Chapter 16: Everlasting Evergreen…

She knows everything, she understands everything, but still, it’s inevitable to feel sad.

Fang Fuyi lowered her head, her eyes focused on her toes. While lost in thought, her shoulder suddenly sank.

It was Tong Hua who had patted her.

After asking for Fang Fuyi’s consent, Tong Hua slowly shifted the camera and introduced her to her family. “Oh, by the way, you guys, this is my colleague. We’re together now.”

“Such a pretty young lady, is it cold?” The elders were very kind, treating Fang Fuyi like one of their own children, surrounding her, asking her about her well-being. “You’ve all worked hard, hurry home now.”

“Okay!” Fang Fuyi and Tong Hua responded together.

“Goodbye!” Tong Hua said her goodbyes to each family member. “We’re waiting for the bus now. We’ll talk more when we get home.”

The video call ended, and the light from the screen faded into the night.

Because she usually always had a smiling face, even the slightest hint of sadness was easily noticeable on the young girl’s face.

“It’s getting late,” Tong Hua put down her phone, noticing Fang Fuyi’s mood. She tried to change the subject to cheer her up, “It’s so late, haven’t your parents called to check on you? Or did they tell you about any delicious food they made at home?”

Comparison is the thief of happiness.

“My parents?” Hearing this, Fang Fuyi lowered her gaze. She didn’t mention that she was the one who had been abandoned. Instead, she just replied, “My dad and mom aren’t here.”

Raindrops pelted the ground as cars passed by, creating splashes on the road.

The surface meaning was understood by Tong Hua as something else.

She thought she had mentioned something that upset Fang Fuyi.

Tong Hua, flustered, realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have brought that up.”

“It’s fine.”

Fang Fuyi shook her head, not bothered by it. Mentioning family during the Mid-Autumn Festival was natural, after all, she had never talked to Tong Hua about her own family situation.

But even though Fang Fuyi said this, Tong Hua still felt guilty. The next moment, as if remembering something, she leaned closer and spoke quickly: “I used to have a really good friend back home. Their family was very happy, but unfortunately, one year something happened at home, and both the parents were gone, leaving only him.”

“On the surface, everything seemed fine, and we thought he had picked himself up and would continue with his life. But no one expected that on the night of last year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, under the pretense of admiring the moon, he went alone to a very deep riverside near our place and jumped in. They couldn’t save him.”

“He was just in his teens, such a young age.” Tong Hua sighed.

“I’m not saying this to upset you, just wanted to tell you that I think you’re great, and I really like you. Although we haven’t known each other for long, I feel very connected with you, and I’d love to see you again and have fun together.”

“Life is only once, we must cherish it. When someone dies, they lose everything.”

Tong Hua’s expression was sincere, and her demeanor was tense, as if she feared that Fang Fuyi might do something foolish, just like her good friend, if she were to lose her composure.

It was a clear sign of her genuine concern.

This subtle yet direct concern made Fang Fuyi’s mood lighten. The storm clouds on her face dispersed, and the atmosphere shifted from gloom to brightness. “I won’t do anything foolish. Don’t worry. It’s not as serious as you think. My parents are still alive, they’re just abroad, not here.”

“That’s good, that’s good!”

The interaction between the girls was simple and pure.

Tong Hua brushed past Fang Fuyi’s sleeve, gently touching the back of her hand, and invited, “Well, since that’s the case, would you like to spend the festival at my place? Don’t worry, you saw earlier, my family is very easygoing, they’ll definitely welcome you.”

“Thank you for your kindness, but I still need to go back.” Fang Fuyi rubbed her slightly sore nose, resisting the urge to sneeze. “Even though my parents aren’t here, there are still people waiting at home…”

She wanted to say a few more things, but time waited for no one.

In the distance, the bus that Fang Fuyi was supposed to take was approaching, and Tong Hua reluctantly said her goodbyes.

“Okay.” She waved her hand, saying, “See you tomorrow.”

In Fang Fuyi’s world, “See you tomorrow” was a very romantic phrase. It meant that today had been pleasant, and because she looked forward to meeting again, she wished time would move faster, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the next day.

