Chapter 103: The Secret of the Pen Cap

You endured the grinding of waves and the rampage of sea winds. Traces of the years are etched upon your body, the vicissitudes of history recorded on your form. Your existence has witnessed the love of sea vows and mountain oaths, your presence conveying the signal of steadfast loyalty. You are so elegant, so mysterious. You quietly lie on the beach, your bell-like calls echoing, waiting for the one fated to pick you up.

To the heart-matching seashell

“You mean this?” Wang Yuqing pointed to the red string around her neck.

“Yeah, I see you always wear it. What is it exactly? A jade pendant? Or a little trinket?” Xiao Lin nodded. He was very curious about what Wang Yuqing treasured so much.

“This one, hehe, was given to me by a bad guy back then.” Wang Yuqing tucked the seashell away but didn’t directly reveal what was hanging around her neck.

“Bad guy?” Xiao Lin was taken aback, then saw Wang Yuqing’s mischievous little face. Instantly he understood. Xiao Lin spread his fingers, making a pouncing gesture forward. He threatened, “If you don’t tell me, don’t blame me for using torture.”

Seeing Xiao Lin’s gesture, Wang Yuqing’s pretty face flushed red. She huffed, “You’re such a big bad guy. Fine, fine. I’ll tell you, okay?”

“This is more like it.” Xiao Lin said with smug satisfaction.

Wang Yuqing slowly undid the red string from around her neck. This was the first time she had ever removed it since wearing it. Looking at the silver pen cap dangling from the red string, Wang Yuqing recalled the scene from three years ago. She couldn’t help but smile softly, then handed the red string to Xiao Lin. “Here, big bad guy, take a look—is it familiar?”

Xiao Lin took it in his hand. He was surprised: the red string held a small, delicate silver pen cap, yet it gave him a sense of familiarity. But after thinking about it, he couldn’t recall.

From the moment Xiao Lin received the red string, Wang Yuqing had been intently watching his expression. To her disappointment, it showed he didn’t remember the pen cap’s story at all. Wang Yuqing pouted, very dissatisfied. “This pen cap of yours was given to me by that bad guy. Humph, now you don’t remember. Give it back to me.” She extended her hand, demanding the pen cap.

“What? I gave it to you? What kind of international joke is that? We barely saw each other in junior high, and back then your hairstyle was...” Xiao Lin made a mushroom-hand gesture toward Wang Yuqing.

“Go die.” Seeing the gesture, Wang Yuqing said angrily.

“You forgot? It was the final exam on the last day of middle school entrance exams. I was sitting right behind you. My pen had no ink. You lent me yours to finish the paper. You left in a hurry, only taking the pen, but the cap stayed in my hand. Then someone... just hung it around my neck.” Her voice grew softer at the end, seeming embarrassed.

Hmm... After hearing that, Xiao Lin fell into memory. The middle school entrance exam, the last day. He recalled the girl behind him—the mushroom-headed girl. Back then, Wang Yuqing had been a bit plump. He remembered hearing crying from behind, turning around, and seeing her crying while holding the pen. At that moment, Xiao Lin had finished the exam and generously lent her his pen. But he soon rushed off to find Ma Yunrou. After the exam, he grabbed the pen from Wang Yuqing’s desk and left the classroom to find Ma Yunrou. Only later did he realize he had forgotten his pen cap. But at the time, Xiao Lin was still deep in the pain of heartbreak, so he had long forgotten such a trivial matter.

No, the pen? A thunderous roar echoed in Xiao Lin’s mind. His expression darkened instantly. He picked up the pen cap, examined the head, and saw three small, delicate, elegant characters: Ma Yunrou. Seeing those words, Xiao Lin’s mind felt as if it had exploded. Long-buried memories resurfaced. In fact, many unforgettable things are hard to completely forget. Although time is said to dilute everything, some memories resist the erosion of years.

“Xiao Lin, what’s wrong?” Wang Yuqing noticed his changed expression and came over worriedly, holding his hand. “Is it that your wound hasn’t healed?”

“Yeah.” Xiao Lin replied unconsciously, thinking she meant his emotional scar. But she was referring to the stab wound in his ribs.

“Then why don’t we head back?” Wang Yuqing said concernedly.

“Okay, let’s go back.” Xiao Lin’s right hand clutched the pen cap tightly, his steps stiff as he walked forward.

