The day she met Meng Siyi was an incredibly ordinary one.
Zhu Shiyu had just saved a string of unfamiliar numbers in her phone the night before. Before they even had the chance to communicate, she was woken up the next morning by a phone call.
Through the receiver came a gentle, pleasant male voice, asking her out to meet that morning.
At the time, Zhu Shiyu had just pulled an all-nighter at the hospital. Her brain wasn’t entirely awake yet. Hanging up the phone, she sat up in bed, sleepily running a hand through her hair. Only in hindsight did she catch a hint of crisp coolness lingering in the last echoes of his voice—like freshly crushed mint.
He seemed like someone easy to get along with, yet difficult to deeply connect with.
She quickly freshened up and headed out, only to discover downstairs that it was raining.
Wenbei City was located in the south. Once winter arrived, the continuous, gloomy rain brought a damp, biting cold that drilled straight into one’s bones.
The rain wasn’t heavy, but it pattered steadily from the eaves. The ground was slick and wet, with no telling when it would stop.
Zhu Shiyu stared at the curtain of rain before her and sighed, resigning herself to turning around and going back upstairs to grab an umbrella.
On the way, her elder aunt called again, saying that Zhou Zhen was refusing to cooperate with her treatment at the hospital and was making a fuss about going home. Zhu Shiyu asked her aunt to pass the phone to her mother.
“I’m about to meet up with that boy.”
“Mm, take care of your health.”
Two brief sentences, and the other end quieted down. Zhu Shiyu hung up the phone and looked up to see the restaurant right in front of her.
The location was chosen by the other party, perfectly timed for lunch. Holding her phone, she pushed the door open and walked in.
It was a music restaurant. Right now, only two or three tables were occupied. Someone on stage was playing the violin, the melody soft, melodic, and floating through the air.
The heating rushed to greet her, driving away the chill clinging to her body.
Zhu Shiyu glanced around the room, her gaze finally landing on the corner window seat to her right.
Prior to this, Zhu Shiyu had seen his photo.
The guy was wearing a white doctor’s coat and a tie. His face facing the camera was proper and serious, his gaze unwavering.
His silhouette was handsome, his features superior. If this slightly faded photo were posted online, it would look exactly like one of those leaked ID photos of a legendary school heartthrob from their student days.
After Zhu Shiyu’s brief moment of awe, all that remained was sheer confusion.
Why would someone like this need to go on a blind date?
At this very moment, this was the only thought left echoing in her head.
Meng Siyi was even more outstanding than his photo.
He sat there quietly, his overcoat draped over the back of his chair. He was wearing a cream-colored sweater layered over a blue dress shirt. The cuffs were slightly rolled up, revealing a glimpse of his wrist bones—lean and pale.
He was much more vivid and attractive in person. What was even rarer was that he carried a comfortable sense of youthfulness about him. Perhaps due to his profession, his brows instinctively bore a touch of composure, an intriguing vibe hovering right between a mature man and a boy.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, the person sitting there looked up. Zhu Shiyu gave him a polite smile, pulled out the chair, and sat down opposite him.
About three seconds ticked by.
He pursed his lips and voiced his introduction.
“Hello, I’m Meng Siyi.”
The atmosphere of their first meeting was slightly tepid.
Zhu Shiyu was a slow warmer and didn’t have much to say to strangers. Across from her, Dr. Meng didn’t seem in too high spirits either. After that initial introduction, Zhu Shiyu replied with a simple “Hello,” courteously offering her own name in return. A faint ripple of surprise seemed to cross his eyes before he nodded and lowered his gaze.
His pitch-black, long eyelashes concealed the light in his eyes, making it impossible to read his mood or emotions.
With zero progress made there, they both went to their respective homes after the meeting. They exchanged a few sparse words on WeChat occasionally—lukewarm and unhurried.
Her family, however, acted as if they were welcoming a monumental event, displaying an unprecedented enthusiasm and paying uncomfortably close attention.
Her elder aunt had worked as a nurse in the hospital for years and was well-connected. As the most outstanding young talent in the hospital, Dr. Meng was as highly sought-after as limited-edition luxury goods at a high-end mall—expensive and exquisite.
She was thoroughly heartbroken over Zhu Shiyu’s denseness and lack of ambition. So, on New Year’s Day, using gratitude as an excuse, she invited Meng Siyi over to her house for dinner.
A couple of months ago, her elder uncle had accidentally fallen and hurt his leg at work; Meng Siyi had been his attending physician.
