Listening to the Rain Garden

The next day, Lu Xing woke up earlier than his alarm clock.

The dormitory was very quiet.

Lin Yuanzhou rolled the blanket into a ball and draped half of his arm over the edge of the bed.

Zhao Lin's bed curtains were drawn tightly shut, so it was unclear whether he was awake or not.

Lu Xing quietly got out of bed.

After washing up, he picked up his phone and glanced at it.

7:40.

There's still a while until the agreed time.

[Lu Xing: Get up, time to get ready for breakfast.]

He had just put his phone down when he received a reply.

[Shen Qingyi: I'm up too!]

[Shen Qingyi: Where are we going today?]

She still liked this feeling of curiosity...

Silly girl, she probably thought about it all night.

[Lu Xing: You'll find out soon.]

Shen Qingyi: ...

Shen Qingyi: You'd better be genuinely happy.

Lu Xing was typing with his head down when a sleepy voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Holy crap... what time is it?"

Lin Yuanzhou closed his eyes and groped around beside the pillow.

"It's not even eight o'clock yet."

"Why are you up so early...?"

He stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

Two seconds later, Lin Yuanzhou rolled over and pulled the blanket over his head.

"Never mind, forget I asked."

Lu Xing couldn't help but laugh out loud.

……

8:30, downstairs in the girls' dormitory.

Shen Qingyi wore a pair of white sneakers and carried a small crossbody bag.

Upon seeing Lu Xing, she walked up to him, looked down at herself, and then looked at him.

"Is this okay?"

"What?"

"Didn't you say you wanted to dress comfortably?"

Lu Xing's gaze fell on her shoes.

"Can."

"So, did you get a lot of exercise today?"

"It's not very big. We'll rest when we get tired."

Shen Qingyi narrowed her eyes.

This doesn't sound like going shopping...

Lu Xing took the milk from her hand, inserted the straw, and handed it back.

"have eaten?"

"Yeah, I ate a steamed bun."

The girl bit the straw, and her other hand naturally slipped into his palm.

"We can set off now, Tour Guide Lu."

"Set off!"

……

The two boarded the bus at the school gate.

On a weekend morning, there weren't many people on the bus.

Shen Qingyi sat by the window, initially chatting with Lu Xing about the dinner party the previous night.

When she mentioned that Lin Yuanzhou had added ribs twice during one meal, she laughed so hard her shoulders were shaking.

"Lin... Oh, Lin Yuanzhou can eat so much?"

He said it was to replenish the athletes' energy.

"So he ate it for you, what are you going to do then?"

"That's why I added a second one."

Shen Qingyi was amused and giggled, hugging Lu Xing's arm and resting her head on his shoulder.

As we chatted, the street scene outside the window gradually changed.

There are fewer high-rise buildings, and a row of tall plane trees has appeared along the roadside.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the girl's knees.

Shen Qingyi, who had been leaning on his shoulder, slowly sat up straight when she saw the blue sign at the intersection.

Bluestone road?

Further ahead...

She turned to look at Lu Xing.

He was looking down to put away his phone, seemingly unaware of her gaze.

"We'll get off at the next stop."

Shen Qingyi's fingers tightened slightly as she held the milk carton.

We're going to...

"Listening to the Rain Garden".

Lu Xing looked at her and smiled.

Have you been there?

The girl's lips moved.

Outside the window, the familiar park wall came into view.

After many years, when she saw those faded blue tiles again, she had a strange feeling that she was still half asleep.

"...I've heard of it."

She lowered her head and moved the straw aside.

"However, it doesn't seem to be a very popular place."

"Yes, there are very few people, which makes it more peaceful."

As the bus announcement sounded, Lu Xing stood up and reached out his hand to the girl.

"We've arrived."

……

Tingyu Garden is located on the edge of the old town.

It has a nice-sounding name, but it's actually just an old park built against a low hill.

No entrance fee required.

There are several small shops next to the main entrance, selling water and snacks, as well as a breakfast stall with a steamer basket at the entrance.

Shen Qingyi followed Lu Xing out of the car, her steps unconsciously slowing down.

She remembers this place...

It's not just about remembering.

"Why have you stopped?"

Lu Xing stopped ahead and looked back at her.

Shen Qingyi looked at the small shop at the entrance.

