Chapter 10: Distance of a Wall

After hanging up the phone, Bi Qiao’an swiftly wiped the dining table clean. Shen Yanming emerged from the kitchen as she finished tidying up.

“Everything alright?” He inquired as concern laced his tone, his eyes searching her face for answers.

“It was just Chen Jin asking me for something, and I told her to go find Xiao Fei,” Bi Qiao’an explained.

Hearing the name “Xiao Fei”, Shen Yanming’s heart lurched but his expression remained impassive as he asked, his voice carefully controlled. “What do you mean by that?”

“Xiao Fei was planning to confess to Chen Jin today but she went out on a date with someone else. He wanted me to help pass his flowers and gift to Chen Jin once she returned. I refused and soon after, you called me away,” Bi Qiao’an said.

Bi Qiao’an gave a small laugh after the explanation, the sound tinged with relief. “Your timing showing up really was perfect. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known how to turn Xiao Fei down!” she said, her eyes shining with gratitude.

Only then did Shen Yanming realize the confession scene he had interrupted was intended for someone else, the realization hitting him like a ton of bricks!  

Yet, a new question arose. Even considering Qiao’an’s rebirth, the scenario unfolded identically. Why didn’t Xiao Fei confess this time? The thought nagged at him, his mind racing with possibilities.

It didn’t really matter. This turn of events eliminated the need for him to devise a strategy to remove that punk, his heart filled with a sense of satisfaction.

“It’s gotten late, Brother Yanming. I should head home first,” Bi Qiao’an said, glancing at the clock reading 10:30 PM and getting up to bid Shen Yanming goodnight, her movements tinged with reluctance.  

“Going where? This is your home, too!” Shen Yanming found her words amusing, his eyebrows raised in mock surprise and his lips twitching with the hint of a smile.  

“Technically, it’s yours, not mine. My place is next door,” Bi Qiao’an replied, her voice filled with amusement and her eyes twinkling with mirth.

“It’s barely a wall apart. First thing tomorrow, I’ll have someone knock it down,” he joked with a playful grin, his words filled with warmth and his expression soft.

“Then talk to me again once you’ve done that,” She countered as laughter bubbled in her voice, her heart filled with joy at their easy banter.

She slipped out of the guest slippers and stepped into the hallway, the door clicking shut behind her, the sound echoing in the sudden stillness.

Shen Yanming sighed as he stood alone, his shoulders slumping and his heart heavy with loneliness. He then proceeded to remove the freshly laundered linens from the washing machine and hung them in the laundry room, his movements mechanical and his mind elsewhere.

Walking back to the living room, he sat down on the sofa and found himself staring at the living room that seemed so big all of a sudden, as loneliness crept upon Shen Yanming’s heart once again. He truly detested this feeling.

The corners of his lips twisted up bitterly. Shen Yanming rose and walked towards the door with a determined glint in his eyes. He didn’t care if it’s shameless, he would bind Qiao’an by his side tonight, his heart filled with a fierce longing and his steps quickening with purpose.

Standing at the entrance of Unit 1601, Bi Qiao’an turned when she heard the other unit unlock, her heart skipping a beat at the sound. “Why’d you come out?” she asked, her voice filled with surprise and her eyes wide with curiosity.  

“Why haven’t you gone in yet?” Their bemused voices rang out simultaneously.

He noticed the forced smile on her face, and realization dawned on him as a pang of remorse tugged at his heartstrings. “I’m not used to sleeping alone,” he admitted with a touch of vulnerability, his voice low and his eyes filled with a silent plea. “Can you stay with me tonight… for company?”

Without waiting for her response, he reached out and took her hand and led her gently into his apartment, his touch warm and his grip firm. “Change into the pajamas I washed for you,” he instructed as pointed towards the guest room.

Bi Qiao’an nodded silently and slipped inside, her heart racing and her mind filled with conflicting emotions. She thought she was prepared, but upon seeing the familiar space of Unit 1601, even if today’s world where that place held no connections to that pair still evoked a subconscious recoil on her, the memories too painful to bear.

She was slightly discouraged by the realization of her lingering vulnerability, her shoulders slumping and her heart heavy with sadness. She deeply sighed as she pulled the curtains closed then donned the matching gray with a heart design pajamas. Walking to the living room, she found Shen Yanming on the sofa with his attention glued to the evening news, his brow furrowed in concentration. 

Shen Yanming wasn’t truly taking in the information, his mind preoccupied with the past and how it had mentally scarred Bi Qiao’an, his heart aching with the knowledge of her pain.

He only noticed her return when the sofa dipped beside him, the warmth of her presence filling him with comfort. “Looks good! One glance and anyone can tell we’re family,” he cheerfully said, his voice filled with forced cheer and his eyes shining with false brightness. 

Bi Qiao’an shook her head with a wry smile and said, her voice filled with concern and her eyes searching his face. “Aren’t you tired? Why are you still watching TV?”

“It’s become a habit of sorts,” he replied, shifting his gaze back to the screen, his expression distant and his mind elsewhere. 

The newscaster announced, his voice filled with urgency and his expression grave. “According to Qing’ou International Press, local time March 7th, Mount Spurong volcano on Leishangan Island erupted once more. The spewing lava flows ignited a wildfire, which firefighters then scrambled to contain at safer zones around the mountain. This marks the second eruption since Mount Spurong’s dormancy of three thousand years. Last June, it had also erupted once, resulting in the deaths of forty-two hiking enthusiasts.”  

