Qishi
Late afternoon
Yang Zhi and Ding Yuerong bought groceries and headed home together.
On the way, they passed a dental clinic. Ding Yuerong stood at the entrance, reluctant to leave for a long while.
Yang Zhi turned back and asked, "Senior Sister, what's wrong?"
Ding Yuerong said, "I just remembered what you said to me back in college."
Yang Zhi raised her eyebrows slightly. After thinking for a moment, she smiled faintly and said, "Was it about getting braces?"
Ding Yuerong said, "Mm. Back in college, people often mocked me because my teeth weren't straight, and it made me lose all my confidence. Luckily, I met you, Yang Zhi."
Yang Zhi said, "Really? I was actually that important?" She deliberately teased her.
Ding Yuerong took a deep breath and looked up at the dental clinic's sign. "In my heart, you were a very, very important friend."
The truth was, Yang Zhi had simply been too gentle back then.
At the time, someone had suggested that Ding Yuerong get braces. She had been very worried and told Yang Zhi, "I don't want braces. My teeth aren't that crooked."
Yang Zhi said, "But isn't that what the doctor recommended?"
Ding Yuerong said, "Yes... but... I'll definitely look especially, especially ugly with braces."
"Not at all. With braces, your smile will only sparkle. In my eyes, you'll be very, very beautiful."
Yang Zhi smiled faintly as she spoke.
Ding Yuerong was deeply moved by that, so she went and got braces to straighten her teeth.
In truth, she had been especially insecure about her appearance since childhood. As society developed, her anxiety about her looks had grown more and more severe. Fortunately, Yang Zhi had stayed by her side all these years, encouraging her.
So, she really wasn't a saint who would help just any friend in trouble. It was simply a coincidence that the friend in trouble happened to be Yang Zhi.
Yang Zhi had changed her in far too many ways, giving her immeasurable gentleness and healing.
It was the beauty and happiness in all those moments they had shared, all those memories from the past, that made her willing to care for Yang Zhi's Grandma without asking for anything in return.
Night gradually fell.
"Ah... let's go. I'm hungry." Ding Yuerong spoke with some weariness.
Yang Zhi looked at her and smiled lightly. "Mm, I'm a little hungry too. Let's hurry home."
Ding Yuerong said, "Yang Zhi's cooking is unbelievably delicious. I wonder which lucky young man will marry you in the future."
Yang Zhi said, "Really?"
Ding Yuerong said, "Mm. Unless he's exceptionally outstanding, I'll feel that he isn't good enough for you."
Yang Zhi said, "..." She smiled faintly without replying.
After returning home and finishing dinner, the two of them went about their own business.
Ding Yuerong had a lot of work at her company. She was a career-driven, capable woman—ambitious and hardworking.
Yang Zhi was also busy organizing what she had learned from today's lectures.
Just then, a video call came through on WeChat.
She held a pen in her right hand and picked up her phone with her left to take a look.
"Hm? It's Ding Yebai's."
Without thinking twice, she answered.
Ding Yebai froze for a moment when he saw Yang Zhi in casual everyday clothes on the other end of the video.
Her fair, unadorned face was already so beautiful that nothing in the world could compare.
When Yang Zhi saw that he hadn't moved for a long time, she spoke up. "Why are you so quiet? Did it freeze?"
Ding Yebai said, "No. Ahem, Sister Yang Zhi, I wanted to ask you about a question."
Yang Zhi said, "Mm. Go ahead."
Ding Yebai pointed the camera at the cloze test he had completed, then told Yang Zhi about his question and his own thoughts.
After listening, Yang Zhi nodded and said with satisfaction, "Mm, you got it right. That's pretty good."
Ding Yebai smiled happily. While he was still riding that wave of excitement, he hurriedly sent her the scenery of Jinghuai that he had photographed the day before.
There were blue skies and white clouds, evening clouds, trees, and all sorts of other things. In the end, he sent more than ten photos all at once!!!
Yang Zhi froze when she saw the photos. Just a few seconds ago, she had still been thinking that it might be the next question.
Ding Yebai said, "Sister Yang Zhi, look. Aren't the views of Jinghuai that I took yesterday beautiful?"
Yang Zhi didn't say anything. She opened the photos and flipped through them one by one.
"Mm..."
"How are they?"
"..."
"..."
Why isn't she saying anything?
Ding Yebai scratched his head in puzzlement.
He still thought he had taken these photos exceptionally well.
Sister Yang Zhi should be someone who likes this kind of scenery, right?
After a while
"I just finished looking at them."
"Mm... how are they?" Ding Yebai was just a tiny bit nervous. He had no idea how many voices were shouting in his mind: Praise me for taking such beautiful photos!!! Praise me for having a talent for photography!!
Yang Zhi looked beautiful and poised on the video, her eyes and brows filled with warmth and delight.
"To be honest, after looking at these photos, I feel as though I've taken several deep breaths of Jinghuai's fresh air."
"Huh???"
"Haha~ What I actually wanted to say was that you took them especially well. Through your photos, I can feel that the world in your eyes is very, very beautiful. You really are such a gentle person."
Bang--!!!!!!!!
It was happening again.
After saying that, she gave him that signature Yang Zhi smile.
A heart-stopping strike!!!
How could... how could anyone look at a face like that and not fall for her?!!!!!
What was crucial was that it was obvious she was being completely natural. Her feelings had simply welled up from within and slipped out. She hadn't thought about it for ages just to please him.
What a natural flirt, Sister Yang Zhi.
Ding Yebai moved his phone aside and silently recited The wise do not fall in love thirty times before returning to the camera.
Putting on a cold expression, he said, "Thanks. I just thought they looked especially good, so I wanted to share them with you."
Yang Zhi nodded. She had already started looking through her report booklet.
Ding Yebai said, "Since you were the first person, I was a little nervous."
Yang Zhi stopped her pen. "Eh? I was the first person to see these photos?"
Ding Yebai said, "Yes. Ah... It's just that I happened to ask you about a question, then suddenly remembered, so I sent them to you while I was at it and asked you about them while I was at it, that's all..."
Yang Zhi didn't think anything else of it. She only felt somewhat honored.
"Ahaha~ Then I really am lucky."
"..."
"And thank you so much for the photos. I really do still like our Jinghuai water town the most. I just got here, but I already want to hurry back."
Ding Yebai stared at her smiling face, his own face turning red again before he realized it.
He knew very well that if they kept chatting like this, his aloof image would be ruined. So he quickly spoke up with his next sentence. "Ahem... well, if that's all, Sister Yang Zhi, you can go do your work. I need to study too."
Yang Zhi said, "Oh, okay."
Ding Yebai said, "Good... good night."
"Huh?" Yang Zhi froze for a moment. Then she lowered her eyes and smiled helplessly yet indulgently. "It's still so early..."
What a troublesome child.
Ding Yebai looked at the clock and felt that he had been ridiculous. His mind raced as he nervously said, "Then... I'm saying it early."
Yang Zhi said, "All right." As she flipped through her book, she added softly, "Study hard, and remember to rest. Goodbye."
"Mm."
With that, she hung up.
Ding Yebai leaned back in his chair and lazily stared at the ceiling. "No wonder Big Sis said you have a charm all your own. She was right. You really had me completely spellbou--my ass!"
"Calm down!" He suddenly sat up, straightened his back, and forced himself to get into study mode.
Before you continue