Chengyin Festival…
When I see Ji Yu again… what kind of person will she be?
Tang Li buttoned up a brown, double-breasted trench coat with three-quarter sleeves. Stylish, neat—without being overly formal.
[I'm already downstairs waiting, hurry up!]
His phone lit up. The message was from Gu Yu.
Tang Li shook his head, glanced at himself in the mirror, and rubbed his jaw with a touch of vanity before stepping out of the dorm. From his half-year roommate's reminder, he moved into the hall, scrolling through his contacts until his thumb paused over Ji Yu's name. He hovered for several breaths before dialing…
Outside, Gu Yu stood in the sunset, her hair tied back in a ponytail that made her look bright and youthful. She noticed Tang Li with his phone to his ear and hurried over, linking her fingers with his before he even cleared the doorway. Tang Li didn't resist. He let her pull him along.
Hand in hand, the two made their way toward the meeting place he had agreed on with Ji Yu.
Maybe it was because of the festival, but… where were the office workers? On a weekday evening, the subway should've been filled with suits and tired faces. Instead, the cars overflowed with couples—or singles looking to soak up the holiday mood.
Tang Li knew young people could turn any occasion into Valentine's Day, but this? Just a local festival—yet there were so many couples.
…Could it be—?
He glanced at Gu Yu. Today she wore simple athletic casuals, her expression light and relaxed, nothing shy or suggestive of a holiday atmosphere.
Had he been overthinking it? Probably. He gave a small shake of his head. Maybe he'd just been infected by all the shops and ads that tried to dress every holiday in hearts and roses.
By the time they emerged from the station, twilight had already deepened into a velvet blue. Rainbow lights and ribbons strung the square, and live music mixed with street vendors' chatter brought the Chengyin Festival to life.
The closer they got, the livelier the crowd became. Music spilled from cafés, a band struck up the first tune of the night, and the square pulsed with color and sound.
And then—there she was.
By the fountain, waiting.
Ji Yu.
Tonight, she wore a pale blue dress trimmed with lace at the hem, a sleeveless cut that caught the summer breeze. Her hair was styled in a soft half-up princess braid, with a red ribbon pinned loosely at the back. A white jade bracelet circled her wrist, adding an almost noble touch.
Sitting alone at the fountain's edge, the shy girl and the glittering mist created a scene too beautiful to ignore. Passersby stole glances—tourists, couples, everyone. Ji Yu flushed under the attention, bowing her head to fuss with her skirt.
Even Gu Yu, seeing her, was momentarily stunned. Quickly, she glanced at Tang Li… only to find his gaze fixed, unblinking, on Ji Yu.
The fountain's spray glowed beneath the lamplight. And there she was—fragile, luminous—reflected in his eyes like the single star that outshone all others.
A pang of envy struck Gu Yu. Not just because Ji Yu was so breathtaking, but because she alone could command Tang Li's attention this way.
"Go on," Gu Yu urged gently. "Go meet your good friend."
Her tone was free of jealousy, but every word carried the sourness of longing. She squeezed his hand tighter, leading him forward.
Ji Yu noticed them approaching. She raised her eyes into the lamplight.
"Ah… Tang—"
Relief lit her face as she recognized him. But then her gaze slipped lower—onto their joined hands, fingers tightly interlaced.
"…Li?"
Her skirt hem fell from her grasp. Rising to her feet, she forced a smile and greeted softly:
"Long time no see. Is this… your girlfriend?"
Her heart thundered in her chest, breath caught like drowning.
For this meeting, she had declined Yu Yuan's invitation. She had even refused her mother and sister's plans, instead asking Aunt Mu Ning for help dressing up. All of it, just to give Tang Li the best impression after half a year apart.
And now—those clasped hands.
Hadn't he said… they weren't together?
Why was her heart pounding so fast?
Her words drifted across the mist to Tang Li's ears. He startled, then answered, "Mm. It's been a while, Ji Yu."
"She's not—"
"Hello, Ji Yu!" Gu Yu cut in brightly. "I'm Gu Yu. Tang Li hasn't rejected me yet, so… please help us get along better!"
She squeezed his hand tighter, stopping him from pulling away.
It wasn't a lie. She was pursuing him, and he hadn't refused. Sometimes truth could cut sharper than lies.
And Gu Yu had seen it—that flicker of fear and surprise in Ji Yu's eyes. A girl's intuition told her plainly: Ji Yu cared about Tang Li.
"…Nice to meet you, Gu Yu."
Flustered, Ji Yu quickly shook her hand, forcing a polite smile as she turned her gaze away from Tang Li.
"Excuse me, make way! My girlfriend's waiting, and I don't want to be late!"
A loud, all-too-familiar voice crashed through the evening.
The three turned, frowning at the disturbance.
"Hey, Ji Yu! I'm not late, right? Haha… ha… ugh, I ran here straight from the station. Nearly killed me."
Yu Yuan.
He jogged up, sweat streaming, chest heaving. Ji Yu instinctively pulled out tissues from her bag, handing them over without a thought.
He grinned, tossing an arm over Tang Li's shoulder.
"Well, if it isn't Tang Li! You're in Shanghai too? What a coincidence."
Tang Li blinked, giving him a few pats on the back.
"Yu Yuan… what are you doing here? And since when was Ji Yu your girlfriend?"