Early that morning, Annelise called Su Qingci to discuss the art exhibition. This solo show featured only one piece, yet buzz within the industry was already intense due to the early hype. The entire art world was eagerly awaiting it.
After chatting for half an hour, Su Qingci went to breakfast. At the table, Pei Jingchen said, “My dad just called. He wants us to spend this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival at his place. What do you think?”
Su Qingci certainly didn’t want to, but Pei Haiyang had invited him repeatedly. It wouldn’t do to keep refusing and avoiding him. Besides, Su Qingci also wanted to unburden himself of all his worries as much as possible, so that in the near future, he could leave without regrets, light and carefree.
Su Qingci nodded: “Alright, let’s go.”
Pei Jingchen had braced himself for rejection, so he was utterly surprised when Su Qingci agreed. After an initial moment of astonishment, his face lit up with delight. After breakfast, he shared the good news with Pei Haiyang.
After the dog days of summer passed, temperatures dropped noticeably. Except for the scorching midday sun, the mornings and evenings were crisp and clear—neither dry nor humid, but perfectly comfortable.
While flipping through channels, Su Qingci happened upon a scene where the leads in a TV drama were setting up a tent outdoors. Pei Jingchen spotted it and suggested, “With this nice weather, how about we go camping?”
Pei Jingchen had brought this up several times before, clearly eager to go camping and cook outdoors together. Not wanting to dampen his spirits again, Su Qingci asked, “When should we go?”
Pei Jingchen froze in surprise once more, then beamed with delight. “Tomorrow! How about tomorrow?”
Su Qingci gazed at the sunset outside the window. “Isn’t that too rushed? We don’t have much ready.”
“It’s fine, I’ll take care of the preparations.” Pei Jingchen looked ecstatic, his excitement making him a bit flustered.
Su Qingci couldn’t help but smile, as if seeing his former self, full of boundless energy. Countless times he’d wanted to go camping and cook outdoors with Pei Jingchen, but his memory held only one such occasion—a school-organized summer camp with a large group, including Mu Yao, making it chaotic and messy. Su Qingci longed for a romantic getaway with Pei Jingchen alone, just the two of them, like in the TV dramas. Even imagining it felt utterly enchanting.
Su Qingci thought to himself, this was one of his regrets. Seizing this chance to fulfill it felt rather good.
The next morning, preoccupied with the camping trip, Su Qingci woke up early. Stepping out of the bedroom, he found Pei Jingchen had risen even earlier. Not only earlier, but also diligent—he’d already packed all the camping gear. Su Qingci reminded him not to forget anything. Pei Jingchen smiled and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve checked twelve times.”
Su Qingci: “…”
Because he hadn’t slept soundly the night before, even though Pei Jingchen moved in and out quietly, Su Qingci knew he’d gone back and forth over ten times. He’d thought Pei Jingchen had frequent, urgent, or incomplete urination!
Driving the Koenigsegg toward the suburbs, they passed a 24-hour convenience store and stopped to stock up on food. As usual, Pei Jingchen handled the cart and selecting items while Su Qingci followed along, gesturing and directing.
Whatever he pointed to, Pei Jingchen grabbed without question. If he spoke at all, it was only to ask, “Will two bags be enough?”
Su Qingci thought to himself: While Pei Jingchen was usually obedient, he was never completely compliant when it came to food. His standard response was always about dietary restrictions or health concerns. Today, the sun must have risen in the south. Su Qingci deliberately provoked him, using his eyes to signal the chocolate on the shelf. Without a word, Pei Jingchen grabbed two boxes.
Su Qingci pressed his advantage, asking for coffee too, and Pei Jingchen got that as well.
To be perfectly honest, this was the first time since their breakup that Su Qingci found Pei Jingchen damnably adorable.
Upon arriving at the pre-selected campsite, the scenery proved breathtakingly beautiful. A crystal-clear lake stretched out before them, backed by an endless plain. Mountains loomed in the distance as the crisp autumn breeze swept across the sky, vast and cloudless.
Pei Jingchen set up the tent first. He’d pitched tents during that high school summer camp years ago, and his skills hadn’t faded a bit. Su Qingci offered to help, but Pei Jingchen coaxed him to rest instead, handing him a fishing rod with bait already attached.
Thus, Su Qingci settled comfortably into the role of a pampered princess, plopping down on a folding chair to watch Pei Jingchen bustle about with evident delight.
Su Qingci had intended to let the line sit idle, hoping for a bite. He hadn’t paid much attention, but luck was on his side—a fish took the bait quickly. Su Qingci pulled hard on the rod, but it didn’t budge on the first try. Straining harder, he called out to Pei Jingchen, “Come here fast! I think I’ve hooked a big one!”
Pei Jingchen hurriedly dropped what he was doing and rushed over. “Don’t move it. I’ll handle this.”
He took the rod from Su Qingci and gave it a sharp jerk. A plump, large silver carp leapt out of the water!
Su Qingci laughed and urged Pei Jingchen to reel it in quickly, lest the big fish escape the hook. Once the fish was landed and placed in the bucket, Pei Jingchen estimated it weighed at least five pounds.
A good omen was motivating. Su Qingci, who’d initially had little interest in fishing, was now hooked. He continued casting and indeed had good luck, landing three more silver carp each weighing two pounds. After that, he only caught small fry, which he released back into the water.
