Disabled Childhood Sweetheart: A Humble Puppy Begs for the Young Lady's Pity

It was a rather thick loose-leaf diary with a pink cover and stickers on it, though it looked rather worn.

Wenxi doesn't write in her diary every day, but she occasionally records important events or feelings.

One day after she returned to Linshen from Pingjiang, Zhou Jingchen secretly opened that old diary after she went to work.

[February 18, 1990: I don't know how to write a diary, but the teacher insists we do. So annoying.]

[June 3, 1990, sunny. I got up at seven in the morning, got dressed, brushed my teeth and washed my face. I ate three big steamed buns for breakfast. My puppy helped me organize my books. We went to school together, and after school, we went home. In the evening, my mom made chicken, which was delicious.]

[October 26, 1990, rain. Waaah, Dad hit me. Today at school I argued with the puppy, and instead of waiting for him, I went home by myself. The roads were muddy from the rain, and the puppy tripped and fell, getting covered in blood. Dad was so angry he hit me with a cane and scolded me for not being nice to my brother. I hate Zhou Jingchen!!!]

[October 27, 1990, Sunny. Xixi, I made up with the puppy. He was very well-behaved, called me "sister," gave me 50 cents, and even apologized to me. I've decided not to be angry with him anymore.]

On January 5, 1991, a cloudy day, my grandmother passed away. My parents took me back to see her; she lay motionless in her coffin. My mother and aunts were all crying, but my father and uncles didn't cry; they were busy greeting relatives. However, on the way home, I saw my father leaning on my mother's shoulder, crying sadly. I had never seen my father cry before.

[February 18, 1991, Snow. I saw Mom and Dad kissing. I wanted to kiss the puppy too, but he wouldn't let me. I said I wanted to go kiss Fang Gaoyu, but he wasn't happy about that either. Boys are such strange things.]

[April 2, 1991, cloudy. Mom said I was too fat and made me learn to dance. All the girls laughed at me, saying I looked like a little white pig. Humph, I didn't care about them. The puppy is much better; it complimented me and called me little princess.]

[June 19, 1991, Cloudy. Yesterday, Chen Qi and his gang actually cornered the puppy against the wall and bullied him! No wonder his clothes were so dirty last night, I'm so angry!! If Fang Gaoyu hadn't told me after school today, I wouldn't have known! Aaaaaah (roar of the dragon), so angry! Those trashy bastards! I'll kill them tomorrow!]

[June 20, 1991, Sunny. Today I got into a fight with Chen Qi and his friends. I bit his arm so hard it bled. The teacher called our parents to school, and in the office, the teacher made us apologize to each other. When I got home, my mom didn't scold me. She said my younger brother has a bad leg, and I should protect him. I didn't do anything wrong.]

February 3, 1992, cloudy. Grandpa Zhou took the dog back to his hometown. What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? I can't sleep at all. I miss him a little.

[February 8, 1992, Sunny. Zhou Xiaogou is back! He brought me lots of food.]

[May 1, 1992, Sunny. I wish I had a little sparrow too, then I could sleep in the same bed with Zhou Jingchen, and he could even tickle me.]

[September 20, 1992, Sunny. Today I played house with Fang Gaoyu. I was the mom, he was the dad, and we made the puppy our child. He didn't want to and got angry with me. What a brat! I'm never playing with him again!]

[July 15, 1993, Sunny. Why does the popsicle in the puppy's hand always taste better than mine?]

[August 23, 1993, Sunny. The puppy smells so good. His shirts are always white and clean. I love the smell.]

[May 1, 1994, Sunny. My parents took me and the puppy to the amusement park. A little girl came up to him, held his hand, and asked him what happened to his leg. My parents even smiled at her. How could they smile like that?]

[May 2, 1994, Sunny. I told the puppy that he's not allowed to hold hands with other girls anymore, and he promised me.]

