Chapter 58: Exchange

——At first, everything was still wonderful.

Their passionate romance escalated at a speed neither of them could have anticipated. After that night, they both found it hard to resist each other, frequently indulging in forbidden fruit. Though neither explicitly mentioned the word “cohabitation,” their actions naturally gravitated toward it.

For instance: Neither of them had been particularly fond of shopping before, but now, whenever they had free time, they would stroll through malls. Today, they’d buy a new set of toothbrushes and cups; tomorrow, they’d pick up a few new hangers—all for her daily necessities, like a newlywed couple decorating their home together. They also cooked meals in the small apartment. His culinary skills were average—he could only prepare simple home-cooked dishes—but she was more skilled, being from the south and knowing how to make soups. After enjoying their cozy meals together, he would casually suggest she stay over, and they would spend the entire night together.

—It wasn’t always about doing anything special. Even quietly sitting together without speaking felt beautiful. He spent most of his time in the study reading books, but later, to be closer to her, he moved his materials to the living room. There were piles of things to read, and even after finishing, he’d open his laptop to write papers, churning out over ten thousand words in just a few days.

She loved curling up on the sofa to accompany him while he read. Earlier, they had bought a beautiful floor lamp together, its warm yellow light creating a cozy atmosphere at night. Sometimes she would snuggle into her boyfriend’s arms to read academic papers with him, and other times she would play with the DSLR camera he had gifted her on her birthday.

This was the most valuable thing she had ever owned, so she handled it with great care—wiping it today, admiring it tomorrow—appearing utterly infatuated.

“Are you really that fond of it?” He teased her occasionally, slightly exasperated. “I thought you were unhappy when I gave it to you.”

How could she be unhappy?

She…

“No,” she replied bashfully, half-lying in his arms, clearly showing her attachment to him. “...It’s just that this gift is too precious.”

“Hmm?”

“Over ten thousand yuan…” She bit her lip, attempting to preemptively apologize to him. “By your birthday, I might not have saved up that much…”

After a pause, fearing his dissatisfaction, she quickly added, “But I’ll try to save as much as I can, and I’ll prepare carefully!”

She looked as if she was about to swear an oath to him.

He sighed again, only now understanding why she had seemed somewhat disheartened that day. Reaching out, he pinched her cheek, always feeling both exasperated and deeply affectionate toward her.

“Why are you so silly?”

“Being in a relationship isn’t like running a business—it doesn’t involve balancing money and goods.”

“Besides, I don’t really have a habit of celebrating birthdays… You don’t need to carry this burden.”

His words were sincere, but to her, they merely comforted her. He could say that, but she couldn’t simply accept it—being in a relationship may not be a business, but if one side gives too much, what sustains the relationship? Balance is essential… It’s a natural law.

Later, she stopped mentioning it and focused on playing with the camera he had given her. While fiddling with it, she explained the intricacies of these machines to him and experimented with lighting by taking still-life photos around the house—of course, she also took portraits. Her boyfriend was the perfect model. Before, it was difficult to take pictures of him, but now there were no restrictions. He didn’t particularly like being in front of the camera, but if his girlfriend wanted to, he was willing to cooperate. They indulged and coddled each other, always sweetly.

This sweetness continued until the start of the new semester.

The studio’s work had reached the final sprint stage. In mid-to-late February, professors from the Innovation Institute frequently visited to check their progress, accompanying them in platform debugging, indicating the school’s high regard for the project. By mid-March, they unsurprisingly passed the school selection and advanced to the provincial level. The technical and content teams could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but Sister Xin Ning entered her busiest phase. Preparing for presentations and revising PowerPoint slides exhausted her, causing her to lose weight. Yin Mengxi, always maternal, couldn’t bear to see others struggle and offered to help. Eventually, she split the workload with Sister Xin Ning, assisting her in revising the slides for a period.

Then came an entire semester of waiting. The preliminary round of the provincial competition wasn’t particularly challenging for their team, as everyone aimed for a good ranking in the finals to qualify for the national competition—a daunting task given the multitude of projects submitted by various prestigious universities, some of which were exceptionally strong. Around the end of the semester, they finally received news: a professor from the Innovation Institute personally called Sister Xin Ning to inform them they had won the gold medal. The judges’ feedback was excellent, and relevant departments had contacted the school to inquire about their project, stating they would discuss further during the national competition.

This was undoubtedly fantastic news, and everyone was ecstatic. Even the usually reserved and serious Senior Gao got drunk at the celebration party and was dragged by Zhao Peng to sing “Two Butterflies” at a karaoke bar. The video was uploaded to their project group chat, immortalizing the moment on the “shame pole.”

