Chapter Nineteen: Warming Relations

The next morning, at sunrise, the three of them met at the entrance of the Communication University. After a quick breakfast at a nearby stall, Beta led Li Jie and Geng Geng to begin their journey.

The first stop was Tiananmen Square. Watching the solemn and dignified flag-raising ceremony, the melody echoing in their ears flowed slowly into their hearts. Their spirits underwent a baptism alongside the ceremony, and the towering gate tower, bathed in the light of the rising sun, donned a sacred cloak. When the ceremony concluded, the surrounding crowd remained silent, deeply immersed in their inner worlds, unable to pull themselves away for a long time.

Once they regained their composure, the three walked toward the Monument to the People's Heroes. From afar, they saw the eight large characters, "The People's Heroes Are Immortal." The monument stood quietly between heaven and earth, its lower base inlaid with scenes depicting the blood and tears shed by generations of martyrs to found this great nation. Looking at the familiar inscriptions and reflecting on history, a sense of reverence for the martyrs welled up within them.

The Forbidden City presented an entirely different scene. Palace after palace sat upon the historic land of Yanjing. As they toured, observing the mottled walls and ancient halls, it felt as though the "city" was silently recounting its history to the visitors. A profound sense of history washed over them.

The three walked and stopped through the ancient courtyards. Beta, a local Yanjing native, periodically interjected with the history of various palaces and interesting anecdotes about the city. Geng Geng was incredibly excited after the tour, eagerly sharing her thoughts with Li Jie. This left Beta, who had been explaining things until her throat was parched, feeling a bit jealous, silently thinking that Geng Geng was prioritizing romance over friendship.

In the afternoon, the three arrived at the most prestigious commercial street, Wangfujing Street. Spanning 1,818 meters and divided into four sections from south to north, Wangfujing has a history of several hundred years. Known in Yanjing as the "Golden Street," it is renowned both at home and abroad. The rows of magnificent buildings were grand, and dense crowds wove through the alleys. Here, one could find the most comprehensive selection of goods and countless famous delicacies.

"It’s so prosperous here! I’ve never seen such dense crowds back home; it’s truly a sea of people," Geng Geng exclaimed, looking at the bustling street filled with cars and people.

"You haven't seen anything yet. You should come back during the weekend or a golden week; that’s when it’s truly crowded. You look out and see nothing but heads as far as the eye can see," Beta retorted, glancing sideways at Geng Geng with an exaggerated tone.

Geng Geng and Beta looked around with great interest. It was clear that women possessed an innate passion for shopping. Li Jie, who had been walking for half the day, felt his legs turning sour, and he marveled at how the two women showed no signs of fatigue and remained full of energy.

As the sky began to darken, seeing the two showing no signs of tiredness, Li Jie suggested, "We’ve been walking all day. It’s past 5 o'clock; shall we find a place to eat?"

"No need. I already booked a table at Quanjude yesterday. We can just head over there now," Beta replied nonchalantly.

"Beta, I'm a bit tired. Why don't we go now?" Geng Geng suggested, noticing that Li Jie looked fatigued.

"Fine, fine. I can see you’re not tired at all; you’re only saying that because you saw Lu Xinghe was tired. You little heartless thing," Beta teased, her eyes darting between the two.

"What? That's not it! I’m just a little tired myself. As a big guy, he wouldn't get tired so easily."

"Oh, oh, oh, still making excuses. I saw you just now, full of excitement, talking about wanting to keep shopping. The moment Lu Xinghe suggested eating, you changed your tune immediately. You’re changing way too fast!"

After hearing Beta’s words, Geng Geng fell silent, putting on a defiant "I don't care" attitude. Seeing this, Beta lost interest in further teasing. Li Jie felt a warmth in his heart at Geng Geng’s white lie. He silently resolved that it was time to officially define their relationship. High school was over, the initial groundwork was sufficient, and there was no need to hesitate anymore. He had previously worried that establishing a formal relationship would trigger his return to the main world, but now, it was time to take that step. Even if he were to go back, he would have no regrets.

***

After enjoying a sumptuous dinner, the three walked out of the restaurant. The night view of Wangfujing Street was radiant, adorned with all sorts of lights. Refreshed by the meal, Li Jie recovered some energy. Considering how Geng Geng had seemed to want more earlier, he suggested they stroll a bit longer before heading back to campus before the gates closed.

