Chapter 3, Waiting for Whom

The lights of ten thousand homes! He spoke each word slowly, murmuring to himself, suddenly feeling a bit weary, not knowing which light belonged to him, perhaps none of them did, for he had no story.

As the airplane slowly ascended, Qi Yan leaned through the window, gazing at the ground that was receding further and further away, her thoughts becoming a tangled mess

Qi Yan cannot be considered beautiful, nor does she love to dress up. She casually wears jeans and a T-shirt, paired with white casual shoes, and her fluffy, natural curls are neatly tied into a ponytail. On her porcelain-like fair face, there is not a trace of embellishment; her delicate, oval-shaped face makes her appear even gentler, yet it subtly reveals a hint of stubbornness and... loss. In her, Zhang Ziliang sees a rare "cleanliness" in urban girls. If it weren't for the occasional glimpse of her pensive silence, or if he hadn't inadvertently seen her staring blankly at the crowd outside the bar with tears in her eyes, Zhang Ziliang would think that Qi Yan is just a very simple, somewhat silly, and foolish girl, even though she is already in her twenties.

Xi Yan, going back does not equate to turning back; the past can never be reclaimed. Just face it and forget him!

Zhang Ziliang and Wen Xingyuan have known each other for more than ten years; their vastly different personalities seem to complement each other perfectly, and they have been as close as if they were wearing the same pair of pants since university

He took out a cigarette and lit it, and amidst the swirling smoke, he instinctively frowned, beginning to reminisce about the quaint houses, the crystal-clear river, and the cobblestone path that produced a crisp sound underfoot.

"What are you talking about? I just safely sent Yan Yan home, so don't worry." Every night, sending Qi Yan home had become Zhang Ziliang's routine task, not only because of his concern for a friend, but mainly because this was the order from Boss Wen

What awaits her is not only the smiling face of Ji Ruoning, but also a segment of painful memories

Thank you. Qi Yan expressed her gratitude, inserted the straw, and carefully sipped the slightly hot soy milk, mumbling, "Hmm, I forgot..."

There is no rumbling thunder, no terrifying lightning, only the gentle raindrops drifting leisurely. ... Entwined, softly caressing her skin exposed to the outside, gently wrapping around her delicate shoulders, moving the umbrella to her side

Are you coming back on the 10th? Isn't Yan Yan supposed to go home on the 10th? Does she know you are coming back?

Staring blankly at the screen, Xu Yan suddenly heard the announcement for boarding. Holding her boarding pass, she joined the crowd and boarded the plane

A deep weariness surfaced on the unadorned face, and an inexplicable chill enveloped the body. Crouched in the seat, one placed oneself outside the world, humbly pleading for time to pass a little slower, even slower...

How do brothers say these things? He gently embraced Du Ling and smiled.

He knew that every time Wen Xingyuan called him, or the bar, it was because that girl had turned off her phone again. This time was different from usual; having gone so far, if she didn't turn on her phone, Wen Xingyuan wouldn't be able to find her, and wouldn't he have to tear down the house? For the sake of his and Du Ling's peaceful days, and for the sake of his brother's heart, he had to say a little more.

Twenty minutes had passed when Wen Xingyuan opened his eyes to check the time; it was 1:30. He picked up his phone again and dialed Zhang Ziliang's number.

Hesitated for a long time in the seat before sending out a message just before shutting down

She encouraged herself repeatedly in her heart, perhaps to persuade herself; however, even after saying it a thousand times, or even ten thousand times, she could not avoid the faint pangs of pain in her left chest.

Time flies so quickly; she has been in Dayan Town for three years, and he has been gone for a full two years. They have not seen each other for a long time. During these two years, he has only returned home twice, and she has only seen him once. During his return six months ago, she was completely unaware.

Due to a last-minute decision to return to Dali Town, Wen Xingyuan had been busy for several consecutive days, yet he still remembered to call her. Finally finishing the work at hand, he rubbed his temples, leaned back against the chair, and closed his eyes to rest

Xi Yan did not know that those calls which often made her impatient were merely reminders from Wen Xingyuan of his existence... He was afraid that time and distance would obstruct their... connection

"Remember to turn on your phone when you get home. If we can't find you, we will be worried." Zhang Ziliang glanced at her, actually wanting to tell her that Wen Xingyuan would be back today, but recalling his instructions from this morning, he ultimately held back his words.