Yin Mengxi was thrilled too. Although she had joined the project late, she had genuinely worked hard for half a year, watching something grow from nothing, infused with her thoughts and ideas. The sense of satisfaction and achievement felt stronger than the success of producing a play the previous academic year.

However, life’s truths remain simple. A person won’t perpetually face misfortune or luck. Since starting her relationship with Xiao Zhi in the second semester of her freshman year, she had already enjoyed a full year of good fortune. Now, setbacks and difficulties remembered her existence and decided to visit her troubles.

—Xiao Zhi was going abroad for an exchange program, to the United States, for an entire year.

Although he had mentioned his intention to apply back in April, when the news was confirmed in June, she still felt as if she had been punched in the face. Winning the Challenge Cup couldn’t alleviate her emotions, and she remained fixated on the dreadful thought that “he was leaving her.”

“Exchange?” Her face turned pale with anxiety. “Why do you need to go on an exchange? Do you have to go?—You, you study ancient Chinese literature. Can foreign countries understand Tang and Song better than we do here?—And why for an entire year? Aren’t there semester-long programs? If you must go, can’t you apply for a shorter one?—What about summer schools? Online options exist too. Are none of these viable?”

One question after another spilled out, her speech becoming incoherent.

He knew she was anxious and led her home to comfort her. After much effort, he managed to coax her into sitting on the sofa and drinking a glass of water, allowing her to calm down enough to listen to him.

“There are many sinologists abroad who study Chinese culture. East Asian studies and comparative literature are significant fields,” he patiently explained. “I’ve already applied for the master-doctorate combined program at our university, and I’ll likely continue pursuing academic research. Currently, securing teaching positions at universities is challenging, and having overseas experience will significantly improve my chances.”

Isn’t that true?

Everyone says universities are ivory towers, assuming being a university teacher is effortless, but it’s equally competitive—mentoring students, publishing papers, conducting research, and seeking promotions are all future challenges. Many people get rejected during the job search process. Nationwide, there are only so many top universities, and the number of positions available per department and major each year is limited. Sometimes, new faculty aren’t hired for several years.

He loves academia so much… How could she let him miss out on his aspirations due to a lack of overseas experience?

She understood. Upon reflection, this was already a favorable outcome. At least he hadn’t decided to pursue a Ph.D. abroad directly, which would last even longer—at least three to four years.

But…

…She still couldn’t help but feel sorrowful.

“It’s only a year, and it will pass quickly,” he gently pulled her into his embrace, patting her shoulder. “We’ll talk every day, okay? Contact me whenever you’re free.”

“I’ll return during every vacation, so we’ll meet again in just a few months…”

He was always patient, especially when consoling her. His tone softened, tinged with a hint of guilt. But why should he feel guilty? He was pursuing his dreams and taking responsibility for his future. It was she who was overly attached, unable to endure even a year of separation.

…In the end, she had to convince herself to accept it.

He was set to depart in July, needing to fly early to prepare, find housing, and handle paperwork. She accompanied him to the airport, making the short journey feel like traversing thousands of miles.

—How could it not feel like thousands of miles? Separated by an entire ocean with a twelve-hour time difference, this parting meant they wouldn’t see each other again for nearly half a year.

“Call me once you arrive…”

In the departure hall, she clung to his fingers, each word spoken laced with worry that she might destroy his plane ticket in a fit of emotion.

“It’s dangerous abroad—they have guns… and racial discrimination…”

“Don’t argue with strange people, and don’t go to unfamiliar places…”

“Be safe, and definitely avoid drugs—oh, and if someone pursues you, tell me, whether it’s a boy or a girl…”

She repeatedly reminded him, recounting bizarre information she had gathered from odd forums. In her words, America became a garbage dump, and he wasn’t going to study but to face calamities.

Such childish words would frustrate anyone, yet he listened patiently from beginning to end. For every instruction, he promised compliance, never exacerbating her unease.

“I understand.”

“I won’t do dangerous things, won’t go to dangerous places, won’t use drugs, and won’t cheat.”

“—Anything else?”

She couldn’t think of more and awkwardly lowered her head, tugging at his sleeve. Despite the separation not yet occurring, she already felt an almost torturous longing. Each future day seemed like a minefield, ready to shatter her previously sweet and joyful life into pieces.

“No more…” she whispered softly. “…I just don’t want you to leave…”

He sighed again, his exasperation overshadowed by his affection for her. Once more, he pulled her into his embrace, the sunlight outside the terminal windows paling compared to the warmth in his eyes.

“I know…”

He responded, then posed a new question.

“…When I return, shall we both introduce each other to our parents?”