Chapter One: The Library Accident
The university campus in September always carried the unique bustle and anticipation of a new semester. The plane tree leaves had not yet fully turned yellow, but the air was already mixed with a faint scent of books and youthful restlessness. When Lin Xiao dragged her suitcase into the dormitory building, she was still silently cheering herself on: a new beginning, everything will get better.
She is a freshman in the Chinese department, tall and slender, with a casually tied ponytail, large eyes, and shallow dimples when she smiles. Her family says she is too quiet and hopes university will make her more outgoing. Lin Xiao herself doesn't think being quiet is bad; as long as she has books and a quiet corner, she can stay there all day.
Gu Yan was in the same year, majoring in computer science. He was half a head taller than Lin Xiao, with clean features and didn't speak much, yet he always carried a reassuring steadiness. On the first day of school, he was dragged by his roommate to various orientation activities but remained uninterested. It wasn't until evening, when he slipped into the library alone, that he truly relaxed.
It was the third day after school started. Lin Xiao went to the literature section on the third floor of the library to find reference materials for 'History of Modern Chinese Literature.' The bookshelf was very high, and she stood on tiptoe, her fingers just reaching the spine of the book, but because she used too much force, the entire row of books wobbled. The person next to her reached out and steadied them, saying softly, 'Be careful.'
Lin Xiao turned around and met Gu Yan's eyes. Both were stunned for a second.
“Sorry, I... didn’t notice.” Lin Xiao’s voice was a little soft.
Gu Yan pulled out the book and handed it to her, straightening a few others nearby as he did so. 'It's fine. Do you want this one?'
Lin Xiao nodded, took the book, her fingertips accidentally brushing the back of his hand, and immediately pulled back. Gu Yan didn't say anything, just nodded, turned around, and continued looking for his own book.
After that, they met several more times in the library. Sometimes it was in the morning to secure seats, sometimes just before closing in the evening. Gradually, both tacitly agreed on that window-side spot—Lin Xiao sat on the left, Gu Yan on the right, with an open notebook between them.
One evening, Lin Xiao's pen ran out of ink. She whispered to the person next to her, 'Can I borrow your pen?'
Gu Yan doesn't look up, pushing a spare pen over. After Lin Xiao finishes writing and returns it, she softly says 'thank you.' Gu Yan hums in acknowledgment, a slight smile curling his lips.
And so, from strangers to familiar, it took only half a month.
Chapter 2: The Cafeteria and the Sports Field
The weather in October began to turn cooler. Lin Xiao and Gu Yan had already grown used to going to the cafeteria together. Gu Yan always helped her save a seat, while Lin Xiao was responsible for lining up to buy the few dishes he liked to eat. The two did not talk much while eating, yet never felt awkward. Sometimes Lin Xiao would read aloud an interesting sentence she had seen that day, and after hearing it Gu Yan would seriously give his opinion, occasionally even rebutting her.
"Do you think love has to be earth-shattering and intense?" Lin Xiao suddenly asked one time.
Gu Yan thought for a moment and said, 'Not necessarily. Sometimes simplicity lasts longer.'
Lin Xiao smiled: "I think so too."
On weekends, they would go running on the sports field. Gu Yan ran fast, Lin Xiao couldn't keep up and would walk slowly behind. After finishing a lap, Gu Yan would turn back and accompany her to walk the rest of the way. The sunset stretched their two shadows long, falling side by side on the track.
Once when it rained, they didn't have an umbrella. Gu Yan took off his own jacket and put it over Lin Xiao's head, getting wet himself. Lin Xiao declined, but Gu Yan only said, 'Hurry and run, don't catch a cold.'
Back at the dormitory building, Lin Xiao returned his wet jacket, her fingertips icy cold. Gu Yan took it and suddenly said, 'Remember to check the weather forecast next time.'
Lin Xiao nodded, but inside, she felt an indescribable warmth.
Chapter 3: The Club and the Misunderstanding
In the second semester of freshman year, Lin Xiao joined the literature club, while Gu Yan joined the programming club. They saw each other a bit less, but still met every evening at the library. Sometimes Gu Yan helped her fix her paper formatting, sometimes Lin Xiao checked his program comments for typos.
Once the literature club was hosting a reading session, and Lin Xiao was in charge of hosting. Gu Yan specifically went to listen. After the session, he waited for her at the door, holding a bottle of warm milk.
"You’re here?" Lin Xiao was a little surprised.
"Just passing by." Gu Yan handed her the milk. "Your throat is hoarse, isn't it."
