001.

Baicheng had many small paths. Qing Hang didn’t find that cat. By the time he returned home, the sky had already darkened.

The street lights came on. His door-opening motion halted as he looked down. The cat was sitting at the doorstep, not acting shy at all. It raised its paw to rub against his pant leg, as if urging him to open the door quickly.

As soon as he opened a small gap in the door, the cat squeezed through the crack. It familiarly circled the courtyard, entering the house even before Qing Hang.

Qing Hang had left Meiqiu with Moon. There was no cat food at home, so he first gave it water in a bowl. Whatever he ate, the cat ate too.

He thought the cat would leave after eating, but it jumped up onto the bamboo chair in the bedroom.

The bamboo chair was made by an old carpenter Qing Hang had found in the village. Very few families use this kind of bamboo chair nowadays.

The temperature was a bit cool. The cat curled into a ball, its meow sounding pitiful. Qing Hang couldn’t sleep all night.

The next day, Qing Hang went to work, and the cat followed him to the hospital. When he finished work, the cat followed him home. This continued for a whole week. It wasn’t picky about food, but was dissatisfied with its sleeping place.

Qing Hang thought that since the county town was so small, if the cat had an owner, the owner should be able to find it. Until then, he would take care of it. He bathed the cat, took it for vaccinations, and allowed it to sleep on the bed. At night, it meowed much less.

When he read books, the cat would climb onto his desk by grabbing his clothes. When he went to the stadium to play table tennis, he would sit in the spectator stands.

Qing Hang bought many rose seedlings to plant in the courtyard. The cat walked back and forth in the soil it had dug, getting its feet covered in mud, then jumped onto its back. By the time he finished planting the flowers, his clothes were covered with cat paw prints.

Summer was approaching, and still no one had come looking for the cat. Qing Hang decided to buy a cat bed and some toys that kittens might like.

“This pink one has high sales. It should be good.”

The cat pressed its paw on the phone screen. Qing Hang stroked its head. “You’re right, it’s not good. And it doesn’t hide dirt well. Let’s look at others.”

“Dark colors may hide dirt, but they don’t look nice,” he said to himself. “Forget it, let’s choose a cat bowl first. Ceramic ones aren’t practical. Let’s buy this stainless steel one.”

The cat sat directly on the phone and clawed at his clothes.

“Don’t like any of them? Choose yourself. Whichever one you tap, I’ll buy.”

So Qing Hang received deliveries for half a month. Even though he bought two beds, the cat still slept on his bed every day.

002.

The hospital director sent Qing Hang a message saying that the young woman had good conditions and a good personality, and asked Qing Hang to meet her tomorrow.

Qing Hang had just typed one letter when the cat’s paw knocked his phone into water. It was too late to go to the director’s house, so he could only explain in person the next day.

That night, Qing Hang suffered from insomnia again. He opened the drawer he had kept locked. The letters Cheng Yanqing sent him every year—he hadn’t read any of them, all stored in the drawer.

After meeting the blind date the director had arranged, Qing Hang realized she was his high school classmate, now a teacher at the school.

She was surprised but delighted. “It is you? I thought it was someone with the same name. I didn’t expect you would return to Baicheng. Is this your cat? It’s so beautiful.”

Since they were classmates, Qing Hang didn’t beat around the bush. “Hello, when Director Gao asked me to come yesterday, my phone broke, so I couldn’t reply to him. I won’t be a qualified boyfriend. I can’t waste your time.”

The cat scratched his arm from the side, very fiercely, as if reminding him he shouldn’t talk like that.

The woman hesitated. “You still can’t forget Cheng Wanyue?”

Qing Hang said, “She told me to forget her, but that must be insincere. She’s so petty—if I forgot her, she would be very angry.”

The cat became even fiercer. Although it was rowdy, it wouldn’t scratch Qing Hang to injury. He could handle it with one hand.

“Your past with her was beautiful, but it’s over. Not all waiting receives a response. What’s the meaning of how you are now?”

“Not all questions have answers either.”

The woman was speechless.

“Director Gao is good with words. Perhaps after hearing his introduction, you thought my conditions weren’t bad. But my family used to be very poor. How poor? So poor that when my parents got sick, they could only wait to die. When a natural disaster hit the village, County Chief Cheng came to offer comfort, saw that I didn’t even have a place to live, and decided to sponsor me through high school. After graduating from high school, I finally left this small county town, studying while working part-time to earn a living. Things that were ordinary and common for others, I had to struggle to obtain. Only after I started working did life get slightly better.”

“Maybe you think my temperament is fine, but actually, Wanyue and I often argued. Once, I followed a major surgery, staying in the operating room for more than ten hours. I was very, very tired when I got home. She didn’t know and wasn’t unreasonable—she just wanted me to accompany her, but I had a bad attitude and didn’t go to dinner with her. It was a small thing, and she forgot it the next day, but I’ve always regretted it.”

“Maybe you think someone with my personality has no expectations for marriage. That’s not true. If Wanyue were still here, we would probably be married by now, raising a cat and a dog, not necessarily having children—she was like a child. We would still argue and have misunderstandings. I would buy her flowers. I would love her very much…”

The woman had already left, but Qing Hang continued talking to himself. “Am I thinking about her again? No, I’m not thinking about her.”

The cat ran to the door, circling the woman’s feet, trying to make her stay, but failed.

Several days passed before Qing Hang belatedly realized the cat wasn’t as clingy as before. Although it still accompanied him to and from work, its temper was particularly bad. It would swat if he petted it, bite if he scolded it twice, and ignore him if he teased it with a cat toy.

A colleague asked Qing Hang if this cat could catch mice. Qing Hang said not only could it not catch them, but it was also afraid—it would hide far away when it saw a mouse.

The next second, the cat knocked over the mineral water bottle on his desk, which fell right on his foot.

Even the security guard at the hospital joked that the cat was angry.

It kept having these moods until the roses in the courtyard bloomed fully. Then it was stung by a bee, its paw swelling up like those cat paw cushion toys sold in stores, and it finally stopped being temperamental.

Qing Hang was reading medical books. Now and then, the cat would extend its paw in front of him. He simply held it, thinking about giving it a name.

“It’s July now. I’ll call you Xiaoqi from now on.”

“The flowers in the yard attract mosquitoes that can’t be driven away. Xiaoqi, don’t try to catch bees anymore.”

“There are no mice at home. It doesn’t matter if Xiaoqi can’t catch mice.”

Rainy days were perfect for sleeping, yet for as long as the rainy season lasted, Qing Hang was troubled by insomnia.

The ground was muddy, so he wouldn’t let the cat go outside. Therefore, neighbors often saw him squatting at the door, talking to the cat.

One day, he brought a cake home after work and put the crown on the cat’s head. The neighbors thought he was celebrating the cat’s birthday.

How could anyone know the birthday of a stray cat?

It was raining outside, and flower petals covered the ground. Only Qing Hang was eating, yet he had bought many ingredients and cooked for over two hours. The table was so full that there was no place for the cake.

