The train whistle blew and the platform filled with noise. The green locomotive steamed slowly to a halt. Gu Yuanhang stood in the crowd at the exit craning his neck. He straightened his collar glanced down at the wildflowers in his arms and let a smile touch his lips. He had set out before dawn to gather them and mud still speckled his trouser legs but the thought of seeing her soon made every bit of it worthwhile.
The doors opened and passengers poured out hauling heavy bags. Gu Yuanhang scanned the crowd until he spotted her. There she was in a floral dress with soft waves in her hair looking unlike anyone else around her. She carried a leather suitcase and craned her neck searching for someone.
“Miaomiao!” Gu Yuanhang called waving the bouquet high. Her face lit up when she saw him she lifted her skirt and hurried toward him throwing herself straight into his arms.
“Yuanhang!” Her voice was sweet and warm laced with playful reproach. “Do you really miss me? If you did why didn’t you come sooner? You’ve kept me waiting so long!”
“It’s my fault all my fault.” Gu Yuanhang held her tight feeling completely full. He pressed his face into her hair breathing deeply utterly captivated. “Miaomiao it’s so good to have you back.”
Just then a short distance away another group reached the exit. Huo Mingyue turned to Tangtang.
“Tangtang walk slowly don’t fall.” She handed a mesh bag to Su Xingci. “Xingci thank you so much for coming all this way to see us off.”
Su Xingci smiled and took it. “Mingyue you’re too kind. Father was heading out anyway so it’s no trouble.” Tangtang clung tightly to her leg.
Su Yuanshan and Huo Chenzhou walked behind carrying a few things. “Captain Huo we truly couldn’t have managed without you. Next time I will…” Su Yuanshan stopped mid sentence. He froze staring at the embracing couple and his smile faded.
The air seemed to go still. Huo Mingyue’s smile stiffened and Su Xingci’s arm tightened around Tangtang. She recognized that familiar back the woman in his arms and the very same wildflowers that now felt so wrong. So this was what his leave was for. This was the woman he had been meeting.
A sharp pain pierced her chest and she went cold all over. Gu Yuanhang felt the shift and pulled back turning around. When his eyes met Su Yuanshan’s and then Su Xingci’s all color drained from his face. It was over. That was all he could think.
The woman in his arms sensed something wrong and followed his gaze her expression confused. Gu Yuanhang stepped away from her quickly.
“Uncle Su Xingci what are you doing here?” His voice sounded strained and he forced a painful smile.
Su Xingci said nothing just looked at him coldly with quiet disdain. Su Yuanshan still did not fully understand he looked from Gu Yuanhang to the girl beside him frowning.
“Yuanhang we came to see Mingyue off. What is all this?”
Gu Yuanhang spoke hurriedly gesturing at the woman beside him. “Oh this is someone I came to meet. She is the younger sister of a comrade visiting from out of town I was just helping out.”
Miaomiao looked displeased and slipped her arm through his. “Yuanhang why are you…” She stopped when Gu Yuanhang gave her a sharp warning look. She fell silent but did not let go of his arm.
The gesture darkened Su Yuanshan’s expression. He stepped closer and spoke in a serious lowered tone. “Yuanhang have you and your partner broken up?”
Gu Yuanhang felt a jolt of dread. He glanced quickly at Su Xingci and answered. “No Uncle we haven’t.”
“Haven’t you?” Su Yuanshan’s voice grew heavier. “Then what do you call this? Carrying on with another woman in public what kind of example does that set? If your girlfriend found out how would she feel?”
Su Yuanshan spoke from genuine concern he cared for the girl he had never met and thought of Gu Yuanhang as family. He only wanted to steer him right. He did not realize his words were making both Su Xingci and Gu Yuanhang wish they could disappear. Gu Yuanhang’s face burned then paled he wanted nothing more than to vanish.
Su Xingci curled her fingers inward pressing her nails into her palms feeling no pain. She almost wanted to laugh. How ridiculous. Her own father was earnestly warning her boyfriend to be faithful and worrying about how his girlfriend would feel never knowing he was talking about her. Was it absurd? It was simply true. She felt every ounce of strength leave her and her body began to shake.
Then a tall figure stepped in front of her blocking her view. Huo Chenzhou had come over without her noticing. He did not look at Gu Yuanhang he spoke to Su Yuanshan.
“Uncle Su she is not feeling well we should go.” His voice was calm and steady and somehow it gave her something to lean on.
“Oh yes of course.” Su Yuanshan turned back seeing how pale his daughter was and forgetting all about scolding Gu Yuanhang. “Xingci what is it? Are you unwell?”
Su Xingci shook her head unable to speak. Huo Chenzhou gently took Tangtang from her arms and placed his other hand firmly at her side. “Let us go.”
They turned to leave. Gu Yuanhang panicked he pulled free of Miaomiao and reached out toward Su Xingci. “Xingci please listen…”
His hand never touched her sleeve. A stronger hand caught his wrist mid grip. Huo Chenzhou held it firm with enough pressure to make his bones ache. Two men in uniform stood facing each other in silence amid the crowd.
“Let go!” Gu Yuanhang’s eyes blazed with hurt and anger. Who was this man? Why was he standing in her way? Why did he act as if he had the right to protect her?
Huo Chenhang did not speak only tightened his hold. Gu Yuanhang groaned under the pressure his face changing color.
“Uncle.” Su Xingci spoke at last her voice soft and icily cold. She turned slowly to face him. “What is there to explain? You are just my uncle.” Don’t touch me you are beneath me she added silently to herself.