[No Love on the Other Shore] (61-65)

Chapter 61 No Way Back to the Past
About twenty minutes later, the car moved forward a few meters before coming to a stop again.
Xu Ke was driving an automatic, and in this situation, his other hand seemed superfluous, something he hadn't felt before. His fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel; he wanted to say something, gathering some topics, then rejecting them one by one. He leaned back slightly, raising his head; in the rearview mirror, he could only see her features. In the dim light, Jiang Yunuo was looking out the window, lost in thought.
Outside, everything was shrouded in mist, nothing at all.
He coughed softly and asked, "Is Jiang Min alright?" His slightly deep voice sounded particularly pleasant in the quiet world.
"She's fine," Jiang Yunuo sat up slightly, "The usual," hoping to find a few more words to say, she thought hard for a long time before finally saying, "She asked me to bring you something."
"What?" He turned to look at her.
“The ring,” she chuckled softly, trying to lighten her tone, “is a family heirloom, said to have been passed down from Grandma… Mom said it’s for your future… wife.”
Wife—that word should be more formal, she thought.
The convoy ahead moved at a snail’s pace. Xu Ke didn’t speak, turning to drive.
Jiang Yunnuo said, “I don’t have it with me. I’ll give it to you another day.”
Xu Ke glanced at the road ahead and said, “No rush.”
Jiang Yunnuo carefully chose her words, “She misses you a lot. She feels guilty about what happened before.”
“The past?” He smiled. “What happened?”
Jiang Yunnuo looked at his profile. He looked handsome when he smiled, but she wasn’t in a good mood. “Leaving you like that back then, all these years later, she’s still holding a grudge.” She said slowly.
He smiled slightly and didn’t say anything more.
After a while, he asked, “And what about you?”
“…”
Silence fell again in the car.
Jiang Yunnuo nestled in her seat, motionless. Finally, she raised her hand and gently wiped the window, her movements stiff, then countless snowflakes rushed towards her.
Xu Ke turned on the CD.
Someone sang, "...If life had no regrets, no waves, would you never have to say goodbye? Perhaps young hearts are too soft, unable to withstand the wind and waves. If I could go back to yesterday, I would compromise with myself. I'm waiting for a minute, maybe in the next minute, I can feel your heartache too. That year, I wouldn't let parting become forever..."
He frowned and immediately switched to the next song.
Someone else sang softly, "...We promised never to let go of each other's hands, but reality said love isn't enough...We met again in the crowd, you've become so thin, yet I still fall for your eyes. We promised to grow old together and watch the gentle flow of time, but we will become someone else's someone else..."
He snapped the CD off and switched to the traffic radio station. Finally, the noisy voices of the male and female hosts filled the space at the right time, and their nonsensical jokes seemed incredibly cute at this moment.
Jiang Yunuo quietly breathed a sigh of relief, his tightly clenched palms already drenched in sweat.
They drove like this until they were almost at the hotel. She couldn't help but say, "Smoke less..."
He didn't answer, turned to look behind him, and slowly parked the car on the side of the road.
Jiang Yunuo picked up her purse, about to get out, but then asked, "Where are you going later?" She immediately realized her question was inappropriate. She felt she had no right to care about such things; whether it was going to a nightclub or spending the night at her girlfriend's house, it had nothing to do with her. Therefore, before receiving a reply, she quickly explained, "It's late, and it's snowing so heavily, you should go home early." But the more she explained, the more wrong it felt.
Xu Ke habitually reached for his cigarettes and lighter in his pocket, then suddenly remembered something and stopped. "I'm going back to the factory later, I've been busy these past few days," he said. "...I'll take you in."
Jiang Yunuo quickly said, "No need, it's just a short walk, drive carefully." As she spoke, she had already gotten out of the car. A thin layer of snow had accumulated on the sidewalk. She walked slowly, her high, thin heels always making her look uneasy.
"Hello..."
She stopped, momentarily unsure if it was his voice.
"Jiang Yunnuo."
She turned around abruptly, her foot unexpectedly slipping. She braced herself and looked up at the sky, thinking to herself, "If you make me fall now, I'll never forgive you!" She
swayed, her arm caught by someone.
Xu Ke was already there, holding her phone, the screen flashing. "You left it on the back seat," he said.
"Thank you." She glanced at the screen; the name "Chen Zichen" was flashing incessantly. She released his hand, took a step back, and tried to answer the phone. But she found one foot stuck.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"It seems my heel is stuck in the paving stones."
He bent down and said, "Lift your foot."
She put her hand on his shoulder, and he helped her take off her shoe and then pulled the heel out.
Despite the cold weather, she wore stockings, and one could vaguely see pink paint on her delicate toes.
He was momentarily lost in thought, as if transported back to that summer night of his youth, a young girl carrying sandals, walking barefoot under the streetlights without a care in the world, her feet almost translucent white, exquisitely shaped, and boneless.
He silently put her shoes on, straightened up, and her hand remained on his shoulder.
The slight pressure on his shoulder brought him immense pleasure.
Unfortunately, time flies, and they could never go back.
A taxi pulled up by the roadside, and someone got out.
When Jiang Yunuo saw Chen Zichen, he was almost upon her, and her hand, still holding a trace of Xu Ke's warmth, gently moved away.
The two men greeted each other, and Chen Zichen asked Jiang Yunuo, "I called you earlier, why didn't you answer?"
Jiang Yunuo thought, "Yes, how could I forget to answer?"
Chen Zichen exchanged pleasantries with Xu Ke, saying, "Let's go sit in the room."
Xu Ke glanced at Jiang Yunnuo, "It's too late."
Chen Zichen then said, "Let's sign the contract sometime?"
Xu Ke agreed, "I'll be at the factory these few days, you can come find me."
"There are some details, you see... can we discuss them again?"
Xu Ke smiled, "Of course."
Then, they parted ways.
Before entering the hotel, Jiang Yunnuo couldn't help but look back. Xu Ke hadn't gotten into the car.
He leaned against the car, head slightly lowered, lighting a cigarette. He cupped the flame from the lighter in his hand, as if a ball of orange light was hidden in his palm, illuminating his profile, his half-closed eyes, and his slightly furrowed, thick black eyebrows in that instant.
He stood there, handsome yet unfamiliar.
