On the afternoon of January 2nd, Cen Jin fulfilled her promise and took Li Wu to watch a football match at the City Stadium.
The venue was vast, its streamlined white structure making the tens of thousands of spectators appear as small as ants. They were all enclosed within a giant eggshell, clustered together in tight groups.
The spectator guidelines required ticket checks an hour in advance. Cen Jin disliked rushing in at the last minute, and since this outing was a key part of Li Wu's birthday celebration, they arrived early.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, the announcement for ticket inspection came through the speakers. She asked for Li Wu's ID card to make final preparations before security check.
This was her first time seeing Li Wu's ID. The boy in the photo had neat black hair and stared expressionlessly at the camera, his brows and eyes strikingly defined.
Cen Jin asked curiously, "When was this taken?"
Li Wu replied, "Not long after I came to Yi High School."
Cen Jin glanced at him, "Did the school arrange it?"
Li Wu nodded.
Cen Jin handed back the tickets and ID, "Keep them safe, we're going in now."
Li Wu took them with both hands.
The pitch below the stands was lush green, while the ticket inspection line stretched like a tight, endless string of beads. They were just two among them, moving slowly forward.
With nothing else to do, Cen Jin lowered her gaze to her phone.
Li Wu, equally idle, looked down at Cen Jin.
Suddenly, a WeChat voice call popped up on her screen.
She opened it and saw it was from Zhāng Jué, but as soon as she answered, he hung up.
Zhāng Jué switched to a text message: I think I saw you.
He shared a location: City Stadium.
Cen Jin turned to look around. Noticing her searching gaze, Li Wu subtly shifted aside to give her a clearer view.
But limited by her height, all she saw were unfamiliar faces. Finding nothing, she replied: I don't see you.
Zhāng Jué said: Look back again.
Cen Jin turned a second time and finally spotted the man waving excitedly in the crowd, just four or five people away.
Cen Jin's eyebrows lifted in a smile as she waved back.
Li Wu, observing her expression and movements, also turned to look.
It was a young man in a black turtleneck sweater, with his overcoat draped over his arm. He wore a broad, unreserved smile, clearly delighted by this chance encounter.
Cen Jin waved her ticket and called out, "You came to watch too?"
Zhāng Jué's magnetic voice cut easily through the crowd, "Yeah, where are you sitting?"
"Me..." Cen Jin glanced down at her ticket.
Li Wu averted his eyes and stood upright, expressionless.
Just as Cen Jin confirmed her row and seat number and was about to look up and answer, her view was blocked. Raising her gaze a few centimeters higher, she met the boy's unsmiling face, his chin set stiffly, as if completely unmoved.
Cen Jin gave up, abandoning the distant conversation with her colleague, and sent a photo to Zhāng Jué.
The man replied with his own seat number: Just one section away from you.
Cen Jin typed: Must be my brother. I'm here with him.
Zhāng Jué: No wonder. I thought you were interested in this kind of event.
Yeah, just accompanying the kid. Cen Jin sighed inwardly and typed back: Not really interested at all.
An hour later, the very woman who had claimed "not really interested at all" became the most fervent presence within dozens of meters in Section A.
"Ahhh, so handsome, ahhhh—"
"Oh my god, a goal— Huh? Ugh... so close."
"Pass to him! Pass it! Why didn't he catch it! Couldn't he catch it even one centimeter away?!"
...
She alternated between clenched-fist cheers and muttered complaints, her voice cracking several times in between.It was Li Wu's first time attending such a large-scale event. As far as the eye could see, the stadium was packed with people. The screams and chants of fans cheering for their teams were incessant, filling the air with fervor.
Immersed in such an environment, it was hard not to be swept up by the fervent atmosphere, but compared to Cen Jin, his excitement was nothing. More often than not, he watched the players competing on the field like an outsider, occasionally stealing glances at Cen Jin's unusually vivid reactions—so different from her usual self—and intermittently allowing a smile to tug at his lips.
A single football match, yet everyone had their own thoughts.
Zhang Jue also frequently glanced toward Cen Jin, chuckling endlessly at her animated expressions.
When a vendor came by selling drinks, Zhang Jue bought three cups and intended to hand one to Cen Jin first.
Amid the noisy crowd, Cen Jin was completely absorbed, her eyes sparkling with excitement, entirely oblivious to him.
The paper cup hovered in front of Li Wu for a long moment. Li Wu glanced down at it, his brow furrowing slightly before he reached out and intercepted it, feigning nonchalance as he asked, "Want me to give it to her?"
The boy's sidelong glance carried a hint of unfriendliness. Zhang Jue was taken aback and withdrew his hand. "You can have it," he said.
At halftime, the woman finally quieted down.
She became as still as if she were a different person, accepting the drink from Zhang Jue and taking small sips, seemingly exhausted from all the shouting.
Seeing her emotions settle and her return to her usual weekday elegance, Zhang Jue leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and teased her, "Jin Jie, you're quite the seasoned fan, huh..."
