Chapter 65

After Tao Yi Xi finished washing the dishes, the sound of the evening news was playing on the television. Grandma was leaning on the sofa, her eyelids drooping, almost falling asleep. Her tiredness made her wrinkled face look even older.

Grandma’s head suddenly tilted, causing her to jolt woke up. She massaged her temples as she felt a slight discomfort.

Tao Yi Xi approached her. “Grandma, let’s return to the bedroom and rest.”

“Your room hasn’t been tidied up yet.”

“I’ll do it myself.”

“That- Where is Xiao Gu?”

“He’s gone out. I’ll help tidy up his room too.”

Tao Yi Xi told her as she supported her Grandma to bed. Grandma was still mumbling some instructions before dosing back to sleep. Tao Yi Xi straightened the blanket and turned off the old and yellowed light in the room before quietly exiting.

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As Tao Yi Xi listened, her lips curling upwards, her crescent-shaped eyes shone brighter than the moon in the sky.

The birthday song ended on an off-key note.

“Cough-” Gu Jing Yuan awkwardly cleared his throat and told her in an earnest tone, “Umm, make a wish and blow out the candles.”

Tao Yi Xi smiled, but her nose unavoidably tingled.

Originally, she thought today would pass just like that.

She closed her moist eyes and clasped her hands together for about three seconds before blowing out the candles.

Re-opening her eyes, she spotted his gentle smiling eyes through the extinguished candles.

“Happy 18th birthday. Congratulations on coming of age!”

His bright eyes reflected hers, and she kept grinning.

“Thank you.” She paused, “How did you know? Did Zhou Zhi tell you?”

“Of course not.” Gu Jing Yuan sounded a bit offended. “I’ve always remembered.”

“I thought…” She had only told Zhou Zhi and Tang Wan about coming back here. It was a misunderstanding.

Tao Yi Xi bit her lip, feeling apologetic, “I’m sorry.”

“Since you’re the birthday girl today, I’ll forgive you.”

He had originally arranged to invite Qi Yue, Zhou Zhi, and the others to help host a surprise birthday gathering.

When he found Zhou Zhi that morning, she was puzzled. “Didn’t Yi Xi already make plans?”

“What plans?”

“She said she wanted to celebrate with her family.”

When Gu Jing Yuan heard it, he immediately guessed her plan and knew from experience that she would take the earliest train home. Thus, he followed after her.

He wanted to be with her, to spend this special day with her.

Initially, he thought she would celebrate with Grandma but the day passed hastily, and there was no mention of it even after dinner.

It was clear that Grandma had forgotten about it and her usual behavior made his heart throb in pain.

This was her coming-of-age birthday, considered to be a significant milestone in her life. He did not want her to pass it silently. At least there should be some semblance of celebration so that there would be some memories to look back on in the future.

Gu Jing Yuan handed her the plastic knife. “The birthday girl should make the first cut.”

This was a custom in their country, the first cut symbolised the opening of an auspicious start, and all difficulties would be easily overcome.

She had been through so much in the past. He hoped that everything would go smoothly for her in the future.

He would always be there to protect her.

Tao Yi Xi cut the first slice of cake, neatly scraping off the layer of cream on top before handing it to him.

“Do you want to eat?”

Gu Jing Yuan received it in pleasant surprise and took a big bite. 

The taste of the homemade cake could not compare to the decadent desserts he usually ate, but it had its unique taste.

She had him in her heart, right? Otherwise, how would she know that he did not like the sweetened cream?

The sweetness he was feeling in his heart far exceeded the cloying sugary buttercream.

Tao Yi Xi cut a slice for herself and sat quietly on the steps at the entrance, enjoying the cake.

Gu Jing Yuan sat beside her, propping his chin as he gazed at her delicate side profile. He watched her eat the cream cake with her cherry-like mouth and his expression unconsciously softened.

Every time she eats cake, she would inevitably get cream smeared on her lips and she would be completely unaware of it. So cute.

“Is the cream delicious?” he asked curiously, drawing her attention.

