Waiting in the Depths of Time

Chapter One: An Appointment to the Photography Exhibition

Ah Yu is a photography enthusiast who always longs to attend various photography exhibitions. This time, a rare exhibition of works by master photographers was being held in a neighboring city, covering a variety of wonderful photographic themes, from natural landscapes to documentary films. As soon as Ah Yu heard the news, she decided to go without hesitation.

Seeing Ah Yu's excited and expectant look, Zhong Hua felt a little reluctant, but he also knew that this exhibition was of great significance to Ah Yu. So he helped him prepare his camera, pack his backpack, and carefully put some snacks and water in it, telling him to be careful on the way and enjoy the exhibition.

As Ah Yu boarded the train to the neighboring city, she waved to Zhong Hua through the window, her face beaming with a radiant smile that seemed even brighter than the sunlight streaming in through the window, in Zhong Hua's eyes. The train slowly pulled away, and Zhong Hua stood on the platform, watching the train disappear into the distance until its long carriage was completely out of sight. Only then did he turn and leave, silently hoping that Ah Yu would have a fruitful experience at the exhibition.

Upon arriving in the neighboring city, Ah Yu went straight to the exhibition hall. Entering the vast exhibition hall felt like stepping into a fantastical world of light and shadow. Exquisite photographs hung on the walls, each seemingly telling a unique story. Ah Yu was completely absorbed, sometimes peering closely to examine the details, sometimes stepping back to appreciate the overall composition and atmosphere. Her camera was constantly in use, snapping photos of what she felt was worth recording—either the artwork itself or the focused expressions of the visitors.

Time slipped away quietly as he admired each artwork. When Ah Yu finally finished the exhibition and was ready to return home, he was told that his train was delayed by two hours. He sighed helplessly and could only find a seat in the waiting room, patiently waiting while flipping through the photos on his camera.

Chapter Two: The Long Wait

At home, Zhong Hua kept thinking about Ah Yu's return trip. He started preparing early, first boiling water, then taking out Ah Yu's favorite thermos, and finally taking out fresh milk from the refrigerator and heating it up. Based on Ah Yu's usual train return time, he had calculated everything, thinking that when Ah Yu got off the train, she would be able to drink warm milk to dispel her fatigue from the journey.

As time ticked by, and Ah Yu was long past her scheduled arrival time, Zhong Hua began to feel anxious. He kept glancing at the clock on the wall, and every now and then he would go to the window and look out, even though he knew he couldn't see the train station from home, he couldn't help but check again and again.

As dusk settled, the streetlights came on one by one, and the number of pedestrians on the streets dwindled. Zhong Hua couldn't sit still any longer. He put on his coat, wrapped a scarf around his neck, grabbed the milk that had already been heated three times, and headed out towards the train station. A cold wind blew, ruffling a corner of his scarf, but he didn't bother to straighten it. He quickened his pace, his heart filled with worry for Ah Yu, fearing he might be hungry or cold on the train, or upset because of the delay.

Upon arriving near the train station exit, Zhong Hua found a conspicuous spot to stand. Under the streetlights, his shadow stretched long. He gripped his thermos tightly, the white steam rising and dissipating in the cold air, mirroring his somewhat uneasy and anxious mood.

Chapter Three: The Encounter Upon Exiting the Station

Finally, the train, two hours late, slowly pulled into the station. Ah Yu followed the flow of people out of the carriage, his steps heavy with weariness. But when he saw that familiar figure under the streetlights at the exit, his fatigue vanished instantly, replaced by a warm feeling that welled up inside him.

Ah Yu walked quickly toward Zhong Hua, saying, "Didn't you say we didn't have to wait?" When Zhong Hua saw Ah Yu, a smile immediately appeared on his face. He quickly handed the thermos cup in his hand to Ah Yu and said, "I was afraid you'd get cold when you came back, so I heated the milk three times."

Ah Yu took the thermos, and the scalding heat instantly traveled through the cup to his palm, making him shiver slightly, but his heart felt incredibly warm. He glanced up at Zhong Hua and noticed that Zhong Hua's scarf was hanging crookedly around his neck, almost slipping down to his shoulder on one side. It was clear that he had been waiting for a long time and hadn't even bothered to straighten it.

Ah Yu felt as if something had struck him hard in the heart, and his eyes reddened slightly. He reached out and gently straightened Zhong Hua's scarf. His fingers inadvertently touched Zhong Hua's cheek, and the cold touch made his heart ache even more. He said, "Have you been waiting long? It's so cold. Are you silly? Don't wait next time."

Zhong Hua just smiled and shook his head, saying, "There won't be a next time. Whenever you go out, I'll definitely wait for you to come back safely." The two stood there under the streetlights, with people coming and going around them, but their eyes seemed to be only on each other, and a subtle and warm atmosphere spread between them.

Chapter Four: Accompanying Each Other on the Way Home

After adjusting her scarf, Ah Yu and Zhong Hua walked side by side toward home. Ah Yu unscrewed the thermos, took a sip of the warm milk, and the aroma and warmth instantly spread in her mouth, warming her from her throat all the way to her heart.

"Today's photography exhibition was amazing! I took so many photos. I'll show them to you when we get back." Ah Yu excitedly shared her experiences at the exhibition with Zhong Hua, taking out her camera and flipping through the photos, introducing the works that impressed her the most.

Zhong Hua tilted his head and listened attentively to Ah Yu's narration. He watched Ah Yu's animated expression and the faint smile on his face. He would occasionally chime in with a few words and ask some detailed questions about the works, as if he were also experiencing the wonder of the exhibition.

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