[July 16, 1994, Sunny. It was so hot! We went out to play. Mom bought me a little swimsuit. Me, Xiaoya, Fang Haoyu, and the puppy—we secretly went to the river to play in the water. Fang Haoyu can swim and he swims very fast. Xiaoya and I had a lot of fun too. The puppy, however, wasn't happy. He sat on the bank with his legs in the water. He couldn't walk properly, he couldn't jump, he couldn't run, he couldn't fly like a bird, and he couldn't swim like a fish. I felt so sorry for the puppy. God, please, please make his legs better! Please!]

[November 30, 1994, heavy snow. It suddenly started snowing, and it's so cold today. I was walking home with my dog, and when he saw my hands were red and cold, he hugged me and let me put my hands under his armpits. I then realized how tall he had become; I couldn't even keep up with him.]

February 1, 1995, Snow. It's been a long time since I wrote in my diary. My hand was injured by a firecracker, and I couldn't move it for a week. Firecrackers are fun, and so are sparklers, but we can't pick up the firecrackers that adults set off anymore; it's too dangerous.

[June 13, 1995, Sunny. I'm so angry today! The little dog actually went back to Grandpa Zhou's to sleep. He said my snoring disturbed his sleep. Do you think I'm a snorer?! So angry, so angry, so angry! Mom even made me call him to eat. Let him eat his own shit! I swear, I'll never play with him again! If I play with him again, I'm a pig! Update: The little dog begged me to be nice to him last night, and I, being a magnanimous adult, forgave him. My previous vow doesn't count.]

July 5, 1995, cloudy. An exciting and happy day! My little dog didn't do well on his middle school entrance exam, but we're going to the same high school! Yay! But I can't show him how happy I am, since he wanted to go to the top high school. He only missed the exam because he had a fever. I need to comfort him, hehe~ secretly happy for a moment.

[July 10, 1995, bright sunshine. I've grown up. I got my period yesterday, so unexpectedly, and I even got it on the dog's sheets, sob sob, so embarrassing. He even washed my underwear for me. Oh my god, I didn't actually plan for him to wash it, since it was bloody. He must have been disgusted but kept quiet. He even made me some brown sugar water. He's a bit like my dad; my dad was so good to my mom too. But he's only nice to me because I bullied him and pressured him.]

[August 25, 1995, Sunny. School starts soon, the two-month summer vacation went by so fast, why is happy time always so short... Today, Mom and Dad took me and the dog to buy clothes. Mom bought me a little bra, saying that I'm starting to develop and need to wear a bra. My boobs are growing.]

[September 15, 1995, Sunny. I never expected to run into Chen Xu on the playground. He looks so handsome playing basketball! Lots of girls at school have a crush on him, and everyone's talking about his abs. But I think that's because they haven't seen Xiao Gou's abs. Xiao Gou's abs are much better looking than Chen Xu's. Plus, he's fairer than Chen Xu, and the veins on his arms look great too. Damn it, why did I suddenly compliment him? If he knew, he'd be strutting around like crazy.]

[December 25, 1995, heavy snow. After school today, I sneaked off to the boiler room with my dog ​​to see Grandpa Zhou. The snow was so heavy that even my dog's cane was hard to walk on, and we walked very slowly, but I thought the snow was beautiful. When we got home, he told me to put my hands inside his clothes to warm them, and I buried my head in his chest. He smelled so good, like the clean scent of winter snow.]

[April 11, 1996, rainy day. Lately, all the girls in my class have been folding origami stars. Jiang Xiaoya said that if you fold a thousand stars, you can make a wish. I bought a box of stars and started folding them day and night. My right hand, which I'm using to write this diary, is still sore. I want to fold a thousand stars and wish that Zhou Jingchen will listen to me for the rest of his life.]

[April 20, 1996, Sunny. How annoying! Some boys are so annoying, and some bad girls are annoying too! Li Na just developed a little faster than other girls, and many people laugh at her for having big breasts, mocking her to her face. It's infuriating! Nobody speaks up for her. Li Na's father sells goods door-to-door; she has no mother, and nobody even buys her a decent bra. I feel so sorry for her. Shouldn't we care about her more? Why are we laughing at her?]