Zhu Shiyu wore a winter skirt that day, paired with a woolen overcoat. The light, soft fabric traced her fitting curves, adding a touch of womanly charm to her bright and beautiful features.
Zhou Zhen had been discharged from the hospital a few days prior. She had suffered a sudden myocardial infarction and had been treated in the hospital for over half a month. Once her condition had stabilized slightly, she had demanded to go home to recover.
Right now, no one in the house dared to go against her wishes. Yesterday, Father Zhu had accidentally shattered a cup and had been walking on eggshells ever since.
Zhu Shiyu followed her orders to dress up a little prettier. Right before heading out, she even dug out a pair of lambskin boots she hadn’t touched for centuries from the bottom of her closet.
It wasn’t raining outside today, but it was gloomy, and the wind was fierce.
When Zhu Shiyu arrived, her elder aunt’s house was already incredibly lively. Aside from the two elders, her older cousin had also specially returned home today, bringing along her pair of kids.
Her elder aunt and uncle had married early. Her cousin was five years older than Zhu Shiyu and had married years ago. Her second child was already three, now able to walk and greet people.
At this moment, the two kids were laughing and playing in the living room. The older sister held a puzzle piece high in the air, while her little brother tried to snatch it. Sitting right on the carpet between them was a person.
Meng Siyi wore a black overcoat, the front slightly open, revealing the cream sweater inside.
His head was half-lowered, his bangs falling to obscure a bit of his eyes, but his side profile looked remarkably gentle.
“Alright, Uncle will put together one piece for each of you.”
Strangely, Zhu Shiyu could hear a patient, soothing tone in his voice.
“Auntie, you look so pretty today!” The sharp-eyed little niece was the first to spot her, her sweet mouth practically shouting the praise.
As her words landed, a gaze immediately followed. Meng Siyi paused his movements and turned his head, his eyes falling on her and lingering for a brief moment.
The air seemed to quiet down for a second. Zhu Shiyu curved her lips as usual, smiling as she patted the girl’s head.
By the time she straightened up and looked over again, Meng Siyi had already shifted his gaze away, with only the last corner of the puzzle left in his hands to complete.
The dinner proceeded without a single dull moment. Her aunt was a know-it-all, listing off the hospital’s gossip like family heirlooms. Meng Siyi responded to her chatter, nodding politely from time to time.
Her cousin’s two kids were adorable and endearing. Tugging at his sleeves, they crisply called him “Big Brother.” Their innocent childish voices drew a spontaneous round of laughter from the table. Meng Siyi lowered his head to serve them food, exceptionally patient and indulgent.
Her cousin occasionally chipped in with a few words, chatting with Zhu Shiyu about family affairs. Her elder uncle raised his glass by himself, happily taking a small sip, only to catch a warning glare from her aunt’s peripheral vision. He sheepishly set the glass down.
Night fell, and the evening lights lit up, filling the living room with a warm, amber glow.
A table full of people harmoniously enjoying themselves. If you ignored the unintentional pleasantries and unfamiliarity, it truly looked like an amicable, perfect family.
After dinner, Zhu Shiyu was walked to the door by her elder aunt.
Meng Siyi stood to the side as her aunt warmly instructed him.
“Little Meng, we’ll trouble you to take our Little Yu home. Pay attention to safety on the road, drive carefully…”
“It’s no trouble, it’s what I should do,” Meng Siyi replied with a slight bow of his head, his attitude impeccable. His performance tonight seemed to invisibly broadcast something, making her aunt bloom with joy, her words instantly tumbling out unstoppably.
“Good, good, good, you are such a good boy,” her aunt beamed, grabbing his hand. “Let me tell you, our Little Yu is a top-notch girl. Education, looks, personality—she lacks in nothing. Since she was little, the boys chasing her could form a line stretching down a whole street! I remember back in school, there were boys coming downstairs every single day just to bring her breakfast…”
“Elder Aunt…” Hearing this, Zhu Shiyu was so embarrassed she could barely stand still, and hurriedly interrupted.
“It’s getting late, we really should head back.”
“Ah, right, right! Then you two hurry up and set off, don’t let it get too late.”
The elevator doors closed and slowly descended. The surroundings finally returned to silence.
Standing alone inside with Meng Siyi, Zhu Shiyu suddenly felt the air was a little too quiet.
The descent took no more than a few dozen seconds, yet it felt as if tens of minutes had agonizingly crawled by.
The moment the doors opened, Zhu Shiyu hastily stepped out. Fresh air mixed with a chilly wind rushed at her from the outside, and she reflexively shrunk her neck.
