Shadow and Sunlight

June 6, 2011, was the Dragon Boat Festival, Wenqing's 30th birthday, and the night before Xiaofeng's exam. To avoid disrupting her routine, the day was kept exceptionally simple, with no celebrations or gatherings.

On June 9th, Xiaofeng finished her last exam and threw herself into Wenqing's arms, saying coquettishly, "If I don't get into Ninghai University, will you support me?"

"As you wish." Wen Qing smoothed her hair and back. "Thank you for your hard work, darling. What do you want to do most now..."

His following words "I'll accompany you" overlapped with Xiaofeng's blurted out "sleep", and the two smiled at each other in tacit understanding.

Xiaofeng scolded: "Don't breathe so hard when you speak in the future."

"I was wrong. Can you please eat something to make amends?"

"I'll begrudgingly agree to this!"

…

"cheers!"

"cheers!"

“So fragrant, so smooth, so soft, so far so good…”

“Eat slowly…”

"Wenqing, happy birthday!"

"I don't want to celebrate my birthday. After today you'll be thirty and you're only a teenager."

"Just celebrating birthdays, not growing up."

"Okay, any gifts?"

"Yes, wait for me." Xiao Feng asked the waiter for a pen and paper, wrote something in a leisurely manner, and handed it over. "Your gift."

Wenqing unfolded the note. On it were the words "A Gift," with a crooked heart drawn next to it. He leaned in close and whispered, "How can you be someone else's girlfriend like this?"

"You are not someone else."

"Isn't that a bit too perfunctory?"

"I've been thinking about it for a long time. You have everything you need..."

"I like whatever you give me."

"I even thought about tying a bow on my head and treating myself as a gift..."

Wenqing's cheeks flushed a beautiful pink: "This gift is my favorite."

Xiao Feng smiled foolishly under the influence of alcohol: "Yes, yes, I'm still young... I'm also thinking about you, just give me the note on my birthday, and keep it for now..."

When Xiaofeng passed out drunkenly in his arms, the bow hairpin slipped down to her collarbone. When the designated driver stopped the car, she was already passed out drunk, and Wenqing carried her to bed like a princess.

The next day at noon, Xiaofeng woke up drowsily. Her hand touched Wenqing's fiery chest, and she instinctively shrank back to the edge of the bed. Wenqing smoothed her messy hair and said, "Little drunk, you drank too much last night. You're so cute when you sleep. I want to see you every day..."

Xiaofeng lowered her head and remained silent, and Wenqing turned to talk about the self-driving trip.

"I don't want to travel." Xiaofeng's words were resounding. Wenqing was stunned for a moment and asked tentatively, "So what are your plans for the holiday?"

"I want to go train with the motorcycle team."

"Okay, let's go have some fun."

"I'm serious, I'm not just playing around." Xiaofeng emphasized with a pout.

"So serious? Then I have to take it seriously. I'll make a call right away."

On June 13, 2011, Xiaofeng began team training. Like most people, she expected her master to teach her unique skills on the first day, but she didn't expect to learn the basics and theory first, and team training was no exception.

Xiaofeng found it quite fascinating. She diligently took notes during the morning theory class and then diligently kept up with the afternoon physical training. Watching the motorcycles speeding around the track, listening to the roar of the engines, she imagined that one day she would be able to stand on the track and receive cheers.

After the training, Fourth Uncle sent Xiaofeng home. Wenqing had already opened the door impatiently, and a series of questions came out: "Are you tired? Are you adapting well? What did you eat for lunch?"

Fourth Uncle smiled and explained, "I didn't mistreat your girlfriend. She's adapted well and can basically keep up with the training. Don't worry, she just needs extra practice on her balance."

How do I practice balance?

"Dance, ballet, who do you want to teach her?"

"I see. That's definitely no problem."

"She will definitely be willing to become my disciple."

Xiaofeng listened to their secret language and went straight to the table to eat without asking any questions.

The next morning, Wenqing had just started his car and was about to go to work when he received a call from Xiaofeng.

He picked up the phone in surprise: "Little lazy cat?"

"Wenqing, I can't move."

"What do you mean you can't move?"

"I can't get out of bed. I think my back hurts."

Wenqing rushed into the house, strode up to the second floor, opened Xiaofeng's door, and asked anxiously, "What's wrong?"

"I don't know... I want to go to the bathroom, but... it hurts when I turn over." Xiaofeng said, tears sliding down her face unconsciously, "It hurts so much... Wenqing." She clutched the corner of the quilt tightly, and the cold sweat on her forehead made Wenqing realize that the situation was more serious than she had imagined.

"Don't be afraid, I'll call an ambulance."

While waiting for the ambulance, Wenqing squatted by the bed, holding her hand with one hand and gently patting her back with the other, as if sharing her pain. The shrill sirens blared from afar, Xiaofeng's moans interrupted by the paramedics' movements. She frowned, bit her lower lip, and breathed deeply and shallowly. Wenqing's throat suddenly choked, and his voice broke into a plea: "Gently, slowly..."

In the ambulance, Wenqing asked his uncle in detail about the training the day before. His uncle kept repeating, "The training intensity was clearly within a safe range. He was fine last night..."

Wenqing paced at the door of the emergency room, his phone screen flickering on and off as he repeatedly searched for information on "acute low back pain."

While waiting for the test results, my parents and fourth uncle also arrived.

