BSS - Chapter 129

Chapter 129

Just as Xu Wei had said, after her birthday month passed, Deng Chuan's birthday drew near. The weather grew colder day by day. The gentle warmth of autumn gradually faded, and against the backdrop of the dropping temperature, even the dusk seemed particularly bleak.

In the UK, however, Deng Chuan didn't feel the change in temperature much. The shifting of seasons was less obvious in the mild climate. As usual, she would throw on a jacket and head to class, a suitable outfit whether it was cold or warm. The most important thing was to carry an umbrella with her at all times.

The campus vegetation miraculously maintained some of its greenness in the autumn. Deng Chuan's favorite view was the green lawn visible from the library window. It was a vast, velvety expanse, and the scent of fresh grass carried by the autumn breeze was open and refreshing-a scent that helped Deng Chuan relax.

After entering November, with the Christmas holiday approaching, Deng Chuan's studies became even more intense. Her weekly meetings with her professor were increased to once every three days, which in turn increased the demands on her study efficiency and preparation. Deng Chuan started pulling more and more all-nighters, even more than when she had first arrived in the UK. Occasionally, she would poke her head out from what could be called a grueling academic life to catch her breath, thinking with some gravity that perhaps learning wasn't always easy and smooth for her after all.

Whether this fact would affect Deng Chuan's self-confidence, she herself hadn't yet felt it. She was struggling with the problems assigned by her professor and thick professional books, unable to spare the mental energy to dwell on other issues.

Amidst her difficult and intense studies, Deng Chuan's hair had also grown much longer. She would occasionally tie it up in a high ponytail, revealing her entire clear face. Her classmates had complimented her on how good it looked several times. She herself didn't feel much about this style, but Xu Wei liked it very much.

"Your face is full of collagen," Lao Lin said once, staring at her for a moment.

Deng Chuan's expression didn't change as she continued to stir the instant noodles she was cooking for Lao Lin and herself. The pot came to a boil, and she cracked an egg into it. But inwardly, she thought with a secret delight, That's great, I'm still very young.

Yes, she was still young. She could face any challenge.

Contrary to previous years, it didn't snow in the UK on Deng Chuan's birthday, nor did it snow back home. With a seven-hour time difference, Deng Chuan was sitting cross-legged on her bay window in the evening, flipping through a book, when she heard her phone chime.

Happy birthday. Xu Wei had sent it right on the dot.

After her message arrived, Deng Chuan began to receive a flood of birthday wishes from many other people.

Outside the window was a vibrant sunset, with clouds splashing large patches of color across the sky. Below the apartment building, a few people stood taking pictures, their silhouettes appearing exceptionally quiet against the sunset. Deng Chuan's heart was also quiet. She felt, in a full and fitting way, that she was loved and thought of. Even more fortunately, tracing back through time, this feeling had never changed.

Six more months. Xu Wei sent this after the birthday wish.

A video call followed. After the greetings, Xu Wei quickly showed Deng Chuan the birthday gift she had prepared. It was a telephoto lens that Deng Chuan had wanted to buy for a long time. Because it wasn't very cost-effective, yet she wanted it badly, it had been sitting in her shopping cart.

There was also a handwritten card from Xu Wei, folded in half. Deng Chuan could only see that it was filled with words.

This folded card and the lens were placed together in a gift box, which sat on the pillow next to Xu Wei.

The dim yellow light of the desk lamp illuminated Xu Wei's fair profile. She closed the box and carefully tied a beautiful knot. Then she said, "You can open it yourself when you get back."

"Six more months," Deng Chuan repeated.

Xu Wei then sent a sticker of a cat being petted. The animated GIF showed her own beautiful hand, gently kneading Juzi's head in her palm.

After a period of study so intense it could almost drown a person, the Christmas holiday finally arrived. It began to snow in the UK after December started. Deng Chuan built a tiny little snowman on the hood of Lao Lin's car. She rummaged around on the snow-covered ground and found a small twig to serve as the snowman's arm.

Although Lao Lin and a group of friends commented that the little snowman looked a lot like a lucky cat, a uniquely Chinese animal, Deng Chuan was still satisfied. She took a picture and sent it to Xu Wei.

It was too cold outside, so she opened the passenger door and got in the car, squinting in the warm air as she waited for Xu Wei's praise.

Seeing her like this, Lao Lin knew who she was chatting with. He rolled his eyes and asked her, "I'm clearing this snowman off, okay? They're coming out."

Deng Chuan received Xu Wei's praise as she had wished. She waved her hand triumphantly, the gesture just like the snowman she had built. "Okay!"

Their group was driving to London for fun, and Deng Chuan was catching a ride with them to find Su Mian.

Su Mian was renting a place near her university. Deng Chuan got out of the car and, following the address she'd been given, went up to the third floor. The wooden staircase echoed monotonously with her footsteps. The soundproofing in this apartment building probably wasn't very good. Deng Chuan could clearly hear the noisy sounds of a neighbor having a party.

Deng Chuan found the corresponding apartment number and rang the doorbell, waiting for Su Mian to open the door. They hadn't seen each other in two years, and she was surprisingly a little nervous.

The door opened quickly. Su Mian was wearing an apron and holding a frying pan.

