Chapter 5, Regrets of the Year

Standing outside the stainless steel gate, Chen Wenjin hesitated for a moment

The keen sensitivity of youth inherently brings about a strong psychological stimulation. At this moment, Chen Wenjin, carrying over twenty years of life experience compared to Hui, does not need to navigate the convoluted breakthroughs that he once thought were clever in his youth. He understands that he only needs to help Hui recall the feelings she has never truly forgotten, and naturally, she will gradually shed the defenses and disguises that she has deliberately constructed. At this moment, she is not rejecting him; rather, she lacks the courage to take the leap.

Hui nestled in Chen Wenjin's arms, her emotions unable to settle for a long time. The matter she had been struggling and hesitating over was suddenly breached just like that. For a girl like her, every kiss and every close touch were worthy of marking on the calendar, symbolizing a completely different significance—she was truly possessed by him more and more thoroughly.

In the windless park, the trees stand quietly, with no moonlight in sight. On the dark bench, the recent argument seems like something that happened in a dream.

Based on the time, she must have returned home, taken a shower, and tidied up in preparation for bed. Usually, she waits until her mother is asleep before making a call, but since it is already quite late today, she does not need to deliberately wait until very late.

This is quite interesting! Could it be that this power can be unleashed without limits? Is there no energy loss or anything of the sort? Chen Wenjin had no time to think further and quickly connected to the expected plot of the scene before him, but this time, he intentionally controlled the pace to avoid repeating the previous process

Chen Wenjin understood that the fundamental reason was that, at that time, he believed in a transcendent love that surpassed the mundane. He was brainwashed by many romantic fantasies and mistakenly thought that a friendship that exceeded the bounds of ordinary friendship before marriage would tarnish the purity of love. Therefore, even when he had several opportunities that he was fully aware of, he chose to give them up, firmly believing that if love between two people is meant to last, what does it matter if they are together day after day.

The garden, the exterior walls of the building, even the glass on each floor, and the furnishings on the balcony, all feel so familiar

Because he is no longer the person he was back then

It is evident that after so many years, the oppressive and gloomy family atmosphere from back then remains as vivid as yesterday. Chen Wenjin gently closed the door, and then saw someone reclining on the sofa in the living room... It was his father—Chen Zhu.

Chen Wenjin left again, reconnecting the extension line that was unplugged by Hui in the living room on the first floor

Do not mention this, it is so embarrassing

As Chen Wenjin was about to push the door to go out, a thought suddenly crossed his mind: 'Staying here overnight brings nothing but harm, but is it possible to return to a time of in-depth communication, albeit through a different process'

Is that so? A-Niu's face suddenly turned pale, and he felt a myriad of emotions in his heart, yet he had to feign calmness. He then deliberately forced a smile and said, "That's great."

But... was it really just because of this that he missed out back then

A Biao hung up the phone and cursed, "A guy who values beauty over friendship!" He then went back to find A Niu and asked him with a sly grin, "What did you say to Hui?"

Half an hour later, Hui fell into a deep sleep once again; this time, she was much more exhausted than before

Xiao Gao's younger brother followed him out, patted him on the shoulder, and comforted him by saying, "Just let it go."

The intellectual battles between young boys and girls and their parents begin in childhood and have never ceased.

Tonight, Chen Wenjin has decided to make up for this regret

Oh dear—let's not discuss privacy, but please do thank A Niu for me, and make sure to remember to express my gratitude! Alright, let's not chat any longer. " Chen Wenjin hung up the phone, as if he could envision A Niu feeling regretful and agitated by this unexpected turn of events.

In that moment, suddenly, the colorful light illuminated...

He, back then, was filled with sincere emotions and beautiful prospects for the future, whereas today, he is merely a product of habit

The current situation is different from what I remember. The matter of A Niu sowing discord has accelerated the progress. There is still some time before Hui returns to his hometown for the New Year. How much difference will there be in the events that occur in between? Chen Wenjin harbors anticipation; compared to the known, the unknown is certainly more intriguing.