This strange, calm atmosphere felt like being separated by a layer of fogged glass; she loathed it, yet dared not shatter it. Finally, just as she was about to despair, he glanced up at her.
That glance was almost negligible in its brevity. Then, he turned his face away, looking at the flashing lights of the cars on the side of the road.
Entering the room, Chen Zichen seemed a little strange. He tried to kiss her as soon as he closed the door; he wasn't usually so proactive.
Jiang Yunnuo avoided him without thinking. Sometimes, it's not the brain that gives the commands, but the heart. Her heart was already exhausted.
"I'm so tired today," she said, heading towards the bathroom.
Chen Zichen grabbed her, asking softly, "Is it not okay?"
"I'm not feeling well." She found herself not wanting to say a single extra word.
"You've been feeling unwell every day since you came back to China." His accusation was valid; there was no room for rebuttal.
"Maybe it's just the change in environment," she said. There was nothing she could do; she couldn't resist her own unusual behavior. She felt somewhat guilty towards Chen Zichen, but beyond that, she dared not and could not think too much.
After showering, Chen Zichen sat on the edge of the bed watching TV. He casually asked, "How long have we been together?"
She thought for a moment, "About three months."
He seemed to consider something, then added, "Don't you think it's too rushed, regarding marriage?"
"What do you think?" Her eyes were fixed on the TV screen.
Chen Zichen smiled, "I was just asking." He said, then got up and went into the bathroom.
Jiang Yunuo took a book, nestled on the sofa, and read it, while also putting on a face mask and letting her hair dry. She didn't like using a hairdryer; she didn't want her hair to lose its shine like straw. She hoped that when he saw her, she wouldn't look too bad. Ridiculous, she thought, this was her, the real her, the one she couldn't hide.
A day later, seeing that the snow had stopped, Chen Zichen said he wanted to go to the factory with her to sign the contract.
Jiang Yunuo glanced at the snow outside the window and asked, "Can't we use fax?" When she said this, she was somewhat insincere, not to others, but to another version of herself. This other Jiang Yunuo always had excessive desires, though those desires were extremely simple—just wanting to see him a few more times with the help of others. However, she felt afraid.
Human desires, initially revealed little by little, gradually become irreversible.
Chen Zichen replied, "I still want to go to the workshop. It's not that I'm worried, but my partner keeps asking about the factory; I need to explain it to him in detail." Furthermore, he thought the price could be lowered further.
A sliver of hope arose in her heart; she felt it was only a tiny bit.
The snow outside was getting thicker; a blizzard, said to be the worst in 50 years, was approaching. However, due to the approaching end of the year, the roads were still bustling with traffic. Only the taxi drivers were unwilling to take passengers to places too far away, so the two had no choice but to take a passenger bus.
They bought their tickets and had just boarded the train when Chen Zichen received a phone call.
He didn't know who was calling, but he repeatedly said "yes." After a while, he hung up and told Jiang Yunnuo, "A friend is in the hospital, I have to go. You go to your brother's first, I'll come over after I see my friend," then he shoved a file bag into her hand, "This contains the drafted contract, take it to him to see."
Jiang Yunnuo was still hesitating when Chen Zichen hurriedly got off the train.
Afterwards, the train started moving.
Only after leaving the city did she realize that the road conditions were much worse than she had imagined.
Chapter 62 Footprints in the Snow
Around 2 PM, Xu Ke finally received a call from Chen Zichen. After he explained the situation, Xu Ke slammed her phone down.
Liu Xin, standing nearby, found it strange that her boss looked so gloomy. Having worked together for so many years, with age, Xu Ke's tendency to show her emotions had almost completely disappeared. Even when the factory's power lines were cut, causing several days of production stoppage, he didn't even flinch. After that, those local bullies transformed, fawning over him like dogs. The problem was solved, and everything returned to normal... Liu Xin guessed that the factory still had a batch of goods piled up, unshipped for fear of problems in this snowy weather. Could it be that the customer was pressing for payment?
"Do you have Jiang Yunnuo's phone number?" Xu Ke suddenly asked him.
"Who?" He didn't remember hearing of her.
Xu Ke glanced at him and asked again, "Do you have my sister's phone number?"
Liu Xin then realized that "Jiang Yunnuo" was the name of Chen Haigui's future wife. They had exchanged contact information because they had hosted them before.
Xu Ke looked at Liu Xin's phone; the number had been meticulously labeled "Chen Haigui's future wife." Xu Ke had never known Jiang Yunnuo to be such an unassuming person. Or was she deliberately keeping her distance from everyone around him?
The call connected, and the woman's voice on the other end was still calm and indifferent. After he said "Hello," there was a moment of silence. He wasn't exactly satisfied with the effect, nor was he too disappointed, so his voice softened considerably, though he himself didn't realize it, others could hear it clearly.
"Where are you now?" His voice was still so pleasant.
Jiang Yunuo's heart, predictably, felt a little panicked. "Traffic jam," she said.
"Where are you? Have you exited the highway yet?"
"Not yet, about twenty kilometers away."
"Are you cold?"
"Not really."
"Have you eaten anything?" "
Not hungry."
Jiang Yunuo looked out the window. The snow wasn't heavy, mixed with a few drops of rain, and it was almost dark. The shoulders and overtaking lanes of the highway were covered with snow, leaving only one lane in the middle. The tollbooth was in the distance; during the day, the congested exits, where vehicles couldn't move forward, were now just a dark mass, their lights flickering faintly in the hazy air. Looking further ahead, the traffic jam stretched endlessly, one vehicle after another. A journey that should have taken a little over an hour had today stretched to more than eight hours, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
During this time, Jiang Yunuo spoke with Chen Zichen on the phone, who said the highway entrance to their destination was closed, meaning he couldn't come to the factory. Looking at the contract in her hand, Jiang Yunuo wondered, "What am I supposed to do there? Go sightseeing or enjoy the snow?"
A cold wind forced its way in through the window sills. The driver turned the heater down to its lowest setting; the bus still had a long way to go to reach its final destination. When facing shared hardship, the indifferent distance between people seemed to shrink. The elderly and children sat at the front of the bus, trying to get as close to the engine as possible, while the young and strong moved to the back. Fortunately, some local villagers had started selling instant noodles and hot water on the highway, a box of noodles or a thermos of hot water for a little over ten yuan. No one criticized their opportunism at this moment; at least their actions prevented those in distress from going hungry and thirsty.
