Chapter 6 Starry Night

The weather grew colder by the day. By early December, a solid week of relentless drizzle had set in.

That week coincided with the busiest stretch of coursework for sophomores at Xicheng University. Swamped under a mountain of assignments, Zhou Mo had barely caught her breath and had only seen He Chong once during the entire week.

On Friday afternoon, after handing in her last assignment, Zhou Mo checked her schedule and saw only a low-priority elective remaining for the day. She decisively entrusted the duty of signing her attendance to Ye Yinyin, hailed a taxi, and headed to Yannan Town to find He Chong.

It was four in the afternoon when Zhou Mo arrived at the garage. The front gate was closed, but unlocked.

She pushed the door open and walked right in, spotting He Chong standing near the entrance on a phone call. She waited until he finished before walking over.

Seeing her, He Chong let out a light laugh. “Well now, what a rare guest.”

He wore a gray windbreaker and held a pair of oil-stained work gloves in his left hand.

Zhou Mo bounded up the steps in a few quick strides, her ponytail swaying with her movement. Today she wore a navy duffle coat, looking distinctly student-like.

“Who were you talking to?”

He Chong replied in a flat tone, “Yan Tianyu.”

Yan Tianyu had said he was busy with his studies and needed to focus entirely on his graduation thesis, so he wouldn’t be coming over anymore. He Chong knew this day would come sooner or later. He didn’t say a single word to persuade him to stay, and even sent Yan Tianyu a sum for his work.

He Chong led Zhou Mo inside, set down his gloves, and went over to the sink to wash his hands.

Lin Xinghe was there as well. He hadn’t told He Chong about losing the blueprint; luckily, the design ideas were all in his head, so he had worked overtime to recreate another copy.

Lin Xinghe was perceptive enough not to stick around as a third wheel. Wrapping up his work for the day, he threw on his jacket and said to He Chong, “Brother Chong, I’m heading back for today.”

He Chong quickly said, “Take the bike.”

Lin Xinghe waved off the offer, pulled up his hood, shoved his hands into his pockets, and walked out. Zhou Mo noticed the motorcycle parked against the wall. “Is that Lin Xinghe’s?”

He Chong said helplessly, “His family ran into some trouble, so I gave him a hand. He insisted on leaving this motorcycle as collateral. He’s stubborn as a mule.”

“Birds of a feather.”

He Chong laughed and looked down at Zhou Mo. “Done with your work?”

“For now. Next month I have to start prepping for final exams.”

“Why didn’t you call? I could’ve picked you up.”

Zhou Mo grinned. “Surprise inspection.”

“Now you’re underestimating me. I’ve got high standards, as you should know.”

“Is that so?” Hearing this filled Zhou Mo’s heart with a sweet warmth, as if she had just drunk sugar water.

When she smiled, her eyes crinkled into crescent moons. He Chong couldn’t help reaching out to touch her cheek. “There’s nothing fun to do around here. Why don’t I drive us somewhere to hang out?”

“Where to?”

“Where do you want to go?”

Zhou Mo thought for a moment. “Anywhere is fine, as long as I’m with you.”

He Chong smiled. “You decide. I don’t know where you usually like to go. Once you’ve known me longer, you’ll see how utterly boring my life is.”

“I know,” Zhou Mo said, blinking. Her look seemed to say: How interesting could the life of a twenty-eight-year-old, broke, single guy really be?

“Do you really think I’m so poor I can barely scrape together a meal?”

Zhou Rong said tactfully, “Probably… not quite to that extent.”

He Chong let out a sudden laugh. Stepping closer, he looked down at her and asked with utter seriousness, “I’m poor, older than you, and don’t even have a proper job. Is there something wrong with your judgment?”

“It’s not like I care about those things.”

“Then what do you care about?”

With her waist pressed against the edge of the workbench, Zhou Mo had nowhere to retreat. Looking up, her eyes met He Chong’s gaze.

By conventional standards, He Chong was certainly not someone who would make a person feel safe and settled.

Yet she loved how he understood the ways of the world without being hardened by them, loved how he retained an earnest heart despite having endured hardship, and loved that he didn’t fawn over power or crave wealth.

Most of all, she loved his carefree, uninhibited freedom and easygoing nature.

He Chong stood so close that Zhou Mo felt her heart flutter. Reaching out, she gently pushed him back a little. “We artists just happen to have unique taste.”

He Chong burst out laughing.

After discussing it for a long time without coming up with a good spot, they finally decided to go see a movie.

Puddles dotted the rainy town’s uneven streets. He Chong walked ahead, holding Zhou Mo’s hand and constantly reminding her to be careful.

Stepping carefully over a puddle, Zhou Mo spoke up, “I don’t believe a small place like this actually has a movie theater.”

“Theater or not, I’ll get you a movie to watch today.”

Yannan Town lagged in development, but it pulsed with everyday life. A row of storefronts lined the street. Red and blue lightboxes spun beside a young man with multicolored hair who was hanging towels out to dry. Two youths who had just bolted out of an adjacent internet cafe leaned against the wall, smoking and cursing under their breath. Young girls in heavy makeup, short skirts, and black stockings stood outside a bubble tea shop, sipping their drinks while gossiping…

All of this felt quite unfamiliar to Zhou Mo. Like an artist gathering material, she observed everything along the way with great relish.

Reaching a teahouse, He Chong stopped.

The clatter of mahjong tiles echoed continuously inside, punctuated by an occasional shout of “Pong!” or “Win!”, mixed with banter delivered in thick local accents.

He Chong pushed open the door. A man busy serving tea turned around. “Yo, Brother Chong! What brings you here today? Up for a game?” Before the words were fully out, he caught sight of Zhou Mo beside He Chong and grinned. “If it’s too noisy out here, we’ve got private rooms. Want me to find two more players to complete a table for you?”

