#i think ill get to be on the water this year even... which.. !!!! EEP!!!! ^_^

[maythray]

i can actually make plans now... YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[longclawislightbringer]

Arya Stark and the Green-Eyed Monster Chapter Four: Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop

Rating: T

Relationships: Arya Stark/Gendry Waters, Elinor Tyrell/Gendry Waters, Arya Stark/Trystane Martell, background Jon Snow/Sansa Stark

Characters: Arya Stark, Gendry Waters, Daenerys Targaryen, Robb Stark, Sansa Stark, Jon Snow, Elinor Tyrell, Hot Pie, Trystane Martell

Summary: Gendry spends his Hogsmeade visit with Elinor at Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop.

Here I am, still updating this fic late. Lol. Here’s the original author’s note: 

Surprise! I'm still alive.

I'm still riding high from last Sunday's Gendrya scenes, which were everything I never knew I wanted. Of course, they had to give us such lovely interactions with all the characters before they destroy everything this week lol.

But anyway, if you want some pining before our collective imminent deaths on Sunday night, I'm your girl. This chapter is in Gendry's point of view. I hope you guys like it. ;)

As always, thanks to to the wonderful sansapotter for beta-reading. I'd also like to take a moment to thank everyone that has commented, bookmarked, or given kudos to this fic. Seeing all your thoughts and reactions really makes my day. If you've got the time, let me know what you think.

Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Five. 

Also on AO3. 

Chapter Four: Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop

Gendry gazed out beyond the towering cakes that clogged the window display through the frosted window panes of Madam Puddifoot’s Tea Shop onto the streets of Hogsmeade. Fresh snow blanketed the sleepy village in a sea of sparkling white. A few straggling couples wandered through the street, waiting for tables to open up at the most popular establishments. Gendry spotted his friend Jon exiting Honeyduke's with Sansa. Still no sign of Arya. Gendry sighed, turning his attention back to the laminated menu in front of him.

“Thanks for doing this, by the way. I know it must be hard.”

Lowering his menu, he peered across the table at Elinor.

“I can’t say that enough,” Elinor continued, placing her menu down. “My break-up with Alyn almost destroyed me, but even if this doesn’t end the way I want it to, I’m glad to have met you, and Arya and Hot Pie too.” She squeezed his hand.

"You're welcome," Gendry responded before glancing around the tea shop. Students occupied every nook and cranny of the cramped shop floor. "It sure is crowded today."

“It’s always packed this time of year.” Elinor examined her pink nails.

A slender waitress sidled up to their table which was tucked in the front corner of the tea shop next to the window. “Welcome to Madam Puddifoot’s. My name’s Ros, and I’ll be your server today. Can I get you guys something to start off?”

"I'll have the rose tea and some strawberry shortcake, thank you," Elinor flashed her a dazzling smile.

“And for you?” Ros turned to Gendry.

"Earl Grey and almond cake, please," Gendry answered. Ros scribbled their orders down in a notepad before relieving them of their menus. As she disappeared into the kitchen, Gendry scanned the crowded restaurant again. His gaze landed on a suspicious couple seated near the back of the restaurant that he suspected were Robb and Dany, though it was hard to tell given their ill-fitting wigs and oversized sunglasses. A flash of silvery blonde hair peeked out from behind the girl's wig. A thick red mustache, obviously magicked into existence, covered the boy’s upper lip. Gendry narrowed his eyes at the odd couple. They both waved at him and gave him two thumbs up.

“Why are Robb and Dany sitting in the back corner in disguise?” Gendry whispered across the table.

"Dany said something about ‘moral support' and making sure everything went according to plan when I talked to her this morning," Elinor replied. "But yes, it is a little strange that they’re in such bad disguises.” She examined the odd couple even closer. “Those sunglasses are a little overkill.”

