"Lian Haiping, do you think I'm being cruel?" Her voice was soft.
“Lele, I—” Lian Haiping wanted to say, “I can still wait,” but he didn’t have the courage.
She gently looked up and smiled: "If I hadn't come here, I probably wouldn't have known that the power of 'habit' is stronger than we imagine—you unconsciously get used to someone's voice, get used to someone's appearance, and then you become dependent. If one day these things are no longer by your side, you will be afraid and sad."
She looked at Lian Haiping's eyes, which were filled with disbelief: "Look, I've written so many emotional stories, but I never knew there was a kind of feeling that was related to habit, the ordinary accumulation of daily life. It seems very ordinary, but it is also very warm."
“So, I have to pause my teaching career. In January, I took the postgraduate entrance exam. Because the score requirement for teaching in western China can be reduced by 5 points, I was lucky enough to pass the preliminary exam by a narrow margin,” Yu Lele said with a smile. “Last week, I went for the second interview. My supervisor said that if nothing unexpected happens, I can get the admission notice in two months.”
Her eyes gradually curved into a smile, but she tried her best to remain serious: "I'm going to be a student again, with no job and no income. I want to ask, is there anyone still willing to hire me?"
This time, Lian Haiping didn't give her a chance to nag. He took a step forward, reached out, and pulled the girl into a tight embrace. His hug was so tight it almost suffocated her. She tried to push him away, but he was too strong. She could only protest against his chest in a muffled voice, "You haven't answered me yet."
“Lele, is pursuing a master’s degree the life you want?” Lian Haiping hesitated for a moment, “Actually, you don’t need to sacrifice anything.”
He loosened his grip slightly, watched her take a few deep breaths, and then tilted her head back to complain, "I'm suffocating!"
But when she saw the worried look on his face, she smiled: "Actually, I only realized how lovely studying is after I came here. Those students from poor families yearn for the opportunity to study but don't have the means. I have such good conditions, so I can't give up."
Her expression was solemn yet warm: "I think I still want to be a teacher, for the rest of my life, no matter what kind of school I'm in, I want to be a good teacher. I hope my students are healthy, upright, happy, and positive, and that they cherish their studies and themselves. That's why I applied for an educational psychology major. I hope that no matter what course I teach in the future, my students will feel happy to be with me."
“So,” she smiled slightly, “I’m sure I didn’t sacrifice anything, and I’m happy, really.”
Then, she looked at him, her gaze softening further: "Lian Haiping, you haven't answered my question yet."
However, he didn't say anything. He simply let go of her hand, walked to the bedside, and picked up the coat that was lying there. He reached into the coat pocket and pulled out a small red velvet box. The moment Yu Lele saw it, her eyes widened in surprise.
He walked up to her and smiled, "I thought I would never have the chance to take this out again, but some people are lucky and never miss out on gold and silver treasures."
He opened the red velvet box in his hand, revealing a delicate ring with tiny diamonds sparkling brilliantly. He took her left hand and gently pushed the ring onto her ring finger.
In the fading sunlight, Yu Lele finally couldn't hold back her tears and let them fall.
Outside the door, Xu Yin finished eavesdropping, a satisfied smile on her face, and tiptoed away.
The setting sun cast its golden glow on the school playground, bathing the fiery red azaleas, lush green grass, and running children in a shimmering light.
The famous 18th-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant once said: What is our goal, and at the same time our responsibility? It is to make ourselves perfect and to make others happy.
In spring, when dandelions danced in the air all over the mountains, Yu Lele finally understood the true meaning of happiness: to make herself perfect and to make others happy.
Yes, yes, by perfecting yourself and bringing happiness to others, you will see flowers blooming everywhere on the road to joy.
(End of text)
postscript
In December 2005, after finishing "How Far Is the Distance Between Deskmates?", for a long time afterward, whenever I thought of this scene, I felt a heartfelt happiness: a girl holding a boy's hand on a lush green lawn, the golden sunset behind them, their young faces radiating the clearest joy and the most sincere love that belong only to youth. I remember being young then—that love, that tolerance, all that beauty, along with the hopes of being 18, shone brightly on the canvas of my life. It was a love that belonged entirely to 18-year-olds. It was the most beautiful love in my life. Later, this book was published. Every weekend, standing beside the winding stacks of books in the children's section of the Xinhua Bookstore on Quancheng Road in Jinan, watching the children flipping through or buying this book, I couldn't help but think: they too will grow up someday, and will they too have beautiful expectations and a happy, sunny life? So whenever I see messages like these online or on QQ, I always reply sincerely or answer questions—because I'm willing to use my not-so-old past to tell you that you will eventually overcome those insurmountable barriers and those bumpy muds on the road of youth. The sun is ahead, and each of us has our own bright future, beckoning to us from a place that may not be visible yet.
