Zhuang Zi'ang held his phone, drafting a message to the tact beled "Little Butterfly." He typed, erased, retyped, and revised. Finally, he posed a message: "What would you like for breakfast tomorrow? I'll bring it for you."

  After another moment of deliberation, ensuring it didn't sound too presumptuous, he finally took a deep breath and hit send.

  He waited with bated breath, but his message remained unanswered. Zhuang Zi'ang decided to fill a bucket with water and started mopping the floor. The apartment had been thhly ed just yesterday, but the waiting was unbearable. He needed a distra to keep himself from going stir-crazy.

  Ten mier, Zhuang Zi'ang snatched his phone, his hopes high, only to find no new messages from Su Yudiel. What could possibly be keeping her occupied at this hour?

  He stared at the s for a dozen seds, then finally steeled himself and made a call.

  "We're sorry, the number you have dialed is currently unavaible. Please try again ter."

  Usually, upon hearing this automated rec, Zhuang Zi'ang would have hung up instantly. This time, however, he listeo the entire message, even the English portion.

  Seriously? In this day and age, were there still pces with no cell service? Did she live in a cave or something?

  Zhuang Zi'ang pushed open the window, and a cool night breeze brushed against his face. A sliver of a moon hung high in the inky sky.

  He had finally taken the plunge a home food, something he had yearo do ten years ago. He no longer had to tiptoe around others or stantly be on guard. He was free to do as he pleased and see whomever his heart desired.

  Ironically, fag his own mortality, he felt more alive than ever before. Even if it were only for three fleeting months, he was determio make them t.

  Looking at the bright moon, Zhuang Zi'ang was suddenly overe with a desire to "celebrate" and poured himself a gss of co. His refle looked back at him, his features sharp and spirited.

  "'To you, Zhuang Zi'ang,' he toasted himself."

  He ked his gss against his refle in a silent toast and draihe tents in one go.

  That night, in his modest new abode, he slept more soundly than he had in years. He dreamt he was a butterfly, flitting freely through the air, s over majestic mountains and winding rivers, drinking in the beauty of the world below.

  The m, he was roused by the first rays of sunlight filtering through the window. A soft 'ding' from his phone pulled Zhuang Zi'ang from his slumber. He fumbled for his phone under his pillow and saw a message from Su Yudiel. His drowsiness instantly vanished.

  "I made qingtuan myself. Care for some?" (Qingtuan - traditional ese sweet dumplings made with glutinous rid pnt juice.)

  Zhuang Zi'ang immediately typed back: "Sounds good! I'll get us drinks. Milk or soy milk?"

  "Soy milk. Meet me at the bus stop," Su Yudiel's reply came almost immediately.

  Zhuang Zi'ang sprang out of bed and headed to the bathroom for a quick, hot shower. He preferred m showers, as it allowed him to wash his hair simultaneously, a more effit use of time.

  He had long since abahat garish floral shirt. During their supermarket trip the previous day, he had picked up a few new spring outfits on sale. He selected a light blue jacket and paired it with some simple bck trousers. This ensemble was more befitting of his usual studious image.

  Before leaving the apartment, he ripped a page off the dar. It felt as if his remaining days had bee tangible, each sheet representing a day less to live.

  As he desded the stairs, Zhuang Zi'ang spotted his neighbaged in her m exercises and offered a greeting, "'M, ma'am."

  The neighbor smiled back. "'Off to school, Xiao Zhuang? I thought that young dy might have stayed over st night.'"

  "'She's just a friend, ma'am. Don't tease.'" Zhuang Zi'ang crified, blushing slightly.

  "'o be coy. It's good for young people to date. Bring her around more often,'" the neighbor enced with a knowing wink.

  Su Yudiel was beautiful, had a sweet disposition, and so cheerful. The neighbor had been instantly charmed by her after just one enter. The sight of Zhuang Zi'ang and Su Yudiel together brought baemories of her own school days, filled with youthful romance.

  Little did she know that this young man's life was tragically drawing to a close.