“En, it’s nice.”

“Then let me try.”

“Sure.” She readily agreed, oblivious that she was the ‘cream’ he was eyeing.

He leaned forward and gently licked away the cream from the corner of her mouth, savouring the sweetness on his tongue as he nodded solemnly.

“Mmm, it’s not bad,” He was secretly delighted with the successful sneak attack. Even if it was at the expense of getting reprimanded for it later, it would still be very worth it.

When Tao Yi Xi came back to her senses, the fork in her hand fell on the cake. She lowered her eyes, her thick and long eyelashes cast a fan-shaped shadow, fluttering softly, she asked him in a whisper, “Then, do you want to have some more?”

His Adam’s apple rolled, “Are you… allowing me?”

“What do you think?”

“You definitely are.”

In this small suburban city, there was not as much hustle and bustle. Near the simple house, neon lights were scarce, and the black night enveloped them with only the stars scattered across blanketing the dark sky.

They hid in this corner of this world, embracing each other intimately undisturbed, enjoying each other’s company without anyone interrupting.

Everything was tranquil and beautiful as if only the two of them existed in the world.

Gu Jing Yuan wished time would freeze forever at this moment until death parted them.

“Mmph, okay, okay, that’s enough,” Tao Yi Xi felt her lips tingling again. Whenever he kissed her, he had a habit of nibbling her lips, like a beast ravaging its prey.

Gu Jing Yuan, still unsatisfied, reluctantly ended the kiss whilst still cupping her face. Finally, he pecked her once more before wrapping his arms around her waist, unwilling to let go, wanting to talk more with her.

“What wish did you just make?”

“I wished for Grandma to be in good health.”

“Okay.”

“I also wished for a smooth entry into Tsinghua University.”

Tsk, none of which he could help with.

“Anything else?”

“I wished for you to get into Tsinghua University as well.”

“Me? One of your wishes is about me?” Incredulous, Gu Jing Yuan pointed at himself.

“…Is that the main point?” 

He gave her a big grin and affirmed, “Of course!”

Gu Jing Yuan was over the moon, he was ecstatic! In her few wishes, there was also a place for him!

He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace, feeling a tremendous ecstasy surging in his heart. He wanted to shout out loud for the whole world to hear.

“I promise! I promised you a long time ago!”

Last time, on the outskirts of the city, he had already carved Tsinghua University into his heart.

But it was different now.

Tao Yi Xi tugged at the corner of his clothes, unable to bring herself to confess her previous deceit and deception to him.

“Study well, I’ll wait for you at Tsinghua University.”

“En!” He agreed, full of energy and enthusiasm.

No matter how tired or sick of it he was, with her there, he could endure it all over again!

He hugged her tightly.

Tao Yi Xi leaned on his broad chest, unabashedly enjoying the warmth he gave her.

She never imagined there would be someone who liked her so purely. Someone who stood up for her, fought for her, was willing to learn those tedious academic knowledge for her, and thought of her at every moment.

This fervent and innocent sincerity was so rare and precious; how could she not be drawn to it?

On this special day, her suppressed emotions were finally uncaged.

Both of them were now adults and could make choices for their own lives.

At this moment, she chose him, fully aware of the difficulties they would have to face ahead. Yet, she wanted to give it a try without overthinking, hoping to hear the good news from him.

On that stifling summer night, neither were unwilling to let go.

Gu Jing Yuan wished that time would pass slower, just a little more slower.

But such happiness always seems to go against one’s wishes, and time flies by in an instant. Soon, he had to leave.

“I have to go now.”

“Where are you going?”

“Back home.”

“How are you going back?” Tao Yi Xi knew there were no more high-speed train services at this hour. Furthermore, the suburban city was too small to have an airport.

“I’m taking a cab to City X before boarding a plane back to the city.”

Estimating the travel duration, he would arrive home around three in the morning. He would have to rush all the way too.

She held his hand. “Let’s leave together tomorrow.”

He squeezed her hand back. “No, there’ll be trouble if I stay.”

