[【17】But When I See You Again, I’m Still Very Happy]
Yu Xiang enthusiastically added Feng Duo’s WeChat, along with Jiang Muhe’s.
Feng Duo teased her: “Don’t call him ‘Brother Jiang,’ it sounds old-fashioned. Just call him ‘Brother Mu’.”
Yu Xiang blinked at Jiang Muhe: “Where’s the old part? Brother Mu is the youngest and most handsome among us!”
Knowing she was joking, Jiang Muhe smiled sheepishly and said, “Thank you.”
Yu Xiang: “Brother Mu is probably only a few years older than Sister Youyun, right? You both look very young!”
It didn’t sound much like a compliment.
Youyun took a deep breath, silently begging Yu Xiang not to drag her into this.
Xiao Sun, who had been quietly eating, suddenly remembered something and asked Youyun: “Sister, with your birthday at this time of year, you must be a Gemini, right?”
Youyun nodded and said yes, I’m a contradictory Gemini.
Zhang He teased: “Where do you look like a Gemini? I think you’re an Aries, with such a fiery temper!”
Youyun: “You’re the sheep!”
Zhang He: “I’m an ox! A Taurus!”
Youyun: “Ha, no wonder, stubborn and stingy.”
Zhang He: “But in relationships, Taurus is the most reliable and loyal! You Geminis are all fickle-hearted!”
Youyun: “Who have I been fickle with? Have I been fickle with you? Don’t just slap labels on people!”
Zhang He: “You’re not fickle? You’ve never been without a boyfriend since school days!”
“…” Youyun covered her face in embarrassment.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Yu Xiang quickly stepped in to smooth things over: “A beautiful girl like Sister Youyun, if I were a man, I’d chase her too!”
Feng Duo nodded in agreement. Yu Xiang didn’t forget to advise: “Sister Youyun, then you must find an Aquarius man. Gemini and Aquarius are the best match!”
Zhang He disagreed: “It’s a good match with Taurus too! We’ve been friends for over ten years!”
Yu Xiang: “I’m talking about romantic relationships. Friendship doesn’t matter!”
Youyun disagreed: “Actually, zodiac pairings aren’t accurate. Many of my married friends aren’t compatible with their partners’ zodiac signs, and they’re doing just fine. Why do I have to find an Aquarius?”
Yu Xiang then asked everyone else about their zodiac signs. When she asked Jiang Muhe, he said he didn’t know. Yu Xiang asked for his solar calendar birthday month and day. He said he only celebrates the lunar calendar, sometimes in January, sometimes in February.
Those who understood knew: this person didn’t really want to reveal his information.
But Yu Xiang didn’t care. She clapped her hands together: “Then it’s either Capricorn or Aquarius! This is really tricky!”
Jiang Muhe seemed interested in the topic. He pulled his chair forward a bit and asked her: “How so?”
Yu Xiang acted like an astrologer, her eyes gleaming with mysterious wisdom: “Capricorn and Gemini are like fire and water, but Aquarius and Gemini are a match made in heaven!”
Youyun stopped her, covering her face with her hand and whispering: “Why does it have to be paired with Gemini…”
Yu Xiang chuckled.
Jiang Muhe glanced at Youyun, didn’t continue asking, reached for his phone calendar, thought about it, then put it down again. What was the point?
Fearing Jiang Muhe might feel awkward, Feng Duo, ever perceptive, said: “Regardless of compatibility, our Brother Mu certainly doesn’t lack admirers. There are so many! He doesn’t even dare show up at the company casually anymore, otherwise many female colleagues make special trips just to report work to him!”
Yu Xiang nodded vigorously: “Yes, yes, yes! Both these zodiac signs attract admirers!”
Jiang Muhe crossed his arms and shot Feng Duo a glare.
Feng Duo chuckled awkwardly: “But our Brother Mu, this iron tree, hasn’t blossomed yet!”
Everyone burst into laughter, saying it was impossible.
Youyun couldn’t help but smile quietly too.
