Extra: A Glance for a Thousand Years three
It doesn’t matter if I can’t be your leading man. As long as I can stay in the movie of your life, I would be willing to be an extra forever and enjoy it.
——Hanako Yin
I didn't take part in the qualification examination. I thought Xihe would be able to get the opportunity to go to City Z smoothly. Unfortunately, she didn't make it in the end.
I know she must be very disappointed, and might even cry secretly in a place where no one is around because she can't celebrate her birthday with her family.
I thought of her lonely back under the peony bushes that year, and my heart ached. But I didn't have the courage to walk up to her as Hua Ziyin and say to her, "It's okay. I'm here with you."
I felt sick and listless all day. Occasionally, I ran into her on campus, and even though I knew she didn't notice me, I would turn around avoid her.
I know it's my weird self-esteem that's causing trouble.
The days passed by in such an awkward manner, and soon it was her birthday. I made up my mind not to send her longevity noodles by express delivery, but I was restless all day.
When it was getting dark, I walked into the kitchen as if possessed by a ghost and started to make longevity noodles with skill. When the bowl of longevity noodles was put into the thermos bucket as usual, I suddenly realized what I had intended.
What does it matter if I can walk side by side with her in the bright sunshine or become the leading actor in her life movie? As long as I can stay in her life movie, even if I am just an extra, even if I am just a longevity noodle man she has never met!
At least, at least she can know that she is not alone. Somewhere in the world, there is someone who remembers her birthday and will cook a bowl of longevity noodles for her.
This is actually all I want in my life!
So, what was I struggling with before?
I picked up the thermos bucket and ran out of the house quickly, hoping to make it in time for her to eat longevity noodles before her birthday party. However, the delivery point was closed, so I hesitated for a moment and decided to deliver it myself.
As long as I quietly put the thermos in front of her door, ring the doorbell and run away quickly, I can keep the secret that she doesn't like, "Hanako Yin is the longevity noodles man", forever.
Dear Xihe, I only want to be the warm longevity noodle man in your memory.
But, Xihe, do you know? I thought my plan was foolproof, but I didn't expect that I would meet the person who is crucial to our story, He Xue, at your doorstep.
When I arrived breathlessly, I saw you carefully holding the thermos bucket and drinking noodle soup under the cold moonlight. It was at this time that Hexue jumped out from the shadow of the tree beside you. I suddenly realized that the bowl of longevity noodles in your hand was given by her, and I was a step late.
At that moment, I didn't feel lost, but strangely happy, because I knew that you were no longer alone in this world, and you finally had a true friend.
Although you kept saying some disdainful words to her, and although in the end, you shouted to Song Hexue who was leaving, "Hey, I didn't agree to be your friend." But knowing you like I do, how can I not understand that you are saying one thing and thinking another?
I know that in your heart, you have already regarded Song Hexue as your only true friend. So, that night, I quietly followed Song Hexue as she left. I stopped her halfway and asked her very abruptly to take care of you in the future.
She was stunned for a moment, but she wasn't afraid. She just looked at the thermos in my hand and said, "Is it the longevity noodles for Xihe? Why don't you give it to her?"
I remained silent.
"If you don't tell the truth, I won't agree to your request. Who knows what you are up to? Hua Ziyin, I know you don't have a very good reputation in Baisha School. Although Xihe hasn't agreed to be my friend, I have already regarded her as a friend in my heart, so I will never allow you to have any ideas about Xihe."
She said that she was ready to die, which showed that she was sincere to Xihe, so I felt relieved.
Probably because she was Xihe's only friend, I told her my inner secret without reservation: "Because Xihe doesn't like me as Hua Ziyin, I don't want her to know that her longevity noodle man is Hua Ziyin. So, please keep it a secret for me, and please take good care of Xihe. She is not as happy as she looks, she is actually very lonely."
She thought about it, nodded, sighed and asked, "Are you willing to do this?"
I smiled and said, "Of course. It doesn't matter if I can't be her leading man. As long as I can stay in the movie of her life, I am willing to be an extra forever, even if it's just a codename, Mr. Longevity Noodles, who she has never seen and will never know who he is."
Now that I think about it, the story could have ended here. Although it is regrettable, it is ultimately beautiful.
However, human greed will always rekindle inadvertently, and at that time, in order to get closer to Xihe and to learn more about Xihe, I nodded without hesitation when faced with Hexue's suggestion.
And her suggestion was: "Hua Ziyin, since you care about Xihe so much, and I am Xihe's friend, why don't we be friends too!"
Unfortunately, I didn’t know at that time that later on, Xihe’s only friend in this world, Song Hexue, would die because of me.
A slight difference in thought can lead to a big mistake.
And our story also took an irreversible downward turn from this moment on.
