Zhao Meng was sitting on a chair in the restaurant. He was wearing a black shirt and kept checking his watch again and again. Just then, Li Ting appeared, walking toward him. She was dressed in red. He couldn't take his eyes off her.
She came and sat down on the chair across from him. He was still staring at her.
"Hi," Li Ting said. "I'm not late, am I?"
"No, I just got here," Zhao replied.
"Oh, that's good."
"Alright then, let's order something," Zhao said.
"Yeah, let's," she agreed.
Zhao Meng called the waiter.
They were eating when Zhao Meng said to Li, "There's a festival nearby. Why don't we go there?"
"Yeah, let's go," she agreed.
They came out of the restaurant and rode off on a scooter.
"It's so pretty," Li said. "Why don't we go on that ride?" She pointed toward the swing ride.
"No, I'm scared of rides," Zhao Meng said.
"Oh, it's nothing," Li said, pulling him toward it.
They got on the ride. Zhao Meng's face turned red with fear.
"Why are you so scared? Nothing's going to happen," Li Ting said, trying to reassure him.
They got off the ride, and Zhao almost stumbled and fell, but Li caught him in time. They sat down on a bench. Li handed him a bottle of water.
"I didn't know you were this scaredy-cat," Li Ting teased him.
"Let's go on that ride over there," she said.
"No, I really can't do any more rides," Zhao Meng replied.
"Oh relax, I'm just joking," Li said.
"When I go back, who will you hang out with then?"
By the way, why do you study abroad? Your sister studies here, doesn't she?"
"That's a long story. I'll tell you some other time when we have time."
"Oh, okay. So, which school do you study in?"
Zhao told her the name of his school. Hearing it, Li looked surprised.
"You study in that school?"
"Yeah, why?"
"My sister studies there too."
"You have a sister? Then why does she study abroad?"
Zhao's question made Li feel sad. Because of her parents' constant fights, her sister had gone abroad. *Doesn't she even come back during vacations?*
"Zhao, do you know what the most painful moment in a person's life is?" Li asked quietly.
"Losing the thing you love the most?" Zhao said after thinking.
"No," Li replied.
"When the person you love the most leaves you?"
"No," Li said again.
"When trust is broken?"
"No," she said softly.
"Loneliness. When a person is completely alone—that's the most painful moment," Li said.
"And if someone takes that loneliness away?" Zhao asked.
"Then that person becomes the most special one," Li ting said.
Li Ting fell silent.
"It's nothing. Come on, let's go," Zhao said.
She stood up from the bench, and Zhao stood up too. They got on the scooter and headed home. Zhao dropped Li off first and then went back to his own house.
Li lay on her bed. Tears slowly rolled down her eyes and soaked into the pillow.
Did she really not want to be here?
"Don't she miss me?"
Li picked up her phone. Should I call my sister? she asked herself.
No… I'll tell Dad instead.
But what if she gets upset with me?
No, I won't tell Dad.
But I really miss my sister…
I'll tell Dad,* she finally decided.
She got up from the bed, wiped her tears, and walked out of the room.