When Zhou Yong said, "For a sacrum fracture, first receive conservative treatment and rest in bed. If the neurological symptoms are not severe, it will heal on its own in about three weeks," Fourth Uncle turned his back and sighed deeply.

Zhou Yong didn't exchange pleasantries with Jiang Heng, Jiang Wan, or Jiang Tao, but directly asked Jiang Wenqing, "What happened?"

"Yesterday was her first day of training with the motorcycle team. She was fine when she went home in the evening, but suddenly couldn't get up this morning." Jiang Wenqing's tone was full of self-blame and confusion.

"What did you do at night?" Zhou Yong's obvious emphasis was full of hints.

Everyone looked at Jiang Wenqing, who remained calm and said, "We'll sleep in separate rooms."

"Stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. You can basically take care of yourself, but you need someone to accompany you when you turn over and go to the bathroom. If it's inconvenient for you, I'll arrange someone."

Jiang Wan quickly looked away and interrupted, "Let me do it."

Jiang Heng patted Wen Qing's shoulder and said, "Just stay in the hospital. Don't worry about anything else."

Before Zhou Yong left the ward, he instructed, "Observe the movements of the lower limbs more."

The smell of disinfectant filled the air. Xiaofeng lay on the bed with her back to the door, listening to their conversation. Her waist ached. She called softly, "Wenqing..."

Wenqing immediately moved closer to her, subconsciously twisting the ends of her hair with his index finger—this was his habit when they were alone. "Does it still hurt?"

Xiaofeng shook her head. In her peripheral vision, Jiang Heng's shadow first fell at the end of the bed, followed by the silhouette of Jiang Wan leaning over. Fourth Uncle stood half a step behind Wenqing, his hands always in his trouser pockets.

"Dad, Mom and Fourth Uncle are here to see you." Wenqing paused.

Xiaofeng was surprised, happy, and a little shy: "Uncle, Auntie, Fourth Uncle, please..."

"Xiaofeng, nice to meet you. It would be even better if you were not in the hospital." Jiang Wan leaned over and greeted gently.

"Hello, Auntie! Don't bother me, I can do it myself."

"Listen to the doctor. Auntie just wants to chat with you, are you willing?"

Xiao Feng nodded heavily: "Trouble!"

"We are a family, don't say 'trouble'."

"Yeah. Auntie, you're so beautiful!"

Jiang Wan laughed heartily: "Xiao Feng, what you said makes me so happy."

During the few days in the hospital, Zhou Yong arranged for a pelvic CT scan and three-dimensional reconstruction, which confirmed that the displacement was no more than 2mm. Surgery was not required and he only needed to wear a waist brace and take oral painkillers.

Xiaofeng lived a life of ease and comfort. Jiang Wan chatted with her at her bedside, often recounting stories of Wenqing's childhood: "He didn't speak until he was two and a half, and I thought he was mute." "He liked to roll his pasta with a fork into a bun like the Buddha's head and then eat it piece by piece." "He loved playing with Barbie dolls as a child."

The two women's laughter was like waves, their bodies shaking and pulling at the belt around their waists. Xiaofeng stopped laughing and bit her lower lip. Wenqing handed her a peach and pretended to be angry: "I told you to laugh."

The two looked at each other and smiled faintly.

At night, Xiaofeng was lying on her side on the hospital bed. When Jiang Wan was wiping her back with a warm towel, Xiaofeng suddenly grabbed her wrist and tears rolled down her eyes.

"Did it hurt you?" Jiang Wan heard her voice trembling.

Xiao Feng shook his head and sniffed: "Auntie, when I was in the hospital as a child, my mother wiped my body and changed my clothes, just like now. You are as gentle as her."

Jiang Wan's eyes moistened. "If you want, just call me mom. Mom and Dad both like you. We've prepared a meeting gift and a birthday red envelope. I'll give them to you when you're discharged from the hospital and come home."

When the night nurse reminded him to rest, Wen Qing was using a pillow to prop up Xiao Feng's waist. His shadow was stretched out by the light, like a silent wall. "Let's talk tomorrow."

"Take a rest, Wenqing will be jealous." Jiang Wan smiled, and Xiaofeng also trembled slightly.

After regaining her mobility, Xiaofeng was discharged from the hospital and returned home. The gift boxes stacked in the hallway glowed warmly. She looked at Wenqing in confusion, and he explained, "A meeting gift."

Jiang Wan showed them off and said with a smile, "Mom and Dad didn't know what you liked, so they bought you a necklace, bracelets, keychains, snacks, a thermos, a silk scarf, clothes, aromatherapy, bookmarks..." She ran over to Xiaofeng with an album, "Here are photos of Wenqing from childhood to adulthood, including his dark past. Do you think he's grown ugly?"

Xiao Feng held her waist and chuckled: "I really like this gift."

"I seem a little redundant." Wen Qing curled his lips, but a smile could not be hidden in the corners of his eyes.

The house hadn't been so lively for a long time. Xiaofeng couldn't stop smiling, and Wenqing's doting eyes followed her all the time. When their eyes met, they both couldn't help blushing and their hearts beat fast, with the corners of their mouths raised, and there was an irrepressible joy in their hearts.

After recovering, Xiaofeng resumed training with Zhou Yong's consent. She was particularly serious because her fourth uncle had arranged an intra-squad competition and Xiaofeng was on the roster.