Cen Jin fiddled with her straw, aware that she had lost her composure earlier, and offered an awkward smile. "Don't laugh at me. I really think football matches are exciting now."
"Yeah, the live atmosphere is great; it's easy to get swept up in it," Zhang Jue shifted his gaze to Li Wu, drawing him into the conversation. "Which team does your brother like?"
Li Wu remained silent.
Cen Jin answered for him, "He probably doesn't have a particular favorite. Today is his birthday, so I brought him along. Qiqi gave me the tickets."
Zhang Jue raised an eyebrow slightly and offered a warm smile. "Happy birthday, little brother."
Li Wu looked at him and thanked him. He noticed that this man possessed a kind of ease and confidence he had never seen before—able to chat and laugh naturally with anyone, his demeanor and tone perfectly measured. In contrast, Li Wu himself often felt as awkward and unexpressive as a block of wood.
A pang of painful envy rose within him, tightening like a knot in his chest.
Noticing the young man's persistent silence, Zhang Jue studied him curiously and asked, "Is he your biological brother?"
Cen Jin replied, "No."
Zhang Jue nodded in understanding and complimented, "I thought you didn't look much alike, but he's still very handsome. Your family has good genes."
Cen Jin smiled faintly but said nothing, as if tacitly agreeing with his conclusion.
Amid the roaring crowd and fluttering flags, with fans breaking into song, Li Wu felt an unexpected emptiness and inadvertently lowered his gaze.
In the second half, Cen Jin reverted to her earlier state, growing even more unrestrained.
The game was deadlocked, with the players in white failing to score several times. Cen Jin's voice grew hoarse, and she accidentally knocked over half a cup of popcorn.
Li Wu was showered with popcorn as it scattered everywhere. He quickly bent down, legs apart, to pick it up.
Just then, a series of fluid passes unfolded on the field, building up to a potential goal. The entire stadium rose to its feet, screaming at the top of their lungs.
Cen Jin glanced down unintentionally and saw the boy still sitting there, calmly picking up popcorn. Annoyed, she grabbed the back of his collar and yanked him upright. "Watch the game! You can pick that up later!"
The woman's warm, soft hand brushed against the back of his neck for a fleeting moment.
Li Wu froze, his heart racing.
Boom!A header shot, a black-and-white blur piercing through the air, disdainfully sweeping over the crowd, swiftly crashing into the net.
Beep—
The sharp final whistle echoed across the entire stadium.
The spectators’ roars surged like a tsunami, wave after wave, unstoppable.
Yet Li Wu sat stiffly, his face flushed red, unable to move, feeling as though the pounding in his chest was about to drown out all the commotion on the field.
...
As the crowd dispersed, the three of them gathered their belongings and walked out of the stadium together.
Cen Jin and Zhang Jue chatted and laughed, eagerly discussing the highlights of the match, while Li Wu followed in silence.
When they reached the exit and were about to part ways, Zhang Jue offered to treat them to a meal. Cen Jin shook her head politely, saying they had other plans and thanking him for his kindness.
Zhang Jue didn’t press further and watched as the two walked away.
On the way to the car, it was just the two of them again.
Li Wu’s mood lifted slightly, and the air felt fresher and more pleasant. After weighing his words for a moment, he spoke sullenly, "Was that your friend earlier?"
Cen Jin exhaled a breath of weariness from having dealt with unnecessary social interactions. "A colleague."
Li Wu asked, "Why didn’t you go eat with him?"
Cen Jin countered, "Did you want to eat with him?"
Li Wu said, "No."
"Then that’s that. I didn’t want to either," Cen Jin agreed. Her thoughts drifted back to the match and the stands, and as her delayed reaction caught up, she began to interrogate him: "Did you even watch the game properly? You were picking things up when the goal was scored."
Li Wu said, "I watched."
Cen Jin tested him, "Then tell me, which players scored the three goals today?"
Li Wu: "..." He pondered for a moment, then accurately recited the jersey numbers and names of the three players. He had looked them up beforehand and committed them to memory, so he was familiar with the entire team.
"Really—" Cen Jin lifted her eyes, scrutinizing him with a mix of doubt and suspicion.
Li Wu met her gaze, his confidence wavering under her intense stare. His reply came with a hint of hesitation: "I think so."
Cen Jin couldn’t hold back a laugh, snorting as she teased him for being so easily fooled: "Actually, I have no idea who’s who. I was just asking for fun."
Li Wu fell silent again, pressing his lips together to suppress a smile.
"How can you be so calm even while watching a match?" Cen Jin glanced back at the stadium’s white roof, dissatisfied. "It’s as if I were the one celebrating a birthday today." Li Wu said, "Was I?"
"Yes," Cen Jin replied, a mix of regret and frustration in her voice. "I thought boys your age would love this kind of thing."
