The car didn’t go directly back to school but turned toward Ersha Island halfway there.
After crossing the bridge and making a big turn, the entrance of Experimental Middle School came into view. The car parked in the staff parking lot. The security guards recognized their car and let them through.
‘Could this school belong to Jian Shuye’s family too?’
After getting out of the car, Lin Yi took in the night scenery of Suzhou’s prime location.
The island changed its identity with time, transforming from the artistic tranquility of daytime into the gentlest dream of light and shadow in the nighttime city.
There was no hustle and bustle of the city here, only the river breeze, lights, tree shadows, and the prosperity across the water.
Jian Shuye left her bag in the car and said to Lin Yi, “Walk with me.”
This time Lin Yi didn’t say anything about wasting time. She wanted to clear her mind anyway.
‘Might as well keep the beautiful girl company.’
“Okay.”
The female bodyguard followed behind them. If Lin Yi didn’t specifically look for her, she couldn’t see her at all.
‘Just kidding. Even if she specifically looked, she wouldn’t find her.’
The night was beautiful, and the night breeze wasn’t cold, carrying a hint of warmth from the tail end of summer.
Occasionally, a Pearl River night cruise ship would slowly pass by them, its colorful lights cutting through the water, dragging a long trail of light.
On the shore path, a few pedestrians strolled and whispered, or stopped to lean on the railing, immersed in the nightscape where neon and ripples intertwined.
On the south side of the Art Park, the two stopped and leaned against the railing.
They had deliberately chosen a spot away from tourists and loudspeakers, quietly watching the distant Suzhou Tower changing its colorful garment.
“This place is much bigger than that artificial lake.”
Lin Yi took a hair tie from her pocket and tied a small ponytail.
“Do you want one? The wind is pretty strong.”
Jian Shuye smiled.
“Letting you see my ponytail is a reward. It’s not time yet.”
“Saying it now reduces the impact a lot.”
“Not necessarily.”
The skirt of the Most Beautiful Girl in the Universe fluttered in the wind. She lightly tapped the ground with the toe of her right foot.
Lin Yi looked at Jian Shuye’s profile and couldn’t help asking, “What are you going to do about Zhuang Yue?”
“I won’t pursue the matter of ghostwriting.”
Lin Yi shook her head.
“That doesn’t sound like you.”
Jian Shuye turned back.
“What do you think I would do?”
Lin Yi crossed her arms on the railing.
“Use the Student Council’s authority to publicly reveal the ghostwriting and dissolve the Manga Research Club.”
“What benefit would that bring me?”
“But you treated the Classical Literature Club the same way, and that didn’t benefit you either.”
“At least I got a classroom, and…”
Jian Shuye paused.
Just as Lin Yi was about to ask what else, she saw the young lady turn to look at Suzhou Tower.
“In this world, there are many things beyond our control. Everyone has them.”
“You do too?”
Lin Yi was puzzled.
“I have many.”
Jian Shuye smiled.
“I can’t tell. At school, you’re the most free. You don’t even have to attend classes. You come and go as you please.”
Jian Shuye pointed at Lin Yi’s eyes.
“See through to the essence of things. Don’t just look at the surface.”
A group of night cyclists, both men and women, passed by on the path. Their conversation paused for a moment.
Then, after mulling it over, Lin Yi gave up thinking and asked, “You and Zhuang Yue… did you sympathize with each other?”
“A little.”
Jian Shuye smoothed the hair by her ear.
“Besides, the Student Council never stipulated that club publications couldn’t be made by non-members. In a way, they exploited a loophole.”
“Even if they used club funds?”
“It was still used for a legitimate purpose.”
Lin Yi pursed her lips. She couldn’t quite guess what Jian Shuye was thinking.
After all, this matter seemed trivial to her.
It was Jian Shuye who suggested taking the challenge, and it was Jian Shuye who proposed going to the Manga Research Club.
Although those senior girls in the Manga Research Club were hateful, openly playing games during club time and speaking disrespectfully to Jian Shuye.
But since Jian Shuye said there was nothing to blame, she didn’t feel comfortable saying anything.
‘But since when did she start feeling… a little uncomfortable when someone criticized Jian Shuye?’
