"Zhetian, you idiot! Get up!" Asuka barged into Huang Zhetian's room first thing in the morning, making a racket.
Huang Zhetian rubbed his bleary eyes and yawned. "Why get up so early? We don't have school today. Haaah..."
"You haven't forgotten, have you? Last night, you said..." Asuka said ominously.
Huang Zhetian shuddered, instantly wide awake.
He had promised Asuka last night that he would go shopping with her today.
"All right, step outside first... I'll get changed. Give me a minute." Huang Zhetian clutched his blanket tightly and smiled wryly.
"Hmph! Hurry up! Don't keep me waiting, or you'll be sorry!" Asuka puffed out her cheeks and shut the door.
"Ugh, I can't even sleep in... How brutal." Looking miserable, Huang Zhetian searched for something comfortable to wear.
This damned weather was scorching. Over forty degrees... It was almost as hot as Guangdong.
No, I'd have to drink some cooling herbal tea later.
"Are you ready yet?" Asuka asked impatiently from outside his room.
"Ready... Let's go. Haaah..." Huang Zhetian opened the door, stretched, and walked out.
Asuka's impatient expression instantly turned into a happy smile.
She wrapped both hands around Huang Zhetian's arm and dragged him toward the door.
"Going out on another date, Zhetian-kun? Aren't you having breakfast?" Dressed in loose clothes, Shinji poked his head out of the bathroom while brushing his teeth.
"No breakfast. She wants to go out, so I'll go along with her... Hey, hey... Slow down." Before Huang Zhetian could finish, Asuka had dragged him away.
As Huang Zhetian's voice faded into the distance, Shinji shook his head helplessly. He returned to the bathroom, rinsed his mouth, and went back to brushing.
"That damned sickly stink of romance... Honestly. I really miss Mana." Shinji felt a pang of longing.
Asuka and Huang Zhetian arrived at the mall and took in the dazzling array of merchandise.
Being a woman, Asuka naturally switched into shopping-spree mode.
As for the money-of course Huang Zhetian paid.
As a pilot, his salary wasn't enormous, but it certainly wasn't less than an ordinary person's. In fact, it was far higher.
Since Second Impact, electronics had grown increasingly advanced.
Even mobile phones were moving toward touchscreens.
Phones could now take pictures, even in color. The resolution wasn't particularly good, but it was still a vast improvement over before.
The two of them picked out matching flip phones for couples.
The flip phones were orange, each engraved with the other's name.
They went to eat first, but decided the restaurant's food wasn't as good as Huang Zhetian's cooking. They left halfway through the meal... much to the restaurant owner's fury.
They wandered here and there.
Eventually, they reached the lakeside.
Asuka watched the little boats moving across the lake.
She grew curious.
So she asked Huang Zhetian to rent a little boat from a fisherman.
Naturally, Huang Zhetian did as she asked.
A little while later,
they had rented a boat.
Asuka climbed aboard, delighted.
She had piloted a Fighter Jet and an EVA.
But she had never rowed a little boat. Looking at the small, finely crafted vessel,
Asuka hurriedly called for Huang Zhetian to get aboard.
"Hey! Get over here, idiot! You row, and I'll take pictures of you!" Asuka pulled out her flip phone and waved him over.
Huang Zhetian counted out the money and handed it to the fisherman, then organized the things they had just bought at the mall and set them aside.
He stepped carefully onto the boat, making it rock a few times and drawing several startled cries from Asuka.
"Baka! Zhetian, you idiot! Stop! Ahh! You're so dead later! Ahh!" Asuka hastily put down her phone and gripped both sides of the boat, her eyes full of fear. Even so, she stubbornly tried to save face by threatening Huang Zhetian.
Hmph! Think you can take me on?
"All right, I'll stop teasing. Let's row out and have a look. And while we're at it... I'll admire the lovely view of you," Huang Zhetian said gently.
"Hmph! I'll forgive you for now!" Asuka hurriedly straightened her clothes and positioned the Oil-Paper Umbrella.
They sat facing each other.
Huang Zhetian gently worked the oars with both hands.
The little boat began to move slowly.
Ripples spread over the tranquil lake, drifting farther and farther until they disappeared, only for the next round to begin.
Though the weather was hot, the coolness of the lake brought a little relief from the heat.
Holding the Oil-Paper Umbrella, Asuka gazed dreamily at the boy before her.