That night, the cat played with the cake crown on the bamboo chair. Qing Hang washed dishes, swept the floor, and tidied up the house. After completing all tasks, he sat quietly on the bamboo chair, his shadow in the corner resembling a lonely old man.

The bamboo chair had developed worms—the bamboo pieces in the corner had small holes.

The air was humid. Qing Hang suddenly remembered the letters locked in the drawer. Bamboo can develop worms, locks can rust, and paper can mold.

It took him a long time to open the first letter. The paper was damp, and the writing was somewhat blurred. The remaining letters were the same.

…

*”29-year-old Qing Hang, how are you?*

*Are you surprised to receive my letter? Haha, I bet you’re shocked.*

*Rub-a-dub, don’t be scared.”*

…

*”30-year-old Qing Hang, how are you?*

*Surprised, right? Another letter from me on your birthday this year.*

*Have you been eating properly?*

*Have you encountered anything happy this year?*

*If not, I’ll ask again next year.”*

…

*”31-year-old Qing Hang, how are you?*

*I’m back to check your homework.*

*Answer this question: Write down five happy things.*

*Ten points per item, and ten extra points for each additional one.”*

…

Qing Hang couldn’t recall what he did at age 31. He found his old phone, fixed it, and it still worked normally. All the message records in WeChat were still there.

The chat background was still the photo she took in her Beijing rental apartment. Qing Hang searched for records from that year—the screen full of green dialog boxes, almost all contained “I’m going to work” and “I’m off work.”

He couldn’t write down a single happy thing.

The alarm suddenly rang, its sound harsh. Qing Hang snapped back to reality and put away the unread letters. He should go to sleep now.

If he stayed up late when not working, she would be angry.

The cake remained untouched. The candles had extinguished before burning out completely, like a life that had stopped. She was a breeze, a flower, a rain, a cloud… but she was truly gone.

He was aging, and her photos were becoming blurry.

003.

Qing Hang took two pills. Even the thunder in the latter half of the night didn’t wake him.

Water dripped from the eaves. He woke from a long dream. Before opening his eyes, he habitually called for Xiaoqi.

Usually, if he called a few times, the cat would respond no matter where it was. Today, however, there was no movement at all.

The sky was dark. Qing Hang’s vision seemed covered by a layer of fog—he couldn’t see clearly. He shouldn’t have taken two pills last night.

The door was closed, indicating the cat hadn’t run out.

He rubbed his temples. Only after recovering from that heavy, dizzy feeling did he sit up. His glasses weren’t on the desk. He wandered dazedly around the room for two rounds before finally stopping beside the bamboo chair.

A young woman lay on her side on the bamboo chair. Because she was only using a school uniform as a pillow, her cheek had several red marks pressed into it. She seemed to have slept poorly and was still yawning, complaining unclearly that the bamboo chair was too hard.

The cake crown that had been on her head had fallen to the ground. Qing Hang went to pick it up, staring at her face with its healthy color without blinking. His throat was hoarse. “It’s raining outside. How did you get here?”

She smiled and said, “Qing Hang, I came to be with you.”

“I planted many flowers. Did you see them?”

“What flowers? The yard is bare. Are there any flowers? Qing Hang, what were you looking for just now?”

“…The cat.”

“What cat? I didn’t know you kept a cat,” she raised a finger and gently pushed his forehead. “Are you that tired? I couldn’t wake you up no matter how I called. Who told you to come so late yesterday? I already told you, you must accompany me for my birthday.”

She pinched his face. “I didn’t expect two glasses of fruit wine would get you drunk. Wake up, come back to yourself.”

Qing Hang sat stiffly on the ground. “Am I awake or asleep?”

——

He was like a block of wood. Cheng Wanyue felt his forehead, then her own.

“No fever. Could those two glasses not have been fruit wine but white liquor… It must have been Cheng Yanqing’s doing. I’ll go settle accounts with him!”

She jumped off the bamboo chair and ran outside, but her wrist was gripped tightly, and the next second, she was pulled into a warm embrace.

“Qing Hang, the roof is leaking. My clothes are wet. Eh? Why is the rainwater hot… I didn’t bully you! You’re crying so sadly. If my dad finds out, I’ll be scolded again.”

Cheng Yanqing waited impatiently and eventually stood outside the courtyard gate, shouting, “Cheng Wanyue, I sent you to call Qing Hang, but you’re like a bun thrown to a dog—gone without return. Are you two going to eat or not? Dad says even if you don’t eat or sleep, you can’t escape tutoring. So give it up.”

“Coming, don’t rush.” Cheng Wanyue pushed Qing Hang, but he only held her tighter. “Are you planning to keep hugging me like this?”

“Mm-hmm.” Qing Hang didn’t care if Cheng Yanqing would come in. It was just a dream anyway—he would wake up soon.

Cheng Wanyue responded to Cheng Yanqing’s urging while winking at Qing Hang. She was smiling, but tears kept falling. “We still can’t be too obvious. Let’s be quiet so they don’t find out.”

“…Okay.”

“Go wash your face and brush your teeth.”

The mirror reflected their youthful faces. She stood on tiptoe, but was still shorter than he.

Qing Hang scooped up cold water and poured it on his face.

He looked around. There were no flowers in the yard, nor was there a bad-tempered cat in the house.

There was only Cheng Wanyue shouting, “Ah! You got my shoes wet.”

Vibrant and lively.

She hated her new shoes getting dirty and grabbed his hand to bite it hard.

A clear circle of teeth marks on his skin—the pain felt real. Qing Hang’s blurry vision finally found focus, but he dared not speak, even forgetting to breathe. He was afraid it was just a dream, afraid she would disappear in the blink of an eye, afraid everything before him was a false illusion. So even though he could see her, hear her speak, feel her warmth, he couldn’t be at ease.

He tried calling her name. “Cheng Wanyue.”

“Hmm?”

“Cheng Wanyue.”

“I’m right here.”

“Cheng Wanyue.”

“Yes, it’s me, it’s me!”

He tried touching her—eyes, nose, cheeks, hair… the feeling was the same as when he hugged her earlier. She didn’t disappear.

“I missed you,” his voice trembled. “I missed you, I missed you.”

Cheng Wanyue opened her arms. “Then let’s hug again.”

Qing Hang heard his heartbeat and felt the pulse jumping in her wrist. “Why did you come back?”

She said, “Of course it’s because you didn’t listen and took those pills carelessly. I’m angry, but I can’t hit you or scold you, which makes me even angrier.”

“Cheng Wanyue, you’ve come back,” Qing Hang kept repeating this sentence, from a whisper to a shout, from disbelief to wild joy. “I’m not dreaming. You came back!”

The clock turned back. Lost things were returned to the pocket with a hole, and the loose thread was sewn up the gap.

He no longer aged gradually. His blood flowed like burning flames, bringing him back to life.

Cheng Wanyue smiled in response, “We’ve come back.”