[May 17, 1996, cloudy. I had a fight with Zhou Jingchen and we broke up. He's been acting really strange lately. He doesn't come to my house to sleep, he barely talks to me, and he doesn't reply to the notes I pass him in class. It's so weird, I didn't do anything to him! I deliberately said some harsh things, threatening to cut ties completely, and to my surprise, he said "okay"! He actually said "okay"??? Did he already not want to play with me anymore? So annoying! What a piece of trash! I swear, I'll never make up with Zhou Jingchen again, even if he begs me, I won't talk to him! If I ever speak to him again, I'm a dog!]

May 18, 1996, cloudy. The day after breaking up with my dog, I was in a bad mood. I didn't want to eat, didn't want to go to school, and didn't sleep well last night. This morning, I saw him going to school by himself with his crutches from my window. He didn't try to comfort me or call me. He's really determined not to play with me anymore. That cripple!

May 19, 1996, cloudy. Three days after breaking up with that bastard, I feel like I've eaten shit, even though I've never eaten shit. Today was my cleaning duty. As I swept past his seat, he didn't even glance at me, and was chatting and laughing with Guan Yingying at the desk in front of me. I really wanted to throw the broom in his face, climb on top of him, and beat him up! You wretched dog!

May 19, 1996, cloudy. The fourth day since I broke up with Xiao Gou. I didn't sleep well again last night; I'm practically a god. Brother Chen Xu gave me a letter to give to Sister Yue Wen. They're secretly dating, and only I know. Keeping this big secret alone is so agonizing. I really want to tell Xiao Gou, but I can't; we've broken up. He hasn't apologized and ignores me. I won't talk to him! Humph, you piece of shit!

[May 21, 1996, Sunny. I made up with my puppy, and I'll never scold him again. Something terrible happened yesterday, and I still feel lingering fear when I think about it. One of my dad's factory workers tried to kidnap me, and my puppy shielded me with his body. He got kicked several times and hit hard with a stick; I was terrified. My puppy groaned in pain, and at that moment, my heart ached even more than his. When my mom was applying medicine to him, I saw many bruises on his body. I really wanted to bite that bad guy to death! I can't write anymore; thinking about it makes me so sad, I want to cry... From now on, I will protect him better.]

[June 24, 1996, sunny. I accidentally saw Zhou Jingchen's... you know... today, and I never want to eat that particular purple vegetable again.]

March 24, 1997, sunny and slightly chilly. Zhang Ning, who I learn to dance with at the dance studio, came to my house today. She said she likes Zhou Jingchen and that he's very handsome. It was so cold, and Zhang Ning was wearing a short skirt, showing off her long, white legs. She sat very close to the dog and kept nuzzling against him. Ugh~ the dog even looked at his legs! Shameless! Pervert! Lewd!

[April 21, 1997, Sunny. Someone asked me to deliver a love letter to the puppy again. What a load of rubbish! I just tore that love letter up! Wu Yuqing, Class 3, Grade 4, I'm so sorry I tore up your love letter to Zhou Jingchen! Although your handwriting is indeed very beautiful, he can't date anyone else without my permission. Sorry~ Study hard, we are the successors of communism!]

June 18, 1997, Sunny. It's been a long time since I wrote in my diary... Grandpa Zhou passed away. Everyone is sad. The little dog often carves wood carvings in Grandpa Zhou's room; I know he's sadder than anyone else. Every time I see his lonely figure, I feel a pang of sadness, a bittersweet ache, and I want to hug him. Wenxi, you must never scold Zhou Jingchen again; you must cherish him and be his good older sister.

July 9, 1997, the end of the world. The puppy's family came looking for him. He wasn't an orphan; he had a grandmother, parents, and a younger sister. He was going with them to a city far from Pingjiang. I'm so happy for him, but why do I want to cry?

July 13, 1997, the end of the world. My puppy is gone; he doesn't want me anymore.

