Lu Fei watched as Xin Chen rushed into the yard without looking back, then returned to his car and checked the time before calling Ji Ruochen's phone. On the other end, Ji Ruochen picked up after a while.

  "Are you asleep, Ruo Ke?"

  Ji Ruoluo smiled softly and said, "Do you think I can sleep?"

  "Come down and sit for a while, I'll wait for you at the bar on the second floor of your hotel."

  Ji Ruoxue lived in a five-star hotel by the river, on the second floor bar with full-length windows facing south to overlook the riverbank. Lu Fei ordered a whiskey on the rocks and sat alone for a while before Ji Ruoxue came down, wearing a gray top and matching loose-fitting long pants, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders. Lu Fei stood up to pull out a chair for her to sit down, "Want something to drink?"

  "Just like you." Ji Ruochen said listlessly. The waiter brought the wine, but she didn't drink it either, her mind wandering as she stared out the window at the Yangtze River under the night sky.

  She had been staying in this hotel for many days, a big bed room on the 26th floor. When she opened the curtains, it was the so-called invincible river view that poured into her eyes. However, facing the sunrise and sunset, the moon hiding and appearing under the turbulent yellow river water, she didn't have the interest to appreciate it, nor did she like wandering around in this noisy city without rules. Most of the time, she stood at the window with her arms around her, staring blankly into the distance, not knowing what she was waiting for.

  "Ten years ago, in the summer, this city encountered what was said to be a hundred-year flood, with the river water rising to a height that shocked everyone. Troops were deployed to participate in the flood prevention efforts." Lu pointed across the road at Binjiang Road, "I and many locals came over to see the spectacle of the river surface almost level with the road surface. At that time, there was no hotel here, nor had the Jiangtan Park been built yet."

  Ji Ruochen didn't know how he suddenly said these things, "Will you go with others to watch the excitement? I'm a bit skeptical."

  "I came over and found out that sometimes rushing into a lively scene can also be a very enjoyable thing."

  Of course, with his personality, he wouldn't go, but the person who pouted and insisted on going was Xin Chen. The heavy rain had just stopped, the city's stagnant water slowly receded, and the ground was still a mess, she had just recovered from her cold, shaking his hand and acting coquettishly, "Just take a look, my classmate said that standing on the road can see the ship floating in front of your eyes." How could he possibly refuse her.

  The flood prevention situation is extremely severe, and the tense flow of people and vehicles constantly transporting sandbags and other flood prevention equipment forms a stark contrast with the pointing and commenting citizens on the other side of the road. Lu Fei never thought he would be among such carefree crowds, thinking about how his father must be worrying, he couldn't help but feel anxious. However, looking sideways at Xin Chen's sparkling eyes as she stood on tiptoes to look out at the river, his heart inexplicably relaxed, and he picked her up to hold her higher so she could see more clearly.

  The faint smile on Lu Fei's face, born from memories, pained Ji Ruoluo. She curled up the corners of her mouth and sneered with a smile, "I remember that year in San Francisco, where we had the largest National Day fireworks party, all our classmates went, except for you who didn't want to go."

  "That's different, it's just someone else's holiday."

  "So your happiness seems to be more than just seeing a rare spectacle that only happens once in a century."

  "You criticized me, saying I've always wrapped myself up tightly and never actively talked to you about the past." Lu Fei looked at Ji Ruochen frankly. "Sorry, Ruochen, it's not that I intentionally wanted to hide anything from you, but since you're so smart, you can naturally see that all my memories that I'm unwilling to give up, whether happy or painful, are related to one person. I have no way of sharing these with others."

  "Am I smart? I think I'm dull enough to be trapped in my feelings for you and can't extricate myself, yet not dull enough to deceive myself into continuing on." Ji Ruoluo could only mock himself.

  "We can't deceive ourselves, I've tried to deceive myself into thinking that I could be like others, letting go of the past and accepting life's arrangements, doing a job that I'm familiar with, being busy just enough, having the feeling of sitting in an important position without exhausting my heart, and then marrying a kind and gentle girl, enjoying happiness in the usual sense. But I was wrong, even if I hadn't met her again, there would always be a gap in my heart, I don't have a sense of happiness myself, let alone bring it to you, I'm very sorry for wasting your time."

