Du Kang came running down waving his hands, carrying a stool, with Lu Qinglian following behind him at a leisurely pace.
Zhang Shutong glanced at the two of them, just about to ask where they'd run off to, but Du Kang was panting heavily when he arrived and immediately needed water. Ruoping fished out a bottle of mineral water from the bike basket and tossed it to him, then dragged Du Kang aside to interrogate him like a big bad wolf threatening a little white rabbit.
No need to guess—it was definitely more gossip.
Zhang Shutong couldn't be bothered to join in the excitement. He called out to Qingyi, first handing him the rod he was holding, then pulled out his own telescoping rod and had the other guy help shine a flashlight while he began tying on the fish hook.
After watching for a while, Qingyi asked curiously:
"Why are you using that method?"
Zhang Shutong's hands paused. He realized he'd revealed a flaw.
He used to know a "two-finger wrapping method"—in simple terms, you wrapped the fishing line directly around your fingers, then pulled the line end and the hook would catch securely, quick and clean.
But he hadn't fished in many years, and even the most practiced techniques had been forgotten. After fumbling around for ages, he nearly tied his two fingers together. He had no choice but to start figuring it out using the most basic technique, like threading a needle.
Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind:
"Didn't he used to tie it differently?"
Looking back, he discovered Lu Qinglian had somehow walked up behind him. The girl was leaning forward with her hands on her knees, her delicate face expressionless.
"Of course not. This is a real beginner method—he thinks only idiots just starting out would tie it this way." Qingyi answered casually.
Well, thanks so much for thinking so highly of me.
This idiot accepts the title.
"Then you might as well teach me this method."
Who would have expected Lu Qinglian to say that to him.
Then she very naturally walked over and sat down next to Zhang Shutong, as if she'd already taken for granted that he'd teach her. That was originally Ruoping's spot.
If you said she was interested, her eyes and expression couldn't possibly be associated with the phrase "keenly interested"; but if you said she wasn't interested, Lu Qinglian blinked and examined the fish hook in his hand.
Zhang Shutong had no choice but to politely decline:
"I don't have time. Wait for Du Kang to come over."
Never mind that he hadn't figured it out himself yet—this obviously wasn't the script he was supposed to be following.
"But he's still talking with Feng Ruoping."
"...You can wait until they're done talking."
"Do you really hate me?" she asked, puzzled.
"No, I'm just used to being alone."
This girl must be naturally airheaded.
"Then do you like me?" she suddenly asked out of nowhere.
"..."
Zhang Shutong bit down on the soft flesh inside his mouth.
He couldn't help but look up at Lu Qinglian. She sat calmly on the stool with a composed expression, her skin appearing even more pale in the moonlight, meeting his gaze directly:
"I thought boys who like girls fall into two categories: one type always looks for chances to chat with them, the other deliberately ignores them to gain attention. Are you the more standoffish type?"
By the end, she actually frowned slightly, as if genuinely treating it as a hypothesis to study.
"Neither one." Zhang Shutong lowered his head to continue tying the fishing line. "I neither like you nor hate you. I'm just... well, rather aloof. Please understand."
This was the first time someone had made him actively claim the word "aloof." Zhang Shutong suddenly felt being aloof wasn't such a bad thing.
He thought that would be the end of it, but then Lu Qinglian said:
"But you just lent me your gloves."
"What exactly are you trying to say?" Zhang Shutong sighed. He thought to himself: Girl, aren't you supposed to be a temple keeper? Temple keepers should stay up on the mountain—what are you doing running down to the lake to argue with me?
"I don't have any particular point. Why can't you teach me to fish?" Lu Qinglian asked, uncomprehending.
She had a pair of peach blossom eyes. When she wasn't speaking, her eyes were full of cold aloofness, but whenever she was confused, the corners would curve slightly downward, as if an ice sculpture were melting. Zhang Shutong gave her a once-over and thought the name hadn't been chosen wrong—she really did have that "pitiful when seen" quality.
