Song Jianan blushed and rubbed her hands together: "I knew it would end like this, another failed confession."
Mou Li: Ten years, and you're only going to confess this once? Of course, I can't let you succeed. Maybe later!
Song Jianan asked cautiously: When will it be successful?
Mou Li turned to Su Li and asked in a fawning manner: When will you make her confess successfully?
Su Li said coldly and indifferently: Immediately!
-------------------------------
I just asked about publishing *Time Eraser*, but it was rejected by a publisher who offered a very low price, saying the click rate was too low and the score wasn't high enough. So I had to contact my original publishing house myself, and their answer was that they would only publish *Time Eraser* if *Ear Piercing* sold well.
But, but that book is priced so high! Are you kidding me, editor? You're just indirectly rejecting me!
So there's no result yet regarding the publication, so please don't ask anymore.
"Time's Edge" by Sheng Li, Chapter 33 — Jinjiang Original Website [Works Library]
She probably didn't sleep well all night, because when she woke up the next day, she looked so haggard that people noticed her immediately. Fortunately, Fang Yanyan said that Su Li had already left, otherwise she would have felt sorry for herself again.
She longed to avoid seeing Su Li, yet she couldn't help missing him.
It snowed all night, and although the weather cleared up the next day, when they arrived at the airport, their flight was inevitably delayed, leaving them stranded in the waiting hall. Song Jianan closed her eyes to rest, while Fang Yanyan's phone kept ringing. After a while, he asked, "Sister Jianan, are there any more class reunions now?"
She answered casually, "The group of people I met during my graduate studies were mostly distributed across various TV stations, radio stations, newspapers, and magazines. We were all competitors in the same industry, so out of sight, out of mind. I went to university in another city, but we would get together a few days before high school."
"Me too. I don't have any special feelings for my college classmates, but I'm really close to a group of buddies from high school."
She smiled and said, "That's how it is. Those were the real brothers in arms in high school. Who were you going to fight against back then? Students from all over the country were filling out college applications, and you didn't fight against your own people. The friendship was so pure. In college and graduate school, it's all about your own people fighting each other."
Fang Yanyan twirled his phone in his hand, not noticing it slipped and fell to the ground with a "whoosh." He bent down to pick it up, weighed it in his hand for a moment, and casually asked, "Sister Jianan, was my brother very flamboyant in high school back then, like those handsome and trendy guys from Hunan TV and Tomato TV's Super Boy competition?"
Song Jianan nodded deeply, "You know what, back then when he went to participate in those events, he might have actually won a popularity award. Anyway, there were a lot of rumors at the time. One of them was that if you were a girl and stood at the school gate shouting 'Su Li,' basically everyone would stare at you with malice. It was pretty much like a grassroots fan club in the modern sense."
“Hey, Li Yuchun is called Corn, what’s Su Li called? Chestnut, Pear, Lychee, haha!” Before Song Jianan could catch her breath, Fang Yanyan immediately changed the subject, “Then quite a few girls must like him, right? I used to try to get him to talk, but I could never get anything out of him. He always just smiled and let bygones be bygones.”
"Yes, many people like him, but there probably aren't many who actually dare to get close to him." Ordinary girls would only admire a boy who exudes a cold and aloof aura, like a landscape painting, or create beautiful fantasies to satisfy their own selfish desires, like her.
I leaned back gently in my chair, looked up, and saw planes slowly gliding towards me through the floor-to-ceiling windows, while others were slowly taxiing to their designated runways. This snow was nothing more than an unintentional prank by winter.
Fang Yan blinked, turned his head to look at her for a while, then pouted, "Serves him right for being so repressed."
"It's alright, that's just his personality."
"He's always been like this. When he was a kid, he would come to my house and we would all be watching TV. He would quietly take a book on Chinese history from my dad's bookshelf and read it for two hours without making a sound. He wouldn't even move his butt. Isn't that weird? His parents were so worried back then, afraid that he would get depression."
Song Jianan frowned slightly. "It's that serious? I was never this withdrawn when I was a child."
"We've gotten used to him reading Zizhi Tongjian, World History, and works by Confucius, Zhuangzi, and Laozi. We can also calmly watch Agatha Christie and Edogawa Ranpo. He seems to have a natural aversion to watching TV and movies. He doesn't even watch the Spring Festival Gala. It's like he just came up with something from Zhoukoudian, the Upper Cave. Actually, that's not good."
He blurted out, "Why?"
Fang Yanyan glanced at Song Jianan indifferently, "Damn, if a guy doesn't watch porn, his woman will suffer in the future."
Song Jianan could only utter the monosyllable "uh-oh-oh-oh".
Although her flight was delayed, she escaped the misfortune of not having to go to work. She parted ways with Fang Yanyan at the airport bus terminal. There happened to be a large supermarket nearby, so she went in and bought some bread, milk, laundry detergent, and the like. Just as she reached the checkout counter, someone softly and tentatively called her name from behind. She turned around and her eyes immediately lit up. "What a coincidence, Wang Chen! Oh, your little daughter! She's so cute!"
