The young man in his heart was silent. The two of them were one. He would say some words out of anger, but some truths were clear.
Once upon a time, the old monk in Chuanling Temple also said similar words to him.
All appearances are false.
The term "appearance" in Buddhism is very profound, but it is easy to understand the general concept by giving an example.
For example, when you cross the road and help an old lady with mobility difficulties, this is called an "act of kindness" and it is a very natural behavior.
You made a vow to stand by the side of the road and help the old lady cross the road. This is called "having a kind heart and doing good deeds", which reflects your compassion.
However, you vow to stand by the side of the road and help the old lady cross the road. Regardless of whether she wants it or not, you must get her across.
This is "appearance".
This is how the young man naturally treats Wen Liang. Sometimes he tries too hard to distinguish the relationship between her now and the "her" in the future. There was really no problem at first, but slowly, this idea became deeply ingrained and gradually turned into Something similar to "obsession".
The final result of this obsession is that now that Cao Aiqing may also have this kind of problem, another He Tianran only needs to poke him gently, and the young man will fall into deep panic.
So much so that now, he has the same view towards his other self.
From the very beginning, he was sure that he would not be a good person in the future. He knew the motives and thoughts behind the things he had just done. These actions were nothing more than trying to attract Wen Liang's attention, to retreat in order to advance, and to push himself forward. Pretend to be a weakling.
Yes, this matter is so simple to put it bluntly, and it is really not difficult to understand.
However, this seems to ignore a fact.
If the other self really watched Wen Liang let go 71 times in endless reincarnation, then converting this into the dimension of time means that it took him six years to say something to Wen Liang, can he You can't teach me how to dance.
Six years is too long for a young man. He Tianran is so young that he is not sure whether he can still be with Cao Aiqing in six years.
Thinking of this, the boy felt that his own actions might not be simply defined as good or bad. Just like the twelve-year-old himself six years ago, he certainly couldn't understand the eighteen-year-old He Tianran.
However, one thing is certain, that is, the actions of the other self have resulted in Wen Liang looking at each other with confidence.
Moreover, both of them seemed to have something to say in their eyes.
An hour later, the bonfire party ended in a lively and peaceful atmosphere.
The classmates dispersed in groups. Wen Liang declined Sheng Qidong's proposal to go back with a few girls. Everyone thought that her mood was affected and she wanted to be quiet, so they didn't force it.
The cold moonlight shines down on the sea, and the stars in the waves are dim and brilliant.
The girl stayed away from the crowd and walked alone along the beach for a while, with an out-of-place melancholy on her pretty face. Her ears were filled with the wash of waves and the softness of the gravel under her feet.
"Sand, sand, sand~"
Behind her, another person's footsteps sounded unconsciously.
He Tianran got rid of the fight among his friends. When he saw Wen Liang walking away, he followed him quietly.
The two of them seemed to have made an agreement.
The two people left long footprints on the beach at the seaside.
The girl stopped, and the boy immediately took back the foot he took.
Wen Liang turned around, and she slowly pushed her hair that was messed up by the sea breeze behind her ears, looking at He Tianran's eyes sober and confused.
Both of them paused for a moment, but this time, it was the girl who took the initiative to look away. She looked at the dark sea and said softly:
"I've been thinking at night, why did you invite me? You would never do such a thing before..."
"Really? So, when you say 'previous', does it not include 'future'?"
He Tianran always had a smile on his lips.
Wen Liang turned her head and looked at the boy again. Her expression was surprised at first, then complicated. At the end, she relaxed as if relieved.
"I have a vague idea of why you are different from usual, but if it weren't for what you did tonight, I might not accept this fact so quickly."
He Tianran joked: "Do you still need to correct the password? For example, let me tell you your favorite thing."
Wen Liang glared at him and shook his head with a smile: "No matter in the past or in the future, you don't know what I like best, and you have never asked me, so you can't get this code right."
"It's okay, isn't this still the case now..."
He Tianran came over and sat down on the sand boldly. Wen Liang smiled when he saw this and then sat next to him with his legs crossed.
The boy put his hands behind his back, leaned up, and asked sideways, "Are you angry?"
The girl rested her chin on her bent knees and replied, without looking at him: "A little bit."
"Then you just rejected me?"
"You didn't tell me just now."
"Then what if I told you in advance? Will you give me this face?"
Wen Liang did not answer in a hurry, but raised his head like a rabbit, lowered his eyelids towards He Tianran, stuck out his tongue and made a face.
"What a beautiful thought~"
He Tianran touched his nose awkwardly, "Look, you have embarrassed me in public again. You know, I am very vindictive."
Hearing this, Wen Liang finally showed a smile. She ignored the meaning of He Tianran's words, turned her head and said silently:
"I won't be stupid again this time, and I won't have to pay you anything..."
He Tianran looked at her profile, and finally raised his head with a smile and sighed sadly.
"Hello……"
"Um?"
"Why did 'you' appear?"
Wen Liang asked words that only two people could understand. At this time, even the waves became the background sound between them.
"There's nothing that doesn't appear. Isn't He Tianran always there?" The boy looked careless.
"Is it what will happen in this future that makes you unable to let go?"
Wen Liang asked seriously. She had had the same experience, so her attention was not distracted by He Tianran.
"..."
The boy was speechless when he saw Wen Liang wrapping his hands around his knees and murmuring with unfocused eyes:
"Does it have anything to do with me? If so, I want to say sorry to you... But, I have worked very hard to be myself..."
The girl's words were so soft that they were mixed into the waves, and as the tide rose, they poured into the boy's heart.
After a moment, a hand slowly stroked her hair. Wen Liang, who was hanging her head, was shocked all over. In her ears, He Tianran's warm words of comfort came:
"It has something to do with you, but it's not your problem. You did a good job."
(End of chapter)