Jiang Muhe rested his forehead in one hand, no longer wanting to deal with this group.
The night grew darker. The sound of rushing river water mixed with music from the stage, clinking glasses, and chatter made Jiang Muhe feel this was a farewell among old friends.
That was fine. He had originally wanted to find a chance to see Liang Youyun again, to show his composure and indifference, and to say goodbye. But he thought the opportunity was slim. Today’s coincidence perfectly solved that problem.
When they left the bar, there were few people around. It was nearly midnight, and tired people had gradually gone home.
They walked on the quiet road, lush bamboo groves rustling in the night breeze.
Seeing Jiang Muhe walking at the back, silent and looking rather lonely, Liang Youyun slowed her pace to walk beside him. She asked if he needed to call a designated driver.
Jiang Muhe replied, “I didn’t drive.”
“Then how did you get here?”
“Walked.”
“Walked? It’s three kilometers from Mannyuan!” Youyun exclaimed in surprise. With the mountain road, it must have taken even longer.
“Yeah, not too far,” he said with a gentle smile.
Feng Duo turned back and chimed in, “Don’t worry about him. Walking or running is like rest for Brother Mu.”
Youyun cast an admiring glance. Back in the day, she nearly died running 800 meters, and here was someone who considered that rest? Unbelievable!
“Why don’t you ride with us? We’re taking Zhang He back to Mannyuan anyway!” she suggested.
“No need,” Muhe shook his head, hands in his pockets, strolling leisurely. “I’ll just wander back myself.”
“Oh… then be careful on the road,” she said, unsure what else to say.
Jiang Muhe smiled. “Okay.”
Feng Duo joked again, “With him around, it’s the bad guys who should be careful!”
Everyone laughed.
Feng Duo returned to the hotel, the others got in the car, and only Jiang Muhe stood alone by the roadside.
Xiao Sun started the car and rolled down the window. Everyone said goodbye to Jiang Muhe.
He simply waved back.
The bamboo-lined road was somewhat long. As the car was about to turn, Youyun couldn’t resist looking back. Through the rear window, she saw Jiang Muhe still standing alone by the roadside, hands in pockets, silently watching them leave.
Sparse streetlights cast light on him, making his face appear hazy and indistinct.
When the car turned the corner, he completely disappeared from sight.
Xiao Sun stepped on the gas to accelerate, but as soon as he pressed down, Liang Youyun said, “Stop the car!”
“What?” Xiao Sun was startled. “What’s wrong, sis?”
“I… I need to get off. Stop the car, Xiao Sun!”
Zhang He, in the passenger seat, asked, “Why stop? Where are you going?”
“I have something to do!”
“What is it? The concert’s over!”
“I have something! You go ahead, don’t wait for me!”
“Alright, alright, stopping now!” Yu Xiang, afraid she was anxious, patted Xiao Sun’s shoulder.
Liang Youyun insisted on getting out. Zhang He had to instruct her, “I’ll call you later to make sure you’re safe. You have to answer, or we’ll turn back immediately!”
Warmth spread in Youyun’s heart. She nodded firmly at him.
She got out of the car and walked back the way they came. Feeling pressed for time, she broke into a light jog. She thought to herself that if she turned the corner and couldn’t see him, she’d turn back.
With that thought, she ran harder.
She wore low-heeled leather shoes today. The heels clicked “tap, tap, tap” on the cement pavement, a particularly distinct sound in the deep silence of the night.
Her breathing grew heavier; she had only run a few steps before she was gasping for air.
But she did not stop.
She ran forward as if mad.
Years of training had made Jiang Muhe sensitive to all subtle things—sounds, movements, glances, even frequencies.
During missions, he had to remain constantly vigilant of his surroundings. These subtle details could mean life or death; a moment’s inattention could lead to disaster.
The moment he turned, his sharp ears caught the sound of footsteps approaching from a distance. The sound was somewhat familiar—he had noticed it earlier while walking together.
He quickly turned back.
