After the movie ended, everyone stood up and left the auditorium one by one. Ye Qingyan and Pei Ze walked out of the cinema side by side.
Pei Ze asked softly, “It’s already past midnight. Are you hungry?”
Ye Qingyan nodded. “Mm, a little, actually.”
“Come on then. Let’s go eat at the State-Run Hotel.”
The hotel was just one street away from the cinema — only a few minutes’ walk.
Once they were seated, Ye Qingyan glanced at the menu and said to Pei Ze, “You’re heading back to Beijing soon. Let me treat you today — think of it as a farewell meal. Order whatever you like, don’t stand on ceremony with me.”
“In that case, I won’t be polite.” Pei Ze ordered scallion-fried lamb, pan-fried steamed buns, and egg drop soup.
Over dinner, Ye Qingyan chatted with him about the film’s plot.
Fortunately, Pei Ze was widely read and well-traveled; even though he hadn’t been watching closely, he could still keep up with every point she made.
Under the pretext of washing his hands, Pei Ze quietly found the waiter and settled the bill, including the meal coupons.
When Ye Qingyan reached for her purse to pay, she realized he had already taken care of it.
“I was supposed to treat you,” she said, giving him a chiding, affectionate look. “Why did you go and pay?”
Pei Ze’s lips curved upward. “Then treat me next time. I promise I won’t fight you for the bill.”
“You’ll be all the way in Beijing,” she said with a soft sigh. “Even if I wanted to treat you, I doubt I’ll get the chance.”
Pei Ze paused mid-step, looked down at her and said, “Aren’t you planning to take the university entrance exams? What’s your first-choice school?”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’m torn between Capital University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University.”
Without the slightest hesitation, Pei Ze said, “In that case, I’d recommend Capital University.”
Ye Qingyan looked puzzled. “Why? I’ve actually been eager to see Shanghai. I hear it’s right at the forefront of the times and developing incredibly fast.”
“Both schools are excellent,” Pei Ze said plainly. “But this might be purely for selfish reasons… Capital University is closer to where I’ll be.”
Ye Qingyan smiled, pressing her lips together. “I’ll give it serious thought.”
Pei Ze drove her back toward Xiangyang Village. Halfway there, he pulled over to the side of the road.
“What’s wrong?” Ye Qingyan blinked in confusion. “Has the car broken down?”
Pei Ze took a deep breath, turned to face her and said, “No, the car is fine. There’s just something I’ve been wanting to say to you.”
Seeing how serious and earnest he looked, Ye Qingyan nodded gently, signaling for him to go on.
“Qingyan,” Pei Ze said in a deep, resonant voice. “From the very first moment I saw you, I felt an indescribable fondness for you. That’s why I ran after you that day… why I found every excuse I could to keep exchanging letters with you. And after getting to know you all this time, I’ve come to see what an extraordinary young woman you are.”
“I know you’re not seeing anyone. So… would you consider being with me? I swear to you, my feelings are true. And I promise I will never, ever let you down for as long as I live.”
His expression was utterly sincere — this was no passing joke. His dark eyes were deep and luminous, brimming with tender affection.
Hearing his confession, Ye Qingyan’s heart felt heavy with mixed emotions. She was sharp and perceptive; she had long sensed the depth of his regard.
She admired him deeply. His family background, his capabilities, his character — all were outstanding. And even his appearance was exactly to her taste.
After meeting him several times, she realized how easy and natural it felt to be around him.
To say she wasn’t tempted would be a lie.
But… he was returning to Beijing soon. They would be separated by hundreds of miles.
And then there was her own path: she would take the university entrance exams, and then spend four years earning her degree.
Pei Ze watched her gaze drift silently out the window, and his heart sank slowly. Was this her way of turning him down?
Nervous beyond words, he rolled down the window a crack and breathed in the cool night air.
After several minutes of quiet thought, Ye Qingyan turned back to him and spoke softly. “You know my plans. I intend to go to university. Which means… I won’t be able to marry for another four years. Could you accept that?”
“And if I said I could?”