Grandpa came in from the outside. Seeing them crying, laughing, and hugging, he coughed twice.

Cheng Wanyue immediately stepped to the side, creating distance. But soon, Qing Hang followed her.

“What’s so happy? Although you two always make up after every argument, today seems different,” Grandpa gently reminded. “Xiao Hang, don’t stand so close. You’re almost pushing Wanyue to the door.”

“We were just about to go out. Grandpa, I’m taking Qing Hang to my house,” Cheng Wanyue pulled Qing Hang as they ran outside.

They passed through a long alley. Qing Hang’s young body contained a powerful energy.

Cheng Wanyue was carried on his back, held in his arms, running far in the rain.

This alley seemed endless.

“Has studying made him stupid?” The more Cheng Yanqing watched, the more he felt something was wrong. He didn’t know about Qing Hang’s empty and long wait, only thinking Qing Hang’s brain had broken. “So weird. I’ve known him this long and never seen him like this. Has he gone crazy? Is he possessed? Hexed? Those two glasses of wine last night shouldn’t have done this.”

“Can’t help it, he likes me too much.”

“But it’s too exaggerated. For others, a day apart feels like three months. For him, it seems like a second apart feels like eight years. He might as well tie himself to you with a rope.”

“Hee hee! Not just eight years—in his past life, he only loved me.”

Eventually, Cheng Guo’an also noticed the issue.

Whenever school had a break, he would invite Qing Hang to tutor Cheng Wanyue. At first, it had no effect because Cheng Wanyue simply didn’t cooperate. Although their relationship improved later, they often had conflicts. Qing Hang was somewhat introverted and never took initiative. Cheng Wanyue was stubborn, and even sitting face to face, neither would speak to the other. But during this period, Qing Hang constantly followed Cheng Wanyue unconsciously. Wherever she went, Qing Hang followed, and they no longer argued.

Cheng Guo’an observed for several more months.

He didn’t understand why these two children had become so close. But before he could talk to Qing Hang, Qing Hang came to him first.

Perhaps he was getting old and couldn’t keep up with young people’s thinking. That night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. He had high hopes for Qing Hang—every mock exam score proved he had a chance for direct university admission.

Yet Qing Hang gave up. Instead of choosing direct admission, he wanted to take the college entrance exam with Cheng Wanyue.

Cheng Guo’an gradually discovered that his daughter had indeed become serious about studying. Having watched Qing Hang grow up, he turned a blind eye, pretending not to know.

In the room, Cheng Wanyue was listening to Qing Hang explain problems. After gently closing the door, Cheng Guo’an called to inquire about Cheng Wanyue’s medical checkup results.

Apart from mild anemia, everything was normal.

Last week’s fever was just caused by a cold, with no other issues.

The sounds of insects and birds outside were crisp. The sun hadn’t set yet, and Cheng Wanyue was getting restless. She closed her workbook and raised one foot to rest on Qing Hang’s leg, swinging it idly.

“Qing Hang, let’s take a ten-minute break.”

“Finish this problem first, then rest.”

“Ah! My head hurts. I’m going to faint.”

Although he knew she was pretending, Qing Hang still reacted instinctively, catching her before she fell.

Cheng Wanyue took advantage of the moment to hook her arms around Qing Hang’s neck, covering his eyes, causing both to fall to the floor. He cushioned her from below as she lay on top of him.

She was breathing.

She was smiling.

She was beside him.

“I’ll wait for you after school tomorrow.”

“Okay!”

“Don’t stand me up.” Qing Hang suddenly sat up and pulled Cheng Wanyue out the door.

They ran to school, across the playground, up the stairs to the rooftop of Building 3, and watched a sunset.

With his back to the confession wall behind him, he stood by the railing and shouted.

“Cheng Wanyue, this time, I definitely won’t lose you again.”

Summer was coming. He had waited for it.

004.

Students from the vocational high school came to play basketball. People stood all around the court, with cheers growing more enthusiastic by the minute.

Cheng Wanyue was pulled to the corridor. A classmate pointed at a boy who had just made a shot and asked her, “Wanyue, what do you think of Number 6?”

“Can’t see clearly, hard to judge,” Cheng Wanyue spotted a familiar figure at the corner, held back her laughter, and deliberately pretended to be interested. “Which Number 6? Is it the drinking water? He seems quite handsome.”

“Right? I also think he’s handsome. We could get to know him.”

Her classmate opened the phone camera and zoomed in to the maximum. Just as Number 6 lifted his T-shirt to wipe sweat, a table tennis paddle suddenly extended over, blocking Cheng Wanyue’s view.

She tilted her head to dodge, but the paddle moved with her. She tried to block it with her hand, and Qing Hang seized the opportunity to grab her wrist, pulling her slightly to the inner side so her back was to the basketball court.

They wore the same style of sneakers, but with so many people in the corridor, no one noticed.

The classmate casually asked, “Qing Hang, where did you get the table tennis paddle? Can we borrow it for a while?”

Cheng Wanyue was still trying to look toward the playground. Qing Hang directly draped his school uniform jacket over her head. “Not today. Wanyue needs to study. She won’t eat with you. You go ahead first.”

“She hasn’t eaten either.”

“She’ll eat with me.”

The two went around to the stairs on the other side. She walked slowly, and Qing Hang slowed his pace too.

A teacher was coming up the stairs. Qing Hang saw him first. He and Cheng Wanyue stood on either side, waiting until the teacher had gone far away. Then Cheng Wanyue threw the uniform back into his arms, grabbed his hand, bit the back of it, and ran off.

Qing Hang took three steps in two and quickly caught up.

Cheng Wanyue stood on the steps, holding still at first, pretending to look to the left, then suddenly running to the right the next second. Qing Hang reacted quickly, raising an arm to block her. She rested her chin on his arm, with no choice but to move further away from the basketball court, backing toward the table tennis area.

“Cheng Yuzhou is playing. I want to cheer for him. Why are you blocking me?”

“He doesn’t need your cheering. He has Zhou Yu.”

“It’s not the same. Without me, he scores less.”

“If you go, he’ll worry about you falling off the stands. It’s too noisy over there. The table tennis court is much quieter.”

Cheng Wanyue sighed. “What’s the use of being quiet? Anyway, this isn’t allowed, that isn’t allowed. Whenever you catch me, you only ask, ‘Have you memorized the vocabulary?’ ‘Did you solve the math problems correctly?’ Or ‘Pay attention in class,’ ‘Don’t be late,’ ‘Don’t leave early’—just like Tang Monk reciting sutras.”

Kiss.

No, solve problems first.

Hug.

No, memorize these two poems first.

All are not allowed.

“Let me play with the ball,” she took a paddle, wanting to try bouncing the ball.

“Didn’t bring it.”

“Stop lying. Hurry up.”

“Didn’t bring it,” Qing Hang turned out both pockets of his uniform pants, which contained only keys.

Cheng Wanyue stopped walking, hands behind her back, her smiling eyes lively and sly. She asked languidly, “You want to teach me table tennis, but didn’t bring a ball. Luring me to a place with no people—are you planning to do something bad?”

