Rather than sitting at a formal dining table, it would be better to choose a breezy evening and ride a bicycle with the person you like, slowly gliding along the riverside greenway. There is no pressure to talk the entire time; only the gentle sound of the wind brushing past your ears, and the subtle closeness of the light and shadow.
Choose the rental point in advance, pick two bikes of light colors, and make sure to adjust the seat height to a suitable position for the other person. Before setting off, hand over a bottle of their favorite sparkling water and say with a smile, “When you get tired from riding, it’s perfect to drink this.” Don’t rush to speed up; just maintain the same pace as them and walk slowly along the riverbank. On the left is the shimmering river surface, and the setting sun colors the water waves golden red; on the right is a path filled with camphor trees, and the leaves rustle in the wind, even your breathing has the freshness of the plants.
Stop when you reach the place with the viewing platform, lean against the railing and take a rest. Pointing at the distant cargo ship, say, “Look at that ship. It’s moving so slowly. It seems to be following our pace.” Or talk about the amusing memories of playing in the water by the river when you were a child. When the wind tousles your hair, naturally help the other person tidy up the stray strands at the front of their forehead. Without any deliberate physical contact, it’s more captivating than sweet words.
When encountering a roadside stall selling creative small items, we would stop the car and go shopping together. You picked up a keychain with a view of the river, saying, “It’s just right to hang it on the bicycle.” The other person chose two bell ornaments in cartoon shapes, and placed them on two different vehicles. By gently pressing them, a clear ringing sound mixed with the wind, like singing a cheerful song. When paying, we secretly bought both small items and gave one to the other, saying, “So next time you hear the bell sound, you’ll know it’s me.”
As the sun was about to set, I parked the car in a corner with a lawn, spread a small mat and sat down. Watching the sun slowly sink behind the tall buildings on the other side of the river, the sky changed from orange to pink. We shared the small cake. You gave me a bite and I handed you a piece. Occasionally, we would just sit there in silence, watching the lingering rays of the setting sun on the river surface. There was no need to find a topic to talk about, and the quiet companionship was very comfortable.
When returning, it was already getting dark. The street lamps along the river began to light up one by one, casting a warm yellow glow on the water, like scattering a bed of stars. I slowed down and rode back, occasionally hearing the bell ringing, mingling with the laughter of the other person. When approaching the rental point, I naturally said, “Next time you can come earlier. I’ll take you to the reed marshes upstream of the river. It’s super beautiful at sunset,” without any deliberate invitation, but it contained the expectation of wanting to meet again.
The beauty of a cycling date by the river lies in the unhurried pace. There’s no need to hold a certain posture or think of following up on the conversation. Just let yourself go with the flow of the wind, and together, enjoy the river view, listen to the wind sounds, and count the shadows. When the bell of the bicycle, the gentle rustle of the river wind, and the laughter of both of you blend together, the fluttering of emotions will also follow the rhythm, quietly sprout and gradually warm up.