I squeezed the business card in my hand, hesitating.
However, my father said, "All these years, Su Qi has been visiting us. The lad still misses you. It's been eight years. Don't you want to see him?"
Su Qi…
I stood on the balcony, dialing his number repeatedly before hanging up again. I held the phone in my hand and paced back and forth. Then I leaned against the windowsill, my eyes unfocused.
It had been eight years since I saw him.
He was probably caught off guard by my hasty departure eight years ago.
I was surprised that he had started his own company and was doing so well.
Some things are still the same, only people had changed.
I dialed the number again, but this time, I didn't hang up. Very shortly, the calm baritone voice of a man answered, "Hello, who is this?"
"Make a guess!"
"You are…"
"You don't recognize my voice anymore?!"
I laughed, trying to hide my embarrassment. "Someone left a business card with my mother. Weren't you expecting my call?"
"Xiachun?!" He almost choked.
…
Su Qi asked me out to meet him. He was now so different from the arrogant and flamboyant young man that I used to know. Perhaps it was because he had weathered the real world, or perhaps it was because he had been through eight years of vicissitudes. He had also lost that overbearing attitude of his youth and cared to ask for my opinion seriously.
"Is that skating rink still around?"
He was stunned for a moment and then looked highly amused. "You still remember how to skate?"
"I can pick it up again!" Compared to facing Dongyu, I was not as reserved with Su Qi.
We arranged to meet at the skating rink where he had brought me to long ago. Now, skating was no longer as popular as before, and business was nowhere as brisk.
The skating rink had obviously been renovated, but even that could not erase the signs of wear by the passage of time.
At the entrance, I saw a man in a white shirt and black suit pants.
He stood at the doorway with his suit jacket casually draped over his arm. Perhaps he didn't recognize me at first glance. I walked up to him with my hands clasped behind my back and said, "Hey." He turned his head and studied me. His expression changed.
"Xiachun…"
There was a look of unease and seriousness on his face. Compared to how relaxed he sounded on the phone, he seemed at a loss when I stood before him.
With my hands still behind my back I walked around him. I sized him up and laughed.
"General Manager Su, you're rather imposing! Wearing a suit to skate is so classy."
My words set the atmosphere.
Su Qi appeared to relax and he blinked a couple of times before replying, "Isn't it because someone said she wanted to meet at the skating rink? Of course I have to risk my life to accompany you, my little missy."
I stared at him, suddenly recalling Dongyu's birthday those years ago, when Dongyu and Lin Li had gone to look at lanterns. I had burst out crying uncontrollably at the deserted dining table, staring at the uneaten birthday cake.
To cheer me up, Su Qi quickly cut the cake and ate it enthusiastically, as if the more he ate, the happier I would be.
I told him, Su Qi, let's date!
The teenager, who had always been unruly, suddenly smiled like an innocent child. He held my face and asked gently, "May I kiss my girlfriend now?"
This Su Qi was such a young fool.
An endearing fool…
I stepped forward and held his arm, smiling. I said, "It's been a long time since I last skated. I've forgotten everything that Teacher Su taught me. It's my treat today.. Let's play to our heart's content."