[August 10, 1997, the end of the world. My mother took me to the hospital. The doctor said I had insomnia and needed to take medication regularly. I hadn't slept well for almost a month. I couldn't sleep, I didn't know why. Maybe it was because I hated someone, hated him to death.]

[August 15, 1997, the end of the world. That person called home. I heard my dad call his name, and my mom knocked on the door. I locked the door from the inside and wouldn't go out. A little while later, the call ended, and I cried in my room for a long time. I hated him.]

[April 25, 1998, the end of the world. A boy at school confessed his feelings to me, saying he liked me and wrote me a love letter. The words were cheesy, and it was indeed sincere, but I felt nothing after reading it. Almost a year has passed. Is he doing well in Linshen? Does anyone write him love letters? Or does he write love letters to others? Damn it, why should I think about him? It's none of my business!]

October 17, 1998, the end of the world. University life was new and exciting; I made new friends, new roommates, new classmates. Everything was great. I joined clubs, my life was fulfilling, and I was happy! But I never imagined that this happiness would come to an abrupt end today. It's Saturday, and he called home again. My parents weren't home, so I answered. Through the phone line, I suddenly heard a voice that was both familiar and unfamiliar. He said "hello" first, and I paused. Seeing that I didn't speak, his breathing quickened, and he hurriedly asked, "Is that you?" His voice seemed even more pleasant, deep and magnetic, definitely different from his high school self. I didn't say anything and hung up. He called again, and I hung up again. After two or three times, I simply unplugged the phone. I don't know why I did this; I really hate Zhou Jingchen. I hate him so much that I don't even want to mention his name, so much that I don't want to think about his face! He hasn't come back for over a year; perhaps everything in Pingjiang doesn't matter to him. My parents aren't important to him, and I, who used to bully him, am even less important. Maybe he has a new life at his new school, and he's probably very happy in his new home. Anyway, I hate Zhou Jingchen, I hate him to death!! I will never answer his calls again, and I never want to see him again in my life!

March 15, 1999, a sunny day. Cherry blossoms were everywhere, filling the air with fragrance. Spring was wonderful, bringing anticipation and hope. I never expected someone to come looking for me that day. He was using crutches, wearing a white T-shirt and black pants, and he appeared in my sight so abruptly and unexpectedly at the university gate. Tall, handsome, and dashing. I spoke harshly to him, and he humbly coaxed me, calling me Miss, Princess, and Sister. Seeing his eyes redden, my heart ached. We got into a taxi together, and tears streamed down my face. When he took my hand and comforted me, my heart softened, pathetically melting like a marshmallow. I hated myself for being so shameless. He left without a second thought, and hadn't come to see me for over a year. I refused to forgive him! I wanted to kill him! But... when I heard him say that he walked alone through the airport for a long time with crutches just to see me, his palms were red and his legs ached, my heart ached so much. When I heard him say that he missed me so much that he couldn't eat or sleep, I felt like I was floating on air. Wenxi, you're so pathetic.

March 16, 1999, Sunny. My little dog has been back in Linshen for two days now, and I miss him so much. I miss his scent, I miss talking to him. I think about him during the day, I think about him at night, I think about him while walking, I think about him while eating. Before he left, he gave me a beautiful moon necklace, and my heart was pounding so hard when he put it on me. Does my little dog miss me as much as I miss him? We promised to meet again on May Day, and I really hope time flies by!

April 15, 1999, sunny. Qin Xiao confessed to me today. Since the beginning of freshman year, he had confessed to me more than once. He was tall, good-looking, academically excellent, and the captain of the school basketball team. Many girls liked him. At today's sports meet, after receiving his medal, he came down from the stage and went straight to me. In front of everyone, he confessed to me again. Everyone cheered, and some girls even pushed me, trying to push me onto him. At that moment, my feelings were complicated. I felt a little vain, a little envious of being pursued and confessed to by such an outstanding guy, and a little anxious, as if not accepting his confession would be ungrateful. Amid the cheers, I accepted the bouquet of flowers. But my heart was inexplicably flustered, and I wasn't as happy as I had imagined. I desperately needed someone to share and confide in, so I called Zhou Jingchen. The moment I heard his voice, my uneasy heart calmed down a little.

