Xie Chi stood on a higher step, holding his shoulder as she walked along the narrow line. He Feng deliberately swayed her, making her tumble into his arms.

At this height, they were at eye level. He Feng wrapped one arm around her waist, pulling her close against him, “Don’t you want to kiss me?”

Xie Chi leaned against him, smiling as she cupped his face, kissing from his forehead all the way down to his nose, then stopped.

He Feng said softly, “Continue.”

Xie Chi turned her face away. He Feng twisted her back, bit her upper lip, laughing as he kissed her, “Still trying to hide.”

Someone passed by nearby.

Xie Chi pushed him away, “Want to take a boat ride?”

“Boat ride?” He Feng turned his face to find her lips, “Where to?”

“Qinhuai River.”

“Alright, I thought you wanted to elope.”

“Don’t want to go?”

“I do, anywhere with you is good.”

Xie Chi let him kiss her for a while, then saw a rickshaw approaching in the distance, “The car’s coming.”

But He Feng said, “Let’s walk.”

“It’s quite far.”

“I want to walk.”

To reach the Qinhuai River, they walked for nearly an hour. The two occasionally chatted about roadside trees, sometimes saying a few words about fellow pedestrians. Though they didn’t have much to say, the silence wasn’t awkward at all.

Business had been slow recently, most pleasure boats had closed down, and with the late hour, most were moored at the shore. Only one covered boat still had an old man standing on it. He was preparing to dock and go home, waving his hands at Xie Chi saying he wasn’t taking passengers.

Xie Chi felt somewhat disappointed, sighing to He Feng, “Then let’s just walk along the river.”

“Wait a moment.” He Feng went down to the boatman and spoke quietly with him for a few words. Xie Chi strained her ears to listen but couldn’t catch a single word.

Soon after, He Feng smiled and waved at her.

The old man said, “Come on up, come on up, I’ll take you for a trip.”

Xie Chi walked over happily. He Feng extended his hand to help her. Xie Chi grabbed his hand and jumped onto the boat, crashing into his arms, “What did you tell him?”

“I won’t tell you.”

Xie Chi rolled her eyes at him.

He Feng looked at her expression with delight, pulling her shoulder to sit down, “I told him I’m going to the battlefield tomorrow, and I’ve never taken a boat ride with my wife. This time when I leave, I don’t know if I’ll be able to come back.”

Xie Chi was speechless for a moment, then pointed her finger at his mouth, “You’ll definitely come back. I’ll wait for you.”

He Feng had been to Nanjing four times before, always for political business or hurried meetings with her, never properly appreciating the city’s scenery. With the war breaking out, the Japanese would attack Nanjing sooner or later. Recently many people had left the city, fleeing south, fleeing to the countryside… all industries in the city had become much more depressed.

“There used to be many boats crowded together here, very lively, with many beautiful women too.”

“None as beautiful as my A’Zhi.”

“You’ve never seen them.”

“Seeing them or not makes no difference.”

They sat for a long time without seeing another pleasure boat coming or going. However, they did encounter some girls singing ballads on the shore.

He Feng listened carefully. After the boat had traveled far, he asked Xie Chi, “Can you sing folk songs?”

“No.”

“You’re from Wuxi, a proper Jiangnan girl.”

“Mm.”

“Say a few words in your local dialect.”

Xie Chi smiled and murmured two words.

He Feng asked, “What does it mean?”

“Big brother.”

He Feng was stunned for a moment, then smiled, “Say it again.”

Xie Chi called out again. Hearing it made He Feng’s heart melt like spring water. He pulled her shoulder close, “Little sister.”

Xie Chi pushed his leg, “So disgusting.”

“What’s disgusting about it? Should I call you wife then?”

“You should just call me by my name.”

“Alright, A’Zhi.”

Xie Chi smiled and rested her head on his shoulder, “Mm.”

“Won’t you call me a pet name? Always ‘He Feng,’ so cold and distant.”

“Pearl.”

“Pearl’s no good, people who don’t know would think it’s for a woman.”

“River clam.”

He Feng tickled her belly, “There you go again.”

Xie Chi blocked his hand, “Stop fooling around or the boat will tip.”

The boatman paddled at the front, hearing the young couple playing behind him, and smiled too.

