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Return To ShopEmotional Story: The Wind Blows Past My Ear
China OEM adult toy manufacturer
China custom sex toy manufacturer
China realistic dildo manufacturer
China adult toy supplier for brand
I. First Impression
Lin Huai first noticed Shen Yue because of a cup of coffee.
It was a Monday morning in July, and the air in Mingyuan Technology’s cubicles was thick with the typical Monday blues. Lin Huai, sporting dark circles under his eyes, walked into the break room and bumped into a new face standing on tiptoe, trying to reach the coffee bean container on the high shelf.
She was wearing a pale yellow dress, her hair was casually tied in a ponytail, her heels were slightly off the ground, her fingertips barely touched the edge of the jar, and she looked like she was about to fall.
Lin Huai reached out and gently lifted the jar off.
” Thank you! ” She turned around, revealing a clean and neat face with smiling eyes. ” My name is Shen Yue. I just started last Friday in the marketing department. “
“ Lin Huai, Technical Department. ” He nodded, his gaze lingering on her face for a second longer — not for any other reason than that her smile was very comforting, like a cool breeze blowing on a summer evening.
At that time, Lin Huai had no idea that this smile would appear repeatedly in his dreams for a long time to come.
Their departments were on opposite floors and they wouldn’t normally have much interaction. But coincidentally, a Hunan restaurant called ” Old Place ” near the company became their frequent meeting place.
They first met by chance in the cafeteria. Shen Yue sat down opposite him with her tray and casually said, ” Eating alone is so boring. “
The second time was at a department dinner. The two departments shared a table, and she sat next to him. She was so spicy that she kept fanning herself while stuffing chopped chili fish head into her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes, and Lin Huai silently pushed his glass of iced plum juice over to her.
The third time was when Lin Huai came downstairs late at night after working overtime and found Shen Yue squatting on the steps at the company entrance, hugging her knees, with red eyes.
” What’s wrong? ” he asked.
” The client rejected our proposal for the seventh time. ” She sniffed, her voice muffled. ” I feel so useless. “
Lin Huai wasn’t good at comforting people. He stood there hesitating for three seconds, then turned around and went to the convenience store to buy two cans of beer and a pack of tissues. He came back, sat down next to her, and without saying a word, simply opened the can and handed it to her.
Shen Yue took the beer, took a sip, and suddenly laughed: ” You’re such a quiet person. “
” Um. “
” But it’s actually quite reliable. “
” Um. “
She was amused by his taciturn manner, and while laughing, she accidentally hiccuped, covering her mouth in embarrassment. Lin Huai’s lips curled up slightly, a faint smile in the night, but it was the first genuine smile he had given in nearly half a year.
From then on, they started having lunch together. It wasn’t a deliberate arrangement; it was just that when it was time to eat, one of them would get up, and the other would naturally follow. Their colleagues started exchanging knowing glances, and even the cafeteria ladies remembered them — one wanted mild spicy, the other extra spicy, and there was always a free bowl of seaweed soup between them.
II. Heartbeat
The truth was revealed on a rainy day.
Lin Huai remembers it clearly; the typhoon that year came exceptionally early. The torrential rain poured down from the afternoon until evening, shrouding the entire city in mist. He worked two extra hours before leaving, only to find that the rain showed no signs of letting up when he reached the lobby.
He was considering whether to rush into the rain to ride his electric bike when he saw Shen Yue standing in the corner of the hall, holding a cardboard box filled with documents and a laptop. Her expression looked like she was making a difficult choice.
” Didn’t you bring an umbrella? ” he asked.
” I brought it. ” She gave a wry smile, ” but the umbrella is too small and the suitcase is too big. “
Lin Huai looked at his raincoat, then at her cardboard box, and made a decision that, in retrospect, seemed a bit foolish but at the time, it felt perfectly reasonable—
He draped his raincoat over Shen Yue and her cardboard box, then rode his electric scooter to the door in the rain and said to her, ” Get on, I’ll give you a ride. “
” Are you crazy? You’ll get soaked! “
“ I’m already wet, ” he said calmly. “ Get on. ”
Shen Yue bit her lip and looked at him for three seconds, then hugged the cardboard box and sat on the back seat.
Rain pelted Lin Huai’s glasses, blurring his vision, but he rode steadily. As he passed an intersection, he suddenly felt a slight weight on his back — Shen Yue’s forehead gently rested between his shoulder blades.
