Rebirth in a Shura Field, but in an Abstract Version

031 The Fate of Childhood Sweethearts

The afterglow of the setting sun shone through the window curtains, bathing the living room in an ambiguous orange-red hue.

At 5:30, Song Zhiyi went to the study again and looked around. When she came out, she saw Wang Zhe standing up.

"It's getting late, have your aunt and uncle not returned yet?"

The girl tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and said, "Yeah, they both have work to do at their jobs and have to work late. Are you hungry?"

Wang Zhe rubbed his stomach: "Yeah, since your parents have to work overtime tonight, I'll take care of dinner."

Song Zhiyi's eyes lit up: "Really? I've been wanting to try your cooking again for ages! I've been craving that meal I had at your place last time. The kitchen's over there, you can use whatever ingredients you have in the fridge, you can make whatever you want. I'm just waiting to eat something ready-made!"

Wang Zhe rolled up his sleeves and walked into the kitchen with practiced ease.

Song Zhiyi's kitchen was large, decorated in a typical Chinese style, with solid wood cabinets and a double-door refrigerator. Wang Zhe opened the refrigerator and glanced at it; it was well-stocked.

There were fresh prawns, a piece of pork belly that looked good, and some greens and eggs.

"Make some braised prawns, some twice-cooked pork, and some stir-fried vegetables..."

Wang Zhe felt confident, took out the ingredients, and turned around to look for an apron.

Just then, a soft sound was heard, and the kitchen door was closed.

Wang Zhe turned around and saw that Song Zhiyi had followed him in at some point. She was leaning against the door with her hands behind her back, looking at him with a half-smile.

The kitchen was spacious, but with one more person and the door closed, it suddenly felt cramped. The range hood wasn't on, and the air seemed somewhat stagnant.

"What are you doing in here?" Wang Zhe asked, picking up his apron and tying the straps as he did so. "Weren't you waiting to eat something ready-made?"

Song Zhiyi took two steps forward and lowered her voice: "I just want to ask, what exactly happened that you said you couldn't explain before?"

Wang Zhe turned off the tap and shook the water droplets off his hands. Looking into Song Zhiyi's inquisitive eyes, he suddenly felt that explaining some things to this precocious and rational young girl might not be a bad thing.

Have you ever heard of a masochist?

Song Zhiyi shook her head.

Wang Zhe picked up a cleaver and skillfully deveined the prawns, casually remarking, "Everyone has different taste preferences. Some like salty and savory flavors, while others prefer sweet and sour. As for Jiang Di, I'd say she likes spicy food."

Song Zhiyi asked cautiously, "The 'spicy' you're talking about definitely doesn't refer to the kind with chili peppers, right?"

Wang Zhe tossed the prepared shrimp into a bowl, added cooking wine and ginger slices to marinate, and continued, "Yes, she likes things in a physical sense. Some things that are punishment for others may be a reward for her."

"award……"

Song Zhiyi murmured the word repeatedly, her eyes gradually shifting from confusion to shock, and finally to an excited realization.

It was like opening the door to a new world.

"Is this what you call a masochist?"

"More or less, although she probably didn't even realize it herself. So, being hit actually made her happy, and she was able to calm down and study. But it probably wouldn't work on anyone else; I have to do it myself."

Song Zhiyi took a deep breath, her gaze towards Wang Zhe becoming even more complex: "I've discovered you know a lot."

Wang Zhe: "Don't stare at me like that. I was also surprised when I found out about this. Also, don't tell anyone else. The main reason is that you still need to help with your homework. I'll only tell you if I really can't keep it from you anymore."

Song Zhiyi nodded, then suddenly changed the subject: "However, there's something I find strange."

"What?"

"Even if she likes this special reward, other couples' behavior isn't unpleasant, is it? Let alone kissing, Jiang Di told me she almost never even holds hands or hugs. That's so strange. Aren't you interested in her?"

Wang Zhe said helplessly, "You're just worrying unnecessarily. Can't we just slow down? We can take it one step at a time."

"Isn't this how a steady stream flows?" Song Zhiyi chuckled. "You have no idea how resentful Jiang Di sounded when she was complaining to me just now."

Wang Zhe calmly turned around and started slicing ginger: "Why are you so concerned about the intimate details between me and my girlfriend? Do you want to see me holding hands and hugging Jiang Di?"

"Yes, I do," Song Zhiyi answered without hesitation, even confidently, "I not only want to see you holding hands and hugging, I also want to see you kissing."

Wang Zhe's hand trembled as he was chopping vegetables, but fortunately he pulled back in time and didn't cut his fingernail.

He turned around, stared at Song Zhiyi for a few seconds, then suddenly sighed and shook his head: "It seems you really don't like me."

If someone truly likes another, even with just a hint of possessiveness, they would never smile and say they want to see him kiss someone else. In her previous life, Song Zhiyi, though gentle, was quite jealous.

Upon hearing this, Song Zhiyi's smile froze for a moment, but she quickly regained her calm and composed demeanor. She reached out and patted Wang Zhe's shoulder, as if comforting a brother who had been presumptuous.

"You don't really think that just because I wrote you love letters, I'm determined to marry you, do you? I've already told you, it was just restlessness and curiosity. Don't you know that the final outcome for childhood sweethearts is to become just buddies?"

"Okay, buddy it is." Wang Zhe turned around and went back to chopping vegetables. "Since we're buddies, I'll tell you the truth."

"Huh? What truth?"

"Actually, I have mixed feelings about Jiang Di. She's about to be a senior in high school, and her grades are terrible. I'm really afraid that if I move too fast with her, she'll become hopelessly addicted to the relationship and end up completely ruining her college entrance exam."

This is one of the reasons why Wang Zhe has always deliberately kept his distance. Although his eighteen-year-old body may be restless, his thirty-year-old soul constantly reminds him to restrain himself.

Song Zhiyi nodded thoughtfully: "Your concerns are valid. Senior year is indeed crucial. However, I think your line of thinking might be flawed."

"Wrong?"

"Your current cold treatment will only make her anxious and insecure, causing her to waste her energy on overthinking things like 'Why is he ignoring me?' or 'Does he not like me?' That's the biggest distraction from her studies, isn't it?"

Wang Zhe stopped chopping vegetables.

I have to admit that Song Zhiyi makes a lot of sense.

He asked, "So?"

Song Zhiyi analyzed, "So, I think you should take things a little further. Do things that normal couples do, give her some sweetness, and make her feel secure enough. Let her feel 'he loves me' and 'I am being pampered,' and wouldn't that motivate her to study harder for your future together?"

Wang Zhe stroked his chin, lost in thought.

It seems like... a solution?

Wang Zhe smiled and said, "You're right. We can try it tonight."

Song Zhiyi looked at his eager expression, her smile still bright, but her hand, hidden behind her back, secretly clenched the hem of her skirt.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.