After finishing her busy chores, Lin Suzhen, pnning to take a short nap, told Zhuang Zi’ang to take Su Yudiel for a walk around the vilge.

  When Su Yudiel saw the hills covered with azaleas, she could no longer contain the excitement bubbling in her heart.

  The two stepped out of the small courtyard and, under the warm afternoon sun, headed toward the hills at the back of the vilge.

  Passing by some houses, Zhuang Zi’ang saw some elders and proactively went over to greet them.

  Seeing that he had brought back a beautiful young dy, they began teasing him: “Zi’ang, you’re promising—so young and already found yourself a bride!” “This girl is truly radiant, just like someone from a painting!” “Get married soon; Uncle is already looking forward to the wedding feast!” …

  Zhuang Zi’ang gave an awkward smile as he struggled to respond.

  Standing a little way off, Su Yudiel waited until he returned and then whispered, “What were they saying?”

  With a stern face, Zhuang Zi’ang replied, “Adults are talking. Kids should mind their own business.”

  “I’m not a kid!” Su Yudiel pouted.

  “How can you not be? You’re still my little schoolmate,” Zhuang Zi’ang teased, casting a gnce at Su Yudiel’s chest.

  “Big dummy, you’re asking for it—who exactly is your little schoolmate?”

  Su Yudiel rushed forward, raising her tiny fists and pyfully beating him.

  Zhuang Zi’ang burst into hearty ughter and pleaded for mercy.

  The vilge elders watching all smiled knowingly.

  What a pair of young lovers pyfully teasing each other!

  Youth is truly wonderful.

  At the foot of the mountain, the houses disappeared, and silence enveloped the surroundings.

  Between heaven and earth, it was just the two of them.

  The mountain path was steep and rugged, overgrown with weeds, and not easy to walk.

  After hesitating for a long while, Zhuang Zi’ang rubbed his right hand repeatedly against his pants before cautiously reaching out.

  Su Yudiel met his gaze; her cheeks flushed as she shyly extended her soft little hand.

  They gently held each other’s hands, feeling the warmth in their palms as their hearts pounded wildly.

  It wasn’t the first time they had held hands, yet they still felt nervous.

  Last time, it was in the rented room.

  After holding hands, Little Butterfly disappeared for an entire week.

  Zhuang Zi’ang was terribly frightened; that tender moment was as fleeting as ever.

  Azaleas—legend says that the blood of the cuckoo’s cry stained them red, adding an air of legend to these blossoms(“杜鹃” refers to both the flower and the myth of the cuckoo’s cry).

  “The spirit of the emperor lingers for a thousand years, and the spring mountains feel the wind time after time.”

  “Each sound, to whom does it speak? Each year, the blossoms burst into scarlet.”

  Climbing to the mountaintop, Little Butterfly was out of breath, her cheeks slightly flushed and fine beads of sweat appearing on her forehead.

  Zhuang Zi’ang had brought a tissue and helped wipe her sweat.

  Suddenly, a mountain breeze arose, lifting her skirt like a sea of waves and revealing her slender little legs.

  Her curves were graceful, pale, and as smooth as jade.

  No matter how hard he tried, Zhuang Zi’ang couldn’t tear his eyes away from her legs.

  “Are they beautiful?” Su Yudiel asked.

  “Of course they are,” Zhuang Zi’ang answered dreamily.

  When he came to his senses, he noticed that Little Butterfly was staring intently at a rge cluster of azaleas nearby.

  It turned out: while she was looking at the flowers, I was staring at your legs.

  The azaleas exuded a faint, refreshing fragrance that drifted with the wind, soothing the heart.

  Feeling quite pyful, Su Yudiel climbed onto a rge boulder, cupped her hands to her mouth, and shouted into the deep valley, “Hey, big dummy, can you hear me?”

  Her voice echoed repeatedly through the valley.

  Covering his ears with a look of disdain, Zhuang Zi’ang retorted, “Are you crazy? Why shout so loudly?”