Qing Hang suddenly stared at the corner. “There’s a mouse.”

Cheng Wanyue saw a black shadow. “Ahhhhh!”

She jumped directly onto Qing Hang’s back, feet off the ground. “The school has more than a dozen cats. How dare mice be so bold?”

“Indeed, too bold,” Qing Hang carried her out through the back door.

Cheng Wanyue looked at the paddle for a while and found her name carved on it. Qing Hang’s grandfather had been a carpenter and had made her a peach wood hairpin before. “Grandpa carved this based on your handwriting, right? Did you write it on paper or the paddle?”

“On paper.”

“There’s not enough time today. Let’s go to the gym and play for half a day on the weekend.”

Behind the school was a small hill. Qing Hang spread his uniform on the ground, and Cheng Wanyue sat on it, eating. She wasn’t wearing long socks, and her calf was bitten by a mosquito. After scratching it twice, her skin turned red.

She lowered her head, about to speak.

Qing Hang handed her a grass-woven ring with a small blue flower on it.

Cheng Wanyue thought Qing Hang was going to put it on her, but he closed his fingers, holding the ring in his palm. She hadn’t seen it clearly and used all her strength to pry his fingers open.

He suddenly leaned in very close.

“Princess Rapunzel.”

“Hmm?”

“Can a grass-woven ring be used for a proposal?”

“It should be… possible?”

005.

The school used one day to take graduation photos for the senior year students, with each class assigned specific time slots to go to the playground.

Qing Hang, Cheng Yanqing, Yan Ci, Cheng Yuzhou, and Zhou Yu were all in the same class. After they finished their photos, they didn’t leave the playground. When they saw Cheng Wanyue running from the teaching building toward them, Qing Hang ran to the rest area to borrow a camera from the photography teacher.

“Teacher, could you please take a group photo for us?”

“No problem. Stand ready, and I’ll handle the shutter. After graduation, you might never see each other again. Let’s take several photos as mementos.”

Cheng Wanyue hugged Zhou Yu with one arm, smiling as she said, “We’re different. We’re not just friends—we’re family.”

The photography teacher teased her, pretending to put away the camera. “Then we don’t need to take photos.”

“We do need them! Qing Hang, come over quickly.”

It was windy today. Cheng Wanyue and Zhou Yu stood in the middle, helping each other fix their hair. Cheng Yuzhou was on Zhou Yu’s left, with Yan Ci beside him.

Cheng Yanqing held up his cap to shield Cheng Wanyue from the sun. Qing Hang said to him in a low voice, “Switch positions.”

Cheng Yanqing had been waiting for these words. “Not for free. You need to show some sincerity. Well… you know… I broke her game console yesterday. You know what I mean, right? Deal—I’ll stand to the side. If not, forget about switching with me.”

“No wonder you’re so attentive today.” After Qing Hang said this, he directly pushed Cheng Yanqing aside and stood to Cheng Wanyue’s right.

The photography teacher called out, “Come on, students, look at the camera.”

Cheng Yanqing had no choice but to give up.

“Stand a little closer. Everyone smiles. Three, two…”

A second before the shutter was pressed, Qing Hang held Cheng Wanyue’s hand.

They stood very close. The photography teacher only checked if anyone had closed their eyes, not noticing anyone’s small movements. “Great photo! Good luck with your exams. Hope you all get into your dream schools. Keep meeting up and having meals together in the future.”

Cheng Yanqing was quick to respond, “Thank you, teacher. Wishing you good health and prosperity too.”

Cheng Wanyue had never feared exams since childhood. Regardless of whether she could do well or how many points she might score, she still ate and slept well.

The evening after the exam, she wanted to cook hot pot at the Cheng house. Today they could openly drink alcohol. Cheng Guo’an also said, do whatever you want, as long as you don’t tear down the house.

Cheng Yanqing saw the graduation photo the teacher posted in the class group and quickly noticed something. “Wow! Hey!”

“Let me see,” Cheng Wanyue thought someone hadn’t photographed well. She leaned over to take a look as Cheng Yanqing zoomed in on the tightly clasped hands. She remained calm. “Small matter. What’s the excitement about?”

Cheng Yanqing said leisurely, “Who was it that wrote a love letter to Yan Ci…”

“I’ll kill you!” Cheng Wanyue pounced on him, choking his neck.

Qing Hang scooped her into his arms and carried her outside to look at the stars.

The weather was good. The stars were bright, and so was the moon.

Cheng Wanyue’s attention was all on Qing Hang. He kept looking at her. After drinking, his gaze was different from usual. She even suspected he wanted to do something outside.

But he was more patient. Cheng Wanyue wouldn’t wait a second. “Qing Hang, take your clothes off.”

Qing Hang closed his eyes briefly. “Be a little modest.”

He was smiling happily.

Cheng Wanyue held still. Before long, Qing Hang walked over to her, and she tasted alcohol on his lips.

006.

When it came to college applications, the whole family offered advice to Cheng Wanyue.

Cheng Yanqing was determined to go to Beijing, and no one could dissuade him. On the surface, Cheng Wanyue followed him to Beijing, but it was actually because of Qing Hang, although Qing Hang decided after she had made her choice.

Cheng Guo’an didn’t oppose their relationship but reminded them to take it seriously if they were going to date, not to break up every few days. It turned out the concern was unnecessary—they rarely even argued.

During military training at the start of school, Cheng Wanyue was selected as a flag bearer. After practicing for a few days, she couldn’t even lift her arms.

During a video call, she looked sickly. Qing Hang took time off to see her and found she had a fever. He firmly took her to the hospital.

While getting an IV and waiting for blood test results, Cheng Wanyue fell asleep leaning on Qing Hang’s shoulder. The child next to them was crying and shouting, but it didn’t wake her. Only when Qing Hang saw the examination report did his heart settle down.

She was just too tired.

The car could only stop at the entrance of the road. Qing Hang got out first, carrying Cheng Wanyue on his back as he walked in.

Cheng Wanyue asked him dazedly, “Where are you taking me?”

“I rented a small room. Grandpa is in the hospital. You’ll stay with me today. I’ve already called your counselor to ask for leave, and also told Cheng Yanqing. Does your head still hurt? Are you cold?”

Her forehead nuzzled against Qing Hang’s face. “Not hurting anymore. The fever medicine works well. I’m wearing your jacket, so I’m not cold at all. It’s nothing, just a false alarm.”

He smiled too. “Yes, a false alarm.”

The rental was in an urban village. The lights in the hallway were broken. Cheng Wanyue used her phone for illumination. Qing Hang walked quickly. When they reached the door, he found the key and opened it with one hand.

The room was so small that you could see everything at a glance. After turning on the light, Qing Hang finally put herself on the bed. “The sheets are newly changed and very clean. Be good and lie down. I’ll make food.”

“But I can’t sleep anymore.”