However, I must admit that it is only with growth that we come to understand that Xu Chen and Yu Lele's love wasn't necessarily a bittersweet story, and their separation wasn't necessarily a dead end. We all have to pay the price for our mistakes—even if that price is painful enough to last for generations. Those who betray the people, what they destroy is not just themselves. So, in May 2007, with these long-suppressed stories in mind, I began writing the sequel to "How Far Is the Distance Between Deskmates," and after four months, I finally finished. I must admit that the sequel is based on real stories that happened around me, and the characters Xu Chen and Yu Lele in the story are based on real people. Many times, I think of the prototype of Xu Chen—the boy who later went far away from home—and as I think about him, he merges with the artistically processed Xu Chen in my novel, causing a dull ache in my heart. In those years, he ultimately couldn't bear the agonizing neglect. So that's how it is—in this world, the most terrifying thing is not ridicule, disdain, or insults, but neglect, the desolate and helpless feeling of being forgotten by the world. His future and his career were all destroyed because of his father's mistakes, and he could never recover. However, we cannot blame the cruelty of the people around us or society, because such mistakes are self-inflicted by anyone. To treat life well is to treat one's desires well. Because now we finally know that when greed runs rampant, all the beautiful things of the past will become swaying leaves, which may fall into the abyss at any time and place, never to be recovered. Therefore, from the beginning, I said that this story is not a fairy tale, but life. It is the growth itself with pain, wounds, and tears. (2) Regarding the protagonists of the story, they are a group of people that I really like. Yu Lele in the story is such a strong girl. She can get back up after falling down because she knows what she wants most: before 20, she wants genuine feelings, not hatred; a warm home, not cold isolation; and the short-term rebirth of her loved ones, not their prolonged suffering. After 20, she wants to pursue a career she loves, not passively choose a path in confusion; she wants a simple and warm life, not stubborn and high-profile loneliness; she wants to see her chosen path through to the end, not letting her hesitation hurt anyone… Ultimately, she is the kind of person who looks ahead and will never allow herself to regret. Xu Chen in the story is the kind of boy I admire: healthy, sunny, excellent, and kind. He has many qualities I admire, but fate has been too cruel to him, so his process of falling and getting back up will be very difficult. But I believe that the groundwork I've laid so far will show everyone that his future will not be bleak, because his hard work, humility, caution, and perseverance are the wealth bestowed upon him by life's hardships. With these, wherever he is, he will have a brighter future. Even though we are separated by 12 time zones, we believe that the distance between us, because of the love, care, and longing, makes us feel closer than we are apart.
As for Lian Haiping, his appearance is somewhat understated because I believe that at that time, Yu Lele hardly noticed him. He gradually comes to the forefront as Xu Chen slowly fades from the scene. His image embodies the typical "supporting character" in real life: silently supporting, asking for nothing in return, using all his warmth to embrace the girl he loves, even if it means waiting, he doesn't care. Such people exist in reality—not because they are particularly noble, but because they don't simply view the waiting process as "waiting." If Yu Lele doesn't love him, or falls in love with someone else, given his personality, he will naturally start a new love and life after the disappointment and pain. But if Yu Lele hasn't fallen in love with someone else, then his choice will inevitably be unwavering devotion—a refusal to leave or abandon. The reason I gave Lian Haiping and Yu Lele a happy ending is because, in this story, Yu Lele is exactly as Lian Haiping's grandfather described—"rational, but with feelings" (mentioned in the epilogue). She is rational enough to know how to grasp happiness; she has feelings, so she gradually develops love and dependence. Perhaps other stories and love stories in the world are not like the one I wrote, but the story I'm telling is the story of Yu Lele, Xu Chen, and Lian Haiping—in their world, this is a natural ending.
Side Story: The Dust Settles Down (A-1)
The morning was sunny and bright. When Yu Lele woke up, the sunlight felt so intense it seemed to burn her alive. She casually opened the window and saw students already walking back to their dorms in twos and threes downstairs. She glanced at her alarm clock: 9:38. Her phone rang just then. Yu Lele looked at the name displayed and happily answered.
"Hey, you're awake?" Xu Yin's drawn-out voice came through the phone, and Yu Lele was delighted. "Just woke up," she replied honestly. Xu Yin held back her anger—she'd been on the phone all morning, and this person had only just gotten up! But she couldn't help nagging, "Sleep! You should sleep like a log! I'm lucky if I get six hours of sleep a day, but you, it's weird if you don't sleep until noon!" Yu Lele laughed, "I'm not always sleeping, okay? Didn't you see how I stayed up all night studying the books my advisor assigned during my first year of graduate school, losing ten pounds in a year!" Xu Yin laughed too, "You're just having a reversed sleep schedule, studying at night and sleeping during the day, are you some kind of zombie?" Yu Lele laughed twice, "I was busy compiling tutoring papers for the kids in Daiyang last night. By the way, did you need something?"
Xu Yin coughed lightly: "We'd like to do an interview with your mentor, since he's a celebrity, so we'd like to ask you, his last disciple, to help us make the connection." "Professor Ding!" Yu Lele gasped: "He never gives television interviews, didn't you know?"
"That's why I'm calling you, you idiot," Xu Yin chuckled. "Hasn't he always thought highly of you? I heard Lian Haiping say he almost named you his most talented female disciple in his teaching career? You're just asking him for this one thing, he won't refuse, will he?" "Well, I'll try," Yu Lele hesitated. "I can't guarantee I can complete the task!" Xu Yin ignored the vaccination. "You decide. Anyway, I haven't decided to be your bridesmaid yet, so don't blame me for suddenly running away and catching you off guard!" "Xu Yin, you scoundrel!" Yu Lele gritted her teeth. "It's all yours now. I trust you to handle things!" Xu Yin said smugly. "Today is the 9th, you'd better give me a satisfactory answer before the 11th, haha!" Yu Lele suddenly felt a chill run down her spine... After hanging up the phone, she suddenly realized: Today is the 9th? September 9th? What a wonderful day! Yu Lele quickly finished washing up, turned on her computer, and found the "Auspicious Days Chart" that Xu Yin, that gossipy girl, had sent her a while ago. She quickly found September 9th—wow—it was an even number in the lunar calendar too! What an auspicious day! A large line of text was written below September 9th—"Suitable for marriage!" Yu Lele was overjoyed and took out her phone to call Lian Haiping. After three rings, he finally answered, and she heard Lian Haiping's helpless tone: "Immortal, you're awake?"