He Chong chuckled and cursed playfully, “I don’t have time to play cards with you. Is upstairs open? Let me use a room.” “Oh, it’s definitely open for you,” the man said with a knowing smile. He Chong pulled out a banknote and handed it to him. “Two hours.”

Stuffing the money into his pocket, the man smiled and asked, “Want some tea? I can brew a pot for you two and fetch some snacks.”

“Whatever works. Just bring whatever.”

“Alright then!” the man answered, heading off toward the kitchen.

He Chong turned to look. Zhou Mo had her head lowered, the tips of her ears bright red.

He smirked. “What are you thinking about?”

Flustered, Zhou Mo couldn’t say a word. He Chong chuckled, took her hand, and led her upstairs.

Upstairs were two doors, one locked and the other slightly ajar. He Chong pushed open the unlatched door and flipped the light switch beside it.

When the lights came on, Zhou Mo was surprised to find that the room was actually a small private screening room, complete with a projector.

It was equipped with a pair of plush, cinema-grade seats, with an iPad sitting nearby.

He Chong handed the iPad to Zhou Rong, turned on the equipment one by one, and said to Zhou Mo while adjusting the settings, “The owner here used to run a video hall. Do you know what a video hall is?”

Zhou Mo nodded.

“Back then, he’d play Hong Kong movies for customers during the day. After work, he’d bring his wife over and screen Hollywood films like 《Titanic》 just for her, which he’d gone to great lengths to get. They’d pile the chairs to the side to clear a space in the middle, then dance to the music while watching the movie.”

Zhou Mo let out a soft “Wow” in wonder.

He Chong smiled and said, “Don’t let his current look fool you; he was quite the romantic when he was young. After he married his wife, business at the video hall gradually declined. Later, he opened a restaurant, an internet cafe, a teahouse… But he always kept this space upstairs, remodeling it into what it is today. Occasionally, young couples come here to watch a movie, but it’s mostly for his own use.”

Holding the remote, he glanced between the screen and the buttons, his tone and movements equally casual. Zhou Mo realized she really liked listening to him speak. Whether he was talking sense or spouting nonsensical logic, delivered in his lazy drawl, it always carried an air of easygoing charm.

The projector lit up as the signal connected. He Chong clapped his hands together, turned to Zhou Mo, and asked, “What do you want to watch? You can pick.”

Zhou Mo snapped back to reality, swiped across the screen a few times, and asked, “Have you seen 《Singin’ in the Rain》?”

“Isn’t that film a bit old?”

“I don’t care, I want this one.”

“Alright, whatever you say.”

It was a classic movie from the 1950s, imbued with a vintage flair rich with nostalgia. Both of them had seen it before, yet as memorable scenes played out, they still couldn’t help sharing a knowing smile.

The movie progressed steadily to the scene where Don danced gracefully in the rain. Zhou Mo knew this piece of music by heart and couldn’t help humming along for a few notes.

He Chong’s gaze drifted over. In the darkened room, the glow radiating from the screen created a hazy effect, making him feel as though he had slipped back in time to the days when he squatted in a video hall watching Chow Yun-fat in 《Once a Thief》^[1].

Zhou Mo always stirred memories of his past. Yet the things he had once yearned for but failed to attain had been washed away by time, leaving only a faint, fond regret, and even that regret was sweet.

He Chong’s heart was originally like a dust-covered guqin^[2]. Now, plucked twice by someone, dust swirled into the air, yet he could still clearly feel the vibrating strings. Gazing at Zhou Mo in the dim light, He Chong smiled and asked, “Care for a dance with me?”

Before Zhou Mo could react, He Chong had already risen from his seat and extended a classic invitation to dance. The moment Zhou Mo placed her hand in his, he pulled her up from her seat, sending her bumping right into his chest. He Chong rested his hand against her waist, applying just a little pressure to lead her into slow, measured steps.

Resting her head on his shoulder, Zhou Mo spun in slow circles to the music from the film. Moving between light and shadow, every time the screen illuminated He Chong’s face, her heart would tighten.

She possessed an extraordinary sensitivity to light, shadow, and color, just like the roses in the rain that day. She felt that the shifting light at this moment, the hazy atmosphere, and the look in He Chong’s eyes would be frozen into a memory impossible to forget.

Distracted, Zhou Mo accidentally stepped on He Chong’s foot.

Their movements came to a stop. He Chong chuckled softly and said, “Miss Zhou, your social etiquette leaves something to be desired.”

Zhou Mo wanted to retort, but the moment she looked up into He Chong’s eyes, her heart pounded violently, leaving her speechless once more.

He Chong’s smile faded, and he gazed at her in silence.

The sound from the speakers seemed to vanish.

All they could hear was the growing clarity of each other’s breathing as He Chong’s gaze deepened.

A heavy breath escaped his nose. Zhou Mo’s heart began to panic.

Her palms turned sweaty and her breath grew unsteady as she forced herself not to look at him.

Yet the hand resting on her waist tightened, pulling her sharply toward him.

Zhou Mo felt her heart beating wildly as if trying to burst from her chest. This sudden fluttering was so unfamiliar that it left her completely at a loss.

Emotions surged within He Chong’s deep gaze. Watching him, Zhou Mo felt her heartbeat falter erratically. Not knowing what else to do, she simply closed her eyes.

She felt a soft breath brush past her hair and cheek, while a hand gently cupped the back of her head. Something fluttered in the damp air, like those long, dreary spring days holding back endless rain.

“Knock, knock, knock!” A sudden knock sounded at the door.

Zhou Mo reflexively pushed He Chong away and took a step back. Hearing He Chong let out a quiet chuckle, she felt a flush of heat spread over her entire body.

“Old He^[3], I brought some refreshments for you two. Can I come in?”

He Chong glanced at her, walked over with a smile, and opened the door. Zhou Mo hurriedly retreated to her seat, frantically adjusting her collar as if guilty of something.