“I heard some ladies call their husbands ‘mister.’ You call me that too.”

“Mister, Mr. He.”

“Sickening.” He Feng sighed lightly, tilting his head to rest against hers, “Better to call me ‘head of household.'”

“Little Feng.”

“Only elders call me Little Feng.”

…

After making a full circle, the boatman called to them, “We’re here.”

Xie Chi made a gesture indicating the boatman should make another round. Seeing that the man was leaning against the woman, fast asleep, the boatman shook his head, sighed, and decided to take them around once more.

The last time Xie Chi had seen He Feng sleep so peacefully was seven years ago. She could imagine how difficult it must have been for him to get through each night during these years undercover among the Japanese. But this moment of tranquility wouldn’t last long – he would soon go into the gunfire and artillery to defend the homeland.

The night deepened, and wisps of mist rose from the river surface.

The dim lights also became murky in the fog. Xie Chi covered his hand, quietly gazing at the mysterious path ahead. The mist grew thicker and thicker, as if foretelling their future.

Xie Chi raised her hand to wave it away, then felt somewhat foolish – she, an ordinary person, thinking she could contend with nature.

He Feng woke to the sound of ballad singing. He opened his eyes, sat up straight, and looked drowsily at the familiar route, “Why did we go around again?”

“I wanted to let you sleep a bit more, so we made another circle.”

He Feng rubbed his brow, moved positions, and lay down on the deck, spreading his arms wide to occupy the whole space, “Come here.”

Xie Chi moved closer, looking down at the lying figure, “Be careful not to fall in.”

“I’m holding you, you won’t fall.”

“No, you lie there yourself.”

He Feng pillowed his hands behind his head, looking at the bright stars in the night sky, silent for a long time.

“If you’re tired, sleep some more. I’ll call you when we arrive.”

He Feng didn’t look at her, just shook his head, staring unblinkingly upward.

In all these years, having been to many places – east, west, south, north, domestic and foreign – he still felt the stars in the deep mountains were the brightest and most beautiful.

He thought of his father, thought of Chen Rongrong, Qing Yangzi, He Zhan, Chen Zheng… and those people from Lei Village and Qing Village.

He closed his eyes, afraid Xie Chi would see the emotion in his gaze, afraid she would detect his vulnerability in this moment. A real man should stand tall and firm.

…

He Feng helped Xie Chi onto the shore. Just as they stood steady, they heard someone call from nearby, “Wanzhi.”

They both looked over and saw Meng Yuan standing by the bridge, waving.

He Feng had no interest in her and no intention of asking who she was.

Seeing Xie Chi with a man, Meng Yuan came running over, bouncing excitedly.

“Still out so late.”

“I had a show today. After singing, the boss made me clean the theater again. I’m exhausted.” She craned her neck to look at the man standing behind Xie Chi, “Who’s this?”

He Feng said nothing, wanting to see how Xie Chi would answer. Unexpectedly, she said, “A friend.”

Friend?

Somewhat displeased.

Meng Yuan went around to look at him, “First time meeting you, hello.”

He Feng saw her looking him up and down, and said coolly, “What are you doing?”

“Just looking. Big man won’t let people look?”

“No.” With that, he turned his back.

“Your friend is really strange.”

“He’s just like that. We need to go back now. It’s late, you should go home quickly too.”

“Wait, ‘we’?” Meng Yuan smiled mischievously, “Something’s not right, Sister Wanzhi. Taking a boat ride together at night, going back together – back to your place?”

Xie Chi didn’t deny it, “He’s my fiancé. We’ll have dinner together when there’s a chance.”

He Feng felt comfortable, unable to hide the smile at the corners of his mouth.

Meng Yuan looked at He Feng again, “Fiancé! You’ve hidden him well!” She whispered in Xie Chi’s ear, “This one’s better looking than Xue Dingqing.” She bumped Xie Chi’s shoulder, beaming, “Alright, you two go back. See you another day.”

“Good.”

He Feng smiled all the way.

Xie Chi bumped his arm, “What are you grinning about?”

“That man’s name is Xue Dingqing.”

“Mm.”

“That woman just said I’m better looking than him.”

Xie Chi smiled helplessly, “Do you have dog ears? You can hear such a quiet voice.”

“Of course.” He smiled proudly, “Fiancé.”

