“2018.06.28 Scorching Heat”
I fell for someone, but I couldn’t tell him.
—Excerpt from Tao Shuran’s Diary
Tao Shuran: “Sorry, I lost my composure just now.”
Liang Yuanjing: “Did I? I don’t remember. I drank wine in the evening too.”
After sending this message, Liang Yuanjing let out a low scoff and stuffed his phone into his pocket.
He tilted his head back and walked forward aimlessly, weaving through the winding and complex alley slopes of West Kang Road.
Finally, at the next corner, he saw the tall, straight figure of Fu Changpei.
Liang Yuanjing casually asked, “Not asleep yet?”
Fu Changpei instead asked, “Has she gone back?”
Liang Yuanjing nodded indifferently.
A moment later, he reacted and asked him, “Why are you so concerned about Tao Shuran?”
Fu Changpei’s expression changed in an instant. He quickly turned away, the clear moonlight carrying the wind to lift the hem of his clothes.
His heart immersed itself in heavy moonlight, and even his voice sounded gentle.
With the intention of explaining, he said, “Just good friends, that’s all.”
Meanwhile, because of her lapse that evening, Tao Shuran avoided Liang Yuanjing for two full days.
The Gaokao had just ended, and there were plenty of invitations from classmates.
Curiously, apart from that birthday banquet, Tao Shuran hadn’t attended any others.
Because she placed first in liberal arts, everyone’s attention on her had risen. Someone joked that she only showed up that day because Liang Yuanjing was there.
Liang Yuanjing was lazy and disliked these boring gatherings.
A couple of days earlier, he had signed up for a skydiving class and posted several photos on social media.
Tao Shuran heard all these things from others.
Her heart that loved him always fluttered with joy yet dimmed with sorrow.
Like that mad impulse that surged through her in an instant that day, she thought, Liang Yuanjing already misunderstood that she liked someone else anyway.
So she could borrow the alcohol’s courage to confess her feelings to him.
Anyway, he wouldn’t think she liked him.
A secret crush was truly a late-blooming wind that’s hard to voice, unripe fruit.
When daylight just began to brighten, the phone on her bedside vibrated endlessly. Now that she no longer needed an alarm to rise, Tao Shuran had developed a habit of sleeping in.
Not fully awake, she heard Fang Qingyi excitedly telling her on the other end that her father’s travel company was running a promotion. She had specially gotten some discounted tickets and invited them to go play together.
Before Tao Shuran could respond, Fang Qingyi kept urging her.
“I invited Liang Yuanjing too.”
“Don’t you want to see him?”
Tao Shuran parted her lips. “Has he come back?”
Fang Qingyi: “He’s back. I specially had Zhao Zhengnian check.”
“Where to?”
At the dinner table, Zhao Yanyun and Tao Hongfeng asked the exact same question Tao Shuran had just posed.
She said, “Liandu.”
“It’s not far from here—about two hours by car. The driver is a friend of Qingyi’s dad. He’ll act as our guide and escort.”
Tao Shuran spoke all this in one breath. Her uncharacteristic behavior drew sidelong glances from the two adults at the table.
Tao Hongfeng relented first, grinning as he said, “The Gaokao’s over, so it’s time to relax. Liandu’s right by the water, though—you kids need to stay safe while playing.”
Tao Shuran nodded obediently. She stirred the soup spoon in her bowl, her gaze slightly lowered.
Zhao Yanyun glanced at her. “Report your Gaokao choices to me before you leave.”
“Look at these. Mom specially consulted with Aunt Song all last night to pick schools for you. Aunt Song has guided several senior classes; she has the most experience with choices.”
“We’ll aim for the top law university first. If that doesn’t work, this one’s a safety net, though it’s a bit far from home.”
After the scores came out, Tao Shuran hadn’t mentioned her choices proactively.
Zhao Yanyun knew her daughter’s temperament was mild and that she wasn’t keen on it.
But what did a kid know about reason?
She set down her chopsticks and commanded, “If you have nothing tonight, boot up the computer in your room and submit those choices.”
Tao Shuran mustered her courage. “Mom, I want to stay in Fuqing City.”
“And study cultural relics restoration.”
“What?” Zhao Yanyun furrowed her brow tightly. “Do you even know what cultural relics restoration is? Do you know how hard it is to find work in that major? You understand nothing and want to chase it on passion alone?”
Perhaps in the eyes of a mature adult like Zhao Yanyun, she was just an ignorant child recklessly driven by passion.
But at Tao Shuran’s age, passion reigned invincible.
