Chapter 44: Extra 8 Part 1

Gifts.

They slept comfortably while camping, huddling close together in the chilly night.

Luo Qingmeng’s biological clock usually woke her early, but Qiu Shuxue stirred first. She gently patted her shoulder and called out to her. Luo Qingmeng looked at Qiu Shuxue in a daze and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Come on, get up and watch the sunrise.” Qiu Shuxue said warmly, “Today’s sunrise is beautiful. Come take a look, then you can go back to sleep.”

Luo Qingmeng’s eyes fluttered shut again, and her body sprawled out in sleep. Qiu Shuxue couldn’t help but kiss her, slipping her hand under the nape of her neck before pulling her up.

Luo Qingmeng let out a muffled grunt as she put on the clothes Qiu Shuxue handed her. Qiu Shuxue said softly, “It’s just like the scenes from those books you read.”

“Is it pretty?” Luo Qingmeng asked, waking up just a little.

“Yeah, it’s pretty. I’ve already seen it.” Qiu Shuxue fastened the buttons for her, then unzipped the tent, letting her glimpse the bit of sunrise peeking over the horizon.

The edge of the sky was orange, and Luo Qingmeng rubbed her eyes. The orange rim gained a touch more gold.

“Pretty, right?”

Luo Qingmeng crawled out of the tent. Qiu Shuxue opened the bag and handed her a toothbrush and rinse cup. The sunrise wouldn’t last forever. Luo Qingmeng hurried through her morning routine while she sat in the folding chair outside to watch, though the view wasn’t great, so she stood up to gaze into the distance.

“How is it?” Qiu Shuxue stood beside her.

A faint smile curved Luo Qingmeng’s lips. “It’s not like in the books.”

“Hm?”

“It’s not that magnificent, nor that desolate. It has the sweet taste of a sunny morning.” Luo Qingmeng gazed at the sunrise as she spoke.

Qiu Shuxue’s eyes blinked.

“Novels often shine through heartbreak, and human loneliness resonates the most. Those joys, the sweetness with a lover—they’re hidden beneath that brilliant prose, making the sweet stuff feel niche.”

“But it’s so healing.”

Qiu Shuxue understood. Luo Qingmeng was saying that with her by her side, none of that loneliness or tragedy mattered—she was sweet and content.

Her brows curved into a smile.

During the time they’d been together, they’d bought a ton of books at home. On days off when they hunkered down like total shut-ins, Luo Qingmeng would sprawl on the bay window reading, and Qiu Shuxue would squeeze in beside her. They’d read together, faces pressed close, bodies snug against each other.

Luo Qingmeng would say it was too hot; she’d tease that it felt anything but.

Qiu Shuxue stood behind her, wrapping her arms around her waist as they watched the sunrise a bit longer. She nuzzled her. “Sis, I’ll go grab the camera.”

“Mm.”

Qiu Shuxue snapped photos of her first, then switched to selfie mode. She held up the camera with one hand, taking shots of them together from every angle.

Luo Qingmeng made moose antler horns over her head with both hands. It made her look young and cute, but with Qiu Shuxue right there, she didn’t care.

Qiu Shuxue kissed the corner of her lips.

The sun broke free of the horizon, a full orange orb hanging in the sky. Its light wasn’t too harsh yet, and they could still look at it with the naked eye.

Luo Qingmeng held her hand as they strolled slowly, watching the sunrise. Qiu Shuxue asked if she wanted to write a book herself. At first, Luo Qingmeng brushed it off with self-deprecation. “What could I even write?”

In the end, she looked at Qiu Shuxue and smiled. “Our love diary?”

Qiu Shuxue said, “Yeah. Those coded messages in your daily recommendations—they’re sweet nothings, the most beautiful love words.”

She held up her phone. “I’ve saved them all.”

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it rang true. No matter what side of Luo Qingmeng she showed, Qiu Shuxue thought she was perfect.

“Then… I’ll give it a try.” Luo Qingmeng said.

They strolled hand in hand under the sunrise. By the time they looped back, the sun was a big blazing disk, the temperature rising and steaming away the lingering mist in the air.

Luo Qingmeng got to work on breakfast while Qiu Shuxue checked the neighboring tent. She said curiously, “How come there’s no sound from over there? Sleeping like the dead—did a bear drag them off?”

Luo Qingmeng laughed. “There are no bears around here. Let your friend sleep in. You should rest too—you’re worn out from work.”

Qiu Shuxue yawned. She’d gotten up extra early to wait for the sun and only woke her once she confirmed the sunrise was stunning.