Lin Xiao took it, took a sip; it was sweet.
However, not every day went so smoothly. Once, Gu Yan had to work overtime on a project and didn't go to the library for three consecutive days. Lin Xiao sent him a message asking, and he only replied, 'Busy, talk later.' Lin Xiao felt a bit empty inside but didn't ask further.
On the evening of the fourth day, she waited in the library until closing time before Gu Yan hurriedly arrived. His hair was a bit messy, and his eyes looked tired.
“Sorry, the project got stuck these past few days.” he said.
Lin Xiao shook her head: "It's fine. I'm just glad you're done."
Gu Yan looked at her and suddenly reached out to ruffle her hair. 'Next time, I'll let you know in advance.'
Lin Xiao's ears grew slightly warm, but she didn't pull away.
Chapter Four: Confession in the Rain
The rain in May came suddenly. That day they had agreed to meet at the library, but as soon as they went out, a heavy rain began. Lin Xiao stood waiting at the entrance of the teaching building, and Gu Yan ran over from the rain holding an umbrella.
The umbrella was not big, and the two of them squeezed together, shoulder to shoulder. The sound of rain was rushing down, drowning out the voices around them.
Halfway there, Gu Yan suddenly stopped.
“Lin Xiao.”
“Mm?”
“I like you.”
Lin Xia froze. The rain was still falling, and the space under the umbrella became exceptionally quiet.
Gu Yan's voice isn't loud but clear: 'From our first meeting at the library, I wanted to see more of you. Later, eating together, running, revising theses... I realized life would lack something without you. So, I want to formally tell you.'
Lin Xiao looked up. Raindrops dripped down from the edge of the umbrella, landing on both their shoes. She looked into his eyes and suddenly smiled.
“Me too.”
Gu Yan was taken aback for a second, then laughed as well. He tilted the umbrella a bit more towards Lin Xiao and gently held her hand with his other hand.
The rain was still falling. The campus streetlights came on, stretching the shadows of the two people very long.
Chapter 5: The Daily Life Spent Together
After getting together, life didn't become particularly different, just added many small details.
Gu Yan remembers Lin Xiao doesn't eat cilantro, so he specially notes it when ordering takeout. Lin Xiao silently makes him a cup of hot tea when he stays up late coding, placing it beside him. During exam week, they pull all-nighters in the library together, taking turns napping when tired; waking up to see each other first brings a bit of comfort.
They didn't separate during the summer vacation. Gu Yan's home wasn't far from school, and Lin Xiao rented a short-term apartment near campus, so they saw each other every day. Sometimes they went to old bookstores to hunt for books, sometimes they watched stars on the sports field. One night, Gu Yan suddenly said, 'After graduation, let's go see the sea together.'
Lin Xiao nodded: "Okay."
The sophomore and junior years passed quickly. They performed together in the school's cultural shows—Lin Xiao recited poetry while Gu Yan applauded from the audience. They also pulled countless all-nighters to meet deadlines, encouraging and cheering each other on. Occasionally, there were small arguments—like when Gu Yan was too busy and forgot an anniversary, Lin Xiao would give him the cold shoulder for half a day, but would eventually text him: 'Hungry? The cafeteria has new sweet and sour pork ribs.'
Gu Yan replies: 'Wait for me, I'll be there in ten minutes.'
Every time after a fight, our relationship actually gets a little closer.
Chapter Six: Promise Before Graduation
That senior year, graduation season arrived. Plane tree leaves fell again, and the campus filled with many people in graduation gowns taking photos. Lin Xiao and Gu Yan also took many photos together—at the library entrance, on the track field, under that cherry blossom tree where they first took shelter from the rain together.
On graduation day, Gu Yan held Lin Xiao's hand and said, 'Work might be busy after this, but I promise we'll meet at least once a week. If we can't meet on a certain day, we'll video call.'
Lin Xiao smiled and nodded: "Me too. No matter how busy I am, I'll always leave a light on for you."
They did not say “forever,” only seriously agreed on “later.”
After the graduation ceremony, the two of them walked to that small path deep in the campus. The sunset dyed the sky orange-red, the wind blew, carrying laughter from the distant sports field.
Gu Yan stops walking, takes out a small box from his pocket. Inside are simple silver rings, engraved with the date they first met.
“It’s not a proposal,” Gu Yan said a little shyly, “I just want to give you a reminder. A reminder that this road we started from the library is still very long.”
Lin Xiao took them, put one on her own hand and the other on Gu Yan's.