Jiang Yunuo drank her own bottled water, which was refreshingly cool. The spicy aroma of instant noodles wafted around her. She hadn't felt hungry before, but now she started to miss the feeling of holding a steaming bowl of spicy beef noodles. Just as she was considering getting off the bus to buy a bowl of instant noodles, she heard a burst of laughter from the seats behind her. It was a group of boys who looked like students, around twenty years old. They had been chatting and laughing the whole way, playing cards, or taking pictures of the traffic jam, completely unlike the other passengers who seemed anxious or complaining. That's what youth is like.
After a while, someone gently tapped her shoulder. Turning around, she saw one of the boys pointing to his companion and saying, "He wants to treat you to instant noodles." The boy being pointed to looked at her shyly, while the other two boys just kept trying to suppress their laughter.
Jiang Yunuo was initially surprised, but then she found it quite amusing. She smiled gently and said, "Thank you, no need."
The boy stammered, "No...you're welcome." His companions laughed again, but didn't bother her any further.
They were at a carefree age, simple and unrestrained, able to make decisions on a whim. Youth was the best excuse for impulsiveness, avoiding excessive blame and ridicule. She suddenly remembered her own twenties, seemingly once sunny, smiling triumphantly, and acting arrogantly. But all of that was hastily covered up and deeply buried by obscure emotions and unforgettable experiences, making it unbearable to recall.
And him, did he ever regret having such a youth?
That day, it was raining, and he told her, "You go, I'm tired."
She had quietly looked back and saw him sitting on a bench in the rain, his hand supporting his forehead, motionless, as if waiting for old age to arrive.
Finally, now, they both seemed to have grown old.
The phone in her pocket vibrated, interrupting her melancholy.
She picked up the phone and held it to her ear.
On the other end, the man asked, "Where are you?"
She swallowed, wanting to say something, but couldn't.
He asked again, "Where are you?" His breathing was a little rapid as he spoke.
She heard a car horn coming from the phone and suddenly had a premonition. Instead of answering, she asked, "Where are you?"
He paused for a few seconds before saying, "I just passed the tollbooth? What's your license plate number?"
She hurriedly got up and got out of the car. "Your car can't come through, the highway over there is closed." She looked at the tollbooth in the distance; the lights seemed brighter in the darkness. She couldn't help but walk quickly in that direction. The temperature was very low, and the snow had frozen into ice.
As if knowing what she was doing, he hurriedly said, "Stay in the car, don't wander around, or I won't be able to find you... Tell me the license plate number... Can you see the tollbooth from where you are?"
"Yes," she replied, then ran back to where she was to look at the license plate.
"It's alright, not too far." He seemed relieved. "Don't hang up."
She listened to his breathing. "Did you park at the tollbooth?"
"No," he said, "I didn't drive."
She paused for a moment, then asked blankly, "How did you get here?"
"The road from the factory was too snowy, the car couldn't move. The places without snow were congested, so walking was faster."
A lump formed in her throat. She held the phone silently, staring intently towards the tollbooth, but couldn't see what she wanted to see. "You were walking on the shoulder, weren't you?" she asked.
"Yes... don't come any closer, just stay in the car," he quickly said.
She remained silent, continuing to walk. The road was slippery, and she was hungry, so she couldn't walk fast. She looked at the tollbooth ahead; it seemed close, yet also not.
Suddenly, she heard his voice from the phone, "Just stand there, don't go any further."
She looked up and saw someone walking towards her in the darkness ahead, tall, with long strides, getting closer and closer.
Xu Ke walked up to her and stopped. His hair was wet, and his down jacket was damp; he wasn't wearing gloves. His chest heaved from walking so fast, and the tip of his nose was slightly red from the cold.
She looked at him, but couldn't see his expression in the twilight. After a long pause, she finally managed to ask, "Aren't you cold?"
"I'm alright," he said.
They walked side by side. She walked and stopped in the snow, and he slowed down to wait for her.
"If I had known it would be like this," she said, "I would have walked to the factory myself."
He didn't respond. "It's over twenty kilometers, and it took me almost three hours. If it were you, it would take at least four or five hours."
She felt bad, but deliberately avoided the topic, pretending not to care. "I don't walk that slowly, do I?"
He scoffed. "Short legs."
Jiang Yunnuo pretended to be angry and stopped talking, not really knowing what to say. She just kept walking until they got into the car. After Chen Zichen left, the seat next to her remained empty.
Xu Ke sat down and took out a thermos, bread, and a coat from his backpack. Neither of them spoke, quietly eating their bread. The carriage was brightly lit. Anything that might have been brewing in the darkness was hidden away by the light.
After finishing their food, with nothing to do, a long silence ensued, the atmosphere far from harmonious.
Xu Ke leaned back in his chair, seemingly resting with his eyes closed. His down jacket was slightly damp, hanging on the back of the seat in front of him. His hair looked wet. "He must be very cold," she thought, taking a tissue from her bag and handing it to him. "Here, wipe yourself."
He only opened his eyes slightly, looked around, and then closed them again.
She sighed inwardly and had no choice but to wipe him dry herself, managing to get it a little dry, before covering him with her coat. Then, she truly had nothing to do, only then realizing that her feet were completely numb with cold. She wasn't wearing boots, and the snow had melted into her shoes, turning into icy water, and her socks were soaked. She simply took off her shoes and socks, hugging her knees and huddling in the chair, but she was still shivering with cold.
She looked up and saw Xu Ke glancing at her sideways with his eyes slightly open. Feeling a little awkward, she looked away and turned to look out the window. The thin glass window couldn't block the night's chill, and the warmth she'd gained earlier was slowly dissipating.
Suddenly, a strong warmth spread through her feet. Startled, she instinctively pulled her feet back, but someone pressed them down. She looked down and saw his hands on the backs of her feet. "Don't move," he said. "Like ice."
His palms were large, warm, and somewhat rough.
Her heart pounded. She couldn't help but recall those hands from long ago, the indescribable, strange feeling when they touched her. A sudden buzz went through her mind, as if something had exploded in her ears, a silent yet powerful wave spreading outwards. She tried desperately to suppress these myriad emotions, but they were shamefully pervasive.
