Interstellar to 80s: A Scientist's Farming Mission

Jiang Xia stepped forward with a knowing look. He took one of An Ning’s hands and looked at the red marks on it, his heart aching.

"Come on, let’s go find some medicine for that."

"There’s no need—for any fancy medicine."

An Ning had wanted to say there was no need, but after meeting Jiang Xia’s gaze, she inexplicably backed down.

’What’s going on?’ she thought. ’Since when do I back down?’

’Why do I feel a bit sheepish?’

The feeling was utterly foreign, but An Ning didn’t find it entirely unwelcome.

The two went to the campus infirmary, where they found some medicated spray for An Ning’s hand. She was told to avoid getting it wet and to refrain from strenuous use for the time being.

Jiang Xia thanked the staff, promising to remember the instructions, and left the infirmary with An Ning.

After the pair left, the few people in the infirmary switched into standard gossip mode.

"Who were those two? We have people with that kind of aura at our school?"

"I think one was An Ning. I can’t place the other one, but he looks a little familiar."

"You can tell he has the air of a mature man. They make such a good couple, though."

With stars in their eyes, they gossiped, filled with the admiration and longing one feels when seeing a perfectly matched, evenly-powered couple.

After leaving the infirmary, the two strolled along a path at Beijing University. An Ning glanced at the time.

"The reservation you made... isn’t it past the time?"

"I’m a man of some standing, after all. If I couldn’t even secure a table, wouldn’t I lose all face?"

Jiang Xia stopped and looked at An Ning’s hand. He thought about the Western restaurant he had booked, which would require using a knife and fork.

"Actually, we don’t have to go. Restaurants are all the same, anyway. Why don’t we have a picnic instead?"

"A picnic?"

Jiang Xia nodded. He led An Ning to the campus supermarket, where they picked up a bag of snacks. Then they went to the cafeteria to buy a few more things. Carrying a bag in each hand, he walked until he found a beautiful and quiet spot.

After putting the bags down, Jiang Xia took off his suit jacket, spread it over the steps, and held out a hand to her.

An Ning walked over and sat down. It was hard to say if it was out of shyness or because they were just too familiar with each other, but the moment she opened her mouth, the romantic bubble between them popped.

"Why are you wearing a suit jacket in the middle of summer? Aren’t you hot?"

Jiang Xia automatically ignored An Ning’s question and sat down beside her.

Behind them was a forest, before them a lake, and above them the darkening sky.

"Ms. An Ning, are you ready to order?"

Jiang Xia opened both bags and laid out their contents one by one on the steps in front of them. Holding a can of cola, he asked, "What would you like to drink? We have red or white. If you don’t like those, we have other colors as well."

Seeing Jiang Xia so earnestly playing the role of a waiter, An Ning decided to play along.

"Could you tell me about your specials?"

"Certainly. Our special for this evening is the Kung Fu Meat Roll, oven-roasted at high temperature, made with one hundred percent pure meat, and exquisitely prepared by our chef."

An Ning rested her head on her knees, listening to Jiang Xia’s ridiculous spiel as she watched him make a hot dog bun with a sausage in it.

"Please, have a taste."

An Ning sat up and reached for it, but Jiang Xia pulled back slightly. "Such a distinguished guest shouldn’t have to lift a finger. Allow me the liberty."

Jiang Xia held the edge of the food out to her, and with a smile that wouldn’t leave her face, An Ning took a bite.

"Mmm—this food was a ten to begin with, but thanks to the chef’s skill, it’s a solid twenty. Not bad."

"And may I ask what the full score is?"

"The max score is... ten."

Affection flowed between their eyes as their smiles widened.

Not the least bit tired, Jiang Xia continued preparing his elaborate feast, and An Ning played along, giving scores.

Bread, milk, cookies, plus the fried noodles and steamed buns from the cafeteria—after eating a bit of everything, An Ning was truly, completely stuffed.

Now, the two sat quietly together. Jiang Xia’s hand kept shifting behind her back, looking like it wanted to cross the boundary but didn’t dare.

Noticing his movement, An Ning casually leaned her head on Jiang Xia’s shoulder.

It seemed to be a signal. Jiang Xia’s heart began to beat uncontrollably faster. The gentle breeze carried An Ning’s scent to him, searing and passionate.

This was different from all their previous encounters. The tension and bliss brought on by their new, unspoken status made Jiang Xia feel like he could cry.

Jiang Xia chuckled at himself and was just about to wrap an arm around An Ning’s waist.

"Hey, Jiang Xia, you’re drooling!"

"It’s raining! And I’m drooling? What am I, a dinosaur?!"

A romantic moment, barely begun, was interrupted by a sudden downpour.

They scrambled to their feet. Jiang Xia gathered the bags while An Ning grabbed the suit jacket.

"Put the jacket on!"

At Jiang Xia’s command, An Ning draped the suit jacket over herself.

"There’s a pavilion over there!"

"Okay!"

The two of them ran toward the pavilion as the rain came down in sheets, blurring their vision in the blink of an eye.

Having made it to the lakeside pavilion, they looked at the heavy rain and exchanged a glance.

"We need to move!"

"This place will probably flood!"

The two pragmatists quickly decided to relocate. At this rate of rainfall, the lakeside pavilion would surely be submerged, and they’d be trapped.

"Wait a second."

Jiang Xia moved all their things into one plastic bag. He tore a hole in the other and put it over An Ning’s upper body. He then balanced the suit jacket on her head and gripped her wrist tightly with his other hand.

"Go!"

Jiang Xia ran in front. An Ning didn’t even need to watch the path; she just followed the steady strength from the hand on her wrist, feeling completely at ease.

His hand was larger and warmer than hers.

In just a blur, they had already run out of the lakeside pavilion and into the woods.

With lightning flashing and thunder crashing, the woods were definitely not a good place to be.

An Ning, who was familiar with the campus, pointed in a direction, and the two of them started running again.

The downpour had already soaked them through. Jiang Xia’s shirt clung to the lines of his body, chilling him to the bone.

At that moment, An Ning and Jiang Xia shared a single thought: Beijing University was too damn big!

Why was this artificial lake so huge? They’d never noticed it before!

They ran for more than ten minutes before finally clearing the lake area and dashing toward the nearest building. They ducked under an awning, but the rain wasn’t falling straight down—it was coming in at an angle.

"Are you kidding me! It’s locked."

An Ning tugged on the lock, and for a second, she wanted to smash it to pieces.

But when her eyes caught a sign in her peripheral vision, she stopped. It read: "Important Research Area."

At some point, Jiang Xia had moved to An Ning’s other side, shielding her from much of the wind and rain.

"You don’t have to—"

"Comrade An Ning, please recognize one thing: I’m a guy. You have to let me do something that shows off my masculine charm, right?"

"Wow—so handsome!"

Jiang Xia was amused by An Ning’s exaggerated reaction. He tapped a finger on her forehead and said, "That love-struck look doesn’t suit you."

"Tch!"

An Ning scoffed at Jiang Xia. They were standing very close, so close they could feel each other’s heartbeats and breath.

The rain was loud; they were quiet.

Their first date, ended by the downpour, had now truly begun.