Section 2

Over the years, she had never thought that one day she would meet him again in this lifetime

Requesting leave

Perhaps it is the fear of thinking about it

Xie Feifei said: "I have said before that I can help you take care of your mother, and this still holds true now..."

Her voice was loud, indicating that she was truly angry. The veins near her temples throbbed subtly beneath her skin, the corners of her mouth quivered slightly, her teeth were clenched against her lower lip, and her fingers were slightly curled.

What is wrong with you? Where do you feel unwell? Have you seen a doctor? asked Xie Feifei anxiously

Xie Feifei tilted her head slightly, slowly released her fingers, touched her face, and said wearily: "I will go to sleep now, good night." She walked quickly into the bedroom, fearing that if she stayed any longer, she would lose control of her emotions

Nan Feng suddenly stood up: "Why are you asking me what’s wrong? Why don’t you ask yourself what’s wrong, Xie Feifei? You’ve silently loved a man for fourteen years. Is he a fool or mentally challenged? You’ve been in one relationship after another, almost becoming a love saint! He might not be unaware of your feelings. He’s just pretending not to know! He enjoys your admiration, care, affection, and being at your beck and call without any responsibility! You regard him as your one and only, but to him, you’re merely a backup when he’s feeling down! He enjoys your admiration, care, affection, and being at your beck and call without any responsibility! You regard him as your one and only, but to him, you’re merely a backup when he’s feeling down! Do you understand what a backup is..."

Xie Feifei, who was slow to realize, was momentarily stunned as a black mushroom cloud passed overhead, and her face instantly turned red

Still silent

At the moment she raised her gaze, she truly thought it was a hallucination caused by drinking too much, how could it be him

No blessings to enjoy

I plan to take a leave of absence tomorrow

Just as she steadied herself, she eagerly reached back to touch her bottom. Upon looking, she found her fingers stained red, and with a cry of "Wow," she began to weep. That voice suddenly echoed in her ears, "Don't cry, it's not an injury..." He stood before her, casting a strange glance her way, and suddenly took her hand, pushing aside the several boys surrounding her, and quickly left.

The two individuals gazed at each other, and the space fell into a momentary silence

It's nothing, just feeling a bit unwell, I want to take a rest

Xie Feifei sat cross-legged and tilted her head to look at her: "What's wrong? Didn't you secure the contract tonight? You look so unhappy. Alright, alright, I didn't mean to ignore your calls. To make it up to you, I'll treat you to a seafood buffet tomorrow!"

Xie Feifei shook her head: "Nanfeng, I am not angry with you. What frustrates me is that every word you say is the absolute truth, striking right at my heart, and I cannot find a strong argument to refute it." She self-deprecatingly tugged at the corners of her mouth: "Hehe, you are absolutely right. In Zhou Yang's eyes, I am just a spare tire. No, I am not even worthy of being a spare tire; after all, spare tires always have a chance to be used, while I, at most, am just foolishly sticking around for no reason."

Silence

South Wind, really, you should consider changing jobs. Our company has a designer who just resigned, and we are in need of hiring someone. I can introduce you to the position. Xie Feifei works as an architectural designer in New York.

Xie Feifei looked up at her, frowning: "Nanfeng, what is wrong with you today? You seem as if you've eaten gunpowder!"

Since that night five years ago, she has sealed away all memories related to him with tears of despair, believing that she had buried them deep enough and forgotten them thoroughly

There was complete silence inside. She sighed and was just about to turn around when Xie Feifei's voice came from within: "Come in"

"Certificates are not the most important thing," Xie Feifei said as she turned slightly. "Do you remember when we first entered the architecture department at Lian University? The professor publicly stated that you were the most talented among the students he had taught in recent years! When you later took a leave of absence, he was particularly regretful and kept asking about you." She sighed, "I also think it's a pity that you are not pursuing this field."

The south wind did not answer but instead asked: "Aren't you working this afternoon?"

The gentle southern breeze softly closed my eyes, I took a deep breath, and returned to the room

During their time at university in Liancheng, Nan Feng and Xie Feifei shared a dormitory, with their beds positioned closely together. Many nights, the two would whisper secrets to each other, their heads touching. Among the four girls in the dormitory, they had the closest relationship. In addition to their compatible personalities, there was another reason: Xie Feifei was from Haicheng, and Nan Feng's mother was also from Haicheng. When her grandmother was still alive, Nan Feng spent every summer vacation in Haicheng, which felt like another hometown to her, thus creating a special bond between them.