Her feet warmed, and her face flushed.
Just as she was lost in thought, she heard him say, "We shouldn't have come in this kind of weather. The road conditions are bad, and accidents are easy to happen."
She forced a calm "hmm" and her thoughts were finally pulled back. She knew that Chen Zichen had called him, so she had to tell the truth, "It looks okay in the city, and the snow has stopped, so Zichen decided to come."
He closed his eyes again and didn't speak again.
His heartbeat gradually calmed down, and he fell asleep without realizing it.
He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he woke up again, Jiang Yunuo felt warm all over. Looking down, she saw that she was wrapped in Xu Ke's down jacket.
The world outside the window was still immersed in the twilight of a winter night. The passengers had already endured more than ten hours of traffic jams, some talking quietly, others taking a nap with their eyes closed. The vehicle occasionally slid forward a few meters at an extremely slow speed. Xu
Ke leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed, seemingly asleep.
Jiang Yunuo touched his hand; it was no longer as warm as before. His coat couldn't keep out the early morning chill. She gently moved the down jacket over him.
He was still awake, and he refused softly, "You cover yourself."
She ignored him and stubbornly draped the down jacket over him.
After a while, she gradually felt the air around her was extremely cold, and her palms became cold too. Whether it was the unbearable cold or the silent allure of some long-lost warmth, after a moment's hesitation, she finally moved a little closer to him, then a little closer still, until she snuggled into his down jacket, nestled beside him.
He was slightly surprised, instinctively wanting to reach out and embrace her, but hesitated for a long time before ultimately not doing so.
Her hair seemed to brush against his cheek, tickling him.
Before he could fully appreciate it, a familiar feeling had instantly spread through his heart.
Chapter 63
A Trivial Matter Jiang Yunuo slept soundly until dawn.
When she woke up, she found herself leaning against Xu Ke's shoulder, so close, surrounded by his scent, even his breathing clearly audible. She slightly raised her head, her gaze fixed only on his Adam's apple, not daring to move upwards. His hands were neatly placed on his knees, seemingly in the same position as last night. She gently moved her body away, and only then did he make a slight movement.
Xu Ke stretched his numb arms, feeling the weight lifted from his body, but also a sense of emptiness in his heart.
The short 150 kilometers, a journey that normally takes about 80 minutes, had taken Jiang Yunnuo nearly 20 hours. They didn't return to the factory until around 6 a.m.
Xu Ke took her to his temporary accommodation. The one-bedroom apartment felt empty, containing only a bed, sofa, and table and chairs. Appliances like a washing machine and refrigerator were provided. She took a hot shower and changed into the oversized men's pajamas he had given her. The washbasin was sparsely furnished with men's items. Her mood, as fickle as the weather, instantly improved. Xu
Ke washed up and went out.
At noon, Liu Xin brought her food from the canteen. Hearing the knock, Jiang Yunnuo quickly put on a down jacket over her pajamas, still feeling embarrassed. Her own clothes reeked of smoke mixed with the smell of instant noodles, and she really didn't want to wear them anymore, so she threw them into the washing machine early. Afterwards, she rummaged around the room and found a huge pile of clothes; men always have a habit of accumulating dirty laundry.
When Liu Xin saw Jiang Yunuo, she was preparing to do laundry. Her long hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore no makeup, revealing smooth, delicate skin, like a pure and innocent female student. Liu Xin thought to herself that the two siblings should switch ages; they would look more compatible that way.
Xu Ke didn't return until evening, carrying a boxed lunch. Upon entering, he smelled the warm aroma of food.
A dish and a soup sat on the table, slowly steaming.
Jiang Yunuo sat on the sofa reading the day's newspaper. Xu Ke placed the boxed lunch on the table and said, "I've already eaten. This is for you." He rarely cooked for himself. When he was in the city, he had social engagements almost every day. When he came back to the factory, he mostly just ate something at a small restaurant nearby. Only a few times when he worked late did he ask Shen Qinghe to come back here and cook something together. Therefore, Jiang Yunuo could still find a few eggs, tomatoes, and potatoes from the pile of beer and drinks in the refrigerator.
"Then I'll eat by myself." Jiang Yunuo got up to get a bowl and chopsticks and served the boxed lunch. Remembering what she had read in the newspaper earlier, that such rare blizzard weather would continue for several days, she couldn't help but feel a little anxious.
Xu Ke watched TV, and after a while, he also got a bowl and chopsticks and sat down at the table. He ladled himself a bowl of soup, drank it, then served himself some rice and ate some vegetables. The two sat facing each other and soon finished all the food on the table.
Jiang Yunuo was washing dishes by the sink, her pajamas sleeves rolled up several times, still too long. The loose clothing concealed her shapely figure, and her fair neck was faintly visible beneath her tied-up hair. From behind, she looked like a child.
What if I hugged her from behind?
As Xu Ke thought this, he put on a coat, grabbed a cigarette and lighter, and went to the balcony. The cold wind was biting, and he suddenly felt a headache coming on.
The snow was falling heavier and heavier.
That night, he felt unwell all over.
Jiang Yunuo saw Xu Ke leaning against the sofa, pale and listless, and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," he said, reaching for a cigarette again.
Jiang Yunuo felt annoyed whenever he smoked, and snatched the cigarette away. Her fingertips touched his hand; it was icy cold. She then touched his forehead; it was burning hot.
There was no thermometer at home, and his cold medicine had expired, so she gave Xu Ke some vitamin C tablets and plenty of warm water, and told him to go to bed early.
He lay on the sofa, she slept on the bed.
His scent lingered on the bed.
She couldn't fall asleep for a long time. She didn't dare move; she didn't want to disturb him, nor did she want him to know.
In the quiet night, listening to his breathing not far away, a sound both strange and familiar, felt like a dream.
After what seemed like an eternity, he coughed several times. She got up to pour a glass of water, checked her phone—four in the morning.
Xu Ke leaned against the sofa, half-asleep, drinking water and taking a vitamin C tablet. Jiang Yunnuo touched his forehead; it was slightly sweaty, his fever had subsided a bit. "Lie down quickly," she said, pulling the blanket over him.