The international headline sent chills down Bi Qiao’an’s spine, her heart pounding in her chest. In her past life, she had seen similar reports, but they felt distant and irrelevant at the time. It was only after living through the apocalypse that she understood how the world had been sending warnings all along, warnings that went unheeded.

“Brother Yanming, I’ve noticed a surge in these disaster news reports lately—earthquakes, tsunamis… They’ve been happening more frequently these past two years. It’s making me feel uneasy,” she said, her voice steady but a flicker of fear dancing in her eyes.

Shen Yanming reached out and gently patted her shoulder while he said in a firm voice. “Don’t worry, Qiao’an. Even if the heavens collapse, your brother here will hold it up for you!” 

Both understood, though, that such casual reassurances meant little. When doomsday finally descended, no one could evade their fate, the thought filling them with a sense of helplessness and their hearts heavy with the weight of the future.  

The night deepened, beckoning sleep, the world outside quiet and still. Shen Yanming retreated to the master bedroom, while Bi Qiao’an nestled into the guest room. ‘They were still a wall apart’ were Shen Yanming’s last thoughts as he drifted off.

Exhaustion eventually claimed Bi Qiao’an, and she drifted off to sleep, her mind filled with troubled dreams and her heart heavy with worry. 

Meanwhile, in the dorm, Chen Jin tossed and turned restlessly as she wrestled with a dilemma, her mind racing and her heart torn.

Should she accept Xiao Fei’s confession?  

In truth, Chen Jin did harbor feelings for him. After all, Xiao Fei stood out remarkably even among their peers, his talent and charm undeniable. But Chen Jin had long ascertained from Xiao Fei’s classmates that his family circumstances were quite average – neither a burden nor a boon, the knowledge filling her with disappointment and her heart with frustration.  

What Chen Jin hoped for was someone from a well-off background, like the date she went on today. His family ran a company and he owned two apartments, but after subtle probing, Chen Jin understood such a man would never marry her, the realization filling her with bitterness and her heart with resentment.  

And he wasn’t the first boy to declare he wouldn’t make her his bride. The better their conditions, the less willing they became, their words filled with rejection and their eyes shining with disdain.  

Casual romance with gift-giving was fine, but matrimony? No! Their sort wanted a woman of equal standing who could aid their personal or familial interests, their expectations high and their standards rigid.  

Chen Jin was on the older side of graduates this year as she was soon to be twenty-four. She dreaded missing her window if she delayed much longer without even a decent prospect like Xiao Fei secured, her heart filled with anxiety and her mind racing with possibilities.  

Well, whatever. She did happen to quite fancy the presents Xiao Fei gave, her heart filled with greed and her mind already calculating her next move. Chen Jin resolved to just accept for now. She reasoned that she could always divorce later if a better opportunity arose, her heart cold and her mind made up.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows as Bi Qiao’an roused from her slumber while Shen Yanming’s voice drifted in from outside, “Qiao’an, get up sleepyhead! It’s time for breakfast,” his voice filled with warmth and his tone gentle.

She truly respected her Brother Yanming’s tirelessness. It was barely past 7:30 AM yet he showed no fatigue? The thought filled her with admiration and her heart with gratitude. 

After getting up, Bi Qiao’an washed up and headed to the dining room. Awaiting her was the fruit tart and the pizza they bought last night, accompanied by two glasses of milk, the sight filling her with warmth and her heart with joy.  

“These were still warm yesterday but now they’ve cooled down,” Bi Qiao’an mentioned with a tinge of regret in her voice after seeing the egg custard, her expression wistful and her eyes distant.  

“Yeah, only cold options now. Please bear with it for today. I’ll buy you freshly baked ones tomorrow to make up for it,” Shen Yanming said, his voice filled with apology and his eyes shining with promise. Shen Yanming always wanted to give Bi Qiaoan the best, but sometimes…

“No, it’s fine. Having something to eat is already good enough. You’ve no clue – when starving, people fought over even plain wild vegetable gruel. So, we should be grateful for what we have,” Bi Qiao’an sighed in earnest after swallowing her food, her voice filled with emotion and her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Nodding with a smile, Shen Yanming agreed, his expression one of understanding and his heart filled with empathy. Only people who endured adversity could understand. Hence, their simple breakfast was without any wastage, their hearts filled with gratitude and their minds focused on the present.  

After eating and washing the tableware, it was only 8:15 AM. Noticing the date today– Saturday, Shen Yanming asked her, his voice filled with curiosity and his eyes shining with interest. “Are you heading back to campus today?”

“Yes, I want to check in and see how things are,” Bi Qiao’an replied with a shy smile, her cheeks flushing pink and her eyes downcast.

Shen Yanming nodded in acquiescence and said, his voice filled with enthusiasm and his expression eager. “I’ll drop you off later. For now, let’s go see what gifts I brought you first!”  

“You even prepared presents for me? Hehe, it’s been ages since I received any!” Bi Qiao’an exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement and her eyes wide with wonder.  

“How long exactly?” Shen Yanming asked, his eyebrows raised in question and his eyes searching her face for answers.

“Stopped after the second year you went overseas,” Bi Qiao’an replied, her voice soft and her expression tinged with sadness.  

“In that case, do you remember what I sent the year I initially left for Europa?” Shen Yanming asked, his voice low and his eyes filled with an emotion Bi Qiao’an couldn’t quite place.

“Yup! There was a Gucci bag and Hermès scarf,” Bi Qiao’an said, her voice filled with fondness and her eyes distant with memory.  

Hearing this, Shen Yanming’s brow furrowed and a dark shadow crossed his features, his expression filled with anger and his eyes flashing with rage.