Ros appeared at the table with a tray balanced on her hand, blocking their view of Robb and Dany. "There you are.” She placed a delicate pink teacup and saucer in front of Elinor, before putting a matching set in front of Gendry. "Rose and Earl Grey teas." She completed the set by placing a pitcher of milk in the center of the table between them and then handed them each a slice of cake. “Let me know if you need anything else.” With that, Ros moved onto the next table.

Elinor dropped a spoon of sugar into her steaming cup as Gendry stabbed his almond cake with his fork. The moist cake melted in his mouth, the almond colliding with a hint of vanilla.

“This cake is delicious,” Gendry moaned.

"I know," Elinor sighed. "If this place weren't such a couples spot I'd probably be in here every Hogsmeade trip for the strawberry shortcake alone."

In his periphery, Robb gestured frantically at the door. Gendry raised a quizzical brow as he took a sip of his tea.

“The signal!” Elinor exclaimed. She whipped her head toward the front door. “Alyn must be coming in. Quick, grab my hand.” Gendry almost choked on his tea when she snatched his free hand, holding it tightly. “He’s got one of those dreadful Frey girls on his arm, ugh.” Frowning, she glared daggers at her ex-boyfriend’s unsuspecting date.

“Which one?” Gendry asked, placing his teacup back on its saucer.

Elinor shook her head. “Doesn’t matter.” Her gaze followed Alyn and his date as they trailed after the hostess through the restaurant to one of the tables in the back near Robb and Dany. Alyn held a chair out for the Frey girl. He looked up for a moment, his gaze falling on Elinor.

“Eep,” Elinor squeaked, flushing with anger or longing, Gendry couldn’t tell which, and ducked behind her teacup. Gendry watched the scene with interest, still holding Elinor’s hand. Alyn whispered something in his date’s ear before walking toward them.

“Oh my seven, he’s coming over here!” Elinor panicked, her fingers tensing. She put down her teacup and began to fiddle with a strand of her hair. “What do we do?”

"We follow the plan." Gendry gave her hand a squeeze. "You've got this. You're the best chaser on Slytherin—you've gotten the quaffle past me more times than I can count. You're a great girl, and if he can't see that, then it's his loss."

“You’re right,” she gave him a small smile as she put her hand down.

“Now remember, we’re madly in love,” he winked.

Elinor winked back, letting out a loud chuckle just as Alyn reached their table. He cleared his throat to get their attention. “Elinor, Gendry,” he nodded.

“Oh, hello Alyn,” Elinor greeted him coolly. “I didn’t see you there.”

“I heard a rumor you replaced me; I was just coming to see if it was true.”

"Well, obviously it's false," Elinor snarked, "since Gendry is a much better boyfriend than you ever were." She stroked Gendry's hand, gazing lovingly at his face for good measure.

“Do you love him?” Alyn crossed his gangly arms over his chest, trying to puff it out in an effort to not look like an overgrown beanpole. It wasn’t working.

Elinor froze, unsure how to answer such a question.

“I don’t think that’s your question to ask anymore,” Gendry interjected, fixing Alyn with his iciest glare. “Unless you’ve got something to say to her?”

Alyn gaped like a fish. At last, he uncrossed his arms.

“You’re right,” he said. “I never did deserve you, Elinor; I hope he makes you happy.” He shifted his weight, his gaze drifting to the floor. “Guess I’d better get back to my date. See you around.” With one last longing glance at Elinor, Alyn pivoted back toward his own table.

Elinor waited until he made it to his table before bursting into laughter.

“Did you see his face?” She chortled, slapping the table. “The plan is working perfectly. You,” she raised her teacup to him, “are an excellent actor, my dear fake boyfriend. That bit of overprotectiveness was an excellent touch.”

“Thanks.” They clinked their teacups together.

Ros swung past their table again, carrying a tray of dirty dishes. “I hope everything’s to your liking.”

“Everything is excellent,” Elinor responded.

“Great; here’s the check. I’ll be by to collect it later.” She dropped a tied scroll of parchment on the table. Elinor reached for her purse, but Gendry stopped her hand.

