Chapter Thirty-Four: Wishes Beneath the Fountain

“The girl’s smile haunted the boy’s dreams for eight years, binding his heart for a lifetime.” Ke Jingteng typed out this line on his computer, bringing a perfect ending to the film.

Xu Tong helplessly held out a tissue to Tan Linlin, who had already cried herself into a mess.

“Was it really necessary? Miss Tan, this isn’t even a tragedy. Just look at you, tears and snot everywhere.”

“What do you know… How could this happen? They didn’t end up together, how could they not?” Tan Linlin grabbed another tissue from Xu Tong, sniffling loudly.

Wang Yuqing’s eyes were also red. She sighed inwardly, thinking how two people who clearly liked each other had missed out on a love that should have ended perfectly, all because of a trivial misunderstanding.

“Come on, let’s go! The movie’s over, why are we still here? I swear I’ll never come to the movies with you again, Fatty. Look at me, I’m covered in your tears and snot,” Xu Tong grumbled, clearly annoyed.

Tan Linlin stood up, still sobbing and not forgetting to munch on popcorn. Wang Yuqing also got up.

The four of them gathered their things and left the cinema. Outside, they realized night had already fallen.

“That got dark fast,” Xu Tong complained.

“It’s all your fault for buying such late tickets,” Tan Linlin retorted, always eager to bicker with Xu Tong.

“Hmph, I just want to say, some people care too much about the ending and forget the journey. Do you know how hard it is to buy these tickets? Boss Xiao, what time is it?” Xu Tong snorted.

Xiao Lin, watching the two squabble, shrugged and glanced at his watch—six ten.

“Hey, why don't we stay out a bit longer? There’s a musical fountain near here. I remember it's really beautiful at night. Want to go see it?” Xu Tong suddenly suggested.

“Musical fountain?” the three echoed in unison.

“Yeah, last time I was here with a girl for a late movie, we caught the fountain show on the way back. It was stunning.”

“Hold on. Did you just say you came to the movies with a girl? Who? What’s her name? How old is she?” Tan Linlin grabbed Xu Tong, firing off questions.

“Oh, just a regular friend,” Xu Tong dodged her gaze.

“Yeah right, tell me the truth!” Tan Linlin grabbed him and swung a light punch.

Xu Tong broke into a run, shouting, “So what if I watched a movie with a girl? Linlin, do you have to run my life too?”

Tan Linlin chased after him.

Xiao Lin and Wang Yuqing watched them with amusement, laughter sparkling in their eyes.

“Yuqing, let’s go see the fountain.”

“Mm.” Wang Yuqing replied softly.

The musical fountain was about five or six hundred meters to the left of the Pearl Cinema, just in front of a park. It had been funded by the government at a cost of over ten million yuan, and had become one of Beijing’s most beautiful nighttime attractions.

A few minutes later, the four reached the fountain, which had already begun its show. A crowd had gathered, and several couples stood beneath the jets, whispering sweet nothings to each other.

The fountain formed a ring, and as the music changed, the jets shot up and dipped, sometimes rising high, sometimes low, all in rhythm with the melody. At its peak, some jets soared more than ten meters, the cascading water droplets like a shower of petals from the heavens. Combined with the lighting effects—shifting reds, blues, yellows, purples—the scene became a dreamlike vision, as if stepping into a fairyland.

Every few minutes came a climax, when all the jets erupted at once, forming a giant rose in the air under the glow of red lights. At that moment, the music switched to “Castle in the Sky,” the spectacle breathtaking. As applause broke out, couples embraced and kissed.

“Wow, it’s beautiful! I’m definitely taking my wedding photos here someday,” Tan Linlin exclaimed, clasping her hands at her chest, eyes sparkling.

Wang Yuqing was equally entranced, her large, lovely eyes fixed unblinking on the fountain’s dance.

Xiao Lin and Xu Tong, too, were enchanted by the captivating night scene.

For a while, an awed silence fell over them, broken only by the gentle splattering of water droplets—hush, hush, hush.

After a long moment, Wang Yuqing finally sighed. “It really is beautiful.”

“I never imagined the fountain would be so lovely at night. Look at how the colored lights play across the waves, painting the night with living hues, like a cascade of rainbow bubbles. It brings joy and warmth to this cold winter evening,” Xiao Lin said softly.

“Well, well, the poet speaks,” Wang Yuqing teased, turning her face to smile at Xiao Lin.

“Do I?” Xiao Lin asked, a little embarrassed, as the neon lights played across Wang Yuqing’s exceptionally pretty features.

“Come on, you two! Yuqing, you’ve never told us about your past with Xiao Lin,” Tan Linlin chimed in, inching closer.

“Yeah, tell us! I’m dying to know what happened between you two,” Xu Tong grinned mischievously.

“What story could we possibly have? Don’t you know Xiao Lin was the star of our school? A nobody like me, why would he notice me?” Wang Yuqing said, pouting as if aggrieved, shooting Xiao Lin a reproachful look.

“Come on, I wasn’t that famous,” Xiao Lin replied, rubbing his nose awkwardly.

“Fine, keep your secrets! Yuqing, you’ll have to spill everything to me later,” Tan Linlin threatened, shaking her fist playfully.

“I heard it’s lucky to make a wish by the musical fountain—let’s do it!” Xu Tong changed the subject.

“A wish? I want to make a wish!” Tan Linlin immediately clasped her hands, mumbling under her breath.

Xu Tong folded his arms, muttering silently, “Buddha, please let Fatty pay me back.”

Wang Yuqing gazed at the dancing water, her eyes half closed. The scene from the film drifted into her mind, and before she could stop herself, she murmured, “If Xiao Lin confessed to me, I’d be so happy.” As soon as the words left her lips, she snapped her eyes open, sneaking a glance at Xiao Lin, who was standing nearby with his eyes closed. Her heart pounding, she pressed her hand to her chest. What am I thinking? Thank goodness he didn’t hear that—how embarrassing.

But Wang Yuqing didn’t know that Xiao Lin’s hearing was sharp—unfortunately for her, he had caught her whispered words. Outwardly, he remained calm, not a ripple disturbing his expression, but inside, waves of emotion surged. So Wang Yuqing really did like him. Xiao Lin felt a secret delight, though he didn’t understand why. He was excited, just as he had been the first time he met Ma Yunrou. After all, who wouldn’t be drawn to an outstanding girl, especially one as beautiful and talented as Wang Yuqing?