Qiu Shuxue insisted on helping so they could nap together later.

Xiao Ninghe didn’t stir until mealtime, drawn by the smell of food. Breakfast was ready by the time she emerged from her tent, and she felt a bit sheepish. “Work is killing me. Camping is the best.”

“We get it.”

“You two are coming back for a big feast, right?” Qiu Shuxue said.

“Of course! Sister Meng, you have to come too. I know this amazing food spot.” Xiao Ninghe said enthusiastically, repeating it several times just in case Luo Qingmeng planned to skip.

Luo Qingmeng’s tone was gentle. “Got it.”

Xiao Ninghe grinned happily, unable to resist telling Qiu Shuxue, “You’ve got it so good.”

For breakfast, Luo Qingmeng made egg rolls and gave them each an orange. Xiao Ninghe grabbed a few yogurts from her cooler to share.

“Sister Meng, I don’t know how many times I’ve envied this girl. Breakfast every day, and such lavish lunches too.”

Qiu Shuxue stretched lazily, stood up for a deep breath—the air quality was superb—and said, “Xiao Ninghe, watch the tents. We’re going for a stroll.”

Xiao Ninghe shot her a look and tagged along.

The three of them wandered the hilltop and stumbled on a wild pear tree. Qiu Shuxue wondered if the fruit was edible, but Luo Qingmeng said, “My grandma had one right outside her house. I ate them all the time as a kid.”

Qiu Shuxue and Xiao Ninghe climbed up to pick, while Luo Qingmeng waited below with a bag. They filled it to the brim.

Qiu Shuxue kept whispering in Luo Qingmeng’s ear, “Weren’t you going to make me preserves? I’ve been waiting forever, but you never did.”

Luo Qingmeng had planned to, buying the fruit, washing it, even slicing it with a knife. But then she realized she was hopeless at it—how could she give something so cheap? Embarrassed, she’d pretended to forget and never followed through.

“I’ll make some for you now.”

Xiao Ninghe called out, “What about me? Are you sharing?”

“You’ll have to ask Shuxue if she’s willing to share.”

“If I can’t eat them all, I suppose I could give you a jar or two.”

Qiu Shuxue said, “I might polish off a summer’s worth.”

Luo Qingmeng made something delicious with the pears for them. That night, they lay in the tent stargazing. The next day, they watched another sunrise.

Day and night were both breathtaking.

That night, Luo Qingmeng lay in Qiu Shuxue’s arms. She wanted to see those recommendation captions Qiu Shuxue had photographed. Qiu Shuxue held her close, pulled out her phone, and found them for her. Sometimes Luo Qingmeng shared them after writing; other times, Qiu Shuxue went to the shop to see them herself. She never missed a day, and she didn’t just glance—they had their own dedicated album.

After looking them over, Luo Qingmeng started wondering if she should start an account to log the books she read.

Qiu Shuxue asked, “Sis, aren’t you going to check my phone?”

Luo Qingmeng glanced at her, curiosity piqued. Qiu Shuxue said, “Go ahead. Look wherever you want.”

Luo Qingmeng generously checked her albums, heading straight for the cloud gallery and deleted items. It was all photos of her. Cleverly, she scrolled to the end and even found pictures from before she knew Qiu Shuxue.

“Those are duplicates I deleted.” Qiu Shuxue said.

Qiu Shuxue had taken so many of her. Luo Qingmeng didn’t like using the camera much—she wasn’t good at angles and preferred words to capture moments.

There she was at the register reading, browsing the shelves, talking to customers. Lots of candid shots, not too sneaky, but in every one, she looked beautiful and serene.

When you appear repeatedly in someone’s phone, those images are how they see you.

She scrolled slowly and asked Qiu Shuxue softly, “Do I really look this good in your eyes?”

“Yeah,” Qiu Shuxue said. “Because from the moment I met you, you were beautiful. I wanted to capture your smiles, but you always smile so suddenly—I get distracted and forget.”

Luo Qingmeng’s heart softened. She rolled over to sprawl across her chest and shoved her own phone at Qiu Shuxue. “You check mine too.”

Qiu Shuxue checked her phone every day. Whenever Luo Qingmeng played with it, she’d peer over, and Luo Qingmeng’s reserved nature meant her social circle was clean and simple—everything she was curious about revolved around Qiu Shuxue.

The songs Qiu Shuxue liked, she started liking too. Qiu Shuxue’s study materials, she’d read along. Whatever her girlfriend enjoyed, she’d enjoy too.

Qiu Shuxue’s arm circled her waist, her finger poking at Luo Qingmeng’s chat background. “It’s a photo of me. I knew you love me.”