"Huh? Why did you and Xu Yin greet each other with the same phrase?" Yu Lele asked, puzzled. Lian Haiping chuckled softly on the other end of the phone, "That's because we both know you too well." Yu Lele rolled her eyes, "You two are quite in sync!" Lian Haiping was in a good mood, "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Are you jealous?" Yu Lele smiled slyly, "I'm jealous of Xu Yin. It's unbelievable that there's someone in this world who's more in sync with her than I am."
Lian Haiping coughed twice, clearly choking on water. Yu Lele couldn't help but laugh when she thought about Lian Haiping's reaction.
"Grandpa wants you to come to my house for dinner tonight," Lian Haiping said, finally able to stop coughing. "I was just about to text you."
“Okay, I was planning to tell you too. My mom said yesterday that she wanted you to come over for dinner tonight.” Yu Lele said with a relaxed air.
"Huh?" Lian Haiping was taken aback. "Then what should we do?" "What do you mean, what should we do? Let's just eat together," Yu Lele said naturally. "It's a good opportunity to celebrate."
"Celebrate what?" Lian Haiping was caught off guard. "Today is September 9th, did you notice?" Yu Lele said smugly, "Didn't your mom and grandpa tell us to find a date to register our marriage the other day? How about today? It's a beautiful, sunny day, with birds singing and flowers blooming, what do you think?" Lian Haiping was drinking water, and this time he choked even harder. Yu Lele heard a fit of violent coughing on the other end of the line, along with the concerned inquiries from his colleagues in the office: "Haiping, are you alright?" Hearing Lian Haiping coughing so hard he could barely breathe, Yu Lele finally started to worry: "Haiping? Are you alright?"
"Lele," Lian Haiping finally managed to suppress a cough, "don't you think it would be more appropriate for me to say that?"
"What did you say?" Yu Lele thought for a moment, then suddenly realized: "I'm fine, I'm okay, don't worry."
"Not this sentence, it's the one before it." Lian Haiping looked at the calendar on his desk with a headache. September 9th, indeed a good day.
"Up ahead?" Yu Lele was slow to react again. Lian Haiping kindly reminded her, "Lele, if you're going to propose, I should be the one to do it. This is too much of a loss for you." Yu Lele suddenly realized, her face flushing red. She looked around at the empty beds in the dorm, making sure everyone else had left, before letting out a breath and replying fiercely, "Are you going or not? If not, forget it! Bye!"
Just as I was about to hang up, I heard a series of voices on the other end: "Wait, don't hang up, don't hang up, I was wrong, I was wrong, it's all my fault..."
Yu Lele smiled smugly: "Lian Haiping, I knew you wouldn't dare not go!" Actually, it wasn't a matter of daring or not, but rather a matter of being willing or unwilling—how could Lian Haiping bear not marrying Yu Lele? It was a riddle that didn't need a guess. So, while Yu Lele was swindling her household registration card around the school, Lian Haiping was receiving a chorus of blessings from his colleagues in the director's office. Half an hour later, having successfully obtained leave, Lian Haiping left work, first going home to get his household registration booklet, then driving to Yu Lele's school to meet her. Because it was still working hours, there weren't many cars on the coastal road. The bright sunshine illuminated the sea as a deep blue, and there was a crisp autumn air in the air. Lian Haiping couldn't help but roll down the car window and take a few deep breaths, but his chest was still pounding, an irrepressible excitement surging within him.
It seemed like all those years had passed in the blink of an eye. When he first met Yu Lele, he didn't think she was anything special. Back then, they were all eighteen or nineteen-year-old boys and girls, naive and unkempt. She wasn't pretty; among the beauties in the Chinese Literature Department, she was easily missed if you didn't look closely. Occasionally, he wondered when he had started to like her. Perhaps it was all thanks to Xu Yin—even though she always acted like a matchmaker, Lian Haiping and Yu Lele had never acknowledged her past achievements. It was the first semester of their freshman year. Shortly after the start of the semester, the school held a welcome party, and as usual, there was a dance afterward. One day during a break, Xu Yin approached Lian Haiping: "You, be my dance partner!" They were too familiar with each other; Lian Haiping didn't even lift his eyelids, still reading his newspaper: "I'm not dancing, it's boring."
Because it was break time, Xu Yin couldn't resort to physical violence, so she patiently persuaded him, "Help me out! I'm too tall, and there aren't many boys in our department. If you don't help me, I'll have to do the men's steps." Seeing her pitiful expression, and recalling the mental torment he had inflicted on her and her family during the past summer, Lian Haiping finally decided to "humiliate" himself this once: "Then you have to treat me to a meal!" After thinking for a moment, he added, "I want to eat 'Bashu Renjia's' boiled fish." Xu Yin's scalp tingled, and she said with considerable helplessness, "Lian Haiping, you're ruthless!" Lian Haiping finally smiled smugly, and when he turned around, he saw the girl behind Xu Yin smiling at him. Her smile was clean and bright, and he couldn't help but glance at her again. But Xu Yin saw that glance too, and she didn't forget to tease Lian Haiping, "You still stare blankly at pretty girls!"