The neon lights reflected through the bus window illuminated Fang Fuyi’s face.

The city, shining in vibrant colors, was washed by the heavy, lingering rain, giving off a misty, damp vibe.

It wasn’t bad being in a lively environment, but now that she was separated from it, she was left alone with the sound of rain around her ears. The wet rain seemed to seep into her heart, making her drift into other thoughts.

The bus stopped at a station near Fang Fuyi’s home.

Water droplets flowed quickly, forming a water curtain along the edge of the umbrella, and her coat and pants got splashed with rain.

There weren’t many pedestrians on the road, most were hurrying to avoid the rain. Only a few small shops were still open, and a video store played a Korean song.

She had been living here for a while, but this road, which she had walked many times, felt different on this rainy night. The cold wind wrapped around her, and the fine rain blew sideways. The air felt desolate, and delicate, quiet music cut through the sound of the rain, deeply resonating in her ears. The essence of autumn felt especially strong at this moment.

“How are you?”

“Does it really not matter?”

“After parting…”

“Although I need to forget you, it’s really not easy.”

The song drifted away, and before the climax came, the familiar melody entered. Fang Fuyi remembered the song was called “IF YOU.”

Memories were truly a frightening thing. No matter how bad a relationship had been in the past, the bad parts faded, and the good ones became clearer. Year after year, during the Mid-Autumn Festival, she couldn’t help but uncontrollably recall the days spent with her family.

When happiness is suddenly taken away, it’s like a fish in water being slapped onto the shore, unable to find its way back.

The scene evoked emotions, reminding Fang Fuyi of the past Mid-Autumn Festivals. Sheng Sui must have always spent them with his parents. Now that they were gone, what would he do?

When alone, would he feel lonelier than she did?

Because she cared too much, her emotions were stirred, and even her own discomfort slowly faded, gradually becoming more focused on him. Thus, all the feelings she had were reflected back in a different way.

On the street, she encountered an elderly woman selling crabs. Despite the late hour and the heavy rain, she hadn’t packed up yet.

Autumn was the best season for eating crabs, Fang Fuyi thought. Had she ever spent a proper autumn with Sheng Sui?

Carrying the small bag in her arms and the crabs in the foam box, she brushed off the water marks on her clothes and made her way home.

From downstairs, she thought the lights were simply off. But when she reached the top floor, entered the house, knocked on Sheng Sui’s bedroom door, and looked around, she realized he still hadn’t come back.

Maybe he was still working overtime, or maybe he was on his way? Fang Fuyi felt a pang of disappointment but also felt she could understand.

She took a change of clothes from the bedroom and headed to the bathroom. She had thought of calling him to ask, but was worried that the rain and slippery roads might cause him to be distracted and slip while answering the phone.

Besides, would such behavior make her seem too eager?

There was always this feeling that she couldn’t live without him.

She decided to put the thought aside and reassured herself to take a shower first. Perhaps, by the time she finished, Sheng Sui would be home.

After a warm shower, her face was flushed from the steam. She changed into cozy and comfortable home clothes and squatted down in front of the foam box, fiddling with the crabs that were bubbling up.

Following an online tutorial, she poured cold water into the pot, added a few slices of ginger and a small section of green onion, and then used a small brush to clean each crab that was tied with string. She placed them all in the steamer to steam them.

The steam rose from the pot, and the cold water began to boil.

At first, she could sit still, occasionally leaning out to check the rain and wind outside the window, standing at the door to listen for footsteps. She eagerly anticipated his return, thinking that once Sheng Sui came back, they could eat. But as time passed, and the crabs in the pot changed color with the bubbling sound, she still hadn’t seen a glimpse of him.

She couldn’t focus on the ginger tea tutorial on her phone anymore, and she couldn’t hold back. She decided to call him.

“Beep beep beep…” A busy signal came through, followed by a robotic woman’s voice: “Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later…”

She knew she shouldn’t overthink, but her thoughts wandered, and the sound of the message echoed in her mind, bringing to the forefront the words Tong Hua had told her earlier that evening at the bus stop.

