Chapter 16.1

During the college entrance exam period, Wen Yi seemed like a completely different person. The youthful vitality she once had vanished. She became gloomy and withdrawn, no longer talkative.

In the final mock exam, her results were not ideal. If he remembered correctly, she had dropped more than ten places in the rankings.

Wen Yi’s home was not far from the affiliated high school, forming a triangular layout with his house and the school. Between their two homes lay a large park. In the evenings or on weekends, when Qin Nanshan could not solve a problem, he would go for a run. When he reached the other side of the park, he would see the entrance to that alley.

On the evening the results were released, Qin Nanshan encountered Wen Yi in the park for the first time. The girl in school uniform, carrying her backpack, sat on a stone bench with her head lowered. Her hands on her knees were clenched tightly.

He stopped in his tracks, hesitated for a moment, then slowly approached. When he reached her, the girl looked up. Those eyes, usually full of confidence and strength, were red rimmed.

Qin Nanshan was slightly startled and stood frozen in place.

Wen Yi sniffled, clearly upset yet forcing a smile. “What are you doing here?”

Qin Nanshan pointed behind him, his voice soft. “I live over there, in the faculty apartments.”

“Oh right, I totally forgot.” She lowered her head again. Only after three or four minutes did she look up at him once more. “Why haven’t you left yet?”

Qin Nanshan did not know what to say. He nodded and jogged forward a few steps, but something tugged at his heart like a string. He stopped, turned back, and sat down beside her.

They were not close. Aside from that “one week” of friendship at the start of first year when they had barely spoken, the rest had been nothing more than normal interactions between a class monitor and an ordinary classmate.

Sitting down now, he had no plan for what came next. He was not good at socializing, let alone comforting an upset girl. So the two just sat in silence for over ten minutes.

The park was lively with people strolling and square dancing, full of noise and energy, yet it could not break the quiet atmosphere between them.

After who knows how long, Wen Yi spoke first. “Are you hungry?”

He was not. “A little.”

“I know a great barbecue place nearby. My treat. Keep me company?”

“All right.”

The girl stood up. The cool summer breeze lifted the hem of her school uniform skirt. She pressed it down with her hand. Qin Nanshan quickly followed.

The barbecue stall was bustling. Smoke rose from the grill, carrying a rich, savory aroma. Wen Yi seemed in better spirits. She ordered skewers and smiled faintly at him. “Qiao En and I come here a lot with the others. It is really good. Try it later.”

“All right.”

They had little to talk about. The usually chatty girl no longer sought topics and focused on eating. After a few skewers of meat, her smile grew, her eyes curving like the crescent moon. “See? I did not lie. It really is delicious.”

“Yes.”

“Qin Nanshan, you talk so little. Do you only know one word answers?”

Qin Nanshan paused slightly. “No…”

He thought for a moment before offering an awkward consolation. “Mock exam results do not determine the college entrance exam. Do not be upset.”

Wen Yi smiled but did not continue the topic. After finishing the last of the vegetables, she seemed fully revived. “Wow, so satisfying. Thanks for keeping me company. I am heading home. Be careful on your way.”

She went to pay. After settling the bill, she turned back and waved enthusiastically goodbye, then grabbed her backpack straps and ran off.

He sat at the outdoor barbecue table a few more minutes, a slow smile finally appearing.

……

Qin Nanshan did need to go out. At Zhongshan First Road were two junior colleagues who had invited him to hang out.

His PhD advisor, Professor Chen, was a renowned mathematician at A University and nationwide. He took students based on affinity and, after Qin Nanshan, had only accepted these two—one still in his PhD, the other freshly retained as faculty. The three shared a closer relationship than most.

Qin Nanshan did not enjoy socializing, but he knew his role in the circle. People like Wu Laoshi or Zhuang Yue who wanted to latch onto projects were countless. He disliked wasting time rejecting them and helped when he could. Thus, though not particularly liked in social circles, he was not disliked either.

As for true sincerity, it did not matter much—he did not need theirs. The two juniors idolized him excessively, with no conflicts of interest, so their feelings were a bit more genuine than others.