On the way back, seeing the two finally showing signs of exhaustion, Li Jie thought to himself that this was only natural; how could shopping not require physical effort? They had simply been stimulated by the dazzling array of goods, causing them to forget their fatigue. Now, the aftereffects had set in. Slumped in their seats, the two had lost their previous vitality, looking like wilted eggplants—not much different from the famous "Ge You slouch" of the main world.

After getting off the bus, Geng Geng recovered slightly and began chatting with Beta about plans for tomorrow. As they neared the campus and it was time to part ways, Beta bid them a listless farewell and slowly walked back to her school.

The campus at night was still bustling. Freshmen from all over the country, filled with the excitement of their first time stepping onto a university campus, could be seen everywhere. The sophomores and juniors, however, were long accustomed to such scenes, just as they had been when they first arrived.

Li Jie specially chose a quiet path. A gentle breeze blew, and the moonlight filtered through the swaying branches onto the walkway. In the silence, their breathing was clearly audible. Halfway through, Li Jie suddenly stopped and turned around, staring intently at Geng Geng. Caught in his gaze, with no one else around, Geng Geng felt a mixture of nervousness and anticipation, her small hands gently twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Geng Geng, there is something I want to tell you."

"What... what do you want to say?" Thinking of Li Jie's behavior throughout the day, Geng Geng felt both anticipation and tension regarding what was to come.

"Geng Geng, I love you! Will you be my girlfriend?" Li Jie looked at her, speaking with the earnestness of words that should have been said long ago.

Upon hearing this, Geng Geng's first reaction was joy, followed by the realization that Li Jie had finally said it officially. She recalled their past: the awkwardness of their first meeting, his attentive care after she fainted during military training, the hours he spent tutoring her during their three years of high school, the joy of their photography trips during vacations, the nervousness of their first hand-hold, the shyness of their first hug at the karaoke bar—all their shared memories flashed through her mind like a fast-forwarded film.

Filled with excitement, she replied, "Yes! I will! I will!"

With their eyes locked, Li Jie leaned in slowly. The scene reminded Geng Geng of the kissing scenes in countless movies. She closed her eyes tightly, tense yet expectant. As Li Jie drew closer, she could clearly feel his unique scent and the warmth of his breath.

Li Jie's lips gently pressed against hers. Geng Geng’s body trembled, and they quietly savored each other’s presence. After a long while, they parted—it could have been a minute, or it could have been a century. Geng Geng slowly reached out her arms to embrace him, resting her head on his chest, greedily inhaling his scent.

*Tap, tap.* Hearing approaching footsteps, Geng Geng quickly pulled away from his embrace, her face flushed red, looking at him with a goofy smile. She savored the memory of her first kiss, thinking that her long-held wish had finally come true.

Hand in hand, they walked quietly along the path. Before long, they reached the foot of Geng Geng’s dormitory building. Geng Geng felt a pang of regret, wishing the path had been longer; she truly hoped this walk could go on forever.

"Alright, we're here! You walked all day, so you must be tired. Go back to your dorm and get some good rest," Li Jie said, gently patting her head.

"Okay! I'll head up now. You should go back and get some rest, too."

***

Geng Geng walked toward the dormitory entrance, pausing with every step. Looking back, she saw Li Jie standing under a streetlamp, watching her with a radiant smile. Filled with joy, she hummed a tune as she slowly made her way inside.

*...*
*Because of love, there is no easy sorrow,*
*So everything is the image of happiness.*
*Because of love, it grows simply,*
*And I can still go crazy for you at any time.*
*Because of love, how could there be vicissitudes?*
*So we are still in our youthful prime.*
*Because of love, in that place,*
*There are still people wandering there.*
*...*

Li Jie stood under the dim streetlamp until Geng Geng’s figure disappeared before the dormitory stairs, then began his brisk walk back to his own dorm. It seemed that officially confirming their relationship would not cause him to return.

So, what exactly was Lu Xinghe’s regret? What were the conditions for his return? These questions still required further exploration. Once the first mission world was completed, he would need to summarize everything. The concept of "regret" was indeed elusive.