She recalled the scene when Liang Yuanjing took her to tour the museum that day. She marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of every artifact.
He told her these artifacts had once been shapeless fragments or broken vessels missing limbs.
Restoration’s power pieced them back together, restoring history’s true form. The restorer’s hands wielded the power to span millennia of mountains and rivers.
Even now, Tao Shuran couldn’t forget the boy’s eyes reflected in the cockpit glass.
Bright, shining, full of the pure youthful drive to charge ahead.
Merely liking him seemed to grant her the courage to strive for everything.
This was perhaps the benefit of liking someone very, very good.
Tao Shuran still remembered that day when the plane soared to ten thousand meters. Liang Yuanjing guided her gaze to the undulating cloud layers and skyscrapers like chess pieces. His low voice quietly led her.
“In the end, your love will trample accumulated snow to melt it, turn eternal icebergs to blazing flames. We can rush into the clouds and ascend the horizon. See? That’s the power of passion.”
She wanted power equal to his.
Tao Shuran drew a deep breath, lifted her head again, and met Zhao Yanyun’s eyes directly.
She articulated clearly, word by word, “I like cultural relics restoration, so I want to study it.”
“I’ll never agree.”
Zhao Yanyun said coldly, “You’re not going anywhere these days. Stay home and reflect properly!”
The joy after the Gaokao scores evaporated.
Tao Shuran propped her chin on the windowsill and didn’t leave her room all morning.
Later, when Tao Hongfeng called her for lunch, she didn’t answer. Zhao Yanyun lost her temper and scolded that if she had any backbone, she should starve herself.
In truth, Tao Shuran simply had no appetite.
She felt that after transferring schools, the thrill of encountering Liang Yuanjing had clouded her judgment.
Youth was inherently joy and sorrow intertwined. What corresponded to adolescence was powerlessness over all things beyond control.
July arrived, and Fuqing City officially entered plum rain season.
A fine drizzle fell again.
Tao Shuran, in a sulky mood, bowed her head to message her friend that she probably couldn’t make it to Liandu.
She didn’t specify why, just told them to have fun.
Half an hour later, her room’s window creaked noisily, as if wind prevented it from closing properly.
This was an old trick.
Tao Shuran flung open the window and peered down. Sure enough, everyone stood in the courtyard below.
A line circulated online: in a crowd, people always spot their favorite first.
Tao Shuran saw Liang Yuanjing at a glance.
He stood farthest back, head slightly bowed, black hair wet. The rain wasn’t heavy, so he skipped the umbrella. His dark eyes gleamed like polished obsidian after a rinse.
At that moment, he raised his head, his gaze landing on her face.
Tao Shuran panicked at once. She hastily smoothed her hair and, like a startled bird that chirped once, dove back inside.
Fang Qingyi messaged her: “Ranran, I sent Fu Changpei and the others to pick you up. See them yet?”
Tao Shuran: “……”
“Saw them.”
She poked her head out. “How do I get out? Mom’s still around.”
“Climb down.”
Liang Yuanjing tapped the ladder at his side. The bamboo ladder against the wall shook loose a shower of dust. He shifted slightly, as if urging her to hurry.
Tao Shuran’s eyes widened. She never imagined these two would be so reckless as to haul a ladder under her window.
How could even the steady Fu Changpei join in?
The alleys twisted and turned; acquaintances could appear at any corner. Perhaps fearing discovery, or perhaps because she truly wanted to go.
Tao Shuran bit her lip and glanced at Liang Yuanjing.
Finally, she pushed open the window and carefully stepped onto the ladder.
This was truly her first time attempting something so audacious. Liang Yuanjing and Fu Changpei steadied it, one on each side. The scene resembled an elopement from a TV drama.
Tao Shuran felt guilty beyond measure, terrified Zhao Yanyun might fling open a window.
She’d be done for then.
From sheer fear, halfway down, her foot caught.
She couldn’t reposition it. With tension mounting, sweat beaded on her forehead, and her calves trembled.
Truth be told, her home wasn’t high. Though nominally the third floor, the second was an open terrace, leaving little gap between.
In her anxiety, a hand cupped her sole.
Liang Yuanjing steadied the ladder with one hand and lifted her securely. In a deep voice, he said, “Don’t be afraid.”
Tao Shuran froze for a moment, then softly replied, “Mm.”
Later, once down, Fu Changpei returned the ladder he’d borrowed from the corner store. She watched Liang Yuanjing casually wipe the dust from his palm, finding the whole thing unbelievable.