He leaned against the sofa with his eyes closed, motionless. She gently nudged him.
Suddenly, he raised his hand, pressed her against his chest, and lowered his head to kiss her lips.
His body was burning hot, his lips scalding. Without allowing her any hesitation, he thrust his tongue forcefully between her lips and teeth, domineeringly swirling and sucking. Passion assaulted her like a storm, carrying a sweet taste and the scent of mint.
Her lips ached, yet she willingly endured the pain. Their hot breaths mingled, like a fierce battle between evenly matched opponents. In just a few seconds, she realized her defenses had crumbled. Her body trembled, and a memory had quietly resurfaced.
It was a terrifying and unfortunate discovery. Blood rushed to her brain, and shame, anger, and fear assaulted her. For the first time in years, she had to confront her weak will, face that despicable self.
She pushed him away with all her might, staggering backward herself. She breathed heavily, her eyes wide as she stared at the man on the sofa.
He appeared remarkably calm, not even opening his eyes.
He leaned back on the sofa for a few seconds, then lazily slid into the covers, turned over, and fell asleep.
Dizzy and her heart pounded.
She slowly lay back down on the bed, unable to sleep all night.
The next day, Jiang Yunuo lingered in bed, not because she wanted to sleep in, but because she was still preoccupied with the sudden incident that had occurred in the early morning. She secretly opened her eyes and saw Xu Ke preparing to take his medicine, so she quickly said, "You took it just three hours ago." Vitamin C, while helpful for preventing colds, can put a strain on the kidneys if taken in excess.
"Really?" He turned to look at her, his expression blank, with a touch of childishness.
He didn't remember. Sleepwalking? He didn't even remember.
Jiang Yunuo was secretly surprised, then secretly observed Xu Ke's expression; he remained as calm as ever.
She suddenly breathed a sigh of relief and jumped out of bed to brush her teeth.
His taste seemed to linger on her lips and tongue. Jiang Yunuo stared blankly at herself in the mirror for a while, then poured herself a glass of water and gently rinsed her mouth. Suddenly, she realized something was wrong, so she used a lot of toothpaste and vigorously brushed her mouth with the toothbrush. After a while, she still felt something was off. Thinking it over, a disheartening thought suddenly popped into her mind: Could it be that she was being mistaken for Zhou Xiaoquan? Or someone else entirely…?
And so, for the first time in her life, Jiang Yunuo spent half an hour brushing her teeth.
When would this ever end? She slammed the toothbrush into the mouthwash cup. She absentmindedly
walked out of the bathroom. There sat someone seemingly innocent, watching the news on the sofa, dressed differently than usual. A black hooded sweatshirt paired with light-colored casual pants, his hair slightly messy, casual and carefree—he seemed to have returned to his carefree, nonchalant self from university.
Back then, Jiang Yunuo hated this very way of him; it made others feel incredibly uncomfortable, while he acted as if he didn't care about anything. Memories of their past squabbles resurfaced, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of resentment. Just as she was considering whether to brush her damn teeth again, Xu Ke looked up at her.
Jiang Yunnuo quickly suppressed a string of internal complaints and casually asked, "Are you feeling better?"
"Not bad," he reached out to touch his forehead, "I can't tell by myself."
She hesitated for a moment, but still went over and placed her palm on his forehead. The temperature had dropped a bit, much better than yesterday.
"It's quite warm in the house, why are your hands still so cold?" he suddenly said, "Just like before."
He smiled at her, as if nothing had happened between them, as if they were still as intimate as before.
Jiang Yunnuo was speechless for a moment, her head spinning, and looked away at the television screen.
The news said that in the next few days, the snowfall would decrease significantly, and the weather would gradually clear up. This forecast was completely different from the news in yesterday's newspaper, and she really didn't know who to believe.
Chapter 64 Oil, Salt, Soy Sauce, Vinegar, and Tea
Xu Ke couldn't bear to see Jiang Yunnuo's predicament and finally let her go.
"Is there anything to eat? I'm hungry," he said.
Jiang Yunnuo felt relieved and turned to go into the kitchen.
She rummaged through the refrigerator for a while, found a packet of pickled vegetables, grabbed a handful of rice, cooked porridge, and finally fried two eggs.
It seemed like all she had left was rice and eggs. She turned to Xu Ke and asked, "Where can I buy groceries? Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"
Xu Ke flipped through the newspaper, "Nothing much at the factory today. Director Shen is treating us to lunch. Shen Qinghe, you met him last time. We can bring some groceries back afterward; there's a market near his house."
Jiang Yunnuo added, "We don't have oil either, and we need to buy some salt."
Xu Ke said, "They sell it everywhere."
"How about we buy some noodles too? We can make noodles for breakfast."
"Okay, whatever you decide."
Jiang Yunnuo suddenly felt this conversation was so awkward, like a married couple's daily life, with all the oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. She hadn't felt this way when she was with Chen Zichen. In the three months they'd been together, he had asked to live together, but she had refused, citing work as the reason. Even though they were still in the so-called honeymoon phase, she longed for her own space.
Chen Zichen—she suddenly remembered that such a person existed in this world. In the blink of an eye, the porridge in the pot overflowed, splashing onto the stove with a sizzling sound. She quickly grabbed a spoon to stir it briefly, but accidentally burned her hand with the steam.
Before she knew it, it was noon, and Shen Qinghe called to invite them to lunch. When Xu Ke and Jiang Yunuo went out, the snow had stopped, and the sky was beginning to clear.
When they arrived, Shen Qinghe was playing mahjong with Liu Xin and two middle-level managers from the factory. Shen Qinghe's wife, Zhang Lin, was busy in the kitchen. Hearing the knock, they both rushed to open the door. As
everyone exchanged pleasantries, Zhang Lin kept looking Jiang Yunuo up and down, smiling and saying, "President Xu, this must be your girlfriend. They're such a perfect match, a handsome man and a beautiful woman..."
Everyone laughed.
Jiang Yunuo, as always, couldn't shake her habit of blushing.
Shen Qinghe glared at his wife. "What nonsense are you talking about? This Miss Jiang is Mr. Xu's older sister. She just returned from abroad."