But with her putting it that way, it made Zhang Shutong seem like the strange one.
Fine, he was indeed a bit strange, but Zhang Shutong had his own difficulties:
Teaching her to fish wasn't really a big deal, but the person secretly in love with her was still standing right behind them. Zhang Shutong could still recall Du Kang's heartbroken appearance eight years later.
Not that returning to the past meant he had to play matchmaker for them. Du Kang was certainly willing, but the girl might not be. His attitude toward this sort of thing was to let fate take its course.
But Zhang Shutong had always felt that for guys who loved fishing, night fishing with a girl they liked was a romantic thing—moonlight overhead, evening breeze drifting, grass stems swaying, two people holding a rod together that still carried each other's warmth...
Though others might not think of it that way, and though he'd never actually encountered a girl who was good at fishing, this was his idea of romance. So even if he wasn't playing matchmaker, he didn't really want to do something as mood-killing as barging in.
But thinking it over, Du Kang would have to come over in a bit anyway. Rather than waste time going back and forth with Lu Qinglian, he might as well teach her quickly and get some peace and quiet.
So Zhang Shutong agreed:
"Then I'll demonstrate once for you. Watch carefully..."
Lu Qinglian also watched intently.
He tied it once without pulling it tight, then shook the fishing line loose and handed the entire rod to her:
"Use your phone... forgot you don't have one." Zhang Shutong pulled out his own. "I'll shine it for you. Try it first."
The flashlight illuminated the girl's hand. Looking at the small cuts on her fingers, Zhang Shutong said helplessly:
"Your hand can't tie it like this."
"It's fine."
With that, she gently pinched the fishing line—this was the difference between boys and girls. Zhang Shutong didn't keep his nails long, so naturally he held the line with his fingertips. He hadn't thought there was another way.
Lu Qinglian was quite nimble. After watching once, she learned it fairly well. Looking at those hands that had clearly done their share of work, Zhang Shutong figured she must have mended her own clothes before—otherwise she wouldn't be this practiced.
The hook and line were remarkably obedient in her hands, like vines dancing under a magician's control, as if they had a life of their own, wrapping themselves around the wire. She succeeded on the first try. Lu Qinglian politely thanked him. Zhang Shutong nodded, then taught her to put on the bait:
"That's pretty good for a first time. Next you choose where to cast the hook. It's best to stand up, then..."
But before he finished speaking, he saw the girl twist her waist and, while still sitting, flung the fishing rod out. The motion was light yet powerful, extremely graceful and fluid.
Only then did Lu Qinglian add:
"I've already learned how to cast."
"That's good then."
Zhang Shutong breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he could finally have some peace. Just as he was about to relive some childhood joy, he looked down and found his hands empty.
His fishing rod was being held by Lu Qinglian.
The girl maintained a posture similar to the one in that photo—back straight, watching the water surface intently.
"That's my rod..." He was just about to remind her when the girl, without taking her eyes off the water, extended a finger to her lips and shushed him. Then the float jerked, and Lu Qinglian lifted the rod. A palm-sized fish leaped up on cue.
Zhang Shutong stared in shock.
Had it even been half a minute since she cast the hook?
Really?
He'd never been at this level even in his prime. No, it wasn't even about skill anymore—this was pure luck. He watched as Lu Qinglian removed the hook, tossed the fish into the bucket, and without waiting for his reminder, baited the hook again. With another twist of her slender waist, ripples spread across the water's surface.
The entire sequence flowed like water.
"Have you fished before?"
"First time."
"Oh, beginner's protection period."
"What do you mean?"
"It's to let beginners fully experience the joy of doing something..."
"Wait."
Before he finished, she shushed him again. The float bobbed, and she caught another fish. Though this one was smaller, the frequency was completely abnormal.
Even if a penguin jumped into the water to catch fish, it would only be about this fast.
