The summer of 2023 in New York was hotter than usual.
Shen Jiahe woke up, stretched, and opened the window to get some fresh air, but as soon as she opened it, the heat rushed in. Feeling the oven-like heat outside, Shen Jiahe immediately wilted. She lay back on the bed and turned down the air conditioner, hoping to catch a few more minutes of sleep, but then she remembered she had an art class to attend today. After a mental and physical struggle, she finally got up, got herself ready, put on her backpack, and headed out the door.
As Shen Jiahe walked down the street, wave after wave of heat hit her face, and sweat began to trickle down her forehead. Perhaps because of the extreme heat, Shen Jiahe noticed that the streets were unusually quiet today, with only a few people heading to the subway station. Even the aunt who usually came out to sell fruits every day of the week was unusually absent.
"At this temperature, you could probably fry an egg on the ground," Shen Jiahe frowned, pulled out a tissue from her backpack to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and complained discontentedly.
People who living M country know that residents don't like to use umbrellas, even on rainy days. Having lived in the US for a long time, Shen Jiahe had adopted the local custom of only using an umbrella on rainy days. Today, she had rarey opened her umbrella under the sunny sky and hurried her pace, fearing she might be baked by the sun if she lingered.
Fortunately, the subway arrived shortly after she reached the station. Shen Jiahe hurriedly boarded the subway with her fair, long legs, unwilling to stay outside for even a second. She found a seat and stared blankly out the window. Before long, the subway entered the tunnel, and the outside was pitch black. Shen Jiahe took out her phone and sighed at the "no network" icon displayed in the top right corner of the screen. "Sigh, when will the New York subway finally get Wi-Fi?" Out of boredom, she opened the photo album on her phone and began flipping through old photos.
Perhaps because she was so engrossed in the photos or lost in memories, Shen Jiahe didn't notice the subway's movements or the passengers around her. When she looked up to check the station sign, her heart suddenly began to race. It wasn't the fear of falling into an abyss that caused her heart to pound, but the uncontrollable excitement of seeing the person she loved.
Shen Jiahe unconsciously clenched the phone in her hand, her beautiful eyes following the young man standing outside the train door. The young man bent down slightly, looking around at the seating situation inside the carriage. When the doors opened, he lifted his long legs and quickly sat down next to Shen Jiahe. Shen Jiahe took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and turned her body slightly toward the young man beside her, asking, "What's your name, classmate?"
Lin Shen lowered his eyes to look at the petite girl beside him and asked in confusion, "Excuse me, do we know each other?" Seeing the teenager's puzzled expression, Shen Jiahe couldn't help but feel disappointed. The smile on her face froze almost imperceptibly. Her previously straight posture suddenly hunched over like a turtle, as if she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
What should I do? This is so awkward.
He doesn't seem to remember who I am at all...
Was it too sudden to ask him his name?
Two days ago was Shen Jiahe's first day of university life. The university was located in Upper Manhattan, New York, a Gothic-style institution designed by a renowned American architect. Looking down from the classroom building, the campus exuded an air of mystery and nostalgia, as if one had stepped into a parallel timeline from a century ago in America. Though the university wasn't as famous as New York University or Columbia University, it had produced many successful alumni.
Shen Jiahe followed the signs to the math classroom, surveyed the room, and found a seat toward the back. Just as she was about to take out her laptop to review the math class material, a deep, melodious voice sounded beside her.
"同学,可以借我一张纸吗?"
The familiar language rang in Shen Jiahe's ears, and she turned to look at the young man to her left. His short bangs were blown by the air conditioner, swaying like willow leaves in spring. His eyes were as brilliant and deep as the vast stars, and just a brief glance felt like an invisible force pulling her gaze. Below his high, straight nose were cherry-colored lips, and the faint scent of camellias lingered around him. Shen Jiahe looked at the handsome face before her, and her cheeks couldn't help but flush slightly. The usually mischievous girl seemed to have fallen into a honey pot at that moment, unable to suppress the smile on her lips.
"Excuse me, can I borrow a piece of paper?" Lin Shen saw that the girl didn't respond and guessed
she might grew up in M country , so he asked again in English.
Shen Jiahe snapped back to reality, her racing heart and rising body temperature making her nervous, her speech becoming halting. "Yes, I have some... wait a moment." She grabbed her backpack from the ground, flipped through a notebook, and tore off a piece of paper to give to Lin Shen.
"Thank you." Lin Shen took the paper from the girl and nodded slightly in gratitude.
At that moment, the professor walked into the classroom, carrying his laptop bag in one hand and his textbook in the other, just in time for class. Shen Jiahe patted her cheeks, trying to gather her thoughts, and focused her attention on the class.
After the long two-hour class, Shen Jiahe jumped up from her seat as if she had been scalded, stretching her arms to dispel the fatigue from the class. She realized that the professor had arrived just in time, and she had been so captivated by the boy's appearance that she had completely forgotten to ask his name. "Classmate..." Just as she was about to speak, Lin Shen dashed out of the classroom as if escaping. Watching the boy's departing figure, Shen Jiahe silently resolved to find out his name the next time they met.
"We met in math class a couple of days ago, and you even borrowed paper from me." Shen Jiahe concealed her disappointment and helped Lin Shen recall.
Lin Shen stared at Shen Jiahe as if trying to recall what had happened two days ago. After a moment of thought, he replied, "Oh, I remember now."
"Is there something you need?"
Hearing Lin Shen's question, Shen Jiahe thought to herself: What excuse should I use to contact him? After pondering for a moment, she came up with an idea and decided to use the old-fashioned method to increase her chances of spending time with Lin Shen.
"Can I add your contact information? I'm not good at math and would like to ask you for help. You can also contact me anytime if you encounter any difficulties. Is that okay?"
Lin Shen thought about it. Having another friend at school might be useful if he ever had any questions in the future.
"Sure." Lin Shen replied casually after a moment of thought, his tone devoid of any emotion.
Hearing Lin Shen agree to her request, Shen Jiahe was so excited she almost jumped out of her seat. The joy in her heart blossomed on her cute, doll-like face.
Lin Shen and Shen Jiahe exchanged contact information, chatted briefly, and then the subway arrived at the Chinatown station. "Goodbye, Lin Shen. See you in math class!" Shen Jiahe stepped out of the carriage, raised her beautiful eyes, and waved her hands high to bid farewell to
Lin Shen, afraid that the crowd might block her view.
Shen Jiahe hummed a tune as she skipped her way to the painting store, constantly reminiscing about the brief time she spent with Lin Shen. She was glad she had braved the scorching sun to go to her piano lesson and no longer complained about the discomfort caused by the extreme heat.