Chapter 11

On a midsummer evening, the slow breeze brought no relief from the heat, and waves of warmth rolled in with every breath.

Carrying the garbage bags, Lin Ye turned the corner from the third floor to the second, only relaxing her furrowed brows once she was out of Tang Feiwan’s sight. However, the confusion lingering in her mind refused to dissipate. Why did she rent a place outside? Why did she specifically choose the apartment next door? Why, despite believing that she had built a family with someone else, did she not stay away but instead chose to move closer…?

Burdened with these thoughts, Lin Ye’s once calm heart was unsettled.

She kept reminding herself: Maybe Tang Feiwan had already planned to rent a place after all, living closer to the hospital made commuting easier. She just happened to hear about Professor Zheng’s vacant apartment, and the price was reasonable.

A coincidence. Everything was just a coincidence.

There was no need to treat this any differently having an ordinary colleague live next door wasn’t anything special.

However, just as one wave subsided, another rose. As Lin Ye walked back after disposing of the garbage, she clearly overheard Lin Wenhui chatting with Tang Feiwan at the landing between the second and third floors.

“You young people should cut back on takeout. Dr. Tang, if you don’t feel like cooking, you’re welcome to come over and join us for a meal.”

“Thank you, Auntie.”

“Tonight, we’re having taro-braised chicken…” Lin Wenhui started to say, but she was suddenly interrupted.

“Hui Yi.”

Lin Wenhui smiled, the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes becoming more prominent. “Xiao Ye, I just found out that our new neighbor is your office colleague. I was about to invite her over for dinner.”

Lin Ye pressed her lips together. Normally respectful towards Lin Wenhui, she uncharacteristically hesitated to respond. Tang Feiwan, reading the atmosphere, gave both of them a way out.

“Auntie, it’s alright. I’ve already ordered takeout I shouldn’t waste it.”

“Next time, then.” Having known Lin Ye for years, Lin Wenhui understood her personality and quickly sensed something was off. After exchanging a few more polite words, they each returned to their apartments. Once inside, Lin Wenhui voiced her curiosity.

“Xiao Ye, you and Dr. Tang aren’t that close?”

Lin Ye’s right hand, which had been hanging at her side, tensed slightly before she casually walked to the kitchen to wash her hands. She kept her tone as natural as possible.

“Hui Yi, Dr. Tang just joined last Tuesday. Besides, I’m quite tired tonight and didn’t want to be a poor host.”

Seeing Lin Ye’s exhaustion, Lin Wenhui didn’t suspect anything and simply replied, “Alright,” before turning to call, “Yangyang, time for dinner.”

“Okay! Auntie, I’ll get the utensils.” Lin Yangyang placed her stuffed StellaLou on the sofa and, remembering Lin Ye’s instructions to wash her hands after playing, ran back to the sink before stepping onto a small stool to grab her special set of dishes.

As they were serving food, the little girl gently pushed Lin Ye’s wrist with her small hands and sweetly said, “Mommy, let me do it.”

Lin Ye handed her the serving spoon as requested, watching her behave so obediently. For the first time that evening, the straight line of her lips curved into a soft smile.

While Lin Ye and her family enjoyed a rich dinner of meat, vegetables, and soup, Tang Feiwan wasn’t so lucky.

She had ordered Sichuan-style mala hotpot, specifically requesting mild spice, but the first bite nearly set her mouth on fire. She quickly downed half a bottle of water to cool the burn. Not wanting to waste food, she rinsed the ingredients in plain water, but the resulting bland, tasteless meal only filled her stomach without satisfying her appetite.

Already in a sour mood from Lin Ye’s cold attitude, her dissatisfaction grew when her father decided to chime in.

Tang Anhua video-called her. “What are you eating tonight?”

“Mala hotpot.”

Jiang Junli asked, “Why are you rinsing it?”

“It’s too spicy.”

