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In the restaurant, the melody of the background music smoothly bounced around in the dazzling reflections cast by the glass lamps. The chef pushed a cart filled with various luxurious pastries, weaving between the tables. The fully open and transparent kitchen was built in the center of the restaurant, allowing customers from any angle to see the entire process of their ordered dishes being prepared. On the brown-yellow marble low wall between the kitchen and the dining area, various snacks were displayed, waiting for a fateful encounter with someone.
"Juanzi, I'll get you a piece of roasted chicken breast," said Miao Chengmin.
"Huh?" Ming Juan, a few steps away, was intently watching the chef sprinkle black truffle on the salmon. Hearing Miao Chengmin call her that felt like discovering a piece of white chocolate in dark chocolate—an instant rush of sweet satisfaction filled her heart. She turned her smiling face and lightly tapped Miao Chengmin's shoulder, playfully scolding, "What kind of nickname is that? It's so ugly."
"Just a little," Miao Chengmin made a face at her, causing Ming Juan to almost drop her plate as she leaned toward him boldly, snuggling up beside him. Today marked their official acknowledgment of being in a romantic relationship, and it was both of their first experiences with love. Ming Juan had many admirers since childhood, but her father had always been very strict, so like Miao Chengmin, she was filled with anticipation and longing for love.
"So, does this mean I'm your boyfriend now?" Miao Chengmin asked Ming Juan uneasily while taking the plate from her hands to help carry it. Ming Juan simply lowered her head shyly and softly replied with an "Mm."
"You're asking me something so obvious; how annoying," Ming Juan eventually lifted her face and giggled. "I was actually thinking about how to win you over today... But it went much smoother than I expected, haha..."
"Oh wow~ no wonder." As they reached their table, Miao Chengmin set down the plate and glanced at his beloved. Gathering his courage, he reached out to stroke Ming Juan's wavy hair. To his surprise, she didn't resist at all; when his palm touched her soft hair, Ming Juan stood there obediently, looking at him with eyes full of excitement and anticipation.
Time seemed to stand still as their lingering happiness enveloped them; everything around this newly formed couple silently revolved around them. The light illuminated their cheeks while revealing their racing heartbeats. Like a dream or a long-lost hometown, Miao Chengmin could feel that this beautiful girl before him was gradually occupying his heart. For some reason, an inexplicable emotion spread within him, as if telling him that this girl was the destined one he had long awaited. Everything said by those around them felt like mere slang; every word she spoke was a blessing from God.
"I have a girlfriend too... and she's a beautiful woman from the Ming Family..."
This phrase echoed endlessly in Miao Chengmin's mind. Curious, Ming Juan leaned over the table and asked, "Chengmin, what's wrong?"
"Ah?" Miao Chengmin snapped back to reality and answered somewhat flustered, "Nothing, just thinking you look really beautiful tonight."
"Hehehe." Ming Juan chuckled softly as she glanced at the nearly finished exquisite dishes on the table. "Today went by so fast; I feel like we haven't talked enough yet and it's already nine o'clock."
"It's not nine yet," Miao Chengmin checked his phone.
"Huh?" Ming Juan raised her arm to look at her watch. "It is nine."
"We need to be precise," Miao Chengmin said this in a way that made Ming Juan think he was a super straightforward guy. "It's eight fifty-nine."
"Oh dear." Ming Juan rolled her eyes internally wondering why he was so clueless about conversation cues. "Is it really that serious? Why are you so blunt?"
"Fifty-nine plus one equals what?" Miao Chengmin raised his phone; now it truly was nine o'clock. His expression showed he was confident that Ming Juan's answer would be incorrect.
"Pfft." Ming Juan flicked her hair to the side and huffed leftward. "Sixty! But you're definitely going to say it's wrong, right?"
"You still call me straightforward? Haha!" Miao Chengmin couldn't hide his amusement and hinted, "Why don't you try some homophones?"
"What? Five... no wine... plus one?" Ming Juan genuinely guessed while looking at Miao Chengmin who was trying hard not to laugh. "Five uncle... fake? Uh... what is that supposed to mean?"
"My lady... haha." Miao Chengmin laughed until Ming Juan felt like she had been played by him for the first time. Pretending to be angry, she raised her hand as if to hit him across the table and said, "You made me look foolish!"
After laughing enough, Miao Chengmin finally explained to Ming Juan: "It's clear you don't often surf online. Remember this: five-nine plus one... I'll marry you! It also means eight fifty-nine plus you equals perfection."
"Wow~ that's so cheesy! Haha." Upon hearing this, although she pretended to be disgusted verbally, inside she was already bursting with joy. She gently set down her chopsticks and smiled. This time, she took the initiative to direct her gaze toward Miao Chengmin.
Outside, it was a black night, surrounded by delicate and translucent lights. Listening carefully to the conversations of the guests around, one could still sense a hint of silence. Miao Chengmin knew this was surely an illusion in his heart. He wanted to step out, but every time he glanced at Ming Juan across the table, he found himself trapped in an inescapable situation. It wasn't until Ming Juan said she would settle the bill and pulled him toward the door that he realized—this was a dream, oh no, it was reality.
However, the fantasies that Ming Juan had given him were simply too many. Things he had never dared to imagine before were now happening to him.
Miao Chengmin tried to focus a bit more, looking at Miss Ming who was holding his hand. He was genuinely curious if she, while holding his hand, would also quietly greet the future with a happy smile when he wasn't paying attention.
