夏末将至

1.Beginning of Summer

My name is Li Hanyang, an ordinary college student with average grades and a humble background.  On the other hand, my good friend Wu Zhiyuan is quite different. He consistently ranks in the top ten of the whole school, and comes from a wealthy family. Despite our differences, our friendship remains unaffected, even though our goals and backgrounds are completely different.

One day, I was as usual, immersed in the sea of books in the library. Suddenly, Wu Zhiyuan barged in. He rarely appeared in the library unless it was to pursue a schoolgirl or cram for exams at the last minute. His dream was to become a banker, while mine was to become an outstanding lawyer. Wu Zhiyuan was holding a cup of milk tea, looking quite pleased with himself.

"Hey, look at that girl over there, Lin Yuqing, the school flower! Her figure is absolutely stunning!" he exclaimed, pointing to a graceful girl in the distance.

I followed his gaze, and sure enough, it was Lin Yuqing, the school flower of our university. Her lustrous black hair and perfect figure made countless boys fall for her.

"Do you think I have a chance?" Wu Zhiyuan asked.

I thought to myself, with his family background and conditions, this should be a piece of cake.

"Well, why don't you give it a try then," I replied casually.

Wu Zhiyuan walked towards Lin Yuqing, and I couldn't help but follow.

"Hello, can I add you on WeChat?" Wu Zhiyuan spoke up.

"Sorry, I already have a boyfriend," Lin Yuqing replied, then she casually walked over to me and hugged my arm.

I suddenly felt awkward, blushing like a ripe tomato. Where did I get a girlfriend from? Besides, with my looks, resembling a goblin, how could I possibly be worthy of Miss Lin? She hugged my arm, and we walked out of the library together.

"Sorry, I didn't find a timely excuse to reject your friend, so..." Lin Yuqing attempted to explain.

"It's okay," I quickly interrupted her.

"But, I think he might still be watching us. Should we walk a bit further?" she suggested.

It was impossible for me to reject such a beautiful girl, especially someone like Lin Yuqing, who was so perfect.

"Sure, where to?" I asked.

"How about going shopping?" she suggested, still holding onto my arm.

"Okay, no problem," I replied.

Soon, we took a taxi to the bustling shopping mall. People were bustling around. Holding hands, we walked into the record store together. At that time, Jay Chou's eighth album "On the Run" had just been released. We put on the headphones in the store and enjoyed the art of music together. Suddenly, she spoke up.

"Do you usually listen to Jay Chou's songs?" she asked.

"I haven't really listened much before; this is sort of the first time," I replied.

The song quickly played the ninth track "Sweet", and with the music, I realized there was a hint of ambiguity between us. As the lyrics sang "I gently taste the love you said, still savoring the tenderness you gave," I stared deeply into her eyes, and she happened to be looking at me, and we both burst into laughter. I didn't know how long this ambiguous atmosphere would last, so I wanted to cherish every minute. In the end, I decided to buy every album of his, not because I particularly liked Jay Chou, but to at least have some common topics.

We then went to a nearby café. I ordered a cup of coffee, not needing much sugar because it was already sweetened by her presence. Finally, we returned to school, and I went straight back to the dormitory. Wu Zhiyuan had been waiting inside for a while.

"Wow, buddy, why didn't you tell me earlier you had such a beautiful girlfriend?" Wu Zhiyuan teased.

"Stop talking nonsense," I laughed, pushing him away.

"Now the whole school knows about you and the campus beauty. How did I not notice your outstanding acting skills before?" he continued.

Upon hearing these words, I was shocked. I could hardly believe my ears; it felt like the sky was falling, and yet it also felt like being splashed with cold water, leaving me numb all over. The news about me and the campus beauty had spread?!

Several days later, we met again. This time, there was less youthful awkwardness on our faces and a bit more maturity. She studied art, and her mastery of the brush strokes in "The Big Iron Gate of Mona Lisa" left me deeply impressed. Thanks to Wu Zhiyuan's idea, I was able to secretly attend her class. Somehow, I ended up being a model for once, which was quite unexpected. She was extremely serious about her painting, and her dedication and focus made me feel a different kind of beauty. After several hours, she finally finished painting. On a simple canvas was my face, painted with ink and brush strokes flowing like clouds and rivers, depicting the vast sea and towering mountains. It was truly remarkable, evoking a sense of admiration. The simplicity yet profoundness of it all was truly praiseworthy. At that time, I was wearing a white shirt. The color of the shirt was incredibly pleasing, making one feel refreshed. Looking at my portrait, I couldn't help but ask her:

"How do you think I look?"

"You have a pair of dark and shiny eyes. When you gaze, they are like the calm sea without ripples; when they move, they are like stars flying in the sky. The intelligence and sharpness revealed in your eyes make people can't help but admire your brilliance. I even feel like you resemble someone in my heart," she replied.

"Who is the person in your heart?" I asked.

She lowered her head, pondering how to express her deep love for this boy, and how to say the most heart-moving words.

"Or, I'll describe him, and you guess?" she suggested.

"Sure, I like guessing games," I replied with a smile.

"Well, this person has finely carved features, with a face that is exceptionally handsome. At first glance, he seems carefree, but the brilliance in his eyes inadvertently reveals a depth that cannot be underestimated. He has a thick head of dark hair, with slender peach blossom eyes beneath well-defined sword-like eyebrows, full of affection, making it easy for one to be captivated. A high-bridged nose, lips of moderate thickness, but now they carry a dazzling smile. Black, shiny, straight hair, handsome slanted eyebrows, slender yet sharp black eyes, thin and pursed lips, sharply defined contours, tall and slender but not rugged physique, like an eagle in the night, cold and aloof yet with an overwhelming aura, exuding dominance. The boy is about seventeen or eighteen years old, with short hair, the collar of his white shirt slightly open, sleeves rolled up to the middle of his arms, revealing wheat-colored skin. His eyes are deep and spirited, his nose high, especially when combined, they are like a masterpiece under the hands of God. The young man sits under the blooming cherry blossom tree, his hair shining like black jade, the skin on his neck as delicate as porcelain."

"I asked you to describe, not to write a riddle!" I chuckled.

"Hehe, then take your time to guess!" she replied mischievously.