Su Mo stood there helplessly watching her, and after a few seconds, she followed her.
This area is near a university, and many students come out to stroll around in the evening. There were three or four people who looked like university students queuing ahead of them. After waiting a while, the two finally received their fried potatoes from the vendor.
"Ah, it's so hot!" Jiang Jianhuan couldn't wait to put it in her mouth, and she grimaced as she was burned.
She ate most of it with satisfaction before remembering there was someone else next to her, and asked a question as a formality.
Do you want some?
Su Mo, wearing a mask: "..."
"No need, thank you."
"Oh." Jiang Jianhuan nodded and finished her meal alone with a clear conscience.
The two had already reached the building entrance. Su Mo had a key card and could go straight in. As they took the elevator to the sixth floor, Jiang Jianhuan suddenly felt a little nervous for some reason. Perhaps it was because the fried potatoes she had eaten earlier were a bit too salty, and she unconsciously licked her lips with the tip of her tongue.
Su Mo glanced at her but didn't say anything.
The elevator doors opened, revealing the corridor outside. It was somewhat old, with whitewashed walls and yellowish-brown floor tiles, and the light bulb overhead was still bright.
It looks exactly like I remember it.
Jiang Jianhuan followed Su Mo to one of the doors, watching him insert the key and turn it gently.
The door was opened.
She hesitated in place, and Su Mo stopped and stepped aside.
Jiang Jianhuan still went inside.
The first thing that catches the eye is the living room, with its small floral curtains, light green sofa, television, cabinets, and dining table.
The interior furnishings remained unchanged.
Jiang Jianhuan looked around, hesitating for a long time. Finally, as if mustering his courage, he came to his senses and walked over to slowly touch each of the things.
The light green sofa had a fresh and clean feel to it; she bought it with Su Mo when they went to a secondhand market years ago. It was already a bit hot then, and Su Mo and she carried it up the elevator together, both of them covered in sweat.
The table was left by the previous tenant, but the little lace tablecloth on it was a souvenir Jiang Jianhuan bought while traveling. The cabinet...
She often hid snacks in that cabinet. Su Mo didn't like her eating those random things, but Jiang Jianhuan couldn't resist and could only eat them secretly behind his back. She hid the snacks very well, and Su Mo rarely went to look for them, until one time—
A mouse gnawed a hole in the corner of the wooden cabinet.
Su Mo opened the door with a puzzled look and found the cabinet full of potato chips and spicy strips.
......
Later, Jiang Jianhuan suffered a terrible fate because Su Mo bought a lock and locked up that cabinet.
Looking back now, it's still a little funny. Curious, she squatted down to take a look and discovered that the cabinet could now be opened. She exclaimed in surprise and reached out to slide it open.
The corner where she used to hide snacks is now piled high with layers upon layers of food, all of which were her favorites from her student days.
"...What are you doing?" Jiang Jianhuan wanted to laugh at the same time, and then she wanted to cry. She looked up at Su Mo.
"Why are you leaving snacks here? You're not coming to stay, so they'll all expire."
"The housekeeper will take care of it," Su Mo explained awkwardly, then looked up at her nose.
"...I come here occasionally."
That way, it feels like she's still here.
They never left.
"Is this still within its shelf life?" Jiang Jianhuan reached out and rummaged through the bags, taking out a pack of spicy strips that she used to love, and glanced at the production date on the back.
"...and it's the latest version." She was somewhat surprised, and Su Mo hummed in agreement.
"The housekeeper comes regularly to clean and check."
"...All right."
Jiang Jianhuan was a little hungry, having not eaten much today. She slowly opened a package and took a bite.
Mmm, it tastes just like before.
Jiang Jianhuan hadn't eaten this for several years while abroad. After finishing one pack, she wasn't satisfied and opened another. Su Mo watched her eat with such relish and couldn't help but swallow.
"Let me try some too."
"Don't you hate junk food the most?" Jiang Jianhuan said, but still handed it over, and Su Mo lowered her head and took a bite.
"Later I found out it was actually quite delicious."
Many times, when he sat here alone, he would open the cupboard and try some of the snacks she used to love. For some reason, they tasted good now, and he no longer disliked them as much as before.
After looking around the living room, the two went to the bedroom.
Just as I had imagined, the bed in the center, the wardrobe, and even the desk next to it hadn't been moved.
Jiang Jianhuan's gaze fell on the pair of teddy bears on the bedside table. They were snuggled together, heads close together, as if they had never been apart.
She had slipped two notes into the pocket of the little bear's clothes. The one with the bow in its hair had Jiang Jianhuan's name written on it, and the other little bear had Su Mo's name in its pocket.
She couldn't help but smile as she recalled it. She seemed a little naive back then.
Jiang Jianhuan walked over, picked up one of the teddy bears, rummaged through its pocket, and sure enough, found a note with neat and familiar handwriting, which was indeed from her hand.