The night was deep, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. It seemed like you could even hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. On this summer night, even the wind felt restless.
The scent inside the bus was heavy, and the overhead air conditioning provided a cool respite. Bright white lights illuminated the interior. There was no one else on the bus, and it felt as if they were cut off from the outside world.
In this world, there was no one but the two of them.
Lin Xichi lowered her gaze, staring at the ring inside the ring box.
The design was somewhat simple, a silver band with an inscription on the inside: X;L.
Her eyes seemed glued to it, unable to move away.
Time appeared to stand still.
Xu Fang had been waiting for Lin Xichi’s response, and he licked his lips nervously, sweat forming on his back. He lowered his gaze and suddenly remembered something, rummaging through his pocket. In a hoarse voice, he said, “I bought this ring when I was a freshman—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Lin Xichi suddenly reached for the ring and, in a daze, slid it onto her ring finger. “Do I just wear it like this?”
“…”
Xu Fang wanted to stop her, but it was too late.
As she placed the ring on her finger, he couldn’t believe how perfectly it fit after all these years. The atmosphere was instantly shattered.
Xu Fang closed his eyes, almost wanting to grab her and shake some sense into her. His eyes lifted slightly, and in the dark night, they appeared even deeper, as if adorned with the darkest ink.
“Have you ever seen someone put on their own engagement ring?”
Startled by his comment, Lin Xichi’s expression froze, and she clumsily tried to take the ring off. She seemed dazed, her petite face with its bright round eyes, the corners of which had turned pink, enhanced by her eyeliner.
Xu Fang felt utterly helpless as he watched her fumble. The carefully planned atmosphere had completely evaporated, and trying to bring it back now seemed impossible. He gently stopped her actions and whispered, “Keep it on.”
“I can’t take back the gift I gave you to use it to propose to me. My pride wouldn’t allow it.” Xu Fang’s lips curled up, and he took out another ring box from his pocket. “I didn’t have much money back then, so I couldn’t afford an expensive one.”
He scratched his head. “Although I still can’t afford anything too fancy now.”
At the same time, Lin Xichi spoke up, “Give me a moment, let me catch my breath.”
Lin Xichi touched her hands to her face, as if trying to wipe away tears. She seemed to feel that the bouquet of roses in her arms was in the way, so she handed it to him.
Xufang also found the roses a bit inconvenient and placed them in an empty seat across the aisle.
Seeing Lin Xichi’s reaction, Xufang suddenly felt a bit frustrated, and his voice hardened: “I told you earlier, being a soldier doesn’t make you rich. You don’t have time to cry now.”
…
Lin Xichi’s tears started to fall, but she felt that her tears weren’t worth it after his comment. She put her hand down and stared at him, saying, “Do you even understand what being moved means?”
Xufang paused at her words and used his fingertip to wipe the corner of her eye.
“I’ve never seen anyone cry five minutes after being proposed to. Usually, people cry while being proposed to, right?”
“How would you know?” Her voice had a hint of nasal congestion, and although she stopped crying, her eyes were still red. “Have you proposed to many people? How do you know so much?”
At this point, Xufang didn’t have the patience to argue with her. He opened the ring box and placed it in front of her.
“Do you want to or not?”
His change in demeanor was too rapid.
Just moments ago, he had asked her gently, “Will you marry me?” Now he was sporting a cold expression, like a loan shark collecting a debt, and uttered three words coldly, “Do you want to?”
Lin Xichi hid her hand behind her back and asked incredulously, “Who proposes like this?”
“I was gentle just now, and you didn’t appreciate it,” Xufang retorted. “Give you three more seconds to think. Three, two—”
Lin Xichi was a bit annoyed and deliberately said, “Let me think again.”
“Think about what?” Xufang grabbed her other hand, the one without the ring, and said with a lowered voice, “Who else do you want to marry? You can try it, and I’ll see if I’ll beat him up.”
After some consideration, Lin Xichi stopped being deliberate and said, “I want to marry ?? (Pipi).”
Without even lifting his eyes, Xufang replied, “I am Pipi.”
“Oh,” Lin Xichi leaned in to look into his eyes, gazing for a few seconds before nodding, “Then it’s you.”
Even though she knew there was absolutely no chance of denial.
When she said those words, Xufang’s heart skipped a beat.
He took the ring and slid it onto her ring finger, slowly pushing it inwards. He curved his lips, his eyes softening as he lowered his head and kissed the ring gently. His voice was tender and filled with a smile.
“Yes, it’s me.”
On the way back, Lin Xichi finally saw the face of the driver, who had been wearing a cap earlier, and she didn’t recognize him at first.
However, it wasn’t a surprising person.
Jiang Zhengxu.
Both of them took seats in the front.
Lin Xichi was surprised and asked, “Jiang Zhengxu, how did you end up being brought here by Xufangfrom Xicheng?”
“…” Jiang Zhengxu looked helpless and replied, “Xufang doesn’t have any other friends besides me.”
Xufang glanced at him and added, “They’re all in the military.”
Lin Xichi nodded quickly, “I also think he doesn’t have many friends.”
