The cicadas gradually fell silent, and high school came to an end. Yang Lingling, freed from the crushing pressure of endless exam prep, was carefree and laid-back, lively and radiant.
Through her older sister, she happened to add Zhou Yanyu, a gentle, reserved older guy, on WeChat.
One was a recent graduate just discovering the freedom of summer, someone who loved the bustle of the world. The other was a mature, steady, thoughtful adult who had entered the workforce.
It began with polite small talk and deepened through companionship late into the night.
Night after night, they chatted into the early hours, moving from heartfelt messages to voice calls, and then gentle video calls. Amid his exhausting workdays, her rambling chatter was the perfect stress relief. In her carefree, youthful days, his special affection and thoughtfulness quietly healed the ordinary moments of her life.
There were no rushed tests of the waters, no deliberate flirtation. Their mutual feelings blossomed little by little.
When love finally came naturally, they made it official, staying close across the screen and looking forward to an autumn date with all their hearts.
Autumn winds were on their way, and the National Day holiday was drawing near. All the tenderness they had shared online would finally lead to their first meeting in person.