The owner handed a tray to He Chong, glanced inside, and winked. “Did I interrupt you two?”

He Chong gave a half-smile. “Here’s a piece of advice: if the movie is almost over and you still haven’t remembered to bring refreshments, you might as well skip them altogether.”

The owner hurriedly cupped his hands together^[4] and smiled. “My bad, my bad!” The door closed, and He Chong returned to his seat holding the tray.

Zhou Mo took a look. On the tray were two cups of hot tea and a plate of melon seeds, leaving her somewhat speechless.

Yet melon seeds seemed to possess a magic of their own: the moment you picked up the first one, you were plunged into an abyss of irresistible addiction.

Just like that, the earlier romantic, intimate atmosphere vanished into thin air, and the second half of the movie devolved into a gossip session over melon seeds.

After watching the movie and having dinner, He Chong drove Zhou Mo home. On the way, He Chong asked Zhou Mo if she would be free anytime soon.

“What is it?”

“Han Yu suggested going skiing together if we have time,” He Chong said with a smile. “Boss Han is covering room and board. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.”

“There are no ski resorts in Xicheng. Are we going out of town?”

He Chong nodded. “Two days and one night.”

“Is Ye Yinyin going too?” “Yes, she is.”

Zhou Mo hesitated slightly.

Understanding what was on her mind, He Chong paused before saying, “Forget it, then. We’ll let the two of them go together.”

But Zhou Mo shook her head. “No, I want to go.”

“It’s really fine. We’ll have plenty of chances in the future.”

“Don’t you trust me?”

“This has nothing to do with trust. I just don’t want you to keep lying to your family.”

Zhou Mo pursed her lips. “You’re the one who taught me that lying requires a strategic retreat.”

He Chong chuckled. “Just because I taught you doesn’t mean you have to put it into practice right away.”

Zhou Mo had made up her mind. “When are we leaving? Where are we meeting?”

He Chong glanced at Zhou Mo, feeling a touch of bitterness inside. A perfectly normal relationship had turned into something secret and stealthy, which was undeniably tied to his current status. He knew this wasn’t a long-term solution, but if he laid all his cards on the table with the Zhou family right now, the outcome would be easy to predict. With Zhou Sipei’s ruthless methods, he would likely hide Zhou Rong away, ensuring He Chong could never find her again for the rest of his life.

He Chong sighed inwardly. “I’ll let you know after I talk it over with Han Yu.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll ask Ye Yinyin for help.”

“Mm.” He Chong gave a faint smile.

The car soon pulled into the city, and as usual, He Chong parked at an intersection not far from the Zhou family home.

Zhou Mo unbuckled her seatbelt and dragged her feet while packing her backpack.

He Chong asked with a smile, “Reluctant to leave?”

Zhou Mo glared at him, put on her backpack, and opened the car door. “I’m leaving!”

“Hey, wait!” He Chong quickly opened his car door and hurried after her. Unaware that a pouting Zhou Mo could walk so fast, He Chong quickened his pace, took three or four quick strides, and caught her by the arm.

“Quite a temper you’ve got.” He Chong chuckled, pulling her into his arms and wrapping them tightly around her.

Zhou Mo countered, “Who’s the one reluctant to part?”

“Me, me, me. I’m the one reluctant to part.”

Zhou Mo suppressed a smile.

He Chong pressed his hand against Zhou Mo’s back, holding her close against his chest. “Miss Zhou is a busy woman. Who knows when we’ll see each other next? Let me hold you a little longer.”

Zhou Mo’s cheeks warmed slightly, and she gave a soft, quiet “Mm.”

After holding her silently for a few minutes, He Chong finally loosened his arms and reached out to touch her cheek. “I’m leaving now. Rest early when you get home.”

Zhou Mo urged, “Drive carefully on your way back.”

He Chong watched Zhou Mo enter her house before walking back with light steps, getting into his car, and driving off into the night.

The ski trip was officially set.

Zhou Mo asked Ye Yinyin to call her house and pretend they were taking a short trip together. Tang Shulan was naturally displeased, but her upbringing kept her from showing her irritation while speaking to Ye Yinyin. Though she agreed, she turned around and gave Zhou Mo a lecture, spouting the same old rhetoric about how hanging out with a girl from Ye Yinyin’s background brought her no benefit whatsoever.

Having achieved her goal, Zhou Mo didn’t mind enduring a bit more of Tang Shulan’s nagging. Seeing her so unusually submissive today, Tang Shulan found nothing else to scold her for and sent her upstairs to focus on her drawing.

Once back upstairs, Zhou Mo couldn’t contain her excitement and messaged He Chong to share the news.

He Chong quickly replied: Alright, Han Yu and I will pick you up early Saturday morning. Pack your things in advance. It’s very cold at the ski resort, so bring plenty of warm clothes.

Zhou Mo spent the entire week buzzing with excitement for the trip. She kept adding and removing items from her bag, unable to finish packing even as the day drew near. In the end, she called Ye Yinyin to ask what she actually needed to bring.

Ye Yinyin asked, “How far have you and He Chong gotten?” “What does that have to do with what I should bring?”

“Of course it matters! If you two are going to hit home base, you definitely need to pack some nice lingerie.”

Zhou Mo’s face flushed bright red. “What do you mean, ‘hit home base’?”

Ye Yinyin burst out laughing. “What do you think? What else could it mean in this context?”

Mortified, Zhou Mo whispered, “I’m asking you seriously.”

“I’m answering you seriously too! But I know it’s pointless to even mention it. You two are probably still at the stage of holding hands, kissing, and hugging.”

Zhou Mo fell silent.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t even kissed yet?” Zhou Mo remained silent.

Ye Yinyin was beside herself with laughter. “Momo, I’m truly amazed by you! But strangely, I’m not even surprised. Why do you think that is?”

“Stop teasing me.”