“By the way, Xiao Lin, give this back to me.” Wang Yuqing pointed at the pen cap. To her, it was a cherished memory, and she wanted to keep it.

But Wang Yuqing’s words made Xiao Lin’s body sway. He turned to face her, looking heavy-hearted: “Yuqing, how about I give you this pen cap? I’ll give you a new gift. How about a purple crystal necklace?”

“No, I don’t want a purple crystal necklace. I want this pen cap. It’s our memory. I want to keep it myself.” Wang Yuqing’s face showed stubbornness.

Seeing Wang Yuqing so stubbornly determined, Xiao Lin was puzzled. She was usually obedient, yet she cared so much about this pen cap. She shouldn’t know its secret. Xiao Lin felt uneasy. He didn’t want to revisit the past, didn’t want to recall Ma Yunrou who had hurt him. He only wanted to cherish the girl now by his side. But if she wore every day a pen cap recording his past with Ma Yunrou, he would feel unnatural. So he wanted to reclaim the pen cap and seal it away with the pen.

But Xiao Lin didn’t know how important this pen cap was to Wang Yuqing. To her, it was the first gift from Xiao Lin, even though he had forgotten to take it. The first thing a beloved gives is precious to a girl. That’s why she had kept wearing it, believing Xiao Lin was always with her.

“Yuqing, this... you don’t know... this pen cap...” Xiao Lin stammered, unable to speak of its story. He feared she’d overthink. In fact, this was a big mistake; he should have told her everything. But due to that hesitation, he planted a seed of future trouble.

“What? No way, give it back.” Wang Yuqing forcefully pried his hand open, snatched the pen cap, and hung it around her neck.

“Let’s go, home. Humph, don’t try to take my things anymore.” She huffed and walked ahead alone, not even offering to help Xiao Lin.

“This girl...” Xiao Lin watched her go, helplessly saying. Forget it, he’d get the pen cap back slowly.

Alas, Ma Yunrou, Ma Yunrou, the shadow you left in my heart is truly... Xiao Lin sighed and hurried to catch up with Wang Yuqing.

On the way home by bus, Xiao Lin coaxed her the entire time. After the whole journey, promising not to pursue the pen cap, Wang Yuqing finally broke into a tearful smile. But Xiao Lin’s apologies amused the taxi driver. As they got out, the uncle driver said, “Young man, not bad, you have my youthful vigor.” Leaving Xiao Lin speechless.

At home, Xiao Lin ate hastily and retreated to his room. From the cabinet, he took out a box locked with a brass padlock. Inside were distant memories. He took the key, hesitated long, gritted his teeth, and opened it.

Inside were girl’s items and cute little trinkets. He flipped through them until he found the silver pen. The tip was bent from disuse, and the cap was still with Wang Yuqing.

Xiao Lin slowly picked up the pen. The silver pen felt cool. On the barrel, the letters “love” were engraved. It was originally a pair, a birthday gift Xiao Lin had given Ma Yunrou. One male, one female, custom-made from America by a friend, both inscribed with names. The one in Ma Yunrou’s hand bore Xiao Lin’s name. He still remembered the scene of giving it.

After a long moment, Xiao Lin shook his head, pushing Ma Yunrou from his mind. “Xiao Lin, the one you love now is Yuqing—she is the one worthy of your kindness.” He said to himself sternly.

“Linlin, are you in there? Mom has something to tell you.” Xu Qiaoling’s voice came from the door.

“Eh, where? Wait a sec.” Xiao Lin quickly stuffed the pen back into the box, locked it, and returned it to the cabinet.

“Mom? What is it?” Xiao Lin opened the bedroom door, forcing a smile.

“Actually, nothing big, just asking how your day was. When is that girl coming over for dinner?” Xu Qiaoling’s words were always about her daughter-in-law.

Hearing his mother, Xiao Lin smiled wryly, “Mom, why are you bringing this up again?”

“What? Don’t I have the right? Come on, tell me the girl’s personality, her hobbies...” Xu Qiaoling fired off seven or eight questions.

Seeing his gossipy mother, Xiao Lin suddenly had an idea. He straightened his face and said seriously, “Mom, yesterday Dad called saying he’s coming back to Donghai this year.”

“Come back, come back.” Xu Qiaoling replied, but then reacted instantly, exclaiming loudly, “What? Dad is coming back to Donghai?”