“I just bought groceries this morning. I won’t go out. I’ll be right here. You can see me even lying still.”

“Alright.”

Qing Hang had already started classes last week. There were several textbooks on the desk. Cheng Wanyue flipped through a few pages but couldn’t understand them. It was more interesting to watch him wash vegetables and cook.

Cheng Yanqing called. “Wanyue, feeling bad? I talked to the teacher this afternoon about your lack of physical strength, exhausted with a high fever that won’t go down. The counselor gave you a leave note, asking you to rest for a few more days.”

With this illness, Cheng Wanyue had no strength to return to military training. “I’m with Qing Hang. Don’t worry.”

“Sleeping together?”

“Well… better not ask about that. Zhi Zhi and her dad are having dinner at our house today. Mom likes her.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, only you treat her like a child. In two more years, she’ll take the college entrance exam too. She might also come to Beijing. Alright, that’s enough. I’m going to eat now.”

Qing Hang prepared four dishes, all Cheng Wanyue’s favorites.

“Don’t shower tonight. Wait until your fever is gone,” Qing Hang prepared a basin of hot water and brought it to the bedside for Cheng Wanyue to soak her feet. “Although there are two beds, I won’t sleep separately from you.”

He sat on a low stool, his head hanging low. Cheng Wanyue could only see his dark hair. “When will Grandpa come back?”

“Next month.”

“Then I’ll stay here for a few more days. I don’t need to do military training anyway, and classes haven’t started. Qing Hang, what are you thinking about?”

“Many things,” Qing Hang raised his head and kissed her chin. “Wanyue, I love you. But what can I do? I can only let you stay in such an old rented room. I really want to graduate quickly, start working, and earn money soon, but I also especially cherish every minute and second right now.”

He was the top student, and both the school and government had given him scholarships, but he had to use the money for his grandfather’s medical treatment first.

Cheng Wanyue knew that when she was sick, Qing Hang felt worse than she did.

“The room is also very clean. Though small, it has everything—we can cook, wash up, and sleep. Didn’t you say before that a princess doesn’t necessarily have to live in a castle? Grandpa hasn’t been here yet, right? He will think this place is nice too, and will be proud of you from the bottom of his heart. Ah, our Qing Hang is so amazing.”

“The healthy me, the young you—we have long days ahead together. You’re the one who works hard. I’m incredibly happy every day. If I stood on the street and shouted ‘I’m suffering,’ people might curse at me. Eating well, drinking well, playing well—what more could I ask for?”

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. I’m still here, so you can turn off the light and sleep peacefully.”

The soundproofing in the apartment was poor. People upstairs were arguing, getting more and more fierce. The sound of things being thrown was jarring.

Qing Hang pulled up the blanket to cover Cheng Wanyue’s ears. She had slept half the day in the afternoon and couldn’t fall asleep now.

Her body was sweating, and so was his.

The fever was severe at night. She needed to take a fever-reducing pill, but couldn’t swallow it when she held it in her mouth. Qing Hang helped her drink water. After she swallowed it, lingering kisses remained at the corner of her lips.

Cheng Wanyue hooked her arms around his neck and kissed him, saying she wanted to infect him with her cold.

The next day, her fever broke, and Qing Hang caught a cold.

He had classes in the morning. With every cough, he thought of her once. When the bell rang, the teacher hadn’t even left the classroom, but he had already run out through the back door.

She was still sleeping, her long hair spread across the pillow.

Half asleep and half awake, she hugged his neck and complained indistinctly.

“Qing Hang, you’re pressing on my hair.”

007.

Grandfather passed away in his sleep, without much suffering. From the cremation of the body to the storage of the ashes, Cheng Wanyue accompanied Qing Hang throughout.

Cheng Yuzhou drove to pick them up to go home for the New Year. Cheng Yanqing was dispirited. He slept from the moment he got in the car and had no interest in anything after arriving home.

“Broke up with Qin Hua?”

“Yeah. It’s boring, tiring, and annoying. Whoever looks back is a dog,” Cheng Yanqing watched the two people selecting orange trees in the store. “Even Wanyue and Qing Hang can date for so long. Why can’t I have a good outcome?”

Before Cheng Yuzhou could speak, Cheng Yanqing shook his head. “Just keep quiet. Don’t stab my heart.”

Cheng Yuzhou and Zhou Yu had also broken up once, but were better than before after reconciling.

Cheng Yanqing walked toward the store. “Sister, try if the oranges are sweet.”

“I already tried. They’re very sweet.”

Cheng Yanqing was half-skeptical. “Really?”

“If you don’t believe me, ask Qing Hang,” Cheng Wanyue nudged Qing Hang’s arm.

Qing Hang turned to look in another direction. “It’s okay.”

They had already paid. Cheng Yanqing casually picked one, peeled it, and when Cheng Yuzhou wasn’t paying attention, stuffed it into his mouth.

Seeing Cheng Yuzhou eat it without changing expression, he picked another one. With the first bite, he wanted to curse. Half an orange was so sour that his whole body felt cleared out.

What’s a broken heart? Nothing at all.

After the New Year, there were still a few days before school started. Cheng Wanyue went home with her parents, and of course, Qing Hang went too.

Cheng Yuzhou’s house was a detached villa. Even if they slept in separate rooms, they could still climb over walls. But Cheng Wanyue’s home was on the 32nd floor, and Cheng Yanqing, usually a champion at falling asleep instantly, had just broken up.

The phone vibrated twice. Qing Hang also checked the time.

“Not sleeping yet?”

“You sleep first.”

Cheng Yanqing smiled without humor. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. It’s not that easy.”

Qing Hang calmly looked at the ceiling. “You’re overthinking.”

“Mom and Dad aren’t home, so I’m in charge. Don’t let me catch you coming out of Wanyue’s room. Hey… why is there no internet? Does your phone have a signal?”

“No, it might be a signal issue. Ask the neighbors.”

Cheng Yanqing put on a jacket and went out. The Huo household also had only Huo Zhi. She opened the door but ran back without saying a word. Cheng Yanqing immediately felt bewildered and looked down at himself.

There was nothing wrong with his clothes.

Was there something wrong with his face?

“Huo Zhi,” The living room was empty, and the bedroom door was open. She was standing in front of a telescope in her pajamas. Cheng Yanqing turned his back politely. “What do you mean? Do I look that scary?”

Huo Zhi asked him, “I found a very special star. Want to see it?”

“What’s so great about stars… Well, I’ll take a look.”

…

Someone knocked on the door three times.

Cheng Wanyue thought the day would pass like this, considering how difficult Cheng Yanqing was to deal with. She opened the door, looking left and right. “Where’s the third wheel?”

Qing Hang said, “Gone next door.”

Cheng Wanyue jumped up and threw herself into his arms. He caught her steadily, able to hold her with one arm. He closed the door with his other hand, walked a few steps to the bed, and placed her on it while being pulled down on top of her.

Just out of the shower, her hair wasn’t yet dry. There was a faint scent of roses in the air.