Ye Yinyin laughed heartily. “Besides, even if I told you, it wouldn’t change anything. How could you possibly have any sexy lingerie? I bet yours are all plain white cotton.”

Looking at the neatly stacked, plain white underwear in her closet, Zhou Mo fell into deep thought.

Early Saturday morning, Ye Yinyin arrived to pick up Zhou Mo. Tang Shulan walked Zhou Mo to the door and politely exchanged a few pleasantries with Ye Yinyin, asking her to look after Zhou Mo during the trip.

Ye Yinyin was well aware that Tang Shulan’s words were purely polite pleasantries, but knowing a bit about how Zhou Mo’s parents operated, she didn’t take it to heart.

The car pulled up at the intersection. Han Yu rolled down the window to greet Zhou Mo, while He Chong got out to help carry her luggage.

Right up until the car was about to start, Zhou Mo kept looking back anxiously. Seeing that her parents hadn’t followed them, she finally breathed a complete sigh of relief.

Han Yu began outlining their itinerary. “The drive will take four hours, so you two can catch some sleep in the car first.”

Turning around from the front passenger seat, Ye Yinyin said to Zhou Mo, “Momo, I won’t be able to chat with you. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I need to catch up on sleep now.”

Han Yu clicked his tongue in disgust. “If you want to sleep, go to the back. You’re an eyesore sitting up front.”

“I just want to sit up front! What’s wrong with that?”

Zhou Mo couldn’t help but chuckle. When she looked up, she realized He Chong was turning his head to look at her.

“What is it?”

He Chong smiled and said, “Nothing, just looking at you.”

The car started moving. Ye Yinyin pulled an eye mask and earplugs out of her bag and put them on.

He Chong stretched out, leaning back in his seat with his arms crossed behind his head. “I’ve never been able to compliment your driving skills,” he said to Han Yu. “Can you even tell the gas pedal from the brake? Drive properly.”

Han Yu grimaced. “You win one stupid racing championship and you brag about it for the rest of your life.” He turned to glance at Zhou Mo. “Miss Zhou…”

“Just call me Zhou Mo.”

Han Yu smiled and asked, “Did you know Old He won a racing championship?”

“I’ve heard about it, but I don’t know the details.”

“Oh, that’s rare. Old He didn’t use that to brag to you?”

Zhou Mo glanced at He Chong.

“You really should ask him about it. Old He is quite something, full of secrets.”

Zhou Mo looked at He Chong. “Is that so?”

He Chong gave a light chuckle and patted her head. “I’ll tell you everything when we get the chance.”

The four-hour drive passed quickly as they chatted along the way. The hotel Han Yu chose was not far from the ski resort, an upscale, estate-style hotel complete with a hot spring bathhouse.

Han Yu had booked two rooms: one for Zhou Mo and Ye Yinyin, and one for He Chong and himself. After picking up their keycards, Han Yu wheeled the luggage along behind He Chong.

Han Yu grinned and said, “I didn’t arrange these rooms, Ye Yinyin did. If you have any complaints, take them up with her.”

He Chong clicked his tongue. “You never have anything good to say^[5]. You’re eating my food and staying on my dime, yet here you are complaining about me.”

After checking in, the four of them had lunch at the hotel before heading out to the ski resort.

The sky was somewhat overcast, the wind blew hard, and the temperature was low, but none of it dampened their high spirits.

As she did her warm-up exercises, Zhou Mo’s nose was flushed red from the biting wind, yet she rubbed her hands together eagerly, her eyes bright as glinting snow.

Among the four of them, only Ye Yinyin had no skiing experience, so Han Yu accommodated her by staying away from the advanced slopes.

After a quick warm-up run, Zhou Mo still wanted more. She turned to He Chong and said, “Let me race you.”

He Chong smiled. “Sure, what’s the stake?” Zhou Mo pulled down her goggles and called out, “Win first, talk later!”

Dressed in a bright red ski suit, she shot forward like a flash of flame in a world of white snow. Before He Chong could even react consciously, his body was already moving. He followed behind Zhou Mo, watching her nimbly navigate slope after slope, carving her way down toward the finish line.

His competitive streak ignited, he picked up his pace and pushed hard to catch up.

The wind whipped past his cheeks as the snowy landscape blurred on either side.

The red figure ahead grew closer and closer. Just as He Chong prepared to surge past her, he saw Zhou Mo wobble and suddenly lose her balance, veering straight toward a massive pine tree diagonally ahead.

He Chong dug his poles hard into the snow, his skis slicing across the powder as he shot forward at breakneck speed. Executing a sharp carve, he threw himself directly in front of the trunk just before Zhou Mo crashed into the tree.

Zhou Mo slammed hard into He Chong’s arms, and the two of them tumbled to the ground together.

He Chong let out a muffled groan. Hurriedly pulling off his goggles, he reached out to pull Zhou Mo up from the snow. Brushing away the powder coating her, he frantically asked, “Are you alright?” Zhou Mo clutched her ankle and let out a soft hiss of pain.

Not caring about anything else, He Chong immediately unbuckled and removed her ski boot. Her ankle was slightly red and swollen; when his fingers brushed against it lightly, she gasped from the sharp pain.

Zhou Mo’s face had gone pale with pain. Biting her lip, she whispered, “I’m fine.”

“You’re fine? Fine enough for me to press it a couple more times?”

Zhou Mo quickly blurted out, “No, don’t!”

With a stern look on his face, He Chong pulled out his phone to call the staff. Before long, the resort staff arrived and helped carry Zhou Mo off the slope.

The resort had medical personnel on site, who came over to examine Zhou Mo. They said it appeared to be just an ordinary sprain, but to be safe, it would be best to get an X-ray at a proper hospital.

Medication had been sprayed onto Zhou Mo’s ankle, leaving it burning with pain. She didn’t dare make a sound and stole a glance at He Chong. His expression was grim, looking even gloomier than the overcast weather outside.

