The night before going to F University to find Li Wu, Cen Jin had contemplated whether to continue this relationship.
Because Li Wu's grief and pain had also confused her, making her question whether they were truly compatible.
The answer, of course, was no.
This was a conclusion foreseeable from the very beginning.
From every angle, every perspective, she and Li Wu were incompatible.
But what couldn't be denied or ignored was that she liked him. He had planted many beautiful details in her life—perhaps not so obvious, but when calmly unearthed, they revealed sparkling treasures everywhere.
She didn't want to give up hastily.
After washing up, Cen Jin rummaged through her belongings and found her college-era diary.
Back then, she still liked using notebooks with various macaron-colored covers—sufficiently girlish, sufficiently bright, like old jars filled with candy.
At nineteen, she had also begun an ambiguous relationship with Wu Fu. Between the lines were intense, poetic girlish sentiments—her heart would flutter like a startled deer at his glance, she would sourly critique every girl who approached him, and every fragment Wu Fu confided in her felt like dropping a strawberry-flavored effervescent tablet into her body, allowing her to live an entire day in a pink, surging halo.
Later, after they got together, the diary entries became even more unbearable—frantic, mushy, desperate, insecure, and occasionally praying like a wishing well: "I want to be with him forever, he's the best and most worthy of love."
She was deeply immersed. To be with Wu Fu, she completely ignored her parents' advice, accepted their arranged test of studying abroad, and after returning, resolutely chose to join the company where Wu Fu worked, squeezing into his department even though she didn't particularly like it. She hacked through thorns for the "love" she desired, willingly becoming an armored princess, all to march toward the standard fairy-tale ending with her ideal prince.
After closing the diary, Cen Jin finally understood why Li Wu gave her such an uncanny sense of familiarity.
It turned out he was her from back then.
The her who treated love as the main theme of life—his purity, confusion, straightforwardness, foolishness, softness, sharpness, gentleness, fierceness, his childlike heart—all were the former Cen Jin.
Cen Jin asked herself: Do I regret it?
Not necessarily.
It's just that no one told her or guided her back then. She was like the child in "Letter from an Unknown Woman," plunging headlong into her fate as if falling into an abyss.
So she didn't want to repeat the same mistakes.
She couldn't let Li Wu repeat the same mistakes.
He was her lover and also the purest, most beautiful youth in her heart. She couldn't let things drift.
At the very least, if this relationship didn't last, when he thought of it in the future, Cen Jin shouldn't be a negative example, making him regret it bitterly, filled with sorrow and resentment.
Moreover, wasn't the lesson from freshman year enough? Dragging things out, being indecisive, all because of trivial misunderstandings.
So she came to find him the next day and had prepared some enticing traps in advance.
Before coming, Cen Jin had been uncertain, after all, the young man had left with unusual determination, unable to be called back.
But the progress was far smoother than she had expected, and because of this, she confirmed that Li Wu, like her, was a paper tiger, a cactus that could bloom.
The words she wanted to say to him were also the words she wanted to say to her nineteen-year-old self.To loathe this kind of high-purity, high-concentration love was equivalent to loathing her past self.
Cen Jin couldn't bring herself to do that—at least not now, absolutely not.
Fortunately, she had spoken her mind, and he had truly listened. When the young man fell peacefully asleep in her embrace, she was finally able to close her eyes calmly as well.
After the storm had passed, they shared the tranquility beneath the clearing sky.
They slept until past two in the afternoon, when Cen Jin went to the front desk to check out.
Turning back to look at Li Wu, she saw he had improved significantly, the sparkle returning to his eyes like gleaming black gemstones. Cen Jin's heart felt lighter too, and she curved her lips into a smile, asking him, "Do you have any plans later?"
Li Wu countered, "What about you?"
Cen Jin said, "Nothing."
Li Wu replied, "Neither do I."
Cen Jin casually fastened the top horn button of his overcoat and lifted her eyes: "Let's go on a date."
Over the past few months, he had been attending school while she worked, spending most of their time at home, never having gone on a proper date like an official couple.
Li Wu grasped one of her hands, amusement flickering in his eyes: "Where to?"
Cen Jin asked, "Where would you like to go?"
Li Wu said, "You decide."
"But today I want to hear your opinion."
"Anywhere is fine with me."
"Same here."
The hotel front desk staff watched the two politely going back and forth and couldn't help but chuckle teasingly: "You two are so formal in your relationship."