There was a drink label stuck on the roller shutter door.

There was an old-fashioned freezer on the wall, its lid slightly yellowed from the sun.

Compared to what I remember... everything seems a little new.

She looked away.

"It's nothing."

"I just think this place is quite interesting."

Lu Xing glanced in the direction she had just been looking.

Then I went to the convenience store and bought two bottles of water.

Shen Qingyi stood under the shade of a tree waiting for him.

She only asked casually when he returned with the water:

How did you know about this place?

"I looked around and found it."

"Did you find it online?"

Lu Xing unscrewed the bottle cap and handed her the water.

"Um...no."

The girl paused for a moment as she was filling the container with water.

Lu Xing had already taken her hand again.

"Let's go inside and take a look."

……

The people doing their morning exercises in the park hadn't left yet.

Several elderly people were gathered around a chessboard beside the stone-paved road.

Even after walking a distance, you can still hear someone anxiously following behind you.

Why are you touching that?!

"Observe the game in silence; observe the game in silence!"

Shen Qingyi glanced back and couldn't help but laugh.

Lu Xing also turned around.

"They look even more nervous than we were in yesterday's game."

"Of course."

The girl's eyes were curved in a smile.

"Was someone directing you yesterday?"

"have."

"Who?"

"I'm the commander."

Shen Qingyi smiled and gently bumped into him.

The two walked along the lakeside.

The lake is not large, and weeping willows are planted along its banks.

When they reached the fork in the road, Lu Xing did not go to the stone steps directly in front of him, but instead led her to turn onto the small path on the right.

Shen Qingyi stopped in her tracks.

"Isn't it going that way?"

"You can get on from here too."

Lu Xing pointed ahead.

"And the slope is gentler, so it's not too tiring on your legs."

After he finished speaking, the two of them fell silent for a moment.

The girl looked at the path hidden behind the tree.

Of course she knew.

The first time she came here in her previous life, she insisted on taking the front stone steps, saying that it looked closer.

He only climbed halfway before he started holding onto the railing and refusing to move.

When they came back later, they always took the path on the right.

Lu Xing laughed at her at the time, saying that Teacher Shen was not good at choosing routes, but she was good at choosing lazy routes.

But now...

She slowly raised her head.

"Have you been here before?"

Lu Xing looked at her.

The leaves rustled in the wind, and slivers of light flashed across his face.

After a while, he responded softly.

"I came here a long time ago."

Shen Qingyi tightened her grip on his hand, suddenly unsure which question to ask first.

Lu Xing didn't urge her, but slowed down and accompanied her up the path.

……

The mountaintop is actually not very high.

After walking for about twenty minutes, you'll see a small pavilion.

The pavilion wasn't anything special; the red paint on the pillars had peeled off in a few places, and a large camphor tree grew next to it.

Beyond that, there is a stone railing.

Standing there, you can see most of the old town.

Shen Qingyi stopped before the last few steps.

The wind blew through the pavilion...

Small leaves were blown up, swirled, and landed beside the stone bench.

Lu Xing's gaze also fell there.

The second position from the inside.

Shen Qingyi used to like sitting there.

It's shaded from the sun, but you can still see the path leading up the mountain when you look up.

One year, he was temporarily held back by work.

That very day, I received a phone call from home saying that Ningning was sick and needed surgery.

That's a considerable expense...

Fortunately, Lu Xing emptied his savings account, which was just enough to cover the cost.

Depressed, lost, disappointed, frustrated...

He unknowingly arrived at the pavilion and saw her sitting there.

Lu Xing released his grip and brushed away the fallen leaves on the stone bench.

He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and wiped it carefully.

"Please sit here."

Shen Qingyi did not move.

She stood outside the pavilion, looking at the spot he had wiped clean.

It felt like something was gently blocking my throat.

The location can be a coincidence.

The path up the mountain may be one I've been on before.

but……

"Land journey".

"Um?"

How did you know I wanted to sit here?

His hand stopped beside the stone bench.

A moment later, he folded the tissue and put it away.

"Can you see the road from here?"

Lu Xing raised his eyes.

"If someone comes, you'll see them immediately."

"Look to the right, and you'll see the view of the old town."

Shen Qingyi stared at him blankly.

A gust of wind blew by, ruffling the strands of hair that hung beside her face.