Lian Haiping retorted, "A beauty? Where's the beauty? I didn't see one!" The words were barely out of his mouth when he realized his slip of the tongue. He quickly looked up at the girl, only to see her smiling with her lips pursed. In the instant their eyes met, he saw the calm and composed light in her dark eyes. He wondered if his eyes were playing tricks on him: how could a girl her age, at a time when she should be vain and concerned with her image, have such a look in her eyes?
But as if to confirm his suspicions, Xu Yin pointed to the girl sitting next to her and introduced her: "Yu Lele, she's in our dorm, a graduate of No. 1 High School. You dare say she's not beautiful?" Lian Haiping glared at Xu Yin: "I'm saying you're not beautiful." Xu Yin said nonchalantly: "Then you'll have to learn some basic literacy with me, who isn't beautiful. Bye!" She turned to Yu Lele: "Come on, Lele, let's go to the bathroom." Lian Haiping laughed: "Xu Yin—manners! Mind your manners!" Before he finished speaking, a thick book, *A History of Chinese Culture*, fell from the sky and hit him on the head. He struggled to look up and saw that as Xu Yin's hand moved, the girl named Yu Lele was still smiling, calmly watching the two of them fooling around. In that instant, Lian Haiping was a little dazed—it seemed that seeing those eyes would be like being bewitched.
A few days later, the welcome party finally took place as scheduled. Before the party officially started, there was a short ballroom dance training session. Lian Haiping, unusually, wasn't wearing casual clothes but instead a shirt to match Xu Yin's long skirt. He couldn't help but complain, "It's so boring! Only you girls like this kind of pretentious stuff!" Xu Yin ignored him and continued to learn the steps earnestly. He held Xu Yin's hand and twirled around while looking around at the crowd. Suddenly, he saw Yu Lele sitting on the edge of the audience, calmly watching the people twirling on the dance floor. She held a complimentary glass of fruit juice and sipped it slowly. Lian Haiping couldn't help but point in Yu Lele's direction and ask Xu Yin, "Why isn't Yu Lele dancing?" Xu Yin turned around and looked, then replied, "Don't even mention it. She twisted her ankle yesterday. She can walk fine now, but dancing is definitely out of the question."
"Then why did you drag her along?" Lian Haiping looked at Xu Yin: "As expected of my childhood sweetheart, she's getting more and more heartless!"
Xu Yin laughed: "Stop talking nonsense. She wrote the script for tonight's event. Teacher Ren originally wanted her to host directly, but she refused, saying that she wasn't pretty and that a pretty girl should be found to host. She'd rather be a Good Samaritan and help everyone prepare the script."
"How many programs?" Lian Haiping couldn't help but ask. "Twelve or thirteen, and there's also a poetry recitation, the lyrics of which she wrote." "Really?" Lian Haiping was incredulous: "Is her writing really that good?" "You're blind to talent! Do you know how many articles she's published?" Xu Yin rolled her eyes at him: "Probably more than the books you've read." Lian Haiping retorted irritably: "Xu Yin, you really are ruthless!" That same night, Lian Haiping listened attentively to the host's script and the poetry recitation called "The Distant Place."
To this day, he can still recite some of the lines: "Even if there is no road in the distance / There is still hope / Even if hope is lost / There is still love / There is still direction..." Simple sentences, unpretentious and unobscure, definitely not "poetry," perhaps even barely qualifying as "prose poetry," yet something within him resonated. He stood not far behind her, observing her with curiosity: not a stunningly beautiful girl, but with delicate features, a serene demeanor, clear and bright eyes, smiling as she chatted happily with the person beside her. She possessed a subtle calmness, gentleness, rationality, and composure beyond her years. Such a girl, in fact, had her own beauty. Perhaps, that's when he began to notice her. However, Yu Lele might not remember his presence, his attention, or even have any recollection of it—because at that time, her heart was preoccupied with someone else. And later, those pains, those losses and sorrows, those feigned strength, those inner conflicts and struggles, he remembered them all vividly. He later vowed to forever keep himself out of her world. What he wanted to give her was a serene and tender happiness, even if there was always the shadow of another person in her heart, he wouldn't care.
Because he knew that if she could truly forget that person so quickly, then she wouldn't be the Yu Lele he loved. Reaching a red light, Lian Haiping pulled the handbrake and stared at the signal light in the chilly wind. He casually turned on the CD player, listening to the soothing music flowing from it. It was a CD Yu Lele kept in the car—her favorite Vivaldi, and his *The Four Seasons*.
He remembered that every time she listened to this album, she would skip the "Spring Allegro" and start listening to the "Very Soft Broadspan." At first, he didn't understand why, so he asked her, puzzled, "Isn't the beginning nice?" She glared at him, "It's nice! It's so nice, I know it by heart." "Yeah!" Lian Haiping nodded, "I just find the beginning very familiar, it's so nice!" Yu Lele often didn't care whether Lian Haiping was being suggestive or not, she would reach out and pinch his arm, and Lian Haiping couldn't help but exclaim, "Ouch!" "It is very familiar, what did I say wrong!" "Why is it familiar?" she asked him with a stern face. He thought for a moment, but couldn't figure it out: "Anyway, it's very familiar, it sounds nice, a lot of people's phones have this as their ringtone."
Yu Lele sighed: "Didn't you even notice that this music is the background music for the CET-4 listening test?"