The worst thoughts flooded her mind. Would Sheng Sui really do something like that?

Her phone vibrated, and a notification popped up. Looking closely, it read that people who lose hope in life often don’t show any obvious signs. Most of the time, they act just like everyone else, and even if they choose to end their lives quietly, there are no warning signs.

Her expression grew more serious, and her heart raced in her chest.

“Yeah,” someone replied in the chat, “I have a cousin like that. His wife died during childbirth, and he was always trying to die, saying he didn’t want to live. He went to the rooftop several times, and people had to forcefully pull him back.”

“Well, it’s unavoidable,” another person responded. “When everything seems good, sometimes the smallest thing can touch your heart.”

“Sometimes, the last straw that breaks the camel’s back is something very simple. It could be something as trivial as the rain making someone feel irritable, or it could be that, without any particular reason, someone suddenly feels life has no meaning and doesn’t want to live anymore.”

After scrolling through the replies that cited examples and proofs, the more people in the comments spoke, the more frightened Fang Fuyi became. Eventually, she couldn’t sit still any longer. She grabbed the umbrella she had borrowed from the store, casually threw on a coat, and hurried downstairs, almost running.

The rain had flooded the road, forming puddles, making the ground a damp mess.

The wind was strong and the rain heavier than when Fang Fuyi had returned earlier. She stepped through the accumulated water, not minding the wetness on her feet. Despite the cold wind and the heavy rain, her urgency made her break into a sweat.

She didn’t know the address of Sheng Sui’s company or where he might be, so she wandered aimlessly, holding onto the determination to follow the road that led home.

Her figure was slender, her back narrow, and the umbrella was being blown around wildly. Her hair got soaked, and the rainwater trickled down her cheeks.

Despite it all, Fang Fuyi still held onto the umbrella tightly, with no intention of giving up.

She dared not think about life without Sheng Sui. The time he had left without a word had already made her heart race.

Once was already too much to bear. She couldn’t even imagine going through it again. If such a thing happened again, how much of a blow would it be to her?

The umbrella shook violently, the wind and rain tossed about, and it was so difficult for Fang Fuyi to keep her eyes open. She could only feel her eyelids twitch, but couldn’t tell which eye it was.

Suddenly, a slightly staggering figure ahead was coming closer and closer to her.

The feeling of panic was so obvious, as if something were guiding her toward him.

Fang Fuyi lifted her eyes and tried to focus her gaze. The rain dropped with a “pata” sound, and she quickly leaped forward, sending ripples through the puddles beneath her feet.

Her heart raced, her breath quickened, and before she could recognize him, it was her heartbeat that gave her away.

The young man was tall, his left arm seemed to be holding something, and his right hand barely held up the umbrella.

The umbrella that was meant to block the rain had broken along the way, leaving only a small area to shield him, and most of his body was already soaked.

The distance between them closed, and the two of them drew closer. Sheng Sui was surprised to see her, his expression awkward, his voice rising as if he never expected this. “It’s raining so heavily, how did you come out?”

Although his words were questioning, there was an almost imperceptible hint of joy.

The reason, of course, was because someone had come to meet him.

On this emotional night, with waves of feeling surging, when she saw him, Fang Fuyi fought to hold back the urge to cry. She raised the umbrella high, waved at Sheng Sui, urging him to take shelter under it.

“I called you earlier, but no one answered,” she said. “It’s so late, and since you hadn’t come back, I was worried something might have happened to you, so I came out to check…”

Her gaze fell on the young man, the negative thoughts fleeting. Her voice choked, the increasingly trembling tone almost drowned out by the rain.

The reason she looked unsteady was because she was holding a basket, the umbrella appeared on the verge of falling apart because it had already been blown to pieces by the wind.

She was holding something in both hands, so it was understandable that she couldn’t answer the phone.

“Sorry, I forgot to turn on my phone’s volume,” Sheng Sui said, instinctively pulling her under the umbrella with him. His voice carried the dampness of the rain. “It’s my fault, I came back too late.”

“Let’s go. Let’s head back first.”

