ying's question as an indirect invitation. Almost without thinking, she quickly replied: "I'm not busy. I'm not teaching this semester, so I can take paid leave next week."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had been too eager.
She gently pushed the vase on the table, letting several deep red artificial flowers obscure her face. Through the dense gaps between flowers and leaves, she met Luo Ying's gaze for a few seconds. Surprisingly, Luo Ying smiled: "Let's travel together."
Luo Ying plucked a rose and placed it on her empty plate.
She said, "Okay," then added, "I'm good at photography. I'll take pictures for you."
Luo Ying praised, "Teacher Meng is truly talented."
The way she said "Teacher Meng" sounded even more delightful than "Sisi." Meng Liansi tightened her grip on her skirt with her left hand while using her right hand to remove a cherry blossom earring. She hung it on the stem of the rose in the plate and returned the flower to Luo Ying.
From that day onward, Meng Liansi and Luo Ying chatted for at least two hours every day.
Their conversations covered a wide range of topics, filled with various fragmented details. Luo Ying discovered that Meng Liansi was smarter and more adorable than she had imagined.
Luo Ying had initially thought Meng Liansi was the type of disciplined, highly organized career woman who kept everything in perfect order. However, reality turned out to be the opposite of Luo Ying's expectations—Meng Liansi was quite a homebody and loved sleeping in. She could spend an entire day reading a book, often forgetting to eat during that time, and when tired, she would collapse on the sofa to watch movies. Her favorite fruit was oranges, her most beloved snack was chocolate, and her most cherished movie genres were heartwarming animated films like "Zootopia," "Coco," and "Natsume's Book of Friends."On the eve of the company team-building trip, Luo Ying stuffed two large boxes of chocolate into her suitcase, an action noticed by her mom.
Her mother probed indirectly: "A-Ying, is there something going on? Why haven't you told me? Your dad and I would be thrilled to hear it. His investments have been very successful this first half of the year—if you've found someone, it'd be double happiness for our family."
But Luo Ying replied, "We're not at that stage yet."
Her mother advised, "Take it slow, dear. Start with chocolates and plush toys, then in a couple months, give her a phone, a necklace, a diamond ring—that's how you seal the deal."
Luo Ying pressed down on her suitcase, almost able to feel the outline of the chocolate boxes through the fabric.
Her mindset was peculiar.
She didn't have thoughts like "I need to hurry up and fall in love" or "I must win her over." She simply wanted to understand and get to know Meng Liansi better before considering her next move.
The next morning, before dawn, Luo Ying was already up.
She applied delicate makeup, wore a dress and trench coat, put on pearl earrings, and dabbed on a perfume blending kumquat, mandarin, and lemon scents—she guessed Meng Liansi would probably like that fragrance.
Luo Ying guessed right.
On the way to the airport, Meng Liansi sat in the same row as Luo Ying.
When Meng Liansi caught the scent on Luo Ying, she straightened her back. But no matter how straight she sat, her heart was curved—how could she hide it?
During the two-hour ride from the company to the airport, Meng Liansi was initially a bit nervous, but gradually relaxed. Having woken up early and feeling tired, she unknowingly fell asleep.
She dreamed.
She dreamed of Luo Ying playing with her hair, winding the black strands around her fingertips into the shape of a ring. She led Luo Ying home, but just as they were about to step inside, a wine bottle fell from the sky, hitting her head and making her see stars.
Meng Liansi opened her eyes.
The real world remained calm.
Luo Ying was listening to music.
"What are you listening to?" Meng Liansi asked her.
Luo Ying gently pulled out one earbud with her left hand and placed it over Meng Liansi's right ear, her movements soft and intimate. Meng Liansi heard a soothing piano piece. She asked again, "What's the name of the song?"
"To a Wild Rose," Luo Ying told her.
To a Wild Rose—that was the name of the piano piece.
The mid-spring sunlight was brilliant and warm. Rays streamed through the window, falling on Luo Ying's neck and shoulders. Her skin was somewhat pale, but the warm-toned light enhanced her complexion, making her look like a beauty stepped out of a painting.
Meng Liansi gazed at her, mesmerized. Luo Ying smiled again, removed the other earbud, and lightly placed it over Meng Liansi's other ear.