“I’ve got this.” He pulled a few jangling coins from his pocket, dumping them on top of the table.

The bell above the door to the teashop tinkled merrily as Ros sauntered away, heralding the arrival of another couple seeking a warm pot of tea and respite from the cold. Trystane Martell entered the shop, laughing as he stamped the snow off his boots. Arya followed in behind him, her face alight with the biggest smile Gendry had seen from her in weeks. It sent a dagger straight through his heart. While she divested herself of her winter cloak, Arya looked at the restaurant’s various patrons. When she noticed Gendry and Elinor, she froze; her smile disappeared.

“What is it?” Elinor asked.

“It’s Arya. On a date.”

Elinor turned around to wave hello. In response, Arya gave a weak smile before returning to her date. The hostess led them to the last empty table near the door.

“I’m the worst friend. Why can’t I be happy for her?”

Elinor paused, twirling her fork as she ruminated. At length, she said, “You're in love with her, aren't you?”

“Is it that obvious?” Gendry sighed, stabbing his almond cake with more force than necessary. “It doesn't really matter, though; Arya will never see me as anything but a friend.” He popped the cake in his mouth.

“I wouldn't be too sure about that.”

"Clearly she doesn't since she's here with Trystane." He shoveled in another mouthful of cake.

“Gendry, you dolt!” Elinor smacked his arm. “I know I said to keep it a secret, but maybe you should tell her that we're not actually together.”

Gendry paused, fork halfway between his plate and his mouth.

“This charade’s gone on long enough as it is. I was going to suggest we ’break-up’ next week and tell everyone we decided it would be better to stay friends anyway, now that we’ve lasted a while.”

“Are you sure Alyn will want you back?” Gendry took a sip of tea. It would get cold if he didn’t drink it fast enough.

“No, but that doesn’t really matter now. I’m not going to spend my life pining after someone who doesn’t want me. But you,” she poked him in the chest, “you definitely need to tell Arya how you feel.”

“Alright.”

A chair scraped across the floor elsewhere in the shop. The entire restaurant fell silent as they turned to see what the problem was. Arya stood up abruptly, face purple.

“You … you… jerk!” Arya screamed, her fists clenched. Gendry knew that look; he had been on the receiving end many a time. Arya snatched her teacup from the table, hurling the steaming liquid at Trystane’s chest. Without another word, she yanked her cloak off her chair, slinging it over her shoulders as she darted out the front door. The bell above the door rang violently.

Trystane blinked, pulling at his wet sweater.

“I’m going after her,” Gendry told Elinor as he pushed his chair back. Pushing past tables of gobsmack patrons, he whipped on his own cloak.

The bell chimed as he stepped outside into the cold winter air. The freshly fallen snow crunched under his feet. He followed Arya's tracks in the snow down the main street until he lost them among the scuffle. The biting wind nipped his nose, chilling him. He pulled his cloak tighter.

Jon rounded the nearest street corner, arm in arm with Sansa. Gendry jogged up to them.

“Have either of you seen Arya?” he asked.

Sansa pointed down a side road. “I think I saw her running down that way. Is something wrong?”

“Of course,” Gendry whispered to himself as the realization dawned on him. “I’m about to find out,” he told Sansa. He took off at a run down the road that led to the Shrieking Shack. Close-knit houses lined the street at the beginning but began to thin out as he approached the end of the way. The shrieking shack rose up in the distance, past the fence at the end of the road. Arya curled up against the gate, her face hiding behind her knees and a curtain of dark brown hair. At the sound of his footsteps, Arya looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Oh, it’s you,” she sniffled, quickly rubbing the tears from her face. “If you tell anyone you saw me crying, I’ll kill you.”

Gendry laughed.

“My lips are sealed.” He dropped down next to her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“Not particularly.”

“I know you can handle it yourself, but if you ever need me to beat someone up, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”

Arya smiled faintly. Gendry stood up, holding out a hand.