Her laughter was swallowed into his mouth, and the rose fragrance surrounded them from all sides.

His hand slipped under the hem of her skirt, caressing her delicate, soft skin as if tracing her bones. After pausing at one spot, he restrained himself and withdrew his hand, supporting himself on the bed, smoothing out the wrinkles he had made on the sheets.

Cheng Wanyue came to her senses and began to undress him.

“Gently, this is Dad’s pajamas.” He only called him “Dad” when alone with her; at other times, he still called him “Uncle Cheng.”

The blazing fire was extinguished by a bucket of cold water. Cheng Wanyue had calmed down, but thinking that Cheng Guo’an had never worn this set, she started misbehaving again, rolling from the bed to the floor.

Qing Hang pinned down her wandering hands, and his breathing slightly quickened. “You’re not feeling well. Don’t mess around.”

“What’s not feeling well? I feel great,” Cheng Wanyue bit his chest, leaving a circle of teeth marks. “Qing Hang, you’ve become less daring. Before, you were brave enough even with a door between us. Now there’s not even a single person at home.”

“It’s not that I’m not brave.”

“Then come on,” she deliberately provoked him.

Qing Hang kissed her forehead. “Wanyue, you’re still too young. Let’s wait until we’re married.”

Cheng Wanyue was a year younger than him. The year they graduated, her age would be just right.

“I just wanted to see you smile, teasing you. Qing Hang, you miss Grandpa a lot, don’t you? That night during New Year’s, you didn’t sleep all night.”

“Yes, I miss him very much, but there are no regrets.”

“We are all your family.”

“Wanyue, I love you very much.”

“I know… Oh no, big trouble, the third wheel Cheng Yanqing is back!”

She quickly got up, putting her ear against the door to listen for sounds outside.

Cheng Yanqing’s mood was off. He walked back and forth, then after a while, there was no more movement. He might have gone to the bathroom. Cheng Wanyue gently opened a crack in the door to look outside.

Safe.

She pushed Qing Hang out. “Quick, quick, quick!”

Qing Hang took two steps and then turned back, lowering his head slightly to kiss her. “Good night.”

A coughing sound came from behind. “Ahem!”

Cheng Yanqing, who had been lying on the sofa, suddenly sat up. “You two, be mindful of the impact. I’ve just had a breakup. A broken-hearted person’s soul is very fragile, understand?”

Cheng Wanyue pouted. “We weren’t doing anything, just chatting before bed.”

“Since we’re all awake, might as well not sleep. Let’s have a midnight snack. I’ll order takeout. Barbecue or hot pot?”

“Order whatever. Why not invite Zhi Zhi over to eat together? She must be bored alone at home.”

Cheng Yanqing’s expression wasn’t quite natural. Earlier, he had been looking at the stars at the Huo house. Huo Zhi taught him how to use the telescope. The two were huddled together talking, and he wasn’t paying attention. When he turned his head, he almost kissed her. “She’s asleep, and she has to study tomorrow. Let’s not disturb her. We’ll eat by ourselves.”

Cheng Wanyue turned and went into the room. “Then I’ll find a movie.”

She wanted orange juice. Qing Hang went to the kitchen to cut oranges. Cheng Yanqing followed him in and hesitated at the doorway.

Qing Hang calmly explained, “Really, nothing happened.”

“Let’s not talk about that first,” Cheng Yanqing still decided to ask. “It’s like this: a friend of mine made a young girl angry. How should he apologize?”

“You’re asking me?”

“You can handle Cheng Wanyue, so you’re not an ordinary person. All three of my roommates have indirectly asked if she has a boyfriend and wanted to pursue her, not to mention those classmates around her. But look at her—her heart only has you. You must have some skill.”

Qing Hang put the oranges into the juicer. “I don’t know much about Huo Zhi.”

All the fruits he bought matched Cheng Wanyue’s preferences. Cheng Yanqing asked him to make an extra glass.

“Not knowing is fine. We all know each other anyway…” He suddenly reacted. “Wait, what does this have to do with Huo Zhi? I said it was a friend, not me! Qing Hang, you’ve been corrupted by Cheng Wanyue. Watch yourself. Even though you’re a year older, you should still call me ‘Brother.'”

Qing Hang said, “Maybe Huo Zhi isn’t angry.”

Cheng Yanqing pondered for a moment. Huo Zhi was a well-behaved girl. The Cheng family had just moved in not long ago. He had been at school most of the time and had only seen her a few times during summer vacation. This return was the first time he had seen her today. He didn’t know what her expression would be like when she was angry.

“Perhaps I’m overthinking. Forget it. Let’s pretend it never happened.”

008.

As graduation approached, the dormitory roommates arranged a farewell dinner. One of them had something to do and would arrive half an hour late, so the others browsed around the mall.

Qing Hang walked to the jewelry section, where the counter was filled with sparkling diamond rings.

“Isn’t it too early to buy a ring now?” His roommate remembered that Qing Hang’s birthday was on the winter solstice, still half a year away. “Why not wait until you’re both settled before proposing?”

Qing Hang had already chosen a ring. “I’ve waited far too long. I don’t want to wait another year.”

“You decided so quickly. There are many more styles over there.”

“I know what she likes.”

“I envy you, Qing Hang. You have love, and your studies haven’t suffered. Your future is bright.”

Cheng Wanyue was still at school. After dinner, Qing Hang and his roommate went to find her. He called her from the dormitory entrance. It was lively on the other end—probably some friends gathering before graduation.

Qing Hang only waited a few minutes before seeing her run out of the dormitory building, still wearing slippers.

She had been drinking; her face was flushed.

Qing Hang said they would stay outside tonight, and he would bring her back in the morning. She followed him without even taking her phone.

He had rented that two-bedroom apartment. At the door, he suddenly covered her eyes.

“Is there a surprise?” Cheng Wanyue was feeling the effects of alcohol. “Qing Hang, I have a bad temper when I’m drunk.”

Qing Hang pressed the switch, and the lights came on. He removed his hand from her eyes, held her shoulders, and gently pushed her forward.

There was a small white kitten on the sofa.

“Meiqiu!” Cheng Wanyue blurted out. She ran over and crouched beside the cat. No matter how she petted or held it, the cat didn’t struggle but nestled into her arms. “The eyes are very similar, the mouth too, the same. Qing Hang, look, it likes me. It reminds me.”

She always said she could understand cat language. Qing Hang watched her with a smile. “You understand again.”

“That’s exactly what Meiqiu means,” Cheng Wanyue’s voice was somewhat choked. Every corner of this rental apartment was exactly as she remembered. They had reunited here, reconciled, argued, and parted. “Where did you find it?”

“A pet shop. I went to many stores. Some cats were just similar, but only this one is Meiqiu.”

“Why are there flowers too?” Only then did she notice the bouquet of roses. “Qing Hang, you’ve moved me so much I don’t have any temper left. Are you planning to propose?”

