In mid-April Shenzhen, the thunderstorm had just stopped, and the broken neon lights reflected in the puddles by the roadside. Susu had just gotten off work when she received a call—the voice on the other end had a familiar ring she hadn't heard in a long time: "I'm on a business trip to Shenzhen and want to see you."
Susu froze for two seconds, then replied flusteredly, "I'm very busy lately."
"Just for a meal, I won't disturb you for too long."
Susu didn't reply.
He didn't pressure her either, only saying, "Contact me when you've decided."
It wasn't that Susu didn't want to see him; she missed him, so much it was driving her mad. But four months ago, his choice to give her up had already taken half her life. She had used all her strength to alleviate the pain of heartbreak. Her life had just begun to calm down, and she feared seeing him again would make her anxious and insecure. If she were abandoned again, it would likely take the other half of her life. She was even more afraid that he was just lonely or bored and had only thought of her again.
She hadn't contacted him at all. Until two nights later, Xin Che sent a message: "I really miss you, please let me see you, just for a few minutes."
This one sentence drilled into her heart through the cracks she had desperately held shut. Her emotions instantly crushed the rationality she had maintained for two days. Before she could even think clearly, her hand had already moved, sending him her home address.
Not long after, Xin Che called: "I'm here, come down."
She had originally thought she didn't like him as much as before. But seeing his face again, all her emotions instantly reignited like dying embers, surging towards her. She tried hard to control herself, maintaining a calm exterior. The two of them strolled slowly through the residential community, chatting about their recent lives as if they were old friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time, neither of them mentioning the past. After walking for more than ten minutes, they returned to downstairs Susu's building. She stopped, her voice gentle yet distant, "It's too late, you should go back and rest. Goodbye, President Xin."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xin Che unexpectedly pulled her into his embrace, his voice soft and a little pleading, "Susu... can you love me again?"
She stood stunned in his arms, the heartache and grievance of months instantly overwhelming her, tears streaming down uncontrollably.
It was the first time Xin Che had seen her cry. He panicked like a helpless child, only able to hold her tighter and stroke her back repeatedly.
Susu calmed her emotions, raised her hand to wipe the tears from her face, and said to him, "Come up for a bit."
Xin Che nodded, took her hand, afraid she would change her mind again. As soon as they entered the door, he hugged her, lowered his head, and kissed her forehead, the corners of her eyes, and her cheeks. His movements were gentle yet urgent, as if trying to make up for every lost moment. Susu neither reciprocated nor resisted, simply letting him hold her, her eyes unfocused for a moment, as if trying to discern if this was a dream.
His fingertips brushed her jawline, and he murmured, "You've lost weight." Then he kissed her lips, first a tentative touch, then in the next second, he couldn't control himself and delved in. His hand slid under her shirt, embracing her back, his hot palm seeming to burn away her restraint inch by inch.
He bent down and carried her into the bedroom. The moment her feet left the ground, she instinctively tightened her arms, gripping his neck. As he slowly undressed her, he buried his face in her collarbone, kissing his way down, as if searching for her lingering affection for him during their separation within her panting, soft moans, and pleas.
✦✦✦