She made a face and pointed at the CD: "Listen, it's this part. After this intro, a woman's voice comes on weakly, saying, 'The College English Test Band 4 listening test is now starting...'" Lian Haiping listened carefully, and sure enough! He finally couldn't help but burst into laughter, while Yu Lele sulked sadly in the passenger seat. Thinking of this, Lian Haiping couldn't help but smile: English—it really has always been Yu Lele's Achilles' heel! All her intelligence in this area seemed to have been exhausted during the postgraduate entrance exam. Now she was a second-year graduate student, but she still hadn't passed the College English Test Band 6. If it weren't for the fact that the master's degree was only linked to the master's English exam, with Yu Lele's English level, it would probably be difficult for her to get her degree. At this moment, the green light turned on, and the phone rang. Lian Haiping took the phone in his left hand, released the handbrake and shifted gears with his right, and while he was busy, he heard Yu Lele's voice on the other end: "Where are you?" Lian Haiping looked at both sides of the road: "Almost there, 5 minutes." "I'll wait for you at the school gate." Her voice was crisp, and she sounded like she was in a good mood. Lian Haiping couldn't help but smile again.
The last five minutes of the journey weren't long; it just involved crossing bustling streets and a lively seaside square. Since Yu Lele returned from her teaching stint, they often took walks here. Because she had switched to educational psychology, Yu Lele's first year of graduate school was extremely difficult, often studying unfamiliar textbooks until late at night. Sometimes he would work late and rush to see her before going home. She always looked sleep-deprived and often fell asleep during their conversations. He felt sorry for her working so hard, but when she woke up, she would smile and ask him, "Studying is always tiring!" Finally, she got through the most difficult period and began preparing her graduation thesis proposal. Her teaching and research workload lightened, and she could often sleep until late morning. He would occasionally tease her, but he couldn't bear to disturb her sleep. Because she was too thin, he hoped she could gain some weight and be healthier. He couldn't bear to see her working so hard. For over a year, their love had been like lukewarm water: at their age, they seemed unable to express their love and passion openly in the streets like younger people. They often sat side-by-side on the beach chatting, or went home to visit their parents. He had always wondered why Yu Lele was so popular with his grandfather: his grandfather loved to play chess with her, even though she was a complete chess novice, his grandfather was still patient and tireless in teaching her. But what surprised him even more was that Yu Lele's cooking skills were quite good, and every weekend she would spend a day at Lian Haiping's house making dumplings, noodles with soybean paste, or chicken, fish, and pork rib soup for him and his grandfather. Occasionally, when his father or mother came home, they were always delighted to see Yu Lele. Lian Haiping seemed to have never imagined that Yu Lele would so easily win over his family.
Sometimes, watching the girl in an apron bustling about, he would vaguely recall the past eight years, feeling that everything before him was so beautiful, unbelievably beautiful. He couldn't help but pull her into his arms, saying nothing, just holding her tightly. She was preoccupied with the pot of chicken soup, her hands constantly busy with the spoon. He was quite dissatisfied with this treatment, so he gently bit her neck. She laughed and slapped him back: "How come I never knew you were a dog before?" He couldn't help but laugh. Time flowed by like this, the casserole on the stove making a "bubbling" sound, a faint background music. Of course, there were occasional moments when he couldn't help himself. On a winter night, the north wind howled from the sea, the sound alone indicating its biting cold. After having dinner at his house and playing chess with his grandfather, she saw that it was getting late and prepared to go home. He embraced her and gently kissed her cheek. She smiled and kissed him back. He was far more invested than she was. Before she could even react, he had her pinned down on the sofa. The temperature around them rose, and the howling north wind outside gradually faded away. Yet, he always seemed to wake up just as his will was about to crumble. He had to grit his teeth to keep from uttering the words of pleading for her to stay. He would gently help her put on her coat, and while she blushed as she packed her things, he would go out to warm up the car. By the time she got in, the small car was already cozy and warm. She was like a precious treasure he held in his hands—a treasure he had sworn to protect until the very end.
They had discussed marriage at times, but she was too busy. She was always a strong-willed girl, and as long as "English" wasn't mentioned, her courageous and tenacious nature would be fully displayed. She would diligently study those brick-thick textbooks, completely absorbed. Seeing this, he only brought it up once and never again. He never imagined that this matter was on her mind, or that it would be suddenly brought up today. He loosened his tie, took a deep breath, and looked at his reflection in the rearview mirror, still feeling somewhat incredulous. After today, they would be legally "husband and wife"—thinking of this, he suddenly felt an overwhelming excitement.
After eight years and more than two thousand days and nights of waiting, finally, finally, we are about to reach the shore.
