Blossoms of Uplifted Crabapple Flowers
By the small river near the scenic pavilion on campus, clusters of blooming crabapple flowers stand. Crabapple flowers, with sparse crowns and graceful shapes, bloom with pink flowers every spring. The vibrant, crystalline blossoms, with petals like a layer of blush, fall gently with a breeze, creating a scene of resting butterflies around the base.
Fan Huihui loves the crabapple flowers here. For the five years of middle school, she has been particularly fond of these flowers. Every spring, she comes here daily, wandering among the blooming crabapple trees, feeling her mood brighten and clear.
The air is filled with a faint fragrance. A breeze scatters a few pink petals onto her hair and collar. Seeing the petals on her, she smiles sweetly, her face blossoming like a flower, her steps light and joyous.
This afternoon, after school, Fan Huihui, with her backpack, arrived in front of the crabapple flowers again. However, today her face seemed to blush, and her steps were flustered.
Earlier, she received a text message from Hao Daqi. Reading the message, she was stunned and at a loss. It was the first text she received from Hao Daqi, and she didn’t know how he got her number. She felt taken aback.
She reached into her pocket, gripping her phone tightly, feeling it warm in her hand.
Unknowingly, she found herself under the crabapple flowers, glancing around to make sure no one noticed her. With great resolve, she took out her phone and read the message from Hao Daqi again. Each word seemed to gently tap at her heart: “Fan Huihui, would you like to be two uplifted crabapple flowers with me? I’ll wait for your answer under the crabapple flowers after school tomorrow. Hao Daqi.”
Uplifted crabapple flowers? She couldn’t help but closely observe the blooming crabapple flowers on the branches. She smiled, thinking to herself how they indeed bloomed side by side and uplifted. For five years, she had walked past these trees without noticing. She thought she hadn’t observed life carefully enough. No wonder Hao Daqi’s compositions were so good; he really observed life closely! She felt a bit self-critical.
However, she also wondered what Hao Daqi meant by wanting to be two uplifted crabapple flowers with her. How should she respond?
Fan Huihui had a tangled thought in her heart.
Hao Daqi was the class representative for Chinese, and his compositions were excellent! The most memorable moment for Fan Huihui was in their first year of high school when Hao Daqi won first prize in a city-wide student essay competition. The teacher even read his winning essay to the class.
As the teacher read with varying tones, each word resonated with her. She glanced at Hao Daqi, thinking to herself that this tall, well-defined boy had a literary charm.
Upon a closer look, she almost laughed out loud: Hao Daqi’s small eyes must be why he observed so keenly. Small eyes concentrate light, she thought mischievously.
Hao Daqi transferred to this school in the first year of high school. If it weren’t for his excellent compositions and frequent praise from teachers, she wouldn’t have noticed him. She was always reserved around boys, with a distant gaze.
Fan Huihui excelled in science but feared writing essays. Writing essays made her feel empty, producing plain, lifeless work.
Once, the teacher sternly told her, “If you continue like this, even with good science grades, what use is it if you can’t write a good paper? You need to learn from Hao Daqi; he excels in both sciences and arts, especially in writing.”
At that moment, she realized the seriousness of the issue. It seemed learning to write well was very useful. But how should she improve? She wanted to ask Hao Daqi for advice but had never spoken to him. Wouldn’t it be abrupt to ask for guidance right away?
One day, they met in the corridor. She mustered the courage to stop and ask him, “Can you teach me how to write well?”
Her eyes were filled with expectation, hope, and anxiety.
Hao Daqi was startled, realizing she was talking to him. His face turned red, avoiding her gaze, and he spoke facing the blue sky, “Simply put, read more, think more, write more. That’s the key to good writing!”
On her way back, Fan Huihui kept repeating his words. It felt like discovering a secret, making her heart bloom with joy.
Fan Huihui began practicing the “three mores.” In her spare time, she read extracurricular books, took notes, reflected on life’s details, and kept a diary.
After a while, she felt her writing improve significantly. She had something to write about in her essays, and a few even received praise from her teacher!
Whenever praised, she couldn’t help but glance at Hao Daqi, her gaze softening with gratitude. She wanted to thank him from the bottom of her heart.
Before she could figure out how to express her thanks, Hao Daqi sent her that text. Seeing it, she really didn’t know what to do!
Hao Daqi’s text was like a pebble thrown into her calm heart, creating ripples. The words from the message kept appearing in her mind.
Fan Huihui felt like a frightened rabbit, unsure where to hide. She was a bit annoyed at Hao Daqi for sending such a message. She often took out her phone, wanting to reply that she wouldn’t go to the crabapple flowers the next day, afraid their conversation might disturb the delicate flowers.
But she never sent the message, unsure how to express herself.
The next day after school, Fan Huihui couldn’t help but go to the crabapple flowers. After a night, more petals had fallen. She avoided stepping on them, fearing to hurt the delicate petals, which seemed to be alive, gently swaying.
Lost in thought, she looked up to find Hao Daqi already there. Seeing him, her face turned red. She noticed his Adam’s apple moving nervously, showing his anxiety.
A gentle “You’re here.”
A soft “Yes.”
Then silence, a long silence, as if even time had frozen.
Finally, he broke the silence, “Would you like to be two uplifted crabapple flowers with me?”
Her heart trembled. Since receiving his text, she had thought of this phrase countless times. Hearing it in person stirred her heart again.
She didn’t answer, feeling confused.
She slowly looked at the crabapple flowers beside her, her gaze lingering on the blossoms. Suddenly, she felt a soft warmth in her heart and said, “You see, these uplifted crabapple flowers give a sense of strength and vitality, but some flowers are alone now because their companions have already flown away. No one can guarantee that these flowers will always stay together.”
Hao Daqi looked closely and admired her keen observation.
He was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to respond.
Fan Huihui lowered her gaze, saying, “Being two uplifted crabapple flowers is beautiful, but if one leaves, the other should continue to bloom. Blooming is the most beautiful gesture in life.”
Hao Daqi’s eyes lit up, and he looked at the uplifted crabapple flowers with deep affection.
“You’re right. I want to be an uplifted crabapple flower forever. What about you?”
“I also want to be an uplifted crabapple flower, but I can’t guarantee to stay with another forever. Let life answer that,” she finally said. She picked up two fallen petals, blew on them gently, and they fluttered in the air like butterflies, shining in the golden sunlight.
The petals overlapped, separated, overlapped, and separated again in the sky…
They both smiled, sweetly and brightly.
Thank you for reading! ” Sitestorys “
