Time spent together always felt fleeting. The next day, everyone gathered at Lianli to enjoy a local specialty breakfast before the drivers took them back to the city one by one, bidding hasty farewells.
Most goodbyes were like this—too rushed to carry any sense of ceremony.
With a wave of the hand, each person embarked on their own new journey.
Zhang Shu had matters to attend to and needed to return to Heyan early. Sheng Xia had originally planned to go back a couple of days ahead as well, but Wang Lianhua insisted she stay home for her birthday.
Her birthday always fell just a day or two before the spring semester began.
No helping it—when the matriarch commanded, she had no choice but to obey.
The morning of her birthday was no different from any other. Sheng Xia woke up and instinctively checked her phone, only remembering it was her birthday when she saw the flood of well-wishes in her group chat with her closest friends.
They had all remembered to send their blessings at midnight, while she had already drifted off to sleep and missed them.
After replying to all the messages, she got up to wash up, but something suddenly felt off.
Zhang Shu hadn’t sent her any birthday wishes. Not even by morning.
Had he forgotten?
No way, right?
He was usually the one who cared more about rituals. She was the scatterbrained one, always relying on him to remind her of anniversaries.
But there really was no message from him.
Sheng Xia tapped open his Moments—nothing there either.
Had he really forgotten?
Lately, he’d been busy with a program test, which was why he’d returned to campus early. And since her birthday followed the lunar calendar, shifting every year, it wasn’t easy to remember. It was normal if he’d overlooked it in the midst of his work.
That was the rational explanation, but her mood still dipped uncontrollably. Maybe her disappointment showed too clearly, because during breakfast, Wang Lianhua asked, “Does it not taste good?”
Sheng Xia hurriedly stuffed a mouthful of longevity noodles in. “No, it’s delicious.”
“At noon, I’ll celebrate your birthday and introduce you to someone.”
Sheng Xia didn’t think much of it, assuming it was one of Wang Lianhua’s colleagues or friends. “Sure.”
Wang Lianhua’s gaze flickered away, unusually hesitant. “He’s… Ning Ning’s psychologist. You’ve met him before.”
From her mother’s tone and expression, Sheng Xia sensed that this introduction wasn’t ordinary—this wasn’t just any meeting. “Mom…”
“You’re an adult now. A-Xuan will be taking the college entrance exams in a couple of years. You’re both growing up, and soon you’ll have your own lives. It’s about time I considered my own matters too. It’s nothing complicated—just companionship. Of course, I wanted your opinion first. After you meet him, if you think it’s alright, I’ll talk to A-Xuan.”
Sheng Xia froze, struggling to process the news.
It was too sudden! There had been no signs at all!
She remembered that psychologist—a professor at Nanli Medical University, a renowned expert in autism with a refined scholarly air. His name was Xu Yuanshan, carrying a quiet elegance.
“That’s wonderful, Mom. Why would I object? A-Xuan would only be happier than me. As for Ning Ning…”
In a flash, Sheng Xia suddenly recalled something. Back when Zhang Shu was hospitalized after his injury, she had once pretended to go to Tao Zhizhi’s house but had actually gone to see Zhang Shu. When she took A-Xuan and Ning Ning out that day, Ning Ning had said something to Wang Lianhua like, “Mom, you should go on a date too.”
“Did Ning Ning already know?”
Wang Lianhua nodded, then shook her head. “What does a child know or not know? She’s always seen Yuanshan as a second father to her.”
“Ning Ning’s eleven now. She understands.” Sheng Xia said.
Children were often far more perceptive than those stuck in the awkward in-between of not-quite-adults.Wang Lianhua said, "I've known him for six years now. After spending over a year together, we've both thought things through very clearly. I'm not looking for a father for Ning Ning, but if the other person can't accept being Ning Ning's dad, then I wouldn't consider them either. These are things I can only say to you, Mom."
Sheng Xia felt a slight tremor in her heart.
Her mother had raised the three sisters alone all these years. She had already endured the toughest days by herself and had completely emerged from the shadows. Now, she wanted to find someone to share the next chapter of her life with, not just a helper to lighten the burden. But no matter what, her three daughters were an inseparable part of her life, a part she would never give up. So if the other person couldn't accept that, she would rather choose to remain alone.
Fortunately, such a person had appeared.
Sheng Xia understood. "Then I'll dress up nicely and go cheer Mom on."