  Ji Ruoluo couldn't maintain that bit of mockery towards others or herself anymore. Lu Fei had always been sincere, but his sincerity was always reserved. Seeing the man who usually kept to himself suddenly abandon his restrained attitude in front of her, exposing small fragments of memories from his past - pain and helplessness - she couldn't help but realize that this unprecedentedly candid posture seemed to represent him having let go of all uncertainty, with no possibility of turning back. She could only swallow a sigh with great difficulty.

  "Three months after returning from the US, you've been constantly apologizing to me. Never mind, let's leave some room for our next meeting, Lu Fei, I've already asked my sister's secretary to book a flight back to Beijing for me tomorrow." Ji Ruoluo picked up her wine glass and took a sip, gazing at him, "Thanks for not showing a relieved expression."

  This was the ending Luo Fei wanted, but of course he couldn't let it go like that. He fell silent for a moment before speaking up, "I'll come over tomorrow to send you off at the airport."

  The next day, Lu Fei picked up Ji Ruochen and drove to the airport. The two of them remained silent all the way there. As they walked into the terminal building, Lu Fei suddenly stopped in his tracks. There, sitting in a rest area off to one side, were Xin Chen and Lin Leqing, both wearing gray T-shirts and jeans, chatting idly with each other as they sat beside several large and small suitcases.

  Lu Fei put down Ji Ruoxue's suitcase and said sorry before hurrying away.

  "Xiao Chen, where are you going?" He had one hand on Xin Chen's shoulder, his voice low and suppressed.

  Xin Chen only felt a sudden weight on his shoulders, and inexplicably looked up at him. Before he could respond, Lin Leqing smiled and said: "Lu Fei, you're welcome, He Huan is here to see me off."

  Lu Fei's expression relaxed, and he slowly withdrew his hand. After a pause, he said: "I'm also here to see someone off. Le Qing, are you going back to the United States?"

  "Yes, I'm about to start school, can't stay any longer."

  Lu nodded and said, "Have a safe trip, Leqing, I'll take my leave first."

  Xin Chen inadvertently raised her head and saw Ji Ruoluo standing not far away, wearing a large pair of sunglasses, expressionless, facing this side. Lu Fei walked over, said a few words to her, picked up the suitcase beside her, and the two walked together towards the check-in counter.

  Lin Leqing laughed and said, "He's really nervous about you, you scared him, he must think you're planning to disappear quietly, or even worse, elope with me."

  Xin Chen cried and laughed, "I don't have that kind of elegant interest. If I had a bit of a runaway intention to elope with you, would your dad dare let me come alone to send you off? Ah, right, the tone you use when speaking to your dad is still so stiff."

  Just now, Xin Chen and Lin Leqing met under his house, Lin Leqing insisted on refusing his father Lin Yueqing to drive him, hailed a taxi, and said: "You go up, I'll call you when I arrive." Not a bit of reluctance to part, Lin Yueqing could only remind him to be careful on the road, and bid farewell to Xin Chen.

  Three years ago when he was hospitalized in Xi'an, Xin Chen had been surprised to see that Lin Leqing, who was usually so cheerful and easy-going, was very cold towards his father who had rushed to take care of him, with the two often not speaking a word to each other for half a day.

  Lin Leqing smiled awkwardly and shook his head, "What you see now is okay. He was wrong to my mom before. When I was 15 years old, my mom divorced him and took me and my sister to immigrate to Canada. Later he went to visit us every year, but I never liked him."

  "Let bygones be bygones, I think he's really tense about you."

  "Yes, when we were carried down from Qinling, you fainted, I was awake and saw him coming over with his beard disheveled, looking like he had aged a lot. I thought to myself that the time I spent being angry with him was too long, my mom didn't even blame him anymore, my sister was even affectionate with him, only I... didn't know what I couldn't let go of, holding on for so long." Lin Leiqing sighed, "Slowly we've restored our relationship, otherwise this time back, I wouldn't have been able to stay at his place. But still, it's far from being close and affectionate, no matter how I think about making up for it, it can only be like this."

  Xin Chen has always had a close relationship with her father, but she has a mother-daughter relationship that never started and probably can't be mended. Of course, Lin Leqing understands this feeling, "Let things take their natural course, some things are probably missed when they're gone."

  "Never mind about that, He Huan, don't you feel a little reluctant to part with me?" Lin Le Qing's eyes sparkled with mischievous amusement.