The touch was very light, as light as a leaf falling on the water.
But Lin Huai’s heart was pounding like a drum.
When they arrived at the entrance of Shen Yue’s apartment complex, she rummaged through a cardboard box and pulled out a pack of tissues, handing it to him: ” Wipe your hands. “
He took it and hastily wiped his face. Rainwater streamed down his hair, and he looked like he had just been pulled out of a river, utterly disheveled.
Shen Yue looked at him, her eyes suddenly reddening: ” Why are you so good to me? “
Lin Huai was stunned. He wanted to say ” because it was on the way , ” he wanted to say ” it’s what colleagues should do , ” he wanted to say a lot of high-sounding words. But when those words reached his lips, they all crumbled into dust.
He heard himself say, ” Because I like you. “
The rain was loud, and he didn’t know if she had heard him. But the tips of her ears were red, glowing brightly in the dim light of the streetlamp.
She lowered her head and whispered something, most of it swallowed by the sound of the rain. Lin Huai leaned closer: ” What did you say? “
“ I said …” She looked up, her eyes bright as if filled with water, “ Then why don’t you park the car properly and come in for a cup of ginger tea? You’ll catch a cold getting soaked like this. ”
That night, Lin Huai drank two cups of ginger tea on Shen Yue’s sofa, wrapped in a blanket with a bear pattern, watching her bustling around looking for a dry towel and a hair dryer, muttering to himself, ” Are you stupid? ” and ” Is getting caught in the rain fun ? “
He sat on the sofa, still soaked, but his heart felt warm, like he was carrying a little sun.
At two in the morning, he returned to his rented room, tossed and turned in bed unable to sleep, and finally took out his phone to send her a message:
” Shen Yue, I meant what I just said. “
He sent the message and stared at the screen for a full four minutes. Then he received a reply:
” I know. Me too. “
III. Passionate Love
Lin Huai’s behavior after falling in love surprised the entire technical department.
This usually cold-faced programmer, who writes code like he’s meditating and attends meetings like he’s going to a funeral, suddenly became … vibrant.
He started leaving work on time — or rather, he started packing up five minutes early, prompting his team leader to joke that ” Lin Huai’s alarm clock is more accurate than a time clock . ” A pink mug appeared on his desk, a gift from Shen Yue, printed with ” The Best Boyfriend in the World . ” He complained that it was childish, but he used it more frequently than anyone else every day.
What colleagues talk about most is the black electric scooter that appears punctually downstairs at the company every evening.
Lin Huai’s electric scooter was a very ordinary model. A soft, dark blue cushion, chosen by Shen Yue, was strapped to the back seat. It was a bit ugly, but she said it ” didn’t hurt her butt . ” A pink cartoon helmet with two cat ears hung on the handlebars; it was Shen Yue’s personal item.
Every day at 6:10, Lin Huai would first ride his bike downstairs, then send a message: ” Are you down yet? ” Within thirty seconds, he would receive a reply: ” The elevator’s here! Don’t rush me! “
Then he leaned against the car and watched as the glass doors of the office building lobby opened, and Shen Yue jogged out, her ponytail swinging behind her. She was slightly out of breath when she got close, with a smile on her face and her eyes curving into crescents.
” What do you want to eat today? ” he asked.
” Mmm … Mala Tang! “
” I ate yesterday. “
” Those skewers? “
” I ate it the day before yesterday. “
” Then you tell me! “
“… I’ll cook. “
” Really? What will you do? “
” Instant noodles. “
” Lin Huai!!! “
She laughed and playfully punched his shoulder. He slightly turned to avoid it, casually slipped the pink helmet over her head, fastened the strap, and patted the top of the helmet: ” Get in. “
Shen Yue climbed onto the back seat and naturally wrapped her arms around his waist. Sometimes she would deliberately tighten her grip a little, and he would say, ” It’s suffocating me .” She would then tighten her grip even more, pressing her face against his back and laughing softly.
Electric bikes weave through the city’s twilight. They pass an old man selling roasted sweet potatoes under an overpass, the congested school dismissal route near the elementary school, and a row of blooming osmanthus trees. The wind whistles past their ears, carrying various aromas — the smoky scent of roasted sweet potatoes, the sweet fragrance of osmanthus, and the smoky aroma of roasted chestnuts from roadside stalls.
