140. It’s better not to meet again after a long separation

Mingtong couldn't help but ask Lingling curiously, "Haha, what do you mean?" Lingling paused the game and answered seriously, "Look, if you're randomly given the option of an L-shaped, Z-shaped, field-shaped, or long strip, just code whatever comes up. Don't worry about the occasional misalignment or inability to eliminate it, as long as the overall situation is good. But if you're particularly stubborn and have everything ready, always waiting for the long strip-shaped stick to come along and make a big move, you'll often end up dying quickly and miserably. For example, applying this to my own life, I don't pile up difficulties and then leave a crack, waiting for someone to come down like a savior, clearing away all obstacles and instantly bringing my life to its peak. So when I have free time or need to decompress, I play Russian Square for a while, repeatedly reaffirming my philosophy of life, which makes me feel empowered." Mingtong nodded in understanding and said, "That really sounds like your style." Ling Ling smiled smugly, and Ming Tong returned her smile. He kissed the top of her head, then, carrying his water cup, returned to his study to resume his toil. Having relaxed enough, Ling Ling prepared to resume her writing. She called out to Ming Tong, who had the door half-open, "Let's listen to some music together. How about Bach? I think his music has a real storytelling quality and often inspires me." Without waiting for Ming Tong's reply, Ling Ling opened the music app on her phone and connected it to her new Bluetooth speaker, something Ming Tong had never had before. She turned the volume up to maximum, dancing around the room with chaotic steps while mentally constructing a series of imaginative copywriting structures. Ming Tong, on the other hand, could live without music; even piano music sounded a bit jarring to him. The resounding sound disturbed him, and he put on the earplugs he'd bought for his neighbor's renovations, and they had unexpectedly come in handy again. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck Ling Ling, and she couldn't help but want to share it with Ming Tong. She leaped over to Ming Tong's door and called out. He didn't respond, so she approached him, only to see him absorbed in a pile of books, his ear firmly tucked into a conspicuous orange earbud. She quietly withdrew. She realized how widely people's interests could vary. What one person enjoys might be a nuisance to another. She had assumed that preferences for food and music were universal, but now it seemed they weren't, and in fact, they varied widely. She silently turned off the music and typed away on her computer...

Mingtong couldn't help but ask Lingling curiously: "Haha, how do you say it?"

Ling Ling paused the game and answered seriously, "Look, if you're randomly given the option of an L-shaped, Z-shaped, field-shaped, or long strip, just code whatever comes up. Don't dwell on the occasional misalignment or inability to eliminate it, as long as the overall situation is good. But if you're overly competitive, always waiting for the long strip to come along and make a big move, you'll often end up dying quickly and miserably. For example, in my own life, I don't pile up difficulties and then leave a crack, waiting for someone to come down like a savior, clearing away all obstacles and instantly bringing my life to its peak. So when I have some free time or need to decompress, I play Russian Square for a while, repeatedly reaffirming my philosophy of life, which makes me feel re-energized."

Mingtong nodded with deep understanding and said, "This is indeed your style."

Ling Ling smiled proudly, and Ming Tong responded with a faint smile, kissed the top of her head, and then carried the water cup back to the study to continue studying hard.

Having relaxed enough, Ling Ling prepared to continue writing. She called out to Ming Tong, who had the door half-open, "Let's listen to some music together. How about Bach? I think his music is full of stories and it always inspires me."

Without waiting for Mingtong's reply, Lingling opened the music app on her phone and connected it to her new Bluetooth speaker, which Mingtong had never had before. She turned the volume up to maximum and danced around the room with chaotic steps, constructing a series of imaginative copywriting structures in her mind.

Ming Tong, on the other hand, could live without music. Even piano music sounded a bit noisy to him. The loud sound disturbed him a little, so he had to put on earplugs. They were bought by his neighbor when he was renovating his house. He didn't expect that they would come in handy now.

Suddenly, a wonderful inspiration burst out from her mind, and Ling Ling couldn't help but want to share it with Mingtong. She jumped to Mingtong's door and called him. Seeing that he didn't respond, she was about to walk closer, but saw him concentrating on the pile of books, with the eye-catching orange earplugs firmly plugged in his ears. So she silently retreated.

She realized how vastly different people's interests and hobbies can be. What one person enjoys might be considered harassment by another. She had assumed that preferences for food and music were universal, but now it seemed that wasn't necessarily the case, and in fact, they varied widely.

She silently turned off the music and typed on the computer the inspiration that had just come to her mind. For a moment, she felt that it didn't seem to be a very exciting idea.

*~*~*~*~*~*~

On the rare weekends when they could get together, Lingling and Mingtong would go shopping and watch a movie like any other couple. They were watching Transformers, but Lingling had been working so many late nights that the images were blurry and the clanging noises made it hard to tell who was fighting who. Halfway through the movie, she actually fell asleep. Mingtong then quietly bought tickets for the next showing so she could get some more rest.