The useless umbrella was put away, and the open umbrella in Fang Fuyi’s hand was naturally transferred to Sheng Sui. He held it up, lifting it slightly.

The two of them were so close, as if there was no barrier between them. The smell, the breath, even the coolness coming from the other person’s body could be felt.

Sheng Sui held his breath, and almost imperceptibly, his Adam’s apple moved up and down involuntarily.

Neither of them could comfort each other, because they were both in the rain. All they could do was share the umbrella and walk together.

The path still wasn’t easy to walk.

Sharing the umbrella meant the space underneath was limited. The rain fell sideways, and no matter how careful they were, some rain would inevitably splash onto them. But as long as they supported each other and leaned on each other, they could always see a glimmer of hope.

The umbrella above them was tilted, always leaning in Fang Fuyi’s direction.

There was a broken streetlight in the neighborhood, and the rain slanted through the scattered light and shadows.

The dim yellow light flickered, reflecting on an umbrella with dark green and white stripes. The water-washed blue, like an evergreen tree that never fades, stood in the rainy night.

The wind and rain were shut out from the window. Back in the rented room that could shield them from the storm, Fang Fuyi and Sheng Sui took off their wet coats and wiped the water off their clothes. Only then did they feel a long-awaited sense of warmth.

It was still raining, still coming to the room to shelter, still soaked by the rain. For a moment, the similarity of the situation made Fang Fuyi suddenly recall her reunion with Sheng Sui at the old alleyway this summer.

Back then, just like now, seeing Sheng Sui made her restless heart finally calm down, gradually giving her a sense of peace.

But time had passed, and things had inevitably changed a bit: at this time, they were in conflict, but now they were concerned about each other.

Before, the room and everything in it belonged to “him,” but now, it belonged to “them.”

Sheng Sui, who had willingly dedicated his time and space, wrung out the remaining rainwater from his sleeves, washed his hands, and then opened the small woven basket he had been carrying since earlier. As if by magic, he took out a plump, juicy pear and offered it to Fang Fuyi, asking, “Do you want to eat one first?”

This variety of pear was called Snow Pear, known for being the juiciest of all pear varieties.

Tonight, the team worked overtime until late, and the boss, Zhou Mian, bought some fruit with his own money as a Mid-Autumn gift for everyone.

Thinking that Fang Fuyi might like it, Sheng Sui brought one back for her and presented it to her.

Recently, he had been working overtime and away from home, leaving him with few chances to be alone with Fang Fuyi. He was worried that, in some way, he might have neglected her feelings.

These past few days, he had also occasionally had dreams, but the content of the dreams was frustrating. In the dreams, he was constantly blowing dry Fang Fuyi’s hair. All the things they couldn’t do in real life were completed in his dreams.

On the surface, everything seemed normal. Fang Fuyi didn’t mention it, and neither did he. It was as though the matter had been forgotten. But the one who brought it up first seemed to care more.

He knew that this result was the best way to handle things for both of them, but the strange feeling inside him hadn’t dissipated with time. Instead, it had built up in his heart, making him realize he had to pay more attention to it.

With an eager heart to share, Sheng Sui washed the pear, found a fruit knife, and carefully peeled it, removing the skin bit by bit.

While he was still meticulously peeling the fruit, Fang Fuyi, who had been watching it all, couldn’t be as calm as he was. She really wanted to remind him, “Do you really have to talk to me while you’re still wet like this?”

Is this how you’re going to tempt me?

Fang Fuyi wanted to ask Sheng Sui: Do you even realize what you look like right now? I have absolutely no self-control!

The young man was drenched from the rain, his clothes completely soaked. Not just his jacket, but even the clothes underneath.

At this moment, the cotton fabric clung tightly to his body, revealing not only the well-defined muscles of his narrow waist but also the slight bulge of his chest, making him appear almost as if he were not wearing anything at all.

He looked even more different from when he was a boy, with his bare chest years ago.

Now, as a fully matured man, he radiated strength—his bones and muscles already embodying the ruggedness of adulthood.

And he was completely unaware of this.