Tao Yi Xi fell silent. She understood what he meant by trouble, he was considerate of all her worries.

Gu Jing Yuan knew the consequences of staying out all night, and he used to do as he pleased. But now that he had her, he dared not take such risks.

Before leaving, he selfishly asked, “Come back soon?”

He knew how important Grandma was to her, but he also really wanted to see her as soon as possible.

Reluctantly, he caressed her forehead and looked at her, unwilling to look away for too long.

Finally, pressed for time, he left in a hurry.

**

In the evening, she lay on the bed looking at the ticket she had bought previously; it was the ticket for the last train out of the suburban city in the evening.

Thinking of his reluctant gaze, she inexplicably decided to change it to noon.

Every time it was he who accommodated her. This time, let her do so for him.

On WeChat, he kept sending messages and updates, talking about trivial things, but she did not find it boring.

They chatted back and forth until he told her that he was boarding the plane before the conversation came to an end.

Tao Yi Xi: [Inform me when you reach home.]

After sending it, she yawned, thinking of resting her eyes for a while before replying to him later.

The next morning, she was awakened by the sound of Grandma bustling in the kitchen. It was already bright outside, and her first instinct was to unlock her phone to see if he had sent any messages.

Sure enough, at 3:45 A.M., he had sent a message: [I’m home.]

Seeing that she did not reply, he sent another one: [Goodnight.]

Tao Yi Xi’s lips raised in happiness.

**

She washed up, ate her favourite sweet sesame twisted dough, and felt that life like this was very comfortable.

Grandma asked her, “Why don’t I see Little Gu this morning?”

“He went back last night.”

Grandma frowned, “But there’s no train services at night?”

“Don’t worry, he messaged me yesterday saying that he arrived home safely.”

“That’s good. Next time, he shouldn’t do this again. Even, if he’s a boy, it’s not safe to travel once it’s dark out.”

“Okay, I’ll make sure he leaves earlier next time.” Tao Yi Xi joked cheekily, earning a playful abolishment from Grandma.

“This child, is this how you treat guests?”

The grandmother and granddaughter duo bantered for a while, and the house was full of laughter and joy.

Tao Yi Xi quickly cleaned up the house before she went back to her room to pack her bags.

“Oh yes, Grandma, you don’t need to cook my share for lunch, I’m catching an afternoon train back to the city.”

“Ah? Why did you choose mealtime to leave? I’ll go stir-fry some edamame and steam some buns so that you’ll have something to eat on the way.”

The elderly was a worrier, if she did not let her do something, Grandma would feel more uneasy.

Tao Yi Xi readily agreed and helped out.

“By the way, did you finish the pickled vegetables from last time? Do you want to bring more back?”

“There’s still some left. I’ll bring some more back next time around.”

“Did your mother eat it? How does it taste?” Grandma asked apprehensively. Her daughter had not been home for many years, and she did not know if Xia Yan still liked the pickled vegetables she made.

The momentary indifference and frost that covered Tao Yi Xi’s eyes transformed into a cheerful smile when she raised her head back up.

“She ate it. She said it was as delicious as before.”

Grandma smiled with joy. “That’s good, that’s good.”

Saying goodbyes was always difficult. Grandma insisted on seeing her off, all the way to the bus stop.

“Be careful on your way back.”

“En, I’ll be back soon for the summer vacation.”

“You and your mother just need to live well. Don’t need to constantly worry about this old lady.”

“I’ll always come back to celebrate with Grandma.” Tao Yi Xi was full of childish indignation in front of her grandmother.

Grandma was both gratified and helpless, stroking her smooth locks.

The bus pulled up at the stop, and Grandma let go of her hand.

“The bus is here, go ahead.”

Tao Yi Xi hugged her one last time. “I’m leaving now. Grandma, remember to take care of yourself at home and I’ll be back soon to see you.”

She carried her luggage up the bus and found a window seat. Through the window of the bus, she waved goodbye to Grandma, watching Grandma standing there and seeing her off. Grandma’s figure gradually got farther and farther away.