Leaf Xun and Tong Tong leaned on the railing of the balcony, gazing at the moon in the sky. The moon wasn't particularly bright; in this mountain city, it was rare to have a clear view of the moon. The moon it guarded was as hazy and distant as its own figure, draped in a veil of mist. These veils obscured the stars, making the moon appear even more unique, lofty, and irreplaceable, both enticing and intoxicating.
"Leaf Xun, did you ever think about falling in love in university before you entered?" Tong Tong asked.
"No," Leaf Xun shook her head.
Tong Tong felt Leaf Xun's answer was somewhat vague, so she pursued, "Did you never think about it, or did you think you wouldn't fall in love in university?"
"I never thought about it," Leaf Xun said seriously. "I've never thought about it at all."
"You're lying!" Tong Tong said, "I don't believe it! Everyone fantasizes about love before entering university, as if going to university is primarily for love! You must be no exception!"
"It's true!" Leaf Xun said earnestly. "It's all because of Dai Qiang."
Tong Tong knew she had touched a sore spot for Leaf Xun, but she was already at a loss and could only listen. They had been living together for two years, but Tong Tong had never heard the detailed story of Leaf Xun and Dai Qiang. Leaf Xun wasn't an outspoken person; she never easily mentioned these things, including the romantic plots of their daily lives.
"When I was eleven, Dai Qiang's family moved near my house, and he also transferred to my class. I don't know when it started, but we went to school together, played together, and studied together. We went through primary school, middle school, high school together, and finally, we both got into university. Perhaps, apart from my parents, Dai Qiang has occupied the longest time in my life. I've always relied on him, taken care of him. In my eyes, he's the one I'm most worthy of relying on, and he's the one most worthy of my care..."
Leaf Xun choked up, a tear rolling from her eyes, sliding down her face, hanging on her cheek, radiating a crystalline light even in the pitch-black night.
Suddenly, Leaf Xun thought of something. She wiped away her tears, looked at Tong Tong standing beside her with moist eyes, smiled, and said, "What about you? Aren't you falling in love in university?"
Leaf Xun's moist eyes blinked, her eyelashes dampened by tears trembling, which evoked Tong Tong's sigh.
"Yeah," Tong Tong sighed and said, "In front of others, I say the same thing—I won't fall in love in university, I won't fall in love in university. But when I see those pairs of shadows downstairs, I can't help but feel a little bitter. Everyone says love comes by chance or by pursuit. I only know that Santa Claus drives a reindeer, but who knows what vehicle the cupid drives? A BMW or a Mercedes?"
Tong Tong's words made Leaf Xun smile through her tears.
"No matter what kind of love a person has, perhaps, the first thing they should know is who they love. If a person only imagines love every day, but doesn't even know who they love the most, how sad it is!" Tong Tong said, then fell silent for a moment before presenting a beautifully wrapped box to Leaf Xun, saying, "Happy Birthday!"
"Thank you! I thought you forgot!"
"How could I? I know I'm not the protagonist you're waiting for, but I won't neglect my role as a supporting character!" Tong Tong said.
Leaf Xun was taken aback. Tong Tong knew she had misspoken again. Just then, a knock on the door interrupted them.
"I'll get it!"
"Is Miss Leaf Xun here? A gentleman asked me to deliver something to you! And there's a letter!" the fast-food restaurant attendant standing at the door asked.
Tong Tong was the first to eagerly open the box, only to find it filled with beer. She exclaimed in surprise, "We can open a bar tonight!"
Leaf Xun unfolded the letter, and a sentence stood out on the paper:
"Our encounters seem to be filled with the scent of wine. Sometimes I think: perhaps the seeds of our friendship were sown in wine. Today, I will use wine to water the sprout of our friendship, let it grow strong, and become a forest! Happy Birthday!" —"Big Sister"!
The phone rang, and Leaf Xun guessed it must be Yang Ke calling, and indeed, she was right.
"Did you receive it? My special birthday gift!"
"I did," Leaf Xun said, "It's indeed a very special birthday gift. My mind couldn't possibly conceive it, either in its revolution or rotation!"
"Do you like it?" Yang Ke asked.
"How should I answer then?" Leaf Xun retorted, "Should I affirm it or deny it?"
"If it's out of politeness, you should affirm it!" Yang Ke said.
"Then I'll deny it!"
"Why?"
"Because you're too generous, buying so much, even ten Liu Ling would get drunk!"
Leaf Xun glanced into the room and saw Tong Tong holding a can of beer, secretly reading the letter Yang Ke wrote to her. Tong Tong also noticed Leaf Xun looking at her, so she stuck out her tongue, raised the beer can in her hand, not knowing if it was to apologize or to express gratitude.
"Then you can use the rest of the wine to worship the God of Wine!"
"Forget it, I don't want to do that. If we invite the God of Wine, those drunkards next door will all come!"
Yang Ke laughed heartily.
"Big Sister, when is your birthday?" Leaf Xun asked.
"Why are you asking?" Yang Ke asked strangely.
"I'll also give you a special gift when the time comes!"
"I'm really looking forward to it!" Yang Ke said, "Okay, it's the last day of Gemini!"
Leaf Xun turned off her phone and walked into the dorm from the balcony. She looked at the clock on the wall; it was already midnight. Leaf Xun knew that the person she had been waiting for all day would never come again. For the first time in eleven years, she hadn't received his birthday gift. After this moment passed with the ticking of the clock, would they never be able to catch up with each other again?
Leaf Xun took out a can of beer from the box, opened the lid, and tilted her head back, drinking it down in big gulps.