  At the breakfast stall, Zhuang Zi'ang ordered two cups of soy milk - oh red dates and oh bck sesame. Unsure of Su Yudiel's preference, he figured he'd let her choose and he'd simply take the remaining one.

  He reached the bus stop and waited nearly ten minutes for the No. 19 bus to arrive. The bus doors hissed open, disg a stream of students, their faces alight with youthful energy.

  Bringing up the rear was a girl of exceptional beauty. She was still dressed in the same outfit: a crisp white blouse, a pleated blue skirt, pristine white vas shoes, and that signature sprig of peach blossom ad her hair.

  A thought struck Zhuang Zi'ang as odd. It had been three days, yet she erpetually in the same ensemble. White garments were notorious for showing dirt. Yet her blouse and shoes remained impeccably .

  "'Little Butterfly!'" Zhuang Zi'ang hailed her.

  "'Zhuang Zi'ang, sorry! Did I keep you waiting?'" Su Yudiel asked, blinking her rge, limpid eyes.

  "'Not at all, I just got here myself. See? The soy milk is still warm,'" Zhuang Zi'ang reassured her with a smile. Truth be told, the soy milk had been scalding hot when he first bought it, but after ten minutes, it had cooled to the perfect temperature.

  The two strolled into the school grounds together, making their way to the same flower bed as the day before. The hyaths and wisteria were still beaded with m dew, each droplet sparkling in the sunlight.

  Su Yudiel had a bck shoulder bag slung across her today. She reached into it arieved a greaseproof paper bag, releasing a fragrant aroma. The bag tained several plump, green-hued qingtuan.

  Qingtuan, a traditional delicacy dating back over a thousand years, are made by blending the juice of young mugwort pnts with glutinous rice flour and eng a sweet filling, typically red bean paste or lotus seed paste. Their vibrant green color and delicate, herbal aroma are instantly reizable.

  Zhuang Zi'ang picked up one of the qingtuan and took a tentative bite. It was filled with red bean paste, sweet but not cloyingly so.

  "'Wow, these are both visually stunning and incredibly delicious. Did you make these yourself?'" Zhuang Zi'ang asked, impressed.

  Su Yudiel nodded proudly. "'Of course. My grandma taught me.'"

  "'You're incredibly talehese are almost too pretty to eat,'" Zhuang Zi'ang plimented her genuinely.

  "'Mugwort is believed to reduternal heat and dampness in traditional ese medie. Eat more of these, and your nosebleeds will surely stop,'" Su Yudiel advised, taking a sip of her red date soy milk.

  "'Wait, you made these specifically for me?'" Zhuang Zi'ang asked, astonished.

  "'Of course. These are such a pain to make. You have to pick fresh, tender mugwort, mash it, mix it with the dough, steam it, then add the filling. I woke up so early today,'" Su Yudiel said, c her mouth as she yawned.

  Zhuang Zi'ang's heart warmed. He never expected someoo go to so much trouble for him. It ity these qingtuan wouldn't cure his nosebleeds.

  "'Little Butterfly, I'm fine. Don't go to so much trouble for me iure.'"

  Su Yudiel shook her head stubbornly. "'No way. We're friends. Friends should care about each other.'"

  Zhuang Zi'ang silently chewed on the qingtuan, a jumble of emotions welled up in his heart.

  God, are you pying a joke on me? Why send someone like her into my life when I'm about to die?

  "'ht, Zhuang Zi'ang, I'm sorry. I 't use my pho night, so I only saw your message this m,'" Su Yudiel suddenly remembered and apologized.

  "'It's okay. I knew you'd reply when you saw it,'" Zhuang Zi'ang said softly.

  "'Css is starting soon. Thanks for the soy milk, see you!'"

  Su Yudiel waved the cup in her hand and walked briskly up the stairs, disappearing around the er in two or three steps.

  Zhuang Zi'ang remaianding by the flower bed, silently watg the dire she’d gone. He'd been standing in the shadow of the building, but now the sun was rising, and the shadow receded. Warm sunlight spilled down, illuminating him pletely.