  Waving at him, Su Yudiel called, “Come on, shout a few times too; let your heart’s words out, and you’ll feel so much better.”

  “I’m not going to do something so stupid,” Zhuang Zi’ang scoffed.

  Su Yudiel jumped down, grabbed his hand, and forcefully dragged him onto the boulder.

  The wind grew even stronger, tossing her hair into a wild dance.

  She once again cupped her hands and shouted, “That's right, I'm sick! Got any medicine?”

  Moved by her enthusiasm, Zhuang Zi’ang finally mustered the courage to shout, “I don't have any medicine, but I'm sick too!”

  Their voices merged in the valley, creating a marvelous duet.

  “Are you seriously sick?”

  “You're the one who's seriously sick!”

  They each shouted once more.

  “Having a big illness” has become a popur internet meme.

  In a joking manner, Zhuang Zi’ang voiced a secret buried deep in his heart, suddenly feeling a great relief.

  When he shouted “big illness,” he meant it quite literally.

  Little Butterfly, however, looked at him with a smile, thinking he was merely teasing.

  “How is that? Doesn’t it feel great?”

  Zhuang Zi’ang ughed heartily, “If the people at the foot of the mountain hear us, they’ll think we’re crazy.”

  “I don't care what others think; as long as I'm happy,” Su Yudiel decred proudly.

  Her words moved him deeply.

  All his life, he had cared too much about others’ opinions, always striving for everyone's approval and trying to portray himself as the perfect student and obedient child, thereby greatly suppressing his true self.

  Yet, he was not happy at all.

  Until he met Little Butterfly, whose nonconformity and free spirit were infectious—even though she, too, walked through darkness and mire.

  Zhuang Zi’ang guessed that perhaps Little Butterfly’s appearance was the final ray of light bestowed upon him by God.

  “Little Butterfly, I miss you so much—”

  This time, Zhuang Zi’ang shouted with all his might until he used up his st breath, before finally bending over and stopping.

  In the valley, his echo filled the air:I miss you so much.I miss you.Miss you…

  “What a dummy—you’re right here in front of me, so why miss me?” Su Yudiel asked in confusion.

  “Even if we are face-to-face, I will still miss you,” Zhuang Zi’ang replied, gazing into her eyes as clear as autumn water.

  After a moment of eye contact, Little Butterfly shyly lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.

  Nervously, her fingers unconsciously traced patterns on her skirt.

  Zhuang Zi’ang’s heart raced.

  He knew that with his current state of health, he no longer had the right to say “I love you.”

  So, he stepped back and said, “I miss you so much.”

  “Big dummy, I miss you so much too—”

  Little Butterfly’s voice then echoed through the valley, yered and continuous, a response meant for Zhuang Zi’ang.

  The entire mountain of azaleas bore witness.

  Zhuang Zi’ang quietly watched her—she was as beautiful as a pure, untainted fairy.

  “I don't have the fortune to be worthy of such a wonderful girl.”

  “After I'm gone, don't miss me for too long; just three months—the same length as the time we've known each other.”

  “Three months ter, please forget me completely and embrace a happy life.”

  “Never think of me again.”

  Zhuang Zi’ang approached the cluster of azaleas in full bloom and picked the prettiest flower he could find.

  “Little Butterfly, the first time I saw you, you wore a peach blossom. Would you mind if I exchanged it for this one?”

  Su Yudiel bounded over, tilting her head obediently as she came to him.

  With utmost care, Zhuang Zi’ang inserted the flower into her flowing, cloud-like hair.

  A colorful butterfly flew over and circled above the blossom.

  Su Yudiel lifted her head, her eyes sparkling—she was even more charming than the flower.

  “Big dummy, come down a bit.”

  “What for?” Zhuang Zi’ang murmured, lowering his head.

  Su Yudiel tiptoed and gently pressed a kiss on his cheek.

  In that instant, Zhuang Zi’ang felt as if struck by lightning—his blood surged rapidly throughout his body.

  The sensation on his cheek was so vivid.

  Was this not a dream?