Cypress Boat

In the morning, around six o'clock, Bo Zhou was awakened by Wan Dou jumping up from his cot.
Wan Dou is an active, full of energy Shiba Inu who is not yet four years old, and every morning he eagerly waits for Bo Zhou to take him out for a walk.
Recently, however, he has been getting up earlier and earlier.
(TN: 豌豆(Wān dòu) - pea)
When Bo Zhou got up, fed the dog, washed her face, and opened the refrigerator, she was still half asleep.
The refrigerator was empty, not counting the loaf of bread in the corner and the bag of milk.
Bo Zhou checked the expiration date of the milk and found that it had been expired for several days.
She threw the milk in the garbage and ate the bread for breakfast.
Wan Dou finished eating his dog food and waited at the door with his leash in his mouth, looking at Bo Zhou expectantly.
Bo Zhou put her shoes on, looked at Wan Dou, sighed and stroked his head, then tied the leash to him and said:
«Let's go play.»
It was a foggy morning in late autumn. After walking about a hundred meters, Bo Zhou's hair was already wet from the fog.
Bo Zhou finished a scrap of bread in a few bites, threw the bag in the trash can, and then ran with Wan Dou down the deserted paved road.
The trees on either side had already turned completely yellow, and the sparse branches and leaves made a dull sound as the wind blew through the grove.
A layer of leaves that had fallen overnight lay on the ground, and they rustled quietly as they were stepped on.
After running for more than twenty minutes, Bo Zhou slowed down, out of breath, and Wan Dou stopped ahead of her and turned around, barking a sign to her to hurry up.
Bo Zhou walked slowly and coaxed him:
«I can't run anymore. Let's take a break.»
Wan Dou yapped, not too satisfied, but still walked back to Bo Zhou and walked beside her feet.
After a few minutes of walking, a small wooden house appeared on the side of the road. It looked like a newsstand, but it was a flower store.
«Let's go buy flowers,» Bo Zhou jogged off, while Wan Dou, sticking out his tongue and wagging his tail, rushed forward excitedly, but was pulled away by the leash and barked unhappily.
«Slow down,» Bo Zhou laughed.
There was a small stool at the entrance to the flower store, where the owner was sitting and using scissors to cut fresh flowers that had just been brought in today. When he saw the girl and her dog coming up, he greeted them with a smile:
«You're early today.»
Bo Zhou used to run along this road almost every day, so the flower shopkeeper knew her well.
«It's all because of the dog,» she replied, and then she looked at today's flowers, squatted down, and picked a few stems.
The owner knew her habits. Usually she only bought seasonal flowers, not many, just enough to fill a small vase.
Today was no exception. Bo Zhou carefully picked and selected fresh flowers, moistened with dew, with full, bright petals.
She handed the selected flowers to the owner to wrap them in a bouquet, and then she paid.
«See you tomorrow,» the owner waved them off.
It would have been a little awkward to run with the bouquet, thankfully there were not many people on this road, especially on weekdays, and Wan Dou was well-trained. Although he was a perky dog, he obediently ran back to his mistress at the sight of people, giving way.
Bo Zhou looked around and made sure no one was around. She unhooked the leash and let Gorokh frolic freely: He happily ran back and forth, twirling around Bo Zhou and rustling his paws on the fallen leaves.
Someone called, and Bo Zhou took out her smartphone. It was Jiang Yuan.
She answered, and a voice came through the receiver:
«Bo Zhou, are you up yet?»
«Yes,» Bo Zhou replied, keeping her eyes on Wan Dou, who was burrowing headlong into a low bush.
«Wow, how early did Wan Dou wake you up?»
«Yes,» Bo Zhou answered lazily, yawning lazily, «what's wrong? Do you need anything?»
«Well, not really, my friends and I were going to get together on Saturday, do you want to go?»
Jiang Yuan's voice was hoarse, she probably just woke up.
