Huai Xu Knows My Heart

Ever since I was little, I loved running to the old locust tree behind our village. When I was happy, I picked its blossoms; when I was sad, I hid in its shade and cried. I even once said, without thinking, that I wanted to marry it.

No one knew why, and I always thought it was simply in my nature. Stranger still, I had unbelievable luck all my life. Whatever I wanted, I got, and I rarely even suffered so much as a scrape.

Then I went to college and met my first love, and my good fortune came to an abrupt end. I failed every exam, got caught in the rain every time I went out, and even the first love I had looked forward to so much ended when I caught him cheating on me during the New Year celebrations.

Crying, I ran to the old locust tree, ready to pour out all my grievances to my silent old friend. Instead, I saw a young man in moon-white hanfu sitting among its branches.

Clutched in his hand was the jade pendant I had lost as a child. His eyes were full of hurt, and his voice was clear and cool. “You’ve got another dog outside now. Who’s going to protect you?”

It turned out that the dependence etched into my bones and the smooth, lucky life I’d led had never been coincidence.

The one who had silently watched over me as I grew up, listened to every secret in my heart, and whom I’d once declared I would marry, had been there all along…