My girlfriend was reborn.

Chapter 116 May I kiss you?

On the Ferris wheel.

Zhou Heming held Lu Bai's fingers and looked at him.

The temperament of Cheng Shuangjiang, who was reborn, had disappeared, leaving only the appearance of Lu Bai, who should have been cheerful and sunny.

"Lu Bai".

Zhou Heming spoke, his tone earnest and resolute.

"Today is my birthday, and I am so happy that you dressed up as Shuangjiang for me and spent this day with me, doing what neither she nor I could do and making up for the regrets between us."

The young man knew very well that the "surprise" Lu Bai had prepared was to use her incredibly realistic acting skills to recreate the reborn Cheng Shuangjiang.

Having spent a long time with Cheng Shuangjiang and having thoroughly studied and participated in Zhou Heming's script, Lu Bai was fully capable of doing such a thing.

That was almost a complete "performance" of the actor himself.

Even Zhou Heming, in a daze, felt that the person in front of him was not Lu Bai, but Cheng Shuangjiang who had been reborn.

This is Lu Bai's "birthday gift" to Zhou Heming.

A beautiful memory that should never have existed.

When Zhou Heming saw the girl at midnight on July 7th, he actually understood Lu Bai's intentions.

Therefore, he did not expose her, but responded to the girl's prayer and together with her, sculpted this memory into something perfect.

He knew that Lu Bai must have made a huge decision and made unimaginable efforts, even willing to sacrifice himself, just to make up for this regret for his friend and Zhou Heming.

A nineteenth birthday, a once-in-a-lifetime event.

Zhou Heming was unwilling to let Lu Bai down.

Just like when a child, still quite young, draws rainbows and flowers on their clothes with crayons and happily shows them off to their parents, Zhou Heming certainly wouldn't scold the child for getting their clothes dirty like some parents would. Instead, he would patiently squat down and praise the child's artwork for being imaginative.

"Since it's my birthday, I have the right to make a birthday wish, right?"

Zhou Heming smiled as he looked at Lu Bai, who seemed like a child who had left a crayon drawing on his clothes and then been discovered.

"Well, but you already promised last night."

Lu Bai responded.

"My wish last night was fulfilled by Shuangjiang. She spent an unforgettable birthday with me, and that wish has been granted."

Zhou Heming wasn't greedy; being able to see her again through Lu Bai was enough.

"But you haven't helped me fulfill my wish yet."

"You, you, you, how could you do this? This is exploiting a loophole!"

Lu Bai's hand was held by Zhou Heming, and she argued back somewhat flusteredly, her cheeks flushed.

"So, here I am, on this Ferris wheel where it's just the two of us, and I'm making a wish."

Zhou Heming spoke solemnly and sincerely.

"I hope that you can stop pretending and acting, and live honestly. I hope to see you without any disguise, with your flaws, your bad points, and your embarrassing moments. I want to touch your true self."

Lu Bai stared blankly at his own reflection in Zhou Heming's eyes.

She had hoped for a smiling, happy face, but in reality, her eyes were red-rimmed, her brows were furrowed, and she looked like she was about to cry.

Immediately afterwards, a certain thrill made her heart race.

A longing to freeze time in this moment filled my ears.

"Can you help me fulfill this wish?"

Zhou Heming raised the two people's hands in front of him.

Lu Bai slowly nodded.

"And Lu Bai, today is also your birthday."

Lu Bai's eighteenth birthday, too, is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"As the birthday person, you should also make a wish, and I will grant it."

The Ferris wheel cabins are nearing the top; in about two or three minutes, we'll reach that dreamlike moment.

"That."

Lu Bai paused for a moment, as if he had already thought it through, before speaking.

That was not any of the wishes Zhou Heming had anticipated.

"I hope you can enjoy everything you have with a clear conscience. I hope you don't have to live up to anyone's expectations, not even her, not even me, not even your past self."

With her pale cherry-colored lips, Lu Bai uttered her once-in-a-lifetime wish at the age of eighteen.

Silence echoed in the Ferris wheel cabins.

Zhou Heming's heartbeat quickened slightly.

A long-lost sense of excitement enveloped him.

He seemed to see the branches of the sycamore tree growing wildly, the tigers of the whole world melting into butter, and the burning meteor falling to the seabed and blooming into coral.

The two looked at each other, gazing at their own reflections in each other's eyes.

The gondola arrived at the highest point of the Ferris wheel.

Zhou Heming reached into his pocket and took something out.

"This is the birthday present I prepared for you."

He gently took Lu Bai's left hand and slowly put a ring on his ring finger.

It was a silver ring with light-colored enamel decoration.

Lu Bai raised his hand, examining the ring with some emotion, then blushed and looked away.

"The left ring finger is where the wedding ring is placed."

Her voice was soft, almost drowned out by the sound of the Ferris wheel turning.

"Oh? Well, that's not what I meant, it's just..."