He Chong thanked the medical staff, looked down at Zhou Mo, and said in a low voice, “Sit here and wait a moment.”

Zhou Mo nodded obediently.

Still seeming uneasy, He Chong added a firm warning: “Don’t go anywhere.” With that, he opened the door and left the infirmary.

The doctor who had just examined her glanced at Zhou Mo and asked with a smile, “Your boyfriend?” Zhou Mo nodded.

“Look how worried he was. He really cares about you.”

He’s pretty fierce, too, Zhou Mo thought to herself. This was the first time she had ever seen He Chong like this. Even though he hadn’t actually lost his temper, he somehow made her feel intimidated and meek. But then another thought struck her: Why should I feel intimidated? It’s not like I got hurt on purpose.

A moment later, He Chong returned with the same dark expression. Walking up to her without a word, he reached out and scooped Zhou Mo straight up into his arms.

Zhou Mo gasped in surprise. “Hey!”

“‘Hey’ what? You want to walk yourself?”

Knowing she was in the wrong, Zhou Mo shut her mouth and wrapped her arms around He Chong’s neck. He Chong walked with steady strides, carrying her effortlessly.

The walk from the exit to the parking lot was nearly a kilometer. Zhou Mo wanted to speak up several times along the way, but whenever she peeked up at He Chong’s face, she swallowed her words.

Finding Han Yu’s car in the parking lot, He Chong fished out the keys, unlocked it, opened the door, and only then set Zhou Mo down.

He placed Zhou Mo in the passenger seat, made sure she was comfortably settled, and shut the door. Walking around to the driver’s side, he took off his jacket, inserted the key, and started the engine. Unfamiliar with the area, he pulled out his phone to set up navigation. Once the route was locked in, He Chong turned his head, only to see Zhou Mo peeking at him out of the corner of her eye.

He Chong let out a frustrated laugh. “Does it still hurt?”

Zhou Mo nodded.

“You’ve read so many books. Haven’t you heard the saying that it’s always the good swimmers who drown^[6]?”

“I just wanted to beat you.”

“So you think you’re in the right?”

“Who told you to chase me so closely?”

“And now it’s my fault?”

“You should at least take half the responsibility.”

“Only half? Am I not taking full responsibility right now?”

Zhou Mo was left speechless. After a moment of silence, she whispered, “I’m sorry.”

He Chong gave a soft snort and said nothing more.

The hospital was over twenty kilometers away, down unfamiliar, rough roads that took over forty minutes to travel.

He Chong had Zhou Mo wait in the main lobby while he bustled about, asking for directions and getting her registered.

When it was time to see the doctor, Zhou Mo felt too embarrassed to let him carry her any longer and tried to walk on her own, but he glared at her, forcing her to give up the idea.

The doctor ordered an X-ray for Zhou Mo. When the results came back, fortunately, it was just a simple sprain.

He Chong’s expression softened slightly. He folded all the paperwork, stuffed it into his pocket, and picked Zhou Mo up in his arms before returning to the parking lot.

On the way back, Zhou Mo kept sneaking glances at He Chong, still not daring to speak.

The drive back wasn’t as tense as the trip there. He Chong slowed down a bit, opened the car window, and said to Zhou Mo, “I’m going to have a cigarette. Hope you don’t mind.”

Zhou Mo hurriedly shook her head to indicate she didn’t mind at all.

Lighting the cigarette, He Chong took a deep drag and turned to look at Zhou Mo. “I brought you out here only for you to end up hurt. How am I supposed to answer to your parents?”

Zhou Mo said softly, “They don’t even know I came out with you.”

The anger He Chong had just managed to suppress nearly flared up again at her words. “Zhou Mo, I swear you really ask for it sometimes.”

Zhou Mo couldn’t hold back a laugh, stealing a sideways look at He Chong’s face.

All of He Chong’s anger dissolved into helplessness. With a resigned sigh, he said, “Honestly, you…”

Back at the hotel, Zhou Mo changed her clothes. Her ankle was badly swollen, though the pain had eased after applying the medicinal spray.

After Zhou Mo had been sitting in her room for a short while, He Chong came knocking. In that brief span of time, he had somehow gotten hold of a bag of fruit. “I’m here to offer some comfort to our little kid.”

“Who’s a little kid?”

“Whoever manages to sprain an ankle just by skiing is the little kid.”

The “little kid,” who had learned to ski at seven or eight, felt a bit downcast. With over a decade of experience under her belt, she had never expected to suffer such an embarrassing mishap. She had wanted to show off her skills, but fate had other plans. Zhou Mo couldn’t help letting out a long sigh.

He Chong glanced at her. “What are you sighing about?”

“I’m still frustrated. I could have beaten you.”

“Is winning or losing really that important?”

“I’m actually really good at it.”

He Chong chuckled. “Didn’t I already know that?” He pulled an apple from the plastic bag. “Want one?”

“I’ll eat it if you peel it for me.”

Boss Han was generous, booking a suite equipped with every amenity. He Chong went into the kitchen for a paring knife, returned to the living room, leaned back against the wine cabinet, and put on a little show of peeling the apple for Zhou Mo.

He had taken off his jacket, leaving only a thin black sweater underneath. A beam of light spilled down at an angle from the top of the cabinet. Bathed in the glow with his eyes lowered, He Chong looked strikingly handsome in a way that was distinct from his usual self.

Zhou Mo wiggled her toes until she slipped her foot into her slipper, then started hopping on one foot. He Chong looked up. “Hey, stay put. If you want something, I’ll get…”

“Don’t move!” Zhou Mo grabbed her backpack from the table, pulled out her sketchbook, flipped to a fresh page, glanced up at He Chong, and immediately set to work with swift strokes of her pencil.

He Chong grinned. “Drawing me? Want me to strike a pose?”

