He Yan thought Wen Xue would put everything back, but she kept one plush toy.
Is this considered saving him some face?
Fortunately, the shopping cart wasn’t too empty. This time he silently followed behind her, no longer taking the initiative to throw things in. Wen Xue wasn’t sure what to add to the room either, wandering aimlessly for nearly half an hour. Besides the plush toy, she only picked up a few bowls and chopsticks.
He Yan wasn’t a patient man when it came to trivial daily matters.
He truly couldn’t understand her behavior of touching things left and right, yet buying nothing.
Soon he realized that if he left the shopping decisions to Wen Xue, they might only end up with two more cups by the time the mall closed. He decisively said, “Let’s go look at sofas.”
“Sofas?”
“Yes.”
This time he pushed the cart ahead to lead the way, glancing back to urge her with his eyes.
Wen Xue had no choice but to obediently follow.
Considering the small room size, He Yan used his eyes as measuring tools. Lifting his chin, he asked her in a low voice, “Which color do you like?”
Across from them were displayed two-person fabric sofas, just the right size.
There were beige, dark gray, and pink options.
He thought to himself that she’d probably like the pink one.
Wen Xue carefully examined them, then pointed at the dark gray one. “This one.”
It had nothing to do with preference – she thought all three colors were rather unattractive. But if she had to choose, she’d pick the most stain-resistant dark gray. That way, after she left and other employees moved in, the sofa would still look brand new, which should make them happy.
He Yan’s expression paused briefly. “Okay.”
He pushed the shopping cart beside her and went to consult with staff about delivery. When he returned to find her, she had wandered elsewhere. Before he could even dial his phone, his eyes found her figure.
She was gazing intently at a floor lamp.
She didn’t even notice when he approached her side, so he had to speak up. “Do you like it?”
His deep voice reached Wen Xue’s eardrums. She turned her head, momentarily dazed, as if transported back to a year ago. Back then, both she and He Heng were on vacation, finding everything in West City fresh and exciting, not wanting to return home early. They had visited several places for fun, including this home furnishing store. She had loved this same floor lamp back then.
At that time, He Heng had his arm around her shoulder, smiling as he asked, “Do you like it?”
She had nodded, but didn’t let him buy it. First, there was no place to put it in the dorm; second, it would be too troublesome to move back to Haicheng. Plus, they spent too little time in their hometown, so they had to give up the idea.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like it. But back then, she thought they had their whole lives ahead of them. Someday they would live in their own home and buy her favorite lamp.
“Before…” Wen Xue spoke with difficulty amid the passing crowd, “we really wanted to buy it, but had nowhere to put it.”
If the person standing beside her wasn’t He Yan, but someone else – even her best friend – she wouldn’t have said these words.
But with He Yan, she could easily mention him.
Some words came out effortlessly, and it was in this moment that she suddenly realized: if you miss someone, you need to talk about them with someone who misses them too.
He Yan remained silent for several seconds before saying in a deep voice, “Now there’s a place for it.”
Wen Xue was taken aback.
This floor lamp didn’t require delivery – they could take it home with them today.After He Yan loaded the cardboard box containing the lamp into the back seat of the car and returned to the driver’s seat, his first action was to ask Wen Xue, “Did you bring your wallet?”
She had taken it out from her down jacket pocket when paying earlier—a light blue wallet.
“Yes.”
“Give it to me.”
Wen Xue didn’t understand his intention but obediently searched for the wallet and handed it to him.
He Yan then took out his own wallet, pulled out all the cash inside, and stuffed it into the light blue wallet. Instantly, the originally slim wallet bulged, almost too full to fasten.
“I have money!” she protested urgently, turning sideways to face him directly in an attempt to stop him.
“Tell me when it runs out.” He Yan returned the wallet to her. In the dimly lit car, only the faint glow from the console illuminated his stern face. “Don’t be like him, always waiting for me to ask before admitting he’s broke.”
Wen Xue’s expression went blank for a few seconds.
Only after He Yan started the engine did she slowly clutch the thick wallet, her grip so tight her knuckles turned white, before finally tucking it back into her pocket.
…
Wen Xue didn’t pay much attention to her surroundings. She didn’t notice that the lights in the hallway of the Residential Building were much brighter now, but He Yan looked up at the lightbulb with satisfaction. He had her walk in front while he followed behind, just in case she missed a step and he could catch her.
On the third floor, He Yan pricked up his ears and listened for a moment. Hearing no mahjong sounds, he continued steadily behind her toward the far end, carrying the cardboard box on his shoulder and a bag in his right hand.
Wen Xue, holding a plush toy in her arms, found her keys and unlocked the door.
It wasn’t too late yet, just before 9 p.m. He Yan took the scissors from her, opened the cardboard box, and crouched down to study the instructions while assembling the floor lamp. He was meticulous in his work, his usually stern face now showing a focused expression.
Wen Xue wanted to help but couldn’t find a way to intervene.
She watched quietly for a while, then retrieved the newly bought cups from the bag. She boiled water, rinsed the cups repeatedly with hot water, and sniffed them to ensure no strange odors remained. Digging through her suitcase, she found several packets of marshmallow hot cocoa powder from last winter that hadn’t been finished. After confirming they weren’t expired, she leaned over and asked softly, “Would you like some hot cocoa?”
Hot cocoa?
He Yan had heard of it but never tried it. Unsure what it exactly was, he casually replied, “Sure.”