Truth be told, before meeting Ye Qingyan, Pei Ze had never once imagined settling down. If she hadn’t come along, he might well have remained unmarried all his life.
Ye Qingyan nodded calmly. “Then yes. I’ll go steady with you.”
Happiness struck him so suddenly it felt surreal. “Am I dreaming? Did you just say yes? I… I heard you correctly, didn’t I?”
Ye Qingyan’s eyes crinkled into bright crescents as she smiled. “Yes. You heard me right. I’d be happy to go steady with you.”
Pei Ze looked straight into her eyes, his tone firm and unshakable. “The moment you graduate… we’ll apply for our marriage license.”
Ye Qingyan murmured an acknowledgment. Privately, she still had no idea whether their relationship would last.
Given the nature of Pei Ze’s service, long separations would be inevitable.
And then there was the wait — four years until graduation. So much could change in that time.
But Ye Qingyan was no coward. If they were meant to be, they would stay together. If not… they would part without bitterness.
It was far too early to speak of forever. The only thing that mattered was cherishing the present.
“I bought this for you,” Pei Ze said, drawing a ladies’ wristwatch from his pocket and holding it out. “Do you like it?”
Ye Qingyan snapped out of her reverie and looked down at the watch. “Oh… it’s a Titoni. That must have cost you a fortune.”
“It wasn’t that expensive. Here — let me fasten it for you and see if the band fits properly.”
She held out her wrist toward him.
As the cool metal touched her skin, she gave a little shiver. “It’s so cold.”
Pei Ze secured the watch around her wrist, then held her hand gently in his for a long moment before letting go.
“Still cold?”
“N-no… not anymore.” Ye Qingyan felt her cheeks flush warm and her heart beat fast. She looked down at the elegant watch on her wrist. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me,” Pei Ze said, a soft warmth lighting up his dark eyes. “Between us… there’s no need for such formality.”
All around them stretched open meadows and woodland, and just ahead lay the reservoir. They talked in the car for a long while, until the sky began to darken. Only then did Pei Ze start the engine and drive her the rest of the way home.
He stopped the car a short distance from the village entrance, helped her unload her bicycle, and stood there looking at her, reluctant to part.
“As soon as I get back to Beijing,” he promised, “you’ll hear from me.”
“I’ll look forward to your letters,” Ye Qingyan said with a bright smile. “And who knows? I might be heading to Beijing myself later this year.”
Pei Ze was about to ask what she meant when she had already swung her leg onto her bicycle. She waved back at him without looking over her shoulder. “Goodbye! See you in Beijing!”
No words were needed — their hearts already understood.
She was willing to choose Capital University for him. To be closer. To make seeing each other possible.
When Ye Qingyan arrived home, Ji Qiuyun immediately noticed she had been gone for hours and asked where she had been.
Ye Qingyan saw no reason to keep it from her. She told her plainly — she had been to the cinema with Pei Ze.
“Mom… we’re seeing each other now. We’re going steady.”
Ji Qiuyun had suspected as much, but never imagined it would happen so soon. “And what about university?” she asked, surprised. “Are you giving that up?”
“Being with him and going to university don’t have to be at odds,” Ye Qingyan replied calmly. “We’ve already spoken about it. We’ve agreed — marriage can wait until after I graduate.”
“I see. Well… that sounds sensible enough,” Ji Qiuyun nodded, relieved. “Then get to know each other well first. There’s no rush to marry. And when you have the chance, do invite him over for dinner.”
“I’m afraid he won’t be able to visit just yet,” Ye Qingyan said gently. “He’s been transferred back to Beijing — he’s leaving in a day or two.”
“What? So soon?” Ji Qiuyun’s face fell. “You’ll be thousands of miles apart! How will that ever work?” Distance, in her eyes, made the whole thing seem impossible.
Ye Qingyan remained composed. “Mom, he serves in the military. Even if he were nearby, we wouldn’t be able to see each other every day anyway. And once I pass my exams and get into Capital University… I’ll be in Beijing too.”
Ji Qiuyun fell silent. Seeing that her daughter had thought everything through so carefully, she said no more. She would trust her judgment and support her decision.