Su Mian was a bit thinner, which made the contours of her features more defined. But her hair was still as short as before, her eyes were still very beautiful, and a smile bloomed at the corners of her mouth as she looked at Deng Chuan.

The moment their eyes met, a sense of familiarity instantly turned into a warm current, melting away all worries like nervousness or apprehension.

Deng Chuan couldn't help but smile too. As she stepped inside, she laughingly teased Su Mian about her current look. "What are you doing holding a pan?"

"I was about to pan-fry a steak for you," Su Mian said. "The pan had just heated up when you rang the doorbell. Good thing I hadn't thrown the butter in yet."

Holding the pan, Su Mian opened the shoe cabinet and found a pair of slippers for Deng Chuan. "I bought these especially for your visit. What do you think, are you moved?"

"You look great," Deng Chuan put down her things, took off her socks, and changed her shoes, while Su Mian stood by with the pan, watching her. "It's so good to see you."

Then she started rummaging through the paper bag Deng Chuan had brought. "Let me see, what goodies did you bring me?"

"Leftovers from home. I was afraid they'd go bad in the fridge, so I brought them over," Deng Chuan teased her.

"I don't believe you!" Su Mian was exasperated. She quickly pulled out large bags of snacks, pickled mustard greens, instant noodles, and even spicy strips. "Wow! Thank you for the provisions, boss."

She trotted to the kitchen to put down the pan, then helped Deng Chuan push her small suitcase into the bedroom. As she walked, she looked back and said, "I bought a bunch of two-player games specifically for us to play together while you're here."

Deng Chuan changed into the slippers and walked into Su Mian's rental. The room was small and square, furnished with a bed and a desk. A soft carpet covered the floor, and there was a large window with the curtains drawn. The lights were on.

Hearing Su Mian's words, Deng Chuan said deliberately, "Did you buy them according to the list I made? If not, I'm not playing."

"Yes, yes, yes," Su Mian replied, pouring her a glass of water. "Take a rest. Should I go fry the steak?"

Although the room was small, it came with a tiny kitchen, which was a nice feature.

"I'm not tired." Deng Chuan took the glass, barely touched it to her lips without drinking, then thought for a moment and asked, "When did you learn to cook? Why don't I do it instead?"

She would never forget the grand feat of the old Su Mian, whose fingers never lifted a finger in the kitchen, pouring half a pot of perfectly good corn and pork rib soup down the toilet.

Su Mian said, "I learned after coming here. The Chinese food here is expensive and terrible, and I got tired of eating Japanese food all the time. I had no choice but to cook for myself."

"You've grown up," Deng Chuan said nonchalantly. "I'm so proud."

Su Mian brandished her fist, pretending to hit her. The two of them walked into the kitchen, trading playful jabs, and began to prepare the steak Su Mian had bought.

Sure enough, Su Mian's movements in the kitchen were particularly skilled, and her posture while frying the steak looked quite professional. Deng Chuan leaned against the counter, watching her focused profile, and belatedly felt a sense of daze.

Sensing Deng Chuan's gaze, Su Mian turned her head and smiled. "What? Are you stunned? Do you think I'm amazing?"

Deng Chuan was taken aback for a moment, then smiled as if nothing had happened. "Well said! I feel especially proud."

Su Mian gritted her teeth with a smile. "Get lost."

The pan-fried steak was served with seared asparagus and a soft-boiled egg. The two of them sat down on the carpet by Su Mian's bed, set up a small table, and began to eat lunch with knives and forks.

During lunch, Xu Wei called Deng Chuan. Upon learning that she had arrived at Su Mian's place, Teacher Xu, in her good-natured way, told them both to have fun, but not to stay up too late, or they'd be tired in the morning, and to be careful if they went out.

While Deng Chuan was on the phone with Xu Wei, Su Mian kept messing with her. Although Deng Chuan and Xu Wei had been dating for so long, she was still a little afraid of Xu Wei and didn't dare to shout directly into the phone. So she messed with Deng Chuan instead, reaching out with her fork to poke the asparagus in her bowl and making faces at her.

Deng Chuan glared at her with a smile, deliberately saying into the phone, "Mhm, okay... I know. Oh, honey, Su Mian is telling me to hang up... She... mmmph..."

Su Mian put down her knife and fork with a "clang," reached out, and clamped her hand firmly over Deng Chuan's mouth. She said loudly into the phone, "Teacher Xu, long time no see! Deng Chuan is just playing around with me. You two can talk, don't mind me..." She felt herself getting more and more flustered, shot Deng Chuan a look that urged her to speak up, and then let go.

Once freed, Deng Chuan listened for a moment, then deliberately teased her, "My wife wants to talk to you."

The strained expression on Su Mian's face made Deng Chuan burst out laughing.

On the phone, Xu Wei was also laughing softly. "Don't always bully her. You kids need to get along, you know?"

"I know," Deng Chuan said, and hearing her use such a wheedling tone with Xu Wei, Su Mian's expression became even more complicated.

While cutting her steak, Deng Chuan asked Xu Wei, "Have you had dinner?"

"I'm eating now," Xu Wei replied. Hearing the sound of cutlery on her end, she added, "Alright, you kids go have fun. We'll talk later."

"Okay," Deng Chuan said. "I'll keep you company later."

"Okay," Xu Wei said gently. "Have fun."

Get instant access to all the chapters now.

Previous Table of Contents Next