Chapter Sixty-Two: Reflections on the Future (Part One)

“Let me borrow your phone for a moment,” Song Chengyi suddenly said, setting down his glass of water.

“What for?” Luo Yixia guarded her pocket, asking cautiously.

“You took some photos this morning, didn’t you? I want to transfer mine,” Song Chengyi replied calmly, gazing at her.

“Oh.” She didn’t think much of it and handed her phone over.

Song Chengyi took her phone and easily began entering the password, but hesitated, pressed the enter key, and then handed it back to Luo Yixia. “Password.”

Luo Yixia reached out and tapped the screen, unlocking the phone.

Then she pulled out her iPad, searching for places she wanted to visit and mapping out routes. By chance, she came across an introduction to Japanese anime.

Luo Yixia stared absentmindedly at the advertisement for a chibi version of One Piece. She remembered Song Chengyi used to have One Piece figurines in his room, but she hadn’t seen them this time. She’d also seen him watching One Piece before. Raising her head, she glanced at him, absorbed in her phone—he must be searching for the photos.

The afternoon sunlight bathed Song Chengyi’s back.

Luo Yixia pursed her lips. Wasn’t Song Chengyi still angry with her just yesterday? The two of them had been locked in a silent standoff. Especially Song Chengyi’s inexplicable coldness toward her—before their walk, everything had been fine, but then, for no reason, he’d started ignoring her.

Even though they were at odds, after arriving in Japan, Song Chengyi hadn’t left her alone. He waited for her to wake before taking her to Mount Fuji, and last night, they’d even slept embraced. He hadn’t truly been angry enough to abandon her.

Maybe he didn’t dislike her as much as she thought.

Staring at the ad on the screen, Luo Yixia quietly entertained new thoughts.

Song Chengyi scrolled through the photos on her phone, surprised at how many there were. Seeing the succession of Luo Yixia’s smiling faces lifted his spirits. Of course, when he came upon their photos together, he hadn’t expected them to look so close; his ears flushed with embarrassment.

He transferred her photos, including their joint ones, to his own phone, then deleted the record, leaving only a few images of himself on her device.

When he handed the phone back to Luo Yixia, she opened it and felt a bit annoyed—how had he only transferred a few of his own photos, leaving not a single photo of them together? She sighed inwardly.

That afternoon, the four of them took the cable car up the mountain.

The temperature noticeably dropped at the summit.

They didn’t last long before each quietly returned to the foot of the mountain.

He Die walked arm in arm with Luo Yixia at the front. “When are you leaving?”

“We were originally going to return to Tokyo tonight—all our luggage is there—but it’s getting dark now.” She turned and called to Song Chengyi, “Are we going back to Tokyo tonight?”

“Let’s leave tomorrow morning,” Song Chengyi replied, aware of the approaching night. Catching a taxi would be inconvenient, and there was no urgent reason to rush.

“We’re flying home tomorrow. Who knows if we’ll ever meet again,” He Die said regretfully.

“So soon?” Luo Yixia was a little surprised.

“The tickets were booked long ago.” She sighed, resignation in her tone.

“If you ever have time, come visit City A—I’ll take care of food and lodging,” Luo Yixia said generously, patting her chest.

“All right, if I get the chance, I’ll come with Su Sheng,” He Die replied. These past few days, she’d truly grown fond of the girl—her simple, straightforward nature was genuinely endearing.