The Fourth Letter Distance

Gradually, we began to argue over trivial matters. The greatest disadvantage of a long-distance relationship is that a problem that could be resolved with a simple hug leaves us holding the phone in silence time and again

Reply from my future self ten years later

Seeing him laughing and chatting with the girl at the same table can make me feel down for several days. When he comes to invite me to play badminton again, I will firmly refuse him, deliberately calling out the names of other boys loudly in front of him

At the New Year's Eve party of the class, he sat next to me, handed me a piece of chocolate, and asked if I wanted to eat it. I took it, ate the chocolate, and then secretly put the wrapper into my backpack. When the party ended, everyone took photos individually. I mustered a lot of courage to walk over to A Cheng and asked him if I could take a picture with him

I feel very wronged, and I do not even know what kind of response I am expecting. Do I hope that he is sweating profusely on the other end of the phone? Clearly knowing that A Cheng has done nothing wrong, I just cannot help but be angry with him, crying while holding onto my pillow

When I tried to share an interesting event that happened at school with him, I found that after repeatedly explaining the background, I myself felt it had become dull. Then, when I saw the beautiful sunset by the lake but didn't know how to describe it to him, I truly felt sad

Not long ago, my roommate also fell in love. The other party is from the School of Mechanical Engineering. During their first month of dating, he gave my roommate a large bucket of roses and, under the scorching sun, crossed half the city to buy her the pan-fried dumplings she likes to eat

What is most infuriating is that A Cheng has no idea that he has made me cry

He found a job he loved in Shanghai, while you only wanted to return to your hometown, and Ah Cheng's major could not find any job in this small city. You argued countless times over the phone, and coincidentally, it was graduation season, with many matters at hand, so you began to ignore his calls. During your last meeting, he stood on the train for twenty-one hours to find you, and you held him at the school gate, crying bitterly. You argued countless times over the phone, and coincidentally, it was graduation season, with many matters at hand, so you began to ignore his calls. During your last meeting, he stood on the train for twenty-one hours to find you, and you held him at the school gate, crying bitterly.

Just after parting, you did not feel much discomfort. Eating alone, shopping alone, watching movies alone. The days you spent apart were so long that when this day truly arrived, you were not as heartbroken as you had imagined. It was just one day, while you were pushing a shopping cart in the supermarket, you saw a couple. The girl was holding a small pumpkin in one hand, asking the boy which one to buy, when suddenly you felt a tightness in your heart, and in front of everyone, you burst into tears. It was just one day, while you were pushing a shopping cart in the supermarket, you saw a couple. The girl was holding a small pumpkin in one hand, asking the boy which one to buy, when suddenly you felt a tightness in your heart, and in front of everyone, you burst into tears

The Cold War we experienced back then is different from the present. He no longer turns around to talk to me, I no longer poke him in the back with a pen, during physical education class he started playing basketball, while I sat at the entrance of the snack shop, eating chips voraciously

The time spent loving each other from afar has taught us how to love someone. Tolerance, understanding, cherishing, trust... Every argument is a necessary lesson on the path to happiness. In our youthful innocence, we have grown through each phone call, each letter, and each journey.

Yet no one can rely on a momentary feeling to last a lifetime, and you have ultimately parted ways

Before I wrote this letter, I accepted A Cheng's proposal. We went to the supermarket together, I prepared a dinner that was of average taste, and he ate it all up. Then, wearing my cartoon apron, he went to the kitchen to wash the dishes

I am just an ordinary girl, yearning to be cared for and cherished, possessing a slight sense of vanity, wanting to show off to those around me, look, how happy I am

Even my friends came to ask me: "What happened between you and A Cheng? It feels a bit strange." At that moment, I replied expressionlessly: "Nothing at all." After dinner, I suddenly noticed a cup of grass jelly on my table, and according to my taste, it was filled with a lot of tapioca pearls. Next to the grass jelly was a note with a drawing of a turtle, its head lowered, and beside it were the words "I'm sorry." I couldn't help but chuckle and poked his back with a pen. Later, after we got together, I brought up this incident, and A Cheng inexplicably asked me why I was angry with him back then. Next to the grass jelly was a note with a drawing of a turtle, its head lowered, and beside it were the words "I'm sorry." I couldn't help but chuckle and poked his back with a pen. Later, after we got together, I brought up this incident, and A Cheng inexplicably asked me why I was angry with him back then.