  Xin Chen also smiled, "Can't you be a bit more serious? Go back and be a good student, study hard, we'll see each other next year."

  "Next year I will graduate, plan to return home to work, initially discussed with my parents, they also support me." Lin Leqing lazily stretched out his long legs, "Looking at the current situation, the development space for domestic architectural design is still very large."

  This was Lin Leqing's first time bringing up a topic related to Xin Chen's academic future, and Xin Chen nodded, "Which city do you plan on going to?"

  "I want to take a look at your schedule first."

  Lin Leqing's tone was relaxed, but her pitch-black eyes gazed at him with an unshakeable sincerity. Xin Chen looked back at him and said seriously: "Leqing, please choose the life you want most, don't rush to set a premise for yourself, okay?"

  Lin Leqing shook her head, "You now seem to want to draw a line with everyone, Huanhuan. Not taking others as the reason for your decisions, nor willing to be the premise for others' decisions, are you planning to keep a distance from this world forever?"

  Xin Chen was taken aback for a moment, "I haven't lived to that transcendent stage yet."

  "That's not transcendence, that's self-isolation. You'll miss out on a lot. I don't want you to live like that." Lin Leqing grasped her hand and said softly, "Hehuan, it may not be with Lu Fei or me, but one day, you have to establish a more intimate relationship with someone. You can't keep refusing forever."

  Xin Chen forced a smile, "I understand, maybe leaving this city, I have the opportunity to thoroughly get rid of some things, and be able to interact with people more easily."

  "Then remember, I've already made an appointment with you in advance. No matter where you plan to live in the future, at least I can start from being a hiking companion."

  "This doesn't require an appointment, Leqing. We might be able to go to the Czech Republic together. And as long as you return to work in the country, no matter which city you live in, we'll have opportunities to meet up." She points at the screen, "Ah, go to counter 7 to exchange your boarding pass."

  She helped Lin Leqing take a backpack and followed him to change the boarding pass and check in luggage. Lin Leqing suddenly turned his head and looked at her, "I'm going in, Hehuan, I have a few requests for you before I leave, okay?"

  "What's up? I'll see what I can do."

  "You must do so, otherwise I won't recognize you as a friend. Don't go on adventures casually, don't hike alone, and keep in touch with me and your family, no playing hide-and-seek."

  Xin Chen didn't expect the big boy in front of her to say such a gentle reminder, and she felt a little sour in her nose. She handed him her backpack, opened her arms quickly hugged him, then let go, covering up with a smile. "It's clear that if someone starts being willful, no matter how they restrain themselves later, others will still think they're being willful. There's no need for you to remind me specially, I'll definitely do all of it, Le Qing, go ahead and enter."

  Lin Le Qing nodded and gave her hand a firm squeeze, "Take care of yourself, goodbye."

  Xin Chen watched as Lin Leqing entered the security checkpoint, he turned around and smiled at her, waving his hand, then entered the waiting hall. She turned around, Ji Ruoluo and Lu Fei also walked over, she nodded slightly, and brushed past them, walking out of the hall to take the airport shuttle bus. Lu Fei caught up with her from behind, "I'll send you back, Little Chen."

  Xin Chen hesitated for a moment, and Lu Fei smiled slightly, "Even if you refuse me, it's not necessary to cut off all contact with me, is it?"

  "I'm fine with it, I just don't want to trouble you."

  Lu Fei shook his head, "There's only one thing that bothers me, and that is you've made up your mind to treat me as a passerby."

  "We've known each other for so long, it's a bit too pretentious to put on an air of unfamiliarity." Xincheng's mouth curved upwards, and the dimple on his right cheek appeared as he smiled easily, "It's better to just be natural."

  Lu's eyes dimmed slightly, but he only looked at her calmly and said, "I have no objection, we can proceed according to your idea and pace slowly."

  Xin Chen's smile deepened, shaking his head, "If we keep talking like this, it'll be close to flirting. But if we flirt with each other, we'll probably both have a bad reaction. Let's go, get in the car, I still need to hurry back."

  Xin Chen, who appeared with a calm and collected demeanor, was not unfamiliar to Lu Fei. Although her rejection last night was resolute, she had revealed her emotions after all. However, in the span of one night, those fluctuations seemed to have subsided completely. She faced him calmly, maintaining a polite distance, with just the right amount of teasing, neither cold nor intimate.