Shen Yue would sometimes sing in the back seat, the kind of singing that’s completely tone-deaf. She’d crack her voice when she hit a high note, and then she’d laugh so hard she’d fall onto his back. Lin Huai would say, ” Stop singing, people on the street are staring at us , ” but the smile on his lips never left his lips.
They had been to many places. In spring, they went to a rapeseed field in the suburbs. Shen Yue ducked into the flowers and asked him to take a picture. When she finished, she looked at the picture — the whole field was full of flowers, and only the top of his head was visible. She was so angry that she chased him and hit him along half a ridge of the field.
In summer, they would go to the riverbank to enjoy the breeze. They’d buy an iced lemon tea, stick two straws in it, and sit on the flood control embankment watching the sunset turn the entire river orange-red. Mosquitoes bit her leg, and he knelt down to apply some medicated oil. She looked down at the whorl of his hair and suddenly realized how gentle this man was.
In autumn, while hiking to see the red leaves, Shen Yue complained of being tired halfway up the mountain and squatted on the steps, refusing to move. Lin Huai sighed and squatted down in front of her: ” Get on. ” She climbed onto his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered in his ear: ” Lin Huai, you’re the most handsome when you carry me. ” His ears turned red, but his steps became even more steady.
On the coldest day of winter, Shen Yue said she wanted to eat roasted chestnuts. Lin Huai rode his bike for forty minutes to her favorite shop, waited in line for half an hour to buy them, and kept them warm in his arms. When he got to her building, the chestnuts were still warm. She peeled one and put it in his mouth. He took a bite, grimaced from the heat, and she laughed so hard she almost fell over.
Those were their best times. Passionate, fiery, and reckless, like the midday sun in summer, so bright it was blinding, yet so warm it was hard to look away.
IV. Cracks
But the sun also sets.
Our first argument was over a message.
That evening, Lin Huai was fixing an urgent bug when his phone, which was on the table, lit up. Shen Yue glanced at it casually — it was a message from a female colleague: ” Brother Huai, thank you for taking me home today. I’ll treat you to dinner another day! “
The message itself wasn’t anything special, but Shen Yue noticed that the girl had saved Lin Huai’s contact as an emoji . Although it was just a normal nickname , the subtle discomfort felt like a thorn pricking her heart.
She didn’t react immediately, but waited until Lin Huai finished modifying the code before calmly asking, ” Did you take your female colleague home today? “
Lin Huai paused for a moment, then frowned: ” It was raining, and she didn’t have an umbrella, so I gave her a ride. “
” On the way? ” Shen Yue’s voice rose slightly. ” From the company to her house, it’s the exact opposite direction from where you go home. You’re telling me it’s on the way? “
How did you know where she lives ?
” I’ve looked at your navigation history before. ” Shen Yue regretted saying it as soon as she finished speaking; she knew that her words revealed the fact that she had been looking through his phone.
The air suddenly became quiet.
Lin Huai’s expression changed from confusion to coldness: ” You went through my phone? “
” I didn’t flip it on purpose, it just popped out by itself— “
” So you can look at my navigation history whenever you want? “
” So you can just take any other girl home without telling me? “
The two became increasingly agitated as they talked, their voices growing louder and louder. Finally, Lin Huai stood up, grabbed his coat, and said, ” I’m leaving now. Let’s both calm down. “
The moment the door closed, Shen Yue sat on the sofa, tears streaming down her face.
That was their first argument and their first cold war.
Three days. Neither of them contacted the other during those three days. Lin Huai ran into her at the company; she walked past quickly with her head down. In the cafeteria, she sat in the furthest corner. Both of them were in extremely bad shape — his code had three bugs , and she misspelled a client’s name twice.
In the end, their mutual friend Xiao He couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled the two of them together.
” Aren’t you two being childish? ” Xiao He said while pouring them water. ” It’s such a small thing, is it really that big of a deal? Lin Huai, would it kill you to tell them you were taking them home? Shen Yue, what good could you possibly find out by going through their phones? Don’t you two have any guts? “
Lin Huai remained silent for a long time before finally saying, ” I’m sorry, I should have told you. “
Shen Yue’s eyes were red-rimmed: ” I shouldn’t have looked through your phone. I just … I just felt that the way you treat me, you might treat others the same way. “
Lin Huai looked at her and said seriously, ” No. Only you. “
They made up that day, embracing each other like two shattered puzzle pieces being put back together. But although the cracks were patched up, they were more fragile than before.