Xufang frowned, pinching her cheek with a sour expression. It seemed he was annoyed by her siding with others to attack him. He coldly said, “Don’t distract the driver.”
After returning the car to the rental company, the three of them took the subway to the high-speed rail station, preparing to return to Xicheng.
Xufang had previously booked three seats together, scheduled for 10 PM tonight. Since it was still a little past 8 PM, they weren’t in a hurry. They leisurely collected their tickets, chatting casually.
There was still over an hour before they needed to go through the ticket check.
The three of them found a place to sit down.
Lin Xichi had been out all day and was quite tired. She had been chatting animatedly with them, but as time passed, her eyelids started drooping, and she leaned on Xufang’s arm and fell asleep.
Xufang didn’t say much.
Originally, it was Lin Xichi and Jiang Zhengxu who were chatting. Now that she was asleep, the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Jiang Zhengxu raised an eyebrow. Although he was already sure of the answer, he asked subconsciously, “Did it work?”
Xufang turned his head to look at Lin Xichi and replied softly, “Yes.”
“Hmm, what does it feel like?”
At these words, Xufang’s expression froze for a moment. He raised his head slowly and looked at Jiang Zhengxu. His eyes were bright, his eyebrows sharp, and his whole demeanor exuded an unruly and untamed quality.
At this moment, Jiang Zhengxu suddenly felt like he had returned to high school.
But Xufang had changed in many ways.
Due to continuous training, his body had become strong, and because of military requirements, he now had very short hair and slightly darker skin than before.
He was no longer the immature boy from back then.
Just by sitting there quietly without saying a word, Xufang could make people instinctively focus their gaze on him. He had gained a radiance from all the experiences he had been through.
Yet, at this moment, the emotions in his eyes reminded Jiang Zhengxu of the Xufang from back then. Perhaps, it might be that he had never really changed.
Xufang’s lips curled up as he said softly, “It feels like… I’ve seen this scene before.”
“Ah? Where?”
He looked at Lin Xichi again, his gaze steady, and his voice barely audible.
“In a dream.”
Late July.
According to the notice, Xufang was going to train at the base near Yuangang City. He had chosen the Army as his branch and was assigned to lead troops at the grassroots level, with the rank of a company commander. There might be transfers in the future, depending on opportunities and performance.
Xufang didn’t need to pack much. There were only a few things he needed to bring. However, Lin Xichi was busy helping him pack, almost trying to stuff herself in too.
After a while, Lin Xichi looked up at him and asked, “Did you submit your marriage report?”
Xufang touched his nose and made a sound of agreement.
“Has it been approved?”
“Not yet,” Xufang replied, feeling somewhat uneasy under her scrutinizing gaze. “I was rejected because I’m not yet 25. I’ll have to apply again after I turn 25.”
Lin Xichi widened her eyes. “Aren’t you turning 25 this year?”
“It’s at the end of October.”
Lin Xichi fell silent for a few seconds and then suddenly began to berate him. “Why were you born in October?”
Xufang remained expressionless. “I don’t know.”
Lin Xichi wanted to say more, but Xufang added, “Should I ask my parents about it?”
The next day, Lin Xichi got up early to send Xufang to the high-speed rail station.
Although it was just past 7 AM, most of the seats in the waiting area were already taken. It was quiet, and most people sat in their seats, looking drowsy. Only one woman was soothing a crying child.
Lin Xichi held Xufang’s hand and accompanied him to collect their tickets while asking, “When do you think you’ll be back this time? Probably not too soon, right?”
Xufang thought for a moment, unable to give her a definite answer. “I don’t know.”
Lin Xichi offered a conservative estimate, “During the Chinese New Year?”
Xufang’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he replied, “Not necessarily.”
Lin Xichi fell silent for a few seconds and then suddenly asked, “Pipi, what if I go to Yuangang City to find a job? I can work at the hospital where I interned before…”
“Why would you go there?”
Lin Xichi looked up at him without saying a word.
“Stay in Xicheng obediently,” Xufang said, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek to behind her ear. He looked into her eyes seriously. “I might be assigned to other places in the future. Will you come with me to other cities then?”
Lin Xichi lowered her head and said softly, “I think I can.”
“I think you can’t,” Xufang said seriously. “Stay here in Xicheng.”
His tone was firm, and he kissed her forehead gently. “Wait for me to come back, and then we’ll get married.”
It was good news.
Lin Xichi’s mood suddenly improved, and she nodded like a little chick pecking at grains. She escorted Xufang to the security checkpoint, watching him stand in line among the crowd. He was tall and looked somewhat carefree.
The surroundings were filled with the chatter of people.
Xufang was deep within the crowd, his expression calm, but his gaze remained fixed on her.
Lin Xichi felt strangely uneasy, her heart tightening uncontrollably. She hurried over and stood beside him.
The queue was getting close to him.
Lin Xichi held his hand and asked once again, “Pipi, we’ll get married when you come back, right?”
A long period of separation was looming ahead.
Xufang chuckled softly, paying no attention to the onlookers, and pulled her into his arms. With one hand cradling the back of her head, he kissed her forehead once more.
“Yes, we’ll get married when I come back.”
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