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Pearl Girl
墨書 Inktalez
After I made my decision, I met him—life's final gift of light to me, yet also his misfortune.
On the first day, I knew nothing of his name, surname, or where he came from. I simply followed my instincts during our first encounter, dressed in a cheerful, flowing dress and a thin cotton top, standing under the half-open roller shutter with my hands clasped behind my back. I pointed at a delicate bracelet made of pink pearls in the display case and said to him, "Young man, from a girl's perspective, this necklace is more suited to feminine tastes if you're planning to give it to a partner."
How happy I was at that moment! Having made my decision brought me a joy I had never experienced since birth—greater even than the satisfaction a hungry infant feels when receiving its mother's milk. My happiness made me fearless and bold.
You see, as someone who has always been directionally challenged and could hesitate for ages before asking someone for directions, it was clear how significant and correct that decision was for me.
The young man wore simple cotton-linen trousers and a cotton-linen shirt, with the cuffs rolled up to reveal his slender wrists. Not just his wrists; he had fingers that could only be described as "slender," with short, rounded knuckles that were clean and appeared as if polished with nail care. He picked up the bracelet with those fingers and examined it closely, occasionally lowering his eyelids in contemplation.
"This is indeed beautiful," he said thoughtfully, "but my cousin has thicker wrists. Larger pearls would create a better contrast."
His first words captivated me—what an extraordinary occurrence! A man patiently and thoughtfully selecting jewelry for a woman was something I had rarely encountered in my life.
"Are you visiting Qingdao for the National Day holiday?" I asked, driven by curiosity and a budding fondness for him.
"Yes, I wanted to see the sea," he replied while having the pearl bracelet wrapped as a gift by the vendor. "But I didn't expect there to be so few tourists. Fewer people is better; it allows me to enjoy the scenery in peace."
"With the pandemic going on, it's unavoidable. Even the sightseeing ferries have stopped running."
"Are you a local?" he asked, glancing at me sideways.
I squinted and smiled, my lips hidden behind my mask. "No, I attend university here and work here too."
"That's nice; people say Qingdao is a great place for retirement," he said as he took the paper bag from the vendor and naturally walked alongside me as we ascended the steps away from the jewelry street. We arrived at the spacious May Fourth Square, where ahead stood the red spiral landmark building. Below it were fit ladies in colorful dance outfits moving to music, while to our right was the sound of waves crashing against rocks, mingled with the salty breeze that brushed against us. Occasionally, a few morning runners passed by us.
We walked quietly together; he didn’t ask for my name or details about me, nor did I inquire about him. We reached the railing and gazed down at the rolling sea below and the kelp swaying in the water. Our eyes wandered far into the distance where yachts and ships floated along the horizon as if they could merge with the sun at any moment.
"The sea truly brings peace of mind," he remarked.
"After seeing it too often, it becomes mundane; worries remain tucked away in one’s heart—they don’t just evaporate," I replied somewhat disheartened. I knew that in the past I would have avoided saying such things—how to engage without feeling out of place or bending over backward to fit into a group—I had lived cautiously and exhaustingly. But having made my decision, I thought to myself: let whatever happens happen; I'll say what I want and do what I please.
"Ah—" On that October morning, I spread my arms wide open before all those strangers and called out to embrace the sea.
After calling out, I lowered my arms playfully and turned to look at him. He smiled at me—a gentle smile that was elegant and full of an accepting warmth.
His gaze was so inviting that it felt easy to get lost in it.
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