“Come on; let’s get back inside where it’s warm.”

He hefted her up by her icy hand.

“Thanks.”

They walked back down the road in silence, shoulders almost touching. Gendry flexed his hand, itching to hold hers, but put it in his pocket at the last second. The alleyway opened onto a larger street lined with quaint cottages, each blanketed with a cap of pristine snow. A lopsided snowman occupied the corner of the lawn of the last house on the street, where it crossed onto the main road. Gendry laughed.

“That snowman kind of looks like Professor Varys, doesn’t it?” he said, pausing in front of it.

“You’re right,” Arya chuckled. "I feel like it's going to quiz me on the best methods of Occlumency."

“Miss Stark,” Gendry put on his best Varys impression, “what is the difference between—”

Trystane Martell barrelled around the corner, coming to a stop in front of them with a sheepish expression on his face. Arya tensed behind him. Gendry took a protective step forward, blocking Trystane from her view.

“Martell.” Gendry crossed his arms.

“Gendry,” Trystane blanched. “Hi.” He peeked around Gendry’s shoulder at Arya. “Arya, can we talk—” glancing up at Gendry’s stony expression, he gulped before adding, “—alone? I need to apologize.”

Arya answered after a long pause. “I guess.”

"Are you sure?" Gendry asked. "I can still punch him if you want me to."

“It’ll be fine, Gendry,” Arya scoffed, although her eyes told a different story. “Besides, if he messes up again I’ll just punch him myself.”

Trystane smiled faintly.

"Alright," Gendry answered. "I'll be back at the tea shop if you need me."

Arya nodded before following Trystane down the snow-covered street toward the Three Broomsticks. Gendry watched them as Trystane disappeared inside the pub first. Turning around, Arya motioned for him to leave. Gendry nodded. She smiled before heading inside.

With a heavy sigh, Gendry trudged back toward Madam Puddifoot’s and his fake girlfriend, desperately hoping that next week’s break-up wouldn’t be too late.

[youtiaoshutiao]

translation: a love so beautiful || 致我们单纯的小美好 (the novel) → chapter 1

After contemplating for a while, decided to embark on attempting to translate the novel of ALSB! Tbh I’m pretty terrified because it’s 60+ chapters of commitment and I’m not sure if I can even last five……….. Eeps, no promises!!

Also I’m still working on improving sentence structure and arranging the english translation in coherent sentences when doing translations, please do bear with my being a total utter novice ):

original text by: 赵乾乾 (zhao gan gan)

translated by: yt st / youtiaoshutiao @ tumblr

disclaimer: translation here is purely for non-commercial purposes, and I don’t own the original work. please credit this tumblr if borrowing any translation from here. :) 

notes: translator’s notes are bolded and bracketed, terms translated literally are italicised. sometimes i take liberties with punctuation and certain phrasing when translating too. :P

Chapter 1

Comrade Old Chen, aka my dad, retired officially this year in February. Old Chen who had been working tirelessly for his entire life couldn’t sit still after staying at home for half a month, and coincidentally the Senior Citizens Club in the county was recruiting members, so he went. Once he went, he realised that he at fifty-plus years of age was considered to be youthful and the backbone in the Senior Citizens Club where the average age was seventy years. Hence, Old Chen’s enthusiasm that had laid dormant for a long while was set aflame. Everyday, he would ride his bicycle and go to the Senior Citizens Club to organise entertainment activities for the elderly. That wave of enthusiasm was an entire time of burning passion.

Except that before his passion had burnt time, time/his years (on in age) first made a display of strength and authority. He, that old man, while climbing a stool to hang up an event banner, stepped off into air and fell.

I received my mum’s phone call just as I was standing by the main road looking at the advertisment signboards, and was so frightened that my whole body was covered in cold sweat though it was a really hot day. Even though I was always being beaten by Old Chen when I was small, and I had also thought of beating Old Chen when I grew up, but I really did love Old Chen.

