Chapter 29 – You are responsible

In the end, most of that morning was occupied by Laifu.

The little cat had been well-behaved since it was small and never ran around wildly when taken outside. Song Shiyue would occasionally bring it out to play on the park lawn, which also served as a way to build its courage.

She had left home in a hurry today and hadn’t expected they would walk this far. She hadn’t put a leash on Laifu, so she was constantly keeping an eye on it in case it wandered off.

Zhu Xingyan seemed to sense her emotions. After that half-joking remark, he did not say anything else “shocking.” Instead, like her, he lowered his head and earnestly comforted Laifu.

The boy’s palm was different from hers — long, fair fingers gently stroked the cat’s soft fur, moving from its round head all the way to its tail. Laifu squinted in comfort, shook its head slightly, and not only did not resist, but even rubbed its head deeper into his hand.

“Good kitty.” Zhu Xingyan smiled and called to it softly. His gentle voice carried an illusion of lovers’ whispers. Even though he was calling the cat, Song Shiyue felt her face grow hot as she stood beside him.

The full sunrise gradually revealed itself in the east. The oil-paint-like vibrant light slowly spread across the earth.

This quiet morning began to be filled with the chirping of birds and distant voices of people talking. The faint sounds signaled that the undisturbed early morning was coming to an end. The dawn shrouded in quiet mist felt like a brief, stolen moment of time before the real day truly arrived.

Zhu Xingyan walked her home. By now Laifu had become familiar with his scent again. It lay obediently in his arms, allowing him to carry it. In the morning light filtering through the woods, the tall, slender young man holding a calico cat, wearing a mask, walked unhurriedly along the path. The scene looked especially otherworldly.

Song Shiyue also had a strong sense of unreality.

Until this moment, she still felt that everything was like a dream — whether it was the dim dawn when she sneaked downstairs behind her sleeping parents, or this bright morning with the rising sun, Zhu Xingyan, Laifu, and the undisturbed little park. The combination of these three elements felt like a scene that could only appear in her fantasies.

Zhu Xingyan only escorted her to the downstairs of her building. By the roadside, the driver’s car was already waiting. She had only learned recently that he still had to rush back to the capital immediately to attend today’s Spring Festival Gala rehearsal.

As they were about to part, Song Shiyue took the cat from his arms. Her lips moved, but in the end she said goodbye to him the same way she had every time they parted before.

“Have a safe trip.”

“Okay.” Zhu Xingyan said, but he did not get in the car immediately. Instead, he took out his phone, tapped it a couple of times, and handed the screen to her. His tone was calm and natural. “Put in your phone number.”

“Ah.” She was startled. After a moment she took it and unconsciously typed in the numbers.

He took it back, then opened another page and said to her, “WeChat ID.”

Song Shiyue blankly recited it.

Soon, a slight vibration came from the phone in her coat pocket.

Zhu Xingyan’s dark eyes quietly fixed on her. “I added you. Remember to accept it when you get back.”

“…Okay.”

“We have added all our contact methods now.”

“…Mm.”

“So don’t lose contact again.”

Zhu Xingyan only left after watching her enter the compound gate first.

By the time she climbed the stairs and entered the house, Song Shiyue’s heartbeat was still pounding heavily. In the quiet stairwell, it felt as if the echoes could be heard. As if sensing her emotions, the moment she entered the living room, Laifu eagerly jumped down, distancing itself from her restless heart.

Song Qing and Zhao Siqian had not woken up yet. The entire living room was quiet, bathed in light and thin morning sunlight.

Song Shiyue stood there silently for a while, then raised her hand to cover her chest. After a long time, her cheeks burned.

After being apart for only a few hours, the sense of unreality was gradually replaced by real details.

Several messages were already lying in Song Shiyue’s phone.

「Star」: 【I’ve arrived at the airport】

「Star」: 【Boarding now】

「Star」: 【Safely arrived】

「Star」: 【About to start rehearsal】

He reported to her like a log, sharing every detail of his itinerary. At the end, he attached photos from the Spring Festival Gala rehearsal site.

Song Shiyue replied to him.

「Moon」: 【Jiayou!】

Followed by a cartoon fist-pumping emoji.

They were now using the newly added WeChat to chat. Whether by coincidence or tacit understanding, their nicknames were the same system symbols as on QQ — a golden star and a golden moon.

At this moment, the nicknames looked exactly like those of a couple.

Song Shiyue did not know how many times today she had felt a rush of shy embarrassment. Without thinking, she tapped open his profile picture and scrolled through his WeChat Moments once again.

Zhu Xingyan had barely ever posted in Moments. Over the past few years, there were only a handful of updates. There were no work-related posts or movie promotions, only the starry sky photos he had taken himself.

Every once in a while he would suddenly post one, like bubbles rising to the surface: a full stretch of the Milky Way under the night sky, glittering and shining, beautiful beyond anything that could belong to the real Earth.

Besides those, there were also photos of the moon.

