MC - Chapter 29

Shen Mingjin watched Zhang Rufan finish the honey water, and when he saw her weary expression, after thinking for a moment, he decided to send her back to rest first.

He had originally planned to call a car, but since there were many people hailing rides on a snowy day, after waiting for about twenty minutes with no driver accepting the order, he gave up.

After tidying up the café, Shen Mingjin took Zhang Rufan’s hand and headed out toward the subway station.

During the day, there had been a fall of light snow, intermittent. It hadn’t accumulated thickly, but since the temperature was low, the snow hadn’t melted either, covering the entire world with a white dust-cloth veil.

From the café to the subway station there was a stretch of road, and snowflakes carpeted the ground, making it easy to slip when stepped on.

Zhang Rufan was muddled from drinking. Worried she wouldn’t walk steadily and might fall, Shen Mingjin thought for a moment, then released her hand, crouched down in front of her, and signaled, “Get on.”

It took Zhang Rufan several seconds to react before she understood what Shen Mingjin meant, and she said, “Your leg…”

Shen Mingjin let out a light sigh. He had noticed that ever since he told Zhang Rufan about the car accident and surgery, she had paid particular attention to his leg, as though he were already at the point of being unable to take care of himself.

“I’m fine, get on.” Shen Mingjin beckoned with his hand behind him and said, “This is a girlfriend’s exclusive privilege. You went through so much trouble to win me over—wouldn’t it be a waste not to use it?”

Zhang Rufan’s mind was sluggish from the alcohol, and in just a few words Shen Mingjin managed to coax her. She nodded, stepped forward, and as she leaned onto his back, she didn’t forget to add politely, “Sorry for the trouble.”

“You’re welcome,” Shen Mingjin replied with a smile. He hoisted her onto his back in one motion, adjusted his hold, and said, “You’re too light.”

“Fifty-three.” Zhang Rufan wrapped her arms around Shen Mingjin’s neck, and very honestly added the unit: “Kilograms.”

Shen Mingjin laughed, carrying her steadily forward. As he walked, he said, “Just about the same as in high school. You haven’t gained weight these past years.”

“You know how much I weighed in high school?”

“Of course I know.” Shen Mingjin turned his head slightly and said, “Don’t you remember? We had physical fitness tests every semester in high school.”

Only then did Zhang Rufan recall that Shen Mingjin had been the sports committee member, and the teacher always had him help record the results.

“What about my height?”

“In the second year you were 165 cm. By graduation you were 167. These past years you seem to have grown a little more—now you should be about 170.”

Zhang Rufan marveled, “Your memory is amazing.”

“You don’t think I remembered the height and weight of everyone in the class, do you?”

Zhang Rufan asked sluggishly, “You don’t?”

“I only remembered yours.”

Shen Mingjin said it with complete frankness. Now he didn’t need to worry that his feelings would become a burden. Since their relationship had already been confirmed, he had nothing to hide.

He wished he could proclaim it openly, tell everyone, tell Zhang Rufan, that to him she was a unique existence.

“I told you before, after junior year I kept paying attention to you. I always wanted to find a chance to talk to you. But at that time you kept to yourself, so there weren’t many opportunities to get close to you. So sometimes I created opportunities.”

The light turned red, and he stopped at the intersection. Tilting his head, he asked, “Do you still remember how the nickname ‘Ace of Hearts’ came about?”

“I remember.” Zhang Rufan recalled, “In the second year, the class held a New Year’s Eve party. You performed a magic trick and drew me to assist you.”

Shen Mingjin’s expression turned nostalgic, as if recalling the scene. Smiling, he said, “Actually, the magic trick I truly wanted to perform had already ended before you even came up.”

“Huh?” Zhang Rufan didn’t understand.

“Ten of Clubs,” Shen Mingjin reminded.

Zhang Rufan remembered then. It was indeed because Shen Mingjin had drawn the “Ten of Clubs” at that time that she went on stage to assist him.

"I practiced for a long time to draw that exact card from the deck," Shen Mingjin said, even poking fun at himself. "Good thing the groups weren’t switched before the party—otherwise all that practice would’ve gone to waste."

Zhang Rufan froze. Looking at his smiling profile, fragments of half-forgotten memories flashed through her mind.

