Back Then, I Adored You

“Yes, I’m watching the fireworks with Wu Hao at Houhai.” Fireworks exploded in the air over the phone after Xu Wennuan responded to Qin Zhi’ai. An audience cheered wildly before quieting down for a moment. Xu Wennuan loudly repeated her question. “Xiao’ai, when are you coming back to Beijing?”

“After January 13th.”

“That late? I live by myself now, and I’m getting bored. You need to get back here soon,” Xu Wennuan whined. The noise became more distant as she walked away from the show.

“Okay. I’ll check for an available ticket and come over.” After pausing, Qin Zhi’ai continued, “But I have to stay here until January 6th.”

“Okay. Love you, honey.” Xu Wennuan giggled.

As Qin Zhi’ai was about to laugh, she heard Wu Hao say through the phone, “Bro Sheng, can you give my wife a ride first?”

Qin Zhi’ai’s body stiffened.

She could vaguely hear a car engine and Gu Yusheng saying, “Okay.”

After some background noise, she heard Gu Yusheng asking, “Address?”

“Xiao’ai, wait a second.” Xu Wennuan then told Gu Yusheng her address and returned to her conversation with Qin Zhi’ai.

Before Xu Wennuan could talk, Qin Zhi’ai absentmindedly said, “Yes,” and then added, “Nuannuan, my mom is calling me. I need go. I’ll talk to you later.”

She didn’t wait for Xu Wennuan’s response. She hung up, dropped her arm to her side, and stared down the hallway in a trance.

For the past few days, she had managed to stay calm and focused. She could not have expected to ever hear him again, much less over the phone while talking to her friend.

Her world turned upside down.

Qin Zhi’ai had told her that she would be back on the 13th, but to surprise Xu Wennuan she returned to Beijing on January 12th. She arrived at the South train station at 3:00 p.m.

Chinese New Year break had just finished, so the streets of Beijing were almost empty of cars and people. The city was silent.

It took less than 20 minutes to get to the apartment from the station.

Xu Wennuan was not home, but her presence was evident by the mess in the living room and dirty clothes piled in the bathroom.

Qin Zhi’ai helplessly shook her head. Xu Wennuan had not changed a bit in all these years.

She put away her suitcase and changed her clothes before starting to clean the apartment.

By 5:00 p.m., the sun was setting, and Xu Wennuan wasn’t home yet. Qin Zhi’ai opened the refrigerator and found nothing but a few eggs and some milk. She grabbed her wallet and headed to the nearby supermarket.

Qin Zhi’ai shopped for a week’s supply before checking out. By the time she got outside, it was completely dark.

The bags were heavy, and she struggled carrying them even the short distance to her apartment. When she was almost at her building, Qin Zhi’ai spotted Xu Wennuan and Wuhao at the entrance.

Qin Zhi’ai almost called out, “Nuannuan,” but a car horn blasted, and she heard Lu Bancheng shout, “Haozi, are you done? You’ve been standing there for a while.”