Side Story: The Dust Settles Down (A-2)
When Lian Haiping arrived at the south gate of the Teachers' College, Yu Lele was standing under a tree chatting with Tong Dingding. Tong Dingding was originally two years below Yu Lele, but because Yu Lele had spent three years teaching in a rural area, Tong Dingding was now a year ahead of Yu Lele in graduate school. However, the little girl still relied heavily on Yu Lele, and every time they met, she would drag her along to chat for a long time. They were talking about job hunting after graduation, and Tong Dingding was complaining, "Finding a job is so hard! When I was an undergraduate, they wanted a master's degree, and now that I've finally gotten into graduate school, they want a PhD." Suddenly, someone patted her on the back of the head. Tong Dingding turned around angrily, only to see Lian Haiping standing behind her, laughing, "Junior sister, what are you complaining about now?" "Senior brother!" Tong Dingding instantly became cheerful, "I haven't seen you in so long!" She looked at Yu Lele and suddenly realized, "Oh, senior sister, so that's why you're standing here. You're waiting for senior brother. I thought you were waiting for so-and-so." Yu Lele was still confused when she saw Tong Dingding smiling and winking, and suddenly understood that she was trying to "sow discord," finding it quite amusing. Sure enough, Lian Haiping asked Tong Dingding, "Who is it?" "An admirer," Tong Dingding replied arrogantly, "Don't you know my senior sister is very popular?" "I know," Lian Haiping smiled at Tong Dingding, "That's why I came here today specifically to place an order." "What kind of order?" Tong Dingding didn't understand, "How do I place it?" Lian Haiping smiled again, took out a household registration booklet from his pocket, and then took out an ID card, deliberately waving them in front of Tong Dingding: "This is how you place it." Tong Dingding still didn't understand, then she saw Yu Lele also smiling. The two of them said goodbye to her together, and then started the car to leave.
In the last few seconds, Tong Dingding suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly banged on Lian Haiping's car window. Lian Haiping rolled down the window and saw Tong Dingding's extremely excited eyes, repeatedly saying, "Congratulations, senior brother and sister! Congratulations, senior brother and sister! May you two grow old together and have a baby soon..." Lian Haiping laughed heartily, while Yu Lele laughed and blushed. Walking down the street, Yu Lele began to show off her cleverness. "Guess how I got the household registration card?" Her household registration was under the school's collective household registration; she didn't have a household registration booklet, only a palm-sized household registration card. Normally, the household registration card was kept by the school and only lent out when there was a special request. "You wouldn't tell them you were going to register for marriage, would you?" Lian Haiping glanced at her. "Of course not," Yu Lele said smugly. "I went to the department to get a certificate first, saying I lost my ID card and needed to replace it. Teacher Ren gave me the certificate without even thinking twice. I took the certificate to the police station, and they gave me my household registration card. Haha, how about that? Didn't I get away with it without anyone knowing?" Lian Haiping found it very funny. "You were so happy to keep it a secret from everyone?" Yu Lele thought for a moment and honestly admitted, "No, I was just embarrassed." Lian Haiping teased her, "Men should marry when they're of age, and women should marry when they're of age. You're almost thirty, what are you being shy about!"
Sure enough, Yu Lele immediately became anxious upon hearing this: "Who said I'm almost thirty? Am I that old?" Lian Haiping laughed for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked Yu Lele: "Have you told your mother about registering your marriage?"
“I did,” Yu Lele’s voice lowered, “I called her, and she said everything was fine. She didn’t say much and just hung up. But a while later, she called again and said she was very sad. She said her daughter was getting married and she was very reluctant to let her go.”
"Don't be sad. It's not like we're having a marriage alliance. It's only a 20-minute drive from my house to yours. We can just go back and visit them often," Lian Haiping comforted her. Yu Lele nodded, then sniffled, "My mom said we should have dinner together tonight. Let's eat ours first, and we can make up for your parents' meal when they get back." "It doesn't matter. They're lucky if they're home for even a month a year. We'll talk about it when they get back," Lian Haiping said noncommittally.
At 11:40 a.m., Lian Haiping and Yu Lele arrived at the district civil affairs bureau. It was a very ordinary building, at least 20 years old. After navigating several turns, they finally found the marriage registration office, only to discover a staff member locking the door. They rushed forward, but the staff member pointed to a sign nearby, which read, "Service hours: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.; 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.." Yu Lele was a little disappointed, but Lian Haiping was optimistic. "Let's go eat first. We'll come early this afternoon and be the first couple in line—it'll bring good luck!" Lian Haiping said. "Okay," Yu Lele thought for a moment and followed Lian Haiping out of the civil affairs bureau compound. At noon, the two ate at a small, casual restaurant nearby. The restaurant wasn't big, but the food was very well prepared. Yu Lele was very interested in a plate of "home-style stir-fried pork," examining the ingredients carefully. She muttered, "The garlic sprouts are diced, the lean pork is diced, not too big... Hmm, it seems to have been marinated in fermented bean curd, so it's very flavorful... It must have been stir-fried over high heat..." Lian Haiping said while eating, "If you like it, you can come back for more next time." Yu Lele glared at him, "Do it yourself, and you'll have plenty to eat, don't you understand?" She looked at him again and explained, "I want to learn how to cook it so we can make it at home. Home-cooked food is always healthier." "Make it at home"—these words struck Lian Haiping deeply. He looked up at Yu Lele, a little touched, and suddenly wondered: Could we really have a home together? Yu Lele didn't see Lian Haiping's gaze and turned her attention to a plate of steamed green beans filled with minced meat. Just as she was studying it, her phone rang. As soon as the call connected, I heard Yang Qian's rapid-fire voice: "Lele, where are you? We're having dinner tonight at my house!"
Yu Lele laughed: After graduating from university, Yang Qian returned to her hometown to work. Perhaps because of the four years of experience, she no longer spoke with the timid and weak tone she used to have; instead, she spoke very decisively and clearly. After she finished speaking, Yu Lele explained, "I have something to do tonight, so I'm afraid I can't make it today." "But we haven't seen each other for so long..." Yang Qian complained, "Kuang Yawei said he has researched a new dish and wants to invite us to try it."