Lu Xing smiled and walked over to tuck the tuck behind her ear.

The girl instinctively grabbed his wrist.

It wasn't very strong, but it showed no sign of loosening its grip.

"you……"

Her voice was very soft.

Lu Xing looked at her quietly.

I remembered how she leaned on my shoulder and smiled on the bus just now.

At that time, was she still seriously guessing her destination for the day?

I guess it's an amusement park, I guess it's a flower field in the suburbs, I guess it's a stream that's still clear and trickling through the years.

Lu Xing lowered his head and slowly took her hand that was gripping his wrist back into his palm.

"Today... we don't need to look at that road."

Shen Qingyi's eyelashes trembled slightly.

Why?

"Because I'm right here beside you."

The pavilion fell silent, with the distant chirping of birds echoing through the air.

Shen Qingyi looked at him, her eyes gradually welling up with tiny tears.

The unanswered question from yesterday resurfaced once again.

You seem to have changed a bit.

Lu Xing took her hand and sat down on the stone bench.

Shen Qingyi lowered her head and looked at their clasped hands for a long time.

Then, she moved a little closer to him.

"You are not allowed to answer work calls today."

The words made Lu Xing pause for a moment.

He's just a college student now, so where would he get work-related phone calls?

But Shen Qingyi's fingertips curled slightly, showing no intention of changing her mind.

Lu Xing took out his phone, turned off the sound, and put it back in his pocket in front of her.

"Whatever you say."

"I'm not leaving today no matter who comes to me."

Shen Qingyi quickly turned her head and looked at Lu Xing.

Seeing the gentle smile on the boy's face, her eyes stung, and a few tears almost welled up in them...

But with a slight smile, Shen Qingyi lowered her head in relief.

She nudged Lu Xing's shoulder hard with her head and chuckled softly.

"That's more like it."

……

The two sat in the pavilion for a long time, with a few rays of sunlight falling on their shoulders.

The girl leaned on his shoulder, watching the bus slowly drive past the intersection below.

After a while, she pointed into the distance.

"Look, isn't there a noodle shop over there?"

Lu Xing looked in the direction she pointed.

The red sign was hidden behind the treetops, with only half of it showing.

"Yes."

"Then... shall we go eat that for lunch?"

"it is good."

Her hand was still in his palm, and he shook it gently.

"I just want to eat it."

Lu Xing looked at the old signboard and nodded.

"Then let's go eat."

Thinking of some past events, Lu Xing couldn't help but smile.

Shen Qingyi turned her head to look at him.

"What are you laughing at?"

"I'm thinking... should I order a large or small portion for lunch?"

The girl blinked.

"You order the large portion."

"Hmm, and what about you?"

"I... a small portion is enough."

Lu Xing looked at her without saying a word.

Shen Qingyi also looked at him.

After a few seconds of eye contact, she suddenly seemed to realize something, and her ears slowly turned red.

"……what."

"It's nothing."

Lu Xing smiled and squeezed her hand.

"I'll order an extra serving of beef later, right?"

Shen Qingyi lowered her head and gently rested her forehead on his shoulder.

After a long while, he finally responded with a muffled sound.

"Um."

……

It was nearly noon when the two of them came out of the pavilion.

We'll take the gentle slope down the mountain.

Halfway there, Shen Qingyi suddenly tugged at his hand.

"Land journey".

"What's wrong?"

The girl looked at the road ahead, her voice soft.

"We'll come here together again in the future, right?"

Lu Xing slowed down a bit.

Then, he took her hand tightly.

"right."

"However, we won't take the shortcut next time."

Why?

He turned his head to look at her and laughed.

"Why take the back path? The scenery isn't good, and there might be a lot of mosquitoes."

Shen Qingyi stopped abruptly.

Lu Xing also stopped, stood on the first stone step in front, and turned to look at her.

"If you ask me, you should take this main road. The scenery is beautiful, and the breeze is refreshing."

The mountain breeze rustled the treetops.

Shen Qingyi's eyes were red, but the corners of her mouth slowly curved up.

"What if I get tired of walking?"

Hearing the slight sob in the girl's voice, Lu Xing couldn't help but purse his lips.

But he pretended nothing was wrong, just shrugged his shoulders as usual.

"I'll carry you on my back."