Chapter 1: The Cherry Blossoms Bloomed, A Beautiful First Encounter

  On campus, the cherry blossoms are in bloom, as beautiful as snow. The gentle breeze blows, and the pale petals will gently fall, so beautiful, so romantic. At this time, I stand under that cherry blossom tree in the Cherry Garden, marveling at how vividly and brightly the cherry blossoms are blooming, making people feel drunk and reluctant to leave. If I didn't have to go to Japanese class, I would stay here to admire them forever.

  It's just a pity that the sky is overcast, as if it's going to rain. I hurriedly rushed to the classroom for my Japanese class, and the classroom was almost full of classmates, all of whom were here to hear this Japanese teacher lecture and also to see his demeanor. I saw that there were still two seats available in the first row by the wall, so I sat down. Usually, I am willing to sit in the first row because it is easier to listen clearly and my attention will be more concentrated, even if the seat is a bit off-center.

  Sitting here can see that cherry blossom tree outside, it is blooming beautifully, occasionally petals fall down.

  The teacher hasn't arrived yet, and there are still ten minutes before class starts. I looked at the cherry blossoms because I loved them so much, so I walked out of the classroom to under that cherry blossom tree.

  I appreciate the beauty of cherry blossoms, with rain falling from the sky, in the fine and misty rain, occasionally cherry blossoms fall, I stretch out my hand to catch those scattered petals, cherry blossoms in the rain are a different kind of beauty. I am deeply intoxicated in the beautiful world of cherry blossoms.

  "What a beautiful cherry blossom!" I heard a boy's voice coming from behind me, and when I turned around, not far away, a boy with a painting board on his back was gazing at the cherry blossoms. He was a very handsome boy with slightly curly hair, high nose bridge, big and bright eyes that were clear and deep. When he saw me staring at him, he also looked at me for a while before leaving. As he approached the classroom door, he turned around thoughtfully and glanced at me again, but his gaze gave me a feeling of déjà vu, even though we had never met before.

  The teacher arrived, I went into the classroom and returned to my seat, but found that the boy from just now was sitting in the position next to me. He nodded slightly towards me, a faint smile floating on his face. I also politely nodded lightly towards him.

  This semester, the department has not yet set up a Japanese course. I signed up for a Japanese interest class because I liked it, and this Japanese class is open to students from all over the school. The Japanese teacher teaches very vividly, which makes me very interested. Today is a trial lesson, and the teacher will go to Japan in the next month. He was invited by his favorite students to teach us before leaving, so he can only start classes formally after a month.

  The teacher taught us the basic pronunciation of Hiragana and Katakana, then he started giving examples. He taught a short conversation. I followed him seriously to practice and took notes.

  The class is over, I look out of the door, and the rain has stopped. Because I listened carefully to the lecture, I didn't even notice when the rain stopped.

  The boy sitting next to me politely said, "Classmate, can I borrow your notes for a bit? I just found out about the Japanese class this morning and rushed over here without bringing anything. I'd like to borrow your notebook to take back and record some things." He had a very serious expression on his face.

  Yes! Judging from his appearance, he was originally going to paint! Of course, he wouldn't bring a notebook or pen and so on!

  "Okay." I replied without thinking.

  I handed the notebook to him and hurriedly went to ask the teacher a few questions. When I finished asking and was about to go back, I found that the boy from just now was staring at me, as if he was still waiting for something.

  "You lent me your notes, and I still don't know how to return them to you! Next time we meet will have to wait until a month later, I think you should need them." He looked at me with sparkling eyes.

  "I don't know you at all, but you're willing to lend me your notes. I think most people wouldn't be willing to do that!" He continued.

  "It's okay, just borrowing a laptop." I said with a smile. Actually, I didn't think that much, if there is one, then borrow it.

  "I'm in a hurry, so let's put it this way! Wait a minute, I'll invite you to dinner and then you can tell me how to return it to you." He also smiled.

  "This... I was hesitating, no need, I just lent him a notebook."

  "You lent me your laptop without any hesitation, but when I asked you to dinner, you were so hesitant and didn't agree. Hehe, don't worry, I'm also from this school. And just now, I saw that you answered the question very fluently, I have a question for you."

  "Alright then!" Any more hesitation would be awkward.

  "I have something to attend to now, let's meet under the cherry blossom tree at Sakura Garden later." He said and hurriedly left.

  What's going on? Why do you get to decide everything?! But anyway, it's a good thing I hadn't had enough of that cherry blossom yet. I was just thinking of going back there again to take another look and write something. So I headed towards the Cherry Blossom Garden once more.

  Far, far away, the cherry blossoms are like a cloud, beautiful and gentle. The tourists who come to admire the flowers are endless, I walk under the cherry blossom tree, immersed in this fragrance, feeling the breath of the flower. My heart is extremely happy, and at this moment, time also becomes beautiful.

  I have always loved the beauty of cherry blossoms, this beauty is deeply rooted in my heart, she has never left, and it makes me so intoxicated.

  I want to record the beauty of cherry blossoms in words. All along, I have liked a peaceful life like this. I like reading books and writing, writing about the beauty, complexity or sorrow in life. My world is quiet and undisturbed.

  As I looked up, I saw a figure beside the cherry blossom tree not far away, it was the boy from just now, he was painting, oh, so he came here to paint! The rain-soaked cherry blossoms in his painting must be even more beautiful with raindrops on them.

  I couldn't help but walk over to take a look, his painting was very beautiful, it was intoxicating, and the sentence under the painting was even more deeply attractive to me: When cherry blossoms fall, her heart is drunk from then on.

