Chapter 44

After school, the bell had barely finished ringing when Su Xiaoxiao grabbed her bag and bolted out of the classroom. If she ran fast enough, Jin Qishan would never catch her.
She hummed a tune, steps light and bouncy.
But just as she neared the bike shed, someone tapped her shoulder. She turned, and there he was.
“You, you’re so fast!”
“Not really.” Jin Qishan twirled his keys around his finger, smiling faintly.
As they walked, he drifted closer and closer, until their hands brushed, and when no one was watching, his palm found hers.
Her heart leapt into her throat. Glancing around to make Sure no one saw, she hissed, “Why are you so close to me?”
“I just want to” he began, reaching to hold her hand.
“No way, not here!” She yanked her hand back, jumping a full step away.
Jin Qishan ducked his head, looking crestfallen. “Oh.”
Once they exited the school gates and turned down a narrow lane, the crowd thinned.
They rode side by side. Then, all of a sudden, Jin Qishan placed his hand over hers again.
Su Xiaoxiao nearly lost control of her handlebars. “What are you doing?! You scared me to death!”
“I just wanted to,” he murmured, sounding pitiful.
Her face turned crimson. “Not while we’re riding!”
“Okay,” he said softly, pulling his hand back.
When they finally reached home and parked their bikes, he was waiting right behind her.
She fidgeted, twirling her keys to hide her nerves.
Jin Qishan reached out, grabbed her hand possessively, and started leading her upstairs.
Su Xiaoxiao tried to cover her blush by brushing her hair back. “Your hand’s all sweaty”
He wiped his palms on his clothes and immediately took her hand again.
Step by step, flight by flight, they climbed together, neither saying a word.
Then, just before turning the corner to their floor, Jin Qishan Suddenly stopped.
His gaze flicked down to Su Xiaoxiao’s lips.
Noticing the look in his eyes, she panicked and quickly pulled her hand free to cover her mouth. “I’m not your girlfriend yet,”
“Then when will you be my girlfriend?”
In her mind flashed a scene straight out of a proposal, flowers, lights, vows. She blurted without thinking, “You don’t even have a flower, and you want me to be your girlfriend?”
Jin Qishan immediately turned on his heel. “Then I’ll go buy one now.”
“Hey, hey, wait!” she called after him. “Can’t you pick a better day? Something memorable?”
He was eager, but her words made sense. “Fine,” he said. “But can I still hold your hand?”
She lowered her head shyly. “Not at school.”
“Mm.” Jin Qishan tightened his grip on her hand, keeping it in his warm palm all the way to her door. “Alright, go on in.”
Su Xiaoxiao nodded. “You too.”
“You first.”
“Okay, then I’ll go.”
“Mm.” His eyes were steady, glowing with warmth.
She pulled out her key and began unlocking the door with one hand. “I’m going in now,”
He finally let go. “Mm.”
“I’m closing the door,”
“Go ahead,” he said softly, still watching her.
“Xiaoxiao, who are you talking to at the door?” came a sudden voice. The living room light flicked on, Grandma Su Xiaoxiao stepped out, peering curiously.
Su Xiaoxiao jumped, slamming the door shut at once. “No one!”
…
During the summer before senior year, Su Xiaoxiao didn’t return to N City, her school, No.1 High, had organized extra summer classes for all second-year students.
No one was happier about this than Jin Qishan.
Barely two days after finals, he showed up at Grandma Su’s house, arms full of books.
“You just finished your exams, and you’re already studying again?” Grandma Su said, her voice full of affection. “Look at you, all skin and bones. You must be exhausted from all that schoolwork.”
“I’m not tired.” Jin Qishan smiled. “Grandma, where’s Xiaoxiao?”
“In her room, on the computer,” Grandma said. “She hasn’t left the house since exams ended.”
Jin Qishan nodded, exactly as he’d hoped. That’s why he’d come with a pile of books as his excuse.
He knocked lightly on the door.
“Come in,” came her familiar voice.
He pushed the door open carefully. Su Xiaoxiao was sprawled on the bed in pajamas, hugging her laptop and watching a movie.
When the sound stopped, she looked up, and there he was, standing at the door, holding a stack of books.
She immediately glanced down to make sure she wasn’t indecent. Seeing she was fine, she asked, “Why are you holding all those books?”
He closed the door behind him and set them casually on the desk. “To read with you.”
She teased, “Well, I’m watching a movie. You can go home and read by yourself.”
“Then let’s watch it together.”
He walked over to the bed, unable to resist reaching out to touch her hair.
“Hey! Don’t touch my hair!” she yelped. “I didn’t wash it last night.”
Jin Qishan sat beside her, picked up a strand, and brought it to his nose. “Doesn’t smell bad. Smells nice.”
Her cheeks turned scarlet. “Then, fine, let’s watch together. You got anything you want to see?”
He looked at her, his tone low. “Anything’s fine.”
Su Xiaoxiao moved the laptop to the desk, and they sat side by side on the chairs to watch.
At first, Jin Qishan behaved himself, just quietly holding her hand.
But as the movie went on, his gaze deepened, and he said Suddenly, “Today’s my birthday.”
Su Xiaoxiao turned to him in surprise. “I thought you celebrated your lunar birthday?”
That was still over a month away. He couldn’t wait that long.
Jin Qishan’s eyes stayed on her. “Come over to my place tonight. Celebrate with me?”