The second argument was about the future.
Lin Huai’s parents hoped he would return to his hometown to develop his career, take the civil service exam, and find a stable and respectable job. Meanwhile, Shen Yue’s career was on the rise; she had just landed a major project, and the company intended to promote her to supervisor.
” Have you ever thought about where we’d live if we got married? Who would take care of the kids? How can you support a family in this city on a programmer’s salary? ” Shen Yue’s words came out like a machine gun, each one hitting the most painful spot in reality.
Lin Huai clenched his fists: ” You mean, I’m not good enough? “
That ‘s not what I meant—
” That’s what you mean. You think I don’t earn enough to give you the life you want. “
” Lin Huai! Can you please stop misinterpreting me every time? I’m talking about a problem we’re facing together, not just yours alone! “
” Then what do you suggest? I’ll go back and take the civil service exam, and you stay here? “
silence.
Both of them knew that there was no standard answer to this question.
That cold war lasted a whole week. Lin Huai lost weight, and Shen Yue’s eyes were swollen every day. In the end, Lin Huai was the first to back down — he sent her a long message at two in the morning, writing about his plans for the future, his thoughts on their relationship, and ending with a single sentence:
I don’t know what the future holds, but I know that without you in my future, nothing else matters .
Shen Yue replied instantly with three words: ” Me too. “
The third and most intense argument took place after they had been dating for a year and a half.
The cause was so trivial that neither of them could remember what it was afterward. But that one straw broke the camel’s back, crushing their long-accumulated exhaustion.
That night, the two of them had a huge fight in Shen Yue’s rented apartment. The argument escalated from ” You never listen to me ” to ” You’re always so self-centered , ” from ” You didn’t keep your promise to me last time ” to ” What you said to your mother on the phone last month made me very uncomfortable . ” All the grievances, dissatisfaction, and resentment poured out like a burst dam, overwhelming them both.
Finally, Shen Yue said through tears, ” Maybe … we should just call it quits. “
Lin Huai was stunned. This wasn’t the first time he’d heard those words — she’d said them during their previous two arguments. But this time, when she said them, her voice held no anger, only weariness.
A deep-seated, bone-deep weariness, a feeling of powerlessness over the relationship.
Lin Huai opened his mouth, but found he couldn’t say ” okay ” or ” no . ” He stood in the middle of the living room, looking at her red, tear-filled eyes, and suddenly felt like a failure. He couldn’t give her the security she wanted, nor the future she desired, and he couldn’t even stop her from crying.
He turned and walked out the door.
It’s not out of spite; I genuinely feel I need to leave. I need to be alone, to let the storm raging in my head stop.
After going downstairs, he didn’t ride his bike but wandered aimlessly. He walked to the road outside the residential area, onto the overpass, and to the milk tea shop where they had their first date. The shop was closed, and a ” Prime Location for Sale ” sign was posted on the roller shutter.
He stood at the entrance of the milk tea shop, his mind blank.
Then he heard his phone ring. It was Shen Yue calling.
He accepted it.
On the other end of the phone, her voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible: ” Lin Huai … where are you? “
” Outside. “
” Please come back, ” she choked back tears. ” I won’t say we’re breaking up anymore, just come back. “
He stood on the overpass, watching the endless stream of cars below, their taillights stretching into red lines. A cold wind blew by.
He said, ” Okay. “
He walked back, faster and faster, until he started running. When he reached her building, he looked up — she was standing on the balcony, wearing his old hoodie, her hair disheveled by the wind.
He waved to her, and she waved back.
At that moment, he thought, “Fine, let them argue, as long as she’s the one in the end.”
But fate clearly wasn’t going to let them get away with it so easily.
V. Fall
After their third argument, their relationship entered a delicate period of calm. They both carefully avoided potential triggers, thinking for three seconds before speaking, and nipping any hint of an argument in the bud.
But this tranquility was fake, and both of them knew it. The unresolved problems, like underground rivers, continued to flow.
Two months later, Shen Yue received a message at work. Her ex-boyfriend from college was coming to the city on a business trip and asked her to have dinner with him.
She hesitated for a moment, then told Lin Huai.