Moons from every angle, in different shapes and different scenes. The composition carried the owner’s meticulous thought. Unlike the brilliant starry sky images, the moon hanging in the sky looked especially distant and cold, suspended high above, gazing down at the human world through the lens.

The photos felt too heavy. Every time Song Shiyue looked at them for a few moments, her emotions would be uncontrollably drawn in and her heart would feel heavy. The pictures seemed to reveal the photographer’s mood at the time. Back then, Zhu Xingyan’s state had apparently not been very good.

Song Shiyue did not want to connect those photos with herself, yet the moon motif was too obvious. Song Shiyue, Song Shiyue. Ever since they met again, he had always called her by her full name like that.

—

A few days later, it was another New Year’s Eve.

The family’s usual year-crossing ritual remained the same: after dinner, they sat together in the living room to watch the Spring Festival Gala.

In the past, when she was still in school, it had been fine. Now that she was in university, Zhao Siqian began to complain about her. While cracking melon seeds, she could not help saying, “Don’t you have young friends to go out and celebrate the new year with? Do you really have to stay here with us middle-aged people watching this outdated Spring Festival Gala?”

“…………” Song Shiyue was speechless for a few seconds and answered helplessly, “Mom, can’t I just want to spend more time with you two?”

“Your filial heart is good, but look at Dali and the others. Every one of them is outside with friends setting off fireworks and counting down the new year. You’re the only one who stays home every single year…”

“Hey, just be happy that our child is willing to stay with us. Say less.” Song Qing interrupted her nagging. Zhao Siqian glared at him, then turned back to Song Shiyue with a look of disappointment that she had not lived up to expectations.

“Mom also hopes you will go out more and make friends. Young people only have these few years of youth. You should do more of the happy things you want to do.”

In the past, when she had only focused on studying, they had felt that her quiet and patient personality was very good for reading. Now that she had graduated from high school, they realized their daughter seemed a little too quiet. She hardly made friends, and she did not even seem interested in going out to have fun. If things continued like this, they worried about her major life milestones.

That was how parents were — they worried when the sky was clear and they worried when it rained. They wished their child could have the very best of everything.

Song Shiyue looked at the Spring Festival Gala that had started punctually on the screen. The corners of her mouth lifted into a smile and she said softly, “The things I am doing right now are exactly the happy ones.”

Even Zhao Siqian, with her steel-like heart, could not help being moved by her daughter’s sincere words at this moment. She stopped urging her to make friends and instead picked up the fruit plate on the table, speared a piece of apple with a fork, and brought it to her mouth with a soft voice.

“Mom is not scolding you. Of course Mom is happy that our precious daughter wants to stay with us. Here, try the apple I cut myself.”

The apple was crisp, sweet, and delicious. As Song Shiyue swallowed it, for some reason she still felt a faint guilt in her heart.

“Thank you, Mom,” she said in a muffled voice.

Zhu Xingyan’s performance was scheduled as the grand finale. After enduring one round after another of earlier acts, when Song Shiyue was already drowsy and fighting a yawn, he finally appeared on stage.

Amazingly, Zhao Siqian actually recognized him. She could not help exclaiming, “Hey, isn’t this that handsome young man from last year? I didn’t expect him to sing so well too.”

“Mm, mm.” Song Shiyue nodded quickly. “It’s really nice.”

“Have you kept in touch with your classmates since graduation?” After one song ended, Zhao Siqian seemed to suddenly remember something and asked her. Song Shiyue instinctively felt guilty and was about to answer when her phone rang. On the caller ID, the name “Zhu Xingyan” was clearly displayed.

She snatched up the phone like a thief, answered it, and stood up to walk toward the window.

On the television, the New Year countdown was being announced. At that exact moment, the voice overlapped with the countdown coming from the phone receiver in her ear.

Ten, nine, eight, seven… three, two, one.

“Song Shiyue, happy new year.”

The person who had just been on the television screen was now speaking to her through the phone, carrying a faint smile, becoming the very first person to wish her a happy new year tonight.

“You too.” Song Shiyue looked at the fireworks blooming instantly outside the window. She could not help curving her eyes into a smile and said softly,

“Happy new year, Zhu Xingyan.”

Song Shiyue had no idea how he had managed to find a tiny gap during the live broadcast to call her. The call lasted only a few dozen seconds. After they exchanged New Year greetings, he hurriedly hung up on the other end.

After that came the matters of the new year.

When Song Shiyue woke up, firecrackers were going off outside. A few mischievous children were disturbing everyone’s morning sleep. She casually turned on her phone and saw two WeChat messages waiting there.

They had been sent between three and four in the morning. Late last night, Zhu Xingyan had invited her to go to the temple fair together today.

Song Shiyue woke up with a jolt. The moment she sat up and replied with a simple “Ah,” her phone rang again. The other culprit who had disturbed her sweet morning dream showed no guilt at all. Instead, he spoke with a gentle smile and extended the invitation once more.

“Song Shiyue, will you go to the temple fair with me?”