At first, he didn’t dare believe it, but as the sound drew nearer, mingled with increasingly rapid breathing, he was almost certain—it was Liang Youyun.
Though he didn’t know why she had come back, a flicker of hope rose inexplicably in his heart, only to be quickly suppressed. He couldn’t let himself cling to wishful thinking.
Sure enough, beneath the bamboo grove at the end of the road, Liang Youyun’s figure burst into view, turning swiftly from the bend onto this path.
She was running exhaustedly, her long hair flying in the wind, her expression pained, as if she could barely hold on. Only when she looked up and saw him did she finally slow to a stop, staggering a few steps before bending over, clutching her stomach and gasping for breath.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
“Youyun—”
Jiang Muhe could no longer restrain himself. In two or three swift strides, he rushed toward her. The blood in his veins boiled instantly, every cell in his body mobilized, operating at full capacity in that moment.
He swept toward her like a storm, his hands steadying her body.
Liang Youyun must have run too hard; she had no strength left, her entire body limp, unable even to lift her head. Bent over, she said to him, “…Let me…catch my breath…”
Her hands braced against her knees, her mouth dry, her brain starved for oxygen, her chest heaving violently. The lactic acid flooding her muscles made them ache and burn.
It felt like dying.
She still clutched her stomach, where a stitch stabbed with piercing pain.
Jiang Muhe supported her, his heart aching even more.
Without a word, he pulled her arm over his shoulder, turned his back to her, bent down, and in the blink of an eye, hoisted her onto his back.
Youyun felt herself floating lightly against his back, that broad, sturdy spine the only thing she could rely on at this moment.
Her heart still pounded violently, her throat raw from gulping air, each breath feeling as if it might draw blood.
Jiang Muhe slowed his pace, in no hurry to move forward. Liang Youyun’s pounding heart seemed to beat against his back, allowing him to share her sensations, to feel her pain.
And so they stayed close, walking together.
After a while, Youyun recovered slightly and said to him, “I’m much better now…put me down…”
Her voice hovered just behind his ear, every word warm.
Jiang Muhe acted as if he hadn’t heard, his gaze fixed ahead as he continued walking.
“Put me down, I don’t want you to carry me…” Youyun pleaded softly, tapping his shoulder with her knuckles.
Muhe still didn’t speak. Instead, as he walked, he broke into a light jog. When he ran, his strides lengthened, his back straightened slightly, and all his muscles moved in unison—and he didn’t even seem out of breath!
Afraid of falling, Liang Youyun could only hold on tighter, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. She could feel his Adam’s apple rubbing against the inside of her arm, moving up and down. She was truly afraid she might crush that soft little thing.
“Alright, alright, I surrender! Please stop running!” she pleaded.
She heard Jiang Muhe laugh heartily twice, like a child who had won a game, his face full of pride.
He began walking slowly again, turning his head slightly to ask Youyun, his tone gentle: “Why did you rush back in such a hurry?”
Youyun felt too embarrassed to speak, but she knew that since she had returned, she must face him sincerely.
“I… I wanted to say sorry to you…”
For some reason, her heart suddenly ached, and tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes. Her voice trembled as she continued: “…I didn’t mean to lie… I actually felt terrible inside…”
“Youyun.”
He spoke softly, with a friend-like concern, interrupting her. His words were slow but sincere: “You have nothing to apologize to me for. On the contrary, you did the right thing.”
Youyun sniffled, listening to him.
“For a stranger who barges into your life unexpectedly, staying cautious is instinctive. You did nothing wrong.”
“But you’re not a stranger.”
“I am.”
“You’re not.”
Jiang Muhe was amused by her stubbornness and said gently, “How long have we known each other? Counting today, we’ve only met five times, and the total time we’ve spent together is less than a day. If that’s not a stranger, what is?”
“…You’ve been so kind to me. I shouldn’t have rejected you like that.”
Jiang Muhe took a deep breath, exhaled, and said: “The feeling of being rejected by you… wasn’t great, but when I saw you again, I was still very happy.”