The Best Of You (English Ver.) - Chapter 21

Shen Nianshen rode a bicycle with Sun Tiantian on the back, from the Yinxing Avenue outside the school all along to Binjiang Road.

There were only a few people along the way and the view was beautiful. The weather was very nice these days, the sky was blue, the sun was shining bright, and the wind brought a little warmth.

Shen Nianshen rode the bike very slowly, Sun Tiantian happily sang a song behind him, her two legs that hanging beside the bike were swaying.

As soon as she finished singing a song, her head stuck out from the side of Shen Nianshen’s waist and looked at the man with a smile, “Shen Nianshen, do I have a good voice when I sing?”

Shen Nianshen lowered his head to look at her, a smile could not be hidden behind his eyes, whispered, “It’s good.”

Sun Tiantian grinned, then pulled back her head, hugged Shen Nianshen’s waist, and pressed her face against his back, saying proudly, “I won the tenth place in the campus singing championship.”

Shen Nianshen could hear the pride in her voice, he couldn’t help but curl his lips, “Really?”

Sun Tiantian, “Of course, I’ve won a prize for playing piano too.”

“You can play the piano too?”

“Yes, I can play the lute too.”

Sun Tiantian was good at playing many musical instruments but unlike most of her friends who were forced by their parents to learn.

Her parents were very open-minded, they were not forcing things like this at all.

Sun Tiantian was naughty when she was little, she really liked to play mud in the yard. When there were some relatives came to the house, they saw her who was so dirty and told her parents to take more care of their daughter because girls should be disciplined properly.

Her mother just smiled and said, “Tiantian is still young, as long as she’s happy.”

At that time, Sun Tiantian was already seven or eight years old and enrolling in elementary school. Her peers’ students started enrolling in various tutoring classes, learning musical instruments, learning to draw, learning English, and so on.

In short, when most parents were trying to make their kids win from the start and force them to do everything, Sun Tiantian’s parents just took her hand and kept walking slowly behind.

They would spend a lot of time teaching her to be a good person, to respect her elders and respect others, mingle with her classmates at school and to respect the teachers, be generous, developing good character, but never tried to make her “a superior girl” by forcing her learning what she didn’t like.

When the other students were tormented every day by being crammed by the various lessons after school, she went through her childhood very happy and relaxed.

Because she just had to finish her homework, relearn what she learned that day, and she could do whatever she likes.

Watching cartoons, digging for mud, planting flowers and grass, raising a goldfish …

Until now, she would feel very beautiful when she looked back on those days.

About mastering piano and lute, it was all out of her own interest that she went to learn them. Perhaps out of liking, learning would be so fun, so she mastered them very well.

But she prefers drawing to musical instruments.

“Later when you have time, you can come to my house. I’ll play the piano for you to listen to,” Sun Tiantian said happily.

Shen Nianshen’s expression started to stiffen, it was quite a while before he finally agreed softly.

The wind blew gently on their face, it felt very comfortable.

Sun Tiantian couldn’t help but hug Shen Nianshen tighter, her face pressed against his back, her voice was very soft as she asked, “Shen Nianshen, where are we going to ride?”

Shen Nianshen replied, “Just go to Binjiang Road. There is a park at the front, we can stop to take a walk.”

“Okay, I love to walk in the park!” Sun Tiantian was very excited and urged Shen Nianshen to ride a little faster.

Shen Nianshen smiled helplessly and said, “Then you hold me tightly, raise your feet a little high, don’t get into the bicycle spokes.”

“Hmm.” Sun Tiantian replied happily, she immediately hugged Shen Nianshen tightly and lifted her legs obediently.

But because her hug was too tight, Shen Nianshen felt that he couldn’t move at all.

His right hand gently reached Sun Tiantian’s hand and smiled helplessly “… Tiantian, loosen up a little, I can’t move.”

Sun Tiantian heard it, grinned and finally loosened her hug a little, “Is it better?”

“Yes.”

The bicycle drove forward for about ten minutes, then Shen Nianshen raised his finger and pointed to a place surrounded by a fence, “Can you see it? The Binjiang Park is there.”

Sun Tiantian poked her head from beside Shen Nianshen’s shoulder, looked forward and said excitedly, “I can see it! I’ve never been here before.”

Shen Nianshen rode along the side street and headed there, “I’ve never come here either. This afternoon when I was waiting for you, I looked at the map for a while.”

While they were talking, the bicycle had stopped in front of the gate.

Shen Nianshen’s two feet hit the ground, letting the bicycle came to a steady stop.

Sun Tiantian jumped down from behind, raised her head, and looked around the park.

As it was the weekend and the weather was also very good, many elderly people were in the park. There were some adults who take their children out for a walk.

Shen Nianshen pushed the bicycle up into the bicycle parking lot, hanging the padlock on the bicycle.

Sun Tiantian stood on the spot and waved at him excitedly, “Shen Nianshen, come quickly. Come here quickly.”