This time, her fingertips briefly brushed against Meng Liansi's earlobe.
She seemed to scratch it unintentionally.
Meng Liansi raised her left hand, pressing it tightly against her cheek—she felt a tingling itch, yet exhilarated, as if tickled all over by a feather before sinking into a pool of rippling warm spring water. Those complex and unfamiliar sensations intertwined, making her bite her lip lightly without thinking.
*After the tour bus arrived at the airport, everyone disembarked. They boarded a large passenger plane and flew directly to their destination, "Penglai Mountain," whose magnificent landscapes are world-renowned. The peaks are steep and perilous, dense foliage blocks out the sky, and the lakes are so clear you can see the bottom—truly boundless scenery.
Lin Zhixia checked the employees into a local hotel.
The hotel was named "Mountain Rose Retreat," with an extremely elegant and tranquil environment. A fountain stood in the center of the lobby, surrounded by a circle of vibrant roses. Meng Liansi bent down to admire the roses, and as Luo Ying passed by, she said, "The roses are beautiful."
Luo Ying didn't turn around.
But she replied, "So are you."
She meant—you're beautiful too.
Meng Liansi's heart grew even more unsettled.
She watched Luo Ying walk toward Lin Zhixia.
Lin Zhixia exchanged a few words with Luo Ying, and a smile shimmered in Luo Ying's eyes.
Lin Zhixia even helped Luo Ying collect her room key. She handed the key card to Luo Ying herself, and as their eyes met, she patted Luo Ying's shoulder like an older brother. Suddenly, Jiang Yubai appeared behind Lin Zhixia and subtly led her away, leaving Luo Ying standing alone.
Luo Ying lowered her head to check the room key.
Her wavy hair covered the side of her face, and Meng Liansi couldn't see her expression at all.
What was she doing?
What was she thinking?
Questions about her were endless, like a swarm of relentless ants gnawing away at Meng Liansi's good mood—this couldn't go on. Meng Liansi tilted her head, shifting her perspective to gaze at the blue sky and white clouds outside the window.
Another minute passed, and Luo Ying's voice was suddenly close to her ear: "Teacher Meng, you're sharing a room with me."
Teacher Meng remained sitting upright.
Luo Ying continued, "I just asked Lin Zhixia. If you don't want to room with me, there are still vacant rooms. Our company has booked the entire hotel."
Meng Liansi stood up. Carrying her suitcase, she followed Luo Ying's footsteps toward their shared bedroom.
Only after entering the room did Meng Liansi say, "Luo... Luo Ying."
But Luo Ying replied, "When you call me by my full name, it makes me nervous."
Meng Liansi quickly said, "Yingying."
Luo Ying laughed enchantingly: "Is your next line 'whimper whimper whimper'?"
Meng Liansi opened her suitcase and took out a skincare gift set. Knowing Luo Ying loved roses the most, she had spent over two thousand yuan to buy a rose essence skincare set at a large department store in the provincial capital. Quietly, she placed the gift set on the sofa without saying a word or making a sound, yet Luo Ying looked at her with a slightly surprised expression.
Out of the corner of her eye, Meng Liansi glanced at Luo Ying's half-open suitcase and suddenly noticed several glass bottles tucked in the corners—she recognized the brand, one far beyond her own financial means.
Belatedly, she realized the gift she had given Luo Ying was inappropriate.
In a panic, she explained, "Don't touch them, I'll use them all up myself."
Luo Ying sighed softly: "I thought this was a gift from you."
Meng Liansi only responded with a smile.
A moment later, Luo Ying went to take a shower.
Meng Liansi pulled out her phone and earnestly consulted Lin Zhixia: "Teacher Lin, I have a friend with a stable job and an annual after-tax income of around four hundred thousand. The girl my friend likes comes from a very wealthy family..."Before Meng Liansi could finish speaking, Lin Zhixia began typing her reply: "It's alright, Professor Meng, don't worry about these things. Since your friend isn't interested in money but only in people, then ignore the money issue and focus on building relationships between people first. Money is secondary, people are primary. Address the main issue as the priority."
After typing this, Lin Zhixia nodded to herself, thinking: This only applies to Luo Ying and Meng Liansi's situation.