The little girl cautiously peeked out, blinking her eyes as she looked at Song Jianan, then shyly buried her head in her mother's arms. Song Jianan asked, "How old are you? Are you two?"
"Yes, she's a little over two years old." The happy mother smiled and patted her daughter's head. "It's been so long since I've seen you."
Song Jianan smiled knowingly, "Yes, it really has been a long time, and it's been a long time since I've contacted anyone else. How is everyone?"
“Hey, we were talking about having a get-together during the Chinese New Year, but we haven’t been able to find your contact information for a long time. Then someone said, ‘Isn’t there a Song Jianan in the City Evening News? Is that her?’ So we were thinking of calling the newspaper.”
Song Jianan couldn't help but laugh, "It's me, of course it's me. By the way, there's a reunion during the New Year, but can our high school classmates get together now? It seems like everyone is scattered all over the world."
"Why not? You can trust our class monitor to do things right. He was so happy on the school's online forum that he managed to find everyone and even called your newspaper. Just kidding. We can probably get around forty people. We'll book two tables or a little more. It'll be spacious and lively. Here's what we'll do: leave me your phone number, and I'll call you when the time comes. You can't not come!"
Song Jianan quickly agreed, "Yes, I will definitely go then."
At this moment, the little girl turned her head to look at Song Jianan, then looked down at her shopping bag and said in a childish voice, "Mommy, I want jelly, I want jelly, I want jelly."
She took a box of Xizhilang (a type of yogurt drink) from the bag and handed it to the little girl. The young mother next to her laughed and said, "Song Jianan, I feel like you're no different from when you were in high school. You even like the food that the kids are eating. It's true that there's a big difference between unmarried women and us married women."
Song Jianan smiled sincerely, "No, it feels great. It feels so good to have a child and a home."
The next day, she went to the bookstore to interview Professor Yi Zhongtian, the so-called academic superstar. After the interview, she had nothing to do, so she wandered around the bookstore. When she came to the section on media and journalism, she saw the book on mass communication theory, gently ran her hand along the spine, and smiled.
Back when I was in college, I don't know how I forgot this textbook in the study room and couldn't find it again. I went to great lengths to find it, but couldn't find it in many bookstores. Just when I was about to borrow a copy to photocopy, I unexpectedly received this book. At that time, Xu Yan came back from the mailroom with a sly smile and teased me, "What kind of magic do you have? Someone mailed this book all the way from Beijing for no reason." I was so surprised that I didn't know how to express my expression until I saw the familiar handwriting tucked inside the book. Su Li wrote, "I heard last time that you lost your textbook and couldn't find another one. I saw it by chance when I was browsing the bookstore today. I don't know if it's this one, but I couldn't find a second one with a similar name. I think it should be this one."
That book is still carefully placed on her bookshelf. Her other university textbooks were sold long ago when she graduated. Thinking about this, she couldn't help but feel stupid. Suddenly, her phone rang, breaking the silence. She quickly answered it. It was Su Li calling. His voice was low and a little hoarse, "Song Jianan, are you interviewing Yi Zhongtian at the bookstore right now?"
"Yes, Fang Yanyan told you, right? Is there something you need?"
"Well, my grandfather really likes him. I was wondering if it would be convenient for you to ask him for an autograph."
Song Jianan peeked downstairs and saw a long queue. She laughed and said, "Using public office for private gain? No problem. Not just one book, but several are no problem. But which one does your grandfather like? We have several here, like 'Appreciating the Three Kingdoms' and 'Talking About Dialects'."
"The book itself isn't important; the signature is what matters most. How about this, you're at the newspaper office tonight, and I'll come find you."
When she returned from the bookstore, it was unusually cold. Back at the newspaper office, a group of people were gathered together, discussing something. Curious, she went over and asked, "What happened?"
"Oh, it's nothing, just the arrangements for interviewing people about the Spring Festival Gala."
She smiled politely and pulled out a chair to start writing, but she couldn't concentrate. Her eyes kept glancing at the autographed book beside her, and she casually asked, "Where's Fang Yanyan?"
"He went out to do an interview, I think he went to the State Administration of Radio and Television."
Song Jianan sighed. There was no way to hand the book over to Fang Yanyan. The more she thought about it, the less she could write a manuscript. She pieced together a few dry sentences, then deleted them. It took her an entire afternoon to barely submit the manuscript.
The evenings in January come a little later, but the weather is still cold, and it seems to be getting colder. Frost forms on the windows, and the outside world is a blurry but beautiful scene.
As she stared blankly at the world outside the window, her phone rang. A message appeared on the screen, sent by Su Li: "I'm downstairs at your newspaper office. Have you finished work? I'd like to treat you to dinner."
Song Jianan had thought more than once what it would be like if the person she liked waited for her after get off work to have a meal with her. It must be a very happy thing.
She immediately spotted the man standing in the newspaper building lobby, looking at the promotional posters on the wall with his hands casually in his pockets, but his expression was very focused. She tiptoed over and followed his gaze. It turned out to be the promotional material for her report from last year being awarded best article. She immediately felt embarrassed, "Uh... that..."
He then met those probing eyes, which held a hidden smile. "Off work?"