After Shen Nianshen finished locking the bike, he put the key in his pocket and smiled all the way he walked to Sun Tiantian.

Sun Tiantian trotted a few steps, her hands wrapped around Shen Nianshen’s arm happily and pointed into the garden, “They are selling cotton candy inside, I want to eat it.”

It’s a candy made by pouring white sugar into a machine, then took a stick and circling it over the machine. In the end, there was big cotton candy.

“I’ll buy it for you.” Shen Nianshen led Sun Tiantian into the garden.

There were a lot of children surrounding the cotton candy machine, Sun Tiantian was standing at the side… hmm, maybe enough to be called as a grown child.

Shen Nianshen couldn’t help teasing her, “How old are you Sun Tiantian? You still like to eat this kind of thing?”

Sun Tiantian blinked, “I am 18 years old, soon will be 19.”

Then she lifted her chin, “Why? Can’t you eat cotton candy when you are 19 years old?”

Shen Nianshen rubbed his temples and laughed as he replied, “Of course, as long as you like it.”

Sun Tiantian smiled and looked at him.

After waiting in line for a while, finally, it was her turn.

Sun Tiantian pointed to the sugar next to her and said, “Grandpa, I want this strawberry flavor.”

The old man asked, “Do you want a big or a small one?”

The big ones cost 4 yuan and the small ones 2 yuan.

Sun Tiantian replied, “The small one.”

The old man grunted, took a spoonful of strawberry-flavored sugar and shoved it into the machine.

He held a bamboo stick and stirred it, and quickly a pink cotton candy was ready.

Sun Tiantian happily took the cotton candy, and Shen Nianshen handed the money to the seller.

Sun Tiantian held the cotton candy with one hand and wrapped around Shen Nianshen’s arm with her other hand, she opened her mouth and took a gentle bite.

As soon as the cotton candy got into her mouth, it melted at once. Sun Tiantian immediately felt the sweet taste reaching her eyes.

Shen Nianshen looked at her, “Is it good?”

Sun Tiantian nodded, “It’s delicious.”

She licked her lips and raised the cotton candy up to Shen Nianshen’s lips, “You try it, please.”

Shen Nianshen shook his head, “I don’t want to.”

“Just a little, try it.” Sun Tiantian again raised the cotton candy up to the side of his lips, Shen Nianshen was unable to refuse and could only eat one mouthful.

Sun Tiantian’s eyes lit up as she stared at him, “Is it good?”

Shen Nianshen nodded, “It’s delicious.”

Sun Tiantian smiled till her eyes were curved, her hand still wrapped around Shen Nianshen’s arm as they walked into the garden.

-***-

“Shen Nianshen, when this date is over, I will accompany you to study at the library.”

Shen Nianshen was stunned, he tilted his head and looked at Sun Tiantian in confusion, “Why are you suddenly want to go to the library?”

Sun Tiantian replied, “I like you, I want to be with you, but I don’t want to be a burden to you.”

Shen Nianshen was working so hard, she knew that Shen Nianshen must have his own goals and ambitions.

“Don’t want to go on a date anymore?” Shen Nianshen asked.

“We are dating, we can call it a date in the library,” then she added, “You are studying, and I’ll have time to draw.”

Shen Nianshen’s gaze stared deeply at Sun Tiantian for a moment, and he finally said, “Sun Tiantian, I really have never met a girl like you.”

Sun Tiantian took a bite of her cotton candy, her eyes arched and asked, “Have you met so many girls?”

Shen Nianshen nodded.

Even though he was not related to the girls, he had indeed met many girls.

Starting from middle school, it could be said that girls chased him endlessly.

Sun Tiantian suddenly walked in front of Shen Nianshen, raised her head and smiled sweetly, “Then what kind of girl do you think I am?”

Shen Nianshen stared at her closely for a second, “… so stupid.”

Sun Tiantian’s eyes widened, “Why did you scold me?”

Shen Nianshen couldn’t help laughing and took her hand, “It’s alright, I’m just teasing you. Come on.”

The park was immensely wide, and the environment was comfortable.

The winter sunlight shone warmly, pouring on them and they could felt the warmth on their body.

Sun Tiantian and Shen Nianshen walked around the park for a long time, feeling reluctant to leave.

When they were tired of walking around, they found a bench and sat down to rest.

Sun Tiantian wrapped her hand around Shen Nianshen’s arm and rested her head on his shoulder.

Shen Nianshen lowered his head and looked at her, “Are you hungry?”

Sun Tiantian shook her head, “No,” then looked up and asked, “Are you?”

Shen Nianshen, “Me neither.”

It’s almost six o’clock, Sun Tiantian looked at the time and said, “Let’s sit down for a while and then we go home.”

“Okay.”

The two of them just sat quietly, looking at people walking around and a little dog running on the grass.

