The Stars Don't Speak

Meeting him was an accident.

It was a winter night on a route through western Sichuan. The weather forecast predicted a spectacular meteor shower around midnight.

The wind howled outside the tents. At half past midnight, the group returned, disappointed.

Three hours later, Ning Yi stepped outside, bundled in a thick down jacket, and found Xie Wei bent over, wiping his telescope on the dry lawn.

A red ribbon fluttered freely in the cold wind on a fence by the distant mountain. She had always wondered why so many couples did that.

“Isn't it dangerous?”

Only after hearing his explanation did she feel she understood a little.

“So that's why,” she said with a smile. “I guess I'm a little dull. I don't have much of a romantic bone in my body.”

“Do you like looking at the stars?”

“Hm?” She didn't know why he had suddenly asked, but nodded instinctively. “I do.”

Xie Wei smiled. “Isn't that romantic enough?”

“Look up,” he said. “Your stars are here.”

Theme: A girl's skirt hem will always remain spotless