He was like the moon in the sky to her—how could he soil his hands with dust from her shoes?
The two walked a stretch together before joining Fu Changpei at the alley mouth.
Seeing her glance back repeatedly, Fu Changpei reassured her. “Don’t worry too much. Uncle Tao asked me to pick you up for the trip. He said you need to unwind after the exam. Don’t overthink it—there’s still days before the choices deadline.”
Tao Shuran asked hesitantly, “But I didn’t bring anything.”
“The hotel should have everything. For anything missing, I had Fang Qingyi pack for you.”
Fu Changpei turned his head and said warmly, “Think carefully about what else you need. We can buy it all before Liandu.”
She softly said, “Okay.” She walked alongside Fu Changpei, head down and silent.
Liang Yuanjing strolled ahead casually, his tall figure casting a solitary shadow. He suddenly turned.
Casually, he asked, “Quarreled with the family?”
“A Jing.”
Fu Changpei shot him a disapproving glance and murmured, “Didn’t we agree this trip’s purely for relaxation?”
“What, not even courage for the first step toward chasing dreams?”
Liang Yuanjing’s hands stayed in his pockets, a black backpack slung over his shoulders as he walked ahead. His tone was loose and teasing.
“Indeed, still a kid… a little friend who just turned eighteen.”
Tao Shuran puffed her cheeks, ready to retort. She looked up and met his eyes glinting with amusement.
He was teasing her on purpose.
She flushed with embarrassment, averted her face to dodge his gaze, yet inwardly agreed with his words.
Chasing dreams was like sailing a lone boat toward a distant shore—most of the time adrift, battered by wind and waves.
If even hoisting sail before departure felt daunting, how could one reach the far side?
Tao Shuran pressed her lips tight and said nothing more, but she resolved herself inwardly.
Resolving a matter proved far easier than endless hesitation. Her steps lightened, and she gradually drew ahead to walk shoulder-to-shoulder with Liang Yuanjing.
At the bus shelter, Fang Qingyi—dressed stylishly—waved them over enthusiastically.
“We’ll take the shuttle straight there—about two and a half hours.”
It was a minibus that seated six to eight, with ample space even for luggage. Fang Qingyi tugged Tao Shuran to a front-row seat.
“Uncle Zhou, we’ll trouble you these two days.”
She fished out a travel brochure and shared it excitedly with Tao Shuran. “There’s a natural waterfall here—we can do whitewater rafting. Oh, and I brought you a swimsuit.”
“My Gaokao wasn’t great, but when I said I wanted teachers’ college, Dad was over the moon, you know?”
Tao Shuran whispered, “Why teachers’ college all of a sudden?”
“I checked the map. The normal college is just one street from Qing University. Ranran, I’m not as talented as you to charge straight into Qing University, but I want to be closer to the one I like.”
Fang Qingyi’s eyes sparkled as she spoke, her sidelong glance at Fu Changpei full of pure, beautiful affection.
Moved, Tao Shuran turned her head and gazed at the boy’s face reflected in the rearview mirror.
The car pulled up at the entrance to Liandu’s scenic resort area.
As time grew late, Uncle Zhou dropped them first at the hotel to check in.
The hotel was built against the mountain, with such excellent ecology that looking down from halfway up revealed a thriving expanse of ten thousand mu of lotus fields. Anyone who saw it would blurt out, “Like wandering into the depths of a lotus thicket.”
“It’s tourist season lately, with plenty of activities. Pack up, and I’ll pick you up tonight to have some fun?”
Liang Yuanjing took the room card, camera in hand, and casually asked, “Where’s a spot with a good view?”
“This young fellow gets it—thinking about getting some great shots for these girls right away.”
Zhou Hongcai, who had led them there, was not that old himself, just over thirty, and he knew all the young folks’ trendy slang.
Fang Qingyi said admiringly, “Uncle Zhou, you even know about getting good shots.”
“How could I not? My little daughter at home snaps photos nonstop whenever she goes out, and she still complains mine are ugly.”
“If you ask me, what good shots can that crappy phone of mine take? This kid’s got some pro gear.”
Zhou Hongcai pointed in a direction. “Tonight, I’ll take you to Lotus Lake. Rent a small boat and drift through the lotus fields. There’s night scenery too—gorgeous.”
Liang Yuanjing hesitated to speak.
Actually, he wanted a wide-open spot to photograph the scenery. He did not have many hobbies, but photography was one.
He always felt that what the eyes saw was not eternal; only what the camera captured were precious moments.
But the words had already been put out there.
Liang Yuanjing lifted his chin. “Then—see you tonight.”
