“Chu Yi!!!”
At Ye Qingyan’s raised shout, Chu Yi flinched and ducked his head, staring hard at the ground.
Ye Qingyan grabbed his ear. “Have you been misbehaving again?”
Chu Yi looked up at her with big, innocent eyes.
Ye Qingyan, however, was having none of it.
Qiuyun said she hadn’t seen it—and things don’t just vanish into thin air. Which meant only one thing: Chu Yi must have run off with it.
“Where did you take that scarf I knitted?” Ye Qingyan threatened. “Hand it over right now, or you’ll go hungry today!”
At the mention of no food, Chu Yi grew frantic. He tilted his head and let out a series of woeful yelps—Wooo~ wooo~—sounding utterly wronged.
“Hmph… playing the pitiful act won’t work!” she huffed. “If you do wrong, you take the punishment!”
It was the third day of the Lunar New Year. Ye Qinghui had come over from Danan Village to pay New Year’s calls. Ye Qingyan had planned to find her scarf and give it to her brother as a holiday gift.
But now… it had vanished without a trace!
She’d searched every corner of the house, even the dog’s bed—and still no scarf. There was only one possible explanation: Chu Yi had taken it.
Ye Qinghui quickly stepped in to soothe her. “It’s New Year’s—don’t let this upset you. I’m truly grateful for the thought. If we can’t find it, that’s all there is to it.”
Ye Qingyan pouted, eyes glistening. “But… it was the very first thing I ever knitted…”
“Come on, don’t be sad,” Ye Qinghui said gently, guiding her back inside. “Here—try this pen I bought for you. See if it writes well.”
“Alright…” Ye Qingyan murmured. She sat at the desk, uncorked the ink bottle, and drew ink into the pen cartridge.
It was a Hero brand fountain pen—ink flowed evenly, strokes were smooth, and the quality was excellent, as expected.
“Thank you, Brother. It writes beautifully.”
The siblings shared a quiet understanding: alongside the scarf, Ye Qingyan had also prepared a pen and notebook for him. With both of them studying hard lately, such things were incredibly practical.
A few days later, Ye Qingyan headed to the supply and marketing cooperative to run errands, then stopped by the post office to check for any parcel addressed to her.
Pei Ze had indeed sent one—the clerk told her it had arrived two days earlier.
Back home, she opened the package, tucked the letter safely into her pocket, and put the rest away in her cabinet.
Just as always, Pei Ze had sent an abundance of supplies—food, daily necessities, all kinds of things. And every time she read his letters, her spirits lifted.
Comrade Ye Qingyan,
It has been far too long since last we met; you are often in my thoughts.
Your letter and parcel arrived, and brought me more joy than I can say.
I spent the New Year here at the base. Aside from extra meals in the mess hall, these days pass much like any other. I trust your family’s celebrations were lively and warm?
Now I must speak of something—hope you will not think me forward.
I have received official orders to transfer back to the capital. Before I leave Anping County, I hoped we might meet and attend a film together.
Date: February 14th, 10:00 AM
Location: Outside Anping Cinema
I look forward to seeing you there.
— Pei Ze
Ye Qingyan arched an eyebrow. February 14th… wasn’t that the Western Valentine’s Day? Pure coincidence—or had he chosen that day on purpose?
Either way, she knew she would go. He was leaving for the capital soon, and there was no telling when—or if—they might meet again.
The thought settled in her chest, leaving a strange, hollow ache. Her bright mood had faded completely.
The day of their meeting arrived. Ye Qingyan put on a newly stitched navy cotton-padded jacket, gathered her waist-length hair to one side, and braided it neatly into a plait, securing the end with a beaded hair cord.
Her attire was simple and modest, yet it could not dim her elegant features, nor the clear, luminous grace that made her stand out wherever she went.
“Mother, I’m heading out!” She slung her satchel over one shoulder and rode off quickly on her bicycle.
Qiuyun watched her go, murmuring to herself, “Dressed in new clothes and rushing off like that… I wonder where she’s going?”
Before she could even catch a final glimpse of her daughter’s figure, Ye Qingyan was already gone. She would just have to wait and ask when she returned.
Shortly after leaving the village, Ye Qingyan spotted a jeep parked by the roadside—the very jeep Pei Ze drove.
Pei Ze caught sight of her in his rearview mirror. He immediately stepped out and stood waiting.
Ye Qingyan braked to a halt, smiling. “I didn’t expect you to come all this way to meet me.”
Pei Ze’s dark eyes rested steadily on her. “It occurred to me your village is quite far from the county seat. I did not feel at ease letting you travel alone—so I came to fetch you.”
Ye Qingyan nodded. “That was very kind of you. Thank you.”
Pei Ze lifted her bicycle and secured it onto the vehicle. It was then that she noticed what he was wearing: a long black wool coat… and around his neck, a grey scarf.
Wait. A grey scarf???
That was the scarf she had knitted herself! How on earth had it ended up around his neck?
Ye Qingyan stared at it, utterly bewildered. What had gone wrong? She’d meant it for her brother—she certainly hadn’t mailed it to Pei Ze.
Could it have been Qiuyun? No… that seemed unlikely. Her mother knew perfectly well who it was intended for.
Pei Ze noticed her gaze fixed on the scarf. He smiled gently. “Thank you for the scarf. It is wonderfully warm. You went to so much trouble for me.”
It was precisely receiving this hand-knitted gift that had given Pei Ze the courage to invite her to the cinema. Surely, if she had taken such care to make something for him… it meant he held a special place in her heart, did it not?
“Ah… um…” Ye Qingyan looked away awkwardly, forcing a faint smile. “You’re welcome. I’m glad it suits you.”
It was already wrapped around his neck. She could hardly just take it off him and say—Actually, that’s not for you. She simply could not bring herself to do such a thing. Very well then… she would just have to consider it his gift.
At the cinema, Pei Ze bought two tickets. Film choices were limited in those days, and they were seeing Black Triangle.
Ye Qingyan had heard of it but never watched it, and watched the screen with keen interest. Beside her, however, Pei Ze seemed far less focused. Again and again, his gaze drifted toward her.
Sitting so close, he found himself admiring her profile—and his heart began to pound fiercely against his ribs.