"Back in high school, I thought I'd found someone who saw me. Meng Long was my senior, but then he turned out to be like everyone else maybe worse. He betrayed my trust, and it messed me up for a long time."
"I worked hard to rebuild myself after that. Now I just… keep my guard up."
Wu Suo Wei's fists clenched. He wanted to punch this horrible senior.
"Was he the one who leaked your photos?"
"No, it wasn't him; it was his despicable friends."
"Dawei, I'm alright. I just didn't expect that to follow me here." Shuai explained.
"If I ever find him on the street, I'll beat him to a pulp!" Wu Suo Wei's voice rose in anger. He had seen firsthand how ugly people could be once their masks fell off.
"Eh? I don't think you can take him." Shuai teased, smiling shyly as he realized how deeply his friend cared.
"Aiyaa, don't underestimate me. I've got brains. There are ways to beat a man without lifting a finger." A mischievous glint flashed in Wei's eyes; his mind was already turning with ideas.
"Really? How? Tell me, please, Dawei!"
"You don't need to know that classified information just yet."
"If you still have his number, we could leak it online. Let him drown in spam calls."
"Maybe. Or better yet, we'll find you a new, more successful boyfriend. Post cute date pictures on WeChat; make him jealous. Classic move right? We'll show that your life in Beijing is a thousand times better without that trash!"
The two friends laughed, their earlier tension dissolving as they playfully plotted revenge on people like Meng Long and Wen Chao.
Later that day
"Oh, after we parted, where did you run off to, Dawei? I looked all over the campus."
"I went to a storage area; it was pretty dark and secluded."
"You went all the way there?"
"My legs gave out. I blacked out in front of the nurse's office," Shuai recalled. His legs had felt like jelly after that encounter. Someone had to carry him inside.
He also remembered being enveloped in an alluring scent musk with a hint of orange blossom. That scent lingered pleasantly in his memory.
Meanwhile, Wu Suo Wei still couldn't shake off the memory of Chi Cheng's intense glare. Goosebumps prickled his skin. He'd never felt so unsettled before. Normally aloof, he found himself rattled. Was it Chi Cheng's towering height? His sharp eyes? That dark, intimidating aura or something else hidden beneath it?
He noticed how Chi Cheng seemed to study him, like he was some kind of curious specimen.
He must be a playboy, Wu Suo Wei thought, mentally shaking away the intrusive images replaying in his head.
A few days later...
A long weekend was coming up, so the two friends decided to visit Jietai Temple early in the morning to see the sunrise, get fresh air, and avoid the crowds.
Wu Suo Wei urged Shuai up the steep stone stairway. "This is so refreshing! I wish I could train here every day, Shuai!"
"Are you mad?"
"I'm not mad; it's peaceful, has an amazing view, great feng shui, and no sweaty gym smell. What's not to love?"
"Hmm, can't relate, but yeah, the view is amazing."
They reached the top, breathless but grinning, and watched as the sunrise painted the horizon in shifting gradients of gold and pink. It was a sight to behold.
They took plenty of pictures; especially of Shuai, who had completely cheered up from the change of scene.
The golden light hit the temple, bathing it in a shimmering glow.
"Let's go in, DaWei!" Shuai said excitedly.
They stepped inside, prayed for good fortune, and silently wished for their dearest hopes to come true.
Later that morning
The two walked to a nearby teahouse for breakfast ;steamed buns and soy milk.
"Shuai, can you wait here? I forgot to buy a souvenir for my grandma. I'll be right back!"
Wu Suo Wei dashed out, crossing to the opposite street where souvenir shops lined the path. One shop caught his attention with wooden plaques carved with pine motifs.
"How much are these? How do I make a wish?"
"Forty-five yuan," the shopkeeper said. "You write your wish and hang it by the old pine trees. Some plaques are scorched or weathered from the seasons. It's said that the older the pine, the stronger the prayers that cling to its branches. Buy three, and the fourth's free."
"Really? Thanks! But you can give the free one to the next person who needs it. I only have three wishes anyway."
The shopkeeper grinned. "You're a good young man. Good luck to you."
"Thank you, Uncle!"
