In 1982, in China’s capital, Yan Xi was born in the summer. At that time, there was no Wen Heng yet.

In 1984, when Yan Xi was one and a half years old, Mother Wen played with him, saying, “Little Xi, you’ll have a little brother soon, are you happy?” Yan Xi carefully touched Mother Wen’s belly with his tiny hands and said, “Sister, sister.”

In 1987, when Yan Xi was six, he received a model airplane toy worth thirty thousand yuan at the time; four-year-old Wen Heng crouched by the stream in Wushui Town, curiously poking at a dying caterpillar with a small stick, when a group of naughty children pushed her down and clapped their hands, calling her “wild child.”

In 1989, Yan Xi met Lu Liu at a banquet for the first time. Lu Liu asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. He thought for a moment and seriously said, “My grandfather wants me to go very far away to marry my bride.” Nearby, Lin Ruomei glanced at Old Man Yan, picked him up, and gently stroked his little head, saying, “Little Xi is so cute, how about becoming auntie’s godson?” Yan Xi’s face turned red, his eyes sparkling; at that time, Ah Heng was brewing medicine for her brother for the first time, her little hands covered in blisters.

In 1997, when Yan Xi was desperately crawling out of the raging fire with tears in his eyes, he suddenly remembered the bride he had long forgotten in the lengthy passage of time—if only there was such a person waiting for him, how wonderful that would be; at that time, Ah Heng ranked first in the Math Olympiad but still drooled watching the braised pork in her brother’s bowl—if only they could have meat three meals a day, how wonderful that would be.

In 1998, when Yan Xi was learning to play the violin, Wen Si Wan’s mockery came from downstairs. He dumped a bucket of water, and vaguely seemed to see a blurry figure beside him; that was when Ah Heng first met Yan Xi.

In 1999, Yan Xi brought Wen Heng back to Wushui, the place where he had made a small promise long ago to come and marry his bride. His little bride was beside him, obediently eating white sugar cake, and for the first time, looking at her, his lips curved in a warm smile; Wen Heng and Yan Xi grew familiar with each other, and grandfather arranged for her to stay by his side before leaving the country. And she, for the first time, felt what it was like to have a home. Always, someone was by her side. Always.

In 2000, Yan Xi went to Vienna. Lin Ruomei asked if he cared about Wen Heng, and he said “What’s Wen Heng to me?” But she took out a photo album and said, “So, it wouldn’t matter if I sent these to Wen Heng, right?”; Ah Heng waited at home for a long time, only to find a maddened Yan Xi clutching the door plate.

In 2001, Yan Xi tried hard for a long time, conquered Pinocchio, and saw his Ah Heng again. For the first time, seeing her made his heart beat half a beat faster than usual, the thumping sound rising in C and falling in A, all out of tune; Wen Heng caught a cold and thought she was hallucinating—oh Wen Heng, how much you love him.

Summer of 2001, Lu Liu appeared, wanting to take him to America for a thorough medical examination. He thought, maybe he could tell his grandfather, pick an auspicious date, and marry Ah Heng. When news of Uncle Wen’s death arrived, he flew back to China, hiding in a corner as Ah Heng clutched someone else’s father’s coffin, her hands covered in blood. He followed behind her, but she never turned to see his embrace; that was when Ah Heng first met Gu Feibai.

In 2003, he had been DJ YAN for a long time, always saying, “I am Yan Xi, Yan of Yan Xi, Xi of Yan Xi, please… don’t forget”; she was stuck in the elevator, crying, “Yan Xi, I miss you.”

Summer of 2003, Yan Xi’s hearing was getting worse. He thought he would soon be unable to hear Ah Heng’s voice, so he quit his radio job to stay by her side. He told her, “What do you want, what else do you want, tell me”; that year, Wen Heng said, “I like you, Yan Xi.”

In 2004, Yan Xi’s hearing had weakened to the point where he couldn’t hear Ah Heng’s calls. She loved to call “Yan Xi” in her soft, sweet voice, square and proper, reserved yet full of love. His heart suddenly hurt terribly, and he said, “Ah Heng, let’s break up”; that year, Ah Heng gained the love of family, the love of friends, gained everything, gained things she didn’t dare dream of even in broad daylight, but lost Yan Xi.

In 2006, they reconciled but faced opposition from everyone. They told him, “Yan Xi, you’re deaf.” Ah Heng said, “Let’s go to France together, I’ll wait for you.” But because he didn’t want to face Lu Liu’s constant threats regarding Ah Heng anymore, he let her wings go free, attempting suicide in his car; Ah Heng didn’t wait for Yan Xi and went to France.

In 2007, he survived but was imprisoned by Lu Liu, with only a television for outside news; that year, Ah Heng became a physician at a famous research institute in France, doing what she wanted to do, witnessed several deaths, and gradually became detached from emotions.

In 2008, on May 15th, watching television with an unkempt beard while eating instant noodles, he suddenly burst into tears. Finding an opportunity, he ran away and picked up the phone, saying, “Grandfather, I was wrong”; that year, Yun Zai happened to receive a letter from far away, from Wen Heng.

In 2009, Yan Xi learned to do things he didn’t like, courting the Yan faction, and using his subordinates to eliminate the Zhang father and son.

In 2010, Yan Xi began collecting evidence.

In 2013, at thirty-one, Yan Xi married Chu Yun, following their grandfather’s wishes to continue the family line. Yun Zai attended with a smile, saying Wen Heng was leading a medical team in Africa and couldn’t come, only presenting Wen Heng’s handwritten “Hundred Years of Harmony.”

In 2015, Yan Xi defeated the Lu family. In prison, Lu Liu asked him, “Yan Xi, where is your heart, why can’t I see it?”

In 2016, Chu Yun had their first child. Yun Zai, also married, came with his new bride to offer congratulations. The new wife said, “Sister is doing medical research in Europe and can’t come.” Another piece of calligraphy arrived: “May You Have Both Sons and Daughters.”

In 2036, Yan Xi carefully educated his children. When interviewed by reporters asking who was the person he loved most in his life, he looked at his wife busy in the kitchen and smiled slightly.

In 2040, his wife passed away. Yan Xi’s health also deteriorated. He stepped down from his responsibilities, bid farewell to his children, and traveled across the country, seeing things he hadn’t seen in many years.

In 2042, at sixty, he returned to the house he had lived in forty years ago. Though he hadn’t returned for many years, he had always had someone maintain it, keeping it as it was. He went upstairs to a room and saw a book—a high school Chinese textbook with “Notes on the Study at Xiangji” written on it. Smiling, he could almost hear that soft, sweet voice: “In the courtyard stands a loquat tree, planted by my wife the year she died, now tall and spreading like a canopy.” Looking up at the window, his vision blurred with age, he seemed to see a gentle figure busy in the flower garden.

In 2043, before Yan Xi’s death, Yun Zai came. With failing breath, he said, “When I die, let me be buried with her, alright?” Tears welled in Yun Zai’s eyes as he asked, “How did you know?” He thought for a while, “It’s been so long, hasn’t it? Since 2008, I saw on TV, during the earthquake, she was with the French medical team, the last one… wasn’t she? Trying to save a child, trapped under rocks, never made it out.” Yun Zai nodded, crying in pain, “She wrote me a letter, fearing the worst, prepared everything, and asked me to keep it from you.”

Yan Xi lowered his hand and said, “I know.”

From 1998 to 2008, this was ten years.