"Yes, I just submitted the manuscript." She casually pulled the book out of the bag. "This is a signed copy, 'Appreciating the Three Kingdoms.' I wonder if your grandfather will like it. By the way, should we wait for Fang Yanyan?"
"What are you waiting for him for?"
"Shall we have dinner together?" Song Jianan suggested. "He went to the State Administration of Radio and Television for an interview; he should be back soon."
"Why should he go?" He took her book, flipped through it casually, and then refused in a serious tone, "He can just eat in the cafeteria. The fish-flavored eggplant at the broadcasting station is delicious. I ate it for at least three months when I was in high school."
Song Jianan stared at him in astonishment, her mind unable to process what he was seeing. She sighed inwardly, realizing that she had known him for so long and that this seemingly cold and indifferent person was actually a total closet pervert.
"Alright, stop daydreaming, or there won't be any seats left." He smiled faintly, took a few steps forward, and then turned around. "Also, don't tell Fang Yanyan, or he'll definitely start yelling again."
The milky white light in the hall cast a faint glow on his handsome profile, and the smile on his lips never faded. The surrounding light and shadow were intertwined, with darkness and light mingling.
I've never felt so close to him before; ten years apart felt like just a second apart.
Author's Note:
Mon Cadeau
--------------------
Now that the two of them are together, it seems like things are starting to get a little... off.
If things continue to develop like this, it won't feel abrupt anymore, right?
Sigh, if I have to update this big picture every day, I think I'll be exhausted. How about this, I'll split each chapter into two parts, is that okay?
P.S.: "Ear Piercing" is available at Amazon and bookstores.
"Time's Edge" by Sheng Li, Chapter 34 — Jinjiang Original Website [Works Library]
They went to a shop that was located in a remote area and looked very ordinary, but even before they reached the door, they could smell a strong fragrance. It was not fishy or greasy, but rather unusually fragrant.
It turned out to be a noodle shop. There weren't many people there at the moment. Su Li came in and explained, "What a coincidence, we haven't caught the peak hours yet. Usually, there are too many people, and we don't have the patience to wait in line."
The shop was very simple, but the round tables and stools were charmingly rustic. Song Jianan looked at the menu with curiosity, and Su Li smiled and said, "I recommend their signature ramen, it's made with a secret recipe."
He had never tried it before, but his words piqued his interest. "Okay, let's try this one you mentioned."
They ordered two bowls of ramen and some appetizers. As they ate and chatted, Su Li asked, "How's it going with the entertainment section? Fang Yanyan said it's too boring there, all they do is gossip."
“The social section is also gossip, gossiping about all aspects of life. Fang Yanyan likes challenging work, I understand.” Song Jianan blinked. “To give you a vivid example, I wear heels over five centimeters high every day in the entertainment section, but I only wear flat shoes every day in the social section, and I wear out a pair every two months on average.”
He couldn't help but look down at her shoes. "Song Jianan, aren't these flat shoes too?"
She hesitated for a moment, then stammered an explanation, "I'm going to the bookstore today. I'm afraid I won't be able to stand for half a day going up and down the stairs. Actually, as long as we're not interviewing singers or movie stars, we don't need to dress too formally or extravagantly."
"Don't like the entertainment section?"
She lowered her head, slowly poked at the tender bamboo shoots in the bowl, and shook her head without hesitation, "I don't like it."
"Why?"
"It's an indescribable feeling, just like what Fang Yanyan said, that it goes against my original intention of doing journalism. I still prefer the three sections: Focus, News and People's Livelihood. But in addition to seniority, people who want to get in also need some background."
There was no answer from the other side, so Song Jianan cautiously looked over and saw a waiter bringing over a plate. It was an antique-style white porcelain bowl with chopsticks and a spoon on one side, and a small bowl next to it containing a round tea egg.
The bowl contained clear broth and thin noodles, garnished with a small handful of bright green vegetable leaves. It didn't look particularly special, but it had a wonderfully fragrant aroma, much like the rich fragrance that permeated the air.
She picked up her chopsticks and lifted a noodle. The noodles were as thin as silver threads. They tasted smooth and refreshing, and somehow, all sorts of delicious flavors blended together perfectly, making them incredibly delicious. Song Jianan exclaimed, "Wow, I've lived here for so long, and I've never eaten such delicious noodles!"
It was so delicious that she almost cried, especially since she could only eat the rough cafeteria food every day.
She smiled sincerely at Su Li, then forgot all about talking. After finishing her meal, she looked up and felt a fine layer of sweat on the tip of her nose. She let out a long sigh and couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, even the tea eggs are made with jasmine tea. They smell so good!"
Upon hearing her words, Su Li looked up and gave her a deep look before asking, "Song Jianan, later on—I mean after that, from your undergraduate to graduate studies—where did you do your internships?"
She paused for a moment, then immediately realized that his "after that" referred to what happened after he lost contact with her. She smiled sheepishly and said, "When I was an undergraduate, I worked for Modern Express. During my postgraduate studies, I worked for many other places, including traffic radio stations, provincial TV stations, daily newspapers, metropolitan evening newspapers, and even a very famous magazine."