This made Zhang Lin embarrassed. She was always quick to speak her mind, and she hurriedly said, "Look at me, I made a mistake. I'm so sorry. Really, the two siblings look quite alike. How come I didn't notice? No wonder they're both so good-looking..."
Xu Ke also smiled and said, "Sister Zhang, it's okay. Someone else said she's my sister." Everyone laughed again.
Shen Qinghe asked Jiang Yunnuo, "Miss Jiang, why didn't I see President Chen? I was thinking of inviting everyone to an early New Year's dinner," he pointed to two factory cadres, "These are my brothers, we've been through thick and thin together. And President Xu and Xiao Liu, they always take good care of us, like family. It's a pity President Chen couldn't come."
Jiang Yunnuo knew he was just being polite, and smiled, "Zichen has been busy in the city these past few days and couldn't get away. I'm sending you my early New Year's greetings on
his behalf, wishing you and Sister Zhang peace, health, and a harmonious family." Shen Qinghe thanked him cheerfully, "That's well said. In this life, health and family are the most important things; otherwise, money is useless." He then pulled his son over, "Kid, greet them quickly."
Shen Qinghe married late, having only this one son in his thirties. The little guy was only fifteen or sixteen years old. He recognized Xu Ke and immediately called out, "Uncle Xu, Happy New Year!" Then he looked at Jiang Yunnuo and said, "Hello, Sister."
Jiang Yunnuo thought to herself, "This family hierarchy is really messed up."
Shen Qinghe chuckled and scolded, "Silly boy."
Xu Ke gave the boy a bag of pocket money and patted his head, "Go on, go play by yourself."
While tying his apron, Shen Qinghe said to Xu Ke, "I know you're tired of fancy food, so today I'll cook a few simple dishes. Let's have a drink, chat, and have some fun."
Zhang Lin didn't forget to praise her husband, "Qinghe cooks better than me. He never cooks normally; he only shows off his skills when we have important guests."
Shen Qinghe laughed, "Oh, that's quite a compliment. Don't ruin the mood."
Amidst laughter and conversation, Zhang Lin invited them to play mahjong. Jiang Yunnuo, who didn't know how, watched from the sidelines. Xu Ke, of course, was a master at it; quick-witted, fast-playing, and with excellent sportsmanship, she remained calm and composed. Zhang Lin, on the other hand, was impatient. She beamed with joy when she won, but would get angry at anyone who stole her winning hand, and was extremely talkative. Shen Qinghe called out several times from the kitchen, "Don't throw a tantrum and make yourself a laughingstock." But Zhang Lin never took Xu Ke seriously. When Xu Ke sat to her left, she would often throw her some good tiles.
Jiang Yunnuo had originally been watching, but her gaze was always drawn to Xu Ke. While playing, a habitual smile played on his lips, revealing a playful and casual air, his movements elegant and swift. His hands were also beautiful, with clean, neat nails, broad and strong knuckles, and long, slender fingers, which were pleasing to the eye against the backdrop of the small, translucent green tiles.
Jiang Yunuo felt her condition relapse and decided to leave the mahjong table and stroll around the yard.
Shen's son was leading several children in setting off firecrackers and fireworks. Seeing her, he called out, "Sister!" and said, "Sister, step back a bit, this one's loud!"
Jiang Yunuo looked and saw they were two-stage firecrackers, so she laughed, "It's more fun to light several together."
Shen's son said, "Can you do it? Then you try." He then gave her five in one go.
Four of the fuses were quite long, so Jiang Yunuo twisted them together, placed them on the ground, and lit them. The children laughed and ran far away, only approaching after they were all gone. Jiang Yunuo asked again, "Any more?" The Shen boy gave her all the ones he had. After
setting off more than ten firecrackers like this two or three times, it was almost over. The last fuse was too short and left out. She told the children to stand further away, and lit it herself; the fuse went out. She lit it again, and it caught fire, but she threw it closer.
She hurriedly turned to avoid it, but bumped into someone who quickly covered her ears.
After the firecrackers had died down, she heard a soft laugh from above. Xu Ke said, "Why are you acting like a kid king now?" He was still recovering from a cold, his voice slightly hoarse, sounding rough and sexy when close to her ear. Her heart skipped a beat, and she immediately took a step back.
His hand slid down to her waist, tightened slightly, and then released her.
She spoke in a nonchalant tone, "You don't know, do you? I'm just indirectly eliminating safety hazards for them, trying to keep them from playing with unsafe things."
He smiled gently, "Actually, it's just that I'm playful."
"No, that's not it," she immediately retorted.
He still chuckled, "How can it not be? Don't I know you?"
What should she say next? She thought for a moment, then said nothing, looking down at her feet.
Xu Ke stood there, silent.
After a while, Shen Qinghe called from inside the room, "Dinner's ready, everyone take your seats."
Shen Qinghe was in a good mood today, and specially took out a bottle of aged Moutai and placed it on the table, saying, "It's rare for President Xu to grace us with his presence today; my collection of over ten years can finally come in handy." After saying that, he poured a full glass into the small wine cup in front of Xu Ke. Because there were subordinates present today, Shen Qinghe still addressed Xu Ke as "President Xu." In private, he would mostly call him by his first name, after all, there was an age difference between the two, and they got along well.
Xu Ke adjusted his wine glass, laughing heartily, "Brother Shen, you're too kind. How could a brother refuse a word from you, especially since you invited me here for a good meal and drinks?"
Shen Qinghe chuckled and said to Zhang Lin, "Don't let his young age fool you; he's quite chivalrous. You can tell a lot about a person by their drinking habits. Drinking with him is always a pleasure. Let's drink until we're completely drunk!" Zhang
Lin smiled and said, "President Xu is here. If you're happy today, go ahead."
Shen Qinghe then said to Jiang Yunnuo, "Miss Jiang, your brother is quite remarkable. He's so young yet already so capable, and he's neither arrogant nor impatient. To achieve these two things before he's even thirty is quite impressive."
Jiang Yunnuo laughed, "Not as good as you say. He was quite mischievous as a child, always getting into trouble. Even if he couldn't beat someone, he'd stubbornly fight back. He was too stubborn." Xu Ke
, sitting beside her, smiled and said, "What, are you starting to expose my past?"
Everyone laughed.
Liu Xin thought to herself, "This is more like siblings! What was that like when they barely spoke to each other for the first few days?"