While rushing to the hospital, I was crying while long-windedly telling the taxi driver about all the good things about my dad, till the 7-feet-tall robust-looking taxi driver was extremely moved. The whole journey, he was stepping down on the accelerator to its maximum extent; when I paid the fee he took the initiative to round down the fee. He said, “Girl, remember my car’s license plate number, XXXX, next time, please don’t flag down my car anymore, I have an extremely long-winded wife and mother at home, so once I hear someone chatter on I tremble. Please forgive me, and I hope your dad recovers soon.”

……

When I reached the hospital, crying, my mum so happened to be paring apples while scolding my dad. “An old skeleton like you, the backbone?! If you fall one more time I’ll directly push you to be burnt, you can upgrade from being the backbone to being bone ashes.”

I clutched the doorframe, tears pooling in my eyes. “Mum, how is Dad?”

Mum lifted her head and took a look at me. “Tch, take back your tears. What are you crying for? I raised you up with a hand full of faeces and a hand full of urine (NOTE: meaning to endure all kinds of hardship), not for you to have a hand full of snot and a hand full of tears the moment you encounter some problem.”

I took back my tears, and went to greet that old fellow who had been bullied long-term. “Dad, are you alright?”

My dad anxiously gazed at the apple in mum’s hand. “Not alright. Your mum has pared three apples already, and has not even given me one to eat.”

I saw that I wouldn’t be able to get an answer about what exactly had happened from their mouths, so I simply picked up the thermos bottle and said, “I’m going to get some hot water.”

I carried the thermos bottle and made a beeline for the inquiry counter, not caring about my mum who was shouting at me from behind, “This damned child, the bottle is full!”

Perhaps my appearance was overly malevolent, for the nurse quickly got a doctor to come over. The doctor, with zero emotion on his face, related my dad’s circumstances to me. He said that my dad had fallen on his waist, and his backbone was now pressing against a nerve – basically that my dad needed to be operated on, and that I was to prepare 30000 RMB.

I asked some more questions about the specific details of the situation. The doctor looked at me and said, “Even if I told you, you wouldn’t understand. Just prepare the money and leave everything else to us doctors.”

I asked again, “Then when can we do the operation?”

He said impatiently, “Join the queue, when it reaches your turn, we’ll do it.”

I was itching to spit a large mouthful of thick phlegm on his face, then tell him, “I’m sorry, I have tuberculosis.”

But I couldn’t do that, I could only fish out a few hundred RMB from my pocket, and submissively shoved the money towards him. “Then I’ll have to trouble you to take care…”

He glared at me and pushed away the money. “What are you doing! I can understand your feelings as a family member of the patient, but this is not in line with the rules! If you do not feel reassured, I’ll just find some free time to explain the situation to you in greater detail.”

I was beside myself with guilt, thinking that I was really gauging the stomach of a gentleman with the heart of a vile person (NOTE: meaning to view the actions/intentions of a great person/gentleman through the lens of one’s own stingy/mean/evil worldview), the doctor was just naturally ill-tempered. Just as I was profoundly examining my own personal integrity, that doctor turned around to leave. Before he left, he lifted his chin and gave me a look. I pondered for a long time whether he was cramping or if there was another meaning behind that action, till I finally copied him and lifted my own chin, upon which I understood – there was a CCTV installed on the wall……

I was just about to ask the nurse where the office of that doctor was when my phone rang. When I took out my phone and had a look, my heartbeat sped up like stepping on the accelerator while going downhill, I almost wanted to go to the cardiology department and register (to see a doctor).

Jiang Chen, my ex-boyfriend.

Trembling, I reverently answered the phone. “Hello?”

After saying hello for a long while, I could only hear a bunch of assorted random noises. It seemed like he had accidentally pressed his phone. I was about to hang the phone up when I heard a sweet female voice. She was saying, “Doctor, my chest hurts.”

