16 – Competing with the Man for the Fish Pond
When Yu Ai returned, she found Ying Yi still sitting stiffly in the same position.
She yawned and said, “I’m so sleepy, I’m going to bed first. A Yi, if you get hungry, have some snacks.” Then she immediately fell asleep.
Ying Yi clutched his stomach. The snacks in the plastic bag were what Yu Ai had bought at the train station while rushing to catch the train – he never ate such junk food.
He checked his phone and saw that Zhou Hui still hadn’t replied to his messages. With his battery running low, he leaned against the headboard and dozed off briefly.
A few hours later, noise filled the carriage again. Groggily putting on his glasses, Ying Yi saw two people standing at the doorway.
Their carriage had four berths. Yu Ai had purchased the lower bunk. There were fifteen stops to Tibet, and they had just arrived at the next station. These two passengers happened to have the upper bunks above them.
Ying Yi immediately sat up and saw the plump middle-aged couple settling their luggage, with several plastic basins hanging from their burlap sacks.
“Oh my! What a handsome young man!” the plump wife exclaimed. “Are you also going to Tibet?”
Yu Ai chose that moment to turn over and let out a soft groan.
“There are other people sleeping,” the plump wife patted her husband and lowered her voice. “Keep it down. I’m sleeping above this young lady.”
The husband immediately nodded and quietly arranged their belongings before climbing with his stout frame into the bunk above Ying Yi.
Before the carriage lights went out, Yu Ai glanced at Ying Yi’s bunk – not a single wrinkle in sight.
Tsk tsk, is he being picky? Too bad there are still over twenty hours to go. If he’s so particular, let’s see if he can sit like that all the way to Tibet.
Ying Yi ended up sitting in his clothes all night. Though it was summer, the carriage air conditioning was turned up high. He didn’t even use the train blanket, just sat there shivering and rubbing his arms.
The big man in the upper bunk snored thunderously. Ying Yi, who rarely smoked, felt so irritated that he went to the train’s smoking area and smoked half a pack before returning to the carriage.
Looking at Yu Ai still sleeping soundly, Ying Yi thought how neither of them traveled much, yet she seemed to adapt completely.
When Yu Ai woke in the morning, Ying Yi could no longer endure his hunger and was eating the junk snacks she had bought.
“A Yi, you’re up so early?” Yu Ai rubbed her eyes. “Let me make you some instant noodles.”
She pretended not to notice the bloodshot eyes from his sleepless night.
“No need, I’m full already.”
“Then I’ll go get hot water before it runs out.”
Yu Ai jumped up quickly, filled her thermos, and made herself a bowl of noodles. Noticing the couple in the upper bunks were awake, she greeted them before drawing open the window curtain.
“A Yi, look! So beautiful!”
They had passed several stations by now, and the scenery outside the window was picturesque.
Yu Ai took out her camera and started photographing, her face beaming with joy. Seeing her excitement, Ying Yi couldn’t help but smile.
“Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?” the plump woman from the upper bunk struck up a conversation with Yu Ai.
“Yes, we’re campus sweethearts,” Yu Ai said. “We’ve been planning this graduation trip for ages, finally catching the tail end of summer.”
Turning excitedly to Ying Yi, she asked, “Right, boyfriend?”
Seeing Yu Ai’s playful wink, Ying Yi responded, “Yes, that’s right, we’re a couple.”
“Youth is wonderful, able to travel on a whim,” the upper bunk woman said. “Not like me and my husband – we’re going for work.”
“Work trips are fine too!” Yu Ai said. “Seeing different scenery in new places – life should have diverse experiences!”Yu Ai said, “Unlike me and my boyfriend, especially him—he’s always stuck in one place. He’s been dreaming of Tibet for ages, but if I hadn’t secretly bought the tickets this time, he’d still be buried in his work at school.”
“You educated folks are different…”
Ying Yi didn’t pay much attention to what they said afterward. He recalled how, when they first started dating, they had talked about traveling together.
But whether it was summer or winter break, he was always busy. Ai Ai was especially understanding of him, even delaying the graduation trip that’s practically a must for couples because of his exams and job applications.
Their honeymoon was even more…
Watching Yu Ai’s excited expression since they boarded the train, he knew she remembered every casual remark he made and wanted to make it come true for him…
Well, as long as she was happy, that was what mattered. This was what he owed her.
As for the matter he discussed with Zhou Hui the night before, he’d deal with it after this trip.
“Ding, Ying Yi’s favorability +10.”
On the surface, Yu Ai continued chatting with the woman in the upper bunk without pause, her mind working methodically.
Men like Ying Yi were indecisive, hesitant in handling matters, weak-willed, and self-righteously kind. They didn’t want to hurt anyone, yet they were the most foolish of all.
Such men were best left tangled in guilt and regret.
…
“Ugh… ugh…”
Yu Ai patted Ying Yi’s back beside him. “How did you end up vomiting like this?”
Ying Yi frowned at the sour smell of his own vomit in the air. There were other people in the carriage, and in all his years, he had never been so disheveled and impolite.
Before he could even feel ashamed, a wave of dizziness washed over him, and he collapsed.
A sleepless night, combined with the cold air and an upset stomach, had finally taken its toll.
“A Yi!”
Ying Yi fainted on the sleeper berth, startling Yu Ai. Seeing the flush on his face, she touched it with her hand. “So hot!”
“Girl, your boyfriend’s face is all red. Is he sick with a cold?”
The couple immediately handed over the cold medicine they had prepared to Yu Ai. “The conditions on the train aren’t great right now. Give him some cold medicine first.”
The burly man even shook his head. “This young man is too weak. Going on a trip and still needing his girlfriend to take care of him.”
Even in his daze, Ying Yi heard these words.
Yu Ai stayed by his side all day, constantly changing the water and using a towel to cool his forehead.
“Oh, nowadays, few young people are as devoted and loyal as this,” the wife in the upper bunk said, shooting a glance at her husband. “If I ever get sick, I’d consider myself lucky if you could take care of me half as thoughtfully!”
Ying Yi’s head throbbed painfully, and he tightly gripped Yu Ai’s hand, refusing to let go.
Although it was noisy outside, the presence of the woman beside him always brought him a sense of peace in this unfamiliar environment.
He slept until evening, drifting in and out of consciousness. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Yu Ai looking at him with concern.
“A Yi? You’re awake? Are you hungry? I’ll go find something for you to eat.”
Ying Yi was still holding her hand when she gently pulled away.
Yu Ai immediately got up and busied herself fetching water. “The train meal service already passed by once, but you were still asleep. Now, there’s only instant noodles left.”
Yu Ai sounded guilty. “It’s all my fault for not taking better care of you.”
Before Ying Yi could say anything, the burly woman in the upper bunk chimed in, “Girl, how can you blame yourself? We can all see how much you care for your boyfriend.”
She turned her gaze to Ying Yi, who was still lying down. “Hey, young man, you should work on your fitness when you get back. You’re too weak and not sturdy enough.”Ying Yi didn’t make a sound as he propped himself up to rise. Yu Ai moved to support him, but he refused her help. “It’s just a cold. There’s no need for you to be so worried.”