"What were you saying?" Lu Qinglian once again cast gracefully, her high ponytail swinging with the motion. He had to admit, when she got serious she really was kind of cool, like a queen descending upon this body of water.
"...Nothing. Fish on your own."
Zhang Shutong suddenly lost interest. He'd come to fish, but now all he could see swimming in the water were Du Kangs.
Fortunately, the third fish didn't come as quickly as the previous ones.
The two of them watched the water's surface—one focused, one bored enough to yawn.
"What did you come here for today?" Zhang Shutong propped up his chin and asked casually.
"To fish." Lu Qinglian's expression didn't change.
"Mm... what a brush-off."
But he wasn't that concerned anyway. She was different from Gu Qiumian—at least she could safely get through these eight years without even needing occasional attention.
Plus, if he kept sitting next to her, his dao heart would be affected. He feared it would leave an indelible shadow on his beloved fishing career.
Just as he was about to call Du Kang and Ruoping over to switch places, his body had barely left the stool when he heard Lu Qinglian say flatly:
"But haven't you been brushing me off this whole time too, Zhang Shutong?"
Zhang Shutong instinctively froze.
He didn't know why, but when she said that, he could somehow hear a trace of sternness, though her tone remained calm. Yet in that moment she shed that naturally airheaded quality, as if suddenly dropping a disguise... or perhaps transforming from a girl into a queen.
Zhang Shutong knew it was inappropriate to think this way, but he'd seen Lu Qinglian's memorial photo. The young woman with slightly furrowed brows, eyes still as ancient wells, sealed in black and white photo paper, was just as beautiful as eight years ago but with a completely different feeling from her student days—just like right now.
"If you have nothing more to say, then sit down and listen to what I have to tell you."
The girl's tone was calm:
"First, there's something you need to apologize to me for."
Zhang Shutong was somewhat surprised to hear this, but it was indeed his oversight. There was nothing to say about it: "It's my fault. I'm sorry. I'll find a way to eliminate the impact in the next couple of days."
"Not that."
Who knew she would shake her head, staring at the gloomy water surface, her face equally expressionless:
"I mean you shouldn't keep brushing me off for your friend's sake. That's very impolite."
"You mean..."
"Don't play dumb." She seemed to suddenly take control of the conversation, speaking in an tone that brooked no argument: "Also, it's best not to deliberately try to set us up. Though it might be making a mountain out of a molehill, I think it's better to clear this up sooner rather than later."
Zhang Shutong stood there frozen, not knowing what to say.
He began recalling when Du Kang had officially been rejected by Lu Qinglian. The guy had confessed once, but that seemed to be after middle school graduation, saying how pathetic it was to like a girl for four years without confessing. Several people helped pump him up, and Du Kang went to the temple early in the morning, but came back at noon looking like a frost-bitten eggplant.
But why had it happened early?
He thought of various influences—maybe those boxes of student milk, maybe related to this fishing trip...
Just as luck would have it, Ruoping finally released Du Kang. The boy immediately ran over to ask:
"Lu-tongxue, that, just now..." He hemmed and hawed for quite a while before finally asking, "Do you want me to teach you how to fish?"
"Thank you, but he's already taught me." The girl politely declined.
"If there's anything you don't understand..."
But then Lu Qinglian said: "I can just ask Zhang Shutong."
Du Kang was about to struggle a bit more when Ruoping grabbed him by the collar and dragged him away.
Zhang Shutong thought it couldn't be that bad. Could it be that on that stretch of road they'd walked together just now, this kid Du Kang had let his animal nature run wild and pissed the girl off?
But he knew Du Kang's temperament best. If he really dared to do something like that, he wouldn't have carried a torch for so many years. But what had happened on that stretch of road to make Lu Qinglian suddenly bring this up?
He looked at Du Kang, then at Lu Qinglian, and found that Lu Qinglian was staring at him.