” It’s just a meal with some ordinary friends. If you’re worried, you can come along. “
Lin Huai said, ” No need, I trust you. “
But his expression was off when he said that. Shen Yue noticed it, but didn’t ask any further questions.
Shen Yue went to that meal. Her ex-boyfriend was indeed just catching up, reminiscing about their university days, asking about each other’s recent situations, and then they parted ways after a little over an hour. When she got home, Lin Huai was sitting on the sofa, the TV was on but there was no sound.
” You’re back? ” he asked.
” Um. “
” How was the meal? “
” It was fine, we just chatted about things from the past. “
” Things from the past, ” Lin Huai repeated, his tone flat, but Shen Yue understood the underlying meaning.
” Lin Huai, I told you we’re just ordinary friends— “
” I know. “
” Then why are you making that face? “
” What expression should I make? “
” It’s like … it’s as if I did something to wrong you. “
I didn’t say you did anything to wrong me .
” But your expression says so. “
” Shen Yue, can you please stop interpreting everything I say from my expression? I said I believe you, and that means I believe you. “
” Then why don’t you look at me? “
Lin Huai turned his head and looked at her. The two stared at each other in the living room, the tension in the air as taut as a string about to snap.
Shen Yue took a deep breath: ” Lin Huai, I think we need to have a serious talk. Not an argument, but a real talk. I feel like you’ve changed lately. You’ve become … distrustful of me, distrustful of this relationship. “
” I don’t– “
“ You do, ” she interrupted him . “ You won’t say it, but everything you do says it. You started checking my phone, you started asking me where I went after work, you started eavesdropping on my phone calls. You think I don’t know? ”
Lin Huai fell silent.
She’s right. He is indeed doing that. After their third argument, he fell into a deep fear — the fear of losing her. But this fear didn’t make him more considerate; instead, it made him more sensitive, more suspicious, and more suffocating.
“ I’m sorry, ” he said, his voice low. “ I was just … afraid you would leave. ”
Shen Yue’s tears fell: ” When did I ever say I was leaving? It’s always you who says we should break up! “
” I don’t– “
“ You did! The first time we argued, you said , ‘ Let’s calm down first ,’ and then you left for three days; the second time we argued, you didn’t come back until 2 a.m.; the third time, you just slammed the door and left. Lin Huai, do you know how I felt every time you turned and left? ”
She cried so hard she couldn’t continue.
Lin Huai stood there, his hands and feet ice-cold. He wanted to go over and hug her, but his feet felt like they were nailed to the ground.
” I think …” Shen Yue wiped away her tears, her voice trembling, ” You might need to think carefully about whether you can truly trust me. If not … then there’s really no need for us to continue. “
She turned and went into the bedroom, gently closing the door behind her.
That ” gentle ” sound was more despairing than any door slamming.
Lin Huai stood in the living room for a long time. He didn’t know how long he stood there — ten minutes, half an hour, maybe longer. His mind was a jumbled mess, all his thoughts flying around like scraps of paper.
He remembered the first time he saw her, standing on tiptoe to reach the coffee can. He remembered her off-key laughter as she sang in the back seat. He remembered the warmth of her fingertips as she peeled chestnuts and put them in his mouth. He remembered her reddened ears when she said, ” Then why don’t you park the car properly ?”
He remembered her red, tear-filled eyes. He remembered her hoarse voice when she said , ” Please come back . ” He remembered her standing on the balcony wearing his old hoodie, her hair tousled by the wind.
He can’t lose her.
This thought was like a fire, burning away all his reason.
He went out onto the balcony and opened the window. They lived on the second floor, not very high, with a lawn below. He didn’t know what he was thinking — maybe he wanted to prove something, maybe he felt the physical pain could overshadow his inner turmoil, maybe he simply … didn’t know what to do.
He climbed over the windowsill and stood on the outer edge.
The wind was strong, blowing into his clothes and making them billow like a kite.
He wanted to call her name, but his throat felt blocked.
Then he lost his balance.
The fall was so short that there wasn’t even time to be afraid. He only remembered that the moment his body was airborne, an absurd thought flashed through his mind — it’s over, I’m going to be late tomorrow.
Then came excruciating pain. Starting in his left leg, it ripped through his consciousness like lightning. He heard his bones crack unexpectedly, and then he collapsed onto the grass, his vision going completely white.
In his last moments of consciousness, he heard Shen Yue’s heart-wrenching screams coming from upstairs.