In that instant, she understood—those moments she once thought were just gentlemanly manners had in fact been his special fondness for her.

She tightened her arms slightly around him and asked, "Did you really like me that much back then?"

"Not just back then."

Shen Mingjin felt no shame at all in admitting he had been the one to like first, to like more. In love, he didn’t care about being on the weaker side—or rather, he was willing to be.

Zhang Rufan suddenly remembered what he had said last night while holding her hand. Her heart stirred, and she couldn’t help but say, "After high school graduation, we never saw each other again."

"You didn’t see me, but I saw you."

"Hmm?"

"In Cheng Yi’s social media posts… and in your livestreams."

"Ah... what?" Zhang Rufan was taken aback. "You watched my livestreams?"

Shen Mingjin nodded. "Cheng Yi shared the link to your stream."

Zhang Rufan immediately thought of that anonymous regular viewer who had shown up every day. She never would have guessed it was Shen Mingjin.

"But why did you only stream for a week? After that, you never showed up again," Shen Mingjin asked.

After the surprise came embarrassment. Thinking about how she’d acted during those streams, Zhang Rufan felt awkward. "...I wasn’t really suited to being a streamer."

The light turned green. Carrying her across the intersection, Shen Mingjin chuckled at her explanation. "You were a little silly in the stream—like that time in high school when you came in late and did a set of military boxing exercises in front of the class. So serious it was cute."

In her memory, no one had ever called her cute before. She knew she didn’t have that kind of demeanor. Yet Shen Mingjin used the word for her—traits that others had seen as flaws, he saw as endearing.

That bittersweet feeling from last night rose in her chest again. Moved by his unreserved honesty, she, too, wanted to respond with openness.

She called his name and asked, "Do you remember what I said last night?"

"Of course—it’s etched into my brain." Shen Mingjin lifted his chin with pride. "You said even if I hadn’t written that letter, you still would’ve liked me."

He sighed in satisfaction and added, "Ace of Hearts, who knew you could be so smooth with sweet talk? If you’d tried that earlier, you’d have won me over long ago."

"This isn’t a strategy," Zhang Rufan clarified seriously.

"True—you’re not the type to come up with flirty tricks," Shen Mingjin said with a grin, raising his brows, a little smug. "So that means it was the truth."

"After spending time with me lately, did you realize how great I am? So even without that letter, if we’d met again, you’d still have liked me?" he teased.

Zhang Rufan thought for a moment, then answered carefully, "Not entirely."

"Hmm?"

"Shen Mingjin, I like you—not just now."

Last night, when he had been burning with fever, she had only made a brief declaration, afraid of straining him, and hadn’t said much more. But now, even if belated, she wanted to respond to the light he had once shone upon her.

"I might’ve liked you long ago—I just never realized it," Zhang Rufan said earnestly.

Shen Mingjin stopped walking.

Seeing him suddenly stand still without answering, Zhang Rufan grew uneasy and asked, "You don’t believe me?"

Shen Mingjin lowered his head, and after a pause, said, "Say it again."

Zhang Rufan knew her words sounded far-fetched. Anyone would think she was spouting clumsy sweet talk—who could like someone without realizing it?

She couldn’t see Shen Mingjin’s face, so she had no way of knowing his expression. She could only follow his request and softly repeat her words.

Only then did Shen Mingjin lift his head, his eyes shimmering with laughter, and sigh contentedly, "Ace of Hearts, your reflexes are really slow. But luckily, you finally caught on—it’s not especially late."

"You believe me?"

Shen Mingjin nodded without hesitation and said with feeling, "You’re Zhang Rufan, after all."

He started walking again, the smile in his eyes never fading—if anything, growing brighter.

From the side, Zhang Rufan could see the curve of his lips. Infected by his joy, she couldn’t help but smile too.

Though he said it wasn’t too late, Zhang Rufan still felt both fear and relief. From the bottom of her heart, she said, "Thank goodness I came back to Shangjing."

Shen Mingjin’s steps were light; he shared the same sense of relief.

He had thought it fortune enough that she liked him now. But she had given him an even greater surprise—there could be no greater fulfillment.

"You liked me long ago..." he couldn’t help muttering, then chuckled and repeated it to himself in a low voice.