“Don’t move. Just stay right there.” Zhou Mo stole a quick glance at him before refocusing her attention on the tip of her pencil.

He Chong: …

Once he finished peeling the apple, He Chong looked at Zhou Mo. “Can I move now?”

However, Zhou Mo was always completely absorbed when she was drawing and didn’t seem to hear him at all. Amused and helpless, He Chong placed the apple on a nearby plate, folded up the fruit knife, and stayed still, patiently waiting for her to finish.

Five minutes passed before Zhou Mo let out a long breath. “Done.”

He Chong walked over while Zhou Mo quickly hid her hands behind her back. Peering at her sketchbook, he said, “Let me see.” “No.”

He Chong raised an eyebrow. “You drew me and you won’t even let me see?”

“I’ve drawn tons of people. Am I supposed to show all of them?”

He Chong paused for a split second, then feinted to one side. As Zhou Mo dodged, he grabbed her arm, twisted it gently outward, and snatched the sketchbook from her hands.

Zhou Mo scrambled to snatch it back, but He Chong raised a knee to pin her leg down, straightened up, and held the sketchbook high out of reach. “I’m warning you, don’t move around so recklessly. If you bump your foot, you’re the one who’ll be in pain.”

Fuming, Zhou Mo tugged at his sweater. “He Chong! You’re picking on someone weaker than you!”

“You, weak? You’re about as fierce and wild as they come.”

He Chong flipped through the pages with a rustle until he reached the one Zhou Mo had just closed, tilting his head to look. Because it was a quick sketch, it wasn’t fully detailed, but it captured both his likeness and spirit remarkably well, with clean, precise light and shadow.

“Yo, pretty skilled, aren’t you?”

“Give it back!”

He Chong kept flipping forward and uncovered another pleasant surprise. Turning the page, which featured another portrait of him, toward Zhou Mo, he asked with a smile, “When did you draw this?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Looks like you’ve been harboring designs on me for a while now.”

Zhou Mo continued tugging at the sleeve of his sweater, trying to pull his arm down. “Give it back to me!”

“If you don’t give it back right now, I’m really going to get mad!”

Her pull was so forceful that the neckline of his sweater slipped off his shoulder. Zhou Mo froze. Looking up, she saw He Chong watching her with a half-smile.

Throwing the sketchbook onto the coffee table, He Chong leaned down. “What are you trying to do, tugging at my clothes like that, hm?”

Zhou Mo’s throat tightened as she instinctively shrank back, but He Chong cupped the back of her head, cutting off her escape. As his face drew near, his warm breath brushed against her skin.

Zhou Mo’s heart hammered frantically, making it hard to breathe. Feeling her lips grow dry, she unconsciously ran her tongue over them, only to see He Chong’s gaze deepen even further as he stared fixedly at her, allowing her no room to retreat.

With a wicked, playful gleam in his eyes, He Chong gently brushed aside the loose wisps of hair on her forehead and murmured softly, “Little girl, close your eyes…”

Wind howled outside, whistling past the window frames with a faint rattling sound.

Zhou Mo rested her palm against his chest, hesitating over whether to push him away, but his hand gripped hers tightly. His other arm wrapped around her, steady and unyielding as a fortress.

In the darkness behind her closed eyes, Zhou Mo felt her entire being trembling, yet she had no desire to resist.

As it turned out, she had never been afraid of kissing itself; she had only been afraid of not meeting the right person.

The touch on her lips was tender and burning hot, like a solemn mark branded upon her.

The kiss was soft and brief.

She felt He Chong tighten his grip on her fingers, pressing them against his chest, right over his heart.

After a moment, he lifted her hand, brushed his lips softly against her slender fingers, and murmured, “Don’t be scared.”

Only then did Zhou Mo realize her entire body was trembling. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes to meet He Chong’s gaze.

His gaze was calm and gentle.

Zhou Mo took a deep breath, reached out her arms, and held He Chong tightly.

Neither of them spoke.

When He Chong was young, he used to have unrealistic dreams. Some were absurd, while others were mundane. During those turbulent years, one dream after another had kept him company through that long, helpless time. Later, he grew up and obtained the things he had once longed for, no longer having to endure cold, hunger, or loneliness. But he stopped dreaming, too.

Until he met Zhou Mo.

Even though their worlds were night and day apart, he always seemed to see in her that bound, unfree version of himself. The only difference was that Zhou Mo was bound by luxury and comfort, while he had been bound by the vast, open world.

He Chong let out a breath from deep in his chest and asked in a low voice, “Have you ever had orange soda?”

Zhou Mo hadn’t heard him clearly. “Hmm?”

He Chong shook his head and pulled her closer.

He felt that Zhou Mo’s presence seemed to have illuminated his heart, which had been covered in dust for so long.

Daylight faded inch by inch. Outside the window, dark clouds in the western sky completely blocked out the setting sun.

He Chong released Zhou Mo and sat up. He lifted her foot onto his thigh, looking down at it. “Did I bump into it?”

Zhou Mo shook her head, glanced sideways at him, and quickly looked away.

He Chong smiled and said, “I really love how shy you get.”

“There’s something wrong with you.” Her voice was so quiet it was barely audible, sounding almost like a coy complaint. Hearing this, He Chong laughed even louder.

Zhou Mo squirmed a bit. “Let go of me, quick. Yinyin and the others will be back soon.”

“So what if they come back? What’s there to be afraid of?”

Zhou Mo: …

He Chong grinned and said, “You art types are really this reserved?” Even as he spoke, he released her, stood up, and straightened his clothes.

He Chong went to the bathroom. When he returned, his eyes caught the fruits of his labor, the apple he had spent ages peeling. He picked it up and handed it to Zhou Mo. “Have some fruit, kid. Get some nutrients.”

“It’s already oxidized.”

“It’s still good.”

Zhou Mo took the apple and took a crisp bite from it.