In fact, A Cheng does not particularly enjoy writing letters. He explained to me that his daily routine consists of attending classes, eating, and sleeping, leaving little room for conversation. I want to tell him that it is not like that; we used to have so much to talk about.

However, Ah Cheng has never known about these things

That person asked you how the previous relationship ended

They would also go together to attend some interesting elective courses, sitting by the lake at school in matching outfits and chatting. I used to always complain to A Cheng that matching outfits were clichéd and tacky, but deep down, I couldn't help but feel envious.

We found the same movie on the computer and pressed the play button together, listening to each other's faint breathing through the headphones, as if distance had never separated us. Occasionally, I would ask, "Are you still there?" and hearing him softly respond with a nasal tone, "Mm," I felt that happiness could not be greater. The first movie we watched together, "One Day," had not yet reached its conclusion when I was already in tears. A Cheng comforted me on the other end of the line, saying, "Be good, don't cry anymore." I have always remembered that movie, the sunlight in Paris, the sea at night, and that heart-wrenching line—"I love you, I just, no longer like you." The first movie we watched together, "One Day," had not yet reached its conclusion when I was already in tears. A Cheng comforted me on the other end of the line, saying, "Be good, don't cry anymore." I have always remembered that movie, the sunlight in Paris, the sea at night, and that heart-wrenching line—"I love you, I just, no longer like you." When winter had just arrived, I hid under the covers and knitted a long scarf for A Cheng. He said that all the boys in his dormitory had been jealous of him for a long time.

When I was ill, he braved the heavy rain to deliver medicine and medical advice to me, poured a cup of hot water, and brought me a bowl of freshly made century egg and lean pork congee

Then we were together like this, letting things take their course, with mutual affection. There were no promises, no vows, no grand gestures, and no notions of forever; we had long since placed each other in our hearts

In a certain sense, we can no longer share each other's joys and sorrows

In fact, Ah Cheng and I have had many good times together. On weekends, when it was pouring rain outside and my roommates had all gone out, I was alone in the dormitory talking to him on the phone. I don't remember who suggested it, but we decided to watch a movie together

The senior also said: "You should cherish it well, as the feelings during your student years are the most genuine. Moreover, you are all experiencing your first love, which is quite rare." Indeed, there is nothing more blissful in the world than when the person you secretly like happens to like you back, how precious that is. Therefore, I also want to cherish it well; I am not someone who lacks understanding either

The next day, you submitted your resignation and flew to Shanghai with your suitcase. This day happened to be the anniversary of your past relationship, and you finally mustered the courage to call Ah Cheng.

To be honest, I am indeed moved. At times like this, I find myself wishing that A Cheng were by my side. So, I sent a text message to A Cheng saying that I was unwell, and after a while, he replied, reminding me to take my medicine and to rest well

Thank you for writing the word "missing" in the letter back then, thank you for your courage and sincerity, which have allowed me to attain the happiness I have today

Even so, I still find it hard to let go of A Cheng, because he is not just anyone; he is the A Cheng in my memories, wearing a clean school uniform with his sleeves rolled up. So, I found the boy who was pursuing me and once again told him seriously: "I have a boyfriend." He asked me in return: "What can he do for you?" What can A Cheng do for me? I thought for a moment and answered him earnestly: "He makes me feel that the future is worth looking forward to." So, I found the boy who was pursuing me and once again told him seriously: "I have a boyfriend." He asked me in return: "What can he do for you?" What can A Cheng do for me? I thought for a moment and answered him earnestly: "He makes me feel that the future is worth looking forward to."

He does not know that every time I see couples holding hands together going to the library or the cafeteria at school, I feel so envious. The boys would go to the water room to fetch water for the girls after evening study sessions, in winter they would put her hand into their coat pocket, and they would also accompany her to enjoy buy-one-get-one-free ice cream cones.