  Lu Fei didn't say a word, opened the car door for her and asked, "Going directly to your workplace?"

  "I need to go to the hospital first, my aunt was hospitalized for a heart check last night and I'm going to visit her."

  Lu Fei drove the car to the entrance of the Central Hospital in the city and said, "I'll go take a look at Auntie Li too."

  Xin Chen was unwilling to go with him, but had no reason to refuse, and could only nod, "Then you wait a moment, I'll go get the reserved soup."

  She strode across the street to the opposite hot pot restaurant, which was quite famous locally. She had called ahead that morning and reserved a serving of Angelica Chicken Soup.

  Last night, Xin Chen had already fallen asleep when the phone rang at home. She got up to answer it and found that it was Xin Kai Ming calling. "Xiao Chen, tell Xiao Di to hurry to the city center hospital. Her mother is having heart discomfort right now. I just sent her to the hospital."

  Xin Chen hastily agreed, but found that Xin Di had gone out to an appointment and left her phone on the tea table. She could only call David Fan's phone, and after a while, David Fan answered and immediately handed the phone over to Xin Di, who was leaning in his arms. Xin Di was shocked and hurriedly urged David Fan to drive to the hospital while calling her father's phone. Xin Kai Ming said: "Your mother suddenly felt palpitations, dizziness, and shortness of breath, the doctor is doing a check-up, it should not be too serious."

  When they arrived at the hospital, they coincidentally bumped into Xin Chen who had just gotten out of a taxi and was waiting by the entrance. The three of them hastily made their way to the internal medicine emergency ward, where they saw Li Xiang half-reclining on the bed, with Xin Kai Ming sitting in the chair beside her.

  "Dad, how's Mom?"

  "After taking the medicine and doing an electrocardiogram," Xin Kaiming said softly, "the doctor said to stay in the hospital for observation today, do a comprehensive examination tomorrow, and may invite a neurologist to consult."

  Xin Di let out a sigh of relief, Li Xiang had been suffering from chronic rheumatic heart disease that was not considered serious, and over the years, he had been careful to take care of himself and exercise regularly, so his physical condition looked good, but there were always hidden worries.

  Li Xiang opened her eyes and weakly said: "It's okay, it's very late, just let Xiao Di stay with me, you all go back." She took a clear look at Xin Di's clothes and suddenly frowned. "Xiao Di, no matter how urgent, you can't run around in such short pajamas, it doesn't look good. Let your dad stay instead, and hurry up to send her home, Xiao Dai."

  "Alright, alright, I'll come over first thing tomorrow, and I promise to dress neatly. Dad, if anything happens, call me right away."

  Xin Di left for the hospital at 6 am. Xin Chen told her to bring chicken soup at noon, so she wouldn't have to order a boxed lunch from the hospital. She brought over the chicken soup that the store employee had carefully packaged, and Lu Fei also bought flowers and a fruit basket on the side. The two of them went upstairs to Li Xiang's ward, just as they were about to enter, they heard Li Xiang's slightly raised voice coming from inside: "This child is so foolish, she doesn't listen to her mother's words at all. In short, Little Chen is living with you now, you have to be careful not to let her come into contact with Dai Weifan."

  Xin Chen stopped in his tracks, a look of incredulity on his face. Lu Fei furrowed her brow, about to speak, when Xin Di inside had already opened her mouth: "Mom, you're really getting more and more absurd, what would Chenzi stoop to doing something like that?"

  "You and your dad are of the same mind, but you don't understand Xiao Chen's schemes at all. Let's not mention what happened in the past, now it's not just that Lu Fei was stirred up by her to cancel the engagement with his fiancée, Auntie Xie is also very angry about this, and even the Feng Yi'an family had a big storm yesterday."

  "Feng Yi'an and Chen Zi broke up early on, how did his family's affairs end up on her head again?"

  Lu Fei put down what was in his hand by the wall and reached out to pull Xin Chen. "Let's go sit over there first."

  Xin Chen remained still, with a hint of mockery in his gaze, as Li Xiang's voice continued to emanate from within the room. "Do you think they broke up for no reason? Xiao Feng's mother had always felt that Xiao Chen's family background was not normal enough, and that children from single-parent households inevitably have psychological issues. She opposed their relationship from the start, but only reluctantly agreed because of Xiao Feng's persistence. However, recently, they somehow found out that she had modeled for an abortion hospital advertisement in high school and had many boyfriends in college. When Xiao Feng mentioned wanting to marry Xiao Chen, they blew up and ordered them to break up. They have only one precious son; how could they possibly give him up?"