A faint smile touched Wang Lianhua's lips. "Eat your noodles."
After dinner, Sheng Xia started packing. She was returning to school the next day and wouldn't be back until the May Day holiday, so she needed to bring clothes for winter and spring.
A "ding" sounded—a WeChat notification. She quickly dug through the pile of clothes and grabbed her phone.
She had set almost all her chats to mute notifications, except for Wang Lianhua and Zhang Shu.
Wang Lianhua was at home and wouldn't message her, so that left only Zhang Shu.
Had he remembered?
Excited, Sheng Xia opened the chat, only to see the message: "Lazybones, it's 9:30. Are you up yet?"
The smile faded from her lips as she tossed the phone aside in disappointment. But then she thought, well, he didn't know, so it wasn't his fault. She picked up the phone again and replied, "I've been up for ages. Already had breakfast. What about you?"
Zhang Shu: "Then do you have time to help me convert a file on your computer? I'm out and can't do it."
He really was busy.
Sheng Xia sighed and replied, "Sure, how do I do it?"
Zhang Shu: "The file's too big. Sent it to you on QQ."
He seemed in a hurry, so Sheng Xia quickly turned on her computer and logged into QQ. She found his chat and saw an unfamiliar file format and a message: "Click to receive."
She clicked to download the file and opened it.
"Zzzzt—" The screen suddenly went black.
What was going on?
Sheng Xia was stunned. Had it crashed from disuse? She frantically clicked the mouse and hammered the keyboard, but nothing happened. She glanced at the CPU—pointless, what could she possibly figure out? She was about to call Zhang Shu when suddenly, lines of glowing letters began flowing down the screen like code in a sci-fi movie.
It took her several seconds to realize the letters spelled out: "Happy birthday, my sweetheart, Sheng Xia."
Even the slowest person would have understood by then.
Just when she thought it was over, the glowing letters dimmed into the background, and a new option popped up in the center of the screen:
[Is your mom home?]
[Y/N]
Sheng Xia had no idea what he was up to but truthfully selected "Yes."
A second option appeared:
[Put on headphones or close the door.]
[Confirm]
She glanced at her already-closed door and clicked "Confirm."
A brief blackout sent her anticipation soaring.
Accompanied by the sound of keyboard clicks, words began appearing on the screen one by one:【Meeting you was like a single jasmine flower brightening an entire chaotic world.】
The sentence lingered for half a second before slowly fading away.
At the bottom of the screen appeared a photo—the path near the south gate of Wenboyuan, the very spot where she had "collided with him in a moon-landing stunt."
Beside the image, lines of text gradually materialized:
【July 28, Sunny】
【If you had just bumped into me and demanded I take responsibility, wouldn’t the start of our story have been much simpler?】
Sheng Xia frowned slightly. This overly sentimental tone didn’t seem like him at all.
And why did these words feel so familiar?
The scene shifted, replaced by another photo: the high school bike shed, with a row of camphor trees bathed in the glow of sunset.
【August 1, Sunny】
【I was lucky enough to witness this breathtaking sight, and the story unfolded smoothly from there.】
Looking at the two dates, Sheng Xia began to understand—he was clearly responding to her love letters.
Sure enough, the third photo on the screen showed Classroom Six, bright and clean, with morning sunlight streaming through the windows. From that angle, it was where he and she had once stood.
【August 15, Sunny】
【You said there was no scenery in your eyes. I knew why—because I was looking right into them.】
Then came more photos: a birthday cake, a sports meet, the One Side Bookstore…
The captions mimicked her phrasing and format, though some felt awkwardly forced, as if he wasn’t used to expressing himself this way.
As the photos flipped across the screen, Sheng Xia’s smile deepened without her realizing it.
【February 27, Sunny】
【The sunlight at One Side Bookstore has always been beautiful. Zhang Shu won’t make Sheng Xia wait again.】
He remembered everything.
He knew what had happened on every date she mentioned in her letters. Even the moments she experienced from her own perspective—he recalled them all. Every emotion she felt, he understood the reason behind it.
Finally.
【Today, Nanli is sunny. I don’t care about Heyan—probably a bit gloomy.】
【Happy Birthday.】
【Click to Play】
The image transitioned into a video. Sheng Xia clicked lightly with her mouse, and the sound of a guitar filled the air as the footage sharpened.