Her mind went blank. “But I didn’t prepare any gifts! Did you even buy a cake?”
“I did,” he said softly. “Having you with me is enough.”
Her heart skipped. “Then you go first, I’ll change and come over later.”
She was flustered, thinking she should at least bring something. But what could she possibly prepare in so little time?
Just then, Grandma Su came in, as always without knocking. “I brought some fruit for you two.”
Both of them quickly withdrew their hands. Thankfully, Grandma hadn’t noticed.
To cover the awkwardness, Su Xiaoxiao spoke fast. “Grandma, today’s Jin Qishan’s birthday. Can I go over to his place tonight to celebrate with him?”
“Oh? It’s Qishan’s birthday today?” Grandma looked surprised. “Will your father be home tonight?”
Jin Qishan’s tone was calm, he wasn’t as sensitive about it as he used to be. His father, Jin Yongzhong, only came home a few days each month; he was used to it.
“No,” he said. “He’s still busy at the construction site.”
“Ah, then why don’t you stay and eat here? Grandma will cook a big meal,” she said kindly. “You should at least have longevity noodles for your birthday.”
He smiled and told a small lie. “Thank you, Grandma, but some friends are coming over later.”
She nodded, her heart aching a little. She couldn’t help sighing, Jin Yongzhong was always away managing projects, sometimes gone for weeks, and two years ago, his wife, Dong Xiaohong, had divorced him for being “poor.”
Now the boy was living all alone. How pitiful.
Su Xiaoxiao quickly reassured her. “Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ll make noodles for him. And didn’t you say this morning you wanted to visit Auntie’s place tonight? You and Grandpa can go. Qishan and I will eat at home.”
Only then did Grandma relax. “Alright then. Qishan likes beef, I just braised some. Take some with you for the noodles later.”

By the time the movie ended, it was already past three. Jin Qishan went home first, and after Su Xiaoxiao took a shower and changed clothes, it was nearly five o’clock.
Before leaving the house, Su Xiaoxiao even sprayed on a little perfume.
She rarely went to Jin Qishan’s place and was surprised to find that, though he lived alone, the apartment was spotless.
His hair was still damp, clearly, he’d just showered.
Further in, the dining table was already set, with a small cake and two simple dishes laid out neatly.
“So, should I cook your birthday noodles now?”
“Mm.”
Once the noodles were done, Jin Qishan carried the bowls to the table.
After they ate, Su Xiaoxiao opened the cake box and carefully placed the candles.
Then she turned off the lights.
Jin Qishan flicked his lighter, and the candles bloomed to life in soft, golden glow.
“Go on,” Su Xiaoxiao said with a smile. “Make a wish.”
Jin Qishan pressed his palms together and bowed his head. “I wish for Su Xiaoxiao to always be happy.”
Then he blew out the candles.
Su Xiaoxiao blinked, momentarily stunned, before warmth bloomed in her chest, sweet and tingling.
Jin Qishan switched the lights back on.
Trying to hide her smile, she bent down to cut the cake. “Why didn’t you make a wish for yourself? Why’d you make one for me?”
His tone was calm, almost casual. “If you’re happy, I don’t need anything else.”
Her cheeks flushed hotter. How could he say such cheesy things with that straight face, as if it were nothing at all?
Su Xiaoxiao loved cake, normally, she could eat half a one on her own. But tonight, her nerves were so taut she could barely taste a thing.
After one slice, Jin Qishan began to look restless.
“Wanna go play on the computer in my room for a bit?”
What was so fun about a computer? she wondered. Still, she nodded.
When they reached his room, Jin Qishan Suddenly stopped her. “Wait.”
He placed her hand on the doorknob, and before she could ask why, he stepped behind her and covered her eyes with both hands.
His voice dropped low, smooth and magnetic. “Now you can open it.”
She turned the knob and stepped forward under his guidance.
Then he lifted his hands.
When Su Xiaoxiao opened her eyes, she froze.
The entire room was filled with flowers, red, pink, yellow, white, vases upon vases, petals scattered like confetti.
Her hand flew to her mouth. Her eyes widened in pure shock, and beneath that, a rush of emotion that made her throat ache.
Jin Qishan took her hand and led her farther in.
She noticed that from the door to the computer desk, a path had been made of rose petals, forming a soft, fragrant trail.
He pressed her gently into the chair before the desk, turned on the computer, and clicked something.
The screen came alive, slideshow after slideshow of her photos.
Some from her family albums, some from her social media, and some she’d never seen before.
Those she hadn’t seen, those had clearly been taken secretly by him.
There she was laughing, talking, eating, daydreaming, reading, running, sleeping, all kinds of moments captured quietly through his eyes.
When the final photo faded, a message popped up on-screen:
“Su Xiaoxiao, will you be my girlfriend?”
Below it was a single button: YES.
Without even thinking, she clicked it.
The image froze on a photo of the two of them together.
Her heart felt lighter than air, sweeter than the cake they’d shared. She turned toward him, smiling shyly. “I still haven’t given you your birthday present.”
Standing on tiptoe, she pressed a quick kiss to his lips.
Then she lowered her head, voice soft. “Does that count as a gift?”
Damn.
This was the scene Jin Qishan had imagined ten thousand times.
He lifted her onto the desk, cupped her face, and kissed her, hard.