Zhou Heming was at a loss for words after hearing that.

He hadn't looked up how to wear this kind of ring, but based on his impressions from watching movies and reading novels, he put it on Lu Bai's left ring finger.

"Hehe, then I'll give you a chance to wear it again."

Lu Bai wasn't insistent. He took off the ring, placed it back in Zhou Heming's palm, and then extended his right hand.

"If I were to wear it on my left ring finger, it would have to be a wedding ring."

she said with a smile.

Zhou Heming pulled her right hand over, his fingers touching the bracelet on her wrist, and then gently put the ring on Lu Bai's right middle finger.

Fortunately, the ring itself is adjustable, and Lu Bai's two fingers are about the same thickness, so there shouldn't be any mishaps where he couldn't wear it.

"They're so beautiful! If I'm not mistaken, these must be wedding rings, right? What about yours?"

Lu Bai looked at the ring on his right hand with satisfaction.

"It is indeed a set of vows."

Zhou Heming thought for a moment and then took out another ring that he always wore.

"This one is pretty too, give it to me, I'll put it on for you."

Lu Bai picked up the green enamel ring, grabbed Zhou Heming's right hand, and quickly put the ring on his middle finger.

"It suits you perfectly, hehe."

Lu Bai, whose eyes were still a little red and swollen, smiled. She took Zhou Heming's hand and intertwined their fingers, showing off the rings on their fingers.

click-

With his other hand, he took out his phone and snapped a photo of himself inside the Ferris wheel cabin.

What are these rings called?

Lu Bai was curious.

"Reeds and white dew".

Zhou Heming answered, then immediately added an explanation.

"It's the meaning of the poem in the Book of Songs, 'The reeds are green, the dew is white as frost.'"

He was worried that Lu Bai, a poor student, hadn't understood which words were being referred to.

"I do know that."

Lu Bai scoffed at Zhou Heming's explanation, but the smile on his face didn't fade.

"So, you were planning to send me this from the beginning?"

She then asked, and Zhou Heming must have been prepared to take it out at this time.

"Actually, I hesitated for a while after I bought it, and even now, I'm still not sure if I should give this as a gift."

In front of Lu Bai, who could see through lies, Zhou Heming didn't need to deceive, make excuses, or offer any further explanations.

"What made you decide to give it to them?"

Lu Bai asked softly.

"Your birthday wish."

Zhou Heming spoke the truth.

His biggest flaw in life is that he can't lie.

What Cheng Shuangjiang, who was reborn, gave him was hope, a vow, and a curse; it was the hope to keep going until spring blossoms.

Lu Bai hoped that Zhou Heming could live his life without being bound by anything, with a clear conscience, and live his own life.

Cheng Shuangjiang, reborn, hopes that Zhou Heming will continue on his path.

Lu Bai told him that stopping was fine, no problem. The two were completely different, but their paths led to the same goal.

Regardless of their journey, all they wanted was to make Zhou Heming a little happier.

I want Zhou Heming to not be trapped in the grief of losing his loved one, not to reject the good intentions of others, and not to feel that he has let anyone down.

Moving forward does not mean forgetting. He and she will cherish that memory and move forward hand in hand.

A smile played on Lu Bai's lips as she glanced outside the sedan chair.

"Although we've passed the highest point, there's still some time before we reach the bottom. Aren't you going to do something else?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Heming remained silent for a moment, looked into Lu Bai's eyes, and said in a deep voice.

"May I kiss you?"

Before Lu Bai could answer, he continued.

"This is Lu Bai's first kiss."

Lu Bai shifted his gaze slightly, pursed his lips, and then raised his face to lean closer to Zhou Heming.

Fireworks seemed to be blooming on the river.

Inside the Ferris wheel cabin, where only the mechanical sounds of the wheels could be heard, the boy and girl left their own marks on each other's lips.

It was an awkward, inexperienced, and bewildered kiss that lasted only a moment.

Lu Bai's cheeks were flushed, and even his ears turned crimson.

Looking at the girl, Zhou Heming felt a surge of emotion welling up inside him.

"Actually, I also want to ask a question."

Seeing this, Zhou Heming asked softly.

"W-what?"

Lu Bai was still somewhat flustered.

When did you start liking me?

Zhou Heming carefully considered his words, choosing not to use the more profound terms.

"What do you think?"

Lu Bai posed the question to him.

Zhou Heming thought for a moment.

Was it while watching a movie together in the library?
Or is it during the night when we're discussing the script?
Was it when we were roasting marshmallows together at the end of the universe?
Or is it when the golden sunset falls on you, and the evening glow is gentle?
Looking at Zhou Heming, who was deep in thought, Lu Bai smiled leisurely and then squeezed his palm.

"The answer to this question doesn't matter. If the dividing line of emotions were so clear, wouldn't life be much less fun?"

Lu Bai smiled as he looked at the approaching ground, then looked at Zhou Heming.