The south wind stopped to dry her hair and asked, "Has Zhou Yang broken up again?"

Fei Fei

Oh dear, I'm really angry! Don't be like this, I went rock climbing with Zhou Yang in the afternoon, and afterwards we had dinner and bowled at the club. I left my phone in the car and forgot to take it. " Xie Feifei leaned in, pinched Nan Feng's cheek, and asked, "By the way, was there something urgent you needed to talk to me about earlier?" She understood Nan Feng; if it weren't for something urgent, she wouldn't have called so many times.

Xie Feifei lowered her head and said, "What does it matter? At least when he is feeling sad and disappointed, the person he thinks of to accompany him is me, not someone else"

He is two years older than her. When she was twelve years old, he moved in across the street, becoming their neighbor. At twelve, Xie Feifei was still a tomboy, spending her days playing with a group of boys from the neighborhood. In the community, there stood a century-old locust tree, thick and large, with lush branches and leaves. On summer evenings, cicadas would hide in its branches, chirping joyfully, which annoyed a group of children playing card games at a stone table beneath the tree. They decided to play rock-paper-scissors to determine who would climb the tree to chase away the cicadas. Xie Feifei was not very lucky and lost. She ran home to fetch a clothes drying pole as a tool. She had climbed this tree many times in her childhood and quickly ascended it with ease. After poking around in the branches with the drying pole for a while, she still did not manage to scare away the cicadas. Suddenly, someone below shouted in surprise, pointing at her backside and exclaiming, "Xie Feifei, something's wrong! You're bleeding from your backside!"

When they initially decided to live together, they agreed that if one party upset the other and felt too embarrassed to apologize, they would use this method as a substitute

Years ago, she brought her mother to Haicheng. Her mother was an only child, and after her grandmother passed away, some distant relatives naturally became estranged. The city that was once so familiar instantly turned strange and indifferent. All her savings were spent on the hospital, and she could not even afford to rent a house. In desperation, she dialed Xie Feifei's number. At that time, she was in her third year of university, and they had not been in contact for a year. However, after hanging up the phone, Xie Feifei immediately rushed back to Haicheng and handed her the keys to her family's idle two-bedroom old apartment. During the year they lost contact after she suspended her studies, she did not ask anything.

The south wind interrupted her with a smile: "I'm fine, really. Hey, hurry up and take a shower. Can I sleep with you tonight? I fell asleep during the injection, and now I can't sleep. Keep me company and talk for a while."

Nan Feng wrapped her hair in a towel, speaking in a tone filled with disappointment: "Fei Fei, it's not that I'm a fortune teller; you should really think back on it. Every time you took leave or skipped work, wasn't it for Zhou Yang? And think again, every time he asked you out, wasn't it because he needed someone to accompany him after a breakup?"

The south wind raises its voice: "Indeed, in times of disappointment, I think of you, Xie Feifei. Do you need me to pray for you, to pray that he experiences disappointment every day, that every romance ends in failure!"

That sense of familiarity surged forth, almost overwhelming her self-restraint; he was unaware of the hardships she endured in silence. For apart from enduring, there was no other way. Between her and him, the fabric of fate had already unraveled the moment they met.

However ... ... " She paused.

"What happened, is there something wrong?" Xie Feifei was surprised, knowing that Nan Feng, the hardworking student, would never easily ask for leave unless there were irreversible factors, as taking leave would result in a deduction of pay

On the way home, Xie Feifei sobbed and kept asking him, "If I'm not injured, why am I bleeding... why... am I going to die soon..."

"Alright, we haven't slept head to head for a long time. I will also take a day off tomorrow, so tonight I will accompany you for a good chat." Xie Feifei blinked.

Xie Feifei was taken aback and pouted: "Why do you look like a half-immortal?"

She gently closed her eyes, and the events of that night replayed in her mind like fleeting shadows, frame by frame. Until this moment, when the entire world fell silent, perhaps unavoidable, she finally dared to confront all the memories related to him that were stirred by her reunion with that person.

After a while, she came out holding a pillow and went to knock on Xie Feifei's door. She knocked three times, paused, then knocked three more times, paused again, and knocked three times once more. After that, she stopped and did not knock again

Acute gastritis, I have received an injection, and I am feeling much better now She did not dare to mention gastric bleeding, fearing that Xie Feifei would bring up the issue of changing jobs again

Fei Fei

Even if we meet, what difference does it make

Alright, no more talking, it's late, let's go to bed early, we have to work tomorrow!" Xie Feifei stood up, pulled Nan Feng up, and turned on the light

How powerful memory can be, it is the most peculiar thing; it does not act based on your own thoughts and self-control. It only needs to catch a whiff of a familiar scent, and the images associated with it will automatically come rushing back, leaving you with no way to escape.