Shen Qinghe said, "You can tell a person's future at three, and their character at seven. That's how people should be. Those who are ambitious should have some backbone; what's the point of living such a stifled life?"
"That's right," Xu Ke laughed, "A man can stumble once, but he can't be controlled by others forever, otherwise life is meaningless!"
Shen Qinghe nodded, raising his wine cup, "Cheers, everyone."
Several men at the table took turns toasting, and Xu Ke drank several cups in a row. Jiang Yunnuo saw this and couldn't help but worry, but seeing everyone in high spirits, she didn't say anything openly, only secretly tugging at his clothes.
Xu Ke turned to look at her, his brows radiant with a gentle smile, and her heart stirred.
He moved a little closer to her and whispered, "Don't worry, it's nothing."
The rich aroma of wine wafted over with his scent, and she couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, her feigned annoyance tinged with coquettishness, though she was unaware of it.
Shen Qinghe quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Xu Ke picked up her glass and took a big gulp. "Nothing, I've just caught a bit of a cold these past few days, and she won't let me drink too much."
Shen Qinghe chuckled, "A cold, huh? No problem," he said, pointing to a large bowl of mutton on the table, "Eat more of this, and I guarantee you'll be better by tomorrow."
Zhang Lin looked at Xu Ke, then at Jiang Yunuo, and praised, "These two siblings have such a good relationship. Mr. Xu, your sister is just worried about you. If you get married in the future, and the woman is a bit more assertive, she might publicly criticize you at the table."
Shen Qinghe glared at her, "Do you think everyone is like you?"
“I told you, I’m not going to bother with you today,” Zhang Lin muttered, then suddenly remembered something and turned to Xu Ke, “President Xu doesn’t have a girlfriend yet, right?”
Liu Xin quickly chimed in, “No, I’ve never met one,” and then joked, “What’s up, Sister Zhang, are you going to play matchmaker? If you know anyone good, hurry up and introduce them to our boss. It’s not a problem that he’s single, it’s just that the young men under him are all following suit, our company is almost like a monastery.”
Zhang Lin laughed, “President Xu is such a good catch, he’s not worried about finding someone good, he just hasn’t settled down yet.”
Xu Ke said, “There’s no rush.”
Shen Qinghe said, “How can there be no rush? People say that you should settle down and start a career first. Your career is developing quite well now, it’s time to consider marriage, besides…” He laughed, “A man, you have to take care of his physical needs, right?”
Liu Xin couldn’t help but burst out laughing, thinking that this old man was drunk today.
Xu Ke smiled indifferently and didn’t say anything.
Jiang Yunuo sat to the side, listening absentmindedly, unsure of her own state of mind.
She only heard Zhang Lin continue, "I have a good candidate here, someone I think would be a good match for Mr. Xu. She's my friend's daughter. She's a host at the city's economic television station, has a master's degree in English, is very beautiful, tall, and has impeccable character. If Mr. Xu has time, I can help you make contact?"
Chapter 65 The Heart Ages Before the Body
Zhang Lin mentioned at the dinner table that she wanted to introduce Xu Ke to a girlfriend.
Xu Ke took a small sip of his wine and smiled casually, "I'm busy with work right now, I don't have time to think about these things, and I don't want to hold anyone back."
Hearing this, Zhang Lin guessed it was probably hopeless. Although disappointed, she knew that continuing would be too forceful, so she joked, "Mr. Xu, you don't already have a girlfriend, do you?" As she spoke, she glanced at Jiang Yunuo, "Ms. Jiang probably knows."
Jiang Yunuo smiled, "I don't know either. He never talks to me about these things, but I did see one a few days ago, so maybe that's it."
Shen Qinghe immediately chimed in, "See? How could such a handsome young man not have a girlfriend? Your sister Zhang is just worrying unnecessarily."
Xu Ke smiled, neither confirming nor clarifying, simply changing the subject. The men at the table then began discussing the factory.
Jiang Yunuo, however, was caught in a dilemma, her heart pounding.
In the past twenty years, their time together had been brief, but she had watched him grow from a little boy into a spirited young man, and then into the enigmatic man he was now. And eventually, he would become someone else's, a stranger to her once more.
A sense of loss choked her, an overwhelming feeling.
Yet she could do nothing, could do nothing at all, only despise and mock herself again and again.
Even after leaving Shen Qinghe's house, she remained immersed in this desolate mood.
The two bought groceries and walked home.
The sun, unusually bright for days, peeked out from behind the clouds, the temperature seemed to have risen slightly, and icicles dripped water from the eaves. Because of the sparse population, the road remained pristine white, with only a few winding footprints standing out starkly.
Xu Ke seemed to be in a good mood.
Jiang Yunnuo reached into her purse and found a satin pouch. She had brought it with her before coming here.
She took the brocade pouch containing the ring from her bag and handed it to him.
Xu Ke raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"A ring."
The moment he took the pouch, a look of hesitation crossed his face, as if he were making a choice.
He finally couldn't help but ask, "What ring?"
"I told you last time, Mom asked me to bring this to you."
Xu Ke understood. He didn't open the pouch to look inside, but instead put it directly into his pocket.
Jiang Yunnuo looked down at the road, the snow crunching under her feet. She said, "It's not for you to keep, it's to give to someone, like... Zhou Xiaoquan." She hated herself for her lack of self-control, testing him again and again, relentlessly.
He countered, "Why give it to her?"
"What do you think?" She smiled nonchalantly. "I was just giving an example. If it wasn't her, maybe it would be someone else."
He didn't speak.
She seemed to hear a deep sigh from someone's heart.
She didn't know who it was; maybe it was her, maybe not, maybe it was no one.
She added, "Work is important, but family is important too. Settle down with the right person. Zhou Xiaoquan... she's a pretty good girl."
He nodded. "Zhou Xiaoquan is indeed good."
She felt a pang of sadness, and didn't want to say anything more, only replying perfunctorily, "Yeah, very good."
In an instant, her good mood vanished.
The weather cleared up, and the highways were likely to reopen.
Their conversations became less frequent, but thankfully there was television to watch, so they weren't bored.
That evening, Chen Zichen called, saying he'd come over as soon as the weather was better.