” Lin Huai — !!! “
VI. Healing
When Lin Huai woke up, he smelled disinfectant.
The ceiling was white, the walls were white, and an IV was inserted into the back of his left hand. His left leg was suspended high in a thick cast, like a giant white club.
” You’re awake? ” a hoarse voice came from the side.
He turned his head and saw Shen Yue sitting on a chair by the hospital bed. Her eyes were swollen like walnuts, her hair was a mess, and she was wearing the same clothes as yesterday — no, he couldn’t tell which day they were from anymore.
” You …” His voice was as dry as sandpaper, ” How long have you been crying? “
Shen Yue did not answer the question. She stood up, leaned down to look at him, her expression complex — a mixture of heartache, anger, lingering fear, and a deep, profound sense of powerlessness.
” Lin Huai, ” she said, enunciating each word clearly, ” are you sick? “
He opened his mouth, but didn’t know what to say.
” Do you know that jumping from the second floor will kill you? Even if you don’t die, you’ll be paralyzed, do you know that? Before you jumped, did you think about me? Did you think about your parents? Did you think about … what I would do if something happened to you? “
Her voice trembled more and more, until it turned into a wail. She knelt by the hospital bed, grabbed his hand, and her nails almost dug into his skin.
” You scared me to death … Do you know how scared you were … When I saw you lying motionless on the lawn, I thought you were dead … I thought you were dead …”
Lin Huai’s eyes also reddened. He awkwardly stroked her hair with his right hand, saying over and over again, ” I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I was wrong, I shouldn’t have done that …”
When the doctor came in, this was the scene he saw : a man with a cast on his arm, his eyes red and swollen, and a woman crying so hard she was almost out of breath, clutching his hand. The two of them were curled up together like two wounded animals.
The test results are in: a fracture of the left tibia, requiring a month of hospitalization followed by rehabilitation. Fortunately, the spine and head were not injured, which is a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
Shen Yue stayed with him during his hospital stay.
She took a long leave of absence and stayed at the hospital every day. She brought him meals in the morning, helped him turn over at noon, and wiped his body at night. She learned to monitor the IV drip rate, adjust the angle of the hospital bed, and bargain with the nurses for an extra blanket.
Lin Huai’s parents came from their hometown. When Shen Yue saw them, she was so nervous that she could hardly speak — this was her first time meeting his parents, and it was under these circumstances.
But Lin Huai’s mother didn’t blame her. The old lady held Shen Yue’s hand and sighed, ” This child has always been stubborn; once he’s made up his mind, nothing can change it. The fact that he did this for you shows he truly cares about you. But Yueyue, can you two get along well in the future? My old bones can’t take this kind of shock. “
Shen Yue nodded through her tears.
During his hospitalization, Lin Huai’s colleagues and friends all came to visit. Xiao He brought a basket of fruit and sat by his bedside, berating him for half an hour: ” Are you out of your mind? The second floor? Do you think you’re Superman? If you really want to prove you love her, wouldn’t it be better for you to just stay alive? “
The team leader from the technical department brought a bouquet of flowers and a carton of milk, left them there, and said before leaving, ” Take good care of yourself; we’ll save your spot. “
The female colleague who had made Shen Yue jealous also arrived, bringing a fruit basket. She stood awkwardly at the door, said ” Brother Huai, have a good rest, ” and ran off. Watching her hurried departure, Shen Yue suddenly laughed — laughing at how incredibly stupid she had been to be jealous of someone like that.
Rehabilitation training is the most difficult stage.
Although Lin Huai’s leg had been set, his muscles had atrophied severely, and the process of relearning to walk was so painful that he wanted to bang his head against a wall. Every time he bent his knee, it felt like someone was scraping his bones with a knife, and every step he took felt like stepping on needles.
Shen Yue accompanied him every time. She supported him in the corridor of the rehabilitation department, helping him move step by step. When he was in pain and sweating profusely, she would wipe it for him; when he sweared in frustration, she would listen quietly; when he said, ” I don’t want to practice anymore , ” she would say, ” Okay, then let’s rest for five minutes and then continue . “
Once, Lin Huai fell during training. He sat on the floor of the rehabilitation department, punched his leg hard, and his eyes turned red.
” Am I useless? ” he asked.