"Okay," she said, "then let's walk slowly."
Epilogue
Many years later, Lin Xiao and Gu Yan were already married, living in a city not far from their alma mater. Every weekend, they still go back to the school for a walk. The library is still there; the window seats have new tables, the track on the sports field has been repaved, but the cherry blossom trees still bloom every year.
Once, they walked to that tree again. Lin Xiao suddenly said, 'Remember our freshman year? You helped me carry books and almost got hit.'
Gu Yan laughed. 'I remember. Back then, I thought, this girl is definitely going to make me worry a lot in the future.'
Lin Xiao gently punched him: "It's not like you weren't willing yourself."
The two exchanged smiles. The wind blew, and petals fell onto their shoulders. The campus was still young, and their story, since that autumn, had already been written far, far away.
But the story never truly ends. It only changes form and continues to flow gently through the daily lives of two people.
The first autumn after graduation, Lin Xiao and Gu Yan finally moved into their own rented small apartment. The place wasn't big, just one bedroom and one living room, but the balcony faced exactly that patch of sky in the distance not yet completely blocked by high-rises. Lin Xiao brought over the old bookshelf from university, while Gu Yan set up his dual-screen monitors for programming by the window. On the night they first officially 'settled down,' Lin Xiao cooked two bowls of plain noodles, and Gu Yan took a bottle of cheap red wine from the fridge, pouring it into inexpensive glasses.
"To us." Gu Yan raised his cup.
Lin Xiao also raised his glass: "To that window seat in the library."
They clinked glasses gently, the glass making a crisp sound. A car light flashed past outside the window, but inside the room it was quiet except for the steam from the noodles and each other's breathing.
The days after that stretched out like elongated film, playing frame by frame slowly.
Gu Yan joined an internet company, often working late into the night. Lin Xiao works as an editorial assistant at a publishing house, dealing with manuscripts and proofs daily. Their schedules gradually drift apart but always reconverge at fixed times. When Gu Yan returns from overtime, the entrance light is always on; when Lin Xiao stays up editing, a still-warm cup of milk appears on the coffee table.
Once, Gu Yan came home close to midnight for a whole week in a row. Lin Xiao didn't complain, only reheating the prepared late-night snack when he entered, then sitting across from him, quietly listening as he talked about where the project had gotten stuck that day. After he finished, Gu Yan looked at her and suddenly said, 'Don't you feel tired? Waiting for me every day.'
Lin Xiao shook her head, her voice very soft: "While waiting for you, I think about university days. About the first time you helped me carry books, about that umbrella in the rain that wasn't quite big enough, about our side-by-side shadows on the sports field. Thinking about these things, the wait doesn't feel so long anymore."
Gu Yan reaches out and holds her hand; his palm is slightly rough but warm.
The following spring, they officially obtained their marriage certificate. There was no grand wedding, only a few photos taken at the Civil Affairs Bureau entrance, and then a walk around their alma mater. The cherry blossoms happened to be at their peak that day. Standing under the tree where they once took shelter from the rain, Gu Yan put the ring back on Lin Xiao's finger—the inside was still engraved with the date of their first meeting.
"Starting today," Gu Yan said, "the library, the cafeteria, the playground, and this tree, all of them are ours now."
Lin Xiao smiled and nodded. A gust of wind blew, and a few more petals landed in her hair. Gu Yan reached out to pick them off for her, his movements gentle, as if touching something fragile.
Life after marriage didn't immediately become dramatic. More often, it was the minutiae of daily necessities. Lin Xiao learned to make Gu Yan's favorite sweet and sour pork ribs, and Gu Yan learned to prepare a hot water bottle and her favorite chocolate in advance during Lin Xiao's menstrual period. If both were free on weekends, they would go for walks in the nearby park or return to the old bookstore at their school to hunt for second-hand books. Sometimes Lin Xiao would suddenly recall the night before a university exam when they encouraged each other in the library, then turn to Gu Yan and say, 'I was actually terrified back then, but seeing you sitting beside me made me feel like I could get through anything.'
After listening, Gu Yan seriously replies: 'I felt the same back then.'
In the third year, Gu Yan's company received a major project, and he was sent to work on-site in another city for three months. On the morning of their parting, Lin Xiao pulled the packed suitcase to the door and stuffed a thick coat inside.
“It’s cold over there, remember to wear this.” she said.
Gu Yan nodded, suddenly pulling her into his arms and holding her for a long time.
"Video every day," he said, "no matter how busy, video."
