“If I don’t explain myself further, will you still feel uneasy about accepting that necklace and the clothes?”
Remnants of their unfinished dinner sat on the table. Both of their bowls were empty. Gu Yu swirled his chopsticks in his empty bowl, his gaze landing on the girl’s cool, distant face.
He knew himself well, and he knew that Luo Ming was just as stubborn as he was. She didn’t accept charity and didn’t take gifts from others easily; the pride in her bones simply wouldn’t allow her to lower her head. He was worried about the psychological burden on her, so he asked once more.
“You don’t have to do this for me. I’m the one who’s bothering you.”
“But you said you were cold. I know my emotional intelligence isn’t very high, and I don’t know how to say pretty words, but when I see someone important to me in trouble, I’ll do whatever it takes to help. I can’t just sit back and watch. Luo Ming, although I don’t know what happened to you and I can’t claim to truly understand your pain, I can see that you are indeed… suffering.”
Gu Yu organized his less-than-elegant words. He couldn’t hide his emotions very well, and his speech was entirely honest.
“Am I… important to you?”
“Yeah. After my parents died, I’ve been all alone. My relatives avoid me, so friends are especially important. And you are my best friend.”
Luo Ming met those clean, clear eyes. She couldn’t find even a hint of hidden emotion. Beyond the unspoken love he had harbored for a long time, the boy’s thoughts and words carried a deep affection for her, like a companion through a long night.
“So, you’ll accept them properly, right? Just consider it a way to satisfy my meddling heart that can’t stand to see you miserable.”
“…Fine. Thank you.”
“No need for that. If you have any difficulties in the future, just tell me. I’ll help you.”
“That sounds like something I used to say to you. Now, I’ve become the one being taken care of instead,” Luo Ming said with a self-deprecating smile, her grip on her chopsticks tightening.
The gap and the change had come too quickly. Not long ago, she had been the one looking down at the boy, cupping his face and wanting to devour him, teasing his youthful heart with casual touches. Overnight, she had fallen, and their positions had swapped.
“Don’t worry about that. Haven’t we always helped each other? Though you were usually the one looking after me.”
Gu Yu stood up and cleared the dishes. “You cooked the meal, so I’ll do the dishes. Go get some rest.”
“Okay.”
Luo Ming turned her head to look out the window. The sunset was fading, and a brilliant golden glow filled the entire world, stretching into the room.
She stood up and walked to the balcony, raising her hand to catch the warm light that was rare in the deep winter. A hint of warmth seeped into her icy fingers.
A few stubborn yellow leaves remained on the sycamore tree outside. Neighbors walking below greeted each other; the cold could not wear away the bond between people. From a distance, Luo Ming saw an elderly couple supporting each other as they walked through the old buildings.
That would be their destination as well. She was already living for the boy. Any obstacle was worth giving up everything to overcome. She was determined. It was fate, and she would use any means necessary, doing everything in her power.
The old black buildings didn’t happen to block the view here. Looking up, she could see the distant horizon. The tall, straight mountains stretched on endlessly, while skyscrapers existed in another district that was visible but out of reach — schools, hospitals, malls, and residences… At this moment, all of it seemed to belong solely to her eyes, shining brightly.
Everything in the distance was outlined in dreamlike silhouettes by the sunset, and the evening breeze became gentle. Luo Ming placed one hand on the iron railing of the balcony and gazed out in a daze, her hair dancing in the wind.
She saw the city’s only Amusement Park. The massive Ferris Wheel turned slowly and tirelessly, circle after circle. The roller coaster tracks stood in the air like dragon bones. It was a place she had never visited; such joy didn’t suit her.
“The atmosphere is really nice, but it’s a bit cold.”
Gu Yu had walked up beside her at some point. He rubbed his hands together and exhaled white mist, looking toward the distance where she was staring.
“I actually don’t think it’s that cold anymore. I didn’t expect winter to have such a beautiful scene.”
“Want to listen to some music? Adding some BGM might make it even more poetic.”
“Sure.”
Gu Yu took out a pair of wired earphones from his pocket, plugged one into his own ear, and handed the other to Luo Ming. They were cheap items bought from a street stall, but the sound quality was surprisingly decent.
A Japanese song with a slow rhythm played through the earphones. Gu Yu liked the melody, so he had added it to his playlist, though he didn’t understand the meaning of the lyrics.
Luo Ming hummed softly along with the tune. Her voice was ethereal and clear, like a sweet, trickling stream in the mountains. It matched the tone of the song perfectly, not at all inferior to the beautiful female voice in the earphones.
She glanced at the song title displayed on Gu Yu’s phone — Yakusoku.
The translation of the first four lines of the lyrics was:
“But, if there is a next life, I will go looking for you again.”
“Don’t say such sad things. I haven’t even hoped for a next life.”
The earphone cord was too short, so they stood very close together. Their shadows were stretched long and thin by the remaining glow. The passage of time suddenly became slow, and the scene before them was quiet and beautiful.
Soon, only half of the sun remained on the horizon. The dense forests covering the mountains were shrouded by the night, and the Ferris Wheel stopped turning. The girl’s eyes were magnificent and pure as she innocently took in the last of the light. Darkness gradually crept in.
“Are you still sleeping here tonight?” Gu Yu’s voice sounded in her ear.
“I won’t trouble you. I’ve already taken up your entire day. It’s enough.”
Luo Ming took off the earphone and handed it back to Gu Yu, declining softly with her eyes downcast. She would no longer be afraid of that home; she now had a firm belief to live well.
If she stayed here, she was afraid she would expose too much, and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from… making a move on the boy again.
Next time, her reason might not be able to restrain her desire.
“It was my choice. I was very happy today too. Thank you for staying with me.”
Luo Ming turned her head and gently pinched his face. “Gu Yu, how did you become such a smooth talker? Your emotional intelligence has gone up several levels.”
“It’s just what’s in my heart.”
Gu Yu answered straightforwardly. He wasn’t good at hiding things, and it didn’t matter if Luo Ming knew what he was thinking right now.
“Then is there anything else you want to say to me? Right now, I might be able to agree to anything you ask.”
“Then… I want you to be well and take good care of yourself,” Gu Yu said seriously, looking into her eyes.
It wasn’t the answer she had expected. He still couldn’t take that step. But Luo Ming loved those words. Since she was already so significant in the boy’s eyes, the day she would have him all to herself would eventually come.
“Okay, I promise. I’m leaving now?”
“Yeah. Remember to take the clothes with you. Don’t catch a cold on the way.”
“I know, I know. Gu Yu, why are you like an Old Nag today… though I quite like it.”
Luo Ming opened her arms and faced Gu Yu. “Before I go, can I have another hug?”
“Sure.”