She pressed send, then waited patiently for a response like Hongniang in The Romance of the Western Chamber.
She waited for a long time, but Meng Liansi didn't reply.
What was going on?
Was Professor Meng still feeling shy?
Lin Zhixia lay sprawled on the bed, her phone facedown, while Jiang Yubai diligently packed his luggage nearby. His industrious demeanor caught her attention, and she began pounding the mattress vigorously, hoping to make him turn and meet her gaze.
Not only did Jiang Yubai not look back, but he also took a few steps backward, bumped into the edge of the bed, and tumbled onto the soft mattress.
Lin Zhixia burst into laughter. Eagerly, she spread her arms and lunged for him, but he effortlessly dodged her. They began playing a game of cat and mouse on the spacious bed, with Lin Zhixia taking on the role of the "cat."
Lin Zhixia couldn't match Jiang Yubai's stamina, and chasing him around proved futile. To catch him quickly, she grabbed the soft blanket and threw it over him like a net. However, Jiang Yubai followed the blanket's trail, and in an instant, their roles reversed. As Lin Zhixia lifted the blanket to escape, it was already too late. She could only protest, "You're cheating. You didn't run when you saw me."
Jiang Yubai clasped her waist firmly with both hands, laughing as he leaned down to kiss her. "We just started playing, and no rules were set. How can you say I'm cheating?"
Jiang Yubai's argument was sound, and Lin Zhixia had always been a reasonable person. She said, "Then I'll set the rules now."
Jiang Yubai stared directly at her. She shifted toward the head of the bed, but he remained seated, unmoving, adapting to the situation with stillness.
Lin Zhixia glanced at the ceiling, where a rose-shaped chandelier hung in the bedroom, and casually remarked, "I remembered a... classical poem from Europe seven hundred years ago."
Before announcing the game rules, Lin Zhixia diverted the topic to a seven-hundred-year-old poem. Fortunately, Jiang Yubai was long accustomed to her whimsical train of thought.
Jiang Yubai took off his jacket and reached out to pull her close. Following her gaze upward, he noticed the rose chandelier. Understanding her meaning, he recited a line from one of Shakespeare's sonnets: "From fairest creatures we desire increase, that thereby beauty's rose might never die..."
As he uttered "fairest creatures," his hand slipped inside her collar.
Lin Zhixia's breath hitched. She gripped his wrist.
Unyielding, Jiang Yubai pressed close to her ear and whispered, "Professor Lin."
Lin Zhixia calmly concluded, "You often use that tone to lure me in."
Jiang Yubai gently nibbled her earlobe and added, "I haven't seen you for six days while on a business trip last week." His words carried a hint of urgency to mend their marital bond. His right hand became that of a mender, exploring her back through her clothing.
It didn't take long for Lin Zhixia to nearly succumb, but he chose that moment to ask, "Which poem were you thinking of earlier?"
Lin Zhixia answered truthfully, "An English poem, known in Chinese as 'All Night by the Rose.'"
She recited the lines in full: "All night by the rose, I lay all night by the rose, not daring to steal it, but I plucked this flower [1]."
After speaking, she leaned close to Jiang Yubai's ear and said, "It reminded me of the word 'deflower.'"
Generally, the English prefix "de-" can imply "remove, negate, take away, or depart." And "flower" means blossom. Yet "deflower" can subtly imply "defile."The word "deflower" led Jiang Yubai astray. He gazed at Lin Zhixia with an extremely complicated expression, prompting her to immediately shake out the quilt and cover him with it, saying, "You should appreciate that poem from a literary perspective."
Jiang Yubai's voice came from under the quilt, "I just want to pick a flower, Professor Lin."
Lin Zhixia quickly slipped into character: "No, this is you not learning properly."
Jiang Yubai flung off the quilt with a carefree motion: "Learning properly doesn't come with rewards anyway."
Lin Zhixia leaned up slightly to kiss the corner of his lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist and they tumbled onto the bed, the phone by the pillow sliding off with the movement. Lin Zhixia heard it fall onto the soft carpet with a soft thud.
Meanwhile, Luo Ying and Meng Liansi had gone on a trip together.
They wore similarly colored dresses as they walked along the tree-shaded mountain path.