  Xin Di's voice was incredulous, "This reason is too far-fetched, isn't Feng Yi'an a grown man? How can he be controlled by his family like this?"

  "At first, your dad wanted to introduce Xiao Chen to Xiao Feng, I thought it was inappropriate, and told your dad that if things didn't go well, not only would we not become in-laws, but also make our old colleagues feel awkward when meeting each other. Wasn't I right? Originally, after breaking up, it should have been over, but who knows what Xiao Chen hinted to Xiao Feng about, he suddenly went back and confronted his parents, insisting on making up with Xiao Chen, causing a big commotion at home. Xiao Feng's mom called me to vent her frustrations, what could I say? She then told your dad, and your dad blamed me instead, that's why I'm so angry my chest hurts."

  Xin Chen smiled, handing the chicken soup to Lu Fei and saying softly, "It's really not good to eavesdrop on others' conversations. Every time I hear something that makes me feel embarrassed. Would you mind helping me take it in? No need to mention I was here." She didn't wait for Lu Fei to respond, turning around and leaving with big strides.

  The hospital elevator was crowded and slow as usual, with people going in and out on every floor, each looking worried and preoccupied. Xincheng leaned against the corner, turning her head to glance at the reflection of those furrowed brows in the mirror beside her, finally fixing her gaze on herself, still wearing that hint of a smile, but also a face devoid of any joy. She knew that although Auntie didn't particularly like her, she had been considerate and caring towards her for so many years, maintaining a facade of concern and affection, never expecting that in private, she would be viewed as a fox spirit, with such a serious accusation.

  Her phone rang, she took it out and saw that it was Feng Yi'an calling. She waited for the elevator to go down to the first floor, and while following the crowd walking outside, she answered: "Hello."

  "Xiao Chen, are you free now?"

  "Is everything all right?"

  "Where are you? I'll come pick you up."

  "I'm visiting a patient and I have to rush to work soon, can we talk on the phone?"

  "A freelancer actually started to dump work on me." Feng Yi'an's voice was laced with sarcasm again, "Sorry, it's hard to explain over the phone, would you do me a favor and spare some time to meet up, won't take up too much of your time."

  She thought of the unpleasant conversation she had overheard outside the ward earlier, and her interest was dampened. "With An, we've broken up, living in the same city, occasionally running into each other and exchanging greetings is enough, do you think I'd be interested in personally experiencing your sharp tone?" Feng Yi'an obviously didn't expect her to be so direct, and for a moment he couldn't say anything. Xin Chen said politely, "It's like this, I'll hang up, goodbye."

  Before she could put her phone back in her bag, it rang again. It was still Feng Yi'an. She let out a sigh and answered the call once more: "Hello, what's up?"

  "Sorry, I apologize, Xiao Chen, it was my fault just now." Feng Yi'an's voice was filled with distress.

  "Never mind, I didn't mean to sound harsh," she hesitated for a moment before continuing, "Yi An, please don't quarrel with your family on my account."

  "You never cared about me, did you?" Feng Yi'an flared up again.

  Before Xin Chen could speak, Feng Yi'an hung up the phone this time.

  Xin Chen put away her phone and was about to leave the hospital when she saw several doctors in white coats walking towards her. The man in the center, who appeared to be around 50 years old, was slender and tall, with a pair of frameless glasses perched on his nose and a hint of gray at his temples. She recognized him at once - it was Lufei's uncle, Xie Sizhi, who had diagnosed her with sleep paralysis eleven years ago.

  She wasn't prepared to greet him rashly, watching the scholar with a demeanor even more elegant than Dr. Xie's from back then walk by her side, and she couldn't help but recall the time Lu Fei brought her to see the doctor, standing at this very entrance, she refused to enter the hospital, turning around wanting to leave, but her hand was firmly grasped by Lu Fei, he looked at her with such warmth, patiently coaxing her, the summer sunlight filtering through the tree shade onto him, his smile as gentle as a spring day amidst the dappled light and shadow, this sudden memory left her slightly dazed.

  A hand suddenly stretched out and grasped hers, she was startled and turned her head to see that it was Lu Fei.

