curtain of night

As night falls, the late spring sunlight seems to stagnate over the forest of tall buildings. However, the sky below is still as bright as day, giving the illusion of being out and about early.

Even though the clock was already pointing to six in the evening, the market was still bustling with pedestrians. Groups of colleagues hustle and bustle, discussing where to go for a drink; young friends walk in pairs; middle-aged men look serious, carrying briefcases and hurrying to the metro station.

People were in a hurry, skyscrapers rose up densely, and the neon lights were colourful and flashing, making people dazzled.

Ye Nan likes this dusk scenery, red haze under the light of Akasaka Road. At the end of the day, she would meet a few confidants for dinner or stroll the streets alone. She admired the products displayed in shop windows or simply went straight home. With her time completely at her disposal, this time in the evening sun was completely open to her.

As a child, she had always hesitated to choose between a pile of cakes and treats when they appeared in front of her. However, this tussle was not diminished by the equation of cake and time. After work, when she walks out of the office, the same feeling of indecision comes over her again. On the one hand, she enjoys the sense of freedom in disposing of her time; on the other hand, she can't help but get into a tangle as she ponders how to use this time wisely.

Ye Nan was immersed in the delicate time of this spring, and she felt confused and uneasy, but today there was no more hesitation or indecision as in the past. Determination shone in her heart like the dawn in the morning, guiding her towards new adventures.

She left the office in a hurry and set out on the road to Tientsin Street with light steps. In just three minutes, she reached her destination and stood on the streets of Tianjin Street.

Ye Nan raised her arm high and greeted a taxi to stop. The driver's head twisted over, obviously startled for a moment by her destination, Tail Street. After all, it was a bit of a long way to go, but it seemed a bit close by car, creating a subtle awkward distance.

The driver finally decided to accept her request and adjusted the steering wheel. Perhaps seeing that Ye Nan had already gotten into the car, or perhaps sensing that there must be quite a bit of business waiting for him on the tail street, he began to drive the car to his destination.

As the car travelled through the bustling streets, Shuuko sat quietly in the compartment. She gazed out the window, witnessing the hustle and bustle and lights of the busy city. It was as if this scene was telling her a story and awakening her inner resolve.

As Ye Nan sat in the car, she placed the black carrier bag on her knees and the white paper bag gently placed on the seat next to her. This paper bag was a small, thick parcel containing a gift she had carefully selected and was about to give to Lin Qi.

Yesterday after work, she had spent a lot of time and effort to find this perfect gift. Until she finally found a satisfactory gift, it was already completely dark. Therefore, Shuuko dedicated all of yesterday and today's period of twilight to Lin Qi.

Finally, the taxi stopped at a corner of the end street. Ye Nan gratefully paid the fare and got out to walk towards her destination. Tail Street was a street with a strong cultural atmosphere, blending classical and modern styles and exuding a strong Chinese cultural flavour.

As Xiu Zi wandered along the street, her eyes lingered on the various exquisite artefacts and handicrafts. The alleys and lanes, the shops and teahouses all seemed to tell stories of old times and prosperity.

She walked briskly into an exquisite teahouse, feeling the faint aroma of tea fill the air. Here, she decided to let go of the confusion and bewilderment of the past and embrace new possibilities.

Ye Nan headed straight to the dressing room. Although she was already five minutes late, she knew Lin Qi wouldn't be angry about it. Ye Nan stood in front of the mirror in the dressing room and gazed at her face, and she felt proud of the slightly upturned nose. Once when she was a student, she always felt that her nose was like a lump of glutinous rice cake pasted on it, longing to be more upright like foreign actresses.

However, after entering university and working, many male students and colleagues praised her for this lovely nose, gradually changing her view of her appearance.

"Ye Nan, your nose is so charming! In the future, you'll definitely rise to the top and become an unattainable being. It will be hard for us to get close to you!" Colleagues exclaimed.

The male colleagues regretted that Yenan had been promoted to be the president's secretary, as her upturned nose gave her a gentle and affectionate look.

"Having such a good nose, even when you get old you won't be as annoying as a combative old woman." Lin Qi had jokingly said this about Shuuko's nose, but perhaps it was the opposite of a compliment to her. Putting her nose aside for a moment, Yenan was 32 years old and already had a few crow's feet creeping into the corners of her eyes. She remembered panicking and applying foundation when she first noticed them three years ago, but still couldn't hide them.

Now, although the crow's feet were still shallow, there were two visible wrinkles. The skin had also lost the lustre and elasticity it had when she was twenty years old, and only this slightly upturned nose, unaffected by age, still displayed a youthful aura.

Ye Nan smiled slightly, she knew that she was no longer young, but this did not make her feel depressed. The passage of years had left its mark, but she also understood that what really mattered was the youth and vigour within. She would continue to face the flow of time with confidence and elegance, displaying true beauty and glamour, and no matter what the years brought, her smile and that slightly upturned nose would always radiate youthfulness.

Ye Nan heard the head of sales at the UK head office praise her as "lovely", which was a very complimentary remark for a young girl. And gentlemen from other companies often asked her, "Are you twenty-five or twenty-six?" Although there was a complimentary tone to it, the slightly upturned nose did leave a deep impression on many people.

Ye Nan gently patted her nose and cheeks with powder, then reapplied her lipstick. Her hair was slightly wavy and of moderate length, naturally draping over her shoulders, and her entire make-up had been meticulously groomed before she left the company, and it still held up perfectly. Ye Nan stood in front of the mirror to double-check her make-up, then leisurely walked towards the entrance of the bar. From his seat deep in the bar, Lin Qi raised his hand to greet her.

Yenan gracefully walked over to Farino and sat down with a smile. Their eyes met, conveying a silent understanding between them that needed no words. Ye Nan felt the vigour of youth flowing through her, and Lin Qi's compliments and appreciation of her made her more confident and full of charm.

The bar was filled with a relaxed and happy atmosphere, and Ye Nan and Lin Qi began to talk freely, sharing their lives with each other. They laughed and exchanged the tenderness in their eyes, as if the world existed only for the two of them.

This spring evening time, Ye Nan's smile and that slightly upturned nose shone youthfully under the bar's lights, attracting the gazes of those around her. Regardless of the passage of years, Ye Nan will always maintain her confidence and beauty, exuding a unique glamour that will become eternally fascinating in people's eyes.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)