"Really?" Yu Lele's eyes lit up: "The chef is really amazing! He's even keeping up with the times!" "Stop being so cheeky," Yang Qian laughed: "You had to come today. Chef Kuang said he's going to Japan and wants us to see him off."
"Japan?" Yu Lele was surprised. Then she heard a male voice on the other end of the phone: "I told you not to say it, but you insisted. Can't you be a little more subtle, young man?"
Yu Lele recognized Kuang Yawei's voice and couldn't help but widen her smile. Lian Haiping, sitting opposite her, smiled as he watched her happy expression.
"What's he going to Japan for?" Yu Lele asked. "For further studies, that's what he said. See how great it is? We're seeing him off, and he even has to cook," Yang Qian laughed gleefully. "Let me tell you, you can't be absent unless there are special circumstances." "But I really have something very important to do today," Yu Lele explained with a smile. "No way, you have to come," Yang Qian insisted, "It's been so long since we sat down to eat together, before, the few of us..."
She stopped abruptly. Yu Lele was also a little stunned. The past… it really seemed like a long time ago. The past, the four of them chatting freely, cooking together, talking about ideals, talking about the future—those times seemed to have stood still, not flowing away, right before her eyes. But then, the edges were frayed, turning into old, yellowish photographs, faintly reminding her that certain people, certain things, would never return. The past… the past us, and the present us, are so different. Something caught in Yu Lele's throat, and even a mist quietly clouded her vision.
It seems that song is coming to mind again: "It won't be me in your arms anymore, I'm going to marry someone else. From now on, I'll never look back, someone else will always be my roof over my head. Wasn't all of this what you promised me? The person I was waiting for was you, but I'm going to marry someone else..."
This time, it really was her decision to marry someone else. "Lele, come on over. It'll be so lonely without you," Yang Qian pleaded. "But I really can't go today. How about another day?" Yu Lele looked up at Lian Haiping with a troubled expression. He waved his hand, telling her to decide for herself. "What important thing do you have to do? Kuang Yawei is leaving the day after tomorrow, and he'll definitely be home with his parents tomorrow. Actually, it's his fault too; why didn't he tell us sooner? He was so secretive..." Yang Qian complained unhappily. Yu Lele finally decided to tell the truth: "I'm going to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register this afternoon, and both families are having dinner together tonight."
"The Civil Affairs Bureau?" Yang Qian didn't react. "Register what?" Yu Lele explained, "I'm getting married." "Married?!" Yang Qian gasped. Yu Lele could even picture her stunned expression. Yu Lele couldn't help but laugh—she remembered the first time she introduced Lian Haiping to Yang Qian, and Yang Qian's pitiful look. She had always stood by Xu Chen's side, Yu Lele knew. But, Xu Chen, you should be a resident doctor now, right? How many unimaginable difficulties and loneliness will you have to overcome to establish yourself in a major hospital for a foreigner? As she thought this, she vaguely heard Yang Qian say, "Congratulations, Lele." Her voice was so soft, as if afraid of waking up those long-sealed memories, and those fleeting years that none of us could ever take back. Then, the receiver went dead. Yu Lele clutched her phone tightly in her hand, then stared blankly out the window: the sky was a transparent blue, and those sorrowful memories drifted down like autumn leaves. They are buried deep in the soil, never to see the light of day again, yet they transform into water and nutrients, circulating through the world in an eternal form of life. She didn't know how much time had passed when she felt a warmth in her hand. Turning around, she saw Lian Haiping sitting opposite her, smiling as he reached out and placed his hand over hers. His hand was warm and strong, instantly warming her heart. It was as if she suddenly realized: the road ahead might still be arduous, but she was no longer alone.
Side Story: The Dust Settles Down (A-3)
At 12:30 PM, Lian Haiping and Yu Lele finished their lunch and, with their documents in hand, went to queue at the Civil Affairs Bureau. Soon, two more couples lined up behind them. Lian Haiping glanced at Yu Lele; she was looking down at her household registration card, then looked up, smiling, and pointed it out to him: "I'd forgotten how silly I looked in my freshman year." He took it and looked at the black-and-white headshot on her card: a clear, defined silhouette, large eyes, and a smiling mouth—the innocent and naive expression of an eighteen-year-old. Yu Lele simply stared intently at Lian Haiping, thinking: In a little while, this person will truly become the indispensable half of my life—a blood-and-flesh connection, a half I'll never leave. A warm feeling washed over her, seemingly enveloping all the gratitude and love of the past eight years. The selfless care he gave her during her most despondent moments, the meticulous attention he showed when she was far away, all the things she never reciprocated yet he always gave his all for—these flashed before her eyes like an old-fashioned revolving lantern. So, when did gratitude transform into love? The timing was too blurry, so blurry she couldn't remember. She only remembered that slowly, imperceptibly, he entered her life, making her feel secure with him by her side. It turned out that all love in this world can be tumultuous, can be unforgettable, but the love that leads to marriage is the kind that brings peace and sweetness. She couldn't help but reach out to straighten his tie and brush a tiny speck of dust from the shoulder of his suit. Her fingers brushed against his neck, the slight coolness making her heart skip a beat. He looked at her, so close to him, and she felt that only four words could describe her feelings at that moment: "as if from another world." Just then, a staff member's voice rang out: "Please have your ID cards and household registration books ready, line up to have your photos taken, and then fill out the forms." So they went to the next room to have their photos taken. The young woman taking the photos was very responsible; because it was digital photography, she even took several extra photos for the two of them as backups. Yu Lele chose a pretty good one, and the young woman quickly developed it and cut it into four 2-inch prints. Then they went to fill out the forms: name, gender, date of birth, ethnicity, occupation... Yu Lele wrote very quickly, and when she finished, she saw Lian Haiping writing carefully, stroke by stroke. She leaned over to look, not forgetting to laugh at him: "Why write so carefully? It's not like people can't read it."