Tang Anhua flipped his camera, proudly showing off their dinner spread. “All your favorites stir-fried asparagus with shrimp, fish-flavored pork. Looks and smells amazing.”

Tang Feiwan gritted her teeth. “Dad, you ”

“I told you not to move out, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you regret it, don’t you?”

For once, Jiang Junli sided with him. “It’s just a spur-of-the-moment decision. She’ll probably change her mind next season and move back.”

“Dr. Jiang, Mr. Tang, I signed a one-year lease. If I break it, I lose my deposit.” Tang Feiwan shut her lunchbox with determination. “I won’t regret it.”

After hanging up, she took Tomato out for a walk before returning to clean, disinfect the furniture, and organize her belongings. By the time she finished showering and lay in bed, it was nearly 10 p.m.

She closed her eyes. Despite being awake for nearly 40 hours, she still couldn’t fall asleep. Her mind was filled with images of Lin Ye.

Their physical distance had shrunk from over 8,000 kilometers requiring a plane ride followed by a train to now less than 10 meters. A simple knock on the door, and they could see each other.

But their emotional distance seemed to be growing, stretching so far that Tang Feiwan was losing confidence in ever closing the gap.

She didn’t know how much time had passed before she suddenly turned over and, on impulse, opened her bedside drawer. Inside was a metal tin.

The aged tin box had a German inscription on the lid: “Ein kostbares Geschenk.” A Precious Gift It was a New Year’s present from her mentor in January 2014. She had emptied it of its original contents two books and a pair of fountain pens to use it for storing letters.

Four letters, spanning three years.

All sent from Shujing City.
All written by Lin Ye.

And yet, she hadn’t found them until nine days after their breakup.

The letters were slightly yellowed. Though she had carefully preserved them, she couldn’t help but take them out occasionally, holding them in her hands, reliving the past. Before she knew it, half the night had slipped away.

Summer 2010

Tangtang, as I write this, you’ve only been gone for two months. I don’t know if you’ll receive this letter or when you’ll read it, but right now, I just want to put my thoughts of you into words.

Lin Ye had shared her struggles in the ER of the Second Affiliated Hospital—her initial confusion, self-doubt, perseverance, and eventual growth as she earned the respect of her department head.

At the end of the two-page letter, she had written six simple words:

I look forward to your reply.

Winter 2010

Tangtang, this is the third letter I’ve written. The first two must have disappeared into the void.

Lin Ye reminded her to take care of herself, not to stay up too late, and to dress warmly when the weather changed.

The final six words were still the same:

I look forward to your reply.

The next letter was written two years later Winter 2012.

I always thought that no matter the season, you would receive a letter from me while you were abroad.

Spring, summer, autumn, and winter four letters a year. This should be the tenth one, right?

In every letter, Lin Ye shared her work and the little things happening around her. And as always, the final six words remained unchanged:

I look forward to your reply.

In the summer of 2013, Lin Ye wrote her twelfth letter the last one Tang Feiwan ever received. The six words at the end were the same as always.

But in the second-to-last line, Lin Ye had asked:

Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk?

Tang Feiwan still remembered August 26 of that year, Lin Ye’s 29th birthday.

At 10:32 p.m. Beijing time, it was 4:32 p.m. in Heidelberg, six hours behind due to the time difference. She had sneaked out of the lab, looked up at the vast, endless blue sky, and made an overseas call.

Back then, they could still talk for hours. That call lasted 1 hour and 27 minutes.

She softly called Lin Ye’s name in different ways, and every time, Lin Ye responded.

“Senior.”

“Hmm?”

“Dr. Lin.”

“Yes.”

“Lin Ye.”

“I’m here.”

Counting down silently in her heart, she then asked Lin Ye to open the window and whispered:

“Can you see it?”

“Tonight’s moonlight is beautiful.”

Blushing, she asked if the person on the other end of the call understood what she meant.

The next second, Lin Ye’s voice, warm and lingering like flowing water, gently seeped into her heart.

“Do you know why a raven is like a writing desk?”