It was only then that I recalled – Jiang Chen was a doctor, and he reportedly was a little famous now too. I hung up the phone and agonised for ages, finally deciding that rather than staying here experiencing the dark side of my home country’s medical industry, I might as well transfer to the hospital where Jiang Chen was. At least on account of how I had peeled thousands of tea eggs (NOTE: a common Chinese food - tea-infused eggs!) for him back in the day, he more or less had to show some consideration, right……

When I returned, I told my mum about this matter. She asked, “Is Jiang Chen that child that you had a case of puppy love with?”

Uh… the points you remember sure are unfathomable.

Mum asked again, “If we transfer to the hospital he’s at, will he help? What I’m saying is, do the two of you still have mutual affection?”

That sure was a question that hit the nail on the head. I stammered, “He definitely will help… It’s just that…”

“Just what?”

“It’s just that this seems a little like ‘that which scissors cannot sever, and, sorted out, is tangled again.’” (NOTE: a line from a poem “Crows cawing at night” by Song dynasty poet, Li Yu. Refers to one being unable to make a clean break, allowing feelings/emotions to fester. Translation for this line taken from “A Book of Chinese Verse” by A. R. Davis)

The old lady scoffed disdainfully. “Stop dragging literature in when talking to me, if you can’t sever it, shave it off completely! You will contact him now, and get your father to transfer hospitals tomorrow. I cannot endure these bastard doctors here anymore.”

I was originally depending on my mum to tell me with great affection, “Child, we must have backbone. We won’t provoke ex-boyfriends.” Sure enough, I had overestimated my mum.

Jiang Chen didn’t express any astonishment when he answered my phone call. I guess doctors are all like that, having seen and grown accustomed to great winds and waves (NOTE: meaning turmoil, dangers and difficulties). Corpses and internal organs all don’t scare him, how could he possibly be scared by me, an ex-girlfriend?

Stammering, I told him about the circumstances, and lastly said, “Can my dad transfer to your hospital?”

“Sure.” His reply was forthcoming and direct, causing me to be too embarrassed to bring up the matter of me peeling tea eggs for him.

He then said, “Prepare all the items, I’ll get a vehicle to fetch your dad to transfer hospitals right away.”

After that he was silent for a moment, before asking me, “Are you alright?”

Alright.

After hanging up the phone, I clutched my chest and leaned against the corridor wall, panting heavily. Beside me, a young nurse came over to support me. “Is anything the matter?”

I shook my head, feeling extremely gratified that I had at long last seen a ray of humanity in this hospital.

She continued speaking. “Who were you giving a call to on the phone just now? It seems like you are going to transfer hospitals? Which hospital management do you know? Can you introduce me to go there? I still have one more month till the end of my internship, and I haven’t found a hospital to hire me, can you help me, my grades are actually really good, it’s just that I am unwilling to sleep with the hospital directors…”

Faced with her pestering, I was truly at a loss, and could only say, “Actually the person I called was the cleaner of Centre Hospital, I agreed to sleep with him before he agreed to help me ask if it was possible to transfer hospitals.”

……

Three hours later, Jiang Chen brought an ambulance and whizzed into my presence. I had not seen him for three years, yet I didn’t even dare to raise my head to look at him properly. I only continuously stared at what was probably a really expensive fountain pen that was inserted into his white coat pocket, thinking if he had learnt how to write a doctor’s script yet.

While we were studying in university, I was always worrying for Jiang Chen, afraid that with his pretty-looking regular script, he would be unable to establish himself in the doctors’ circle. In order for him to practise and achieve a handwriting that would allow him to evade responsibility even if he wrote a wrong prescription, I had once forced him to copy my handwriting, but regretfully, he never managed to learn the true essence of my handwriting.

Jiang Chen handled the discharge and hospitalisation procedures all by himself. My mum and I had nothing to do, so the both of us, each with an apple in hand, squatted at the hospital entrance and chatted.

Mum said, “That young lad is worthy of having me watch him grow up, he’s really not bad.”