The mountain trail wound steeply, and Meng Liansi carried a DSLR camera. She raised it to take photos around them, with Luo Ying occasionally appearing in the frame. Captured through the lens amidst interplaying light and shadow, Luo Ying appeared even more delicate and beautiful, leaving Meng Liansi momentarily spellbound.
"Be careful," Luo Ying reminded her, "the steps are steep."
Meng Liansi hurriedly replied, "Okay, you be careful too."
She unintentionally reached out a hand, and Luo Ying steadied her.
She never let go again.
When they reached the mountainside, they came across a small market.
Pale mist still lingered in the air, and the wind rustled through leaves. Meng Liansi felt as if she were in a fairyland, the market before her arranged by celestial beings to make travelers forget all life's worries—Meng Liansi nearly forgot about the paper she had published just last week.
Luo Ying pulled Meng Liansi to sit down at a wonton stall.
The stall owner was a kindly, white-haired woman in her seventies. Though showing her age, she worked with remarkable speed, soon placing two steaming bowls of wontons before Luo Ying and Meng Liansi.
Luo Ying broke apart the bamboo chopsticks and inhaled the wonton's aroma. It had been a long time since she'd felt such a hearty appetite. The wontons were filled with pork, floating in a broth with seaweed, bean sprouts, and dried shrimp, emitting a fresh, savory fragrance.
Luo Ying picked up a wonton with her chopsticks, but upon her first bite, her tongue nearly went numb from the heat. Tears welled in her eyes, and Meng Liansi immediately handed her a bottle of water: "Spit it out and drink some water."
After recovering for a few minutes and drinking half the bottle, Luo Ying joked self-deprecatingly, "I can't even eat properly anymore."
"I brought vitamin E," Meng Liansi remained concerned about her injury, "Take some over the next few days. It'll help your tongue heal faster."
The mountain breeze through the trees was refreshing, cooling the hot soup. Luo Ying lowered her head to continue eating her wontons and mentioned casually, "I brought chocolate for you."
Meng Liansi paused her chopsticks: "Especially for me?"
"Yeah," Luo Ying said, "Red wine filling, your favorite."
The wonton Meng Liansi had been holding slipped back into the bowl.
An old man walking with a cane came along the shaded path. He wore a straw hat on his back, a loose undershirt and long pants, and carried a plastic lunch box in his hand. He handed the box to the old woman at the stall, then began helping her. The old woman picked up a handkerchief to wipe his sweat—clearly, they were a married couple.
After watching them for a while, Meng Liansi asked absently, "Have you ever liked someone before?"
Luo Ying took a sip of soup before answering, "Yes, I have."Meng Liansi felt a pang of bitterness in her heart and couldn't help pressing further, "Who is it?"
Luo Ying countered, "Have you ever liked someone?"
Meng Liansi wasn't as open as Luo Ying.
She switched her chopsticks to the other hand, and Luo Ying realized she could use both hands with equal dexterity—neither left-handed nor right-handed.
Just as Luo Ying was about to express admiration, Meng Liansi said, "I also liked a girl once..."
She deliberately emphasized the word "girl" and then looked up at Luo Ying. If Luo Ying's expression turned odd, it would mean she had misunderstood all along—that Luo Ying only saw her as an ordinary same-sex friend. This possibility made her anxious, so she lifted her head quickly. Fortunately, Luo Ying's expression showed no trace of discomfort. She continued to gaze intently at Meng Liansi.
Only then did Meng Liansi go on, "I was a freshman at the time and had joined a school club. My roommate and I worked late into the night until dawn. After drinking coffee, she had some beer, kissed me twice, and asked me to be her girlfriend."
"Did you agree?" Luo Ying asked.
Meng Liansi suddenly chuckled, "When I went home for the weekend, I told my parents I wanted to be a girl's girlfriend..."
Using her own family as a reference, Luo Ying guessed, "Did your parents agree?"
Meng Liansi's tone remained gentle, "Dad kicked me. He said I was abnormal, that I had disgraced the whole family and brought shame upon everyone. The female classmate also told me she was just joking and that it scared her when I took it seriously."
Luo Ying let out a long sigh.