"Capable individuals do not work overtime..." Thinking of her awkward yet caring reminder, he smiled with a lift of his lips

I did not tell her

After changing planes twice, Qi Yan finally returned to her hometown, which she had not visited for three years, that afternoon. Thousands of miles away, as she flew back from the beloved Lijiang Ancient Town to the northern small city where she had lived for twenty-four years, a strong sense of unease surged within her

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ziliang and Du Ling exchanged a glance, silently choosing to remain silent.

A new day has begun

Xu Yan, what are you still waiting for? And what am I waiting for?" Wen Xingyuan closed his eyes, blocking out the myriad lights of the city beyond his eyelids, and a hint of self-mocking bitterness tugged at his lips. A sharply defined yet weary face was clearly reflected in the glass window.

Xi Yan gazed softly at the tranquil alley, the ancient houses, and then shifted her gaze to the distant, hazy snow-capped mountains. A gentle breeze brushed against her unadorned face, and suddenly, a phrase from Wen Xingyuan floated into her mind: the serene feeling is unreal, as if flying among the clouds.

She has never liked to trouble others, but Zhang Ziliang insisted on taking her to the airport. She could not refuse and finally compromised. However, she knew that Du Ling often lacked sleep and would look unwell, so she firmly opposed her getting up early to send her off. The alley belongs to a pedestrian street, and cars cannot enter, so they agreed to meet at the entrance of the alley

His life has always been relatively regular, resting before 2:00 PM every day, getting up on time around 7:30 AM, and arriving at the office by 9:00 AM. He intended to call her tonight to inform her that he had booked a flight back to Dayan Town for next Tuesday, but unexpectedly, she was also returning to her hometown on the same day, and the words that were on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back.

Xi Yan sat in the waiting hall, flipping through the text message she had received when she just powered on her device

These two individuals are indeed quite peculiar. The website hetushu.com is generally associated with oddities. In the two years since Wen Xingyuan left, he has only returned twice, and just when he finally manages to come back, he coincidentally runs into Qi Yan who is about to leave? What a coincidence! Is the Earth round or square? What kind of nonsense is this?

Everything was in order, and at the same time, she forced herself to set aside her troubled thoughts. Xi Yan turned off the sound system and glanced around the apartment where she had lived for two years. With a "click," she locked the door and dragged her suitcase downstairs

She lay on the balcony, the raspy voice of Bryan Adams flowing from the speakers in the living room. She had grown accustomed to the first thing she did upon opening her eyes in the morning was to play music

Heartache! When they brushed past each other like strangers, a flower called despair instantly bloomed in her heart. Even as the seasons changed and cycled, that sorrowful flower never withered, and the pain never truly ceased for a moment. How could she pretend to be strong in the face of it? And how could she gracefully let go?

After all this time, she remains naive; she truly does not understand the cause and effect of events. How is it that in just one night, she lost everything.

Upon pressing the send button and seeing the words "Sent Successfully" displayed on the phone screen, Qiyan immediately felt regret.

She seems to have an endless supply of energy and vitality. As long as she ensures about 6 hours of sleep each day, it is sufficient. No wonder Wen Xingyuan often calls to remind her to rest early

It has been three years, and she should go back to take a look. However, what will happen this time when she returns

The last one disembarked, collected their luggage, and headed towards the exit, their steps unconsciously becoming much heavier.

There is no incessant flow of traffic, no tense busyness typical of urban life; the air in the ancient town in the morning is particularly fresh, seemingly mixed with a hint of dampness, prompting Qiyan to take a few deep breaths, and a feeling of comfort arises spontaneously

Zhang Ziliang suddenly teased him maliciously at that moment: "Xingyuan, do you really want to be Qiyan's boyfriend, or do you want to be her caretaker"

He often called her, but she never asked when he would return, perhaps she did not care whether he would come back or not. Is she really so indifferent? She must truly not care at all, otherwise, after he left for 2 years, why has she never taken the initiative to call him once?