Bo Zhou agreed without hesitation:
«Sure, just send me the time and place.»
«Great,» Jiang Yuan grinned, «Then I won't bother you, see you on Saturday.»
«See you on Saturday,» Bo Zhou hung up.
Less than a minute later, Jiang Yuan sent the time and place. Saturday at 6:00 p.m., at the restaurant at the entrance to the Medical College.
Over the years, they had always chosen this place for their meetings.
Bo Zhou put her phone back in her pocket and absent-mindedly thought that if the restaurant closed one day, they would have nowhere to gather.
Wan Dou found something in the bushes, took it in his mouth, and, wagging his tail excitedly, rushed toward Bo Zhou.
Bo Zhou quickly bent down and took the rushing Wan Dou into her arms. From the strong blow she almost fell down. She clung to him and stroked his head:
«Did you find something of value?»
Wan Dou had a flair for lost things, often finding something in different corners of the house.
His black eyes glittered as he looked at her, finally he spit out a small orange ball into Bo Zhou's hand.
Bo Zhou was surprised, then laughed:
«Wan Dou, is that the same ball you lost last year?»
Wan Dou barked loudly and raised his head proudly, expecting praise.
Bo Zhou rubbed his soft fur, stood up and threw the ball:
«Fetch!»
Wan Dou rushed like a gust of wind.
Bo Zhou, watching him run, realized that this dog was almost four years old.
Time really flies.
Bo Zhou suddenly remembered how she and Sang Yang had met Wan Dou at the pet store.
The decision to get a pet was spontaneous.
It was a day off, and Sang Yang had a class reunion that day.
Sang Yang planned to go shopping with Jiang Yuan and the others and then go to a restaurant to celebrate.
Bo Zhou was against it, burrowing into a blanket, she sulked and protested:
«It's finally our day off and you don't want to spend the day with me? Will you go out with someone else?»
Sang Yang crouched on the edge of the bed, and, fearing her girlfriend would suffocate, tried to lure her out from under the covers:
«It's not a date, and we're going together. It's New Year's Eve soon. Do you want me to buy you some clothes?»
She always spoke to her as if she were comforting a child.
Even though they've been together for so many years, Bo Zhou still can't get enough of Sang Yang. She really wants to get out from under the blanket and see her. Sang Yang's gentle voice always makes her melt.
But Bo Zhou holds back. If Sang Yang doesn't compromise, she won't come out and stay sulking under the blanket.
A few seconds later, the sound of the phone ringing came from behind the blanket.
Sang Yang put it on speakerphone. Bo Zhou immediately pricked up her ears.
«Hello?» - The sound from the phone was slightly distorted, but you could still recognize Jiang Yuan. - «Sang Yang?»
«I can't go to the mall with you, let's meet later at the party,» Sang Yang said, smiling.
Bo Zhou, wrapped in a blanket, was momentarily satisfied. She furtively lifted the blanket and poked her head outside, just in time to meet Sang Yang's smiling eyes.
Bo Zhou was caught red-handed and was about to hide back under the blanket when she heard Jiang Yuan's words.
«What's wrong? Is your baby against it??»
Jiang Yuan and Sun Yang were classmates.
In their circle, everyone had seen Bo Zhou, who was seven or eight years younger than them, tailing Sang Yang, calling her: «Jiejie, jiejie,» and so, one day, became her girlfriend. So it became a cause for jokes and teasing among the old friends.
Sang Yang's smile grew wider, she looked at Bo Zhou and said slowly:
«Yes, my baby is throwing a tantrum.»
Bo Zhou's face suddenly turned red, and she was about to object that she couldn't be called that. She was already twenty-two, but then she heard Jiang Yuan say nonchalantly:
«Oh, the child is completely out of hand. Just spank her.»
«Hey!» exclaimed Bo Zhou, «What do you mean «just spank her»?»
Jiang Yuan heard her voice and laughed out loud.
