Psst! We're moving!
By then, it was already winter. The days were not only cold but also grew dark early. By six o’clock, when they went to the cafeteria together, the campus streetlights had already turned on—cold white beams that made the air feel even colder.
“I won’t fail any courses...” she tried to argue, “I have a GPA of 3.82.”
“That’s from last semester,” he reminded her. “This semester, you’ve spent all your time in the studio.”
She pouted, kicking a small pebble as they walked.
His eyes sparkled with amusement. He reached out to adjust her scarf, which had slipped down to cover her nose. “I’m doing this for your own good. Undergraduates who fail a course can’t apply for direct admission to graduate school.”
Indeed.
Even one failed course would nullify a GPA of 3.99.
“I know,” she grumbled reluctantly, “but I really won’t fail.”
“Even so, you can’t go to the studio,” he said firmly, an unusual tone for him. “We’ll talk about it after the exams.”
Hearing this, she immediately began to pout, ready to protest, but then he added, “I won’t go either. I’ll stay and help you review.”
Ah.
That...
...didn’t sound too bad.
She swallowed her protests and, while stealing glances at him, pretended to be reluctant. “Well, if you insist… then fine.”
...But in the end, she was deceived.
He hadn’t broken his promise. True to his word, he accompanied her through the final exam period, pulling all-nighters in the library for nearly a month. However, just as she finished her last exam in late January, her parents called, urging her to return home early. They argued that since she had gone back to school early during the summer, she should spend more time at home during the winter break to celebrate the New Year properly. While she complained to him over the phone in her dorm, he actually agreed.
“The Lunar New Year is early this year. If you go back now, you’ll only have about a week before New Year’s Eve,” his voice came through the phone, gentle but filled with words she didn’t want to hear. “Go back. Your parents must miss you.”
What?
Doesn’t he miss me?
“But the studio still needs me…” she tried to make excuses. “I need to stay and help.”
“Others will also be going home during the holiday,” he sighed. “I’ll be away for a while too.”
Ah.
“Where are you going?” Her attention shifted instantly, and she pressed him for details on the other end of the line. “Back to Zhejiang?”
He had mentioned before that his grandparents were still in Ningbo.
“Mm,” he confirmed her guess almost immediately. “I’ll stay there until after the New Year.”
“Oh…” Her voice carried a trace of melancholy.
That meant she wouldn’t see him for a long time.
“Will we leave together?” she asked. “Will you come with me to the train station?”
“I’ll take you there,” he replied. “I might wait for my parents before heading back.”
“...Oh.” Her voice grew even sadder.
The day he took her to the station was the 14th, eight days before the New Year.
The train station was bustling as usual. She vividly remembered rushing back to A City because of a forum post at the beginning of the semester, and now, unbelievably, the term had flown by, and she was returning home again. The only silver lining was that their relationship had grown much closer. In the noisy waiting hall, he held her hand gently, and she could openly express how reluctant she felt to part ways.
“I’ll miss you…” she murmured softly, hugging him tightly, no longer caring about the curious glances from passersby. “...I’ll miss you so much.”
He was quieter than usual, perhaps feeling the same reluctance. One arm encircled her waist while the other lightly stroked her hair. “It’ll be soon—we’ll see each other again. Or maybe I’ll visit you?”
Hmm?
She looked up at him, her eyes wide with excitement.
“Really?” she asked eagerly.
A moment later, she remembered her modest home and the dim impression it might leave on him. The sparkle in her eyes dimmed slightly. “Maybe… it’s better if you don’t.”
He raised an eyebrow, recalling the scene from the summer when she had hastily hung up on him after hearing her mother knock on the door while they were talking secretly.
“You haven’t mentioned me to your parents yet?” he misunderstood, thinking that was why she didn’t want him to visit. “Do your parents disapprove of you dating?”
...How was she supposed to answer that?
She hesitated, nervously touching her nose, trying to gloss over the question. He interpreted her silence as agreement, thinking how obedient she was, while also feeling a bit guilty for potentially corrupting such a well-behaved girl...
Their thoughts diverged, and for a moment, they both fell silent.
“If you’re staying in Zhejiang for the holiday, does that mean you won’t be coming back to A City?” she broke the silence, partly to cover her discomfort and partly with another motive.
“Not sure yet,” he replied. “We’ll see after the New Year.”
She responded with an “Oh,” her tone hesitant. He noticed and gently pinched her chin, asking, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing…” she fidgeted, avoiding his gaze. “Just… if you don’t come back… does that mean you won’t see Senior Tang Fei?”
Ah, so that was what was bothering her.
He chuckled, unable to resist giving her earlobe a little pinch—he seemed to enjoy doing that, alternating between her ears and cheeks.
“I won’t see her,” he reassured her, half-teasing, half-promising. “If I do happen to run into her, I’ll call you on speakerphone.”
His indulgence knew no bounds.