  Lu Fei tightly grasped her hand but didn't look at her. At the same time, she called out to Xie Siqi, "Uncle."

  Xie Si stopped in his tracks and turned around, "Lu Fei, what are you doing here?"

  "I came to see Aunt Li, she lives in the internal medicine ward 1907 bed."

  Xie Siqi nodded, "Yes, Director Xin's wife. I went with the cardiologist to examine her this morning, and she should be fine. And who is this young lady?"

  "She is Uncle Xin's niece, Xin Chen. I brought her to see Uncle before, but at that time she was still young, only 14 years old, you may not remember."

  Xie Si Ming smiled, "Please don't question the memory of a doctor who has spent his whole life studying neurology, Lu Fei. This is the only girl you've brought to see me since childhood, I certainly remember." He looked at Xin Chen kindly, "Do you still have sleep disorders?"

  Xin Chen actually felt absurd, but could only maintain a smile, "Even if there is still, I have already adapted, thank you, Doctor."

  Xie Siqi smiled and said: "Right, now the proportion of adults with sleep problems is very high, self-adjustment is very important. Lu Fei, when you have time, bring your girlfriend to my house for dinner, I'll go ahead."

  Watching Xie Siqi walk away, Xin Chen seemed to smile and looked at Lu Fei, "You won't be planning on flirting with me, will you?"

  "Don't be angry about what you heard upstairs."

  "I'm actually not angry at all, just surprised. If there's still a man who can inspire me to seduce and destroy, I should be grateful."

  The hint of desolate sarcasm in her tone made Lu Fei silent, he quietly looked at her, and after a while said: "Xiao Chen, using others' prejudices to punish yourself is unfair to yourself."

  Xin Chen raised an eyebrow, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth. "Fortunately, I don't have too strong a fixation on fairness. You also heard just now that there are probably two mothers who think I have designs on their sons, and one mother who thinks I've got my eye on her daughter's boyfriend. If you keep holding my hand like this, aren't you trying to thoroughly prove my lack of integrity?"

  Lu Fei slowly let go of her hand, "Auntie Li misunderstood, my parents were indeed dissatisfied with the cancellation of my engagement, but after I reached an understanding with Ruo Lian last night, I've had a serious talk with them. It has nothing to do with anyone else, it's just my own problem."

  "Thanks, at least I can clear one charge off my name, I really have to go to work now."

  "I'll send you over."

  "Never mind, let's just keep a suitable distance from now on, okay? Before I leave, I don't want to stir up any more trouble."

  She didn't even look back and walked to the taxi waiting in line at the hospital entrance, opened the door and got in.

  Xin Chen went directly to David Fan's advertising company.

  After Yan Xuhui moved to the studio, the shooting progress of the album accelerated significantly. She no longer needed to go to the shooting scene, and David Fan arranged an office desk and computer for her in the company. She began to perform the final retouching program on the previously shot photos. The most difficult part was still the photos taken in April Garden, where the old house and antique furniture had a good atmosphere, but the lighting treatment was not as thorough as that of a professional studio. Several scenes were shot in a semi-outdoor environment in the corridor, and the model's hair was blown onto her face by the wind, making it particularly tedious to repair the fine hairs.

  Feng Yi'an sent her a text message, asking her to set up a meeting time. She didn't want to reply and directly turned off her phone, focusing on work until 8 pm in the evening. Dinner was a boxed meal eaten with other employees, and it wasn't until the advertising company's overtime employees left that she got up.

  After crouching in front of the computer for most of the day, it's almost inevitable that her eyes are sour and her head is dizzy. After coming out, she waved goodbye to several lively young men and women, they left, but she didn't take a step, collected the smile, stood on the street lit by the street lamp, looked up at the gray sky, raised her left hand to rub the back of her neck, suddenly didn't know where to go.

  After a while, Xin Chen finally lazily opened her steps and walked towards the underground passage, preparing to cross the road to the public bus station opposite. Sitting on the escalator down to the bottom, only to hear the sound of the violin in front, she walked over and stopped in front of the violinist.