Cen Jin glanced back at her with a serious expression: "Because we just met each other today."
The front desk clerk widened her eyes with an "oh ho" expression.
Li Wu understood immediately and smiled faintly at her little joke.
Cen Jin then asked the front desk clerk, "Do you have any recommendations?"
The clerk paused briefly before quickly suggesting: "How about going to Nanhuai Road for shopping, dining, and watching a movie?"
"What do you think?" Cen Jin tilted her head to look at Li Wu.
"Isn't that..." Li Wu hesitated slightly.
Cen Jin smiled faintly: "Yeah, it's near my company."
Li Wu observed her for two seconds: "Okay."
Once again, Li Wu took the driver's seat. For the first five minutes, Cen Jin offered some reminders, but seeing that the young man's driving skills showed no rustiness, she quietly settled into her role as the officially designated passenger.
After leaving the parking garage, Li Wu kept asking if Cen Jin was cold. Although she was wearing a nearly ankle-length black coat, her legs were bare, making her somewhat vulnerable to the cold in this weather. When Cen Jin shook her head saying she wasn't cold, he nevertheless insisted on taking her to the nearest clothing store.
Nanhuai Road was Yishi's premier commercial district, with shopping malls standing row upon row and surrounding stores mostly being luxury brands.
Worried she might catch cold, Li Wu was heading determinedly in that direction when Cen Jin quickly grabbed his arm to stop him—this wasn't within his spending range, and it wasn't necessary anyway.
She pointed to the moderately-priced mall across the street: "Let's go there instead, they happen to have a cinema."
Li Wu followed her gaze and nodded.
Cen Jin secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
While crossing the pedestrian crossing, Li Wu asked quietly, "Are you worried I can't afford it?"
Cen Jin blinked: "What?"
He continued: "I recognize that brand—you often wear it. Don't always treat me like an idiot."
Cen Jin: "..."
She pretended to be stern: "Is your scholarship meant for buying women pants?"
Li Wu disagreed: "Isn't money meant to be spent on people or things you want to spend it on?"
Cen Jin responded: "But don't exceed your means."
Li Wu said nothing more.
Entering the mall, they found a giant crystal Christmas tree standing in the center of the first-floor lobby, its layered structure resembling diamond facets, dazzling and radiant, quite eye-catching.Customers formed multiple layers of circles, stopping to watch and take photos.
The two of them also paused to look. Cen Jin really liked the tree's design—simple yet elegant—and decided to take a picture to share in her creative group as inspiration material.
She stood on tiptoe, raising her phone high to capture the full view as much as possible.
The next moment, she was unexpectedly lifted by the waist.
"Hey?" Cen Jin was startled.
"Go ahead and take the picture," said the human booster in a matter-of-fact tone.
Nearby passersby smiled as they glanced over. Cen Jin's face warmed slightly as she quickly focused and snapped a photo. "Done."
Li Wu didn't believe her: "Really?"
"Really." Only then did Cen Jin's high heels touch the ground again.
Her hand returned to his, and she chided, "Next time, don't be so sudden, okay?"
"You said to put myself first," Li Wu said seriously. "I wanted to do it, so I did."
"Since when is that how you apply principles so flexibly?" Cen Jin gritted her teeth mockingly.
Li Wu curved his lips into a slight smile.
When they reached the third floor, Cen Jin enthusiastically started browsing men's clothing and asked Li Wu if he wanted to buy anything. Li Wu shook his head: "I haven't even worn all the clothes you bought me before."
Ignoring his protest, the woman dragged him inside.
A sales assistant approached with a smile. "Shopping for your boyfriend? What style are you looking for? But with a boyfriend as handsome and well-built as yours, he'd look good in anything."
Cen Jin narrowed her eyes. "How could you tell?"
The sales assistant faltered. "Well... your boyfriend is just very handsome."
Cen Jin said, "I meant, how could you tell he's my boyfriend?"
The sales assistant's confidence plummeted, and she grew confused. "Isn't... he?"
Cen Jin remained silent.
The sales assistant grew somewhat nervous.
Cen Jin smiled mysteriously and walked past her further into the store.
Li Wu shook their interlocked hands. "Anyone can tell, right."
"Hmph." She snorted, but was clearly pleased.
Cen Jin wandered around the store, happily matching outfits, completely unable to stop.
In the end, after Li Wu repeatedly tried to dissuade her, the woman finally relented, purchasing only a double-breasted khaki oversized coat before walking out of the boutique with a stern, silent expression.
