Date night at the aquarium

Author: Modern Publishing House
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-01-01
Features: Can time be paused so I can turn back and smile, searching for a blue dream? Can the world be reversed to find someone who shouldn’t have been lost? Can a broader space of love be discovered beyond romance? In the summer oceanarium, a few young people meet and make sincere promises. However, after the summer heat fades, young hearts discover that many things have changed irreversibly. Only the unextinguished love in their hearts can save their friend’s despondent spirit—Lu Yi and Mei Ting star together in a heartwarming and romantic story. This book is the novel version of the 20-episode TV drama A Date at the Oceanarium (starring Lu Yi, Mei Ting, Wang Ling, etc.).
A third-year university student, Ruan Hui, has a romantic date with her boyfriend, Luo Gang, at the oceanarium. The young, handsome marine trainer, Du Wei, becomes a witness to this date and will supervise Luo Gang in jumping from a high platform every day until he completes 365 jumps. The day before the date is about to be completed, Luo Gang dies in an accident while saving a dolphin. Full of hope, Ruan Hui arrives as scheduled, but it is Du Wei’s girlfriend, Shi Yu, who jumps from the high platform instead. To prevent Ruan Hui from being heartbroken, everyone hides the truth and takes care of her. Shi Yu, in particular, is very warm-hearted. After learning the truth, Ruan Hui pours her endless longing into the dolphins and becomes friends with one who has also lost a loved one.
Shi Yu comes from a well-off family but comes to the oceanarium for love. However, her enthusiastic and proactive nature puts Du Wei under pressure, especially when he often misses dates with Shi Yu to take care of a sick sea lion. Gradually, Du Wei’s sympathy for Ruan Hui shifts, and cracks appear in his relationship with his devoted girlfriend. Meanwhile, Ruan Hui unknowingly falls in love with Du Wei. Shi Yu’s domineering personality contrasts sharply with Ruan Hui’s gentleness and kindness, leaving Du Wei torn between the two.
No matter how many setbacks the young people face in their emotions, they share a common belief: to take good care of the marine animals and pour all their love into them. This summer, in the beautiful oceanarium, a fragment of family, friendship, love, and the special bond between humans and animals begins:
The car window gradually becomes clear, with a grayish view outside. In the morning, the moist air makes Ruan Hui feel as if she can touch and smell through the thick glass. She spreads Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being on her lap, but her gaze drifts far beyond the window.
“365 times! Starting today until next year, I will jump for you every day without fail!”
“Ruan Hui, in a year, as long as you come here, I will do the 365th jump for you, okay?”
“Remember our oceanarium date—it’s an unchanging promise!”
The oceanarium, that beautiful place, that perhaps slightly childlike promise, those gentle dolphins, that group of kind-hearted people, and the one she deeply loved—Luo Gang. Ruan Hui whispers Luo Gang’s name in her heart, tears already filling her eyes. The train’s announcement comes in intermittently: “Next stop, Beijing.”
Next to Ruan Hui, a child is babbling and trying to speak, with exaggerated mouth movements but a serious and diligent expression: “Beijing, Beijing, Mom, Mom, Beijing.”
An apple is handed to Ruan Hui. She looks up and sees an elderly woman with silver hair and a radiant spirit. As if her thoughts had been discovered, Ruan Hui’s face blushes slightly, and she shyly takes the apple with a thank you. The woman’s smile is warm, so Ruan Hui closes the book and starts chatting with her.
During their casual talk, Ruan Hui learns she is a professor specializing in marine biology, surnamed Chen. Ruan Hui says, “Auntie, you’re in great spirits.”
Chen Professor smiles, “Really?”
Ruan Hui says, “If someone else told me this, I wouldn’t believe it.”
“Is that so?”
“Anyway, it’s rare to see someone like you in life.”
Ruan Hui murmurs to herself, “I wonder how he’s doing now.”
The announcement rings out again: “Passengers, the final stop of this train—Beijing Station—is approaching. Please pack your luggage, take your tickets, and prepare to disembark.”
The temperature in the carriage rises slightly, and passengers begin to hurriedly check their luggage. The chubby child in the seat next to them shouts even more excitedly: “Mom, Mom, Beijing, Beijing!”
Chen Professor hands Ruan Hui a piece of paper with her phone number: “This is my number. Let’s stay in touch in the future.” Ruan Hui takes the paper and looks at the elderly woman’s eyes, sparkling with hope for the future, feeling a warm sense of comfort.
“Wishing you a successful date, Auntie Chen!” Ruan Hui says sincerely.
“Wishing yours too! Everyone has to work together to make it happen!” Chen Professor gently pats Ruan Hui’s shoulder, encouraging her.
Ruan Hui stands up confidently to get her luggage, but a sudden pain in her waist makes her gasp.
“What’s wrong?” Chen Professor asks with concern.
Ruan Hui forces a smile: “Nothing, just an old ailment.” She opens her and takes a few aspirins.
After saying goodbye to Chen Professor, Ruan Hui exits the station with her bags and takes a taxi straight to the oceanarium.
The oceanarium comes into view, and Ruan Hui feels a slight sense of fear. For this promise, for this day, she has waited for a whole year. A year may seem long, but it has been filled with 364 sleepless nights and countless memories.