While peeling the fruit with a knife, his firm muscles tensed with each movement, unaware that he was almost bare in front of her.

He really didn’t pay much attention and had no other intentions. Once the Snow Pear was peeled, he handed it over, his gaze following it, his brow lifting as he urged her to try it, asking how it tasted.

At such a close distance, it was hard not to brush against each other’s fingertips. The light, fleeting touch made her skin subtly warm.

Sheng Sui’s sincere demeanor made Fang Fuyi feel a bit guilty. She silently crossed her chest and prayed in her heart, seeking forgiveness for the lustful thoughts that had suddenly arisen. After a long pause, she finally took the pear from his hand.

The Snow Pear was named so because its flesh was as white as jade, resembling snow and frost.

She took a gentle bite, and the juice spread on her tongue, the sweetness filling her mouth. As she savored the pear, Fang Fuyi’s eyes lit up, and she couldn’t help but exclaim, “So sweet! So much juice! Do you want to try some?”

She reached out to offer it to him.

A bite was missing from the pear, where Fang Fuyi had taken a piece.

Once she realized this, unwanted thoughts surfaced in her mind.

She waved her hand, and Sheng Sui turned his gaze away, pointing to the remaining pears in the small basket, saying, “You eat it. There’s still plenty here.”

The rain outside continued to fall, and the dampness and occasional chill reminded them that the priority was to shower first. Wearing wet clothes for too long made it too easy to catch a cold.

The question of who should shower first became the issue.

Fang Fuyi had already showered once, and on her way back, she was well-covered. In comparison, Sheng Sui was truly drenched, his sleeves soaked through, to the point where water could be squeezed out of them.

Sheng Sui insisted Fang Fuyi go first, but she, still munching on the pear, tried to show concern for him the way he had done for her countless times before: “I already showered earlier when I came back, so you go first! Don’t catch a cold.”

They both hesitated and couldn’t come to a decision.

On a deeper level, this was a silent expression of mutual concern.

Fang Fuyi then slyly teased him: “Did you smell anything when you came in?”

“I cooked something in the kitchen. Do you want to know what it is? Go take a shower first, and I’ll tell you once you’re done!” Only after she said this did Sheng Sui, carrying his change of clothes, head into the bathroom.

Taking bite after bite of the juicy Snow Pear, the sound of water splashing soon echoed from the bathroom. The continuous sound of water reminded Fang Fuyi of the firm, well-defined muscles of the man under his shirt just moments ago.

The sky outside was as dark as thick ink, while the light in the room was bright enough to make one feel dizzy.

The lighting, the sound of water, and those fleeting thoughts suddenly made her mouth dry, and her throat itchy.

Fang Fuyi rubbed her nose, feeling like she was about to sneeze, but after waiting a long time, she still couldn’t manage to.

Sheng Sui finished his shower quite quickly. As Fang Fuyi finished the last bite of her pear, he emerged from the bathroom, his short hair damp and soft, and his face looking much softer.

A white towel was draped over his neck as he walked over to Fang Fuyi.

“Done already? That was fast,” she asked.

Sheng Sui nodded.

“Great, come here, I’ll show you what I cooked,” Fang Fuyi said, pushing him toward the kitchen. She opened the pot, showing him as if it were some rare treasure, and began to explain, “It’s autumn, so it’s the perfect season for crabs, right?”

“These are all from a grandmother I bought them from when I came back.”

“I cleaned each one carefully, following the tutorial step by step,” she continued, pointing to the crabs. Her big, round eyes shone brightly, not blinking as she stared at him, her expression seemingly asking, “Aren’t I amazing?”

Fang Fuyi’s presence was like a little sprite, hopping right into Sheng Sui’s heart. She gently stroked his chest, dispelling all his exhaustion, making his heart soft and his mood light.

The feeling of being cared for seemed almost too joyful.

It was almost uncontrollable—the happiness bubbled up, and her smile spread from her eyes, little by little, from her heart to the rest of her body.

A withered tree blooming.

How to describe it? If happiness had a shape, it seemed as if it might overflow right now.