Li Wu glanced at the shopping bag. "Only you can buy things for me, not the other way around."
Cen Jin shot him a look. "The salesperson said you'd look good in anything. Someone this good-looking not wearing nice clothes is a waste."
"Alright, fine, accepted." Everything she said made sense, so he conceded.
The entire third floor was men's wear. Worried that Cen Jin's lingering desire to dress him might spiral out of control, Li Wu didn't dare stay long. He quickly pulled her to the fourth floor, found a milk tea shop, and they sat down.
After ordering at the counter, Li Wu returned to sit opposite Cen Jin.
The shop had a long queue and was packed. It was their first time sitting face-to-face in such a crowded public place. Li Wu still felt a bit uneasy, fiddling with the receipt in his hand, glancing at Cen Jin, then at the table, and secretly smiling to himself.
Cen Jin gazed absently at the busy staff making milk tea. After a while, she turned back and asked, "Did you buy the movie tickets yet?"
Li Wu took out his phone. "Not yet. What do you want to watch?"
Cen Jin said, "I'm fine with anything."
"Then I'll choose?" If they kept being polite, they wouldn't make it into the theater until midnight.
Cen Jin nodded.
Li Wu lowered his eyes and selected the highest-rated film. Before purchasing the tickets, he asked Cen Jin if it was okay.
Cen Jin said, "Up to you."The world outside was bitterly cold, while the mall was heated to the point of excess. After taking turns sipping hot milk tea, Cen Jin, bundled in her overcoat, began to sweat. But her inner wear was too flashy, making it inconvenient to unbutton or remove the coat.
Had she known there would be an impromptu date today, she would never have dressed like this.
Li Wu watched her for a moment before saying, "I'm going to the restroom."
Cen Jin replied, "Okay."
The young man stood up and walked out of the shop without looking back, disappearing from sight in no time.
Cen Jin suspected he might have fallen in, and after ten minutes with no sign of him, she grew anxious. Just then, she received a call from Li Wu, telling her to exit the shop, turn left, and keep walking until she reached a three-way intersection, then turn right—he would be waiting for her there.
His breathing was slightly heavy, as if he had just finished a long run.
Cen Jin followed his directions and stopped at the fork he indicated, only to realize it was marked by a restroom sign.
Their eyes met, and Li Wu walked over, handing her a shopping bag. He tilted his chin toward the women's restroom and said, "I bought you some clothes. Go in and change."
Cen Jin was taken aback for a moment. She lowered her head and opened the paper bag to find a white high-neck cashmere sweater and a pair of brown straight-leg pants, both of good quality and in a style she usually liked.
She curled her lips, then suppressed a smile as she rummaged through the bag. Finding nothing, she looked up and spread her hands. "Where's the receipt?"
Li Wu coughed lightly and rubbed the side of his neck. "Ate it."
Cen Jin laughed, pressing her milk tea against his chest. "Wasn't it hard to swallow? Do you need something to wash it down?"
He took the drink and obediently took a few sips, his large eyes sparkling. "Much better now."
Without hesitation, Cen Jin went into the women's restroom to change.
To her surprise, the clothes fit perfectly. How much did he know about her, to have managed this in just over ten minutes?
When she emerged, Cen Jin looked completely transformed, yet her elegance remained intact.
Li Wu looked at her and silently agreed with her playful remark: it was a waste for good-looking people not to wear good-looking clothes.
Cen Jin glanced at Li Wu and suddenly laughed, belatedly realizing why he had chosen that color and style for the top.
The young man had his overcoat draped over his arm, and underneath, he was also wearing a white high-neck sweater.
How sneaky.
Cen Jin poked him hard in the waist, but he caught her hand.
He feigned innocence. "What's wrong? Messing with me again?"
"You know exactly why."
Li Wu curved his lips into a smile. "I was just worried you lacked confidence. You always double-check when people say I'm your boyfriend."
"I just like hearing it—it makes me feel young. Is that so wrong?" No, it wasn't just that. The real reason for Cen Jin's happiness was that, in the eyes of the world, the dynamic between them had already shifted. They had become compatible, harmonious—no longer like siblings, but lovers.
"Oh," the straightforward young man, not overthinking it, muttered, "I guess I overdid it."
After putting her coat back into the shopping bag, Li Wu instinctively found her hand, held it, and led her toward the movie theater.
On the way, a staff member from a dessert shop called out to them, holding up a Polaroid camera and asking if they wanted to participate in a tasting and photo event.