Afraid she might start doubting herself, Li Wu quickly said, "I really liked it."
Cen Jin slipped her hand into her pocket, feeling for the car keys. "But you didn’t seem excited at all."
"I was excited..." The boy’s voice trailed off, unsure how to prove it. Fine, it was his fault for not being more expressive. But he truly was happy. No matter what they did, as long as he was with her, it felt precious to him, like a gift.
Cen Jin pressed the car lock, scanning the area for where she’d parked. "Good thing I reminded you, or you would’ve missed the last goal."
The boy’s back stiffened abruptly, the lingering sensation on his nape reignited and intensified by her words... His ears grew warm, and after an awkward moment, he touched the same spot before catching up to Cen Jin.
On the way home, Cen Jin stopped by a dessert shop to pick up the birthday cake she had pre-ordered.
It was coated in a dark blue mirror glaze, dotted with stars that looked like strokes from an oil painting.That evening, they collaborated to cook a pot of Longevity Noodles, sharing them as they ate while engaging in sporadic conversations about trivial matters. They reminisced about the past, envisioned the future, discussed her work, his studies, and the days they had shared together.
Cen Jin solemnly brought out the cake and lit the candles—one shaped like a "1," the other a "7."
She turned off the lights and softly hummed a few lines of the English birthday song, gentle and tender, like faint fireflies drifting across a desolate plain.
In the flickering candlelight, Li Wu experienced the first truly ceremonial birthday of his life.
His seventeenth.
Cen Jin urged him to make a wish. For some reason, he felt inexplicably shy, his face flushed by the candlelight. After some back-and-forth, Li Wu finally closed his eyes.
Cen Jin watched him. In the candlelight, the boy’s face was serene, as if in deep meditation, almost divine.
When he opened his eyes, Cen Jin didn’t ask about his wish. Instead, she inquired, "Li Wu, why did they choose the character 'Wu' (fog) for your name?"
Li Wu looked at her. "Because there was heavy fog outside when I was born. That’s what my grandfather said."
Cen Jin replied, "But you’re nothing like fog."
Li Wu was taken aback. "Then what am I like?"
"Like..." Cen Jin paused, then lied, "I can’t think of anything right now."
No, she could imagine.
He was the raw purity and tranquility distilled from mountain streams and lush vegetation—a pristine creek in a deep valley, sturdy and verdant vines, a ridge still bearing sharp peaks.
So, while he made his wish, Cen Jin seized the moment to make one of her own: she hoped this kid could always remain this way, forever clear and untainted.
—
After the New Year’s holiday, Yi High School’s final exams followed closely.
The classroom atmosphere grew tense and anxious, yet there was also a restless excitement about the upcoming long break.
Fully immersed in exam preparation, Li Wu obtained Cen Jin’s permission to stay at school for two consecutive weeks, studying tirelessly day and night, often forgetting to eat or rest.
His three new roommates shared similar interests—they were all the type who found relaxation in studying, so he no longer felt like an outsider.
On the thirteenth, after finishing his science comprehensive exam, Li Wu rushed to the subway and hurried home.
The house was empty except for him. Cen Jin was clearly still at work. But he wasn’t disheartened. Sitting quietly in the study for a moment, he couldn’t resist sending Cen Jin a message: I’m done with the exams.
Three minutes later, she replied: How did it go?
Li Wu: Not bad.
Cen Jin: I’ll be satisfied when you drop the first word.
Li Wu: …
Staring silently at the message for a while, he rephrased and sent a single word: Good.
Cen Jin confirmed: Is this 'good' answering the first question or the second?
Li Wu: Both.
Cen Jin: You said it.
Li Wu: Mm.
Cen Jin: If you’re not in the top thirty of your grade, I’m coming for you with a weapon.
Li Wu: …
Seeing his silence, she grew even bolder, sending a fierce meme of someone holding a brick as a threat.
Li Wu smirked, tilting his head to gaze at the sunlit window of the study. He tried to suppress it but couldn’t hold back his laughter. Finally, he changed the subject: I’m already home.
There was no response from the other end.
A short while later, she sent a screenshot of a food order, matter-of-factly adding: Remember to eat.
Li Wu: "…"
He asked: Have you eaten?
Cen Jin: Soon.
Li Wu: What time are you off work?
Cen Jin: Not sure. It’s hectic today.
Not having seen her for half a month, he now had to endure the torment of this uncertain wait. The young man ruffled the back of his head in frustration. Outwardly calm, he replied with an "Mm," then flipped his phone over, bent down to pull out his winter break practice handouts from his backpack, and retrieved his pencil case.Just as he was about to pick up the pen, his fingers paused, then he retrieved the two-inch photo from the inner layer.
He gazed intently at her, his heart calming, the corners of his lips curving upward—it happened every time.
A few minutes later, he carefully placed it back, sealing it away securely.
His birthday wish was both abstract and specific: May Cen Jin always be happy, just like in the photo.
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