Lin Xiao buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled: "Okay."
Those three months became the first real separation since they got married. Lin Xiao worked during the day, and at night, returning to the empty apartment, she would first start a video call. Gu Yan was often in a temporarily rented dormitory, the background simple, the lighting not great, but he always answered immediately. Sometimes he had just come out of a meeting, his hair messy, but he would still ask first: 'Did you eat today?'
Lin Xiao would prop her phone on the dining table, talking to him while eating. She talked about the new intern at the publishing house, the newly opened milk tea shop downstairs, about passing by her alma mater's gate today and seeing another batch of freshmen registering.
"The way they dragged their suitcases," Lin Xiao said, "was just like us back then."
Gu Yan smiles on screen: 'Back then, you were dragging your suitcase and almost hit a pillar.'
"You’re the one who bumped into me." Lin Xiao retorted, but then laughed along as well.
At the end of the three months, on the day Gu Yan came back, Lin Xiao deliberately took a day off. She waited at the station for almost an hour before finally seeing the familiar figure emerge from the crowd. When Gu Yan saw her, he clearly quickened his pace. The two stopped at the exit, neither of them speaking first, just looking at each other.
Then Gu Yan put the suitcase aside, reached out, and picked her up, spinning her around once. People around glanced over, but Lin Xiao was too caught up to feel shy, just tightly hugging him back.
In the taxi on the way home, Gu Yan held her hand the whole time, as if afraid that letting go would separate them again. After arriving home, he went to take a shower first. When he came out, Lin Xiao had already reheated dinner. The two sat at the small dining table, quietly finishing the meal just like they did in the cafeteria during university.
After finishing, Gu Yan suddenly said: “If there’s a business trip next time, you come with me.”
Lin Xia was taken aback for a moment, then nodded: 'Okay.'
In the fourth year, they finally saved enough for the down payment and bought a small two-bedroom apartment closer to their alma mater. On moving day, several college roommates came to help. While moving things, everyone reminisced about funny stories from the dorm days. Someone mentioned that Gu Yan always returned to the dorm very late during freshman year, and someone teased Lin Xiao about how nervous she was when hosting the literature club, her palms sweating. Laughter echoed in the empty new house, as if moving in the past times along with everything else.
After settling down, Lin Xiao began independently responsible for a column at the publishing house. Gu Yan was promoted to project manager, busier with work but also more regular. Their lives were like two parallel lines, occasionally intersecting, yet always moving in the same direction.
One weekend, they decided to completely unwind for a day and spend a whole day back at their alma mater. In the morning, they first went to the cafeteria for a bowl of beef noodles—the taste was about the same as back in the day, just a few bucks more expensive. Then they went to the library. The third-floor window seat had been replaced with new tables and chairs, but the view outside remained. Lin Xiao sat down, took out an old notebook from her bag—the one she used in college. Opening to a certain page, there were some formatting marks Gu Yan had helped her correct, the handwriting clear.
“Still keeping it?” Gu Yan asked.
Lin Xiao nodded: "Can't bear to throw it away."
They sat in that spot for a long time, just like back then, one reading a book, one looking at a screen. Only this time, neither of them rushed to leave.
At noon they went to the playground and walked around a few times. The track had been relaid, its color newer than in memory. Lin Xiao couldn't run, so she walked slowly. Gu Yan stayed beside her, occasionally reaching out to pull her a little, helping her avoid puddles.
“Do you remember the first time we ran together?” Lin Xiao asked.
“Remember. You were out of breath after running just a couple of steps, and you still insisted you could keep going.”
"Back then you ran so fast, yet every time you still ran back to wait for me."
Gu Yan smiled but didn't respond, just slowed his pace even more.
In the evening, they walked again to the cherry blossom tree. The flowering season had passed, but the leaves were still thick and green. The two of them stood against the trunk for a while, neither saying a word. The wind blew over, carrying the bells from the distant teaching building.
“We really have come a long way.” Lin Xiao suddenly said.
Gu Yan turns to look at her: 'But the starting point is still here.'
Lin Xiao reached out and tugged gently on the corner of his clothes, just like she did in college. Gu Yan understood and, in turn, grasped her hand.
In the fifth year, Lin Xiao discovered she was pregnant.
That morning she wasn't feeling well and went to the hospital for a check-up. When the results came out, she sat on the bench outside the consultation room, looking at the report over and over, then called Gu Yan.
On the other end of the phone, Gu Yan was silent for a few seconds, then his voice tightened slightly: "Where are you now? I'll come right away."
