Chapter 23: Whispers of the Heart Festival

Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, she fixed her hairstyle and smoothed out the edges of her snow-white dress.

“Mom, I’m heading out to shop with Han Wenwen! Once you’re up, tell Grandma for me!”

Aunt He was in the kitchen making breakfast: “Heqing, aren’t you eating?”

“We’ll grab something while we’re out! Bye, Mom!”

Young Heqing had grown into a graceful beauty, her features blossoming into true loveliness.

Compared to her earlier innocent charm, now the word ‘beautiful’ truly fit her face.

Of course, next to her best friend Han Wenwen, Heqing felt she couldn’t quite match in beauty—since the day they met, Han Wenwen had started to resemble a fox spirit more and more.

Yet Han Wenwen lacked any cuteness; instead, she had this indefinable aura that set her apart, making their styles uniquely different.

Heqing waited at the corner, and soon Han Wenwen emerged carefully from behind, wearing a form-fitting pink dress with long hair cascading over her shoulders.

She covered Heqing’s eyes from behind and planted a quick kiss on her cheek: “Guess who?”

Heqing startled with a soft gasp, blushing: “Han Wenwen, why do you always tease me like this?”

“You got it right!” Han Wenwen giggled, tilting her head and blinking her fox-like eyes in a playful, alluring way: “What’s wrong with girls kissing? If I don’t do it now, I might not get the chance later.”

Heqing wiped her face helplessly and glanced at her.

“What do you mean you won’t get to later? Didn’t you say you’d go to the same middle school as me?”

Han Wenwen linked arms with Heqing: “Yeah, I am, but that’s not what I meant. I mean, once you start school with that childhood sweetheart of yours, where does that leave me?”

Heqing’s face turned red, and she couldn’t respond: “Don’t talk nonsense.”

Han Wenwen asked: “Have you talked to him on the phone lately?”

“No, nothing’s really happened, but I can call him after we finish at the Heart Festival today.”

The two friends headed toward the market: “You’re so diligent with him, telling him everything. I wonder how handsome he must be to have you so hooked?”

Heqing mumbled: “He’s alright. He was cute as a kid, but I don’t know what he looks like now.”

“Huh? You two talk all the time and you’ve never video called?”

“Nope, we haven’t.”

“I can’t believe you—you’re so shy!” Han Wenwen said, stunned.

Ever since the two girls met on a rainy day at school two years ago, Han Wenwen had repaid Heqing’s kindness by helping with chores like cleaning the classroom and even defending her when people spoke ill of her.

Han Wenwen always stuck around to lend a hand, and if anyone bad-mouthed Heqing, she’d jump in to retort.

Heqing had a fiery spirit, so Han Wenwen never worried about her getting upset.

Heqing was the type to repay kindness tenfold, so whatever Han Wenwen’s reasons, as long as she was good to her, Heqing returned the favor wholeheartedly.

Over time, they became inseparable best friends, sharing everything after two years.

They arrived at the Heart Festival, buzzing with excitement.

Hand in hand or arms linked, the two wandered from stall to stall, full of joy.

At a love letter stall, Heqing suddenly remembered: “Han Wenwen, have any boys confessed to you this month?”

Han Wenwen bent down to check the envelopes, hands on her knees, recognizing a few: “Yeah, probably because of the Heart Festival this week—I found three in my bag yesterday.”

“Three? Did you read them?”

Han Wenwen shook her head: “No, I don’t care about their declarations. I’m not interested.” She turned curiously: “What about you? Has your good brother ever written you one?”

Heqing shyly replied: “No, we’re not at that stage yet. I don’t even think he knows I like him.”

Han Wenwen rolled her eyes: “Do you think guys are that clueless? Some are, but I don’t see your brother as a fool.”

“You’re right, he’s really smart and good at everything.”

After wandering for hours, from the base to the hillside, they reached the Heart Intention Tree, the festival’s hottest spot midway up.

Midway through their stroll, a group of boys suddenly appeared, holding flowers as if they’d been waiting.

The one in the middle stepped forward with flowers, confessing to Han Wenwen—he seemed from another school.

Heqing sighed; even she was used to this by now, let alone Han Wenwen.

Sure enough, Han Wenwen rejected him playfully and directly: “Sorry, I’m not into you, but you’re pretty handsome—maybe some other girl will like you.”

She pulled a hair clip from her pocket and smiled: “Here, this is one I’ve worn. Take it as a keepsake. We’re off to keep shopping—bye!”

That’s just how Han Wenwen was; even in rejection, she complimented them, which might be why they still liked her afterward.

Finally, they stood before the Heart Intention Tree, its massive ancient branches laden with wish red ropes that swayed in the breeze, creating a stunning sight.

Heqing saw it for the first time, her eyes wide and sparkling: “It’s like the essence of romance. I heard a thousand years ago, a couple separated for some reason, but by tying red ropes on this tree, they found each other again.”

“Yeah, that’s the story. Did you bring your own red rope?”

Heqing nodded, pulling out a red rope with a fabric strip: “I did. What about you?”

Han Wenwen waved the one in her hand: “Of course. Let’s find a spot to write our wishes—they say it works better if you do it on site.”

The two friends crouched in a quiet spot and began writing on them.

Heqing carefully wrote: “I hope to meet him soon and be together forever.”

Finishing, she saw Han Wenwen staring at her rope, biting the pen cap: “Han Wenwen, not done yet?”

“I’m thinking—what kind of guy do I even like? I haven’t figured it out.”

Heqing chuckled to herself, knowing boys of all kinds had confessed to Han Wenwen without her picking any: “I’m curious too.”

“Oh, got it!” Han Wenwen wrote on her rope: “I want my future man to understand what I truly desire.”

Heqing read it, puzzled: “What does that mean?”

“It means I hope my future boyfriend connects with me on a soul level.”

Heqing burst out laughing, and Han Wenwen joined in, the two giggling as they leaned on each other.

Heqing covered her mouth and said: “That sounds so poetic.”

They tied their red ropes to the Heart Intention Tree, linking them to its branches.

If you tie a rope without a crush, you can get a hand plaque nearby, which shows your future boyfriend’s surname.

Han Wenwen grabbed one casually; it read ‘Lin’.

Heqing lit up: “Lin?”

Han Wenwen asked: “What? Is your good brother surnamed Lin?”

“Yes, he is.”

Han Wenwen hooked arms with her friend and held up the plaque: “Looks like we’re true besties—our future boyfriends even share the same surname! Maybe he’s related to your brother?”

Joking and holding hands, they continued wandering the Heart Festival.

On the tree, their two red ropes twisted together in the wind, as if tied in an unbreakable knot.