It was Qiu Shuxue in a suit, wearing glasses under a streetlamp, gazing at her. The light edged her hair in gold.

The next morning, they headed down the mountain.

Xiao Ninghe was up early and full of energy. Seeing how sleepy and out of it the other two looked, she volunteered to drive. She tsked teasingly. “What did you two get up to?”

The pair in the back seat didn’t catch a word of it.

Qiu Shuxue kept her eyes closed, dozing the whole way.

The car was so bumpy, like a thrill ride on a roller coaster.

Qiu Shuxue’s head lolled back and forth. Luo Qingmeng nudged it toward her, letting her rest on her shoulder. Her fingers gathered Qiu Shuxue’s long hair. Qiu Shuxue looked up with a soft hum.

Luo Qingmeng told her, “It’s fine. Keep sleeping.”

Xiao Ninghe glanced at them in the rearview mirror and smiled.

There was no need to ask why one person falls for another, really. Sometimes even they can’t explain it—after all, people in love are always half-asleep.

Xiao Ninghe went straight home. Qiu Shuxue took over driving, and half an hour later, they pulled into their neighborhood. Luo Qingmeng dozed in the back for a bit.

The car pulled into the neighborhood, and Qiu Shuxue’s phone rang. She covered it with her hand as she got out to answer the call. It was from her uncle.

She had wanted to change houses before and asked her uncle to help inquire about it. After asking around, her uncle said, “Your dad has a house on hand. He kept one floor for himself before and said if you want it, it’s yours. Do you want it?”

“Yes, have him transfer it to my name.” She paused, then added, “Actually, transfer it to my girlfriend’s name. I have plenty of houses already.”

“Your girlfriend? You got that one?”

Her uncle paused for a moment before saying, “Meet her once.”

“With them?”

Her uncle replied, “If you’re gifting it to her, your mom will definitely look into it. She’ll think your dad gave a house to some other woman again and try to claim it as joint property. I need to meet your girlfriend too.”

Qiu Shuxue simply said, “Then have them give me money instead. Just say I’m short on cash and have my eye on some jewelry. They can send it over, and I’ll pick out the spot to buy it myself.”

“Are you prepared? A lifetime is very long…”

“It’s very short, Uncle.” Qiu Shuxue did the math for him. “This year flew by, but it felt like the snap of a finger.”

Her uncle fell silent and didn’t respond.

She went on, “I really like her. Our first encounter, seeing her through the glass—that instant, several lifetimes flashed through my mind.”

Falling for someone always breeds that illusion of forever; her sudden appearance made all of Qiu Shuxue’s past years feel wasted.

That stretch of admiration and pursuit had dragged on endlessly; the time after they got together, until she finally came to her side, felt even longer. Any moment without her dragged on eternally.

Yet once she was by her side, all time contracted. It never felt like enough—a whole year blinked past.

Qiu Shuxue had once believed that finding a kind-hearted person to love her was a pipe dream, an impossible punchline. The world wasn’t kind, and no one truly was.

But then she had met someone with that rare pure heart, who loved her and treated her so well.

Her uncle asked again, his tone even more cautious. “Just her?”

Qiu Shuxue paused.

She ran through it seriously in her mind. “I can’t be without her.”

Her voice suddenly turned wistful. “Being with her… it feels like having a real home. I used to think a house was enough, but now it makes me so happy. It’s like I’ve been waiting forever for this, Uncle.”

She had no qualms about meeting the family. She just wanted to show her off to the world, not keep hidden the fact that someone like this loved her.

She had the best person in the whole world.

When she was twenty-five and called herself young, Qiu Shuxue would baby her and call her Baby.

If the world exploded one day and she threw a tantrum, saying, Luo Qingmeng, let’s not flee to another planet—let’s go down together…

Luo Qingmeng would ponder it seriously, then tell her, “But the explosion would hurt in that instant, wouldn’t it? Migration might be tiring, but I’ll be with you. I’ll hold your hand and we’ll walk slowly.”

Luo Qingmeng had a real gift for soothing people.

Qiu Shuxue loved her so much.

After hanging up, Qiu Shuxue stood outside the car. She replayed her own answers in her mind as a hot gust of wind buffeted her face. She turned her head, and Luo Qingmeng stirred awake—perhaps a touch carsick—squinting her eyes. Qiu Shuxue opened the car door, and she stepped out unsteadily. Qiu Shuxue steadied her with a hand.

Luo Qingmeng said, “I overheard you on the phone just now.”

“With my uncle. He’s inviting me to dinner.”