Song Xiaoci was heading back to school, and today was her departure day. Since she had a fear of heights and got motion sickness on planes, trains and high-speed rail had always been her preferred mode of travel.
Sitting in Mr. Gu’s car, Xiaoci watched him loading her luggage through the rearview mirror. A deep sense of reluctance began to grow in her heart.
“We’re a bit early for the train station. How about I take you somewhere nearby to grab a bite to eat?”
Mr. Gu kept one hand on the wheel while glancing at Xiaoci in the passenger seat. Deep down, he was also torn. He had strong feelings for Song Xiaoci—every little expression of hers tugged at his heartstrings. But he wasn’t a carefree teenager anymore. He didn’t just want to date her; he wanted a relationship leading to marriage. However, would she agree? She was only 20 and hadn’t even graduated from university.
Caught in his own thoughts, Mr. Gu didn’t press further when Xiaoci politely declined.
“No, I’d like to get to the station early and video call my mom.”
“Alright.”
The car ride wasn’t completely silent, thanks to the FM radio. Even though both had their own thoughts, the lighthearted banter between the radio hosts kept things from feeling too heavy.
When a Jay Chou song, Superman Can’t Fly, started playing, Xiaoci hesitated for a moment before asking, “Will we still keep in touch?” She nervously fidgeted with her clothes as she asked.
“Of course. My phone is on 24/7,” Mr. Gu replied.
“Good…” Xiaoci trailed off, unsure of what else to say. Finally, she let out a small sigh and added, “Gu Nan, thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. Safe travels.” Mr. Gu reached out and gave her a light pat on the head before turning back to his car. He couldn’t park there for long, but it was okay—they could still stay in touch through their phones. Or so he reassured himself.
Xiaoci waved goodbye as Mr. Gu’s car drove off. He rolled down the window to take one last look at her. He realized then that there was no escaping it—her eyes were too pure, too bright.
Pulling her suitcase and carrying two small bags, Xiaoci passed through security and boarded the train. Even then, she didn’t take out her phone. She was afraid of feeling disappointed, afraid of how much she’d miss him.
She admitted it: she didn’t want to leave Gu Nan. But he hadn’t confessed his feelings, so maybe he only saw her as someone to look after—a little sister passing through his life.
However, when Xiaoci opened one of the small bags to look for her earphones, she found a pink lunchbox and a handwritten note in slightly messy handwriting.
“Miss Song, don’t forget your sweet and sour ribs. – Gu Nan”
The furrowed brows she’d been carrying all day disappeared in an instant.
Inside the lunchbox, sweet and sour spare ribs were neatly arranged on one side, separated from the rice by slices of okra. On top of the rice, peeled shrimp were arranged into the shape of a heart, with a bit of homemade pickled vegetables in the center. The pickles weren’t overly salty or spicy; instead, they were refreshingly mild.
The sweet and sour ribs in today’s lunchbox were clearly homemade by Mr. Gu, with a subtle hint of spice. Sweet and sour spare ribs are a versatile dish, with countless regional variations across China. Yet, in this moment, Xiaoci felt that Mr. Gu’s version was the best in the world. It wasn’t overly sweet or tangy, just a bit spicy—perfectly matching his personal taste.
The warm lunchbox was filled with Gu Nan’s heartfelt care. Sitting on the train, Xiaoci quietly made a decision. She didn’t plan to say it immediately. Well, actually, she did want to tell Gu Nan right now—but her phone was out of battery. And a few days ago, while strolling around the Muslim Quarter, she had accidentally lost her power bank.
Mr. Gu had offered to buy her a new one, but she’d refused!
“Song Xiaoci! Never! Refuse things unnecessarily again!” she scolded herself.
She really wanted to tell Gu Nan, Go ahead and confess — I’ll say yes!
lazyfujoshy On CFRFGC Chapter 87