Zhou Hongcai rented them a small boat. In the scorching hot July tourist peak, the boats on the lake were actually quite popular.
They even had a limited purchase policy for better experience.
Tao Shuran felt a bit of novelty too, lying amid the lotus blooms to gaze at the stars and moon. This was her first time.
By evening, there was one more person on the small boat.
Fang Qingyi propped her chin and said, “Zhao Zhengnian, you arrived latest. You’re treating dinner tonight.”
“No problem. I won quite a bit in prizes from the matches the past couple days. I see barbecue grills over there—once we’re off the boat, I’ll treat you all to skewers.”
The boat was not large, with just enough space in the middle for a small table to play board games.
Fang Qingyi rummaged through her bag but only found a deck of playing cards.
They could not play Landlord with five people, right?
She suggested, “Let’s play the finger-folding game. Everyone takes turns asking questions. If yes, fold down a finger. First to fold all five loses and buys drinks later.”
Fu Changpei chuckled lightly. “Where do you get all these weird little games from?”
The question had to be something one had not done but others had, to win.
Tao Shuran pondered bitterly—what from childhood to now fit that?
Just as she thought, Zhao Zhengnian kicked things off first.
He asked loudly, “Does anyone here like someone?”
The second after he spoke, Fang Qingyi lifted her eyelids and said disdainfully, “What’s the point of that question? It’s just us five—no one here does.”
After she said that, Tao Shuran breathed a slight sigh of relief.
She chimed in, “Yeah, aren’t you wasting a turn?”
Zhao Zhengnian deflated a bit inside, licked his lips, and changed it. “Does anyone have someone they like?”
After the Gaokao ended, “like” was no longer taboo.
Accordingly, those youthful heart flutters sprouted like mushrooms after rain, gradually surging uncontrollably.
Tao Shuran sensed this hidden emotion most deeply.
She hesitated a few times, then slowly folded down her finger.
Fu Changpei glanced sideways at her, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.
In hesitation, he folded down his own finger too.
Fang Qingyi’s gaze fixed completely on his folded finger, a whirlwind of emotions making her fold hers as well.
In the end, only Liang Yuanjing remained throughout.
He propped his chin on the table, his distinct knuckles fiddling with the lotus leaves dangling by the lake, his lazy vibe obvious.
Seeing everyone’s gazes gather, he low chuckled, utterly carefree and unrestrained.
“How’d your question end up costing you too?” Liang Yuanjing teased. “Zhao Zhengnian, that’s not your style.”
“Bull, I just didn’t get the rules. Rematch?”
“My turn now.”
Fang Qingyi’s heart pounded thud-thud, as if inspired by Zhao Zhengnian’s question, copying the template.
“Does anyone here like me?”
The air froze for three seconds.
Liang Yuanjing laughed lowly, gaze shifting away, while Tao Shuran clearly understood this bold, straightforward girl’s real intent.
She did not see herself as the lead and looked toward the distance too, their synchronized movements now showing perfect rapport with Liang Yuanjing.
A minute passed.
Fang Qingyi’s gaze started hidden but soon stared straight at Fu Changpei openly.
But disappointingly, he kept his eyes lowered, quietly waiting for the question to end.
In the end, Zhao Zhengnian grinned to smooth it over. “Missy, no need for such tricky questions just to avoid folding.”
“Alright, your big bro spoils you this time.”
Zhao Zhengnian folded a finger in his joking tone, his usual unserious laziness.
“Don’t take it seriously—I’m just hungry and wanna wrap up for skewers.”
In that moment, watching the grinning Zhao Zhengnian, Tao Shuran suddenly understood something.
So many youthful secrets hid in half-true, half-fake jokes.
The stolen glances toward others were the best confession of infatuation.
After this fuss, no one felt like appreciating the scenery anymore.
After paddling the boat in a couple circles, they reached shore and headed for barbecue. Fang Qingyi walked ahead, clearly distracted.
Tao Shuran, worried, followed to watch over her.
The boat at shore was unsteady, wobbling extra after everyone disembarked.
Tao Shuran had poor body coordination since childhood, swaying side to side like drunk.
To balance, she staggered back two steps.
Thus backing right into a scorching hot chest.
Liang Yuanjing raised his hands, camera still around his neck, digging painfully into her back.
“Are you bumping into me for a scam here?”
He moved the camera aside, arm dropping to lightly steady her shoulder before quickly withdrawing. Now more familiar, his tone casualized.
He smiled offhandedly. “Still planning to switch targets and chase me instead?”