Shen Yue squatted down, looking him straight in the eye: ” You’re not useless. You just need time. “
” What if I never get better? “
” Then I’ll support you the whole time. “
She reached out her hand, and he looked at it for a long time before taking it.
The hand was small and thin, but the grip was very tight.
VII. The dust has settled.
The day Lin Huai was discharged from the hospital, Shen Yue came to pick him up.
She rode the black electric scooter to the hospital entrance; the blue cushion on the back seat was still there, as was the pink cat-ear helmet on the handlebars.
” Can you still ride? ” She pointed to his leg.
” The doctor said it’s okay, but you can’t ride too fast. “
” Then I’ll ride slower. “
Lin Huai looked at the electric scooter and suddenly smiled. This scooter carried so many memories for them — the summer breeze, the winter chestnuts, the spring rapeseed flowers, the autumn red leaves. And those evenings after work, when she sat on the back seat singing, the wind blowing her hair, brushing against his neck, tickling him.
He climbed onto the back seat — yes, this time he sat in the back.
Shen Yue put on her helmet, glanced back at him, and said, ” Hold on tight. “
He reached out and wrapped his arms around her waist. The position amused him a little; a grown man sitting on the back of an electric scooter, hugging his girlfriend like a child.
But as he laughed, he stopped laughing.
Because she rode very slowly and steadily, she would slow down in advance when going over every pothole, and she would turn slightly to the side when turning to block the wind with her body.
She was carefully protecting him.
Just like he used to protect her.
” Shen Yue. ” He called out to her in the wind.
” Um? “
” Let’s get married. “
The electric scooter braked suddenly, then continued moving forward. She didn’t turn around, but he saw her shoulders shaking.
“… Are you proposing? ” Her voice was muffled inside the helmet.
” I guess so. “
” Can’t you be a little more formal? “
“ Okay. ” He cleared his throat and, sitting on the back of the electric scooter, in the evening breeze behind her, said earnestly, “ Shen Yue, please marry me. I will work hard, earn money, and treat you well. I will never make you cry again, never do anything foolish again, and never turn away from you when you need me. I will always be by your side. Will you? ”
The electric scooter was parked on the side of the road.
Shen Yue took off her helmet and turned to look at him. Her eyes were red, her nose was red, and her lips were pouting, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
“ You said it, ” she said.
” I said it. “
” Do you keep your word? “
” I promise. “
She reached out her hand, and he took it. Their hands clasped together, just as tightly as when they first held hands.
” Alright then. ” She sniffed, but a smile played on her lips. ” I promise you. “
VIII. Later
What happened next was like a river that had passed through its most turbulent canyon, gradually becoming wider and calmer.
They got married. The wedding was small, with only family and closest friends invited. Xiao He served as the emcee, telling their story on stage with a mix of laughter and tears. Lin Huai, dressed in a suit, stood on the stage, watching Shen Yue walk towards them in her wedding dress, and suddenly felt a lump in his throat.
As she walked up to him, he whispered, ” You look beautiful today. “
She glared at him, but tears streamed down her face: ” You too, you’re horribly ugly. “
The audience burst into laughter.
In their first year of marriage, they had a daughter. Lin Huai named her Lin Nianyue — Nian meaning “unforgettable” and Yue meaning “Shen Yue.” Shen Yue thought the name was too straightforward, saying, ” I just want everyone to know that she is proof that I can’t forget you. “
His daughter looks like Shen Yue, with round eyes and curved eyebrows; her smile brightens the whole world. Lin Huai has become a typical doting father, his phone’s photo album is full of pictures of his daughter, and he goes from posting once a year on his WeChat Moments to posting ten times a day.
In the third year of their marriage, they had another son. This boy was just like Lin Huai—very quiet, but with a quick wit when his eyes darted around. Shen Yue said, ” Oh no, we have two quiet types in the house now. ” Lin Huai retorted, ” Then you’re the loudspeaker. ” She chased him down half the street.
Their home wasn’t big, just two bedrooms and a living room, but it was very cozy. On the balcony grew Shen Yue’s favorite pothos and succulents, and there was always a box of tissues on the coffee table in the living room — because she easily cried while watching TV. The refrigerator was covered with the children’s doodles, crooked suns and flowers, with the words ” Mom and Dad, I love you ” written below .
Lin Huai quit his job as a programmer, obtained relevant certifications, and joined a decent tech company, where his income became much more stable. He commutes to work every day on that old electric scooter — the battery has already been replaced once, and the soft cushion on the back seat is worn rough, but Shen Yue refuses to replace it.