Wu Suo Wei wandered behind the temple and found a lonely pine tree, its branches sparse and dull compared to the others. It looked aged, almost forgotten.
He wrote his wishes carefully:
Family health and wellness.
Win the nationals title.
Meet the love of my life soon.
He bowed before the old tree and tied the plaques.
A faint hiss broke the stillness. He froze, then realized why no one else used this tree. A nest of snake eggs lay nearby.
From the hollow trunk, a Chinese Green Tree Viper slithered out—its emerald scales gleaming softly in the dim light. A white stripe traced its sides as it coiled, disappearing into shadow like living jade.
Wu Suo Wei's heartbeat quickened. Despite the danger, he was fascinated. He took a step closer and snapped a few photos. The viper's beady eyes looked almost cute like a cartoon character. Chuckling, he took one last picture before leaving, feeling oddly giddy.
Meanwhile, back at the teahouse.
Shuai had finished eating and stepped outside, only to find a crowd gathered across the street.
An elderly woman lay unconscious on the ground while a young man knelt beside her, panicking. Shuai rushed over.
"What's going on? How long has she been out?" he asked, then recognized the young man it was Guo Chengyu, one of the "golden duo" from his elective class.
"She was fine five minutes ago," Chengyu said, trembling. "Then she said her arm felt numb and just collapsed."
"Did you call for an ambulance?"
"Yeah I did call them, they're on the way!"
Shuai loosened the old lady's scarf and cushioned her head. He checked her pulse—faint but present and began chest compressions at a steady rhythm.
"What are you doing?" Chengyu asked, panicked.
"Basic CPR. I've done this before." Shuai's calm tone contrasted with Chengyu's distress.
Moments later, sirens wailed in the distance. Paramedics arrived, and one of them called out, "Hey, kiddo! Senior Jiang's boy Xiao Shuai, right?"
"Yes, Uncle Zhou."
"How long were you performing CPR?"
"About three minutes. Her pulse was weak, breathing irregular."
Medic Zhou examined the woman's vitals. Her chest was swollen; he made a quick incision to relieve pressure. Chengyu paled, barely holding himself together.
"They're clearing her airway. She'll be alright," Shuai reassured him quietly.
"Heart rate's normalizing," Zhou confirmed. "Oxygen's low, but we'll stabilize that at the hospital. You're her family?"
"Yes! I am her grandson. My parents are on their way!!"
"Good. Come with us and give her medical history."
As they loaded her into the ambulance, Zhou gave Shuai an approving look. "Good work, kiddo. You probably saved her life."
Shuai blushed slightly. "I just did what my dad taught me."
The ambulance drove off. The street slowly cleared.
A little later...
Chi Cheng strolled back toward the teahouse, his expression unreadable.
"Hey! Handsome boy!" a shopkeeper called out.
"Want a free wish plaque? Someone overpaid; think of it as good karma."
Chi Cheng hesitated, then accepted it with a nod.
"Go tie it to one of the pine trees. It's a local tradition!"
Chi Cheng wasn't the superstitious type, but he humored the old man and wandered toward the pines. Among the trees, he spotted a hollow trunk and froze.
A flash of green shimmered inside. His eyes widened in excitement. A rare Chinese Green Tree Viper!
He took out his phone, snapping photos of the snake and its nest. Then he noticed three wish plaques hanging beside it. Reading the wishes, he chuckled softly before writing his own:
"Let me find my true passion and purpose in life this year."
His phone buzzed. A message from Chengyu:
"My grandma collapsed! I'm heading to Yuan Huang Hospital."
Chi Cheng replied instantly.
"Okay. I'll see you there."
Before leaving, he glanced back at the viper. His instincts as a reptile enthusiast kicked in. He fetched an old container from his car, carefully captured the snake and its eggs, and placed them safely inside.
He'd noticed unusual secretions on its scales something worth examining later. Satisfied, he drove off toward the hospital.
Back at the temple gate, Wu Suo Wei found Shuai pacing anxiously.
"Hey! Sorry I am late! Did I miss something dude?"
"DaWei! You're back? I'll explain everything on the way. Let's head home first."
"Yeah, cool. Let's go." Both walked towards the nearest bus stop.