Having spoken her heart, Zhang Rufan relaxed even more. She rested her head on his shoulder, looking drowsy.

From the corner of his eye, Shen Mingjin noticed her sleepiness. He slowed his steps, his expression softening.

Last night, he’d been muddled; tonight, she was. And so, muddled as they were, they confessed their feelings to each other.

The evening breeze stirred, brushing snow from the roadside branches. The night of the first snow was tender and warm.

At the roadside, Shen Mingjin hailed a taxi. Supporting Zhang Rufan inside, they returned together to Jinhua Garden.

After getting out, he carried her a little further. At the apartment building, they entered the elevator, and he pressed "21."

At the door, Zhang Rufan unlocked it with her fingerprint. Holding the doorknob, she pressed her lips together, turned, and looked up at Shen Mingjin in silence.

His throat moved. He stepped forward, raised a hand to cover her eyes, and said hoarsely, restraining himself, "Don’t look at me like that—I really can’t take it."

"I told you, I don’t—"

He raised his other hand and pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her words.

"You’re drunk right now. What drunk people say doesn’t count." His eyes darkened slightly, and then, with firm resolve, he added, "You’re not conservative, and I’m no Liu Xiahui. When the time comes, I’ll act."

Lowering his hands, he looked down at her, undercurrents in his eyes. His gaze shifted, but in the end, he only leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Rest early tonight. Goodnight."

Zhang Rufan blinked. New to matters of love, she had only just learned to voice her feelings truthfully. Expressing them through actions was still beyond her, let alone actively "seducing" him.

Since Shen Mingjin had restrained himself, she too acted with propriety. Rising on tiptoe, she mirrored him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Goodnight."

She stepped back, turned, and went inside, casting one last glance at him before closing the door.

Shen Mingjin waved and said, "I’ll head downstairs now."

The door closed slowly. Only after it shut did he turn, lean weakly against the wall, exhale deeply, and place a hand over his heart as if surviving a close call.

"So close, so close—just a bit more."

He calmed his breathing, touched his cheek, and shook his head at the night’s events. Unable to help himself, he let out a quiet laugh and thought: I’ve been completely played.

1. 梅花十 (Méihuā shí) – Ten of Clubs

2. 体育委员 (Tǐyù wěiyuán) – Sports Committee Member

3. 军体拳 (Jūntǐ quán) – Military-style Boxing

4. 柳下惠 (Liǔ Xiàhuì) – "Liu Xiahui"; a renowned scholar and official from the Spring and Autumn period in ancient China, famous for his extreme moral integrity, humility, and self-restraint. In stories, he is often depicted as someone who resists temptation, maintains strict ethical standards, and acts with quiet wisdom. The reference is used metaphorically to describe someone exercising patience, restraint, or moral discipline.

5. 反射弧 (Fǎnshè hú) – Reflex Arc, used metaphorically to describe Zhang Rufan's slow emotional realization.

Characters

章入凡 (Zhāng Rùfán) – The protagonist.

沈明津 (Shěn Míngjīn) – A former classmate who wrote Zhang Rufan a love letter in high school, in her copy of Anne of Green Gables.

章胜义 (Zhāng Shèngyì) – Zhang Rufan’s father. 

李惠淑 (Lǐ Huìshū) – Zhang Rufan’s stepmother ("惠姨 Huìyí").

章梓橦 (Zhāng Zǐtóng) – Rufan’s much younger half-sister (~18 years age gap). 

章胜嫔 (Zhāng Shèngpín) – Rufan’s aunt (father’s sister). 

程怡 (Chéng Yí) – Rufan’s close friend from middle school. 

谢易韦 (Xiè Yìwéi) – High school class monitor who is getting married, prompting the reunion.

杜升 (Dù Shēng) – Someone Zhang Rufan didn't want to add as a friend on WeChat at first.

刘品媛 (Liú Pǐnyuán) – The planning department manager at OW.

孙璐 (Sūn Lù) – Zhang Rufan’s direct supervisor at OW, who goes by "Sister Lu" (璐姐, Lù Jiě).

袁霜 (Yuán Shuāng) – A friendly coworker in the planning department.

周慈 (Zhōu Cí) – Shen Mingjin’s mother

Sevyn here ~~~

Enjoy! 😂