Jiang Yunnuo relayed this to Xu Ke, who simply responded with a soft "yes."
She glanced at the folder on the coffee table; it contained a contract Chen Zichen had prepared beforehand, but Xu Ke hadn't opened it yet.
He didn't look well, perhaps because he'd been drinking and hadn't taken his medication all day.
Jiang Yunnuo poured him a glass of water and handed him some pills, but he only glanced at them, not taking them with his hand. Instead, he tilted his head impatiently, indicating that she was blocking the television screen.
Like a child.
She simply blocked his way. "Take your medicine," she commanded, "and remember to drink plenty of water."
He sat there lazily, arms draped over the back of the sofa, not moving an inch, only slightly opening his mouth.
She was at her wit's end. She brought the pill to his lips, but he closed his mouth. When she moved the pill away, he opened his mouth again. She glared at him angrily, oblivious to how intimate their position was.
She stood between his legs; with just a slight stretch of her arms, he could embrace her again.
Compared to his languid posture, his eyes were clear and deep. He fiddled with the remote, slowly turning down the TV volume.
All of this made her inexplicably nervous.
"Fine," she slammed her water glass down on the coffee table and turned to go to the kitchen.
Not knowing what she could do in the kitchen at this hour, she took out her phone and called Chen Zichen.
No answer.
This is driving me crazy, she thought.
After a while, Xu Ke, seeing she hadn't come out, called to her from inside the room, "Hey," he said, "Are you really angry?"
She dialed several more times, but still no one answered.
Xu Ke touched his forehead and continued, "Come out, I have something to tell you."
She didn't want to talk to him, so she rested her hands on the windowsill, gazing up at the night sky outside, where the moon was bright and the stars were sparse.
Staying here any longer wasn't a solution, she thought to herself. Actually, there was another sentence she didn't dare to think about.
That sentence was, sooner or later, something would happen.
She had this premonition, and it was very strong.
So, as soon as the highway reopened, she had to leave immediately, as soon as possible.
Thinking of this, she seemed to regain some confidence, so she slowly went out and faced him, "What is it?"
"Sit," Xu Ke raised his chin, gesturing for her to sit down.
She suddenly felt that this situation was like a boss about to give a lecture. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "He hasn't been working for long, but he has quite a presence. I wonder if he's going to start speaking in official jargon later." She refused to buy it, casually sitting back on the sofa and grabbing a cushion to hug. "Go ahead,"
Xu Ke said, his eyes still glued to the TV screen. "Chen Zichen isn't right for you."
Jiang Yunnuo was momentarily stunned; she hadn't expected him to bring this up. She quickly replied, "I think he's great."
He gave a half-smile and asked, "How long have you been together?"
She thought for a moment and said confidently, "Six years. So, I know perfectly well whether we're right for each other."
"Six years..." he repeated softly, "Six years and you still can't understand someone? You've wasted all these years."
She paused, then coldly uttered, "My affairs are none of your business."
"Still the same temper," he commented without changing his expression. "No improvement at all. A few words are enough to provoke you. Every emotion is written on your face; are you afraid people won't see through you?"
She turned away angrily to watch TV, ignoring him.
Xu Ke continued, "Chen Zichen isn't exactly a bad person, he just likes to scheme. There's nothing inherently wrong with scheming; if he truly cared for you, he wouldn't scheme against you. Unfortunately, he doesn't care about you at all." He turned to look at her. "Jiang Yunnuo, what are you after? Why did you choose someone like this after all that?"
Hearing this, Jiang Yunnuo felt a pang of unease. "What's wrong with him? He's your future brother-in-law." Her heart pounded as soon as she said it, but she still tried to defend herself. “He’s very good to me, you don’t know that.”
Xu Ke suddenly laughed. “He’s really good to you. He left you alone at the bus station in the snow and you’ve stayed with me for so many days. He’s called you several times. I don’t need to tell you, think about it yourself. I don’t believe you’re that stupid. Aren’t you quite sensitive? Aren’t you quite thoughtful? Aren’t you quite decisive? How come you act like a fool in front of him?” He raised an eyebrow mockingly and said, word by word, “Is this what you’re looking for, the kind of security you’re looking for, so-called love?”
"Naive," Jiang Yunuo scoffed. "Not every relationship has to be dramatic and unforgettable. Only you know if the shoe fits."
Xu Ke shrugged, lifting her long legs and placing them on the coffee table. "You're just talking nonsense. I saw right through Chen Zichen last time we ate together. With a bit more luck, he'd be a shrewd businessman. He's incredibly shrewd. Someone as naive as you would be easily manipulated. Let me tell you, even if you're annoyed with me, I still have to say, stay away from him, break up with him as soon as possible."
These words left Jiang Yunuo speechless . Her embarrassment made her tone harsh. "Yeah, you think you're so smart, everyone else is a fool. Xu Ke, let me tell you, the thing I hate most in this life is people who presumptuously try to arrange my life for me. I don't need it. Even if I'm a fool now, or if we break up in the future, it's all my own choice, and it's none of your business."
Xu Ke looked at her for a while before calmly saying, "That's right, you've always been stubborn. If someone tells you to go east, you insist on going west. But do you have to treat me like this?"
After saying that, he seemed to sigh.
Jiang Yunuo turned off the TV. "It's late, go to sleep."
Xu Ke sat on the sofa without moving, then suddenly said, "What do you think marriage is? It's not a game, nor is it a fleeting passion. It involves responsibility, mutual commitment, and spiritual compatibility. Life isn't just about love, that's true, but also trust, conscience, and humanity. Marriage is a lifelong commitment. Have you seriously considered it? Don't be so muddled all the time. Think it over carefully."
Jiang Yunuo paused slightly, then threw the blanket onto the sofa. "I'll sleep here tonight, you sleep in the bed."
Xu Ke didn't speak, went straight to the bed and lay down. Being over 1.8 meters tall, she had been crammed into the less than 1.7-meter-wide sofa for several nights, which was indeed uncomfortable.
She turned off the light, but couldn't fall asleep easily.
In the darkness, she suddenly heard him say, "Jiang Yunuo, can't you just give me a break?"
She turned over, lying facing the wall, thinking, Xu Ke, can't you just let me give up on this idea?"

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[No Love on the Other Shore] (61-65)

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