"If you want an answer, well, when you find me."

"I don't understand."

Zhou Heming tilted his head.

But as Lu Bai said, it doesn't matter.

Feeling unacceptable, going deeper.

There are countless ways to fall in love in this world, but the least noteworthy of all is mutual love.

"It's okay, we have plenty of time to talk about it slowly."

As the elevator car approached the ground, the electronic doors slowly opened.

Lu Bai hugged Zhou Heming's arm and chuckled.

"About, a lifetime is long?"

That sweet voice, like honey, made the butterflies in the boy's heart flutter.

*
The two came out of the subway station and saw a rather old-fashioned cake shop on the street.

It's the kind of old shop that used to be located at the intersection when I was in elementary school, where they would bake fresh old-fashioned pastries every day, selling pineapple buns, waterless cakes, and sachima.

The shop assistant seemed to be a college student working a summer job. There wasn't much business in the evening, so he sat behind the cashier watching silly comics. Occasionally, you could hear marketing messages like "The world's FPS level has dropped by 10,000 times, but mine remains unchanged."

"Let's go buy a cake."

Zhou Heming led Lu Bai into the cake shop.

"Shall we buy it now?"

Lu Bai seemed to be refusing verbally, but his eyes had already started glancing at the cake.

"It's a birthday, so there should be a cake."

Zhou Heming said with certainty.

"But I already ate a birthday cake last night."

"What I bought last night was for me, and what I'm buying now is for you."

Zhou Heming looked at the cabinet.

It has to be said that these cakes are very characteristic of that era, like the kind you'd see at a birthday party in elementary school.

But Zhou Heming had never had a birthday cake before, so even this old-fashioned cake felt novel.

"We use only animal-based cream here, the real deal, and we've been in business for over twenty years."

Upon seeing the two, the college student put down his phone and introduced them, saying that he was slightly amazed when he saw Lu Bai and took a few more glances at him.

"However, the chef has already left for the day, so we can't order a custom birthday cake. We only have this kind of regular cake."

He pointed to a smaller cake in the cupboard, about four or five inches in size, covered with cream and fruit, like the kind of small snacks that the administration would buy for the company's annual party.

Which flavor do you prefer?

These fruit and cream cakes look quite fancy; it's hard to say they weren't the product of a pastry chef's sudden inspiration.

"Then I'll take this one."

Lu Bai immediately took a liking to a small cake decorated with oranges.

Upon closer inspection, you'll find that the orange is actually made with cream and chocolate.

"58 yuan."

The college student sales clerk had no intention of offering a discount and quoted a price directly.

The only act of kindness they showed was sending a set of cheap birthday candles.

After Zhou Heming paid, Lu Bai picked up the already packaged cake, humming an unknown tune, quite happy.

"Why are you so happy?"

The two walked hand in hand.

On the way home, the moonlight was everywhere, illuminating the flower buds.

"Because this is the birthday cake you bought for me, my first birthday cake!"

Lu Bai said cheerfully.

Since the school is on summer vacation, business on the back street of the school is much quieter. There are only students staying on campus, migrant workers renting rooms nearby, young couples taking a break from their busy schedules, and food delivery drivers rushing by.

They ate a simple dinner, but at Lu Bai's suggestion, the two bought some random things, their hands full.

After passing through the backstreet and arriving at the residential area, they found the same elderly people chatting and walking their dogs. Today, there were also middle-aged women dancing in the square. When the two arrived at the door of their rented house, Lu Bai suddenly spoke.

"This is the first birthday we've both celebrated in our own home."

She has given today even more meaning.

"That makes a lot of sense."

Zhou Heming pulled his hand away, opened the door, turned on the lights and air conditioner, and placed the things he was carrying on the dining table in the living room.

pat-

The moment the door closed, Lu Bai placed the cake on the table and hugged Zhou Heming's waist.

"That."

Her voice was soft and slightly sticky, and she raised her face, her eyes full of expectation.

"Zhou Heming, am I starting to have any meaning for you?"

Zhou Heming gently brushed aside the hair that had fallen beside her ear and supported the girl's cheek.

Then, she answered with a long, deep kiss, interwoven with longing and desire.

"This is our first deep kiss."

Lu Bai blushed, her eyes filled with affection, and even her eyelashes trembled slightly.

Zhou Heming thought Lu Bai was extremely, extremely, extremely beautiful.

"anyway."

Lu Bai looked away, bit his lower lip, and whispered something in a low voice, almost like a mutter.

"Zhou Heming, your kissing is too skillful."

"...This is because..."

Zhou Heming was speechless for a moment, unable to find a word to defend himself.

"It's okay, since you're so good at it."

Lu Bai's ears turned red, and she stood on tiptoe, whispering warm breath in Zhou Heming's ear.

"Then you'd better teach me properly tonight, okay?"

*
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(End of this chapter)