He is Lovestruck in the Revenge

It must be about to rain since the sky is so dark. The gingko trees on both sides of the street tremble chaotically in the wind.

The car is moving slowly, and Wen Changling sits in the passenger seat, pretending to adjust the seat belt, and turns her head at the right moment.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Caught in the act.

Wen Changling looks straight ahead, "I've never seen you with glasses."

Xie Shang watches the road ahead, "My prescription isn't strong. I wear them occasionally."

The glasses he wears are very ordinary, with thin lenses and no frame around the edges. Xie Shang's face actually suits glasses well, as his features are well-proportioned. With glasses on, he looks a bit like an old-time scholar-hero, sometimes boiling tea at the bridgehead, sometimes leaning on the railing to smoke, possessing both a refined spirit and prideful air.

He really can afford to mess around with his look.

Wen Changling isn't someone who dwells on beauty. After satisfying her curiosity, she stopped looking and opened the box of packaged pastries, getting back on topic, "Thank you for helping me out earlier."

At the traffic light intersection, the car stops.

Xie Shang turns to look at her, "Wen Changling."

"Hmm?"

Wen Changling still hasn't swallowed a bite of the Seven Ingenious Lantern Cup Cake.

"Are you in a hurry to be in a relationship?"

Xie Shang's question is very abrupt, and it somewhat chokes her.

There is water in the car. After Xie Shang twists off the cap and hands it to her, he places the tissue within her reach. Without rushing her to answer, he waits for her to finish drinking and to finish the Seven Ingenious Lantern Cup Cake before looking at her again, with an impartial gaze indicating he is waiting for an answer.

The green light comes on, and cars behind start honking.

Wen Changling takes a tissue to wipe her hands, "I'm not in a hurry."

"If you're not in a hurry, then take your time choosing."

Xie Shang then shifts gears and starts the car again.

Afterward, he doesn't speak much, and Wen Changling doesn't initiate any conversation either. She just sits there quietly, idly looking at the bottle of mineral water in her hand, which has foreign letters printed on it.

This water is expensive, Wen Changling knows, but even such expensive water doesn't go well with the Seven Ingenious Lantern Cup Cakes. The cakes are too sweet and would pair better with a slightly bitter Evening Sweet Dew.

Because the wind is strong, Xie Shang drives slowly, and there is a bit of a traffic jam on the road. The usual forty-minute drive takes almost an hour this time.

A storm might be approaching; the sky is dark as if it's about to collapse.

As soon as Wen Changling gets out of the car, a gust of wind blows in her face, causing a sharp pain in her eyes.

After Xie Shang locks the car, he sees she's still not moving, "What's wrong?"

"Sand got in my eyes."

Unable to open both eyes, Wen Changling instinctively rubs them with her hands.

"Don't rub with your hands."

Xie Shang grabs her sleeve, "lifting" her hand away.

"Can you open your eyes?"

She shakes her head, her eyes are very uncomfortable, and her eyelids keep twitching. She attempts to open them several times but is deterred by the pain, her lashes becoming wet with tears. She tilts her head back, unable to see the path and afraid to move, and fumbles for support on Xie Shang's car, looking slightly amusing yet pitiable.

"If you can't open your eyes, then don't. Keep them closed."

Xie Shang holds her arm, through the clothing, without gripping tightly, "Follow me."

Wen Changling responds with a belated "Oh" and then carefully follows Xie Shang. He is actually walking very slowly, but because she can't see, her steps lack a sense of security, constantly worried about tripping and unable to resist fumbling about with her unheld hand.

Her fumbling is quite accurate; she grabs onto the back of Xie Shang's shirt and then clings to it.

Xie Shang looks back at her but says nothing.

According to Wen Changling's nearly nonexistent sense of direction, it seems they are heading towards Granny Zhu's house.

"Watch out for the threshold, lift your foot."

"Oh."

Indeed lacking a sense of direction, they are heading towards Ruyi Pawnshop.

Wen Changling lifts her foot exaggeratedly high, crossing the threshold in a somewhat comical way. Xie Shang's courtyard, much like Granny Zhu's house, has a side gate that leads through a pathway directly into the yard.

"Wait here."

Xie Shang places her hand on the stone table so she has something to hold onto.

Then he leaves, and Wen Changling finds a chair to sit down and starts to blink vigorously. It seems small grit has gotten into her eyes, which blinking alone won't remove.

Footsteps approach, someone comes closer, and an overwhelmingly strong presence envelops her. Two shadows on the ground, one sitting, one bending over, their faces drawing nearer to each other.

"Wen Changling, lower your head."

Xie Shang's voice is gentle, like he's talking to a child – the tone he uses with Tongtong.

With her eyes closed, Wen Changling tilts her chin up.

"May I take off your glasses?"