He really arrived very quickly. He trotted all the way into the hospital, and when he saw Lin Xiao, his eyes were a little red. He sat down beside her, carefully took over the report, checked it over again and again, and only then finally smiled.
"Really?"
"Really."
Gu Yan tightened his grip on her hand, his palm completely sweaty.
Since then, life gained another layer of rhythm. Lin Xiao began paying attention to her diet, while Gu Yan pushed off every overtime shift he could. On weekends they would go for walks in the park together; Gu Yan always walked on the side nearest the road, carrying Lin Xiao’s water cup in his hand. At night he would help her massage her calves and listen as she talked about what interesting pregnancy articles she had seen that day.
Once Lin Xiao woke up in the middle of the night and gently nudged the person next to her: 'Can't sleep.'
Gu Yan immediately opened his eyes, his voice still drowsy. 'Where does it hurt?'
“No. It’s just... I suddenly wanted to drink that bowl of porridge from the university cafeteria.”
Gu Yan was silent for two seconds, then sat up and put on his clothes. 'I'll go buy some. It's not from the cafeteria, but there's a congee shop nearby that's open 24 hours.'
Lin Xiao pulled him back: "No need to really go..."
“If you want to drink, go ahead.” Gu Yan bent down and kissed her on the forehead, “Wait for me to come back.”
He really went. Half an hour later he came back with porridge that was still hot, and Lin Xiao sat on the bed and drank it little by little until it was finished. Gu Yan sat by the bed and watched her, then suddenly said: “When the child is born, we’ll take him back to the school to have a look too. Tell him that’s where Dad and Mom met.”
Lin Xiao nodded, her eyes a little moist.
The day the child was born was in early winter. In the corridor outside the delivery room, Gu Yan paced back and forth. His phone held a pre-recorded message from Lin Xiao—'Don't be nervous, I'm fine.' He listened to it many times but was still so nervous his palms sweated.
When the nurse finally came out to notify him, he almost rushed into the ward. Lin Xiao looked a bit pale, but smiled the moment she saw him. In her arms was a tiny, wrinkled baby.
Gu Yan carefully took the child and looked down at him for a long time. Then he raised his head and said to Lin Xiao, 'He looks like you.'
Lin Xiao shook her head: "The nose looks like you."
The two laughed together. Outside, the sky had already brightened; sunlight streamed through the glass onto the hospital bed, bathing everything in a gentle glow.
During the postpartum confinement days, Gu Yan took paternity leave and was almost always by her side. He learned how to prepare formula, change diapers, burp the baby, and also learned to simply sit quietly with Lin Xiao when she was feeling down. Once, Lin Xiao cried in the middle of the night, saying she felt like she couldn't do anything right. Gu Yan gently pulled her into his arms, stroking her back over and over.
“You’re already very good.” he said. “From university until now, you’ve always been very good.”
Lin Xia buried her face in his chest, listening to his heartbeat, gradually calming down.
When the child was one month old, they specifically returned to their alma mater. The weather was very good that day, clear and crisp autumn air. The two of them pushed the stroller, slowly walking along familiar paths. The cafeteria, the sports field, the library, the cherry blossom trees—they stopped to take photos at each spot. The child in the stroller slept soundly, completely unaware of the surroundings.
Standing under that tree, Lin Xiao suddenly said softly, 'Our story truly started here and has been written all the way to now.'
Gu Yan nodded, reaching out to tuck her wind-blown hair behind her ear.
"I'll keep writing," he said. "All the way to a very, very far place."
The wind blew over again, this time without petals, only clean sunlight and the faint sound of reading in the distance. The campus remained young, but their story no longer belonged to just the two of them. It began to have new chapters, new voices, new warmth.
But the starting point will always be that autumn library, that accidental reaching out, that simple “Be careful.”
From that moment on, all the tenderness, waiting, partings, and reunions that came later had a place to return to.
They would still walk through many springs and autumns together. The child would grow up, learn to walk, learn to talk, and one day ask: “Mom and Dad, how did you meet?”
By then, they would bring the child and return to this campus again. Standing at the entrance of the library, standing on the track of the playground, standing beneath that tree that had already grown taller and thicker, they would slowly tell the whole story all over again, from the beginning.
Talked about the umbrella in the rain, talked about the location of the cafeteria, talked about the ring at graduation, talked about all the ordinary yet precious days that followed.
After the story is told, the wind will blow again.
Petals, or leaves, or sunlight, will fall on the shoulders of the three people.
And the story would still continue.
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