Just as Lin Zhou's life was thrown into chaos by Shen Che, the "programmer" Chen Xi had mentioned appeared.
The man's name was Li Hao, a colleague from Chen Xi's company. Under Chen Xi's forceful arrangement, the two met at a restaurant.
Li Hao was not the "programmer" Lin Zhou had imagined. He wasn't awkward or sloppy. He wore a clean plaid shirt and black-framed glasses, looking gentle and refined. He spoke softly and methodically.
"Chen Xi told me you work at a bookstore? That's wonderful. I love to read," Li Hao said with a smile, revealing a set of neat teeth.
Lin Zhou gave a distracted "Mm."
Throughout the meal, it was mostly Li Hao who tried to make conversation, from recently released movies to hot social topics to some amusing anecdotes from his own work. He tried hard to lighten the atmosphere, but Lin Zhou remained an outsider, only responding politely.
Her mind was completely occupied by Shen Che's pale face.
Li Hao seemed to notice her distraction. He considerately didn't press further, simply saying, "You look really tired. Haven't you been resting well lately?"
"...A little," Lin Zhou answered vaguely.
After dinner, Li Hao insisted on walking her home. Standing downstairs, Li Hao pointed at the ginkgo tree and said, "This tree is beautiful."
"Yes, it is." Lin Zhou looked up. The golden leaves, illuminated by the streetlight, glowed like tiny, gentle fans. She remembered mentioning this tree to Shen Che in a postcard.
"Well, I'll be heading up then. Thank you for dinner tonight," Lin Zhou said goodbye politely.
"Okay, get some rest," Li Hao said, waving with a smile.
Lin Zhou turned to go upstairs, not noticing that behind an unlit window on the sixth floor, a pair of eyes had witnessed the entire scene below.
Shen Che watched the man's gentle smile, watched Lin Zhou's distant but not rejecting attitude, and his heart felt as if it were soaking in lemonade—sour and astringent.
This is for the best, he thought. This man seemed nice, a thousand times better than a cripple like him. Zhou Zhou deserved someone better to love her.
His painstaking plan to push her away finally seemed to be succeeding. But why, then, did his heart ache so much?