I expressed my contempt for her shameless conduct in attributing that young lad being not bad to her watching him grow up.

She then said, “Such a decent good, how did you miss out on him back in the day? It was clearly almost about to succeed.”

I took a bite of my apple. “Dad is all alone in the ambulance and bored, you should go and eat an apple for him to watch.”

Mum gave a long sigh and diligently ran towards the car. As she ran, she shouted, “Old fogey, your daughter made me come and eat apples for you to watch.”

Jiang Chen so happened to see this scene as he came out holding receipts of all sizes. Smiling, he looked at me. “You sure are filial.”

I raised my head to look at him. He was standing in front of me, half-stooped and lowering his head to look at me. His hair ends drooping low were bathed in a soft glow in the morning light. He smiled at me easily (NOTE: referring to ease that comes with much experience), with a deep dimple squeezed in his left cheek, as if it was just yesterday that we had a meal and watched a movie together.

I averted my gaze. This was a dimple of great evil. Back in the day, my little heart of affection was intoxicated precisely by this dimple. Thinking back now, I just felt that I had been defrauded by that tiny pit on his face.

Ever since I could remember, Jiang Chen’s existence was as matter-of-fact and expected as the electric pole at the entrance of the alleyway. He stayed in the building opposite my house, and was the mayor’s son. He was class monitor, had good looks, could play the piano, could write calligraphy, had good grades, and spoke pleasant-sounding Putonghua/Mandarin.

Television and novels would term a boy and girl who lived near each other since young like us as green plums and toy horse (NOTE: a Chinese idiom meaning childhood sweethearts), in addition, this was generally divided into two categories – the first was the type that were kind to and loved each other, with the two people being as close as siblings, scooping out a hornet’s nest together and getting stung by hornets together, stealing sweet potatoes together and getting beaten up together, till they suddenly look back and realise that their friendship had long since slowly progressed to love; the other type was those who hate each other, with the two of them fighting each other, tit for tat, where seeing the other from afar would make one just itch to rush forward and bite the other, where once one seized the opportunity, they would pull out the other’s bicycle gas valve, till they grew up and suddenly realise – ah, so this is love.

Unfortunately, Jiang Chen and I were neither of the above, for an endlessly long time, he and I were just neighbours who stayed opposite each other. Everyday, he would play his piano, and I would read my Chibi Maruko Chan comic with great relish. Occasionally if I forgot the contents of my homework, I would go and press his house’s doorbell. He was always very mocking, and would say impatiently, “Why didn’t you remember it yourself?” Perhaps it was because I was begging him for a favour, so I never bickered with him. But then again it’s also entirely possible that it’s due to me not liking to bicker with people since young. I as a person am extraordinarily unperturbed.

During the summer between Junior 2 and Junior 3, our class secretly organised an outdoor cooking activity after exams behind our teacher’s back. During the outdoor cooking, Jiangchen and I were allocated to wash the sweet potatos. There were 40 people in the class and we bought 44 sweet potatoes. Jiang Chen washed the first four, then stood to one side entertaining himself by skipping stones.

I squatted by the lakeside vigorously suppressing my rage as I washed the sweet potatoes. Just as my anger was rising while I was washing, a small slab of stone landed in front of me, splashing my whole face with water. When I raised my head however, Jiang Chen had assumed an air of nonchalance, as if nothing had ever happened. He raised his hand, and the stone landed on the water surface, making four beautiful consecutive skips. The water surface broke out into ripples of all sizes, colliding as they shimmered apart.

According to reason, I should scold him; splash him with water; dunk his head into the water; or push him into the lake to drown.

But I didn’t do any of that, I only stared at him in a total daze.

The light breeze lifted his somewhat loose white school uniform; the sunshine leapt on his eyelashes and hair ends, creating golden halos; his slightly-quirked lips pursed, creating a proud dimple on his left cheek.

Time and space froze, leaving only my furiously thumping heart.