After three hours of fishing, Pei Jingchen finished setting up the tent and asked Su Qingci if he was tired, suggesting he rest inside.
Su Qingci shook his head and helped Pei Jingchen arrange the barbecue grill. They set up a folding table, laid out a tablecloth, and carefully arranged the food items one by one.
Fresh beef, marinated chicken wings, and shrimp, along with pizza, sushi, chocolate, potato chips, shrimp crackers, and a large bucket of cola filled the table, creating a visually appealing spread. Just as Su Qingci unwrapped a box of chocolates and was about to take a bite, he heard the click of a camera shutter. Turning, he saw Pei Jingchen snapping photos of him with his DSLR.
One shot wasn’t enough—he took three more, then five.
Su Qingci sighed helplessly, “Don’t just take pictures of me.”
“Then let’s take pictures of us together.” Pei Jingchen walked behind Su Qingci, flipped the camera around, and started snapping away.
During lunch, Pei Jingchen handled the grilling while Su Qingci focused on eating. The beef was juicy and tender, perfectly complemented by sweet grapes to cut through the richness. Su Qingci indulged more than usual. He stood up, motioning for Pei Jingchen to sit, and personally cooked the fish he’d caught. The five-pounder was too large to finish, so Su Qingci decided to keep it alive until Mid-Autumn Festival.
The fish grilled to perfection—crisp outside, tender within. One brushed with Korean chili sauce, the other dusted with cumin powder, they devoured them quickly.
After lunch, Su Qingci strolled alongside Pei Jingchen. The outdoor scenery was simply lovely, far from the city center’s clamor, the air crisp and refreshing.
As they walked, Su Qingci suddenly stumbled over something, nearly slipping. Pei Jingchen grabbed his arm to steady him and didn’t let go afterward. He didn’t pull away either. Hand in hand, they strolled onward. The sky was a deep blue, clouds hung high, and a crisp autumn breeze caressed their faces.
Walking back to the campsite, Pei Jingchen asked if he wanted to fly a kite. Su Qingci was surprised Pei Jingchen had brought one along. He retrieved it from the trunk—nothing fancy, just a plain swallow design.
Pei Jingchen handed the kite to Su Qingci, who shook his head. “I don’t know how.”
Pei Jingchen chuckled, “We’ll do it together.”
Pei Jingchen explained the kite-flying technique to Su Qingci in detail. When the wind was just right, he held the spool in one hand and lifted the kite with the other. Turning his back to the wind, he released it and slowly let out the string.
“It’s about twenty meters now. Let go and let the reel take over,” Pei Jingchen instructed as he demonstrated.
Su Qingci thought to herself: No wonder he’s a coder—his fingers and palms are so nimble. With just a few simple motions, the kite soared higher and higher, nearly touching the clouds.
Pei Jingchen handed the reel to Su Qingci, inviting him to try.
It was Su Qingci’s first time flying a kite. He fumbled awkwardly, struggling to grasp the technique. Several mishandled attempts caused the kite to descend, but Pei Jingchen was always nearby to correct him. “Can it go higher?” Su Qingci asked. Pei Jingchen nodded, continuing to let out line. The kite soared higher and higher, growing smaller and smaller until it was just a tiny black dot. Even then, it kept climbing.
“I can’t see it anymore,” Su Qingci said. “How many meters is it?”
Pei Jingchen looked at the reel in his hand, now completely empty. “1,000 meters.”
Su Qingci was utterly astonished. “I never would have guessed you were such a kite-flying expert.”
Pei Jingchen said, “It’d be more fun if lots of people flew kites and competed with each other. After Mid-Autumn Festival, during National Day, how about we fly kites again?”
Su Qingci neither agreed nor disagreed.
Pei Jingchen asked, “Do you like flying kites?”
Su Qingci paused for a few seconds before replying, “I don’t dislike it.” He added, “It’s good for the neck.”
Pei Jingchen chuckled, taking the spool in one hand while grasping Su Qingci’s hand hanging at his side.
Look, how high the kite flies.
This string is sturdy. No matter how high or far the kite soars, it holds fast, gripping it tightly.
*
After playing all afternoon, Su Qingci grew tired and went into the tent to sleep.
He hadn’t expected to sleep so deeply and so long. When he awoke, the sky outside felt dark. Glancing at his wristwatch, it was already past seven.
Su Qingci emerged from the tent. The sun had sunk behind the western hills, leaving only a faint glimmer of light barely illuminating the horizon’s edge. No lights surrounded the tent; it was empty and quiet. Su Qingci rubbed his eyes but didn’t see Pei Jingchen.
“Pei Jingchen?” Su Qingci called out. It was too dark to see clearly at a distance. Just as he was about to return to the tent for a flashlight, suddenly, lights came on.
It wasn’t all at once, but rather began with the tent Su Qingci was in, then spread outward. First, the colorful lights strung around the tent’s perimeter lit up, then extended forward in a dazzling, vibrant expanse. They swept past the tables and chairs, illuminating the lavishly set dining table.
Colorful balloons danced lightly in the breeze atop the tables, beneath which clusters of hydrangeas were arranged in the shape of a heart. At the heart’s center sat a chocolate cake, adorned with artistic lettering that read: TO, The One and Only Su Qingci in the World.
Pei Jingchen stood by the table, holding a large bouquet of lavender in both hands.
“Happy birthday, my little prince.”