A Guide to Wasting Life

In September, during a spontaneous getaway, Xu Nianzhu met someone.

He wandered into her camera’s frame unexpectedly in front of a temple with gray tiles and yellow walls. Later that day, they crossed paths a second time in a cozy bar on the other side of the district.

That night, under the influence of alcohol, Xu Nianzhu rested her chin on one hand, propped her elbow on the table, and looked at the boy sitting across from her-his face flushed despite not having touched a drop of alcohol. Teasing him, she smiled and asked, “Why are you blushing?”

Her unguarded movement so effortlessly unlocked the door to his heart.

On the ride home, seeing her flustered after teasing him only to trip herself up instead, Zhou Qi chuckled. Gently, he reached out to brush against her reddened earlobe.

Leaning close, their breaths intertwined. His voice was husky as he murmured softly beside her ear, “It’s okay. If you don’t know how, I’ll teach you.”

What started as a short trip soon stretched indefinitely. Spanning two cities, they went to many places together, doing things only the two of them would know.

One day, as Zhou Qi gazed deeply at the woman beneath him, he finally broke the silence and asked again, “How can you trust me so easily? Aren’t you afraid I might be a bad person?”

Hearing this, Xu Nianzhu lazily opened her eyes, hooking her arms around his neck and planting a kiss on his lips. “If you’re bad, then so be it. After all, the bad parts of you have made me incredibly happy these past few days.”

“Hmm…” He curved his lips into a smile, reaching towards the pillow beside them. “Looks like there’s still one left.”

Only when we waste time on the people and things we love do we feel lucky to still be alive.