“Being with me, is it so boring?” Shen Nianshen suddenly asked.

Sun Tiantian was surprised, raised her head, “Why did you say that?”

Shen Nianshen looked at her and fell silent for a while before saying, “What kind of place do you guys usually go to play?”

Sun Tiantian, “Me? I usually stay in the dorm, drawing and watching movie shows.”

Shen Nianshen, “I mean, what kind of place do you and your friends usually go to play?”

Sun Tiantian suddenly understood what Shen Nianshen’s meant and said, “They usually like to go to bars, play bowling, table tennis or something like that. I don’t like it.”

Shen Nianshen gazed at her, secretly pursed his lips and no longer speak.

Sun Tiantian hugged his arm tightly and rested her head firmly on his shoulders, “Shen Nianshen, don’t be overthinking. I didn’t like in the least such noisy activities. I like how it is today. Riding on a bike and take a leisure walk.”

She looked up again, “This is for real, I didn’t lie to you.”

Sun Tiantian’s eyes were truly sincere, she really liked the atmosphere that was so relaxed, and calm. When she was home, she would spend more of her time watching movies and drawing in her room.

Shen Nianshen could see that his girl really liked this kind of dating, eventually the corners of his lips rose slowly, “That’s good if you like it.”

When Sun Tiantian saw Shen Nianshen’s smile, she also smiled and pulled his hand, “Come on, let’s go back to school.”

“Alright.”

The two came out of the park, rode the bicycle along the Binjiang Road towards the campus.

When they got to the campus, it was time for dinner already.

Shen Nianshen went out returning the bike and asked Sun Tiantian, “What do you want to eat?”

Sun Tiantian replied, “Let’s just eat in the canteen.”

They had a late lunch in the afternoon, so tonight Sun Tiantian only ate a bowl of porridge and a mantou.

Shen Nianshen worried that she would starve, so he bought a boiled egg for her.

Sun Tiantian really couldn’t eat anymore, then she put the egg into her bag and said with a sweet smile, “I’ll eat it tomorrow morning.”

Shen Nianshen looked at her and smiled, “Do as you like, but remember to boil it for a minute before you eat it tomorrow.”

“I know.”

The day was darkening rapidly in the winter, when the two came out of the canteen, the sky outside had darkened completely.

Sun Tiantian’s dormitory was not far from the cafeteria, it was just a few minutes’ walks.

Shen Nianshen asked her, “Shall I take you back?”

Sun Tiantian was slightly reluctant to go back, she just looked at him and did not answer.

The two stared at each other for a moment, Shen Nianshen couldn’t help smiling and said, “Come on, let’s take a round trip to the sports field.”

He was saying while holding Sun Tiantian’s hand.

Sun Tiantian instantly feeling pleased and quickly put her arm around his again.

The two walked along the sidewalk hand in hand, walking toward the sports ground.

The campus sports ground could be said to be a holy place for couples to date at night.

At the first glance, there were all people in pairs.

It was Sun Tiantian’s first time to come to the campus sports field at night, seeing that all of them were a couple, she looked at them in amazement. She pulled Shen Nianshen’s hand and said in surprise, “There are many couples on our campus.”

Shen Nianshen agreed, “It’s the free environment.”

He was speaking while holding Sun Tiantian’s hand and walked around the sports field.

Their shoulders glued together while chatting casually.

Sun Tiantian suddenly said, “When will you go home? Remember to take me with you.”

Shen Nianshen was stunned, “Why?”

Sun Tiantian, “Don’t you think you have to take this granddaughter-in-law home for grandma to see?”

Shen Nianshen was stunned, but he couldn’t help laughing after a while, “Okay, I’ll take you home.”

Sun Tiantian chuckled, the two of them continued their walking.

Surrounded by couples hugging each other, Sun Tiantian whispered beside Shen Nianshen’s ear, “I finally realize why the campus sports fields do not turn on the lights at night.”

“Why?”

“To be comfortable for everyone to date.”

Shen Nianshen narrowed his eyes for a moment, “… is it not for economical electricity?”

As soon as those words fell, Sun Tiantian suddenly tugged him.

“What?”

Sun Tiantian whispered, “You see over there, someone is kissing.”

Shen Nianshen was stunned, subconsciously following Sun Tiantian’s line of sight.

Just a few meters from their position, there was a male and female couple hugging each other.

Shen Nianshen turned his head, raised his hand and closed Sun Tiantian’s eyes. He said softly, “Don’t look.”

Sun Tiantian chuckled, taking the opportunity to bury her entire face into Shen Nianshen’s chest.

Shen Nianshen lowered his head and looked at her, a smile crossed his eyes and asked her softly, “Why? Feeling embarrassed?”

Sun Tiantian shook her head.

After a while, she suddenly lifted her head from Shen Nianshen’s embrace with her sparkling eyes, she looked at the man slightly nervously and asked in a low voice, “Shen Nianshen, can you do it?”