Without a beginning, there can be no end

At that time, we were in high school, and he sat in front of me. He often turned around to chat with me: "Xiao D, how did you solve the second question of the multiple-choice?" "Wow, how come you didn't lose any points on your English reading?" "Hey, let me see your essay this time." ... The teacher, unable to bear it any longer, stood at the podium and threw a piece of chalk at him. He scratched his head in confusion, turned around, and the whole class burst into laughter. He often turned around to chat with me: "Xiao D, how did you solve the second question of the multiple-choice?" "Wow, how come you didn't lose any points on your English reading?" "Hey, let me see your essay this time." ... The teacher, unable to bear it any longer, stood at the podium and threw a piece of chalk at him. He scratched his head in confusion, turned around, and the whole class burst into laughter. Also, during physical education class, we played badminton together. Since there were only two rackets and one net, everyone had to take turns in line. When it wasn't our turn, he would sit on the steps with me, chatting casually. I asked him why he didn't play basketball, and he said he would only play basketball on weekends. He asked me if I wanted to go to the convenience store to buy ice cream, and I said sure, let's go together

Although high school was not very popular, once I entered university, there were boys who pursued me. It cannot be considered too intense; every morning, they would bring me a cup of hot milk tea, wait for me under the teaching building with an umbrella when it rained, and buy my favorite desserts to have other girls deliver them to me

At that moment, you stood at the bustling Pudong International Airport, laughing and crying, like a madman

I still keep that photograph, in which I am holding the string tied to a balloon. At the moment the camera clicked, he happened to turn his head to look at me. We were both wearing sky-blue school uniforms, which suited us well. My height only reached his shoulder, and it is said that this is the ideal height for couples, but later, after A Cheng went to university, he grew taller.

I write letters to A Cheng every day. Sometimes I write a lot, and sometimes I write a little. By the end of the week, it still amounts to a thick stack. I fold them neatly and run to the post office to send them out, going there every week. The uncle at the post office has come to know me and smiles as he introduces me to his colleagues: "The young girl who writes letters to her boyfriend."

You once made a promise with A Cheng that when the two of you were truly together, you would go grocery shopping together, you would cook for him, and he would be responsible for washing the dishes and cleaning. That is the most ordinary and simple wish between a couple.

When we cross the ocean of love, we will be grateful that we ultimately did not give up or retreat

During the graduation trip, everyone crossed the suspension bridge together. Someone deliberately stood in the middle of the bridge, swaying back and forth. I felt a bit scared and clutched the iron chain, not daring to move forward. Suddenly, a pair of warm hands took hold of mine. I turned my head and saw him feigning calmness as he looked ahead.

I am very sorry, long-distance relationships often do not have a good ending, and yours with A Cheng is no exception

Today, I had an argument with A Cheng. There wasn't any particular reason; he didn't reply to my messages all day, and I couldn't reach him by phone. It wasn't until very late that he sent a brief message explaining that his phone was out of battery. I am really angry! He is always like this, indifferent and unaware of how much I worry about him! I feel powerless, as if two people had agreed to move forward together, and while you are pulling him along with all your strength, he remains completely still.

You may not know, but A Cheng hums songs to entertain himself while washing dishes. I always tease him for being out of tune, as he has never sung on pitch.

Until the day I went to university, he saw me off on the southbound train. I looked out the window at him, crying heart-wrenchingly. It was at that moment that I truly realized the long separation we were about to face

You broke up in your senior year, and the reason was not the concerns you had about the fading of feelings or infidelity. The reason for your breakup was rather mundane; at graduation, you each had different goals.

Sender: Xiao D, 19 years old, studying Accounting at a university in the southern region

In that moment, many images flashed through your mind, from when you were young and secretly watched each other through the crowd, to the final scene where you turned your back and said to him: "Ah Cheng, I am tired"

To my future self in ten years

I feel very confused, having to endure such days for another four years or even longer, I see no future. I even wonder if what we have can truly be called a relationship, with no hand-holding, no hugs, no kisses. Many times, when I think of A Cheng, all I can recall are the simple words on my phone screen. Everyone admires a slow and steady flow, but how many truly are content with the mundane? Gradually, I can no longer remember what A Cheng looks like when he smiles. I feel incredibly sad and fearful about this. Will we part ways? Will the future I long for really come? When I am very old, will the person by my side be the one I fell in love with at seventeen?

In fact, we have never truly let go of each other's hands. Although it has been difficult and painful, the memories that belong solely to the two of us and the times that cannot be revisited make us wish to spend the rest of our lives with this person.

After another two or three years, your parents begin to arrange blind dates for you. You numbly observe the unfamiliar man sitting across from you, feeling that your life has become incredibly absurd and laughable

Everyone says that long-distance relationships are very difficult and challenging, but when you truly experience it, you will find that such an experience is a valuable treasure

Keep it up

After the call is connected, you find yourself at a loss for words, while he, stammering, informs you that he has returned to his hometown and hopes to start anew with you