Chapter 133: Hope and Courage

(Page 1 of 3)

Seeing that Bai Qingxia still wore a dazed expression, Lu Yuanqiu, seated on the steps, patiently explained, “In the final episode of Ultraman Tiga, he couldn’t defeat the monster, so all the children in the world gave him their light. I think the light here represents hope and courage.”

“And then Tiga defeated it.”

As though recalling something, the girl hugged her legs and slowly said, “Like the sun sharing its light with the moon, so the moon begins to shine too.”

“Just as expected of a top student—you can even relate that to geography… But why does that sound like something you told me not long ago? What day was it?”

Lu Yuanqiu leaned his head back, trying to remember, but he could not.

Bai Qingxia lowered her head and looked at the Ultraman mask resting on her knees. The corners of her lips curved into a faint smile. She remembered, but did not remind him.

Boys were always prone to forgetting countless trivial little things. Perhaps it was because his mind was filled with vast skies and seas. But it did not matter. She could remember those little things for him. Because, in her mind, Lu Yuanqiu was, in a certain sense, her sky and sea.

Lu Yuanqiu raised a hand and lightly flicked her pink hair clip. With a smile, he said, “When we get the chance, I’ll watch Ultraman Tiga with you from beginning to end.”

Bai Qingxia nodded. “All right.”

“It’s still early. Besides, it’s Saturday. Let’s walk around nearby before we go back.”

“All right.”

“Is ‘all right’ the only thing you know how to say? Take off your shoes and let me read your feet again. I’ve learned some new things lately.”

“No.”

“Look at you—you’re getting flustered. Why didn’t you say ‘all right’ this time?”

As he walked, Lu Yuanqiu reached out and poked her arm. Bai Qingxia drew both arms in front of herself, lowered her head, and let him tease her.

Although there was hardly anyone around, she was still much more reserved outdoors than she was indoors.

Lu Yuanqiu had made up his mind: whenever he wanted to tease her, he would do it outside.

Indoors, this girl really would throw a little tantrum right to his face.

At half past four in the morning, there were few cars on Anshan Road, though many of the shops along the roadside were still lit. The two of them wandered aimlessly along the street. Feeling the cool breeze, Lu Yuanqiu raised a hand and squeezed her arm.

“Are you wearing anything underneath?”

Bai Qingxia nodded. “I have something on.”

“You should find some time to buy more things to wear underneath—sweaters, thermal underwear, that sort of thing. You have money now. It’s not as if you have none.”

(Page 1 of 3)

(Page 2 of 3)

“…Mm.”

Her answer was not very decisive this time. Lu Yuanqiu concluded that she had probably let his words enter one ear and leave through the other again.

Since she was unwilling to buy any, he would find a free day and take her out himself, just as he had last time, and force her to spend some money.

They had wandered outside a clothing store. Beneath the outdoor lights, a television screen hung inside the glass display window, playing a ballet performance.

Lu Yuanqiu stopped to watch. Bai Qingxia stopped as well and looked up when she saw him pause.

“I remember your mother was a ballet dancer, and later became a dance teacher, right?”

Bai Qingxia nodded. “Yes.”

After speaking, she drew in a deep breath, and her narrow shoulders rose and fell.

Her mother had collapsed one day during a dance lesson—in front of her and all the other children.

The other children had been terrified. Only Bai Qingxia, still dressed in her little swan costume, had run over, fallen to her knees in tears, and shaken her mother’s arm. In the end, her cries brought the other teachers running.

Lu Yuanqiu turned to look at her. “Then you must know how to dance ballet too, right? Did your mother teach you?”

The question brought Bai Qingxia back to herself. She looked up blankly and stared into the young man’s eyes.

After a long while, she nodded. “I do. My mother taught me.”

But the words “dance” and “dancing” had been severed from her life on the day her mother passed away. If her mother were still alive, would she have been one of the girls dancing in the cheerleading formation at the basketball game that day?

Probably.

Her mother’s presence would most likely have given her the courage to take up dancing again. When she was little, she had truly loved it, just as her mother had once loved the art as well.

Lu Yuanqiu was somewhat surprised. He studied Bai Qingxia’s pure, fair face, illuminated by the display-window lights, never having imagined that she could dance.

Then again, perhaps it was not surprising at all, considering who her mother was.

“Do you still remember how to dance?”

“I remember.”

“There’s no one around now. Dance a little for me.”

With an expectant smile, Lu Yuanqiu stepped aside, leaving the girl alone beneath the store’s display lights, which shone down like spotlights.

(Page 2 of 3)

(Page 3 of 3)

But Bai Qingxia glanced at the surroundings. Although the sky was still dim, there were few cars on the road and hardly any pedestrians in sight…

Even so, she shook her head.

Dancing outside really was asking too much of her, Lu Yuanqiu thought. But the atmosphere was perfect now, and he truly wanted to see her dance.

His gaze dropped, and he noticed the Ultraman Tiga mask in Bai Qingxia’s hands.

In that instant, Lu Yuanqiu seemed to understand the meaning of “light.”

He stepped forward, took the mask from Bai Qingxia, and, without asking permission, placed it over her face.

Fortunately, the girl had a small face. If he had put the mask on his own face, it probably would not have covered everything. Lu Yuanqiu found the thought amusing.

Once he had adjusted it, he placed both hands on Bai Qingxia’s shoulders and smiled at the “single-ponytailed Tiga” standing before him.

“Bai Qingxia, do you remember what I just said? The little boy gave you his light. Do you remember what I said that light represented?”

Bai Qingxia remembered every word Lu Yuanqiu had ever said.

So she answered, “Hope and courage.”

“That’s right.”

Lu Yuanqiu stroked his chin and took a few steps backward. “Perhaps it really was fate. The little boy gave you the mask, so when you dance while wearing it, you won’t have to worry about anyone staring at you. They can’t see your face. All they’ll know is that you’re Ultraman.”

It really did seem that way…

With her face hidden, she felt much braver.

Through the two eyeholes in the mask, the girl’s beautiful eyes blinked, her long lashes fluttering.

Lu Yuanqiu smiled. “Go on. There’s no one around right now. Let me have the honor of being your audience.”

Beneath the display-window lights, the “single-ponytailed Tiga” lowered her head slightly and took a deep breath. Her two white fists loosened and clenched at her sides. Then, slowly, she raised her head.

She extended her right hand forward. Beside her, the dance footage on the screen inside the window began playing again. The ballerina in the recording started over as well, making the same movements as Bai Qingxia.

The two of them rose onto their toes at the same time and spread their arms wide. Like flowers blooming, they slowly lowered their arms once more.

(End of Chapter)