“You guessed it.” The smile in Qing Hang’s eyes was helpless. He took out the ring. “After practicing so many times, this is the official one. I’ve always believed that God wasn’t punishing me but saving the best for me, just a little late, teaching me to be brave and steadfast. Loving you is the most important thing. Cheng Wanyue, let’s get married.”

“Yes,” Cheng Wanyue agreed quickly. “Put it on me.”

He was nervous; she was excited. The ring slipped from his grasp, fell to the ground, was nudged by Meiqiu, and rolled into the sofa crack.

Cheng Wanyue: “…”

“This doesn’t count. Give me a few minutes,” Qing Hang’s face didn’t look good either.

He stood up to move the sofa, arduously retrieving the dusty ring from the corner and carefully cleaning it.

Before he could speak, Cheng Wanyue stood on tiptoe and kissed him. Their teeth bumped the corner of his lip, and a faint, sweet-metallic taste spread on her tongue. Qing Hang took the opportunity to pick her up. Meiqiu tried to follow him into the bedroom but was shut outside.

They fell onto the bed together.

He firmly slid the ring onto her finger.

009.

A friend had left Li Yu a ticket for the graduation evening party. She hadn’t planned to join the crowd, but there were no experiments scheduled that day, so she thought she’d take a look.

She went early to get the ticket from her friend and ran into Qing Hang on the way.

Qing Hang was her junior. They had known each other for two years, and she had always known he had a girlfriend. Although she had never met her in person, she had seen photos.

They were riding a bicycle—to be precise, Cheng Wanyue was pedaling, with Qing Hang sitting on the back seat. His legs were long, both feet touching the ground. Cheng Wanyue could hardly move the pedals but was too stubborn to give up, insisting on carrying him for part of the way.

There was a bouquet in the basket at the front of the bicycle. The vibrant red was particularly eye-catching in the sunlight.

Among the classmates around them, nine out of ten couples didn’t last until graduation. Li Yu stood at the intersection, hoping to greet them as they rode by.

Qing Hang crouched down to tie Cheng Wanyue’s shoelaces. After she switched to the back seat, he quickly rode the bicycle to a shady spot.

“Senior,” Qing Hang took the initiative to introduce, “this is my girlfriend, Cheng Wanyue.”

Li Yu politely looked at Cheng Wanyue. “Hello, are you here to accompany Qing Hang for graduation photos? The school has many beautiful spots. In a few more years, when he graduates with his doctorate, you can take photos again. That will be even more memorable.”

Cheng Wanyue smiled. “Yes, we were thinking the same.”

“Senior, we have to go now. She hasn’t had breakfast yet.”

“See you next time.”

Cheng Wanyue looked back at Li Yu, who had already walked far away. The bicycle handlebar wobbled a bit, and she immediately refocused, hugging Qing Hang’s waist tightly.

Qing Hang was to speak as an outstanding graduate at the graduation ceremony this afternoon. Non-students could also watch in the auditorium, and many parents would attend.

Cheng Yanqing and Huo Zhi arrived late; the auditorium was already full.

Qing Hang went backstage first to prepare, not knowing where Cheng Wanyue was sitting, until he went on stage and saw her holding up a banner that read “Happy Graduation, Qing Hang.”

She was in a place where he could see her as soon as he looked up. He had nothing to fear.

“Qing Hang looks so handsome in a suit,” Huo Zhi said, taking several more photos.

Cheng Yanqing put an arm on Huo Zhi’s shoulder. “He’s alright, just slightly less handsome than me.”

“I’m talking to Wanyue. Don’t interrupt.”

“I will interrupt. Sister, hand on your heart, who’s more handsome—me or Qing Hang?”

“Qing Hang.”

“What? Didn’t hear clearly.”

Cheng Wanyue applauded along with everyone else. “Qing Hang, Qing Hang, Qing Hang!”

“Alright, alright, he can see you. Take care of our ears. Oh, you’re already wearing the ring. That was quick,” Cheng Yanqing had sharp eyes. “If you dare steal the household register, I’ll break your legs.”

Cheng Wanyue said he was worrying unnecessarily. “No need. Mom and Dad will agree.”

Cheng Yanqing said they would see about that.

The Cheng family had only one daughter. Marriage was a significant matter that required everyone to gather and discuss. They wouldn’t necessarily make things difficult for Qing Hang, but there should be a formal ceremony.

Qing Hang had proposed every year, from a grass-woven ring to a sparkling diamond engagement ring. He had walked for many years.

Although they had long been family, he was still very nervous when meeting her parents. He paced back and forth in the garden downstairs, circling again and again.

It was just like the day he put the ring on Cheng Wanyue’s finger. There had been a mishap that day, too. He was so nervous that his hands kept shaking. The ring fell into the sofa crack, and it took a great effort to retrieve it. He carefully wiped the dust off the ring, sweat dripping from his forehead, his dark eyes sparkling.

Cheng Wanyue watched him through the security monitor as he repeatedly adjusted his clothes outside the door, took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell, and felt only joy in her heart.

Qing Hang had mentally prepared himself, but the house was quiet, with no one there.

The person who opened the door was Cheng Yanqing. He spread his hands. “I don’t know what happened either. I woke up, and only I was left.”

“Where’s Wanyue?”

“No idea. She might have gone out, or she’s at Huo Zhi’s house. She’s a grown person; she couldn’t have vanished into thin air.”

Qing Hang suddenly felt a sense of panic. He pushed open the door to Cheng Wanyue’s bedroom to see if she was still sleeping.

The moment the door opened, a wave of streamers blurred his vision. The room filled with laughter pulled him back to reality from his vague sense of emptiness. Amidst a pile of pink balloons, he saw Cheng Wanyue wearing a white veil.

The veil was fixed to her beautiful hair, not just held in her hand.

She was healthy, not thin and pale.

Cheng Guo’an said that from today, he was entrusting his daughter to him. Yang Huimin said to be good to her, to cherish and love her. Cheng Yanqing put the household register on the table, emphasizing that Qing Hang should call him “Brother” from now on.

Only she hadn’t spoken.

After everyone had left, the lively sounds from the living room could still be heard through the door. As Qing Hang took his first step, the veil fell, covering her face.

——

He walked toward her. She jumped up and threw herself at him, covering him with the veil too.

“Qing Hang, you’re amazing. At 22, you’ve married such a smart and beautiful wife.”

“Yes, I’m so lucky. I’m very happy, having family and love.”

Cheng Wanyue picked up the household register. “Let’s go get our marriage certificate.”

010.

The wedding was held in autumn six years later, with little Moon as the flower girl.

Cheng Wanyue was so tired that she fell asleep on the sofa without even removing her wedding dress. Only after Qing Hang had prepared the bath water and came out to carry her did she barely regain some energy.

The complex bridal hairstyle used many accessories. Qing Hang devoted all his patience to removing the hairpins.

Yan Ci, as the best man, had helped drink many toasts. Qing Hang hadn’t drunk much, but he was not at all sober.

Rose petals were pressed beneath her, their juice leaving stains on the sheets.

