Chapter 39: A Budding Understanding

‘A treasure?’ Qian Surou found the notion jarring. The pressure on her arm dissipated. The momentary earnestness on Jin Xiaoyue’s face transformed into an effortlessly charming smile.

“No, not at all,” Jin Xiaoyue replied.

Yet, Qian Surou instinctively felt it had been a genuine revelation.

Now, however, Jin Xiaoyue appeared to be shouldering a burden, as if undertaking some perilous mission that demanded she wholly embody another persona.

Even with this pretense, Qian Surou found herself unable to object.

For Qian Surou herself was unsure whether her own reality was genuine.

Upon reflection, the concept of a ‘true self’ was an ambiguous definition, a metaphysical theory that would be extensively analyzed as ‘broad’ and ‘narrow’ on a popular science website, its mere discussion diverging significantly from reality.

“Considering your sweet words,”

Qian Surou’s voice was barely a whisper as she, for the first time, initiated a response, transforming their somewhat stiff linked arms into a comfortable, close hold.

She turned her head, meticulously observing Jin Xiaoyue’s surprised expression, then brushed away the sweat-matted hair from her forehead, her gaze shyly fixed on those unblinking, pale grey eyes.

‘In them, I can clearly see my own reflection,’ Qian Surou mused.

While she couldn’t equate it to a treasure, offering an appropriate response was certainly within her capabilities.

Perhaps fearing the potential reciprocation, their steps hastened. Their destination was the farmers’ market, a place where all daily necessities could be found, from eggs stamped with inspection seals to pre-packaged frozen wontons.

After traversing half a block, a space with a green canopy came into view, leading directly into the market.

The entrance often featured promotions for expiring specials, but as the day for them hadn’t arrived, it remained conspicuously empty.

Despite Jin Xiaoyue offering no words regarding the recent shift, their clasped hands eloquently conveyed her thoughts.

Their fingers were tightly interlocked, allowing Qian Surou to distinctly feel the shape of the bones where pressure was applied. They were slender yet strong.

As they passed the checkout counter, she distinctly felt the gaze of the attendant, catching a glimpse of what seemed like a teasing smile reflected in the full-length mirror.

As a regular customer who occasionally exchanged a few words with the cashier, Qian Surou anticipated being asked about today’s events should she ever come alone.

“Xiaowan, perhaps you should let go for a moment; it’s a little inconvenient like this.”

Jin Xiaoyue obediently released her hand, then, with practiced ease, retrieved a shopping cart and trailed dutifully beside Qian Surou, her face alight with joy as she began selecting items.

Qian Surou stared blankly at her. The enthusiastic young lady and the bustling farmers’ market. It was a combination that struck her as utterly surreal.

Then, their interactive game commenced.

Much like a couple, Qian Surou would name an ingredient, and Jin Xiaoyue would swiftly weave through the aisles to locate the corresponding item.

While she didn’t meticulously assess which product was superior, Qian Surou felt an unprecedented sense of ease.

Their brief exchanges about ingredients solidified Qian Surou’s conviction that they were forging an inseparable shared experience.

It was no longer a monotonous closeness.

A nascent understanding began to blossom between them.

After all, to outsiders, their relationship was unusual, but once Qian Surou grew accustomed to this perception, she no longer considered it a big deal.

Indeed, there was a palpable camaraderie between them now. Observing Jin Xiaoyue’s sluggish indecision between Pocky sticks and konjac jelly snacks, Qian Surou rarely offered her opinion:

“Go with the konjac jelly snacks. Xiaowan, the dishes you ordered aren’t exactly low in calories, though I actually think you might be healthier with a little more weight.”

“So, do I look better now, or would I look better with a bit more weight?”

“Uh—”

“Got it. It’s now. Request denied!”

Perhaps it was her own lack of slenderness, or a lingering sentiment from her affection for Ji Yushu. Though she was reluctant to admit it, she genuinely preferred a more slender physique.

It wasn’t a particular preference, merely a feeling that such individuals would be more adept at sports, which held a certain appeal for an athletic novice like herself.

For nearly a year, she had been training to adapt to her erratic sense of balance, and the doctors had praised her remarkable adaptability.

While her daily activities were indistinguishable from anyone else’s, vigorous exercise like running would invariably lead to a fall, which was precisely why she avoided sparring with Xie Yun.

Of course, if it were merely a casual exchange of slow-pitched balls, Qian Surou would have no qualms.

Inside the farmers’ market, the air conditioning blew strongly, maintaining a low temperature, with cold air pooling below, creating the illusion that one might exhale white mist.

Powerful lighting accompanied every section, like guardians of the fresh produce displays, casting a muted tone over the space, making it difficult to imagine the setting sun outside.

A sparse scattering of shoppers were dispersed throughout, and the surroundings were as quiet as an empty classroom with only the hum of an electric fan.

A solitary space.

In the days when she hadn’t understood the fervor for limited-quantity items, Qian Surou often visited during this time, yet she hadn’t experienced the same feeling then.

However, upon seeing Jin Xiaoyue hold the konjac jelly snacks to her cheek, allowing the club-shaped, purple, monstrous mascot printed on the small bag to replace her facial features, Qian Surou burst into laughter and realized that being alone was indeed a profoundly solitary experience.

‘Next time, should I invite Qian Xidong to come along?’

“It’s so ugly.”