Zhang Shu sat at his dorm desk, holding a guitar. Judging by the shaky camera work, his roommate must have been filming.
A rendition of "Happy Birthday."
Nothing extraordinary, yet utterly unique.
Even after the song ended, the video kept rolling. He paused, then chuckled as if realizing something. “Sheng Xia, how is it that every time I sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ it feels like I’m confessing to you? With so many years ahead, where am I supposed to find enough words for all those confessions?”
His roommate’s teasing laughter echoed in the background. He grinned, suddenly remembering the camera, and said, “That’s a wrap.” The video cut off abruptly.
The screen returned to the QQ interface.
Only then did she notice—he had sent the file at midnight.
He hadn’t forgotten. She just hadn’t checked.
Sheng Xia picked up her phone, about to send him a WeChat message, when an incoming call interrupted her. Seeing it was a local Nanli number, she answered.
“Your same-day delivery has arrived. I’m at your door.”
Puzzled, Sheng Xia hurried to open it. Without even asking for a verification code, the courier handed her a gift box.
The box looked familiar too.
Today was just too strange.
Wang Lianhua sat in the living room and asked, “What’s that?” when she saw Sheng Xia standing frozen with the package.
Sheng Xia shook her head and decided to open it in her room for privacy.
The moment she did, she instantly knew why the box seemed so familiar.This was clearly the gift box she had given to Zhang Shu before, the one containing criminal law statutes!
He had actually kept it, and it still looked so new.
She was certain it was the one she had given him because the scratch on the corner was from her own carelessness.
Inside now lay a rare appraisal book she had been searching for a long time.
Out of print for years, it was so niche that even the secondhand market had no listings.
How had he managed to get it?
Sheng Xia immediately called him, but he didn’t answer. After a while, a message came through: "At my advisor’s place. Will call back later. Don’t get too excited—just a small move."
Sheng Xia: …
What a show-off.
Unable to put it down, Sheng Xia sat at her desk and began flipping through the book, unaware that time had slipped into noon.
When Wang Lianhua came to call her, she found Sheng Xia quietly reading in a room piled with clothes waiting to be organized.
"Get ready—we’re going out for lunch," Wang Lianhua reminded her.
Sheng Xia quickly closed the book. "Ah, right." She then scrambled to pick out clothes and get ready.
They didn’t go far, having reserved a small, elegant private room at a nearby hotel—nothing extravagant.
On their side were the mother and her two daughters, while Xu Yuanshan brought only one boy, around Sheng Xia’s age, though he seemed…
Xu Yuanshan introduced him: "This is my nephew. He’s lived with me since childhood. His mental age is around eight—very childlike."
Sheng Xia was slightly surprised but also found Xu Yuanshan’s introduction quite endearing.
His nephew was more lively than the quiet Ning Ning. Though it took some adjustment to hear childish words from an adult’s face, Sheng Xia could tell he had been raised well—polite and sincere. In the end, it was he who kept pestering Ning Ning, insisting they sing "Happy Birthday" together and blow out the candles.
Ning Ning seemed a little annoyed, yet resigned, and actually started singing along with him.
It was truly a strange chemical reaction.
All in all, the meal was harmonious, and Sheng Xia felt Wang Lianhua was unusually gentle.
After lunch, the three women went shopping to walk off the meal, and Wang Lianhua finally brought up Xu Yuanshan’s nephew. His elder brother and sister-in-law had passed away early, and Xu Yuanshan had taken on the responsibility of raising the boy. Many women had reservations about this, so when he reached marriageable age, his prospects were always rocky. Unwilling to settle, he remained single. By the time he achieved social status and his personal charm became undeniable, plenty were willing to overlook his circumstances—but by then, his mindset had shifted. Even when he met women willing to treat his nephew as their own, Xu Yuanshan still refused. He no longer wanted to have children of his own, content to raise his nephew as his sole heir.
Sheng Xia thought of Zhang Sujin.
It was hard to imagine that at her age, Zhang Sujin had already been raising a child alone, prepared to dedicate her entire life to him. What kind of courage and perseverance did that take? Though Zhang Shu hadn’t let her down, in the eyes of the world, it seemed she had lost her own life.
But just like Xu Yuanshan—who could say this wasn’t his life?
People always assume everyone should max out their skills, minimize sunk costs, and strive for the "best" life. Thus, those who could have done better but fell short are labeled as "unfulfilled." But who are outsiders to judge what’s good or not?