“Aren’t you cold wearing so little?” The person beside her finally took the initiative to speak—their first private sentence of the day.
“I’m alright,” Zhu Shiyu didn’t look at him. Staring into the night ahead, she subconsciously pulled her coat tighter and answered instinctively.
“My mom told me to dress prettier.”
At the time, Zhu Shiyu was just telling the truth. It was a statement made without much thought, the underlying meaning of which even she herself didn’t fully grasp.
Yet, barely two days later, Meng Siyi actually took the initiative to ask her out.
It happened to be the weekend. The two of them grabbed dinner and watched a movie at a nearby mall. Only when they came out did they realize a light rain had started falling outside at some point.
Just like the day they first met. A constant patter, the ground damp.
Meng Siyi went to a nearby convenience store to buy an umbrella, but only managed to get one. The rain had come so suddenly that the store’s umbrellas were practically sold out.
The deep winter rain was fine and dense. The umbrella canopy perfectly covered the two of them, blocking the freezing drizzle, but things weren’t as secure around their feet. Their shoes inevitably got wet from the rainwater.
The walk from the mall to her house took barely ten minutes. Meng Siyi walked her to her doorstep and voiced his goodbye.
“Keep the umbrella. I’ll just catch a cab back.”
“The rain hasn’t stopped, and I’m already home. You should take it.”
Zhu Shiyu pushed the umbrella back. The two were locked in a stalemate for a few seconds before he stopped declining.
“Alright.”
Polite and restrained, knowing exactly when to advance and retreat.
The entire process was brimming with the proper decency of adults.
Just like their date today.
Like a glass of lemon water with a pinch of sea salt—light in taste, yet leaving a faint, lingering sweetness.
Zhu Shiyu watched Meng Siyi’s back disappear at the entrance of the residential complex. She turned, went upstairs, and took out her keys to open the door.
A not-so-light, not-so-heavy click.
Zhou Zhen, who was sitting right on the sofa, immediately turned her head to look over, asking, “How was the date with Little Meng today? Did you ask him to come over for dinner?”
“It’s too early for that. We’ll talk about it next time,” Zhu Shiyu replied perfunctorily as usual, looking down to change her shoes. But Zhou Zhen was already anxiously standing up from the sofa, raising her voice.
“When is next time? Every time I ask, this is your answer! Let me tell you, if things don’t work out with Little Meng this time, you are going out to get a job. It just so happens your younger aunt mentioned the city library is short-handed, and I’ll have her help arrange a spot for you.”
“Mom! Didn’t we agree that once I moved back, you wouldn’t interfere with my work?” Zhu Shiyu turned her head, frowning.
“The prerequisite for that agreement was you getting married! Anyway, between a job and a family, you must pick one.”
“Except for this Wenbei City, don’t even think about going anywhere else!” Her final sentence was absolute and decisive.
A familiar sense of powerlessness welled up deeply from her chest. All words of argument lost their efficacy under the weight of irreconcilable, accumulated conflicts.
Zhu Shiyu fell silent and crouched down to put her shoes away.
During her slow movements, a pair of shoes in the corner of the shoe cabinet caught her eye.
It was the pair she wore the day she and Meng Siyi first met.
White, lace-up little leather shoes, low-cut, revealing a slender sliver of her ankle.
It wasn’t that cold back then. She had worn a plaid midi umbrella skirt. Stepping out of the restaurant with her umbrella, she had accidentally stepped into a small puddle of accumulated water on the road.
The splashed, dirty rainwater had soaked her ankle and the top of her shoe.
Meng Siyi, holding his umbrella, had crouched down. Taking a pack of tissues from his pocket, he had gently wiped the muddy stains from her foot.
The drizzle was hazy, the wind carrying a hint of chill.
Zhu Shiyu stood there looking down. The navy-blue umbrella canopy completely obscured his face; she could only feel the gentle touch of the tissue brushing against her skin.
Polite, patient, and meticulous.
He had a good job, zero bad habits, liked kids, and had an upright character.
These were the strong points she had summarized about Meng Siyi from their brief one month of contact.
No matter which angle she looked at it from, he seemed destined to become a wonderful husband and a great father in the future.
Before she knew it, Zhu Shiyu had been crouching there for a long time—just like the day Meng Siyi had held the umbrella and crouched by her feet.
Translator’s Anecdote: Nothing seals the deal in a modern C-romance quite like a handsome, highly-sought-after doctor gently wiping mud off your little leather shoes! 🥿✨