“Is it sweet?”

“It’s okay.”

As soon as the words left her mouth, He Chong suddenly leaned down and pecked her on the lips. Before she could react, he backed away with a loud laugh, grabbed his phone, and headed to the doorway to make a call.

Zhou Mo: “…”

She raised a hand to touch her cheek, feeling it burning hot.

Ye Yinyin had spent half the day conquering the ski slopes, making rapid progress and reaping great rewards. Naturally athletic, with a bit of guidance from Boss Han, by late afternoon she was already skiing side-by-side with him in perfect sync^[7].

After finishing dinner in the hotel banquet hall, Ye Yinyin prepared to hit the hot springs.

Having injured her ankle, Zhou Mo naturally couldn’t go. She watched longingly as Ye Yinyin changed into the hotel bathrobe and asked, “What time are you coming back?”

Ye Yinyin teased, “What’s that supposed to mean? Afraid I’ll come back early and disturb you two?”

“I just want you to come back early and keep me company.”

Ye Yinyin laughed. “Keep you company? We even go to the bathroom together. Haven’t you had enough of me? Honestly, that period right before a couple gets together is the best part. You’d better cherish it and let He Chong keep you company while you can.”

Zhou Mo’s face flushed hot. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Ye Yinyin found it hilarious. Grabbing a towel, she couldn’t resist giving Zhou Mo’s cheek a pat before heading for the door.

“Hey!”

Ye Yinyin giggled, turned around, and blew her a kiss. “Seize the opportunity! I won’t be back anytime soon!”

Zhou Mo didn’t know what He Chong had planned for the evening. She grabbed her phone and was just about to call him when he came over and knocked on the door.

Zhou Mo hopped over on one foot to open the door. Standing outside, He Chong was wearing a jacket and holding a pair of leather gloves, looking ready to go out. He looked down, smiled, and asked, “Want to go outside for a bit? The moon’s out tonight.”

Intrigued, Zhou Mo went back inside, bundled herself up tight, and got ready to head out.

He Chong stuffed the gloves into his jacket pocket and bent down in front of Zhou Mo.

Zhou Mo froze. “You’re going to carry me?”

“Did you expect to walk on your own?”

“People will see…”

He Chong thought for a moment, pulled up her scarf, and wrapped it around the lower half of her face. “Now they won’t.”

Zhou Mo pulled down the scarf and glared at him.

He Chong chuckled and said, “So what if they see? My girl is injured. What’s wrong with me carrying her?”

Zhou Mo smiled, though she still hesitated. “I’m heavy…”

“I’ve held you before. You’re not heavy.”

Zhou Mo had nothing left to say.

She wrapped her arms around He Chong’s shoulders as he carried her out of the hotel. People stared at them along the way, making her feel self-conscious. She buried her face into the crook of his neck, hearing him chuckle softly.

He Chong took steady strides, occasionally hoisting her up slightly to keep her from sliding down.

The dark clouds in the sky had dispersed at some point, revealing a crescent moon. The air was cold and fresh, with a dry chill in the wind. Zhou Mo thoroughly enjoyed the crisp outdoor air, large puffs of white mist rising from her breath as she exhaled.

Streetlights along the road cast an amber glow, while the lights in the distance gradually blurred, forming soft, fuzzy halos of light.

Zhou Mo breathed in the faint, clean fragrance on He Chong’s collar, feeling lighter and happier than ever before.

Before, she had simply thought he was great, but she never imagined that being his girlfriend would mean being spoiled like this, so much so that it felt almost unreal.

He Chong’s voice came from ahead. “Let me guess what you’re thinking right now. Are you thinking about how wonderful I am?”

Zhou Mo quickly said, “Wrong guess.”

He Chong chuckled. “Is that so? Looks like I still have room for improvement, then.”

Zhou Mo fell silent for a moment, buried her face into the back of his collar, and asked softly, “Why are you so good to me?”

“Don’t you think that’s a silly question? Who else would I be good to if not you?”

“Then… do you like me?”

“I recall I’ve already confessed to you.”

“Then why do you like me? I don’t know how to do anything. Yinyin often says I never lift a finger and can’t tell basic grains apart^[8]. If I left the Zhou family, I’d probably just be a pretty little good-for-nothing.”

He Chong laughed. “You don’t need to know how to do anything. You only have to do three things.”

“Hmm?”

“Look at me, trust me, love me.”

Zhou Mo was suddenly struck speechless. Her heart felt as if it had been soaked in warm syrup, completely cozy and filled with warmth.

A moment later, she said softly, “He Chong.”

“Hmm?”

“I like you too.”

“Even though I already knew, I’ll pretend I just found out.”

Zhou Mo let out a soft laugh.

Carrying her on his back, He Chong slowly walked away from the hotel grounds. A nearby coffee shop was still open with few patrons inside, the faint sound of jazz drifting out.

“Want to grab a drink?”

“I don’t want to go inside. I want to stay out here.”

He Chong glanced around. Across from the coffee shop was a slope where withered grass rustled in the breeze. Set among the grass were a stone table and a few stone stools. He carried Zhou Mo over and set her down on the table. “Wait for me a moment.”

Zhou Mo looked up at the sky. Aside from the moon, there were only a few cold stars. The nearby mountain peaks were covered in snow, reflecting the moonlight in a bright, pristine glow.

She exhaled softly, leaning back on her hands against the table, and swung her dangling legs.

He Chong returned before long holding two paper cups, steam rising gently from them as he approached.

“Here, kiddo. Have something sweet.”

Zhou Mo didn’t ask what it was. She took a sip and found it was hot chocolate, melting on her tongue, sweet without being cloying.

He Chong stood right beside her, turning his head to look at her. “Are you cold?”

Zhou Mo shook her head. “Not cold at all.”

He Chong smiled. “That happy?”

“Mm.”