Unfortunately, the next show was an animated series, and waves of elementary school students in the seats were laughing and making noises at the exciting parts, which woke Ling Ling up. "What's going on? The economy is so bad that Transformers are made into two-dimensional ones?" Ling Ling asked sleepily.

Mingtong chuckled and said, "I wanted you to sleep a little longer, so I bought the tickets for the next show."

Ling Ling hugged his arm gratefully, rested her head on his shoulder and said, "You're so kind. But I'm really tired lately, so I'm sorry to spoil your fun."

"No, how could that be. But I really hope you don't overwork yourself, otherwise your body won't be able to bear it. Having someone like me who does high-intensity work at home is enough, you should take it easy. My softness allows for your vulnerability."

Hearing him say this, Ling Ling rubbed her cheek against his arm affectionately again.

They actually finished watching this domestic cartoon and found it quite relaxing to immerse themselves in the innocence and fun of the children.

After the movie, they went to a nearby supermarket. Shopping together for the week's supplies was a kind of home-based ritual that online shopping couldn't bring.

With their shopping carts filled with all sorts of food and daily necessities, they were ready to finish their shopping and leave. They happened to come across some Tetris-themed decorations in the hot sale section, and Ling Ling, with great interest, dragged him along to explore.

Ling Ling stroked a carpet made of colorful Tetris tiles and exclaimed, "Today's businesses have a really sharp business sense. They don't waste even a single ounce of commercial value from any IP."

Mingtong agreed wholeheartedly. For someone like him, who had very few material desires, lived a simple life, and never chased trending topics, he couldn't imagine how a black-and-white game could have so many peripherals. He also couldn't imagine where these colorful items would look best in his house.

"Which one do you like?" he asked when he saw Ling Ling couldn't let it go.

Ling Ling was torn between a carpet, a ceramic cup, a mouse pad, building blocks, and a puzzle, and finally chose a pillow.

"This one!" She just reached out to take it, but someone else took it away first.

She looked up and saw that both of them, or to be exact, all three of them were stunned.

"... Lingling - uh, and Dr. Zhong." Yu Chuanbei was the first to react. He swallowed awkwardly and greeted the two of them with a little embarrassment.

Ling Ling turned away her surprised gaze from looking at him, and responded muffledly from her throat, which was considered a greeting between the two of them.

Yu Chuanbei looked down at the pillow in his hand, remembering that Ling Ling seemed to want to take it earlier. He had come over to check it out because he remembered that she liked playing Tetris. "You want this?" He grabbed the pillow and handed it to her.

Ling Ling was hesitating whether to take it or not, when Ming Tong grabbed another pillow and said, "Aren't there more? We can just take this one."

"Okay." Yu Chuanbei withdrew his hand and put the faded colorful pillow back to its original place with disappointment.

"What a coincidence, you are here to shop in the supermarket too." In order to ease the awkward atmosphere, Ling Ling asked Yu Chuanbei for small talk.

He raised his hand and shook the two bags of dog food he was carrying and said, "I came to visit my parents. They asked me to buy some dog food and other things. He has grown a lot now."

Ling Ling nodded with relief, and then she suddenly realized that she had to consider the feelings of Mingtong who was standing next to her, so she said, "Shasha is the dog's name, um..." Fortunately, Mingtong nodded in time, so she didn't have to continue.

Ling Ling felt that the atmosphere at the moment was too depressing, so she quickly said, "Ming Tong and I have already bought everything, we should go."

"Okay, then, goodbye." Yu Chuanbei's gentlemanly politeness seemed a little sad at this moment.

Zhong Mingtong turned around with the shopping cart, and Ling Ling left, holding his arm just as she had come. She didn't look back, but in the large floor-to-ceiling mirror next to the supermarket shelves, she saw Yu Chuanbei still standing alone, watching them leave.

After Ling Ling and Ming Tong arrived home, he was busy sorting through the items they'd bought from the supermarket. She sensed a familiar sense of gloom. She didn't want her unexpected encounter with Yu Chuanbei to become a barrier between her and Ming Tong, so she walked over to him, tugged at his shirt, and said apologetically, "I'm sorry I put you in a somewhat awkward position today."

Mingtong forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, just a chance encounter." He seemed to be using this reason to comfort himself.

"Do you remember the time you and I went out to dinner with colleagues from the hospital? It was snowing that day, and Yu Chuanbei drove over to pick me up. That day, he and I had a fight. Now, I'm facing the same situation. I think this is all my fault. I didn't handle our relationship well, and I made a fuss about something that was originally clear."

Mingtong couldn't bear to see Lingling so distraught, so he took her hand and said, "When I met him, and saw that you two shared a past, and that we were talking about things only you two could understand, I naturally felt uncomfortable. But this feeling will soon pass. When two people are together, they have to go through a lot of adjustments. This is just one of the challenges. Once you digest it, it will pass. The future is long, so long that when we look back on the past, only scattered fragments will remain, so don't worry about me. I won't love you less or affect our relationship because of my entanglement in your past."

Then, he took her arm and gently held her in his arms, and they embraced each other gently. The touch, body temperature, and smell at this moment were the most real companionship, weren't they?