  In the underground passageway, it's common to see various street vendors and occasionally someone performing an art. They're usually blind people playing the erhu or blowing a flute. Today, however, there was a young boy with a violin. He was thin, short, and had messy hair. In front of him was a paper box with some scattered bills and coins inside. The lighting in the passageway was dim, and people were rushing to and fro without stopping to listen to him play. But he didn't seem to care, focusing intently on his music as if lost in his own world. When he finished playing, there was no applause. He switched the bow to his left hand, bent down to pick up a bottle of mineral water from the ground, and took a big gulp.

  "May I hear Chrysler's 'Joy of Love'?" asked Xin Chen softly.

  He paused, looked up at her with a hint of shyness, quickly shifted his gaze away, nodded slightly, took a deep breath, and began to play.

  A familiar melody comes face to face with her, wrapping her tightly around, she stands still, letting herself be in a trance for an instant.

  Ten years ago, another boy deliberately carried a violin case to her home, stood in the living room and smiled at her: "What do you want to listen to?"

  She blinked her eyes, but had no idea about the violin piece at all. She hesitated for a moment and said: "Uh, The Butterfly Lovers?"

  He smiled, revealing his pearly white teeth. "Listen to this, Kriesler's 'Joy of Love'."

  She sat on the sofa, intently watching the handsome boy standing in front of her. The last time she saw him play the violin was during a primary school art performance, he stood on stage receiving applause from everyone, and she looked up at him with other classmates from below. At this moment, he was so close to her that she could clearly see his eyelids lowered, gazing intently at the violin in his hand, his eyelashes casting a slight shadow, his slender fingers plucking the strings, the bow dancing on the violin, and the beautiful and full music lingering in her humble home. She had no musical background, usually listening to popular songs, but at that moment she could truly feel the joy of love and being moved, unable to help but be enchanted.

  When the music ended, he asked her: "Was it good?"

  Her response was: "From now on, you're not allowed to play the violin alone for other girls."

  He was so amused by the child's spoiled and playful behavior that he burst out laughing and shook his head, "Miss, I'm playing 'Ode to Joy', not 'Carmen'."

  After Luo Fei left, Xin Chen didn't intentionally go to listen to this song again. Standing in front of the unfamiliar boy playing the guitar, she didn't know why she made this request.

  The joyful melody flowing from the piano slowly transformed into a warm, intimate and gentle one, from lingering to clear, from wanting to speak but hesitating to bright and smooth. Such joy and romance overflowed in the sound of the music, making her feel as if she were in a spring filled with blooming flowers.

  When the boy's hand holding the bow fell, their eyes met. This time, he didn't shy away. She lightly applauded and then took out a bill from her bag, squatted down, put it in the box, "Thank you, goodbye."

  She walked towards the exit of the underground passage, and behind her, the melodious violin sound echoed again.

  Xin Chen patted her bag, the small flashlight and keys were all there. She went upstairs, into her own home, turned on the light to take a look, and felt a sense of unfamiliarity inside. She opened the doors and windows, walked onto the balcony, and saw that the morning glories climbing up the railing couldn't be taken away. No one had been taking care of them for several days, their leaves were wilted and drooping. Although it was already close to autumn and the blooming period of the morning glories was about to end, she still scooped up water and poured it into the flower pot. With a light touch, the black seeds that had formed on the withered flowers scattered and fell off. In previous years, she would have collected them, keeping some for sowing next year and giving some away as gifts. Now, she could only let them scatter and fall on their own.

  She returned to the living room, sat down on the floor, and for the first time discovered that having a home was still very important, at least when she didn't want to see anyone, there was somewhere to go.

  At first, when decorating the house, she had set a minimalist style, so there were no fancy designs. She made her own renderings and supervised the construction herself. On the day of completion, instead of hiring a cleaning company, she did the final cleaning by hand, exhausting herself in the process. Afterward, sitting against the wall with a rag in her hand, looking at the empty house, she thought about what furniture to buy next. Despite having many uncertainties, she decided to make the best of living there.

  It's not hard to deal with all the external things with a full and carefree attitude, but dealing with memories and the past is always difficult. She bowed her head onto her knees, wishing she could just lie down and sleep right there.

  It wasn't long before the doorbell rang, and Xin Chen was too lazy to care, but the person outside seemed determined to test her patience, pressing the button repeatedly without stopping. The ringing sound echoed in the empty room, making it particularly jarring. She could only get up, walk to the door, and look out through the peephole, where she saw Feng Yi'an standing with his hand on the doorbell button, wearing a blue and white striped shirt, his lips pursed in an unfamiliar stern expression.