“As long as you’re happy. I was worried you’d still be dwelling on not beating me.”

“I had already forgotten, and then you just had to bring it up!”

He Chong burst out laughing. “Are you really that unwilling to lose?”

Zhou Mo nodded vigorously.

He Chong looked down at Zhou Mo. The tip of her nose was red from the cold wind on her fair, pretty face, but her eyes were exceptionally bright, as if stars had fallen into them. Setting his hot drink aside, he reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist. “Let’s say you won, then. What kind of reward do you want?”

Zhou Mo looked up. “Anything?” He Chong joked, “I’m dirt poor, as you well know. As long as it’s within my power, ask for whatever you want.”

Zhou Mo lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, her fingers tightening around the paper cup as she murmured, “I heard that years ago, when you were down south, you almost…”

He Chong’s expression stilled slightly. “Almost died.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

He Chong withdrew his arm from her waist and slipped his hand into his jacket pocket. “Mind if I light a cigarette?”

Zhou Mo nodded.

He Chong lowered his head to light a cigarette and took a drag, resting his hand on the edge of the table. Smoke curled into the chilly wind, dispersing into the air.

“After I was discharged from the military, I went south to make a living. I didn’t have much schooling, so I just took whatever job I could find. Later on, by sheer chance, someone dragged me into a racing team. After six months of training, I somehow ended up competing. That was the first urban championship. Nobody was really that good, so I got lucky and took first place.” He Chong spoke in a flat tone, taking another drag before continuing, “I was full of myself back then, thinking I could make a living out of racing. But then something happened. During the national championship, I crashed and almost lost my life…”

Zhou Mo’s heart tightened, and she instinctively gripped his arm.

He Chong paused, then reached out to pull her close, kissing her forehead. “I thought I’d end up paralyzed, but luck was on my side. I could still stand after surgery. Then came over half a year of rehab, which wiped out all the money I’d made racing for two years. In the end, I had to start over from scratch.”

Zhou Mo didn’t say anything, resting her head against his chest and pressing close to him as if to reassure herself that he was really there.

He Chong chuckled softly and patted her head. “That’s all there was to it. It happened years ago anyway.”

“Does your mother know about this?”

“I didn’t tell my mom or my uncle, but Yi Fei knows. When I was hospitalized, Han Yu was a big help. Boss Han might run his mouth a lot, but he really steps up when it counts.”

“What were you thinking back then?”

“Not much. Just wanted to survive. I used to care a lot about fame and money, but later I realized that just being alive and able to run and jump around is enough. As for everything else… How does that saying go? ‘Though you own a thousand acres of fine land, you only eat three meals a day; though you possess ten thousand grand mansions, you only sleep on a single bed.^[9]‘”

“That’s the most cultured thing I’ve ever heard you say.”

He Chong burst out laughing. “Taking a shot at me whenever you get the chance?”

“No way, that was a compliment…”

Her voice sounded a little low and muffled. He Chong froze. He tried to turn her face up to look at her, but she resisted, pressing herself tightly against his chest.

He Chong smiled and sighed softly, gently stroking her long, soft hair. “It’s really fine. I didn’t even cry myself.”

“That’s because you don’t take anything to heart.” He Chong chuckled.

Zhou Mo couldn’t bring herself to smile at all. Loving someone meant that even looking at a scar that had long since healed would still bring pain to your own heart.

“Didn’t I tell you before that I’m afraid of dying?”

Zhou Mo nodded.

“Do you know why I left the military?”

Zhou Mo shook her head again.

“We were on a mission in the mountains near the border back then. The sky was so clear that night, you could see the Milky Way vividly. We had been marching long-distance for four or five days, so our focus was slipping. One of my comrades had been running a fever the whole time, but he was afraid of affecting the mission, so he refused to report it or ask for leave. When we engaged the fugitives that night, his reaction was a second too slow…” He Chong closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his hands tightening sharply into fists before slowly relaxing. “Right next to me, he took a bullet to the head…”

Zhou Mo shuddered.

“I could never forget that moment. I went through psychological therapy for a long time, but it still didn’t work. Every time I picked up a gun, my hands shook. Later, I submitted a report and left the military early. I’m just an ordinary guy who values his life.”

Zhou Mo shook her head vehemently. “What’s wrong with being ordinary? Isn’t everyone?”

He Chong kissed the top of her head. “Ever since the car crash, I haven’t cared much about most things. I’ve seen death, and I almost experienced it myself, so I feel like even the biggest disasters are nothing more than closing your eyes for good. To tell you the truth, when my mother passed away, I didn’t feel much of anything.”

Zhou Mo understood what he meant.

He was calm and composed, living in such a vacant house and spending his days dealing with car parts, yet finding contentment in his own quiet way. That wasn’t some kind of carefree detachment; it was a true indifference toward life and death, leaving him with no desires or demands. He didn’t care about the judgment of society, nor did he care about money. Yet, when someone becomes too detached, it means there is very little left in this world for them to hold on to…

How contradictory it was. He claimed to value his life, but in truth, he had already bid farewell to the whole world.

He Chong paused for a moment before shifting his tone. “So, little girl, I’m glad I met you. As long as a person lives in this world, they need to have something to hold on to. I hope you’ll be a bit more of a handful, so I can never bring myself to let you go.”

Mist welled up in Zhou Mo’s eyes, blurring his figure before her. She thought that this might be the most touching, yet heartbreaking, confession of love she would ever hear in her life.

She lifted her head, lightly brushed her lips against his, and whispered hoarsely, “I won’t let you say things like that anymore.”

Laughter rippled between them. He Chong pulled her tightly by the waist and leaned down to kiss her deeply.

The taste of tobacco lingered on his lips and teeth, strong and harsh, but Zhou Mo didn’t mind it. She clung to his lapels as their bodies pressed tightly against each other.

She wanted to make herself an anchor, mooring him to this world.