She kicked him once. He climbed up to kiss her, her long hair tangled in his fingers, strand by strand.

He seemed intoxicated by her soft crying, tireless, even more excessive than the night they got their marriage certificate.

The wedding dress lay in a disheveled heap beside the bed. Cheng Wanyue recalled Qing Hang’s vows during the wedding ceremony earlier in the day. She was only distracted for a few seconds before being embraced and turned over, with kisses falling on the nape of her neck. His scent invaded, passionate and burning.

Under the influence of alcohol, he asked her to call him “husband.”

Cheng Wanyue didn’t listen to him, which led to her sleeping until the afternoon the next day, only to be awakened by a knock on the door.

“I don’t want to bother you either, but although people don’t starve to death so easily, Mom is worried you might faint from hunger. Eat something, then go back to sleep.” Cheng Yanqing was outside the door and went downstairs after speaking.

Cheng Wanyue covered her face. “Why do I feel a bit embarrassed…”

Qing Hang said, “Maybe because you’re not wearing clothes.”

“Then you shouldn’t wear any either. I can’t be the only one embarrassed. Anyway, people don’t starve to death so easily. Do you have any energy left?”

“We’re out of those.”

The box on the bedside table was empty.

“If we’re out, we’re out,” she began to take off his pajamas.

Before anything happened, she was pressed against the pillow. She pretended to be in pain, to have a cramp, whimpering pitifully a couple of times. When Qing Hang wasn’t paying attention, she turned from passive to active.

They only went downstairs an hour later. No one was home, and the food had gone cold.

Qing Hang made four new dishes. After Cheng Wanyue had eaten and drunk her fill, her parents, who had gone out for a walk, returned.

Cheng Guo’an cleared his throat. “Now that the wedding is over, your mother and I are preparing to go home. Where are you two planning to go for your honeymoon?”

Qing Hang had already booked the flights. “To Japan. Wanyue wants to see fireworks. In three days, there will be a fireworks festival.”

Cheng Guo’an reminded Qing Hang, “Whatever you do, wherever you go, be careful. Don’t let her have her way in everything.”

“Dad, Mom, don’t worry. We’re going with the others. We’ll come back safely,” Cheng Yanqing turned his head and asked, “How many days of marriage leave does Qing Hang have?”

Cheng Wanyue counted on her fingers. “Seven days. He saved up a year’s worth of vacation time and will use it all this month.”

Qing Hang waited for Cheng Wanyue to finish her milk, then leaned over to kiss her. She turned her head to look into the living room. No one was paying attention to them. She smiled and messed up his hair.

Three days later, Cheng Wanyue fulfilled a long-delayed promise, watching a spectacular fireworks show with Qing Hang.

Around them were many people wearing yukatas, completely like a scene from an anime.

Brilliant fireworks burst in the night sky, the light dazzling.

They didn’t finish watching outside but continued at the hotel. Qing Hang removed the yukata Cheng Wanyue was wearing. Through the glass window, the flames flickering in the night sky seemed as if they would fall on her the next moment.

011.

They settled in Nanjing, raising a cat and a dog. Cheng Wanyue ran her studio well, sometimes busy, sometimes leisurely. Qing Hang’s work at the hospital continued as usual.

One day, Cheng Wanyue worked overtime until very late. The rain grew heavier. Qing Hang, watching the time, went to pick her up. When he was almost there, he called her. The first call didn’t connect, so he made a second call. Her assistant answered.

The assistant, crying, said she had fainted and was in an ambulance.

The rain caused traffic jams. Qing Hang ran to the hospital, completely soaked.

The assistant saw Qing Hang’s uncontrolled, collapsing state for the first time. He was like a madman, frightening her into silence. After learning the results, however, he sat silently in the hallway for a long time.

When Cheng Wanyue woke up, everyone was there except Qing Hang.

“Uncle is outside,” Moon whispered to her. “I’m going to be an older sister. I don’t know if it will be a little sister or a little brother.”

Cheng Wanyue smiled and said, “It could be either.”

Cheng Yuzhou pointed at the paper bag on the table. “I brought clean clothes for him to change out of his wet ones.”

“Mm, the rain has lessened. A’Yu, brother, you can take Moon home first.”

“Then we’ll go. Come over for dinner tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

Moon was afraid of thunder and needed to be carried. She lay on Cheng Yuzhou’s shoulder, looking at Qing Hang still sitting in his chair, and asked quietly, “What’s wrong with Uncle? Why isn’t he talking to me? Auntie is having a baby. Isn’t he happy?”

Zhou Yu stroked her face. “He’s not unhappy. He’s too happy.”

Moon didn’t understand. Being happy should mean smiling broadly, but Uncle was sitting motionless.

But Cheng Wanyue understood.

The hallway was very quiet. Qing Hang raised his head in a daze. The light was somewhat harsh. Cheng Wanyue slowly helped him wipe the rainwater from his face and bent down to kiss him.

His throat was very hoarse. “I was terrified. I kept feeling like I was dreaming.”

“This isn’t a dream, Qing Hang. You’re awake,” Cheng Wanyue bit the back of his hand. “Does it hurt? If you feel pain, it’s not a dream.”

Her bite was gentle, the pain subtle, but Qing Hang could feel it.

“We’re having a child.”

“Yes, don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl. Calculating the time, the birth should be around July next year. Let’s give a nickname first… let’s call the baby Xiaoqi.”

Qing Hang stood up. A plum blossom cake fell from his clothes, but it was too soaked by rain to be eaten.

Every time he picked her up from work, he would buy one from her favorite store in advance. There would also be flowers in the car.

The soaked plum blossom cake was thrown away, but a new life had arrived, connecting them, vibrant with vitality.

Qing Hang didn’t sleep all night. His emotions went from tumultuous to calm. Only after daybreak did he sleep a little. When Cheng Wanyue merely stretched lazily, he suddenly woke with a start, his body covered in cold sweat, instinctively tightening his arms.

The warmth in his embrace dispelled the nightmare.

After the rain, the sky cleared. Sunlight filled the bedroom brightly. On the table was their wedding photo, next to a fresh bouquet of roses. Meiqiu had already destroyed one flower, its paw pressing on it.

Cheng Wanyue, drowsy, said she felt the baby moving.

“It’s not the baby moving; you’re hungry. It’s only been a month. Fetal movement doesn’t happen this early,” Qing Hang touched her belly. “What do you want for breakfast?”

“Hmm… let’s have plum blossom cake. Yesterday’s was wasted, so let’s make up for it today.” As she spoke, she started laughing. “My goodness, I’m going to be a mother.”

“I can hardly believe it either, but it’s true. The test results don’t lie.”

“Qing Hang, did you just have a nightmare?”

“Not a nightmare, a beautiful dream. Wanyue, I love you.”

“I love you, too. Not just me, but now there’s one more person who loves you.”

In dreams, flowers fall. Years pass like a long song.

The eaves catch the moon. I accompany you.