Meng Liansi ate another wonton, "Later, I pursued my master's and doctoral degrees, published papers, and applied for patents. I'm not very sociable and often stay cooped up at home. My parents set me up on blind dates, but I had no interest. What could come out of a blind date? I always told the matches that my family was drowning in debt and that my job wasn't a permanent position. After repeating these lies a few times, no one wanted to meet me anymore."
Luo Ying tried to lighten the mood, "You're quite clever."
Meng Liansi smiled, "What about your first experience with love?"
After a brief pause, Luo Ying confessed everything, "I've never been in a relationship, only had a crush on someone."
Meng Liansi hadn't expected a girl like Luo Ying to have suffered the pains of unrequited love—most likely falling for a straight girl.
Sure enough, Luo Ying summarized, "The person I had a crush on was very beautiful and cute. Her boyfriend was great too—they were a perfect match. Eventually, I moved on."
Meng Liansi said, "I'm a little envious."
"Hmm?" Luo Ying looked up.
Meng Liansi changed the subject, "These wontons are really delicious."
Luo Ying lowered her head again.
That day, Luo Ying always remembered the words Meng Liansi had relayed from her family: "You're abnormal, you've disgraced the whole family and brought shame upon everyone."
Meng Liansi and Luo Ying were around the same age. Their parents were born in the 1950s or 60s, conservative in their views and old-fashioned in their ways—which was understandable.
However, parents' relentless belittlement and curses would always wound their children. Knowing this, why did they still freely humiliate their own? It was hard to comprehend.
The company's team-building activity lasted four days.
During those four days, Luo Ying and Meng Liansi were inseparable and got along harmoniously.
Meng Liansi took many photos. After returning to the provincial capital, she developed some of them, carefully placed each photo into a beautiful album, and gave the album to Luo Ying as a gift.Luo Ying received the photo album, feeling as if she could glimpse the delicate and rich emotions captured within the pictures.
As spring gave way to summer and temperatures gradually rose, Luo Ying and Meng Liansi met with increasing frequency, their relationship growing more harmonious with each passing day.
After six months of dating, Luo Ying purchased an apartment near the university district. Both she and Meng Liansi moved into their new home and adopted two cats together. However, they maintained a low profile—aside from close friends and family, almost no one knew the true nature of their relationship.
Luo Ying’s parents had long accepted Meng Liansi, treating her as another daughter.
Meng Liansi’s family situation, however, was more complicated. Her parents—especially her father—held rather traditional views. Upon learning that Meng Liansi was in a relationship with a woman, he flew into a rage and unilaterally cut off all contact with her. He refused to answer her calls or respond to her messages, stating only, “When you get back on the right track, we’ll talk properly. Aren’t you afraid of what your colleagues and students might think? You’re a teacher! What will people say behind your back? Everyone will point fingers and condemn you!”
In short, her father painted the consequences in the gravest of terms.
Luo Ying wanted to accompany Meng Liansi on a visit to her family home, but Meng Liansi firmly refused.
She feared that her elders might say hurtful things that would leave a lasting shadow on Luo Ying.
Luo Ying didn’t press the matter further. She and Meng Liansi sat side by side on the balcony bench, watching the sunset fade from the sky. Their two cats lay curled on their laps. As the evening glow painted the horizon, Luo Ying lifted her teacup and gently clinked it against Meng Liansi’s.
“My dad…” Meng Liansi began, then trailed off.
“It’s alright,” Luo Ying reassured her. “Whenever your dad comes around and is willing to talk to us, we’ll have a proper conversation with him.”
Meng Liansi took a sip of rose tea, its fragrance soothing her heart. Relaxing, she gazed into the distance and said, “I’m living a good life now—the kind I never dared to imagine before. Even if my dad never understands, it’s fine. I’ve long since made up my mind…”
Luo Ying covered the back of her hand with her own. They locked eyes in the fading twilight, and without another word, their fingers intertwined. A knowing smile passed between them, hearts in perfect sync.
Luo Ying recalled how Meng Liansi’s father had accused his daughter of “sullying” the family’s reputation.
The word “sullying” was too harsh—her heart was pure and unblemished, as was her love. Even if past experiences had left faint shadows in the depths of her soul, within those shadows bloomed a garden of radiant roses.
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