Chen Wenjin had not yet spoken when Hui quickly said, "I will sleep first"

You tell them it's fine, I won't go back to drink. Thank A Niu for me; thanks to him for helping to talk with Hui, we have finally resolved our misunderstandings. Chen Wenjin deliberately spoke in a tone of happiness and cheer, and A Bao immediately realized something, switching to a mysterious tone: "What happened? What did you do with Hui? Is there a breakthrough?"

With peace of mind, she soon felt drowsy and quickly fell asleep

Then, the lights in the room were turned off

The young man of that year would always worry about the possibility of an accident during the process of escorting Hui home and going up the stairs.

"Alright, I am coming up." After Chen Wenjin finished speaking, he hung up the phone, leaving Hui no chance to reconsider

Hui finished speaking the words she had anticipated in one breath, her face flushed with embarrassment, truly lacking the courage to face Chen Wenjin, at this moment her heart was racing as if it were about to leap out.

What were you thinking about while in the park

Thus, the questioning became increasingly intense, and Hui's refusal to answer grew weaker, turning into a tangle as she turned to the side

This is a beautiful experience that belongs to youthful innocence. Growth makes one strong, which also means that the so-called matters become fewer. What was once regarded as sacred has turned into a momentary pleasure that numbs the senses. Thus, it matters not whether one gains or loses.

Chen Wenjin got up and put on his clothes. Before going out, he did not forget to connect the extension line of the telephone on the first floor

I am fine! The gold is great, and he has always had a good relationship with Hui. Xiao Gao is very willing to see Chen Wenjin and Hui getting along well, but his unrequited love for Hui inevitably still causes him some pain.

Chen Wenjin saw her off to the car, yet could not help but speculate that on another day in the past, a similar scene had unfolded, only without the argument

Huang Jin expressed gratitude for your help in mediating and resolving their misunderstandings. I heard Huang Jin's voice, perhaps he went to a hotel with Hui! The laughter was truly exuberant... A Bao felt envious and yearning, and couldn't help but glance at Fen, contemplating how to break through the key issue.

Hui woke up, yet alone, he moved in reverse, mimicking the actions he had just performed with the librarian, until he returned to the moment in Chen Wenjin's memory.

Chen Wenjin found it very interesting upon reflection, and immediately turned back into the house, recalling the moments of deep communication that had just taken place

In the private room, Xiao Gao felt a pang of heart-wrenching sadness and left the room on his own.

Chen Wenjin had certainly thought more than once that if he could have taken a taxi at that time, he would have already arrived before Hui changed her mind

Where are you? Is everything alright? The tone of A Bao on the other end of the phone was concerned as he lowered his voice and said: Xiao Gao and A Niu both mentioned that you seem unhappy with Hui. What happened?

In this era, within this household, there exists a prolonged conflict between a selfish man and a wounded woman

Chen Wen called this time, and when the call was connected, Hui asked in confusion: "Are you still near my house?"

Chen Wenjin entered her room, where the posters featured her favorite domestic and international bands and singers, all embodying the popular cool style of this era

Chen Wenjin glanced at it; it was the number of the Hui family

Chen Wenjin felt as if the clouds in the sky were rolling and entangled with one another

When it was very late, Hui called Chen to ask about today. To avoid alarming the family with the return call, he would unplug the other extension lines, finish the call, and then reconnect them

A Niu thought it was a matter of seeking justice, but seeing A Bao's expression did not seem to indicate that. For a moment, he was uncertain in his speculation, yet he feigned calmness and replied: "I didn't say anything, just advising her a bit. What's the matter?"

It seems that today has brought that scene forward; will the developments that follow tonight be the same?

The most critical aspect is that the gray and black within this is unrelated to money and is not something he can change

The BP machine rang; it was from Hui. She saw it was a number from home and hurriedly said, "I really have to go back"

Behind the door, it is not a warm place

I miss you very much too. On the other end of the phone, Hui hesitated for a moment, then said something she had heard in Chen Wenjin's memory: "My dad won't be home tonight, do you want to come to my house?"