Honestly, the atmosphere was a bit awkward. Then Ruoping ran over carrying a large plastic bag:
"Come on, come on, eat some cookies. You guys stop fishing for now..."
Then taking advantage of the moment, she pulled Zhang Shutong aside and whispered in his ear:
"I just found out the two of them didn't come back together."
"What?"
"Du Kang never went with her at all. I was just asking about this—he said he caught up to Lu Qinglian, but she wouldn't let him follow..."
"Then how did they..."
"You guys are something else. He was going to come straight back, but halfway he figured there wasn't a place to sit with an extra person, so he ran to the Base to move a stool back. I really... ugh."
Ruoping trailed off:
"Then on the way back he happened to run into her, which made us think they came back together. Anyway, anyway, you should talk less later. Everyone just eat something and shut up..."
Ruoping hadn't heard his conversation with Lu Qinglian at all, but girls' minds tend to be more nimble. She just assumed Du Kang had been annoyingly persistent and irritated the girl, so she quickly came out to smooth things over.
Zhang Shutong could understand that, but he couldn't understand what Lu Qinglian was getting at. He only now realized he'd been completely off track. Actually, the important matter she'd mentioned after school was this? Well, in a sense they really had been annoying—it was pretty important.
So everyone might as well just eat cookies. Eating cookies didn't require thinking—sweet and crispy, mouth closed and pretend nothing happened. He was just about to take one when Qingyi reached out to stop him, removing his earmuffs:
"Wait a moment, everyone."
Dude, where did you even come from?
But both Zhang Shutong and Feng Ruoping thought he had some brilliant insight. Just as they were all ears, who knew he'd pull out a pack of compressed biscuits from his pocket and smile:
"For fishing, you should naturally eat these."
"Meng Qingyi, has your brain been compressed too?" Ruoping was immediately dumbfounded.
"What's wrong?" Qingyi asked, puzzled. "For fishing you naturally need to eat compressed biscuits to get the right feeling. Who eats Oreos? Right, Shutong?"
Zhang Shutong thought: You two are standing on either side of me—I'm about to become the Oreo. He simply asked Lu Qinglian, "Which one do you want?"
"What's an Oreo?" Who knew the girl would think for a moment and ask coolly.
Zhang Shutong was confused too. Why are you playing airheaded now? Where did that queenly aura from just now go?
But unexpectedly, she really hadn't seen Oreos before. He watched as she thanked Ruoping, tore open the package, took out a cream-filled chocolate cookie, examined it, and asked Zhang Shutong:
"How do you eat this?"
How else would you eat it? But compared to that, Zhang Shutong was more concerned about the matter she'd mentioned:
"When you were leaving school and said you needed to find me about something—did you mean this?"
"For now, you can think of it that way." She enunciated each word carefully.
Actually, Zhang Shutong didn't understand what that "for now" meant. Was it "yes" or "no"?
But now wasn't the time to dwell on this. His tone became more serious. After a long pause he said:
"...I'm sorry. I was too presumptuous. This sort of thing won't happen again."
He suddenly felt Lu Qinglian was much more three-dimensional than he'd thought. His previous impression was of an ice-sculpture-like girl who served as a temple keeper on the mountain, very mysterious indeed. But mysterious meant your understanding of her was always separated by a layer of fog, making her seem like a sculpture hidden in the mist.
Later he'd thought that rather than aloof, she was actually somewhat airheaded. But now he discovered she wasn't airheaded or stupid at all—she just didn't want to point things out. Whatever they did here, she was clear as a mirror in her heart.
But this actually made her less distant, and suddenly brought her closer to the crowd. Though she still wore that blue robe, she no longer seemed like a fairy floating in the heavens.
"I'm not angry, just a bit troubled." Lu Qinglian still had that crisp voice, her tone completely flat. "So this Or-whatever... how do you eat it?"
Zhang Shutong suddenly looked at her and smiled:
"How else? Twist it, lick it, then dunk it."
ToC ========== Next >