They made their choices. Only they can define their own paths.
One cannot know the joy of fish unless one is a fish.
…
It wasn’t until late at night, just before bed, that Zhang Shu finally called back.Sheng Xia was still lost in her emotions, her voice dragging slightly, making her seem somewhat despondent.
"What's wrong?" Before she could say much, he sensed something amiss. "Are you upset that I got back late? My bad, I should've asked the professor to speak faster, not repeat the same sentence so many times, then turned down his request to personally test it again, and then..."
"Shu..." She nearly laughed, stopping him mid-sentence.
"You're definitely hiding something. Hang up, let's switch to video."
Before she could respond, he ended the call and immediately dialed her via video.
Sheng Xia lay half-reclined on the bed, the blanket pulled up to her neck, only her small face visible.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing, just happy."
"Happy like this?" His expression clearly said, "You think I'll buy that?"
"Really," Sheng Xia managed a smile. "I received special gifts today—from you and from Mom."
Zhang Shu's expression softened slightly.
He seemed genuinely busy, typing away on his keyboard while chatting with her, muttering, "Just a few more words, almost done replying."
Sheng Xia waited quietly, watching his focused profile on the screen.
"Shu..." She couldn't resist calling him again.
"Hmm?"
"Shu."
"Hmm."
"Shu! Shu!"
Zhang Shu hit the enter key and finally turned fully toward her, giving her his undivided attention. "If you keep calling me like that tonight, don't even think about hanging up—I won't be able to sleep."
"I can't sleep either," Sheng Xia said.
Zhang Shu propped his chin on his hand, studying her with a questioning look.
"Shu, tonight the moon in Nanli is crescent-shaped..."
Zhang Shu paused, then broke into a smile before glancing out his window with exaggerated seriousness. Turning back, he said, "Mm, 'though miles apart, we share the same moon.' The moon in Heyan is also crescent-shaped, bright and clear."
Sheng Xia rolled onto her side, still holding her phone, the video call continuing in this casual pose.
Zhang Shu asked, "What did your mom give you?"
He was as sharp as ever, always knowing where the real issue lay.
Sheng Xia replied, "My mom's in love. She might get married soon."
Zhang Shu looked genuinely surprised. "Is the other person good?"
"Yes."
"Auntie deserves it."
"Yeah."
They fell into silence.
Suddenly remembering his code, Sheng Xia asked, "Earlier, why did you ask if my mom was home?"
"If she wasn't, the courier would've delivered another bouquet. If she was home, better to lay low—no need to tempt fate."
His choice of words made Sheng Xia ponder—why did it sound like some clandestine affair? It felt oddly bittersweet.
"Weren't you busy? Could you really process my response in real time?"
Zhang Shu explained, "The computer handles it all. Different commands send different messages to the courier. Everything's pre-programmed and coordinated."
"Oh, sounds complicated." Sheng Xia didn't dwell on it. "But I think my mom's different now. Maybe sending flowers would've been fine."
Zhang Shu nodded. "Message received."
"I didn't mean for you to send any, I just—"
"I know," Zhang Shu's gaze softened with sincerity. "I understand."
Sheng Xia stopped talking too, resting her head on her arm as they simply looked at each other.
After a long while, Sheng Xia suddenly mused, "Shu, they say if you're good in one life, you'll suffer in the next, and vice versa. So in our next lives... will we both have happy families?"In this lifetime, they didn’t have a complete and happy family, which was unfortunate. Yet, they were fortunate to still have family members who loved them unconditionally.
But even so, this love carried too heavy a burden behind it.
If in the next life, they could both have whole and happy families, where every member loved each other effortlessly—how wonderful would that be?
Zhang Shu gazed at her deeply through the screen, making a gesture as if patting her head. “No need.”
“Hmm?”
Zhang Shu: “We don’t need the next life. We can have a happy family in this one.”
Sheng Xia’s thoughts spun briefly in the text before she suddenly understood. Her entire heart felt as though it had been washed over by a great surge of warmth—scorching, overwhelming, an indescribable impact that instantly swept away all the gloom.
Sheng Xia spoke, her voice soft and slow: “A-Shu, the moon seems even more curved now…”
I miss you… I miss you so much.
Zhang Shu picked up his phone, bringing it close to his lips as he whispered into the mic: “Got it. I’ll come get you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll pick up the adult Sheng Xia.”
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