“Now?” She took a few seconds to steady herself, then pressed down on her racing heart and frowned to confirm.

“Now.” The reply from the other end was clear and certain.

“But…” There would be a lot of people.

“Don’t worry. Come downstairs.”

After hanging up, Song Shiyue felt like a rebellious child planning a secret escape. She prepared a whole pile of excuses to get her parents’ permission. But the moment she started, and Zhao Siqian heard that she was going to the temple fair with a friend, her mother did not even let her finish. She waved her hand generously and gave her permission.

Song Shiyue’s originally tense and excited heart finally settled into place. However, the moment she saw Zhu Xingyan after coming downstairs, it lifted once again.

The driver was focused on the road conditions in the front seat. After turning two streets, the lively temple fair entrance appeared ahead. Song Shiyue looked at the surging crowd from afar, her courage failing as she prepared to escape at the last minute. Just then, the person beside her seemed to read her thoughts. He reached under the seat, took out two small items, and handed them to her.

Song Shiyue looked closely and realized they were two traditional mythological masks, carved in the shapes of a fox and a rabbit.

“…What are these?” she asked uncertainly. Zhu Xingyan waved at her with a light smile and instructed, “Put them on.”

Song Shiyue thought she and he would become oddities among the crowd.

Who would have known that after getting out of the car and gradually walking closer, on the bustling temple fair street filled with people coming and going, everyone had all kinds of masks on their faces.

When they reached the entrance, street staff were specially distributing masks to passersby, speaking in a uniform, practiced manner.

“Today is a traditional festival. There is a large-scale Nuo opera performance inside. Everyone needs to take a mask to participate. It’s free of charge.”

People were happy to join in the festive excitement. Upon hearing this, they cheerfully selected their favorite masks from the stall and eagerly put them on, examining each other with their companions and bursting into happy laughter.

Walking onto the lively fire-red street, masked people moved about everywhere. The crowd was in high spirits, watching the large traditional parade performances in the middle of the street. Some were even pulled onstage by performers wearing the same fierce-toothed masks to clap and dance together.

This year’s temple fair was even more bustling than in previous years. The street was so crowded it was almost difficult to walk. Song Shiyue was squeezed and pushed forward by the excited flow of people around her. Just as she was about to lose her balance, a hand came from behind and steadied her.

Zhu Xingyan stabilized her shoulders and quickly let go, lowering his head to ask with concern, “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” Song Shiyue barely managed to squeeze out the words, a thin layer of sweat already forming on the tip of her nose.

The next second, the boy took hold of the hand at her side. His warm palm pressed tightly against the skin of her wrist as he steadily pulled her through the crowd, moving forward.

“I’m afraid you’ll get separated from me.” Amid the surrounding noise, this voice drifted over almost indistinctly. Song Shiyue’s head felt even dizzier, her face continued burning hot, and she gave a soft “Mm.”

She followed behind him. After taking a couple of steps, in the midst of the pushing and shoving from behind, her body lurched forward uncontrollably, and her forehead lightly bumped into his shoulder.

The person in front seemed to stiffen slightly, or perhaps it was only her momentary illusion.

Zhu Xingyan seemed to let out a sigh. Then he tightened his grip on her hand, pulling her wrist firmly to bring her in front of him.

“Song Shiyue, you walk in front of me.”

His hand came around to support her shoulder, his breath brushing close, as if he was indirectly holding her entire body in his embrace while guiding her forward.

The Nuo opera performance was gradually left behind, growing distant. The congested crowd thinned, and fresh air finally drifted in from ahead.

Zhu Xingyan very restrainedly withdrew his hand and released her. The atmosphere became awkwardly indescribable for a moment. Song Shiyue’s face was burning unbearably hot.

She could only feel grateful that she was wearing a mask right now.

“There are so many people on the street today.” She spoke just to say something, trying to ease the embarrassment, but saw the person beside her lower his head and call her name in a slow, drawn-out voice.

“Song Shiyue.”

He slowly raised the hand that had been protecting her earlier and held it out in front of her. The fair, well-proportioned fingers now showed a clear patch of red, like a tiny flaw on flawless white jade.

“My hand got bumped red just now while protecting you.”

Her eyes widened. Immediately after, she saw the person before her lower his eyelids. Still speaking in that slow voice, he stared at her and uttered a few words.

“You have to take responsibility.”

“Ah…?” Song Shiyue instantly furrowed her brows, completely puzzled. Before she could react, Zhu Xingyan had already withdrawn his hand, casually shook it, and continued in an unhurried tone.

“In return, you can treat me to sugar water.”

“I want to go to that shop up ahead.” His gaze turned toward a spot not far from the street corner. Song Shiyue followed his line of sight and saw the familiar sign of the sugar-water shop. The small square shop was exactly the one she and Zhou Zongbai had visited back in their third year of high school.

Song Shiyue suspected it was a coincidence and did not think much of it. She simply nodded and generously agreed, “Okay. I’ve been to that shop before. The taste is really good.”

“I’ll treat you.”