Satisfied, her eyes lit up again, like a little rabbit perking its ears. Just as she was about to say something sweet to show her restraint, the loudspeaker announced boarding. Her ears drooped, every expression betraying how dejected she felt.
But then, he kissed her.
Soft yet lingering, the kiss conveyed how much he cherished her, leaving no room for worry.
“Be careful on the way,” his breath was warm, making her heart flutter repeatedly. “...Call me when you get home.”
...And so, winter break began, as boring as the summer had been.
Even more so, in fact. Months ago, they weren’t as close, and she had tutoring jobs to keep her occupied. Now, with the New Year approaching, even that distraction was gone. She was left aimlessly idle every day.
Phone calls weren’t always possible because relatives kept visiting—her family’s modest apartment, less than 90 square meters, was constantly crowded. Relatives from both her parents’ sides came one after another, sometimes overlapping, making the small living room feel even smaller.
“Xixi has done so well, getting into such a prestigious university!”
This was the phrase she heard most often. No matter which relative visited, they praised her while holding her hand, and her parents beamed with pride every single time, as if hearing it for the first time.
“A City is a big metropolis. What are your plans after graduation, Xixi? Can you stay there? Will you get a residency permit?”
This was another predictable line of questioning. Mummy Yin had grown adept at responding: “It’s too early to talk about that. For now, she’ll pursue graduate studies. Honestly, our Xixi doesn’t have many other strengths besides excelling in academics. She’s top of her class, so securing a place in graduate school won’t be a problem.”
Such was the subtle interplay of adult relationships.
Though the visiting relatives were technically close kin, fundamentally, they were still two separate families, always comparing and competing. Mummy Yin didn’t get along well with her sister-in-law, and whenever they met, a battle of wits ensued. Boasting about her daughter’s achievements was her winning move.
Yin Mengxi’s aunt couldn’t compete. She also had a daughter, a year younger, who had just barely gotten into a third-tier local university last year—nothing compared to A University.
“Ah, that’s quite impressive,” the aunt’s tone betrayed a hint of envy, acknowledging her niece’s achievements while subtly seeking flaws in their family. “But these days, a master’s degree isn’t worth much. It’s hard to settle in a big city. How can a girl like Xixi manage on her own? She needs to marry well—by the way, has Xixi found a boyfriend yet?”
Mummy Yin stumbled momentarily, hitting a sore spot, but quickly retorted with confidence: “How old is she? What’s this talk about dating? Children should focus on their studies. Once they excel academically, everything else falls into place. After finding a good job and climbing higher platforms, there’ll be plenty of good suitors!”
...Not forgetting to emphasize her daughter’s academic excellence once more.
“But you shouldn’t let her delay too much,” the aunt persisted stubbornly. “Remember Old Zheng’s daughter? She went to Beijing, so accomplished! And then what? Thirty years old, still unmarried! Couldn’t afford a house in the big city, drifted around for years, and finally returned home in disgrace. Now she’s teaching in a middle school, still single in her thirties—what a pity!”
After her lengthy speech, she turned to Yin Mengxi, advising: “Our Xixi shouldn’t follow her example. Find a good boy in college—preferably someone from a wealthy local family—and get married right after graduation!”
Though Mummy Yin appeared dismissive of her sister-in-law’s comments, laughing them off as “exaggerated,” deep down, those words struck a chord. Yes, it was hard to settle in a big city. Without marrying a local, how could she afford a house? If Xixi ended up like Old Zheng’s daughter—still unmarried in her thirties—it would be a disgrace in their small town!
Thus, after the aunt left, Mummy Yin’s demeanor changed entirely. Gone was her earlier lightheartedness, replaced by solemnity as she sat her daughter down in the living room and pressed her: “Xixi, tell Mom honestly—have you started dating anyone at school?”
As for Yin Mengxi?
During her aunt’s tirade, she had already thought of Xiao Zhi—local, with residency, excellent background… Everything fit perfectly. Moreover, he was outstanding, handsome, and treated her wonderfully. Mentioning him would surely bring pride to her and her family. Yet, inexplicably, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Even now, with her mother pressing her privately, she still replied, “...No.”
Mummy Yin sighed, visibly worried, and advised: “Mom knows you’re a good child, always diligent and obedient in your studies. But now that you’re older, dating is normal. Don’t think of it as something shameful...”
...Completely unaware that her daughter had already been in a relationship for a semester.
Guilt weighed heavily on Yin Mengxi. She considered confessing but hesitated. Just then, Daddy Yin passed by, clearly displeased, and interjected: “What’s this nonsense? Your aunt has no vision—do you think rich locals are fools who’ll give you everything with their eyes closed? The news is full of naive girls being scammed, losing money and dignity. Even if they aren’t scammed, marrying someone from a mismatched background means a lifetime of unhappiness!”
“No dating! If there’s no suitable match, don’t force it! Besides, I don’t see what’s so great about those big cities. If you can’t stay, just come back. What’s there to fear?”