Wen Xue tore open the packet, mixed it with hot water, and immediately a sweet, rich aroma filled the air.
She held the cup to warm her hands, planning to give it to him once it cooled slightly.
He Yan was highly skilled with his hands and quickly assembled the floor lamp. Turning to her, he asked, “Where should I put it?”
Wen Xue scanned the room and pointed uncertainly, “How about over there?”
The sofa would be delivered tomorrow, and placing the floor lamp beside it seemed ideal.
“Alright.” He Yan positioned the lamp where she indicated, conveniently near an outlet. After plugging it in, he was about to test it himself but reconsidered. Beckoning her like encouraging a child, he said in a supportive tone, “You try it.”
A subtle emotion stirred in Wen Xue’s heart.
It was a feeling once very familiar but estranged over the past six months. Yet she recognized it—it was anticipation.
She nodded, handed him the cup—her palms still warm and slightly sweaty—brushed past the hem of his overcoat, found the floor lamp’s switch, and asked, “This one?”
He Yan smiled, but his smile quickly faded.Because an overly sweet, cloying warmth lingered around his nose, refusing to dissipate, he lowered his gaze. Floating in the deep brown liquid were a few marshmallows that hadn’t fully melted yet. “…”
Click—
He lifted his eyes.
Wen Xue gripped the switch and pressed it firmly.
The soft light fell on her white down jacket, her smooth hair, and her clear, glistening eyes.
She stared fixedly at the lamp, a long-lost, genuine delight in her eyes.
She had finally brought it back.
…
After He Yan installed the light, he didn’t linger in her room. Returning the empty cup to her, he hurried downstairs to his own room.
Wu Yuejiang lived on the same floor and came back looking tipsy. Seeing He Yan’s door open, he staggered in unsteadily. “Had a bottle of baijiu with Manager Zhang, then a bottle of red. He finally relented and said he’d apply to the higher-ups to ease our loan conditions.”
“Did you discuss the amount?” He Yan slurred in reply.
He was bent over the sink, brushing his teeth.
Wu Yuejiang, beaming with a ruddy complexion, gestured a number. “How about that?”
He Yan tilted his head back to rinse, his Adam’s apple bobbing, then spat out the water and said, “Not bad.”
Wu Yuejiang rubbed his face, jubilant. “We can finally have a good New Year.”
In their line of work, they could earn money—once they got the hang of it, they could earn quite a bit—but the pressure was relentless. After all, they owed bank loans. Waking up every day and thinking about the interest, even if they were to die tomorrow, they’d have to drag themselves out of bed today to keep working.
He Yan grunted in agreement, squeezing toothpaste onto his brush.
Wu Yuejiang, still buzzing with excitement, wanted to chat and kept repeating himself. Suddenly, he eyed He Yan suspiciously. “Why are you brushing your teeth again?”
He Yan didn’t respond. Why was he brushing twice? Because his mouth was filled with a sweetness so intense it turned bitter.
That cup of hot cocoa had nearly choked him to death.
But in front of her, he had no choice but to take sip after sip, his throat trembling, yet he swallowed it all without changing his expression.
At 5:30 in the morning, Wen Xue stood by the window, staring blankly outside. Remembering she had to be at work by nine, she found the notes she’d taken yesterday in her bag and reviewed them again. Perhaps this was human nature at its worst: during class, she had almost willfully zoned out, and her exam results were probably mediocre. But during her time at He Yan’s company, she wanted to muster every bit of concentration, terrified of making even the slightest mistake and causing him trouble or unnecessary losses.
By seven o’clock, she picked up her bag and tiptoed out. The others hadn’t woken up yet, and the residential building was quiet. Outside, the air was thick with fog. She wrapped her scarf tightly, put on her gloves, and headed downstairs. She had spotted a breakfast stall from the car yesterday.
She walked from one end to the other, then back again, before finally sitting down at one of the stalls. When the owner placed a steaming bowl of wonton in front of her, her first instinct wasn’t to pick up the disposable spoon but to take out her phone. She carefully composed a message: 【Brother, you don’t need to buy me breakfast today. I’ve already come out.】
This was the only solution she could think of.
She let out a sigh of relief and was about to slip her phone back into her pocket when her palm vibrated.
It was his reply: 【What are you eating?】
She replied: 【Wonton.】
Just as her finger hovered over the send button, she politely added: 【Should I bring you breakfast?】
He Yan: 【Okay, I’ll have soybean milk and fried dough sticks.】
She froze. The next second, he sent another message: 【One bowl of soybean milk, two fried dough sticks.】She looked around and spotted a vendor frying dough sticks before replying to him: [“Alright.”]
After finishing a bowl of wontons with focused attention, Wen Xue took her wallet to buy the soybean milk and fried dough sticks he wanted. Holding the substantial weight in her hand, she quickened her pace back to the residential building. Reaching the far end of the second floor, she knocked on the door just as He Yan was shaving in front of the mirror.
He set down the razor, casually grabbed a towel to wipe his face, and opened the door carrying a crisp scent sharper than mint.
Wen Xue tactfully avoided looking inside, keeping her gaze lowered toward the ground as she extended the purchased breakfast: “You should eat while it’s hot.”
He Yan acknowledged and took it. Seeing her about to leave immediately, he stopped her: “Wen Xue.”
She halted and turned back.
He casually picked up his car keys from the cabinet and handed them to her, “It’s cold outside.” Wait in the car—I’ll drive you to work.”