harleyscars Page 319
Page 319
Su Qing didn't speak, but just smiled and nodded.
Seeing this, Mahiru smiled with satisfaction.
……
The conference had a brief stopover.
The world transitioned from clamor to silence.
Mahiru vaguely heard the voices of men and women confessing their love. She tilted her head and stared at Su Qing, perhaps wondering why Su Qing had looked at her instead of the fireworks.
"Kiyoshi," Mahiru called softly.
"Hmm?" Su Qing turned her head, her gaze questioning.
"I think... I like you more than I thought."
"Why do you say this suddenly?"
"Because I suddenly realized that liking and liking are not the same thing..." Mahiru smiled sweetly.
"Then can I ask you what you like about me?" Su Qing asked curiously, intrigued.
"There are so many things I like... I love your kindness and gentleness, I love your smile, and I love that you eat all the food I cook..."
Mahiru always hears people say:
You have a million reasons to choose A, but not a single reason not to choose B.
That's not true, really not.
Liking something is not a choice.
There might be reasons before you fall for someone, but once you do, there are definitely no reasons left to explain.
—Because there are just too many.
—Because all reasons become liking, and all liking becomes reasons.
Sincere emotions make strengths shine and weaknesses endearing.
—One of the definitions of pure love, that's how Mahiru defines it.
"And... you taught me how to love myself."
In the past, she longed to be loved by her family.
But they never considered loving themselves.
If she hadn't met the dazzling Su Qing, and encountered the Su Qing who treated her with utmost gentleness, it might have taken Mahiru a very, very long time before she mustered the courage to truly sever ties with that painful past.
If you want to like someone, you must first learn to love yourself.
You can only love others if you love yourself.
This is something Su Qing is unaware of at this moment—the girl's determination.
"Love yourself?" Su Qing was confused. "I don't think I've done that much."
“Yes. You taught me to meet the friends I want to meet and live the life I want to live, didn’t you?” Mahiru smiled, her eyes crinkling. “If it weren’t for you, I would probably still be tormenting myself because of other people’s mistakes, and I would continue to make unnecessary mistakes in the future.”
"But I met you. Maybe it wasn't the right time, but it was definitely the right person for me."
Happy New Year, my Qingjun!
"Next year, the year after, and for many, many years to come, I want to be with you!"
Su Qing stared into the girl's eyes, speechless for a long time.
It's January, spring hasn't arrived yet, but the world is already warm and flowers are in bloom.
After a long while, he said softly:
"Yes. Happy New Year, my day."
"Today's fireworks were the most beautiful I've ever seen in my life."
Unforgettable.
……
"Love yourself?" Yui frowned, her mind going blank for a moment.
She chewed over and over those words.
Finally said:
"I love myself very much. I treat myself to delicious food every day, and in winter I like to stay in bed longer and sleep in."
Bury him, he's beyond saving, he's terminally mentally challenged.
Zhixia sighed inwardly, and spoke softly:
"is not what it means……"
"What does that mean?" Yui asked innocently.
"Forehead……"
Zhixia was speechless. Right, what did it mean again?
As I get older, my memory isn't what it used to be... It's all Yui's fault for interrupting!
After thinking for a moment, Zhixia added:
"Some people say they love eating fish after their first taste, but that's just a novelty. They get tired of it after two or three days and rarely eat it again."
Her gaze softened, and her voice became gentle.
"Yui, you're still young... Sometimes, the liking you have when you're young is just a vague sense of novelty, and it may not be true liking."
People should always prioritize loving themselves; this isn't a selfish statement.
Grandma, I understand the道理 (principles/reasoning), but why can't we get around this fish...?
Just how much do you like fish?
The girl thought for a moment, then quickly tilted her head and whispered:
"But Grandma, some people really do like to eat fish."
Although you can get tired of eating the same thing for several days in a row, my friend explained to me when he taught me biology that it's just that our sensory nerves are constantly weakening the perception of the same thing.
Like painful memories, this is essentially a self-protective mechanism of human beings.
So liking and liking are different, right?
Humans are not creatures of lasting affection; sooner or later, the effects of those hormones that secrete love and make you feel happy will fade.
You'll get tired of it, you'll get bored.
Therefore, being there for someone is the most heartfelt way to express love.
Perhaps each of us loves others deeply against our biological nature and instincts.
Zhixia stared at Yui, "So, what kind of liking do you think you have?"
Ah... the cunning grandma did hear it after all.
"It should be the latter, right? Anyway, I hope it is~ But I don't care if you ask me about this kind of thing, Grandma says I'm a silly fish anyway~"
Yui swung her legs, looking up at the distant fireworks that filled the sky, leaving streaks in the darkness that inexplicably connected to form the blurry outline of a boy.
She didn't know what she was thinking, but her ears turned slightly red, and she felt inexplicably happy. Then she started humming a song.
Zhixia's gaze remained fixed on the girl's translucent skin, which was tinged with a faint pink in a very short time.
No matter how times change or how much industry progresses.
They were all destined to be unable to extract this color.
Because this is a young girl's shyness, which surpasses all the most expensive rouge and blush in the world.
Zhixia remained silent for a long time.
But in his heart he thought:
Kentaro, did you see that?
Your granddaughter... is really in love.
"By the way, Grandma, are you really not considering coming to Tokyo with us? Although all our friends are here, we can make a lot of new friends there!"
I often see many people around your age playing chess and doing square dancing in the park.
Zhixia slowly withdrew her gaze. "No, Tokyo... isn't right for me."
"Why?" Yui asked.
How will we know if we don't go and see?
"This is the home of Kentaro and me... I have you all with me when I come to Tokyo, but who will come to keep Kentaro company?"
"I'll consider helping you take care of the kids after you get married and have children."
"Ah... Grandma, if you don't want to come, just say so."
Fireworks exploded, casting a faint shadow on Zhixia's face.
A slight smile curved her lips.
Her eyes are curved, just like they were back then.
Kentaro, are you doing well over there?
Have you been flirting with other girls behind my back?
Will you... miss me?
Ah... it doesn't matter anyway, I can't see it.
When can you take me to the river to catch fish again, stun the fish we just caught, and then throw them into the river so they float up and I can catch them on purpose?
Your granddaughter is too foolish.
Just like you.
I don't want to catch fish with her anymore. It's not fun at all, and when she cries, she leaves snot on me.
You're over there... I pray that someone as silly as you will appear and take her fishing someday.
……
……
I'm sorry, I can't come to see you right now.
Don't blame me for leaving you alone.
In addition...
I miss you, Kentaro.
……
……
Chapter 366 Forgot Me
?
On January 4th, the weather was clear and sunny. The morning sun shone through the treetops and cast faint shadows on the bluish-gray cobblestone path.
An unbelievable warmth spread, even prompting some to question—
January—does it belong to the harsh winter, or to the warm spring that is yet to come?
……
Tokyo, Meiji Shrine.
A twelve-meter-tall log torii gate stands at the entrance, its dark brown wooden pillars bearing the marks of being hacked and struck by knives and axes.
Yui curiously reached out to touch it, exclaiming in amazement:
"Wow, that's amazing! How did people in the past build something so tall?"
"Of course it's through hard work and effort, not through system points, right?"