[April 23, 1999, cloudy. Qin Xiao actually tried to kiss me! How awful! When he leaned in, he had a strange smell about him, a smell I really disliked and even repelled. I don't like him being too close to me, and I especially don't like him touching me. How disgusting! I shouldn't have agreed to his confession so easily!]

May 8, 1999, sunny. After returning from the May Day holiday, I broke up with Qin Xiao. I never liked him.

[May 12, 1999, Sunny. I'm missing someone a little. I wonder if he misses me... We kissed in Haizhou! Help! I still blush when I think about it. Qian Xiaoxiao was right, kissing is truly wonderful, and once you kiss, you want to kiss again and again—it's addictive. Right now, my mind is filled with images of kissing him.]

[May 16, 1999, Sunny. I'm absolutely certain that I like Zhou Jingchen, and I like him a lot. I think about him every day, I can't stop thinking about him!! Does he miss me? What is he doing now? Is he dating someone else at school? If he knew I actually liked him, he would definitely gloat and humiliate me. After all, I used to bully him all the time and be mean to him.]

[June 2, 1999, Sunny. I called Zhou Jingchen and asked him to come see me on the 20th. I'm going to confess my feelings bravely! If he doesn't like me, hmph, just you wait. I have to like him even if he doesn't, because I've already fallen for him!]

[June 21, 1999, it was raining heavily. I waited all day, but he didn't come.]

[June 27, 1999, heavy rain. He had a girlfriend; he didn't like me.]

[June 28, 1999, heavy rain. Zhou Jingchen, I hate you!! The most detestable bastard in the world!! I will never think of you again. You better not show your face, or I will definitely kill you with a knife!!]

......

There were many diaries, and Zhou Jingchen spent the whole day reading them.

The last page, where he's called a big jerk, has ink that's been soaked through; he must have been crying when he wrote it.

After that, there were no more diaries. Because of the debt collectors who came to her door that summer, she and her parents left Pingjiang overnight, and the diary was sealed away in that small drawer.

Zhou Jingchen's eyes stung with tears, his chest tightened with a tightness, and a complex mix of emotions lingered in his heart.

In February 2011, Xingyao Company officially went public, and Zhou Jingchen reached the peak of his career.

In March of the same year, Xingyao developed an app exclusively for lovers called Tide.

At the software launch event, a reporter asked, "Mr. Zhou, why is this app named 'Tide'? Does it have any special meaning?"

Zhou Jingchen, dressed in a suit, looked elegant and handsome. He held the microphone and faced the camera with composure.

In physics, there is an astronomical phenomenon called tidal locking, which refers to the fact that the period of one celestial body (such as the moon) revolving around another celestial body (the earth) is exactly the same as the period of its own rotation.

This causes it to always face the central celestial body with the same side. Just as the moon always gazes affectionately at the Earth with the same side, this is an extreme form of focused loyalty.

In love, this means: "My whole world is only for you."

My joys and sorrows, my light and dark sides, my truest core, are all revealed only to you.

You are the center of my universe, my eternal gaze and my only direction.

He paused, then continued, "This software is a birthday gift I gave to my wife. She was born in spring, and she is a person as passionate, beautiful, and vibrant as the spring sun. I love her very much, and the Tide app is my way of expressing my love for her. As long as I live, this app will continue to be operated and maintained."

"At the same time, I also hope that this app can bring more couples some beautiful memories and accompany people in long-distance relationships through all the difficult days."

May all lovers in the world be united in marriage.

In her villa in the southern suburbs, the television was broadcasting a live stream of Xingyao Company's new product launch. Wenxi, with gentle eyes, nestled on the sofa, her hand softly stroking her round, protruding belly.

"Stop kicking me, you little puppy. You get excited as soon as you hear your dad's voice, don't you?"

-

The story is now complete.