“But those three from the Manga Research Club don’t meet the requirements,” Jian Shuye said. “We have to prove that they don’t have the right to use the clubroom and club funds.”
Lin Yi leaned back slightly.
“You’re not thinking of proving they lack professional ability through a contest like last time, are you?”
“Guess again.”
“I can only think of that. Can’t guess.”
Jian Shuye didn’t seem disappointed.
“I’ll listen to you. Let’s have a contest with them then.”
Lin Yi quickly waved her hand.
“I was just joking. Don’t take it seriously.”
“Why not?”
“They won’t agree.”
“They will agree.”
Jian Shuye tilted her head and smiled.
“I guarantee it.”
‘What a terrifying smile. So you had everything under control, didn’t you, Miss Jian Shuye!’
‘Then what use is a sidekick like me? Apart from knocking on doors in various ways, Lin Yi couldn’t think of any reason for her existence.’
‘Keeping her in this world would just raise the price of rice.’
“Is the contest about manga?”
Lin Yi was a bit troubled.
“But I can’t draw.”
This time Jian Shuye didn’t speak. Instead, she looked to the west.
Then she extended her hand, palm up, toward Lin Yi.
“Come.”
Lin Yi looked at Jian Shuye’s fair, delicate hand, then slowly raised her own right hand.
She placed it on top.
Jian Shuye’s hand was cool, soft, and felt different to hold.
This was the first time she held Jian Shuye’s hand. Even though Lin Yi knew Jian Shuye didn’t have any other intentions, she couldn’t help feeling flustered.
‘Although holding hands doesn’t mean anything. Girls hold hands when class ends…’
“Girls holding hands to go to the restroom after class, is that it?”
Jian Shuye didn’t look back, her steps light. For a moment, Lin Yi thought she was hallucinating.
So she didn’t answer.
The streamlined roof of the Concert Hall was outlined by lights into an elegant silhouette, like a giant ship moored at the shore.
The Provincial Art Museum next to it looked like a giant rock meticulously polished into several interlocking cubes.
Jian Shuye let go of her hand and turned her gaze to the museum and the gallery next to it.
“There’s a painting of mine in there. It was exhibited last year.”
“That’s amazing.”
“You know,”
Jian Shuye turned around,
“when I first started learning to draw, my grandfather’s evaluation of me was that I had no talent whatsoever.”
Lin Yi blinked.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“I refused to give up, and my grandfather didn’t relent.”
Jian Shuye’s lips curled up slightly.
“So, my original intention in learning to paint wasn’t for beauty or to achieve anything. It was purely out of spite.”
“But that’s still excellent…”
“So the original intention doesn’t matter.”
Jian Shuye walked around Lin Yi to the riverbank.
“Talent too. With determination, anyone can do it.”
She turned around, her back to the riverfront.
“Many people say that a genius’s path to growth is always lonely, and they always describe me as a genius.”
Lin Yi nodded.
“You really are lonely.”
“But I don’t think so.”
Jian Shuye looked down at the ground.
“I don’t think I’m a genius. I just spent my time on hard work. When there was no one walking alongside me, naturally there was no one to talk to.”
Lin Yi asked with concern, “Aren’t you afraid?”
Jian Shuye looked at Lin Yi.
“Meaningless social interactions are more frightening. I only make eye contact with people worth associating with.”
Warm yellow light filtered through the layered banyan leaves, weaving a trembling golden veil on the ground.
The river breeze came with moist air, blending heat and calm.
Lin Yi took a step forward.
“If I work hard, will it be like that for me too?”
“No, you won’t.”
Jian Shuye said firmly.
“You won’t be lonely.”
“Why?”
Jian Shuye slowly walked toward Lin Yi, reached out, and brushed Lin Yi’s cheek.
“If you beg me, I might… just possibly consider being your regular companion.”
Lin Yi looked at Jian Shuye’s hand.
She suddenly felt like she was being held in the palm of a hand, unable to escape.
Her heart raced, her throat dry. The thought of becoming Jian Shuye’s partner—a title with special meaning—made her feel her reason slipping away.
“It’s not embarrassing to be infatuated with me, Lin Yi.”
Leaning against the neon lights, Jian Shuye clasped her hands behind her back, as if gathering all the lights in her eyes.
“Because I’m Jian Shuye. That’s enough.”