Sang Yang patted beside her, signaling Bo Zhou to come over, picked up the phone and said with a smile:
«Okay, I'm hanging up. The baby is starting to get angry.»
Bo Zhou was not happy. She met Sang Yang when she was only sixteen, and really was just a kid then, but now six years have passed and Sang Yang still thinks she hasn't grown up and treats her like a teenage girl.
She climbed out from under the blanket, but she didn't sit down next to Sang Yang. Instead, she put her head on her leg and wrapped her arms around her waist.
«She's messing with me again. Your friends are always picking on me.»
Sang Yang hung up the phone and ruffled her already frizzy hair.
«They just really like you, you're fun to be with.»
Bo Zhou reluctantly accepted Sang Yang's explanation and asked again:
«What about you? Do you like me?»
«And I...» Sang Yang's soft eyes were like lakes reflecting the soft moonlight, a faint smile played on her lips, «I like you the most. I love you.»
The flowers of Bo Zhou's heart bloomed wildly*. She turned and buried her head in Sang Yang's belly, her voice was quiet but imbued with happiness:
«I love you too.»
(TN: 心花怒放 - to burst with joy (idiom); to be over the moon; to be elated)
She put her arms around Sang Yang's waist. The warmth of Sang Yang's body could be felt through her clothes, Bo Zhou had long been addicted to it.
Sang Yang gently stroked her hair, running her fingers affectionately through her parting.
«It's been a long time since you and I went out, hasn't it?»
Sang Yang is a famous doctor with a busy schedule, and she often works overtime. Sometimes, right as she was walking with Bo Zhou, she had to rush to the hospital after a phone call. Often, during major surgeries, she had to stay late at work even at night.
Bo Zhou, on the other hand, is self-employed and mostly draws and works from home, rarely going outside. Because of this, it seems that she spends more time alone and less time with Sang Yang.
«Yes, you're always working overtime,» Bo Zhou replied sadly, but there was no resentment in her tone.»
She let go of Sang Yang's hand, rolled over and lay back down, her eyes clear and clear. Soon an idea occurred to her, and she smiled:
«Shall we go for a walk?»
Sang Yang smiled back and leaned over, kissing Bo Zhou on the eye:
«Sure, get up quickly.»
There's a party tonight, and they still have a whole day to spend together.
New Year's Eve was approaching, but there were no thematic decorations in the house at all. They didn't care, though. Ever since they came out of the closet, they had been spending New Year's Eve at Sang Yang's parents' house. Her mother and father would take care of everything, and all they had to do was buy presents.
Choosing presents is a very fun thing to do.
They went to the mall, and as usual, Sang Yang bought Bo Zhou lots of drawing materials. Bo Zhou picked out a pair of leather gloves for Sang Yang, and they saved the down jackets and a bunch of small appliances for their parents. They had to make several trips to get all the stuff to the car.
As they headed to the restaurant where the party was being held, they passed a flower store filled with flowers that reminded passersby of spring.
Sang Yang adores flowers, especially fresh, seasonal flowers, and whenever she sees a flower store, she strives to go in and buy a bouquet, though small enough to fit in a vase.
Bo Zhou followed her into the flower store, there weren't many winter flowers, but they were all equally beautiful.
While Sang Yang carefully chose, Bo Zhou looked around nonchalantly. As they were leaving, they noticed a shiba-inu-style coffee shop nearby. Bo Zhou couldn't help but approach.
The window was covered in condensation, but she tried to look inside through the fogged glass anyway. Inside there were many Shiba Inus chasing each other playfully, or being cuddled by visitors. On such a cold winter day, the atmosphere inside seemed especially warm.
After watching for a while, Bo Zhou was about to leave. But when she lifted her hand from the glass, the condensation wiped away and the picture became clearer. Behind the glass was a Shiba Inu puppy sitting and looking at her with big, hopeful eyes. When their gazes met, the Shiba Inu tilted its head and stuck out its tongue, displaying its trademark smile.