At that moment, Asuka understood her own heart.
She liked him.
She liked how he doted on her.
She liked how he never let her suffer even a little.
Asuka took a handkerchief from her little bag and, under Huang Zhetian's curious gaze, wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Are you tired? You can rest for a while. There's no hurry. Could you play something here? I know you brought your Flute, hmm?" Asuka asked softly, her tone gentle.
Huang Zhetian was a little stunned. It was the first time he had seen Asuka look so exquisitely beautiful.
"What's wrong? Don't you want to?" Asuka's voice reached him again.
Huang Zhetian came back to his senses and hurriedly replied, "No, I'm just a little surprised."
"Surprised by what?"
"You've become even more beautiful..."
"Hmph! Sweet-talker! You deserve a punishment! Hurry up and play something! No repeats!" Asuka took out the Digital Camcorder. Her phone's resolution was too low, and she had only just bought this Digital Camcorder.
Huang Zhetian set down both oars.
He took the Flute out of his sleeve.
After a moment's thought, he slowly blew across its mouthpiece.
He decided to play Splendid Weiyang.
Sorrow, regret, helplessness, and other emotions came washing over them.
The lingering, mournful melody rivaled Thoughts Across Time and Space.
The flute's notes rang out, and flocks of birds scattered into flight.
The notes rose and fell in length, but the melody never broke.
The flute sounded beautiful, the scenery was beautiful, and the person before him was more beautiful still.
The breeze swept toward them across the lake.
It sent Asuka's orange hair fluttering in loose strands.
Sunlight shone on the Oil-Paper Umbrella, with a few rays falling on Asuka.
The charm of that scene instantly left Huang Zhetian spellbound.
As he continued playing, the flute's melody grew even more emotional.
Asuka smiled at him, then closed her eyes and listened quietly.
Huang Zhetian closed his eyes as well, playing the Flute with even greater focus.
His original resolve grew firmer in his heart.
Asuka... Perhaps I'm just like Kaworu Nagisa.
I'll give you happiness.
The flute's music carried to the shore.
That faintly sorrowful melody, drawing listeners into their memories, drifted into the fishermen's ears.
The fishermen looked up and stopped their work.
They saw the young couple in the little boat across the lake.
They began to sigh wistfully and offer their blessings.
"What were we doing when we were his age?"
"Ah... What is there to say? Before the disaster, perhaps I was just like them, happy and carefree."
"I hope they can stay like this. Bless them."
"Seeing them so happy and sweet together... It's such a warm, lovely scene."
The fishermen on the dock traded remarks.
Listening to the melody, they recalled the memories in their minds.
They felt how unpredictable the world was, and how helpless it left them.
Gradually, the flute fell silent.
The song had ended.
The fishermen returned to their work, once again laboring to earn that day's living.
Asuka thoughtfully offered him a bottle of orange juice.
Huang Zhetian unscrewed the cap and took a sip.
He asked, "Since when did you like orange juice so much?"
"Seeing how much you liked it, I gradually came to love the taste too."
"Thank you..."
"Hmph! You're not allowed to abandon me! Do you hear me? If you ever dare..."
"What would happen?"
"Nothing would happen. It would just leave me heartbroken."
"Don't worry. I won't. Unless you abandon me..."
"Idiot. I won't."
They leaned against each other, Asuka tilting her head onto Huang Zhetian's shoulder.
The Oil-Paper Umbrella sheltered them both.
They gazed at the lake and its unspoiled scenery.
Huang Zhetian said, "This is the first love I've received in all these years."
"It's not too late. We have plenty of time ahead of us. Let's take it slowly," Asuka murmured with her eyes closed.
Huang Zhetian kissed Asuka's forehead.
He said gently, "Yes, let's take it slowly. We'll always be together. Even if the world is destroyed, I'll do whatever it takes..."
"Idiot..."
The little boat moved gently, the wind brushing over them both.
It blew a fallen leaf onto the lake.
Ripples spread outward.
Then the wind lifted it again, and it slowly drifted into the sky.
It floated into the distance.
It drifted toward some unknown place.
Huang Zhetian watched.
When the time came, would he be like that leaf too?
Vanishing without a trace.
With no known destination.
He stroked Asuka's orange hair.
He watched her sleeping in his arms.
Huang Zhetian rested his chin on her head.
He took the Oil-Paper Umbrella from her.
And held it up...
Before you continue