On the way back in the car, Ming Juan gently leaned on Miao Chengmin's shoulder. When Miao Chengmin was pulled back into reality and looked down, he saw that Ming Juan had already fallen asleep under her cascading hair.
The scent of violet and lavender subtly touched Miao Chengmin's nerves, and this feeling of trust from someone else made him smile without realizing it. He reached out his right hand and affectionately tucked a strand of Ming Juan's hair behind her ear, gazing at her peaceful face. A sense of protection and responsibility began to take root in his heart, which had never been cultivated before.
From that day on, Miao Chengmin gradually noticed that time seemed to pass more slowly. Perhaps it was because he was preparing for job hunting in his junior year, with more things to deal with. But since having Ming Juan in his life, with someone he needed to cherish and love, everything he did felt meaningful. The world also aligned with their wishes; by the next semester, Wang Ruihu was indeed persuaded by the school to withdraw.
Although Ming Juan's family faced just consequences, she had not been involved in any illicit funds or illegal fundraising. Even though her family had only a little asset left, it was still sufficient for her to complete her four years of university.
By the time Ming Juan was in her sophomore year and Miao Chengmin was in his senior year, she did something she felt guilty about—she gave the sweater she originally intended to knit for Yu Feiyao to Miao Chengmin instead. She told Miao Chengmin that this would be their token of love.
Of course, Yu Feiyao had no idea that this sweater was meant for her. After hearing that the two were together, she acted like a matchmaker every day, helping them connect. On Miao Chengmin's birthday during his senior year, she collaborated with Ming Juan to DIY a Q-version doll of them both. Miao Chengmin kept this in mind and gifted Li Tao as if it were a present for Yu Feiyao, successfully helping them start their own romance.
Later on, when he heard that his mother had retired due to illness and needed to support the family financially while not wanting Ming Juan to know about his family's struggles, Miao Chengmin had no choice but to give up on his plans for graduate school. He picked up his childhood dream again and signed up on the recruitment website for the national comprehensive fire rescue team. As one of the best athletes at the university and having served in the military, Miao Chengmin was quickly announced as hired.
Upon hearing this news, Ming Juan naturally felt happy for her beloved but was saddened by the fact that Miao Chengmin would become a firefighter; wouldn't their college romance turn into a long-distance relationship?
Their relationship had always been good; Ming Juan was inherently a gentle and obedient girl who supported whatever Miao Chengmin wanted to do and always provided material help without reservation. Although Miao Chengmin had a somewhat strong personality, he remained gentle in front of Ming Juan. Yu Feiyao often praised him as a "wife pampering maniac" in front of Ming Juan, saying she could trust him completely with Miss Ming. They had long relied on each other's presence, especially Ming Juan.
However, while time always brings surprises, it also takes away joy. Even if Miao Chengmin didn't become a firefighter, graduation would still come during senior year.
That summer when they parted ways, senior students wore black graduation gowns and took photos around campus. Ming Juan quietly parked her electric bike and held two cups of milk tea prepared for Miao Chengmin while watching him take pictures with his classmates from a distance. After waiting for nearly ten minutes without daring to interrupt him, she stood on the sidewalk beside the lawn as the summer breeze lifted her skirt.
"Chengmin." Li Tao patted Miao Chengmin on the shoulder. He noticed Ming Juan and pointed at her—a girl in a T-shirt and skirt not far away.
Dressed entirely in white, she looked like a perfect match with Miao Chengmin in his black graduation gown. Miao Chengmin hurried over to take the milk tea from her and wrapped an arm around Ming Juan's waist. She lifted her face on tiptoes and kissed him as usual.
"I'm leaving on Friday," Miao Chengmin told Ming Juan after they parted.
"Okay," Ming Juan said as she pressed her fingertip against Miao Chengmin's lips. "I know you want me to take care of myself; I will do so, alright?"
"Sure," Miao Chengmin stroked Ming Juan's hair. "I won't change my heart; I promise I'll come see you whenever I have time."
"Mm-hmm, I will too," Ming Juan forced a smile and said playfully. "I will always love you, Chengmin."
In truth, both knew that firefighters rarely had holidays; in the future, their chances of reuniting would become fewer and fewer. Facing such love required great courage from both sides.
On Friday, Ming Juan accompanied Miao Chengmin to the school gate. After sharing a lingering kiss for quite some time, he gently pulled away from her embrace and finally patted her head before stepping out of the school gate.
Watching him walk further away, tears welled up in Ming Juan's eyes uncontrollably; there was no expression on her face except for blinking eyes and falling tears—only an uncertain future lay ahead.
"Wait until you reach your destination; if you feel a breeze blowing towards you, that's me calling you," Ming Juan opened her phone and sent a message in their chat window.
"If it weren't for your headband, I would have thought you never came. Sometimes I feel like this is all just a dream."
"I wish I could be with you properly. I believe in the future and I believe in you."
"I look forward to our next meeting."
"If a breeze blows when the time comes, that will be me telling you that I miss you."
"An ordinary life, a lively youth. The corners of my mouth curled up, thin lips slightly pressed; life will get better."
"When I see you next time, I will definitely run towards you."
"I want to tell you that I really miss you."
"Leaving is for a better reunion. Goodbye is not a farewell, but a promise for the next meeting."
"Do you remember?"
"But I'm still immersed in the times when you were by my side."
"I love you, my treasure."
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