“Is it? I think it’s quite cute.”

“Hmm, if you look closely—it really is still ugly.”

“Saying things like that, beware of the Konjac-ians appearing in your dreams tonight, you know.”

Qian Surou chuckled, “What even is that?”

With the konjac jelly snacks resting atop the shopping cart, Jin Xiaoyue gazed at the front panel, her left index finger pressed to her lower lip, as if contemplating the possibility of her own body fitting inside.

Then, she abruptly turned to Qian Surou and said:

“Next time, let’s go to an amusement park, okay? I’ve wanted to experience one for ages.”

This sudden, out-of-the-blue suggestion startled Qian Surou. Immediately, she heard—

“And when we do, we’ll have hand-pushed bumper cars, with Xiao Qian responsible for pushing me from behind.”

Jin Xiaoyue declared this with a mischievous grin. She sensed Qian Surou might either agree enthusiastically or vehemently refuse. Qian Surou picked up another packet of Pocky sticks, placed it in the cart, and offered Jin Xiaoyue a faint smile—

“We’ll eat them together then.”

The date of their outing was well within the expiration period.

It was the former. Jin Xiaoyue was overjoyed.

Desiring to fulfill their initial dreams together, she had exercised great restraint throughout the years of their separation.

It wasn’t a lack of desires, but rather that her greatest desire had been determined from the very beginning.

It was akin to awaiting the grandest of gatherings, requiring preparation of wild, engaging stories, colorful fireworks, and delectable cuisine—all to ensure utter perfection. At this moment, the protagonists began to take their seats.

“But Xiaowan, I don’t think they have hand-pushed bumper cars anymore, do they? Most modern ones are electric now. Oh, I can drive, so don’t look so disappointed! I heard a new anime-themed amusement park just opened in the neighboring city, and it has quite good reviews.”

Qian Surou had visited an amusement park once with her mother and sister, but it hadn’t left her with any fond memories.

That day, her mother had been in a very poor state, yet she had stoically endured for her eagerly anticipating children, ultimately leading Qian Surou to ask a staff member dressed as a mascot to find their driver, thus averting a major mishap.

Since then, the thought of visiting an amusement park had never crossed her mind again.

She knew this information from a push notification on her phone, as smart big data had detected her searches for manga techniques and two-dimensional drawing.

“Huh! Xiao Qian, are you interested in anime? —You really don’t seem like it at all.”

Noticing Jin Xiaoyue’s utter surprise, Qian Surou spoke with a touch of guilt:

“The mall we just passed was playing anime theme songs, you know. While it used to be a subculture, it’s quite influential now, so a little exposure is perfectly normal. By the way, Xiaowan, what kind of person do you think likes anime?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean to sound prejudiced. —It’s just that Xiao Qian gives me the impression of someone who wouldn’t watch anything other than movies.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, a super serious personality?”

“—Haha, so that’s how I appear in your eyes.”

“Well, having a hobby actually reassures me, and I’ll try to learn more about it.”

Jin Xiaoyue’s tone was unusually earnest, leaving Qian Surou with the distinct feeling that she had shot herself in the foot. ‘You don’t need to understand it,’ she truly wanted to say.

While she knew there were many excellent works, no matter the art form, masterpieces were invariably accompanied by dross, with even more works receiving mixed reviews.

Qian Surou certainly didn’t want Jin Xiaoyue to stumble upon any strange anime because of her. Come to think of it, she hadn’t really watched much anime from this world herself.

With so many matters entangling her, she simply didn’t have the luxury of time.

“It’s getting late; let’s head to the checkout.”

“Let me pay. It was already my whim to have you cook.”

“No need, I can use my membership card. Besides, I only need three more stamps to fill a page, and I hear you can exchange it for a mysterious prize.”

Qian Surou waved the stamp card in her hand. The prizes were mostly food and daily necessities, but the thrill of surprise was undeniably captivating. The stamp card was merely a bonus; a points card could also be used to redeem other items.

‘She’s just like a child,’ Jin Xiaoyue thought to herself.

She pushed the cart towards the checkout counter.

Suddenly, she recalled a passage from a book she had read. ‘People do not grow naturally; growth is instantaneous and invariably accompanied by the loss of something.’

Presumably, since that time, they, being all alone, had made no progress. Because Xiao Qian had forgotten, she could continue to fight against the future, maintaining a sense of novelty until today.

But it was certainly true that she herself had fought tooth and nail, sacrificing half her life, just to endure until their reunion.

They had purchased so many items that a single plastic bag couldn’t hold them all, necessitating two bags: one large and one small. ‘No way,’ she thought, yet ultimately, both of them ended up holding either side of the large bag, with Qian Surou carrying the smaller one, citing the need for balance.

As they left the supermarket, a faint silhouette of the moon already graced the sky. It was not yet its appointed time, and thus it had not fully solidified.

The lamps, shielded by their covers, had already illuminated, their exotic design bearing faint traces of the last century.

Numerous chattering men and women emerged from the mall, and as Qian Surou observed their tightly linked arms, she couldn’t help but compare them to herself and Jin Xiaoyue.

Her conclusion was that Xiaowan was still quite restrained, at least not constantly nuzzling her face or clinging to her arms like a koala.

‘How did they appear to others now?’

Before she could fully ponder this question, she heard an utterly unexpected voice—

“Susu?”