“Are you free tomorrow?” Pei Cheng An asks.

“Yes.” Isn’t it just a date?

Xia Zhen easily agrees. Isn’t it just hiking? Even though she doesn’t go hiking often, but she loves sports. It’s just that she keeps it a secret most of the time.

“7?” Is it 7 at night? Ahhh. Is it already bright at 7? Besides, it will be so cold.

Xia Zhen really doesn’t want to go anymore but remembering that she has to show that she likes Pei Cheng An, her mom would definitely be convinced if she is even willing to sacrifice her lazy weekend for him.

“Let me send you to your door.” Pei Cheng An also wants to get off the car but is quickly stopped by Xia Zhen. “No need, no need. It’s still early now and look at how many people are still taking a walk around the neighbourhood. It’s very safe.”

Talking about this, Xia Zhen takes out her phone. “I’ll add your QQ and WeChat. Do you have Weibo? What’s your username?”

“What about Weibo?” Her WeChat page and Weibo account are both interesting and impressive. They can show what a crazy, outrageous, and playful person she is. They will show that she’s not quite gentle or hardworking. Such an interesting content, how could she allow him to miss it!

After adding him on QQ, Xia Zhen feels disappointed when she sees that his account only has a moon, despite already having used it for 15 years.

He would usually stay in the allocated house/room at the research inst.i.tute. He might not even return home on weekends. Today is different.

Pei Cheng An’s mood is pleasant. With a smile, he says, “Ms Xia is a very nice person. We have decided to date.”

Mr Pei doesn’t even turn his head and replies, “Eight characters [of a Chinese horoscope] is not even written halfway yet [There is no sign of anything happening yet]. Why are you so overexcited?”

Pei Cheng An: “... I’m going to wash up.”

He waits for 10 minutes after the text but there’s no reply from Xia Zhen. Thus he turns off his phone and goes to bed.

She only sees Pei Cheng An’s text an hour later.

Xia Zhen has always thought her plan is perfect and simple to put to action. But now she realises that there are too many unknown factors. When she talked to her mom earlier, she understands that she should act her role as a girlfriend and memorise all of Pei Cheng An’s likes and dislikes. And then only she will act.

Knowing Xia Zhen is going hiking, Madam Tian wakes her up at 6 am the next day.

Ten minutes later, Madam Tian returns to wake Xia Zhen again. This time she directly pulls the blanket off her daughter.

“Pei Cheng An will be coming in half an hour! Are you still not going to get ready?”

Outside the door, Xia Zhen’s dad is unable to bear his daughter’s pitiful look and says, “Just let Zhen Zhen sleep in awhile longer. Let him wait.”

“A girl is meant to be spoiled,” Old Mr Xia confidently replies.

Madam Tian sighs. “But spoiling should also come at an appropriate time. She’s going to be married off soon…”

“Even if she is getting married, she needs to get married to someone who will spoil her! If he doesn’t spoil my daughter, why would I marry my daughter off to him? Heng!” Mr Xia doesn’t at all want his daughter to marry, at least not for the next few years. His daughter is only in her early twenties and has only joined the working force for two years. She is not a grown up yet.

“What’s wrong with waiting a little? If it’s such a big deal, we can just invite him to breakfast. I can also see if he’s reliable or not.”

“I’m awake. I can’t let people wait.” She runs into the bathroom.

Exiting the bathroom, Xia Zhen gets a shock from Madam Tian who is standing in front, holding up two sets of dresses. She asks, “These two look nice. Choose one.”

A very long time ago, Madam Tian liked dressing her like a princess. When she reached the age of ten, she resisted strongly and even threatened to run away from home. Thus Madam Tian was forced to give up. That is the reason why Xia Zhen could dress so casually now.

But in the past few days, Madam Tian couldn’t resist wanting to dress up her daughter all pretty and doll-like again. Her attachment to dresses and skirts are deeply rooted.

Madam Tian is unconcerned. “You can still hike in a dress. The mountain is all paved with stairs anyway, you won’t have any trouble. And the point is to date.”

Madam Tian finds her daughter’s words rather logical. “Then wear that set of white sportswear. That looks slimming and looks good on your skin colour.”

In the end she puts on some sunscreen, wears a down jacket, and leaves home 10 minutes before 7.

Just as she walks out of her neighbourhood, she sees Pei Cheng An standing next to his car, reading a newspaper.

Xia Zhen couldn’t help being moved. Xue Chen’s brand of handsome is too eye-catching and troublesome. What she thinks about Pei Cheng An right now: a good-looking man needs not worry about his clothing.

[artwork by @GD8KF]