The afternoon light had softened by the time they left the restaurant, shadows stretching long across the street. Jia Lan adjusted the hem of her dress before climbing onto her bicycle, the cool metal familiar beneath her palms. Shen Mingrui was already astride his, waiting with an expression that was equal parts eagerness and reluctance.
"Must you really head back so soon?" he asked, his tone light but his gaze lingering on her face.
Jia Lan tilted her head, her lips curving faintly. "What? Do you plan to keep me hostage in resturant?"
He grinned. "Tempting thought. But no… I just think today passed far too quickly."
She glanced at him, amused, then placed her foot on the pedal. "Days do that when they're pleasant. Now stop stalling, or it'll be dark before I reach home."
Shen Mingrui sighed in exaggerated defeat but pushed off beside her. Their bicycles rolled smoothly onto the road, wheels humming softly against the pavement.
For a moment, silence wrapped around them, not heavy, but companionable the kind of silence where words weren't necessary. The streets bustled faintly with the rhythm of daily life: a woman carrying groceries in woven baskets, an old man sitting by his doorway fanning himself lazily, children shrieking with laughter as they chased a rubber ball across the dusty lane.
It was Jia Lan who broke the quiet first, her voice calm. "The food really was good."
Mingrui's head whipped toward her, eyes bright. "So you admit it? Worth pedaling all the way here with me?"
She gave a small laugh, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yes. Worth it. The dishes were flavorful and the noodles especially… rich and comforting."
His chest visibly swelled, pride flashing across his face as though he had been the chef himself. "I knew it! That place is just one of the many hidden gems I've discovered. Give me more chances, and I'll prove it. I could take you to five more like that, maybe ten."
Jia Lan arched a brow, feigning doubt. "Ten? That's quite a claim. Aren't you exaggerating?"
"Not at all," he declared, pedaling a little faster as though puffed up by her skepticism. "There's a tiny place by the riverbank that makes the crispiest scallion pancakes you'll ever taste. Another by the old theater handmade dumplings that would put your cooking skills to the test. And don't get me started on the spicy fish stew two streets over from the library…"
She burst into laughter, shaking her head. "You sound like a walking food guide. Do you memorize menus in your spare time?"
"Only the good ones," he shot back, grinning at her side profile. "I take pride in knowing where happiness hides in this town. And if happiness is food… well, then I suppose I'm practically a hero."
Jia Lan's laugh spilled out again, airy and unguarded. The sound surprised her it had been a while since she laughed so freely, with no thought of burdens or worries clinging to her. The world seemed momentarily stripped of complications, narrowed down to just the sun-warmed road, the rhythmic spin of bicycle wheels, and Shen Mingrui's ridiculous boasts.
He stole a glance at her, caught in the curve of her smile, and found himself grinning even harder. Her laughter had a way of lighting everything around them.
"See?" he said, nudging his bicycle slightly closer to hers. "I told you I'd make today brighter. And here you are, laughing so hard people might think I'm telling jokes for a living."
She looked at him sidelong, eyes glimmering with amusement. "Maybe you missed your calling. A professional joker would suit you."
He clutched his chest dramatically, nearly wobbling on the pedals. "Ah, my pride! Wounded beyond repair. At least say I'm a charming joker."
"Charming?" she repeated, drawing the word out deliberately. "That remains to be seen."
He gasped in mock outrage, then broke into laughter himself. The two of them, side by side, their bicycles rolling in tandem, blended seamlessly into the lively backdrop of town life the orange glow of the sun washing rooftops, the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze, the faint scent of smoke drifting from a vendor's grill.
The sky above had begun its slow transformation, streaks of red and gold bleeding into soft violet at the edges. Birds darted overhead, their wings cutting across the painted sky as they returned to their nests.
Children dashed past, their laughter ringing in the air, while a vendor shouted cheerfully to close shop for the day. The entire town seemed to be winding down, yet for Jia Lan, the ride felt like an opening, not an ending.
Shen Mingrui's voice, low and warm, drifted into the stillness between their shared laughter. "Lan Lan…"
She hummed lightly, her hands steady on the handlebars. "What is it?"
He didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked at her really looked. The glow of the setting sun painted her profile in hues of amber and rose, her expression relaxed, lips still carrying the faint curve of a smile. It struck him how different she seemed in this moment, lighter, unguarded, like the girl she should always be allowed to be.
"I just… I like seeing you laugh," he admitted finally, his voice softer than before.
The breeze caught the words, carrying them gently to her ears. Jia Lan blinked, caught off guard, her heart giving the smallest tremor. She didn't turn her head, but her lips pressed together, the corners trembling with a quiet smile she couldn't quite suppress.
"Don't say silly things while riding," she said lightly, though her voice lacked its usual edge.
He only laughed, the sound bursting with warmth. "Silly or not, it's true. And if I have to pedal you to a hundred hidden restaurants just to hear you laugh again, then so be it."
She shook her head, but her cheeks warmed under the fading sunlight. For the rest of the ride, she let herself laugh more at his outrageous food stories, at his over-the-top dramatics, at the way he almost collided with a stray dog before swerving at the last second. Each laugh was met with his wide grin, as though her joy alone was enough to make the entire journey worthwhile.
By the time they neared her home, the sky had settled into a deep, smoldering orange, shadows long and soft against the earth. The crickets had begun their song, mingling with the distant chatter of neighbors calling their children in for supper.
Neither of them hurried to part ways, their bicycles slowing but still moving side by side, reluctant to let the day end.
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