Intrigued, Cen Jin asked for more details, and Li Wu stopped alongside her.
The sweet-faced staff member explained, "Today is our grand opening, and we're hosting a dessert tasting event. If you like the flavors and spend over 150, we'll give you a Polaroid photo—instant print! You two are such a handsome couple; the photo will definitely turn out amazing!"
As she spoke, she raised an intricately carved serving tray, neatly arranged with small tasting portions, their sweet fragrance filling the air.Cen Jin picked up her fork to taste the cake—it was rather ordinary, but she loved the opulent European palace-style decor of the shop.
Thinking about how few photos she and Li Wu had taken since they started dating, she tilted her head toward her boyfriend and said, "Let's take a picture. We can take the extra cake back to the dorm to share with my roommates."
Li Wu nodded.
After Cen Jin made her selection, Li Wu went to the counter to pay.
She followed him, wanting to say something, but in the end, remained silent.
They found a suitable backdrop and stood side by side.
The shop assistant, suddenly channeling a wedding photographer, exclaimed, "Oh, come on, get a little closer!"
Cen Jin shifted slightly toward Li Wu, but the young man had already reached out, placing his hand on her shoulder and pulling her firmly toward him. Both of them broke into spontaneous laughter.
Click.
Amid the assistant's excited exclamations of "Wow, you two look so perfect together! So good-looking!" Cen Jin received their third photo together.
Dressed in matching outfits, their smiles were bright and full of affection, with even the curves of their lips and the corners of their eyes strikingly similar—they looked every bit the perfect couple.
Just as Cen Jin was about to put the photo in her bag, a hand with distinct knuckles appeared in front of her, demanding, "Give it to me."
Cen Jin: "Huh?"
He justified himself confidently, "You already have one."
Cen Jin refused to listen: "No. The one I have is from high school—how is that the same?"
"I paid for it," the young man declared, snatching it from her without room for argument. He lowered his gaze to examine it, treating it like a treasure.
"Oh—" Cen Jin’s fingers now empty, she suddenly understood: "No wonder you rushed to pay—you’d already planned this, hadn’t you?"
Li Wu looked up at her, a triumphant smile on his face: "Yeah."
Cen Jin swung her arm to playfully hit him, but he let her vent, completely unfazed as he continued to admire the photo.
After a moment, Cen Jin stopped and deliberately put on a cold expression. Li Wu then handed the photo back to her: "Take a picture of it. I’m going to put it away now."
Cen Jin rolled her eyes: "Should I say 'Thank you, Your Majesty'?"
Li Wu smirked, having gotten his way: "You have one minute to take the photo."
Seeing his smug, triumphant expression, so utterly adorable, Cen Jin stopped resisting. She took the photo and held it under her phone.
Of course, she didn’t just take one picture—she captured it from every angle, as if documenting a priceless treasure.
—
Close to ten o’clock, Li Wu got out of the car at the university gate.
He watched until Cen Jin’s white coupe completely disappeared from view before turning to walk into the campus.
His smile had lingered for hours, and his cheeks were starting to ache.
He pulled the photo from his coat pocket and studied it repeatedly under the streetlight, never tiring of it. Distracted, he only put it away carefully once he reached his dorm building.
As soon as he entered the dorm, his roommates bombarded him with concern and teasing:
"Made up yet?"
"Just look at him—of course they did. He’s practically glowing."
"So, just 'chatting for a bit,' huh?"
"Turns out time works differently for people in love—a 'bit' is over ten hours? Got it, got it."
…
Li Wu ignored them, sitting down at his desk without engaging further with these envious jokesters.
Once his roommates had gone back to their own business and stopped paying attention, he pulled open the drawer, carefully slipped the Polaroid back into the journal Cen Jin had given him, and then took out the ID photo of her from the previous page.
Looking at it again, he started grinning secretly. This time, not only were his cheeks sore—he was practically on the verge of a full-face paralysis from smiling.
After a while, the young man finally closed the drawer, took out his phone, and texted Cen Jin to ask if she had gotten home safely.
There was no immediate reply from the other end.
He switched apps and noticed a red notification dot next to the Moments section—it was from Cen Jin’s profile picture.
He quickly tapped to check.When he saw the first entry, Li Wu's heart leaped so violently he nearly shot up from his chair.
The top post was from Cen Jin. She had shared their intimate Polaroid photo from that afternoon, accompanied by a two-word caption:
Gift.
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