The southern wind silently sighs, and for Zhou Yang and Xie Feifei, it is destined to be an unavoidable calamity

Indeed, she said: "You must be drinking a lot! That's why I advised you to change jobs long ago. Although working in sales comes with commissions, Nan Feng, if you keep drinking like this, you will really drink yourself to death!" She touched Nan Feng's face and said with self-reproach: "I really am not a good sister. You must have felt very distressed when you called me, but I..."

The night deepens amidst the occasional whispers between the two.

Xie Feifei jumped up and interrupted her sharply: "Nanfeng!"

Xie Feifei pushed her and said: "That's cheesy!"

The voice gradually lowered, becoming faint and indistinct

The southern wind interrupted her: "Feifei, over the years, you have taken care of me as if I were your own sister. Fine, I accept your kindness, but my mother is not your responsibility. Do you still think I owe you too little?" She smiled and said, "I owe you, and I can never repay it in this lifetime. Are you planning to reserve me for the next lifetime as well?"

In the darkness, the south wind fell silent for a moment before gently saying: "You know, I have only studied at university for a little over a year, and I have only learned the basics. I do not have a diploma, so how can I engage in design?"

I reunited with him today. The south wind heard its own voice, very soft and gentle in the dark night, with a slight tremor in that lightness

The south wind blew gently as I gazed at Xie Feifei's serene sleeping face, shaking my head

In a person's lifetime, there are many firsts. Perhaps not every first will be etched in your memory, but for women, the first menstruation is as unforgettable as the first night, a memory that lasts a lifetime. The name Zhou Yang entered Xie Feifei's life alongside her first menstruation, making it a memory she could never forget.

The room was dimly lit, and Xie Feifei sat quietly on the floor. Nan Feng sat down beside her, with a picture book in hand. It was late autumn, and the wooden floor felt cool, causing her to involuntarily shiver slightly. She spoke softly, "Feifei, I am sorry. I am feeling a bit unsettled today."

Clearly within reach, yet as distant as the horizon, beside him lies the shore she can never again reach.

"So I don't blame you, I know you care about me. But Nan Feng, I really can't help it, I truly can't. I have liked him for so many years, ever since I understood the difference between men and women, I have liked him. It's been over ten years. I have tried to let go, but I just can't. Perhaps I owe him from my past life." Xie Feifei said with a bitter smile, her voice low, in the quiet of the night, making Nan Feng's heart feel as if it were drenched by dew, both wet and damp. But Nan Feng, I really can't help it, I truly can't. I have liked him for so many years, ever since I understood the difference between men and women, I have liked him. It's been over ten years. I have tried to let go, but I just can't. Perhaps I owe him from my past life." Xie Feifei said with a bitter smile, her voice low, in the quiet of the night, making Nan Feng's heart feel as if it were drenched by dew, both wet and damp.

The South Wind said: "What does it matter how talented one is? Diligence can make up for shortcomings. Similarly, no matter how powerful a weapon is, if it is left unused for a long time, it will rust and become obsolete." She bit her lip and added, "Moreover, you are most aware of my situation. My mother requires a substantial amount of medical expenses every month, and being an ordinary designer is simply not enough."

His face turned slightly red, and he said in a low voice, "Go home and ask your mother." However, her mother was at work and not at home. She squatted at the door, unwilling to go in, and began to cry softly. He felt helpless, turned around, and went inside. After a moment, he came out with a package and stuffed it into her hands, saying, "Don't cry, you are not hurt, and you won't die. You are here... it has started... this is my sister's... you can use it." He turned around quickly, went inside, and shut the door swiftly.

Her language and mind treat him as a stranger, yet her memories of him are so familiar

On that day, she wore a pair of white cropped pants, and the slowly spreading bloodstains were particularly conspicuous. Startled by such a sudden shout, she nearly fell down, when a particularly calm voice rang out, "Don't panic, hold onto the trunk, and come down slowly." This voice was very gentle, like a cool breeze blowing through a summer field, separating a group of noisy and chaotic exclamations. Xie Feifei's heart was soothed by that gentle and calming voice, and she followed the instructions of that voice, slowly, slowly, landing safely.

I pretended not to know him

The sky outside is about to brighten, yet she cannot fall asleep no matter what.

The south wind smiled and changed the subject