Lian Haiping answered with utmost seriousness, "It only happens once in a lifetime, of course we have to be careful." Yu Lele suddenly felt something welling up from the bottom of her heart, a warm, surging tide. She stood beside Lian Haiping, watching him carefully fill out the form, so meticulous that he wouldn't allow a single mistake. Finally, after the staff finished entering the information, two crimson marriage certificates, each bearing a two-inch photo on a red background and a unique national number, appeared before them. Lian Haiping took the marriage certificates, took Yu Lele's hand, and walked towards the door. Perhaps it was at this very moment that, compared to the beaming joy on Lian Haiping's face, Yu Lele suddenly felt a sense of panic.
She suddenly felt afraid: Did this mean that from this moment on, she really became a "married woman"? Married! Woman?!
The feeling was terrifying and frustrating, something Yu Lele found hard to accept. Lian Haiping, walking ahead of Yu Lele, turned around and found her standing at the courtyard gate, lost in thought. Lian Haiping stopped and smiled at Yu Lele: "Wife, let's go!" The word "wife" suddenly made Yu Lele blush. She looked back at the window of the marriage registration office with a touch of melancholy, standing there dejectedly. "What's wrong?" Lian Haiping took a few steps back, bent down, and looked into Yu Lele's eyes. Yu Lele was very upset and finally couldn't hold back any longer, lowering her head and muttering, "Haiping, I regret it."
"What?!" Lian Haiping was startled. His eyes widened: "Little Miss, don't scare me! I just felt like I'd toppled three mountains! You can't restore the monarchy!"
A cool breeze blew by, and Lian Haiping suddenly realized that the back of his shirt was damp. He couldn't help but berate himself for being so useless: Yu Lele's words had scared him like this. "Lele, what are you regretting?" Lian Haiping asked Yu Lele patiently. Yu Lele looked up, her expression sullen: "Haiping, I've realized I'm quite impulsive. This impulsiveness means that breaking up won't be called a 'breakup,' it'll be called a 'divorce'..." "What?" Lian Haiping was furious: "You're already thinking about divorce? You...you..." His voice trembled. A couple who had just received their marriage certificate passed by them excitedly, even glancing back curiously. Lian Haiping looked at their radiant faces, then at himself, and at the girl in front of him with her head bowed, and felt it was utterly absurd. "Haiping, do you think we can return this?" Yu Lele waved the marriage certificate in her hand, looking up at Lian Haiping: "Stores offer free returns and exchanges within 7 days, you know—" Before she could finish speaking, she heard Lian Haiping grit his teeth: "Yu Lele!" Yu Lele bit her lip, trying to hold back, but couldn't, and finally said with a mournful face: "Impulsiveness is the devil!"
Lian Haiping finally broke down completely… On the way home, Lian Haiping focused on driving, not uttering a single word. About thirty minutes later, Yu Lele finally snapped out of her daze of realizing she was now a “married woman.” She then discovered that Lian Haiping had parked the car by the sea and was staring at her with a stern face. Yu Lele ignored him and pulled down the sun visor above the passenger seat, using the small mirror on the back to check her face.
Two pimples were still stubbornly growing, and there were faint laugh lines at the corners of her eyes, not quite crow's feet yet… Yu Lele reached out and touched her face, ignoring Lian Haiping's murderous glare. After a long while, Yu Lele finally sighed and turned to look at Lian Haiping: "Haiping…" Her voice was so gentle, yet tinged with a certain grievance. Lian Haiping's heart skipped a beat, and his expression instantly softened.
Yu Lele reached out and took Lian Haiping's arm, leaning closer and resting her head on his shoulder: "Are you angry?"
"Should we go back and get a divorce?" He gave her a cold look, deliberately provoking her. Yu Lele hugged Lian Haiping's arm, looked up at him with a confused expression, "Why do we need a divorce?" "You!" Lian Haiping felt that he would be driven crazy by her one day: "Didn't you say that we would return or exchange the goods within 7 days?"
"Returning an item costs money, right? I won't return it unless it's free." Yu Lele reacted quickly, immediately cutting off Lian Haiping's words.
“Wife,” Lian Haiping said with a wry smile, “one day you’ll scare me so badly I’ll have a heart attack.” Hearing the word “wife” for the second time, Yu Lele’s face flushed again. She still felt a little uncomfortable with this title: how could she suddenly become someone else’s “wife”? And with a legal label attached—a legitimate transfer of ownership—it was truly terrifying. Yet, she had to admit, the word was warm and beautiful. It was as if from then on, there was someone who would stand behind her, no matter how strong the wind or how heavy the rain, steadfastly and persistently supporting her. From then on, no matter poverty or disaster, no one could separate them. A slightly sacred sense of happiness finally arrived, albeit belatedly. Yu Lele hugged Lian Haiping’s arm tightly, as if from this moment she suddenly realized how to write the word “happiness.” Yes, happiness, swelling like fireworks rising into the sky, though belated, arrived so blatantly and unrestrainedly.