  I always can't help but love good phrases. It can be seen that this boy is not only good at painting, but also has a good writing style!

  He saw me looking at his painting and smiled, continuing to paint. His expression was focused, his pale, slender fingers grasping the brush very seriously as he painted.

  After a while, he handed me the painting and whispered, "Take a look!"

  This was beyond my expectation, but seeing him smile made me feel at ease, so I happily accepted it.

  "This sentence is written very well!" I said with admiration. I didn't feel any strangeness at all, because seeing his kind smile, I also felt very natural.

  I was thinking of a beautiful scene to match this sentence, he said: "This is a sentence that I suddenly thought of, and it has nothing to do with my painting. I just simply painted cherry blossoms without any figures, just for fun." He had an expression as calm as the clouds on a breezy day.

  "Oh, I see." I said thoughtfully.

  I gazed carefully at this unfinished painting, and this painting deeply moved my heart under the newly washed cherry blossom tree after the rain.

  "Don't disturb you drawing anymore, I've seen it." I handed his painting over.

  I continue writing about cherry blossoms.

  Before he knew it, it was noon. He said: "It's time for lunch, let's go!"

  We came to a restaurant outside the school, there were already many people in the restaurant, we found a seat.

  The pomegranate juice I wanted has arrived. I love pomegranate juice, and I don't remember when it started, but I know that this crimson liquid can be beautiful and nourishing for the skin and heart. When the pomegranate juice was brought up, I, as always, focused my attention on it for a while, and the intoxicating red color in the transparent glass cup made me infinitely fond of it. I gently stirred it with a straw, letting the red liquid swirl around in the cup.

  It's as if someone is staring at me, it's the boy right in front of me, he must have seen me lost in thought too.

  But because it was close range, I could see clearly: his pale face, deep eyes, and a gentle expression. I thought to myself, how can there be such a handsome and clean-cut guy?

  "Alright, now you can tell me how I should return this laptop to you?"

  What he said awakened me from my contemplation, I nodded and said: "I'm from the Foreign Language Department. On Monday morning after class, wait for me at the teaching building and give it back to me!"

  "Alright." he replied.

  He asked me a question about Japanese dialogue, and I told him very seriously. Actually, I like Japanese and had some understanding of it before.

  Because I wasn't very familiar, I didn't say anything else. The key is that I really want to read the school newsletter now, which I just got today. So I took out the newsletter and spread it out to read. Looking at my favorite article, the one written by Tianyu from the Chinese department, his words always deeply move my heart. As a freshman, when I first entered this school, I met an upperclassman from high school who was the student union's organizational committee member. I saw the newsletter in her place and really liked it, so I asked her to save each issue for me. Of course, I can also see it online, but I want to collect these beloved things, so I can unfold them anywhere on campus, in the library, by the lake, or any other place. This is truly the most beautiful thing I feel during this time, because I love reading his words so much.

  At this moment, I am fully focused on it, and no one can disturb me. His writing is as elegant and beautiful as a blooming violet. I am immersed in the wonderful world of words, but I also haven't forgotten to take a light sip of my favorite pomegranate juice, with its slightly sour and sweet taste lingering between my lips.

  Suddenly, because of the congestion behind, someone bumped my arm. The pomegranate juice splashed out of the cup and landed on that school newsletter, my beloved text! At this time, it was dyed red, in a panic, I quickly looked for tissues, but neither my bag nor pockets had any, surprisingly. How could I, who is usually so meticulous, forget to bring even tissues today? I was extremely vexed.

  Perhaps there were too many people and they couldn't take care of everyone, not even the tables. It's really chaotic! I turned around to look for the server with my eyes, saw one, but she was at a relatively far distance from me. How could she hear my soft voice? I felt my face burning, it must have turned white to red.

  At this time, someone handed over a paper towel and a blue-purple handkerchief. The handkerchief was neatly folded by the owner, with a beautiful butterfly on it, which seemed to be held in the boy's white and slender hands. How could the boy carry a handkerchief? My originally panicked heart was suddenly occupied by this moment of sentimentality. I saw his clear eyes, he was speechless, pointing to the corner of his mouth, hinting that there was pomegranate juice on my mouth, suggesting me to wipe it off. Then, he took the paper towel and helped me wipe off the juice from the school publication, looking very serious.

  I was attracted by that handkerchief, unfolded to take a look, in the purple color of several butterflies fluttering, vivid and exceptionally beautiful.

  I couldn't help but say to him: "It's so beautiful, your handkerchief." But... the words I wanted to ask in my heart were withdrawn again.

  He seemed to understand what I meant, smiled and said: "Yes, I think so too. This was brought back by my dad from a unit's get-together activity, I saw nobody used it for a long time, and it looks pretty good, so I put it on."

  He must also be a butterfly enthusiast, right? I remembered that Tianyu also wrote about butterflies. Yes, the lightness and elegance of butterflies have captivated the hearts of countless boys and girls!

  We didn't say anything else. There was a silence.

  "Is that Wen Yu? Have you finished eating? Let's go out, someone is looking for you! Our Chinese department has something to do again." A boy pulled the person in front of him and walked out.

  When Wen Yu walked out, his eyes lingered on me for a moment. A subtle smile faintly appeared at the corner of his mouth, but with my keen observation, I caught it. His expression remained calm and serene.

  It turns out that he is also from the Chinese department. His name is Wen Yu, and it differs by only one word from Tian Yu! Tian Yu has always been my silent companion in my heart.

  It was just that phrase, when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom, at this time when cherry blossoms occasionally fell, his butterfly, his light cloud and gentle breeze swept across my heart like a shallow shadow.