The door opened silently, and Chen Wenjin let out a sigh of relief; the business had not become unfamiliar! Only at this moment did he find the same feeling he had back in the day

"You will sleep here for a while, and you must behave; no nonsense allowed!" After Hui finished speaking, she pointed to one side and said, "The bathroom is over there"

How A Bao would speculate was already anticipated by Chen Wenjin

Therefore, he has no regrets regarding Hui.

Hui grasped Chen Wenjin's hand, and because of his words, she preferred to deceive herself and pretended to say sternly: "Do not move recklessly!"

Chen Wenjin felt relieved, and then found it amusing; his vigilance against the malice of the world had, in fact, not changed much over the years

He feigned tenderness in his gaze, offering comfort through slow caresses

The two rooms have been connected; she lives downstairs, and my younger brother lives on this floor but sleeps very soundly, not even waking up during thunderstorms. My mother usually doesn't come up once she sees that I am home. Hui asked Chen about the current rules, which have been relaxed quite a bit

He returned home, back to that house from over twenty years ago in his memories

Chen Wenjin originally wanted to exert her strength once more, but seeing Hui's weary appearance, she thought better of it. There is still time before the Spring Festival, and the environment at her home is quite suitable for a quiet and gentle approach. It would not be appropriate for her to be overly disturbed on her first time, so she decided to postpone it for another day

This state of entering the sage mode ... ... sigh! The lack of emotionally supportive in-depth communication activities signifies a deficiency in depth. Chen Wenjin looked at the satisfaction and attachment in Hui's eyes, reminiscent of many faces from his memories.

Chen Wenjin recalled a similar situation from years ago. The difference was that after he sent Hui home that time, he returned home himself. When Hui asked him that question, Chen Wenjin only had a few coins in his pocket and could not afford a taxi. Therefore, he rode his bicycle over. As a result, twenty minutes later, Hui left a digital message in the BP machine, signaling that she could not come out and that she had already gone to sleep.

The door opened, and Hui saw Chen Wenjin, whose face still bore a noticeable flush.

After getting out of the taxi, Chen Wenjin watched as Hui entered the hallway, observing the lights on each floor illuminate, finally stopping at the fourth floor

This environment is truly suitable for slipping into the night with the wind... Chen Wenjin secretly lamented, regretting that he missed the opportunity to enter Hui's room back then simply because he did not have the money for a taxi.

It is as warm and soft as the clouds appear to be

Clearly, there was no suitable pajamas for Chen Wenjin to wear, so he simply came out naked and lay down on the bed. Hui was very nervous and quickly shifted to the side, saying, "Keep your distance! Otherwise, I will get angry! I just want you to be here; we can sleep together, but no touching."

Chen Wenjin did not return to the bar, but instead found a place to have a late-night snack

Chen Wenjin, however, intentionally pressed for more questions, simultaneously closing the originally deliberate three-centimeter gap between them

A man should not allow a woman with decision-making difficulties to take the initiative in making choices, thus he must possess courage

"Aren't you afraid your mother will find out?" Chen Wenjin, aware of her nervousness, decided to talk about something else

The BP machine has finally sounded

On January 1st, there should be a gathering with friends and family in the evening... Oh no—suddenly returning to this era, I forgot about this matter. Chen Wenjin took the key, and with a slow motion, turned it to unlock the door. The silent skill of unlocking doors he had honed in his youth was something he would regularly maintain by oiling the locks and their connections.

After going downstairs, Chen Wenjin's pager rang. He estimated it was A Bao and returned the call from a phone booth by the roadside

At that time, the young man firmly believed that he and Hui would walk hand in hand forever, therefore, he could wait and endure

However, after the wind ceased to whisper and the clouds stopped swirling, Chen Wenjin felt that it was far from the beauty he had hoped for in his youth.

How innocent it was back then... A love that never broke the distance is fundamentally incomplete. Chen Wenjin suddenly placed his hand on Hui's body and immediately felt her tense rigidity, yet he pretended to be calm and sincerely whispered: "I just want to hold you."

It is the people around who have returned to the past, while he merely has his body restored to that of his youthful self.

Chen Wenjin remembers that he felt the same way back then, but at that time he did not know that Hui felt the same as well

The area code in the phone number reveals the actual situation, and Chen Wen replied, "I am still thinking of you"