What is she doing? Does she miss him? She must be too tired, not having rested well, feeling dizzy. She hurriedly turned off her phone, fearing that if he happened to turn it on and received a message, he might call her, and she wouldn't know what to say. She really has nothing to say; what should and shouldn't be said has already been said, hasn't it?

Is she doing well recently?" There was a moment of hesitation on the other end of the phone, before finally asking the question tentatively

See you then. Wen Xingyuan did not wish to say much more at that moment and hurriedly put away the line

The tranquil feeling is unreal, as if flying among the clouds, when will you return from your flight

Zhang Ziliang looked at Qi Yan, who was beaming with a radiant smile in the morning light, and suddenly began to understand Wen Xingyuan a bit more.

He recalled that night when he and she shared an umbrella, walking together in the narrow alleys of the ancient town under the continuous light rain of summer. Raindrops fell on the surface of the umbrella and then slid down to the ground, splashing up barely visible droplets that dampened his shoes. The unextinguished lights shone through the window, illuminating the dim alley that seemed to stretch endlessly, with a certain profound charm in the depths of some alleys.

As she approached, Zhang Ziliang withdrew his thoughts, smiled, and went to meet her. He took the suitcase from her hand and placed it in the car, and the two of them headed to the airport

I have always been here! These are just five simple words, yet Xi Yan has read them countless times.

Then I will pick you up at the airport on the 10th Zhang Ziliang furrowed his thick brows and was the first to break the silence

With a heavy sigh, I have already shed all my disguises when I close my eyes

The bustling bar street remained illuminated by neon lights until the early hours of the morning. Qi Yan was not a well-behaved child; her busy figure could still be seen until the bar was about to close. It must be said that she was indeed the most diligent employee.

How far can one go

He helped her complete the check-in process, accompanying her until she reached the entrance of the security check. Upon seeing her pass through the inspection, he stood inside and waved at her. Only then did Zhang Ziliang smile and nod, placing his hand to his ear to gesture as if making a phone call

When will she reveal her emotions to me?" Wen Xingyuan sighed softly, while Zhang Ziliang on this side also slightly furrowed his brows

She smiled with her lips pressed together, glanced at the time, and thought it was still early; he should not have gotten up yet. She picked up her phone and sent him a text message

Rising to my feet and walking to the floor-to-ceiling window, I looked down to behold the twinkling lights of the urban nightscape

"Sooner or later, the nanny will be upgraded to a boyfriend; my brother's happiness depends entirely on you." Wen Xingyuan seemed to be in a good mood, his voice somewhat hoarse, as if he had just woken up, yet his tone was hard to conceal its cheerfulness

Thank you. Wen Xingyuan expresses sincere gratitude. Without Zhang Ziliang, how could he have felt at ease leaving her alone in a strange foreign land for such a long time

Wen Xingyuan actually rarely sends her text messages, perhaps he is too busy and does not have the time. However, she also seldom contacts him, let alone take the initiative to send him messages

Understood. Xi Yan finished the soybean milk and quietly turned on the machine

"I hope I’m not interrupting your date?" Wen Xingyuan's tone carried a hint of teasing and a touch of nonchalance

Occasionally, passersby nod and smile at each other, while Qi Yan greets her neighbor aunt with a gentle smile and then slowly walks towards the end of the alley

Why is it again the past? ... Something that cannot be discarded, something that cannot be set aside ... ! ... The bygone days !

Indeed, although only in their twenties, they have already experienced such heavy past events

"Is your phone still off?" He casually inquired as he handed her the prepared breakfast.

"Let's talk when we meet. I have a flight at 8:00 AM on the 10th." Although she was leaving, he still decided to go back

From a distance, Qian Yan saw Zhang Ziliang leaning against the car, and she waved at him, lightly calling out: "Good morning, Ziliang"

Wen Xingyuan called early in the morning to inform him that Qi Yan does not like to eat breakfast on the plane and asked him to help buy soy milk for her. This girl seems casual, but she is actually very particular.

After three years, she will ultimately have to return, despite her deep reluctance to face it, yet everything is ultimately unavoidable

"Do not worry, Yan Yan has been doing quite well recently." In front of them, she has always been well, so what can he say

"You didn't speak to her on the phone, what do you think?" Zhang Ziliang detected a shift in Wen Xingyuan's tone, which had become much more serious, and cautiously responded with a question.