Zhongshan First Road was not far. When Qin Nanshan arrived, he discovered a girl at the table too. Junior colleague Cheng Yuyu introduced, “This is my girlfriend.”

Beside him, Liu Tao laughed. “Senior brother, we had no choice but to call you. I am too bright a third wheel alone.”

Qin Nanshan nodded and sat in the empty seat.

Liu Tao asked, “Why did not sister in law come out?”

“It is too late. She is getting ready for bed. I will sit a while and head back soon.”

Wen Yi’s message arrived just then. He first called the server to order. After ordering, the three exchanged knowing glances. Cheng Yuyu shouted, “This is not coming to see us at all—it is clearly to buy late night snacks for sister in law!”

Qin Nanshan’s lips curved in a faint smile but said nothing.

Liu Tao sighed dramatically. “Getting married and having a family really is different. Not like single folks like me—coming and going like the wind, no one to miss me or care.”

The girl laughed. “If you want someone to care, just find one.”

“Haha, forget it.” Liu Tao jokingly held his glass like a microphone. “Senior brother, an interview—how does marriage feel? Share some experience for us unmarried folks.”

Qin Nanshan could not answer immediately. After a pause, he summarized with an idiom: “Earth shattering.”

This was his second late night outing for her. Before this, he would never come to places like this.

Mornings now started with another person beside him when he opened his eyes. The bathroom was full of her toiletries. The air often carried a sweet, cloying fruity scent. On the balcony hung sexy lingerie he dared not look at directly. In the living room were half eaten bags of softened chips… So much, too much.

In the past, during breaks, he could stay in the secondary bedroom all day. Now he left it seven or eight times a day. This Spring Festival, he had not finished reading a single paper from start to end.

Perhaps “earth shattering” carried negative connotations. Liu Tao lowered his voice. “Ah? Is sister in law that scary?”

Qin Nanshan smiled. “No, she is not scary. It is just that our lifestyles are different.”

Liu Tao asked, “Then how do you live together?”

Qin Nanshan found it miraculous too. He had changed so much, yet these ten plus days had flown by. His life and rhythm were undergoing huge shifts, yet inexplicably, he seemed to have subconsciously accepted these changes.

Forming a habit supposedly took two to three months, but he had adapted to another person’s presence in less than half a month.

Liu Tao did not get an answer and guessed quietly, “With sister in law’s refined persona, is she particularly delicate and hard to handle?”

“Not really. She has her own lifestyle habits. She is not delicate, and she does not trouble others.”

Liu Tao shook his head, not quite believing it. “Let me ask you—in the house, who cooks?”

“Usually me.”

“Who washes the dishes?”

“……” Qin Nanshan did not quite understand. It was just washing dishes—what was there to discuss about who did or did not do it?

“Who cleans?”

“……”

Seeing he could not answer, Liu Tao concluded, “So sister in law is different from us lowly academic folks. She needs to be waited on.”

The girl beside him disagreed. “Marriage is the continuation of love. Who says the woman has to cook, wash dishes, and do laundry after marriage? Liu Tao, you are too chauvinistic.”

Cheng Yuyu supported his girlfriend. “Exactly. After I get married, I will cook and wash dishes.”

Liu Tao cried injustice. “I was just trying to prove senior brother has a good personality. Everyone in the department praises him. I was saying sister in law is lucky. Right, senior brother?”

Qin Nanshan smiled silently. Over the years, few had called him good natured—many more thought he was eccentric. In school, plenty of kids even called him a monster. Someone with Wen Yi’s likable personality had nothing to do with him.

Wen Yi’s lifestyle was that of most people in society. The strange one was him—aloof, stubborn, lacking in fun.

But adapting was not that difficult. Her habits were not unpleasant.

He said, “Marital relationships do not require one person to necessarily sacrifice for the other. We are still two different individuals. These little things—I would do them even without her. And if I really need to do something for her, it is within my responsibility.”

“I hope more that in this relationship, she can remain as free as before, not become a shackle or cage trapping her.” Qin Nanshan’s expression was gentle. “I am not that great a person. Being with me actually wrongs her.”

Liu Tao could not respond. The three fell silent at once.

The server brought the ordered barbecue. Qin Nanshan said goodbye and left.

……