“ This is our old buddy, ” she said.
On weekends, they would take the children to the park. Their daughter would sit in front of the electric scooter, while Shen Yue would hold her son in her arms and sit in the back. The family of four would squeeze onto one electric scooter and slowly cruise through the city’s streets and alleys.
The wind still whistled past my ears, carrying various scents — roasted sweet potatoes, osmanthus blossoms, and sugar-roasted chestnuts. Exactly the same as many years ago.
Once, her daughter was singing in the back seat, the kind of singing that’s completely tone-deaf, and her voice cracked when she hit a high note. Shen Yue laughed so hard she almost fell over, her son was woken up and started crying loudly, and Lin Huai was riding his bike in front, the corners of his mouth never leaving his lips.
He suddenly remembered that evening many years ago when Shen Yue sat behind him and sang off-key.
Nothing has changed.
Everything is different now.
end
It was late at night, and the children were all asleep.
Shen Yue leaned back on the sofa, scrolling through old photos on her phone. Lin Huai came out after showering, drying his hair, and sat down next to her.
” What are you looking at? “
“ Our photo. ” She held her phone closer. “ Look at this one, I took it when you were in the hospital. You were so skinny back then, like a monkey. ”
“… Could you please delete this picture? “
” I won’t delete it. I’ll keep it as a memento. “
He smiled helplessly and put his arm around her shoulder. She leaned into his arms naturally, just as naturally as she had many years ago when she sat on the back of an electric scooter.
” Lin Huai. “
” Um? “
” Tell me, what would have happened if you hadn’t jumped from the second floor back then? “
He thought for a moment: ” Maybe … we really will break up. “
” Why? “
” Because I was so stupid back then. I didn’t know how to love you, I only knew how to prove it by hurting myself. If that fall hadn’t woken me up, I might never have understood — loving someone isn’t about hurting yourself, but about living well and staying by her side. “
Shen Yue was silent for a moment, then said softly, ” Actually, that night, when you said you wanted to jump, I didn’t stop you. “
Lin Huai was taken aback.
“ I was in the bedroom when I heard a noise on the balcony. When I ran out, you were already standing outside the window. ” Her voice was soft. “ I called your name, and you turned around and looked at me. Then you fell. ”
Her fingers gripped the hem of his shirt tightly.
” At that moment, I realized that when people are extremely scared, they can’t scream. My mouth was open, but no sound came out. Then I ran downstairs and saw you lying on the lawn, your legs bent at an impossible angle … I thought you were dead. “
She buried her face in his chest and said in a muffled voice, ” That was the scariest second of my life. Scarier than when you said we were breaking up, scarier than when you disappeared during a cold war, scarier than anything else. “
Lin Huai tightened his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head.
“ I’m sorry, ” he said, his voice a little hoarse, “ I scared you. ”
“ You don’t need to apologize anymore. ” She looked up, her eyes bright but not tearful. “ I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty. I’m saying this to say — thank you for not dying. Thank you for being here safely. Thank you for making it through. ”
She reached out and smoothed out a wrinkle at the collar of his pajamas, the movement as natural as if she had done it a thousand times.
” Lin Huai, thank you for not giving up on me. “
He looked down at her and suddenly smiled. It was a faint but warm smile, just like the one he gave her many years ago when he handed her a beer can in the night.
” It’s because you didn’t give up on me. “
A breeze blew in through the window, lifting a corner of the curtains. A car drove by on the distant road, its headlights tracing an arc across the ceiling before disappearing into the darkness.
The living room was quiet, with only the hum of the air conditioner and the even breathing of the two people.
They sat there together, silent and not looking at their phones. Just like that stormy night many years ago, when she handed him a cup of ginger tea, he wrapped himself in a teddy bear blanket, and the two of them sat on the sofa, saying nothing, yet saying everything.
Along the way, they experienced heartache, tears, heart-wrenching arguments, and moments when they almost got separated. But more than anything , they had the summer breeze, the winter chestnuts, the singing in the back seat, the tightly clasped hands in the rehabilitation corridor, their daughter’s smiling face, their son’s snoring, and every quiet night like this.
The wind whispers past my ears, and time slips through my fingers.
And they are still by each other’s side.
That’s enough.
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