“What?”

“Fiancé.”

Xie Chi let go of his hand, “So wordy.”

He Feng strode after her and scooped her up around the waist.

“We’re still outside, put me down.”

“There’s no one around.”

He carried her, walking and turning all the way.

Sometimes running, carrying the warm gentle summer breeze, sweat dampening their clothes; sometimes stopping suddenly, necks entwined, tongues intertwining.

Even knowing they would soon part, they both understood in their hearts – no words of persuasion to stay.

Being able to walk a stretch of road together, feeling the same evening breeze, was already a very happy thing.

…

Xie Chi’s big bed was much more comfortable than the hard board at the qipao shop.

The two rolled from one end to the other, then tangled back to this end. In the middle of the night, there was suddenly movement downstairs – Ella had returned. Xie Chi wanted to stop, but He Feng wouldn’t listen, covering her mouth and continuing to thrust.

The sound of high heels approached, Ella was coming upstairs, “Wanzhi.”

Xie Chi patted his back, but He Feng pushed even harder inside.

“Wanzhi, are you there?”

She pinched his back, unable to control herself as she tilted her face up, muffling the sound in her throat. He Feng bit her chin lightly, then finally released her. Xie Chi immediately pushed him away like she was fleeing for her life, threw on a nightgown, stepped into slippers and went out, meeting Ella face to face.

She closed the door behind her, caught her breath, “You’re back.”

“Were you already asleep? The light was on, I thought you weren’t sleeping yet. Sorry, did I disturb you?”

“Not yet.”

“Why is your face so red?” Ella frowned, “Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, I ate too much tonight, ran a couple laps, and had some wine.” She was covered in sweat, smiling as she fanned herself with her hand, “It’s really hot. I was just about to take a shower.”

“I see.” Ella smiled, “I came to tell you something. There’s a man from Shanghai, an art teacher, who wants to rent my room. If you don’t object, I’ll rent him one room on the second floor.”

“Fine.”

“He’s my colleague’s younger brother. I’ve met him – he’s a very refined gentleman. Since I’m away for long periods, if I rent to him, most of the time it would be just you two alone in this house. I wanted to get your opinion, or I think you could get to know him first, meet him, then decide.”

“No need. I trust your judgment about people. Besides, this is your house – you decide.”

“That’s wonderful then. Rest early, I won’t disturb you anymore.”

“Good, you sleep early too.”

Ella nodded and went downstairs.

Xie Chi returned to the room to find He Feng lying on the bed looking at her, “Male.”

“What? Don’t trust me?” She went to the table, poured a glass of water and gulped it down. Drinking too quickly, some spilled and trickled down her neck.

“Very trusting. My woman is like a tigress – one swipe could knock down a bunch.”

Xie Chi smiled and put down the glass, sitting over. He Feng wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her to straddle him, licking away the undried water.

“Let’s turn off the light.”

“No.” He Feng pulled down her nightgown, “I like watching you.”

…

The next morning, someone came, constantly pressing the doorbell.

They were sleeping tightly embraced. He Feng rubbed her waist, “Someone’s pressing the doorbell.”

Xie Chi was too sleepy to open her eyes, “You go.”

He Feng kissed her shoulder, got out of bed, and looked around for clothes but couldn’t find any. So he grabbed his shorts and put them on, leisurely going downstairs.

When he opened the door and lazily looked outside, he suddenly became alert.

It was Xue Dingqing, who had brought Xie Ting with him.

They were also stunned. Xue Dingqing thought he was another tenant and said, “Hello, sorry to disturb you. We’re looking for Xie Wanzhi.”

He Feng ignored him. He looked at Xie Ting and called out “Fourth Brother.”

Xie Ting examined this person, vaguely feeling he looked familiar but couldn’t remember, until this “Fourth Brother” suddenly pulled his memory back several years.

“It’s you.”

He Feng opened the door wider, “Come in first. A… Wanzhi is still sleeping. I’ll go call her.”

Xue Dingqing was completely confused, “You know each other?”

“Of course we know each other.” He Feng suddenly felt a childish little pride, “We’re quite close.”

“…” Xue Dingqing’s eyes followed his abs downward, looking puzzled, “You spent last night with Wanzhi?”

“Otherwise, did I fall from the sky?”

…